Odds byHenrik Lundqvist, The Canadian PressTo say the New York Rangers made a difficult organizational decision this week would be quite an understatement.The team – ripe with goaltending prospects and eager to create cap flexibility – decided to buy out the remainder of goaltender , signalling the end for the King on Broadway.The Rangers weren’t expecting a Hall of Fame career from the Swedish netminder. Taken 205th overall in the 2000 NHL Draft, Lundqvist would go on to play more than 1,000 games for the Blueshirts and be recognized annually as one of the league’s most indomitable...…Odds byHenrik Lundqvist, The Canadian PressTo say the New York Rangers made a difficult organizational decision this week would be quite an understatement.The team – ripe with goaltending prospects and eager to create cap flexibility – decided to buy out the remainder of goaltender , signalling the end for the King on Broadway.The Rangers weren’t expecting a Hall of Fame career from the Swedish netminder. Taken 205th overall in the 2000 NHL Draft, Lundqvist would go on to play more than 1,000 games for the Blueshirts and be recognized annually as one of the league’s most indomitable...WW…

Odds byOliver Ekman-Larsson, The Canadian PressWe knew that this National Hockey League off-season, much like the ongoing postseason being played in a bubble, would be one of a kind.The NHL, like other sports leagues, is facing a serious economic crisis – one that will have a significant and adverse impact on the salary cap for years.A number of teams were already in the shake-up queue – new front offices looking to make their mark, old front offices with underperforming rosters, and the like. But the added cap pressure facing most teams has created a second tranche of possible buyers and...…Odds byOliver Ekman-Larsson, The Canadian PressWe knew that this National Hockey League off-season, much like the ongoing postseason being played in a bubble, would be one of a kind.The NHL, like other sports leagues, is facing a serious economic crisis – one that will have a significant and adverse impact on the salary cap for years.A number of teams were already in the shake-up queue – new front offices looking to make their mark, old front offices with underperforming rosters, and the like. But the added cap pressure facing most teams has created a second tranche of possible buyers and...WW…

Odds byNikita Kucherov and Brayden Point, The Canadian PressOne of the most intriguing parts about the National Hockey League’s Return to Play plan is that it comes on the heels of a four-month hiatus from hockey.Such a long break – an unprecedented one, where organizations shuttered, and players shuffled into their local stay-at-home orders – certainly complicates our understanding of the league landscape.Which players and teams will return to game shape quickly? How long will it take teams to shake off the considerable amount of rust accumulated over the past four months? Who will fail to...…Odds byNikita Kucherov and Brayden Point, The Canadian PressOne of the most intriguing parts about the National Hockey League’s Return to Play plan is that it comes on the heels of a four-month hiatus from hockey.Such a long break – an unprecedented one, where organizations shuttered, and players shuffled into their local stay-at-home orders – certainly complicates our understanding of the league landscape.Which players and teams will return to game shape quickly? How long will it take teams to shake off the considerable amount of rust accumulated over the past four months? Who will fail to...WW…

Odds byMorgan Rielly, Getty ImagesWhat is going on with the NHL’s play-by-play data?It’s something I’ve grown increasingly curious about over the past week or so, and a game on Wednesday night between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens offered a corroborating data point.An noticed that the play-by-play data — the foundation for all historical counting measures and advanced measurements alike – was not matching the run of play. This data is collected for each game by individuals (or trackers) in home arenas as part of the NHL’s Real Time Scoring System.In this particular case,...…Odds byMorgan Rielly, Getty ImagesWhat is going on with the NHL’s play-by-play data?It’s something I’ve grown increasingly curious about over the past week or so, and a game on Wednesday night between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens offered a corroborating data point.An noticed that the play-by-play data — the foundation for all historical counting measures and advanced measurements alike – was not matching the run of play. This data is collected for each game by individuals (or trackers) in home arenas as part of the NHL’s Real Time Scoring System.In this particular case,...WW…

