Kaplan: Revisiting Jack Eichel trade, Devils' hot start and other rumblings around NHL

We're 3 weeks distant from Thanksgiving -- usually an all-important marker successful the NHL.

In the wage headdress era, if you're successful a playoff spot connected the holiday, past says you person much than a 75% accidental of making the postseason. It's an indicator galore beforehand offices curse by, and volition dictate however teams behaviour concern for the remainder of the play -- beryllium it subordinate additions, subtractions, oregon adjacent coaching and absorption changes. Since the play began a week aboriginal than usual, those decisions whitethorn beryllium pushed back. It's inactive early, but present are immoderate of the biggest stories percolating astir the NHL aboriginal successful the 2022-23 season.

World Cup of Hockey connected ice?

There was a batch of optimism for the World Cup of Hockey returning successful February 2024. According to aggregate sources, that day is present successful jeopardy -- and the tourney could beryllium pushed back. We should cognize an reply by the extremity of the month. This play is key, arsenic the NHL, NHLPA and IIHF representatives volition each beryllium contiguous successful Toronto for Hall of Fame festivities and are expected to proceed discussions and hopefully steadfast up answers.

However if solutions aren't recovered soon, it would marque February 2024 unrealistic. The logistics for the tourney are complicated. It volition hap midseason for the NHL. There are expected to beryllium early-round games successful Europe; the last rounds would beryllium successful North America. If the NHL helps signifier a tournament, it wants to bash it right.

One of the biggest issues is the information of Russian players arsenic the warfare successful Ukraine continues on. The IIHF has banned Russia from planetary events, but the NHL and NHLPA were hopeful that they could find a solution -- specified arsenic having Russian athletes vie nether a neutral sanction oregon flag. However, immoderate participating countries person said that's not satisfactory, and person advocated that nary Russian players enactment astatine all. Other remaining issues: The IIHF's apical concern partners person besides expressed trepidation implicit holding the tourney successful the mediate of the NHL season. And the NHL is inactive successful negotiations implicit broadcast rights successful North America.

Devils competing present and gathering for later

As Devils manager Lindy Ruff was introduced to the assemblage astatine the location opener past month, helium was booed by some. Then the Devils mislaid for the 2nd consecutive game, 5-2.

"It sucked, it was unspeakable to perceive that. The archetypal Sunday of the play was not amusive for maine astatine all," GM Tom Fitzgerald said. "But by nary means is that going to transportation maine connected immoderate decisions. It's a pugnacious market. Yankees fans booed Aaron Judge successful the playoffs aft helium deed 62 location runs. Coaches person been booed successful New Jersey earlier Lindy, too. The 1 happening that helps is winning."

And that's precisely what the Devils person done. New Jersey is 1 of the NHL's biggest surprises, atop the Metropolitan Division astatine 9-3. Fitzgerald credits a committedness to squad defence arsenic the biggest reason. But the offseason moves person paid off.

"John Marino is amended than I anticipated," Fitzgerald said. And Vitek Vanecek has been an important 1B goalie, particularly arsenic Mackenzie Blackwood is shelved with yet different injury. Blackwood is being further evaluated by doctors Tuesday, but aboriginal connection is that helium sustained a mid- to low-grade sprained MCL, which should sideline him for 3 to six weeks

• The Devils were dealt a stroke erstwhile their biggest offseason signing -- two-time Stanley Cup champion Ondrej Palat -- underwent groin country aft conscionable six games. While Fitzgerald says Palat's interaction is inactive felt disconnected the crystal -- mounting an illustration for young players -- it doesn't dependable similar the Devils volition usage the LTIR abstraction to adhd short-term help. And adjacent if their occurrence continues, it doesn't dependable similar the Devils volition beryllium successful the marketplace for immoderate late-season rentals.

Fitzgerald said helium has been moving the phones for "hockey trades" (like the John Marino for Ty Smith deal) but it's against his doctrine to bring successful a subordinate for a fewer months to assistance out, particularly wherever his squad is successful their evolution.

"I judge you physique a squad implicit the summertime versus implicit the commercialized deadline," Fitzgerald said. "I was a commercialized deadline acquisition twice. One clip I near 2 young boys down [at home], the different clip I near 3 young boys behind. It's truly hard connected the player. I was besides [in management] successful Pittsburgh erstwhile we acquired James Neal midseason. He tried, but it was conscionable excessively speedy of an inquire and helium couldn't bash what helium needed to do. When helium was capable to enactment the summertime and get enactment successful with guys similar Evgeni Malkin, you saw a overmuch amended mentation of him the pursuing year."

While the Devils person immoderate needs -- including wanting to get bigger -- Fitzgerald said helium is not "picking up thing conscionable to add."

"We person been talking astir subordinate improvement for a while, present we beryllium it to these kids to spot what we have," Fitzgerald said. "They're assets, whether they assistance america present oregon assistance america get players here."

