I’m Just Ken
The Man Behind The Tan
Is the plan for the playoffs going to be 16 teams or is it going to be more? If it's the top 4 from each division, the Pens could be in trouble.
NHL Thread Because There Isn't An NHL Thread
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Hollywood
Well-Known Member
Sad news to pass along.
Pierre Lacroix, longtime president and general manager of the Quebec Nordiques and Colorado Avalanche, died Sunday at the age of 72, the team announced.
"Pierre was the architect of the Avalanche's two Stanley Cup championships, which included the city of Denver's first major sports championship in 1996," the Avalanche said in a statement. "Pierre was instrumental in not only the team's on-ice success but also building the Avalanche brand into what it is today. His legacy reaches far beyond the NHL level and his impact can be felt throughout all of youth hockey in the Rocky Mountain region."
Lacroix was named general manager and president of the Nordiques in 1994 and followed the team to Colorado the following season. He played an instrumental part in building two Stanley Cup-winning Avalanche teams.
He made numerous big trades during his career, including acquiring a disgruntled Patrick Roy from the Montreal Canadiens during the 1995-96 season, Ray Bourque during the 1999-2000 campaign, and Rob Blake during the 2000-01 season. The Avalanche won two Cups during his tenure - 1996 and 2001 - due in large part to his acquisitions.
Lacroix stepped down as general manager in 2006 but remained president until 2013 when he took on an advisory role.
Pierre Lacroix, longtime president and general manager of the Quebec Nordiques and Colorado Avalanche, died Sunday at the age of 72, the team announced.
"Pierre was the architect of the Avalanche's two Stanley Cup championships, which included the city of Denver's first major sports championship in 1996," the Avalanche said in a statement. "Pierre was instrumental in not only the team's on-ice success but also building the Avalanche brand into what it is today. His legacy reaches far beyond the NHL level and his impact can be felt throughout all of youth hockey in the Rocky Mountain region."
Lacroix was named general manager and president of the Nordiques in 1994 and followed the team to Colorado the following season. He played an instrumental part in building two Stanley Cup-winning Avalanche teams.
He made numerous big trades during his career, including acquiring a disgruntled Patrick Roy from the Montreal Canadiens during the 1995-96 season, Ray Bourque during the 1999-2000 campaign, and Rob Blake during the 2000-01 season. The Avalanche won two Cups during his tenure - 1996 and 2001 - due in large part to his acquisitions.
Lacroix stepped down as general manager in 2006 but remained president until 2013 when he took on an advisory role.
I’m Just Ken
The Man Behind The Tan
Corycm
Well-Known Member
Great news if you can get nhl network. I wish they’d have done streaming on nhl.tv as an off-season subscription package or something.
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
The Florida Panthers have signed forward Anthony Duclair to a one-year contract, the team announced Thursday.
Duclair's deal is worth $1.7 million, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
More to come.
Duclair's deal is worth $1.7 million, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
More to come.
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
The NHL is exploring the idea of playing all games in the United States if government and health authorities north of the border don't approve the league's plan for an all-Canadian division.
Holding the 2020-21 season entirely within the U.S. is the "likely outcome" if Canadian officials don't sign off on the current proposal, reports Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.
There has been no indication that the relevant lawmakers and health experts won't ultimately consent to the idea of an all-Canadian division, but they hadn't done so by Thursday afternoon, Johnston added.
However, the Canadian government responded to the report several hours later, making it clear that NHL teams will not be exempt from provincial guidelines.
On a conference call Thursday, the NHL informed the seven teams based in Canada that they could be forced to play out of the United States, according to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch.
The league is reportedly planning to group the Canadian teams together in order to limit travel and cross-border complications. However, the NHL first needs approval from the five provinces involved - Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec.
Temporary relocation of Canadian teams to the U.S. amid the pandemic wouldn't be unprecedented. MLB's Toronto Blue Jays played their 2020 home games in Buffalo, and the NBA's Toronto Raptors will be based in Tampa for the upcoming campaign.
Holding the 2020-21 season entirely within the U.S. is the "likely outcome" if Canadian officials don't sign off on the current proposal, reports Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.
There has been no indication that the relevant lawmakers and health experts won't ultimately consent to the idea of an all-Canadian division, but they hadn't done so by Thursday afternoon, Johnston added.
