The NHL plans to stage a two-game "Outdoor Weekend" showcase at Lake Tahoe in Nevada during the 2020-21 season, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
Both games will reportedly take place at Edgewood Tahoe Resort, which hosts a popular celebrity golf tournament, and will be played around the 16th, 17th, and 18th holes.
Fans will not be permitted to attend the event, which will be limited to about 400 people including players, team staff, and workers, notes Friedman. He adds that this will give TV broadcasters a unique opportunity to use devices such as drone cameras during game coverage.
The NHL has reportedly been looking to stage an event at an aesthetically pleasing venue during an unusual season. Lake Louise in Alberta was one option that was considered, according to Friedman, as was Park City, Utah.
Rookies are unlikely to fly off the board early in your drafts, but they can have a significant impact on your championship aspirations as the depth pieces that push your roster over the top. Below, we highlight five NHL freshmen worth keeping an eye on this fantasy season.
1. Alexis Lafreniere, LW, Rangers
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It goes without saying, but the No. 1 pick in this year's draft is a player to watch for this fantasy season. Lafreniere is the most NHL-ready prospect on the planet and is joining a team much deeper than those who typically win the lottery. The Rangers boast a strong offense, but Lafreniere should still feature prominently in New York's top-six and on the power play during his pursuit of the Calder Trophy and your pursuit of a title this fantasy season.
2. Kirill Kaprizov, LW, Wild
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Kaprizov is finally going to make his much-anticipated NHL arrival nearly six years after being drafted by the Wild 115th overall. The 23-year-old has played the past three seasons with CSKA Moscow and has led the KHL in goals during his two most recent campaigns. Kaprizov is a dynamic offensive talent that has plenty of professional experience, and given Minnesota's desperate need for offense, he could earn himself a major role in the club's attack.
3. Igor Shesterkin, G, Rangers
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Shesterkin had his first taste of the NHL last season but is still rookie eligible since he only appeared in 12 games. The goaltender's debut on Broadway couldn't have gone much better, with the young Russian posting a 10-2 record along with a .932 save percentage - almost single-handedly carrying the Rangers into playoff contention before the league put the season on hold. Shesterkin is New York's undisputed No. 1 with Henrik Lundqvist now out of the picture, and all signs point toward The King's successor becoming one of the NHL's premier netminders as he gains more experience.
4. Tim Stuetzle, LW, Senators
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Stuetzle will have a youthful roster surrounding him in Ottawa but still projects to receive ample ice-time and opportunities to succeed as a first-year player while the Senators continue their rebuild. The German phenom has an NHL-ready skillset and may transition to the league better than most of his rookie peers - he competed professionally in his native country last campaign, racking up an impressive 34 points in 41 games in the DEL despite starting the season as a 17-year-old.
5. Quinton Byfield, C, Kings
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Byfield is already set up for success in Los Angeles and should be a player to have on your fantasy radar. The 18-year-old has NHL size and an offensive toolkit that should see him steadily collect points. Perhaps most importantly for Byfield's fantasy outlook is he'll likely slot in behind Anze Kopitar, who will eat up the more difficult matchups. Give Byfield some looks against middle-pairing defenders - along with some power-play time versus some weak competition in the re-aligned West Division - and he could become a factor in your fantasy league rather quickly in his first campaign.
Honorable mentions:Ilya Sorokin, G, Islanders; Joel Kiviranta, RW, Stars; Trevor Zegras, C, Ducks; Nick Robertson, LW, Maple Leafs; Alexander Romanov, D, Canadiens
The young forward, who was a restricted free agent, and his camp preferred a shorter pact this offseason to give general manager Jarmo Kekalainen time to potentially facilitate a trade, and because it means Dubois avoids being locked in with Columbus long term, according to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.
The relationship between Dubois and the Blue Jackets changed during negotiations this offseason, sources told Portzline.
It was reported shortly before his $10-million deal was announced that Dubois could be looking for a change of scenery, but Kekalainen and agent Pat Brisson both declined to comment on the matter.
Columbus drafted Dubois third overall in 2016, and he's the club's most promising young forward. The 22-year-old registered a team-leading 49 points in 70 games last season before adding 10 points in 10 playoff games.
The Blue Jackets are set to open training camp Jan. 3, and they'll kick off their 2021 season Jan. 14 versus the Nashville Predators.
Terms of the agreements weren't disclosed. Both players were with the club last season, but they were on the final year of their contracts.
Martin suited up for 55 games in 2019-20, registering eight points while averaging just over 10 minutes per contest. The rugged winger chipped in five playoff goals during the Isles' run to the Eastern Conference Final.
Greene landed in Long Island at the trade deadline after 14 seasons with the New Jersey Devils. The 38-year-old notched seven points with New York over the regular season and playoffs.
The Islanders held a projected $3.9 million in cap space before factoring in the new deals for Martin and Greene. The club still needs to sign star restricted free agent Mathew Barzal.
Alberta became the first province to green-light NHL games Thursday, the province said in a statement to The Canadian Press.
Provincial lawmakers approved Calgary and Edmonton for competition on Dec. 25 after examining the league's return-to-play protocols.
Meanwhile, Canada's federal government agreed to allow the start of NHL training camps by issuing an exemption to the mandatory 14-day quarantine period for players and team staff returning to the country, citing "national interest grounds."
The four other Canadian provinces that host NHL teams - British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec - still need to sign off on permitting NHL games.
All seven Canadian clubs will play in the same division as part of the league's realignment for the upcoming campaign. The new divisional structure has been known for weeks, but the league still requires the approval of provincial and federal governments in conjunction with health officials.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said last week the league believes it is "aligned and in agreement (with lawmakers) on the conditions on which each of our Canadian franchises can begin play in their own buildings for the start of the 2020-21 NHL season."
The regular season is slated to begin on Jan. 13. Training camps for clubs that took part in last season's 24-team playoff begin Jan. 3, while the seven squads that missed out on that postseason open camp Thursday.
Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney is confident his club will name a new captain for the upcoming season, and that the choice will be a no-brainer.
"We'll make a decision moving forward," the GM added, according to the Boston Sports Journal's Conor Ryan. "I think it's an obvious decision."
The Bruins' longtime captain, Zdeno Chara, signed a one-year, $795,000 contract with the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. Chara wore the "C" for all 14 seasons he played with Boston, beginning in 2006.
Patrice Bergeron appears to be the obvious choice, having served as an alternate captain with the team since it handed Chara the captaincy. Fellow center David Krejci was also an alternate for Boston last season.
