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Yearbook 2015-16
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.
DOG DAYS IN THE DESERT
THE CLEANUP PROJECT IS IN FULL SWING, but after the Arizona Coyotes plummeted to 29th overall amid a 50-loss performance last season, this could be a lengthy process. Their collapse triggered a rebuild that’s guided by the hope the team can be a Stanley Cup contender in three to four years, but the Coyotes want to be competitive enough in the interim to still vie for a playoff spot. They targeted experienced players in the off-season, while leaving opportunities open for youngsters, and have had to reconstruct their roster with their foothold in Glendale, Ariz., under scrutiny. The city tried to renege on its 15-year, $225-million arena management agreement with the team before the two parties agreed to a resolution in late July. Arizona has a clear plan to repair the on-ice product,…
REGAINING THE THRONE
AFTER BECOMING THE FIRST defending Stanley Cup champion since the 2006-07 Hurricanes to miss the playoffs, the Los Angeles Kings will be highly motivated in 2015-16. Raising a third banner in five years would surpass the Blackhawks’ run of three in six years and make the Kings a modern-day dynasty. The addition of power forward Milan Lucic puts the Kings in position for a revival, providing they can absorb the departures of Justin Williams and Jarret Stoll and the potential loss of Slava Voynov. GM-president Dean Lombardi has managed the salary cap adequately, but other off-ice wrinkles must be ironed out. Voynov spent his summer serving a 90-day jail sentence after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor count of corporal injury to a spouse, while a cocaine bust coincided with the departure…
WAVERING IN THE PACIFIC
IT TOOK JIM BENNING A LONG TIME to get over the Vancouver Canucks’ sobering, six-game playoff loss to the Flames. It took a short time for the GM to make notable changes to his roster, front office and even the medical staff. Benning revamped his front office with the firings of vice-president of hockey operations Laurence Gilman, assistant GM Lorne Henning and director of player personnel Eric Crawford. He also overhauled the roster by shipping out defenseman Kevin Bieksa, goaltender Eddie Lack, right winger Zack Kassian and center Nick Bonino. Brandon Sutter and Brandon Prust were all that came back in return. Vancouver could have as many as nine roster players on expiring contracts, which will usher in more turnover. Benning maintains the team will stay competitive, but it looks more like…
SHOOTING FOR SAVES
GM JIM NILL PUT a lot of his eggs into the goaltending basket this off-season, and for good reason. The Dallas Stars were tied for 26th in goals against with 257 and 29th in save percentage at .895, and the advanced stats indicate the main issues were between the pipes. So Nill targeted 32-year-old Finnish netminder Antti Niemi and signed the former Cup winner to a three-year contract at $4.5 million per season. Add that to the $5.9-million cap hit for Kari Lehtonen, and the Stars have the most dollars dedicated to goaltending in the NHL. Nill hired goalie coach Jeff Reese (12 years of experience in Tampa Bay and Philadelphia), and gave him the task of handling this two-headed monster. As if the NHL’s second-ranked offense wasn’t potent enough, Nill brought in…
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