NHL Playoff Picture 2022: Kings, Predators Clinch Playoffs; Updated Standings
Apr 27, 2022
NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 26: Tanner Jeannot #84 of the Nashville Predators smiles during warmups prior to an NHL game against the Calgary Flames at Bridgestone Arena on April 26, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
Only one playoff spot remains up for grabs in the NHL, but it took quite a few wild finishes to get there on Tuesday night.
Below, we'll break down all of the crucial happenings in the race for the postseason after a fun night of hockey.
Hurricanes Clinch Metropolitan Division with 4-3 Win Over Rangers
The Metropolitan Division has been claimed.
The Carolina Hurricanes can take it easy in their final game of the season after winning the division on Tuesday night, beating the New York Rangers 4-3.
The Rangers made a late push, but goals by Sebastian Aho, Jordan Martinook, Teuvo Teravainen and Vincent Trocheck secured the victory and first place in the Metropolitan for Carolina.
A Wild Night in the West
A whole lot was one the line in the matchup between the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights, especially after the Nashville Predators came oh-so-close to beating the Calgary Flames in regulation, only to lose in overtime.
The Nashville Predators were 0.1 seconds away from clinching a playoff berth. pic.twitter.com/K6At2IILuu
— FanDuel Sports Network South (@FanDuelSN_SO) April 27, 2022
Here were the clinching scenarios heading into Tuesday night:
It was also a big result for a Stars team trying to hold off the Golden Knights for the final wild-card berth in the West.
Playoff Picture
All eight playoff berths are locked up in the East, with the Florida Panthers (120 points), Toronto Maple Leafs (113 points) and Tampa Bay Lightning (108 points) holding the Atlantic bids, the Hurricanes (114 points), Rangers (108 points) and Pittsburgh Penguins (101 points) securing the Metro seeds, and the Boston Bruins (105 points) and Washington Capitals (100 points) as the wild cards.
All that's left to decide is whether the Bruins can catch the Lightning for the final Atlantic bid. Both teams have two games remaining.
In the West, the final wild-card berth is still up for grabs, with the Stars (95 points) and Golden Knights (91 points) duking it out. Each team has two games left.
The Colorado Avalanche (116 points) already clinched the Central Division, while the Calgary Flames (110 points) have clinched the Pacific. The St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild are fighting for the second seed in the Central, tied at 109 points, while the Edmonton Oilers (100 points) are trying to hold off the Kings (96 points) for the second seed in the Pacific.
The Predators (95 points) are locked into a wild-card position.
2022 NHL Global Series to Feature Predators vs. Sharks, Avalanche vs. Blue Jackets
Apr 21, 2022
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - NOVEMBER 9: A general view of the Buffalo Sabres playing against the Tampa Bay Lightning during their game at the 2019 NHL Global Series Sweden, at the Ericsson on Nov 9, 2019 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
The NHL is planning to play six games, including four regular-season matchups, as part of its Global Series in 2022.
Per Dan Rosen of NHL.com, the league announced the Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks, Colorado Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets will take part in the Global Series next season.
The Predators will take on SC Bern of the Swiss National League at PostFinance Arena in Switzerland on Oct. 3. The Sharks will play at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany against Deutsche Eishockey Liga team Eisbaren Berlin on Oct. 4.
Nashville and San Jose will play each other to start the 2022-23 regular season at the O2 Arena in Prague on Oct. 7 and 8.
Finland's Nokia Arena will host the Blue Jackets and Avalanche for games on Nov. 4 and 5.
The NHL began its Global Series in 2017 with the Avalanche and Ottawa Senators playing two games in Sweden.
Starting in 2018, the league added exhibition games against European teams to the schedule. This will mark the second time that SC Bern has played against an NHL club. Its first game was a 3-2 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils in October 2018.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NHL Global Series hasn't taken place since 2019. Commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters during his All-Star weekend press conference in February the event would be returning next season.
Before the debut of the Global Series, the international series was known as NHL Premiere. It was held on a semi-annual basis from 2000-2011. The league had a record six teams open the 2010-11 regular season in Europe.
