Hockeywiztalks Hockey Blog

The Nashville Predators were another team that had a surprising campaign in the 2023-24 season under rookie head coach, Andrew Brunette and managed to make the playoffs before losing in 7 to the Vancouver Canucks. The upcoming offseason is a massive one for the franchise as they have a huge decision to make regarding Juuse Saros, and whether or not they want to give him a long-term extension or not; if they choose to not offer him an extension, he could be traded for a massive haul, allowing 22-year-old Russian Goalie, Yaroslav Askarov to take over the reins in net.  The Nashville Predators have 10 picks in the 2024 NHL Draft. 2024 NHL Draft 22-Andrew Basha (LW/RW) 53-Matvei Shuravin (D) 55-Alexander Zetterberg (C) 59-Carson Wetsch (RW) 87-Joona Saarelainen (C) 94-Jack Berglund (LW) 99-Mikhail Yegorov (G) 119-Ben Danford (D) 214-Karl Sterner (RW) The Nashville Predators drafted a collection of solid prospects to improve their prospect pool, including Andrew Basha in the 1st round, ...

 The Vancouver Canucks' 2023-2024 season was a successful and surprising campaign because they were not expected to be major contenders initially, however, the Canucks exceeded expectations by winning their division and making a significant playoff run. Vancouver Canucks won the Pacific Divison title and managed to defeat Nashville in 7 games even though they were playing without Thatcher Demko and moved onto to play the Edmonton Oilers in the second round, but they would ultimately fall short in Game 7. After the success of last season, Vancouver should look to improve the team in the offseason, but they only have so much cap space to fill many holes on the roster. Vancouver Canucks buyout Ilya Mikheyev ; Buyout will leave a 1.55 million cap hit until 2028. A three-team trade is made between the Vancouver Canucks, Boston Bruins, and Carolina Hurricanes Vancouver Canucks get rights Jake Guentzel Boston Bruins get rights to Elias Lindholm  Carolina Hurricanes rights to Jake DeB...

The Calgary Flames just missed out on the playoffs again in the 2023-24 season, and finished the season with a total of 81 points, a 38-39-5 record; they like a few other teams in the Pacific Division seem like they are going through a rebuild and it might take a few seasons of losing before they are back in the playoffs. The first order of business is moving Jacob Markstrom, who has become disgruntled with the trade rumors, and they have to do everything in their power to get the most in return for their number 1 goalie. GM Craig Conroy will be a very busy man from now and the draft as they try to work out a deal for the Swedish netminder. If the Calgary Flames play their cards right this offseason, they will be building a very good team for the future. Before the 2024 NHL Draft, the Calgary Flames make two trades Calgary Flames trade Jacob Markstrom, Matthew Coronato, 1st Round pick '24 (from VAN) to the New Jersey Devils for Alexander Holtz, Jonas Siegenthaler, Akira Schmid, 1st...

The New Jersey Devils the playoffs in the 2023-24 season after making it into the second round of the playoffs last season, and finished the season with a total of 81 points, a 38-39-5 record; With Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier in the midst of their primes, the New Jersey Devils really need to start to buckle down and put together the pieces for a contending team. The good news is that the New Jersey Devils have the benefit of having the 10th overall pick, which they could move to acquire a netminder, and they also have plenty of cap space to add other players as well. This coming offseason is a big one for the New Jersey Devils front office because after striking out on a netminder last offseason, the pressure to acquire a netminder this offseason is immense for GM Tom Fitzgerald, who might be on the hotseat if he can't find a way to fix the mess. Before the 2024 NHL Draft, the New Jersey Devils make two major trades New Jersey Devils acquire Jacob Markstrom, Matthew Coronato, 1st...

The Pittsburgh Penguins just missed out on the playoffs again in the 2023-24 season, and finished the season with a total of 88 points, a 38-32-12 record; With Crosby and Malkin another year older and Letang and Karlsson also getting up there in age, the window to win another cup is quickly closing for the Pittsburgh Penguins. To make things even more complicated, the Penguins will only have 12.9 Million in cap space to fine tune their roster, so they can make another playoffs run. Unlike most other teams that missed the playoffs, the Penguins are not trying the rebuild, in fact they  might have to be ultra aggressive in the offseason to surround Crosby with the personnel he needs to make another run at the Stanley Cup.  Before the 2024 NHL Draft, two trades are made: Pittsburgh Penguins acquire the rights to Chandler Stephenson from the Vegas Golden Knights for 4th round pick '24. The Penguins also trade Ryan Graves, Samuel Poulin, Jonathan Gruden, 1st round pick '25 to Ottaw...

The Detroit Red Wings just missed out on the playoffs in the 2023-24 season, taking a major step forward from the previous season, and finished the season with a total of 91 points, good for a 41-32-9 record. Moving forward the Red Wings will continue to improve their team by building through the draft and adding free agents that Steve Yzerman feels will help the team in the future. Detroit has 8 draft picks in the 2024 NHL draft, this is who they should select 2024 NHL Draft: 16-Michael Brandsegg Nygard (RW) 47- Simon Zether (C) 80-Teddy Stinga (LW) 128-Alexis Bernier (D) 144-Elliott Groenewold (D) 176-Owen Allard (C) 208-Charlie Cerrato (LW) Though no big names jump out at you, this group of prospects is pretty solid and could play a vital role on the team a few years down the road. Adding Brandsegg Nygard, Simon Zether and Owen Allard are all two-way forwards capable of playing in all situations, Alexis Bernier and Elliott Groenewold are two solid defensemen with good upside, while ...

