Sunday, October 18, 2026
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Maple Leafs Preview: Vincent Damphousse Autographed Card
(team and product links go to sponsored Amazon products, player links go to related pages on my blog, news links go to source pages)
This will likely be the preface to all of this year's Season Preview posts: Unlike in the distant past where I would post different texts on my personal blog (here) and my collectibles blog, I've been using a new format for the past couple of years, where I'll copy the same text on each one. As a father of two young kids, I just do not have enough time to write two separate posts per day on each blog. This year again, the entire scope of the analysis will take place first and the featured player will have a direct or perhaps indirect connection to what's written, below.
Caveats: At this point, despite the season just starting, several players haven't found a team yet, (at least) two star players have active trade requests, and a few clubs are tight at the top of the salary cap, which means there is much left to do.
Key exits: Joseph Woll (G), Matthew Knies (LW), Steven Lorentz (C), Dennis Hildeby (G), Nick Robertson (LW), Brandon Carlo (D), Simon Benoît (D), Matias Maccelli (LW), Henry Thrun (D), Emil Andrae (D)
Key Arrivals: Darren Raddysh (D), Kirill Marchenko (RW), Jack Roslovic (C), Sergei Bobrovsky (C), Nick Paul (LW),Zack MacEwen (RW), Brandon Duhaime (LW), Teddy Blueger (C), Colton Sissons (C),Miles Wood (LW),Elvis Merzlikins (G)
Top prospects: Gavin McKenna (RW, 18), Miroslav Holinka (C, 20), Ben Danford (D, 20),Jacob Quillan (C, 24), Noah Chadwick (D, 21), Alexander Bilecki (D, 18), Artur Aktyamov (C, 24), Ethan MacKenzie (D, 20)
I thought the Toronto Maple Leafs would make the playoffs last season despite losing Mitch Marner, but McKenna should provide some of the offense that was lost a year ago, though the leadership angle will have to wait a little bit - I don't see him taking over a locker room that already includes captain Auston Matthews and former captain John Tavares.
What makes their odds look good:
He's been away from the game for a while, but GM John Chayka still co-owned Stathletes with sister Meghan Chayka and Neil Lane, so he still kept tabs on NHL players and kept digging on the analytics front. Expect smart bets on young players coming out of their entry-level deals like he did with the Arizona Coyotes, and savvy veteran additions.
Question marks:
Is signing Bobrovsky for three years a savvy decision, though? Is Jim Hiller an NHL-caliber head coach despite what we saw him do with the Los Angeles Kings for the past two and a half years??
Outlook:
William Nylander is probably good for 90 points, Matthews should get back in the 30-to-35-goal range, Oliver Ekman-Larsson continues to defy age and Marchenko probably enjoys a year-long honeymoon in Toronto, who are very improved from last year. Enough to make the playoffs? Enough to make it interesting until the final week of the season.
Prediction:
5th in the Atlantic Division.
I tend to think of Vincent Damphousse as an important player for the San Jose Sharks and the Leafs, not as much for the Montréal Canadiens or Edmonton Oilers - but the truth is that, statistically, his highest totals have come in Montréal and his lowest were in San Jose. I'll say this though: Damphousse made the Sharks a serious team whose move to replace him as a centre after his retirement was to acquire Art Ross winner Joe Thornton in-season. To get back to the Leafs, however, they were the first team with which he broke the 30-goal and 90-point marks for the first time, going 33-61-94 in 80 games in 1989-90. Here he is wearing their classic 1980s blue (away) uniform on card #34 from In The Game's 2003-04 Original 6 - Toronto Maple Leafs set:
He signed it in-person in fading black sharpie at the Bell Centre 10-15 years ago, definitely after his ugly divorce.
This will likely be the preface to all of this year's Season Preview posts: Unlike in the distant past where I would post different texts on my personal blog (here) and my collectibles blog, I've been using a new format for the past couple of years, where I'll copy the same text on each one. As a father of two young kids, I just do not have enough time to write two separate posts per day on each blog. This year again, the entire scope of the analysis will take place first and the featured player will have a direct or perhaps indirect connection to what's written, below.
Caveats: At this point, despite the season just starting, several players haven't found a team yet, (at least) two star players have active trade requests, and a few clubs are tight at the top of the salary cap, which means there is much left to do.
Key exits: Joseph Woll (G), Matthew Knies (LW), Steven Lorentz (C), Dennis Hildeby (G), Nick Robertson (LW), Brandon Carlo (D), Simon Benoît (D), Matias Maccelli (LW), Henry Thrun (D), Emil Andrae (D)
Key Arrivals: Darren Raddysh (D), Kirill Marchenko (RW), Jack Roslovic (C), Sergei Bobrovsky (C), Nick Paul (LW),Zack MacEwen (RW), Brandon Duhaime (LW), Teddy Blueger (C), Colton Sissons (C),Miles Wood (LW),Elvis Merzlikins (G)
Top prospects: Gavin McKenna (RW, 18), Miroslav Holinka (C, 20), Ben Danford (D, 20),Jacob Quillan (C, 24), Noah Chadwick (D, 21), Alexander Bilecki (D, 18), Artur Aktyamov (C, 24), Ethan MacKenzie (D, 20)
I thought the Toronto Maple Leafs would make the playoffs last season despite losing Mitch Marner, but McKenna should provide some of the offense that was lost a year ago, though the leadership angle will have to wait a little bit - I don't see him taking over a locker room that already includes captain Auston Matthews and former captain John Tavares.
What makes their odds look good:
He's been away from the game for a while, but GM John Chayka still co-owned Stathletes with sister Meghan Chayka and Neil Lane, so he still kept tabs on NHL players and kept digging on the analytics front. Expect smart bets on young players coming out of their entry-level deals like he did with the Arizona Coyotes, and savvy veteran additions.
Question marks:
Is signing Bobrovsky for three years a savvy decision, though? Is Jim Hiller an NHL-caliber head coach despite what we saw him do with the Los Angeles Kings for the past two and a half years??
Outlook:
William Nylander is probably good for 90 points, Matthews should get back in the 30-to-35-goal range, Oliver Ekman-Larsson continues to defy age and Marchenko probably enjoys a year-long honeymoon in Toronto, who are very improved from last year. Enough to make the playoffs? Enough to make it interesting until the final week of the season.
Prediction:
5th in the Atlantic Division.
