Most of the major NHL storylines this year were of a negative nature, and they ranged from disappointing and frustrating to downright disturbing. However, there were also some bright spots in an otherwise difficult 2021.
Here are the league's 10 biggest stories of the year:
COVID-19 continues to proliferate
The pandemic affected the NHL as it did the world at large for much of 2021, even before the Omicron variant made things significantly worse. Players, coaches, and staff members landed in protocol throughout the year. The Montreal Canadiens had to place bench boss Dominique Ducharme on the list during the playoffs, making him miss the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final.
The emergence of the Delta variant left the league largely unchanged at the start of the 2021-22 season. Omicron's arrival forced the NHL to take drastic measures regarding the Olympics and its own schedule as more than 100 players entered protocols. The NHL postponed over 60 games and expanded its holiday break from three days to six in an effort to stop the spread.
Play resumed on Tuesday, and the league later aligned with recent CDC guidance by cutting its isolation period in half for vaccinated players. But the spike in cases and some poor planning by the IIHF also led to the cancellation of the World Junior Championship midway through the tournament on Wednesday. It's clear COVID-19 is likely to remain a significant concern both for the NHL and society as a whole in 2022.
Blackhawks scandal
The Chicago Blackhawks' sexual abuse scandal shook the NHL to its core. In late October, the results of an independent investigation led to resignations both within the organization - most notably general manager Stan Bowman - and from others like Florida Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville, who had been Chicago's bench boss in 2010.
The probe revealed Blackhawks management failed to act promptly after learning about allegations of sexually inappropriate behavior toward a player during the team's playoff run that year. Kyle Beach, a player who was referred to but not named in the investigation, later revealed himself as the "John Doe" from the lawsuit he filed against the team in May. Beach said in the lawsuit that then-video coach Brad Aldrich sexually assaulted him and another player in 2010 and that the team covered it up.
Beach's courageous decision to come forward and the fallout from the independent inquiry forced the NHL to act, but the league did little to address the matter. Commissioner Gary Bettman held a video call with Beach, during which the ex-player questioned the league's handling of his allegations. Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly held a press conference to discuss the NHL's response but were criticized for not taking more responsibility and ignoring TSN's Rick Westhead - whose reporting on the story was the most consequential - until other media members called them out on his behalf.
In December - less than a week before Beach and the Blackhawks reached a confidential settlement - the league extended its "commitment to inclusion, diversity, safety, and respect," which included mandatory training sessions for all team personnel. But between the 90-minute sessions and the $2-million fine (relative to the team's reported $1.4-billion net worth) the NHL imposed on the Blackhawks in October, the league's actions in the wake of the scandal remain insufficient.
Canadiens draft Logan Mailloux
Most of the hockey world was shocked when the Montreal Canadiens selected Logan Mailloux in July's draft. The Canadiens chose the London Knights defenseman with the 31st pick despite the fact that he asked for his name to be withdrawn from consideration three days earlier.
Mailloux made the request in light of being fined for invasion of privacy and defamation in 2020 after taking an offensive photo of a woman without her consent during a sexual encounter and distributing it.
Bettman didn't hold back when asked about Montreal's decision to draft Mailloux, saying he was "stunned" and what the player did was "horrific." Some called on the Canadiens to renounce the pick, and even Canadian Prime Minister and lifelong Habs fan Justin Trudeau voiced his concern, saying he was "deeply disappointed" with the club.
The OHL suspended Mailloux indefinitely in September. The league ultimately reinstated him Wednesday, citing the fact the 18-year-old had taken part in therapy and counseling since being temporarily banned.
Olympic participation
The NHL ultimately decided against taking part in the upcoming Beijing Olympics due to the aforementioned spike in COVID-19 cases.
However, from a tentative 18-day Olympic break in the NHL schedule to the competing countries naming management personnel, coaches, and even a few players per squad, the league's participation seemed plausible for the vast majority of the year until it suddenly became evident it wasn't.
While it's disappointing the games will once again lack a best-on-best hockey tournament, the NHL unquestionably made the right decision.
