Avalanche's Nazem Kadri Targeted by Threats After Game 3; Police Investigating
May 22, 2022
NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 09: Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri (91) is shown during Game 4 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche, held on May 9, 2022, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri has been the subject of threats after Saturday's Game 3 win over the St. Louis Blues.
The Avalanche released a statement saying the franchise "is aware of threats made toward Nazem Kadri and is working with local law enforcement to investigate."
Former professional hockey player Akim Aliu tweeted that he recently spoke to Kadri. Aliu said that Kadri has dealt with racist attacks and threats since Saturday and confirmed that the police had to get involved:
Talked to @43_kadri About his inadvertent collision w Binnington. Naz has been subject to so many racist attacks and threats since last night that police had to be brought in. Racist attacks like this have no place in hockey and should be investigated and reported on.
— Akim “Dreamer” Olumide Aliu (@Dreamer_Aliu78) May 22, 2022
Early in the first period of Saturday's game, Kadri and St. Louis defenseman Calle Rosen had inadvertently collided with Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington. Kadri and Rosen had gotten their skates tangled with each other in the crease. No penalty was called after the play.
Blues head coach Craig Berube announced on Sunday that Binnington is out for the remainder of the series because of a lower-body injury. According to ESPN's Emily Kaplan, the goalie is dealing with a knee injury.
Kadri has received multiple postseason suspensions throughout his career, including an eight-game ban after an illegal check to the head of Blues defenseman Justin Faulk in the 2021 playoffs. However, in this instance, he said the entire situation was incidental.
"I just see a loose puck, really. It was just kind of sitting behind him," Kadri told reporters. "Their defenseman collided with me and pushed me into him. Had that not been the case, I don't think I would have hit him at all"
Kadri also insinuated during his postgame interview that Binnington threw a water bottle at him.
The Avalanche will try to tie the series against the Blues in Game 4 on Monday.
Nazem Kadri Touted as Hero, 'Villain' by Fans After Avs vs. Blues Game 3 Controversy
May 22, 2022
ST LOUIS, MO - MAY 21: (L-R) Nazem Kadri #91 and Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrate Kadri's goal against the St. Louis Blues in the second period during Game Three of the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Enterprise Center on May 21, 2022 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
The Colorado Avalanche defeated the St. Louis Blues 5-2 on Saturday in Game 3 of their second-round Stanley Cup Playoffs matchup to take a 2-1 series lead, but not without a little controversy.
Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington exited the game early in the first period after both Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri and Blues defenseman Calle Rosen crashed into him while chasing a rebounded shot.
Ville Huuso replaced Binnington for the remainder of the game.
While some fans were quick to blame Kadri for the collision, comparing him to the likes of Tom Wilson and former NHLer Sean Avery, others viewed him as the hero of Game 3 after scoring a goal in the second period and playing with a competitive edge.
Nazem Kadri is the new Tom Wilson. Convince me otherwise.
I really want the Washington Capitals to sign Nazem Kadri and put Tom Wilson on his wing just for the chaos. Ideally Brad Marchand is the other winger in this scenario
— Playoff Hockey Man Murphy O Canada 🇨🇦 (@MurphyOConnor2) May 22, 2022
Nazem Kadri, who has been booed every time he's touched the puck, scores just after the power play to make it 2-1. Cale Makar fired the puck in and Kadri tipped it.
Kadri has been viewed by a number of NHL fans in the past for being dirty, so it's not necessarily surprising that many laid into him during and after Saturday's game.
The 31-year-old was suspended eight games in June 2021 for an illegal check to the head on Blues defenseman Justin Faulk in their first-round playoff series. Including that suspension, he has been suspended a total of 16 playoff games and 11 regular-season games.
As for Binnington, his status moving forward is unclear. The 28-year-old played a significant role in St. Louis' 2019 Stanley Cup championship and will need him healthy to move further in the playoffs.
Binnington had also been playing well entering Saturday's game, posting a .948 save percentage and a 4-1 record in five playoff games. If he is unavailable, Huuso will likely get the start in Game 4 at Enterprise Center on Monday.
Nathan MacKinnon Says Avalanche Were 'Really Bad' in Game 2 Loss vs. Blues
May 20, 2022
DENVER, CO - MAY 17: Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) skates during a Stanley Cup Playoffs round 2 game between the St. Louis Blues and the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on May 17, 2022. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan
MacKinnon expressed frustration about his team's performance in a
Game 2 loss to the St. Louis Blues in their second-round playoff
series Thursday night.
"We were bad. We were really bad
tonight," MacKinnon told reporters after the 4-1 defeat. "We
just didn't have our jump tonight. But we still feel like we're a
great team. We have to forget about it and move on."