However, the Canadian government responded to the report several hours later, making it clear that NHL teams will not be exempt from provincial guidelines.
On a conference call Thursday, the NHL informed the seven teams based in Canada that they could be forced to play out of the United States, according to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch.
The league is reportedly planning to group the Canadian teams together in order to limit travel and cross-border complications. However, the NHL first needs approval from the five provinces involved - Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec.
Temporary relocation of Canadian teams to the U.S. amid the pandemic wouldn't be unprecedented. MLB's Toronto Blue Jays played their 2020 home games in Buffalo, and the NBA's Toronto Raptors will be based in Tampa for the upcoming campaign.
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
The NHL and NHLPA have tentatively agreed to play a 56-game schedule this upcoming season, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports.
The potential deal remains contingent on a vote from each side. The league plans to have a board of governor's meeting at some point this weekend, while the NHLPA executive board will hold a call Friday night, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
Included in the agreement is a Jan. 3 start date for training camps with the season beginning Jan. 13, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli. The seven teams that didn't make the 2019-20 playoffs can open camps on Dec. 30, Seravalli adds. The dates are subject to change.
Players can opt out of the upcoming season if they or an immediate family member is considered high risk, and their team would have the option of tolling their contract for the year, per Seravalli.
Besides the recently pandemic-shortened season, the last time the league played fewer than 82 contests was the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign when a 48-game slate was used.
The potential deal remains contingent on a vote from each side. The league plans to have a board of governor's meeting at some point this weekend, while the NHLPA executive board will hold a call Friday night, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
Included in the agreement is a Jan. 3 start date for training camps with the season beginning Jan. 13, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli. The seven teams that didn't make the 2019-20 playoffs can open camps on Dec. 30, Seravalli adds. The dates are subject to change.
Players can opt out of the upcoming season if they or an immediate family member is considered high risk, and their team would have the option of tolling their contract for the year, per Seravalli.
Besides the recently pandemic-shortened season, the last time the league played fewer than 82 contests was the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign when a 48-game slate was used.
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
It's going to be a weird season but at least will have some NHL hockey 
The San Jose Sharks will host training camp and start their regular season in Arizona due to local COVID-19 restrictions, a source told John Wawrow of The Associated Press.
California's Santa Clara County has banned contact sports through at least Jan. 8. The NFL's San Francisco 49ers have also relocated to Arizona due to the government mandate.
The NHL and NHLPA reportedly agreed on a tentative 56-game campaign with training camp opening Jan. 3 and the regular season starting Jan. 13. Since the Sharks were one of the seven teams to miss out on the expanded playoffs over the summer, the team will be permitted to open camp Dec. 31.
The league's board of governors still needs to vote on the agreement before the campaign is set in stone. Their decision is expected over the next few days.
The NHL's placement of Canadian teams is one significant obstacle facing the league's potential return. A seven-team division solely north of the border was the original plan, but provincial and municipal health units have recently questioned the idea and will need to approve anything before the NHL can finalize decisions.
The San Jose Sharks will host training camp and start their regular season in Arizona due to local COVID-19 restrictions, a source told John Wawrow of The Associated Press.
California's Santa Clara County has banned contact sports through at least Jan. 8. The NFL's San Francisco 49ers have also relocated to Arizona due to the government mandate.
The NHL and NHLPA reportedly agreed on a tentative 56-game campaign with training camp opening Jan. 3 and the regular season starting Jan. 13. Since the Sharks were one of the seven teams to miss out on the expanded playoffs over the summer, the team will be permitted to open camp Dec. 31.
The league's board of governors still needs to vote on the agreement before the campaign is set in stone. Their decision is expected over the next few days.
The NHL's placement of Canadian teams is one significant obstacle facing the league's potential return. A seven-team division solely north of the border was the original plan, but provincial and municipal health units have recently questioned the idea and will need to approve anything before the NHL can finalize decisions.
Corycm
Well-Known Member
Looks like there’s a board of governors call scheduled today. I’m guessing they want to lock this in as soon as possible.
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
Now that the NHL and NHLPA have tentatively agreed on a framework for the upcoming 2020-21 season's 56-game schedule, some key dates have begun to emerge.
