{"id":309095,"date":"2025-11-26T23:36:17","date_gmt":"2025-11-26T23:36:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/309095\/"},"modified":"2025-11-26T23:36:17","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T23:36:17","slug":"32-thoughts-canucks-ready-to-re-shape-their-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/309095\/","title":{"rendered":"32 Thoughts: Canucks ready to re-shape their future"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\u2022 Will Tuesday&#8217;s loss to Dallas force Edmonton into the goalie market?<br \/>\u2022 Nashville at critical point in franchise history<br \/>\u2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/scott-wedgewood\/837592f3-a555-478d-a4bd-0940c948a984\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"837592f3-a555-478d-a4bd-0940c948a984\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Scott Wedgewood<\/a> becoming a late consideration for Team Canada<\/p>\n<p>When Vancouver notified teams of its desire to discuss \u201cveterans\u201d \u2014 and the note said veterans, not UFAs \u2014 the message was unmistakeable: we want to know what you think about our players.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Without specific names attached, the Canucks, by design, left things to everyone else\u2019s imaginations. No limitations, talk to us, we\u2019ll decide what we\u2019re willing\/able to do. We know <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/quinn-hughes\/bbc4fe2b-f685-47e8-ae58-8ca29ff706e6\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"bbc4fe2b-f685-47e8-ae58-8ca29ff706e6\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Quinn Hughes<\/a> is not available, for now (we\u2019ll get to him in a minute). Even if Filip Hronek didn\u2019t have a no-move clause, I don\u2019t think there\u2019s any desire to move him. We know the UFAs definitely are out there, and we know that the Canucks will listen on those with term, although several control their futures. And, as mentioned the other day, when Jim Rutherford signals he\u2019s ready, you\u2019d better be ready, too.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>This is not a total teardown. The Canucks prefer young players in the NHL (or ready for it) over draft picks and\/or greener prospects, but we\u2019ve got to be prepared for everything.<\/p>\n<p>The immediate watch is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/kiefer-sherwood\/cd86a6c9-866d-4672-9d77-0c3d2b4f8745\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"cd86a6c9-866d-4672-9d77-0c3d2b4f8745\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Kiefer Sherwood<\/a>. Excellent start, absolute heater (28.6 shooting percentage), competes hard, playoff-style skillset, salary everyone can handle. Ultimately, the Canucks will decide how fast they move, but if anyone could go quickly, it\u2019s the feisty winger.<\/p>\n<p>Other than that, we\u2019ll see. I\u2019ve always liked <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/tyler-myers\/42f32a2b-0f24-11e2-8525-18a905767e44\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"42f32a2b-0f24-11e2-8525-18a905767e44\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Tyler Myers<\/a> in the right scenario. Long, mean right-shot defenders with reasonable cap hits are coveted, but I\u2019m not convinced he\u2019d waive during the season \u2014 protection negotiated in good faith.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s been some discussion about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/conor-garland\/3785ac3d-5771-4342-be09-f4fb22ed84b3\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"3785ac3d-5771-4342-be09-f4fb22ed84b3\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Conor Garland<\/a>, but I\u2019ve heard the preference is to keep him. Another incredibly competitive guy who works. It comes down to someone making an offer they can\u2019t say no to.<\/p>\n<p>Hughes? We can guess where this is going, although several sources pushed back hard \u2014 very hard \u2014 on the idea he\u2019s already made a decision. Rutherford\u2019s prepared Canuck Nation for the possibility he\u2019d leave. It\u2019s solid strategy that he and GM Patrik Allvin try to be proactive, make the franchise cornerstone believe in the future. But Hughes has looked unhappy, although I think there was a conversation addressing that. Your captain must project properly. Eventually there will be a discussion about his future, I thought Olympic break, might be sooner. Obviously, he\u2019ll have a huge say over the process. But, elite engines aren\u2019t available often, and interested parties won\u2019t screw around when\/if the day comes.<\/p>\n<p>Eighteen months ago, Vancouver lost a 3-2 Game 7 to Edmonton \u2014 a fierce, thrilling series pushing the Oilers to the precipice before they became two-time Western Conference champions. The core of that team was Garland, Hronek, Hughes, JT Miller and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/elias-pettersson\/04396c28-a071-478a-b387-a456fac24415\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"04396c28-a071-478a-b387-a456fac24415\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Elias Pettersson<\/a>. Injured <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/brock-boeser\/766d00bb-2c64-4afd-90c7-b7c9731fe2aa\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"766d00bb-2c64-4afd-90c7-b7c9731fe2aa\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Brock Boeser<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/thatcher-demko\/4b2e0ce3-a2fd-4a0a-8001-21f599d3d41c\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"4b2e0ce3-a2fd-4a0a-8001-21f599d3d41c\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Thatcher Demko<\/a> did not play. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/elias-lindholm\/a3c2916b-f92a-11e2-a133-f4ce4684ea4c\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"a3c2916b-f92a-11e2-a133-f4ce4684ea4c\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Elias Lindholm<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/nikita-zadorov\/56dc27ea-409b-4d77-ae58-13fa644a2aa0\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"56dc27ea-409b-4d77-ae58-13fa644a2aa0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Nikita Zadorov<\/a> were strong support pieces. The future seemed so bright.<\/p>\n<p>But it imploded, as much because of personalities as anything else. There\u2019s a six-part podcast to be done, sometime.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>I didn\u2019t think we\u2019d go from that to this. But here we are. The Canucks are ready to re-shape their future.<\/p>\n<p>1. One thing that makes me crazy is how organizations trip over themselves avoiding the word &#8216;rebuild&#8217;. On some level, I get it because the word can be as radioactive as gold kryptonite to Superman. But you can walk yourself into trouble using a thesaurus and my number one rule is, \u201cDon\u2019t pour gasoline on your own fire.\u201d I\u2019m still 1.5 credits shy of my English degree, but I\u2019ve found a solution. Say either \u201cwe\u2019re starting over,\u201d or, \u201cwe\u2019re making changes but we\u2019re not tearing it all down.\u201d Simple. <\/p>\n<p>For the rest of us, including myself, ignore the noise and watch what\u2019s happening. If you really look at Calgary and Nashville, they have begun the process of change. The Flames are assembling a strong prospect group, and no matter what anyone says, won\u2019t make short-term moves to save this season. If it\u2019s a high pick, they will take it. They also believe that Dustin Wolf is too good to let them consistently hit rock bottom, and his start-of-season struggles were more of a blip than anything. (And shoutout to the NHL\u2019s Friedrich Nietzsche, Devin Cooley, who almost lost his job but has played very well.)\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>2. I\u2019d be surprised if Calgary GM Craig Conroy, in the final year of his contract, is not re-signed. For one thing, I don\u2019t believe head coach Ryan Huska is the only person in the organization to receive a recent extension, so the Flames are taking care of business. An executive from another team told me it\u2019s not unheard of for conversations to slow down or halt when things are rough. Doesn\u2019t mean it changes your long-term plans, but there is an allergy to reward when on-ice results go sideways. I don\u2019t think Don Maloney should be fired for last week&#8217;s comments. You just need to know the right time. A GM needs someone to manage up.<\/p>\n<p>3. I don\u2019t like to overreact to one game. For Edmonton, this is more than one game. After Tuesday\u2019s 8-3 Dallas destruction, the Oilers have no choice but to ask themselves if it\u2019s time to trade <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/stuart-skinner\/971ba282-9576-47aa-b6fb-b963403fea6e\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"971ba282-9576-47aa-b6fb-b963403fea6e\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Stuart Skinner<\/a> \u2014 for their benefit and his. Everyone. I understood their philosophy: don\u2019t waste resources on a lateral move, because, with the limited chips you have, you might only get one shot at being right. Like my grandmother always said, \u201cYou plan, God laughs.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s 100 per cent true the Oilers are sieve-like defensively: at even-strength, they are 25th in shots against from the slot on the cycle, 29th from the slot overall and 30th from the slot against the rush (Sportlogiq). You need prime Dominik Hasek against those numbers, and captain <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/connor-mcdavid\/8949dceb-26ac-4cb1-b08d-2d5903d75611\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"8949dceb-26ac-4cb1-b08d-2d5903d75611\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Connor McDavid<\/a> did the right thing by saying how bad they were in front of Skinner. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/calvin-pickard\/42ad9fef-0f24-11e2-8525-18a905767e44\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"42ad9fef-0f24-11e2-8525-18a905767e44\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Calvin Pickard<\/a> basically saved his job with a strong performance in a 2-1 loss in Tampa Bay on a tough back-to-back. His teammates, who love Pickard, rallied around him in that one. Then, the Oilers won an emotional game in Florida. To go home and perform like that against the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/mikko-rantanen\/733ba4ad-23b7-4910-a0c6-62b2a48d8b15\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"733ba4ad-23b7-4910-a0c6-62b2a48d8b15\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Mikko Rantanen<\/a>-less Stars was ugggggggggggly. <\/p>\n<p>One of the reasons the Oilers wanted it to work so badly is Skinner\u2019s budget-friendly $2.6M AAV in a tight cap situation. They felt very strongly that they had to know they were getting a guaranteed upgrade to give up on that. Now, you have to ask yourself: are you losing by not trying to come out even? Is there a situation where you feel someone will be rejuvenated in Edmonton, like Skinner might be elsewhere? The other question you have to ask: will a change lift our team? Is this weighing on them, too?<\/p>\n<p>4. Nick Kypreos stirred up a hornet&#8217;s nest in his trade board by suggesting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/jordan-binnington\/f997ad4a-b491-4dbd-be40-4c449e44ce9f\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"f997ad4a-b491-4dbd-be40-4c449e44ce9f\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Jordan Binnington<\/a> could end up with the Oilers. I strongly suspect Edmonton can\u2019t trade for Binnington without his permission, even if St. Louis wanted to do it.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>5. Goalie team to watch: Pittsburgh. Four guys ready to play between the NHL and AHL.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>6. Someone else to keep an eye on: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/laurent-brossoit\/35782f83-5d7b-4bf5-a50a-f6c2f74be278\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"35782f83-5d7b-4bf5-a50a-f6c2f74be278\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Laurent Brossoit<\/a>. Long road back for Brossoit, who last played a game on April 28, 2024. But he\u2019s practising and headed for a conditioning stint in the near future. There\u2019s no room for him in Chicago, so when he does dress in the AHL, goalie-needy teams will be watching. Good luck to him, would have been easy to give up.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>7. I do think Peter DeBoer will be back in the NHL, but would be stunned if it was in Edmonton.<\/p>\n<p>8. Scott Oake to Jim Nill on After Hours: Can the Stars afford both Rantanen and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/jason-robertson\/55ab2861-3357-4e4f-9b29-59b62e039e5a\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"55ab2861-3357-4e4f-9b29-59b62e039e5a\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Jason Robertson<\/a>? \u201cWe\u2019ll find a way to do it,\u201d the GM answered. \u201cWe\u2019ve always found ways. These are great players. It\u2019s hard to find goalscorers. When I talked to Jason over the summer \u2014 he had a tough year the year before, he missed all of training camp, got off to a slow start \u2014 that\u2019s what we discussed. Come in, I want you to have a good year, it\u2019s an Olympic year, lot of things going on. He\u2019s performing for us and it\u2019s great to see.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Robertson said a healthy summer made a big difference for him and the proof is right in front of your eyes.<\/p>\n<p>9. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/nhl\/article\/32-thoughts-bedard-celebrini-making-strong-cases-for-team-canada\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Last blog<\/a>, I listed a bunch of teams circling around the trade market and what they are looking at. A few people texted I left out Utah. The Mammoth stabilized themselves after a rough stretch. Definitely want to add, and a quiver full of picks\/prospects.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>10. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/auston-matthews\/0408afd7-1600-4a36-8ec7-685120334ce1\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"0408afd7-1600-4a36-8ec7-685120334ce1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Auston Matthews<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/matthew-knies\/f1e0c013-b81d-4eb9-8d50-1944850af695\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"f1e0c013-b81d-4eb9-8d50-1944850af695\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Matthew Knies<\/a> return Wednesday night for Toronto, and not a moment too soon for the Maple Leafs. The timelines were frustrating both internally (you could see it on Crag Berube\u2019s face) and externally. Once again, there was debate about injury clarity and I was asked about it on a couple of my regular interview spots. It\u2019s something I\u2019ve been thinking about, especially with the number of gambling scandals in different sports. <\/p>\n<p>First, let me just say I am sympathetic to injuries getting targeted \u2014 especially in the playoffs. It 100 per cent happens, and anyone denying that is certifiably insane. Players are fiercely protective of injury information primarily because of that, and also, as many have said, \u201cIt\u2019s none of your business.\u201d (That\u2019s a different debate, which we will get to.)