Introducing The Hockey Writers’ Countdown to Puck Drop series. From now until the puck drops on the 2019-20 NHL’s regular season on Oct. 2 when the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Ottawa Senators, we’ll be producing content that’s connected to the number of days remaining on that particular day. Some posts may be associated with a player’s number, while others will be connected to a year or length of time. We’re really excited about this series as we take you through the remainder of summer in anticipation of the return of NHL hockey.
Day 4
Toronto Maple Leafs – Auston Matthews’ 4-Goal Debut
Day 6
Toronto Maple Leafs – Pro Sports’ First Jersey Retirement
Day 7
Tampa Bay Lightning – Mathieu Joseph Needs Big Season in 2019-20
Day 27
St. Louis Blues – Blues Need to Keep Alex Pietrangelo
Tampa Bay Lightning – Lightning Will Need McDonagh in the Playoffs
Day 34
Ottawa Senators – End of the Original Ottawa Senators
Toronto Maple Leafs – Auston Matthews’ Top 10 Moments
Day 38
Winnipeg Jets – Jets’ Extra Large 2011-12 Roster
Day 40
Detroit Red Wings – Henrik Zetterberg’s Red Wings Legacy
Day 43
Vancouver Canucks – Quinn Hughes: Key to Canucks’ Future
Day 49
Chicago Blackhawks – Blackhawks Break Stanley Cup Drought
Day 51
Vegas Golden Knights – Golden Knights Historic First Season
Day 52
Detroit Red Wings – 1951-52 Red Wings the Best Ever?
St. Louis Blues – The Blues’ Wait is Over
Day 59
Detroit Red Wings – Tyler Bertuzzi’s Role in 2019-20
Day 60
Tampa Bay Lightning – Stamkos’ 60 Goals in 2011-12
Day 61
Anaheim Ducks – Ducks Hope Terry Gets Perry Mojo
Day 67
Toronto Maple Leafs – Remembering Maple Leafs’ Glory
Vegas Golden Knights – Bill Foley’s Journey from Black Knight to Golden Knight
Day 68
New York Rangers – Jaromir Jagr’s Time as a Ranger
Pittsburgh Penguins – Jagr’s Illustrious Penguins Career
Day 71
Buffalo Sabres – Evan Rodrigues Essential in 2019-20
Pittsburgh Penguins – 2019-20 Season Hinges on Evgeni Malkin
Vegas Golden Knights – William Karlsson’s Path to Stardom
Day 72
New York Islanders – The Islanders Are Born
Winnipeg Jets – Jets’ Inaugural WHA Season
Day 74
Washington Capitals – 1974-75, the Capitals’ First (and Worst) Season
Day 76
Nashville Predators – P.K. Subban’s Predators Tenure
Day 77
Anaheim Ducks – Mighty Oates Joins the Mighty Ducks
Buffalo Sabres – Turgeon for LaFontaine & Gratton for Briere
Tampa Bay Lightning – Victor Hedman’s Norris Trophy Season
Day 79
Ottawa Senators – Alexei Yashin’s Rookie Totals
Winnipeg Jets – 1978-79 Avco Cup-Winning Season
Day 80
Edmonton Oilers –Wayne Gretzky’s Record-Breaking Season
Day 81
Chicago Blackhawks –Hossa’s Journey From Curse to Cup
Tampa Bay Lightning –Erik Cernak’s Importance to the Lightning
Vegas Golden Knights –Marchessault’s Golden Knights Path
Day 82
New York Rangers –Martin Straka’s Rangers Tenure