Losing in the Stanley Cup Final for a second time as an NHL head coach, Pete DeBoer knows better than most that he is prepared to withstand the adversity that presents itself to a team returning after a long, successful, but ultimately disappointing postseason run.
That's not because he's wiser. It's because this time, coach actually has a fighting chance.
"I learned you don't let Kovalchuk and Parise leave," DeBoer told Yahoo!'s Greg Wyshynski when asked about what he can take from his close call with the New Jersey Devils in 2012.
"That's what I learned."
His two leading scorers that year, Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise, combined for 68 goals and 152 points, or overall production comparable to San Jose's two leading point getters last year - Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton.
But when assessing San Jose's chances in its second season under DeBoer, it's boosted by much more than its returning Joes. Avoiding the talent drain all together, every significant piece from last year's run to the Stanley Cup Final - San Jose's first in franchise history - remains at DeBoer's disposal. And unlike most contenders, management was actually able to augment the operation over the summer.
So following a debut season that saw him do something that his respected predecessor, Todd McLellan, couldn't, as he uncovered a formula that worked for a talented, perpetually underachieving core, DeBoer has a chance to shake things up further.
It's been eight years since either a Stanley Cup champion or finalist returned to the big dance in the following season.
Braden Holtby almost became the youngest goalie ever to earn 150 NHL wins.
Instead, the Washington Capitals netminder will have to settle for third-youngest after reaching the mark in his 246th career game - a win over the New York Islanders this past Saturday.
Via @EliasSports, #Caps Braden Holtby (246 GP) is the 3rd-fastest goalie in NHL history to reach 150 wins (Ken Dryden: 241, Andy Moog: 245).
Holtby, 27, is coming off a 48-win season in which he tied Martin Brodeur's single-season record and won the Vezina Trophy. He sits 22nd among active goalies in wins, 288 behind Roberto Luongo, who sits sixth on the NHL's all-time list.
There's quite a road ahead, then, in order for Holtby to be mentioned among the best ever, but he's put himself in position to be in the conversation if he remains on his current performance track.
The Oilers are expected to recall goalie Laurent Brossoit from the AHL's Bakersfield Condors. The 23-year-old appeared in five games with the Oilers last season, posting an unspectacular 0-4-0 record and .873 save percentage.
Coach Todd McLellan has not yet confirmed if netminder Cam Talbot will get the start against the Hurricanes. Talbot was pulled in Sunday's game against the Buffalo Sabres after allowing six goals on 23 shots.
Gustavsson filled in for Talbot versus the Sabres, but was pulled from the game by the NHL's new concussion spotters after Edmonton blue-liner Adam Larsson fell backward and landed on the goaltender's head.
Michalek, 33, was placed on waivers earlier this month, going unclaimed. The team then had a 30-day window to send him to the minors before he would require waivers again. The Coyotes ultimately opted to assign him to their AHL club, the Tucson Roadrunners.
Michalek signed with Arizona as a free agent in 2015 and appeared in 70 games with the Coyotes last season, scoring seven points. He previously played with the Coyotes from 2005-10, and again from 2012-15 prior to a trade that sent him to the St. Louis Blues.
The Czech defender has one year remaining on his contract, carrying a $3.2-million cap hit.
Some members of the Chicago Blackhawks may have a career in the performing arts once their days on the ice are behind them.
Attending Game 2 of the NLCS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the hometown Chicago Cubs, the three Blackhawks stars - Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, and captain Jonathan Toews - broke out in song as part of the seventh-inning stretch ritual.
Unfortunately for Chicagoans, the Hawks' rendition of the classic baseball song didn't prove to be enough of a good luck charm, as the Cubs fell 1-0. The series is now tied at a game apiece and resumes Tuesday in Los Angeles.
The Cubs hope to capture their first World Series win since 1908 and snap a historic 107-year drought. The Blackhawks can somewhat relate, as the team's Stanley Cup win in 2010 ended a 49-year winless streak. Keith, Seabrook, and Toews were all part of that championship team.
Chalk up another accolade for Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid. The superstar center was named the NHL's first star of the week Monday, after scoring six points in three games to open the season. McDavid notched two goals, including the game-winner, in the team's season opener against the rival Calgary Flames.
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews, the first overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, was named the league's second star of the week. The 19-year-old had a record-breaking debut, scoring four goals in his first NHL game. Matthews notched the fourth tally with three seconds remaining in just the second period.
Florida Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo has been named the NHL's third star of the week. The 37-year-old grabbed a pair of wins to start the season, posting a .957 save percentage through two games. His second win marked the 438th victory of his career, pushing him past Jacques Plante for sixth place on the NHL's all-time wins list.
Whether it be a combination of luck, sucking up to authority, or even skill, some players just have a knack of getting calls to go their way.
With goals and power plays becoming such a valuable commodity in the current NHL, players must do what they can to give themselves and their teams an edge.
Here are three players who have managed to get the benefit of the doubt more often than not:
Sidney Crosby
While Sidney Crosby holds the title as the most skilled player in the world, many are also well aware that he's not above complaining to get his way.
Sure, it's not uncommon to see Crosby pleading for calls from the referees, but that's a byproduct of his competitive nature and never-ending desire to give his team any advantage he can.
When you also hold the title as the most skilled player in the game, you tend to get a pass - just ask Kerry Fraser and members of the 1993 Toronto Maple Leafs.
Mike Smith might not be the superstar that's given the benefit of the doubt like Crosby, but you could definitely say he's guilty of on-ice fraud.
Smith has had his fair share of calls go his way, and on multiple occasions has even had the luxury of goals being called off - seemingly for no reason - after being run into by opposing players.
However, a few YouTube searches will show that Smith has a suspiciously high amount of collisions occur when he leaves his net to play the puck, with more than one resulting in him doing a complete 360 upon contact.
Let's just say it certainly raises skepticism.
Henrik Lundqvist
It must be a goalie thing.
If anyone is to be given special treatment, one would assume it would be a King, no?
While Lundqivst is undoubtedly among the best puck-stoppers in the game, over the years he's developed another skill: acting.
Life as a goalie in the NHL is anything but easy, and run-ins and collisions are sure to happen, but they seem to happen much more frequently to Lundqvist. However - much like Smith - closer looks show that, at times, what appears to be goalie interference is nothing more than Henrik's Oscar-worthy acting skills.
