September marks a pivotal month in the sports calendar. Whether it be the MLB Pennant race, UEFA Champions League, NFL and College Football Kickoff, it is truly an exciting time to be a sports fan. While all of this occurs, many overlook the coming approach of the NHL season. As rookies report to prospect tournaments and players come back from their summer vacations, NHL fans are once again gifted with fast paced action: Preseason Hockey.
Although many casual fans do not care about watching players that will likely report back to the minor leagues, the preseason is an opportunity for enthusiasts to get a first glimpse of their team’s offseason acquisitions in action. With this sense of excitement, the NHL has each team play about eight games against regional opponents, often in neutral site markets. Despite these games attracting large crowds and selling tickets, many fans and players have voiced their concerns about the structure, especially after the 2024 exhibition slate. After injuries to headline players and low-quality showings, there has been calls to shorten the preseason once and for all.
On Wednesday, Sept. 25, the Los Angeles Kings took the ice in Las Vegas against the Golden Knights in what seemed to be just another regular preseason matchup. However, while going in for the puck along the boards during the first period with Knights winger Tanner Pearson, Doughty’s ankle was caught between Pearson’s leg and the dasher boards, resulting in an awkward snap that resulted in the longtime Kings defenseman being helped off the ice by teammates and training staff. Kings medical staff later confirmed that Doughty suffered a fractured left ankle and will be out for almost the entirety of the season after going through surgery. Despite being 34 years old, Doughty had high expectations for his team coming off a rebuild, especially after putting up career numbers in an exciting push last year that ultimately ended in the first round.
Kings veteran Drew Doughty is expected to miss a majority of the season
Just three nights later, the Montreal Canadiens were facing off at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs, in what is possibly the greatest rivalry in North American sports history. Near the end of the first period, Maple Leafs prospect Cedric Pare was involved in a graphic knee-on-knee collision with the former second overall draft pick and newly brought in Patrik Laine of the Canadiens. Thankfully, Laine was only ruled out with a knee sprain, and hopes to return to the ice within 2-3 months. This play resulted in a renewed sense of hatred between the two historic franchises, as it was not long before 6’4” Canadiens enforcer Arber Xhekaj earned himself a fine from the league with punches being thrown at Pare.
Arber Xhekaj gets his revenge on Cedric Pare
With two star players suddenly missing a sizable chunk of their seasons, hockey fans across the league have reconsidered the idea of altering the current preseason model we know today. Although the preseason provides an important chance for players looking to earn a roster spot as well as an opportunity for seasoned veterans to adjust back to the elite pace of play, most can come to agree on the fact that there is no need to play the eight games that has become the standard. Personally, as eagerly as I await the start of the hockey season, I often find difficulty in being able to watch an entire preseason broadcast; whether it be the low quality feeds provided to the fan or the often lopsided scores, I see no issue with the league adjusting to the model put into place by the NBA with teams only participating in 4-5 preseason matchups. With that being said, I am relieved that the regular season has finally commenced and us hockey fans have a continuous supply of meaningful games from now until mid-April.
