The National Hockey League opens this evening. The opening will be more like what we all want and remember.
It will hopefully feel a little like the before times. It will also hopefully remind of the now times and PPE masks will be ubiquitous.
The 2021-22 season opens with two games including the Tampa Bay Lightning lifting their second straight Stanley Cup banner as they host the Pittsburgh Penguins.
In Las Vegas, the Golden Knights, before this evening the most recent expansion club, will host the newest expansion franchise, the Seattle Kraken.
Moving vans were popular this off season. Marc-Andre Fleury was moved the Chicago Blackhawks by the Golden Knights, for next to nothing.
Joe Thornton is plying his trade one more year, this time in Florida with the Panthers; Sam Reinhart is joining Thornton in Sunrise.
Duncan Keith is now with the Edmonton Oilers. Say that three times fast and Beetlejuice appears. Zach Hyman is also lacing them up for the Oilers this campaign.
Philipp Grubauer is icing for the Kraken after signing a free agent contract this off season. He was replaced by Darcy Kuemper in Colorado for the Avalanche.
Mark Giordano was claimed in the expansion draft by Seattle and is now the Kraken’s first captain.
Frederik Andersen is the number one goalie in Raleigh with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Blake Coleman signed with the Calgary Flames. No, seriously, he did.
The New York Rangers went from from young and squishy to young and hard edged. Ryan Reaves rejoined his former bench boss in Vegas, Gerard Gallant. Barclay Goodrow joins him on Broadway after leaving Tampa with two Cups.
The Lightning will be looking to three-peat their Cup success. Any fan of the history of hockey will note the difficulty of that feat. Ask Any Islanders’ player from the early 1980’s.
“They’re probably thinking we did it once, why can’t we do it again?” the Chicago Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane, said. “Yeah, I think they could do it but hopefully someone gets in the way. Hopefully that’s us.”
Alex Ovechkin continues his chase to pass Wayne Gretzky’s goal title. Question is whether or not he suits up for the season opener on Wednesday night.
Speaking of not suiting up, Sidney Crosby (recovering from surgery) and Jake Guentzel (COVID19 return) will miss their opener this evening with the Pens.
The Blackhawks will welcome Jonathan Toews back to the roster this season after a year away from the game. That’s good news.
This evening we start our 21st season at Pro Hockey News. We, and our sister outlet, the PHN Podcast (@PHN_PODCAST) are happy to be bringing the new season to you.
We’ve also been thrilled by new blood entering the #TEAMPHN family. You will be seeing their work soon in Belleville, Abbotsford, and San Diego.
We’ve also had to say farewell to several friends over recent years. Hockey has also lost friends, fans, and family over the last 20 months. Let’s tap a stick for those who’ve moved on to a different path.
Remember them all as the hockey fans they were, celebrate their memories as your team hits the ice this week.
Oh, and wear a mask!
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