The series is tied at one win apiece
after the Avs scored 3-2 overtime victory in Game 1.
MacKinnon's assessment is pretty spot-on. Thursday's game wasn't only Colorado's worst performance of the
playoffs so far—it swept the Nashville Predators in Round 1—but it was among the team's least effective outings of the entire season.
The expected goals in all situations
were 4.68 to 1.38 in favor of St. Louis, per Money Puck. So the final
score was an accurate depiction of the contest. It wasn't a situation
where the underdog Blues got a few lucky bounces. They dominated this game in Denver.
That's rarely happened to the Avalanche
in a season when they finished atop the Western Conference standings
with a 56-19-7 record (119 points).
"We got outworked and outskated,"
Colorado head coach Jared Bednar said. "They were better, and we
were worse. Our biggest issue, especially early on, was that no one
wanted to skate with the puck. They did a nice job in the neutral
zone, but we didn't move."
One bad showing doesn't alter the Avs'
status as one of the top Stanley Cup contenders, though.
Colorado won its first five playoff
games by a combined score of 24-11, and it scored 12 goals in three
games against St. Louis during the teams' regular-season
series in which the Avs won twice.
In turn, the Blues shutting down the
high-powered Avalanche offense like it did in Game 2 for the
remainder of the series is a long shot.
MacKinnon, despite his pointed
comments, wasn't ready to push the panic button.
"I think, years past, we might
dwell on it and get down on ourselves and each other. We just got to
pick each other up and move on and stay positive," he said. "We
have a great team. We still believe we can get this thing done and
win the series. We're not going to sweep every round. It's fine."
The series now shifts to the Enterprise
Center in St. Louis for the next two matchups. Game 3 is set for
Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET on TNT.
'Underrated' David Perron Praised for 2 Goals as Blues Upset Avalanche in Game 2
May 20, 2022
DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 19: Pavel Buchnevich #89, David Perron #57 and Ryan O'Reilly #90 of the St. Louis Blues celebrate a goal against the Colorado Avalanche in Game Two of the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena on May 19, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
David Perron scored twice, including
the game-winning goal, to help lead the St. Louis Blues to a 4-1
victory over the top-seeded Colorado Avalanche in Game 2 of their
second-round playoff series Thursday night.
Perron now leads the Blues with seven
goals in eight appearances so far in the 2022 NHL playoffs. His 11
postseason points are already the second-most in his career, trailing
only the 16 he put up during St. Louis' run to the 2019 Stanley Cup
title.
David Perron is the most underrated player in the NHL and has been for years. It’s not particularly close, either. #stlblues#StanleyCup
The Blues and Avs are leveled at
one win apiece as the series shifts to the Enterprise Center in St.
Louis for the next two contests.
"It's playoffs. Big roller
coaster," Perron told reporters. "We didn't feel good about
ourselves last game. Tonight we had a lot more guys [playing well]."
Here's a look at more reaction to
the 33-year-old winger's standout performance:
I feel like we don’t talk about David Perron enough. 15 seasons in the league. Closing in on 1000 games and 300 goals. 20 or more goals six times. Would have had 20+ in the lockout and pandemic years as well. Consistent and underrated. And I just realized he’s from my hometown!
Jordan Kyrou and Brandon Saad also
found the net for St. Louis. Gabriel Landeskog tallied the only goal
for Colorado, which suffered its first loss of the playoffs after it swept the
Nashville Predators in the first round.
Goalie Jordan Binnington stopped 30 of
the 31 shots he faced to pick up the win for the Blues.
Game 3 is scheduled for Saturday night
at 8 p.m. ET on TNT.
Broncos' Russell Wilson, More Praise Josh Manson, Avalanche After Win vs. Blues in OT
May 18, 2022
DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 17: Josh Manson #42 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates with Samuel Girard #49 after scoring the winning goal against the St Louis Blues in overtime during Game One of the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena on May 17, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
The Colorado Avalanche and defenseman Josh Manson were the talk of the NHL on Tuesday night after Manson's overtime goal gave the Avs a 3-2 win in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series against the St. Louis Blues.
Colorado, the odds-on favorite to represent the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Final, won Tuesday's contest with just under 12 minutes remaining in the first overtime session when Manson's seeing-eye wrister beat Blues goalie Jordan Binnington from the point:
That led to no shortage of reaction from across the internet, including a shoutout from the state of Colorado's newest star athlete.
Quarterback Russell Wilson, who is now a member of the Denver Broncos after an offseason trade from the Seattle Seahawks, loved what he saw out of the Avs:
Fans and reporters alike praised the performance of Manson, fellow defenseman Samuel Girard and the Avalanche as a whole in a game that saw the Avs outshoot the Blues 54-25:
Kudos to Sam Girard for that bomb from the blue line. But wanna give a tip of hat to Josh Manson for making the simple, smart play of setting G up for shot. Manson has been excellent pick-up by Mr. Sakic.
