Thursday LNN: Offseason Slows Down, PWHL Minnesota Implodes, and More
It's the Thursday edition of Links, News and Notes!
- In case you missed it, we’re getting our first looks at some of the newest members of the Ottawa Senators. The team put out an adorable video of Linus Ullmark’s first day at the CTC, and Nick Jensen spoke to the media yesterday.
- Former Nashville Predators player Greg Johnson has become the latest former NHL player to be posthumously diagnosed with CTE. It’s disappointing that this keeps happening and the sport doesn’t seem at all interested in doing anything to mitigate the risks.
- Kyle Dubas is taking a break from being a Sens fan to bring in someone he worked with in Toronto, hiring Wes Clark as vice president of player personnel for the Penguins. Leafs fans seem to be mad about this, which means it was a good move for Dubas.
- The Athletic ranked all the NHL teams based on how much they have improved this offseason, and ranked the Sens 10th. They seem to agree with most of our staff that the Ullmark trade was a home run and everything else has been pretty bad.
- After winning the inaugural PWHL championship, Minnesota seems determined to stay in every headline this offseason. More details have emerged about the very strange and sudden firing of general manager Natalie Darwitz, as it sounds like there was a bit of a power struggle between her and head coach Ken Klee. Since taking over as acting GM, Klee has now fired three coaches who had previously worked closely with Darwitz.
- Good news and bad news for PWHL Ottawa fans: the bad news is that fan favourite Akane Shiga has signed with Lulea, meaning that she will be playing in Sweden next season instead of the PWHL. She did look a bit outmatched at times, especially when it came to the physicality of the North American game, but it’s hard not to feel like her skill was underutilized on the fourth line. I wish her nothing but the best in Sweden and hope we’ll see her back in the PWHL one day.
- The good news, is that Kateřina Mrázová is back for 2 more years!
- We knew it was coming, but Capfriendly has officially been shut down, after being purchased by the Washington Capitals earlier this summer.
- Hockey Canada and USA Hockey have announced the schedule for the 2024-25 Rivalry Series! This time around the Maritimes will get a chance to host a few games.
