Wilson stepped down as general manager in April 2022. For 19 seasons he held the role and for many Sharks fans those seasons ended with one common theme, disappointment. In all fairness to Wilson he did not mind making a splash when it came to acquiring talent. He traded for Joe Thornton from the Boston Bruins, Dany Heatley and Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators, and Brent Burns from the Minnesota Wild.

Still the best San Jose managed was one Stanley Cup Finals appearance in Wilson’s 19 seasons.

With the lack of playoff success, Wilson was incredibly poor at recognizing talent in the draft. Take a look at all the first round picks in his tenure. One thing that is easily noticeable was the number of years were the Sharks did not have a first round pick.

2003: Milan Michalek RW 6th overall pick, 91 goals, 123 assists, 214 points

Steve Bernier RW 16th overall, 42 goals, 39 assists, 81 points

2004: Lukas Kaspar RW 22nd overall, 16 games played, 2 goals, 2 assists, 4 points

2005: Devin Setoguchi RW 8th overall, 267 games played, 84 goals, 75 assists, 159 points

2006: Ty Wishart D 16th overall, zero games played

2007: Logan Couture C 9th overall, 911 games played, 318 goals, 368 assists, 686 points

Nicholas Petrecki D 28th overall, one game played

2008: Zero first round picks

2009: Zero first round picks

2010: Charlie Coyle C/RW, 28th overall, zero games played

2011: zero first round picks

2012: Tomas Hertl C, 17th overall pick, 199 goals, 239 assissts, 438 points

2013: Mirco Mueller D 18th overall, 52 games 2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points.

2014: Nikola Goldobin RW 27th overall, 11 games, 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points.

2015: Timo Meier RW 9th overall, 451 games, 154 goals, 162 assists, 316 points.

2016: Zero first round picks

2017: Joshua Norris C 19th overall, zero games played

2018: Ryan Merkley D 21st overall, 39 games played, 1 goal, 5 assists, 6 points.

2019: Zero first round picks

2020: Ozzie Wiesblatt RW 31st overall, zero games played

2021: William Eklund LW, 7th overall, 13 games played, 0 goals, 5 assists, 5 points.

Other notable draft picks from the other rounds were Marc Ed0uard-Vlasic, Justin Braun, and Kevin Labanc. So in total Wilson managed draft six players in 19 seasons who really made an impact with the franchise.

Keep in mind the man Wilson replaced, Dean Lombardi did much better when it came to the draft. Who in his tenure selected Marco Sturm, Patrick Marleau, Scott Hannan, Brad Stuart, Jonathan Cheechoo, Douglas Murray, Ryane Clowe, and Christian Ehrhoff.

That is more players for Lombardi that made an impact in significantly less time with the organization as general manager. It also speaks volumes that the Los Angeles Kings who hired him won two Stanley Cups with him.

Overall it is fitting that this year Wilson got celebrate, yet it is not shocking the franchise is in the running for the no.1 overall pick in the NHL draft.

Beyond the draft, Wilson gave certain players contract extensions that were at best questionable. Burns is the best example of that, also re-signing Couture and Hertl were also misses. Both needed to get dealt, yet now the franchise is stuck with their bloated contracts.

The Sharks also gave Karlsson a contract extension as well. He did struggle with injuries in his three seasons prior to this year, yet in 2022-2023 he had his best season in the NHL, with 25 goals and 75 assists for a total of 100 points so far with two games left to play.

While the 100 plus points are impressive, it is better news for Grier. Who is likely going to acquire several key young players or picks during the off season. There were rumors swirling around trade deadline about Karlsson being traded yet nothing came to fruition.

For Grier though it is likely going to take him several seasons before the Sharks franchise makes the playoffs. He can once again thank Wilson for that.

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The Good:

There’s a handful so let’s start with the most impressive and that’s the Calgary Flames. In an off-season where the Flames lost Johnny Gaudreau to free agency and traded both Matthew Tkachuk and Sean Monahan, it seemed like they were taking a step back. But GM Brad Treliving had other ideas. In the Tkachuk deal Jonathon Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt, and a first-round pick. Both Weegar and Huberdeau have made immediate impacts for the Flames with Weegar having two assists and Huberdeau having one through two games. To add on to those pickups they went out and signed playoff hero and Stanley Cup champion Nazem Kadri to a seven-year $49M contract. He’s totaled a goal and two assists through two games and is a plus-one so far. The Flames are 2-0-0 after the first week beating not only the defending Cup champions 5-3 over Colorado but also winning the first meeting in the Battle of Alberta 4-3 over Edmonton. It’s still early but the Flames added some good players this off-season and could be a fun team to watch. 