I tend to think of Vincent Damphousse as an important player for the San Jose Sharks and the Leafs, not as much for the Montréal Canadiens or Edmonton Oilers - but the truth is that, statistically, his highest totals have come in Montréal and his lowest were in San Jose. I'll say this though: Damphousse made the Sharks a serious team whose move to replace him as a centre after his retirement was to acquire Art Ross winner Joe Thornton in-season. To get back to the Leafs, however, they were the first team with which he broke the 30-goal and 90-point marks for the first time, going 33-61-94 in 80 games in 1989-90. Here he is wearing their classic 1980s blue (away) uniform on card #34 from In The Game's 2003-04 Original 6 - Toronto Maple Leafs set:
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Senators Preview: Thomas Chabot Autographed Card
(team and product links go to sponsored Amazon products, player links go to related pages on my blog, news links go to source pages)
This will likely be the preface to all of this year's Season Preview posts: Unlike in the distant past where I would post different texts on my personal blog (here) and my collectibles blog, I've been using a new format for the past couple of years, where I'll copy the same text on each one. As a father of two young kids, I just do not have enough time to write two separate posts per day on each blog. This year again, the entire scope of the analysis will take place first and the featured player will have a direct or perhaps indirect connection to what's written, below.
Caveats: At this point, despite the regular season being set to start today, several players haven't found a team yet, (at least) two star players have active trade requests, and a few clubs are currently above the salary cap, which means there is much work left to do.
Key exits: Brady Tkachuk (RW), Lars Eller (C), James Reimer (G), Nick Jensen (D), Dennis Gilbert (D), Lassi Thomson (D), Olle Lycksell (F), Mads Sogaard (G), Arthur Kaliyev (RW), Jan Jenik (D)
Key arrivals: William Eklund (RW), Samuel Ersson (G), André Burakovsky (LW), Samuel Blais (LW), Philip Tomasino (RW)
Top prospects: Carter Yakemchuk (D, 20), Logan Hensler (D, 19), Jonas Lagerberg Hoen (RW, 18), Blake Montgomery (LW, 21), Jorian Donovan (D, 22), Leevi Meriläinen (G, 24), Jaxon Cover (LW, 18), Xavier Bourgault (RW, 23)
The Ottawa Senators did some fine house cleaning in the offseason, clearing/cleansing the air in the (neighbouring) nation's capital.
What makes their odds look good:
Tim Stützle is a legitimate #1 centre, Jake Sanderson is an all-world defenseman, Thomas Chabot has been to an All-Star Game, Linus Ullmark is a Vezina winner, Artem Zub is a world-class defensive defenseman, Drake Batherson is a true top-six sniper, Claude Giroux still has gas left in the tank, Dylan Cozens is a good secondary centerman, Warren Foegle brings the lower-tier power forward element, Ridly Greig is a terrific wish-you-were-on-my-team pest (while Nick Cousins is the league's most-despised one), and Eklund still has untapped potential to break out as a first-liner.
Question marks:
Head coach Travis Green took a giant leap forward last season - does he have another step ahead in him? Is the Tkachuk addition-by-subtraction with the actual addition of Eklund enough to remain a wild-card team while the Florida Panthers get healthy again and the Toronto Maple Leafs have improved?
Outlook:
This is a good team with plenty of youth who can improve. They'd make the playoffs in any other division, but it's going to be a dogfight in this one.
Prediction:
6th in the Atlantic Division.
The Sens did the right thing today and righted a wrong from five years ago by naming Chabot the team captain. He had previously been a long-serving alternate captain for the team; internationally, he has worn both the "A" (2017 World Juniors, where he was tournament MVP) and "C" (2022 World Championships) in leading Team Canada to gold medals, a feat he also achieved at the 2019 Worlds.
Here he is wearing Ottawa's magnificent white (away) uniform on card # 127 from Upper Deck's 2021-22 Series 1 set, which he signed in blue charpie around 2023:
This will likely be the preface to all of this year's Season Preview posts: Unlike in the distant past where I would post different texts on my personal blog (here) and my collectibles blog, I've been using a new format for the past couple of years, where I'll copy the same text on each one. As a father of two young kids, I just do not have enough time to write two separate posts per day on each blog. This year again, the entire scope of the analysis will take place first and the featured player will have a direct or perhaps indirect connection to what's written, below.
Caveats: At this point, despite the regular season being set to start today, several players haven't found a team yet, (at least) two star players have active trade requests, and a few clubs are currently above the salary cap, which means there is much work left to do.
Key exits: Brady Tkachuk (RW), Lars Eller (C), James Reimer (G), Nick Jensen (D), Dennis Gilbert (D), Lassi Thomson (D), Olle Lycksell (F), Mads Sogaard (G), Arthur Kaliyev (RW), Jan Jenik (D)
Key arrivals: William Eklund (RW), Samuel Ersson (G), André Burakovsky (LW), Samuel Blais (LW), Philip Tomasino (RW)
Top prospects: Carter Yakemchuk (D, 20), Logan Hensler (D, 19), Jonas Lagerberg Hoen (RW, 18), Blake Montgomery (LW, 21), Jorian Donovan (D, 22), Leevi Meriläinen (G, 24), Jaxon Cover (LW, 18), Xavier Bourgault (RW, 23)
The Ottawa Senators did some fine house cleaning in the offseason, clearing/cleansing the air in the (neighbouring) nation's capital.
What makes their odds look good:
Tim Stützle is a legitimate #1 centre, Jake Sanderson is an all-world defenseman, Thomas Chabot has been to an All-Star Game, Linus Ullmark is a Vezina winner, Artem Zub is a world-class defensive defenseman, Drake Batherson is a true top-six sniper, Claude Giroux still has gas left in the tank, Dylan Cozens is a good secondary centerman, Warren Foegle brings the lower-tier power forward element, Ridly Greig is a terrific wish-you-were-on-my-team pest (while Nick Cousins is the league's most-despised one), and Eklund still has untapped potential to break out as a first-liner.
Question marks:
Head coach Travis Green took a giant leap forward last season - does he have another step ahead in him? Is the Tkachuk addition-by-subtraction with the actual addition of Eklund enough to remain a wild-card team while the Florida Panthers get healthy again and the Toronto Maple Leafs have improved?
Outlook:
This is a good team with plenty of youth who can improve. They'd make the playoffs in any other division, but it's going to be a dogfight in this one.
Prediction:
6th in the Atlantic Division.
