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The NHL Daily Fix is your morning wake-up call with news and notes for the day's hockey action. Today is Saturday, Jan. 19, and it's the opening day of the 2013 season. Finally.
| Morning Buzz |
It's Jan. 19, 2013, and NHL teams spent Friday trying to sign Wade Redden (the St. Louis Blues were successful) and Scott Gomez. These are not the type of stories that we expected to be following a month ago.
It's like it's 2007 all over again. Except this time, Glen Sather isn't going to give out terrible contracts.
• Let's start with the important news: The Ottawa Senators are giving out free beer (it's a free sample -- one free sample -- of Molson) at their home opener on Monday against the Florida Panthers. Now, that's how you run a promotion to thank fans for sticking with you through yet another lockout.
• The Los Angeles Kings start their title defense on Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks. How did general manager Dean Lombardi spend his summer? Studying dynasties to figure out ways to repeat. Keep in mind, the NHL hasn't had a repeat champion since the Detroit Red Wings in 1998. [USA Today]
• Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews did not practice on Friday (illness), but he is expected to be ready when the puck drops in Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon. [Chicago Tribune]
• Anaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray has already said his top priority is to do whatever it takes to keep Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Getzlaf told reporters in Vancouver on Friday that his top priority is to remain with the Ducks. So, it's all perfect! Actually, Murray's job probably became a lot tougher this week when the New Jersey Devils decided to give Travis Zajac more than $40 million over eight years. If Zajac is worth that, what is Getzlaf, a far superior player, going to be worth? [Eric Stephens]
• The Pittsburgh Penguins filled every seat in the Consol Energy Center for their team scrimmage on Wednesday night and even had to turn fans away. Even more amazing? It drew a 6.7 Nielsen rating in Pittsburgh and beat all prime-time programming in the area. Will fans be back after the lockout? Yes. A thousand times, yes. [Tribune Review]
| Saturday Schedule (all times ET) |
Chicago at Los Angeles (3 p.m.)
Pittsburgh at Philadelphia (3 p.m.)
Ottawa at Winnipeg (3 p.m.)
New York Rangers at Boston (7 p.m.)
New Jersey at New York Islanders (7 p.m.)
Washington at Tampa Bay (7 p.m.)
Toronto at Montreal (7 p.m.)
Carolina at Florida (7:30 p.m.)
Phoenix at Dallas (8 p.m.)
Columbus at Nashville (8 p.m.)
Detroit at St. Louis (8 p.m.)
Colorado at Minnesota (9 p.m.)
Anaheim at Vancouver (10 p.m.)
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