Our Expedition Around The NHL: Day 3

I promise the above photo will make sense if you read to the bottom of this column.

The Connor Bedard, er, Central Division, is home to the first two playoff opponents in Seattle Kraken history: Colorado and Dallas. Here's what's making news there, and in the rest of the Central.

Remy Mastey says the Desert Dogs are relocating to a new hemisphere - for pre-season games.

"The Coyotes are set to play the Los Angeles Kings in Melbourne, Australia. General manager Bill Armstrong feels this will help bond the Coyotes. 'An opportunity for our coach to work with our team right out of the get-go, so that's a big positive if we can fight off the jet lag and get our legs underneath us.'"

Editor's Note: If Arizona players find their legs anywhere else other than underneath them, they might want to seek immediate medical attention.

Matt Carlson lists the hockey greats Connor Bedard will be gunning for this season. Two of them have a Kraken connection.

"Here are the 20 top scoring 18 year-olds in NHL history: 1. Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton, 1979-80. Totals: 51-86-137...  7. (Current Seattle GM) Ron Francis, Hartford, 1981-82. Totals: 25-43-68.

"The highest scoring 18-year-old Blackhawks rookie was (Kraken TV analyst) Eddie Olczyk, with 20 goals and 50 points in 1984-85."

This Colleen Flynn story was published June 21, but the odds are still current.

"BetMGM has the Avalanche at +800 (favorites to win the Stanley Cup), with the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs behind at +950.

"The Avs pushed through a tough season without (Gabriel) Landeskog and key players who were out for more than a few games. But they still managed to win the Central Division. Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen had career seasons. Alexandar Georgiev proved he can handle the starting goaltender position."

Editor's Note: BetMGM lists the Kraken at +4000 to win the Cup, longer odds than 17 other teams.

Jim Nill, general manager of Seattle's other playoff opponent, was honored with the Jim Gregory GM of the Year Award.

"While the Stars didn't tinker too much with their roster, the decision to replace Rick Bowness wth Peter DeBoer behind the bench paid dividends for a Dallas team that reached the conference final for the second time in four years. Other moves included acquiring Evgeni Dadonov and Max Domi at the trade deadline."

Dylan Loucks says pending arbitration wasn't the only reason Filip Gustavsson was losing sleep.

"Gustavsson got a call from his agent at 2 a.m. saying his deal is done (three years, $3.75 AAV). Waking up at 2 a.m. hasn't been a surprise for Gustavsson, as he welcomed his first son, Vollrad, earlier in the off-season.

"'I feel like I'm aging five years," Gustavsson said. "I'm getting less and less sleep. You just lay in bed staring at him, like 'How did this creature happen?' It's so amazing having him in my life.'"

Ann Kimmel reports on why Ryan O'Reilly, a Clinton, Ontario native, didn't remain in his home province.

"The Leafs were interested in signing (free agent) O'Reilly this off-season after acquiring him in a trade with St. Louis. After he signed with the Predators, Leafs GM Brad Treliving speculated that playing in Toronto may have been 'a thing' for O'Reilly.

"'It is different,' O'Reilly said when asked about pressure playing in Toronto. 'So many things come into play, but that was a factor. I just felt it was better to be somewhere else.'"

Lou Korac details a major summer lineup upheaval.

"They began that process with the acquisition of Kevin Hayes from the Philadelphia Flyers.

"They didn't bring back Ryan O'Reilly, who signed with Nashville. Several other former Blues changed addresses, including Joel Edmundson (traded to Washington), Kevin Shattenkirk (Boston), Ian Cole (Vancouver), Niko Mikkola (Florida) and Noel Acciari (Pittsburgh)."

Carter Brooks explains why Gabe Vilardi is excited to experience in person what he saw on TV years ago.

"The Jets inked Pierre-Luc Dubois to a $68 million contract before shipping him to Los Angeles in exchange for forwards Gabe Vilardi, Alex Iafallo and Rasmus Kupari, as well as a 2024 second round pick."

Vilardi was glad to be a Jet. "I grew up watching Hockey Night In Canada and seeing the whiteout in Winnipeg."