We like to say that our long-term approach means that things change quickly around here. But there are a few exceptions to that rule, including big trades.
We may have seen the biggest of the year this weekend. But is it enough to shake up the rankings? We’ll find out down below, but let’s kick things off with five observations from the weekend that aren’t about the Connor Hellebuyck trade.
One of the most annoying things you can say to sportswriter is “it’s too early”.
You see it in every comment section, social media reply thread, and reader email. We hear it from friends, family, and random guys in sports bars. It’s the caveat that hangs over everything. “It’s too early,” everyone shrieks, “and you can’t draw any conclusions yet”.
It’s annoying. But not because it isn’t true.
No, it’s annoying because we know it’s true. Everyone does. But that doesn’t change the fact that it you want to talk about hockey in October, it’s going to be too early. Sure, maybe we’d all be smarter if we checked out and then circled back in February. But some of like hockey, and want to talk about it. Also, some of us need to eat.
But yes, it’s too early. And while we’d love to hand-wave that fact away, it’s actually important to remember. So today, let’s look back at what the standings were telling us at this time last season, and consider it a reminder of what “too early” can really look like.
As of last night, the NHL has played 136 games. Last season, Game number 136 was playing on October 25. Here’s what the standings looked like that day.
All rise, Rules Court is back in session.
It’s been a while. The last time we did this was during the Olympics, when we looked at the differences between international hockey and the NHL. The last time we opened the court up to your proposals was almost a full year ago. It’s time to see what cases you’d like to bring.
As always, you send us your ideas for new or adjusted NHL rules, and our panel of three esteemed judges – Shayna Goldman, Sean McIndoe and Sean Gentille – will give them a yes or no. Convince at least two of us, and your rule is sent to the league office and immediately made official. (Note: That last part does not happen.)
This time around, you want to talk shot clocks, goalie fights and mouth pieces. Let’s see how many of you could make your case.
A few years ago, I had what I thought was a neat idea: The red arrow Index, a simple measurement of how many long-term contract commitments each team had. The name came from Cap Friendly, then the most widely used contract tracker, and the way it would use a red arrow to denote any contract that was too long to fit on one screen. The idea was to see what we could learn, and what patterns (if any) we could find, and then revisit the idea annually to track how team approaches changed.
Then I forgot about it. Look, I’m not sure what to tell you, my kids showed me how to use Tik Tok a few years ago and I haven’t had an attention span since that day.
That four-year gap is going to cause a few issues, not least of which is that Cap Friendly doesn’t exist anymore. There are several strong alternatives, including Puckpedia, which I’ll be using today. Puckpedia doesn’t use a red arrow for too-long-to-fit contracts, because they hate fun and whimsy. But the general concept – player signed to deal with six years or more left to run, including this year – remains in place. So let’s see how much things have changed over the years.
We’re two weeks into the season, and it’s too early to know anything. But it’s not too early to know what you don’t know. Or at least, what you’re pretty sure you know. That you don’t know.
You know?
Cool, glad we’re all on the same page. Here are five early-season storylines that I’m not buying. Or at least, not yet.
 |
 |
The Athletic Hockey Show runs four days a week during the season, and will feature me with Other Sean Gentille on Wednesdays.
Puck Soup is a podcast featuring me and Ryan Lambert. We release one free episode each week during the season, plus mailbags and other bonus episodes for Patreon subscribers.
"Biscuits" was the Vice Sports hockey podcast, hosted by DGB and Dave Lozo. It ran for two seasons; the final episode was in July, 2018. You can find the archives below:
As of the 2018-19 season, my work will appear exclusively at The Athletic.
Don't have a subscription? You can sign up today by clicking the offer link at the bottom of my posts, or read for free with a one-week trial.
Some of my archives from other sites can be found here:
