Arizona Coyotes center Nick Schmaltz (8) celebrates with right wing Clayton Keller (9) after scoring a goal against the Nashville Predators in the second period at Mullett Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Well, it’s now official. After nearly 30 years of being in the Phoenix area, the Arizona Coyotes have suspended operations and are moving to Salt Lake City. The NHL board of governors approved the sale of the team to current Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith recently. The history of the team will stay behind in Arizona as the organization continues to look for a new arena in an effort to draw a current team to the area. The new Utah team will share the Delta Center with the Jazz. It’ll also act as an expansion team for the NHL and have a new name, logo, color scheme, etc. That’s probably the right decision because I doubt it’ll want any affiliation with the Coyotes.
Arizona was the laughing stock of the NHL. Since the original Winnipeg Jets relocated to the Phoenix area and became the Coyotes in 1996, the team had 11 different ownership groups, only 10 postseason appearances (four since 2003), and played in three different arenas. Gila River Arena (now Diamond Desert Arena) went as far as to not renew its contract with the Coyotes after the 2021-22 season, alleging that the organization owed $1.3 million in taxes, including $250,000 to the City of Glendale.
The league even had to take over ownership of the team when previous majority owner Jerry Moyes filed for bankruptcy in 2009. The Phoenix area didn’t support the Coyotes, either. The organization consistently ranked near the bottom in attendance by a pretty considerable margin. That’s why I wouldn’t hold my breath about the organization finding a long-term home in the Phoenix area.
The decision to move the Coyotes was long overdue and I’m not surprised in the least that Salt Lake City was the choice. I even listed it as a possible destination for Arizona just last year. It’s a cold weather city known for its skiing and winter sports, even hosting the Winter Olympics back in 2002. Salt Lake City supports both the Jazz and Real Salt Lake, and is even being eyeballed by MLB as a possible market for an expansion team. Smith seems like a competent owner, too. There’s no reason to think the city won’t support a hockey team.
General aerial view of the downtown Houston skyline and the Toyota Center and Minute Maid Park before the AFC Wild Card playoff football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
My biggest takeaway from Arizona’s move is that Houston wasn’t the destination. It felt like that was the likely landing spot. Moving from the Phoenix area to Salt Lake City is a cost effective move, but moving to Houston wouldn’t have shook up the NHL landscape at all. Arizona was already competing in the Central Division of the Western Conference and moving to Houston wouldn’t have changed that. The Dallas Stars, which is the only team in the league located in Texas, compete in the same division.
Houston has more to offer the NHL, though. It’s the fourth-largest city in the country, with a population of 7.1 million people in the metropolitan area, and is the largest city to not have a team in each of the “Big Four” sports leagues (MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL). The people of Houston support its teams, too. The Astros, Rockets, and Texans always rank in the top half of their respected leagues when it comes to attendance. The Toyota Center, which is the city’s arena that hosts the Rockets, is capable of hosting NHL games, too.
I’m not just asking this question as someone who lives in the Houston area, nor as a hockey fan who’d like to watch my Boston Bruins play in-person sometime. I’m asking this just as a sports fan, how does the NHL not already have a footprint in Houston? Even if you were a sports fan that didn’t know anything about hockey, you probably would’ve already assumed Houston had a team just because it’s one of the largest markets in the country.
General view outside of Toyota Center before the game between the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The NHL has expanded from 21 to 32 teams since 1991, and has now had nine different teams relocate since 1976. None of them to Houston. Two of those teams to relocate are now defunct, with the Coyotes likely to join them. It just doesn’t make sense why the league hasn’t given Houston more consideration. Texas is plenty big enough to house two teams. I refuse to believe that it’s because the NHL doesn’t think a team would work in Houston because of its large Latino population. Cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami — all of which have large Latino populations — have six hockey teams between them and still get plenty of support.
With NASA, the oil industry, beaches, and the Port of Houston in the surrounding area, there are millions of people that move to the city every year for work or for entertainment. Those people come from a variety of different areas with different backgrounds. There could be millions of people who could be hockey fans already living in Houston. The population of the Houston metropolitan area has also increased steadily in recent years.
The only thing that makes sense for why the NHL doesn’t already have a team in Houston is because the owner of the Rockets doesn’t want to share the Toyota Center with a hockey team. That’s understandable. Regardless, the league needs to do everything it can to get this right. Having a team in Houston would create more revenue and make the NHL more valuable. More importantly, I’d be able to watch quality hockey in-person without having to drive nearly five hours to Dallas.
“You gonna do somethin’ or just stand there and bleed?”
— Wyatt Earp, “Tombstone” (1993)
The road to the Stanley Cup begins this weekend. Sixteen teams competing for a chance to win one of the most coveted trophies in professional sports, behind arguably the NFL’s Lombardi Trophy. This is always one of the most competitive postseasons in all of sports, and it’s why it’s one of my favorite times of the sports calendar.
In previous years, there was an argument that every team that made the Stanley Cup Playoffs had a shot to win the whole thing. However, I’m not sure that’s the case this year. I think the bracket is a little more top heavy than we’re used to seeing, with maybe just four or five legitimate contenders. Some of those teams are looking to win either their first Stanley Cup ever, or first one in a long time.
The storylines may not seem quite as rich as what we had last year, when Colorado was trying to win back-to-back championships, Tampa Bay was trying to win three championships in four years, and Boston was trying to win it all to cap off a record-breaking regular season. There are still some good ones, though. With four Canadian-based teams in the playoffs, which is the most since 2017, can one of them win a Stanley Cup for the first time since 1993? Can the New York Rangers be the first team to break the Presidents’ Trophy curse since 2013? Can Boston find some redemption after last year’s disappointing exit in the first round?
These next few weeks ought to still give us plenty of entertainment.
First round
Eastern Conference — Metropolitan Division
New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) skates against the Seattle Kraken during the first period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
WC2. Washington (91 points; 40-31-11) vs. M1. New York Rangers (114 points; 55-23-4)
I just don’t see Washington winning this series. Excluding the COVID-19-impacted postseasons in 2020 and 2021, in the last 20 years, no team has had a worse goal differential and still made the playoffs than Washington (-37) this year. During that same stretch, only two teams with a negative goal differential made it past the first round. The Capitals will likely have a difficult time scoring on the Rangers, who allow just 2.76 goals per game.
Prediction: Rangers in five
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns (8) and defenseman Jaccob Slavin (74) look on against the Washington Capitals during the first period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
M3. New York Islanders (94 points; 39-27-16) vs. M2. Carolina (111 points; 52-23-7)
Like Washington, the Islanders have one of the worst goal differentials (-17) among playoff teams in the last 20 years. However, I’d take the Islanders seriously in this series. They’ve played very well the last few weeks — winning 16 of their last 25 games with a goal differential of +11. This ought to be a competitive series, but I’ll still give the advantage to Carolina. The Panthers have a lot more talent, depth, and consistent goaltending.
Prediction: Hurricanes in six
Eastern Conference — Atlantic Division
Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) reacts after scoring against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
WC1. Tampa Bay (98 points; 45-29-8) vs. A1. Florida (110 points; 52-24-6)
I think Tampa Bay is much closer to the end of its championship window rather than the middle. However, I wouldn’t rule out the Lightning in this series. They rank near the top of the league in goals scored (3.51 per game), and have plenty of postseason experience. My concern with Tampa Bay is its goaltending, which has allowed an average of 3.26 goals per game. That’s not a good omen entering the playoffs. I have to pick Florida to win this series.
Prediction: Panthers in six
Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) skates with the puck during the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
A3. Toronto (102 points; 46-26-10) vs. A2. Boston (109 points; 47-20-15)
I think this is a terrible matchup for Toronto. Boston seems to have the Maple Leafs’ number in the postseason — winning three straight series in the first round since 2013. Toronto also hasn’t beaten the Bruins in the regular season since Nov. 2022. This isn’t the best Boston team that we’ve seen in recent years, but I have zero trust in the Maple Leafs. They’ve won just one playoff series since 2005. I expect the Bruins to advance to the next round.
Prediction: Bruins in seven
Western Conference — Central Division
Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston (53) skates against the Buffalo Sabres during the third period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Vegas might be getting Robin Lehner, Mark Stone, and William Carrier from the long-term injury reserve list. That could might not be as helpful as everyone thinks, though. Hockey is dependent on timing and chemistry and Lehner, Stone, and Carrier have been out of the loop for weeks. They might not help the Golden Knights as much as people think. Regardless, I still expect Dallas to take care of business and advance to the next round.
Prediction: Stars in six
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) warms up before a game against the Calgary Flames at Canada Life Centre. Mandatory Credit: James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports
Winnipeg has one of the better goalies in hockey in Connor Hellebuyck, which is always beneficial once playoff hockey rolls around. I think Colorado will be a difficult matchup for the Jets, though. The Avalanche boast the league’s best offense — averaging 3.67 goals per game. They’ll likely find the back of the net against Hellebuyck. I don’t trust Winnipeg’s offense, which is one of the worst among playoff teams, to keep up over the course of a series.
