By Mike Rifkin With the 2023 NHL season upon us, here is how I see the season playing out with playoff teams, Stanley Cup predictions, and awards. NOTE: PLAYOFF TEAMS ARE THE TOP THREE IN EACH DIVISION AND TWO WILDCARDS EAST METROPOLITAN ATLANTIC EAST WILD CARDS WEST CENTRAL PACIFIC WILD CARDS PLAYOFFS EAST HURRICANES DEFContinue reading “2023-24 NHL Predictions”
Category Archives: NHL
Brutal Blow
By Mike Rifkin It was announced on Thursday that Tampa Bay Lightning Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy underwent back surgery and will miss the season’s first two months. Vasilevskiy is the best goalie in the World, and the one guy the Lightning could not afford to lose. Over the last five seasons, Vasilevskiy has a record ofContinue reading “Brutal Blow”
Taking The Next Step
By: Mike Rifkin The New York Rangers agreed to terms with former first-overall pick Alexis Lafreniere on a two-year contract worth four million dollars. Lafreniere, the first overall pick in 2020, had a career-high 39 points in 81 games last season. Lafreniere’s contract is similar to the 2019 second-overall pick Kappo Kakko signed last summer.Continue reading “Taking The Next Step”
THE PRICE OF ADMISSION
By Mark Halpern I am a die-hard Mets, Knicks, and Rangers fan in New York. With all the excitement that goes into being at a professional sporting event, whether it’s MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, MLS, or something else. Today, can the working family of four even afford to see their favorite team? Over my lifetime,Continue reading “THE PRICE OF ADMISSION”
Desert Moves
By: Mike Rifkin When discussing the Arizona Coyotes, we often talk about their arena situation. Last season, the Coyotes had a record of 28-40-14 and 70 points. Outside of the bubble in 2020, the Coyotes haven’t made the playoffs since making it to the Western Conference Finals in 2012. The Coyotes have taken advantage ofContinue reading “Desert Moves”
Rifkins List : NHL FREE AGENCY
By : Mike Rifkin With NHL Free Agency in full force, here are moves I like and moves that made me scratch my head. Positives Negatives
NO LOVE
By : Mike Rifkin Last week the NHL announced that teams are no longer required to wear their warmup jerseys on special nights. Those nights include Hockey Fights Cancer, Black History Month, Military Appreciation, and Pride. The NHL has said for a long time that hockey is for everyone, but why ban the jerseys forContinue reading “NO LOVE”
The Hot Seat
By: Mike Rifkin The 2021-22 Calgary Flames won the Pacific Division and an epic seven-game series against the Dallas Stars before losing to their rival Edmonton Oilers in five games. Then in the offseason, the Flames lost their top two-point scorers. Johnny Gaudreau left for Columbus in free agency, and Matthew Tkachuk was traded toContinue reading “The Hot Seat”
Reconsider?
By: Mike Rifkin The Winnipeg Jets are one of the more intriguing teams in the NHL this upcoming offseason. Centers Pierre – Luc Dubois and Mark Scheifele, Winger Blake Wheeler, and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck have one year left on their contracts. Last week I wrote about how the Jets should approach this offseason (https://thesportsinsanitynetwork.com/2023/06/05/failure-to-launch/), andContinue reading “Reconsider?”
Failure To Launch
By: Mike Rifkin In 2018 the Winnipeg Jets lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games in the Western Conference Finals. This year, the Jets again lost in the first round of the playoffs when the Golden Knights dispatched them in five games. Since their appearance in the Western Conference Finals, the Jets haveContinue reading “Failure To Launch”
The Sports Insanity Network 