NHL 2020-21 season Fantasy & Chat thread
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batt33SBR Hall of Famer
- 12-23-16
- 6024
#141Comment -
yismanSBR Aristocracy
- 09-01-08
- 75682
#142NHL analyst Brian Burke joined Tim & Sid to discuss why he doesn't think a 56-game season looks realistic any more, and anything less might not be worth it, especially given all the health concerns.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/burke-doesnt-think-56-game-nhl-season-realistic/[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
[/quote]
[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment -
mr. leisureSBR Posting Legend
- 01-29-08
- 17507
#143NHL season to start Jan. 13, play 56 games in agreement with NHLPA
Will end May 8, with 16-team Stanley Cup Playoffs to follow; deal includes Canada division
NHL.com @NHLdotcom
The NHL and NHL Players' Association reached an agreement Sunday to play a 56-game regular season starting Jan. 13, 2021, and ending May 8.
"The National Hockey League looks forward to the opening of our 2020-21 season, especially since the Return to Play in 2019-20 was so successful in crowning a Stanley Cup champion," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "While we are well aware of the challenges ahead, as was the case last spring and summer, we are continuing to prioritize the health and safety of our participants and the communities in which we live and play. And, as was the case last spring and summer, I thank the NHLPA, particularly Executive Director Don Fehr, for working cooperatively with us to get our League back on the ice."
Formal training camps will begin Jan. 3. There will be no preseason games. The seven teams that did not participate in the 2019-20 Return to Play will be permitted to open their camps as early as Dec. 31.
The 2020-21 season has been delayed due to continuing concerns surrounding the coronavirus.
Under the agreement, the Stanley Cup Playoffs will feature 16 teams in a best-of-7, four-round format and conclude around mid-July with the plan of returning to a normal hockey calendar for the 2021-22 season (regular season beginning in October). The NHL and NHLPA will release the 2020-21 schedule for each team, health and safety protocols, transition rules and a calendar of critical dates in the coming days.
Games will be within realigned divisions only, including a division of the seven teams based in Canada. In reaching agreement on the format for the 2020-21 season, the NHL and NHLPA determined that the ongoing closure of the United States-Canada border required realignment and also sought to minimize travel as much as possible by shifting to exclusively intradivisional play.
Each team in the East, Central and West divisions will play every other team in its division eight times, and each team in the North Division (Canada teams) will play every other team in its division nine or 10 times.
The top four teams in each division will qualify for the playoffs. The first two rounds will be intradivisional, with the first-place team playing the fourth-place team and the second-place team facing the third-place team in the first round. The four teams that advance from the second round to the Semifinal Round will be seeded by their points total in the regular season (No. 1 vs. No. 4; No. 2 vs. No. 3).
The current plan is to play games in teams' home arenas with the understanding that fans will not be permitted to attend in most, at least in the initial part of the season. But depending on prevailing conditions, the NHL will be prepared to play games in one or more neutral venues per division should it become necessary.
The NHL and NHLPA have had to adjust to government regulations at all levels, from restrictions at the Canada-United States border to local limits on gatherings, and the coronavirus situation in each of the markets for the 31 NHL teams. The agreement includes health and safety protocols.
The last game of last season was played Sept. 28, when the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Dallas Stars 2-0 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
"The players are pleased to have finalized agreements for the upcoming season, which will be unique but also very exciting for the fans and players alike," Fehr said. "During these troubled times, we hope that NHL games will provide fans with some much needed entertainment as the players return to the ice."
Comment -
batt33SBR Hall of Famer
- 12-23-16
- 6024
#144NHL season to start Jan. 13, play 56 games in agreement with NHLPA
Will end May 8, with 16-team Stanley Cup Playoffs to follow; deal includes Canada division
NHL.com @NHLdotcom
The NHL and NHL Players' Association reached an agreement Sunday to play a 56-game regular season starting Jan. 13, 2021, and ending May 8.
"The National Hockey League looks forward to the opening of our 2020-21 season, especially since the Return to Play in 2019-20 was so successful in crowning a Stanley Cup champion," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "While we are well aware of the challenges ahead, as was the case last spring and summer, we are continuing to prioritize the health and safety of our participants and the communities in which we live and play. And, as was the case last spring and summer, I thank the NHLPA, particularly Executive Director Don Fehr, for working cooperatively with us to get our League back on the ice."
