Hockey
The National Hockey League is only a few games
into the season but there is plenty for hockey fans
to get excited about. Alexander Ovechkin and the
defending champion Washington Capitals return
nearly every player from their championshipwinning
roster, but they will be led by new head
coach Todd Reirden. Their opponent in the Stanley
Cup was the biggest story of last season, however,
as the Vegas Golden Knights caught everybody
off guard in the expansion team’s first season in
existence. While the Capitals hope to repeat their
title, the Golden Knights should be able to prove
that last year wasn’t a flash in the pan.
Elsewhere in the league, familiar faces in
new places will likely shake up the balance
of contenders. Center John Tavares joined his
hometown Toronto Maple Leafs to the tune of $77
million and makes that team a threat to make a
Photo via Shutterstock
title run. Defenseman Erik Karlsson was traded
from the Ottawa Senators to the San Jose
Sharks and is in the final year of his contract
looking to cash in during the next offseason.
In New York, the Islanders are starting fresh
behind the veteran leadership of three-time
Stanley Cup winner Lou Lamoriello at general
manager and head coach Barry Trotz who led
the Capitals to the cup last year.
But all eyes will likely be on Ilya Kovalchuk
as the 35-year-old makes his return to the
league with the Los Angeles Kings. Kovalchuk
spent the last five years of his career playing
in the Kontinental Hockey League overseas
before returning to sign a three-year contract
in Los Angeles. With 417 goals and 319 assists
in his NHL career, the savvy veteran will try to
return to his old form.
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