NHL Thread Because There Isn't An NHL Thread

In contrast to a new NBA policy, the NHL will not allow unvaccinated players to enter Canada to play in games.

Sportsnet's Michael Grange initially shared the NBA's edict Monday and indicated the NHL would use the same exemption, which was already granted to MLB's Toronto Blue Jays.

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However, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly then explained his league's stance for the upcoming season.


"At this point in time, we have made a decision not to seek a National Interest Exemption," Daly told The Canadian Press' Joshua Clipperton.

Grange later issued a correction to clarify that the NHL doesn't want the exemption as so few players in the league are unvaccinated.

Daly recently said he expects 98% of NHL players to be fully vaccinated by the start of 2021-22, which would leave 10-15 players across the league failing to meet the standard.

The NHL finalized its COVID-19 protocols in early September. They include a mechanism for suspending unvaccinated players with certain exceptions, including religious and medical reasons.

Several players, including Detroit Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi and Columbus Blue Jackets enforcer Zac Rinaldo, are not fully vaccinated. The Blue Jackets declined to invite Rinaldo to training camp as a result.

A pair of assistant coaches - Rocky Thompson with the San Jose Sharks and Sylvain Lefebvre with the Blue Jackets - were removed from their respective staffs for not adhering to the protocols.
 
For your calendars, some finalized dates handed out to the clubs (per LeBrun):
Trade deadline March 21
Start of playoffs May 2
Last possible day for Cup final June 30
Opening of free agency July 13
 
The NHL has revealed a handful of key dates for the upcoming season, so break out your calendars.

The trade deadline is set for March 21, and the playoffs will kick off on May 2. The 2022 NHL Draft will take place July 7-8 in Montreal, while the free-agency signing period opens on July 13.

Here are the most important events:


DATEEVENT
March 21Trade deadline (3 p.m. ET)
April 29Final day of regular season
May 2Stanley Cup Playoffs begin
June 30Last possible day of Stanley Cup Playoffs
July 7Round 1 of 2022 NHL Draft
July 8Rounds 2-7 of 2022 NHL Draft
July 13RFA/UFA signing period begins (12 p.m. ET)
The puck drops on the 2021-22 NHL season on Oct. 12. If all runs smoothly, there will be a Feb. 3-22 break for the 2022 All-Star festivities and Winter Olympics.

Take a look at each team's schedule here.
 
Turbo said:
When I went to the league, there's a checklist on the right to prepare for the season. One of the steps is selecting which players from last year's team you want to keep for the season.
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I think he just reactivated the league and it automatically set as a keeper league 🤔
 
Piratenovelist said:
Totally looking forward to a typical year for us /s I just hope for a consistent year. We are close to rebuilding no?
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Instinctively I’d say yes. Fingers crossed that the Pens management is much smarter than the Steelers management in the transition. I don’t necessarily think the big 3 need to be forced out, but have their roles reduced while being able to bring in future talent that can still make them competitive. Malkin & Letang would definitely have to take nice discounts on their next contracts.
It’s really going to be sad when those 3 aren’t playing anymore.
 
LiamGallagher’sBucketHat said:
Instinctively I’d say yes. Fingers crossed that the Pens management is much smarter than the Steelers management in the transition. I don’t necessarily think the big 3 need to be forced out, but have their roles reduced while being able to bring in future talent that can still make them competitive. Malkin & Letang would definitely have to take nice discounts on their next contracts.
It’s really going to be sad when those 3 aren’t playing anymore.
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The Steelers management of this year has been horrid…. Look I like Ben, but we need a loosing season to not only be a wake up call, but to get in the top 10 to grab another QB. I miss the days of Charlie Batch! That’s a convo for a football thread though.
It’s gonna be sad to see the 3 not playing.
Crazy to think that in the world jamir jagr is still playing!
 
Detroit Red Wings forward Jakub Vrana will undergo shoulder surgery and is expected to miss at least four months, head coach Jeff Blashill announced Thursday.

Detroit acquired Vrana at last season's trade deadline in a blockbuster deal that sent Anthony Mantha to the Washington Capitals.

Vrana instantly fit into the Red Wings' top six, registering 11 points across 11 games to close out his 2020-21 campaign. He inked a three-year contract worth $15.75 million with Detroit in August.


The rebuilding Red Wings begin their regular season on Oct. 14 versus the Tampa Bay Lightning.
 
Hollywood said:
Detroit Red Wings forward Jakub Vrana will undergo shoulder surgery and is expected to miss at least four months, head coach Jeff Blashill announced Thursday.

Detroit acquired Vrana at last season's trade deadline in a blockbuster deal that sent Anthony Mantha to the Washington Capitals.

Vrana instantly fit into the Red Wings' top six, registering 11 points across 11 games to close out his 2020-21 campaign. He inked a three-year contract worth $15.75 million with Detroit in August.


The rebuilding Red Wings begin their regular season on Oct. 14 versus the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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Just read this. Man, this one hurts. I was pretty excited about what we saw in him after the Mantha trade. The Wings haven't had much good luck lately, and coupled with Holland's mismanagement over his last couple years he was here, there is still a long way to go in this rebuild.

Detroit sports are stuck in the mud. The Tigers being almost .500 this year is the best news we've had in a decade. Yikes.
 
The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed head coach Sheldon Keefe to a two-year contract extension, sources told TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

Keefe was entering the final year of his previous deal. His new contract will run through the 2023-24 campaign.

The 41-year-old took over for Mike Babcock during the 2019-20 season. In parts of two years with the Leafs, Keefe has led the team to a 62-29-12 regular-season record and a division title in 2020-21. His .660 points percentage is the best in franchise history, edging out Frank Carroll and Pat Quinn.


However, Keefe has been unable to get the team over the hump in the playoffs. Toronto lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets during the qualifying round of the 2020 postseason before collapsing in the first round of the 2021 playoffs against the Montreal Canadiens.

Prior to his NHL promotion, Keefe worked under current Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas as the head coach of the OHL's Soo Greyhounds and the AHL's Toronto Marlies. Keefe led the Marlies to a Calder Cup in 2018.
 
The Vancouver Canucks are inching closer toward signing their two key restricted free agents.

Vancouver made progress Thursday morning in contract talks with Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes' agent, sources told The Athletic's Thomas Drance.

Both players are represented by Pat Brisson of CAA Sports, according to PuckPedia.


The Canucks have $13.7 million in cap space, but they can create $3.5 million in additional flexibility if they place Micheal Ferland on long-term injured reserve, according to CapFriendly.

Pettersson, the 2019 Calder Trophy winner, recorded 21 points in 26 games during an injury-plagued 2020-21 campaign and is expected to center the team's top line.

Hughes, the Calder runner-up in 2020, amassed 41 points in 56 contests last season and is projected to anchor the club's top defense pairing.

The pair have been skating together in Michigan with Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk - another RFA holdout - to stay in game shape.
 
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