Prediction: Avalanche in seven
Western Conference — Pacific Division
Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson (40) handles the puck against the Florida Panthers in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
WC1. Nashville (99 points; 47-30-5) vs. P1. Vancouver (109 points; 50-23-9)
I worry that Nashville relied too much on goalie Juuse Saros in the regular season. He appeared in the most games of any goalie (64), which might be a reason why he had his worst statistical season since he entered the NHL in 2015. If Saros can’t keep pucks out of the back of the net, this will be a short series. Vancouver has a lot of firepower — averaging 3.40 goals per game — and scoring depth. I don’t know how the Predators can pull off the upset.
Prediction: Canucks in five
Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) carries the puck around Detroit Red Wings defensemen Moritz Seider (53) during the third period at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
P3. Los Angeles (99 points; 44-27-11) vs. P2. Edmonton (104 points; 49-27-6)
This will be a third-straight year that these teams met in the first round. The previous two meetings went at least six games, so this should be a competitive series. I don’t know if Edmonton can make a deep postseason run, but I expect it to advance to the next round. The Oilers will have the best two players on the ice in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Los Angeles just doesn’t have enough offensive firepower to keep up with Edmonton.
Prediction: Oilers in seven
Second round
Eastern Conference — Metropolitan Division
New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) defends the net in the second period against the Ottawa Senators at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
M2. Carolina vs. M1. New York Rangers
The winner of this series will likely represent the East in the Stanley Cup. Even though the Rangers have more star power, I’ll give the slight advantage to Carolina. The Hurricanes are loaded with depth on both ends of the ice. They have 12 different players to score at least 10 goals, and that’s not counting Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov, who were picked up at the trade deadline. The Rangers will have a difficult time defending Carolina’s offensive attack.
Prediction: Hurricanes in seven
Eastern Conference — Atlantic Division
Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) scores a goal on a slap shot during the third period against the St. Louis Blues at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
A2. Boston vs. A1. Florida
I’m having a difficult time seeing Boston winning this series. The Bruins haven’t played well since the start of February — losing 16 of their last 31 games, with a goal differential of -3. Florida is a younger team that has played better down the stretch, and has more depth. The Panthers also have a reliable goalie in Sergei Bobrovsky, who’s allowed just 2.37 goals per game. I doubt Boston can get consistent scoring from anyone besides David Pastrňák.
Prediction: Panthers in seven
Western Conference — Central Division
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) controls the puck in the second period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
C3. Colorado vs. C1. Dallas
I don’t know just how far Colorado can get this postseason relying mostly on Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and the rest of its offense. I think the Avalanche’s defense will eventually lead to their downfall. They rank in the bottom half of the NHL in goals allowed per game, shots allowed, and save percentage. Dallas should be able to take advantage of that. The Stars have a loaded offense, featuring eight different players to score at least 20 goals.
Prediction: Stars in six
Western Conference — Pacific Division
Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller (9) handles the puck against the St. Louis Blues in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
P2. Edmonton vs. P1. Vancouver
Vancouver is the second-youngest team to make the postseason, and 12th-youngest in the league. The Canucks will likely be a problem for the foreseeable future, but I think their youth will prevent them from making a deep playoff run. While I have concerns about Edmonton’s depth, there are a lot of guys on its roster with postseason experience. We know that the Oilers have McDavid and Draisaitl, but I think they’re better than people think defensively.
Prediction: Oilers in six
Eastern Conference Final
Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho (20) watches the play against the Boston Bruins during the third period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
A1. Florida vs. M2. Carolina
Despite having Sam Reinhart, who scored 57 goals in the regular season, I don’t know if Florida is reliable enough offensively to get back to the Stanley Cup. The Panthers rank No. 11 among playoff teams in goals scored per game. They’re a great defensive team to help combat that, but Carolina is a solid offensive team with several reliable goal scorers. I can’t bring myself to pick against the Hurricanes. I think they’re the most complete team in the East.
Prediction: Hurricanes in six
Western Conference Final
Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (24) and left wing Jamie Benn (14) celebrates a power play goal scored by center Joe Pavelski (not pictured) against the Colorado Avalanche during the second period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
P2. Edmonton vs. C1. Dallas
This is a very bad matchup for Edmonton. The Oilers don’t have the same amount of depth as Dallas. I think the Stars will take advantage of Edmonton’s blue line and goaltending, which is far from elite. On the other side, Dallas is excellent defensively. The Stars’ blue line has allowed the seventh fewest shots in the league, and Jake Oettinger has been solid in the net. I think Dallas will be able to prevent McDavid and Draisaitl from taking over this series.
Prediction: Stars in six
2024 Stanley Cup Final
M2. Carolina vs. C1. Dallas
I picked these teams to make it to the Stanley Cup in the preseason and I’m not wavering on that opinion. I think these are the most balanced teams in the NHL. They have scoring depth and quality goaltending. In a series between teams that are pretty much equal, I have to lean on goaltending and special teams. Carolina holds the advantage in both areas. The Hurricanes rank in the top two in the league in both power play percentage and penalty kill percentage. Since Frederik Andersen’s return at the beginning of March, him and Pyotr Kochetkov have a combined GAA of 1.70 and save percentage of 93.3% in the net. I think Carolina is in great position to win its second Stanley Cup in franchise history.
Prediction: Hurricanes in six Conn Smythe winner: Sebastian Aho
The NBA regular season ended over the weekend while I was at my brother’s bachelor party in Cincinnati. I was actually worried that I wouldn’t have enough time to write up this post since I had to travel all day Sunday, but I managed to get it done. Some people might think that this post is coming a little early since the playoffs technically don’t start until Saturday, but my readers ought to know that I consider the NBA’s Play-In Tournament to be part of the league’s postseason. This will be the fifth installment of the Play-In Tournament, so I shouldn’t have to explain how it works at this point.
After a few years of having some semblance of balance, it feels like the league went right back to where it was between 2015-20. I think there are only two or three teams that can legitimately win the championship. I consider every other team to just be along for the ride until I see otherwise. Then again, NBA teams are notorious for not taking the regular season seriously. There’s a good chance that some teams are able to turn it on suddenly and play championship-level basketball now that it’s the postseason. We saw it happen last year with the Lakers and Miami, which were both in the Play-In Tournament and made deep postseason runs.
Even though the league has become so top heavy, I still can’t help but feel nostalgic about this time of year. Some of my fondest memories of my youth came watching the NBA postseason late at night while my semester of school was winding down. I really hope teams step up their game these next few weeks. I enjoy parity and having some unpredictability in playoffs.
Play-In Tournament
Eastern Conference
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) dribbles up court against the Chicago Bulls during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
No. 8 Miami (46-36) vs. No. 7 Philadelphia (47-35)
With this game in Philadelphia, I’ll give the advantage to the 76ers. Miami has struggled offensively on the road — ranking No. 21 in offensive efficiency. The Heat are a great defensive team, but I’m not convinced they’ll be able to score on Philadelphia, which has been a great defensive team at home. You have to be able to score points consistently to advance in the postseason. Joel Embiid is also expected to be healthy, which will only benefits the 76ers.
Winner: 76ers
Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan (11) is defended by Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32) and center Jarrett Allen (31) during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
No. 10 Atlanta (36-46) vs. No. 9 Chicago (39-43)
I don’t know if Atlanta is good enough defensively to get out of the play-in tournament. The Hawks might not even be good enough on that end of the court to win this game. They rank No. 27 in the league in defensive efficiency. Chicago has just enough scoring depth — with four different players averaging at least 18 points per game — to take advantage of that mismatch. I also think the Bulls have the coaching advantage in Billy Donovan.
Winner: Bulls
Miami Heat guard Jimmy Butler (22) attempts a shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
No. 9 Chicago vs. No. 8 Miami
I doubt Chicago is a good enough team to win this game. The Bulls don’t have the star power to match up with Miami. They’ve also struggled significantly on the road — winning just 19 of 41 games and ranking No. 23 in defensive efficiency. There should be plenty of scoring opportunities for the Heat, who will have the two best players on the court in Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. I also think Miami has the coaching advantage in Erik Spoelstra.
Winner: Heat
Western Conference
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) dunks the ball against Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac (1) during the second half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
No. 8 Los Angeles Lakers (47-35) vs. No. 7 New Orleans (49-33)
In essentially a one-game playoff, I’ll give the advantage to LeBron James. He typically saves his best for the postseason and you’ve seen that the last few weeks. The Lakers have won 20 of their last 30 games, and James averaged 26.3 points per game during that stretch. New Orleans has been one of the top defensive teams throughout the regular season, but I’m not convinced it can guard the Lakers well enough to win this game.
Winner: Lakers
Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (5) shoots the basketball during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
No. 10 Golden State (46-36) vs. No. 9 Sacramento (46-36)
Even though Golden State has been inconsistent this season, I’ll still pick it to win this game. The Warriors have actually been very good on the road — winning 25 games and ranking in the top five in defensive efficiency. Golden State is also a veteran team, whereas Sacramento is one of the younger teams in the league. When these teams met in the postseason last year, the lack of playoff experience was a disadvantage for the Kings.
Winner: Warriors
New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) dribbles against the Utah Jazz at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports
No. 10 Golden State vs. No. 7 New Orleans
Golden State has just been too inconsistent all season, even showing signs of regression. It feels like this will be the end of the Warriors’ run as one of the top teams in the league, which is why I don’t trust them to get out of the play-in tournament. New Orleans is a good team with an ascending star player in Zion Williamson. The Pelicans also rank in the top 10 in defensive efficiency at home, so they should be able to stifle Golden State’s offense.
