Here are your links for today:
“Johnathan Kovacevic’s absence should present Šimon Nemec with a golden chance to earn an NHL roster spot to begin 2025-26.” [Devils on the Rush]
A deep dive into each team’s cap situation: Which teams spend their money most wisely? “The goal here is to grade contracts empirically with the same context being applied to each player across the league: how much value does each player bring to the table per year and over the life of the contract. The way that’s measured comes from comparing a player’s Net Rating and the expected salary that comes with it to a player’s current contract.” [The Athletic ($)]
“Elias Pettersson is on a mission this season. ‘I know what I’m capable of,’ the Vancouver Canucks forward said Wednesday at Sweden’s orientation camp for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. ‘Actually, I haven’t thought about it, but for myself it’s revenge. I’m not happy with last season.’” [NHL.com]
Matthew Tkachuk is on the cover of NHL 26:
Who’s due to regress? “Whether you like it or not, math and luck play a role in hockey. Sometimes players are scoring or stopping the puck at a higher rate than they usually do, and sometimes they’re doing it at a lower rate. Regardless, the bill always comes due, and those percentages swing the other way, unless the player is just that good.” [Daily Faceoff]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.