The Hockey Writers Daily - July 17, 2023
A daily Substack newsletter with all the best content from The Hockey Writers
Welcome to The Hockey Writers Daily
In today’s edition we have the Senators’ options to replace DeBrincat, the Avalanche roster with the Byram deal, the Canucks’ Carson Soucy, a look ahead at Lucas Raymond’s season in Detroit, and much more.
It would be great if you’d share the THW Daily with your friends and family so that they can subscribe and enjoy everyday.
Here’s the good stuff:.
Senators Can Target Flyers’ Konecny as DeBrincat Replacement
The offseason has already been eventful for the Ottawa Senators but the headlines keep piling up. This week, the team dealt forward Alex DeBrincat to the Detroit Red Wings for a package including a 2024 conditional first-round pick and former Calder Trophy finalist Dominik Kubalik. With the DeBrincat saga over now, the team can focus on finding a player to fill his top-six role.
A few quality players have been made available for trade around the league that the Sens should look at to fill DeBrincat’s top-six role. One of the most intriguing players certainly is Philadelphia Flyers winger Travis Konecny. In this article, I will discuss the pros and the cons of Dorion making a move for the former Ottawa 67’s player, and what to consider when doing so.
Top Canadiens Options to Replace Edmundson as Alternate Captain
Many analysts successfully predicted an offseason Montreal Canadiens Joel Edmundson trade. It doesn’t take one to predict an eventual replacement for the ex-Hab to (try to) fill his jersey as an alternate captain.
Now only Nick Suzuki and Brendan Gallagher have letters on their jersey, with “one captain and no more than two alternate captains” permitted according to Rule 6.1. So, it stands to reason at least one more Canadiens players will adorn an “A” in 2023-24 (with several more having worn the letter in recent past seasons due to injuries and trades).
So, who will the Canadiens choose? Looking at the best fits in terms of stereotypical leadership qualities, current age and projected remaining tenures with the Habs, here are their top five options.
Avalanche: Byram Contract Could Force Trade on Blue Line
Though several notable free agents remain on the market, the Colorado Avalanche have taken care of their most important pieces of offseason business, including acquiring a second-line center in Ryan Johansen. Arguably the most significant transaction took place on July 1, when the Avalanche and 22-year-old defenseman Bowen Byram agreed to a two-year contract carrying an average annual value (AAV) of $3.85 million.
Let’s dive into what the contract could mean for Byram’s future with the Avalanche, and how it could have significant ramifications on the rest of the Avalanche’s roster going forward, particularly on the blue line.
Canucks: 5 Cool Things About Carson Soucy
Signed to a three-year deal by the Vancouver Canucks on the opening day of free agency, Carson Soucy brings plenty of experience and physicality to Vancouver’s lineup. The 6-foot-5, left-shot defenceman played the last two seasons with the Seattle Kraken and brings 650 games of experience to the Canucks’ blue line. Here are five fun facts about Vancouver’s newest defender.
Oilers’ Loss of Curtis Joseph in Free-Agency Rocked Franchise
Curtis Joseph’s Edmonton Oilers debut, on Jan. 13, 1996, was a transformative moment for the franchise.
Likewise, his exit from Edmonton, coming exactly two and a half years later, on July 15, 1998, was an earth-shaking event for the Oilers.
On the 25th anniversary of Joseph playing his first game with the Oilers, we explored how it marked Edmonton’s ascension from the bottom of the standings back toward the playoffs, helping to re-engage fans at a pivotal moment in franchise history.
And now on the 25th anniversary of Joseph signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs, we explore how it epitomized Edmonton’s plight as a small market team who could have nice things only up to a certain point.
Red Wings 2023-24 Player Preview: Lucas Raymond
Let’s be honest here: Lucas Raymond did not have the sophomore season anyone was hoping he would have. For him, the 2022-23 season was a learning experience.
“I feel like this year was a little bit different for me,” Raymond told the media following the end of the Detroit Red Wings’ season. “I think I grew a lot on the ice and off the ice as well….you just learn a lot about yourself.”
After a successful rookie season that saw him finish fourth in the Rookie of the Year race, Raymond came back down to Earth in his sophomore season. He recorded six fewer goals and 12 fewer points in his second season, finishing with 17 goals and 45 points in 74 games.
More stuff from THW and around the NHL:
Toronto Maple Leafs - Nylander Doesn’t Deserve Criticism for Salary Ask
Boston Bruins - He’s Back…Lucic’s Most Memorable Moments With the Bruins
New Jersey Devils - Devils Development Camp News & Notes
From TSN - Declining performance leaves Dumba feeling contract squeeze
From Sportsnet - Marner, Tavares talk Matthews, Nylander's contract uncertainty
From the NHL - Panthers add Ekman-Larsson to bolster defense corps
We hope you enjoyed today’s THW Daily, and we hope to expand our daily offerings as we develop and experiment with this new platform. Cheers!