Stan Fischler writes about his thoughts on the salary cap, NHLers facing the pressure to perform, the highest goal-scoring rate in decades and more.
A HAT TRICK OF THOUGHTS AFTER ANOTHER DEVILS WIN:
1. Delete the SOS calls for the Leafs and Rangers after their recent wins.
2. Here’s the new song for McDavid: “Did You Ever See a Dream Skating? Well, I did.”
3. Dave Hakstol is no hack. He could win the Jack Adams Award.
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ENJOYING THE SALARY CAP ERA
Some of my best friends loathe this Salary Cap Era. I love it.
I tell them to grin and bear it.
And if you can't bear it, try Scrabble.
I knew that the salary cap was important because a very smart fella, named Gary Bettman, conceived it.
The opposition was Bob Goodenow, who became head of the NHL Players' Association. Slowly – but relentlessly – Goodenow waged a two-front war.
On the one hand, he vowed that hell would get an expansion franchise before Goodenow would allow his team to sign any document that introduced a salary cap to the NHL game.
On the other hand, Goodenow did just about anything possible to outdo the commissioner.
Goodenow's end game entailed an avoidance of the salary cap. Good try, but it didn't work.
The devastating 1994 work stoppage was the NHL's necessary move to turn a cockeyed league fiscal system into what now is a model of the industry. Really, it was a model example of the bromide, "pain and progress are inseparable."
Not only is the salary cap here to stay, but so are the advances that include the closest thing to parity that Bettman, Inc. has ever enjoyed.
The Game has never been more exciting, widespread and internationally covered than ever.
This explains why Gary Bettman – as one well-informed insider told me – "can be commissioner as long as he likes."
As for the union, months ago, its power brokers decided to find a replacement for executive director Donald Fehr. Eventually, we'll find out what ideas will come up to challenge the commish.
Since Bettman took command over 29 years ago (30 in February 2023), union bosses have come and gone, like the dreaded three-goal lead.
Bettman not only has outlasted them all, but the NHL is thriving like never before.
And two big-little words have helped make it happen – salary cap.
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FOR A CHANGE, WRIGHT IS RIGHT AND JOHNNY IS RIGHT-ER – BY GLENN DREYFUSS
Hockey media from Montreal to Seattle focused on the spectacle of Shane Wright, who triumphantly returned from a four-goal-in-five-games AHL conditioning stint, to face the team which chose not to draft him first overall, but another first goal was scored that night. My pal Glenn Dreyfuss shifts the spotlight to that 'overshadowed' goal:
Three minutes before Wright's goal, a goal was scored by Canadiens' defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic. While it was only a matter of time before Wright lit his first NHL lamp, there was ample reason to believe that Kovacevic never would.
The 25-year-old 6-foot-4 D-man was cut from his OHL junior team twice. He went undrafted twice. Kovacevic persevered by playing college hockey, where he was finally noticed by the Winnipeg Jets. They made him a third-round draft choice, gave him a four-game NHL tryout and then waived him.
With his hockey future once again in jeopardy, Kovacevic was claimed by Montreal. Twenty-two games and zero goals later, he admitted he was "gripping (his stick) a little tight."
Then his left point wrist shot eluded Kraken goalie Martin Jones.
"It’s a dream come true," Kovacevic said, before posing with his first-goal puck. “It’s something I’ve worked for. Everyone has a different path, and I’ve taken the longer road to get here. I have a lot of appreciation for where I’m at."
Coach Martin St-Louis called Kovacevic, "a very smart guy." Johnny proved that by earning a civil engineering degree while playing at Merrimack College in Massachusetts. But that career will apparently have to wait.
"There are different paths, but they're all rewarding," St-Louis told me. "It's not how you get (to the NHL), it's finding a way to get there. I mean, you dream to play in the NHL. When you get your first game, it's such a fulfilling feeling. When you score your first goal, it's one you're going to remember."
As the coach suggests, long after the rest of us have forgotten, the events of a December Tuesday night in Seattle will forever bring a smile to the faces of Shane Wright and Johnathan Kovacevic.
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I'M JUST SAYIN'
* The best-forgotten – but not by me – career success story is Sidney Crosby.
* How Pitt's captain survived career-threatening concussions to endlessly captain the Pens is astonishing.
* Reminds me of Gordie Howe's fractured skull in 1950 that supposedly was going to end his hockey life.
* 'Mr. Hockey' returned for 1950-51 and romped to the scoring title.
* My pal Irad Chen thought at the beginning of the season the race for Connor Bedard would be between Chicago and Arizona.
* Now he insists it will be Anaheim and San Jose – with Columbus not far behind.
* Friday night's Isles-Devils game will be a challenge to the Nassaumen in a few ways.
* Last time the teams met at UBS Arena, New Jersey just toyed with Lane Lambert's sextet. It should not happen again. But, if it does? Uh-oh.
