NHL Preview

The 2014-15 NHL season seems to be very promising for some fans, but for others, not so much. After a back-to-back Stanley Cup win for the Los Angeles Kings, led by Ithaca native, Dustin Brown, the team isn’t predicted to go for the three-peat like so many analysts thought at the end of last season.

This year the Tampa Bay Lightning team is predicted to win it all for the second time since their establishment. After being swept out in the first round last year of the playoffs, by the Montreal Canadiens, they are ready to go all the way. (This season they beat the Canadiens 7-1, on Columbus day.) Captain Steven Stamkos had a hat trick against Montreal (his ninth of his career). A hat trick is when a player scores three goals in a game.

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the NHL, will most likely be awarded to Stamkos, who had an excellent season last year, with the exception of an injury late in the season. He looks to have a even better season this year.

The Rookie of the Year, also known as the Calder Cup Award, is favored to go to Jonathan Drouin – a member of Tampa Bay’s team that was the third pick of the 2013 NHL Draft. He is currently playing for the local hockey team, the Syracuse Crunch – the affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Drouin, only 19 years old, has a full career in front of him. Last year, Drouin played for the Halifax Mooseheads in the Junior Hockey League, leading the league in assists with 79 in total. In the two games he’s played this year, he’s already had one goal and two assists.

Drouin was a fan favorite at the Syracuse Crunch Shootout Show, which is hosted in the basement of the War Memorial by radio broadcaster, Dan D’Uva. When Drouin walked in, the room erupted with cheering. D’Uva said to me, “This is the biggest crowd we’ve had down here since the Calder Cup Playoffs which took place a couple of years ago.

Unfortunately, the attempt to get an interview in with Jonathan Drouin failed. Due to his exceptional talent, and he was sent back to the NHL very fast.

Moving back to the NHL, predicted to lose in the Stanley Cup are the Chicago Blackhawks, who won the cup only two years ago. They are to make it close, but lose it in the last 60 minutes of the season.

There have been many notable injuries at the beginning of this season, a majority coming from the Carolina Hurricanes. Injuries have knocked many seasons right to the curb. This year, many teams have had one or two season-ending injuries this early in the season.

The Buffalo Sabres will also get a lot more attention this year because of the funding they are receiving due to the owner buying the NFL team, the Buffalo Bills. More funding is to be coming in for both teams.

Overall, the season looks to be a good one. For many Southern hockey fans (and the few from the North), this season looks promising from the Tampa Bay Lightning as they look to knock the wind out of the windy city, during the Stanley Cup finals.