The impending campaign would begin on Jan. 13 and would conclude on May 8 under the proposed format, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie, with free agency beginning on July 28, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports. The 2021 trade deadline would be April 12, while the 2021 NHL Draft would take place on July 23 and 24, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.
Players would have the option to opt out of the approaching season. The opt-out deadline is Dec. 24 for players on teams that didn't make the 2019-20 playoffs and Dec. 27 for players on playoff squads, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
Additionally, clubs must sign Group II restricted free agents by Feb. 11 for them to be eligible to play during the season and players on one-year deals can sign extensions as of March 12, Friedman adds.
The NHL has a call scheduled with the Board of Governors for 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun. A separate call is also planned with the league's general managers for 2 p.m. ET, LeBrun adds.
The impending campaign would begin on Jan. 13 and would conclude on May 8 under the proposed format, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie, with free agency beginning on July 28, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports. The 2021 trade deadline would be April 12, while the 2021 NHL Draft would take place on July 23 and 24, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.
Players would have the option to opt out of the approaching season. The opt-out deadline is Dec. 24 for players on teams that didn't make the 2019-20 playoffs and Dec. 27 for players on playoff squads, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
Additionally, clubs must sign Group II restricted free agents by Feb. 11 for them to be eligible to play during the season and players on one-year deals can sign extensions as of March 12, Friedman adds.
The NHL has a call scheduled with the Board of Governors for 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun. A separate call is also planned with the league's general managers for 2 p.m. ET, LeBrun adds.
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
The NHL and NHLPA came to an agreement to play a 2020-21 regular-season schedule with 56 games that will begin on Jan. 13.
The league also confirmed the realignment of its divisions and the creation of four new ones for the upcoming season: North, West, Central, and East.
More to come.
The league also confirmed the realignment of its divisions and the creation of four new ones for the upcoming season: North, West, Central, and East.
More to come.
Crabbers
Well-Known Member
Let’s go CBJ!!!! So pumped for a season 
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
Me too! Even if it's a shortened season.Let’s go CBJ!!!! So pumped for a season
Crabbers
Well-Known Member
Any hockey is better than nothing...I’m curious to see what teams do with season holders now...I’m just hoping see some live hockey somehow this year
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
Although the NHL announced its plan for the upcoming season on Sunday, there are still potential roadblocks north of the border that could complicate the league's intended format.
The Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec have yet to sign off on the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, and Montreal Canadiens resuming play in their home buildings, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.
However, talks are reportedly expected to continue early this coming week.
The Ontario government said Friday it hopes the Leafs and Sens can play the season in Canada.
The Vancouver Canucks have also reportedly not yet received approval from the British Columbia government.
The NHL's plan consists of a North Division, in which all Canadian teams would exclusively play each other. Moving all Canadian teams to the United States, or having all of them play in a single hub in Canada, are two ideas that have been floated around if issues arise. Given the league already announced its realignment, the former seems unlikely now.
The 2020-21 campaign is set to begin Jan. 13, with training camps opening Jan. 3 for teams that played in the 2020 postseason. As a non-playoff team, the Sens can open training camp Dec. 31.
The Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec have yet to sign off on the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, and Montreal Canadiens resuming play in their home buildings, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.
However, talks are reportedly expected to continue early this coming week.
The Ontario government said Friday it hopes the Leafs and Sens can play the season in Canada.
The Vancouver Canucks have also reportedly not yet received approval from the British Columbia government.
The NHL's plan consists of a North Division, in which all Canadian teams would exclusively play each other. Moving all Canadian teams to the United States, or having all of them play in a single hub in Canada, are two ideas that have been floated around if issues arise. Given the league already announced its realignment, the former seems unlikely now.
The 2020-21 campaign is set to begin Jan. 13, with training camps opening Jan. 3 for teams that played in the 2020 postseason. As a non-playoff team, the Sens can open training camp Dec. 31.
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
It's officially go time - soon.
On Sunday, the NHL unveiled preliminary information about its upcoming campaign. The league will begin a 56-game regular season on Jan. 13, start its playoffs May 11, and award the Stanley Cup - if all goes according to plan - in July. Of course, in the COVID-19 era, everything is subject to change.
