Nail Yakupov appears to have made a positive first impression with his new team.
Yakupov recorded one shot on goal and one hit in his St. Louis Blues debut, a win over Chicago. It was his play without the puck, however, that had head coach Ken Hitchcock rethinking his assumptions:
Hitch on Yakupov: "Much better defensively than I thought. What I liked more than anything was his conscience. His conscience was there."
Possession wise, Yakupov was an even 50 percent in terms of Corsi for on the night, seeing time only at five-on-five, meaning he was on the ice for as many shot attempts for as against.
It's an encouraging sign for a player many have given up on. Properly deployed and guided, Yakupov, still only 23, could be a useful piece for a Blues team looking to contend for the Stanley Cup.
The now-36-year-old signed a 12-year, $73-million contract in 2009, and while he still has five years remaining on the deal (including this season), he has no intention of opting out of the deal or taking his talents overseas.
"For me, no. I think Sweden - that chapter is closed, hockey-wise, for me," Zetterberg told Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press of potentially moving to play in his native Sweden. "Two reasons. When I’m done here, I’ll be 41 years old. If I can’t play out my contract, it’s because I’m injured. So I won’t be playing hockey. And as soon as I signed that 12-year deal, I knew I was done back home. I understand Pavel. I think the KHL obviously is a higher level than the Swedish Elite League … and also for him going back to be with his daughter (who lives in Russia) was a big impact."
However, while Zetterberg intends to play out the rest of his contract, he understands that at his age, his body might not allow him to continue for another five years.
"Yes. Yes. But in the same way, I’m human," Zetterberg said of his intentions to play out his contract. "I know that every year it’s a bigger and bigger battle to get through. We’ll see if my body holds up for five more years. Last year, I played 82 games, which I was proud of doing - maybe it wasn’t 82 good ones, but I played 82 - and so we’ll see.
"By now, I’m just taking it year by year. And obviously the next two years are big years - the last year at the Joe and then first year at new building. That’s probably where I’m looking."
Whether Zetterberg is able to play until the 2020-21 season or not, one thing is certain he's cemented himself as one of the greatest to ever don the red and white.
Zetterberg sits eighth and seventh all-time in franchise goals and points, respectively.
Much of the physical requirements and athletic traits are the same as every other professional sport, but those in the NHL play on a comparatively tiny surface, confided by plexiglass and unforgiving boards.
The pace of the game is unprecedented, and the physicality falls under the same category.
In saying all this, the best players - the ones you can consistently build a winning team around - are the smartest. No one makes it to the NHL without, as those in the game like to call call it, "Hockey IQ," and below is a list of three players who exemplify what it takes to understand the game better than anybody else.
Sidney Crosby
Team: Pittsburgh Penguins Age: 29 | Exp: 11 years
This was a given. No one else sees the game the way Crosby does, as the Penguins captain has an uncanny ability to recognize opportunities before they happen.
Crosby's remarkable vision and skill make him one best of the most prolific point producers in NHL history, and his list of accomplishments reflects that rather accordingly.
Karlsson is the engine that drives the Senators, and his ability to create and suppress offense is what makes him elite.
His passing in all three zones is an invaluable weapon, as evidenced by his league-leading 66 assists last season. Karlsson was the lone defeneseman in the top-10 in scoring in 2015-16, and has already earned two Norris trophies.
Patrice Bergeron
Team: Boston Bruins Age: 31 | Exp: 12 years
Bergeron possesses perhaps the most well-rounded game in the NHL, and it's the perception of his on-ice surroundings that allows him to thrive in all game situations.
The Bruins' top pivot is the prototypical two-way forward, producing eight 50-plus point seasons, to go along with three Selke awards, and a career faceoff percentage of 58.3.
Etem failed to crack the Canucks' opening-night roster and had been placed on waivers for the purpose of being assigned to the AHL.
The 29th overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft split last season between the Rangers and Canucks following three years with the Ducks. Altogether, he has appeared in 170 career games, with 22 goals and 24 assists to his credit.
With unsigned contracts and trade demands a thing of the past - for now at least - Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning are ready to finish some business on the ice.
The club is set to open a new season on home ice against Detroit on Thursday, and the captain is looking forward to focusing solely on the mission at hand: lifting the Stanley Cup come June.
"There shouldn't be any distractions this year and that means no excuses," Stamkos told reporters after the morning skate.
Unmentioned but likely at the front of his mind were several issues that hung over the club last season and into the summer, beginning with Stamkos' uncertain future with the team, followed by Jonathan Drouin's trade request, and culminating in Nikita Kucherov's extended contract negotiation that was resolved only days ago.
