The Hockey Offseason Thread

Well this is a good start to the offseason

Don't know how to post the actual tweet but here's what Goodrow said in reply.

"You try going through what we went through, not seeing our families for months, living in a hotel for 60+ days, 24 teams that had a chance, no home advantage for either team, but hey, say what you want"

I would think being isolated in a bubble after a Month would start draining the team mentally let alone the restrictions on daily life to basically zero. To endure over two months in that situation would drive most people crazy. I wonder if any of those players ever tried to sneak out on the town at night and got caught. We may never know

"Anyone who's ever won a Cup will tell you that, if you win the Cup, you've got to be lucky and you've got to be healthy, that's why I'm proud of our players. They gave us everything they could. Was there enough in the tank tonight? No, there wasn't. But it's a credit to them. It's a credit to our players, with everything that we've been through, to get to Game 6."

-Rick Bowness, head coach of the Dallas Stars.

via the NHL PR department,



The Lightning defeated the Stars in Game 6 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Final to end an unprecedented postseason that started with players arriving in hub cities of Toronto and Edmonton on July 26 and ended with Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos hoisting the Stanley Cup surrounded by teammates on Sept. 28 – nearly one year after the 2019-20 season began on Oct. 2, 2019.



A closer look at the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs and Stanley Cup Qualifiers:



33,394 – Total number of COVID-19 tests administered to 52-member Club traveling staff, including Players, during Phase 4 (July 26 - September 28) of the NHL’s Return to Play plan, with zero positive results.



20,000 – Iced Capps handed out by Tim Hortons inside the secure zones in Toronto and Edmonton along with 50,000+ cups of coffee and over 40,000 baked goods.





1,452 – Total number of League and Club personnel who stayed in the “bubble” secure zones.







1,042 – Total hours of Stanley Cup Playoffs broadcast coverage by NBC, Sportsnet and TVA Sports.







800+ – Number of Zoom media availabilities conducted since players arrived in the secure zone including pre-game, post-game, off-day and NHL Awards winners.







558 – Number of players across the 24 teams who played in at least one game of the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers and 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including 121 who made their postseason debut. Two of those to debut did so in the Stanley Cup Final: Dallas’ Nick Caamano (Game 3) and Tampa Bay’s Alexander Volkov (Game 6).





413:42 – Total time (in minutes and seconds) of overtime contested by all teams during the 2020 postseason, including the fourth-longest game in NHL history between the Lightning and Blue Jackets in Game 1 of the First Round (5OT; 90:27 of extra time).





363 – Number of days between the puck drop on opening night of the 2019-20 regular season on Oct. 2, 2019 and awarding the Lightning the Stanley Cup on Sept. 28, 2020.





343:31:00 – Total duration (in hours, minutes and seconds) of the 130 games of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.





221:14 – Total time (in minutes and seconds) of Playoff overtime played by the Lightning, the most of any team in NHL history.







201 – Number of days between the pause of the NHL season on March 12 and the awarding of the Stanley Cup on Sept. 28.







130 – Number of games contested since the NHL returned with the first game of the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers on Aug. 1, including 75 in Edmonton and 55 in Toronto.





85 – Number of saves made by Columbus goaltender Joonas Korpisalo in a 5OT loss to Tampa Bay in the First Round, the highest single-game total since 1955-56 when the League began tracking the statistic consistently.







65 – Number of days from the arrival of the teams to the hub cities on July 26 and the Lightning raising the Stanley Cup on Sept. 28.







57 – Total goals scored in the Second Round series between the Avalanche and Stars – the sixth-highest scoring series in NHL history.







34 – Points by Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov (7-27—34), the most of any player in the 2020 postseason and the second-highest total by any skater over the last 20 years (Evgeni Malkin: 14-22—36 in 2009).



26 – Points recorded by Dallas’ Miro Heiskanen (6-20—26) to lead all defensemen in the 2020 postseason. Only three blueliners have recorded more points in a single postseason.







