THW Daily - Predicting Sidney Crosby's Next Contract & Oilers' Odd Waiver Moves
Also, Bedard compared to Crosby and McDavid, 60-goal scorers for 2023-24 & more
Welcome to The Hockey Writers Daily
In today’s edition, we have a look at what Crosby’s next deal could look like, the state of the Habs roster, possible 60-goal scorers for 2023-24, and much more.
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Here’s the good stuff…
Penguins Roster Rebuild: Predicting Sidney Crosby’s Next Contract
October 8, 2023 by Mike Cranwell
With Crosby’s legendary focus, can you imagine if he decided to turn himself into a world-class shadow at the end of his career? Two parts Guy Carbonneau, one part Bob Gainey, and a dash of the incomparable Esa Tikkanen – Crosby would be worth every bit of whatever he’d ask for.
What though, would Crosby ask for in what would be his last major contract that has him approaching Tom Brady levels of longevity? And for that matter, what might the Penguins of 2025-26 look like? Let’s look at both because I can only talk about the greatness of Radim Zohorna so much.
Comparing Connor Bedard to Sidney Crosby & Connor McDavid
October 8, 2023 by Michael Golden
All aboard the hype train! Connor Bedard is nearing his NHL debut. He has been billed as the next big hockey superstar since he was a young teen, and his professional career is finally about to begin. Young players who receive this much media attention are under a mountain of pressure, but the great ones always seem to deliver.
Will Bedard live up to expectations right out of the gate? The best way to predict the future is to look at the past. The last two players considered generational talents are Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid. What does Bedard have in common with these two superstars? Will he follow in their footsteps with a fantastic rookie season? I’ll attempt to answer those questions today.
Explaining the Oilers Odd Waiver Moves On Sunday
October 8, 2023 by Jim Parsons
In an unexpected turn of events, the Edmonton Oilers made some surprising waiver decisions on Sunday, raising eyebrows and concerns among a section of the fan base. The team placed Raphael Lavoie, Ben Gleason, and Lane Pederson on waivers, prompting a wave of reactions from the hockey community. While some fans are expressing frustration and fear over these moves, the Oilers had little choice but to take this risk due to their current roster situation.
Untimely injuries and the salary cap greatly affected what the Oilers did. Fans don’t have to like it, but they should probably try to understand it before losing their collective minds. In fact, there’s a pretty good chance all three players will clear, making this nervousness unnecessary.
Top 5 Players With 60-Goal Potential for 2023-24 Season
October 7, 2023 by Michael DeRosa
Scoring 60 goals in the NHL is an outstanding accomplishment that only the best of snipers can do. Heading into the 2023-24 season, there are five players who have the best odds to hit the 60-goal milestone. Let’s discuss each of them now and why they should not be ruled out to hit the mark.
Canadiens’ Roster Choices Made with Rebuild, Not Playoffs in Mind
October 8, 2023 by Blain Potvin
The 2023-24 training camp is coming to a close, with the Montreal Canadiens still holding 27 players on their roster. That leaves them some difficult choices heading into the Oct. 9 deadline prior to when NHL teams must widdle down their rosters to 23 players or less and be cap compliant. That means a handful of cuts are still coming, but not before those on the bubble get a chance to show one last time if they belong as the Habs face the Ottawa Senators to finish off their preseason schedule.
The decisions made by general manager (GM) Kent Hughes and his management and coaching group will tell a story. For those willing to read between the lines of the press releases, they’ll see where the Canadiens rebuild plan stands, and what stage they are in.
Flames: Markstrom’s Preseason Struggles a Cause for Concern
October 8, 2023 by Rupert McDonald
The success of the Calgary Flames this coming season largely lies in the hands of Jacob Markstrom. Through three seasons in Cowtown since signing a six-year, $36 million deal, he has had long stretches of brilliance, and some equally long stretches of poor play. As for what he will provide in 2023-24, it is extremely hard to predict.
This offseason, there was plenty of optimism amongst Flames fans that Markstrom would bounce back. That optimism was shared in the team as well, as several players played far below expectations last season. While fan optimism remains high regarding a number of players bouncing back, however, it has already decreased when it comes to Markstrom.
More stuff from THW and around the NHL:
Philadelphia Flyers - What Flyers’ Success Could Look Like in 2023-24
Colorado Avalanche - 5 Predictions for Avalanche’s Newest Members
NHL News & Rumors - Canucks, Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Lightning, Red Wings
From TSN - Leafs eager to take next step after summer of change: 'It's a serious group'
From Sportsnet - What we think we know about every team in the NHL's Pacific Division
From the NHL - Lafferty traded to Canucks by Maple Leafs for 5th-round pick in 2024 NHL Draft
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