Manson, who was acquired by the Avs in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks in March, was voted the first star of the game.
Not only did he score the game-winner, but he also assisted on a goal by Girard in the second period.
Typically, fans have come to expect stars such as Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Gabriel Landeskog, Nazem Kadri and Cale Makar to score big goals for Colorado, but the fact that the decisive goal came off the stick of an unheralded blueliner in Manson likely played a role in the reaction.
Now, the Avs will look to extend their series lead to 2-0 when they host the Blues again for Game 2 on Thursday.
Dear Abbey: Community Members Choose Their NHL Award Winners
Apr 29, 2022
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 19: Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning accepts the Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team, during the 2019 NHL Awards at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on June 19, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Welcome to another edition of Dear Abbey. I don’t give life advice like the real Dear Abby, but I do talk about hockey.
The end of the regular season means voting season for the members of the hockey media. Members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association and broadcast media vote on most of the major awards. A few are voted on by players and NHL general managers. The hype for the NHL Awards doesn’t quite hit its peak until after the Stanley Cup Final, but they are being talked about quite a bit at the moment since voting for all awards occurs before the start of the playoffs to fairly judge regular season performances.
Currently, I'm in the process of completing my ballot. It's not an easy, or quick, exercise. It once took me an entire cross-country flight to complete my ballot, and in the process of writing this, I've already changed my mind about a few rankings and candidates. It takes a lot of time to look at all of the traditional metrics and the underlying metrics, and I do try and talk to some people throughout hockey to try to get a feel for the contributions of players on teams I may not be as familiar with.
These awards mean a lot to players and that needs to be taken into consideration.
At a later date, I'll go into detail on my thought process for choosing and ranking the finalists. But today is all about giving the fans a voice in the awards. We asked members of the B/R hockey community who they would choose for the major honors: The Hart, Norris, Vezina, Calder and Selke Trophies and the Jack Adams and Jim Gregory Awards.
NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 19: Roman Josi #59 of the Nashville Predators waves to a fan during warmups prior to an NHL game against the Calgary Flames at Bridgestone Arena on April 19, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
Hart Trophy: Most Valuable Player
Matthews: Hart, McDavid: Ted Lindsay just because it’s a damn coin flip for the Hart. (@eddystros84)
Josi should win the Hart (@frankthetank95)
Igor for the Hart and Vezina and it’s not even close (@T8Salt)
I would definitely vote Josi for the Hart if I could. For what the award is, player most valuable to his team, I feel like nobody else represents that better than Josi, Man has carried that team on his back into a playoff spot. (@jrs99)
I expected fans to choose New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin and I expected voters for Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid. But it appears as though Roman Josi has entered the chat.
The Nashville Predators defenseman has been the Norris Trophy frontrunner all season. He recently became the first blueliner to eclipse 90 points since Ray Bourque did it during the 1993-94 season with the Boston Bruins. The 31-year-old Swiss defender logged the highest-scoring season by a defenseman in the salary cap era (Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson played at an 89-point pace in 2019-20 but the season was shortened because of COVID-19 and he finished with 75).
The Preds have exceeded expectations this season. Matt Duchene is having a career renaissance at age 31 with his first 40-goal season. Filip Forsberg also turned in a 40-goal year. Juuse Saros has been one of the best goalies in the league.
But Josi is the engine that makes the car go.
And for the record, in 2018, there was another player that “carried that team on his back into a playoff spot,” that had the same coach: Taylor Hall, who was then a winger for the New Jersey Devils. That should speak to John Hynes' abilities as a coach, and possibly garner him some Jack Adams votes.
The Hart is an exceptionally difficult award to predict this year. Matthews became just the 21st player in NHL history to score 60 goals, Johnny Gaudreau put up 113 points for the Calgary Flames and has become a more complete player off the puck, McDavid is the best player in the world and continues to play like one and Jonathan Huberdeau's 85 assists demonstrate his importance as a distributor for a team that has averaged more than 4.0 goals per game this season.
Josi will get votes. So will Shesterkin. The rest on this list probably will too. Is there a wrong answer? It’s difficult to say when there are so many deserving candidates.
