The National Hockey League announced today that it has extended the period of game postponements for the Calgary Flames through their game previously scheduled for Dec. 23 against Seattle. Additionally, due to concern with the number of positive cases within the last two days as well concern for continued COVID spread in the coming days, the Colorado Avalanche’s and Florida Panthers’ games also will be postponed at least through the scheduled completion of the League’s Holiday Break in the schedule on Dec. 26. The decision was made by the NHL’s, the NHLPA’s and the Club medical groups.
Dealing with COVID is frustrating enough, but NHL teams are also having difficulty keeping the information straight. It seems like the news changes every couple of minutes.
Today, coach Barry Trotz said all of the New York Islanders players received boosters shots .Later in the day, the Islanders issued a retraction.
In a press release, the Islanders said Trotz’s words were “not true.”
. “The organization has offered the booster shot to the entire team and will continue to educate and recommend everyone consider receiving,” the statement. The NHL is recommending booster shots, but not every player wants to get them.
Covid cases are spiking in Ontario. As a result, the province now will only allow 50% capacity for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators games. That will be a significant loss of revenue.
Also today, Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty joined the COVID list. Then the Colorado Avalanche put five players on the COVID list, including Cale Makar and goalie Darcy Kuemper. The COVID messiness is far from over.
Here are the rest of Thursday’s 25 Thoughts:
2. NHL teams are watching Evander Kane and we are hearing the potential of the San Jose Sharks being able to deal him as gone from “no way” to “could happen.” The key will be how much salary the Sharks will retain.
3. Calgary forward Andrew Mangiapane’s goals-assists ratio is the best 17-3 stat since pitcher John Smoltz went 17-3 for the Atlanta Braves in 1998.
4. Defenseman Jakob Chychrun is -29 for the Arizona Coyotes and the player closest to him is Seattle’s Jordan Eberle at -15.
5. I keep looking for the right-shot D man Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois is going to acquire before the trade deadline. But I haven’t found him yet.
6. Read a headline at Vegas Hockey Now that read: “Chandler Stephenson not ready to give Jack Eichel his spot as the Golden Knights’ top center.” My admiration for Stephenson grew. You have to love the attitude.
7. I’m going to impose a moratorium on writing about my ridiculous obsession with changing the Oilers’ goaltending. But not this week. The Oilers’ team save percentage (.906) has slid down to 21st place. In 5-on-5 situations, the Oilers’ save percentage is .917. The NHL average at 5-on-5 is .926. The Oilers’ 5-on-5 save percentage is exactly the same as Buffalo’s. If you are an Edmonton fan, that doesn’t make you feel better.
8. If you thought the Red Wings might promote Jonatan Berggren when COVID took out Michael Rasmussen and Robby Fabbri, you haven’t been paying attention to how GM Steve Yzerman operates. He doesn’t like players “yo-yo-ing” between the minors and the NHL He wants to promote players when they are ready to help the team win.
9. Alex Ovechkin leads the NHL with 36 even-strength points. Connor McDavid is eighth with 24. Timo Meier has the same number of even-strength points as McDavid. Stephenson has 23.
10. Each country turned in a 55-person preliminary Olympic roster before the season. If four or five players from each country choose not to go because of COVID concerns, they can still have a competitive team. That's why it is being said it would take 40 or players not wanting to go before the players would pull the plug.
11. The NHL Christmas roster freeze starts at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 19 and ends at 12:01 December 28. Don’t recall an NHL move on Christmas Day but the Houston Rockets of the NBA waived Jeremy Lin on Christmas Day, 2011
12. Former Harvard player Jack Drury, son of former NHL player Ted Drury and nephew of New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury, made his NHL debut Thursday and scored for Carolina against Detroit.
13. How many of you had Anaheim Ducks leading the Pacific Division just before Christmas on your 2021-22 bingo card? Give Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale some credit for helping fuel the fire, but some veterans are playing major roles. Ryan Getzlaf was terrific before he was injured. Kevin Shattenkirk has been sharp with 17 points. Rickard Rakell has eight goals.
14. Should Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin trade for Phil Kessel because he knows him from Pittsburgh or should he not trade for him because he knows him from Pittsburgh.
15. If the Dallas Stars want to make the playoffs out of the Central, they have to focus on upgrading their offense. Does that mean trading John Klingberg?
16. With Alex Ovechkin, John Carlson, etc, how can the Washington Capitals be 25th (17.1%) in the NHL on the power play? Isn’t Ovechkin the NHL’s most dangerous power play performer?
17. Intellectually, I know it’s unlikely the Lightning can win three Stanley Cups in a row. Their depth has been eroded. They have a lot of miles on them. Then I see them with the NHL’s fifth-best record and watch them play and think: "Man, it’s possible, not likely, but definitely possible."
18. The Penguins have won five in a row and Evgeni Malkin is said to be “getting closer and closer” to being ready to play. The power of the LeBron James ownership is impressive.
19. Someone tweeted that today seems like March 11, 2020 when the NHL shut down because of COVID. The NHL wants desperately not to pause the season. But that may have to be considered if the COVID surge doesn't slow down.
20. Gigi Marvin, a member of the U.S. Women's National Program for 15 years, is retiring. She was on the 2018 team that won the Gold Medal in PyeongChang, South Korea. “Gigi was a cornerstone of the U.S. Women’s National Team program for a long time,” said Katie Million, director of women’s national team programs for USA Hockey. “Not many athletes earn the opportunity to play in three Olympic Games, along with countless world championships.
21. Edmonton coach Dave Tippett is on the COVID protocol list. The team's recent struggles have prompted plenty of rumors about, including one involving Mike Babcock replacing him.
22. Nine teams now have team save percentages below .900: Detroit Red Wings (.898), Chicago Blackhawks (.898), Buffalo Sabres (.897), Montreal Canadiens (.897), New Jersey Devils (.893), Ottawa Senators (.893), Colorado Avalanche (.890), Arizona Coyotes (.889), Seattle Kraken (.876). Does any of these teams jump out at you? Could it be the Avalanche who are supposed to be one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup?
23. Johnny Gaudreau is having an exceptional season. Twenty-five of his 30 points have come at even-strength. That's 83.3% of them. That's No. 1 among the top 20 scorers. Minnesota's Kirill Kaprizov is second at 81.8% (27 of 33).
24. Want to send out positive thoughts to former NHLer and current Colorado Avalanche broadcast analyst Peter McNab who has been diagnosed with cancer. His prognosis is encouraging, but he had to miss his induction ceremony last week to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Stay strong, Peter. McNabstrong#
25. Colorful Derek Sanderson fought Bobby Orr when their two junior teams were brought into Boston for an exhibition game. He fought Orr because his dad told him before the game: “There are two guys the crowd is going to remember tonight: Bobby Orr and the guy who beat him up.”
Sanderson was a memorable NHL player. Sanderson turned 75 this season.
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