5 Burning Questions For The 2015-16 NHL Season
Bryan Altman, CBS Local Sports
If the NFL is the sun that the sports world revolves around, that probably makes the NHL the Pluto of the sports solar system. Much like the former ninth planet in our solar system, most people know the NHL is out there somewhere. There are a passionate few that care about it's existence, too, but the larger part of the sports community in America is relatively unconcerned with it and couldn't even tell you if it's a planet or not.
While the NHL isn't as popular as other major sports, its fans are as voracious as any and are definitely as loquacious as any when it comes to the sport they love. Personally, I live for hockey season. I love football, but the start of football season is really just my reminder that the NHL season is set to get underway sooner rather than later.
And now that day has come. Today is the start of a nine-month marathon that ends with one team hoisting what is unarguably the most distinguished and special trophy in all of sports: Lord Stanley's Cup.
But before we get to the over sized beards and overtime thrills in April, we've got an entire 82-game season to get through, and it's going to be a fun one. Here are 5 of the biggest questions that need to be answered this season as we get set to drop the puck on another year of hockey.
1. Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel?
That was the question that consumed analysts for much of last year and will continue to do so throughout their playing careers. The same way Brady is always compared to Manning, Connor McDavid will always be compared to Jack Eichel and vice-versa. The two are the most anticipated prospects to enter the league since Sidney Crosby splashed onto the scene in 2005 and both should be fascinating to watch in their first year.
While McDavid is considered by most (as evidenced by the fact that he was picked No. 1 overall) to be the better player, he's got a lot to deal with this season. For example, the hopes and dreams of a once great Canadian hockey franchise that have been placed onto his shoulders.
Meanwhile, Eichel joins a number of other talented veterans on a much improved Sabres roster. Eichel has more established skill around him and could have an easier time getting going in Buffalo than McDavid in Edmonton.
Either way, both will be spectacular and fun to watch develop for years to come, but the question still remains – who takes the Calder Trophy – McDavid or Eichel?
I'm leaning towards Eichel, but it's anybody's game when you're talking about such talented players.
2. How will year one go for Mike Babcock and the Toronto Maple Leafs?
The Maple Leafs were an unmitigated disaster last season. The team's overpriced stars just didn't play for coach Randy Carlyle and couldn't even muster up any sort of run towards the postseason – which was in reach for the better part of the year for the Leafs if they just, uh, tried.
Now Babcock, one of the great coaches in the game today, is tasked with bringing respectability back to Canada's biggest sports franchise with a ravenous fan base. Expectations are low, and Babcock has clearly done himself a favor by stating publicly it'll take at least two to three years to get the Leafs back into contention.
But there is some skill left on this team. James Van Riemsdyk, Dion Phaneuf, Nazem Kadri, Tyler Bozak and Joffrey Lupul are all exceptional talents. If Babcock can get them to buy in and get some sort of consistant goaltending out of Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer this team might be playing meaningful hockey games in March.
I think Babcock gets these guys to play hard for him and the Leafs come within a few points of a playoff spot. Crazier things have happened. Right?
3. Can The Blackhawks Repeat?
The 2015-16 Chicago Blackhawks are a vastly different bunch than the previous year's version. As we all know, one of the only real pitfalls that come with being a dynasty in today's day and age is that you can't afford to keep your team together from year-to-year. Brandon Saad, Patrick Sharp, Brad Richards, Johnny Oduya, Antoine Vermette and Kris Versteeg are all donning new sweaters this year and the losses definitely outweigh the gains for the Hawks. Acquisitions like Artem Anismov and Trevor Daily will help fill some of the void but not all of it.
The Patrick Kane rape investigation is still casting a dark cloud on the 26-year-old star and the entire organization as well. The legal outcome is still yet to be determined, but the entire ordeal has to be a huge distraction for everyone involved.
Still, the Blackhawks will be a force in the West and don't believe anyone who tells you otherwise. As long as Jonathan Toews has that 'C' on his chest the Blackhawks will be a threat to win it all.
4. Is It Finally Ovi's Turn?
Alexander Ovechkin: The perennial Eastern Conference bridesmaid. While Ovechkin has more or less put to bed questions about his own postseason ineptitude, his teams have still been unable to clear the Eastern Conference hurdle and make it to the Stanley Cup Finals. Now, with the addition of "Mr. Game 7" Justin Williams himself, and T.J. "Sochi" Oshie, the Capitals appear to have all of the components to make a deep playoff run this year.
But we say that every year, don't we?
It'll be interesting to see how the Caps evolve in year two under Barry Trotz. If they can build on the identity they forged last year and see growth from budding star center Evgeny Kuznetsov and Andre Burakovsky they could be the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.
5. Crosby & Kessel – What could go wrong?
Phil Kessel is a phenomenal scoring talent and has been since he entered the league in 2006. But Kessel also has a knack for rubbing people the wrong way, including fans, media members, and even his teammates from time to time. Now the enigmatic winger joins Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh and seems like a lock to hit 40 goals if all goes well. But then again, this is Phil Kessel we're talking about.
Perhaps Crosby is the perfect partner to help keep Kessel in line. Maybe Sid can get him to try his hardest when it matters most, and get dirty when the time comes to do so. But maybe the marriage ends the same way it did for Kessel in Toronto – with an abundance of acrimony and a nasty divorce.
Either way, it'll be must-see TV when these two are on the ice together, and could lead to a resurgence of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference if all goes well.
Bryan Altman is, for some reason, an unabashed fan of the Rangers, Jets and Mets. If he absolutely had to pick a basketball team it would be the Knicks, but he'd gladly trade them for just one championship for either of his other three teams.
Questions or comments? Feel free to follow Bryan on Twitter or send him an email.