Armchair Hockey League

Blue Jackets and Wild Set for Clash in Columbus

By TBD (Columbus Blue Jackets) On Thursday 13th March 2025 / 12:29pm

The Columbus Blue Jackets (11-7-3) return home tonight to take on the Minnesota Wild (10-9-1) in what promises to be a tightly contested battle at Nationwide Arena. With both teams looking to gain momentum in their respective conferences, special teams and goaltending could play a crucial role in the outcome.

Columbus: Building on Recent Success

The Blue Jackets enter the matchup riding a strong stretch of play, going 9-0-1 in their last ten games. Their ability to win tight contests has been a major factor in their rise up the Eastern Conference standings. Leading the charge offensively is Adrian Kempe, who has posted 12 goals and 11 assists through 21 games, while Jimmy Vesey and James van Riemsdyk continue to provide depth scoring.

In net, Thatcher Demko has been a stabilizing presence with a .908 save percentage across 15 appearances. If he gets the start tonight, Columbus will rely on him to neutralize Minnesota’s high-powered forwards.

Minnesota: Looking for a Bounce-Back Performance

The Wild come into this game having lost their previous outing, but they remain a dangerous squad with J.T. Miller (12G, 10A) and Jack Eichel (11G, 8A) leading the way offensively. Minnesota has been solid defensively, allowing just 55 goals this season, thanks in part to strong goaltending from Maxim Mayorov (.918 SV%) and Charlie Lindgren (.909 SV%).

However, their power play has struggled at just 14.71%, compared to Columbus' more efficient 23.94% conversion rate. If Minnesota can generate quality chances with the man advantage, they could keep pace with the Blue Jackets in what is expected to be a close game.

Prediction: Columbus Has the Edge at Home

With Columbus playing at home and boasting a more effective power play, they appear to have the slight edge heading into this matchup. However, if Minnesota’s goaltending stands tall and their offensive stars produce, they could steal a win on the road. Expect a hard-fought game, with Columbus prevailing 3-2 in a close contest.

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Columbus Blue Jackets Exceeding Expectations in Preseason Play

By TBD (Columbus Blue Jackets) On Friday 24th January 2025 / 1:49pm

The Columbus Blue Jackets entered the Seaon Two preseason with high expectations, but few anticipated the level of dominance they have displayed through their first seven exhibition games. With a 5-0-2 record, Columbus has not only met but surpassed expectations, showcasing a balanced attack, a solid defensive structure, and impressive goaltending.

Offensive Firepower

The Blue Jackets’ offense has been clicking at an elite level, averaging over four goals per game. After a narrow 3-2 loss in their opener against the Washington Capitals, Columbus rebounded in style, scoring five or more goals in four of their next five games. A 6-3 win over the New York Islanders on January 22 was a particular statement game, as the Jackets exploited defensive gaps and controlled the pace of play.

Their 5-0 shutout win against Detroit further demonstrated their offensive depth, as multiple lines contributed to the scoring, and the power play looked sharp. Even in their latest 5-4 loss to Philadelphia, Columbus showed resilience, battling back from an early deficit to force overtime.

Defensive Structure and Goaltending

While the offense has been a major storyline, the Blue Jackets' defensive improvements should not be overlooked. Their ability to limit high-danger chances has been a significant factor in their success. The team held the Islanders to just one goal in their January 25 matchup, while also containing Detroit’s attack in their shutout victory.

Goaltending has been another bright spot. Strong performances in net have provided stability, with a mix of veteran presence and young talent ensuring that Columbus remains difficult to break down. The shutout against Detroit and limiting the Islanders to one goal both stand as testaments to the team’s defensive commitment and net minding quality.

Exceeding Already High Expectations

Coming into the preseason, Columbus was expected to perform well, but their ability to dominate multiple opponents while maintaining consistency has been a welcome surprise. The team’s depth scoring, defensive cohesion, and special teams have all been operating at a high level. The only two losses have been close contests, reinforcing the idea that this is a team capable of competing at a high-level night in and night out.

With just a few preseason games remaining, the Blue Jackets have set a strong tone heading into the regular season. If they can maintain this momentum, Columbus fans have every reason to be excited about what lies ahead in the Season Two campaign.

