THW NHL Prospects & Draft Substack - Oct. 12, 2023
Welcome to the THW NHL Prospects & Draft Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our great team of writers.
In today’s edition, we have a look at some Senators prospects off to a hot start, a few youngsters cracking the Sharks’ lineup, Connor Bedard’s NHL debut against Sidney Crosby, and much more!
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Now on to the good stuff…
Senators Prospect Report: Starting Up the New Season
October 11, 2023 by Dayton Reimer
It’s been a long offseason, full of questions, several of which remain unanswered even as the Ottawa Senators are mere hours away from kicking off the 2023-24 season. Spirits have never been higher. With a core of some of the best young players in the league, the playoffs feel like a guarantee; TSN’s Craig Button said as much, adding that they could be this year’s New Jersey Devils, who came from a bottom-10 finish to win a playoff series for the first time since 2011-12. Not since the departure of Erik Karlsson have fans felt such optimism, and they are not shy about sharing it.
Still, several promising players are itching to steal an NHL roster spot, and some made pretty convincing statements in training camp and the preseason. So, without further ado, here’s the Senators’ Prospect Report as we head into the new season.
Sharks’ Roster Decision Made Easy by Bordeleau & Eklund
October 11, 2023 by Alex Hutton
There are less than 48 hours to go until the San Jose Sharks open their 2023-24 season against the Vegas Golden Knights, and we now know who will be available for that game. The release of the team’s opening night roster ended all of the discussion and conjecturing, and the team now looks ahead to playing games that count in the standings.
Of all 23 names on the list, by far the most notable inclusions are forwards William Eklund and Thomas Bordeleau. The two youngsters were certainly not guaranteed opening night NHL spots when training camp began — but thanks to their play, the organization had no choice but to make them a part of the team.
Blues Make Right Call Sending Bolduc & Dean to Springfield
October 11, 2023 by Mike Meyer
The St. Louis Blues are ready to drop the puck on the opening to the 2023-24 season. Despite the number of veteran forwards on the roster, fans were seemingly excited for the opportunity to see one or two of the team’s top prospects, Zachary Bolduc and Zach Dean make the opening night roster.
To little surprise, the Blues opted to send both to the American Hockey League (AHL) to start the season with the Springfield Thunderbirds.
Penguins Crosby Vs. Blackhawks Bedard: Passing the Torch
October 10, 2023 by The Old Prof
Everyone’s excited that the NHL’s regular season is about to kick off. I’m already looking ahead at what games will be on my own agenda. However, Chicago Blackhawks fans should be even more excited than most. They get to see their new young superstar (is there a doubt?) Connor Bedard in regular season game action.
Even better, the hockey gods have worked their magic to make things more exciting for Pittsburgh Penguins fans as well. In the first game of the season on their home ice, they get to see a brand-new version of the Blackhawks, led by this young talent. Bedard is set to make his NHL debut against none other than Sidney Crosby and the Penguins. All this takes place on Wednesday night. It promises to be a must-watch game for all NHL fans – regardless of their own favorite team.
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