Welcome to 10 ideas and observations. Every Thursday, I will use this space to highlight teams, players, storylines and general thoughts around the NHL, and perhaps at times, the world of hockey in general.
This week, we take a look at some under-the-radar players, including Shane Pinto, Matt Roy and Phil Kessel (!?), good and bad NHL marketing and more.
Pinto among the first senses
Ottawa made a lot of headlines this summer with a big trade, a big free agent signing and massive extensions. Rightly so, as these were big moves for a franchise that typically operated on a tight budget.
Shane Pinto was not an acquisition, but he might as well have been. Last season was anything but a mess for him, injuring his shoulder, coming back, injuring himself again and requiring surgery. He only played in five-game games for Ottawa.
Naturally, he started this season with two goals in three games – he had one in 17 career games before the start of the season – including this beauty.
It’s a bit difficult to appreciate how good this overall game is from him. He backs Thomas Chabot low in the defensive zone, then makes a quick pass to a wide-open Artem Zub to relieve the pressure and start the breakout before running down the ice to open up and bring the puck home.
So far this season, both of his goals have been spot on. He’s getting a tough zone start to start the season — nearly 70% of defensive zone starts (on faceoffs in the non-neutral zone) — and playing a bit of a third-line controller role. It is a difficult task for a player to find his place in the league in a team that now has expectations, but the first feedback is promising.
Defenders are built differently now
The Vancouver Canucks won’t like to hear it, but the NHL comebacks are great for the product. Last season, the NHL averaged 6.28 goals per game, which was the league’s highest mark since 1995-96.
The early 2000s was filled with trap hockey and after the end of the full season lockout in 2005, goals increased, but were inflated by the increase in power plays dealt with the “new” rules in place. Now we just see offense and talent on full screen. No lead is safe.
The types of players we see in the league are changing in style. How many closed, top-notch defenders do we see in the mold of an Adam Foote or a Scott Hannan? It just doesn’t happen anymore.
There were 19 defensemen who averaged at least 24 minutes per game in the league last season, and all but four had at least 40 points. Two of the four who didn’t were Drew Doughty and Chabot, who would have easily reached the goal if they had remained so healthy. That group of 19 doesn’t even include Adam Fox, John Carlson or Morgan Rielly, who had 74, 71 and 68 points respectively.
For reference, the season before the lockout, there were 25 defensemen who averaged more than 24 minutes per game and 10 of them averaged less than 40 points per game. If you log big minutes, you’re driving the offense to some extent now.
Lewis aging like fine wine
One of the oldest players in the league is Trevor Lewis, who was drafted 17th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 2006. It’s hard to think of many other NHL players who were drafted first turn as talented players and completely reinvented their game. and lasted in the league.
Lewis played 10 seasons with the Kings, winning two cups as a role player. After a short stint in Winnipeg, he reunited with Darryl Sutter in Calgary in 2021-22. He had a solid playoff performance, including five points in 12 games and closing games for the Flames as they protected leads. He’s not a big point producer, but he makes winning plays by doing small things, like he did here.
He was there again, late in a tight game, winning a battle along the wall that eventually led to the winner. He wasn’t the real reason that goal was scored and he deservedly doesn’t get a point but he makes the little plays that lead to the big play and at 35 he’s still humming along in the league with a strong Calgary team.
Coaching carousel success
In a rare move that could suit anyone, the Bruins fired Bruce Cassidy, who went to Vegas. The Golden Knights look strong and he’s got them humming to start the season.
Vegas had an opening because it fired Peter DeBoer, who found himself on a strong Dallas team that seems to be a problem this season.
And it goes back to the Dallas coach of a few seasons ago, Jim Montgomery, who ended up in Boston. Montgomery was fired by the Stars for unprofessional conduct, which Montgomery admitted was “earned”. About 10 months later, he was back on the bench with the St. Louis Blues as an assistant coach before returning to coaching a team. It’s early days, but Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman gave him solid support.