The Sens did the right thing today and righted a wrong from five years ago by naming Chabot the team captain. He had previously been a long-serving alternate captain for the team; internationally, he has worn both the "A" (2017 World Juniors, where he was tournament MVP) and "C" (2022 World Championships) in leading Team Canada to gold medals, a feat he also achieved at the 2019 Worlds.
Here he is wearing Ottawa's magnificent white (away) uniform on card # 127 from Upper Deck's 2021-22 Series 1 set, which he signed in blue charpie around 2023:
Monday, September 28, 2026
Blue Jackets Preview: Kirill Marchenko Jersey Card
(team and product links go to sponsored Amazon products, player links go to related pages on my blog, news links go to source pages)
This will likely be the preface to all of this year's Season Preview posts: Unlike in the distant past where I would post different texts on my personal blog (here) and my collectibles blog, I've been using a new format for the past couple of years, where I'll copy the same text on each one. As a father of two young kids, I just do not have enough time to write two separate posts per day on each blog. This year again, the entire scope of the analysis will take place first and the featured player will have a direct or perhaps indirect connection to what's written, below.
Caveats: At this point, despite the regular season being set to start in a matter of days, several players haven't found a team yet, (at least) two more star players have active trade requests, and a few clubs are currently above the salary cap, which means there is much work left to do.
Key exits: Kirill Marchenko (RW), Miles Wood (LW), Elvis Merzlikins (G), Boone Jenner (C), Mason Marchment (LW), Danton Heinen (LW), Egor Zamula (D), Brendan Smith (D), Zach Aston-Reese (LW/RW), Brendan Gaunce (C), Ivan Fedotov (G), Dysin Mayo (D), Hunter McKown (C)
Key arrivals: Matthew Knies (LW), Steven Lorentz (C), Emil Andrae (D), Valeri Nichushkin (RW), Ryan Lomberg (LW), Colton White (D), Phoenix Copley (G), Luke Tuch (RW)
Top prospects: Jackson Smith (D, 19), Cayden Lindstrom (C, 20), Pyotr Andreyanov (G, 19), Jordan Dumais (RW, 22), Sergei Ivanov (G, 22), Oscar Hemming (LW, 18)
I was waiting for the Marchenko shoe to drop before posting my Columbus Blue Jackets review and, as expected, it turned out to be a blockbuster.
What makes their odds look good:
They still have the reigning Norris Trophy winner in Zach Werenski, who nixed a trade to the Dallas Stars this summer to remain in Columbus. Knies is a 23-year-old top-6 forward with untapped offensive potential. Jet Greaves looks solid in net. Adam Fantilli extended well into his prime as training camp came to a close.
Question marks:
As the Werenski and Marchenko sagas proved, players are impatient to win, and not everyone sees the Blue Jackets as a team who can be a Stanley Cup contender in a relatively short window; they are on most no-trade lists and thus must draft, develop and nurture talent to get there.
Outlook:
General Manager Don Wadell has experience assembling and running teams that aren't exactly a destination, having previously served in the same position with the Atlanta Thrashers (1998-2010) and Carolina Hurricanes (2018-2024), the latter winning the Cup with his former assistant Eric Tulsky tweaking the lineup just a few months ago. He got enough good pieces back in the Marchenko trade that he doesn't need to pivot to (another) rebuild, he just needs to make sure he has the right coaching and development staff so that as many prospects as possible reach the NHL and have an impact. For now, they are a bubble playoff team with the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins all fighting for a wild-card spot.
Prediction:
5th in the Metropolitan Division.
Marchenko is a tall, heavy player (6'3", over 200 pounds) with great hands who can protect the puck, deke multiple opponents on the same play and shoot accurately. He led the Jackets in goals in the last three seasons, posting nearly a point per game in 2024-25; on a team like the Toronto Maple Leafs, he has a shot at 40-goal and 85-to-90-point seasons. Here he is on the "Red Jersey" variant of card #18 from Upper Deck's 2024-25 SP Game-Used Edition set:
It shows him wearing the Jackets' blue (away) uniform, and carries a matching game-worn jersey swatch.
This will likely be the preface to all of this year's Season Preview posts: Unlike in the distant past where I would post different texts on my personal blog (here) and my collectibles blog, I've been using a new format for the past couple of years, where I'll copy the same text on each one. As a father of two young kids, I just do not have enough time to write two separate posts per day on each blog. This year again, the entire scope of the analysis will take place first and the featured player will have a direct or perhaps indirect connection to what's written, below.
Caveats: At this point, despite the regular season being set to start in a matter of days, several players haven't found a team yet, (at least) two more star players have active trade requests, and a few clubs are currently above the salary cap, which means there is much work left to do.
Key exits: Kirill Marchenko (RW), Miles Wood (LW), Elvis Merzlikins (G), Boone Jenner (C), Mason Marchment (LW), Danton Heinen (LW), Egor Zamula (D), Brendan Smith (D), Zach Aston-Reese (LW/RW), Brendan Gaunce (C), Ivan Fedotov (G), Dysin Mayo (D), Hunter McKown (C)
Key arrivals: Matthew Knies (LW), Steven Lorentz (C), Emil Andrae (D), Valeri Nichushkin (RW), Ryan Lomberg (LW), Colton White (D), Phoenix Copley (G), Luke Tuch (RW)
Top prospects: Jackson Smith (D, 19), Cayden Lindstrom (C, 20), Pyotr Andreyanov (G, 19), Jordan Dumais (RW, 22), Sergei Ivanov (G, 22), Oscar Hemming (LW, 18)
I was waiting for the Marchenko shoe to drop before posting my Columbus Blue Jackets review and, as expected, it turned out to be a blockbuster.
What makes their odds look good:
They still have the reigning Norris Trophy winner in Zach Werenski, who nixed a trade to the Dallas Stars this summer to remain in Columbus. Knies is a 23-year-old top-6 forward with untapped offensive potential. Jet Greaves looks solid in net. Adam Fantilli extended well into his prime as training camp came to a close.
Question marks:
As the Werenski and Marchenko sagas proved, players are impatient to win, and not everyone sees the Blue Jackets as a team who can be a Stanley Cup contender in a relatively short window; they are on most no-trade lists and thus must draft, develop and nurture talent to get there.
Outlook:
General Manager Don Wadell has experience assembling and running teams that aren't exactly a destination, having previously served in the same position with the Atlanta Thrashers (1998-2010) and Carolina Hurricanes (2018-2024), the latter winning the Cup with his former assistant Eric Tulsky tweaking the lineup just a few months ago. He got enough good pieces back in the Marchenko trade that he doesn't need to pivot to (another) rebuild, he just needs to make sure he has the right coaching and development staff so that as many prospects as possible reach the NHL and have an impact. For now, they are a bubble playoff team with the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins all fighting for a wild-card spot.