Winner: Pelicans
First round
Eastern Conference
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) controls the ball during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
No. 8 Miami vs. No. 1 Boston (64-18)
I find it highly unlikely that Miami gets the same magic that it had last year, when it won the East as a No. 8 seed. That type of run rarely happens in professional sports, specifically in the NBA. I think the Heat will have a difficult time defending and keeping up with Boston’s offense, which ranks No. 1 in offensive efficiency and averages 120.6 points per game. I expect this to be a challenging series for the Celtics, but I think they get it done.
Prediction: Celtics in six
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) reacts in the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
No. 5 Orlando (47-35) vs. No. 4 Cleveland (48-34)
Orlando has been one of the best stories of the season, but I doubt it’ll win this series. The Magic are a very young team that lacks postseason experience. On the other side, Cleveland has a solid squad that’s led by one of the best players in basketball in Donovan Mitchell. Orlando has also been too inconsistent offensively — ranking last among playoff teams in offensive efficiency. I expect the Cavaliers to advance to the next round.
Prediction: Cavaliers in six
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the game against the Chicago Bulls at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
No. 6 Indiana (47-35) vs. No. 3 Milwaukee (49-33)
Milwaukee hasn’t played well in recent weeks. The Bucks have posted a record of 19-20 since firing Adrian Griffin back in January — allowing an abysmal 111.8 points per game during that stretch. This could end up being a favorable matchup for Indiana, which averages 123.1 points per game. However, the Pacers are even worse than Milwaukee defensively. The Bucks also have more talent and postseason experience. I think they squeak out a series victory.
Prediction: Bucks in seven
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) brings the ball up court in the fourth quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
No. 7 Philadelphia vs. No. 2 New York (50-32)
Philadelphia won eight games in a row to end the regular season, so it’s a hot team right now. With a healthy Embiid, the 76ers have a shot of winning this series. I have to pick New York to advance, though. The Knicks have been surging the last few weeks — winning 13 of their last 18 games. Losing Julius Randle hurts, but I think New York has enough depth to overcome his absence. The Knicks should also benefit from having home-court advantage.
Prediction: Knicks in seven
Western Conference
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) dribbles the ball down the court against the Indiana Pacers during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
No. 8 New Orleans vs. No. 1 Oklahoma City (57-25)
Despite having one of the youngest rosters in the league, Oklahoma City had its best season since Kevin Durant was with the team. Even though they’re inexperienced, I think the Thunder are a real threat to win the West. They have a star player in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and rank in the top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency, along with some scoring depth. I don’t see Oklahoma City being one-and-done in this postseason.
Prediction: Thunder in six
LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) dribbles against the Golden State Warriors during the second half of the game at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports
No. 5 Dallas (50-32) vs. No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers (51-31)
It’s easy to want to pick the Clippers because they have star players like Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and James Harden. However, the Clippers are a team that I don’t trust in the postseason. They’ve won just three playoff series since 2019. Dallas is arguably the hottest team in the NBA right now. The Mavericks have won 16 of their last 20 games. The Clippers also aren’t a great defensive team, so I think they’ll have a difficult time defending Luka Dončić.
Prediction: Mavericks in seven
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) celebrates after making a shot against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
No. 6 Phoenix (49-33) vs. No. 3 Minnesota (56-26)
I don’t want to do it, but I’ll give the slight advantage in this series to Phoenix. The Suns arguably have the best scoring trio in the league in Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. Minnesota has been great defensively, but it’ll have a difficult time defending those three players over the course of a series. I’m not convinced that the Timberwolves have a reliable scorer outside of Anthony Edwards. The organization also hasn’t won a playoff series since 2004.
Prediction: Suns in six
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) passes the ball in the first quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 2 Denver (57-25)
I don’t like picking against James in the postseason, but this is feels like a mismatch for the Lakers. Denver has the MVP frontrunner in Nikola Jokić and plenty of scoring depth, including five other players to average a minimum of 10.1 points per game. The Lakers haven’t played well away from home — winning just 19 games and ranking No. 20 in defensive efficiency. It’ll be incredibly difficult for the Lakers to pull off the upset in this series.
Prediction: Nuggets in five
Second round
Eastern Conference
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) shoots in the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
No. 4 Cleveland vs. No. 1 Boston
I don’t know if Cleveland has enough reliable scorers to win this series. Boston will try to limit Mitchell’s production, so Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley will have to step up. They’re good players, but I doubt they can be counted on over the course of a series. The Celtics also have a lot more scoring depth, which will be problematic for the Cavaliers’ defense. Boston should get back to the Eastern Conference Finals for a third-straight year.
Prediction: Celtics in six
Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts after scoring the game-winning basket in overtime against the Sacramento Kings at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
No. 3 Milwaukee vs. No. 2 New York
I don’t have much trust in Milwaukee after the way it ended the regular season. The Bucks haven’t been impressive the last few weeks. I’m not even convinced they’ll get past the first round. I feel like I have to pick New York to win this series. The Knicks are playing well right now and they have depth. I also think New York, which ranks in the top 10 in offensive efficiency, should be able to consistently score points against Milwaukee’s porous defense.
Prediction: Knicks in six
Western Conference
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić (77) celibates after forward Tim Hardaway Jr. (not pictured) makes a three point jump shot against the Orlando Magic during the second half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
No. 5 Dallas vs. No. 1 Oklahoma City
Dončić has been on fire the last few weeks — averaging 33.2 points per game since mid-February. He’s going to be a problem for Oklahoma City, but I think it’s up to the task. The Thunder rank No. 4 in the league in defensive efficiency, so they should be able to slow down Dončić. I don’t think the Mavericks have enough scoring depth to pull off the upset if that happens. This should be an entertaining series, but I have to give the advantage to Oklahoma City.
Prediction: Thunder in six
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) dribbles against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
No. 6 Phoenix vs. No. 2 Denver
There’s no way that I’m picking Phoenix to get the upset in this series. The Suns are one of the more talented teams in the NBA, but they haven’t been a reliable team since acquiring Durant last year. Eventually, teams have to put talent together and show it can win when it matters. Denver is the significantly better team. The Nuggets are great defensively and have plenty of scoring depth to complement Jokić. I expect Denver to make quick work of Phoenix.
Prediction: Nuggets in five
Eastern Conference Finals
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) looks to shoot against Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro (35) in the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
No. 2 New York vs. No. 1 Boston
There’s plenty of room for optimism around New York, but I don’t see it getting past this point. The Knicks just aren’t as talented as Boston right now. With Randle out for the postseason, New York doesn’t have many reliable scorers outside of Jalen Brunson. It’ll be difficult for the Knicks to keep up with the Celtics over the course of a series. It feels like the East is Boston’s to lose, so I expect it to make its second trip to the NBA Finals in the last three years.
Prediction: Celtics in six
Western Conference Finals
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić (15) controls the ball in the second quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
No. 2 Denver vs. No. 1 Oklahoma City
This feels like a tough matchup for Oklahoma City. While I think the Thunder are a legitimate contender, I think their lack of postseason experience will prevent them from getting to the Finals. The main reason why I’m picking Denver to win this series is because Oklahoma City lacks a dynamic big man to defend Jokić, which makes this series a mismatch. If the Thunder can’t limit Jokić’s production, it might end up being a quick victory for the Nuggets.
Prediction: Nuggets in six
2024 NBA Finals
No. 2 Denver vs. No. 1 Boston
It feels like we’re destined for a matchup between these teams in the Finals. They have the most depth and some of the best players in the game at the top of their rotations. Boston feels like a wagon this year, though. The Celtics average nearly 1.2 points per possession, which is the best in the category in over 20 years. I don’t know if any team will be able to slow down the Celtics’ offense this postseason, which has as many as eight quality scoring options on any given day. Defending Jokić will be a very tall order, but I think this Boston team is much better defensively than it was last year. Everything seems to be lining up for the Celtics to win their 18th championship.
Prediction: Celtics in seven Finals MVP: Jayson Tatum
“C’mon, it’s Czechoslovakia. We zip in, we pick ’em up, we zip right out again. We’re not going to Moscow. It’s Czechoslovakia. It’s like going into Wisconsin.”
— John Winger, “Stripes” (1981)
Vegas Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault (81) hoists the Stanley Cup after defeating the Florida Panthers in game five of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
This is now the fifth-straight year that I’ve done a blog post devoted to this subject (1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0). I’m not sure anyone cares what the NFL standings would look like if it had the NHL’s point system, but I love both leagues and it’s a chance for me to get a little creative. If the multiverse exists (doubtful), it’s not inconceivable that in one of those universes the NFL’s standings are determined by a point system similarly to the NHL. I highly doubt anyone reading this has thought about that, though.
For those that aren’t familiar, the NHL determines its standings differently than most leagues. Instead of going by win percentage and overall record, the league goes by a point system. The details are below:
Outcome of each game
Points
Win (regulation AND overtime)
2
Loss in overtime/shootout
1
Loss in regulation
0
Explanation of the NHL’s point system
So, the more wins a team has the more points it earns, but teams can also benefit by having losses in overtime or in a shootout.