<\/p>\n<p>11. When I\u2019ve asked Commissioner Gary Bettman about gambling concerns, whether injury or prop-bet related, he makes a point of saying he believes NHLers wouldn\u2019t do it. It\u2019s good to support your players \u2014 scores points \u2014 but I remember being blown away years ago by a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/player\/play\/video\/1.455756\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Diana Swain report on match-fixing<\/a> in a low-level Canadian soccer league. Where money can be made, vigilance matters. <\/p>\n<p>When it comes to prop bets, Bettman believes hockey\u2019s randomness and speed make it much harder to manipulate than other sports. That mind-boggling Emmanuel Clase first-pitch accusation? Much harder to pull off in hockey. The NHL\u2019s Chief Security Officer, Jared Maples, spoke with the managers at the recent GM meetings. A few people who were there said it was a fascinating presentation. He reminded that betting on hockey or gambling illegally will be met with severe punishment. <\/p>\n<p>But the thing that really stood out was that anyone complicit in these scandals doesn\u2019t seem to understand it\u2019s the betting companies themselves noticing aberrations or weirdness, informing the leagues and law enforcement when something\u2019s awry. \u201cYou really have to be dumb to not see who is policing this,\u201d one said. <\/p>\n<p>Therefore, the league feels as certain as it can that if something happens, they are going to be told about it. (In the aftermath of the Clase case, Major League Baseball announced a $200 limit on individual pitch wagering, with those specific bets removed from parlays. At this time, the NHL is not pursuing anything similar.)\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>12. Now, let\u2019s go back to injury information. This is where I see the weakness. Maples stressed that managers be extremely discreet with it, and relay that message to their players. (Not a hard sell, lol.) One of the people charged in the recent NBA sweep was an assistant coach, Damon Jones, accused of providing secret LeBron James intel to bettors. This is where I\u2019d be most concerned if I was the NHL. <\/p>\n<p>Again, the players are adamant this not be shared. Even if I argue that Matthews \u2014 being the most important player on the NHL\u2019s most newsmaking team \u2014 and the Maple Leafs have to expect the highest scrutiny, they don\u2019t want to hear it, saying it is their business. But if it ever leads to scandal\u2026<\/p>\n<p>I never thought legal betting would lead to greater clarity on hockey injuries, but this is where we are in the year 2025. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>13. All of the injuries stink, but shoutout to Tampa Bay \u2014 which has moved from last to first in the Atlantic \u2014 despite being crushed by them. Also, New Jersey and Carolina, atop the Metropolitan despite being able to put together a decent roster with the players who haven\u2019t been in their lineups. And anyone else I didn\u2019t credit. You have to find a way.<\/p>\n<p>14. Not surprised <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/juuso-parssinen\/fe31e395-d2d7-4cfa-8ea7-e63bfefc052f\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"fe31e395-d2d7-4cfa-8ea7-e63bfefc052f\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Juuso Parssinen<\/a> cleared waivers. But I think there is interest, depending on what the Rangers are willing to do. Next season at $1.25M is the challenge.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>15. In Nashville, GM Barry Trotz said this week on his regular 102.5 radio appearance there will be more opportunity for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/joakim-kemell\/cd4e7911-3563-4538-b3fc-bece066cf4af\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"cd4e7911-3563-4538-b3fc-bece066cf4af\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Joakim Kemell<\/a>-type prospects at the NHL level. I stick to what I said last week, that the Predators are still feeling their way through things, from ownership on down. This is a critical time in franchise history, and they want to get it right. Like Vancouver, Nashville is exploring the market, well-aware there are teams lusting after Ryan O\u2019Reilly. Remember: he\u2019s got big say in any move. I don\u2019t buy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/filip-forsberg\/6b66f634-a55b-11e2-a01b-f4ce4684ea4c\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"6b66f634-a55b-11e2-a01b-f4ce4684ea4c\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Filip Forsberg<\/a> trade theories at this time, and am not convinced they want to retain money.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>16. Some well-meaning Jets fans wondered if local boy Chris Driedger\u2019s KHL contract termination was tied to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/connor-hellebuyck\/416485a7-f978-4189-8d7e-c2a55b823d3c\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"416485a7-f978-4189-8d7e-c2a55b823d3c\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Connor Hellebuyck<\/a>\u2019s injury, that he was returning to fill the gap. It\u2019s unrelated, at least right now. For one thing, assuming no surprises, Hellebuyck could be back on the ice in the not-too-distant future. Winnipeg wants to see Thomas Milic, looking like he will make his NHL debut Saturday in Nashville. It\u2019s always better to solve your problem internally, if you can. Things can always change, but the timing is a coincidence.