The Devils haven't fixed a timeline, but I heard it's looking similar anyplace from 2 to 3 months for Palat. "When we get Ondrej back, that's conscionable a luxury," Fitzgerald said.

Status of Blackhawks' rebuild

When the Blackhawks went connected a four-game winning streak aboriginal successful October, radical kept asking Chicago GM Kyle Davidson 1 thing: "Are you happy?" Because this isn't according to plan. The Blackhawks aren't expected to beryllium bully this season. They've been transparent astir it. They're successful a rebuild.

"It's comic due to the fact that it goes against what immoderate radical thought we were going to be," Davidson says. "Everyone is focused connected the draft, right? But we're trying to bash the champion happening for the squad and enactment each night, and that's putting a hardworking effort connected the ice. Every nighttime we amusement up, we privation to win. We're not putting a squad connected the crystal that we expect to lose. Wherever we extremity up successful the standings, it's our occupation and our scouting staff's occupation to find endowment from that point."

The 1 happening I person heard consistently astir Chicago from players and subordinate agents is that the vibes astir the locker country are much affirmative than past year. Winning helps. There's been a buy-in to the blue-collar benignant Luke Richardson and his unit person implemented. But the organization, contempt their goals of a semipermanent build, person made definite everyone feels appreciated done the process. For example, the squad stayed an other nighttime connected their California trip. The players golfed astatine Pebble Beach portion the unit got a time successful Napa. That's not an insignificant expense. But it tin person a important impact.

• Davidson is not putting a timeline connected Patrick Kane to marque a determination connected wherever -- if astatine each -- he'd similar to beryllium traded. Asked whether helium has had immoderate conversations with different teams connected Kane, Davidson was emphatic: "Zero. Zero conversations." Since it's expected to beryllium a analyzable commercialized -- including a waived no-move clause, and probable retention of wage -- Davidson said helium "didn't foresee thing soon." On wherever things basal with Jonathan Toews, Davidson said: "We're conscionable gladsome he's backmost and feeling bully and producing." I've heard that immoderate teams are looking astatine Toews, particularly fixed the commencement he's having (seven goals successful 12 games). Like Kane, Toews has a NMC, truthful it's up to him if helium wants to permission (and where).

I person heard immoderate radical astir the league wonderment astir Seth Jones' availability. Jones' declaration ($9.5 cardinal headdress deed done 2029-30) is much intriguing with the wage headdress perchance rising by $4 cardinal this summer. Davidson poured immoderate acold h2o connected that. He said each speech his beforehand bureau has had astir aboriginal plans has included Jones. "Seth is simply a large portion of what we're doing present moving forward," helium said. "We consciousness truly fortunate to person Seth connected our squad and connected our squad long-term." Now if a squad calls with an connection connected Jones that blows them away, the Blackhawks volition listen, but they're not going retired buying him. And that's precisely wherever Davidson expects to beryllium by the March 3 commercialized deadline for his full roster. "Given the concern we're in, we're going to beryllium a squad that surely listens," Davidson said. "They person to beryllium things that are advantageous for us, but we'll spot however it shakes out. The 1 happening we're ever going to person our eyes connected is gathering the close way."

Price volition beryllium precocious for Senators

The Ottawa Senators are for sale, and it's expected to beryllium a months-long process. Once the Senators place their preferred buyer, the merchantability would request to beryllium approved by commissioner Gary Bettman and the NHL's committee of governors. The merchantability is contingent connected a inheritance check.

The adjacent BOG gathering is scheduled for December successful Florida. However, due to the fact that of the further layers involved, it's improbable a merchantability would beryllium approved then.

But here's the bully quality for the league: While Sportico listed the Senators arsenic worthy $650 cardinal successful its latest valuations, 1 NHL proprietor told ESPN he's "realistically optimistic" the Senators volition beryllium sold for much than that. There are expected to beryllium aggregate bidders -- yes, including histrion Ryan Reynolds, who has expressed involvement -- which volition thrust up the price. But possibly much importantly, the merchantability volition beryllium tied to a existent property opportunity, arsenic the caller proprietor tin assistance seal a woody for a long-coveted downtown arena.

"When Fenway [Sports Group] came successful and took power of the Penguins, evidently they were funny successful the squad and getting progressive with the NHL," the proprietor said. "But I deliberation that onshore astir the arena was conscionable arsenic charismatic to them."

A winning trade

Could the Jack Eichel commercialized beryllium the uncommon NHL woody that works retired perfectly for some sides? Eichel (14 points successful 13 games) and the Vegas Golden Knights (best grounds successful the West astatine 11-2-0) are flying. But truthful excessively are the Buffalo Sabres, who began to consciousness a civilization alteration successful their locker country successful the mediate of past season. Buffalo (7-5) is keeping up successful the competitory Atlantic Division and has a bully changeable of breaking its league-worst 11-year playoff drought. Eicher volition beryllium returning to Buffalo for the 2nd clip connected Thursday nighttime (ESPN+/Hulu, 7 ET).

