Over the course of the offseason, the NHL, somewhat quietly, introduced a new rule to crackdown on faceoff violations. Now that the preseason is here, it's become glaringly evident that essentially no one knows how it works.
The definition of the league's handling of faceoffs, per the NHL's rule book, is as follows:
"There will be a stricter enforcement of the face-off procedure - especially with respect to the markings inside the face-off circle. Under section 76.4, the players will be instructed to set, so they will stand squarely facing their opponents' end of the rink, and clear of the ice markings (where applicable). the defensive Player will be instructed to set (skates and stick) then, the offense Player will be instructed to set (skates and stick)."
It's not off to a great start.
remember when faceoff violation was like "guy put his hand over the puck" not "guy put his skate marginally over parallel line"
Koivu will carry a cap hit of $6.75 million in the final season of a seven-year contract signed in 2010. Once his extension kicks in, he'll earn $5.5 million per campaign.
The Wild centerman has been consistent throughout his career in Minnesota, and is the club's all-time leader in games played, assists, and points.
In 80 games last season, Koivu, 34, recorded 18 goals and 40 assists, marking his highest point total since 2010-11. Koivu also led all Wild forwards in averaging 19:07 in ice time, and won 55.2% of faceoffs, good enough to earn recognition as a Selke Trophy finalist.
The Colorado Avalanche center clarified his status with the team Monday, telling Mike Chambers of The Denver Post, "I'm not going to predict the future on my longevity here. I'm day by day. I'm just enjoying playing hockey.
"A lot got blown out of proportion. I said what I wanted to say then. Nothing's changed since Thursday. I'm here to get better, I'm here for those reasons - that I said on Thursday."
Monday's appearance was just the second time Duchene had spoken with the media since training camp opened last week.
"I love playing hockey," Duchene added. "I want to win. That's the biggest thing on my mind. I'm trying to get better every time I touch the ice right now."
The NHL preseason is upon us, and while the exhibition slate is mostly a wash for the established stars with secured roster spots, plenty of players around the league have something to prove in hopes of cracking their respective lineups.
Here are five players that have a little bit extra riding on their performances leading up to the regular season.
Kasperi Kapanen - Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs have an abundance of prominent forwards in their lineup, leaving one spot available on the wing. Kapanen filled in on Toronto's fourth line nicely to close out last season and into the playoffs, but he won't be the only one vying to crack Mike Babcock's roster.
Kapanen has to compete with Josh Leivo and Nikita Soshnikov, among others, to capture the final spot, and considering he tasted such success in the pros in his last stint, it's unlikely he'll want to relinquish his position.
Alex DeBrincat - Blackhawks
After three consecutive seasons topping 100 points in the OHL, DeBrincat is on the verge of facing a real challenge for the first time in a long time. Listed at only 5-foot-7, the undersized forward has to prove he can keep up at the NHL level to earn a spot on the Blackhawks.
That said, Chicago's forward depth could use a boost, and if DeBrincat can produce offensively in the preseason, he could very well get an NHL look come October.
Jay McClement - Penguins
A 34-year-old journeyman defensive center might not be the most exciting player to keep an eye on, but the Penguins currently don't have a pivot under contract to play behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
McClement was offered a PTO earlier this summer, and won't produce much if he makes the team, but a full-time spot on the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions seems like enough incentive to make a positive impact.
Cody Franson - Blackhawks
Franson presents an interesting case. On one hand, he's largely approved by the analytics community for proving to be a competent defender on a terrible Buffalo Sabres team in 2016-17, but on the other hand, he fell through the cracks of free agency, only to earn a PTO with Chicago.
The 30-year-old is no guarantee to make the Blackhawks, but he's in a good position to make an impression on a defensive corps that needs to fill the void left by Niklas Hjalmarsson's departure.
Jimmy Hayes - Devils
Coming off a dreadful five-point campaign that led to being bought out by the Boston Bruins, the future of Hayes' NHL career potentially hangs in the balance of his PTO with the Devils.
Hayes has registered seasons of 19 and 13 goals as recently as 2016, and at 6-foot-5, 215 lbs, he seemingly possesses the tools to contribute as a depth forward. Still, Hayes will need to out-perform some of the Devils' prospects to prove he belongs in the league.