As everyone should know by now, Erik Karlsson has been traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of a three-team trade with the San Jose Sharks and Montreal Canadiens.  Here is the full breakdown of the trade: Pittsburgh acquires defenseman Erik Karlsson , forward Rem Pitlick, forward Dillon Hamaliuk, and San Jose's 2026 third-round draft pick. Karlsson is signed through the 2026-27 season and his contract carries an average annual value of $11.5 million. San Jose is retaining $1.5 million of his salary yearly.  San Jose acquires Pittsburgh's 2024 first-round draft pick (top-10 protected), forward Mikael Granlund , defenseman Jan Rutta and forward Mike Hoffman . Montreal acquires Pittsburgh's 2025 second-round draft pick, defenseman Jeff Petry , goaltender Casey DeSmith and forward Nathan Legare. Jeff Petry is signed through the 2024-25 season and his contract carries an average annual value of $6.5 million. Pittsburgh is retaining $1.5 million of his salary yearly. Althoug...

There is 3 Goalies headline list of 7 to be inducted; Henrik Lundqvist, Tom Barrasso, and Mike Vernon. The other inductees include Pierre Turgeon, Coach Ken Hitchcock, GM Pierre Lacroix, and women's inductee, Caroline Ouellette. Henrik Lundqvist had posters of Tom Barrasso and Mike Vernon on his wall, now he's entering the Hockey Hall of Fame with them. Lundqvist was elected in his first year of eligibility. Selected in the seventh round (No. 205) of the 2000 NHL Draft by the New York Rangers, Lundqvist played for the Rangers from 2005-20, helping them advance as far as the Stanley Cup Final in 2014. He was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy five times and won it in 2012 when he was voted the NHL's best goalie. The native of Are, Sweden, won 459 games, sixth in NHL history and most among goalies born in Europe. He had a .918 save percentage, tied for eighth among goalies who have played at least 300 games (Cory Schneider, Corey Crawford). Lundqvist also won a gold medal with ...

  This is a quick update blog in which I provide the latest from around the NHL. Conn Smythe Odds Jonathan Marcessault -110 Matthew Tkachuk +350 Sergei Bobrovsky +450 Jack Eichel +650 Updated Stanley Cup Finals Schedule GM 5: Tue., June 13: Panthers at Golden Knights; TNT, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS GM 6: *Fri., June 16: Golden Knights at Panthers; TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS GM 7 *Mon., June 19: Panthers at Golden Knights; TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS Recent Trades Edmonton Oilers acquire Jayden Grubbe from New York Rangers for 2023 5th round Pick. In a 3 team trade, Columbus Blue Jackets acquire defenseman Ivan Provorov from the Philadelphia Flyers in a three-team trade that also included the Los Angeles Kings . Philadelphia acquires goaltender Cal Petersen , defensemen Sean Walker , Helge Grans , a 1st-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft , a 2nd-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft , and a conditional 2nd-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft . Los Angeles acquires defenseman Kevin Con...

Here is the schedule for the 2023 Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers. The best-of-7 series will begin Saturday in Las Vegas. All games will start at 8 p.m. ET The Golden Knights advanced by defeating the Dallas Stars in six games in the Western Conference Final,  while the Florida Panthers swept the Carolina Hurricanes in the best-of-7 Eastern Conference Final. 2023 STANLEY CUP FINAL Vegas Golden Knights (P1) vs. Florida Panthers (WC2) GM 1: Sat., June 3 on TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS GM 2: Mon., June 5 on TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS GM 3: Thu., June 8 on TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS GM 4: Sat., June 10 on TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS GM 5: *if necessary* Tue., June 13 on TNT, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS GM 6 *if necessary* Fri., June 16 on TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS GM 7 *if necessary* Mon., June 19 on TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS

Here is the schedule for the conference finals of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The winner of each best-of-7 series will advance to the Stanley Cup Final. In the Eastern Conference, the Carolina Hurricanes, the No. 1 seed from the Metropolitan Division, will play the Florida Panthers, the second wild card. In the Western Conference, the Vegas Golden Knights, the No. 1 seed from the Pacific Division, will face the Dallas Stars, the No. 2 seed from the Central. All times listed are ET and subject to change. Eastern Conference Carolina Hurricanes (M1) vs. Florida Panthers (WC2) GM 1: Thu., May 18: Panthers at Hurricanes, 8 p.m.; TNT, SN, CBC, TVAS GM 2: Sat., May 20: Panthers at Hurricanes, 8 p.m.; TNT, SN, CBC, TVAS GM 3: Mon., May 22: Hurricanes at Panthers, 8 p.m.; TNT, SN, CBC, TVAS GM 4: Wed., May 24: Hurricanes at Panthers, 8 p.m.; TNT, SN, CBC, TVAS GM 5: *Fri., May 26: Panthers at Hurricanes, 8 p.m.; TNT, SN, CBC, TVAS GM 6: *Sun., May 28: Hurricanes at Panthers, 8 p.m.; TNT, SN,...

