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Playoff Preview 2016
The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. In each issue, you'll find news, features and opinions about the NHL and leagues across North America and the world.
NORTHERN BLIGHTS
HAVING TORONTO OR MONTREAL IN THE PLAY OFF'S THAT'S LIKE MONEY IN THE BANK -MARKETING EXPERT BRIAN COOPER AS CANADA’S SEVEN NHL teams continued their forced march through the stretch run of the regular season, there is one bright spot to their collective ineptitude in 2015-16. From a league perspective, if you have to have seven teams north of the 49th miss the playoffs en masse, a year when the Canadian dollar is trading at about 75 cents is as good a time as any. And that’s about where it ends. Having an all-American Stanley Cup tournament isn’t ideal for anyone, since reduced interest in Canada is bound to create a drag on overall league revenues. And it’s nothing short of an unmitigated disaster for Rogers, the Canadian broadcaster currently in the second…
REALITIES COLLIDE
YOU MIGHT VIEW life through a microscope, telescope, periscope or colonoscope, but we’re all firmly entrenched under the lens of a kaleidoscope. We change, intermingle, share commonalities and are disparate. And we’re colorful. Yes, all of us. That’s the image that surfaced for me upon taking stock of the content in this issue. In Matt Larkin’s feature on Nicklas Backstrom, the Capitals center explains how having a child in his life has helped take the edge off bad days at the office. It cushions the blow. It changes perspective. It’s a common refrain. By contrast, in Jason Buckland’s piece on the massive strength of critically ill teenager Josh Karels, the Minnesota youth player and fan credits hockey for helping to save his life. It takes his mind off the horrible diseases he’s…
HALF ROBIN HALF JOKER
BACKSTROM IS A PRANKSTER. YOU WOULDN’T THINK IT WOULD BE HIM, WHICH IS A GREAT COVER FOR HIM – Barry Trotz Nicklas Backstrom has the yips. Too bad, as golf is by far his favorite summer pastime. He’s damn good at it, a five handicap. He carves his way through most courses off the tee, in his approach shots, via his short game. Put the man on a green, however, and his knees start to wobble. Backstrom can’t putt. He’s terrible at reading undulations. Of all skills on a course for him to lack… putting? Really? This is Nicklas Backstrom, the tranquil Swede with golden blond locks and stoic green eyes. The robotically efficient playmaking machine. The man with more assists than any player not named Joe Thornton or Henrik Sedin since…
NASHVILLE PREDATORS
HOW THEY WIN: That Nashville had the luxury of trading Seth Jones is a testament to its supreme blueline depth and talent. The Preds may have the best top pair in the NHL between Shea Weber and Roman Josi. Mattias Ekholm and Ryan Ellis have also taken steps forward this year. This team runs its offense swiftly from the back end. That said, young left winger Filip Forsberg continues to bloom into the elusive sniper Nashville had always lacked. He was unstoppable in February and March, even recording two hat tricks in a three-game stretch. The Predators rank among the top possession teams. They have a lot of workman-like forwards who can handle a gritty style, from Mike Fisher to James Neal. The Ryan Johansen trade has given them the big…
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