Formal training camps will begin Jan. 3. There will be no preseason games. The seven teams that did not participate in the 2019-20 Return to Play will be permitted to open their camps as early as Dec. 31.
The 2020-21 season has been delayed due to continuing concerns surrounding the coronavirus.
Under the agreement, the Stanley Cup Playoffs will feature 16 teams in a best-of-7, four-round format and conclude around mid-July with the plan of returning to a normal hockey calendar for the 2021-22 season (regular season beginning in October). The NHL and NHLPA will release the 2020-21 schedule for each team, health and safety protocols, transition rules and a calendar of critical dates in the coming days.
Games will be within realigned divisions only, including a division of the seven teams based in Canada. In reaching agreement on the format for the 2020-21 season, the NHL and NHLPA determined that the ongoing closure of the United States-Canada border required realignment and also sought to minimize travel as much as possible by shifting to exclusively intradivisional play.
Each team in the East, Central and West divisions will play every other team in its division eight times, and each team in the North Division (Canada teams) will play every other team in its division nine or 10 times.
The top four teams in each division will qualify for the playoffs. The first two rounds will be intradivisional, with the first-place team playing the fourth-place team and the second-place team facing the third-place team in the first round. The four teams that advance from the second round to the Semifinal Round will be seeded by their points total in the regular season (No. 1 vs. No. 4; No. 2 vs. No. 3).
The current plan is to play games in teams' home arenas with the understanding that fans will not be permitted to attend in most, at least in the initial part of the season. But depending on prevailing conditions, the NHL will be prepared to play games in one or more neutral venues per division should it become necessary.
The NHL and NHLPA have had to adjust to government regulations at all levels, from restrictions at the Canada-United States border to local limits on gatherings, and the coronavirus situation in each of the markets for the 31 NHL teams. The agreement includes health and safety protocols.
The last game of last season was played Sept. 28, when the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Dallas Stars 2-0 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
"The players are pleased to have finalized agreements for the upcoming season, which will be unique but also very exciting for the fans and players alike," Fehr said. "During these troubled times, we hope that NHL games will provide fans with some much needed entertainment as the players return to the ice."
Comment -
yismanSBR Aristocracy
- 09-01-08
- 75682
#146Winners and losers of the realignment
Winners: Rivalries. The NHL kept most of them intact, particularly the three New York-area teams and Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington from the Metropolitan Division, and the Canadian rivalries of Toronto-Montreal and Edmonton-Calgary. Chicago and Detroit are back together for the first time since the Red Wings moved east in 2013. The Stars and Lightning, who played in an entertaining Stanley Cup Final, will face each other eight times, rather than the usual two.
Losers: Rivalries. Several Canadian teams have big rivalries with U.S. teams, and those won't happen. So no Boston-Montreal or the Buffalo-Toronto matchup that brings hosts of Maple Leafs fans across the border.
Winners: Blues and Avalanche. In their new division, only the Golden Knights were among the top eight in the Western Conference last season, and the Ducks, Kings and Sharks were at the bottom. St. Louis and Colorado should continue to thrive, and they won't have to face the teams that knocked them out of the playoffs.[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
[/quote]
[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment -
mr. leisureSBR Posting Legend
- 01-29-08
- 17507
#147Klefbom out for season for Oilers because of chronic shoulder injury
No. 1 defenseman hopes to recover in time for 2021-22
Oscar Klefbom is out for the season because of a chronic shoulder injury, Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland told 630 CHED-AM on Monday.
The Oilers' No. 1 defenseman is aiming to return fully healthy in time for the 2021-22 season, Holland said.
"Certainly losing Klefbom is a massive loss," the GM said.
Klefbom missed nine games with a shoulder injury Feb. 19-March 5, returning to play three games before the NHL paused its season March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. He scored 34 points (five goals, 29 assists) in 62 regular-season games and had two assists in four games in the Oilers' loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in the best-of-5 Stanley Cup Qualifiers.
Klefbom missed 21 games in 2018-19 with a broken hand, and shoulder problems caused him to miss 16 games in 2017-18. He was shut down early that season because of shoulder surgery in March 2018.
The 27-year-old averaged 25:25 of ice time per game last season, tied with Brent Burns of the San Jose Sharks for fifth among NHL defensemen. Replacing those minutes could be difficult for Edmonton.
"He means so much to this team, each and every night he comes out and he makes an impact on this game," Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse said in February.
