10 quESTIONS LOOkINg FOR ANSWERS
The NHL season is looming and after a summer of trades, signings and other assorted roster moves, the table is set for another 82-game marathon. Here’s a look at 10 big question marks heading into the 2013-14 season:
1. It’s double-barrelled in Vancouver, where the Canucks don’t know what to expect from a disgruntled goalie in Roberto Luongo, who nonetheless knows he must play lights out to win a job on Canada’s Olympic team. The other side is fiery new coach John Tortorella, who’s installing a highoctane system that will be a challenge to some players.
2. Can the volatile Patrick Roy make the huge jump from junior hockey to GM and coach for the Avalanche and replicate the success he had in the Quebec League? He has a young forward group — including first-overall pick Nathan MacKinnon — that should be able to score goals, but has question marks on defence.
3. Can they spend their way out of trouble in Philly — where the Flyers took a humongous hit with the Ilya Bryzgalov buyout ($23 million), then turned around and signed a 33-year-old Vinny Lecavalier to a five-year, $22.5-million deal and 35-year-old Mark Streit to four years and $21 million. Playoffs or bust. Literally.
4. Will the reduction in the allowable height of goaltenders’ leg pads lead to more goals this season? Or will netminders simply adjust. It’s based on body size and, of course, what size pads the goalie was using. So some goalies will lose two inches — adding a theoretical four inches to their five-hole — and others will lose nothing.
5. Is the Columbus franchise poised to finally turn the corner to respectability? Perennial sad sacks, the Jackets went 19-5-4 in March and April and won eight of their final nine games. They’ve added Nathan Horton, though he’ll miss the start of the season due to shoulder surgery. Marian Gaborik is in a contract year but Sergei Bobrovsky needs to prove his Vezina wasn’t a mirage.
6. Can a 39-year-old Tim Thomas recapture his Stanley Cup winning form in Florida after 17 months away from the game? Doubtful, but you know how the contrarian Thomas loves it when people doubt him.
7. Is going from one outdoor game to six in a season a good idea? We’re guessing the novelty factor might take a hit. And what’s the over/under on rainouts/ snowed-ins?
8. Can ex-Canucks goalie Cory Schneider overtake Martin Brodeur as No. 1 in New Jersey this season? The Devils are rebuilding and bet on Schneider getting close to half of the starts.
9. Is fighting on the way back in the NHL? We’re guessing dedicated scrappers will continue to be irrelevant, but we’ll see how it plays out.
10. How will the new divisional structure and new balanced schedule — where all 30 teams play in all 30 arenas at least once — be received? For the fans, who’ll see all the league’s stars in their home rink, it’s a huge bonus.