Speaking of the good it’s hard to not talk about the Pittsburgh Penguins. A team just like the Flames who went 2-0 on their opening week and lead the league in scoring with 12 goals through their first two games. Tristan Jarry looks to be back in his All-Star form giving up only four goals through those games. While the Pens may have played the measly Arizona Coyotes in the first game they did muster up a 6-2 win over the always-tough Tampa Bay Lightning in the second. Sidney Crosby doesn’t appear to have to lost a step at all as he has six points so far and was named the NHL’s first star of the week. He along with linemate Jake Guentzel appears to be in midseason form and ready for a long push come the playoffs.

The Bad:

The Arizona Coyotes what more could you expect from a team that isn’t wanted by their own city? The ‘Yotes start the season 0-2-0 giving up 12 goals a game. There aren’t many bright sides on this Arizona roster Jakob Chychrun, and Barrett Hayton are the only players to be seem to be worth anything. If the Coyotes can’t find a way to be even a middle-of-the-pack team this season Chychrun could be on a new team come the deadline depending on how desperate some of the contenders become.

If you want to talk about bad you need to talk about the very bad, and that’s the San Jose Sharks. Through their first four games, the Sharks find themselves 0-4-0 and have been outscored 14 to six. They just lost back-to-back games against the Nashville Predators and have been absolutely abysmal to start the season. Unlike the Coyotes there really is nothing exciting to write home about on the Sharks side. Timo Meier and Evgeny Svechnikov look like the only deadline rentals for contenders with the rest of the “big names” locked up for another few years.

The Concerning:

To say you aren’t at least slightly concerned as a Columbus Blue Jackets fan may mean you’re delusional. The Blue Jackets have started the season off 0-3-0 and had a ton of expectations coming into this season. Columbus made waves this offseason by signing Johnny Gaudreau to seven-year deal with an annual average value of $9.75M fans were ready to name them contenders. If the JacketKekäläinens can’t get this ship righted before the midseason mark GM Jarmo Kekäläinen could be looking for a new job.

 Let’s combine both the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Washington Capitals in this one. First off the Lightning, maybe those deep playoff runs have caught up to Tampa Bay. Three straight years of playing not only a full 82-game schedule but also playing all the way into the Stanley Cup finals and winning two of those. This offseason also saw the losses of forward Ondrej Palat who signed in New Jersey and defenseman Ryan McDonagh who was traded in order to make cap space for Tampa. The Lightning being off to a slow start shouldn’t worry too many as this team knows how to win but definitely something to pay attention to down the stretch. As for the Capitals they just haven’t appeared to be themselves. Starting out 1-2-0 and scoring only five goals thus far has to have Caps fans sweating. So far Ovi only has one assist to his credit and hasn’t found the back of the net just yet. The Capitals have a very experienced group and should be able to turn things around just like Tampa Bay.

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From that point on though the Sharks dominated. Defenseman Erik Karlsson played a key role with an assist on the first goal and after an official scoring changed got credited for the second goal.

Any thought of a victory quickly diminished in the second period. San Jose still looked good, until a careless mistake gave Jonathan Toews an easy goal scoring opportunity that he did not miss. After Chicago got penalized for too many men on the ice what happened next?

The Sharks power play once again showcased how pathetic it is. No one hustled to get the puck allowing the Blackhawks to patiently wait for an easy goal scoring opportunity shorthanded. Sam Lafferty got a nice gift as Kaapo Kahknonen had no chance of stopping the puck.

Not even two minutes later though, Laffety once again scored shorthanded as the boos started from Sharks fans. Yet when it is all said and done this was a perfect tribute to former general manager Doug Wilson who was honored by the franchise tonight.

A Sharks team that does not make an effort and shows little to no heart. Where have the fans seen that before? Oh! right under Wilson’s watch.

If there is one person to blame why this Sharks team is 0-4, it is because of Wilson. He is the reason this team is the worst in the National Hockey League.

Unfortunately for current general manager Mike Grier he has his work cut out for him.

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Loss number three came tonight and there was not much positive to say about their performance except for goalie James Reimer, yet even he was fortunate that only two goals were allowed. As expected the Sharks defense was atrocious, its power play was awful, and there were countless mistakes on both ends of the ice.