EDMONTON, AB - APRIL 22: Colorado Avalanche Defenceman Cale Makar (8) in action in the second period during the Edmonton Oilers game versus the Colorado Avalanche on April 22, 2022 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB. (Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Norris Trophy: Best Defenseman
Josi: Norris (@eddystros84)
Makar for Norris (@crybabycarr)
If Makar wins the Norris, that’s just pure bias because people like him more and he’s the flashier player. No offense to him at all, but this year Josi is the better defenseman. (@noahquesnelle)
I disagree that a win for Makar, the Colorado Avalanche defenseman and 2020 Calder Award winner, would be pure bias because he's an elite defenseman and he has played at an elite level this season. As for who has the edge? It's a tough call.
Makar has outscored Josi 27-22 but Josi edges him in points, 93-85.
Makar is defensively responsible, but Josi is the better defender. However, the old Paul Coffey adage still rings true in today’s NHL: The best way to play defense is have the puck. When Makar is on the ice, the Avs are generating 55.71 percent of the shot attempts; when Josi is on the ice, the Preds are taking 86.85 percent of the attempts.
Sure, you could make the argument that Makar is on a stronger team with more talent and Josi, the 2020 Norris winner, has been carrying the Preds and making everyone around him better. But that’s an argument for the Hart Trophy, not for the Norris. The Norris Trophy is an award for the most outstanding defenseman, not the most valuable defenseman.
The two are neck-and-neck, so I think the one thing we can (mostly) agree on is that this isn’t the year for Victor Hedman or Adam Fox, despite the fact that those are two exceptional defensemen.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 19: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers makes the walk to the ice against the Winnipeg Jets at Madison Square Garden on April 19, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
Vezina Trophy: Best Goaltender
Igor: Vezina (@eddystros84)
As a reminder, the Vezina is voted on by general managers, not the media.
But if it was up to the fans, the winner would be Shesterkin.
It’s clear that Shesterkin’s play this season has put him in the upper echelon of netminders, with his name in the same conversation as Andrei Vasilevskiy, Marc-Andre Fleury, Connor Hellebuyck, Sergei Bobrovsky and Robin Lehner. The metrics used to evaluate them aren’t as accurate as the metrics used to evaluate the skaters and they can vary wildly from year-to-year.
Goaltending stats can be more easily influenced by the skaters in front of them, which is why goals against average is sometimes discounted, and one bad game can wreck their save percentage.
At one point this season, Shesterkin had an absurd .945 save percentage. He'll end the season somewhere around .935, which could lead all goalies by about 5-10 percentage points, with New York Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin likely to finish second.
You can bring in the argument about value to a team in Vezina Trophy discussions because goaltending is absolutely crucial to success. The Devils could really fly this season and up-and-coming young players generated offense in all sorts of ways, but their minus-57 goal differential showed just how much of an Achilles heel goaltending was.
Shesterkin is the favoite despite the fact that he’ll make less than 55 starts, but a 1A and 1B model is largely favored in today’s NHL game, so I don’t think that will take away too many votes.
I would also expect Saros, Frederik Andersen, Jakob Markstrom, Darcy Kuemper and possibly even Sorokin to garner some votes as well.
NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 24: Moritz Seider #53 of the Detroit Red Wings skates during warm up prior to the game against the New Jersey Devils on April 24, 2022 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Getty Images)
Calder Memorial Trophy: Rookie of the Year
Bunting (@thedudeyaknow)
Seider (@jrs99)
Seider: Calder (@eddystros84)
There was one reader who called Michael Bunting an old man, which made me laugh because at 26, the Toronto Maple Leafs forward is considerably older than most rookies. In fact, he barely qualifies as a rookie. Sportsnet's Justin Bourne said he dodged the qualifications "matrix style" and that's exactly how it should be described.
From the official hockey operations guidelines:
To be considered a rookie, a player must not have played in more than 25 NHL games in any preceding seasons, nor in six or more NHL games in each of any two preceding seasons. Any player at least 26 years of age (by September 15th of that season) is not considered a rookie.
The AHL and ECHL veteran played in 21 games last season and five in the 2018-19 season before and he made the birthday cutoff by only two days.
It’s quite a feat, as are his 63 points which lead all NHL rookies. He might be about 5-6 years older than the other top first-year players, but it’s great to see players like Bunting and 24-year-old Predators rookie Tanner Jeannot, the rookie goals leader with 24, finally break through at the NHL level after grinding in the minor leagues for so long.
Moritz Seider has already become the franchise cornerstone the Detroit Red Wings expected him to become when they drafted him in 2019. The German defenseman has logged heavy minutes in important situations for a rebuilding Red Wings team and has looked as mature and effective as some of the longtime NHL vets. His teammate Lucas Raymond, a 20-year-old rookie, was one of Detroit’s top forwards this year and showed immense potential.
Trevor Zegras, second in rookie points with 60, wasn’t mentioned by fans, but the Anaheim Ducks center has been one of the most entertaining young players in the league this season. He displays tremendous skill with his lacrosse-style goals and, while maybe frustrating to some, his flashy plays are redefining the way the game is played.
