The Ottawa Senators seem to have figured out how to rectify their low attendance issue.
According to team president Tom Anselmi, Canadian Tire Centre will have 1,500 less seats than it did for the 2016-17 regular season and playoffs. The reduction in seating capacity will attempt to make the arena easier for fans to fill, Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun reports.
Despite being one of the top-eight teams in the Eastern Conference all season long, Ottawa struggled to put people in the seats, averaging just under 17,000 fans a game - the ninth-worst attendance in the NHL.
The Sens have eliminated about 1500 seats for the upcoming season. The top of both ends pic.twitter.com/nmIGgNrsHG
The low point for fan turnout was when Ottawa struggled to fill the building for a second-round playoff game against the New York Rangers in April. Not only was the rink not sold out, but thousands of tickets were left unsold for Game 1.
With less empty space and seats available, Senators executives will be hoping for a better atmosphere and more sellouts.
The Winnipeg Jets have announced contract extensions for general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and head coach Paul Maurice, keeping the duo in the cockpit for the foreseeable future.
But is it prudent at this stage in the club's trajectory?
Assessing the merits
Cheveldayoff was named GM shortly after the team relocated from Atlanta, inheriting a roster that had not qualified for the playoffs in the previous four seasons. While Jets 2.0 have yet to produce a playoff win, Cheveldayoff can be credited for building a prospect base that seems capable of taking the club to new heights.
As the team was quick to point out in the extension announcement, Winnipeg's prospect group is seen as one of the best around the league.
Of Winnipeg's 44 draft picks made between 2011 and 2016, 38.6 percent of those players have already played in the NHL - second-most in the league. Nine of those picks (20.5 per cent) have played more than 70 games, also second in the NHL. Three of those players (Mark Scheifele, Patrik Laine, and Nikolaj Ehlers) have averaged at least 0.5 points per game since coming into the league, which leads the NHL.
In short, that's how you go about building a team in today's NHL.
For his part, Maurice - who joined the team in 2014 as Cheveldayoff's second coaching hire - has guided the team to a regular-season record of 136-112-33, with one playoff appearance that resulted in a four-game sweep.
His greatest accomplishment as a head coach was taking Carolina to the Stanley Cup Final in 2002, a five-game loss to a powerhouse Detroit club. Overall, he's earned 596 wins, putting him a tie with Toronto's Mike Babcock for 16th on the all-time list, albeit in 251 more games.
In Winnipeg, Maurice has been at the mercy of the roster given to him. And, all things considered, he's done an OK job with the team he's had to work with.
Question marks
The biggest knock, as has been mentioned, is the utter lack of tangible success achieved during Cheveldayoff's tenure.
Sure, the Jets have posted a winning record in five of his six seasons as GM, but careers are made and broken in the postseason, where Winnipeg is 0-4.
That's total games, not series wins and losses.
Cheveldayoff has been criticized for being too loyal to key pieces he inherited from Atlanta, seemingly reticent to part ways with a core group that had accomplished essentially nothing together.
His trade record, and his apparent reluctance to explore that side of player movement, has been the biggest knock on his performance as GM. He's kept the active roster in a state of neutrality while the prospect base was slowly but surely being reinforced.
Free agents have also proved reluctant to sign, but that could be more a function of location, location, location than a knock against Cheveldayoff.
As for Maurice, he's the GM's choice to take the team to the next level, and management is afforded only so many coaching changes before the accountability falls to the front office. For his career, he's got 595 losses, 120 overtime losses, and 11 ties to go along with his 596 wins, and a losing record in the playoffs (25-32).
Despite his career lengevity, whether he's a coach capable of getting the most out of this group remains to be seen, and any success or failure on his part will be a reflection of Cheveldayoff's faith in him, for better or worse.
Winnipeg's hashtag heading into 2017-18 is #RiseTogether, and that seems to be the plan off the ice with these twin extensions.
The pieces appear to be in place to get things off the ground, but failing wins when they matter most, this pilot project will go down as a poorly laid flight plan.
One year to the day removed from joining the NHL's Department of Player Safety, George Parros has reportedly been named the new head of the department Thursday, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
In addition to the year he's already spent in the league's front office handling disciplinary decisions, Parros knows a thing or two about getting physical. The longtime enforcer racked up 1,092 penalty minutes across 474 career regular-season NHL games.
