Is the weather turning? Feels like it, which makes sense since we’re less than three weeks away from the Vancouver Canucks Young Stars Classic weekend against the Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, and Calgary Flames in Penticton starting September 16th. Vancouver Canucks training camp then cranks up in Whistler a week later.
As we count down to hockey season…
Let’s Skate!
— Detroit Hockey Now: Wow, based on a conversation he had on a Saskatchewan radio station, Mike Babcock is retiring from coaching. Babcock had a 17-season NHL career as a head coach with the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs, winning a Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008 and two Olympic Gold Medals with Team Canada in 2010 and 2014. He coached the Saskatchewan Huskies university team last season.
‘Babs’ says he’s done at age-59. I sense if the right NHL offer came along…
Fun Out East
— Philly Hockey Now: I consider this just more fuel to the fire in the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers intra-Pennsylvania rivalry. Somehow, he bled Flyers black and orange, but Ron Hextall is now into his second full year as Penguins GM. What did he leave behind in Philly? According to Sam Carchidi, as it relates to draft picks while running the Flyers… not much. As GM of the Flyers, Hextall came up short on too many first-round picks, and Sam goes into detail. Philadelphia Flyers.
— Washington Hockey Now: Capitals forward Tom Wilson got married. This amounts to our version of the New York Post’s infamous ‘Page 6’. Not a gossip column; call it our society page. Washington Capitals.
— Florida Hockey Now: I’m just gonna suggest that 95% of the people on hand can’t pronounce his name and 99.5% of them can’t spell it, but Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe will be Sunday’s grand marshal for the Coke Zero 400 NASCAR race at Daytona. Florida Panthers.
Wild Out West
Colorado Hockey Now: Super cool; Nazem Kadri became the first player to take the Stanley Cup to a mosque. Colorado Avalanche.
San Jose Hockey Now: Could ‘Jumbo’ return to NoCal for a curtain call? Joe Thornton in San Jose? What about Evan Rodrigues? Taking a gander at the Sharks potential interest in any of the remaining free agents? San Jose Sharks.
Have a delightful Sunday!