Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

News from around the league

June 17, 2022, 9:56 AM ET [89 Comments]
Ryan Wilson
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
We’ve got some things happening around the league and one of them has to do with the Penguins #1 rival. The Philadelphia Flyers are bringing in notorious Penguins whiner John Tortorella




This is great for entertainment purposes assuming the Penguins bring back their two big unrestricted free agents. Even if the Penguins aren’t true contenders at this point it would be a nice B story to have Tortorella back in the mix complaining about the Penguins. As for the Flyers this is just another move in a long run of moves that isn’t going to do much for them. They seem stuck in a rut of low end mediocrity. Until this past season the Flyers had been on an every other year streak of missing the playoffs since 2011-12. By missing the playoffs in 2021-22 they now have two years in a row of missing the playoffs. Maybe they are starting a new streak where they just keep missing.

The new TV contract for the NHL is already light years ahead of the one with NBC.


I believe the conference finals numbers were up 60%. I don’t think ESPN’s first year back as a rights holder has been terrific. They have a lot of bumps in the road with their coverage. One thing you can’t say is that they don’t care. They do. They also have channels which are very accessible around the country. There isn’t a question whether or not you can get ESPN or ESPN2 in a hotel like you had with NBCSN. I think the coverage will eventually improve (start by firing John Buccigross into the sun).

I also think there’s potential with the increase in viewers/coverage to start shifting/fixing some of the problems the league has. The more attention the league gets the harder it is to explain how they handle their player safety. There is no better time to shift how they operate than now. There is so much skill in this league. They have two great teams to showcase it in the Final. The opportunity is sitting right there to transform the way this sport is consumed. But it is the NHL and they will screw it up.

The Nashville Predators are being sold and Barry Trotz just bought a 1.5M home in the area. It looks like Trotz might be leaving the bench and heading to a front office position.



Trotz has been one of the very best coaches of his era. He also hasn’t had a year off since 1998. He has coached every single season since becoming Nashville’s first ever coach back in the 1997-98 season. That’s a lot of games behind the bench, 1,812 to be exact. I can understand him wanting to change things up if he does indeed make his way into management.

Lastly, the Salary cap for the 2022-23 season will rise by 1M. It goes from 81.5M to 82.5M. Every bit counts for the Penguins as they navigate the re-signing of key players and a 1.9M buyout.

Thanks for reading!
Join the Discussion: » 89 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Ryan Wilson
» Penguins earn victory on Jake night
» A salute to Jake Guentzel
» Sid puts on show as Avs dig out of hole
» A dud in Dallas
» My thoughts on Dubas' thoughts