* I hope that Cousin Brucie Boudreau's Canucks keep winning, only because everyone figures BB is on Jim Rutherford's "To Do" list.
* With the Jets 17-7-1, I couldn't be happier for GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and Rick Bowness behind the bench. If Winnipeg's goaltending holds up, look out.
* Best forecheck of the week: Stars' rookie Wyatt Johnston steals from Sens' Jake Sanderson and feeds Tyler Seguin for the OT winner. (Like relieving candy from an infant!)
* My fave watch for Friday night: Minnesota at Edmonton. Let's see if the Wild can harness the ultra-wild McDavid Rodeo Gang.
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ANSWERING AN 'ATHLETIC' STORY ABOUT PLAYERS UNDER PRESSURE: PART 2
On Monday, Irad Chen graded the players under pressure from Harman Dayal of The Athletic's list. Here is part 2:
KAAPO KAKKO, D: Kakko had his shot on the Rangers' top line. The result: three goals and six points through 14 games. After a stint on the third line, Kaapo is back on the top unit and scored in the Blueshirts' win versus the Golden Knights Wednesday night. If Kakko can't stay consistent under pressure, he'll wind up as a bottom-middle six winger.
KASPERI KAPANEN, D+: Since returning to the lineup – after being a healthy scratch for seven straight games – he's played some of his best hockey as a Penguin including a hat trick versus the Blues last week. That said, Kapanen has a lot to prove after his awful start. He's in a position for redemption and proving he's worth a $3.2-million cap hit.
PHILIPP GRUBAUER, TBD: The Kraken's November record (10-1-1) was accomplished without Grubauer playing a single game. It's too early to tell how Phil will emerge. His next five games should give us a clue.
QUINTON BYFIELD, F: Demoted to the AHL, Q still may find his game yet. At age 20, Byfield has time to regain a big-league slot. However, that time has not come. Hence, while his ceiling remains high, his F is a fair rating.
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WHO SAID IT? "It looks like I found my first baseman." (ANSWER BELOW.)
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BIG QUESTION: Why are Vegas and Seattle the surprises out of the West?
BIG ANSWERS: Bruce Cassidy, Jack Eichel, Jordan Eberle, Martin Jones and Matty Beniers.
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GOING FROM CURSE TO PURSE
Long after Hall of Famer Denis Potvin retired as Islanders super-D-man, the creative bloc of Rangers fans maintained their tribute to the icon they only wished they had.
In case you haven't heard it, the brilliant verse goes like this: "Potvin Sucks." After laughing it off for decades, Potvin decided to cash in on the tomfoolery, big time.
His line of footwear – Potvin's Socks – keeps selling out while the MSG mellotones keep mocking the Master. But, the more they yell, the more socks he sells. (From the hit tune: "Who's Got The Last Laugh Now?")
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YAYS AND BOOS
YAY TO MATT MURRAY: for his 44 saves shutout versus the Stars, proving that his doubters were wrong.
YAY TO CONNOR MCDAVID: for recognizing Alex Ovechkin, soon to be second on the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring list. McD calls it "a pretty amazing feat." From one ace to another. Nice!
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BLINK AND YOU'LL RISK MISSING A GOAL
Glenn Dreyfuss shares his thoughts on the reasons the goals per game scored this season increased, take it away Glenn:
Did the NHL expand the size of the nets without telling anyone? Because so far in the 2022-23 season, goal-scoring (6.42/game) is at its highest rate in 29 years.
"The game's all about offense," said Canadiens goalie Jake Allen, a decade-long NHL veteran. "I think you're seeing that in this league. There's not many leads that are safe anymore. It's not like it was 10 years ago, when you were up three goals, you would pretty much lock it down."
It's like games of shinny have broken out all over the league. Kraken 9, Kings 8. Canucks 7, Canadiens 6. Senators 7, Bruins 5. Lightning 6, Sabres 5. The Sabres scored six goals against the Blue Jackets on Wednesday in the first period. The Panthers have already registered 50-plus shots in a game three times.
Take your pick of reasons for the "goal-palooza." Today's lineups are deeper, which means increased contributions from the third and fourth lines. Advanced metrics suggest players are exercising patience, thus resulting in a higher quality of shots taken.
Top defensemen are graded on how well they join the rush. Current officiating standards also favor offense, with the crackdown on interference, hooking and holding all creating more space for unobstructed skating.
At the same time, while elite goaltenders seem harder to find, elite goal-scorers are popping up everywhere, and not just the usual suspects, McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, David Pastrnak and Mitch Marner, but Jason Robertson, Bo Horvat, Kirill Kaprizov and Tage Thompson, to just name four more.
Stan Fischler also points out that butterfly-style goalies can't make saves while they're out injured.
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ANSWER TO WHO SAID IT? Former Montreal Expos manager Tom Runnels, talking about the brilliant glove work of Habs goalie Patrick Roy.