Oh, wow, hey guys, *yawn*, The offseason? Yeah, I assume my nap didn't fully encapsulate almost all of it, right? It did? Oh boy. Let's catch up then, shall we? What kinds of shifts should we expect this season in the NHL? After two consecutive Panthers - Oilers finals, surely things were shaken up a bit, ready to take advantage of Florida and Edmonton's fatigue?
Looks like not. I noted in my last post, verging on three months ago, that the NHL's increased salary cap had made it easier for teams to re-sign their own players, which, for at least this and maybe the next season, rendered the offseason a little on the slow side. There were trades, of course, with K'Andre Miller and Chris Kreider leaving New York, and Mitch Marner leaving Toronto. The balances of power in the NHL, however, remain unaltered.
Of course, a couple big names didn't re-up with his old team, at least not yet. Kirill Kaprizov and Connor McDavid are still without extensions, though I have to believe they are reluctant to lock in their prices when they know the salary cap is likely to go up again next year. No slight to Minnesota and Edmonton, but those two are just looking to maximize their next contract. (ed. note: Kaprizov was extended mid writing! Life happens fast)
I listened to an interview with Paul Maurice, where he stated that he wasn't worried about the Panthers being tired, because everyone is tired by January. With rosters remaining as static as they are, the greatest turnover is through retirement or the draft, and the Panthers are young enough that their core isn't going to be retiring soon. Florida is probably a favorite again to hoist the Cup in 2026.
I'm back on Blogger after Barry Melrose Rocks was swallowed by a conglomerate that didn't care for my writing about how tough being a Russian in the NHL would be, and wondering about the safety of guys like Kaprizov returning to their homeland, and if they would be allowed back. There was a memorandum to stop talking about politics. Quibbles with painting player concern as "politics" aside, there is more news. Well, the same news. Russia is still at war.
And now, like the end of last season, even the US and Canada are at odds, adding quite a bit of spice to the NHL season. How can one not talk about politics when talking about the NHL any longer? If any sport requires it, it's this one. Without any tangible impact from the current American administration on the League, we can at least say that cross border games will be extra spicy, in a way that certainly transcends typical hockey rivalries.
We have a week to get ready for the NHL season. There aren't a many fresh storylines as we see, and the undertones to the season are the same undertones to our daily life in North America for the last several months. Enjoy the game, enjoy the season even if it isn't as much of a distraction as it usually is. I'm sure as hell going to try.
