Premier wears mask during COVID-19 news conference, but says there will be no parade if team miraculously wins its 25th Stanley Cup this year.
Tennessee Titans for NHL Face Masks
Forward prospect Janne Kuokkanen, acquired in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes on Feb. 24, and defenseman prospect Ty Smith, the No. 18 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, should challenge for key roles.
The New Jersey Devils are counting on offseason additions, players in the pipeline and a new coach to turn their fortunes around.
All that said, the Lightning have to figure out a way to keep at least Cirelli, a future Selke Trophy winner as the League's best defensive forward and potential future captain (although Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos is certainly not going anywhere). Cirelli is the perfect third-line center in the NHL today, especially playing behind Stamkos and Brayden Point. He has breakaway speed, a high hockey IQ, strength in the middle of the ice, and the versatility to move up the lineup if necessary (if, for example, Tampa Bay wants to play Stamkos at right wing). You win in the NHL today with strength down the middle, and the Lightning have that. If they can't keep Cirelli, they could have a difficult time replacing him without having to rob from another area.
The NHL’s oldest head coach still worries about COVID-19 but not enough to stop doing his job. It’s a risk-reward proposition coaches and executives around sports are weighing, and while Florida assistant Mike Kitchen is the only one to so far opt out of hockey’s return, plenty of others are considering masking up behind the bench and taking other precautions in the middle of a pandemic.