24 – Members of the Lightning to win their first Stanley Cup, all but Pat Maroon who also won in 2019 with the Blues.







14 – Goals scored by Lightning forward Brayden Point to lead all players and set a new franchise record for most goals in a single postseason.



10 – Goals by Conn Smythe Trophy winner Victor Hedman, one of three defensemen in NHL history to reach double digits in a single postseason joining Paul Coffey (12 in 1985) and Brian Leetch (11 in 1994).



10 – Number of defensemen, including Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman, who have won the Conn Smythe Trophy. Eight of the previous winners on that list are members of the Hockey Hall of Fame and the other, Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith, was named among the 100 Greatest NHL Players.



9 – Number of times a player has won the Stanley Cup in consecutive seasons with different teams, including Pat Maroon in 2020 with the Lightning and 2019 with the Blues.



3 – Goals scored by Dallas rookie Joel Kiviranta in Game 7 of the Second Round against Colorado, the seventh Game 7 hat trick in NHL history and first since Wayne Gretzky in 1993.







2 – Stanley Cups won by the Lightning (2020 and 2004). Tampa Bay is the only team to debut in the NHL in the 1990s or later to win multiple championships.





1 – Goal scored by Lightning captain Steven Stamkos in 2:47 of playing time in the 2020 postseason, all in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.







0 – Best-of-seven sweeps in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth time since 1987, when the best-of-seven format was adapted for all four rounds (also 2016, 2002 and 1991).

It is going to so weird to not have games in the fall. Nuts.

This was posted below in a different thread. Thoughts?

What does everyone think about next season?

Starting date? How many games? Fans in attendance? What conditions needed for attending games in person? A truncated start in bubble cities gradually opening to more arenas as conditions permit?

Personally I think that in house attendance should wait upon a safe and effective vaccine. But I'm very curious to see what the Sharks fan community thinks.

In some ways, it may have been more difficult. Isolation can have serious affects on people. Either way, pretty ignorant statement. 

NEW YORK, September 30, 2020 – The New York Rangers announced today that the team has bought out the final year of goaltender Henrik Lundqvist’s contract.



“Few players have been as important to the Rangers franchise as Henrik Lundqvist, and we are incredibly grateful for all he has done for our organization,” said James L. Dolan, Executive Chairman, MSG Sports. “Over his 15-year tenure, he not only established himself as one of the best goaltenders to ever play the game, he has also been one of hockey’s fiercest competitors and most effective ambassadors. He will always be a part of the Rangers family.”



“We would like to thank Henrik for his immeasurable contributions to the New York Rangers,” Rangers President and Alternate Governor John Davidson said. “From the time I met Henrik when he first came to New York in 2005, he has been the consummate professional. His tireless work ethic, passion for the game, and love of the Rangers and New York City enabled him to become one of the greatest goaltenders in hockey and one of the best players in the history of our franchise. We all wish Henrik and his family the best going forward.”



A Fierce Competitor



Lundqvist appeared in 887 career games with the Rangers over 15 seasons (2005-06 – 2019-20), posting a 459-310-96 record, along with a 2.43 GAA, a .918 SV%, and 64 shutouts. He leaves the Blueshirts holding over 50 franchise records, including all-time records for wins, appearances by a goaltender, shutouts, save percentage (min. 75 appearances), playoff appearances (by either a skater or goaltender – 130), playoff wins (61), playoff shutouts (10), and playoff save percentage (min. 10 appearances – .921). Lundqvist won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s Best Goaltender in 2011-12, and was a finalist for the award in four other seasons throughout his tenure with the Rangers (2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2012-13). A five-time NHL All-Star (2009, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019), Lundqvist was named to the NHL’s First All-Star Team in 2011-12, the NHL’s Second All-Star Team in 2012-13, and the NHL’s All-Rookie Team in 2005-06.



