The Los Angeles Kings placed Viktor Arvidsson on long-term injured reserve, the club announced Thursday.
Players on LTIR must miss 10 games or 24 days, which in Arvidsson's case works out to the same return date of Nov. 4 against the Philadelphia Flyers. He missed L.A.'s season-opening 5-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night.
The Swedish forward is dealing with what Kings head coach Todd McLellan called a lower-body injury. He was initially ruled out of the first two games of the season and deemed day-to-day.
Los Angeles played its opener one skater short due to cap constraints and Arvidsson's ailment. Placing him on LTIR frees up both $4.25 million in cap space (his contract's average annual value) and a roster spot.
Arvidsson has been a vital cog in the Kings' lineup since they traded the Nashville Predators a pair of picks for him in July 2021. He produced 20 goals and 29 assists over 66 games in 2021-22 before notching 26 tallies and 33 helpers across 77 contests last season.
The 30-year-old has been prone to injuries throughout his career. He's never played a full season and has missed 80 games combined over the last six campaigns. Despite those woes, he's collected at least 20 goals five times and at least 30 twice.
Kaliyev has to serve one more game of his four-game suspension (two preseason contests and two regular-season tilts) for kneeing Anaheim Ducks forward Chase De Leo.
Rick Tocchet knows that an 8-1 victory in the season opener doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things.
The Vancouver Canucks head coach tried to keep his players grounded after they defeated the Edmonton Oilers in decisive fashion Wednesday night.
"Listen, it's one game," Tocchet told reporters postgame, according to Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre. "Obviously, everything went in our favor, and I'm proud of the guys. But this is a long haul. I said, 'We're not ordering rings around here.' It's one game. We can feel good about it, but we've got to come back to Earth tomorrow.”
Brock Boeser scored four goals in the rout, which ran in stark contrast to Vancouver's home opener a year ago when the club was booed off the ice after a 5-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
"We've come a long way (from last year)," Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers said. "Saying that, we know there's a lot more to go. But we're in a good place. Just given what's gone on since the start of September, coming into camp and the way guys were preparing, it was nice to have (the) game go the way it did. We need to make sure we keep striving for a higher level."
J.T. Miller also harkened back to the previous home opener, during which Canucks fans littered the ice with jerseys and after which Miller himself said, "If they want to throw their shit on the ice, that's up to them."
"I think we know we need to enjoy (the game) and then move on," he said after Vancouver's blowout win. "It's nice to get off on the right foot after what happened last year, especially."
Canucks forward Conor Garland - who opened the scoring just over eight minutes into Wednesday's victory - acknowledged he had a little extra motivation after the team reportedly gave him permission to seek a trade Tuesday.
"There were some unfortunate distractions," he said. "But I definitely knew I had to have a good game with it all going on, so I was happy."
The Oilers won't have to wait long to try to get revenge, as the Pacific Division rivals will meet again in Edmonton on Saturday.
Philadelphia Flyers forward Scott Laughton wants to use Pride tape despite the NHL's new ban, and he doesn't appear worried about how the league might punish him.
"You'll probably see me with the Pride tape on (Pride night) anyway," he said Wednesday, according to The Athletic's Charlie O'Connor. "If they want to say something, they can."
Many NHL players and others in the hockey world have criticized the league since it confirmed Tuesday that it's prohibiting the use of the rainbow-colored tape that often accompanies Pride night celebrations.
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly said Tuesday he wished "the players had the right to do more" in the wake of the decision. Calgary Flames blue-liner Rasmus Andersson said the ban "sucks" and lamented that it's not just Pride nights but also "Hockey Fights Cancer" events that'll be affected.
Longtime NHL executive Brian Burke wrote Wednesday that he's "deeply disappointed" in the league's efforts to "protect a select few who do not want to answer any questions about their choices." Burke added that he hopes the NHL reconsiders its decision.
In June, the league banned the wearing of theme night jerseys of any kind during pregame warmups for this season. It made the move in response to seven players refusing to wear Pride night jerseys for various reasons during the 2022-23 campaign.
The first player to do so was Ivan Provorov, who at the time was Laughton's teammate with the Flyers. Philadelphia traded Provorov to the Columbus Blue Jackets in early June.
Laughton helped organize the Pride night during which Provorov's refusal took place. The Canadian oversaw several initiatives connected to the event along with fellow Flyers forward James van Riemsdyk.