The way this will work is that I’ll keep the NFL’s postseason structure unchanged — divisional winners are guaranteed the top four seeds and three wild card spots in each conference. I’ll also use the NFL tie-breaker scenarios (head-to-head results, divisional record, conference record, record against common opponents, etc.). The only difference is that a team’s point total trumps win percentage like in the NHL.
Baltimore Ravens running back Melvin Gordon III (33) reacts following his fourth quarter touchdown run against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
2023
AFC
Team
Record
Points
1. Baltimore Ravens (AFC North winner)
13-4
27
2. Buffalo Bills (AFC East winner)
11-6
24
3. Kansas City Chiefs (AFC West winner)
11-6
22
4. Houston Texans (AFC South winner)
10-7
20
5. Cleveland Browns (wild card)
11-6
22
6. Miami Dolphins (wild card)
11-6
22
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (wild card)
10-7
20
8. Jacksonville Jaguars
9-8
19
9. Indianapolis Colts
9-8
19
10. Cincinnati Bengals
9-8
18
11. Las Vegas Raiders
8-9
16
12. Denver Broncos
8-9
16
13. New York Jets
7-10
14
14. Tennessee Titans
6-11
14
15. Los Angeles Chargers
5-12
11
16. New England Patriots
4-13
8
AFC standings for the 2023 season going by the NHL’s point system (bold means changes)
NFC
Team
Record
Points
1. Detroit Lions (NFC North winner)
12-5
25
2. San Francisco 49ers (NFC West winner)
12-5
24
3. Dallas Cowboys (NFC East winner)
12-5
24
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFC South winner)
9-8
18
5. Philadelphia Eagles (wild card)
11-6
22
6. Los Angeles Rams (wild card)
10-7
21
7. Green Bay Packers (wild card)
9-8
18
8. Seattle Seahawks
9-8
18
9. New Orleans Saints
9-8
18
10. Minnesota Vikings
7-10
15
11. Chicago Bears
7-10
14
12. Atlanta Falcons
7-10
14
13. New York Giants
6-11
13
14. Washington Commanders
4-13
9
15. Arizona Cardinals
4-13
8
16. Carolina Panthers
2-15
4
NFC standings for the 2023 season going by the NHL’s point system (bold means changes)
I thought last year was a disappointing outcome after calculating the points. It became evident quickly that the same thing might happen this year, at least in the AFC. There was no change to the top seven spots in that conference. The only change came with the group of 9-8 teams in the middle of the AFC standings, so I might as well break it down.
Jacksonville and Indianapolis get the advantage over Cincinnati because they both lost games in overtime, and the Jaguars get the No. 8 spot because they beat the Colts twice. I doubt that would’ve led to any changes to the way those teams handled the last week of the season, though, since both Jacksonville and Indianapolis still had a chance to win the AFC South.
It was a much different story in the NFC, where Detroit ended up with home-field advantage because it had an overtime loss. That might’ve totally changed the NFC’s playoff picture. San Francisco would’ve played its starters in Week 18 in order to get home-field advantage. If the 49ers beat the Rams that week, it would’ve had a trickle-down effect. Detroit likely would’ve been the No. 2 seed and Dallas would’ve been the No. 3 seed. Green Bay and the Rams also would’ve flipped spots.
Even though there weren’t many changes to the standings last year, do you see why I enjoy this exercise? The NFC playoff picture would’ve looked much differently if there was a point system. It’s not the first time something like this has happened since I first kept track of this hypothetical scenario, either. That might be why the Stanley Cup Playoffs can be so unpredictable. There might be some overseeded teams because they caught bad breaks in overtime/shootouts in the regular season and were awarded points anyway.
It’s interesting to think about how differently postseasons would look if every sport had a point system. Although, I’m in no way advocating for that to happen.
Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone kisses the Larry O’Brien Trophy after winning the 2023 NBA Finals against the Miami Heat at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The NBA regular season is upon us, after what was a relatively quiet offseason for the league. That’s something that I haven’t witnessed in over a decade. Before the recent Damian Lillard and Jrue Holliday trades, the biggest acquisition made this offseason was arguably Memphis trading for Marcus Smart. Outside of acquisitions, the biggest story was probably James Harden and his drama with Philadelphia.
Think about it, it feels like there’s always a big name to join a new team in recent years. We eventually got it with the Lillard trade, but it came in at the 11th hour of the offseason. That’s just something we’re not familiar with as NBA fans.
My outlook for this season is that the league is still very balanced. The days of teams having a “Big 3” comprised of super stars are in the rearview mirror. The best teams in the NBA currently have two star players and a bunch of quality role players. I’m not used to seeing so much parity in this league. That’s why I think as many as six or seven teams can legitimately win the championship, as opposed to just two or three a few seasons ago.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dunks in the third quarter of their game against the Washington Wizards at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Major award winners predictions
Award
Winner
Most Valuable Player
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee
Defensive Player of the Year
Evan Mobley, Cleveland
Sixth Man of the Year
Immanuel Quickley, New York
Rookie of the Year
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio
Price’s predicted major award winners
Antetokounmpo seems poised to have an MVP-caliber season. He’s arguably the best player in the NBA and has battled injuries each of the last two seasons. I also think having a new head coach in Milwaukee will allow Antetokounmpo to have more of an impact. Mobley is a good bet to win Defensive Player of the Year. He’s improved as a defender each year he’s been a pro, including being named to the first-team All-Defensive Team last season.
Quickley is one of the best players to come off the bench. He’s also improved as a player every season, improving his scoring to 14.9 points per game last season. Quickley is going to get a lot of recognition because he plays in New York, which is why I think he has a great chance to win the Sixth Man of the Year. I’m going chalk by picking Wembanyama to win Rookie of the Year. He was regarded as one of the best prospects to come through the draft in recent years. With Gregg Poppvich as Wembanyama’s head coach, there’s no telling just how much of an impact he’ll have as a rookie.
Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) dribbles while defended by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Ousmane Dieng (13) during the first half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
I think the East comes down to two teams: Boston and Milwaukee. They have the most collection of talent in the conference. I’m going to give the slight advantage to the Bucks, though. The addition of Lillard is huge and it gives Milwaukee two reliable scorers every game. It also pushes Khris Middleton down to the No. 3 scorer, which might be a better spot for him. As I mentioned before, I also think the Bucks having a new head coach is going to unleash a side of Antetokounmpo that we haven’t seen since he won MVP in 2020.
I don’t know what to expect from Boston. The Celtics are certainly talented enough to win it all, but they shook up their roster by moving on from Marcus Smart and Robert Williams, and acquiring Kristaps Porzingis and Holliday. Boston should still finish in the top three in the East, though. I’m expecting Cleveland to improve with a full offseason of Donovan Mitchell working with the young players on the Cavaliers’ roster. I’m not going to count out Miami, either. The Heat won the East last year and have a great duo in Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. A lot of things went their way last postseason, though, and they lost some quality role players this offseason.
I think the days of Philadelphia being one of the top teams in the East are in the rearview mirror. The 76ers have their hands full with Harden, who I’m not convinced will finish the season with the team, and they have a new head coach. New York is one of the better teams in the East. The Knicks have a nice trio in Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson, and R.J. Barrett, along with a decent head coach in Tom Thibodeau. Atlanta should be the best team outside of the top six solely because of Trae Young. Indiana should improve from last year, especially if Tyrese Haliburton plays more than 56 games.
The last two spots of the play-in tournament will be a log jam between Brooklyn, Chicago, Orlando, and Toronto. I’m giving the Nets and Bulls the edge because those teams have a little more talent on their rosters. The Magic have some nice young players, but I need to see it make the playoffs first. There’s a decent chance that the Raptors trade away their best players before the deadline. Charlotte, Detroit, and Washington will likely round out the East. I doubt the Hornets have enough scoring outside of LaMelo Ball. The Pistons are still likely a year away from competing. The Wizards are entering a rebuild after trading Bradley Beal and Porzingis.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokič (15) against Phoenix Suns forward Chimezie Metu (4) during a preseason game at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Western Conference
Team
Record
1
Denver Nuggets
53-29
2
Phoenix Suns
52-30
3
Los Angeles Lakers
50-32
4
Sacramento Kings
49-33
5
Golden State Warriors
46-36
6
Los Angeles Clippers
45-37
7
Memphis Grizzlies*
44-38
8
Oklahoma City Thunder*
43-39
9
Minnesota Timberwolves*
42-40
10
New Orleans Pelicans*
41-41
11
Dallas Mavericks
40-42
12
Utah Jazz
36-46
13
Houston Rockets
32-50
14
San Antonio Spurs
31-51
15
Portland Trail Blazers
25-57
Price’s Western Conference projections (* play-in tournament teams)
The West is loaded with quality teams. There are probably 11 teams good enough to make the playoffs. Unfortunately, there are only 10 spots (if you count the play-in tournament). The team I like to finish No. 1 in the standings is the defending champions. Denver has one of the best players in the game in Nikola Jokič, who’s won MVP two of the last three seasons. The Nuggets also didn’t lose many of their other key role players, either. I think the organization is in the middle of a special point in its history.
