2017–18 NHL season

2017–18 NHL season
League National Hockey League
Sport Ice hockey
Duration October 4, 2017 – June 2018
Number of games 82
Number of teams 31
Regular Season
Playoffs
Stanley Cup

The 2017–18 NHL season will be the 101st season of operation (100th season of play) of the National Hockey League. With the addition of a new expansion team, the Vegas Golden Knights, 31 teams will compete in an 82-game regular season. The regular season will begin on October 4, 2017, and will end on April 7, 2018. The 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs will then begin a few days afterwards, with the Stanley Cup Finals held in early June.

League business

Expansion

On June 22, 2016, the NHL confirmed that it had granted an expansion franchise in the city of Las Vegas to an ownership group led by Bill Foley,[1] whose identity was revealed as the Vegas Golden Knights on November 22. The team will play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference.[2][3]

Olympics abstention and ban

On April 3, 2017, the NHL announced that, after five Olympic tournaments in which the NHL allowed its players to participate in the event, it would not do so for the men's hockey tournament at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Furthermore, the league did not include a break for the Olympics in its schedule, and scheduled its All-Star Game as usual for late-January shortly prior to the Olympics (historically, the All-Star Game was not played during Olympic years).[4][5][6]

The restriction will apply to any player under NHL contract, including those in its affiliated minor leagues.[7] [5] Several players have vowed to participate anyway, most notably Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin. [8]

Salary cap

On June 18, 2017, the National Hockey League Players' Association announced that the salary cap would be set at $75 million for the 2017–18 season.[9][10]

Media rights

This is the seventh season under the NHL's U.S. rights deal with NBC Sports, and the fourth season of its Canadian rights deals with Sportsnet and TVA Sports.

AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (which re-branded from Root Sports over the off-season) will hold the regional television rights for the new Vegas Golden Knights expansion team.[11] TSN has re-gained regional English-language rights to the Montreal Canadiens, and extended its radio contract with co-owned CKGM.[12][13] Rogers Media has acquired the radio rights for the Vancouver Canucks, and is expected to move the team to 650 CISL (pending approval of its purchase of the station).[14]

Centennial celebration

The NHL's centennial commemorations will continue into the 2017–18 season, as its 100th season of play. On March 17, 2017, the NHL announced that it would hold an outdoor game at TD Place Stadium between the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens on December 16, 2017, to formally mark the 100th anniversary of their first NHL game.[15][16] The Toronto Maple Leafs will mark the centennial of the NHL's first game (which involved their predecessor, the Toronto Arenas) during their December 19, 2017 game against the Carolina Hurricanes.[17]

Pre-season games in China

On March 30, 2017, it was announced that the Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks would play two pre-season games in China on September 21 and 23.[18]

