The National Hockey League regular season begins with a doubleheader Thursday ... Still reading? Even if you don't like hockey, this column is - hopefully - an interesting read because the NHL had some offseason storylines that any sport would find interesting: rising star punches cabbie, superstar gets traded to title contender, wunderkind heads to Long Island and stuff like that.
I consulted my trusted NHL advisers, Andy Roos and Mike Bukantz, both fellow fourth-year students at the University, and together we came up with the following list of players and teams to watch this season, as well as the requisite preview article picks.
Offseason News in Chicago and San Jose
The Chicago Blackhawks are loaded with star-caliber players, including 21-year-old captain Jonathan Toews, recently-signed Marian Hossa and Brian Campbell. This young team could end up winning the Western Conference, especially if Patrick Kane, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft, has another solid year in his third season.
The Blackhawks will need Kane to make sure he keeps his temper in check though, as he and his cousin were arrested in Buffalo, N.Y. in August for allegedly punching a cab driver for not having 20 cents change. Ultimately, the whole situation was forgotten, but Kane did admit some wrongdoing and apologized for his actions. Note to cabbies in Chicago: Keep a lot of change in the car.
On the West Coast, the San Jose Sharks made a big splash in The Tank this summer - that's what they call their arena, so don't credit me with that corny joke. The Sharks acquired the talented forward Dany Heatley, who was unhappy playing with the Ottawa Senators, for two of their better players - Milan Michalek and Jonathan Cheechoo - and a second round pick. Heatley joins an offense powered by Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton, and you can expect that trio to put up serious numbers this season.
The Next Crosby?
It's probably too early to call anyone the "next Crosby," considering Sid the Kid is still 22 years old, but the Islanders are banking on their top draft pick to produce at a high level. John Tavares, who just turned 19, was the first overall pick in the 2009 draft and could be getting first-line minutes when he makes his NHL debut. The center is so good - he broke many of Wayne Gretzky's records in the Ontario Hockey League - that we think he will win the Rookie of the Year. I know it's not a bold prediction to say the top draft pick will win this award - but honestly, he's really good, and at age 19, is the definition of someone who is the "face of the franchise."
Seeing as how my mom is the only Islanders fan I know, I'm sure that most of the people buying tickets to watch the Fishsticks aren't going to the Nassau Coliseum because they are diehard fans. But Tavares could turn some of those people into fans and maybe within the decade the Islanders will make the playoffs. Maybe.
The Picks
I'm doing so terribly at Cav. Daily football pick'em - ACC football is ridiculous to predict - that I figured the logical move would be to start picking hockey playoff winners. Without further ado, here are my fearless predictions after listening to Roos and Bukantz' thoughts: The Sharks will beat the Detroit Red Wings to win the Western Conference, and the Pittsburgh Penguins will knock off the Washington Capitals to take the Eastern Conference. Sid the Kid will not hoist the Stanley Cup again though, as Heatley is the shot in the arm the San Jose franchise needed, and the Sharks will be crowned NHL champs.
Enjoy the season, folks. It's going to be a good one.
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