Last season, Laughton was Philadelphia's nominee for the King Clancy Trophy, which recognizes players who exemplify leadership on and off the ice and also make significant humanitarian contributions to their communities.
The Ottawa Senators are expected to be at a disadvantage before the puck even drops for their season opener against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night.
Ottawa appears to be going with 11 forwards and six defensemen due to salary-cap issues and injuries to forwards Josh Norris and Zack MacEwen.
Sens lines from the morning skate in Carolina. (No MacEwen)
The Senators thought Norris would be ready to play in the preseason after he had shoulder surgery that ended his 2022-23 campaign. He still isn't ready to return, but the club is choosing not to place him on long-term injured reserve.
Norris would miss 10 games or 24 days if he lands on LTIR, but it'd free up his $7.95-million cap hit and allow Ottawa to add a player to the roster.
To complicate matters, MacEwen is now hurt as well. He didn't skate Wednesday and has been considered day-to-day with an upper-body ailment.
The Senators only have approximately $63,000 in cap space, according to CapFriendly.
Because of the club's cap constraints, it hasn't been able to re-sign Shane Pinto, who's essentially a restricted free agent (he's a "10.2c" player who hasn't played enough to qualify for the standard "Group 2" RFA status).
The 22-year-old forward scored 20 goals and added 15 assists while playing all 82 games in his first full campaign last season.
The New Jersey Devils are rewarding head coach Lindy Ruff with a multi-year contract extension, the club announced Wednesday.
Ruff was a Jack Adams Award finalist last season after he guided the Devils to the NHL's third-best record. The veteran bench boss helped New Jersey reel off a 13-game win streak from late October to late November. He led the turnaround after fans infamously chanted "Fire Lindy" following a slow start.
The 63-year-old ranks fifth all time in games coached and wins, though he has the third-most losses and a winning percentage of .487. Ruff won the Jack Adams in 2006 with the Buffalo Sabres, finished second in 2007, and placed third in 2016.
"I'm not going to start kissing everybody's ass or pumping everybody's tires," Laine said Tuesday, according to Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch. "I know I can compete with those guys and that's why I want to do this in the first place."
Laine will be Columbus' first-line center to start the season after playing the vast majority of his career on the wing. The 25-year-old has struggled in the faceoff circle throughout his seven seasons, averaging 32.5%, though he's only taken 246 draws in that span.
He's had difficulties defensively over the last three seasons, averaging a 17/100 by Evolving-Hockey's defense metric, though he posted a 69 in the 2022-23 campaign.
Evolving-Hockey
The Blue Jackets have veteran pivot Boone Jenner and promising rookie Adam Fantilli at the center position, but they don't have much depth down the middle beyond that.
Laine has performed well offensively of late, notching 22 goals and 30 assists while being limited to 55 games in 2022-23 due to injury. He produced a point per game the season before that, collecting 26 tallies and 30 helpers over 56 contests.
Morgan Rielly would like to have more freedom in the wake of the NHL's new ban on using Pride tape on the ice.
"I wish players had the right to do more and be more involved," Rielly said Tuesday, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. "I'm going to continue to be involved in the community and offer support to those communities and those groups that want that, need that."
Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving also expressed his support on behalf of the club.
"Regardless of what is out there, this organization, myself personally, we've always been supporters of the LGBTQ community," the GM said, per the Toronto Sun's Terry Koshan. "Nothing is going to change with that."
The league is forbidding players from using the rainbow-colored tape as part of new theme night rules, deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed to The Associated Press earlier Tuesday. The NHL sent a memo to teams last week clarifying what they can and can't do in terms of theme nights, which have historically included celebrating Pride, the military, and other causes.
The makers of pride tape responded to the ban Tuesday, saying they're "extremely disappointed" in the decision.
"We hope the league - and teams - will again show commitment to this important symbol of combatting homophobia," they added.
In June, the league said it wouldn't allow players to wear any type of theme jersey during pregame warmups. That came in response to seven players refusing to wear Pride jerseys for various reasons. Commissioner Gary Bettman said at the time that the seven players' refusals overshadowed their teams' efforts to host Pride nights.
Rielly has been a vocal supporter of Pride and LGBTQ rights, saying in June that his support "is not going to go away" due to the NHL's rules.
There's little doubt about the front-runner for the Hart Trophy as the NHL season approaches. Connor McDavid rightfully took home the hardware for the second time in three years and third time overall after piling up 153 points in 2022-23.