The second-best team in the West is arguably Phoenix, even though it moved on from Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton. The Suns still have two of the best players in the NBA in Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, and they traded for Beal. I also think, similar to Milwaukee, hiring a new head coach could make Phoenix better. Another team that I like is the Lakers. Remember, they got to the Western Conference Finals last year. I think they finally have a quality team to complement LeBron James and Anthony Davis. I wanted to put Sacramento higher in my standings. The Kings have a nice young core, led by DeAaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. I just like the other teams a little more.
I’m not going to count out Golden State as a championship contender. I just think the Warriors are aging, and the 2022 season feels like an outlier. I can’t bring myself to quit on the Clippers. They have a veteran roster, featuring Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook. It’s going to be difficult for Memphis to finish in the top six in the West with Ja Morant suspended for 25 games. The Grizzlies are still a young, talented team that should find a way to make the postseason. Oklahoma City has been trending in the right direction in recent seasons. The Thunder have put together a solid young core and I think they’ll be a playoff team.
With Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota should be good enough to at least appear in the play-in tournament. I doubt the Timberwolves can finish in the top six spots, though. New Orleans has the potential to finish higher in the standings. It comes down to if Zion Williamson can stay healthy, which he hasn’t been able to do. I think Dallas is closer to the team that we saw in 2022, but I don’t trust Kyrie Irving. I have a difficult time seeing Utah competing for a playoff spot. Houston still has a ways to go, even though it should be improved under new head coach Ime Udoka. It’s rare for a rookie to immediately dominate the NBA, but I’m curious to see how Wembanyama performs for San Antonio. I don’t expect Portland to be that competitive after moving on from Lillard.
2024 NBA Finals
Denver vs. Milwaukee
Thesefeel like the best teams with the fewest question marks in both conferences. Denver and Milwaukee have two of the top five players in the game in Jokič and Antetokounmpo. They also have plenty of scoring depth, including quality secondary options in Lillard and Jamal Murray. If they manage to get home-court advantage, I have a difficult time seeing either of them not representing their conferences in the Finals.
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) reacts in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers during game two of the Western Conference Finals for the 2023 NBA playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The team I like to win it all is the Nuggets. As I mentioned earlier, I think they’re in the middle of something special. Jokič and Murray are one of the best duos in the league, and both are starting to enter their primes. I also think Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are solid depth players. I don’t see any reason to think Denver will fall off this season.
“You think you can win on talent alone? Gentlemen, you don’t have enough talent to win on talent alone.”
– Herb Brooks, “Miracle” (2004)
Vegas Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault (81) hoists the Stanley Cup after defeating the Florida Panthers in game five of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
I’ll be honest, between the way last season ended for my Boston Bruins and with both Patrice Bergeron and David Krejčí retiring this offseason, I can’t say that I’ve been too thrilled about the start of a new NHL season. So, this season has snuck up on me. I’ve been rushing to get my predictions done in the last 24 hours. It also doesn’t help that I had surgery last week, which knocked me out for a few days. I feel like I’m back in school trying to rush a homework assignment.
The NHL regular season is set to begin Tuesday night, with a triple-header featuring Nashville at Tampa Bay, Chicago at Pittsburgh, and Seattle at Vegas.
Last year was a historic season for the league. Boston broke the single-season record for wins (65) and points (135). You also had a team in just its sixth year as a hockey organization in Vegas win the Stanley Cup, becoming the fastest expansion team to win the trophy.
When I look at the NHL landscape heading into this season, I think it’s pretty wide open. That’s typical of hockey because it’s the sport with the most parity, but it’s still a good way to describe the upcoming season. Some of the usual contenders, like Boston and Tampa Bay, lost some their top players this offseason. There’s also uncertainty surrounding Colorado after the injury to Gabriel Landeskog last year. It’s also hard for me to trust some of the Canadian teams like Toronto and Edmonton because they haven’t given me a reason to trust them in the playoffs.
I think we’re witnessing a changing of the guard when it comes to the Stanley Cup contenders. I look forward to seeing how it shakes out this season.
Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) carries the puck around Vancouver Canucks defensemen Quinn Hughes (43) during the first period at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
Major award winners predictions
Award
Winner
Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP)
Connor McDavid, Edmonton
Vezina Trophy (best goalie)
Jake Oettinger, Dallas
James Norris Memorial Trophy (best defenseman)
Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo
Calder Memorial Trophy (rookie of the year)
Connor Bedard, Chicago
Art Ross Trophy (player who leads the NHL in points)
Connor McDavid, Edmonton
Price’s predicted major award winners
Picking McDavid to win the Hart Trophy almost shouldn’t be allowed. It’s a chalk pick, but I’m just not convinced anyone can outperform him. McDavid is currently the best player in hockey and he’s scored at least 30 goals and accumulated a minimum of 100 points in six of the last seven seasons. The only time he didn’t eclipse 100 points came in the shortened 2019-20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s why I’m also picking McDavid to win the Art Ross Trophy, which is given to the player who leads the league in points. He’s always a safe pick for the two awards.
I’m picking Oettinger to win the Vezina Trophy because he’s a young guy with his best hockey still ahead of him. He’s also posted a GAA of 2.42 and a save percentage of 91.6% each of his first three seasons in the NHL. That’s good enough to win the Vezina in any given season. Dahlin is an ascending defenseman, who tallied 73 points and averaged 25 minutes of time on the ice last year. I think he’s poised to have a breakout season, which is why I’m picking him to win the Norris Trophy. Everyone is going to pick Bedard to win the Calder Trophy. He’s regarded as one of the best prospects to come through the NHL draft in recent years. Bedard is also going to get plenty of scoring opportunities in Chicago, too, which should put him in the driver’s seat to be one of the top rookies in hockey.
Eastern Conference
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) goes to pass the puck against the Ottawa Senators during the second period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Atlantic Division
Team
Points
1
Toronto Maple Leafs
113
2
Boston Bruins
101
3
Florida Panthers
99
4
Buffalo Sabres*
95
5
Tampa Bay Lightning
88
6
Ottawa Senators
83
7
Detroit Red Wings
76
8
Montréal Canadiens
68
Price’s Atlantic Division projections (top three teams make playoffs; * wild card team)
After years of being behind Boston and Tampa Bay, it feels like this year is Toronto’s time to win this division. The Maple Leafs are going to have one of the best offenses in hockey with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares as their top goal scorers. Toronto also improved its offense by signing Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, and Ryan Reaves. Ilya Samsanov proved to be a capable starting goalie last season, too — allowing just 2.33 goals per game and posting a save percentage of 91.9%.
Boston is a prime regression candidate this season. The Bruins aren’t going to replicate the success they had last year, but they’re still a talented team. Boston has just enough scoring in David Pastrnák, Brad Marchand, and Jake DeBrusk. The Bruins also have the best goalie duo in hockey with Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman. I expect Florida’s success in the postseason, which took it to the Stanley Cup Final as a wild card, to carry over to this season. The Panthers have a pretty good roster that gelled together well at the end of last season. I see no reason to think they’ll regress.
The team that I have circled to take a step forward in this division is Buffalo. The Sabres are a young, ascending team that has improved its win total each of the last two seasons. They also improved their defense by signing Erik Johnson and Connor Clifton this offseason. Tampa Bay’s roster has taken a hit after losing several players that helped the team win the Stanley Cup twice from 2019-22. The Lightning now have a top-heavy roster, which showed signs of aging last year, and their No. 1 goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy is going to miss a significant amount of time due to injury. Too many things are going against Tampa Bay.
I consider Ottawa and Detroit to be in the same boat. Both teams are young and played well at times last year. They also made some nice moves this offseason. The problem is that this is the toughest division in hockey. I need to see either team close the gap in this division before I believe that either of them will do so. I’ll be very surprised if Montréal doesn’t finish last in this division. The Canadiens are assembling a nice core with Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Jordan Harris. They’re still a few years from being competitive, though.
Carolina Hurricanes left wing Michael Bunting (58) skates with the puck against the Florida Panthers during the third period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Metropolitan Division
Team
Points
1
Carolina Hurricanes
111
2
New Jersey Devils
109
3
New York Rangers
105
4
Pittsburgh Penguins*
97
5
New York Islanders
86
6
Columbus Blue Jackets
83
7
Washington Capitals
81
8
Philadelphia Flyers
70
Price’s Metropolitan Division projections (top three teams make playoffs; * wild card team)
Until I see otherwise, I think this division is Carolina’s to lose. The Hurricanes are a young team with one of the deepest rosters in the NHL, which features 12 different players that scored at least 10 goals last season. Carolina also added to its lineup this offseason by signing Michael Bunting, who’s scored 23 goals each of the last two seasons, and proven veterans in Dmitry Orlov and Tony DeAngelo. This team has always been close to putting together a special season, and it feels like it could happen this year.
New Jersey had one of the youngest teams in the NHL last year and still managed to exceed expectations. The Devils won 52 games and finished tied for fourth in goal differential. I expect New Jersey’s young core to only improve as it develops together. The Rangers might’ve had the most productive offseason — signing proven veterans in Blake Wheeler, Nick Bonino, Erik Gustafsson, and Jonathan Quick. Adding those players should mix well with the young core of the Rangers, who should be considered one of the top teams in the East.
