NHL Daily: Alex Ovechkin, Pavel Datsyuk, USA Hockey Store

NHL Daily: Alex Ovechkin Critical of Playoff Format, Pavel Datsyuk Thinks Creativity in NHL is Disappearing, USA Hockey Store, & More (Morning Coffee Headlines)

Grab your morning cup of coffee and join us here at Puck Prose for a compilation of NHL daily links that will help keep you updated with everything going on in the hockey world.

In today’s edition: Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin criticizes the NHL playoff format, Former NHLer Pavel Datsyuk thinks that creativity is slowly disappearing from the league, Las Vegas plans to open a USA Hockey Store, and much more!

NHL Daily: Morning Coffee Headlines

Ovie Not a Fan of New Playoff Format

Capitals F Alexander Ovechkin is apparently not a big fan of the NHL’s current playoff format. He joins a long list of fans and experts who share the same opinion. When you’ve got second place vs. third in the West and first vs. fourth place in the East, there might be a problem. [CSN Mid Atlantic]

Epic Goalie Fights: Chris Osgood vs. Patrick Roy

With the historic Joe Louis Arena set to close at the end of the 2016-17 season, Joseph Karbousky takes a stroll back in memory lane looking at unforgettable moments in Red Wings history. In this particular piece, they travel back to April 1st, 1998 for an epic goalie brawl between Chris Osgood and Patrick Roy. [Octopus Thrower]

Datsyuk Thinks Creativity is Disappearing From NHL

Jan 22, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk (13) during a stoppage in play against the Buffalo Sabres during the second period at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /

The “Magic Man” Pavel Datsyuk made headlines last spring announcing he would be leaving the NHL to finish his career in Russia (KHL). He was back in the news on Monday after catching up with Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Jason Mackey following Team Russia’s World Cup of Hockey practice. Datsyuk thinks creativity is fading, largely due to more structured systems. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

Devils Will Need Secondary Scoring if They Hope to Secure Playoff Spot

New Jersey looks like a franchise headed in the right direction and promise to be a more potent squad with several new additions. Jonathan Miller at Pucks and Pitchforks talks about the importance of secondary scoring if the Devils hope to be a playoff team in 2016-17. [Pucks and Pitchforks]

USA Hockey Store

Las Vegas is excited about hockey! On Monday, it was announced that a USA Hockey store will be opened on the main Strip at the Fashion Show mall, “one of the most sought-after retail destinations in the United States”, says Mike Halford of NBC Sports. [NBC Sports]

Tyler Toffoli an Underrated Two-Way Player

Jason Arias over at Rink Royalty talks about how Tyler Toffoli has quickly developed into one of the NHL’s most underrated two-way players. He also believes that 2016-17 could be the year that Toffoli enters the same tier as Vladimir Tarasenko/Taylor Hall. Do you agree? [Rink Royalty]

Strange NHL Policy Requires Winnipeg Couple to Purchase Ticket for 6-Month-Old Baby

Dec 27, 2015; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets fans have some fun in their morph suits during the third period against the Pittsburgh Penguins at MTS Centre. Winnipeg wins 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports /

There’s an NHL policy in place for “safety reasons” that requires every attendee of a league game to have purchased a ticket. This absurd rule has put a Winnipeg couple in an uncomfortable situation. They never thought to purchase a ticket for their six-month-old baby when they shelled out $800 for ticket packages to the Jets Heritage Classic event. Now they’re being told it will cost an additional $400 for their son who won’t even occupy a seat. [CBC]

Ranking Central Division Captains

Colin Likas over at Blackhawk Up released his rankings for the NHL Central Division Captains. Can you guess who finished first? In all fairness, it’s difficult to argue with number one. Things get do however get interesting at two through four. [Blackhawk Up]

NHL Daily Morning Rant

Some people would say Alexander Ovechkin is simply being bitter after his comments on Monday regarding the NHL playoff format. He might have a point though; let’s remember that it was just a few months ago when the top three Western Conference teams were forced to battle it out in the first two rounds. In fact, second placed St.Louis faced off against third place Chicago. How many sports do you find a 3/4 seed playing one another in an eight-team format?

Pavel Datsyuk was spot on with his comments regarding creativity. If you need an example, simply look at the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2015-16 before the late call-ups. Mike Babcock had little talent to work with in his first year, but managed to implement a structure that kept his team in close games. It was borderline unwatchable hockey until William Nylander, Nikita Soshnikov, Connor Brown, and rest of the kids came along.

Next: World Cup of Hockey Roundtable

Lastly, a quick comment on the situation surrounding the couple from Winnipeg. There are times in life such as these where we need to practice a little more common sense. A Toronto man has already graciously offered to cover the $400, but that doesn’t solve the issue. The NHL needs to step up and do the right thing here.

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