Prediction:
5th in the Metropolitan Division.
Marchenko is a tall, heavy player (6'3", over 200 pounds) with great hands who can protect the puck, deke multiple opponents on the same play and shoot accurately. He led the Jackets in goals in the last three seasons, posting nearly a point per game in 2024-25; on a team like the Toronto Maple Leafs, he has a shot at 40-goal and 85-to-90-point seasons. Here he is on the "Red Jersey" variant of card #18 from Upper Deck's 2024-25 SP Game-Used Edition set:
Sunday, September 27, 2026
Islanders Preview: Ryan Pulock Jersey Card
(team and product links go to sponsored Amazon products, player links go to related pages on my blog, news links go to source pages)
This will likely be the preface to all of this year's Season Preview posts: Unlike in the distant past where I would post different texts on my personal blog (here) and my collectibles blog, I've been using a new format for the past couple of years, where I'll copy the same text on each one. As a father of two young kids, I just do not have enough time to write two separate posts per day on each blog. This year again, the entire scope of the analysis will take place first and the featured player will have a direct or perhaps indirect connection to what's written, below.
Caveats: At this point, despite training camp being set to start in a few days, several players haven't found a team yet, (at least) three star players have active trade requests, and a few clubs are currently above the salary cap, which means there is much left to do.
Key exits: Anders Lee (LW), David Rittich (G), Carson Soucy (D), Adam Boqvist (D), Maxim Shabanov (RW), Marc Gatcomb (C), Travis Mitchell (D), Cole McWard (D)
Key Arrivals: Matias Maccelli (LW), Vitek Vanacek (G), Matthew Kessel (D),Mitchell Chaffee (LW), Logan Stanley (D)
Top prospects: Malte Gustafsson (D, 20), Victor Eklund (LW/RW, 19), Kashawn Aitcheson (D, 20),Cole Eiserman (LW, 20), Dmitri Gamzin (G, 23), Danny Nelson (C, 21)
Losing captain Lee and a roster's worth of depth defensemen with none of them being replaced by new arrivals (save for Stanley earlier today) means the prospect pool (ranked 9th in the NHL by The Athletic) will be asked to jump in and play important roles. Head coach Peter DeBoer will have to balance teaching, accepting mistakes and winning enough to be in the mix for the playoffs.
What makes their odds look good:
A fine prospect pool, an elite goaltending tandem (Ilya Sorokin and a returning Semyon Varlamov from a two-year injury rehab), a smart GM in Mathieu Darche, and a superstar in the making in Matthew Schaeffer are a good starting point.
Question marks:
xxx
Outlook:
Hopefully, Bo Horvat and Brayden Schenn can combine to replace Lee's leadership, but this isn't the team that will end DeBoer's streak of not winning Stanley Cups despite being the most-hyped coach on the market.
Prediction:
6th in the Metropolitan Division.
Now in his 12th NHL season, Ryan Pulock is still dependable, although no longer among the best defensive defensemen in the league who got Norris votes in 2020-21; he remains an effective pair with Adam Pelech, but they are now a second pairing playing fewer minutes against elites, while Schaeffer gets the most ice time. Here he is from a set a decade ago:
That's card #RM-RP from Upper Deck's 2016-17 Series 2 set and Rookie Materials sub-set, and features a silver swatch of a jersey worn in a rookie photoshoot.
This will likely be the preface to all of this year's Season Preview posts: Unlike in the distant past where I would post different texts on my personal blog (here) and my collectibles blog, I've been using a new format for the past couple of years, where I'll copy the same text on each one. As a father of two young kids, I just do not have enough time to write two separate posts per day on each blog. This year again, the entire scope of the analysis will take place first and the featured player will have a direct or perhaps indirect connection to what's written, below.
Caveats: At this point, despite training camp being set to start in a few days, several players haven't found a team yet, (at least) three star players have active trade requests, and a few clubs are currently above the salary cap, which means there is much left to do.
Key exits: Anders Lee (LW), David Rittich (G), Carson Soucy (D), Adam Boqvist (D), Maxim Shabanov (RW), Marc Gatcomb (C), Travis Mitchell (D), Cole McWard (D)
Key Arrivals: Matias Maccelli (LW), Vitek Vanacek (G), Matthew Kessel (D),Mitchell Chaffee (LW), Logan Stanley (D)
Top prospects: Malte Gustafsson (D, 20), Victor Eklund (LW/RW, 19), Kashawn Aitcheson (D, 20),Cole Eiserman (LW, 20), Dmitri Gamzin (G, 23), Danny Nelson (C, 21)
Losing captain Lee and a roster's worth of depth defensemen with none of them being replaced by new arrivals (save for Stanley earlier today) means the prospect pool (ranked 9th in the NHL by The Athletic) will be asked to jump in and play important roles. Head coach Peter DeBoer will have to balance teaching, accepting mistakes and winning enough to be in the mix for the playoffs.
What makes their odds look good:
A fine prospect pool, an elite goaltending tandem (Ilya Sorokin and a returning Semyon Varlamov from a two-year injury rehab), a smart GM in Mathieu Darche, and a superstar in the making in Matthew Schaeffer are a good starting point.
Question marks:
xxx
Outlook:
Hopefully, Bo Horvat and Brayden Schenn can combine to replace Lee's leadership, but this isn't the team that will end DeBoer's streak of not winning Stanley Cups despite being the most-hyped coach on the market.
Prediction:
6th in the Metropolitan Division.
Now in his 12th NHL season, Ryan Pulock is still dependable, although no longer among the best defensive defensemen in the league who got Norris votes in 2020-21; he remains an effective pair with Adam Pelech, but they are now a second pairing playing fewer minutes against elites, while Schaeffer gets the most ice time. Here he is from a set a decade ago:
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Video Of The Week: Bizarre
(product links go to sponsored Amazon products, previous post links go to related pages on my blog, news and place links go to source pages)
There was a time around the turn of the millennium when Eminem was on top on the world - not just in rap, but he led the entire music industry. His albums were consistently at #1 despite boy band / girl group pop dominance, and he took it upon himself the use his tide to rise everyone in his orbit who deserved it, notably via D12 (a.k.a. The Dirty Dozen), a collective of talented artists that also included Proof (deceased in 2006), Bizarre, Denaun "Mr." Porter (a.k.a. Kon Artis) , Kuniva and Swifty McVay (the latter two keeping the mantle alive to this day); Obie Trice was a fequent collaborator.