Seider seems to be the favorite, but you can’t overlook Zegras, Raymond, Matt Boldy in Minnesota or Seth Jarvis in Carolina.
DETROIT, MI - APRIL 17: Aleksander Barkov #16 of the Florida Panthers gets set for the face-off against the Detroit Red Wings during the first period of an NHL game at Little Caesars Arena on April 17, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. Florida defeated Detroit 6-1. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)
Frank J. Selke Trophy: Best Two-Way Forward
JEEK Selke (@thedudeyaknow)
Lindholm (@jrs99)
Selke this year is the hardest but I think two players stand out, Barkov and Erickson Ek (@eddystros84)
Patrice Bergeron has won the Selke four times, come in second place four times and third place in voting twice. Bergeron and Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar have become the gold-standard of two-way centers.
However, the fans are higher on Minnesota Wild forward Joel Eriksson Ek. I think Elias Lindholm of the Calgary Flames has a strong case as well, and Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov can never be counted out of a Selke competition.
In recent years, the Selke Trophy has become an award to recognize the best two-way forward. If that's the case, then we're really not giving Matthews or McDavid enough credit. Technically, that's not the criteria. The definition states, "the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game."
What constitutes a good defensive forward is up for debate, which is why this award is somewhat subjective. Minnesota winger Marcus Foligno told The Athletic that a Selke winner should have shutdown defensive abilities and also contribute offensively. How much offensive contribution is up for debate.
Physicality, shot suppression and puck possession are factors as well.
Matchups may be the biggest factor. Are these forwards regularly playing against other teams' top lines and limiting their production? Barkov and Bergeron do that, so are players like Rangers center Mika Zibanejad.
The Hart and Selke leave the most room for interpretation but expect the regular suspects like Bergeron and Barkov to be named finalists and don’t be surprised if Eriksson Ek, Lindholm and even Matthews are in the mix as well.
CALGARY, AB - APRIL 23: Darryl Sutter head coach of the Calgary Flames speaks to the media after the game against the Vancouver Canucks at Scotiabank Saddledome on April 23, 2022 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Gerry Thomas/NHLI via Getty Images)
Jack Adams Award: Coach of the Year
Darryl Sutter (@thedudeyaknow)
Jack Adams goes to Dean Evason (@eddystros84)
This is award is voted on by members of the NHL Broadcasters' Association.
Darryl Sutter hockey is not the most exciting brand of hockey. It's a low-event game with a lot of cycling, checking and shooting the puck into the netting. But the grizzled cattle farmer from Viking, Alberta has proven that it’s still an effective brand of hockey and it works with a more modern-day personnel group.
The two-time Stanley Cup-winning coach has guided the Flames to a 111-point season and a Pacific Division title. Sure, the Pacific was a mess this season but the Flames never let any other team even make it a competition. A plus-87 goal differential shows how overpowering Calgary’s powerful offense could be, and the Flames also excelled in special teams.
Sometimes the award ends up going to the coach of the team that best defied expectations, and Sutter's Flames squad did that. You could say they got some help from the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights, but to me, the goal differential speaks for itself.
The other coaches that meet that criteria are Hynes and Rangers bench boss Gerard Gallant. The Rangers were pegged as a playoff team but they've risen to become one of the Eastern Conference powers this season.
We can't mention this award and not discuss the job that Andrew Brunette has done down in Florida. Brunette was named the interim coach in October after Joel Quenneville resigned amid the fallout from the Kyle Beach case. The Panthers have gone 51-17-6 under Brunette and he helped keep things together at a time when they could have come undone.
Sure, Brunette had an elite roster to work and that roster got stronger at the trade deadline with additions like Claude Giroux and Ben Chiarot, but he did lose one of the best defensemen in the game in Aaron Ekblad for several games. The team's recent 13-game winning streak also bolsters his credentials.
Evason, the coach of the Wild, has done a great job this season and was rewarded for his recent success with a contract extension right before the New Year. But I think other coaches may have stronger cases.
SAINT PAUL, MN - MARCH 21: Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin speaks at a press conference prior to the game against the Vegas Golden Knights at the Xcel Energy Center on March 21, 2022 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)
Jim Gregory Award: General Manager of the Year
Jim Gregory to Bill Guerin (@eddystros84)
This award is decided by a 42-member panel that includes all 32 general managers, five NHL executives and five media members.
A team is only as good as its starting goaltender, and Guerin acquired a very good one this year in Fleury. The Fleury trade was arguably the biggest one made at the trade deadline, but there were other smaller moves made as well to add depth and toughness to the lineup.
