BY Mike Rifkin If you’re a hockey fan one of the best days of the year is July 1st. July 1st is the beginning of free agency. The 2026 free agent class was stacked. Kirill Kaprizov, Connor McDavid, and Jack Eichel were the headliners of the class. But, as we get the season going allContinue reading “WHAT NOW?”
Category Archives: NHL
2025-26 NHL PREDICTIONS
BY MIKE RIFKIN As we prepare for the NHL Season, here is how I see the season playing out. *PLAYOFF TEAMS ARE TOP THREE IN EACH DIVISION PLUS TWO WILDCARDS. DIVISION STANDINGS EASTERN CONFERENCE METRO ATLANTIC EAST PLAYOFFS HURRICANES, DEVILS, RANGERS, LIGHTNING, PANTHERS, LEAFS. WC : SENS AND CAPS EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL : LIGHTNING DEFContinue reading “2025-26 NHL PREDICTIONS”
LA LEGENDS
BY Mike Rifkin Thursday was a tough day for Los Angeles sports fans. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw and Kings Center Anze Kopitar will both retire following their respective seasons. Both players are future Hall Of Famers in their respective sports and will be honored by their organizations. Clayton Kershaw was the seventh overall pick inContinue reading “LA LEGENDS”
PRETTY WILD
BY MIKE RIFKIN According to reports Minnesota Wild superstar Kirill Kaprizov turned down an eight year $128 million dollar extension with the team. The contract would’ve made Kaprizov the highest paid player in the NHL in total dollars and AAV (Average Annual Value) at 16 million dollars per season. Last season Kaprizov was limited toContinue reading “PRETTY WILD”
NHL FREE AGENCY : WINNERS AND LOSERS (BY TEAM) BY MIKE RIFKIN
We are in the midst of NHL free agency. And while most of the top guys have signed, we will wait and see what happens on the trade market. But, while we wait here are my winners and losers so far. WINNERS: LOSERS
UNDER PRESSURE
BY MIKE RIFKIN The next week or so is going to be hectic in the NHL. The draft is this Friday and Saturday and July first is the beginning of free agency. Here are five General Managers who need to be active and have an effective offseason otherwise they could find themselves unemployed soon. HonorableContinue reading “UNDER PRESSURE”
Connor’s Challenge
BY Mike Rifkin Connor McDavid is without a doubt the best Hockey player on the planet. McDavid has led the Oilers to back to back Stanley Cup Final appearances, losing both to the Florida Panthers. When we judge athletes today, we usually judge them on the amount of championships they’ve won, not the individual accolades.Continue reading “Connor’s Challenge”
End Of An Era
By Mike Rifkin On Thursday the New York Rangers traded away their longest tenured player, as they sent Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks for a prospect and a swap of draft picks. Kreider, the Rangers first round pick in 2009 (19th overall) ranks in the top 10 in franchise history in goals, points, PowerContinue reading “End Of An Era”
Tough Decisions
By Mike Rifkin It was an extremely difficult season for the New York Rangers, after getting within two games of competing for the Stanley Cup, they missed the playoffs entirely. Every Ranger fan knows change is on the way, well it’s already begun with Mike Sullivan replacing Peter Laviolette as the head coach. But what’sContinue reading “Tough Decisions”
Righting A Wrong
By Mike Rifkin The New York Rangers were the biggest disappointment of the 2024-25 NHL season. They went from two games away from going to the Stanley Cup Final to missing the playoffs altogether. This disaster of a season cost coach Peter Laviolette his job, and GM Chris Drury hired his dream coach, Mike SullivanContinue reading “Righting A Wrong”