Still what really stood out tonight though was how invisible the offense was. In fact the Sharks are fortunate not to have been shutout. The lone goal and the 1-0 lead was an absolute fluke.

As for expectations from Sharks fans for the season. There really are not any. When it comes to new general manager Mike Grier, he needs to admit to himself that this is a rebuild. So when the trade deadline nears, it means parting ways with a number of fan favorites including Logan Couture, Tomas Hertl, Kevin LaBanc, and Timo Meier.

Also, if a team is willing to take defensemen Erik Karlsson that makes it even better. If Reimer is able to keep the Sharks in game a playoff team that needs goalie help might pick up the phone as well.

Unfortunately for Grier though he inherited quite the mess from previous general manager Doug Wilson. Acquiring young talent and having a vision for the franchise’s future at this point is all that he can do.

Furthermore, the Sharks are a great example of what happens when key players are kept for far too long. Then again that might have been moot if Wilson drafted better and acclimated younger players with the veterans on the roster.

Yet now the Sharks are easily the worst team in the National Hockey League. So it is only a matter of time before necessary changes to the roster get made.

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Key to the pang of optimism surrounding the Panthers this season is their standing at the top of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference and they are certainly one of the key teams to beat.

Head coach Andrew Brunette has his side purring and with the end of the regular season looming, the Panthers are engrossed in a maiden Stanley Cup title battle. Fresh off the back of four consecutive wins, the Florida Panthers have only lost 15 of 69 games played and momentum is building in their camp too.

They have set the standard in the Atlantic Division for most of the season and they will want to come good when it ultimately matters. At +350 with NHL current betting offers, the Florida Panthers are sure to be in the mix when it comes to clinching the Stanley Cup and they are notoriously one of the toughest sides to beat in the NHL this season.

This season has seen a sea change in the mindset of both Colorado Avalanche players and fans, with the side having blown away all before them in the Central Division of the Western Conference.

With 49 wins from 69 games played, Avalanche have been far too good for most of the sides in the NHL this term and attention is naturally turning to the post-season play offs and just how far this side can go.

Recent wins over the San Jose Sharks and the Calgary Flames have only strengthened the growing belief around the camp that this could be their year and with matches in the regular season running out, fans, pundits and players are starting to jump on board the bandwagon.

As a consequence of their impressive regular season form, Colorado Avalanche are one of the hot favourites at +400 to win the Stanley Cup, for the third time in the franchise’s history.

Elsewhere in the running are Tampa Bay Lightning, a side that are embroiled with the Florida Panthers at the top of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference and they are starting to build momentum at the right time of the season.

Qualifying as division champions will be the number one priority for Lightning, who are +800 to go on and clinch the Stanley Cup in 2022. Elsewhere, the Carolina Hurricanes and Calgary Flames are two more sides that are sure to be in the running when the gongs are given out.

The Hurricanes are tearing up the Metropolitan Division and they look set to qualify as the league leaders from there. How stiff the competition gets after that remains to be seen of course but they look to have the credentials to make a case for a Stanley Cup run this term.

With the attention sure to be on plenty of other sides, the Carolina Hurricanes represent good value at +900 to go all the way in the Stanley Cup this term. Calgary Flames are a side often fancied for Stanley Cup glory and their standing at the top of the Pacific Division is a reflection of that.

They look well placed to make a play-off push and they have a side packed with talent and they too cannot be discarded this season at +1000 to win their second ever Stanley Cup.

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Teams such as the Colorado Avalanche (+400) and the Florida Panthers (+600), who are both ranked as the main favorites via the use of the NHL Vegas odds that have been made available, have decided to go all-out in their pursuit for the prestigious title, with many believing that they have been winners in this trade period.

However, there are fans that will have been left disappointed by what their teams have done and, perhaps, more by the fact that they were not able to achieve certain things such as acquiring improvements.

This article will look at some of the biggest 2022 NHL trade deadline winners and losers, and explain why the teams chosen can be ranked within those categories. Let’s begin with the winners:

Colorado Avalanche – winners

As mentioned, the Colorado Avalanche are the favorites to win the Stanley Cup this year and they decided to go all out when it came to the trade deadline. They may have missed out on Claude Giroux, but they did get Artturi Lehkonen for a second-round pick and a prospect.

Lehkonen was impressive for the Montreal Canadiens and was a star on a team that has been poor since last season’s losing Stanley Cup appearance. Many believe he – alongside Josh Manson and Andrew Cogliano – gives Colorado an elite level of depth that they can use to push on with their pursuit of glory.