Rangers general manager Chris Drury should not be overlooked for this award, either. The first-year GM made savvy moves for forwards Andrew Copp, Frank Vatrano and Tyler Motte (although Motte has been injured since early April) and defenseman Justin Braun that gave the Rangers a much deeper bottom-six and a stabilizing presence on the blue line.
Bill Zito in Florida, a 2021 finalist, should get consideration as well considering the remarkable season the Panthers had. However, while this roster was constructed by Zito, it was former general manager Dale Tallon that acquired many of the key players.
This has not dissuaded voters in the past. Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello has won the last two awards, and many of the players that reached the Eastern Conference Final in 2020 and the Stanley Cup semifinal round were acquired by the GM he succeeded, Garth Snow.
Tampa Bay general manager Julien BriseBois has mastered the salary cap and Kyle Dubas (Toronto) and Don Waddell (Carolina) have constructed two top-tier teams, so I wouldn't be surprised to see any of their names when the finalists are announced.
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.
1 Nightmare Matchup for 5 NHL Playoff Contenders
Apr 10, 2022
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 26: Nicolas Roy #10 of the Vegas Golden Knights faces off with Darren Helm #43 of the Colorado Avalanche during the third period at T-Mobile Arena on February 26, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images)
We’re in the dog days of the 2021-22 NHL regular season. The cellar-dwelling teams are beating each other up in meaningless games while the top teams in each conference jostle for Stanley Cup Playoff positioning.
The Eastern Conference playoff grouping has been set for months, with the only thing left to determine is the final bracket. Over in the Western Conference, the wild card has yet to be determined. The Vegas Golden Knights could potentially miss the playoffs for the first time since the franchise’s history. The Vancouver Canucks still have an outside chance of leapfrogging Vegas and Dallas for that last wild-card spot.
And, of course, there is always a chance the high-powered Golden Knights get some of their firepower back and manage to pull ahead of the Los Angeles Kings to save their season.
Lots of scenarios are still in play.
Matchups are everything in the playoffs. Unlike in the regular season, when weaknesses can be minimized in a single game, a seven-game series allows some teams to exploit another's weakness or neutralize the opposition's strength. It's enough time to figure out how to pick apart a power play and how a goalie moves.Br
Sometimes two teams match up well, but other times it's a disastrous draw.
Here are five matchups that fall into the latter category and why.
Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Bryan Rust (17) breaks against the New York Rangers defense during the third period of NHL hockey game Thursday, April 7, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
New York Rangers: Pittsburgh Penguins
The New York Rangers will successfully take the next step in their rebuild when they return to the playoffs (technically, they only reached the postseason portion of the 2020 bubble tournament and not the playoff portion, failing to make it out of the qualifying round) for the first time since 2017.
They have a lineup full of elite talent at the top and emerging young stars throughout, plus a goalie who should be a finalist for the Vezina Trophy in Igor Shesterkin.
The lineup has also done a good job of limiting chances in front of Shesterkin, and their power play is exceptionally good, with the Blueshirts' 26.6 percent conversion being the second-best in the NHL.
The top unit with the man advantage might be one of the best, with Chris Kreider (the third-leading scorer in the league), Artemi Panarin, Ryan Strome, Mika Zibanejad and defending Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox. The addition of Andrew Copp to the second unit has given them a tougher net-front presence, but that second unit doesn't see a whole lot of time since the top one takes care of business.
However, the Rangers generate surprisingly little offense at 5-on-5, ranking toward the bottom of the league in Corsi, scoring chances and expected goals for. New York typically wins by winning the special teams battle and goaltending, making its Metropolitan Division foes in the Pittsburgh Penguins, the least penalized team in the NHL this season, its most potentially daunting challenge.
The Penguins also have the second-best penalty kill in the league and a ton of postseason experience. The Rangers' leaders aren't completely devoid of playoff experience, but it's tough to match that of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Jeff Carter and even former Ranger Brian Boyle.
Maybe this is where we see the changing of the guard, with the Rangers overcoming their even-strength issues and their young players knocking off the legendary vets, especially since the Rangers are 3-1-0 against Pittsburgh this season and have outscored the Penguins 11-4.
But on paper, this isn't a good matchup.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 26: Andre Burakovsky #95 of the Colorado Avalanche skates during the second period against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on February 26, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Zak Krill/NHLI via Getty Images)
Colorado Avalanche: Vegas Golden Knights
The Colorado Avalanche have been playing with a chip on their shoulder after losing in the second round to the Vegas Golden Knights last season. A meeting again in early rounds would be a nightmare for reasons other than just the statistical matchup because the Avs have been the better team all season.
Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty could get healthy enough for the playoffs when the salary cap doesn't matter, and the club would be out of the woods with the cap constraints. That would give Vegas an even deeper lineup than they had last spring when they knocked out Colorado in six games since Jack Eichel has joined the club.
The Avs have been the favorites in the Western Conference all season but have dealt with their own injury issues, with captain Gabriel Landeskog currently on injured reserve while he recovers from knee surgery. Nazem Kadri, who is second on the team with 83 points, is expected to return by the playoffs.
However, should Colorado continue to struggle with injuries and run into a fully healthy Golden Knights squad, they may struggle to avenge their playoff disappointment from a season ago.
Questions will be asked about last year's series, but Vegas has been a contender for four years. It's time for the Avs to show that they're a top team when it matters, and to do that, they may once again have to face off against Vegas.
TAMPA, FL - APRIL 4: Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates against Alexander Kerfoot #15 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period at Amalie Arena on April 4, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images)
Toronto Maple Leafs: Tampa Bay Lightning
If you’re looking at playoff history, as we just did above, you might be thinking the worst opponent for the Toronto Maple Leafs would be the Boston Bruins. The Leafs have lost their last six postseason series against Boston dating back to 1969.
The 2019 first-round loss still stings, but this is a better, deeper Leafs team that has a different coach, a different goalie and plays much better defense.
Instead, the nightmare matchup for Toronto would be the Tampa Bay Lightning. To be fair, the Lightning are a nightmare team for anyone to face. They haven't lost a postseason series since 2019, and they're still the champions until someone knocks them off.
These are two elite teams that would make for a great series.
Tampa Bay has the best quite possibly the best goaltender in the world in Andrei Vasilevskiy, a proven coach in Jon Cooper and a deep lineup.
The team lost its entire third line of Blake Coleman, Yanni Gourde and Barclay Goodrow, as well as other players from those two Stanley Cup teams like Tyler Johnson, and hasn't missed a beat.
In Toronto, Auston Matthews has quickly become one of the most prolific scorers of this generation and is the type of game-breaking player that can make a difference in the playoffs. He scored his 55th goal of the season on Thursday night to set the Leafs' single-season record and the most for a U.S.-born NHL player.
Meanwhile, Mitch Marner has surpassed the 30-goal benchmark for the first time in his career.
Yet Matthews and Marner disappeared during their seven-game series with the Montreal Canadien last season. The Lightning have the defenders to neutralize even the best scorers, including Ryan McDonagh, who is expected to return as soon as this weekend.
Meeting in the first round is a realistic scenario given the current Atlantic Division standings. There is immense pressure on Toronto to get out of the first round, and this is an opponent who can bring the pressure on and off the ice.
Much like the Colorado-Vegas matchup, this one is less about the statistics and more about the storyline and the narratives that surround the Leafs and Lighting.
CALGARY, AB - MARCH 29: Calgary Flames head coach Darryl Sutter speaks to media after his teams 2-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on March 29, 2022, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Los Angeles Kings: Calgary Flames
The Los Angeles Kings will return to the playoffs for the first time since 2018. A decade ago, it looked as though they had an emerging dynasty, but the culture fell apart, key veterans departed and former general manager Dean Lombardi tried to keep the window open a little too long, failing to recognize that it had already shut.
Finally, Lombardi's successor, Rob Blake, decided to blow it up and rebuild in 2019. Blake kept some of that championship core, and Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Drew Doughty and Jonathan Quick remain.
He stockpiled talent and quickly built one of the most impressive prospect pools in hockey. He hired coach Todd McLellan to guide the team through the lean years and get them ready for a return to contention.
Los Angeles is ahead of schedule and currently sitting in third place in the Pacific Division with 86 points, a near-lock to make the playoffs. And there is a chance they could face a familiar face: Darryl Sutter, the coach that guided them to two Stanley Cups and the current coach of the Calgary Flames.
Sutter hockey has proven to be effective throughout the years, and the Flames are proof that it's still working. It might a low-event style of play, but Calgary is scoring 3.48 goals per game, good for sixth in the league, and they're the third-highest shot volume team at 5-on-5 in the NHL.
The Kings don't have the defense to withstand an offensive attack from Calgary. If Alexander Edler returns, as he is expected to soon, it will add another proven defender to the blueline. However, the club is unsure when Doughty can return from an upper-body injury, and without him, Los Angeles may not have enough to stop Calgary's offense.
The Los Angeles power play is also the least effective amongst teams in playoff contention, as its 16.6 percent mark is 28th in the league. The Flames, meanwhile, happen to be one of the best penalty-killing teams, killing off 83.4 percent of the opponent's power-play opportunities.
No one knows Sutter hockey like the Kings, but now that Kopitar, Doughty, Brown and Quick are on the other side, it might not be as much fun.
