The Anaheim Ducks went into the draft looking to have a balance among the picks they chose. In addition, they were looking to bolster their offense. You might call it a rebuild, and what better way to get the ball rolling than building through the draft. The promise of new talent is irresistible, and the Ducks heard its siren call.
The Toronto Maple Leafs held just three selections during the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The team was without their first-round
The New York Rangers went into the 2021 draft with nine picks. Before the draft even began, general manager Chris Drury was making waves among fans by trading Pavel Buchnevich to the St. Louis Blues for Sammy Blais and a 2nd round pick in the 2022 draft. Going into the draft, the Rangers’ biggest need was to grab a center, maybe two. The Rangers were also looking to pick up some players with size and strength, based on reading between the lines of Drury’s stated plans for the future of the Rangers.
A team that was in the playoff mix until the end in the West Division, the season did not go according to plan for the Arizona Coyotes.
The 2020-21 season might be one the Columbus Blue Jackets might want to forget. Instead, they should just go directly to the draft, where they have three first-round picks to add key players to their arsenal. While no one coach or player was responsible for what transpired, all can take some responsibility. If they can do that, then it’s possible next season will be a bounce-back year.
The Tampa Bay Lightning were trying to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions for the first time since the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Leading up to the next expansion draft in the NHL on July 21st, we have been previewing each team’s potential protected list and which player they will lose to the Kraken. Today is the Central Division. After only six teams in the Pacific will need to participate (aside from the Kraken, of course), the Central’s eight is a big boost up. They will also have a new team in this division, or at least when the season resets officially on July 28th. So, let’s make some predictions.
One of the most exciting teams league-wide, the Colorado Avalanche captured the President’s Trophy for the first time in 20 years this past season. Finishing atop the West Division with 39 victories, the team also led the NHL with 197 goals for. Enjoying another stellar campaign in 2021, star center Nathan MacKinnon was named a finalist for the Hart Trophy after recording 20 goals and 45 assists in 48 games. Along with this, in his third year with the Avalanche, net minder Philipp Grubauer earned a nomination for the Vezina Trophy. Racking up a .922 save percentage and a 1.95 goals-against average, the 29-year-old finished second in the league with 30 victories in 40 starts.
Qualifying for the playoffs for the 5th consecutive season, the Boston Bruins won 33 games in the league’s shortened 2020-21 season. Earning the third seed in the East Division, the team was led by longtime goaltender Tuukka Rask and star left winger Brad Marchand. Pacing Bruce Cassidy’s team with 29 goals and 40 assists in 53 games, the 33-year-old Marchand finished 6th in the NHL’s goal-scoring race. Making a splash at the trade deadline in April, general manager Don Sweeney acquired the former number one pick Taylor Hall.
The Florida Panthers have nothing to be ashamed about. They had the second-best record in the central division and the fourth-most points in the NHL. The Panthers made the playoffs for the first time in five years, but that euphoria was short-lived as they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round.
After finishing sixth in the Central Division, the Chicago Blackhawks and their fans experienced a disappointing season. While in a rebuild like other teams are, they still needed to perform at their best, and this season was not their best.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are one of the most talented teams in the National Hockey League. They’re fast, experienced, well-coached, and “know what it takes” to win in the postseason having lifted Lord Stanley’s mug last summer inside the NHL bubble.
The Anaheim Ducks went into the draft looking to have a balance among the picks they chose. In addition, they were looking to bolster their offense. You might call it a rebuild, and what better way to get the ball rolling than building through the draft. The promise of new talent is irresistible, and the Ducks heard its siren call.
The Toronto Maple Leafs held just three selections during the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The team was without their first-round pick after they shipped it
The New York Rangers went into the 2021 draft with nine picks. Before the draft even began, general manager Chris Drury was making waves among fans by trading Pavel Buchnevich to the St. Louis Blues for Sammy Blais and a 2nd round pick in the 2022 draft. Going into the draft, the Rangers’ biggest need was to grab a center, maybe two. The Rangers were also looking to pick up some players with size and strength, based on reading between the lines of Drury’s stated plans for the future of the Rangers.
A team that was in the playoff mix until the end in the West Division, the season did not go according to plan for the Arizona Coyotes.
The 2020-21 season might be one the Columbus Blue Jackets might want to forget. Instead, they should just go directly to the draft, where they have three first-round picks to add key players to their arsenal. While no one coach or player was responsible for what transpired, all can take some responsibility. If they can do that, then it’s possible next season will be a bounce-back year.
The Tampa Bay Lightning were trying to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions for the first time since the Pittsburgh Penguins. Gearing up for their title
Leading up to the next expansion draft in the NHL on July 21st, we have been previewing each team’s potential protected list and which player they will lose to the Kraken. Today is the Central Division. After only six teams in the Pacific will need to participate (aside from the Kraken, of course), the Central’s eight is a big boost up. They will also have a new team in this division, or at least when the season resets officially on July 28th. So, let’s make some predictions.
One of the most exciting teams league-wide, the Colorado Avalanche captured the President’s Trophy for the first time in 20 years this past season. Finishing atop the West Division with 39 victories, the team also led the NHL with 197 goals for. Enjoying another stellar campaign in 2021, star center Nathan MacKinnon was named a finalist for the Hart Trophy after recording 20 goals and 45 assists in 48 games. Along with this, in his third year with the Avalanche, net minder Philipp Grubauer earned a nomination for the Vezina Trophy. Racking up a .922 save percentage and a 1.95 goals-against average, the 29-year-old finished second in the league with 30 victories in 40 starts.
Qualifying for the playoffs for the 5th consecutive season, the Boston Bruins won 33 games in the league’s shortened 2020-21 season. Earning the third seed in the East Division, the team was led by longtime goaltender Tuukka Rask and star left winger Brad Marchand. Pacing Bruce Cassidy’s team with 29 goals and 40 assists in 53 games, the 33-year-old Marchand finished 6th in the NHL’s goal-scoring race. Making a splash at the trade deadline in April, general manager Don Sweeney acquired the former number one pick Taylor Hall.
The Florida Panthers have nothing to be ashamed about. They had the second-best record in the central division and the fourth-most points in the NHL. The Panthers made the playoffs for the first time in five years, but that euphoria was short-lived as they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round.
After finishing sixth in the Central Division, the Chicago Blackhawks and their fans experienced a disappointing season. While in a rebuild like other teams are, they still needed to perform at their best, and this season was not their best.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are one of the most talented teams in the National Hockey League. They’re fast, experienced, well-coached, and “know what it takes” to win in the postseason having lifted Lord Stanley’s mug last summer inside the NHL bubble.
The #Titans have released CB L'Jarius Sneed, which saves the team $11.4M in cap space. That means he's a Free Agent, and the #Chiefs need a starting cornerback.
Should KC bring him back for another SB Run? @TalkPrimeTime @ChiefsInsider @HenseToddJR3
🚨 BREAKING: The Big 12 is ditching the LED glass court!
Per @PeteThamel, the "state-of-the-art" experiment in KC is over. The league is transitioning back to a hardwood court for the rest of the tournament.
❌ The Reason: Safety first! Players and coaches reported the glass
@deionkburks #Chiefskingdom
🚨 Huge news from @MikeGarafolo
The #Chiefs and LB Drue Tranquill have restructured his contract to create $2.5 MILLION in cap space!
📉 The Move: Base pay drops from $6M to $3.5M, with $3M fully guaranteed.
Brett Veach is clearing every dollar possible to keep this spending
