The Hockey Writers Daily - August 21, 2023
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In today’s edition, we have the Penguins’ interest in Tomas Tatar, the Kraken’s top prospects, the best trades in Golden Knights history, and much more.
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Here’s the good stuff:.
Ranking Oilers’ Most Important Forwards Outside Top 6
August 20, 2023 by Sean Panganiban
The Edmonton Oilers likely have one of the NHL’s best top-six forward groups heading into the 2023-24 season. Connor Brown was the big offseason signing, and he’s expected to start in the top six, joining Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman and Evander Kane.
The Oilers are poised to take a serious run at the Stanley Cup this season, but in order to do so, they need contributions from everyone, and they can’t solely rely on their top six forwards to be the difference-makers game in and game out. With that in mind, we rank the most valuable forwards outside of the top six and the impact they can have this season.
Penguins Smart to Show Interest in Tomas Tatar
August 20, 2023 by Ben Wagner
The Pittsburgh Penguins are in the middle of one of the most fruitful offseasons in recent memory. Erik Karlsson, Noel Acciari, Lars Eller, Vinnie Hinostroza, and Andreas Johnsson are just some of the new names who will don the black and gold in 2023-24. The new president of hockey ops Kyle Dubas has already addressed many of the issues that ultimately caused the Penguins to miss the postseason for the first time in nearly two decades. As a result, FanDuel has them at +2000 to win the Stanley Cup, compared to +3500 in mid-June. Although they may not have the cap space to offer him a concrete deal, he would no doubt further improve the roster.
Panthers Looking Like They’ll Stay Competitive This Season
August 20, 2023 by Joey Ganzi
The Florida Panthers enter their 30th-anniversary campaign with a bitter taste in their mouth. They were only three wins away from claiming their first-ever Stanley Cup but lost in five games to the Vegas Golden Knights.
With that in mind, they look to get back to the dance and try once again at Lord Stanley’s holy grail. But the team will look slightly different this season after this summer.
Kraken Top 15 Prospects: 2023-24 Preseason Edition
August 20, 2023 by Adam Kierszenblat
The Seattle Kraken are starting to build a strong prospect pool. From draft picks to free-agent signings, the young players Seattle has added to its organization impressed last season. Whether these prospects eventually play for the Kraken or are used in trades, most should make a meaningful impact on the organization in one way or another. Without further ado, here is a look at the top-15 prospects in the Kraken’s system heading into the 2023-24 season.
Top 5 Golden Knights Trades in Franchise History
August 20, 2023 by Eric Cruikshank
After a team wins the Stanley Cup, it can be interesting to look back on all of the management decisions that led to the franchise taking home the greatest trophy in hockey. The Vegas Golden Knights are an even more interesting case, being an expansion team that has managed to remain competitive with each season and become one of the quickest teams to win a championship.
The famous ‘Cup in six years’ prediction from Golden Knights owner Bill Foley that was made during the unveiling of the team’s name and logo in November 2016 was said with some unexpected urgency, and it wasn’t going to happen unless they took some massive risks in the trade and free agency market.
Let’s take a look at what some of the most impactful trades have been for the Golden Knights over the past six seasons, and how it led to them hoisting the Stanley Cup.
Maple Leafs Easton Cowan: It’s Not the Size of the Dog
August 19, 2023 by The Old Prof
Easton Cowan was the Toronto Maple Leafs’ first-round selection (28th overall) from the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) London Knights in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. One of the first things that strikes you about Cowan is his youth and his size. He turned 18 years old at the end of May, and he’s only 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds.
But, as the old saying goes: “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.” The Maple Leafs believe Cowan’s determination and spirit are more important than his physical size. They believe he’s a young player with a strong will and determination who can overcome obstacles, regardless of any disadvantages he might have.
Cowan’s a young talent who’s known for his spirited hard work. Yet, he also has a smile that just seems to light up the room. Just listening to this youngster talk, he gives you the impression that he’s filled with personality and drive. He seems like a genuinely nice young man. Next, we’ll see how he’ll play.
More stuff from THW and around the NHL:
Montreal Canadiens - Canadiens’ Prospect Depth Sends Norlinder to Europe
Winnipeg Jets - “Goon” and the Winnipeg Jets 2023-24 Season
NHL News & Rumors - Canucks, Bruins, Avalanche, Predators
From TSN - Jets re-sign RFA Stanley to one-year, $1M deal
From Sportsnet - Flames Mailbag: What's next for Hanifin, Lindholm and Backlund?
From the NHL - Inside look at New York Rangers
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