<\/p>\n<p>17. Colorado\u2019s Scott Wedgewood joins Matthew Schaefer as late additions to Team Canada\u2019s Olympic player pool. If you\u2019re added now, you aren\u2019t one of 90 \u2014 the original list. You\u2019re one of 35, and a serious candidate. Are Canada\u2019s goalies down to some combination of Jordan Binnington, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/darcy-kuemper\/42befb61-0f24-11e2-8525-18a905767e44\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"42befb61-0f24-11e2-8525-18a905767e44\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Darcy Kuemper<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/logan-thompson\/39865351-af7a-419c-8db6-5b270c2dd3ec\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"39865351-af7a-419c-8db6-5b270c2dd3ec\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Logan Thompson<\/a> and Wedgewood? Even with Binnington\u2019s struggles, what he did last February makes him feel like a lock.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>18. A scouting report on 16-1-5 Colorado: \u201cMuch better defensively earlier in-season than in years past.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>19. Heard this week there\u2019s going to be a landing spot for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/robby-fabbri\/6473e15d-8efc-4d95-a30e-9e2fbc17768c\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"6473e15d-8efc-4d95-a30e-9e2fbc17768c\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Robby Fabbri<\/a>. One of the rumoured teams was Ottawa, but it won\u2019t be them.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>20. The Athletic\u2019s Josh Yohe reported Tuesday that the Penguins\u2019 sale to the Hoffmann family has \u201chalted,\u201d and that nothing \u201cappears to be the least bit imminent.\u201d What I can confirm is this process has taken longer than expected and is more difficult than current owners Fenway Sports Group hoped. The Hoffmans do remain in their exclusive negotiating window and are moving forward to close. We will see.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>21. The NHL and NHLPA, although annoyed at the overall situation, are biting their tongues about the Milan rink delay until around Christmas. The IOC is saying all the right things about everything being ready when it really matters, but this is waaaaaaaay too close for anyone\u2019s comfort. There definitely will be concerns about ice quality. Wildest rumour: the roof was too low and had to be raised. Still can\u2019t wait to get there.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>22. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/joseph-woll\/85efc3a4-760a-4b24-bbcf-3757f512666b\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"85efc3a4-760a-4b24-bbcf-3757f512666b\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Joseph Woll<\/a> is the latest goalie to have his mask knocked off during play, angry at the delay before a whistle. While there\u2019s been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/nhl\/article\/what-nhlers-say-about-continuing-play-against-a-maskless-goalie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">debate about the current rule<\/a> \u2014 which allows action to continue when the offensive team is in control \u2014 another way of attacking the problem is changing the masks themselves. Instead of a buckle snap, there are suggestions to bolt the strap to the outside or thread it through the shell to the inside. <\/p>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Mask-example-2jpg.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\"\/><img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Mask-example-3.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Senior Director of Hockey Operations Kay Whitmore, who played 155 NHL games in goal, made a presentation to the GMs at the recent meetings, showing these examples. The active goalies obviously have a say, but this could be a solution.<\/p>\n<p>23. Last Saturday, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/jonathan-huberdeau\/43626027-0f24-11e2-8525-18a905767e44\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"43626027-0f24-11e2-8525-18a905767e44\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Jonathan Huberdeau<\/a> fought Mikko Rantanen after the hit that cut Matt Coronato and landed Dallas\u2019s winger a one-game suspension. Huberdeau received an instigator. Maybe I\u2019m crazy, but I don\u2019t think anyone should get an instigator when the guy he fights receives a game misconduct.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>24. I howled when I saw Adam Foote\u2019s quotes about using publicly-available analytics: \u201cThey\u2019re just looking at numbers from people that could be in Russia in a basement, having\u00a0cigarettes and cashews.