Here are the series-by-series schedules for the second round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The second round consists of four best-of-7 series, two in the Eastern Conference and two in the Western Conference.  EASTERN CONFERENCE Toronto Maple Leafs (A2) vs. Florida Panthers (WC2) Panthers lead series, 1-0 Game 1: Panthers 4, Maple Leafs 2 Thu., May 4: Panthers at Maple Leafs; 7 p.m.; TNT, SN, CBC, TVAS Sun, May 7: Maple Leafs at Panthers, 6:30 p.m.; TBS, SN, CBC, TVAS Wed., May 10: Maple Leafs at Panthers, 7 p.m.; ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS *Fri., May 12: Panthers at Maple Leafs, TBD; TNT, SN, CBC, TVAS *Sun., May 14: Maple Leafs at Panthers, TBD; SN, CBC, TVAS *Tue., May 16: Panthers at Maple Leafs, TBD; TNT, SN, CBC, TVAS Carolina Hurricanes (M1) vs. New Jersey Devils (M2) Hurricanes lead series, 1-0 Game 1: Hurricanes 5, Devils 1 Fri., May 5: Devils at Hurricanes, 8 p.m.; TNT, SN, TVAS Sun., May 7: Hurricanes at Devils, 3:30 p.m.; TBS, SN1, TVAS Tue., May 9: Hurricanes at Devils, 7 ...

Full Preview Here are the series-by-series schedules for the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.  Eastern Conference First Round BOS vs FLA GM1: 4/17 @ 7:30 pm EST (ESPN, CBC) GM 2: 4/19 @ 7:30 pm EST (ESPN, CBC) GM 3: 4/21 @ 7:30 pm EST (TNT, CBC) GM 4: 4/23 @ 3:30 pm EST (TNB, SN1) GM 5: 4/26, TBA GM 6: 4/28, TBA GM 7: 4/30, TBA Predictions: Boston in 5 TOR vs TB GM 1: 4/18 @ 7:30 p.m EST (ESPN, CBC) GM 2: 4/20 @ 7 p.m EST (ESPN, CBC) GM 3: April 22 @ 7 p.m. ET ( TBS, CBC) GM 4: April 24 @ 7:30 p.m. ET (TBS, CBC) GM 5: April 27, TBA GM 6: April 29, TBA GM 7: May 1, TBA Predictions: TB win in 7 CAR vs NYI GM 1: 4/17 @ 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2, SN360) GM 2: 4/19 @ 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2, SN360) GM 3: 4/21 @ 7 p.m. ET (TBS, SN1) GM 4: 4/23 @ 1 p.m ET (TNT, SN360) GM 5: 4/25, TBA GM 6: 4/28 , TBA GM 7: 4/ 30, TBA Predictions: CAR in 5 NJ vs NYR GM 1: 4/18 @ 7 p.m. ET (TBS, SN360) GM 2: 4/20 @ 7:30 p.m. ET (TBS, SN360) GM 3: 4/22 @ 8 pm ET (ABC, SN1) GM 4: 4/24  @ 7 pm ET (ESPN, S...

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...

The NHL's regular season starting to wind down, so I thought it would be fitting to track the race for various awards. Hart: C.McDavid D.Pastrnak L.Draisaitl T.Thompson J.Robetson Connor McDavid is the favorite to win the Hart Trophy this season, after losing out on the Hart Trophy last season, despite a 122-point season. McDavid is on track to set new career highs in goals, PPP, and points. If there is anyone that has a shot at challenging McDavid, it is David Pastrnak, because not only is he having a great individual season, he is helping lead the Bruins to the best record in the NHL. Leon Draisaitl is constantly overlooked because he plays with McDavid, but few players in the league are more consistent than him. Tage Thompson and Jason Robertson have cooled off a bit lately, so they most likely will not be the Hart winner. Art Ross: C.McDavid-124 L.Draisaitl-97 N.Kucherov-94 D.Pastrnak-86 T.Thompson-85 Connor McDavid is running away with this award right now; he has 27 more poin...

For several years now, NHL fans have been complaining about the NHL's current playoff format which has without a doubt had an impact on the outcome of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Now, one of the league's top stars, Sidney Crosby, has echoed those sentiments stating how he missed the league's old playoff format, and that it would be the best way to reward the best teams over the course of the regular season. To refresh everyone's memory, From 1993 to 2013, the NHL had three divisions in each conference, with the three division winners grabbing the top three seeds. After that, it was just based on overall points, with the No. 1 seed playing the No. 8 seed, No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6, and No. 4 vs. No, 5. The teams would also re-seed after the first round. The current NHL Playoff format has the 1 seed in each conference playing the 2nd wildcard team, 2nd the seed team in each conference plays the 1st wildcard team; After that, the other two first-round matchups were ba...