Florida Panthers – winners

The Avalanche’s biggest challengers, the Florida Panthers, also had a winning trade deadline, as they managed to win the Giroux sweepstakes, whilst also spending rather low to get the player that was most wanted.

They showed they were prepared to be aggressive as well, as they also added Ben Chiarot from the Canadiens, which will add some vital depth and quality to its squad in order to challenge for the Stanley Cup.

Anaheim Ducks – winners

The Anaheim Ducks were impressive as sellers in this year’s deadline, as they acquired seven draft picks, with six of those being first- or second-round picks. Furthermore, they gained a number of prospects.

On Pat Verbeek’s first trade deadline as the new GM, he did rather well!

Montreal Canadiens – winners

Despite losing big names in Chiarot, Lehkonen, Brett Kulak, and Andrew Hammond, the Canadiens can hold their heads high as winners as they were able to stockpile a number of future picks.

The team certainly needs to undergo a rebuild after a calamitous year, and by obtaining two first-round picks and two second-round picks, as well as a couple of prospects, they have positioned themselves well in future drafts.

Which teams lost?

There are a number of teams that lost in the NHL trade deadline, including the following:

Carolina Hurricanes – loser

One of the betting favorites thought to be in the hunt for the Stanley Cup this season, the Carolina Hurricanes appeared to be a loser by the end of the trade deadline.

The team is in the Eastern Conference, and whilst they added Max Domi, they saw the likes of Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Boston Bruins all get better, thus making their chances perhaps a little at risk.

Vegas Golden Knights – loser

Unfortunately, the mess that the Vegas Golden Knights have gotten themselves into in regard to the salary cap was always going to make the team a loser, as it meant they were restricted in what they could do. Of course, other teams in the Western Conference decided to take advantage and further strengthened themselves.

Vegas has been incredibly unlucky with injuries throughout the season which is far from ideal whilst the situation involving the void transaction between the Ducks and them for Evgenii Dadonov to go to California and a second-round pick just highlighted how much of a mess they are in.

Verdict

Of course, there were other teams that could have perhaps featured on the list of winners and losers following the fallout of the NHL trade deadline, but those mentioned above have to be considered the biggest in each category.

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Rather than a team-by-team or division-by-division breakdown, here are my thoughts on some things that are happening or might happen during the regular season.

WILL THERE BE A THREE-PEAT? – The league has not seen a team win three consecutive Stanley Cups since the New York Islanders four straight from 1980-83. The Tampa Bay Lightning have everything a team needs to accomplish the feat. Starting in goal with Andrei Vasilevsky, on defense led by Victor Hedman and up front in Nikita Kucherov and Pat Maroon.

They added depth and experience in Corey Perry and Brent Seabrook. A lot of things have to break right to win three in a row. It’s a long way to the playoffs and the ‘Ning will find a way as the season progresses to make  run to defend.

EAST CHALLENGERS – Two right off the bat in the Eastern Conference to challenge Tampa Bay are the Islanders and the Florida Panthers.

THE ISLANDERS came within possibly two goals of dethroning the Lightning in the Playoffs and bring back the same lineup with a couple of exceptions. The biggest was signing F Zach Parise and G Cory Schneider from free agency. They have a solid goalie in Semyon Varlamov. A defense led by Ryan Pulock, Andy Greene, and newcomer Zdeno Chara. Up front they will have a healthy Anders Lee to go with Matt Barzal, Casey Cizikas, and Brock Nelson. Add to that head coach Barry Trotz.

The Isles must get through this 13-game road trip to start the season before the team moves into their new home the UBS Arena in November on the grounds of Belmont Park.

THE PANTHERS pushed the Lightning in the first round and are ready to take the next step. They have solid goaltending in Sergei Bobrovsky and youngster Spencer Knight. A defense led by Aaron Ekblad and a forwards led by Alexander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, and Sam Bennett who came in free agency.

OUT OF THE WEST – Who might come out of the Western Conference?

VEGAS – The Golden Knights seem they have been one of those teams since they made the Cup final in their first season four years ago. They are still strong with veterans like Alex Tuch, Max Pacioretty, and Alex Petrangelo. They will have Robin Lehner in goal this season.

