Category: Hockey History 1917-2023

Los Angeles Kings {10^th overall} Western Conference, Pacific Division

Los Angeles took a 2-1 series lead on the strength of two OT victories in the first round of last season’s playoffs and the final three contests highlight the Kings’ pressing need to lower their goals against average to supplement their positive goal differential and consistent scoring.

The Kings extended their Captain’s contract by two years after completing his 17^th season all with Los Angeles Anze Kopitar remains the driving force of this team and GM Blake ensuring he plays a major role in attempting to win another Stanley Cup.

For the second time in his career, Anze Kopitar is awarded the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy recognizing not just his four minutes in penalties but for his style of gentlemanly play and good sportsmanship throughout the regular season.

Last season the Kings earned their second-highest point total in the regular season with 104 points while scoring the most goals since the early 1990s this team is eager to repeat last season’s efforts for the upcoming 2023-2024 season and redeem last year’s first-round exit.

Minnesota Wild {11^th overall} Western Conference, Central Division

The Wild finished the 2022-23 NHL regular season with over 100 points, a positive goal differential, strong on the road and at home with the seventh-best goals against in the League, and in the first round took a 2-1 series lead before succumbing.

Head coach Dean Evason celebrating his birthday today, the former 20-goal scorer for the Hartford Whalers has made the playoffs each of his past three seasons behind the bench for Minnesota.

Minnesota interestingly dealt a seventh-round draft pick for the financial convenience of paying 80 percent of a contract to acquire forward Patrick {MaGoon} Maroon and his hostile head-slamming style of play, possibly more importantly the Wild signed goaltender Filip Gustavsson for three seasons.

In Nashville, the Minnesota Wild selected 21st overall in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft Charlie Stramel a solid 6’ 3” 200-pound center that plays a physical two-way style that fits into Minnesota’s successful approach to Hockey.

Seattle Kraken {12^th overall} Western Conference, Pacific Division

Seattle earned its first 100-point season in 2023 by winning 46 games with five 20-goal and one 40-goal scorers and then shocking the Hockey world by beating the defending Stanley Cup champions in seven games during the opening round of last season’s playoffs.

In free agency, Seattle acquired forward and Spokane, Washington native Kailer Yamamoto after he was moved from one team to another where his contract was bought out making Mr. Yamamoto a free agent and the diminutive forward is a 20-goal scorer when playing all season.

The Kraken second highest point earner on the team is a defenseman, Seattle can score and are a superior road team and is endeavoring to lower their GAA by bringing in defenseman Brian Dumoulin a Cup champion known for physical play and an ability to exit the zone successfully.

Seattle is a difficult team to beat and there is nothing to change that for the upcoming 2023-24 NHL Season and after their recent playoff success, no team should be taking them lightly.

Tampa Bay Lightning {13^th overall} Eastern Conference, Atlantic Division

Tampa Bay is one of three teams that finished their 41 home games with less than 10 losses and unfortunately, they were matched against one of the other three in the opening round of the 2023 NHL playoffs.

The Bolts added veteran winger Conor Sheary a proven playoff scorer, faceoff specialist, and shutdown checking forward Luke Glendenning, and in the draft Tampa Bay selected 37^th overall in the second round Ethan Gauthier a six-foot winger.

In 10 seasons as the bench boss HC Jon Cooper has won two Stanley Cups and missed the playoffs just once [5 years ago] with no reason to suspect they will not return to these upcoming 2024 NHL playoffs with plans to progress past the first round.

Winnipeg Jets {14^th overall} Western Conference, Central Division

The eighth seed from the Western Conference opened the playoffs with a 5-1 convincing win over the eventual Cup winner last season and this year the Jets have made some interesting moves in net and on offense.

Bringing goaltender Laurent Brossoit back into the fold and trading for LW Alex Iafallo will aid head coach Rick Bowness [who coached 28 games in the 1988-89 season for Winnipeg] in his second season in getting the Jets past the first round.

Winnipeg selected Colby Barlow in the first round 18^th overall who is Captain of his OHL team the Owen Sound Attack where he scored 79 points in 59 games last season his second on the team.

The Jets were only a few regular season wins from being in the 100-point club with one of the fewest goals against last year and this coming season should be more of the same and if they can score a few more goals could progress even further.