Where the debate begins - as was the case for virtually all of last season - is in mulling the runners-up. While we expect the two other finalists from the summer to again vie for MVP honors, a previous winner will look to get back in the mix and a different perennial contender should keep himself in the hunt if he can stay healthy.
Jack Hughes appears destined to be a fixture in the Hart conversation for years to come, but he's not yet among the handful of the league's most valuable players. The Devils dominated as a team last season, and the young star's deep supporting cast got even deeper when New Jersey traded for Calgary Flames leading scorer Tyler Toffoli in late June. Consider Hughes an honorable mention.
Here are the top five MVP candidates as we near the start of the 2023-24 campaign:
5. Nathan MacKinnon
Michael Martin / National Hockey League / Getty
If anyone has a stellar group around him, it's MacKinnon. But few would argue with the Colorado Avalanche center being in the upper echelon when it comes to the NHL's most important players.
Colorado's catalyst might have some trouble cracking the top three because of how incredible Cale Makar is - not to mention Mikko Rantanen, Devon Toews, and some shrewd offseason additions. But MacKinnon's individual impact is undeniable. Despite missing 11 games due to injury last season, he ranked third in the NHL in wins above replacement and goals above replacement, which are both cumulative statistics as opposed to averages.
That alone demonstrates MacKinnon's value, as the two players above him on those lists (McDavid and Matthew Tkachuk) played more games than he did. MacKinnon's rate of 1.56 points per game last season was bested by only two players - McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. If MacKinnon can avoid missing more than 10 games due to injury this time around, he should garner serious Hart consideration.
4. Matthew Tkachuk
Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Tkachuk was brilliant in 2022-23. The Florida Panthers' tenacious talent deserved plenty of praise for his WAR and GAR figures, particularly in the context of this race because they factor in two-way play. He also buried 40 goals while ranking among the league leaders in points and several other categories. Voters rightfully recognized him for his efforts, as he finished third for the Hart before leading the Panthers all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.
However, the upcoming season is already looking more challenging for Tkachuk and his team. For one thing, key defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour are out to start the year with no definitive return dates. Tkachuk does have a prime opportunity to further prove his value by carrying the Panthers without those blue-liners. Doing so would bolster his MVP case if he and the club manage to excel in their absence.
But, on the other hand, Florida only made the playoffs by a single point in the spring, and the Cats need to make it again for Tkachuk to be a serious Hart candidate. If they slip out of the postseason picture with their integral rearguards missing time, it'll be much harder for MVP voters to consider Tkachuk. One could argue it's actually more impressive to thrive on a worse team, but that's not how Hart voters typically think.
Tkachuk has already proven he can provide the Panthers with significant value, but his team's fortunes - or misfortunes, as the case may be - could hinder his Hart chances, even if he matches or improves his statistical output.
3. Auston Matthews
Josh Lavallee / Getty Images
Matthews wasn't in the thick of the Hart race last season because his typically eye-popping production and newfound defensive prowess diminished as he played through a hand injury. Assuming his health holds up in 2023-24, there's little reason to suspect the player who amassed 60 goals during his MVP campaign in 2021-22 can't pull off something similar again.
The 26-year-old enters this season with the added pressure of having signed a contract extension in August that'll make him the NHL's highest-paid player in 2024-25. However, Matthews' track record of posting arcade-like offensive numbers when healthy, along with his commendable two-way play, suggest he'll be firmly in the Hart discussion yet again. He'll also be playing on the penalty kill in 2023-24, which is a testament to his defensive growth and should only further cement his case.
Two of the Toronto Maple Leafs' divisional opponents - the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning - are expected to take steps back this season, even if they do still make the playoffs. Leading the Maple Leafs to a division title would also strengthen Matthews' case among voters who place importance on the success of a candidate's team (regular-season success, of course).
The Leafs have three other stars and some depth on the roster. But if their best player can separate himself from his teammates by a sizeable margin in terms of production while authoring strong underlying numbers, he'll be right back in the race he won outright two seasons ago.
2. David Pastrnak
Boston Globe / Boston Globe / Getty
Much like with the Panthers and Tkachuk, the Bruins' predicted slide in the standings could affect Pastrnak's MVP chances. However, the difference here is that Boston isn't likely in danger of missing the playoffs. The Bs won't ... be ... as good as they were in their historically dominant 2022-23 campaign, but that could actually help their game-breaking winger's Hart pursuit.
The Bruins are expected to tumble because Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Dmitry Orlov are all gone. Their depleted supporting cast means Pastrnak will need to do even more heavy lifting, which in turn will demonstrate his value to a greater degree - assuming he performs as he's shown he can.