The Avalanche are the only team in the 2022 Global Series that has participated in this event before. They lost regular-season games against the Ottawa Senators in Stockholm, Sweden, in November 2017.
Colorado is currently tied with the Florida Panthers for the most points in the NHL this season (116). It has clinched the best record in the Western Conference with five games remaining.
The Predators are currently the No. 1 wild card in the Western Conference with 93 points. The Sharks and Blue Jackets have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Filip Forsberg Contract Extension Eyed by Predators amid Trade Rumors, GM Says
Mar 1, 2022
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 25: Filip Forsberg #9 of the Nashville Predators attends a press conference after practice at Nissan Stadium on February 25, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Evan Frost/NHLI via Getty Images)
Despite rumors to the contrary, the Nashville Predators are not looking to move Filip Forsberg before the trade deadline.
In fact, Predators general manager David Poile said the team wants to sign former All-Star to a contract extension.
"No, I'm not trying to trade Filip Forsberg, I'm trying to sign Filip Forsberg," Poile told 102.5 The Game (h/t NHL.com). "It hasn't been done. I don't know when it's going to get done. I don't have the crystal ball to say it will get done. Both sides want it to happen, but it hasn't happened now."
Andy Strickland of 590 The Fan reported last week that Nashville was "actively shopping" Forsberg in trade talks.
Forsberg told the radio station last week after the rumors came out that he would like to remain in Nashville, but acknowledged it's not entirely up to him.
"Like I said at the start of the year, I signed a six-year deal and this is year six," Forsberg said, via NHL.com. "Obviously I'd love to sign another one but at the same time, it's not all in my hands. It's a team effort that we're trying to work toward. At the end of the day, like I said, the only thing I can focus on right now is playing good hockey and trying to win games."
Forsberg is in the final season of his current deal that is paying him $6 millionin 2021-22.
Nashville's cap situation looks to be in very good shape after this season. The team only has $52.2 million in salary commitments for 2022-23, per Spotrac.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced in December that the cap for next season would go up by $1 million, to $83.5 million.
Forsberg, Nick Cousins, Michael McCarron, Matthew Benning, Ben Harpur and David Rittich are the only Predators set to become unrestricted free agents this offseason.
Nashville acquired Forsberg from the Washington Capitals in April 2013 for Martin Erat and Michael Latta. The 27-year-old has become one of the best players in franchise history over the past 10 seasons.
Forsberg ranks second in Predators history with 178 goals and fifth with 385 points. He has scored 45 points in 40 games this season.
Unless the Predators can find a trade before the March 21 deadline that would make them better immediately, moving Forsberg doesn't make much sense. They are currently the No. 1 wild card in the Western Conference with 64 points (30-19-4) and trail the Minnesota Wild by one point for the third spot in the Central Division.
5 Takeaways from the Lightning-Predators Stadium Series Game
Feb 27, 2022
Fans watch as players warm up at Nissan Stadium before an NHL Stadium Series hockey game between the Nashville Predators and the Tampa Bay Lightning Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
The 2022 Stadium Series game had everything you could ask for in a hockey game. It was two big-time opponents playing in a unique atmosphere against an equally unique backdrop at Nissan Stadium.
The Nashville Predators and Tampa Bay Lightning combined for four power-play goals. There were heavy hits, a fight between two heavyweights in Pat Maroon and Michael McCarron, a Vezina Trophy preview matchup between Juuse Saros and Andrei Vasilevskiy and, of course, some controversial officiating.
The Lightning came away with a 3-2 win Saturday night, their fourth straight, and planned to hit the honky-tonks on Broadway wearing themed outfits.
The Predators, who have now lost five of their last seven, are engaged in a tight Central Division battle and could have used the two points. They had a shot with a third-period power-play goal by Filip Forsberg, but Tampa Bay held off the attack.
Still, it was a fantastic game to cap an eventful week in one of the league's most exciting cities. Just two days prior the Preds retired former goalie Pekka Rinne's number, the first number retired in franchise history.