Roberto Luongo rarely misses a chance to be self-deprecating, and that was evident Monday when he came up with the perfect caption for a photo from training camp.
You know the boys have confidence in your goaltending skills when 3 guys line up to block a shot.....🚨🥅🚨 pic.twitter.com/Q5QfxrDnsm
The veteran goaltender will be without one of the Panthers' more reliable defensemen from last season following the trade of Jason Demers to the Arizona Coyotes for forward Jamie McGinn on Sunday.
UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Part of the deal between Nassau County and Barclays Center, where the Islanders play now, but which operates the renovated Nassau Coliseum, is that the Islanders either play four regular-season games and two preseason games at their traditional home, or the county gets an extra $1 million in rent.
Because Sunday’s preseason contest between the Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers is the only scheduled NHL action at the Coliseum in 2017-18, Nassau County is getting its extra million bucks.
Sunday’s game also was little more than a tease. Gary Bettman said earlier this month at the Winter Classic press conference that “my gut reaction is it’s not a viable option” for the Islanders to return to an arena that got a $165 million renovation but still has many of the same issues as it did before the Islanders moved to Brooklyn, simultaneously 22 miles and light years away.
John Tavares nearly blew the top off the old barn when he scored his second goal of the game, an overtime winner to give the Islanders a 3-2 verdict. The level of sound in the old barn is the same as ever when the building is full, and the sellout crowd serenaded the Islanders all the way off the ice.
“It was pretty close to what we had in the playoffs,” Tavares said. “It was through the roof coming out in warmups and certainly the start of the game. Hearing the ‘Let’s go Islanders’ chants and the ‘Yes! Yes!’ chants (for goals) were prominent again. This fan base has got a tremendous identity, and they don’t want to lose hold of that. As players, we recognize that, and we want to reward them with good hockey, so this was fun.”
During the break between the third period and overtime, the fans made their opinion known, loudly chanting, “BRING THEM BACK.” The chant rose up again after Tavares’ game-winning goal.
“They certainly wanted to be heard,” Tavares said. “That’s above my pay grade, but I think certainly this place is very meaningful to this organization and the identity of this organization for a reason.”
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
The identity lives on in the Islanders’ logo, which has not changed since the move to Brooklyn. The tip of the “I” in the word “Islanders” points directly to the location of Nassau Coliseum. Keeping the team’s identity exactly the same is one of the reasons the move has felt half-baked for a lot of people, and why a return to Nassau County, even for an afternoon, was priceless.
“It means a lot,” said Matt Mead of Rockville Center, wearing a vintage Dave Scatchard jersey. “It’s kind of sad, because you know we’re going to have to head to Brooklyn after this, so it’s nice to have one little last hurrah here. It’s a good turnout, and I got to see a lot of old friends that I haven’t seen in a while.
"I’m enjoying it. It’s a 30-minute train ride to get to Brooklyn – it’s not that bad, but I miss coming here, tailgating, being with friends and family. Brooklyn’s a little bit of a pain.”
That pain is measurable in the fact that the Islanders ranked 28th in the NHL in attendance last year, at 13,101 per game, 82.9% of capacity in Brooklyn. That was down from an average of 13,626 (86.2%) in the first season in Brooklyn, while the Islanders averaged 15,334 per game, 94.8% of the final-season capacity at the Coliseum.
Sunday’s crowd of 13,917 not only filled the Coliseum, but the parking lot as well. Arriving in the morning, fans set up their tailgates and Islanders flags flew all over.
“I think we had a good sense that was going to happen,” said Tavares, who owns 89 regular-season goals at the Coliseum, plus five in the playoffs. “That was such a great part of Islanders hockey and who the Islanders are, is a lot of weekend afternoon games or evening Saturday home games, people out in the parking lot with a lot of space, just enjoying the atmosphere of what it was to be an Islander fan. It was great that they got to enjoy that again.”
Throughout the month of September, James Bisson and a cast of editors from theScore will share their rankings of the greatest players, teams, and moments in the 100-year history of the National Hockey League. This week's list focuses on the greatest team logos (active team logos courtesy NHL; defunct team logos courtesy SportsLogos.net).