Pastrnak amassed 34 more goals and 46 more points than his closest teammates last season, so just imagine what those disparities will look like in 2023-24 without those four departed impact players around. Pastrnak's playmaking abilities and even-strength dominance make that scenario quite plausible. It might even provide enough evidence for him to usurp McDavid as the front-runner (gasp), but Pastrnak has his work cut out for him in that regard.
1. Connor McDavid
Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Choosing anyone else for this spot would be foolish. There's no disputing that McDavid is the most valuable player in the NHL - generally speaking - so all he has to do is play like it to justify the honor. The Edmonton Oilers superstar certainly did that last season when he led all of the league's skaters in goals, assists, and points (a whopping 153) while besting all forwards in average ice time.
Expecting virtually any other player to duplicate that kind of success would be questionable, but no one will be surprised if McDavid equals - or even exceeds - the absurd numbers he posted in 2022-23. Sidney Crosby recently said he would never bet against McDavid when asked if his Oilers counterpart was capable of notching 170 points this season.
It's hard to disagree with the former best player in the world's assessment of the current one. And it's not just about counting stats, either, as McDavid's NHL-best WAR and GAR from a season ago further illustrate how valuable he is to his team.
There wasn't much suspense when it came to the divisional slots for the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season. But the wild-card races provided some drama, as two teams in the Eastern Conference missed out by a single point, and two more in the West failed to qualify by two and three points, respectively.
Some of those bubble teams have a legitimate chance to get over the hump in 2023-24, and not every team that snuck into the postseason in 2022-23 is a lock to do so again.
Here are the five teams that are most likely to create playoff chaos, either by taking a step back and concluding their campaigns early or by rejoining the postseason field:
Buffalo Sabres
Darcy Finley / National Hockey League / Getty
The Sabres' rebuild is heading in the right direction, and a postseason berth could be a realistic goal for the club in 2023-24. Buffalo was one of those Eastern Conference squads that came up short by a single point after 82 games, so it's entirely conceivable that this up-and-coming team will make it next spring.
This season could be a golden opportunity for the high-flying Sabres to grab a wild-card spot or even a divisional berth, as a couple of longtime powerhouses in the East may have a harder time reaching the postseason than usual. The Boston Bruins got significantly worse over the summer thanks to two big retirements and two impact players exiting in free agency. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning have to play at least the first two months of the campaign without their stalwart in the crease.
The Sabres could greatly benefit if one or both of those Atlantic Division foes experience a big drop-off in performance. Of course, that may not be all that likely. But even if Boston and Tampa don't slide in the standings, one or both of last season's Eastern Conference wild-card teams could slip up.
That alone would open the door for a talented Buffalo squad that ranked third in the NHL in goals per game in 2022-23. And once the Sabres are in, their skilled youngsters and lower expectations could help them surprise one or more established contenders - including the Bruins and Lightning.
Florida Panthers
Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Before eliminating the historically dominant Bruins and making it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final, the Panthers scratched and clawed their way into the playoffs by one point as one of the aforementioned wild-card teams in the East. Florida still boasts Hart Trophy finalist Matthew Tkachuk, two-way wizard Aleksander Barkov, and a solid supporting cast including Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart. However, the Cats will be without key defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour for at least October.
Given how the standings shook out in 2022-23, every available point is crucial. The Panthers will be forced to trot out the decaying husk of Oliver Ekman-Larsson and reclamation project Mike Reilly while their two integral players on the back end are on the shelf. If Florida loses even one or two more games than expected during this stretch, it could come back to haunt the defending Eastern Conference champions in April.
The Panthers led the NHL in shots on goal and ranked sixth in goals per game last season. They were also a top-five team in terms of expected goals for percentage and scoring chances for percentage at five-on-five. So Florida should once again excel at puck possession and creating scoring chances.
But even so, the margin for error is incredibly thin, and one rough week could be the difference between the Cats making another playoff run and cleaning out their stalls wondering what went wrong.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
When the Penguins missed the playoffs for the first time in 17 years this past spring, big changes were inevitable. Pittsburgh fired general manager Ron Hextall and his right-hand man, Brian Burke, replacing them with Kyle Dubas in a dual role. The new boss then made a huge splash by acquiring reigning Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson in a blockbuster three-way trade.
