chcarlson23 1,470 Posted January 4 It's time to kick off this thread as I believe a few teams start training camp tomorrow. The Minnesota Wild have announced Jared Spurgeon as their new captain after the departure of Mikko Koivu this off-season. https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/jared-spurgeon-named-team-captain-010321/c-319947108 I personally think this is a great move for the Wild. Suter and Parise were probably also in the running, but they almost traded away Parise last season. Both of their contacts are entering their 9th out of 11 seasons, and with the younger core up and coming, and younger captain like Spurgeon makes sense. He's also had a crazy path to the NHL, let alone an NHL captaincy. He was drafted in the 6th round by the Islanders in 08' but the released him, and signed with the Wild on an entry-level contact two years later. Good for him. I feel like the top contenders this year are the Caps, Lightning, and the Stars. My sleeper pick is the Canucks though. They had a pretty decent regular season, and a fairly young roster. They also upset the Blues in the first round last year, so I think they've got a decent shot to go pretty far this year. Holtby and Demko seem like a good tandem in goal too... 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sport 14,120 Posted January 4 I keep forgetting hockey exists and then I'll see an Instagram post or a tweet and I'm like "oh yeah I love that sport." Not even during the 2012 lockout was I this removed from caring about hockey. Meanwhile, things are going great in Columbus. The Blue Jackets signed Pierre Luc Dubois to a two year bridge deal, which he demanded over a long term extension, and with the ink still wet he immediately turned around said he'd like to be traded. That'll be good for the dressing room. There is something about playing for this franchise, something that predates John Tortorella, that makes star players want to go anywhere else. I don't get it. Dubois' bridge deal has the double nut kick of being really bad timing with some of the other core guys whose contracts are expiring. Seth Jones, Elvis Merzlikins, Joonas Korpisalo, Boone Jenner, Nick Foligno, Max Domi (Oh yeah I forgot he's a Blue Jacket now) are all unrestricted Free Agents after 2022. Zach Werenski and Pierre-Luc Dubois are RFA after 2022. David Savard is UFA after this season, Oli Bjorkstrand is RFA after this season. Cam Atkinson and Gus Nyquist are basically the only core guys extended beyond 22 and they're both on the sad side of 30. They cleared cap space this offseason for Dubois and others, but that's a pile of guys to resign in two seasons and someone's gonna have to leave. And they still have an Artemi Panarin shaped hole in their forward group. This group could win this goofy division and they could finish last. I have no idea what to expect. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
habsfan1 3,969 Posted January 5 I look foward to seeing the finished mask in full uniform. It's gonna be crazy good. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GDAWG 1,806 Posted January 5 Although I am a bigger NBA fan than NHL fan, I was much more invested in the NHL bubble than I was the NBA bubble. I want to see how this NHL season goes and how the league deals with the likelihood of postponed/canceled games. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tp49 1,099 Posted January 5 Probably should have put this here instead of in the offseason thread but... So the "broke as *$%^" NHL, per The Athletic has sold the naming rights for the four divisions. The divisions new names will be: North: Scotiabank Central: Discover East: MassMutual West: Honda Rumors are the league is getting somewhere in the mid-seven figures from the deal. OITGDNHL 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dilbert 936 Posted January 6 We are this close from having the National Hockey League presented by Dunkin' 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GDAWG 1,806 Posted January 6 The NHL needs to find creative ways to recoup money lost due to the pandemic since they are done with expansion and their TV deal is probably the least of the BIG 4. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mcj882000 1,042 Posted January 8 The bubbleless 2020-21 NHL season didn't even make it to the starting line. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the admiral 28,764 Posted January 8 On 1/5/2021 at 7:26 PM, Brian in Boston said: was this the Make-United-Sans-Uglier Challenge or something 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tigerslionspistonshabs 1,641 Posted January 13 Prediction time? NORTH 1. Edmonton 2. Montreal 3. Toronto 4. Vancouver 5. Calgary 6. Winnipeg 7. Ottawa EAST 1. Philadelphia 2. Washington 3. Boston 4. NY Islanders 5. Pittsburgh 6. Buffalo 7. NY Rangers 8. New Jersey CENTRAL 1. Tampa Bay 2. Dallas 3. Carolina 4. Florida 5. Nashville 6. Columbus 7. Chicago 8. Detroit WEST 1. Colorado 2. Vegas 3. St. Louis 4. Arizona 5. Minnesota 6. Anaheim 7. Los Angeles 8. San Jose FIRST ROUND PLAYOFFS 1. Edmonton def. 4. Vancouver 2. Montreal def. 3. Toronto 1. Philadelphia def. 4. NY Islanders 3. Boston def. 2. Washington 1. Tampa Bay def. 4. Florida 3. Carolina def. 2. Dallas 1. Colorado def. 4. Arizona 2. Vegas def. 3. St. Louis SECOND ROUND PLAYOFFS 1. Edmonton def. 2. Montreal 1. Philadelphia def. 3. Boston 1. Tampa Bay def. 3. Carolina 1. Colorado def. 2. Vegas 'CONFERENCE' FINALS (or whatever they're called now) 1. Colorado def. 4. Philadelphia 2. Tampa Bay def. 3. Edmonton STANLEY CUP FINALS Colorado over Tampa Bay Very out of the box, I know. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sparky 1,455 Posted January 14 A couple of things... Toronto's virtual crowd sounds louder and more involved than their usual corporate gathering, and... Tomorrow I'm cancelling my Bell services. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridleylash 4,066 Posted January 14 Oh Ottawa, never change. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RyanMcD29 824 Posted January 15 WINNIPEG HAS A HONKY THE SUV 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JayMac 3,816 Posted January 15 10 hours ago, RyanMcD29 said: WINNIPEG HAS A HONKY THE SUV Wait...what did you call me? 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RyanMcD29 824 Posted January 17 On 1/14/2021 at 8:26 PM, RyanMcD29 said: WINNIPEG HAS A HONKY THE SUV DETROIT HAS A REAL TOUGH 'MERICAN TRUCK 3 HOUR EDIT: SO DOES CALGARY HONKY SENSATION SWEEPING BOTH NATIONS 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sparky 1,455 Posted January 18 Over the weekend, Jumbo Joe became the oldest Leaf ever to score a goal. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian in Boston 2,723 Posted January 18 1 hour ago, sparky said: Over the weekend, Jumbo Joe became the oldest Leaf ever to score a goal. Thornton is the oldest forward to ever score a goal for the Maple Leafs. He is the second-oldest player to score a goal for the Leafs, behind defenseman Allan Stanley. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sparky 1,455 Posted January 21 On 1/18/2021 at 12:44 PM, Brian in Boston said: Thornton is the oldest forward to ever score a goal for the Maple Leafs. He is the second-oldest player to score a goal for the Leafs, behind defenseman Allan Stanley. I stand corrected . Also...Holy Valhalla!...I just saw Brent Burns on the latest episode of "Vikings"! 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brass 3,461 Posted January 22 Cam Neely and Don Sweeney are gonna be pissed when they realize they're giving Nick Ritchie, a big guy not from Charlestown, MA, so much playing time... 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