Many of these rappers, like Eminem himself, mixed wit, sarcasm, and humour with astute observations of difficult upbringings to create a brand of hip hop that was relatively unique in the mainstream, with Bizarre being the one who would usually push the boundaries of good taste with off-kilter references and associations, such as:
Cut to today, where he doesn't seem as alert as he used to be (his speed has slowed to a Notorious B.I.G. level), is still prone to mixing the funny with the braggadocio and reality-based texts, but with more cultural references and a lot less in-your-face shock. His new song Mercy is the second single off of Don't Cross The Street and is much better than the previous one, Amityville 2: This was directed by ad agency Mic Drop Media.
There was a time around the turn of the millennium when Eminem was on top on the world - not just in rap, but he led the entire music industry. His albums were consistently at #1 despite boy band / girl group pop dominance, and he took it upon himself the use his tide to rise everyone in his orbit who deserved it, notably via D12 (a.k.a. The Dirty Dozen), a collective of talented artists that also included Proof (deceased in 2006), Bizarre, Denaun "Mr." Porter (a.k.a. Kon Artis) , Kuniva and Swifty McVay (the latter two keeping the mantle alive to this day); Obie Trice was a fequent collaborator.
Many of these rappers, like Eminem himself, mixed wit, sarcasm, and humour with astute observations of difficult upbringings to create a brand of hip hop that was relatively unique in the mainstream, with Bizarre being the one who would usually push the boundaries of good taste with off-kilter references and associations, such as:
I'm not bisexual I'm an intellectual, transsexual, with one testicleor
And I ain't saying shit just 'cause it rhymes, I got colon cancer - I'm dying
There’s no way I could be the gay rapper: I only fuck animalsShock value was his calling card.
Cut to today, where he doesn't seem as alert as he used to be (his speed has slowed to a Notorious B.I.G. level), is still prone to mixing the funny with the braggadocio and reality-based texts, but with more cultural references and a lot less in-your-face shock. His new song Mercy is the second single off of Don't Cross The Street and is much better than the previous one, Amityville 2: This was directed by ad agency Mic Drop Media.
Monday, September 21, 2026
This Week's Top 10s
(product links go to sponsored Amazon products, previous post links go to related pages on my blog, news and place links go to source pages)
Top 10 Songs:
10. MISTAKEN IDENTITY, Everlast (2026)
9. SCOTCH & POCHES, Bleu Jeans Bleu (2026)
8. MERCY, Bizarre (2026)
7. ALL THE THINGS SHE SAID, t.A.T.u. (2002)
6. GONE AWAY, The Offspring (1997)
5. DAI DAI, Shakira featuring Burna Boy (2026)
4. THE FATE OF OPHELIA, Taylor Swift (2026)
3. WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME, Olivia Rodrigo & Robert Smith (2026)
2. FABIEN K, Angine De Poitrine (2026)
1. FAUT QUE TU DISES WOW, Bleu Jeans Bleu (2026)
10. MISTAKEN IDENTITY, Everlast (2026)
9. SCOTCH & POCHES, Bleu Jeans Bleu (2026)
8. MERCY, Bizarre (2026)
7. ALL THE THINGS SHE SAID, t.A.T.u. (2002)
6. GONE AWAY, The Offspring (1997)
5. DAI DAI, Shakira featuring Burna Boy (2026)
4. THE FATE OF OPHELIA, Taylor Swift (2026)
3. WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME, Olivia Rodrigo & Robert Smith (2026)
2. FABIEN K, Angine De Poitrine (2026)
1. FAUT QUE TU DISES WOW, Bleu Jeans Bleu (2026)
Friday, September 18, 2026
Golden Knights Previews: Alex Pietrangelo Jersey Card
(team and product links go to sponsored Amazon products, player links go to related pages on my blog, news links go to source pages)
This will likely be the preface to all of this year's Season Preview posts: Unlike in the distant past where I would post different texts on my personal blog (here) and my collectibles blog, I've been using a new format for the past couple of years, where I'll copy the same text on each one. As a father of two young kids, I just do not have enough time to write two separate posts per day on each blog. This year again, the entire scope of the analysis will take place first and the featured player will have a direct or perhaps indirect connection to what's written, below.
Caveats: At this point, despite training camp being underway, several players haven't found a team yet, (at least) three star players have active trade requests, and a few clubs are currently above the salary cap, which means there is much left to do.
Key Exits: Pavel Dorofeyev (RW), Reilly Smith (RW), Brandon Saad (LW), Colton Sissons (C), Kaedan Korczak (D), Keegan Kolesar (RW), Cole Smith (RW), Akira Schmidt (G), Ben Hutton (D)
Key Arrivals: Parker Wotherspoon (D), Victor Olofsson (LW), Marc Gatcomb (C), Ville Heinola (D), Adam Ginning (D)
Top prospects: Trevor Connelly (LW, 20), Juho Püparinen (D, 18), Carl Lindbom (G, 23), Lukas Cormier (D, 24), Mathieu Cataford (C, 21), Jakob Ihs-Wozniak (C, 19), Braeden Bowman (RW, 23)
No team other than the Vegas Golden Knights can lose two "brand-name" right-wingers and two more depth right-wingers withouut replacing them, with no young prospect due to take their place, and still be expected to finish at or near the top of their division - not because they're so strong at other positions (although they kind of are), but because the Pacific division might be the only one in hockey without an actual elite team to throne over it (or fight for the Presidents' Trophy).
What makes their odds look good:
Jack Eichel has become a 90-point elite two-way forward, Mark Stone can still complement him well for 60 games per season, Mitch Marner also fits that mold with even better playmaking skills, William Karlsson is back on track down the middle, and the top-four on defense is very strong. Plus, they have two capable goalies, and should they falter, GM Kelly McCrimmon will move swiftly to fix the issue.
Question marks:
What does Ryan Craig look like as an NHL head coach (and does it matter, see previous comment about the GM)? Who moves to the long-term injury list (LTIR) this year? What brand new shiny toy becomes available at the trade deadline and what package will the Golden Knights offer to get it?
Outlook:
Never count them out - they have been in the league for ten seasons and only missed the playoffs once, to say nothing of their three Stanley Cup Finals.
Prediction:
1st in the Pacific Division.