Coaching changes

Coaching changes
Offseason
Team 2016–17 coach 2017–18 coach Story / Accomplishments
Arizona Coyotes Dave Tippett Rick Tocchet On June 22, 2017, through mutual agreement, Tippett left the head coach position of the Coyotes. He led the team to a 30–42–10 record during the 2016–17 season, and a 282–257–83 overall record in eight seasons with the team.[19][20] On July 11, 2017, Tocchet was named as the new head coach of the Coyotes.[21] He was the assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the last three seasons.
Buffalo Sabres Dan Bylsma Phil Housley On April 20, 2017, the Sabres fired Bylsma after his team finished eighth in the Atlantic Division and failed to contend for the playoffs for the second consecutive season. He led the team to a 33–37–12 record during the 2016–17 season and a 68–73–23 overall record in two full seasons.[22] On June 15, Housley was named the Sabres' new head coach.[23] He had spent the previous four seasons as assistant coach for the Nashville Predators.
Dallas Stars Lindy Ruff Ken Hitchcock On April 9, 2017, the Stars announced that Ruff's contract would not be renewed for the 2017–18 season. Ruff led the team to a 34–37–11 record during the 2016–17 season as the Stars missed the playoffs and a 165–122–41 record since taking over in 2013.[24] On April 13, Hitchcock, most recently with the St. Louis Blues, was named the new head coach. He previously coached the Stars from 1996 to 2002.[25]
Florida Panthers Gerard Gallant
Tom Rowe*		 Bob Boughner Gallant, who compiled a record of 11–10–1 for the first part of the season (and a 96–65–25 record over his full 2¼-season tenure with the team, the highest win percentage of any coach in Panthers history), was fired on November 10, 2016. Rowe, the team's general manager, stepped into the position and compiled a 24–26–10 record. Gallant joined the Vegas Golden Knights, while Rowe, despite losing both the head coach and general manager titles, will remain with the Panthers as an advisor.[26] On June 12, Boughner was named the team's new head coach.[27] He was the assistant coach of the San Jose Sharks before being hired by the Panthers.
Los Angeles Kings Darryl Sutter John Stevens On April 10, 2017, the Kings fired Sutter after missing the playoffs for the second time in three years. He led the Kings to two Stanley Cup victories in 2012 and 2014. The Kings finished the season with a record of 39–35–8 and an overall record of 225–147–53 over six seasons with Sutter, which is the most wins for any coach in Kings' history.[28][29] On April 23, Stevens was named the new head coach. He had been the Kings' assistant coach since 2010 and was also an interim coach for four games during the 2011–12 season.[30]
Vancouver Canucks Willie Desjardins Travis Green On April 10, 2017, the Canucks fired Desjardins after his team failed to contend for the playoffs for the second consecutive year. He led the team to a 30–43–9 record during the 2016–17 season and a 109–110–27 overall record in three full seasons.[31] On April 26, Green was named the new head coach. Prior to his hiring, Green was the head coach for the Canucks' AHL affiliate Utica Comets, where he amassed a 155–110–39 record through four seasons.[32]
Vegas Golden Knights Expansion team Gerard Gallant On April 13, 2017, the Golden Knights hired Gerard Gallant as the team's first ever head coach.[33]

Arena changes

Regular season

The regular season will begin on October 4, 2017, and end on April 7, 2018. Each team will receive a five-day "bye week", and all of them will take place in mid-January.[37]

International games

Two regular season games will be played in Stockholm, Sweden as part of the 2017 SAP NHL Global Series, the league announced on March 24, 2017. The games will be played between the Colorado Avalanche and the Ottawa Senators at the Ericsson Globe on November 10 and 11, 2017.[38] This is the first NHL game to be held outside North America since the 2011 NHL Premiere contest.

Outdoor games

All–Star Game

The 63rd National Hockey League All-Star Game will be held in Tampa, Florida at Amalie Arena, home of the Tampa Bay Lightning, on January 28, 2018. The format will not change and will follow the format used in two previous All-Star games.[43]

