The weather this past week was unfortunately finally of the kind that made it seem like hockey season.
Somewhere along the way a perfectly fine winter sport has bled into late summer/early fall on one side of its season, and through spring to flirt with summer’s arrival on the other.
In my case I’m old school. I have varied sport interests and early fall season hockey is something I pay limited attention too. It makes no sense to me that as we sit down to Thanksgiving the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League has teams that have already played 13 games.
And late run playoffs have me looking at other sports unless the day comes when one of my teams is in the Stanley Cup final.
At the core of the situation are seasons that are simply too long, a situation not unique to hockey, but baseball and basketball as well.
The National Hockey League would be more entertaining at 70-games, or even 64, allowing the sport to occupy a more natural season. Of course I am realist-enough to recognize they are not about to reduce revenues with a shorter season.
So the NHL, which has regained my interest in recent years, is well under way, and games I have watched have generally been entertaining for early season encounters. Just to remind I like a game to have at least five goals scored by the two teams, seven being better, with the score with a couple of markers, excluding empty net markers. Give me a 4-3 contest and whether my team is on the winning or losing side of the ledger I am going to be satisfied.
So how are the Canadian teams looking?
Montreal is still largely Carey Price and a prayer. Price is a top-five goaltender in the league but needs to be in consideration for first star most nights if the team has a chance to win.
Ottawa is among the dregs of the league. They are not very good, although they did beat Tampa Bay for their one win. The guys on the ice have some potential, but the issues for the team start at abysmal ownership, and a flagging fan base, (one of the smallest crowds to date turned up to watch the visiting Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues the other night). This is a team in a maelstrom of trouble and they need a new owner to give the team a chance at redemption in the marketplace.
Toronto should be in contention for a Cup this season, but they have put all their financial eggs in the offensive basket, and they are allowing too many goals early. This is the year they need to shine, but we will see.
Winnipeg has lost so much on defence, arguably four of the top-five from last season, so they have to cobble together a blue line corps. So far, so good, as they say, but that defensive group is paper thin and the central division is a grinder.
Edmonton is off to a torrid start. I suspect that is a mirage. Their goaltending is not as allowing 13 goals in their first five goals suggests and having watched him in Calgary last season it’s hard to believe James Neal’s offence is for real either.
Calgary is largely the team from last season when they were really good. David Rittich is now the guy in net and I think he can do the job, but the defence ages a bit and they could still use a bit of scoring depth to take the next step.
Vancouver is better, J.T. Miller and Tyler Myers are key additions, and the young guns Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson are budding stars. The team, if they can stay healthy, should flirt with a playoff spot, but in a parity driven NHL that can honestly be said for about 24 of 31 teams.
