Running NHL 2023-24 regular season thread

Season starts tonight. Also, it was just announced Barry Melrose has Parkinson’s.

 

ESPN's Melrose has Parkinson's disease, retiring

 

Can't remember the last time I've been less excited for a season opener. The Caps are mediocre and the Ovechkin goal chase is the only thing to get excited about for the next two seasons. It's a good thing they won that title in 2018 because the entire narrative around this chase would have been different otherwise, just an old guy with no chance to win anything chasing down a record.

 

Looks like hockey will be starting earlier than expected for me. I usually don't get truly invested until the Dodgers are out, which looks like it will be around the same time tomorrow that the Kings face off with the Avs in their opener.

I'm optimistic that the Kings can finally get past the first round, but their goaltending is shaky and they are up against the cap, which could come into play if they need to add players.

 

Why exactly are the Bolts and Preds playing to start prime time in Newfoundland?

 

So Crosby/Bedard isn’t up against anything?

 

Awful. Not a huge puckhead, but I always enjoyed his commentary and charisma. Just seems like a genuinely good dude. Good luck to him.

 

You need to find the clip on Twitter of Gretzky narrating a clip for Melrose.
Very well done.

 

Just awful. I met him once when he sat at my table to eat before the Stanley Cup Game 6 in San Jose. Was such a great guy to talk to. Just wish him and guess family nothing but the best.

 

ESPN set up a tripleheader. The nightcap from Vegas just ended in the last 15 minutes (it’s nearly 1 a.m. CT). I’m guessing there may have been a bit of a production before the Golden Knights raised their Stanley Cup banner.

 

The game was scheduled to start at 7:30, it started at 8:15. But maybe they didn't realize that because there are no clocks in Las Vegas.

 

Championship banner pulled from a giant slot machine after it hit three Stanley Cups, so, yeah.