Edmonton likely will rely on Tyson Barrie to help replace Klefbom, after the 29-year-old defenseman agreed to a one-year, $3.75 million contract Oct. 10 after one season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Barrie has scored 346 points (80 goals, 266 assists) in 554 regular-season games with the Maple Leafs and Colorado Avalanche, including 129 points (21 goals, 108 assists) on the power play, and 14 points (one goal, 13 assists) in 26 postseason games.
"We knew we needed to get another defenseman, and I'm excited we got Tyson Barrie," Holland said. "He was a really good player in Colorado, and played good in Toronto but obviously hit the market, and we've got him."
Edmonton expects Ethan Bear to play on the top pair with Nurse, but he remains an unrestricted free agent. The 23-year-old led NHL rookies with an average of 21:58 of ice time per game last season and scored 21 points (five goals, 16 assists) in 71 games.
Holland said ongoing talks with Bear are becoming urgent with training camp set to start Jan. 3. The NHL and NHL Players' Association formally reached agreement Sunday to play a 56-game regular season starting Jan. 13, 2021, and ending May 8.
"We've got to get it now," Holland said. "Certainly Ethan's not in Edmonton, [from] my understanding. Certainly in order to be ready for Day One of camp, on the ice, you've got to be in Edmonton on the 26th of December and then you've got eight days of quarantining, then Day One, Three, Five and Seven you've got to get tested and have four negative tests into Day Eight.
"I would like him in camp. I would like him signed. I'm sure the player and the agent want the same thing. We've got to find something that works for the player and works for the club. I'm prepared to do one year, two years, three years. We haven't talked anything other than one or two or three years. So hopefully we can find a solution and get him into camp. He's an important part of our team."
There are young defensemen in the Oilers system who may have to step up this season. Evan Bouchard, 21, was the No. 10 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. Edmonton chose Philip Broberg, 19, at No. 8 in the 2019 NHL Draft. Caleb Jones, 23, has played 60 NHL games the past two seasons and shown signs he is ready for full-time NHL duty. William Lagesson, 24, who played eight NHL games last season, and Dmitri Samorukov, 21, are other possibilities.
Comment -
yismanSBR Aristocracy
- 09-01-08
- 75682
#148One of the NHL's most controversial rules is getting a tweak: Starting in 2021, a player's skate will not have to be in contact with the blue line to be considered onside.
The "plane" designation means players will no longer have to drag their skates along the ice as they cross into their attacking zone, and it could help reduce coach's challenges. Last season, there were 75 coach's challenges for offside, with 56 overturned, per Scouting the Refs.
The new language for Rule 83.1 reads: "A player is onside when either of his skates are in contact with the blue line, or on his own side of the line, at the instant the puck completely crosses the leading edge of the blue line."
The change was announced by the NHL and NHLPA on Tuesday, along with updated health and safety protocols for the 2020-21 season. The NHL is dropping the puck on Jan. 13 for a condensed 56-game schedule that should see the Stanley Cup awarded in July.[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
[/quote]
[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment -
mr. leisureSBR Posting Legend
- 01-29-08
- 17507
#149One of the NHL's most controversial rules is getting a tweak: Starting in 2021, a player's skate will not have to be in contact with the blue line to be considered onside.
The "plane" designation means players will no longer have to drag their skates along the ice as they cross into their attacking zone, and it could help reduce coach's challenges. Last season, there were 75 coach's challenges for offside, with 56 overturned, per Scouting the Refs.
The new language for Rule 83.1 reads: "A player is onside when either of his skates are in contact with the blue line, or on his own side of the line, at the instant the puck completely crosses the leading edge of the blue line."
The change was announced by the NHL and NHLPA on Tuesday, along with updated health and safety protocols for the 2020-21 season. The NHL is dropping the puck on Jan. 13 for a condensed 56-game schedule that should see the Stanley Cup awarded in July.Comment -
yismanSBR Aristocracy
- 09-01-08
- 75682
#150Nikita Kucherov will be out for the 2020-21 NHL regular season for the Tampa Bay Lightning because of a hip injury. He will have surgery next week, and the Lightning are hopeful he can return in time for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
[/quote]
[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment -
mr. leisureSBR Posting Legend
- 01-29-08
- 17507
#151Nikita Kucherov will be out for the 2020-21 NHL regular season for the Tampa Bay Lightning because of a hip injury. He will have surgery next week, and the Lightning are hopeful he can return in time for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Comment -
yismanSBR Aristocracy
- 09-01-08
- 75682
#152The NHL believes all seven Canadian teams will be able to start the season playing in their home arenas.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said Thursday the league believes it is clear to play in Canada during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic after discussions with the five provincial governments that have NHL teams to try to gain approval to start Jan. 13.[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
[/quote]
[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment -
mr. leisureSBR Posting Legend
- 01-29-08
- 17507
#153Cirelli signs three-year, $14.4 million contract with Lightning
Restricted free agent forward scored 44 points in 68 games, helped Tampa Bay win Stanley Cup
Anthony Cirelli signed a three-year, $14.4 contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday. It has an average annual value of $4.8 million.
The 23-year-old restricted free agent forward had NHL career highs in assists (28) and points (44) in 68 games last season, and scored nine points (three goals, six assists) in 25 Stanley Cup Playoff games to help the Lightning win the Cup.
Selected by Tampa Bay in the third round (No. 72) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Cirelli has scored 94 points (40 goals, 54 assists) in 168 regular-season games and 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 46 playoff games.
Comment -
StallionSBR MVP
- 03-21-10
- 3617
#154All the Canadian teams can start playing games at homeComment -
yismanSBR Aristocracy
- 09-01-08
- 75682
#155- [*=1]
The chance was there for the Pittsburgh Penguins to solidify their roster, to change gambles into sure things, and to acquire more solid production than they have a chance of receiving. The presents were wrapped and waiting for pickup, but Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford passed.
And the Penguins missed a chance to improve.
The Penguins passed on free agent winger Anthony Duclair and third-line center Erik Haula. The 20-goal scorer Duclair signed for just $1.7 million in Florida. Haula inked a deal with Nashville for just $1.5 million. Haula had 24 points (12g, 12a) split between Vegas and Carolina last season, and he frequently wins well more than 50% of his faceoffs. He is just two seasons removed from a 55-point outburst with Vegas in 2017-18.[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
[/quote]
[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment -
jrgum3SBR Hall of Famer
- 07-21-17
- 7005
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hotcrossSBR Hall of Famer
- 08-04-17
- 7934
#158Ottawa Senators acquire 2 players
Ottawa Senators acquire forward Derek Stepan from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.
The 30-year-old center scored 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 70 regular-season games and five points (one goal, four assists) in nine postseason games with the Coyotes last season. Stepan can become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
"Derek's acquisition provides us with important stability at center heading into the season," Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said. "He plays a 200-foot game and has proven to be a reliable special teams player throughout his career. His addition to our lineup will also represent a valuable leadership presence within our group."
Ottawa Senators acquire forward Zach Magwood from Nashville Predators in exchange for forward Michael Carcone.
A native of Cambridge, Ont., Magwood spent the majority of the 2019-20 campaign with the Predators' ECHL affiliate, the Florida Everblades, and recorded 47 points (19 goals, 28 assists) and 24 penalty minutes over 51 regular-season games. He tied for the Everblades' lead in assists, ranked second in points and was fourth in goals. He also skated in four contests with Nashville's American Hockey League affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, and tallied two points (one goal, one assist) and two penalty minutes.
The 22-year-old Magwood, although undrafted, was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract by the Predators on July 3, 2018, after completing his major junior hockey career with the Ontario Hockey League's Barrie Colts earlier that year.Comment -
yismanSBR Aristocracy
- 09-01-08
- 75682
#159The St. Louis Blues have signed forward Mike Hoffman to a professional tryout contract, the team announced on Sunday.
Hoffman, 30, will join the Blues for training camp when it gets underway on Jan. 3.[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
[/quote]
[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment -
mr. leisureSBR Posting Legend
- 01-29-08
- 17507
#160Capitals' Henrik Lundqvist announces that he will undergo open heart surgery
Lundqvist signed a one-year deal with the Capitals for the upcoming season, but announced earlier this month that he won't be playing
Washington Capitals goaltender Henrik Lundqvist announced on Monday that he plans to undergo open heart surgery. In the announcement, Lundqvist, 38, said that the surgery is for "aortic valve replacement, aortic root, and ascending aortic replacement."
"Last three weeks, my focus has shifted from training camp and the upcoming season to my health and what I can and can't do," Lundqvist wrote on Twitter. "Scheduled for an open heart surgery now ... We all have our mountains to climb. Staying positive here and set on the road to recovery."Comment -
yismanSBR Aristocracy
- 09-01-08
- 75682
#161Ottawa Senators forward Derek Stepan, Lundqvist's teammate with the New York Rangers from 2010-17, pretty much summed up the feeling around the League during a video call Monday.
"The open-heart surgery news was news to me today," Stepan said. "I did reach out to Henrik, I would say like two and a half weeks ago when the first news hit that he wasn't going to be able to play this year," Stepan said. "Had a very brief exchange in text messages, more so just, not really asking what was going on, just, you know, reaching out to him to make sure that he knows that the Stepans down here in Arizona, we're thinking about him and his family. ... I wish him and his family nothing but the best and I'm sure I'm going to reach out to him soon and make sure that he's doing great."
Teams and fans showed up in Lundqvist's replies, many fans sharing their stories and pictures of their open-heart surgeries as encouragement for Lundqvist.[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
[/quote]
[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment -
mr. leisureSBR Posting Legend
- 01-29-08
- 17507
#162Toews has medical issue, no timetable for return to Blackhawks
Center feels 'drained and lethargic,' will miss training camp
NHL.com @NHLdotcom
Jonathan Toews will not attend training camp for the Chicago Blackhawks because of a medical issue, and there is no timetable for the center's return.
The 32-year-old said in a statement Tuesday that he's been experiencing symptoms that have left him feeling "drained and lethargic."
"I am working with doctors so I can better understand my condition," Toews said. "Until I can get my health back to a place where I feel I can perform at an elite level and help my team, I will not be joining the Blackhawks for training camp. I do not have a timetable for when I will rejoin the team. I am extremely disappointed, but it wouldn't be fair to myself or my teammates to attempt to play in my current condition."
Toews scored 60 points (18 goals, 42 assists) in 70 games last season and nine points (five goals, four assists) in nine games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He is a three-time Stanley Cup champion (2010, 2013, 2015) and has been Blackhawks captain since 2008. The No. 3 pick in the 2006 NHL Draft has scored 815 points (345 goals, 470 assists) in 13 seasons, all with Chicago.
"Jonathan's health is our top priority as he deals with this medical issue," general manager Stan Bowman said. "The Chicago Blackhawks organization and our medical staff will provide all necessary resources to help him return to playing hockey. While he will not report to training camp on Jan. 3 and will be out indefinitely, we will continue to support him as he is an important part of our family. I've been in regular communication with Jonathan recently and will continue that as he takes care of his health.
The Blackhawks are scheduled to begin the 56-game regular season at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Jan. 13. They will be thin at center without Toews and Kirby Dach, who is expected to be out 4-5 months after having wrist surgery Monday. The 19-year-old was injured Dec. 23 playing for Canada in a pretournament game at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship.
"I'm doing pretty good, actually," Dach told TSN on Tuesday. "I thought it'd be a lot worse. Obviously, I lived with (Blackhawks defenseman) Brent [Seabrook] last year, and he went through a bunch of surgeries, so I was expecting the worst, but it's not too bad."
Forward Alex Nylander is out 4-6 months after surgery Dec. 21 to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee sustained during Chicago's five-game loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in the best-of-7 Western Conference First Round.
"To Blackhawks fans, I will continue to do whatever I can to get back on the ice and return to play the game I love for the team I love," Toews said. "I will not be making any further comment at this time and ask everyone to please respect my privacy as I focus on my health and recovery."
Comment -
yismanSBR Aristocracy
- 09-01-08
- 75682
#163'unknown illness'
wondering if this is COVID[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
[/quote]
[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment -
yismanSBR Aristocracy
- 09-01-08
- 75682
#165New York Hockey Holdings has bought the remaining 15% of the New York Islanders from the estate of Charles B. Wang and now holds full ownership of the club. New York Hockey Holdings has put out the following statement:
Wang was a remarkable man who achieved much and is greatly missed. He loved Long Island and stepped in to keep the Islanders where they belong. Charles believed in this franchise and always wanted what was best for the team's passionate fan base.[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
[/quote]
[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment -
mr. leisureSBR Posting Legend
- 01-29-08
- 17507
#166Chara agrees to join Capitals, leaves Bruins after 14 seasons
Free agent defenseman gets one-year contract worth $795,000
by Tom Gulitti @TomGulittiNHL / NHL.com Staff Writer
Zdeno Chara agreed to a one-year, $795,000 contract with the Washington Capitals on Wednesday.
