Welcome back hockey fans! It is September 2024 and we are getting back into the swing of things as the new season is just around the corner. We hope you all had a wonderful summer and are back with more news from around the league. Here we go!
- It’s never easy to start with such heavy news but the hockey world is mourning with the loss of two amazing human beings. Both Johnny ‘Hockey’ Gaudreau, 31, and his brother Matthew, 29, were killed by a suspected drunk driver in New Jersey. They were in town getting ready for their sister’s wedding and were taken from us too soon. There has been an outpouring of love and supports for the families and even a GoFundMe was started, but we send our thoughts, prayers and condolences to them and wish to give them privacy at this time. Johnny Gaudreau, who was entering his 3rd season with the Columbus Blue Jackets had 12 goals and 48 assists last season for the team and was a dynamic, electric and speedy forward, who showed you can be smaller and still be dominant in the game. People have also shared how amazing and kind both brothers were, and we have lost two beautiful people. Tributes continue to come in and it was noted that Cole Caufield, of the Montreal Canadiens, will wear number 13 to honour Johnny.
- Now there is no easy way to transition to this but the Edmonton made news by resigning one of their superstars Leon Draisaitl to an 8-year deal, $112 million deal (with an AAV of $14 million per season) to lock him up long term and make him the highest paid player in the league. Draisaitl, 28, is coming off a Stanley Cup final appearance and has put up 347 goals and 503 assists in 719 regular-season games after being selected 3rd overall at the 2014 NHL draft and has become a superstar in his own right (right next to his teammate Connor McDavid). It seems like the Oilers will have their 1 to 2 punch down the middle.
- It was a bit while ago, but Auston Matthews, 26, has been named as the new Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs (making him the 26th one). He is the first United States born player to be captain in the franchise’s 107-year history, after replacing John Tavares, who had been captain since Oct. 2, 2019. Matthews is coming off a wild season scoring 69 goals and 38 assists and the goal is to shake things up as the team hires a new head coach (Craig Berube of St. Louis) to give the team a jolt they need and get far in the postseason. On top of being a star on the ice, he is also one off the ice, as he plays a lead role in a new commercial for the release and promotion of CCM’s latest hockey stick, the ‘Ribcor Trigger 9 Pro’. The goal is to promote a stick that can help you put the puck in the net as easily as Matthews makes it look.
- The Calgary Flames have signed veteran defenceman Tyson Barrie to a professional tryout agreement, according to Pierre LeBrun. Barrie, who finished last season with the Nashville Predators and has yet to sign with a new club. He can be an effective powerplay quarterback and Calgary may be getting some extra needed offence if they sign Barrie.
- After having a great off-season offer sheet for both Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg, it sounds like The St. Louis Blues will start the season without defenseman Torey Krug, who will have ankle surgery and miss the entire 2024-25 season. Krug, 33, will be a big loss for the team as he is a leader and put up 4 goals and 35 assists for the team last season. We wish him a successful surgery and a speedy recovery. Fortunately, Philip Broberg can take that left hand spot for the team.
- Another name off the market is Seth Jarvis as he gets re-signed up long term with the Carolina Hurricanes to an 8-year, $63.2 million contract (with an AAV of $7.4 million). Jarvis, 22, had 33 goals and 34 assists in 82 games last season and had 5 goals and 4 assists in the postseason. He is a great young centre piece for the team and will have to elevate his game to be impactful moving forward. This is good as it was also announced that Jesper Fast is expected to miss the 2024-25 season after undergoing neck surgery back in August 2024. Fast, 33, played 73 games and put up 6 goals and 13 assists. We also wish him a speedy recovery.
- There is a lot more news so make sure to tune in tonight for Season 6 of Two Guys & Hockey Talk!
Thoughts? Questions? Suggestions? Then remember to tune in each week to get all the latest news in the world of hockey. For more hockey news, different takes or if you want to chat about anything hockey give me a follow @hockey_two on TWITTER and give us a follow on YouTube, or at https://twoguysandhockeytalk.com/.
- Pawel ‘The Cat’