COLORADO – Many observers believe the Avalanche took take everything when it’s all said and done. The Avs have the talent and youth in D Cale Makar and Ryan Murray. Up from they have Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, and Mikko Rantonen. The goaltending with newcomer Darcy Kuempfer. The Avs were surprised by the Knights last year in the playoffs, the have that to their advantage.

TAKING THE NEXT STEP – Teams that have to raise their game and contend in 2021-22.

EDMONTON – The Oilers have the best one-two punch in the league with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The defense led by Tyson Barrie, Darnell Nurse, and Duncan Keith. The key will be in goal with veteran Mike Smith and  Mikko Koskinen.

CAROLINA – The Hurricanes have stepped up the past two seasons reaching the Eastern Final in 2019 and then last season giving Tampa Bay all they can handle in the second round. They come into this season as that team to make that move. They have a solid goalie in Fredrik Anderson. A defense led by Ian Cole and up front in Jordan Staal and Patrik Stepan.

NEVER COUNT THEM OUT – Teams you should never overlook this season are squads who might have one final run at the Cup with this core group.

PITTSBURGH – The Penguins used a lot of no-names in winning opening night in Tampa. They will have Sidney Crosby back soon along with Evgeni Malkin. Their hopes will be riding on G Tristan Jarry can he bounce back from a horrific first round playoff last year against the Islanders.

WASHINGTON – Yes, the Capitals have Alex Ovechkin who signed possibly his last contract with the team in the off-season. However, this core is aging and like Pittsburgh might depend on a young goaltender in Vitak Vanicek.

BOSTON – The Bruins lost longtime leader Andrew Krejci to retirement. They signed Taylor Hall whose seem rejuvenated coming at the trade deadline and they have Brad Marchand. The defense has recently signed Charlie McAvoy but this group is starting to age and will use youngster Jeremy Swayman in the nets to start.

TEAMS THAT COULD MAKE SOME NOISE

PHILADELPHIA – The Flyers got better with new acqusitions Cam Atkinson, Ryan Ellis, Keith Yandle, and Rasmus Ristolainen. The fate of a playoff spot will be a bounce back year from G Carter Hart.

NEW JERSEY – The Devils made the biggest splash in free agency signing D Dougie Hamilton. They have Nico Hischer and Jack Hughes another year of experience. If P.K. Subban can return to form as well as Tomas Tatar and Jimmy Vesey.

NEW YORK RANGERS – A new coach and GM, the best young goalies in the league in Alexander Gregoriev and Igor Shishertkin. The reigning Norris trophy winner in Adam Fox. Up front is Arteri Panarin along with Barclay Goodrow, Kappo Kakko, and Sammy Blais. Problem? They are playing in the toughest division (metropolitan) in the league.

SEATTLE KRAKEN – The expansion team did well in the expansion draft getting veterans like Jordan Eberle and Mark Giordano. They might have a find in D Vince Dunn and Adam Larsson, along with F Jaden Schwartz, Jared McCann, and Alexander Wennberg. Their biggest pickup within free agency with G Phillipp Grubauer. The Playoffs? YES!!!

THE OLYMPICS – As of now, the NHL will send their players to Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Everything is still flexible due to COVID-19. When the pros have played in the games, Canada has won the last two gold medals and should be favored right now with that initial roster.

NEW RULE CHANGE – The league has said it will tighten up the cross-checking penalty and did so during the preseason. There is a question mark if they will continue to enforce the new rule in the regular season and the playoffs.

JACK EICHEL – The never-ending story of the Buffalo Sabres forward on where he might play. According to reports, five teams are interested in trading for him. The teams would allow Eichel to have the disc surgery he has requested. However, it might be up to four months before he sees the ice in a regular season game. Stay Tuned!

THE NHL NEW US TV DEAL – The league’s new television partners in the U.S. (ESPN and Turner) opened this week to rave reviews and surprising numbers. My question is the network’s staying power and how they will do the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

There you have it. My look at the NHL at the start of the 2021-22 season. It is a long way to June so let me journey to the Stanley Cup begin!!!

E.

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The Leafs are the only NHL team to crack that monetary number. When you combine the other three major professional sports (NFL, MLB, and NBA) Sportico has The Leafs 59^th. The average NHL team is worth an estimated $930 million, compared to $3.5 billion in the NFL, $2.3 billion in the NBA and $2.2 billion in MLB.

Add to that, the other three leagues have major television deals. The NHL does have its new deal with ESPN and Turner in the United States beginning this season. The NHL in Canada is in the middle of a 10-year deal with Rogers Communications (Sportsnet) valued at the time about $2 billion (Canadian funds).