The 43-year-old defenseman, the oldest player in the NHL, was an unrestricted free agent after playing 14 seasons for the Boston Bruins, all as their captain.
Chara scored 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 68 games last season and had two assists in 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"My family and I have been so fortunate to call the great city of Boston our home for over 14 years," Chara wrote on Instagram. "Recently, the Boston Bruins have informed me that they plan to move forward with their many younger and talented players, and I respect their decision. Unfortunately, my time as the proud captain of the Bruins has come to an end."
Chara, who has played 22 NHL seasons, helped Boston win the Stanley Cup in 2011 and reach the Cup Final in 2013 and 2019.
"Zdeno's dedication to the game, his teammates and Bruins fans has been everything we could have hoped for in a player and specifically as our captain for 14 years," Bruins president Cam Neely said in a statement. "His achievements -- which are too many to list both on and off the ice -- will forever be a part of Bruins history.
"On behalf of the Bruins organization, I want to thank Zdeno for all that he has done for the Bruins. … The Chara family will always remain Bruins."
Chara was the longest-tenured captain in the NHL, but Boston wanted to get younger and decided it had enough depth at defenseman not to re-sign him.
Chara's departure creates an opening that will give young left-shot defensemen the opportunity to compete for a regular role in the NHL, such as Jakub Zboril, 23; Jeremy Lauzon, 23; and Urho Vaakanainen, 21. Chara was second on the Bruins last season with an average of 21:01 of ice time per game, behind defenseman Charlie McAvoy (23:10).
"You know we do want to take a look at some of these young left-shot D's that we have in our system, see if they can step up, or is it the time for them to step up and see where they're at in their development," Neely said Dec. 21.
Chara gives the Capitals another left-shot defenseman with Brenden Dillon, Dmitry Orlov, Jonas Siegenthaler and rookie Martin Fehervary on the left side. Washington also signed defensemen Justin Schultz and Trevor van Riemsdyk, who are right-hand shots, this offseason.
The Capitals allowed 3.44 goals per game after Dec. 22 last season, 29th in the NHL during that span.
"We are extremely pleased to have Zdeno join the Capitals organization," general manager Brian MacLellan said. "We feel his experience and leadership will strengthen our blue line and our team."
Chara can also help the Capitals penalty kill, which was sixth in the NHL last season at 82.6 percent. The big defenseman (6-foot-9, 250-pounds) averaged 3:11 of shorthanded ice time last season and helped the Bruins finish third in the NHL on the penalty kill at 84.3 percent. Chara's 101 blocked shots were second among Bruins defensemen behind McAvoy's 131.
Chara won the Norris Trophy voted as the best defenseman in the NHL in 2008-09 and has been selected to play in six NHL All-Star Games. Chara has been named to the NHL First All-Star Team three times and the Second All-Star Team four times . In 2010-11, he won the Mark Messier Leadership Award for qualities on and off the ice.
With the Capitals and Bruins in the East Division this season, Chara will face his former team as many as eight times, the first game Jan. 30 in Washington. The Capitals makes their first visit to Boston on March 3.
Chara is sixth in Bruins history in games (1,023) and third in points by a defenseman (481; 148 goals, 333 assists) behind Ray Bourque (1,506) and Bobby Orr (888).
"It's hard to put it into words," McAvoy said Monday. "He's just done everything for me, from the moment I got here to now, just helping me grow so much as a player and a person. And just the way he carries himself. I've learned so many good habits, so many, so many things. Just how to be a professional, how to treat people, how to behave in certain settings. And there's nobody who I would rather learn those things from, and I'm so incredibly thankful and lucky to have played with him and to have learned those things from him. It's not something that I take for granted."
Selected by the New York Islanders in the third round (No. 56) of the 1996 NHL Draft, Chara has scored 656 points (205 goals, 451 assists) in 1,553 games with the Bruins, Islanders and Ottawa Senators, and 70 points (18 goals, 52 assists) in 195 NHL playoff games.
"As I begin this next chapter, I want the people of Boston to know how proud I was to be a Bruin and how grateful I am for all of the support over the years," Chara wrote. "'Thank you' does not seem adequate to express my sincere gratitude. I will always be a Bruin. I will always love Boston."
