Five big NHL storylines to watch
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We've already detailed the seven biggest storylines during the offseason, and now our attention turns to the stories bound to intrigue during the regular season.
From imbalance between the conferences to contract issues for a big-name coach to the NHL's international plans, here are five big things to keep an eye on.
1. How tough is the Western Conference? Let us count the ways. A conservative ranking says eight of the top 10 teams in the NHL reside in the West. Four of the past five Stanley Cup winners and the past three in a row come from the West, and if we had to suggest which teams made the most significant improvements over the summer, the bulk of those would be Western Conference outfits. Defending Cup champs the Los Angeles Kings? The Chicago Blackhawks or Anaheim Ducks? The St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche or Minnesota Wild? The list goes on. What does it mean? That even the slightest of slumps can jeopardize a team's playoff dreams and that folks better get used to staying up late to see the best hockey on the planet.
2. Does a viable Cup contender even exist in the East? OK, the yin to that Western yang is who emerges from the wide-open Eastern Conference as a viable Stanley Cup contender. Hard to imagine that the New York Rangers replicating their run to the 2014 finals, or that the Rangers' conference-final opponents the Montreal Canadiens will find a way to go deep into the postseason next spring. Can the Pittsburgh Penguins reverse their playoff karma after a summer of significant change? What about the Tampa Bay Lightning, whose offseason moves have lots of folks thinking they'll challenge Eastern Conference darlings the Boston Bruins for top spot in the Atlantic? For us, the team to watch is the Columbus Blue Jackets. With their terrific goaltending, top-end coaching and a young, hard-working squad, the Blue Jackets could make life interesting at the top of the Metropolitan Division in spite of their acrimonious contract squabbles with star center Ryan Johansen.
Everyone is banking on this becoming a must-see, must-attend event regardless of whether the Olympics remain on the docket, but especially if the door is closed on the league's Olympic adventure. The International Olympic Committee had better step up and ensure the dynamics that made the Sochi games a success for the players and the NHL can be replicated in South Korea in 2018, or the NHL will be walking away -- and that would be a giant loss for hockey fans everywhere. Regardless, the NHL owes it to the rest of the hockey world to not drag out the Olympic decision, so here's hoping we know one way or another by the end of this season whether the NHL will back for the '18 Games.
4. What about the Mike Babcock effect? Unless the Detroit Red Wings and their head coach come to a long-term agreement sooner rather than later, the conjecture and hypothesizing over what will happen to one of the most successful coaches of his generation is going to be a season-long thing. That's good for reporters and fans, but maybe not so good for Babcock and the Wings. If Babcock doesn't ink an extension and the Wings falter, would general manager Ken Holland make a preemptive move to bring in Jeff Blashill, who is seen as the heir apparent? And what if Babcock does hit the market either in-season or next summer? What impact does that have on guys like Randy Carlyle in Toronto, Mike Johnston in Pittsburgh or others? In some ways it would be no different than a top player entering a contract year with no real sense an extension is imminent or even desired by either side, creating an element of instability in the marketplace.
5. The impact of injuries. It's not exactly breaking news that the ripple effect of key injuries is felt throughout a team's lineup, and even beyond to an entire division or conference. This season key personnel are going down at an alarming rate even before the regular season opens. Claude Giroux is expected to miss most of the Philadelphia Flyers training camp, not a good sign given the poor start the team's captain and the entire squad got off to a year ago. Derek Stepan, the New York Rangers' top center, was lost indefinitely after suffering a broken leg. The same fate befell Carolina center Jordan Staal. The loss of those important pieces to such significant injury could affect both teams' playoffs hopes, although the Staal loss really could put the Canes on track for the first overall draft pick. The Detroit Red Wings' season of uncertainty (see above) became even murkier with the announcement that star center Pavel Datsyuk would miss up to five weeks with a shoulder injury. That will put even more pressure on a group of young Wings forwards who were already being counted on to help keep the team's playoff streak alive. Include the Blue Jackets' Boone Jenner (hand), the Ducks' Dany Heatley (groin) and the Senators' Marc Methot (back), and you have quite a list of banged-up big names.