The Lightning did push Pittsburgh to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals, and after advancing to the Cup Final the year before, Stamkos feels this certainly could be Tampa's time.
Stamkos: "We've gotten older and we have the experience now of doing what it takes to get there. The excitement is here." #DETvsTBL
Still, the Lightning won't necessarily be distraction free, as goalie Ben Bishop is an impending unrestricted free agent and the likes of Drouin, Tyler Johnson, and Ondrej Palat will need new deals next summer.
The band's all together for now, meaning 2016-17 might be the Ligntning's best chance of striking it big.
The Dallas Stars will honor the five police officers killed in the line of duty this past July with decals on their helmets during Thursday's season opener.
Tonight, the Dallas Stars will honor the five police officers who lost their lives in the line duty on July 7, 2016 in downtown Dallas. pic.twitter.com/HCP5brwuoU
Four Dallas officers (Lorne Ahrens, Michael Krol, Michael Smith, and Patricio "Patrick" Zamarripa) and one Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) officer, Brent Thompson, were killed by a lone gunman while hundreds of people gathered to protest fatal shootings by police elsewhere in the United States earlier that week.
Several Stars players tweeted to offer thoughts and prayers immediately following the shooting, while the team's prospects paused for a moment of silence during their summer camp.
Jack Eichel is indeed suffering from a high ankle sprain, Buffalo Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma confirmed Thursday, a day after Eichel was forced from practice after taking an awkward fall.
Eichel got his skate tangled with forward Zemgus Girgensons during a drill and fell on his left ankle. TSN's Bob McKenzie was the first to report the original diagnosis, noting Eichel is expected to be out of the lineup for at least four-to-six weeks, a timeline Bylsma suggested is at least on the right track.
Dan Bylsma terms Jack Eichel's high-ankle sprain as "moderate." "Certainly more weeks than days," Sabres coach said.
While the club copes with the loss of their No. 1 center, the team did receive some encouraging news Thursday: Ryan O'Reilly - who's been dealing with a back ailment - will play in the opener against the Montreal Canadiens.
Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.
Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Thursday, October 13:
Triple Threats
LW Alex Ovechkin (72K), C Evgeny Kuznetsov (49K), RW T.J. Oshie (43K), Capitals (at Penguins): There's no team better equipped than the Penguins to overcome the loss of Crosby. C Evgeni Malkin will seamlessly slide into the No. 1 center role. The harm to the Penguins comes with a total revamping of their top line, with LW Chris Kunitz and RW Garrett Wilson up top.
RW Nikolaj Ehlers (44K), C Mark Scheifele (55K), D Dustin Byfuglien (54K), Jets (vs. Hurricanes): With Ehlers and RW Blake Wheeler listed at the same position in Squad Up, opt for some salary savings with Ehlers. The Jets can be considered heavy favorites at home against the Hurricanes. This trio will see significant time together at 5v5 and on the power play.
LW Patrick Sharp (51K), C Jason Spezza (55K), RW Jiri Hudler (39K), Stars (vs. Ducks): Unlike the Jets threesome, this trio from Dallas will play together on the second line at 5v5 and offer exposure to two separate power-play units. Spezza's upside increases while playing on the right side of LW Jamie Benn and C Tyler Seguin on the top unit.
Bargain Plays
G Cory Schneider (75K), Devils (at Panthers): A road matchup may not be ideal, but Schneider carries a minimum goalie price tag and is coming off a season in which he posted a .924 save percentage and a 2.15 goals against average in 58 starts. The Panthers are still reeling from the loss of LW Jonathan Huberdeau, and Jonathan Marchessault makes their top line a lot less scary.
C Danton Heinen (31K), Bruins (at Blue Jackets): Officially listed as a center, Heinen is likely to begin his NHL career on the right side of the Bruins' second line with Cs Ryan Spooner and David Krejci. Heinen totaled 93 points in 81 games over two years at the University of Denver. He is expected to remain with Spooner and LW Matt Beleskey on the second power play.
LW Pavel Buchnevich (29K), Rangers (vs. Islanders): Buchnevich skated with LW Chris Kreider and C Mika Zibanejad all preseason, and the threesome will remain intact to begin the season. W Rick Nash has been dropped to the third line as a result. Buchnevich will skate on the right side of the Rangers' second 5v5 line and top power-play unit.
