Training camps are set to open, hockey video games are out, and that means one thing; the regular season is just around the corner. It has been a long summer and players and fans alike are both itching for hockey to begin. For players that next couple of weeks will be filled with gruelling physicals, lots of practice, exhibition action, and for many players there is no guarantee they will be on an NHL roster on opening night. It is an exciting time and a nerve racking time. Fans are thinking about potential fantasy line-ups and of course the line-ups for their teams opening night rosters. Some teams believe they are going to be around well into the spring and others know they are going to have to battle for 82 games just to have a chance at making it to the dance.
At the end of the summer there are always new faces in new places; some teams changed very little while teams like Florida have overhauled their rosters in hopes of contending for a playoff spot. With all the new deals that have been signed there will be lots of pressure to perform. For some players they are coming off entry level deals and are now going to be making boat loads of money while facing high (and maybe in some cases unrealistic) expectations.
It’s not just young players on new deals that will face the pressure either. Many veterans are going into camps on tryout invites and have no guarantee they will be playing pro hockey this upcoming season. Many players in long term (front-end loaded deals) will be facing a new level of pressure as they will be looked at to lead their teams to glory.
Perhaps the most blatant and obvious example of this comes from the Lower Mainland. The Canucks went up 3-0 to the Chicago Blackhawks and then nearly lost in 7. After Alexander Burrows became part of Canuck folklore by scoring the deciding goal to finally beat the Blackhawks many people though the Cup was going back to Canada. After a hard fought 7 game thriller the Cup was brought back to BC, by Milan Lucic and not by the Canucks. Many people rightly or wrongly pinned the collapse on Roberto Luongo, and many wanted to see him dealt out of Vancouver. Currently he is going into the 2nd year of his mega 12 year deal, and there is no doubt he will be facing a ton of pressure come playoff time. Another mega collapse and Vancouver management might face the nearly impossible task of moving Luongo.
There are some other front end loaded deals that were signed in recent years that raised eyebrows, and every year a couple more get inked. These players will have to master dealing with the pressure of being franchise players and mega contract players. Ilya Kovalchuck heads into Devils training camp looking to post better numbers than last year. It is safe to say he will want to justify the decade and a half long deal he is currently in. Mike Richards is another player that is in a contract set to last for over a decade. He has had some very good seasons but things will be different this year as he is now a King. The Islanders are still hoping that Rick DiPietro can stay healthy and have a solid campaign for them. It seems like ages ago they signed him to his 15 year deal but he is entering year 6 and would love to be able to have a healthy and strong season in net. Of course there are numerous long term deals and all those players will have lots of pressure to deal with and huge expectations to live up to.
One the other side of the equation comes the players with no deals at all. The Canucks and Flames have been busy the last couple years offering tryouts. The Flames of course saw Theo Fleury return to the Saddledome and play with the Flaming C on his chest again. Unfortunately it didn’t work out but the Flames did benefit last your from the Canucks trying the process last year. They had Brendan Morrison try out for them and eventually released him. The Flames picked him up and he went on to have a strong campaign and is back again in Calgary. This year the most notable tryout probably belongs to Owen Nolan as he tries to crack the Canucks line-up. There are many noticeable players that are in camps on try outs deals including Todd Fedoruk, Troy Bodie, and Petr Sykora. They are great because they are low risk high reward propositions for teams and they give players a chance to prove they can still play.
So many players will be facing the pressures of new deals or performing up to the deals they are already in or trying to crack an NHL team for the first time. Here is a look at a few more that will be facing big time pressure:
BRAD RICHARDS-NEW YORK RANGERS: With great money comes great responsibility. A 12 year contract will certainly make Richards one of the most scrutinized players in Manhattan this year and it will be interesting to see how he plays with Marion Gaborik. He will be happy to be back in John Torterella’s system and hopes to help take the Rangers back to the Stanley Cup.
MARK GIORDANO-CALGARY FLAMES: One of the most under-rated Dmen in hockey got recognized last year in Calgary signing a 5 year contract extension worth just a shade over 20 million. With the departure of long time stalwart Robyn Regher, Giordano will be looked at to step up again and emerge as a top 2 dman for the Flames.
JAMES WISNIEWSKI-COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS: He will be one of the top paid defensemen for this year and Columbus made some big name acquisitions this off-season to try and build playoff contender. They are counting on Wisniewski being a big part of their top 6 this season.
JOHN TAVARES: NEW YORK ISLANDERS-Just signed a new long term deal and it will be interesting to see how he responds. The Islanders look to be on the right track but there will definitely be growing pains along the way. John Tavares will be looked to for scoring. Can he bring it?
DREW DOUGHTY-LOS ANGELES KINGS: He hasn’t signed yet but it is expected he will sometime between now and October when he does he better show he is worth the wait.
RYAN NUGENT HOPKINS-EDMONTON OILERS: RNH is the second straight number one draft choice the Oilers have had. His size has been brought into question and he will be facing a ton of pressure as he trys to crack the Oilers sqaud for this year. If he doesn’t he will probably be in Edmonton inlate December for the World Juniours.
GARY BETTMAN-GLENDALE-PHOENIX COYOTES: Okay so this doesn’t involve one player it involves an entire team. And it is actually the opposite of living up to a contract since the Coyotes have no long term security in Arizona but it should certainly provide a ton of story lines and a pressure packed situation for Bettman. If he can’t get a new owner by season’s end it is extremely unlikely the city of Glendale will be willing to fork over another 25 million for another one year deal.