NHL Preseason is in full swing. In addition to teams sharpening their play for the regular season, other news continues to hit the NHL airwaves. Check out a National Hockey League update! And be sure to check out the latest NHL odds for the upcoming 2019 season!
NHL Updates of the Week – September 23rd Edition
NHLPA Extends Collective Bargaining Agreement
The National Hockey League Players Association agreed to extend the collective bargaining agreement to the 2021-2022 NHL Season. Players association director Donald Fehr stated that even though the players had “concerns” with the CBA as it stands today, they felt the best course of action was to work with owners instead of terminating the contract.
That makes total sense. Players and owners in every sport need each other. Hockey is no different. If the players had decided to terminate the contract and not consider a new CBA until after the season, the specter of a lockout/strike would have hang over the entire offseason.
As hockey fans know, the NHL offseason doesn’t last long. That would have given players and owners precious little time for a new collective bargaining agreement before the 2020-2021 season. Good move NHLPA. Now, we can just enjoy watching and wagering on the best sport on ice.
Defenseman Dan Girardi Retires
Defenseman Dan Girardi retired on Sep 20. Girardi had played in 927 games for the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning. The 35-year-old heads off the ice with 56 goals, 264 points, and a plus-78 rating.
In 11 seasons with the New York Rangers, Girardi played in a Stanley Cup Finals. He played in a couple of Stanley Cup Finals with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Girardi calls it quits after a stellar career. Good luck to him!
Chabot Remains a Senator After Extension
The Ottawa Senators were -624 units last season after going 29-47-5-1. They ranked 31st in goals against and shots against. They ranked 23rd in penalties killed. Everyone knew Ottawa would be a disaster after they traded away three of their top players: Erik Karlsson, Mark Stone, and Matt Duchene.
That’s why it’s important to note that the Senators signed defenseman Thomas Chabot to an eight-year, $64 million contract extension last Thursday. Chabot is only 22-years-old. His stats for a defenseman aren’t bad: 23 goals and 80 points in 134 games. With Chabot under contract long-term, Ottawa can work to get back to respectability.
2019-2020 NHL Season Starts in Two Weeks
The NHL Regular Season starts in a couple of weeks. A slight movement in the Stanley Cup futures last week could signal what might happen this upcoming season. By slight, we mean if you didn’t partake in NHL futures betting, you most likely didn’t notice it.
The Vegas Golden Knights became a solid second choice to win the Stanley Cup. The top 4 betting interests with around 14 days before the first puck drops are: the Tampa Bay Lightning +675, Vegas Golden Knights +850, Toronto Maple Leafs +940, and the Boston Bruins at +950.
Based on the odds, Vegas should dominate the West where their closest competitors, the Blues, Predators, and Avalanche, are all at +1400. Considering where they started, the Golden Knights are hot in the future book.
Have a great week!
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