Which coach or GM will be the first to get the axe this season? It’s a question that lingers in the back of every hockey fan’s mind as the puck drops on a new season.
While the Edmonton Oilers seem to have dodged that bullet (for now), the same can’t be said for other teams and players facing their own unique brand of pressure. Los Angeles Kings GM Rob Blake, for example, finds himself squarely on the hot seat.
But it’s the contract drama unfolding in Boston and some unfortunate injuries up north that have everyone talking.
Contract Drama in Beantown
Things aren’t exactly peachy keen in Boston, where the Bruins and goaltender Jeremy Swayman are locked in a contract standoff. The Bruins offered Swayman an eight-year deal worth a cool $62.4 million, which sounds pretty sweet, right?
Well, Swayman’s camp wasn’t thrilled. Bruins president Cam Neely recently made some waves with his comments on the situation, stating, “I have 64 million reasons why I’d be playing right now.”
Ouch. Neely’s comments threw some serious shade at Swayman, and his agent, Lewis Gross, was quick to fire back, saying that the $64 million figure was never actually on the table. This public back-and-forth has added fuel to the fire, leaving fans to wonder if this will be a distraction for the Bruins heading into the season.
The Bruins are already navigating life after Linus Ullmark, their Vezina-winning goalie who was traded away in the offseason. This contract dispute with Swayman only adds to the intrigue surrounding the team’s goaltending situation as they head into a new year.
Injury Bug Bites the Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are facing their own set of challenges, but theirs come with a hefty dose of bad luck on the injury front. Top prospect David Reinbacher, who was turning heads with his performance, went down with a knee injury and is now looking at a 5-6 month recovery period.
To make matters worse, their newly acquired forward, Patrik Laine, also found himself sidelined with a knee sprain after a collision in a recent game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. While he’s expected to avoid surgery, he’ll be out for a good chunk of the early season.
These injuries are a major blow to the Canadiens, who were hoping for a strong start to the season. Reinbacher, in particular, was expected to make an immediate impact, having impressed during his time with EHC Kloten in the National League (Switzerland) and the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Laine, known for his scoring prowess, was brought in to add some offensive firepower. The Canadiens will now need to dig deep and find ways to stay competitive while these key players recover.
Blue Jackets Navigate Tragedy and Salary Cap
The Columbus Blue Jackets were recently struck by tragedy with the passing of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. In a compassionate move, the NHL granted the Blue Jackets an exception to the salary cap deadline, recognizing the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the team. This decision provides the Blue Jackets with some much-needed flexibility as they navigate the emotional and logistical challenges they currently face.
The Blue Jackets, who are currently operating just below the salary cap floor, are actively seeking to add a veteran forward to their roster before the season kicks off. This move suggests that they are determined to ice a competitive team despite the heartbreaking situation.