Speaking of LTIR, Alex Pietrangelo is not expected to ever play again, but the Golden Knights will have to decide whether they need him to be on LTRI before submitting their opening night roster, or go into the season with him on the cap and then put him on LTIR, which offers a little bit more flexibility.
Pietrangelo is a three-time All-Star Game participant, a three-time Second All-Star, a two-time Stanley Cup champion (2019 as captain of the St. Louis Blues, 2023 with Vegas), played in over 1,000 NHL games, and won World Juniors (2009), World Championships (2016) and Olympic (2014) gold with Team Canada. That is a padded resume (but probably not enough for a Hall of Fame nod).
Here he is playing in the 2024 Winter Classic:
It features a jersey swatch of the same off-white/beige as the one in the picture, but as Upper Deck is wont to do, they had to make the language on the card way too vague:
I mean, sure, the Winter Classic is an event, but it's also a regular-season game, so was it used in the game or not? And if not, was it in a practice, or modeling the jerseys during press interviews the day before? In any event, it's card #WCF-6 frokm UD's 2024-25 SP Game-Used Edition set and Winter Classic Fabrics sub-set.
This will likely be the preface to all of this year's Season Preview posts: Unlike in the distant past where I would post different texts on my personal blog (here) and my collectibles blog, I've been using a new format for the past couple of years, where I'll copy the same text on each one. As a father of two young kids, I just do not have enough time to write two separate posts per day on each blog. This year again, the entire scope of the analysis will take place first and the featured player will have a direct or perhaps indirect connection to what's written, below.
Caveats: At this point, despite training camp being underway, several players haven't found a team yet, (at least) three star players have active trade requests, and a few clubs are currently above the salary cap, which means there is much left to do.
Key Exits: Pavel Dorofeyev (RW), Reilly Smith (RW), Brandon Saad (LW), Colton Sissons (C), Kaedan Korczak (D), Keegan Kolesar (RW), Cole Smith (RW), Akira Schmidt (G), Ben Hutton (D)
Key Arrivals: Parker Wotherspoon (D), Victor Olofsson (LW), Marc Gatcomb (C), Ville Heinola (D), Adam Ginning (D)
Top prospects: Trevor Connelly (LW, 20), Juho Püparinen (D, 18), Carl Lindbom (G, 23), Lukas Cormier (D, 24), Mathieu Cataford (C, 21), Jakob Ihs-Wozniak (C, 19), Braeden Bowman (RW, 23)
No team other than the Vegas Golden Knights can lose two "brand-name" right-wingers and two more depth right-wingers withouut replacing them, with no young prospect due to take their place, and still be expected to finish at or near the top of their division - not because they're so strong at other positions (although they kind of are), but because the Pacific division might be the only one in hockey without an actual elite team to throne over it (or fight for the Presidents' Trophy).
What makes their odds look good:
Jack Eichel has become a 90-point elite two-way forward, Mark Stone can still complement him well for 60 games per season, Mitch Marner also fits that mold with even better playmaking skills, William Karlsson is back on track down the middle, and the top-four on defense is very strong. Plus, they have two capable goalies, and should they falter, GM Kelly McCrimmon will move swiftly to fix the issue.
Question marks:
What does Ryan Craig look like as an NHL head coach (and does it matter, see previous comment about the GM)? Who moves to the long-term injury list (LTIR) this year? What brand new shiny toy becomes available at the trade deadline and what package will the Golden Knights offer to get it?
Outlook:
Never count them out - they have been in the league for ten seasons and only missed the playoffs once, to say nothing of their three Stanley Cup Finals.
Prediction:
1st in the Pacific Division.
Speaking of LTIR, Alex Pietrangelo is not expected to ever play again, but the Golden Knights will have to decide whether they need him to be on LTRI before submitting their opening night roster, or go into the season with him on the cap and then put him on LTIR, which offers a little bit more flexibility.
Pietrangelo is a three-time All-Star Game participant, a three-time Second All-Star, a two-time Stanley Cup champion (2019 as captain of the St. Louis Blues, 2023 with Vegas), played in over 1,000 NHL games, and won World Juniors (2009), World Championships (2016) and Olympic (2014) gold with Team Canada. That is a padded resume (but probably not enough for a Hall of Fame nod).
Here he is playing in the 2024 Winter Classic:
Thursday, September 17, 2026
Bruins Preview: Matt Bartkowski Autograph Card
(team and product links go to sponsored Amazon products, player links go to related pages on my blog, news links go to source pages)
This will likely be the preface to all of this year's Season Preview posts: Unlike in the distant past where I would post different texts on my personal blog (here) and my collectibles blog, I've been using a new format for the past couple of years, where I'll copy the same text on each one. As a father of two young kids, I just do not have enough time to write two separate posts per day on each blog. This year again, the entire scope of the analysis will take place first and the featured player will have a direct or perhaps indirect connection to what's written, below.
Caveats: At this point, despite training camp being underway, several players haven't found a team yet, (at least) three star players have active trade requests, and a few clubs are currently above the salary cap, which means there is much left to do.
Key Exits: Joonas Korpisalo (G), Viktor Arvidsson (LW), Fabian Lysell (RW), Andrew Peeke (D), Riley Tufte (LW), Victor Soderstrom (D), Michael Callahan (D), Matej Blumel (LW/RW)
Key Arrivals: J.J. Peterka (RW), Ivan Ivan (C), Jiri Patera (G), William Borgen (D), Connor Clifton (D), Brendan Gaunce (C), Brian Halonen (LW)
Top prospects: Dean Letourneau (C, 20), James Hagens (C, 19), Yuri Ivanov (G, 18), William Zellers (LW, 20), Matthew Poitras (C, 22), Georgii Merkulov (C, 25), Oskar Jellvik (LW, 23), Frédéric Brunet (D, 22)
First when Zdeno Chara retired, then when it was Patrice Bergeron's (and David Krjeci's) turn, the question was when the Boston Bruins would have to cut ties with their veterans and rebuild; yet they made it to the second rtound the following season, missed the playoffs the next, and lost a heavily contested series 4-2 to the Buffalo Sabres last year.
What makes their odds look good:
Never count the Bruins out, not with David Pastrnak, not with Jeremy Swayman, not with Charlie McAvoy, and not with Morgan Geekie last year, either.
Question marks:
Boston (GM Don Sweeney and President Cam Neely) sees top-six potential in Peterka, Fraser Minten and Hagens, which means that in the next year or two, they feel their top-nine will be able to rival the Florida Panthers'. We'll see - I just got my head around the fact that Geekie is a real, dependable 30-goal scorer.