What's new and exciting? The 2020-21 campaign calls for temporary realignment due to border closures. The seven Canadian NHL teams are set to form a one-time North Division, while the 24 American clubs are to be split into three other divisions - the East, Central, and West.
Here are some initial thoughts on the four new groups.
You can argue the Canadian teams have lucked out, seeing as the top four clubs from each division qualify for the playoffs and the North Division features only seven teams. In the same breath, you can argue they didn't luck out, seeing as right now, the North is the most difficult division to handicap.
Forget the All-Canadian tag; it should be known as the All-Chaos Division.
It's true, none of Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Montreal are top-of-mind Cup contenders. Yet, in a normal season with 82 games and traditional divisions, all six franchises would absolutely challenge for a playoff spot. And the difference in high-end talent and depth between the six squads is essentially negligible. Something will have to give, every night.
Derek Leung / Getty Images
The Flames, Canadiens, and Jets all boast first-rate starting goaltenders. The Maple Leafs, Canucks, and Oilers all have offensive dynamos in Auston Matthews, Elias Pettersson, and Connor McDavid. And each team is flawed in some way or another. Take Toronto, for instance. Based on how all the Canadian clubs currently look on paper, the Leafs probably deserve the slight edge. But their recent playoff history inspires the opposite of confidence, so, again, there's little to no difference to be found ... right?
Ottawa is a different story. The Senators are still rebuilding, but they shouldn't be taken too lightly. They proved to be a hard out in 2019-20 under new head coach D.J. Smith, and moving forward, the Sens will be bursting at the seams with hungry youngsters. After a productive offseason, it's not outrageous to think Ottawa could claw its way to a sixth-place finish in the North. A run of bad luck and/or a slew of injuries could tank one of the playoff-worthy teams' momentum during the truncated season.
The division's top rivalry is clearly the Battle of Alberta, or super pest Matthew Tkachuk versus Calgary's cross-province pals in Edmonton. The Flames and Oilers typically meet four times a year; in 2020-21, it'll be more than double that. The schedule has yet to be released, but Canadian teams will face each other nine or 10 times over a four-month period. For this reason, also keep your eyes glued on the Toronto-Vancouver season series. There's zero chance fans and media in both cities will able to behave themselves.
The main takeaway: Realignment guarantees a Canadian team will make the final four for only the fourth time in 10 years. It's fair to say Canada - which last watched one of its teams win the Cup way back in 1993 - will take those odds.
If the North consists of six good-but-not-great teams plus Ottawa, the East projects similarly but with New Jersey subbing in for the Senators as the division's lone non-threat and Buffalo playing the part of the disruptive wild card.
The normal Metropolitan Division projected to be a dog fight in 2020-21, and now Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington, and the two New York teams must deal with Boston, the reigning Presidents' Trophy winner. On the flip side, perhaps we should temper our expectations for the Bruins, given the departure of Torey Krug (and possibly Zdeno Chara), the long-term layoffs for offensive spark plugs Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak, and the overall wear and tear on a consistently elite team that's played a ton of hockey over the past decade. It's hard to get a feel for how good (or bad) Boston will be when the club is due to engage in 56 hard-fought regular-season games.
Bruce Bennett / Getty Images
The Sabres, meanwhile, will be coming off a 10-month break and headlined by the bombshell acquisition of former MVP Taylor Hall. And while the overall strength of the roster is questionable, at best, Buffalo's top-six forward group of Hall, Jack Eichel, Eric Staal, Sam Reinhart, Jeff Skinner, and Victor Olofsson/Dylan Cozens could do some serious damage. Ultimately, it may not be enough to rock the boat in this revamped Metro, even in a small sample, but the Sabres' appeal is real. Oh, and don't forget about Rasmus Dahlin.
From a league-wide perspective, Sidney Crosby and the Penguins meeting Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals eight times - or, on average, twice a month - to start 2021, will be awesome. Crosby's 33, Ovechkin's 35; the generational talents won't be sharing the ice forever. Cherish this rush of must-see action.
At the moment, "predictable" is the best descriptor for the Central.
The Lightning will likely finish first in the standings; Carolina and Dallas will probably end up occupying second and third, respectively, with the two clubs fitting the "scary at full potential" mold quite well; and Columbus and Nashville will surely jockey for the final playoff berth. The Blue Jackets, led by Pierre-Luc Dubois, Zach Werenski, Seth Jones, and two young goalies, are more reliable than the sputtering Predators at this point, so even the drama surrounding the No. 4 spot should be subdued.