“He definitely commanded us the right way, and we love him here,” Swayman said, via NESN.
Hopefully he’s able to keep his off-ice issues behind him and stay the course. He’s a hell of a coach and he’s been appreciated on several occasions.
Don’t sleep on Roy
The Kings are full of talent on the right side of their defense. Doughty is understandably getting a ton of attention — especially after putting together a strong rebounding season last year before getting injured. While he was gone, Sean Durzi joined the team and became a legitimate talent player.
It’s easy to overlook Matt Roy in this mix, but he’s a player. He’s 27 and making $3.15 million in the second year of a three-year contract. He currently rounds out LA’s top four, averaging nearly 19½ minutes per game, including more than three minutes per game on the penalty kill. He also got off to a flying start, scoring three goals in five games to open the season, including that late scorer to tie the game (which led to an eventual win). He was all over the ice and had a great chance seconds before scoring as well.
He has usually been paired with Durzi this season. They’ll have to iron out some things on defense, but the offense is fluid. Roy is already one goal away from his career high.
Phil is always a pleasure to watch
It took until August 24 for Phil Kessel and an NHL club to come to an agreement and this could turn out to be one of those ‘how did he last so long’ signings when we look back on this season. The stats show an assist in four games, but so far he’s playing on a Golden Knights line with Jack Eichel and Rielly Smith and they’re in control.
It’s a limited sample of 33 minutes and they scored one goal and none against at 5v5 as a line, controlling nearly 62% of the shots and goals expected share. What stands out is Kessel’s puck movement, adding another playmaker to the Vegas roster. His lone assist so far this season was good puck movement here, with him and Eichel moving around the offensive zone and Kessel finally getting a clean pass to the point that led to a goal.
Kessel is now 35 and his game has limits, but he can still produce. He had 52 points last season with the Arizona Coyotes. Now he’s earning $1.5 million playing a contestant in a top-six starring role.
The failed opening night of the NHL
I don’t want to sit here and complain all the time, but it would be remiss if there was no mention of the start of this season. Seriously, did anyone know the NHL was open overseas? Who was watching this game? Where was he promoted? A few days later, the words “welcome to opening night” came before the puck drop, but the season had already begun.
The reason this is really brought up is because we all love the game and want to see what’s best to help it continue to grow. This opening cannot be that. Competitions abroad that no one knows about followed by two matches on a Tuesday evening? Make it an opening weekend. Have a bunch of games. Make it a whole extravaganza. But the approach this season was a face palm, and that’s well said.
New ads don’t go over well
Likewise, the video ads didn’t go smoothly. It just can’t happen.
It’s a glitch from a video game in 2008. We all understand the reasoning behind in-game video ads, but do it right. There have been all sorts of examples of issues with the display and how distracting it can be.
It’s disheartening when the viewing experience seems to be moving backwards instead of forwards. The increased revenue makes everyone happy, but it can’t come at the expense of the fans who enjoy the actual games.
Inverted mirrors are a great success
On the other hand, let’s talk about the positives. Adidas’ reverse retros look like a massive win. Great jerseys are back! The Leafs paying homage to their 2006 replacements, the Rangers bringing back the beauties of the Statue of Liberty and the Capitals with the howling eagle are all noteworthy. I even came on the Predator that Nashville is bringing back. The buffalo head is awesome.
Of course, there will be flops. This is to be expected. It happens. But the previous reverse retro series from just a few years ago was underwhelming at best. There are some duds, and then there are the Detroit Red Wings and Dallas Stars jerseys they released. The first returns are not so bad jerseys. I can’t wait to see so many in action.
This song must go
Finally, one of the things that all sports need to get rid of is the “Ref you suck” chant. It’s tired and unoriginal. At this point, it seems like we hear it in almost every area. Fans love to pick on referees and sometimes it’s even justified. But each arena singing the same thing really took away the sparkle and meaning.
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