THW’s Best of the Week: 2023 Top 3 Picks on Fire, Jagr’s Number Retirement, NHL Global Series & More
A Sunday Edition of The Hockey Writers Substack
Welcome to The Hockey Writers Sunday Edition…
Our in-season Sunday Edition features the BEST OF THE WEEK throughout the NHL.
In today’s edition, we have stats from a great week for the top three picks in the 2023 NHL Draft, a number retirement upcoming in Pittsburgh, thoughts on the upcoming NHL Global Series, and much more.
Let’s dive into the Best of the Week…
A Great Week for 2023 Top 3 Overall Draft Picks
The top three picks from the 2023 NHL Draft had great individual games over the past week. First overall pick Connor Bedard had four points in the Chicago Blackhawks 5-3 win, and he now has 11 points in 12 games. Second-overall pick Leo Carlsson netted his first career hat trick in a 6-3 loss for the Anaheim Ducks, and he now has six goals in nine games. Third-overall pick Adam Fantilli had a goal and was a plus-2 in his most recent effort, and he is now up to eight points in 14 games. These three look like the next wave of NHL superstars.
Jaromir Jagr Will Have No. 68 Retired by Pittsburgh Penguins
On Feb. 18, 2024, Jaromir Jagr will become the third Pittsburgh Penguins player in history to have his number retired. He will join Mario Lemieux (66) and Michel Briere (21) in the rafters. Jagr played 11 seasons with the Penguins, scoring over 1,000 points and winning two Stanley Cups (1991 & 1992). This is a well-deserved honor for a legend of the game.
Blue Jackets’ Patrik Laine Nets 200th Career NHL Goal
Columbus Blue Jackets sniper Patrik Laine scored his 200th career NHL goal in the team’s loss to the Detroit Red Wings. It took 467 games for him to accomplish this as his goal-scoring has slowed over the past couple of seasons after 30-plus goals in his first three seasons.
NHL Global Series Begins Nov. 16 in Stockholm, Sweden
From Nov. 16 to Nov. 19, the NHL will take games to Sweden from Avicii Arena. There will be four games and four teams participating (Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Ottawa Senators).
Game schedule:
Thursday, Nov. 16: Red Wings vs. Senators (2 PM EST)
Friday, Nov. 17: Maple Leafs vs. Red Wings (2 PM EST)
Saturday, Nov. 18: Wild vs. Senators (11 AM EST)
Sunday, Nov. 19: Maple Leafs vs. Wild (8 AM EST)
Maple Leafs’ William Nylander Has Points in All 15 Games This Season
In a contract year, Maple Leafs forward William Nylander is off to a terrific start through 15 games. He is up to 10 goals, 12 assists, and 22 points on the season, helping lead Toronto in times of inconsistency. There will be a team that offers him a boatload of money in free agency when July rolls around. He’s a dynamic offensive player and that’s shown all season long.
Jets’ Kyle Connor Scores a Marvelous Goal Against Nashville
In what was quite possibly the goal of the week, Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor sped by the Nashville Predators’ blue line en route to a marvelous goal. Connor has five goals in his past three games, including a hat trick in the game against Nashville. He’s one of the best pure goal scorers in the league. He’s up to 11 goals in 14 games on the season.
We hope you enjoyed today’s THW Substack, and we hope you enjoy our “Best of the Week” Sunday Edition. Stay tuned for THW Daily as it continues tomorrow and beyond. Cheers!