"Every time there is something going on here, (the fans) show up and the support is unbelievable," Nashville defenseman Roman Josi told reporters after the game. "We wanted to win this game so bad for the fans. We couldn't get a win for them, but we’re very grateful for our fans. It's something we’ll never forget."
The hosts didn't get the result they hoped for, but there is still plenty to take away from this game for both teams.
Tanner Jeannot Has Entered the Chat
The Calder Trophy race has largely been a competition between Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras and Detroit Red Wings Defenseman Moritz Seider. There are others in the conversation as well, like Seider's teammate Lucas Raymond and Florida Panthers winger Anton Lundell. But Tanner Jeannot has jumped into the conversation as well.
Jeannot scored his 18th goal of the season in the first period to give the Preds a 1-0 lead, which ties him with Toronto's Michael Bunting for the rookie lead.
"I'm going to remember it for the rest of my life, for sure," Jeannot said. "It was a great experience, and I'm really happy for it. I wish we had a better outcome, but it was really fun."
An undrafted free agent, Jeannot is a big, physical winger who owns Nashville's record for rookie hits in a single season (179). Predators coach John Hynes likes his teams to be tough and grating. They're supposed to be difficult to play against. Jeannot's style of play fits in with that identity.
Hand-Eye-Foote Coordination
Another emerging young player had a big moment in the game, this time for the visitors. Cal Foote, a second-year defenseman who has been getting more ice time because of injuries on the blue line, played big minutes after Erik Cernak left the game with a head injury.
Foote was influential in the third goal of the game, knocking the puck down to keep it in the zone and then eventually finding Steven Stamkos for the score, which put Tampa Bay up 3-1 at 11:31 in the third period. A two-goal lead isn't a huge margin but against a team like the Lightning, it might as well be five goals.
Foote, the son of former NHL player Adam Foote and the brother of New Jersey Devils prospect Nolan Foote, also blocked a shot with his foot, staying true to his name.
This roster depth is part of what makes this Tampa team so scary. Which leads me to my next point…
Tampa Bay is Still the Team to Beat
After two tumultuous years in the NHL, it's tough to remember that nearly three years ago the Lightning were considered disappointments. After being swept in the first round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Columbus Blue Jackets, many wondered when a team that was largely considered to be one of the best regular season teams in the salary cap era would finally break through and win a championship.
But two straight Cups later and the Lightning is a juggernaut. The winning core is still in place with Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Alex Killorn, Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh still playing in front of Vasilevskiy. Stamkos, Kucherov and Point are three of the most dangerous scoring threats in the league. McDonagh, who blocked three shots in the final 3:35 and two with the extra attacker on the ice for Nashville in the waning seconds, remains a premier defender in the league.
The team lost many key depth players from the last two Stanley Cup runs but hasn't missed a beat because of quality players like Foote, Taylor Raddysh and Mathieu Joseph that have come from the club's own farm system. Corey Perry was brought in for his experience and his scoring.
And then, of course, there is Maroon, the three-time Cup champ who came into the game riding a hobby horse while wearing skinny jeans. He's a character, but it works with this team.
This was a big game and they found a way to win, as the best teams do. The road to the Stanley Cup will go through Florida, with the Panthers and Lightning playing dominant hockey right now.
Flipping Filip Forsberg
Forsberg gave the Preds hope late in the third period with a power-play goal at 12:29. There was some debate over whether or not a hooking penalty by Victor Hedman drawn by Ryan Johansen should have resulted in a penalty shot. Instead, it was ruled a two-minute minor and a power play for Nashville.
Filip Forsberg bringing life back into the home crowd one PP goal at a time. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ZRKwS6DpnB
General manager David Poile is reportedly shopping Forsberg and his signature mustache on the trade market. With 26 goals and 18 points this season and a contract that will expire this summer, Forsberg will bring in a solid haul for the Preds. Re-signing him will be tricky with the money committed to Johansen, Matt Duchene, Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm and Saros over the next few years.
Sure, the Preds could hang on to him past March 21 without a contract extension in place. He seems too important to trade and his production would be difficult to replace, even if Poile was able to make a hockey trade instead of a futures trade for assets like draft picks or prospects.