Current vice-president of player safety and fellow former NHLer Stephane Quintal is expected to stay on in his current role to help ease the transition period for Parros, LeBrun reports.
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 best individual seasons (*: led league):
LaFontaine flashed brilliance in a 57-game trial with the Sabres in 1991-92, racking up 93 points. He ramped things up the following season, setting his career high in points by a whopping 43 while finishing second in the league behind only a miraculous performance from Mario Lemieux. LaFontaine's effort earned him a third-place finish in the Hart Trophy race.
39. Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins (1971-72)
GP
G
A
P
+/-
76
37
80*
117
86*
Orr's third consecutive Hart Trophy win wasn't quite as dominant as his second, but it still left both fans and opponents breathless. Orr led the league in assists for the third consecutive year, and had the best plus-minus in the NHL for the fourth season in a row. His success carried over into the playoffs, too, where he had 24 points in 15 games while leading the Bruins to the Cup.
38. Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings (1989-90)
GP
G
A
P
+/-
73
40
102*
142*
8
After failing to win the scoring title in back-to-back seasons following an eight-year run of dominance, Gretzky returned to the top of the heap in 1989-90 during his second season with the Kings. The legendary center extended his streak of campaigns with 100 or more assists to 10, and his 142 points were 13 more than his former teammate and runner-up, Mark Messier.
37. Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens (1976-77)
GP
G
A
P
+/-
80*
56
80*
136*
89
The 1976-77 season was special for a number of Montreal players - none more than Lafleur, who rode his career bests in assists and points to a sweep of the Hart, Pearson, and Art Ross trophies. He then contributed nine goals and 17 assists in 14 playoff games to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, and nearly made it a five-award season by finishing third in the Lady Byng race.
36. Jari Kurri, Edmonton Oilers (1984-85)
GP
G
A
P
+/-
73
71
64
135
76
Kurri may own the distinction of having the greatest season of any player who failed to lead the league in a major category. That's the downside of playing alongside Gretzky - but based on Kurri's ridiculous stats in 1984-85, there are plenty of benefits, too. Kurri did lead the NHL in both even-strength goals (54) and game-winning tallies (13), so there's that.
35. Cooney Weiland, Boston Bruins (1929-30)
GP
G
A
P
+/-
44*
43*
30
73*
--
You might not know Weiland (pictured above holding the Stanley Cup), but you should. He set the standard for big seasons during the NHL's early era, establishing a single-season points mark (73) that stood until Herb Cain had 82 in 1943-44. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to land Weiland the coveted Hart Trophy; he finished fourth in voting.
34. Joe Malone, Montreal Canadiens (1917-18)
GP
G
A
P
+/-
20
44*
4
48*
--
Malone was the NHL's first superstar, posting a goals-per-game rate that will never be matched. In fairness, he played in an era when the majority of teams had one or two goal-scoring threats at most, but that doesn't dampen the impact he had as the league's first scoring champ. Malone won a second scoring title in 1919-20 and finished his career with 143 goals in 126 games.
33. Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres (1997-98)
W
L
T
GAA
SV%
SO
33
23
13
2.09
.932*
13*
Hasek had a six-year stretch that rivals any goaltender in NHL history - and his performance in 1997-98 might have been his best. In addition to pacing the league in save percentage and shutouts, he led the way in games played (72) and saves (2,002) en route to a second consecutive Hart Trophy. He also captured the Vezina Trophy for the fourth time in five years.
32. Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins (1991-92)
GP
G
A
P
+/-
64
44
87
131*
27
Missing time was nothing new for Lemieux, but it must have been heartening for Penguins fans to at least get 64 games out of him after just 26 the season before. And it was more than enough action for Lemieux to secure his third scoring title, as he finished eight points ahead of Kevin Stevens. Lemieux added 34 points in 15 playoff games to help the Penguins repeat as champs.
31. Maurice Richard, Montreal Canadiens (1944-45)
GP
G
A
P
+/-
50*
50*
23
73
--
While one voter was unimpressed by the feat, it's hard to argue with Richard's 50-goals-in-50-games season, which ranks among the most significant achievements in league annals. He was the only player to reach that plateau until 1960-61, when Bernie Geoffrion scored 50 goals in 64 games. Richard finished second in Hart Trophy voting to teammate Elmer Lach.
30. Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins (1995-96)
GP
G
A
P
+/-
82
62
87
149
31
Never were Lemieux and Jagr more dangerous as a tandem than in 1995-96, when they combined for an incredible 131 goals and 179 assists. Jagr was a bit of a forgotten man amid his teammate's accolades, but the gifted winger still led the NHL in even-strength goals (41), game-winning tallies (12), and shots on goal (403) while finishing fourth in Hart Trophy balloting.
29. Bernie Parent, Philadelphia Flyers (1973-74)
W
L
T
GAA
SV%
SO
47*
13
12
1.89*
--
12*
Before Hasek and Martin Brodeur were posting double-digit shutout totals and sub-2.00 GAAs, there was Parent, who put together one of the greatest goaltending seasons in NHL history. His 19.94 goalie point shares in 1973-74 rank second all time for a single season; Parent then added 12 more wins in the playoffs to lead the Flyers to their first title.
28. George Hainsworth, Montreal Canadiens (1928-29)
W
L
T
GAA
SV%
SO
22
7
15*
0.92*
--
22*
Gretzky might own the most NHL records, but Hainsworth (pictured above as a member of the Maple Leafs) owns two of the oldest. No one has been able to top his goals-against average or shutout marks from his magical 1928-29 season - in fact, no other netminder in NHL history has posted more than 15 shutouts in a single season.
27. Paul Coffey, Edmonton Oilers (1985-86)
GP
G
A
P
+/-
79
48
90
138
61
Yep, those numbers actually belong to a defensemen. Coffey set the single-season record for goals by a blue-liner in 1985-86, fueled by an incredible nine short-handed tallies. The 138 points are the second most ever recorded in a season by a defenseman, and earned him his second consecutive Norris Trophy. He also placed fourth in Hart Trophy voting.
26. Bernie Nicholls, Los Angeles Kings (1988-89)
GP
G
A
P
+/-
79
70
80
150
30
Not everyone is impressed with Nicholls' achievement - right, Josh? - but considering the company he now keeps, it's hard to argue with its significance. Nicholls is one of only five NHL players to record 150 points in a season, and while he had plenty of help from a certain No. 99, there's no denying his place in NHL history.
25. Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers (1987-88)
GP
G
A
P
+/-
64
40
109*
149
39
Injuries not only limited Gretzky to 64 games, but also ended his streak of scoring titles at eight - he finished 19 points behind Lemieux in the Art Ross competition. That said, he still managed to extend his 100-assist streak to eight straight seasons, and his 43 points (!) in 19 postseason games helped the Oilers capture their fourth Stanley Cup in five seasons.
24. Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins (1973-74)
GP
G
A
P
+/-
78*
68*
77
145*
51
Esposito never did match his 152-point campaign from 1970-7, but he sure came close three years later. His 68 goals were the second most of his career, as were the 145 points. He swept the Art Ross, Pearson, and Hart trophies and was named an NHL First Team All-Star for the sixth consecutive season. That was the last time Esposito won a scoring title.
23. Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins (1973-74)
GP
G
A
P
+/-
74
32
90*
122
84*
So if Esposito won the scoring title and league MVP in 1971-72, how does Orr end up with the higher-ranked season? Perhaps because no blue-liner had ever done what Orr was doing - at 25, no less. He led the league in assists for the fourth time, reached the 120-point plateau for the third time, and paced the NHL in plus-minus for the fifth time in six seasons. Not bad.
22. Teemu Selanne, Winnipeg Jets (1992-93)
GP
G
A
P
+/-
84
76*
56
132
8
Say what you will about whether Gretzky is the real record-holder for first-year NHL scoring, but you can't overlook what the Finnish Flash accomplished. Selanne obliterated the rookie goal-scoring mark by 23 - an incredible leap that will never be matched. He predictably ran away with the Calder Trophy and placed sixth in the Hart Trophy race.
21. Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings (1988-89)
MA
CH
LF
AS
17
12
19
15
Gretzky's first season in Los Angeles following a stunning trade out of Edmonton was a roaring success. He earned his record ninth Hart Trophy as league MVP, and made a star out of the aforementioned Nicholls, among others. Gretzky added 22 points in 11 playoff games, but the Kings were bounced in the division finals.
