The 2015 draft featured two of the best prospects to enter the league in years in Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel. And it can be taken to extremes – last year, the Sabres traded away both their goaltenders.Īh yes, last year. But if done right it has the added benefit of weakening the current roster for the stretch run. It’s a smart move, a struggling team’s best chance to stockpile assets for the future. That’s become an annual tradition, as the league’s worst teams open up the storefronts, offering reinforcements to the league’s better teams in exchange for draft picks or prospects. The most obvious step is to trade away as much veteran talent as possible, especially in the days leading up to the league’s trade deadline. They can shut down any productive player who suffers a minor injury. They can keep top young talent stashed in the minors. There are various ways that a GM could embrace the tank. No, tanking comes from up above – from the front office that assembles the roster, and who have the ability to ensure that the players who do take the ice have as little chance as possible. And besides, no grizzled veteran is going to go out and lose on purpose just so some hotshot kid can come in next year and take his job. We’re not talking about teams shooting the puck into their own net, or otherwise intentionally making a mockery of things hockey players are a proud bunch who don’t take being embarrassed kindly.
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And it’s one that several teams around the league sure seem to be embracing, often with the full support of their fans. The logic is fairly simple: If a team has already been eliminated from playoff contention, then tanking – losing as many games as possible in hopes of landing a better draft pick – starts to look like an attractive strategy. If the Red Wings extend their streak of playoff appearances to 25 seasons, it won't be the final NHL game there.It’s been an ongoing debate in the league for years, one that peaked last season and is resurfacing now as the regular season winds down. SO LONG, JOE: Detroit's Joe Louis Arena houses its final regular-season game April 9 when the Red Wings face the New Jersey Devils. It's the last chance for teams to make moves for the playoff run and also an opportunity to shed players before the expected expansion draft. EDT, 40 days from the end of the regular season. TRADE DEADLINE: The trade deadline is Feb. 25.ĪLL-STAR GAME GOES HOLLYWOOD: All-Star weekend takes place in Los Angeles for the third time when the Kings host the skills competition and game on Jan.
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2 and the Penguins host the Philadelphia Flyers in the Stadium Series Feb. 23, the Maple Leafs host the Detroit Red Wings in the Centennial Classic Jan 1, the Blues host the Chicago Blackhawks in the Winter Classic Jan. The Jets host the Oilers in the Heritage Classic Oct. TAKE IT OUTSIDE: There are four outdoor games on the schedule, taking place in Winnipeg, Toronto, St. 8 at Consol Energy Center when the Penguins host the Edmonton Oilers. If Crosby and Connor McDavid are healthy, the two generational stars drafted 10 years apart will play against each other for the first time Nov. MCDAVID: Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin meet again Oct. Here are five notable items of the 2016-17 NHL schedule:ĬROSBY VS. Teams having back-to-back sets at home have been extremely rare in past seasons, but are part of the next season's schedule because of time constraints. Players who don't attend typically go away for the All-Star break, but the bye week allows everyone some time off during the season.
The Players' Association negotiated the bye week as part of its agreement to allow the All-Star Game to become a 3-on-3 tournament. Players on 29 of 30 teams will have at least five full days off from games and practices sometime in January or February.
Pittsburgh also plays four games in seven days around the three-day Christmas break. The Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins and Western Conference champion San Jose Sharks each have 15 back-to-back sets. 12, to Sunday, April 9, which at 180 days is almost a week shorter than 2015-16. The 2016-17 NHL schedule is jam-packed, thanks to a late start because of the World Cup and a bye week for each team.īack-to-backs and stretches of three games in four days are more common than ever because of the condensed schedule.
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