Today marks the first day of the 2016-2017 NHL season, and though the first puck hasn’t even dropped yet, there are lots of questions surrounding the stars. Last-minute injuries, surprising waiver moves, and redemption arcs have already set the tone for the first few weeks of hockey.
There’s certainly no shortage of newsworthy X-factors. What should you look out for when your favorite teams take the ice for the first time?
The first game of the season is between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators. First overall draft pick and scoring phenom Auston Matthews will make his regular-season NHL debut wearing the maple leaf, following an astounding year in the Swiss league and solid performance for Team North America in the World Cup of Hockey.
Matthews, never one to mince words, was openly frustrated by the Leafs’ 6-1 preseason loss a few days ago to the Montreal Canadiens. The 19-year-old is expected to be the savior of the bottom-feeding Maple Leafs, and he seems to be learning just how bad they really are firsthand.
Perhaps luckily for him, the Edmonton Oilers did not have the first draft pick last year – meaning he escaped the frozen wasteland where first-overall picks go to die. Is that a brutal diagnosis of Edmonton?
Yes.
Is it accurate?
Also yes.
Connor McDavid, Matthews’ predecessor as the top player in his year and apparent second coming of Gretzky, was recently named the Oilers’ captain at a whopping 19 years and 266 days of age. As the youngest captain in NHL history, McDavid has even more pressure mounted on his shoulders than ever before – and that’s really saying something.
Tonight will be his first regular-season game wearing the “C” for Edmonton, as they take on their provincial rivals, the Calgary Flames. McDavid has previously served as captain for his junior team, the Erie Otters, and Team North America more recently.
Despite missing a majority of last season with a broken collarbone, McDavid put up impressive point totals reminiscent of Sidney Crosby. If he can remain healthy for a full season, his impact may just be enough to begin Edmonton’s revival.
Speaking of Crosby, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ captain is out with a concussion that he sustained last week in practice. Despite his history with major concussions and lasting symptoms, he has been skating on his own and even joined the team for practice today, albeit in a no-contact jersey.
You don’t have to be a Penguins fan to recognize that the team is significantly shoddier without Crosby in the lineup. They won the Stanley Cup last season and only lost two players from that winning roster in the offseason, but any time the best player in the world is injured you’re going to be worse for it.
On the other hand, Crosby should absolutely not be rushing back just to make the opening night lineup. His health is more important than the first game or two of the season, especially since the opener is against the Washington Capitals.
The games between these rivals are always physical and contentious, and it would be foolish to jump back in the lineup only for Tom Wilson or someone of his ilk to immediately re-concuss Crosby.
Other big names out for their first games include Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins and Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens.
Bergeron is consistently one of the top offensive forwards in the NHL and put up a hugely impressive showing for Team Canada at the World Cup. However, he recently suffered a lower-body injury and is not traveling to Columbus for the Bruins’ first game.
Meanwhile, reports have come out of Montreal that Price, the backbone of the team and their starting goaltender, has the flu and will also not travel for the Habs’ first game in Buffalo.
Last season, the Canadiens imploded when Price was injured and missed the end of the season. Obviously, they’re hoping that this flu passes quickly – especially with the loss of Mike Condon as well.
Condon was put on waivers when the Canadiens decided to settle on Al Montoya as their backup goalie, and was quickly claimed by the Penguins. Matt Murray, the all-star goalie who led the Penguins to their Cup victory broke his hand during the World Cup and remains out of the lineup. Condon is a solid steal for them, but losing such a reliable if unadorned third-string goalie hurts the Canadiens immeasurably.
Jack Eichel of the Buffalo Sabres also faces a questionable future. Eichel went down during team practice this morning with an ankle injury. A serious injury to Eichel, who was drafted second overall behind McDavid, would derail the Sabres from the start.
Regardless of the official diagnosis, it’s a major blow to both the Sabres and the young forward.
Finally, keep an eye out for players eager to prove themselves in new uniforms. One such player is Nail Yakupov, who was traded to the St. Louis Blues by the Edmonton Oilers just a few days ago. The young Russian forward never truly clicked in Edmonton, where he was often benched and lambasted for his inability to produce at the level he had years ago.
There’s nothing like personal spite to motivate someone’s career, although a superstar countryman on your team may help too. Yakupov will likely be taken under Vladimir Tarasenko’s wing on the Blues, which will surely help him fit in and find a level of comfort almost immediately. Tarasenko also had a stellar season last year, and may help boost Yakupov’s numbers just by being on the same team.
Both Yakupov and Tarasenko are right wings, so it’s unlikely they’ll ever be on a line together unless someone is willing to play their off side. However, if that matchup was to happen, the Central Division will need to watch out. The Blues hope to capitalize on their recent postseason success against the Chicago Blackhawks tonight and keep the team from the Windy City contained.
These first few nights of the new season promise to be anything but boring. Expect lots of hard hits and determined play from the get-go, as many of these matchups are based on major rivalries. The Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks also square off tonight, and based on the last few postseasons, there is no love lost between them.
The entire schedule of opening games can be found on the NHL’s website. Who are you most excited to see?
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