When sports/business publications like Sportico, Forbes, and Sports Business Journal do lists like these, you take numbers with a grain of salt.

In the case of the Maple Leafs, you have to add other variables. The team is part of the group called Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment that also owns the NBA Raptors and Toronto FC of Major League Soccer.

In addition, you add in the value of their facilities the Scotiabank Arena downtown and the Ford training facility in the suburbs. As well as being in Canada’s largest city both in population, and where most of the major business is done in the country.

The average worth of an NHL team is $934 million (US), and the combined market value of the 32 teams is $30 billion.

Following the Maple Leafs on the list are the New York Rangers ($1.87 billion), Montreal Canadiens ($1.5 billion), Chicago Blackhawks ($1.36 billion) and Boston Bruins ($1.31 billion). In addition, Toronto is the highest value of the seven Canadian teams with the Edmonton Oilers second at $1.16 billion (US).

The expansion Seattle Kraken are already boosting the league’s profile, ranking 14th on Sportico’s list, valued at $860 million. The Vegas Golden Knights, who joined the NHL as the 31st team in 2017-18, are 12th on the list, valued at $890 million. The average worth of an NHL team is $934 million, and the combined market value of the 32 teams is $30 billion.

The Leafs value, some say, counterbalance that with teams like the Arizona Coyotes and the Columbus Blue Jackets who are at the bottom of both lists.

Even though teams like the Raptors and the Blue Jays have brought the city pro sports championships (Raptors being the latest in 2018-19) the city lives and dies with the Maple Leafs. Season tickets are hard to come by, they are willed to subscribers through the years dating back to when the team played in historic Maple Leaf Gardens.

The NHL will never be up there is value with the other three leagues, mainly due to the television revenue. However, the league survived the pandemic which saw franchise worth decrease for the first time in a decade and are ready to move up.

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For the past 15 years NBC Sports had the television rights in the United States along with its partners Outdoor Life Network, Versus, and NBC Sports Network. They had gained the rights after the lockout that cost the league a full season back in 2004-05. NBC acquired the NHL with a no-rights fee agreement the first season.

Then in April, when NBC decided to end their NBCSN channel and did not want to extend their contract, the NHL put the rights up for bidding. The last time this happened back in 2010, there was a luke warm at best reception from the networks for interest in the game.

This time around, the landscape of television and sports have changed with the ability to stream live games a key. The Walt Disney Company (ESPN/ABC) and Turner (TNT) came into negotiations with the league and came up with a seven-year contract with reports saying the cost was $625 million a season ($400 million ESPN/ABC and $225 million Turner).

The money is far short of what the other three professional sports get for their games, however for hockey in the United States, it was shocking and surprising to say the least.

Here is my look on how the two networks covered opening night.

ESPN-The Worldwide Leader in Sports had the NHL three difference occasions since their beginning in 1979. The last being from 1995-2004. When the league came out of that 2004-05 lockout, the network pretty much told the NHL we don’t want you anymore and for a better word ignored the league and the sport.

In 2021, there was a different regime running the network in Bristol, Connecticut and this group was more receptive to Bettman and the League. Many people in the hockey world did not like the NBC contract and wished they would be back with the Worldwide leader. In April, those people got their wish when the deal was consummated.

Tuesday night’s doubleheader started with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning. ESPN’s number one announce team of Sean McDonough and Ray Ferraro with Emily Kaplan ‘inside the glass’ were good.

McDonough is good doing every sports and he has done hockey most noticeably the 1998 Winter Olympics when he was CBS Sports the first time  NHL players participated in the Olympics.

Ferraro, a former NHL player, did some ESPN work back in the early 2000’s since then he was doing games in Canada at both TSN and Sportsnet. Kaplan, who is one of the NHL insiders (sore or like Buster Olney for baseball and Adrian Wojanowski in basketball) is an up and coming star. She was spectacular with the insight.

The intermission was a little awkward.

Yes, there was Steve Levy and Barry Melrose on the set along with Hall of Famers Mark Messier, and Chris Chelios. I just thought there was no flow between the quartet. It will get better as they more reps and when the intermission is back in Connecticut.

The second game was in Las Vegas as the Golden Knights battled the NHL’s newest team, the expansion Seattle Kraken. ESPN’s number two team John Buccigross and former NHL goalie Brian Boucher with former US Olympic star A. J. Mleczko  between the benches.

