Exactly 100 days after the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Florida Panthers in win the Stanley Cup For the first time, NHL training camps open on Thursday.
The Golden Knights bring back nearly the same team in their attempt to repeat the feat while Panthers still licking their wounds after injuries piled up during their run to the finals. Colorado, now more than a year later lifting the cup and the missing captain Gabriel Landeskog for another seasonenters the camp as the favorite to win it all again.
The biggest questions are being asked in places like Columbus, Anaheim, Carolina and Calgary: How will the Blue Jackets handle a last minute coach changewhat will happen with unsigned Ducks star Trevor Zegras, and whether the Hurricanes and Flames are among the teams with a trade or two left to make in the coming weeks and months.
Hot topics on and off the ice ahead of the Face-offs for the 2023-24 NHL season October 10:
IS VEGAS READY TO REPEAT?
Freshly released help run Vegas For the Cup, Jack Eichel asked friends who had already played through June how they recovered for the following season.
“The message they’ve been getting across is, ‘You’ll be surprised how good you’ll feel in training camp, having worked out a little less and maybe spent a little less time in the gym,’” Eichel said. “Maybe more so now than in previous summers, it’s about trying to keep your body healthy and feeling good going into camp.”
The Golden Knights should be pleased with their continuity after retain pending free agent goaltender Adin Hill and forward Ivan Barbashev and losing only Reilly Smith by trade of the group that played most of the playoffs.
According to FanDuel Sports BettingThe Avalanche are the betting favorites at just under 9-1, followed by the Hurricanes at just under 10-1. The Golden Knights are sixth at 13-1.
HOW DEGRADED IS FLORIDA?
Matthew Tkachuk broke his sternum during the final, an injury despite which he played before missing Game 5. It took longer than expected to rehab, but the Hart Trophy finalist as league MVP and Panthers’ top scorer in playoffs It looks ready to go.
“I feel really good now,” Tkachuk said. “I look at the glass half full: I didn’t miss 30 or 20 games during the regular season. I had the summer to get back in shape and I hope to have a good start.”
The rest of his team is not so lucky.Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour underwent shoulder surgery and each defenseman could be out until mid-December.
AND NOW WHAT HAPPENS TO COLUMBUS?
Nothing like the forced resignation of a polarizing, Stanley Cup-winning coach to shake things up for the Blue Jackets. Mike Babcock resigned Sunday after ask to see photos on players’ phones as part of a liaison effort that led to a survey conducted by the AJLNH and Pascal Vincent being named his replacement.
All of this has happened over the past week, and the owners have said there will be no changes to the leadership led by president of hockey operations John Davidson and longtime general manager Jarmo Kekalainen at this time because “further disruption would be detrimental to our players and coaches as they prepare for the opening of training camp.”
Vincent, who spent the last two seasons as an assistant under former coach Brad Larsen, has a two-year contract and perhaps more respect from the players.
“The advantage I have is that I know these people,” Vincent said. “I’ve been with them for two years and I know they care about me. They really care about the team.”
WHO IS NOT AT CAMP?
Zegras, Ducks teammate Jamie Drysdale and Ottawa’s Shane Pinto are among the restricted free agents without contracts for the upcoming season. Any of them could sign at any time.
Devils center Jack Hughes, asked about Zegras last week, pleaded for the best for his close friend and former American teammate.
“I think he’s a great player, the best player on his team,” Hughes said. “He’s good for the league. He needs to come back and hopefully he can get a deal done soon.”
On the injury front outside the Panthers, Washington free agent signing Max Pacioretty is one of those who should not be ready for the start of the season because he recovers from new tear his right Achilles tendon. Former teammate of Caroline Andrei Svechnikov could be limited to six months since ACL tear in his right knee.
MOVING?
After a rather quiet summer in terms of trade outside of Pittsburgh Three-time Norris Trophy winner defenseman Erik Karlsson could still face some shuffling before opening night.
Calgary must make a decision on Elias Lindholm, a potential free agent in 2024 who is considered one of the league’s best two-way centers. The same goes for the Hurricanes, given their blue-line logjam and the fact that Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei each have one year left on their contracts.
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