Pittsburgh missed the postseason last year for just the second time since 2010. I expect the Penguins to get back, though, after the signings they made this offseason. Adding Erik Karlsson, Reilly Smith, Noel Acciari, Matt Nieto, and Lars Eller will give this team some much-needed depth. I wasn’t a fan of the way the Islanders handled the offseason. They didn’t make any notable acquisitions. However, I think the Islanders still have enough talent on their roster to fight for a wild card spot. I’m just not convinced it’ll be enough to get the Islanders back to the postseason for a second-straight year.
Columbus is another young team trending in the right direction. I actually came close to picking the Blue Jackets to finish higher in this division. I need to see it happen first, though. There’s not much to like about Washington’s roster outside of Alex Ovechkin and T.J. Oshie. I think the Capitals will struggle score enough goals to win games like last year. Philadelphia is entering rebuild mode after moving on from David Kaše, James van Riemsdyk, Brendan Lemieux, and DeAngelo this offseason. I’ll be surprised if the Flyers find a way to be competitive.
Western Conference
Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) in action during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Minnesota Wild at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Central Division
Team
Points
1
Dallas Stars
108
2
Colorado Avalanche
107
3
Minnesota Wild
98
4
Nashville Predators*
95
5
Winnipeg Jets
88
6
St. Louis Blues
84
7
Arizona Coyotes
75
8
Chicago Blackhawks
71
Price’s Central Division projections (top three teams make playoffs; * wild card team)
With the injuries to Landeskog and Cale Makar for Colorado, I’m going to pick Dallas to win this division. The Stars have one of the better rosters in the NHL. They had six different players score at least 21 goals last season in Jason Robertson, Jamie Benn, Joe Pavelski, Roope Hintz, Tyler Seguin, and Wyatt Johnston. Dallas also might’ve made one of the more underrated moves of the offseason by signing Matt Duchene, who has over 300 career goals. With Oettinger in the net, I expect the Stars to be near the top of the league.
Colorado signed quality players this offseason in Jonathan Drouin, Ryan Johansen, Miles Wood, and Ross Colton. Having those players will help the Avalanche take pressure off Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. I just think the injuries to Landeskog and Makar will be too difficult for this team to overcome. Minnesota didn’t do much to improve its roster this offseason, but it’s established a winning culture in recent seasons. I also think the Wild are the best team that’s not Colorado or Dallas in this division.
Even though Nashville moved on from Duchene, I still consider it to be a playoff team. The Predators have one of the best defenses in the NHL, led by goalie Juuse Saros. They also added to their roster by signing Ryan O’Reilly, Gustav Nyquist, Denis Gurianov, and Luke Schenn this offseason. St. Louis was a seller at the trade deadline last season, but I wouldn’t count this team out. The Blues have a competent front office. However, I have a difficult time seeing them being that competitive after moving on from some of their best players.
I doubt Winnipeg is going to be able to sneak into the postseason like it did last year. The Jets don’t have much talent on their roster outside of goalie Connor Hellebuyck. Arizona is a dysfunctional organization, but I actually think it’s on the upswing. The Coyotes have some talented, young offensive players, and spent a lot of money on their blue line this offseason. You never know what kind of an impact a prospect as highly regarded as Bedard is going to have on a team. I still think Chicago is a few years away from potentially being competitive, though.
Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (29) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
Pacific Division
Team
Points
1
Edmonton Oilers
109
2
Vegas Golden Knights
107
3
Los Angeles Kings
97
4
Calgary Flames*
96
5
Seattle Kraken
90
6
Vancouver Canucks
86
7
Anaheim Ducks
73
8
San Jose Sharks
65
Price’s Pacific Division projections (top three teams make playoffs; * wild card team)
It’s hard to pick against Edmonton in this division. The Oilers have two of the top players in the league in McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Those two players have combined for 215 goals and 514 points the last two seasons. I still have my reservations about Edmonton’s roster outside of those players, though. As long as McDavid and Draisaitl are healthy, the Oilers are going to finish near the top of the standings. I do think Edmonton added two quality depth players this offseason in Connor Brown and Lane Pederson.
The defending champions, Vegas, didn’t do much to improve its roster this offseason. The Golden Knights return a lot of their chemistry and production that helped them win the Stanley Cup, though. I expect them to have another successful season. Los Angeles added proven veterans in forward Pierre-Luc Dubois and goalie Cam Talbot. That’s going to be beneficial because the Kings are returning the bulk of their core, which had 11 different players score at least 10 goals last year. I wouldn’t be surprised if Los Angeles ends up finishing higher in this division.
Calgary was one of the biggest disappointments last season. I believe that the Flames are closer to the 2021-22 team that won 50 games and finished near the top of the league in goal differential, though, than the team we got last year. With the addition of Yegor Sharangovich, I expect Calgary to be a playoff team again. Seattle proved to be ahead of schedule in competitiveness last year, but progress isn’t always linear. That’s why I think the Kraken take a slight step back this season. I need a see the newest NHL organization get to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons before I believe it can.
Vancouver is good enough to be a playoff team. The Canucks have three quality goal scorers in Elias Pettersson, Andrei Kuzmenko, and J.T. Miller. I need to see them be consistent in the regular season, though. Anaheim has a young core in Leo Carlsson, Trevor Zegras, and Mason McTavish. We’ll see if a new head coach can help the young Ducks take the next step. I think San Jose’s rebuild is just getting started. I also expect the Sharks to move on from some of the better players on their roster this season, which means they likely won’t be very competitive.
2024 Stanley Cup Final
Dallas vs. Carolina
When I look at the most complete teams in both conferences, I keep coming back to Carolina and Dallas. Both teams have multiple lines capable of scoring goals, along with star power at the top of their lineups. They also have quality goaltending, and even added to their depth this offseason. That will be beneficial once the postseason rolls around.
Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho (20) pushes the puck up the ice against the Florida Panthers in game two of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
I consider Carolina to be the front-runner to win the Stanley Cup heading into this season. The Hurricanes have a deep, talented roster that only improved after the additions of Bunting, Orlov, and DeAngelo. Remember, if not for some injuries to its top two lines last season, Carolina might’ve won the East. It feels like the Hurricanes are in great position to win their second Stanley Cup in the organization’s history.
“I never realized that the study of nature could advance the science of naval warfare.”
– Capt. Jack Aubrey, “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” (2003)
Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) gets ready for a face-off during the first period in game five of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Florida Panthers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
The wheel of change has turned once again.
On Tuesday, Boston captain and future Hall of Famer Patrice Bergeron announced his retirement. That means that three of my favorite teams (Boston, Green Bay, and West Virginia University) have each lost legends in less than six months.
Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers runs out on to the field as he is announced before a game against Detroit at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Mandatory credit: Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
It all started back in March when future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers announced his intention to play for the New York Jets in 2023. He wasn’t officially traded until a little over a month later. Even though I’ve made it clear in the past that I wanted Green Bay to trade Rodgers, it doesn’t mean that it didn’t take time to process the realization that the Rodgers era was officially over.
He’d been the franchise quarterback with the Packers since 2008, won a Super Bowl, and led the team to several postseason appearances. It wasn’t going to be easy for me to just move on quickly. Little did I know that that would be just the tip of the iceberg for me when it comes to change.
West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Bob Huggins yells to his team during a play against the Oklahoma Sooners in the second half at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
A little over 50 days after Rodgers was traded to the Jets, the news broke that Hall of Fame men’s basketball head coach Bob Huggins resigned from WVU following a DUI arrest. He meant so much to WVU fans. Huggins wasn’t only from the state and a WVU alumnus, but he won over 300 games at WVU and led the program to 10 NCAA tournament appearances in 16 seasons, including an appearance in the Final Four in 2010.
Huggins’ departure was arguably even more difficult to process because it was so abrupt and unexpected. It was also understandable because the university didn’t have much of a choice since he’d been in trouble once already this offseason. So, I felt a plethora of emotions when trying to process that Huggins wouldn’t coach WVU anymore. Did the change stop there, though? Nope.
Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) leaves the ice after the game against the Carolina Hurricanes in game seven of the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
The news of Bergeron’s retirement surprised me more than it should have since he considered it last year. I expected Bergeron to be back with Boston for at least one more season, especially with the centennial season coming up. He finished his career in the top 10 in Bruins history in games played, goals, and assists. Bergeron was also Boston’s de facto captain for the last 15 years, a six-time Selke Trophy winner (awarded to the best defensive forward), and a Stanley Cup champion.
He meant so much to the organizations and is one of the reasons why the team is now a perennial playoff team. It’s a shame that the Bruins couldn’t win another Stanley Cup with him. I was just beginning to cope with getting eliminated in the first round of the postseason after a historic regular season and then I saw this news. This is going to take some time process.
A general view of TD Garden during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
How is it possible for one sports fan to endure this much change in a little over four months? I understand that change is a part of life, but it feels like it should be statistically impossible to lose that many Hall of Fame-caliber contributors in such a short amount of time. This is why being a sports fan can be just as heartbreaking as it can be joyful.
I firmly believe that turning the page in sports can feel like a breath of fresh air, but after this much change I feel like I’m trying to catch my breath at high altitude. I actually had a co-worker tell me recently that I don’t handle change well, so it makes sense that I go through something like this. The good news is that I shouldn’t lose another legend any time soon that meant as much to me as Rodgers, Huggins, and Bergeron.