Comment -
yismanSBR Aristocracy
- 09-01-08
- 75682
#168Mathew Barzal was not one of three players who agreed to terms with the New York Islanders on Thursday, but general manager Lou Lamoriello said they hope the restricted free agent forward will be on hand for the first day of training camp on Sunday.
Cory Schneider, Andy Greene and Matt Martin each agreed to terms with the Islanders. Financial details were not disclosed.
[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
[/quote]
[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment -
StallionSBR MVP
- 03-21-10
- 3617
#169I can't believe Chara is still playing.Comment -
yismanSBR Aristocracy
- 09-01-08
- 75682
#171In an effort to generate more interest during a season which will limit fan attendance because of the coronavirus pandemic, the NHL is reportedly planning a two-game, two-day "Outdoor Weekend" showcase at Lake Tahoe featuring four teams, according to Sportsnet.
The Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights are set to play in the first game on Feb. 20, with the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers playing the next day.[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
[/quote]
[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment -
mr. leisureSBR Posting Legend
- 01-29-08
- 17507
#172In an effort to generate more interest during a season which will limit fan attendance because of the coronavirus pandemic, the NHL is reportedly planning a two-game, two-day "Outdoor Weekend" showcase at Lake Tahoe featuring four teams, according to Sportsnet.
The Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights are set to play in the first game on Feb. 20, with the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers playing the next day.Comment -
yismanSBR Aristocracy
- 09-01-08
- 75682
#173It's Jan. 3, 2021, and the NHL is back. The seven teams that didn't play in the 2020 postseason opened training camp Thursday; the rest open camp Sunday.
The regular season begins in a matter of days, on Jan. 13, when the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins renew their rivalry at Wells Fargo Center to open a five-game slate (5:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN).
The coronavirus pandemic affecting life around the world has not ended. It disrupted the 2019-20 season in unprecedented ways. It will impact this season in many ways too.
But there will be a season, restoring a part of life for all who love the game.
"We're all going through some real tough times here, from having to stay inside, having to quarantine, not being able to see families during Christmas or during the holidays or respective gatherings that are traditional to everybody," Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said.[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
[/quote]
[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment -
mr. leisureSBR Posting Legend
- 01-29-08
- 17507
#174It's Jan. 3, 2021, and the NHL is back. The seven teams that didn't play in the 2020 postseason opened training camp Thursday; the rest open camp Sunday.
The regular season begins in a matter of days, on Jan. 13, when the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins renew their rivalry at Wells Fargo Center to open a five-game slate (5:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN).
The coronavirus pandemic affecting life around the world has not ended. It disrupted the 2019-20 season in unprecedented ways. It will impact this season in many ways too.
But there will be a season, restoring a part of life for all who love the game.
"We're all going through some real tough times here, from having to stay inside, having to quarantine, not being able to see families during Christmas or during the holidays or respective gatherings that are traditional to everybody," Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said.
10 days awayComment -
hotcrossSBR Hall of Famer
- 08-04-17
- 7934
#1752021 FUTURES ODDS to win STANLEY CUP
Odds to Win the 2021 Stanley Cup
30108 Colorado Avalanche +650
30126 Tampa Bay Lightning +800
30129 Vegas Golden Knights +950
30103 Boston Bruins +1200
30127 Toronto Maple Leafs +1200
30122 Philadelphia Flyers +1600
30106 Carolina Hurricanes +1800
30125 St. Louis Blues +1800
30110 Dallas Stars +2000
30119 New York Islanders +2000
30123 Pittsburgh Penguins +2000
30130 Washington Capitals +2000
30112 Edmonton Oilers +2500
30116 Montreal Canadiens +2800
30105 Calgary Flames +3300
30117 Nashville Predators +3300
30120 New York Rangers +3300
30128 Vancouver Canucks +3300
30131 Winnipeg Jets +3300
30104 Buffalo Sabres +4000
30109 Columbus Blue Jackets +4000
30101 Arizona Coyotes +5000
30113 Florida Panthers +5000
30115 Minnesota Wild +5000
30124 San Jose Sharks +6000
30107 Chicago Blackhawks +6600
30118 New Jersey Devils +7500
30102 Anaheim Ducks +8000
30114 Los Angeles Kings +8000
30121 Ottawa Senators +15000
30111 Detroit Red Wings +20000Comment
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