100-81 | 80-61 | 60-41 | 40-21 | 20-1
Voter List
James Bisson, National Sports Editor
Joe Ross, Vice-President, Content
Josh Wegman, NHL News Editor
Sean O'Leary, NHL News Editor
Esten McLaren, NHL News Editor
Craig Hagerman, NHL News Editor
Michael Amato, Senior News Editor
Lanny Foster, Senior Social Media Editor
Lucas Casaletto, News Editor
Arun Srinivasan, News Editor
100. Philadelphia Quakers (1930-31)
The Quakers didn't grace the NHL for long, but you have to like the orange-and-black configuration that predated the Flyers' primary color scheme by nearly four decades.
99. Quebec Bulldogs (1919-20)
This "Q" didn't stand for quality. The final version of the Bulldogs' famed single-letter logo adorned the jerseys of a team that went just 2-10 for a fourth-place finish in the four-team league.
98. Calgary Flames (2013-16)
This script/logo combination appeared on the Flames' red alternate jersey beginning in 2013-14. It certainly isn't the worst logo of the bunch, but the lack of creativity is a bit disappointing.
97. Hamilton Tigers (1923-25)
Between the NHL's Tigers and the Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League, Hamilton does love its black-and-gold combinations and tabby-related monikers. And hey, the H is better than the Tigers' previous logo.
96. Dallas Stars (2003-06)
It's unclear why this logo didn't rate better among our panel; it's certainly imaginative, though perhaps fans found the stars a bit distracting. Whatever the case, this emblem didn't have much of a shelf life.
95. California Golden Seals (1971-74)
Oh, to be a fan of the NHL at a time when logos like this were not only acceptable, but revered. It's a pity the Golden Seals didn't stick around longer, if only because it denied us the opportunity to see more of this font.
94. Carolina Hurricanes (2008-present)
Combining a shiny silver hockey stick with two geographically relevant symbols - a hurricane warning flag and the triangular outline of the Tri-Cities region of North Carolina - makes for an interesting hockey logo. Kind of.
93. Vegas Golden Knights (2017-present)
The new kids on the block come in at the back end of the rankings, mostly because there just isn't any history here. But given all that Las Vegas is known for, this logo could have been a whole lot schlockier.
92. Florida Panthers (1993-2009)
The Panthers have had a whole host of logos over their 24-plus years of existence, and most of them feature this fearless feline in some form or fashion. This version is a little busy, but the sticks are a nice touch.
91. Pittsburgh Pirates (1929-30)
Yarrrrr! Here's another team with a great logo that simply left us too soon - though it's fair to say that two Pittsburgh Pirates professional franchises would leave sports fans confused.
90. Ottawa Senators (2000-07)
This logo gets a slight nod over the present-day primary version, though there is very little differentiating the two. Although, we doubt this one looks as terrifying with its eyebrows removed as the current logo does.
89. Columbus Blue Jackets (2000-04)
Ah, the grand Blue Jacket mystery. Just what is it? Columbus took the opportunity to clear things up in the early-2000s, slapping some Civil War union garb on its flower-pollinating mascot.
88. Edmonton Oilers (2001-07)
At first glance - and probably second and third, as well - the Oilers' one-time alternate logo looks like a metallic meteor hurtling toward Earth. Consider it a metaphor for how the Oilers played for much of the 2000s.
87. Calgary Flames (1998-2006)
Reaction to this alternate logo was strong - and not in a good way. It's almost always that way when a team strays so far from its original emblem - and where this logo is concerned, you can't get much more different than the flaming C.
86. Ottawa Senators (1910-29)
Don't worry, your eyes - and screen - are just fine. This was what passed for the Senators' "logo" during the team's first 20 years of existence, with the odd world championship crest thrown in here and there.
85. Montreal Maroons (1935-38)
After rolling with a puffy "M" for the majority of their tenure in the NHL, the Maroons opted for a sleeker, more slender option for their final three seasons. This "M" looks more like a university logo, but it works.
84. Atlanta Thrashers (1999-2006)
This logo might not look all that interesting at first, but it begins to grow on you once you realize those red lines in the wings are actually sticks. Of course, it's possible you already knew that and still don't care for it.
83. Florida Panthers (2016-present)
After nearly a quarter-century of bearing its claws for the citizens of South Beach, our Florida Panthers kitty takes on a more subdued pose in the most recent logo update. This has more of a soccer feel to it, no?
82. Minnesota Wild (2009-present)
Script logos didn't fare all that well in our rankings, but there's something about the classiness of the Minnesota script that caught our attention. The subtle homage to the North Stars is a nice touch, as well.