Two facts astir the Sabres: They are the youngest squad successful the league and person the astir headdress abstraction successful the league. GM Kevyn Adams would similar to reward the instrumentality basal and person his young squad acquisition playoff hockey, but he's not going to suffer show of the larger plan, which includes sustained success.

Asked however helium plans connected utilizing his headdress space, Adams laughed. "That's a bully question," the Buffalo GM said. "We're ever going to speech astir each accidental to get better, but you besides person to cognize agelong word determination are bigger goals, and successful the improvement of wherever we privation to beryllium arsenic a franchise, we're inactive building. One happening we cognize we privation to bash is reward the players who are here, and the adjacent measurement is signing them to large contracts."

Dylan Cozens is an RFA this summertime portion No. 1 wide picks Owen Power and Rasmus Dahlin are eligible for semipermanent extensions opening this summer. All 3 players are viewed by the Sabres arsenic captious successful the larger plan.

One of the large things Adams and manager Don Granato person done is empower their young players. Part of that is letting them cognize they don't person to beryllium perfect. "We're encouraging our players to play fearlessly, to marque mistakes," Adams said.

That has helped unlock a caller level for Dahlin, who is playing with much assurance than we've seen since helium entered the NHL.

Latest successful Boston

The Bruins' signing of Mitchell Miller summed up successful a substance by a rival executive: "One of the biggest unforced errors I've seen successful my 2 decades moving successful this sport." Boston cut ties with the 20-year-old defenseman connected Sunday, but it's a stain connected the judgement and processes for Bruins president Cam Neely (who apologized Monday) and GM Don Sweeney. It's embarrassing capable to enactment that "new information" came guardant aft considering the signing for a year. Mitchell was convicted successful juvenile tribunal successful 2016 of racially abusing and bullying a classmate, Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, who is Black. Bruins absorption ne'er reached retired to the parents of the victim, who person maintained that Miller ne'er decently apologized to their son.

Kudos to Bruins players -- specifically skipper Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and Nick Foligno -- who each publically voiced their discomfort with the signing. There's a batch of beardown enactment successful that locker room.

• Jim Montgomery and Bruins absorption addressed the squad up of grooming camp, a emblematic signifier successful the NHL. When Montgomery was done with his speech, Bergeron stood up and gave his ain speech. And past Charlie McAvoy, who wears an A, stood up and said something. And past the remainder of the enactment radical followed. Montgomery didn't cognize it was coming. He conscionable watched successful awe. "I've ne'er seen that successful each of my years successful the game," Montgomery said. "I deliberation it's thing they've ever done, going backmost to [Zdeno] Chara. The enactment successful this country is antithetic than thing I've ever experienced."

Montgomery has a mentation for wherefore his squad has been truthful speedy to accommodate to his systems. The squad already played bully defense, and had centers who instrumentality pridefulness successful a liable game. "They already knew however to play distant from the puck," helium said. "I didn't request to alteration thing there; that eliminated a batch of teaching."

So a bulk of drills person featured however the Bruins wanted to play with the puck. "And that was amusive for guys, right? It's exciting," Montgomery said. "More signifier was slanted toward offense, playing with the puck, and the guys truly took to that."

• One agleam spot connected the Bruins is the resurgence of Foligno. Many fans were counting retired the 35-year-old erstwhile Blue Jackets captain, who makes $5.5 cardinal but scored conscionable 2 goals past year. He was enactment connected waivers to commencement the season.

Foligno has been a revelation for Boston's bottommost six, with 3 goals and 4 assists successful his archetypal 12 games, looking much similar the mentation we knew successful Columbus.

"He was recuperating from a monolithic surgery. He didn't get clip to train. When you've lived comfortably determination for a decade, and you person 3 young kids, and you determination and present your woman doesn't cognize anyone, and you don't cognize wherever to go, you travel location and your location is benignant of a mess," Montgomery said. "He told maine earlier the season, 'I hatred to marque excuses, but each of those things are not a occupation anymore.' And he's been truthful overmuch amended for us."

Early draught rumblings

Before the season, a manager of amateur scouting suggested to maine a communicative idea: "Will Connor Bedard truly spell No. 1?" He past watched 1 of Bedard's games with the Regina Pats, and reported back. "Never mind," helium said. "Clear-cut No. 1."

Bedard has had a terrific commencement to his WHL season, which should cement his presumption travel June. The lone crushed for trepidation is that down him are elite players who mightiness person had the accidental to spell No. 1 successful different years. The University of Michigan's Adam Fantilli and Sweden's Leo Carlsson person some received precise precocious praise. Then there's Russia's Matvei Michkov, who is expected to inactive spell apical 5 -- contempt the inherent hazard of erstwhile he'll beryllium capable to travel play successful North America, since the winger is nether declaration successful Russia done the 2025-26 season.