Top 5 Storylines for the Second Half

1. The Return of Jack Eichel

A Stanley-Cup appearance in their inaugural season raised a lot of eyebrows in the hockey world. Franchises around the league were left in awe as Vegas pulled off the unthinkable only to come up short against the Capitals.

Now with four seasons under their belt, the Golden Knights are expecting to take another step as star-forward Jack Eichel has returned from neck surgery and has impacted the lineup immediately with one goal and two assists in three games. With captain Mark Stone likely out for the remainder of the season, Eichel slides into the top-line role and looks to return to star status in Vegas. Let’s not forget that Eichel was an All-Star talent during his days with Buffalo. The 25-year-old looks to prove to the doubters why he’s still an elite player in the NHL.

2. Can the Leafs finally win a playoff series?

Lately, Jack Campbell has come back down to earth and it has fans asking if their tandem with Mrazek is enough. I feel that a team like the Leafs has the offensive depth to capitalize on their matchups but needs to be willing to play at both ends. Focusing on the defensive aspect of the game is necessary during the playoffs, even if it means limiting the offensive upside. We know that Toronto can outscore their opponents but to reach the next level, the team must buy in defensively and limit the scoring chances against.

I truly feel that if this team can simply win one series, they have a chance to at least get to the conference finals. The amount of pressure on this team is incredible. With the likes of Nick Foligno, Joe Thornton, and Zach Bogosian no longer in the dressing room, the question remains, who will be the leader of this group to get them over the hump? We’ve seen recent failure from this core but have received another chance to lead the Leafs on a potential cup run. Are we left asking if this could be the year…again?

3. How will COVID affect Canadian markets in the playoffs?

With the Ontario teams returning to 50% capacity, the arena atmosphere is coming back to life. Despite the empty seats and missed excitement from the fans, there is finally a sense of normalcy again. So, what happens if the playoffs arrive and Ontario is still under these limits? You could argue the American teams may hold an advantage if capacity numbers are limited to certain Canadian markets since there wouldn’t be a true “home-ice advantage”.

We know that Canadian fans will travel long distances to support their teams. This is needed more than ever if the ability to watch their teams at home is still absent. Forget the idea of having fans in the crowd and think of the money that teams are losing. Owners want fans back in the arenas as much as we want to be there. Figure it out, Canada.

4. Will the Habs trade Carey Price?

If there were ever a time to trade the $10 million cap-hit of one of the league’s best goaltenders, it was yesterday. The problem? He is arguably still one of the league’s best. Despite waiving his no-trade clause for eligibility in the Seattle expansion draft, Price was unclaimed and has since stepped away to focus on his mental health.

With the Canadiens sitting at the bottom of the league's standings, decisions are needed in Montréal to steer the team in the right direction. Undoubtedly, there are plenty of teams willing to take a chance on Price, if the price is right. I have always wanted him to win a Stanley Cup to top his illustrious career, whether in Montréal or not, so the next few months are crucial for both parties involved. I find it hard to believe a team could take on the entirety of the $10.5 million contract, so a sweetener may be needed if Montréal is willing to move the contract and maintain some salary.

5. Can Tampa three-peat?

As a sports fan, the debate of "best of all time" is often misconstrued. The common argument – You can't compare the eras, their equipment is different, the players are stronger than ever before… They all boil down to one thing: Success. The comparisons to history's greats go back for centuries, and rightfully so. As the sporting world continues to evolve, our perception of greatness changes.

So, how do we compare the back-to-back winning Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay teams to the great New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers dynasties? You don’t. The adaptation to the “cap-era” is a direct factor in why dynasties are rare in sports. The window for winning is shorter than ever, and GMs are continuously making savvy decisions to maintain success. As the product continues to react to the ever-changing world of professional sports becoming a quicker, more-skilled product on the ice, the NHL has never been so competitive.

In Tampa Bay's situation, the team entered last year's playoffs approximately $19 million over the cap hit. With the chips falling into place, it was the perfect storm for Tampa to repeat as champions. Now with a healthy Nikita Kucherov and a revamped forward group, Tampa is poised to make another run. Since Tampa is in the Atlantic Division with the league's best, they may get help as several cup-contenders are going to be eliminated early. There is no doubt that the Lightning will go as far as Vasilevskiy will take them, so get your popcorn ready.