Top Fades
C Aleksander Barkov (63K), Panthers (vs. Devils): Barkov will begin life without Huberdeau, who is sidelined for the next 3-4 months due to a leg laceration. In Huberdeau's place steps Marchessault, who totaled 41 fewer points than his fallen teammate a year ago. Barkov will also face the top-tier goaltending of Schneider.
LW Rick Nash (56K), Rangers (vs. Islanders): As mentioned above, Nash begins the season on the Rangers' third line at 5v5 and on the second power-play unit. Should the Rangers struggle to generate goals, he'll surely be the first one to benefit from a juggling of the lines but his expected drop in ice time has not yet been met by a drop in salary.
RW Corey Perry (60K), Ducks (at Stars): The Ducks are set to open their season with Perry on the right side of the second line with LW Mason Raymond and C Antoine Vermette at 5v5, while joining the top power-play unit on the point. The Stars don't have much defensive depth, but Perry has always struggled in the past when separated from C Ryan Getzlaf.
Contrarian Options
C Tyler Ennis (38K), Sabres (vs. Canadiens): Ennis was expected to play predominantly on the right wing this season but the injury to C Jack Eichel is likely to force him back into a center role. He'll compete with Cs Johan Larsson and Ryan O'Reilly for first-line minutes with Ws Evander Kane and Sam Reinhart. It's a quality trio against Canadiens backup G Al Montoya.
G Tuukka Rask (83K), Bruins (at Blue Jackets): Home teams are generally favored, especially in the early part of the season and in home openers. Rask, however, was significantly better on the road last season, posting a .924 save percentage and 2.37 GAA in 30 starts. The Bruins poor defense should allow plenty of shots from Columbus, while Rask has the talent to stop most of them.
LW Zach Parise (57K), Wild (at Blues): The Blues are the lone team to open the 2016-17 NHL season by playing each of the first two nights. G Jake Allen stopped 17 of 19 shots from the Chicago Blackhawks Thursday, and he'll receive his second start in a row. Even with the Wild on the road, roster Parise's reasonable salary against the only tired team on the slate.
So says club CEO David Morehouse, who told KDKA Morning News on Thursday that owners Ron Burkle and Mario Lemieux are no longer looking to sell.
"We did look at a bunch of different things; one of them included the outright sale of the franchise. We're not looking at that right now," Morehouse disclosed. "We couldn't be luckier to have owners like this in Pittsburgh."
Even before the team's recent Stanley Cup championship, however, there was no process in place to sell, and Morehouse's statement officially puts an end to that.
NHL fans were treated to a glimpse of where the game is headed Wednesday night, and boy, was it something to behold.
Four games helped prove the league is in good stead as the players of the future and the stars of today presented a perfect showcase of what to expect this season and in seasons to come.
Young guns fire immediately
This year's first overall pick got his first true taste of NHL hockey as the Toronto Maple Leafs clashed with the Ottawa Senators and Matthews put on a performance for the ages.
His four goals set a NHL record for the most by a player in his debut, and he lifted many from their seats with a second goal that was ... well, you know.
McDavid continued to offer the promise of better days in Edmonton with his two-goal, three-point effort. But it doesn't stop there: Jesse Puljujarvi netted his first of the season after being plucked fourth overall, and Mitch Marner - though held pointless - was a constant threat, tying for a team-high six shots.
The four - all selected with the first handful of picks the last two drafts - made immediate impacts for their clubs in further proof that the league's getting younger.
Established names return to form
Though Wednesday's contests made it very easy to get lost in fantasies of what's to come for the game's budding stars, many of the game's established names continued to do their thing.
2015 Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson further padded his stats with a three-point output, Vladimir Tarasenko unleashed havoc on the Blackhawks with a three-point outing of his own, and the list goes on.
Eighteen of the players who just participated in a best-on-best tournament at the World Cup of Hockey found the scoresheet Wednesday night.
We may have salivated over the young guns, but the game's best haven't been unseated just yet.
Skill trumps all
Two Canadian matchups Wednesday night involved fisticuffs, but it was easy for that to get lost when everyone was fixated on dynamic displays of skill.
Matthews and McDavid impressed with every rush, turning every possession into a potential scoring chance, and it's no secret that's what hockey fans of all strokes crave.
The night saw an average of 3.75 goals scored in each game, an average of one more goal per game than last season (of course, in a much smaller sample size). In just four games, 15 different players recorded multi-point performances.
Wednesday night's buzz made players act like fans and helped us all realize why we love the game. When skill is the main course and emotions are high, nothing tastes sweeter. Another serving, please.
