Storylines to watch for in the 2015-16 NHL season

McEichel Watch

Of course there will be the season long McEichel watch.. McEichel, a man who may not be related by blood to Houston Astros ace Dallas Keuchel, but will perhaps see a similar level of success in their 2015 seasons. McEichel may have an unfair advantage since he’s actually two men, but it was just a terrible joke anyway. The first and second overall picks from this year’s draft will be pitted head to head their entire careers, but the eye’s of the hockey world will be most attentive for their rookie campaigns.

Aside from international tournaments, this NHL season will be the first time that Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel will compete on the same playing field and thus become fairly comparable. After dominating the USHL, Eichel posted an NCAA best 71 points in 40 games with Boston University becoming only the second freshman to win the Hobey Baker. As impressive as that may be, McDavid put up 285 points in 3 years with the Erie Otters and took CHL player of the year honours. Through six preseason games Eichel totaled two goals and four assists, while McDavid notched five assists in five games and will have to wait for the regular season to find the back of the net.

The longer season and more NHL-like playoff format of the CHL would argue that McDavid is more ready for the big leagues, and the frontrunner for the Calder trophy, but you just know that Eichel will give it the ol’ college try. It may also be worth researching the percent increase in viewers of Oilers vs Sabres games from last year to this year, might be a big number. — Dan Guild

The Calgary Flames Tire Fire

I’m sure there’s a joke to be made about the Calgary Flames likening themselves to the Springfield burning pile of tires from The Simpsons, but the most comedic thing regarding the Flames this season is the fact people actually believe they’re going to repeat their fluke performance from last year.

Not a chance.

The Flames were actually a pretty horrible team last season. They rode a really high shooting percentage all the way to the second round of the playoffs, where they were steamrolled by a real team in the Anaheim Ducks. “Intangibles! Heart!” Nope. Their underlying stats tell the story. Like the Colorado Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs, and other overachieving playoff teams before them, you can’t be a successful team in the NHL with an even strength Corsi For percentage of 44.5 (for those who don’t know, that’s really bad) for long. I’m sure the numbers will catch up to them and the Flames’ luck will run dry, resulting in a finish towards the bottom of the Western Conference standings. — Cam Lewis

Steven Stamkos is probably going to be a Leaf a year from now

The first overall pick in 2008 and arguably the best sharp-shooter in the NHL, Steven Stamkos, is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2016. He’s spent his entire seven-year career with the Tampa By Lightning so far, amassing 276 goals and 222 assists in 492 games. So when he does hit the market this summer, he’ll be one of the most sought after free agents in recent memory, and unlike other big-name UFAs like David Clarkson and Stephen Weiss, he’s actually a really good player who’ll be worth the salary he commands.

I see one of two scenarios here. Either he’s going to sign an extension with the Lightning, and enjoy a casual, tax-free lifestyle on the beaches of Florida forever, or he’s going to return home and become the saviour of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who haven’t won a Stanley Cup since 1967. I’m guessing it’s going to be the latter. — Cam Lewis

The Canadian Dollar and the cap ceiling

The fall of the Canadian Dollar over the past calendar year has had a tremendous effect on the NHL. Since a good chunk of the league’s teams and fans are Canadian, the NHL’s hockey related revenue decreased due to the weakening dollar. The most noticeable result of this to the casual fan who doesn’t take an interest in the league’s finances was the lower-than-expected salary cap ceiling.

If the Canadian Dollar doesn’t rise in the near future, the cap ceiling will remain around the $73 million figure it’s at right now, and we’ll see top-heavy teams like the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles King squirm to try and piece together a legitimate NHL roster. If you’re a fan of bad players getting paid like good players, you’d better hope the Canadian dollar goes up, otherwise we’re going to have to witness NHL General Managers have another summer loaded with smart and shrewd moves in free agency. I want more David Clarksons, dammit! — Cam Lewis

Exciting endings to games!

With everyone calling for the removal of the shootout, The NHL responded by meeting the public’s demands, sort of. Instead of axing the shootout altogether, all overtime periods will now be 3-on-3, followed by a shootout. The idea being that more games will end sooner if players have more open space on the ice. Eventually, the NHL will turn into a utopia where games will be ended by one-on-one overtimes, which are the true test of skill and teamwork. — Zach Borutski