“You just fulfilled the first rule of law enforcement: make sure when your shift is over you go home alive. Here endeth the lesson.”
– Agent James “Jim” Malone, “The Untouchables” (1987)
2023 Stanley Cup Final Florida (42-32-8) vs. Vegas (51-22-9) Odds: Golden Knights -125
Neither Florida or Vegas have ever hoisted the Stanley Cup. So, this is the seventh time in the history of the Stanley Cup, which goes back over 100 years, that we’re guaranteed that the winner of the series will win the championship for the first time. The last time this happened was 2018. I find that to be a compelling story, especially for the Panthers, who are trying to cap off an improbable postseason run. This ought to be a very entertaining series.
Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period in game four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at FLA Live Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Florida is making its second appearance in the Stanley Cup in franchise history, and it’s been red hot since Jan. 28. The Panthers have won 31 of their last 47 games (18 of their last 24). They’ve also won their last two playoff series in nine games, and that’s not counting knocking off Boston in the first round — the team that broke the NHL record for points and wins in the regular season. I can’t believe Florida isn’t the favorite to win this series.
The Panthers have made it this far mostly because of Sergei Bobrovsky and Matthew Tkachuk. Bobrovsky has put his previous postseason struggles behind him — posting a GAA of 2.21 and a save percentage of .935 in 14 starts. Tkachuk is playing his best hockey — scoring nine goals and tallying 21 points while averaging over 22 minutes on the ice. Florida has also gotten quality production from Sam Reinhart, Carter Vergaeghe, and Brandon Montour.
Vegas Golden Knights center Ivan Barbashev (49) celebrates a goal scored by right wing Jonathan Marchessault (not pictured) against the Dallas Stars during the second period in game six of the Western Conference Finals of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Despite playing its first season in 2017-18, Vegas is no stranger to the Stanley Cup. The Golden Knights are making their second appearance in hockey’s championship series in the last six seasons. They’ve also made it to the conference finals four times in their short history. Vegas has the advantage when it comes to postseason experience in this matchup, including having a head coach who’s been in a Stanley Cup in Bruce Cassidy.
The Golden Knights have been playing complementary hockey all postseason. They’ve had eight different players score a minimum of three goals. The main reason why Vegas has made it to this point, though, is because of goalie Adin Hill. He’s been playing well in the net — posting a GAA of 2.07 and a save percentage of .937. Those numbers are significantly better than what he put up in the regular season.
A general overall view of the T-Mobile Arena during the NHL game between the New York Islanders and the Vegas Golden Knights. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Both of these teams have goalies playing their best right now. Even though Hill has put up better numbers throughout the postseason, I’m going to give Florida the advantage because of Bobrovsky. He’s been playing at a historically high level in his last nine starts — posting a GAA of 1.50 and a save percentage of .954. Those numbers are comparable to when Martin Brodeur and Jonathan Quick in the seasons they led their teams to championships.
With the way Bobrovsky has been playing, I think goals are going to be hard to come by for Vegas in this series. The Panthers have knocked off three of the best teams in the league from the regular season in order to get to this point, and managed to do it without home-ice advantage in each round. I don’t think Florida is going to be intimidated at all by the Golden Knights.
I also can’t shake the feeling that it’s the Panthers’ year to win it all. The stars have aligned for them on more than one occasion. Six of their playoff games have gone to overtime and they’ve won each of them, and that’s not even counting some of the late-game heroics they’ve had in other games. Florida also has several different players playing their best hockey right now. I’m having a difficult time picking against the Panthers.
Prediction: Panthers in six Conn Smythe winner: Sergei Bobrovsky
“Fame has a fifteen minute half-life, infamy lasts a little longer.”
– Mike Wallace, “The Insider” (1999)
2023 NBA Finals Miami (44-38) vs. Denver (53-29) Odds: Nuggets -480
While I’m bummed that my Boston Celtics were eliminated in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, I think we have a tantalizing matchup in the NBA Finals. Both of these teams are playing their best basketball. We also have two intriguing storylines. Denver is looking to win its first championship in franchise history and Miami is trying to be the first No. 8 seed to win an NBA championship. This is all we viewers can ask for.
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) dunks against Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the fourth quarter of game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals for the 2023 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Miami is making its seventh appearance in the Finals since 2006 (sixth since 2011). They’ve had a pretty improbable run to get to this point. Remember, Miami lost a game in the play-in tournament and is now four wins away from a championship. The Heat are also loaded with playoff experience with Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Kyle Lowry, and head coach Erik Spoelstra. They’re very much a threat to take down Denver.
One of the reasons why Miami has made it to this point is because of its 3-point shooting. The Heat have made 39% of their 3-point attempts this postseason. No one expected that considering they ranked near the bottom of the league in the same category in the regular season. Miami has also done an excellent job on the defensive end of the court the last few weeks — allowing only 107.4 points per game.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) reacts in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers during game two of the Western Conference Finals for the 2023 NBA playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Denver is making its first appearance in the Finals in team history. The Nuggets have been on a roll to get to this point — posting a record of 12-3 through three rounds. They also took down two of the hottest teams in the league entering the postseason in Phoenix and the Lakers. With the MVP from two of the last three seasons in Nikola Jokić leading the charge, this team is in great shape to win the franchise’s first championship.
Denver’s offense has been red hot throughout the postseason. The Nuggets have shot 49% from the field, 38.6% from 3-point range, and have averaged 116.4 points per game. Of the four teams that made the conference finals, Denver finished No. 1 in two of those categories (behind only Miami in 3-point shooting percentage). The Nuggets have also been solid defensively — allowing only 108.6 points per game.
General view in the first half between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets during game one of the Western Conference Finals for the 2023 NBA playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
I had a difficult time picking against Denver in this matchup. Not only are the Nuggets a huge favorite, according to Vegas, but they’ve also looked like the best team all postseason. Denver has won six of its 15 playoff games by a minimum of 10 points. Six different players have averaged at least 11.7 points per game for the Nuggets during their postseason run.
Both of these teams are shooting the ball well, so offensive rebounds are likely going to decide this series. The Nuggets will have a significant size advantage. They’ve averaged 10.5 offensive rebounds per game and allowed just 7.9 this postseason. That’s going to be a problem for Miami. The Heat have given up 10.8 offensive rebounds per game while collecting just 9.1. If Denver gets extra possessions, it’s going to be the end of Miami.
I also think it’ll be difficult for the Heat to win a fourth-straight series without having home-court advantage. Miami has quality depth and one of the better head coaches in the league, so it’s going to make this a competitive series. However, Denver also has quality depth, including the best player on the court in Jokić.
Prediction: Nuggets in six Finals MVP: Nikola Jokić
“If we get jammed up, we’re holding court on the street.”
– James Coughlin, “The Town” (2010)
Arizona Coyotes center Nick Schmaltz (8) celebrates with right wing Clayton Keller (9) after scoring a goal against the Nashville Predators in the second period at Mullett Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Last week, a plan to build a new arena in Tempe, Ariz., for the Coyotes was rejected by voters. The team responded by stating that its future “will be evaluated by our owners and the National Hockey League” in the next few weeks. For hockey fans, this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
Arizona is considered to be the laughing stock of the NHL, which has tried hard to keep the team in the area for years. The league has even gone as far as to take over ownership of the team when previous majority owner Jerry Moyes filed for bankruptcy in 2009. It’s time for this experiment to end because the Coyotes have a history of dysfunction.
Since the original Winnipeg Jets relocated to Arizona and became the Coyotes in 1996, the team has had 11 different ownership groups, only 10 postseason appearances (four since 2003), and played in three different arenas. One of the reasons for the latter is because Gila River Arena (now Diamond Desert Arena) chose not to renew its operating agreement with Arizona, even threatening to lock out the team for not paying $1.3 million in taxes and $250,000 to the city of Glendale.
That kind of dysfunction makes the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Miami Marlins, or New York Knicks seem competent.
NEWS: Voters in Tempe have rejected all three measures for the Arizona Coyotes’ $2.1 billion arena project, per unofficial results.
The Coyotes have also ranked in the bottom three in attendance in eight of the last 10 seasons when they played in Glendale. The two seasons when Arizona didn’t rank in the bottom three were shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2011-19, the Coyotes had an average attendance of 13,269, which is only 77.4% of the capacity of their arena. That’s abysmal when you consider that the average attendance of the rest of the league was 17,626. They’ve been playing at Arizona State’s Mullett Arena, which seats less than 5,000, since 2022.
I’m not convinced that the people of Arizona don’t care about hockey. Auston Matthews, who’s currently one of the best players in the NHL, is from the area. They’ve even embraced the other professional sports teams in the state (Arizona Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Phoenix Suns). It’s clear that the people have never embraced the Coyotes and that’s evident since they just rejected the proposal to build a new arena, which was only going to cost them around $200 million. Arizona can’t go back to the Footprint Center (home of the Suns) either because the arena wasn’t built to host a hockey team.
I understand why the NHL would want a team in the Phoenix area. It’s one of the largest markets in the country, with a population of 4.8 million in the metropolitan area. However, the Coyotes have been a total disaster and the events of last week should be an indicator to move the team elsewhere.
I don’t have a preference what the Coyotes choose to do, but I anticipate them to move because I think they’re out of options in Arizona. So, where could they go?