Upon Lundqvist’s arrival to the NHL, the Rangers made the playoffs 11 times in a 12-season span from 2005-06 through 2016-17. The Rangers were not eliminated from playoff contention entering a game in 880 of Lundqvist’s 887 career regular season appearances with the team, including each of his first 801 career regular season appearances.



Lundqvist ranks 6th on the NHL’s all-time wins list, 8th on the NHL’s all-time appearances list, and 16th on the league’s all-time shutouts list. Lundqvist’s 459 career wins and 887 career appearances with the Rangers are the second-most a goaltender has recorded with one franchise in NHL history (trailing only Martin Brodeur with New Jersey). Lundqvist has earned more career NHL wins than any other non-North American born goaltender, and he also reached the 400-win plateau faster than any other goaltender in league history (727 appearances). He earned 30 or more wins in 11 different seasons in his NHL career, and is one of only three goaltenders in league history who posted 11 or more 30-win seasons (along with Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy). Lundqvist is also the only NHL goaltender who earned 30 or more wins in each of his first seven seasons, as well as the only NHL goaltender who earned 30 or more wins in 11 of his first 12 seasons. He earned 20 or more wins in each of his first 13 NHL seasons, becoming the first goaltender in NHL history to earn 20 or more wins in 13 consecutive seasons to begin a career, as well as the first goaltender in league history to register 13 consecutive 20-win seasons at any point in a career. Since the NHL began to track save percentage in 1955-56, Lundqvist is one of only three goaltenders to have eight seasons with a .920 SV% or better (along with Dominik Hasek and Roberto Luongo), as well as the only goaltender to have seven consecutive seasons with a .920 SV% or better. In addition, he is the only goaltender in league history who has posted a 2.50 GAA or better in each of his first 11 NHL seasons. During his tenure, Lundqvist appeared in 462 games which the Rangers won (he earned the win in 459 of those games, along with three no-decisions). The only players who have appeared in more games which the Rangers have won in franchise history are Brian Leetch (515), Rod Gilbert (487), and Marc Staal (471).



During Lundqvist’s time with the Rangers, the team advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in 2013-14, advanced to the Eastern Conference Final three times in a four-year span (2011-12, 2013-14, 2014-15), and won 11 different playoff series. Lundqvist started/appeared in 130 of the 132 postseason games the Rangers played over this period, including 129 consecutive postseason games from Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against New Jersey in 2006 to Game 2 of the Qualifying Round against Carolina in 2020. Lundqvist’s 129 consecutive postseason starts were the third-most by a goaltender in NHL history (trailing only Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy). Lundqvist posted a 6-2 record, along with a 1.11 GAA, a .961 SV% (224 saves on 233 shots), and one shutout in eight career appearances in Game 7 of a playoff series, allowing two goals or fewer in all eight appearances. Lundqvist’s six Game 7 wins are tied for the most in NHL history (along with Brodeur and Roy), and he is the only goaltender in NHL history to win six consecutive Game 7s. From the start of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs through Game 6 of the 2015 Eastern Conference Final against Tampa Bay, Lundqvist posted a 15-3 record, along with a 1.47 GAA, a .954 SV%, and two shutouts in 18 playoff games where the Rangers faced elimination, including a 6-0 record, along with a 0.81 GAA, a .973 SV%, and one shutout in the six Game 7s he played over the span. In addition, he helped the Rangers win 10 consecutive playoff games when facing elimination at home between 2008 and 2015 (an NHL record), and he posted a 0.96 GAA, a .968 SV%, and two shutouts in those 10 contests.