The Winnipeg Jets have signed general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and head coach Paul Maurice to multi-year extensions, the team announced Thursday.
Cheveldayoff has been with the club since it relocated from Atlanta, and has built a competitive roster through strong drafting, where the Jets have landed the likes of Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Patrik Laine, among others.
Maurice, meanwhile, joined the Jets in January 2014, and led the club to its only playoff berth since returning to Winnipeg the following season. In the two years since their first-round sweep to the Anaheim Ducks, the Jets have finished seventh and fifth, respectively, in the Central Division.
Despite the recent disappointments, the Jets have the talent to be better, and Maurice is expecting his team to turn things around in 2017-18.
"I expect our team to get better at everything, in all areas of our game," Maurice said. "We scored a lot of goals last year - seventh in the National Hockey League - and I think we can score more. We absolutely have to become a better defensive hockey team, and some of that is experience and understanding the game, but the other part of is (focusing on) certain things to be good defensively: Staying out of the penalty box, blocking shots, grinding when the puck's in your own end."
Winnipeg is set to begin training camp next week, while its regular season officially gets underway Oct. 4
Most of the skaters and goaltenders projected to be taken in the first few rounds of fantasy drafts are all but locks to live up to their rankings with stellar campaigns, but not all of them are going to live up to those lofty expectations.
Every season, at least a few players chosen early in drafts underachieve and frustrate fantasy owners who've invested a high pick hoping for elite production.
Here are three players who won't justify their draft position this season:
Alex Ovechkin
Look, there's no doubting Ovi's talent, durability, or effort level, but there is reason to be concerned about his offensive output as he enters his 13th NHL season.
The Washington Capitals captain has been one of the game's most consistent scorers for more than a decade, but his heavy workload and physical style of play might be starting to catch up with him.
Ovechkin's goal production fell off dramatically last season, as he potted only 33 markers after three straight 50-plus-goal campaigns.
It was the second straight season in which both his goal and point totals declined, and those dips occurred despite the fact that he played all 82 games, continuing a trend seen over the last three years in which he's missed only four total regular-season contests.
While a 35-goal, 70-point season should be attainable for the veteran winger, that won't be enough for fantasy owners who are taking him as high as fifth overall.
Jonathan Marchessault
After bursting onto the scene last season, look for Marchessault to fall back down to Earth in 2017-18.
Marchessault will be hard-pressed to muster the same goal-scoring prowess with the expansion Vegas Golden Knights.
His shooting percentage was a whopping 15.5 last season, a figure that was much higher than both the league average (about nine) and the 8.6 percent mark he posted in 45 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning two seasons ago.
Look for those numbers to regress back to the mean as he moves to the desert.
Cam Atkinson
The Columbus Blue Jackets had the sixth-best offense in the NHL by goals per game last season, and Cam Atkinson was a major part of that. But he may be due for regression this time around.
Atkinson had a career year with 35 goals and 62 points last season, but he also posted a shooting percentage of nearly 15 percent (14.6), which was far greater than his career average (11.5) and like Marchessault, significantly higher than the league average.
That's bound to come down, and while Atkinson has shown an Ovechkin-esque knack for durability over the last four seasons himself, he had never collected more than 27 goals or 53 points in any of those previous campaigns.
The 28-year-old forward is being taken in about the sixth round in early fantasy drafts, and while he's likely in line for another solid season, don't expect him to duplicate what he did in 2016-17.
Artemi Panarin is hoping a funny ploy on Twitter will help land him a sponsorship deal with a company that's become his moniker over the years.
The Columbus Blue Jackets forward has long been known as "The Bread Man" due to the similarity between his last name and the restaurant chain Panera Bread. So for that reason, Panarin posted a photo of his "new shoes" while suggesting the company should reach out.
Of course, the chain might be questioning the legitimacy of his attire, as a quick Google search of "bread shoes" will bring up some photos strikingly similar to those above.
The news comes just a day after it was reported by TSN's Darren Dreger that there was a "sizable gap" in contract demands from both Bennett and the Flames.
The 21-year-old - who was a restricted free agent - is coming off a 2016-17 campaign that saw regression from his rookie year. Bennett tallied just 13 goals and 26 points in his second season in the league, after finishing with 18 goals and 36 points in 2016.
With Bennett now under contract, the Flames have come to terms with all of their pending free agents.