Atlanta Thrashers center Bryan Little (10) celebrates scoring a goal against the Ottawa Senators with right wing Blake Wheeler (26) and defenseman Zach Bogosian (4) in the second period at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Atlanta
Go ahead and laugh at me for putting Atlanta on my list. The NHL has tried to have a team in Atlanta twice before the teams relocated to Canadian cities (Calgary and Winnipeg). However, rumors of the NHL’s potential return there have picked up steam in recent weeks. In April, the Atlanta Journal-Constitutionreported of a $2 billion project to build a new arena for the Atlanta area, with the hopes of landing an NHL franchise.
I’ll be keeping an eye on if that project comes to fruition, but I highly doubt the Coyotes will move to Atlanta. If that happens, it’d change the landscape of the NHL. A team from the Eastern Conference would have to move to the Western Conference. I don’t think the league wants to do that. The most likely candidate to switch conferences is probably Detroit, which used to be in the West before the league moved it to the East so that it had an excuse to expand to Las Vegas and Seattle to give each conference 16 teams.
I’m not convinced that the NHL has closed the door on Atlanta, but this doesn’t feel like the right time to go back.
General aerial view of the downtown Houston skyline and the Toyota Center and Minute Maid Park before the AFC Wild Card playoff football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Houston
This feels like the most likely landing spot for Arizona, if it chooses to relocate. The NHL has never had a team in Houston and I think it wants to change that. If I knew nothing about hockey, I would’ve already assumed Houston had a team.
It almost makes too much sense to move the Coyotes to Houston. The city is the biggest market, with a population of 7.1 million in the metro area, to only have three teams in the “Big Four” sports leagues. I think Houston is a good sports town, too. The people support the Astros, Rockets, and Texans. More importantly, the Toyota Center (home of the Rockets) is able to host hockey games.
Moving Arizona to Houston wouldn’t alter the landscape of the NHL either. The Coyotes currently compete in the Central Division of the West and that wouldn’t change by moving to Houston because the Dallas Stars compete in the same division and conference.
It seems like Arizona could move to Houston tomorrow if it really wanted. I think it’d be cool to have a hockey rivalry in Texas. My only concern is if Houston wants an NHL team and if it’d be a “hockey town.” That’s an important variable for the NHL, which doesn’t make as much money as the other leagues.
General view of Union Station and Kauffman Center for Performing Arts and the Sprint Center and the downtown Kansas City skyline. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas City, Mo.
Many people probably don’t know that the NHL once had a team in Kansas City. The Scouts played there from 1974-76 before relocating to Colorado, and then relocated again in 1982. They’re currently known as the New Jersey Devils.
I could see a scenario where the NHL returns to Kansas City. The T-Mobile Center is a relatively new arena — opening in 2007 — and is able to host hockey games. The Big 12 also hosts its men’s basketball tournament there, and the city is a popular place to visit among fans of that conference.
An estimated 2.3 million people live in the Kansas City area, too. While I’ve never been there, I get the impression that it’s a good sports town. The people support both the Chiefs and Royals, even though the latter hasn’t won more than 74 games since 2018.
I doubt Kansas City is near the top of the NHL’s list of desired markets, but I’m also not convinced that it’s near the bottom. If the Coyotes moved there, it wouldn’t change the league’s landscape at all. Plus, I wouldn’t mind seeing an Interstate 70 rivalry against St. Louis.
Buildings in Downtown Milwaukee are seen from a helicopter during a ride through MyFlight Tours over the Milwaukee area on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023. Mandatory credit: Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee
Like Kansas City, I think Milwaukee is a realistic landing spot for Arizona. The Fiserv Forum is a brand new arena — having opened in 2018 — and is capable of hosting hockey games. The landscape of the NHL wouldn’t change at all if the Coyotes moved there.
Another thing that Milwaukee has going for it is the passionate fans in Wisconsin. They’re some of the best sports fans in the country. We know the fans support the Green Bay Packers, but they also have a history of supporting the Brewers and Bucks. An estimated 2 million people live in the Milwaukee area, too. With Wisconsin being a cold-weather state, it’s safe to assume that the fans will be passionate about hockey.
I’m not sure the NHL needs a team in Milwaukee, though. The league already has a lot of teams in the American Midwest in Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Minnesota, and St. Louis. I’m also not sure that Chicago and Detroit — two Original Six teams — will allow Milwaukee to get a hockey team.
General view of the Oregon Convention Center and downtown Portland skyline. The venue will play host to the 2016 IAAF World Championships in Athletics. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Portland, Ore.
It’s no secret that Portland is trying to add more pro sports teams. The city was linked to the Oakland A’s when the team initially started looking to relocate. Since that’s not likely to happen, Portland has thrown its hat in the ring to get an MLB expansion team.
Portland is also growing rapidly — increasing its population 49.2% since 1990. An estimated 2.5 million people live in the area, too. Portland has a history of supporting the Trail Blazers. In the last five seasons that weren’t impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the team has had an average attendance of 18,827. That’s 97% of the capacity of the Moda Center, which is capable of hosting hockey games.
Arizona potentially moving to Portland would change the NHL’s landscape, but not enough to sway the league to try to stop it. The Coyotes would stay in the West, but would have to change to the Pacific Division. That’s a quick fix, though. Just move Vegas to the Central. The league did something similar when it expanded to Seattle by moving Arizona from the Pacific to the Central.
Portland is one the largest markets to only have one pro sports team. I think that’s going to change in the next 10-15 years. I just don’t see the city as a “hockey town.” Another thing going against Portland is that the NHL already has two teams in the Pacific Northwest in Seattle and Vancouver.
The Stastny Brothers, Peter (left), Marian (center), and Anton (right), of the Quebec Nordiques on the ice in a game against the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, N.Y., in the early 1980s. Mandatory credit: Getty Images
Québec City
The NHL currently has seven teams located in Canada. I’m under the impression that it wants to make it an even eight teams one day. If so, the logical market is Québec City, which used to have an NHL team for over 20 years.
The Québec Nordiques had support and were relatively competitive during that stretch before being forced to move to Colorado. They’re now known as the Colorado Avalanche, who’ve won three Stanley Cups since 1996.
I think it’s fair to say that the people of Québec City were robbed in the mid-90s. The only reason why the Nordiques moved was because the city’s government wouldn’t help the team build a new arena. That’s no longer an issue. Québec City opened the Vidéotron Centre in 2015, which is capable of hosting hockey games.
I don’t think the NHL is done with Québec City, but I also don’t see Arizona moving there. The city has the same disadvantage as Atlanta. If the Coyotes moved from the West to the East, it’d completely alter the league’s landscape and I don’t think that’s logical right now. Hang in there, Québec City, I think you’ll get the Nordiques back one day.
Winter scene of Salt Lake City Utah skyline showing the Mormon Temple in downtown backed by the snowcapped Wasatch Mountains. Mandatory credit: Douglas Pulsipher/Visit Salt Lake
Salt Lake City
A few weeks ago, I made a case for why an MLB team in Salt Lake City makes a lot of sense. I also think it’s a realistic landing spot for Arizona. Phoenix and Salt Lake City are separated by a little over 500 miles, so it’d be a cost-effective move.
The owner of the Utah Jazz and Real Salt Lake has even stated interest in luring an NHL team to Salt Lake City. That’s important because, sometimes, the owner of an NBA team doesn’t want to share an arena with an NHL team. It doesn’t seem like that would be an issue in Salt Lake City.
The city supports both the Jazz and Real Salt Lake. It also experiences cold weather on a yearly basis, so I could easily see it being a “hockey town.” Moving the Coyotes to Salt Lake City wouldn’t change the league’s landscape either.
I could see Salt Lake City getting an NHL team one day. I actually think it makes more sense to have a team there as opposed to Kansas City or Milwaukee. There’s not much to dislike about Salt Lake City. I just think it’s going to be difficult to beat out Houston for a team.
A general view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the skyline of downtown San Francisco prior to Super Bowl 50 between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Somewhere else?
There’s always a possibility that the field will be able to lure Arizona. The NHL used to have a team in the San Francisco Bay Area in the California Golden Seals and moved to Cleveland and became the Barons. That team is now the Dallas Stars. There are several good markets where the league doesn’t have a footprint.
I wouldn’t rule out the Coyotes moving to Cincinnati, Cleveland, Indianapolis, San Antonio, San Diego, or San Francisco. Each of those cities are large enough markets and have arenas, and some are capable of hosting NHL games. Maybe Arizona moves to Hartford, Conn., and the Whalers return to the NHL? Are you sensing a pattern that I’m bringing up markets that used to have hockey teams?
I haven’t forgotten about Canada, but the only market that makes any sense is Québec City. The NHL has a team in each of the top seven cities in Canada, and Québec City ranks eighth. Hamilton (Toronto area) might be large enough to host a team. However, I doubt the Maple Leafs — an Original Six team — will want another team in their backyard. Halifax and Saskatoon have tried to land NHL teams in the past, but the cities have a combined metro population of 783,183. I don’t think a Canadian city, outside of Québec City, is capable of hosting a hockey team.
If the field ends up luring Arizona, it feels like it’s going to be an American city.
All Things Sports from a Millennial 