81. Tampa Bay Lightning (2007-11)
After rolling with that crazy electric font for the first 15 years, Tampa Bay opted for something a little tamer, while also ridding itself of the "LIGHTNING" at the bottom. It would scrap the lettering altogether in 2011.
(NHL logos are used with permission and are courtesy of the National Hockey League.)
Lupul - still a Toronto Maple Leafs forward, at least on paper - took to Instagram on Sunday to dispel the notion that he's unable to play in the NHL despite reportedly failing his training camp medical, commenting: "Haha failed physical? They (Leafs) cheat, everyone lets them."
The NHL may now be forced to do some digging of its own.
"We aren't in a position to comment right now," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told TSN's Darren Dreger on Monday. "That may or may not change when we know more."
Lupul is entering the final season of a five-year, $26.25-million contract with the club, and missed all of last season after not being cleared to play in training camp.
His injured - or, allegedly, "injured" - status allows Toronto to place Lupul and his $5.25-million cap hit on long-term injured reserve, thereby freeing up cap space.
Lupul can file a grievance against the team through the players' association, but so far has chosen not to do so.
He hasn't played for the Leafs since Feb. 6, 2016.
There are players in the NHL who are exceptional talents in reality, but whose skills don't necessarily translate into elite fantasy production.
These players will be overdrafted in your fantasy leagues because of their high-profile names. Don't be the one in your league to make that mistake.
Drew Doughty, Kings
Doughty is arguably the NHL's best defenseman. There's nobody better at preventing zone entries, and thanks to his outstanding skating ability and overall hockey sense, he's one of the best - if not the best - puck-mover in the league.
It might be hard to believe, but in nine NHL seasons, Doughty has only reached the 50-point plateau twice, and just once in the last seven years. For his career he has averaged 43.5 points per 82 games. While this is good, it's certainly not elite in fantasy circles.
A low-profile defenseman, such as Boston's Torey Krug for example, has averaged 45 points per 82 games in his career, but will certainly be drafted much lower because he is a lesser-known player.
Jonathan Toews, Blackhawks
Widely considered one of the best all-around players in the game today, it's amazing to think Toews has reached the 70-point mark only once in his career. In fact, Toews has reached 60 points just twice in the last six years.
With Brandon Saad back in the Windy City, Toews could regain his 70-point form, but the probability doest justify a high selection, especially coming off a lackluster 58-point campaign.
Ryan Suter, Wild
Suter is a high-floor, low-ceiling draft pick. He's never played fewer than 70 games in a season, and has piled up at least 30 points in 10 consecutive campaigns.
Even though he's averaged nearly 30 minutes per night since joining the Wild, he has just one 50-point season to show for it. Suter is a bona fide No. 1 defenseman in reality, but he's better served as a No. 3 blue-liner for your fantasy team.
Joe Thornton, Sharks
Thornton is coming off his worst season since his teenage years, but it won't stop players in your league from thinking that he can have a bounce-back year.
Even if Thornton does rebound and records somewhere around 65-70 points, he really only helps you in one category: assists. He barely averaged over a shot per game last year, will be lucky to score 15 goals this season, and probably won't record an outstanding plus-minus.
Given the depth of the center position, let someone else draft Thornton, unless he is still hanging around in the final few rounds of your draft.
Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche
Unlike the other four players on this list who are either in the primes or on the back nine of their careers, MacKinnon has yet to have his breakout season.
The former first overall pick is one of the fastest skaters in the league, and is gifted with great hands and a lethal shot. What he isn't gifted with is talented linemates, and that is what's holding him back from being the 80-point player he should be.
Nevertheless, MacKinnon, another center, will be drafted higher than he should because of his elite skill, even though it won't translate to elite fantasy production until he has more help around him.
Goaltenders will be able to breathe easier for at least one more season.
The NHL's attempt to reduce equipment size has reportedly been delayed, and goalies won't have to wear smaller chest protectors this season, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA.
It's "possible" the new gear will be ready for 2018-19, Lavoie added.
Goalie pants were reduced in size last season, but it didn't make a noticeable difference in terms of goal-scoring.
There's no word on what caused the delay on the chest-protector front, but we're sure to be kept abreast of any further developments.