The Pens' aging core should be invigorated by Karlsson's arrival. Even if the 33-year-old regresses as expected following a surprising career year, he gives Pittsburgh another star and a potentially explosive top power-play unit. The Penguins also missed the last postseason by a single point, so the addition of the dynamic defenseman could easily get them back into the picture. This team has more than enough experience with Cup wins and playoff runs to do damage once it gets there, too.
The New York Islanders qualified by two points in 2022-23, claiming the East's top wild-card spot by one point over the Panthers and by two over the Sabres and Pens. But it isn't hard to envision the new-look Penguins leapfrogging their Metropolitan Division counterparts this time around.
Winnipeg Jets
Zak Krill / National Hockey League / Getty
Much like the Panthers in the East, the Jets could stir up some postseason chaos simply by not being a part of the proceedings in the West.
Winnipeg would fall short of the playoffs for the second time in three years if that were to happen - and it's not too far-fetched to imagine. The Jets made it by two points in 2022-23 before the eventual champion Vegas Golden Knights bounced them out of the first round in five games. Winnipeg then traded the disgruntled Pierre-Luc Dubois and bought out declining former captain Blake Wheeler.
During the offseason, it looked like the Central Division squad might engage a full rebuild, as ever-reliable goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and productive center Mark Scheifele - both of whom are now pending unrestricted free agents - were trade candidates. But GM Kevin Cheveldayoff insisted his goal was winning with the dependable duo in the lineup.
That might be possible, particularly if Gabriel Vilardi - who Winnipeg acquired in the Dubois trade - breaks out and helps compensate for the departed forward's absence. But the Jets' return to the dance is by no means a certainty, and that could give another western Canadian squad a shot at redemption.
Calgary Flames
Derek Cain / Getty Images Sport / Getty
The Flames seem to have just as many things working in their favor as they have working against them as they try to restore their past status as a potential playoff threat. On a positive note, notoriously grating head coach Darryl Sutter is no longer around, and Calgary should play with more freedom under new bench boss Ryan Huska.
This club was also the third-best in the NHL in terms of both xGF% and SCF% at five-on-five in 2022-23. It fired more shots on goal than every team in the league except the Panthers. Calgary simply couldn't win enough close games. The 2021-22 Pacific Division champions dropped the most overtime or shootout contests in the NHL last season, missing the playoffs (while finishing behind the Jets in the overall standings) by two points.
A new head coach and some better luck in tight tilts could get the Flames back on track. Of course, there are also reasons why that might not happen. The biggest of which is they traded away their leading scorer, Tyler Toffoli, in June. Calgary already had issues putting the puck in the net, so players who struggled under Sutter, like Jonathan Huberdeau, will need to rediscover their past elite form. There's also the matter of goaltending, as the previously solid Jacob Markstrom had an atrocious 2022-23 campaign.
But if the 33-year-old can just give the Flames league-average goaltending, they'll have a legitimate shot at returning to the playoffs. Given their success in the puck possession game with largely the same group last season, this is a team that could succeed in the playoffs if it gets there. And that isn't unrealistic, especially considering Winnipeg appears headed in the other direction.
The Calgary Flames' new arena project is on - and it comes with a promise that the club will stay put for more than three decades.
Alberta premier Danielle Smith, Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek, and representatives from the Flames and their parent company, the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation, made it official Thursday.
Gondek said the CSEC, the city of Calgary, the province of Alberta, and the Calgary Stampede have all signed final agreements on the event center plans, according to The Athletic's Julian McKenzie.
The Flames committed to remaining in Calgary for 35 years, according to TSN's Salim Nadim Valji.
The project, which was originally agreed upon in principle in April, will involve the construction of an entire entertainment district that includes the Flames' arena. It will cost $1.2 billion, with the provincial government spending $330 million. The city's contribution wasn't announced Thursday, but in April it was pegged at $537.3 million, with the CSEC paying the remaining $356 million.
No provincial tax dollars will be used, said Devin Dreeshen, the minister of transportation and economic corridors, according to McKenzie.
Construction is likely to begin next year, and Dreeshen hopes it'll be completed by 2026 or 2027, at which point the Saddledome will be demolished. The new building is expected to seat between 18,000 and 18,400 fans, which would be smaller than the current arena's capacity of 19,289.
The Flames had a previous deal in place for a new arena in 2019, but it fell apart two years later after the cost increased by over $50 million.
The Saddledome is the second-oldest current arena in the NHL, having opened in 1983. Among active facilities in the league, only Madison Square Garden in New York City has been around longer.
