August sucks. It’s way to damn hot and it has sporadic hockey news. But, instead of being bitter, I’m going to look forward and share with you the things I am most looking forward to seeing in the upcoming season.
EVENTS
1. Preseason in Non-Market Cities
Every year, there is a preseason game played at the MGM Grand between the Kings and the Avalanche, and this year is no exception. It must be a huge success because the NHL has scheduled a mulitiude of preseason games to be played in cities that do not currently have an NHL team. Some notable games include Los Angeles vs. St. Louis in Kansas City, Calgary vs. Phoenix in Winnipeg, and Boston vs. Detroit/Montreal in Halifax. There are others on the complete list, which can be found at TSN.ca.
The NHL has also expanded the amount of games played overseas as well. The previous season had two games in London, England featuring the Anaheim Ducks and the LA Kings. Just like last year, these games will be played during the preseason, but will count towards the regular season points standings. The New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning are slated to play 5 games in four cities: Berlin, Germany; Berlin, Switzerland; Helsinki, Finland; and Gothenburg, Sweden. Hopefully this becomes a trend, because the NHL could really benefit from this kind of exposure.
2. Hockey at Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field will play host to the 2nd Annual Winter Classic which will pit the Blackhawks against the Red Wings. This game will be a much more intimate experience for the fans attending than the previous game at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, NY. 73,967 seats versus the 41,118 seats Wrigley has is a big difference that should make for no bad views of the game. Plus, having the reigning Cup champs take on one of their rivals on New Years Day? You couldn’t ask for a better hockey story.
TEAMS
1. The Tampa Bay Lightning
Let’s talk about the team that did the most abrupt about face I have ever seen during an offseason. The Lightning first got themselves some new owners. Then, they coaxed Barry Melrose away from ESPN and back behind the bench as their new coach. Steve Stamkos signs a 3 year deal with the team after being drafted number one. Let’s not forget their long and impressive list of free agent signings and trades including, but not limited to, Olaf Kolzig, Ryan Malone, Gary Roberts, Brian Rolston, and Mark Recchi. This team seems dedicated to turning itself around after being the worst team in the league, and I’m excited to see where they end up after such a busy offseason.
2. Pittsburgh Penguins
On the flip side of that coin, the Pittsburgh Penguins lost a lot of key players this summer after falling to the Red Wings in the Cup Finals. Marian Hossa signs with the aforementioned Wings, Hall, Roberts and Malone sign with the aforementioned Lightning, Laraque with the Habs, and Ruutu to the Sens. However, they gain the likes of Matt Cooke, Ruslan Fedotenko, and Miroslav Satan to help fill some holes. Will it be enough, or has the chemistry of the 2008 Eastern Conference champs been compromised? The Penguins have the potential to squander all their progress, or use some fresh faces to propel themselves even further to the top. Let’s hope Crosby can help his team live up to their high expectations.
I know I still have at least a month to see the start of the ’08 – ’09 season, but at least I know I have a lot to look forward to. What are you waiting for? Let me know in the comments.