The Hockey News Yearbook pickS Dallas to beat New Jersey for The Stanley Cup. Hey, it's a reasonable assumption since the Stars are well-built from goal on out and the Devils – well, not so much yet they have aces. The Garden Staters are loaded with talented youth, a solid goaltender and reliable Sheldon Keefe behind the bench. What's the point? Simple: NHL parity has evolved into PARITY. The Rangers, Florida, Edmonton, Toronto, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Winnipeg, Minnesota and Tampa Bay have much to commend. Any one of those franchises could take the mug. Our longshot pick is Washington, inspired by the Great 8! No matter how you shake it, picking a winner is tough. Want to blame someone, some thing? PARITY! Stan Fischler talks about Matt Rempe. With Jim Montgomery – along with Nathan Hale -- now history in Boston, Mike Sullivan is a good bet as next to get the coaching hook. That is unless the lifeless Penguins ownership remains mummified. ... And why didn't the also inferior Bruins high command select a REAL coach, not an interim paste-up personality? The Bruins need Joel Quenneville. ... There's only one way to describe Auston Matthews flight to Germany for more medical treatment: Scary! NHL franchises are increasing in value – 37% more valuable than last season at $1.79B. The Maple Leafs and Rangers are the highest valued teams and only ones worth over $3B ... Labor peace between NHL owners and the Players’ union is warmer than ever. ... Four time Cup-winner Ken Holland has joined the NHL in its Hockey Operations Department. Ken will mentor the younger/newer GM’s. Sidney Crosby, playing in his 20th NHL season, has made more Cup Finals (4) than missed playoffs (3), but is on pace to miss the postseason for a third consecutive season, unless the Penguins do something rare – win a lot of hockey games.... Jim Montgomery had a 120-41-23 record with the B’s which accumulated to a .656 win percentage. In other words, no head coach's job is ever safe ... Speaking of no safe jobs, Barry Trotz’s reputation as a GM is quickly sinking. Nashville’s squad has taken the league by negative surprise. After committing $100+ million in contracts to Stamkos, Marchessault, and Skjei in free agency, Nashville has been the most disappointing team of the season ... John Tortorella has always held his players accountable, and continues to do so. Last season captain Sean Couturier was a healthy scratch, this season it's rookie sensation Matvei Michkov. Torts taught Michkov a good discipline lesson. The awakened comrade is a Calder Trophy possibility. The "Most Missed Ranger" isn't even a player. It's semi-retired goalie guru Benny Allaire. Our big question: Did Allaire voluntarily leave his position; or was he pushed by the Chris Drury gang? ... It May Never Happen Department: Wouldn't it be nice if Igor Shesterkin's agent Max Moliver made himself available to the New York media? If that ever happened we might learn what’s going on with Shesty's proposed new pact. ... Despite an aging lineup, Bolts' GM Julien BriseBois keeps his core intact. That's why we rate the Lightning as a longshot Cup threat Everyone talks about the ageless wonder Sidney Crosby, but this season has been all about the currently injured Alex Ovechkin who is less than 30 goals away from breaking one of Wayne Gretzky’s "unbreakable" records’... Stuart Skinner isn’t cutting it with the Oilers. Forget about a Stanley Cup unless the misguided Edmonton high command finds a genuine puck-stopper ... Our pal and savant, George Grimm, passed on this fun fact from Neil Smith and Vic Morren's NHL Wraparound’ Podcast. Pat LaFontaine’s career ended after a collision with teammate Mike Keane. The latest Rangers near tragedy involved K'Andre Miller torpedoing oft-injured Filip Chytil.