There is obviously still time to work something out, but that power-play goal reminded everyone how impactful he is on a team in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Singing the Praises of Smashville
Each year after the Winter Classic passes, there is always a debate about whether or not the novelty has worn off of the outdoor games. The Stadium Series games don't hold the same sort of significance as the Winter Classic and there have always been naysayers who don't like their teams trying to earn two points on bad ice in a rink with unfamiliar sight lines.
Nashville Predators defensemen Dante Fabbro, right, and Roman Josi greet fans as players arrive at Nissan Stadium before an NHL Stadium Series hockey game between the Predators and the Tampa Bay Lightning Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
But these games are a nice way to bring some excitement to an otherwise dull part of the season and showcase different venues and cities. The entertainment factor was high with high-profile country music stars playing during the intermissions and the two teams clearly embraced the atmosphere as well with their themed outfits.
Much like when the St. Louis Blues showed up to a frigid Target Field wearing beach attire, the Preds dressed the part for the city and the Lightning took it even further with all-denim ensembles.
Are they novel anymore? No, but who cares. Outdoor hockey games provide fun for the players and spectators. Even at the highest level, hockey is still supposed to be fun.
Does Goalie Size Matter? How the Predators' Juuse Saros is Defying Hockey Convention
Feb 25, 2022
Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros plays against the Carolina Hurricanes in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
The gold standard for goaltending in today's NHL is probably Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy.
The 2019 Vezina Trophy winner and two-time Stanley Cup champion has everything an NHL team could want in a goalie: He has the instincts and tracking abilities to read plays before they even fully develop, a high hockey IQ, athleticism, strong lateral movement and he's durable, regularly making more than 50 starts in a season at a time when several teams are moving toward a tandem approach.
He also has the ideal size for a modern goalie at 6'3" and 225 pounds.
As of 2019, the average size of a No. 1 NHL goalie was 6'3". It's considered the "sweet spot," or something close to it, according to Kevin Woodley, a goaltending expert for InGoal Magazine and NHL.com. The bigger the goalie, the more space he takes up in the cage.
It wasn't always like this. It wasn't all that long ago that Henrik Lundqvist was one of the top goalies in the world at 6'1", which might be considered "undersized" now.
But tall goalies have always been coveted in hockey.
Legendary former Montreal Canadiens netminder Ken Dryden was 6'4". And yet, Dryden thinks the trend toward extra-lanky goalies has gone too far, saying the tail wags the dog in an op-ed in The Atlantic last year. Dryden also took the goalie gear and rule changes into account, but he argued that big bodies wearing big pads have led to a less exciting style of play, with more teams trying to jam pucks in front of the net instead of using the open ice and creating off the rush. The game is faster than ever, but creativity isn't necessarily being rewarded.
However, goalies don't have to be 6'3" or taller to be elite. This weekend's Stadium Series game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville will have Vasilevskiy facing another Vezina candidate in Juuse Saros, the Predators' No. 1 netminder who is listed at 5'11", though some have even said that number is generous. It's an interesting case study in contrasts, and it shows that size isn't the defining factor for hockey's most important position.
"What makes this game special is the control and the patience," Woodley said. "And the fact that [Saros'] threshold for 'goalie 911'—his threshold for panic—is so much later than everyone else's. He needs it every once in a while but not as early and not as often as a lot of goalies around the league. His ability to get to the edge of the crease and control that square and just hold there and wait everything out is as good as anyone in the league. Maybe [Igor] Shesterkin might be the only other one who sort of is at that [level]."
Saros watched Pekka Rinne's No. 35 be raised to the rafters of Bridgestone Arena on Thursday night. It signaled a passing of the torch. And maybe it even signals a new trend emerging in the NHL, one that favors some undersized backstops.
You can't mention the Vezina conversation without mentioning New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin, who isn't quite as small as Saros, but stands at 6'1".
Before the two of them emerged, it was Jonathan Bernier. The 11th overall pick in 2006 is injured right now, but he's put together a 14-year career at 5'11" (he's currently listed at 6'0, but Woodley insists he's below that mark).
These goalies walked so that top prospects like Dustin Wolf and Devon Levi will be able to run.