Odds byMorgan Rielly, Getty ImagesWhat is going on with the NHL’s play-by-play data?It’s something I’ve grown increasingly curious about over the past week or so, and a game on Wednesday night between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens offered a corroborating data point.An noticed that the play-by-play data — the foundation for all historical counting measures and advanced measurements alike – was not matching the run of play. This data is collected for each game by individuals (or trackers) in home arenas as part of the NHL’s Real Time Scoring System.In this particular case,...…Odds byMorgan Rielly, Getty ImagesWhat is going on with the NHL’s play-by-play data?It’s something I’ve grown increasingly curious about over the past week or so, and a game on Wednesday night between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens offered a corroborating data point.An noticed that the play-by-play data — the foundation for all historical counting measures and advanced measurements alike – was not matching the run of play. This data is collected for each game by individuals (or trackers) in home arenas as part of the NHL’s Real Time Scoring System.In this particular case,...WW…

Odds byTaylor Hall, Getty ImagesTo say the 2020 version of free agency had little precedent is probably an understatement. The ongoing pandemic has really stung at the National Hockey League’s bottom line, and the business uncertainty facing teams around the league has had a substantial chilling effect on the market.That’s not to say that players and teams aren’t figuring out ways to get deals done – the opposite, in fact, appears to be true.The player’s perspective is particularly interesting because incentives have started to change. Some players have actively chased job security. Others,...…Odds byTaylor Hall, Getty ImagesTo say the 2020 version of free agency had little precedent is probably an understatement. The ongoing pandemic has really stung at the National Hockey League’s bottom line, and the business uncertainty facing teams around the league has had a substantial chilling effect on the market.That’s not to say that players and teams aren’t figuring out ways to get deals done – the opposite, in fact, appears to be true.The player’s perspective is particularly interesting because incentives have started to change. Some players have actively chased job security. Others,...WW…

Odds byPatrik Laine, Getty ImagesAt some point this week, perhaps as soon as tonight, the Stanley Cup will have a new home. It will both conclude an unprecedented season and signal the beginning of an equally extraordinary off-season.To say nothing of the oddities of unrestricted free agency beginning on Oct. 9, we expect the trade market to be quite busy as well. The National Hockey League, like most other industries around the world, is staring down the barrel of an economic crisis. The league has already signalled a flat salary cap for next season, drastically changing off-season plans...…Odds byPatrik Laine, Getty ImagesAt some point this week, perhaps as soon as tonight, the Stanley Cup will have a new home. It will both conclude an unprecedented season and signal the beginning of an equally extraordinary off-season.To say nothing of the oddities of unrestricted free agency beginning on Oct. 9, we expect the trade market to be quite busy as well. The National Hockey League, like most other industries around the world, is staring down the barrel of an economic crisis. The league has already signalled a flat salary cap for next season, drastically changing off-season plans...WW…

Odds byConnor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, Getty ImagesWith the Colorado Avalanche rolling again and superstar in the midst of a 14-game scoring streak, the debate over who is the best player in the world is again taking centre stage.For a few years now, the hockey community has generally settled on Edmonton Oilers captain as the best player on earth. McDavid has been a supernova in the offensive zone for a few years now – a freakish combination of speed and skill that very few, if any, NHL defences can contain.But the lone frustrating part of McDavid’s career so far – an element that is...…Odds byConnor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, Getty ImagesWith the Colorado Avalanche rolling again and superstar in the midst of a 14-game scoring streak, the debate over who is the best player in the world is again taking centre stage.For a few years now, the hockey community has generally settled on Edmonton Oilers captain as the best player on earth. McDavid has been a supernova in the offensive zone for a few years now – a freakish combination of speed and skill that very few, if any, NHL defences can contain.But the lone frustrating part of McDavid’s career so far – an element that is...WW…

Odds byMarc-Andre Fleury Robin Lehner, Getty ImagesIt is more than fair to say that the NHL’s final four – the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Islanders in the East, and the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights in the West – is a deserving group.The Lightning and Golden Knights were prohibitive Stanley Cup favourites, the Stars have been fantastic all season long, and it’s hard to think of another team that’s been as defensively impressive as the Islanders have been in this postseason (save for Monday’s 8-2 loss).All have been great thanks to distinct strengths. Tampa Bay carries a...…Odds byMarc-Andre Fleury Robin Lehner, Getty ImagesIt is more than fair to say that the NHL’s final four – the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Islanders in the East, and the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights in the West – is a deserving group.The Lightning and Golden Knights were prohibitive Stanley Cup favourites, the Stars have been fantastic all season long, and it’s hard to think of another team that’s been as defensively impressive as the Islanders have been in this postseason (save for Monday’s 8-2 loss).All have been great thanks to distinct strengths. Tampa Bay carries a...WW…