Lundqvist earned numerous team awards during his 15 seasons with the Rangers. He was named the team’s Most Valuable Player in nine different seasons, including seven consecutive seasons from 2006-07 – 2012-13; his nine Rangers MVP awards and seven consecutive Rangers MVP Awards are both the most in franchise history. Lundqvist was twice named the winner of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award (2005-06 and 2017-18), which is presented annually to the Ranger who, as chosen by the fans, “goes above and beyond the call of duty.” Lundqvist also received the Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award as the Rangers’ Best Rookie in Training Camp (2005), the John Halligan Good Guy Award for cooperation with the media (2007-08), the Rangers Fan Club Frank Boucher Trophy as the team’s Most Popular Player on and off the ice (2006-07 and 2009-10), the Rangers Fan Club Rookie of the Year (2005-06), and the Rangers Fan Club Ceil Saidel Memorial Award for dedication to the organization on and off the ice (2005-06 and 2008-09) during his tenure with the Rangers. Lundqvist was also named a finalist for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in both 2018-19 and 2019-20; the King Clancy Memorial Trophy is awarded annually “to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”



The Are, Sweden native was originally selected by the Rangers in the seventh round, 205th overall, of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.







A True Ambassador



Over his 15 seasons with the Rangers, Lundqvist not only established himself as one of the greatest players in franchise history, but also as an exceptional ambassador in the New York Metropolitan Area off the ice. In April of 2014, Henrik and his wife, Therese, founded the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation (HLF). Through its fundraising efforts and community outreach, HLF strives to create positive change in the lives of children and adults throughout the world through education and health services. Since its inception, HLF has directed more than $3.2 million to charitable partners in New York City, Sweden and the Dominican Republic, as well as its own program, the HLF Young Ambassador Program. In addition, HLF has directly given grants and made commitments of over $1.5 million supporting children’s health and education.



Through the HLF Young Ambassadors Program, which was created in 2015, Henrik has helped inspire young people to make a difference in the world. The Program is open to young women and men ages 12-18 who reside in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut, and over a nine-month period, requires Young Ambassadors to complete 15 hours of community service, organize one independent service project in support of HLF’s mission, team up with HLF on a service project, and make a presentation to his/her class, team or other community group about HLF’s mission and his/her work as an HLFYA.



Lundqvist became the official spokesperson for the Garden of Dreams Foundation (GDF) in January of 2009. In 2012, he received the Garden of Dreams Hero Award, which annually honors a person or organization who embodies the spirit and commitment of the Foundation, with active, on-going dedication to children facing obstacles. Over his final six seasons with the Rangers, Lundqvist hosted approximately 1,450 children from various Garden of Dreams partner organizations and their families in “Henrik’s Crease” for a Rangers game experience at MSG, courtesy of donations from HLF. Lundqvist’s support and active involvement helped the Garden of Dreams Foundation raise $650,000 during the 2019-20 season, including over $330,000 during the Rangers’ annual Casino Night.

San Jose Sharks
The Sharks were a total mess this year but they still have a good amount of talent on the roster and could be in line for a bounce-back campaign in 2021, especially if they can get solid goaltending -- something that has been hard to come by over the past few years. With Aaron Dell's contract expiring, Lundqvist might be a decent option to pair with Martin Jones if the Sharks are looking to get back into the hunt immediately. Plus, Hank in California seems like a natural fit.

Ha Ha Ha!

It's a bit ironic that I was about to go back to attending games in person after more or less a 2+-year absence, and then COVID came and killed that. 

I think there will be limited crowds by the time the season starts up in January.  It will have to be abridged (40 games with some room for potential stoppages), and most likely will have multiple bubbles to ensure the safety of the players.  The NHL will have to figure out a way to compensate non-bubble cities, and I doubt the bubbles will continue much past the 2021 season. 

I definitely believe in-house attendance in some form will come before there is a vaccine. Professional sports will have a very hard time surviving if it doesn't.  

With regards to the Sharks:  I don't think I am in the minority when I say the Sharks organization has done several things lately that are worrisome on the business side, including alienating many long term customers.  Bringing in the suits from the NHL and the Maple Leafs was a pretty fatal mistake for Hasso and co, and I don't see a scenario where their decision making is going to improve post-COVID.  It is going to be mighty expensive to attend games in person because the losses from COVID and the post-Thornton years are going to have to be made up somehow.  

I probably won't go back for awhile.