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Three things on this: first, and foremost, Foote will protect his players. He knows anything negative he says about a Canuck will be used against them, so he bends over backwards not to do it. View everything he says through this lens. If he does criticize someone, that\u2019s really un-good. <\/p>\n<p>Second, teams do claim what is privately available to them is much more accurate than public information. This is not an atypical attitude across the NHL. <\/p>\n<p>Third, I rushed to the schedule, begging we have Vancouver on Saturday. Santa considers me a good boy, because my wish came true \u2014 they are playing the Kings. I will be on-set to discuss this game with a box of cashews, and promise to smoke if Sportsnet lets me.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>25. Was special watching Arber and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/florian-xhekaj\/c8cc30f8-9b23-4e89-ae7a-659a4627f2d4\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"c8cc30f8-9b23-4e89-ae7a-659a4627f2d4\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Florian Xhekaj<\/a> make their NHL double debut last Saturday. Florida loved Florian heading into that 2023 draft, meeting with him multiple times in the lead-up. That included the night before the draft, apparently targeting him anywhere between the third and sixth rounds, I believe. Montreal found out. They got him in the fourth round, 101st overall.<\/p>\n<p>26. I think some organizations would like to know more about the people in Florida\u2019s front office, but GM Bill Zito keeps them locked in his trunk.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>27. Wednesday night is Game 2 of the CHL\/USA Prospects Challenge, in Lethbridge. The Americans won Game 1, 4-2 Tuesday night in Calgary. Anyone can have a bad day, but everyone I know there was disappointed with the CHL performance. Canada swept the two-game series last season, and coach Willie Desjardins saw how motivated the American players were. \u201cThey were more ready at the start,\u201d he said. \u201cI think they had a lot to prove from last year. I think we thought that maybe we could get away with it, just had to show up.\u201d How you perform after a bad day is a true test of who you are.<\/p>\n<p>28. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/morgan-geekie\/9066a189-ea1c-45b0-880b-1e0e743cf0f5\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"9066a189-ea1c-45b0-880b-1e0e743cf0f5\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Morgan Geekie<\/a> is tied for the NHL lead in goals (17, with Nate MacKinnon). Kyle Bukauskas walked up to him a few weeks ago and opened with, \u201cHow\u2019s life as a 30-goal scorer?\u201d Geekie replied, \u201cSame as it was as a nine-goal scorer.\u201d Kyle hasn\u2019t been rejected that badly since the Campbell River Collegiate prom.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/32-Thoughts-podcast-Elliotte-Friedman-Kyle-Bukauskas-640x360.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"32 Thoughts: The Podcast\"\/>32 Thoughts: The Podcast<\/p>\n<p>Hockey fans already know the name, but this is not the blog. From Sportsnet, 32 Thoughts: The Podcast with NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas is a weekly deep dive into the biggest news and interviews from the hockey world.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/podcasts\/32-thoughts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Latest episode<\/a><\/p>\n<p>29. Podcast thought-line question that should be shared with a wider-audience: What team has allowed the most \u201cRevenge Goals\u201d \u2014 goals scored against by former players? The crack <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SNstats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Sportsnet Stats<\/a> team looked through all active players and discovered the answer is Chicago (64). Phillip Danault and Artemi Panarin lead with eight. Most by one player against one team: William Karlsson, clobbering the Ducks with 16. Utah is fewest with one (Matias Maccelli), Seattle has six. Fewest with a longer history: Detroit (11). Highest Canadian team is Toronto (44). James van Riemsdyk is the most prolific ex-Leaf, with eight. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>30. Duncan Keith\u2019s induction means that every eligible defensive winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy is in the Hall of Fame: Serge Savard (1969), Bobby Orr (1970 &amp; 72), Larry Robinson (1978), Al MacInnis (1989), Brian Leetch (1994), Scott Stevens (2000), Nicklas Lidstrom (2002), Scott Niedermayer (2007) and Keith (2015). Still to come: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/victor-hedman\/434956c9-0f24-11e2-8525-18a905767e44\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"434956c9-0f24-11e2-8525-18a905767e44\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Victor Hedman<\/a> (2020) and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/cale-makar\/052c69b3-91a2-4244-811c-cff9ef96a3ea\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"052c69b3-91a2-4244-811c-cff9ef96a3ea\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Cale Makar<\/a> (2022). Feel confident predicting they will be enshrined, too. Bold, I know.