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Puck season is back!
We are only 5 days away to the kickstart of the 2023 NHL season and I have been assessed a 5-minute major for not teasin' the season in time. Don't worry, I got things covered and per usual- we have noise from the very start.
Last year we saw the Boston Bruins put up the most wins (65) for a season in NHL history; Connor McDavid become the 5th player to secure NHL's Triple-Crown; and scoring duos emerge to compare with Draisaitl/McDavid. Who's ready to see what noise 2023 will bring on the ice!?
Edmonton's magic duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are back and ready to cause havoc to defenses and tendys in another campaign on the ice. Will McDavid or Draisaitl slow down in '23? With how well they both played last season, and them being so close to records- I am not bettin' against them.
Connor McDavid had one of the greatest seasons ever offensively in 2022. Personally, I don't think he is getting enough recognition for it. I mean this cat's numbers were off the charts as he became the fifth skater all-time to win chel's Triple-Crown and was the first to do so since The Great One Wayne Gretzky achieved the honor in 1987. Sorry I won't count Mario Lemieux's '89 and '96 seasons as a Triple-Crown... he was tied in assists in both campaigns, not a sole leader. Silly that those think to count 'em. McDavid was a sole leader in goals; assists; and points- first since Gretz who won it a legendary five times.
McDavid is the closest thing we have seen to the Gretz as he continues to put league leading numbers up, year in and year out. McDavid's 153 points last season were the 15th most all-time in a season, and the most of any player in the 21st century. That number 15 shouldn't feel light in your mind as you read it- the 15 occurrences are from only four players: Gretzky; Lemieux; Yzerman; and McDavid. Historical company. The best points total post 2000 was 128 done by Nikita Kucherov ('18) and Connor's teammate Leon Draisaitl last season.
Draisaitl and McDavid were one of the greatest scoring duos of all-time in 22-23. Leon needed just two more points to hit 130 which would have made them only the 4th duo of teammates all-time to have 130 or more points in the same season. Only Jaromír Jágr/Mario Lemieux ('95); Paul Coffey/Wayne Gretzky ('85); and Jari Kurri/Wayne Gretzky ('84) have done it. Will we see McDavid and Draisaitl hit the mark this season?
It sure will be a tough feat, but they are the elite so don't count it out. One thing is certain: the Oilers need their duo's constant production if they want another crack at the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Pacific is only gettin' better with the Kraken and Flames improving. Oilers need the production and us fans need it too! This duo is special to watch- I am intrigued to see what the two bring us in the new campaign.
The greatest regular season team in NHL history blew a 3-1 series lead to the Florida Panthers in the opening round of the '22-23 Stanley Cup Playoffs in one of the more shocking moments in sports history. A game seven that will shine in hockey galore.
The Bruins finished the 2022-23 season with a league-record 135 points, while the Panthers claimed the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot with 92 points. The 43-point difference between the Panthers and Bruins was the largest upset in Stanley Cup Playoffs history for a best-of-7 series. Boston was up one with a minute left of game seven's regulation then they let Florida tie and take the game in OT to make the best regular season team end in a devastating first round playoff exit. Did the Panthers create a villain origin or was it a fatal blow to a fluke?
David Pastrňák declined in his first full-season after his breakout '19 campaign but returned to form and then some last year being a pillar for the Bruins 65. DP was stellar puttin' the puck in the net and will look to continue his game-breaking scoring in the new campaign.
Boston will need him to stay in that top tier as a scorer as Bruins greats' David Krejčí and captain Patrice Bergeron hung their skates over the off-season. Ending an era in Boston. They relay the baton to Pastrňák and Pavel Zacha's to takeover the franchise.
Despite the playoff loss, I won't ever call that team a fluke by any standard. I won't say it for the '01 Mariners; '07 Patriots; '95 Red Wings; and not the '22 Bruins. However, I do believe that Boston will end this new season with far lesser than 135 points. They lose their veteran workhorses and captain which always brings a different landscape. It will be up to Boston to decide on just what type of difference that is: rather positive or negative.
Losing the way they did last year could have angered Pastrňák and the other Bruins. We get to find out. They still have an electric duo of goalies in Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman. Boston is still a strong favorite out of the Eastern Conference as the Atlantic is still there's to lose. Will they overcome the fatal playoff loss? Ahhh, so many wonderful questions to be answered.
A new Connor has risen to take the league over with dazzlin' puck skill; electric slashin'; and an enigma of possible stardom that has the NHL universe intrigued. Meet Connor Bedard, the boy who lit the skies on the Junior Hockey scene and now at 18 plans to make his NHL debut.
Chicago seems as if they have no issues waiting to put their number one pick Bedard on the ice. Many believe the young cat has the same potential as Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid had at his age. The whole NHL world wants him to play and that wish may come true and quick. Usually I jump off my rocker over guys being played right away in the Big 4, but it's rare in the NHL for a pick to play off the first beat- especially an eighteen year old. I say run it, Chicago. Another big spotlight for hockey.
The rise of Bedard will draw interest in from all over the place. For a Blackhawks team that finished 30th in final points, he could create a good spark to help them get out of the spunk the 'chise have gotten themselves in. They also have a chance to navigate from the Patrick Kane era right into the Connor Bedard era. Good times should be ahead for the Blackhawks; the NHL; and the landscape.
The Flames and Predators were the two teams in the bubble that missed the playoffs last season. They each lost on the final day, on the final point. Being right there, they needed to have extreme importance in the off-season going into the new campaign. Did they make the right moves to help them fix the little things that cost them a shot at the Stanley Cup Playoffs?
For Calgary, they finished last year with 17 OT loses (or shootout) which was one shy of tying the most ever in a season. They put themselves out of the playoffs by losing close games and not coming up big in the clutch. The Flames look for that to change this season. If they improve in close games and in OT then they can easily be in the playoff mix.
The Predators once again had an abysmal offense throughout the season last year that was a big reason in them missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014. They bring in new head coach Andrew Brunette to try and change that while also changing the landscape in Nashville. GM Barry Trotz added some veteran aid to the offense with center Ryan O'Reilly and left-winger Gustav Nyquist. Two skaters with experience, and playoff experience. Both vets should be on the powerplay units, bolstering them. Nashville got better in many ways and now look to get back into the playoffs after missing them last year.
October 10th is when our starvation for the NHL is fed. We got storylines from all 32 teams; young players ready to electrify again; and faces in new places ready to make impact. The action on the ice is going to be loud with hard-hittin checks and ankle hurtin dekes. Say it with me everyone: Chel is back!
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