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 10: Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce (22) moves in to break up a pass for Boston Bruins winger Nick Foligno (17) during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes on February 10, 2022 at TD garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Boston Bruins: Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes have outscored the Boston Bruins 16-1 in three meetings this year. Granted, one of those games was one of Tuukka Rask's final games in the NHL, and it was a disaster. However, Linus Ullmark didn't fare much better against the Canes in February, allowing all six goals in a 6-0 loss.
This matchup could be similar to a Kings-Flames series in that Carolina is a high shot-volume team, and Boston may not have the defense to contain their attack.
The Bruins added Hampus Lindholm at the trade deadline to deepen the blueline, and this team has been good at limiting scoring chances throughout the season.
They'll have to decide which goaltender to go with during the playoffs because a tandem is never really an effective plan past the regular season. They have two very good options in Jeremy Swayman and Ullmark, though, the latter of whom has played much better lately, going 6-0-0 with a .938 save percentage in his last seven games.
However, it's tough to argue with how many weapons Carolina has up front. This is an exceptionally deep team, especially at forward, where they can roll all four lines and overwhelm teams with the volume and quality of shots. They have defensemen with shutdown abilities like Brett Pesce and two who can jump into offensive plays in Jaccob Slavin and Tony DeAngelo.
It's a tough match for the Bruins, who have similar high-end talent but not as much as Carolina, especially on the blueline.
There goes the neighborhood. Just when it seemed the Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes could get used to a few predictable teams cozying up alongside them in B/R's NHL Power Rankings, this happens...
NHL Playoff Picture 2022: Updated Standings After Avalanche Clinch Postseason Berth
Apr 6, 2022
PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 05: Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates his first period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on April 5, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images)
The best team in the NHL is headed to the playoffs.
The Colorado Avalanche clinched their spot in the postseason with a 6-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. All the Avalanche needed to clinch the playoffs coming into Tuesday's game was a single point, but they earned the full two with the win and improved their league-best record to 50-14-6 for 106 points.
Here is a look at the NHL standings after Colorado became the first team in the Western Conference to clinch a spot in the postseason:
Eastern Conference Atlantic Division
Florida Panthers, 102 points (clinched playoffs)
Toronto Maple Leafs, 95 points
Boston Bruins, 93 points
Tampa Bay Lightning, 93 points
Buffalo Sabres, 63 points
Detroit Redwings, 61 points
Ottawa Senators, 58 points
Montreal Canadiens, 49 points
Eastern Conference Metropolitan Division
Carolina Hurricanes, 98 points
New York Rangers, 96 points
Pittsburgh Penguins, 92 points
Washington Capitals, 84 points
New York Islanders, 73 points
Columbus Blue Jackets, 72 points
Philadelphia Flyers, 55 points
New Jersey Devils, 54 points
Western Conference Central Division
Colorado Avalanche, 106 points
Minnesota Wild, 91 points
St. Louis Blues, 88 points
Nashville Predators, 82 points
Dallas Stars, 81 points
Winnipeg Jets, 76 points
Chicago Blackhawks, 59 points
Arizona Coyotes, 49 points
Western Conference Pacific Division
Calgary Flames, 91 points
Los Angeles Kings, 86 points
Edmonton Oilers, 85 points
Vegas Golden Knights, 82 points
Vancouver Canucks, 74 points
Anaheim Ducks, 68 points
San Jose Sharks, 66 points
Seattle Kraken, 50 points
Clinching this early is welcome news for the Avalanche considering they are still missing key pieces in Gabriel Landeskog, Samuel Girard and Nazem Kadri because of injuries.
Kadri is of particular concern considering he led the Avalanche in scoring with 83 points at the start of Tuesday's slate. Head coach Jared Bednar recently told reporters the center is expected back for the postseason.
The Avalanche have plenty of time to get healthy with the playoffs scheduled to start May 2, and they are in no danger of losing their status as the top seed in the Western Conference given their significant cushion in the standings.
They also have plenty of remaining star power in Mikko Rantanen, Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon to lead the way in the meantime even if the lineup isn't at 100 percent.
Yet that position atop the standings could put Colorado in line for quite the daunting first-round matchup. After all, the Vegas Golden Knights are battling for wild-card positioning and would represent a much more challenging first-round opponent than the top seed often receives.
Vegas knocked the Avalanche out in a thrilling six-game series in the second round last season by winning four straight after Colorado won the first two. Two of those six games went into overtime as the franchises battled it out.
The Avalanche look more poised to make a deep run this season, and the Golden Knights have struggled to replicate last season's success. Still, it wouldn't be a first-round warm-up for a team that has been so dominant throughout the campaign.
