The National Hockey League (NHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America. Founded in 1917, the NHL has grown steadily over time to its current size of 32 teams divided into two conferences and four divisions. Each team plays 82 games during the regular season, and the top 16 teams qualify for the play-offs. The winner of the play-offs is awarded the Stanley Cup.
The NHL was the last major North American team-sport league to institute a salary cap. The cap came into effect in the 2005–06 season, after a lengthy and contentious battle between owners and players. In its early years, the league struggled with a number of issues, including low attendance and poor television coverage.
Despite these problems, the NHL has continued to grow and attract more fans. It has also become more lucrative for its teams, with the league’s TV rights sold to a number of different broadcasters. The NHL has been on NBC and CBS at various times throughout its history, and Fox began televising the NHL in 1995–96.
In recent years, the NHL has had difficulty attracting young people to the sport. However, the league has begun to make changes to try and improve its image, which should help it appeal to younger audiences. It has also introduced a variety of youth-oriented programs and activities to encourage participation.
The Edmonton Oilers have addressed an area of need by trading for a veteran defenseman. The trade for Milan Hronek adds a shutdown element to the team’s lineup and should boost their chances of making the playoffs this year.
It is a little strange that the Pittsburgh Penguins are looking to trade away a player who has been their best defenseman this season, but it is clear that the team is struggling. It is likely that the Pens will trade away one of their top-four defensemen, and that could include Simon Despres.
While he hasn’t been the same player since returning from injury, Heineman is still a good offensive player with an excellent shot. He could add a much-needed skill element to the Canadiens’ bottom six, especially with Kirby Dach, Rafael Harvey-Pinard, and Alex Newhook out with injuries.
The Panthers are a strong contender in the Eastern Conference and have a deep roster of talented forwards. However, they have had trouble scoring goals at the NHL level this season. They need to find more ways to score if they want to compete for the Stanley Cup. One option is to add a player like Jared McCann. He has experience playing in the NHL and is a fast, hard-working center who could provide a spark for the Panthers offense. He may not be the best center available, but he is an affordable option.