Outlook:
They can finish anywhere between fourth andsixth seventh in their division through no fault of their own, the Atlantic is just that deep.
Prediction:
7th in the Atlantic Division.
The Bruins are the team that selected McAvoy 14th overall in 2016, behind Jesse Puljujarvi (4th, Edmonton Oilers), Olli Juolevi (5th, Vancouver Canucks), Alex Nylander (8th, Sabres), Tyson Jost (10th, Colorado Avalanche), Logan Brown (11th, Ottawa Senators), Michael McLeod (12th, New Jersey Devils), and Jake Bean (13th, Carolina Hurricanes).
They are also the team that had three consecutive draft picks in that same range in 2015 and only ended up with Jakub Zbořil, Jake DeBrusk, and Zachary Senyshyn.
Which is to say that their scouting staff is pretty hit-or-miss, which is how I felt when they acquired Matt Bartkowski from the Panthers with Dennis Seidenberg for Craig Weller, Byron Bitz and a second-round pick that ended up being Alexander Petrovic. Bartkowski was never an offensive force from the blue line, so he was expected to become a steady defender. The team did include him in their on-ice 2011 Stanley Cup celebrations, but left him off the Cup itself as he had only suited up in 6 regular-season games and none in the playoffs. He would never suit up for more than 64 games for Boston in any given year, and after 80 games with the Canucks in 2015-16, he would not suit up for more than 24 in an NHL season ever again.
Because of the time he spent with the Bruins (5 of his 11 NHL seasons), thatMs the team I think of most when I think of him; that, and the signed version of card #654 from Panini's 2011-12 Score set, Rookies And Traded and Hot Rookies sub-sets, that I got in a Presstine repack from a dollar store:
It shows him wearing the Bruins' black (home) uniform and features a blue-sharpied on-sticker autograph.
This will likely be the preface to all of this year's Season Preview posts: Unlike in the distant past where I would post different texts on my personal blog (here) and my collectibles blog, I've been using a new format for the past couple of years, where I'll copy the same text on each one. As a father of two young kids, I just do not have enough time to write two separate posts per day on each blog. This year again, the entire scope of the analysis will take place first and the featured player will have a direct or perhaps indirect connection to what's written, below.
Caveats: At this point, despite training camp being underway, several players haven't found a team yet, (at least) three star players have active trade requests, and a few clubs are currently above the salary cap, which means there is much left to do.
Key Exits: Joonas Korpisalo (G), Viktor Arvidsson (LW), Fabian Lysell (RW), Andrew Peeke (D), Riley Tufte (LW), Victor Soderstrom (D), Michael Callahan (D), Matej Blumel (LW/RW)
Key Arrivals: J.J. Peterka (RW), Ivan Ivan (C), Jiri Patera (G), William Borgen (D), Connor Clifton (D), Brendan Gaunce (C), Brian Halonen (LW)
Top prospects: Dean Letourneau (C, 20), James Hagens (C, 19), Yuri Ivanov (G, 18), William Zellers (LW, 20), Matthew Poitras (C, 22), Georgii Merkulov (C, 25), Oskar Jellvik (LW, 23), Frédéric Brunet (D, 22)
First when Zdeno Chara retired, then when it was Patrice Bergeron's (and David Krjeci's) turn, the question was when the Boston Bruins would have to cut ties with their veterans and rebuild; yet they made it to the second rtound the following season, missed the playoffs the next, and lost a heavily contested series 4-2 to the Buffalo Sabres last year.
What makes their odds look good:
Never count the Bruins out, not with David Pastrnak, not with Jeremy Swayman, not with Charlie McAvoy, and not with Morgan Geekie last year, either.
Question marks:
Boston (GM Don Sweeney and President Cam Neely) sees top-six potential in Peterka, Fraser Minten and Hagens, which means that in the next year or two, they feel their top-nine will be able to rival the Florida Panthers'. We'll see - I just got my head around the fact that Geekie is a real, dependable 30-goal scorer.
Outlook:
They can finish anywhere between fourth and
Prediction:
7th in the Atlantic Division.
The Bruins are the team that selected McAvoy 14th overall in 2016, behind Jesse Puljujarvi (4th, Edmonton Oilers), Olli Juolevi (5th, Vancouver Canucks), Alex Nylander (8th, Sabres), Tyson Jost (10th, Colorado Avalanche), Logan Brown (11th, Ottawa Senators), Michael McLeod (12th, New Jersey Devils), and Jake Bean (13th, Carolina Hurricanes).
They are also the team that had three consecutive draft picks in that same range in 2015 and only ended up with Jakub Zbořil, Jake DeBrusk, and Zachary Senyshyn.
Which is to say that their scouting staff is pretty hit-or-miss, which is how I felt when they acquired Matt Bartkowski from the Panthers with Dennis Seidenberg for Craig Weller, Byron Bitz and a second-round pick that ended up being Alexander Petrovic. Bartkowski was never an offensive force from the blue line, so he was expected to become a steady defender. The team did include him in their on-ice 2011 Stanley Cup celebrations, but left him off the Cup itself as he had only suited up in 6 regular-season games and none in the playoffs. He would never suit up for more than 64 games for Boston in any given year, and after 80 games with the Canucks in 2015-16, he would not suit up for more than 24 in an NHL season ever again.
Because of the time he spent with the Bruins (5 of his 11 NHL seasons), thatMs the team I think of most when I think of him; that, and the signed version of card #654 from Panini's 2011-12 Score set, Rookies And Traded and Hot Rookies sub-sets, that I got in a Presstine repack from a dollar store:
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Jets Preview: Connor Hellebuyck Jersey Card
(team and product links go to sponsored Amazon products, player links go to related pages on my blog, news links go to source pages)
This will likely be the preface to all of this year's Season Preview posts: Unlike in the distant past where I would post different texts on my personal blog (here) and my collectibles blog, I've been using a new format for the past couple of years, where I'll copy the same text on each one. As a father of two young kids, I just do not have enough time to write two separate posts per day on each blog. This year again, the entire scope of the analysis will take place first and the featured player will have a direct or perhaps indirect connection to what's written, below.
Caveats: At this point, despite training camp starting today, several players haven't found a team yet, (at least) three star players have active trade requests, and a few clubs are currently above the salary cap, which means there is much left to do.