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UNDERDOGS OR DARK HORSES? A BRIEF PREVIEW OF THE UPCOMING BLUE JACKETS SEASON

By TBD (Columbus Blue Jackets) On Monday 20th January 2025 / 1:53pm

Columbus, OH -

As the league embarks on its pre-season exhibition schedule, anticipation is building around the Columbus Blue Jackets, ranked 14th in the pre-season power rankings. While the rankings may not favor them, this squad is built with a blend of proven veterans, dynamic scorers, and a goaltending duo that could surprise the league. With a chip on their shoulders and a roster that boasts depth, this team has the potential to outplay expectations and prove doubters wrong.

FORWARD GROUP: BALANCE AND FIREPOWER

The offense will be led by Adrian Kempe, a dynamic winger with elite goal-scoring ability and a nose for the net. Flanking him is Jared McCann, a versatile forward who brings speed, playmaking, and a lethal shot. Newly acquired Tyler Seguin, a seasoned veteran, adds another layer of offensive skill and experience, providing leadership in the locker room and on the ice.

Further bolstering the attack, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Ross Colton bring a physical edge combined with offensive instincts. The team also benefits from the depth provided by James van Riemsdyk, Jimmy Vesey, and Adam Fantilli. Fantilli, a promising rookie, is one to watch—his high-end skill and competitiveness could make him an X-factor in this lineup.

With a mix of young talent and experienced scorers, this forward corps has the potential to be a headache for opposing defenses if they can develop chemistry early in the season.

DEFENSIVE STRUCTURE: RELIABILITY AND GRIT

On the blue line, Jake McCabe and Alexander Romanov will serve as the backbone of the defensive unit. McCabe brings a hard-nosed defensive presence, while Romanov’s ability to move the puck and shut down top lines will be crucial.

Zach Whitecloud, Justin Holl, and Spencer Stastney round out the defensive group with a combination of defensive stability and transitional play. While this unit may not feature a true superstar, they have a solid mix of physicality, defensive awareness, and two-way capability that should help keep opponents in check.

GOALTENDING: A STRENGTH IN THE CREASE?

If this team is to rise above its preseason ranking, much of the burden will fall on the goaltending tandem of Thatcher Demko and Frederik Andersen. Demko, the presumed starter, is a goaltender capable of stealing games with his elite athleticism and technical ability. If he remains healthy and finds his rhythm, he could emerge as one of the league’s top netminders.

Backing him up is Andersen, a veteran presence who provides stability and experience, he remains a reliable goaltender who can step up when needed. If this duo can perform consistently, it could give this team the edge it needs to exceed expectations.

THE ROAD AHEAD

Ranked 14th in the preseason power rankings, expectations may not be sky-high, but that could play in their favor. With a well-rounded roster, strong goaltending, and a mix of offensive talent, this team has the potential to surprise the league. The key will be establishing early momentum, developing team chemistry, and leaning on its depth.

As pre-season action gets underway, all eyes will be on how this team handles early challenges. If they can prove their doubters wrong from the outset, they could be one of the league’s biggest surprise stories this season.

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NEW LOOK SHARKS

By Chris (San Jose Sharks) On Sunday 19th January 2025 / 10:09pm

After a disappointing year which saw the San Jose Sharks finish 31st overall, management made some moves in the offseason that has many fans feeling some excitement heading into season two. During their meetings, the organization knew they had a lot of work to do during the draft, free agency and trading.

Lets start with the draft recap:

The Sharks had the 2nd best odds to land the 1st overall pick, but ended up slipping down to 5th. During the draft, the team made some moves addressing one of their many team needs. The first trade saw them moving up 23 spots from 34th to 11th, while also shipping 21 year old C Justin Gill to the New York Rangers. They then proceeded to move pick #56 to the Bruins for depth forward Parker Kelly, a 25 year old winger coming off a -22 season. When GM Walsh was asked about his defensive play, he had this to say: " We feel confident in Parkers ability to be a bottom 6 guy for us. If put in the right situation, he should excel in the defensive aspect of the game and bring a little spark to the lineup." Shortly thereafter, they annouced another move that landed them #80 in the draft, along with Ilya Mikheyev.

The Sharks had 6 picks during the draft including 3 first round picks, adding some exciting prospects to their pool:

#5: Liam Greentree (6'3", 216 LBS) - RW, WINDSOR SPITFIRES: 68 GP, 36 G, 54 A

Greentree navigates his way around opponents with a series of look-offs, give-and-goes, and a sophisticated delay game that allows him to problem-solve his way around numbers off the rush. He’s constantly scanning, registering his options and the obstacles that would keep him from getting them the puck.

