BURKE IS BACK!

What The Puck?!

Written by Chase Howard

1st Branch

Another week. Another Covid update. More incidents and postponements have occurred, most notably Thomas Nosek's exit during the Las Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks game on Tuesday, the first time that has happened this season. The NHL is now up to 35 postponed games in all divisions except the all-Canadian north division. The NHL announced a whole barrage of new measures highlighted by increased rapid same-day game testing motivated by the Nosek issue.

The release also introduced other enhancements of Covid protocols, such as a player tracking system to enhance the contact tracing ability. Team meetings are now required to be virtual, and players must wear facemasks in social settings. It is good to see the NHL remaining active regarding Covid, as the protection of the players, personnel, and proponents of our great game should be paramount.

Brian Burke, American-Canadian ice hockey executive, former analyst; Photo from Toronto Sports Media

2nd Branch

Mikko Koivu retired this week after seven games with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Koivu signed in Columbus after ending a 15-year tenure with the Minnesota Wild this past summer. He was the franchise's first permanent captain. He also was a member of two Olympic teams for his native Finland, winning Silver and Bronze medals. As a familiar face leaves, two more reappear. Ron Hextall and Brian Burke are the new General Manager and President of Hockey Operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins. It is somewhat surprising that they are to fill the voids in the Penguin's front office. Well, not bad; these are undoubtedly interesting choices.

Hextall is a Flyers legend and their former GM from 2014-18. Burke has had a well-travelled career and had seemingly settled into broadcasting before being lured back to the rink. They made it clear they want to win now, and after consecutive first-round exits following back-to-back Stanley Cup Playoffs, it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

3rd Branch

Don't look now, but the Oilers look pretty good. They have won three straight and six of their last seven, including a game without McDavid and Draisaitl (gasp) that's the first time that's happened since 2017. Keeping with the surprise theme Mike Smith has been in net for those last two wins stopping 65 of 66 shots, including a shutout of the Canadiens, who are third in goals scored (Oilers are first btw). Nice to see a guy who's been on IR since January 15 log his 40th career shutout. It's not all goaltending. The Oilers have looked surprisingly staunch defensively recently! (I'm shocked too).

This is crucial as this team is third in goals against and fourth in shots against per game on the season and needs to improve those numbers. Speaking of defence, some say the best defence is a good offence, and Darnell Nurse has taken that to heart. He is up to six goals on the season and five in their last six. Nurse has been a big reason for their late success. Nurse leads the team in average ice time per-game, logging just under 25 minutes, and is second on the team in plus-minus. Edmonton now sits third in their division, but the season is far from over. Is this the year McDavid gets to make magic deep into the playoffs?

Quick Hits

• Willie O'Ree's ceremony was delayed to January 18, 2022. To properly honour the legend, the ceremony will now take place 64 years to the day he first joined the NHL.

• Marc Andre Fleury is on fire, and there are unconfirmed reports he and other members of the Golden Knights will face investigation for attempting to blind members of the opposing team with their chrome domes.

• John Tortorella benched Patrik Laine for the third period on Tuesday. A verbal altercation with an assistant coach played a part in Liane's benching. Either way, Laine has admitted he deserved the benching and, led all CBJ forwards in ice-time on Thursday.