Hockeywiztalks Hockey Blog

The NHL and NHL Players' Association announced in November of last year that the World Cup of Hockey will not be played in February 2024. This is an absolute travesty that the NHL and NHLPA can't see the value of having the NHLs best players playing against each other. It has been 7 years since the last World Cup of Hockey has been played and if there is no World Cup of Hockey tournament in 2024, it will be 8 years since this tournament hasn't been played. Now some articles are saying that the NHL and NHLPA are trying to work out something so that there is a World Cup of Hockey in 2025, but that is still two years away and by that point, some of the legendary players playing now might not even make the team for the respective countries. After the conclusion of the World Baseball Classic, in which Japan beat the USA to win the Championship, Superstar Connor McDavid praised the baseball because of the Ohtani vs Trout showdown, and stated that "It's what we've bee...

Nicklas Backstrom is expected to miss the 2022-23 season after undergoing hip surgery, so if the Washington Capitals are to make the playoffs, they might need to do more than they have already done in the offseason to improve their team. This is what I would to ensure the Washington Capitals remain contenders without Nicklas Backstrom. With Backstrom, Tom Wilson, and Carl Hagelin on LTIR, they can spend 17.11 million over the cap; they already have a payroll of 88.82 million, which is already 6.32 million over the cap. Wilson and Hagelin are expected to be back this season, so they really only have 2.88 million to spend, if Backstrom is remaining on the LTIR the whole season. Washington added a bunch of rental players to replace their injured offensive players, but they haven't done much to improve their defense. The Offense of the Capitals is fine, but Washington really needs to improve their defense, if they are to contend in their division. Washington Capitals Make the following...

The 2004 NHL Draft was highlighted by two superstars in Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin but there plenty of other stars drafted as well, such as Blake Wheeler, Pekka Rinne and Alex Radulov. If the 2004 NHL Draft was to be redrafted, the landscape of the NHL would be very different. *Be sure to read my 2003 Redraft before continuing with this one* 1. Washington Capitals-Alex Ovechkin Original pick: Alex Ovechkin Washington Capitals still select Alex Ovechkin, as he is still clearly the best player in the draft. Ovechkin should a first ballot hall of famer, he has won 8 Rocket Richard Trophies, scoring 50 or more goals 7 times. He is already considered one of the greatest goal scorers of all-time, with 706 career NHL goals. 2. Pittsburgh Penguins-(C) Evgeni Malkin Original pick: Evgeni Malkin Evgeni Malkin is a superstar player in his own right but his always in the shadow of Sidney Crosby. With Crosby sidelined, Malkin's had one of the best campaigns in his care...