#11: Jacob Battaglia (6'1", 203 LBS) - RW/LW, KINGSTON FRONTENACS: 67 GP, 31 G, 34 A

In transition, Battaglia relies on impressive one-touch and quick-possession passes to the middle. He slows down, letting opponents charge at him, and then slips a pass through them. Along the boards, he draws pressure, meets the opponent with a shoulder, and then accelerates in the opposite direction.

#18. Luca Marrelli (6'2", 185 LBS) - D, OSHAWA GENERALS: 67 GP, 6 G, 51 A

Luca Marrelli is a high-activity defenceman, jumping into every play and locking down every attacker who enters his space. Knees bent and stick sheathed, ready to land a pokecheck, he backtracks against the rush, waiting for the right moment to launch himself at opponents.

#57. Yaroslav Korostelyov (6'1", 165 LBS) - G, SKA-1946 ST. PETERSBURG: 22 GP, 12-8-2, 2.62 GAA, 0.934%

#66. Jared Woolley (6'5", 207 LBS) - D, LONDON KNIGHTS: 37 GP, 3 G, 2 A

#80. Victor Johansson (6'1", 159 LBS) - D, LEKSANDS IF J20: 34 GP, 2 G, 6 A

After the dust settled on the draft, the Free Agent Frenzy was set to begin with the Sharks eyeing one of the top two availble players, Sam Reinhart and Elias Pettersson. With bids both at 6 x $14,000,000 they were able to land Reinhart who will have an immediate impact on the teams upcoming season. Coming off a 37 goal season, he is slated to start on the top line with Kyle Connor and Alex Newhook. "We are truly excited to welcome an elite talent here in Sam. We spoke briefly after the signing and discussed his role with the team. He is a true professional and can't wait to get him in the room".

While they tried to land multiple other players to round out the roster, the swing and a miss happened time and time again. Through a couple trades and some minor free agent signings, they were able to retool the roster in hopes of making the playoffs, with their biggest acqusition being Roman Josi, the newest captian of the San Jose Sharks. "Josi brings a different look to our backend this year. A true #1 D-man with puck handling and passing skills, Josi will step right into the #1 PP unit. But what the 34 year old truly brings is his experience and leadership, and because of these two qualities, we are please to introduce San Jose's 2nd captian in franchise history, #59, ROMAN JOSI".

The team was also on the hunt for a goalie to tandem with last years starter, Kevin Lankinen, so they went out and acquired Carter Hart for a 2nd round pick in the year 4 draft. Hart, coming off a disappointing season that saw him finish with a 3.40 GAA and 0.890%, lamented that the change to San Jose may be just want he needed to get him on track. "When the Legend himself approached me with the idea of being moved, I was shocked. I knew the Devils wanted a change, but didn't expect to be one of the guys shipped out. Coming here to the Sharks and seeing the culture both in and outside the locker room, I can't wait to get started and show these fans what we can do." Hart also joins Samuel Ersson from the Devils organization who spent most of his time in Utica posting a 7-2-2 record along with a 2.52 GAA and a 0.915%. Along with Jacob Ingham, last years Baz Bastien Award winner, the Barracuda may have the best 1-2 tandem in the minor system.

Here is a look at some of changes within the organization:

TO NJD: SWICK(P),

TO SJS: ERSSON

TO WSH: REHKOPF, WILLIS(P), STL YR3 3RD

TO SJS: COZENS

TO STL: PELLETIER, PETROVSKY(P), MIEDEMA(P), SJS YR3 2ND

TO SJS: JOSI

TO NJD: SJS YR4 2ND

TO SJS: HART

TO VGK: LEE ($3,500,000), DET YR3 3RD

TO SJS: VGK YR3 3RD

TO PIT: COZENS, MIKHEYEV

TO SJS: DVORAK, MORRISON, PIT YR4 1ST, PIT YR3 3RD

Without any futher ado, here are your Year 2 San Jose Sharks:

Connor 'A' - Newhook- Reinhart 'A'

Sharangovich - Dvorak - Mercer

Protas - Bluegar- Leason

Kelly - Carrick - Sedlak

Josi 'C' - Lindgren

Burroughs - Brown

Lagesson - Fabbro

Hart

Lankinen

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UFA Frenzy Day 2 Recap: Value Hunting & Some Head-Scratchers 🏒