Chase Agnello-Dean / Getty Images
That leaves Chicago, Detroit, and Florida out of the hunt. It's possible the Panthers get their act together and find themselves competing in meaningful games down the stretch for once, but that would have to coincide with both Nashville and Columbus underperforming. Put another way, there's a clear divide between the Central's top five and bottom three, and the end-of-season gap between the Lightning and lowly Red Wings should be gigantic.
Realignment has robbed us of the potential for a rematch of the 2020 Cup Final. Having the Lightning and Stars duke it out for eight regular-season contests is a nice consolation, however, and you wonder if any tension from the six-game bubble series will boil over into the new campaign.
The first thing that comes to mind after scanning the West Division is the solid chance that the Cup is presented to one of these clubs if the NHL can make it to July. Vegas and Colorado are arguably two of the best three teams in the league, and St. Louis is in the top 10, too.
Andy Devlin / Getty Images
It will be very interesting to monitor the West standings and see who among those three teams claims the top seed ahead of what should be a wild first two rounds of the postseason. The Golden Knights are firmly in win-now mode; the Avalanche are on a seemingly unstoppable trajectory; and the Blues are just two years removed from a Cup win. At the individual player level, there's no reason why Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon won't continue to make his case for best-player-on-the-planet honors, while Alex Pietrangelo is about to make his debut for Vegas after a 12-year run with St. Louis. It's possible the Art Ross, Hart, Lindsay, and Norris trophies are handed out to West players.
Minnesota and Arizona are primed to battle for the fourth playoff spot, with the three California teams appearing bound for the sixth, seventh, and eighth positions in this top-heavy division. Two Cali-related side plots out of the gate: 1) Are the Sharks playing in San Jose or in a safer community? And 2) Is the Evander Kane-Ryan Reaves rivalry alive and well in 2021?
John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer. Contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com) or through Twitter (@MatiszJohn).
On Sunday, the NHL unveiled preliminary information about its upcoming campaign. The league will begin a 56-game regular season on Jan. 13, start its playoffs May 11, and award the Stanley Cup - if all goes according to plan - in July. Of course, in the COVID-19 era, everything is subject to change.
What's new and exciting? The 2020-21 campaign calls for temporary realignment due to border closures. The seven Canadian NHL teams are set to form a one-time North Division, while the 24 American clubs are to be split into three other divisions - the East, Central, and West.
Here are some initial thoughts on the four new groups.
North Division
Teams: Canadiens, Canucks, Flames, Jets, Maple Leafs, Oilers, SenatorsYou can argue the Canadian teams have lucked out, seeing as the top four clubs from each division qualify for the playoffs and the North Division features only seven teams. In the same breath, you can argue they didn't luck out, seeing as right now, the North is the most difficult division to handicap.
Forget the All-Canadian tag; it should be known as the All-Chaos Division.
It's true, none of Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Montreal are top-of-mind Cup contenders. Yet, in a normal season with 82 games and traditional divisions, all six franchises would absolutely challenge for a playoff spot. And the difference in high-end talent and depth between the six squads is essentially negligible. Something will have to give, every night.
The Flames, Canadiens, and Jets all boast first-rate starting goaltenders. The Maple Leafs, Canucks, and Oilers all have offensive dynamos in Auston Matthews, Elias Pettersson, and Connor McDavid. And each team is flawed in some way or another. Take Toronto, for instance. Based on how all the Canadian clubs currently look on paper, the Leafs probably deserve the slight edge. But their recent playoff history inspires the opposite of confidence, so, again, there's little to no difference to be found ... right?
Ottawa is a different story. The Senators are still rebuilding, but they shouldn't be taken too lightly. They proved to be a hard out in 2019-20 under new head coach D.J. Smith, and moving forward, the Sens will be bursting at the seams with hungry youngsters. After a productive offseason, it's not outrageous to think Ottawa could claw its way to a sixth-place finish in the North. A run of bad luck and/or a slew of injuries could tank one of the playoff-worthy teams' momentum during the truncated season.