They possess many of the same attributes as their taller counterparts. They just don't have the height. There are some smaller goalies who are capable of moving better than the bigger ones, but the most important aspect is their intelligence and their ability to read plays. If they can do those things, then they can play goalie at nearly any height.
"I really believe that it's how smart they are and how well they read plays. Then on top of that, their skating ability is gonna go a long way," said Devils goaltending coach Dave Rogalski. "But I really mean this: The reading ability of plays is so important, whether you're small or big. The one thing that they have to be really good at is that. And then, instead of just being big and blocking, their hand-eye coordination off of tracking releases is as critical as well. They can't just kind of go down and just fill space; they've got to be able to read the release."
Smaller goalies, like many smaller athletes, sometimes have chips on their shoulders. They know they have to prove themselves more than those with the ideal height. This can be advantageous, leading to good habits, precise movements and competitiveness from a young age.
"Big goalies, when they're younger, they don't have to perfect these things," Woodley said. "They get away with more. Pucks just hit them. They didn't have to refine their technique to the degree that a guy like Saros would have had to in order to continue to move up levels as the smallest guy."
Ascending through hockey as a high-level junior player and into the professional ranks is a difficult, non-linear path. Especially for goalies when there aren't that many spots to fill. It takes a certain type of mental toughness and some luck with health.
"It's just really hard to make it," Rogalski said. "I'd say the disadvantage that the small guys have is proving their value over time and getting a lot of games in to prove that they can do it. They need to earn that trust that they can play at that size. That's a big key—proving it to the American League coach. And then when they go up [to the NHL], they do well enough, and then they go back down, and they continue to have success."
The opportunities to play goalie at the youth level might not be limited, but the pipeline really starts at the junior level. While there is still plenty of room to grow by the time players are drafted to major-junior teams in their teens, their positional fate may have already been decided by then. The bigger kids are going to get put in the net more often than the smaller ones, mostly because it's difficult to properly project size.
"You only can sculpt what you're able to see," Rogalski said. "The bigger guys are getting more opportunity at the younger levels. You're not going to see a lot of smaller goalies to even look at the draft. And then on top of it, the ones that are smaller, they're going to be really good. Then it's just a matter of, can they get through the barrier, the five-, six-year window on the American League to get into the NHL?"
It begs the question of whether a Saros or a Shesterkin can change the narrative around undersized goalies if one wins the Vezina this season, or even a Stanley Cup.
It's pretty simple in Rogalski's mind: If you can play, you can play. But Woodley says he hasn't quite seen the changing tides yet and expects these particular goalies to be pegged as backups until they prove otherwise.
Another NHL source had a very clear answer when asked if undersized goalies will get more opportunities: "No." They'll be scouted, but likely to be "written off early."
However, with two recent expansion teams, there will be more opportunities. So the answer is probably something closer to a maybe, not anytime soon.
"On average, each team has five goalies under contract. That’s 10 contracts for goalies that wouldn’t have one across the league," Rogalski said. "Expansion will open doors for not only smaller goalies but all sorts of different types of players of all sizes."
Bruins, Predators Shut Down by NHL Through Holiday Break amid Covid-19 Issues
Dec 18, 2021
Karl Taylor, coach of the Nashville affiliate the Milwaukee Admirals, coaches the Nashville Predators against the Colorado Avalanche during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
The Nashville Predators and Boston Bruins became the fourth and fifth NHL teams to be shut down through the holiday break Saturday due to COVID-19 issues.
SCHEDULE UPDATE: @NHLBruins, @PredsNHL shut down through Holiday Break; three additional games also postponed.
The clubs join the Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames and Florida Panthers as teams that have been shut down this week.
Nashville has seen several players and coaches placed in COVID-19 protocols this week, and its scheduled game against the Flames on Tuesday was postponed due to Calgary's COVID-19 issues.
Per Paul Skrbina of the Tennessean, a total of 11 Predators players and coaches had been placed in COVID protocols as of Thursday.
