With a new CBA done a few weeks ago, the escrow has set back into moderation. The NHL and Gary Bettman’s lead in getting the best game on earth back on TV is a huge step forward. A lot of juicy things occurred within the National Hockey League recently.
1: In a very eventful first week with the NHL’s return for the Stanley Cup Qualifiers, there has been a ton of stuff to talk about in John Chayka. This is a very unorthodox situation for a National Hockey League franchise. Yes, if I was an NHL owner, I’d be upset, but if another owner was likely to acquire my GM, I’m gonna go out and hire someone to step up with my interim GM.
2: John Chayka recently had recently turned in his contract. It seems the key ruling on Chayka’s future is possibly landing in Newark with the Devils. Commissioner Bettman has the final say in the legal work on this matter, so a ruling will be made at a later time.
3: The Montreal Canadiens and Carey Price were looking phenomenal in his first play-in game against Pittsburgh. Many people under-look the Canadiens having ben apart of the 24-team format.
4: Pittsburgh’s Connor Sheary and Montreal’s Jonathan Drouin both missed badly on penalty shots in their first games respectively. That first game was one of those “how were they still in this game.” Goaltending, like I mentioned before, is Montreal’s key to their success through the playoffs.
5: The Arizona Coyotes being up 1-0 in the best-of-five game series is a series to watch for Devils fans. One of the things Devils fans will be keen on is will the Nashville Predators make a comeback and win the series.
6: Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Rangers was an interesting series to watch. You have Jacob Slavin, who led the NHL in takeaways, and to me, is the key cog for Carolina.
7: Will Tony DeAngelo become the offensive defensemen the Rangers can possibly have come up clutch? DeAngelo, in the regular season, has been a force to be reckoned with.
8: Will the tandem of Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins of the Blue Jackets keep each other fresh against the Toronto Maple Leafs? I’m a fond believer in the Luongo and Schneider goalie tandems. If you have one guy in a playoff series have a great game and isn’t ready physically or mentally, then you have a fresh stud to get the job done.
9: The Edmonton Oilers getting owned big time by the Chicago Blackhawks was a very upsetting outcome. In theory, Connor McDavid and a really stud centric forward group should’ve won this series on home ice. However, the older veteran Blackhawks group with Kane, Toews and a few young guys in Kirby Dach and Dominik Kubalik were a juggernaut.
10: From the Czech Republic, Dominik Kubalik had two goals and three assists against the Edmonton Oilers. Dominik and Kirby Dach combined for six points as the young men get the job done.
11: Finnish goaltender Joonas Korpisalo’s 2-0 shutout reminded me of a question I had asked Dave McCarthy on The Heads Up Hockey Podcast. “What do you think of Korpisalo and Merzlikins going up against Freddie Andersen?” That led to a long response, but in short, the Toronto Maple Leafs would have to fight for every inch of ice. The Leafs were stifled defensively early on in Columbus’ own zone.
Korpisalo was more chill and calming like the Northern Lights in the Lapland area of Finland. Watching Joonas and the Blue Jackets keep the Maple Leafs off the scoreboard was a beautiful sight to behold.
Final thoughts: I had spoken with Cam Janssen before on the Heads Up Hockey Podcast and he reminded me hitting is still allowed and teams like the Blues need to live up to their strengths (out hitting your opponents in the Blues case). Goaltending and consistency on defence is a huge key going forward. Another variable I value in a series is coaching.
When I’m a skeptical critic of certain coaches, it’s the matter of misusing strategy and not thinking out the game properly. Teams, in the first games, looked like they were hungry to get to the playoffs, and therefore, forgot about phase 2 of the Draft Lottery. The balance of youth and veterans on Chicago is why hockey is very exciting to watch. If you’re looking for a blend of old school hockey and new school play, the Calgary Flames vs. Winnipeg Jets series made for a matchup to matchup to love every minute of.