The division's top rivalry is clearly the Battle of Alberta, or super pest Matthew Tkachuk versus Calgary's cross-province pals in Edmonton. The Flames and Oilers typically meet four times a year; in 2020-21, it'll be more than double that. The schedule has yet to be released, but Canadian teams will face each other nine or 10 times over a four-month period. For this reason, also keep your eyes glued on the Toronto-Vancouver season series. There's zero chance fans and media in both cities will able to behave themselves.
The main takeaway: Realignment guarantees a Canadian team will make the final four for only the fourth time in 10 years. It's fair to say Canada - which last watched one of its teams win the Cup way back in 1993 - will take those odds.
East Division
Teams: Bruins, Capitals, Devils, Flyers, Islanders, Penguins, Rangers, SabresIf the North consists of six good-but-not-great teams plus Ottawa, the East projects similarly but with New Jersey subbing in for the Senators as the division's lone non-threat and Buffalo playing the part of the disruptive wild card.
The normal Metropolitan Division projected to be a dog fight in 2020-21, and now Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington, and the two New York teams must deal with Boston, the reigning Presidents' Trophy winner. On the flip side, perhaps we should temper our expectations for the Bruins, given the departure of Torey Krug (and possibly Zdeno Chara), the long-term layoffs for offensive spark plugs Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak, and the overall wear and tear on a consistently elite team that's played a ton of hockey over the past decade. It's hard to get a feel for how good (or bad) Boston will be when the club is due to engage in 56 hard-fought regular-season games.
The Sabres, meanwhile, will be coming off a 10-month break and headlined by the bombshell acquisition of former MVP Taylor Hall. And while the overall strength of the roster is questionable, at best, Buffalo's top-six forward group of Hall, Jack Eichel, Eric Staal, Sam Reinhart, Jeff Skinner, and Victor Olofsson/Dylan Cozens could do some serious damage. Ultimately, it may not be enough to rock the boat in this revamped Metro, even in a small sample, but the Sabres' appeal is real. Oh, and don't forget about Rasmus Dahlin.
From a league-wide perspective, Sidney Crosby and the Penguins meeting Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals eight times - or, on average, twice a month - to start 2021, will be awesome. Crosby's 33, Ovechkin's 35; the generational talents won't be sharing the ice forever. Cherish this rush of must-see action.
Central Division
Teams: Blackhawks, Blue Jackets, Hurricanes, Lightning, Panthers, Predators, Red Wings, StarsAt the moment, "predictable" is the best descriptor for the Central.
The Lightning will likely finish first in the standings; Carolina and Dallas will probably end up occupying second and third, respectively, with the two clubs fitting the "scary at full potential" mold quite well; and Columbus and Nashville will surely jockey for the final playoff berth. The Blue Jackets, led by Pierre-Luc Dubois, Zach Werenski, Seth Jones, and two young goalies, are more reliable than the sputtering Predators at this point, so even the drama surrounding the No. 4 spot should be subdued.
That leaves Chicago, Detroit, and Florida out of the hunt. It's possible the Panthers get their act together and find themselves competing in meaningful games down the stretch for once, but that would have to coincide with both Nashville and Columbus underperforming. Put another way, there's a clear divide between the Central's top five and bottom three, and the end-of-season gap between the Lightning and lowly Red Wings should be gigantic.
Realignment has robbed us of the potential for a rematch of the 2020 Cup Final. Having the Lightning and Stars duke it out for eight regular-season contests is a nice consolation, however, and you wonder if any tension from the six-game bubble series will boil over into the new campaign.
West Division
Teams: Avalanche, Blues, Coyotes, Ducks, Golden Knights, Kings, Sharks, WildThe first thing that comes to mind after scanning the West Division is the solid chance that the Cup is presented to one of these clubs if the NHL can make it to July. Vegas and Colorado are arguably two of the best three teams in the league, and St. Louis is in the top 10, too.
It will be very interesting to monitor the West standings and see who among those three teams claims the top seed ahead of what should be a wild first two rounds of the postseason. The Golden Knights are firmly in win-now mode; the Avalanche are on a seemingly unstoppable trajectory; and the Blues are just two years removed from a Cup win. At the individual player level, there's no reason why Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon won't continue to make his case for best-player-on-the-planet honors, while Alex Pietrangelo is about to make his debut for Vegas after a 12-year run with St. Louis. It's possible the Art Ross, Hart, Lindsay, and Norris trophies are handed out to West players.
