With the start of the 2020-21 NHL campaign less than two weeks away in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, hockey fans from coast to coast are gearing up for what promises to be an unforgettable 56-game season for the ages. Without further ado, here are three compelling storylines to keep an eye on ahead of the upcoming National Hockey League season.
Which Electrifying Rookie Brings Home the Calder Trophy?
Fasten your seatbelt, hockey fans, the next wave of talented youngsters have descended on North American rinks. In a league where top, high-end talent is aplenty amongst so many of its young players, the 2020-21 campaign promises to have several electrifying rookies on full display. From number-one overall pick Alexis Lafreniere of the New York Rangers to Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild, to Quinton Byfield of the Los Angeles Kings, and goaltenders Iyla Sorokin, Ilya Samsonov, and Igor Shesterkin (among others), it’s certainly a wonderful time to be a hockey fan.
Whether your “forte” is speed, skill, flexibility, play-making ability, or lightning-quick reflexes, these rookies which also include Tim Stutzle of the Ottawa Senators, Bowen Byram of the Colorado Avalanche, and Grigori Denisenko of the Florida Panthers will definitely take your breath away. Look for each of the aforementioned players to “put on a show” throughout the course of the season-these kids are that good.
Last year, the likes of Quinn Hughes, Cale Makar, Dominik Kubalik, and Adam Fox stole the proverbial show as rookies to compliment the likes of Andrei Svechnikov, Brayden Point, Miro Heiskanen, Carter Hart, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Auston Matthews, and Sebastian Aho. The names are endless and the skill levels are ever-lasting in a league that contains so many high-profile youngsters that are just oozing with talent. If you love youthful flair, exuberance, and game-changing skill, the National Hockey League will be the go-to league to watch come mid-January. As passionate fans, we’ll just have to see how it all plays out.
Can the Toronto Maple Leafs Exhaust their Playoff Demons?
The 2020-21 NHL season will be the third season on the trot for Toronto’s “Core-4” consisting of Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and team captain, John Tavares, who joined the fray in the Summer of 2018. The previous campaigns have all ended the same-playoff disappointment and elimination in Round One. With that being said, there is certainly reason for optimism if you’re a die-hard supporter of the Leafs this time around.
After being ousted in the qualification round last August at the hands of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Toronto general manager Kyle Dubas went to work shortly thereafter. In fact, this off-season was one of the busiest on record for the man dubbed the “boy wonder” in southern Ontario. For starters, Kasperi Kapanen, Tyson Barrie, Andreas Johnsson, Cody Ceci, and Frederik Gauthier were all shown the door. Brought in to help exhaust Toronto’s playoff demons were the likes of T.J. Brodie, Zach Bogosian, Wayne Simmonds, Jimmy Vesey, Joey Anderson, and long-time San Joe Shark and Olympic Gold Medallist, Joe Thornton.
It’s become quite clear that Dubas wants his team to be bigger, more experienced, and to be a lot tougher to play against, something that we would not have said 18 months prior. There is also much more of an emphasis on leadership to insulate Toronto’s young core, something that guys like Thornton, Simmonds, and Bogosian will certainly help with. Placed in the National Hockey League’s North (aka All-Canadian) division, only time will tell if this team can finally get over the playoff hump. The Leafs will be one of the most fascinating teas to watch ahead of the new campaign. Stay tuned, Leafs nation.
Which Head Coaches Find Themselves on the Hot Seat?
In a league that sees a ton of turnover behind the bench each and every season, there are indeed a few individuals whose seats may be a tad bit warmer than usual in 2020-21. Let’s start with Detroit Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill.
After an abysmal past few seasons which saw his team finish dead last in the NHL standings by a significant (and wide) margin, “Blash” and the Wings will be under the microscope this season, specifically from their general manager, Steve Yzerman. Although the Wings are mired in a long (and rather painful) rebuild, all eyes will be on Blashill and Detroit as they look for some jump, fight, and ability to eke out wins in the ever-competitive (and re-aligned) Central division. Although not much is expected from the team from Hockeytown in 2020-21, Blashill and his team better be ready to show some gumption if he is to have any hope of retaining his post in the future. You’ve been put on notice, Blash.
Next up is Chicago Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton. Although the Blackhawks are just five seasons removed from a Stanley Cup triumph, their third since 2010, the club has fallen on some tough times over the past few seasons. Some of the proverbial blame and finger-pointing, unfortunately, falls on head coach Jeremy Colliton, who by all intents and purposes, is in charge of steering the ship. As a coach over the course of 137 games, Colliton has posted a 62-58-17 record to go along with a below-average .452 winning percentage. In a league ultimately driven by wins and losses, Colliton will definitely be on the hot seat this year.
Times are certainly changing in the Windy City, as the Hawks said goodbye to long-time netminder Corey Crawford this off-season and find themselves with an aging core which includes the likes of Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, and Brent Seabrook. In addition, they are also set to start the year without stud forward Kirby Dach and team captain, Jonathan Toews, who is out indefinitely. The team’s (ever-growing) injury list, coupled with uncertainty in goal, and a core that isn’t getting younger spells big trouble for the Blackhawks ahead of the 2020-21 campaign. It’s surely shaping up to be one long season (once again) on the hockey side of things in Chicago, Illinois.
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