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>31. Speaking of the Hall, I\u2019m a Curtis Joseph truther. He should be in. His book is outstanding, and last week he did an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ua28HQ-dZAE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">excellent interview on the St. Louis Blues YouTube page<\/a> (Life As A Blue). Something he said stuck with me: his 1993 playoff breakthrough, a stunning first-round sweep of Chicago, a Stanley Cup Finalist the previous season. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt felt amazing because my teammates gave me the response I was craving,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd the response that I was craving was, \u2018Great job. Way to be there for us.\u2019 I need to be needed. When those guys would come back to me and go, \u2018Great job,\u2019 I felt a sense of team, I felt a sense of family, which I hadn\u2019t had in my entire life. That experience gave me all of that in a two-week period. Everything that I needed in life.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>32. Our Hockey Night in Canada Hockey Fights Cancer broadcast is Saturday. There are three people I\u2019d like to mention.<\/p>\n<p>Molly Kay Friedman (1947-82): My mother died on her 35th birthday. Our relationship was\u2026complex. Forty-three years later, I have greater understanding of how this insidious disease affected her not only physically, but emotionally. I learned painful lessons: how life is fleeting, how nothing is guaranteed. How we all have responsibilities, but those cannot prevent you from finding time to do what you enjoy and chasing your dreams. You never know when things we take for granted will be taken from you.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>I remember her funeral, feeling pleasant surprise at some of the people who showed. Even now, when I\u2019m more remotely connected to someone who\u2019s passed (or their family), I try to attend. If there\u2019s one piece of advice I\u2019d share, it\u2019s this. So meaningful for people to see faces they don\u2019t expect.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG_4014.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Charles Pollock (1964-2016): I don\u2019t have an older brother, but always admired two older cousins, Charles and his brother, Andrew. We didn\u2019t see a ton of each other, but loved hearing their stories when we did \u2014 both big, charismatic personalities. When I covered basketball, Charles, who became a stockbroker, would request my NCAA men\u2019s basketball bracket to try and win the company pool. Last memory of him: at my wedding, we had these plastic tubes full of Reese\u2019s Pieces. Charles walked out with two handfuls as I laughed my head off.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/CharlesPollock.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Jason Brenzel (1984-2025, seen here with son Levi): My brother-in-law\u2019s brother (we are married to sisters).<\/p>\n<p>From his wife, Natalie: One year ago, almost to the day, Jason was diagnosed with Stage Four esophageal cancer, at the age of 40. Jason was the ultimate \u201cMaster of All Trades,\u201d excelling in everything from golf, skiing, mountain biking, carpentry and watch repair, cooking, etc. etc. He brought that determination to this challenge and spent more than eight weeks in-and-out of hospital, undergoing painful tests, chemotherapy and radiation, enduring heartbreaking conversation after heartbreaking conversation. But Jason maintained his trademark quiet courage, strength, and appreciation for the support around him. <\/p>\n<p>His family was never ever far from his mind, especially Levi. One afternoon, towards the end of Jason&#8217;s final hospitalization, Levi came for a visit and Jason somehow mustered the strength to pick him up and wrap him in a huge\u00a0hug. It took almost everything out of\u00a0him, but &#8220;it was worth it,\u201d he told his family. After an incredibly\u00a0courageous 15-week battle, Jason passed away March 13th, surrounded by his family. He is never far from our minds, and so very missed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>There isn\u2019t a person reading this blog who hasn\u2019t been affected by cancer. As we approach Saturday\u2019s show, these three are uppermost in my mind.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JasonBrenzel-scaled.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u2022 Will Tuesday&#8217;s loss to Dallas force Edmonton into the goalie market?\u2022 Nashville at critical point in franchise&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":309096,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[433],"tags":[49,48,448,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-309095","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nhl","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-nhl","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/309095","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=309095"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/309095\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/309096"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=309095"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=309095"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=309095"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}