Minnesota and Arizona are primed to battle for the fourth playoff spot, with the three California teams appearing bound for the sixth, seventh, and eighth positions in this top-heavy division. Two Cali-related side plots out of the gate: 1) Are the Sharks playing in San Jose or in a safer community? And 2) Is the Evander Kane-Ryan Reaves rivalry alive and well in 2021?
John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer. Contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com) or through Twitter (@MatiszJohn).
gregathon
Active Member
Wow they pointed out that my Pens would be playing Craps and Flyers 8 times (each!!) this season...basically every game is a rivalry game.It's officially go time - soon.
On Sunday, the NHL unveiled preliminary information about its upcoming campaign. The league will begin a 56-game regular season on Jan. 13, start its playoffs May 11, and award the Stanley Cup - if all goes according to plan - in July. Of course, in the COVID-19 era, everything is subject to change.
What's new and exciting? The 2020-21 campaign calls for temporary realignment due to border closures. The seven Canadian NHL teams are set to form a one-time North Division, while the 24 American clubs are to be split into three other divisions - the East, Central, and West.
Here are some initial thoughts on the four new groups.
North Division
Teams: Canadiens, Canucks, Flames, Jets, Maple Leafs, Oilers, Senators
You can argue the Canadian teams have lucked out, seeing as the top four clubs from each division qualify for the playoffs and the North Division features only seven teams. In the same breath, you can argue they didn't luck out, seeing as right now, the North is the most difficult division to handicap.
Forget the All-Canadian tag; it should be known as the All-Chaos Division.
It's true, none of Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Montreal are top-of-mind Cup contenders. Yet, in a normal season with 82 games and traditional divisions, all six franchises would absolutely challenge for a playoff spot. And the difference in high-end talent and depth between the six squads is essentially negligible. Something will have to give, every night.
Derek Leung / Getty Images
The Flames, Canadiens, and Jets all boast first-rate starting goaltenders. The Maple Leafs, Canucks, and Oilers all have offensive dynamos in Auston Matthews, Elias Pettersson, and Connor McDavid. And each team is flawed in some way or another. Take Toronto, for instance. Based on how all the Canadian clubs currently look on paper, the Leafs probably deserve the slight edge. But their recent playoff history inspires the opposite of confidence, so, again, there's little to no difference to be found ... right?
Ottawa is a different story. The Senators are still rebuilding, but they shouldn't be taken too lightly. They proved to be a hard out in 2019-20 under new head coach D.J. Smith, and moving forward, the Sens will be bursting at the seams with hungry youngsters. After a productive offseason, it's not outrageous to think Ottawa could claw its way to a sixth-place finish in the North. A run of bad luck and/or a slew of injuries could tank one of the playoff-worthy teams' momentum during the truncated season.
The division's top rivalry is clearly the Battle of Alberta, or super pest Matthew Tkachuk versus Calgary's cross-province pals in Edmonton. The Flames and Oilers typically meet four times a year; in 2020-21, it'll be more than double that. The schedule has yet to be released, but Canadian teams will face each other nine or 10 times over a four-month period. For this reason, also keep your eyes glued on the Toronto-Vancouver season series. There's zero chance fans and media in both cities will able to behave themselves.
The main takeaway: Realignment guarantees a Canadian team will make the final four for only the fourth time in 10 years. It's fair to say Canada - which last watched one of its teams win the Cup way back in 1993 - will take those odds.
East Division
Teams: Bruins, Capitals, Devils, Flyers, Islanders, Penguins, Rangers, Sabres
If the North consists of six good-but-not-great teams plus Ottawa, the East projects similarly but with New Jersey subbing in for the Senators as the division's lone non-threat and Buffalo playing the part of the disruptive wild card.
The normal Metropolitan Division projected to be a dog fight in 2020-21, and now Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington, and the two New York teams must deal with Boston, the reigning Presidents' Trophy winner. On the flip side, perhaps we should temper our expectations for the Bruins, given the departure of Torey Krug (and possibly Zdeno Chara), the long-term layoffs for offensive spark plugs Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak, and the overall wear and tear on a consistently elite team that's played a ton of hockey over the past decade. It's hard to get a feel for how good (or bad) Boston will be when the club is due to engage in 56 hard-fought regular-season games.
