Monday LNN: Stuetzle’s Adoption, Crawford’s Retirement, A Stars Dilemma and More

It is finally here! The week we’ve all been waiting for: hockey is back! For Sens fans, it’s been a long vacation since March without Sens hockey and the first game back will be one that will be much appreciated no matter the result.........

but considering it’s the Leafs, it really has to be a win!

For now, let’s get right to some of the items that have recently been making news:

• Tim Stuetzle made us proud at the World Juniors with his stellar performance but now it’s time that he came home. Sunday marked the first practice Stuetzle had with the Ottawa Senators and the excitement was apparent from both Tim and the team. Another new member who joined the practice for the first time was veteran Derek Stepan who was recently acquired from the Arizona Coyotes. Stepan joked that he had adopted Stutzle for the quarantine period, and fans are now turning their attention to the lodging arrangements of the new hero phenom for the rest of the season. Brady Tkachuk, Josh Norris and Tim Stuetzle will be sharing a house for the upcoming season and if the Sens know anything about fan engagement, I highly recommend the immediate initiation of a reality show based out of that house.
• With hockey coming back this week, all eyes will be turned to how the NHL handles player and staff safety. The first test came from Dallas, where the Stars announced Friday that 6 players and 2 staff members tested positive for COVID-19. This of course will delay the team’s start and force the league to re-adjust the schedule. But what happens when these situations arise mid season?
• Another team that is dealing with the COVID-19 scare are the Columbus Blue Jackets who held multiple players out of practice, including their captain Nick Foligno.
• Corey Crawford became a household name with the Chicago Blackhawks as the only goalie in franchise history to win multiple Stanley Cups. After signing a 2-year deal with the New Jersey Devils this summer, Crawford has decided he can no longer contribute to the game like he once did for undisclosed personal reasons and on the weekend officially announced his retirement. Crawford played 10 seasons in the NHL, and while the 36-year old is not the player he once was, many thought he could still be serviceable. The Devils will never know what he could have done for them as he had not gotten to chance to even dress up for a practice. Whatever his reasons, we wish him good luck in his future.
• With teams prepping their final rosters, waivers are being announced. From the Sens side, Max Lajoie’s is the first name came up. However, one of the most interesting names on the waiver list belongs to the New York Islanders’ Josh Ho-Sang. The 24-year old has found himself in a constant stream of attention ever since he tried to make it to the big league. He was a first round pick in 2014 but somehow the Islanders have continued to block his progression. Whatever the reason may be, Ho-Sang desperately needs another team to claim him if he is to have any chance to prove what he can do with a real NHL opportunity. /