CAN THE PENGUINS THREE-PEAT?
Pittsburgh’s title defence tops 10 storylines to follow in 2017-18, writes Mike Zeisberger.
Wayne Gretzky’s Edmonton Oilers couldn’t do it.
Nor could Nicklas Lidstrom’s Detroit Red Wings.
Even the Pittsburgh Penguins’ dynamic duo of Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr could not pull off the feat.
Indeed, as impressive as the accomplishments of those aforementioned Hall of Famers have been, none were able to pull off what Sidney Crosby and his Penguins have the opportunity to do. Three-peat.
In fact, you have to go back to the 1980-83 New York Islanders to find the last team to do it. In the end, Al Arbour’s juggernaut won four consecutive Stanley Cups, putting themselves into the NHL history books in the process.
From the lightning-quick release of Mike Bossy, to the skill and dogged determination of Bryan Trottier, to the blue-line domination of Denis Potvin, to the swashbuckling intimidation of goalie Billy Smith, the Islanders became one of the top dynasties the league has seen.
Will we use the “dynasty” word when all is said and done if the Penguins hoist hockey’s Holy Grail for a third consecutive season?
BUILDING BLOCKS ARE THERE
Crosby, fellow forwards Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel, defenceman Kris Letang and goalie Matt Murray provide the type of franchise foundation rarely seen in the salary cap era.
That the Penguins were able to repeat this spring without the services of an injured Letang makes their most recent championship that much more impressive.
Now comes the quest for three. “We know the odds aren’t on our side. That’s OK,” Crosby said. “We have a group that believes in one another and it’s going to take a lot of things to go right, but why not?” Why not indeed?
Taking all things into account, the Penguins’ bid for history ranks as the top NHL storyline entering the 2017-18 season. Their biggest obstacle? Leaguewide parity.
To that end, we conducted a poll of some of the league’s top stars during the NHL’s annual media tour several weeks ago in New York. One of the questions posed to the likes of Connor McDavid, Patrick Kane and Jamie Benn: who will win the Stanley Cup?
The 25 players surveyed by Postmedia ended up picking 11 different teams. That’s more than onethird of the league’s 31 franchises. That’s what you call parity. The Penguins did receive some love in the results, tying for top spot with the Dallas Stars with four votes each. There were plenty of other contenders, including the Edmonton Oilers (three), Chicago Blackhawks (three), Tampa Bay Lightning (three), Anaheim Ducks (two), Washington Capitals (two), Nashville Predators (one), St. Louis Blues (one), San Jose Sharks (one) and Los Angeles Kings (one).
In the end, the scrap for the Cup might be the most wide-open fight we’ve seen.
YOUNG GUNS ARISE
Maybe it’s not the official passing of the torch. But the emergence of a new generation certainly is leaving its footprint on the sport, a movement featuring the likes of McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Johnny Gaudreau, Mark Scheifele, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Jack Eichel — the list goes on and on. During the less-than-memorable World Cup of Hockey event from a year ago, the highlight was the electrifying play of Team North America, a group of 23-and-under kids that captured the imagination of fans everywhere.
“It was so much fun,” McDavid said. “It would have been awesome to have reached the playoff round and see what we could have done.”
Despite winning the Hart Trophy as league MVP, McDavid still considers Crosby the sport’s top player. But if the torch hasn’t been passed, it’s at least being shared. And there are plenty of other young guns waiting in the wings, too.
OH, CANADA
In the spring of 2016, none of the seven Canadian-based teams were in the playoffs. One year later, there were five. And while it’s doubtful all seven will qualify for the 2018 Cup tournament, it’s not unreasonable to think six could be in the mix.
In the spring, the Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames reached the post-season. And with some more consistent goaltending, the Winnipeg Jets could be added to that list by the time next April rolls around.
The lone long shot in the bunch appears to be the Vancouver Canucks, who have a long rebuild ahead. BIG HACK ATTACK
For those players who were whining during the pre-season about the rash of penalties being handed out for whacks to an opponent’s hand, maybe you should take time to watch video of the ugly finger injuries suffered last season by the likes of Marc Methot and Gaudreau.
Good for incoming player safety sheriff George Parros for vowing to eliminate this type of harmful hacking from the game. Players need to adapt, not protest.
