The Hockey Writers Daily - September 5, 2023
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Welcome to The Hockey Writers Daily
In today’s edition, we have the likeliest Canadiens to win awards this season, the top goalie prospects in the league, obscure Flyers’ records, a possible Patrick Kane destination, and much more.
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Here’s the good stuff…
Likeliest Canadiens to Win NHL Awards in 2023-24
September 4, 2023 by Ryan Szporer
Dare to dream, if you’re a Montreal Canadiens fan heading into the 2023-24 season. Sure, the playoffs are probably outside the team’s reach, but that doesn’t preclude individual Habs from putting together extraordinary seasons. Simple physics do.
So, yes, the playoffs are an unlikelihood, to be kind. However, one thing is for sure: If the Canadiens do accomplish the supposedly impossible, it’s going to be on the strength of some extraordinary individual seasons, as unlikely as they are in their own right, as much as they wouldn’t guarantee much in terms of the team’s success all on their own. With that here are the top five likeliest Habs to capture NHL awards in 2023-24 for your bedtime-reading pleasure:
Comparing the Jets’ Bottom-Six to the Best of the NHL
September 4, 2023 by Hunter Tycholis
The Winnipeg Jets enter the 2023-24 season with something to prove having consistently boasted a potent offensive attack led by their top-six forwards. While they are usually known for their offensively talented top-six, this past season showed everyone that depth in the bottom-six is what propelled the Vegas Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup championship. In this article, I’m going to dissect the Jets’ bottom-six and compare it to the other premier bottom-sixes in the NHL. For reference, I think they currently possess the sixth-best in the NHL.
The Top 10 NHL Goalie Prospects
September 4, 2023 by Matthew Zator
Drafting and developing a franchise goaltender is a tough thing to do. It is made so difficult because there is a set learning curve at the position. Traditionally, netminders develop at a much slower pace than skaters. When the mental part of the game is factored in, it is no wonder that so many top prospects never hit the big time. With that being said, it is time to take a look at the top 10 NHL goaltending prospects.
7 Most Obscure Philadelphia Flyers’ Records
September 4, 2023 by Justin Giampietro
Over the course of the Philadelphia Flyers’ history, there have been many odd and all but unbreakable records set. Some of them, like Dave “The Hammer” Schultz’s 472 penalty minutes are essentially unbreakable, yet pretty well known. But which records are the craziest?
3 Predictions for Oilers’ Connor Brown in 2023-24
September 4, 2023 by Sean Panganiban
The Edmonton Oilers’ faithful have plenty to be thrilled about with Connor Brown, including the past chemistry he’s shown with superstar Connor McDavid. Almost a decade ago, the duo combined for 227 points as linemates, and fans are eager to see if the pair can replicate that same chemistry this season. But stay tuned, as you’ll find out later in this article on which centerman I feel he’ll play most with in 2023-24.
Brown was out almost all of last season due to a knee injury; however, with a new chapter ahead of him, we’ve outlined three predictions for the new forward for this season.
Should Maple Leafs Consider Signing Patrick Kane?
September 4, 2023 by Peter Baracchini
The Toronto Maple Leafs had a busy offseason in regards to re-tooling their roster, making the necessary moves in order to make this team more difficult to play against. The additions of Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi and Ryan Reaves certainly show that change in mentality. They have the skill but also have the drive to win and make life difficult for the opposition.
It’s always possible as many teams would line up for his skillset. He’s been an elite level player with the Chicago Blackhawks before being traded to the New York Rangers– winning three Stanley Cups and being the 2015-16 MVP– but adding him to the Maple Leafs should be taken in stride.
More stuff from THW and around the NHL:
Minnesota Wild - 4 Minnesota Wild Projections Missed by ESPN
New York Rangers - Rangers Should Lock In Lindgren’s Extension Early This Season
NHL News & Rumors - Jets, Maple Leafs, Bruins, Canucks, Oilers
From TSN - Kraken sign F Shore to one-year, $775K contract
From Sportsnet - Minnesota wins lottery, will select first in PWHL player draft
From the NHL - Brad Maxwell dies at 66, played 10 seasons in NHL
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!