Kucherov misses regular season, then helps Bolts repeat
The Tampa Bay Lightning claimed their second consecutive championship when they vanquished the Montreal Canadiens over five games in July. The star-studded and well-rounded club remained on top despite playing without Nikita Kucherov for the entire 2021 regular season due to injury.
The Lightning gained some financial flexibility by placing the Russian star on long-term injured reserve before activating him for the playoffs - when the cap no longer applies. Tampa Bay's detractors complained about this throughout the campaign, but by all accounts, the team did nothing illicit in the process.
Those who whined about the Lightning's cap gymnastics should've instead directed their ire toward the league's own rules. Kucherov is on LTIR once again in 2021-22 after getting hurt three games in, and the Lightning have remained near the top of the standings without him.
Kraken released
The NHL's first expansion team since 2017-18 joined the league for real this past year. Yes, the Seattle Kraken franchise was born in December 2018 and revealed its name in July 2020. Beginning with free agency and the expansion draft, the club took shape and then took the ice in 2021.
Seattle made a few splashes in free agency and could have done so in the draft, but instead opted to pass on big-ticket stars like Carey Price and Vladimir Tarasenko in favor of more affordable selections. That strategy might pay off down the road, and there was no way rival general managers would let the Kraken fleece them as the Vegas Golden Knights did four years ago. But, ultimately Seattle has been underwhelming so far in its inaugural campaign.
Still, the Kraken's arrival was a significant subplot this year, and after hearing so much about Seattle's potential as an NHL market, it was fun to see that assertion validated with raucous home crowds. If and when the team starts winning, Climate Pledge Arena could be one of the loudest buildings in the league.
McDavid's dominance
No NHL player had a better calendar year than Connor McDavid. The Edmonton Oilers superstar racked up a mind-boggling 105 points over 56 games last season en route to becoming the first unanimous Hart Trophy winner since Wayne Gretzky and only the second ever.
McDavid isn't quite maintaining that absurd pace in the current campaign, but he's once again the favorite to claim MVP honors. The Oilers captain, who'll turn 25 on Jan. 13, continues to prove his unparalleled value.
Ovi's pursuit of The Great One
Alex Ovechkin's ascent up the NHL's all-time goals list was a persistent storyline throughout 2021. The Washington Capitals sniper passed Mike Gartner for seventh in February, leapfrogged Phil Esposito for sixth in March, surpassed Marcel Dionne for fifth in October, and supplanted Brett Hull for fourth in November.
Ovi's chances of catching Wayne Gretzky for the record remains a frequent debate in hockey circles. The Russian superstar has been fantastic at age 36, and Gretzky himself even said earlier in December he believes his record will fall.
The Eichel saga
Jack Eichel's dispute with the Buffalo Sabres dragged on for a significant stretch of the year before it was finally resolved in early November. The injured captain wanted to undergo a procedure never before performed on an NHL player, and the team refused to approve it.
The stalemate eventually forced the Sabres to strip Eichel of the "C." After months of trade talks, Buffalo finally dealt him to the Golden Knights along with a third-round pick for prospect Peyton Krebs, forward Alex Tuch, a first-rounder, and a second-rounder. Eichel underwent his desired surgery shortly afterward and may be on track to make his Vegas debut in January or February 2022.
Coyotes' dysfunction plummets to new lows
One of the NHL's most evergreen storylines took a few more twists in 2021. The Arizona Coyotes' uncertain future is usually what keeps the team in the headlines, and several scandals ensured that once again. In February, the club came under fire following a report detailing financial and interpersonal issues within the organization.
In August, the city of Glendale told the Coyotes it wouldn't renew the operating agreement for Gila River Arena, meaning the 2021-22 season would be the club's last in the facility. The Coyotes then filed a bid for a new arena in nearby Tempe, but the situation involving their current home escalated further a few months later.
On Dec. 9, Glendale threatened to lock the team out of Gila River Arena if their debt of more than $1 million in unpaid taxes and fees wasn't resolved in the next 11 days. The Coyotes blamed human error and said the next day that they'd paid up in full, a claim multiple reports later contradicted.
As if that wasn't enough, one week before their latest arena drama began, both the Coyotes and Bettman had to deny rumors that the team was on the market with plans to relocate to Houston. It's clear this club will continue to be a talking point in 2022.
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