“If they seem to be intentful or directed at the fingers and hands with greater force, we’re going to be looking to do something — fines, suspensions, whatever it might be,” Parros said. “We’re going to try to change player behaviour.”
The hiring of Parros raised more than a few eyebrows around the hockey world, given his reputation as a pugilist during his playing days. But the numbers tell a different story: despite racking up 1,092 penalty minutes in his 474-game career, Parros was never fined or suspended. Now he’ll be the one doing the suspending.
VEGAS BABY, VEGAS!
Can the sport of pucks and sticks survive in the world of craps and slots?
We’re about to find out.
The NHL is the first of North America’s top four pro sports leagues to put its footprint into Sin City and the early reviews have been encouraging. From high ticket demand to a think-outside-thebox social-media department, the intrigue surrounding this unique franchise is at a level unequalled for any incoming expansion team.
Of course, sooner or later the bloom will come off the rose if you don’t win. Or, at least, don’t ice an entertaining product.
FACES IN NEW PLACES
On the ice, Kevin Shattenkirk is a New York Ranger; Patrick Marleau is a Toronto Maple Leaf; Jonathan Drouin is a Montreal Canadien; Artemi Panarin is a Columbus Blue Jacket; Jordan Eberle is a New York Islander; and Ben Bishop, Alexander Radulov and Methot are Dallas Stars.
Behind the bench, the list of incoming coaches includes Rick Tocchet (Arizona), Phil Housley (Buffalo), Ken Hitchcock (Dallas), Bob Boughner (Florida), John Stevens (Los Angeles) and Travis Green (Vancouver). Gerard Gallant, meanwhile, is the first coach of the expansion Vegas Golden Knights.
FACEOFF FOLLIES
From the moment the first puck was dropped on the pre-season, NHL players suddenly felt like the faceoff circle was a foreign place.
With the league’s crackdown on cheating on draws — including tactics such as using feet to obstruct opponents and swipe at pucks — what was once considered an attempt to gain a competitive advantage has transformed into a march to the penalty box.
According to director of officiating Stephen Walkom, there will be a period of growing pains before players fully adapt to the guidelines.
“By playoff time, the players will have changed the way they set up for a faceoff,” he said, adding that “we knew at camp we’d have to live through some pain.”
They certainly have.
THE ROCKET’S RED GLARE
The quest for 50 is officially on again.
For only the second time in the past 13 seasons, no NHL player was able to reach the 50-goal plateau last season. Crosby captured the Rocket Richard Trophy with 44.
Looking healthy again after missing much of last season with a knee injury, Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos should have a shot at hitting the elusive 50 mark this season. Lightning teammate Nikita Kucherov and St. Louis sniper Vladimir Tarasenko are among those with legitimate shots, too, as are McDavid and Crosby.
Having said that, don’t count out the likes of Matthews and Patrik Laine, who look to be even better in their second NHL seasons.
CHALLENGE THIS
Attention NHL coaches: challenge at your own risk.
In an effort to cut down on the number of times bench bosses issue challenges debating whether plays leading to opposition goals are offside, the league will now hand out two-minute minor penalties to teams whose coaches are proven wrong in such instances.
Video coaches around the NHL will be feeling the heat whenever their head coach asks them to verify if a play was offside.
TAMPA TRIUMPH?
A year ago in this space, we picked the Lightning to defeat the Nashville Predators for the Stanley Cup.
We were right about the Nashville part as the Preds went on to represent the Western Conference in the Cup final.
As for Tampa Bay? Well, Jon Cooper’s squad didn’t make the playoffs thanks largely to a huge injury list headlined by Stamkos.
As for this season, we’re picking the Lightning for the Cup again.
Stamkos is back and there doesn’t seem to be any possible way they can suffer as many injuries as a year ago. On the back end, Victor Hedman could very well win the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenceman, especially with Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson recovering from an ankle injury to start the year. Looking into our crystal ball, we see McDavid’s Oilers reaching the final and giving the Lightning everything they can handle.
Other teams to watch out for in the Stanley Cup dance: the Stars, Ducks, Blue Jackets and Maple Leafs.
At least in the opinion of this particular ink-stained wretch.