We Check On THN Team Site Outposts In Atlantic Division
Like Lewis & Clark, we'll spend this week traveling East to West toward the Pacific (Division), seeing what we can discover. Unlike Lewis and Clark, we begin in Boston.
Boston Bruins: Oh Say, Can You "C"?
Shukri Wrights points out with the retirement of Patrice Bergeron, the B's are without a "C."
Patrice Bergeron"The Bruins have been fortunate in the last 17 years to have had two tremendous captains in Zdeno Chara, from 2006-2020, and Bergeron, from 2021 until his retirement.
"While the Bruins do not have a leadership issue, they also do not have a captain for next season and beyond."
Buffalo Sabres: Prospects Challenge Sept. 15-18
Heather Engel tells us about the six-team tournament.
"It’s the eighth edition of the round-robin. They’ll be joined by five other teams, with the Bruins, Canadiens, Devils, Senators, and Penguins also participating. Each team will play three games."
Detroit Red Wings: World Junior Summer Showcase
Another tournament continues through August 4 in Plymouth, Michigan, a half-hour drive west of Detroit.
Sam Stockton explains, "The event serves as an evaluation tool for the U.S., Finland, and Sweden in preparation for the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship in December and January."
USA coach David Carle said, "It's a major part of the selection of the team, but it's as much about the education - them getting to know each other. us getting to know them, and them getting to know us."
Florida Panthers: Golfer Wouldn't LIV And Let LIV
David Dwark updates a story from late in the regular season. Nothing regular about the story though, with defenseman Aaron Ekblad being "mocked" with a traffic cone prop by LIV professional golfer Brooks Koepka.
"Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour was asked about the Ekblad-Koepka saga. 'We laughed about it,' Montour said. 'Laughed at Aaron, Aaron laughed about it, obviously he doesn't care about it at all. Aaron is a hell of a player, and it didn't faze any of us.'"
Montreal Canadiens: Making Room For Young Defensemen
Chris Galanopoulos sees the Habs in 3-D; specifically, a trio of young blueliners.
"Jordan Harris, entering his third NHL season, played 65 games in 2022-23, averaging 18:39 of ice time. His role varied, depending on injuries to other defensive players.
"Arber Xhekaj's rookie season was cut short after injuring his shoulder. In his 51 games, Xhekaj became indispensable and a fan favorite with his physicality and by protecting his teammates.
"Justin Barron began the 2022-23 season in the AHL. With the Canadiens, he dressed in 39 matches, collecting 16 points while playing 16:18 on average."
Ottawa Senators: You Say Goodbye, And I Say Hello
Steve Warne details a key off-season acquisition, and a key departure.
Alex DeBrincat"(Vladimir) Tarasenko will now almost certainly move into the top six of Ottawa's batting order, probably bumping newcomer Dominik Kubalik down to third line duty. Kubalik, of course, was acquired in the (Alex) DeBrincat deal which now, in a way, looks like this:
"DeBrincat gets traded to Detroit and the Sens end up with Tarasenko, Kubalik, prospect Donovan Sebrango, a first rounder and a fourth rounder. However, just like DeBrincat was, Tarasenko and Kubalik are on deals that expire after this year. This time next year, will either of them entertain a return to Ottawa?"
Toronto Maple Leafs: Il(ya)-Effects From Arbitration Ruling
David Alter believes Toronto goalie Ilya Samsonov bested the team in their recent arbitration hearing.
Ilya Samsonov"Toronto hoped to argue that Samsonov's cap hit should come in lower than that of (Colorado's Alexandar) Georgiev and (New Jersey's Vitek) Vanecek, since both contracts saw their respective clubs buy two additional years of unrestricted free agency as part of that salary cap number.
"Based on the ruling, the arbitrator didn't buy it, handing Samsonov a salary cap hit higher than both goalies ($3.55 million) while earning the right to go to free agency with a higher payday."
Tampa Bay Lighning: Too Much Of A Good Thing
Diandra Loux writes about players who bid farewell to the Bay, including one who found a new home in Seattle.
"The logistics of the NHL’s flat salary cap led to the departure of key members and forced them to let other veteran free agents sign with other teams.
"The Lightning said goodbye to unrestricted free agent and the organization’s most tenured player, Alex Killorn, who signed a 4-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks. Killorn was drafted by the Bolts in 2007, made his debut five years later and recorded 466 points in 805 games.
"In addition to Killorn departing, Pat Maroon was traded to Minnesota, Corey Perry to Chicago, Ross Colton Colorado and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare most recently signed with the Seattle Kraken."