Among them were forwards Ryan Johansen, Mikael Granlund, Matt Luff, Michael McCarron, Philip Tomasino and Nick Cousins, defenseman Ben Harpur and head coach John Hynes.
Nashville did play Thursday and Friday, beating the Avalanche 5-2 and then defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 in overtime.
The Preds are in the midst of a seven-game winning streak and are 19-10-1 overall on the season.
Their 39 points are second to only the Minnesota Wild's 40 in the Central Division, and they are tied for third overall in the Western Conference with the St. Louis Blues behind the Wild and Anaheim Ducks.
With each of their next two games postponed, the Predators are not scheduled to play again until Dec. 27 against the Dallas Stars on the road.
As of Thursday, the Bruins had placed seven players and one staffer into COVID-19 protocols.
Forwards Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, Craig Smith and goalie Jeremy Swayman headlined the list of players unavailable to the Bruins. They were joined by forwards Trent Frederic, Anton Blidh and Oskar Steen.
A shorthanded Bruins team fell 3-1 to the New York Islanders on Thursday, and their scheduled game against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday was subsequently postponed.
Next Thursday's game against the Avalanche was also postponed due to an outbreak within the Avs organization.
Boston's shutdown means it won't play Sunday against the Ottawa Senators nor Tuesday against the Hurricanes.
The Bruins, who have lost two games in a row, are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division with 30 points. They are in ninth place in the conference overall, leaving them outside the playoff positions.
Boston's next scheduled game is now a home tilt with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 27.
Senators' Games vs. Devils, Predators, Rangers Postponed amid COVID-19 Outbreak
Nov 15, 2021
MONTREAL, QC - MARCH 02: A close-up detail of the Ottawa Senators logo seen during the second period against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on March 2, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
The Ottawa Senators' next three games have been postponed amid a COVID-19 outbreak with the team.
Games against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, the Nashville Predators on Thursday and the New York Rangers on Saturday are impacted. The Senators currently have 10 players in the NHL's health and safety protocols.
“You’re almost crossing your fingers every single day hoping that you get through with a negative (test),” veteran defenseman Michael Del Zotto told reporters. “It is a learning experience, with the different tests we’re doing, and trying to keep everyone safe, not just the players but their families and staff as well. It’s a great opportunity for guys to learn the mental side of the game.”
The Senators have essentially been on lockdown between games, with their players unable to practice or leave their homes. The team has understandably struggled under the mounting pressure and has lost seven of its last eight games overall.
With the Senators (4-10-1, last in the Atlantic Division) struggling to field an NHL-caliber team and the AHL Belleville Senators also barely scraping by because all of the call-ups, the NHL was forced to take some action. This temporary pause in the schedule should allow a majority of the players currently in health and safety protocols to get back on the ice while mitigating any further potential spread.
Predators Asst. Todd Richards Expected to Make Complete Recovery After Heart Attack
Oct 4, 2021
RALEIGH, NC - OCTOBER 06: Tampa Bay Lightning assistant coach Todd Richards walks off the ice during a game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Carolina Hurricanes at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC on October 6, 2019.(Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Former Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild head coach and current Nashville Predators assistant coach Todd Richards is expected to make a full recovery after he suffered a heart attack on Friday.
The Predators announced Richards was released from the hospital and is "resting comfortably" in his home.
Nashville hired him as an assistant coach in October 2020, and the team went 31-23-2 during his one season on the bench. The Predators lost in the first round to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Richards played professionally for 13 seasons, making eight appearances in NHL games for the Hartford Whalers during the 1990-91 and 1991-92 campaigns, before he joined the coaching ranks.
The 54-year-old was an assistant coach for the San Jose Sharks before leading the Wild to a 77-71-16 record in two seasons as the head coach. The Blue Jackets went 127-112-21 under his direction in five seasons, and he spent four years as an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning prior to joining the Predators.
The Lightning won the 2020 Stanley Cup with Richards on the coaching staff.
