It's the greatest time of the year. Hockey season is officially upon us, even though it's like four months overdue. I have been itching for the NHL to return since they completed the 2019-20 season in August-September, respectively. The new season is bringing a whole new batch of fun storylines to the table, in what is sure to be an exciting-yet-shortened season. So what should we be on the lookout for come January 13th?
1) Tampa Bay's Cup Defense Officially Starts
With the new season comes the beginning of the quest for the Stanley Cup. 2020 was the year the Tampa Bay Lightning finally shed their demons and triumphed over the Dallas Stars en route to their first Stanley Cup since 2004. To think, the Bolts dominated almost every matchup they had in the playoffs, even though some of their series went to six games. Not to mention, they did it without star center Steven Stamkos. However, Stamkos has had plenty of time to recover from his knee injury and he will be needed now more than ever if Tampa wants a chance at a repeat. Right winger Nikita Kucherov opted out of this season to undergo hip surgery. This is a big blow, losing a star player, but have no fear, Brayden Point is here. The young center proved throughout the regular season and playoffs he was more than capable of carrying a significant scoring load and first-line center duties. Anthony Cirelli is back too, so the Bolts have locked up their top two line quarterbacks, with a stellar supporting cast of Ondrej Palat, Barclay Goodrow, Blake Coleman, with Victor Hedman and Mikhail Sergachev in defense. Though they are now in a new division due to Covid travel restrictions, don't be shocked if Tampa rides their momentum from last year into the new season. They will be a force to be reckoned with.
2) Alexis Lafreniere's NHL Debut
The New York Rangers were the golden geese of the postseason after they secured the first overall pick in the 2020 draft. They picked up Alexis Lafreniere, a truly elite prospect who looks incredible even in his small glimpses of training camp. Some pundits believe he is the next key piece in the Rangers' rebuild. The New York youth movement continued this offseason as the Blueshirts parted ways with beloved goalie Henrik Lundqvist. There's a new king of New York now; a czar if you will: Igor Shesterkin. He had a very rough and tumble first year in between the iron but he is the real deal. Come January 14th, we will get to witness whether Lafreniere's talent is legit and if he is the final piece needed for the Rangers return to glory.
3) Joe Thornton's Maple Leafs Debut
To this day, this signing makes no sense to me. The Toronto Maple Leafs were in dire need of fourth-line forward depth, but many thought it was smart to promote another prospect to the team. Instead, GM Kyle Dubas went out and secured the signature of Joe Thornton, once an elite NHL player now reduced to a three-shifts-a-game type of veteran. I get it, the Leafs need experienced players to help lead a squad built mainly around young talent in Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, but this is not the prime Joe Thornton. He can barely move on the ice, but the Maple Leaf delusion continues, thinking the team has somehow now got better by signing a 41-year-old center. Perhaps I am being harsh, but anyone who isn't a Toronto fan saw this signing as farfetched and almost unnecessary. You can't argue with Leafs' fans; they are desperate to win another Stanley Cup. The drought is now reaching year 54 and the fans' patience is completely gone. This is the year the Leafs will need to put up or shut up. Another first-round loss and it will be the end of this core of players.
4) Boston Bruins: Contenders or Pretenders?
The Bruins underwent a seemingly tough offseason after their defense was dealt two mighty losses. First, Torey Krug, one of their blueline geniuses, signed a seven-year deal with the Blues after Boston continued to low-ball him. He is a player that was crucial to the Bruins' power play and penalty kill. He's small but gritty and he doesn't take shit from anyone. His loss will be felt, I can guarantee. Next, the impossible happened: Big Z, Zdeno Chara, signed with the Washington Capitals after failing to reach a new deal with the Bruins. Another big veteran in the twilight of his career is linking up with Alex Ovechkin and company for one more go-around, ideally, one that ends with a Stanley Cup in tow. The Bruins have not totally addressed these new gaps in the team, so it will be interesting to see how they fare in a new division. All eyes will be on David Pastrnak and if he can be another 40+ goal scorer for the Bruins. This could be the final season for Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand in black and yellow, so the time to win is now. Boston is going to be taken for a wild ride.
5) Alex Pietrangelo's Vegas Tenure Begins
Another big storyline of the offseason was whether St. Louis was going to resign their captain, Alex Pietrangelo. The veteran defenseman played a massive role in the Blues' Cup win in 2019. However, a deal was not made and with Torey Krug coming in, Pietrangelo decided to sign elsewhere. The winners of the sweepstakes ended up being the Vegas Golden Knights, a team that seems to never run out of cap room. Pietrangelo got everything he was worth and then some: seven years, $8.8 million AAV. The price Vegas is paying is steep, but they are going all in this season. 2020 was a year many fans and pundits thought was the year for Vegas to win the Cup. They have only improved their roster with a two-way d-man like Pietrangelo. He and Shea Theodore now lead a very stacked and potent defensive core. We will see if the Knights can keep up their insane levels of scoring, shot-blocking, and goaltending. Much like the Avengers in Endgame, they will do whatever it takes to win.
6) Buffalo Sabres. That's It.
No corny gag for a title this time. The Sabres secured a priceless asset this summer with Taylor Hall. After coming off a season where he was traded from the Devils to the Coyotes, Hall has still not found a permanent home since he was dealt from the Oilers in 2016. He took a one-year deal to link up with Jack Eichel. However, Eichel is pissed. He's tired of all the losing the Sabres have endured since his drafting and he wants out, unless the Sabres make it to the playoffs. This could be their year. Key pieces in Rasmus Dahlin, Rasmus Ristolainen, Victor Olofsson, and Sam Reinhart will be looked at to finally take the next step in their career production. The Sabres have been out of the playoffs for close to fifteen years; they are finally due to return. The question is can they with this batch of players? If they don't, will Eichel request a trade? The Sabres bring drama and who doesn't love a good dramatic storyline?
I may have missed a few trades and signings here and there, but I think these are the most noteworthy in the grand scheme of the 2021 season. It's sure to be a weird one as the league goes through it's first and hopefully only Covid regular season. The new division matchups will be incredibly gripping to watch, especially the all-Canadian team North Division. It will be much like the old-time NHL, where teams play each other five-six times a year before the playoffs. Strap in, it's hockey season.
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