Since we can now count down in hours instead of days till the first puck drops on the 2011-2012 NHL season, a reflection on the off season that was is in order. From concussion-gate to retirements to “Shananban-ing 101” it’s been a unique off season for sure.
Sadly this off season saw the loss of more players than ever before. Starting with a lethal mixture of pills and alcohol that lead to the accidental overdose of NY Ranger Derek Boogaard and ending with the loss of the KHL’s Lokomotiv team due to a plane crash. In between we lost Rick Rypien who finally seemed to have gained control of his depression and was looking forward to starting over with the Jets, and Wade Belak, who was just days away from appearing on the CBC’s Skating with the Stars. Former Assistant Coach to the Detroit Red Wings, Brad McCrimmon, had just taken the job as head coach of the Lokomotiv earlier this off season and was on his way to his first KHL game with the team when the plane crashed. Many of the players on the plane had a connection to the NHL in various ways, being former stars while others where just young kids drafted and not ready to make the jump yet.
The Atlanta Thrashers played their last game unceremoniously and seemed to have disappeared from Atlanta like no one knew they were even in town. The people of Winnipeg welcomed them with open arms and christened them the new Winnipeg Jets. After a few details were sorted out (like how Bobby Hull’s retired number 9 could actually be worn again) they played in front of a sold out crowd to begin the pre-season. Now if they could find enough warm clothes, they might be onto something.
Mark Recchi won the Cup one last time and decided to hang up his skates while Nicklas Lidstrom of the Red Wings decided he was still God like and enjoys the game too much to retire. While Mike Modano signed with Dallas for a day to retire as a Star, Jaromir Jagr spurned the Penguins and Red Wings and signed with the Flyers, opening a new can of worms since ‘it wasn’t about the money’. In case the Flyers wanted to give the Penguins anymore motivation, they lured Max Talbot away which gave Evgeni Malkin more fuel to his fire and show the league in the pre-season the Conn Smythe winning Malkin of ’09 is back and better than ever.
Concussions still ruled the headlines and Sidney Crosby has kept his recovery carefully guarded. It seems he’s further along than most will let on, but 10 months later he’s still not cleared for contact. Many believe the Penguins are using Marc Savard as a model of what not to do. Savard rushed back too quickly and it’s looking like he played his last game. Thankfully the Bruins were able to petition to have his name on the Cup and managed to bring back almost their entire Cup winning team. Can they repeat is the question? The Capitals made their biggest off season moves in goal, but many believe they will still choke in the playoffs, as it is their tradition.
The NY Rangers named Ryan Callahan captain (finally) and won the golden prize in free agency that goes by the name of Brad Richards. They also decided they had enough of the Sean Avery show and have sent him to Connecticut since the entire league hates him and passed on gaining the NHL’s #1 pest. The Devils found a coach to named a new captain in Zach Parise. Hopefully they try to not repeat last season since they fired their coach by the holiday and traded their captain by the deadline. Baby steps for the Devils.
The Phoenix Coyotes are STILL owned by the league after a number of failed suitors. I wonder if people can start adopting them since finding them an owner who the City of Glendale likes might be as a hard as getting into The White House. Meanwhile the Dallas Stars declared bankruptcy in Delaware (don’t ask) and are in line to have new owners by November. Interesting. This time next year, I anticipate the Coyotes having had an owner for a day before filing for an annulment just because. Maybe they can send Paul Bissonnette to Vegas for All-Star break with a bag of cash to quadruple and he can buy the team himself. I mean he’s going to Vegas anyway.
This will also be the last season with the current divisions. Most likely when they move the Jets to the north, everyone will be shuffled. Can’t wait to hear how this goes because someone is still going to be upset. Ahmm Red Wings, I’m talking about you.
Finally Brendan Shanahan took over Colin Campbell’s Wheel of Justice for discipline in favor of fair and balanced rulings. Just from the preseason alone we have taught the players what is legal and illegal thanks to some boring videos breaking down each rule. Maybe the guys should be required to attend college for a year so we can be sure they can read their copies of the CBA BEFORE stepping onto the ice. Thankfully the video’s in slow motion seem to making an impact so hopefully we never have another person saying maybe Crosby should retire at the ripe age of 24 due to a concussion.
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