Buccigross is one of the network’s biggest hockey supporters. He was the host of ESPN 2’s NHL tonight in 2004 and had done the NCAA Frozen Four for the network and is host of the network’s new NHL show ‘The Point’ and is always good.

Boucher, the former goaltender, came from NBC and where he was the between the benches reporter and was in their studio shows as well as the lead analyst for the hockey competition at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. He had some good moments as well.

Mleczko who was a star on the U.S. Women’s hockey team leading them to medals also came from NBC where she was analyst and was part of the first all-female NHL telecast late last season. She had her moments and will grow

The intermissions were handled by long-time ESPN and NHL fanatic Linda Cohn and former NHL goalie Kevin Weekes. You got nothing but the best from Cohn in anything she does and along with Kaplan got my number one star of the night.

Weekes is solid he did games on CBC’s Hockey Night In Canada and with the NHL Network here he was an in-studio analyst as well. He joined ESPN in time for their coverage of the Kraken’s expansion draft coverage. He is a great pickup for the Worldwide and we will see him a lot during the season.

Overall on opening night, they were good and were passionate. In some cases, they needed to shake the rust off after 17 years.

TURNER/TNT-For the first time since 2000 the NHL has a secondary television partner. At that time, it was FOX who shared with ESPN. In 2021, it will be Turner Sports.

This is their first crack at the sport to add to their outstanding coverage of the NBA and Major League Baseball. For those who remember when it was just  WTBS-TV 17 they did the Atlanta Flames games from 1977-80 before the team moved to Calgary.

The network’s opening tease to the telecast was absolutely stunning!

NHL legend and Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky along with current NHL stars remembering their first times on skates, their first hockey stick, and their first NHL game. The opening ended with “For the First Time”

Turner’s NHL debut started in Washington where the Capitals hosting the New York Rangers. They sent their number one team of Kenny Albert, Ed Olczyk, and Keith Jones to do the game.

Albert is just like his father Marv, he does a lot (NFL and Major League Baseball on Fox even three-on-three basketball in the summer) as well as the radio voice of the Rangers and was NBC’s lead announcer in their final season with the retirement of Mike Emrick. One Word…CLASS!! He is the top play-by-play guy in the league now and he showed it inside Capital One Arena.

Olczyk, a former player and head coach, was part of that 1994 Rangers Stanley Cup team, long time analyst with the Chicago Blackhawks and with NBC. Is a perfect complement to Albert like he was when he did the games with Emrick.

Jones, a former player was a studio host at NBC along with being on the television team of the Philadelphia Flyers. He was a little shaky when they did a preseason game a couple of weeks ago in Boston (Philadelphia Flyers-Boston Bruins). On this night, he still was a little cumbersome but corrected his mistakes.

The second game of the night was in Denver as the Colorado Avalanche with the Chicago Blackhawks with Brendan Burke and Darren Pang on the call. Burke is the current TV voice of the New York Islanders and was a great pickup by Turner to be the number two voice. Most observers believe he could succeed Albert as the top play-by-play man in the league and showed that in this game call.

Pang, like Boucher and Weekes, is a former goalie who did some ESPN when they had the contract. Since then he was has done games for TSN in Canada, NBC’s Olympic coverage with Emrick, and currently color analyst for the St. Louis Blues. He, like McDonough, was part of CBS’s 1998 Olympic Hockey coverage.

One of Pang’s quirks is, he will do some oohs and ahhhs while the play was happening. Most do not like that, for me I want that enthusiasm not yell and scream but show he is in the game and not be robotic.

The Intermission and Studio show….Simply outstanding

It started with the studio with has a net and stick and demonstrations and was used to great extent later in the evening. Turner made the big splash in the TV battle hiring Gretzky to be the studio analyst. TNT was in a bidding war with ESPN for the Great One’s services. The hire also showed that the network is committed to the NHL on TV.

They then built the team around number 99 for the studio show in Atlanta.

They hired Liam McHugh who was the studio host on NBC and NBCSN’s NHL coverage. They grabbed former player Anson Carter also from NBCSN then filled the studio spots with former NHL player and head coach Rick Tocchet and Paul Bissonette who does color on the Arizona Coyotes as well as his own Podcast.

Many people on social media were critical of Gretzky speaking over two goals and the eight-minute soliloquy by Bissonette’s response to a question. Both of those faux pas are correctable and will get better.

