Feeling out of the loop on the recent developments in the NHL? Here's a cheat sheet of five things you need to know from across the league this week.
NHLINHLI via Getty Images
An end to the Jacob Trouba saga…maybe
It was a pretty big week for the Winnipeg Jets. Not only did some big-time performances vault Patrick Laine into the league lead for goals (11) and Mark Scheifele for points (18), they also convinced defenseman Jacob Trouba to finally end his RFA holdout and sign an extension with the team.
Trouba, who had requested a trade earlier this summer citing a desire to play on the right side, signed a two-year deal worth $6 million and reported to the team this week. That’s incredible value for the 22-year-old, who is widely considered one of the league’s best young defensemen, and he has reportedly rescinded his trade request, saying he’s happy to be back with the team.
Is that the end of it? Maybe, but there are also signs that point to this bridge deal as a way for the team (and Trouba) to facilitate a trade down the road. We’ll just have to wait and see.
NHLINHLI via Getty Images
Blue Jackets deliver a historic rout of the Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens, one of the league’s hottest teams to start the year, left Columbus on Friday night with one of the most surprising outcomes you’ll see this season. The Blue Jackets – expected by many to be a cellar dweller in the east – absolutely mopped the floor with the Habs, shutting them out 10-0.
It was the Canadiens’ first regulation loss of the season and, boy, did they make it count. It matched the franchise’s worst defeat in team history, which is saying something considering they’ve been around for more than 100 years.
Now, it’s hard to poke too much fun at Montreal for getting destroyed as badly as they did since all 10 goals came on their backup netminder, Al Montoya, who was just doing what he could to give Carey Price a night of rest. The Canadiens also bounced back with two straight wins and still sit atop the Eastern Conference, so it’s not like this was a confidence killer by any means.
NHLINHLI via Getty Images
The Canucks are bad
Remember when the Canucks started the season off hot and, at one point, were the only undefeated team left in the league? I warned you not to buy in, and hopefully you listened.
That hot start came crumbling down and this week Vancouver reached nine consecutive games without a win, four of which they were shut out in. Top free agent signing Loui Eriksson needed 14 games to record his first goal of the season, which is bad news for the Canucks considering he’s a big part of their only real impressive line.
They had a nasty, penalty-filled affair against the Leafs over the weekend and didn’t exactly handle it well. After the game, Erik Gudbranson was handing out death threats. Yikes.
They finally managed to snap the losing streak this week with a win over the Rangers, but you can basically erase their fluky fast start. They’re not as good as they seemed in the first few weeks and they’re not as bad as they’ve seemed in the last few, but they’re probably closer to the latter.
NHLINHLI via Getty Images
Phil for President
The presidential election wrapped up this week. By now, you’re probably aware of the pretty surprising results, but what you may not know is that there was a late candidate from the NHL who tossed his hat in the ring.
Beloved Pittsburgh Penguins sniper Phil Kessel was officially endorsed by his team in the days leading up to Election Day. Some Pens players – including Kessel himself – were spotted wearing “Phil for President” shirts around the locker room, and the league’s Twitter account posted a great video supporting his campaign.
He obviously didn’t win, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he got some write-in votes, especially after bringing the Stanley Cup back to Pittsburgh last season. I happen to think Kessel is a fine American and would make a fine candidate for the White House.
Winter Classic hype
It may seem a bit premature to start getting hype for events in the next calendar year, but the 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic will sneak up on you if you let it. This week, the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues unveiled the uniforms that they’ll be wearing when they take the ice for the event at Busch Stadium on January 2nd.
Both uniforms are throwbacks that turn the clock back more than 50 years. Chicago’s look pulls details from the late 1950s/early 1960s set, while the Blues are recreating their inaugural uniform from 1967-68. Both are pretty fantastic, but you can decide for yourself.