Uniforms

See also

References

  1. ↑ Rosen, Dan (June 22, 2016). "Las Vegas awarded NHL franchise". National Hockey League. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  2. ↑ Coppinger, Mike. "Las Vegas NHL expansion team will be named the 'Golden Knights'". USA Today. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  3. ↑ Gretz, Adam (November 22, 2016). "Say hello to the Vegas Golden Knights". NBC Sports. Retrieved November 23, 2016. But the important thing here is the name, as well as the logo which works the letter “V” (for Vegas, obviously) into the knight’s mask.
  4. ↑ "NHL will not participate in 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Games". Sportsnet.ca. Rogers Media. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Iced out: The lowdown on NHL's Olympic boycott". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-08-09.
  6. ↑ Seravalli, Frank. "How the NHL can prevent players from going to Olympics". TSN.ca. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  7. ↑ Wyshynski, Greg. "Confused outrage over NHL Olympics boycott". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2017-08-09.
  8. ↑ "Ovechkin on Olympics: 'I don't care, I just go'". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-08-09.
  9. ↑ "NHL, NHLPA announce team payroll range for 2017–18". www.nhlpa.com. June 18, 2017. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  10. ↑ Hine, Chris (June 18, 2017). "NHL salary cap to increase to $75 million". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Golden Knights officially announce TV deal with ROOT SPORTS". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  12. ↑ "TSN becomes official English-language regional broadcaster for Habs". TSN.ca. Bell Media. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Canadiens English language regional telecasts moving to TSN". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  14. ↑ "Sportsnet launching all-sports radio station in Vancouver". The Province. Postmedia. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  15. 1 2 "Senators to host Canadiens in outdoor NHL game Dec. 16 at TD Place". CBC News Ottawa. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  16. 1 2 "Senators Dec. 16 outdoor game against Canadiens caps off big anniversary year". Ottawa Citizen. Postmedia Network. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Leafs to open 2017-18 season in Winnipeg". Toronto Star. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  18. ↑ Dillman, Lisa (March 30, 2017). "Kings, Canucks will play preseason games in China". NHL.com. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Coyotes, Tippett mutually part ways". TSN.ca. June 22, 2017. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Coyotes and Tippett Part Ways". NHL.com. June 22, 2017. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  21. ↑ Vest, Dave (July 11, 2017). "Tocchet Likes Fit with Coyotes". NHL.com. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  22. ↑ "Tim Murray, Dan Bylsma fired by Sabres". NHL.com. NHL Enterprise, L.P. April 20, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Phil Housley named head coach of Buffalo Sabres". NHL.com. June 15, 2017. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Stars announce Lindy Ruff won't return as head coach". NHL.com. April 9, 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Dallas Stars name Ken Hitchcock as head coach". NHL.com. April 13, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  26. ↑ "Dale Tallon Named Panthers General Manager". NHL.com. April 10, 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  27. ↑ "Florida Panthers Name Bob Boughner Head Coach". NHL.com. June 13, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  28. ↑ "AEG Announces Front Office Changes for LA Kings". NHL.com. April 10, 2017. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  29. ↑ "Kings fire Darryl Sutter". Sportsnet.ca. April 10, 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  30. ↑ "John Stevens is the New Head Coach of the LA Kings". NHL.com. NHL Enterprise, L.P. April 23, 2017. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  31. ↑ "Canucks relieve Willie Desjardins of duties". NHL.com. April 10, 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  32. ↑ "Travis Green named Canucks head coach". NHL.com. April 26, 2017. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  33. ↑ "Golden Knights Name Gerard Gallant Head Coach". NHL.com. April 13, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  34. ↑ "Red Wings' new home: Little Caesars Arena". NHL.com. April 28, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  35. ↑ Steinberg, Dan (August 9, 2017). "Verizon Center to become Capital One Arena, starting now". Washington Post. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  36. ↑ "MTS Centre, Iceplex renamed following Bell takeover of MTS". CBC News. The Canadian Press. May 30, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  37. ↑ "NHL schedule: Bye weeks for 2017-18 season". NHL. June 26, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  38. ↑ "Senators, Avalanche to play two games in Sweden" (Press release). NHL. March 24, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  39. ↑ "NHL Winter Classic to feature Rangers, Sabres at Citi Field". NHL.com. May 9, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  40. ↑ Benjamin, Cody (May 12, 2017). "Sabres 'hosting' 2018 Winter Classic vs. Rangers reportedly saves MSG $40M". CBSSports.com. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  41. ↑ Gulitti, Tom (May 29, 2017). "Maple Leafs, Capitals to play in Stadium Series at U.S. Naval Academy". NHL.com. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  42. ↑ "Capitals expected to play in outdoor game at Naval Academy next season". Washington Post. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
  43. ↑ "2018 NHL All-Star Game to be played at Tampa Bay". NHL.com. May 30, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  44. ↑ Rosen, Dan (September 16, 2015). "Adidas to become official NHL outfitter in 2017-18". NHL.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
  45. ↑ Clinton, Jared (January 9, 2017). "News Report: No Alternative Jerseys next Season as Adidas takes over NHL Uniforms". TheHockeyNews.com. TVA Group. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  46. ↑ "NHL, adidas unveil uniforms". NHL.com. June 20, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  47. ↑ Creamer, Chris (January 2, 2017). "Pics: Centennial Patches Added to All NHL Teams". SportsnetLogos.net. Wordpress. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
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