Search for your favorite player or team
© The Hockey News. All rights reserved. Any and all material on this website cannot be used, reproduced, or distributed without prior written permission from Roustan Media Ltd. For more information, please see our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
October 24, 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.
‘BIG MAC’ ATTACK
ON A NORTH AMERICA squad featuring three “generational” players, it’s worth noting the first-overall pick from 2013 did some major damage. Because for all of the talk surrounding Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel over the past two years, Nathan MacKinnon has quietly turned into a beast. Blessed with blazing speed, MacKinnon made a Calder Trophy splash in 2013-14, helping the Colorado Avalanche to a surprise Central Division title. And while two straight years in the basement led to coach Patrick Roy’s resignation, it also gave MacKinnon time to grow as a top-line threat in relative anonymity, while training with fellow Cole Harbour, N.S., native Sidney Crosby during the summers. “He came in as a baby-faced kid, 18 years old, right out of junior,” said Avs defenseman Erik Johnson. “When…
TOP 5 NHL OWNERS
1. JEFF VINIK, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING There is probably no owner in the NHL who has invested himself more in his team and his city than has Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik. Since buying the team in 2010, the needle has moved upward with the Lightning, and much of that comes right from the top. When the Lightning went to the Stanley Cup final two years ago, Vinik acknowledged he really couldn’t determine whether a defenseman was having a good game or a bad one. (He should just watch Victor Hedman. He has lots of good ones.) But perhaps the best thing about Vinik is he knows what he doesn’t know. From hiring Tod Leiweke on the business side and Steve Yzerman on the hockey side to his charitable efforts and his…
PLAYER TO WATCH WESTERN CONFERENCE
RICKARD RAKELL is in a sweet spot for career advancement. He’s 23, closing in on 200 NHL games and showing steady year-over-year improvement. Just 10 of his 43 points last season came on the power play and he is the main man on the second unit. He needs to improve on faceoffs as he’s under 47 percent for his career. A year ago, MAX DOMI went from best prospect to best forward in one swoop. He posted 10 points in his first nine games and made the transition from junior to NHL look easy. The Coyotes will lean more heavily on him and his 16:22 average ice time (which ranked just 147th among NHL forwards) is sure to rise. SAM BENNETT’ offensive upside is beyond that of teammate Sean Monahan and the…
BEST CAPTAINS
1. JONATHAN TOEWS You can practically pin Chicago’s status as a modern dynasty to the captaincy of Jonathan Toews. The first year he wore the ‘C,’ the Blackhawks went to the Western Conference final. One year later, he was receiving the Stanley Cup from commissioner Gary Bettman. Before Toews was captain? Chicago had missed the post-season altogether for five straight campaigns. Now, a few other players have been key to this transition as well – Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Marian Hossa among them – but Toews is the focal point. It would be easy to look at Chicago’s core and see why Toews has three Cup rings well before his 30th birthday, but the road hasn’t always been smooth. Salary cap troubles have meant a partial dismantling after every championship,…
Made possible with the support of