Key Exits: Jonathan Toews (C), Gustav Nyquist (RW), Colin Miller (D), Eric Comrie (G), Ville Heinola (D), Jacob Bryson (D)
Key Arrivals: Stuart Skinner (G), Mario Ferraro (D), Noah Gregor (LW), Jack St. Ivany (D), Henry Thrun (D)
Top prospects: Viggo Björck (C, 18), Brad Lambert (C, 22), Elias Salomonsson (D, 22), Brayden Yager (C, 21), Sascha Boumedienne (D, 19), Isak Rosen (LW, 23), Nikita Chibrikov (RW, 23), Colby Barlow (LW, 21)
Let's not kid ourselves - the entire Winnipeg Jets' season rests on whether star goalie Connor Hellebuyck gets traded, and what the return for him might be; he is currently one of three star players with very public active trade requests, and while it is generally believed his trade list is much larger than Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin's (three teams, all contenders, most tight against the salary cap), there seems to be no Canadian teams on it, making contenders such as the Montréal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers ineligible to offer assets for him, be they roster players, futures, draft picks, or a mix.
What makes their odds look good:
Three players with 30+ goals last season in Mark Scheifele (36, 103 points), Kyle Connor (39, 92 points), and Gabriel Vilardi (30, 69 points); one of the best all-around defensemen in the game in Josh Morrissey, and the best goaltender in the world (or what he is worth in trade chips) is a terrific starting point.
Question marks:
As much as I like both players, is there a better 2C option in the system or on the market than Adam Lowry or Vladislav Namestnikov? Should Skinner be given the reigns between the pipes, is this the year he finds consistency?
Outlook:
Pretty much this exact team finished first overall two years ago, and missed the playoffs entirely last year. With or without Hellebuyck, they should be half-way between those poles this season.
Prediction:
6th in the Central Division.
As expected, Hellebuyck didn't show up at training camp and was suspended by the team. And thus begins the chess match - or game of chicken. He is not slated to get paid until the regular season begins anyway, but in terms of performance, fellow star American goalie Jeremy Swayman missed training camp two years ago due to a contract dispute and had a very disappointing season trying to play catch-up, with a 22–29–7 record, 3.11 goals-against average, and an .892 save percentage. This is not out of the realm of possibility for Hellebuyck, even if he is the best at his profession. He could also declare himself ready to begin the season and rejoin the team on September 29th (the first day players get paid), at which point he would remain suspended for disciplinary reasons but it would be a way for the suspension to have an actual timeline - maybe a month, maybe a bit more, but I can't see the NHL allowing it to go longer than him forfeiting $1M of his $8.5M cap hit without forcing the NHLPA to step in with legal proceedings.
We are now three Vezinas, a Hart Trophy and an Olympic gold medal with Team USA (2026) removed from this fresh face, a promising fifth-round pick (130th overall in 2012) that ended up being, by far, the best of his class:
Notice he wore #30 in this photoshoot, probably the same one that this piece of light blue jersey is from, on card #FT-CH from Upper Deck's 2015-16 Ice collection and Fresh Threads sub-set.
This will likely be the preface to all of this year's Season Preview posts: Unlike in the distant past where I would post different texts on my personal blog (here) and my collectibles blog, I've been using a new format for the past couple of years, where I'll copy the same text on each one. As a father of two young kids, I just do not have enough time to write two separate posts per day on each blog. This year again, the entire scope of the analysis will take place first and the featured player will have a direct or perhaps indirect connection to what's written, below.
Caveats: At this point, despite training camp starting today, several players haven't found a team yet, (at least) three star players have active trade requests, and a few clubs are currently above the salary cap, which means there is much left to do.
Key Exits: Jonathan Toews (C), Gustav Nyquist (RW), Colin Miller (D), Eric Comrie (G), Ville Heinola (D), Jacob Bryson (D)
Key Arrivals: Stuart Skinner (G), Mario Ferraro (D), Noah Gregor (LW), Jack St. Ivany (D), Henry Thrun (D)
Top prospects: Viggo Björck (C, 18), Brad Lambert (C, 22), Elias Salomonsson (D, 22), Brayden Yager (C, 21), Sascha Boumedienne (D, 19), Isak Rosen (LW, 23), Nikita Chibrikov (RW, 23), Colby Barlow (LW, 21)
Let's not kid ourselves - the entire Winnipeg Jets' season rests on whether star goalie Connor Hellebuyck gets traded, and what the return for him might be; he is currently one of three star players with very public active trade requests, and while it is generally believed his trade list is much larger than Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin's (three teams, all contenders, most tight against the salary cap), there seems to be no Canadian teams on it, making contenders such as the Montréal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers ineligible to offer assets for him, be they roster players, futures, draft picks, or a mix.
What makes their odds look good:
Three players with 30+ goals last season in Mark Scheifele (36, 103 points), Kyle Connor (39, 92 points), and Gabriel Vilardi (30, 69 points); one of the best all-around defensemen in the game in Josh Morrissey, and the best goaltender in the world (or what he is worth in trade chips) is a terrific starting point.
Question marks:
As much as I like both players, is there a better 2C option in the system or on the market than Adam Lowry or Vladislav Namestnikov? Should Skinner be given the reigns between the pipes, is this the year he finds consistency?
Outlook:
Pretty much this exact team finished first overall two years ago, and missed the playoffs entirely last year. With or without Hellebuyck, they should be half-way between those poles this season.
Prediction:
6th in the Central Division.
As expected, Hellebuyck didn't show up at training camp and was suspended by the team. And thus begins the chess match - or game of chicken. He is not slated to get paid until the regular season begins anyway, but in terms of performance, fellow star American goalie Jeremy Swayman missed training camp two years ago due to a contract dispute and had a very disappointing season trying to play catch-up, with a 22–29–7 record, 3.11 goals-against average, and an .892 save percentage. This is not out of the realm of possibility for Hellebuyck, even if he is the best at his profession. He could also declare himself ready to begin the season and rejoin the team on September 29th (the first day players get paid), at which point he would remain suspended for disciplinary reasons but it would be a way for the suspension to have an actual timeline - maybe a month, maybe a bit more, but I can't see the NHL allowing it to go longer than him forfeiting $1M of his $8.5M cap hit without forcing the NHLPA to step in with legal proceedings.
We are now three Vezinas, a Hart Trophy and an Olympic gold medal with Team USA (2026) removed from this fresh face, a promising fifth-round pick (130th overall in 2012) that ended up being, by far, the best of his class:
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