By Commissioner On Wednesday 15th January 2025 / 5:07pm

The Eyebrow-Raising Moves 👀

Anaheim's Retirement Risk Special

Trevor Lewis signed for 6 years (at age 37!) - virtually guaranteed dead cap coming their way
Followed up with John Klingberg (6 years, $1.25M) and Justin Schultz (2 years) to bolster defense

Nashville's Spending Spree Continues

The Predators kept loading up, now reaching their 55-player limit with:

Stefan Noesen (6 years, $3M)
Bobby McMann (6 years, $3M)
Marc Staal (1 year, $3M)

Team Needs Update 🚨

Still in Crisis Mode:

Philadelphia Flyers remain critically understaffed (only 19 total players!)
Utah Yetis barely improved (23 players, only 5 defensemen)
St. Louis Blues & Winnipeg Jets hovering around 30 players

Goalie Emergency:

Tampa Bay Lightning still with just 1 goalie
Islanders, Flyers stuck at 2
Several teams need 1-2 more

Value Signings of the Day 💰

Alex Nedeljkovic → Devils (4 years, $1.98M)
Teddy Blueger → Sharks (6 years, $2.88M)
Tyson Barrie → Capitals (5 years, $2.2M)

Looking Ahead to Round 3

Teams to Watch:

Tampa Bay DESPERATELY needs goalies
Flyers need... well, everything
Multiple teams still 5+ defensemen short of requirements

With one more round to go, teams will need to get aggressive to meet roster requirements. The question is: who's left on the market to help these teams reach compliance?

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NHL Free Agency Round 1 Recap: Blockbuster Deals, Massive Commitments & Intriguing Risks

By Commissioner On Tuesday 14th January 2025 / 2:24am

[Written By: Claude.ai]

The opening round of free agency delivered major fireworks, headlined by two massive $14M deals and one team's extraordinary shopping spree. Let's break down the biggest moves:

The $14M Club Makes History

Elias Pettersson → Winnipeg Jets (6 years, $14M AAV with NTC)
Sam Reinhart → San Jose Sharks (6 years, $14M AAV)

These twin megadeals set a new market ceiling. The Jets showed ultimate commitment by adding the NTC protection for Pettersson, making this arguably the biggest player commitment of the day.

Seattle's Aggressive (and Risky) Rebuild

The Kraken made the biggest splash in terms of volume, acquiring:

Patrick Kane (3 years, $5.35M AAV)
David Perron (3 years, $3.68M AAV)
Jani Hakanpaa (5 years, $5.95M AAV)
Troy Stecher (4 years, $2.95M AAV)
Erik Brannstrom (6 years, $2.98M AAV)
Joel Edmundson (5 years, $2.90M AAV)
Nate Schmidt (5 years, $2.85M AAV)

While the cap hits are reasonable, the term commitments carry significant retirement risk, especially for veterans like Kane and Perron who could potentially retire early and leave dead cap on Seattle's books.

Other Major Moves

Devon Toews → Washington Capitals (6 years, $7.25M AAV with NTC)
Sean Monahan → Anaheim Ducks (6 years, $7.25M AAV)
Tyler Myers → Boston Bruins (6 years, $5.5M AAV)
Ryan Hartman → Winnipeg Jets (6 years, $5.25M AAV)

Value Hunters

Oliver Ekman-Larsson → Toronto (6 years, $2M AAV)
James Reimer → Vegas (1 year, $750K AAV)
Jack Johnson → Chicago (1 year, $1.5M AAV)

Nashville's Veteran Strategy

The Predators focused on short-term veteran additions:

Nick Foligno (1 year, $4M AAV)
Jeff Carter (1 year, $3M AAV)
Alec Martinez (1 year, $3M AAV)
Nick Bonino (1 year, $3M AAV)
David Rittich (1 year, $2.5M AAV)

This approach gives them flexibility while adding experienced leadership for the short term.

Key Storylines to Watch

How will Seattle manage their cap if veterans retire early?
Will the twin $14M deals for Pettersson and Reinhart set a new standard for elite players?
Can Nashville's veteran-heavy, short-term approach pay off?

This opening round showed GMs aren't afraid to make bold moves - both in terms of dollar commitments and term. The real intrigue will come in seeing how these aggressive plays pan out, particularly for teams taking on significant term with veteran players.

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