NHL's Luke Prokop Announces He's Gay: 'I Am No Longer Scared to Hide Who I Am'
Jul 19, 2021
CALGARY, AB - MARCH 27: Luke Prokop #6 of the Calgary Hitmen in action against the Edmonton Oil Kings during a WHL game at Seven Chiefs Sportsplex on March 27, 2021 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
Nashville Predators prospect Luke Prokop announced on social media Monday that he is gay:
"I am no longer scared to hide who I am," Prokop said. "Today I am proud to publicly tell everyone that I am gay. It has been quite the journey to get to this point in my life, but I could not be happier with my decision to come out."
The 19-year-old was a third-round pick by Nashville in the 2020 NHL draft and is yet to make his team debut, spending the past year in the WHL with the Calgary Hitmen.
If he reaches the NHL, he would be the first openly gay active player in league history.
Brock McGillis was the first professional hockey player to come out, but it was after his playing career, and he never appeared in the NHL, only spending time in the Ontario Hockey League and United Hockey League.
Prokop is already under contract with the Predators, signing a three-year deal in December 2020. The defenseman totaled two goals and four assists in 15 WHL games during the shortened 2020-21 season for the Hitmen.
The Edmonton, Canada, native is hoping getting the weight off his shoulders will lead to even more success on the ice.
"I think it’s been translating a lot into my summer and my summer training. I’ve noticed myself being a lot more confident on the ice," Prokop told Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic. "Being able to truly be who I am. This is the best I’ve ever felt in the summer and I think a large part of that is due to this process of me coming out."
He also told Emily Kaplan of ESPN that coming out would "ease his mind" after struggling last season.
The Predators and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman have already thrown their support behind Prokop with statements Monday:
The Nashville Predators organization is proud of Luke for the courage he is displaying in coming out today and we will support him unequivocally in the days, weeks, and years to come as he continues to develop as a prospect. #HockeyIsForEveryonehttps://t.co/43grM47dJO
"Very brave young man," Nashville GM David Poile told LeBrun. "It took a lot of courage. I’m proud that he did that. It’s got to be exciting for him to be taking this step. This is a big story and hopefully it helps and encourages others in similar situations. It’s a big deal."
The NHL also announced a $100,000 donation to LGBTQ+ organizations:
Prokop will hope to earn a role on the NHL squad in 2021-22 as the Predators look to improve upon last year's first-round playoff exit.
Ryan Ellis Traded to Flyers in 3-Team Deal with Predators, Golden Knights
Jul 17, 2021
Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis plays against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 21, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
After spending the 2020-21 season searching for an impact defenseman, the Philadelphia Flyers found one by acquiring Ryan Ellis from the Nashville Predators as part of a three-team trade Saturday.
Ellis was traded for Nolan Patrick and Philippe Myers, and Patrick was rerouted to the Vegas Golden Knights for Cody Glass.
Projection is with #Flyers moving Nolan Patrick, they will now have the ability to protect James van Riemsdyk. Pretty big change for #SeaKraken in last few minutes.
Per Cap Friendly on Twitter, trades and player signings were frozen Saturday at 3 p.m. ET, and 5 p.m. ET is the deadline for clubs to submit their expansion draft protection lists to the NHL and NHL Players' Association.
The Seattle Kraken will start to fill out their roster during the expansion draft Wednesday.
There had been speculation leading up to the regular-season trade deadline April 12 that Ellis' long-term outlook with the Predators wasn't promising.
Elliotte Friedman reported in March that Ellis had been considered untouchable but that "something's made the Predators think."
Ellis has six years remaining on the eight-year, $50 million deal he signed in August 2018.
That contract should fit well for Philadelphia, which is trying to get better in the short term but also has a long-term outlook in mind after missing the playoffs twice in the past three years.
Ellis missed six weeks last season after undergoing surgery on his upper body in March. He finished with 18 points in 35 games during the regular season. The 30-year-old was terrific with five points in six games in Nashville's first-round playoff loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Philadelphia did sell low on Patrick, who scored just nine points and was minus-30 in 52 games last season. The Golden Knights are betting the 22-year-old will return to the level he showed over the previous two years, when he scored 61 points in 145 games.
The addition of Ellis made Myers expendable for the Flyers. Myers is 24 years old and will give the Predators a plug-and-play defenseman alongside Mattias Ekholm.
