NHL 2021 season

FINALLY --- an agreement!

Season starts January 13th. Only 56 games this season. Training camps open on Jan 3 with no preseason games.

There will be a realignment of teams to minimize travel but it seems like they will play in their stadiums even without fans. 16 teams will qualify to play for the Stanley Cup.

Looks like for at least the start of the season all the Canadian teams will play against each other to avoid going back and forth across the border.

https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-nhlpa-season-start-agreement/c-319839598

 

Believe me -- its south of the border too. But a winter without Hockey in Canada must be terrible for Canadians. The Knights have Dallas, Colorado, and St. Louis in their division now. Going to be tough.

 

NHL just releasing the schedules. Its rather interesting. Has more of a baseball feel where they play only in their division and back to back games. What it means is that within a few good or bad games you can jump up or down in the standings really quickly.

This is the VGK schedule. No word yet if they will let people in the arena this season.

Even if we had it it would certainly reduce visitors or fans of other teams coming. No Bruins, no MTL Canadians or any Canadian team, no Washington, no Fliers.... Kinda makes you wonder how many times fans will want to see Arizona or Anaheim.

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On the other hand the VGK put Deryk Engelland in the front office after his retirement. Deryk started his hockey career in Las Vegas, ended it in Las Vegas, and will be forever remembered for his from-the-heart speech a week after the Mandalay Bay shooting.

A class move by the organization. Engelland was a healthy scratch for most of last season.

https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/news/engellands-impact-on-vegas-extends-beyond-the-ice/c-319863518

I do worry the season is going to be boring seeing all the same teams all the time. For me there's no Boston, Chicago, or Montreal to go see. Other Vegas transplants want to see the Rangers or Islanders and a lot of Canadians come to Vegas to see their team play while enjoying the warmer weather. And its hard to know how you match up when you never play a top team from another division all year.

 

I'm surprised Dallas isn't in the VGK / West division and Minneapolis and St Louis are.

 

Place your bets!

Golden Knights made 2021 Stanley Cup favorites

https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/betting/golden-knights-made-2021-stanley-cup-favorites-2234600/

The Golden Knights are the consensus favorites at Las Vegas sportsbooks to win the 2021 Stanley Cup.

Vegas is the +550 favorite at William Hill and the 6-1 co-favorite at the Westgate with the Colorado Avalanche and the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning.

“We know that we’re always going to get Knights action but on paper, they’re certainly considered one of the top teams in the NHL,” Westgate sportsbook vice president Jay Kornegay said.

Vegas is the Stanley Cup ticket leader at William Hill and Colorado is the money leader.

“When the Golden Knights are low-priced like this, I hope they do win,” William Hill sportsbook director Nick Bogdanovich said. “It’s good for business when they do.”

At Circa, the Avalanche are the +580 favorites to win the Cup and the Knights are the 7-1 second choice.

“In power rankings, I would rank the Avalanche No. 1, then the Knights,” Kornegay said. “Just because of what they did last year with all those injuries. If they’re healthy come playoff time, I would certainly make them the favorites.”

Colorado lost to the Dallas Stars last season in seven games in the Western Conference semifinals. Vegas lost to Dallas in five games in the conference final.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are the 10-1 fourth choice at the Westgate, followed by the Boston Bruins (14-1), Philadelphia Flyers (18-1) and Washington Capitals (18-1).

 

The trick this year will be who can dominate all the back-to-back games. Most double header baseball games are split, even if its a good team against a bad team. Whoever can beat one team and come right back to beat them again will be the winner if their divisions. And back up goal tending will be key because the front line tenders will get tired at this pace.

In a short season injuries will also be magnified. A guy out for 2 weeks is out for a good chunk of the season. There's no break for rest for the entire season. Depth and the coaching decisions from injuries will also be key.

 

Evander Kane of the Sharks makes $7 a year --- files for Bankruptcy!

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy....

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2021/01/12/sharks-evander-kane-files-bankruptcy-debt-27-million/6636250002/

 

Its here! Opening day!!!!
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VGK name their first captain in their history:

Mark Stone.