Bruce Bennett / Getty Images
The Sabres, meanwhile, will be coming off a 10-month break and headlined by the bombshell acquisition of former MVP Taylor Hall. And while the overall strength of the roster is questionable, at best, Buffalo's top-six forward group of Hall, Jack Eichel, Eric Staal, Sam Reinhart, Jeff Skinner, and Victor Olofsson/Dylan Cozens could do some serious damage. Ultimately, it may not be enough to rock the boat in this revamped Metro, even in a small sample, but the Sabres' appeal is real. Oh, and don't forget about Rasmus Dahlin.
From a league-wide perspective, Sidney Crosby and the Penguins meeting Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals eight times - or, on average, twice a month - to start 2021, will be awesome. Crosby's 33, Ovechkin's 35; the generational talents won't be sharing the ice forever. Cherish this rush of must-see action.
Central Division
Teams: Blackhawks, Blue Jackets, Hurricanes, Lightning, Panthers, Predators, Red Wings, Stars
At the moment, "predictable" is the best descriptor for the Central.
The Lightning will likely finish first in the standings; Carolina and Dallas will probably end up occupying second and third, respectively, with the two clubs fitting the "scary at full potential" mold quite well; and Columbus and Nashville will surely jockey for the final playoff berth. The Blue Jackets, led by Pierre-Luc Dubois, Zach Werenski, Seth Jones, and two young goalies, are more reliable than the sputtering Predators at this point, so even the drama surrounding the No. 4 spot should be subdued.
Chase Agnello-Dean / Getty Images
That leaves Chicago, Detroit, and Florida out of the hunt. It's possible the Panthers get their act together and find themselves competing in meaningful games down the stretch for once, but that would have to coincide with both Nashville and Columbus underperforming. Put another way, there's a clear divide between the Central's top five and bottom three, and the end-of-season gap between the Lightning and lowly Red Wings should be gigantic.
Realignment has robbed us of the potential for a rematch of the 2020 Cup Final. Having the Lightning and Stars duke it out for eight regular-season contests is a nice consolation, however, and you wonder if any tension from the six-game bubble series will boil over into the new campaign.
West Division
Teams: Avalanche, Blues, Coyotes, Ducks, Golden Knights, Kings, Sharks, Wild
The first thing that comes to mind after scanning the West Division is the solid chance that the Cup is presented to one of these clubs if the NHL can make it to July. Vegas and Colorado are arguably two of the best three teams in the league, and St. Louis is in the top 10, too.
Andy Devlin / Getty Images
It will be very interesting to monitor the West standings and see who among those three teams claims the top seed ahead of what should be a wild first two rounds of the postseason. The Golden Knights are firmly in win-now mode; the Avalanche are on a seemingly unstoppable trajectory; and the Blues are just two years removed from a Cup win. At the individual player level, there's no reason why Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon won't continue to make his case for best-player-on-the-planet honors, while Alex Pietrangelo is about to make his debut for Vegas after a 12-year run with St. Louis. It's possible the Art Ross, Hart, Lindsay, and Norris trophies are handed out to West players.
Minnesota and Arizona are primed to battle for the fourth playoff spot, with the three California teams appearing bound for the sixth, seventh, and eighth positions in this top-heavy division. Two Cali-related side plots out of the gate: 1) Are the Sharks playing in San Jose or in a safer community? And 2) Is the Evander Kane-Ryan Reaves rivalry alive and well in 2021?
John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer. Contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com) or through Twitter (@MatiszJohn).
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
Wait a minute! Your Pens? How about my Pens?? I'm the biggest Pens fan north of the border
Let's Go Pens! 
gregathon
Active Member
Well cheers to you my Canadian brethren! Hopefully we can weather the impending post-Crosby era better than the post-Jagr era...Wait a minute! Your Pens? How about my Pens?? I'm the biggest Pens fan north of the border
I was born and raised in Pittsburgh - I was going to ask why you're NOT a Sens fan, but I guess the more apt question should be why is anyone a Sens fan. ;-)
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
I also support the local hockey team but my allegiance is with the Pittsburgh Penguins
and has been since 1984.