The topper of the night was long time NHL fan Charles Barkley coming into the studio. I loved it when Charles donned the goalie pads and tried to stop Wayne from scoring. It was a great coup to bridge the network’s other sports coverage to the NHL.

When Turner acquired the NHL rights, many believed they would do something like they do with the NBA in the studio (Barkley-Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’ Neal). I totally disagree, they want to studio to stand on its own starting with that studio they built, and on this first night they did so.

A national sports talk host said about the new NHL on TV “Treat the hockey fan with respect.” Both networks were good but TNT on their first regular season game won my vote HANDS DOWN.

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Before the game at Amalie Arena, there was a ceremony celebrating the team’s second consecutive championship, won in the same building against Montreal. The Stanley Cup was at center ice all gleaming and shiny, and the title banner was raised to the rafters.

As for the game itself, the old saying ‘you can’t tell the players without a program’ truly was the Penguins on this night.

Playing without their two best players, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, both out with injuries, the Pens scored the game’s first goal just 12 seconds into the second period when Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevsky played th puck behind his net, he backhanded the puck trying to clear out of his own zone. The pass was intercepted by the Pens Jeff Carter who centered the puck in front of the goal to left winger Danton Heinen who put the puck into net before Vasilevsky could return.

Pittsburgh added a second goal just four minutes later when Sam Lafferty and Drew O’ Connor set up  center Brian Boyle to make the score 2-0. Boyle, who played with the Lightning when they won their first Stanley Cup in 2004, and has battled and won a fight against cancer, is making a comeback to the NHL after not playing last season.

In the third period, the visitors dented the net four times getting tallies from center Dominik Simon at the 11:32 mark along with three empty net tallies from forwards Teddy Blueger, Evan Rodriguez, and Bryan Rust. Blue liner Kris Letang had two assists.

The home team finally gave the sellout crowd of 19,092 something to cheer about when D Victor Hedman and C Steven Stamkos set up F Anthony Cirelli who scored at 14:23. Two and a half minutes later, Stamkos and Cirelli assisted on left wing Alex Killorn’s tally. However by then, the game was decided.

Those two goals in the middle frame would be all the Black and Gold would need on this evening as goalie Tristan Jarry made 26 saves in picking up the victory.

It was second time in five weeks that a Tampa Bay professional sports team began a new league season. The NFL Buccaneers opened the 2021 National Football League campaign defending their Super Bowl championship with a win over the Dallas Cowboys.

The scene then shifted to a place, just off the Las Vegas Strip, as the Golden Knights faced the Seattle Kraken in the expansion team’s first ever game.

For the Kraken, this night in T-Mobile Arena was the culmination of two years of planning and preparation since the city was granted the expansion franchise and became the NHL’s 32^nd team. They went through the naming of the team, where they would play, the building of their practice facility, the team colors, the expansion draft, free agency, then the five preseason games all leading up to this moment.

Like the Penguins, Vegas also took a 2-0 lead on first period goals from LW Max Pacioretty, and C Jonathan Marchessault.

At the start of the second period, Pacioretty scored his second of the evening to extend the lead to 3-0. Then at the 11:32 mark history was made when C Ryan Donato put the puck past Knights goaltender Robin Lehner for the first ever goal in team history.

We had a game on our hands, and for a better word, the Kraken was unleashed. Just 72 seconds later at the 12:44 mark, LW    Jared McCann found the range to make the score 3-2 with assists Jordan Eberle and Jaden Schwartz.

In the third period, Seattle came all the way back and tied the score 3-3 thanks to C Morgan Geekie at the 7:58 mark with help from D Jeremy Lauzon.

In the end however, the night belonged to Vegas as just 35 seconds later at 8:33, Chandler Stephenson beat Kraken netminder Phillipp Grubauer for the game winning score. The Knights withstood a late charge by the visitors to send the sellout crowd of 18,431 into the sounds of the late Elvis Presley’s classic ‘ Viva Las Vegas’ which is played after every home victory.

Lehner, who took over the number one goaltending duties when Marc-Andre Fleury was traded to Chicago in the off-season made, 31 saves to garner the victory. RW Mark Stone had two assists. Including one on Stephenson’s game winner to be named the game’s number one star.

Grubauer, who signed with the Kraken as a free agent from Colorado was very good making 30 saves in the loss. A very special night, in two separate cities. In one, a final celebration of a championship, the other the beginning of a new franchise.

The 2021-22 NHL season has begun now the eight month chase for Lord Stanley’s Cup begins.

E.

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