The Hockey Writers Daily - September 12, 2023
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The Hockey Writers Daily - September 12, 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 why the Canadiens should show interest in Trevor Zegras, what new Penguins president Kyle Dubas has done this summer, early deadline trade targets for the Hurricanes, and much more.
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Here’s the good stuff…
Canadiens Should Start to Show Trade Interest in Ducks’ Zegras
September 11, 2023 by Rob Couch
The Montreal Canadiens are in a good spot right now. They have one of the richest prospect pools in the NHL and a lot of talented young players on the roster, but they are far from complete. I don’t expect this team to compete for a playoff spot, but I also think they keep themselves out of the bottom five in the league.
The team will have a ton of cap space to work with next summer, and that’s when a key addition or two could be brought in and the winning start to come. There’s one name that is very intriguing, Trevor Zegras of the Anaheim Ducks. I’ll get into why he may not be long for the Ducks, why he makes sense for the Canadiens down the line, and how they have room/assets to strike a deal.
Kyle Dubas Has Penguins Poised to Win in 2023-24
September 11, 2023 by Sylvie McCarthy
The 2022-23 season is one the Pittsburgh Penguins would rather forget. It was full of injuries and disappointing losses, and it marked the end of a 16-year playoff streak. They entered the offseason with a grocery list of to-dos and have somehow managed to check just about everything off the list. Their first move was the firing of former general manager Ron Hextall and president of hockey operations Brian Burke in April. Then on June 1, Fenway Sports Group announced the hiring of Kyle Dubas as the new president of hockey operations. Since then, Dubas has made it his mission to restore the Penguins to their former glory.
Blackhawks’ Taylor Hall Can Shape Connor Bedard’s Future
September 11, 2023 by Hunter Crowther
When NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly flipped the card revealing the Chicago Blackhawks’ logo at the Draft Lottery last May, confirming the team had secured the right to take consensus number one pick Connor Bedard, Chicago fans felt a sense of euphoria. After a 2022-23 season where the team finished near the bottom of the standings and said goodbye to two all-time franchise greats in Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, knowing that Bedard would soon be in Chicago meant good times could be on the way.
Talent needs talent in order to flourish. So when general manager Kyle Davidson traded for Taylor Hall just two days before the draft, it sent a clear message to Bedard that he would be surrounded by NHL-caliber players in his rookie season.
3 Hurricanes’ Early Trade Deadline Targets
September 11, 2023 by Tommy Bennett
It is never too early to jump ahead and think about the future. With training camp almost underway and preseason games on the horizon, the opening night rosters will be sorted out. In a long and grueling 82-game season, injuries occur, and players can come in to help fill specific needs. Here are three early trade targets for the Carolina Hurricanes for this upcoming season.
Rangers’ Zibanejad Will Have Career Season in 2023-24
September 11, 2023 by Aaron Sweeney
Over the last few seasons, the New York Rangers franchise has made waves toward becoming a powerhouse among the heavy hitters of the NHL. The front office has aimed to acquire weapons they hoped would send them back to the Stanley Cup Final, the likes of which New York hasn’t seen since their 4-1 series loss to the Los Angeles Kings in 2013-14. While the Rags’ project of trouncing back to the Final is still under construction, star centerman Mika Zibanejad has become one of the most important pieces to that puzzle.
The Swedish sniper has cemented his place among the great centers of the league, finding himself ranked alongside freak talents Tage Thompson and Aleksander Barkov. Zibanejad’s extreme offensive prowess has helped propel the Rangers into a position of power in the Metropolitan Division, feasibly placing him on the cusp of the best season he’s ever had.
Red Wings Prospect Watch: Assessing Depth, Needs & Rising Stars
September 11, 2023 by Tony Wolak
Later this week, the Detroit Red Wings will host the 24th-annual NHL Prospects Tournament in Traverse City. There, a collection of Red Wings prospects will take on their peers from the Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, and Toronto Maple Leafs.
With the tournament on the horizon and training camp following soon after, it’s a good time to re-evaluate Detroit’s prospect depth. The last time we did so was prior to the 2023 NHL Draft, which saw the Red Wings add five top-60 prospects.
More stuff from THW and around the NHL:
Vancouver Canucks - Canucks’ 3 Up, 3 Down: Captain Hughes, Lekkerimaki & More
Toronto Maple Leafs - Maple Leafs’ New Season: Deja Vu All Over Again?
NHL News & Rumors - Sabres, Islanders, Canadiens, Lightning, Rangers
From TSN - Canadiens name Matheson an alternate captain
From Sportsnet - Hughes has all the attributes to be a great captain for Canucks
From the NHL - Romanov questionable for start of Islanders training camp
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