Storyline: Adding a new franchise really is a big deal for the NHL. Written by CoachWSW, Florida.
Changes are in full swing in the NHL after trade deadline. Speculation looms with the added impact of a new team, the Las Vegas Golden Knights.
Courtesy: HFBoards – Hockey’s Future
While the trade deadline is almost a national holiday for some, it also requires many sleepless nights for NHL staff, NHL teams, and players. The next big thing–the NHL Draft–with its wheeling and dealing is already underway.
Utilizing the protected list is new for many teams. Some NHL teams will be making tough decisions based on salary cap, while others are pushing for more talent and depth. Some players will be promoted from the minor leagues by virtue of the expansion, while some will find themselves looking to restart their careers.
All teams have the ANALytics in effect. No, that isn’t mistyped. In the past few years the NHL has focused more and more on statistics. I would gladly argue that it takes experience to evaluate off-ice character and visual ability to see how players are playing away from the puck, often referred to as ‘Hockey IQ.’
No doubt analytics can be done on puck possession and time in zones, but what about the many things away from the puck that have an impact on the game? Those players often get lost in the numbers game. Every player and coach knows who they are. ‘Priceless’ is a moniker used to describe these players.
Picking players won’t be easy for the Las Vegas Golden Knights. The Malkins, Burns, Ovechkin, and even Marchand’s of the hockey world are going to be on the coveted protected players list. The role players, like face-off gurus and solid defenders, may not have numerics on their side.
Some players will not be on protected lists as they aren’t as coveted by the analytics departments, but they are priceless on- and off- the ice. Some minor league players will be called upon to be part of the Las Vegas Golden Knights, while others will be looking to finally crack the lineup of their respective teams as openings pop up.
Courtesy: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images from Yahoo! Sports
Keep in mind that ‘GM-GM,’ George McPhee, is a Hobey Baker winner. He was also the epitome of a talented role player during his NHL playing days. He never was at the top of the goal-scoring list, but he was never afraid to jump into a fray. He even helped create a few of them. His passion and character could never be questioned.
This is also the same GM that visited the Chicago Blackhawks locker room to eloquently show his displeasure with what he deemed as ‘thuggery’ by the Blackhawks upon his Washington Capitals. He had taken the reigns of the Caps and was given the task of rebuilding a team with a very hands-on ownership. It was a learning curve for all, but Mr. McPhee prevailed and he earned every bump and bruise along the way.
A soft spoken man in most respects, he is very much a student of the game and he often spoke to youth hockey teams in and around The Beltway. He took on some pretty harsh criticism in a market that loves NFL Football, first and foremost.
‘GM-GM’ had his hands full. But he assembled a great team to get the Capitals back to form, returning it to the perennial playoff team they once were. It’s no coincidence that some of the finest talent available started looking to the Capitals as a new home.
Courtesy: The Hockey Writers
Now he must build an entire organization from scratch with nothing in the pipeline for depth. No doubt he’ll look cool as a cucumber, but don’t mistake that for arrogance or cockiness. Under that cool facade, he’s like a duck’s feet under water–constantly moving with purpose.
Players contracts and playing careers are in play. Along with that comes impact on families and fans. Yes, this has a big impact beyond numbers and sponsorships. Make no mistake that each team will be effected in some way. Some families will be packing up for a new city.
And Draft Day 2017 could read like a novel. Journalists and announcers will be penning ‘feel good stories’ and there no doubt be a few head-scratchers. One team is added to the mix and, because of that, Draft Day will give you a deeper view into the minds of GM’s.
Will the next person wearing a NHL Vegas Golden Knights jersey be you or someone you know?
