Morning Flurries: The NHL’s 32nd team hits the ice for the first time

The NHL preseason is here and for the first time, the league will consist of 32 teams. We took another big step over the weekend as the Seattle Kraken hit the ice for their first ever game. The NHL’s newest franchise put on a show for their fans as they came back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat their geographic rival the Vancouver Canucks. Since their new home isn’t quite ready for fans yet, this game was played a the iconic KeyArena near the Space Needle.

It’s still the preseason but this game had buzz around it as fans in the Pacific North West have been waiting for this for a long time. After not getting on the board in the first period, it was Riley Sheahan who scored the tam’s first ever preseason goal.

League expansion is always exciting for fans and while this Kraken team doesn’t look very strong on paper, it should be a very fun season in Seattle.

On the other side of the country, the Buffalo Sabres have announced that Jack Eichel will no longer serve as the team’s captain. Last week, the 24-year old failed his physical and was put on the IR as he recovers from a very serious neck injury. The treatment of the injury has caused a huge rift between the player and the team - one that looks like it can’t be repaired.

“I spoke to Jack two days ago, I spoke to the team yesterday and addressed this,” Sabers GM Kevyn Adams said. “From our perspective, the captain is your heartbeat of your team, and we are in a situation where we felt we needed to make that decision. ... There’s a lot of voices in there that are strong, that are good pros. So we’ll just, instead of rushing into that, we’ll just let it play out.”

Though he is expected to be ready to get back on the ice for the second half of the season, Eichel as almost certainly played his last game in a Sabres jersey.

And Avs fans thought the Matt Duchene situation got ugly....

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Late last week, the IIHF announced the schedule for the men’s hockey tournament at the 2022 Beijing Olympics at 6:10 a.m. MT on Feb. 10. Things will kick off with Canada taking on Germany and Team USA facing the home team from China during the first day of competition. Later that same day Gabriel Landeskog and Team Sweden will play their opening game against Latvia at 9:10 p.m. MT, while Mikko and the Finns will face Slovakia at 3:40 a.m. ET at National Indoor Stadium on Feb. 11.

Olympic men’s ice hockey schedule

Wednesday, Feb. 9

At National Indoor Stadium

Russian Olympic Committee vs. Switzerland, 3:40 a.m. ET

Czech Republic vs. Denmark, 8:10 a.m. ET

Sweden vs. Latvia, 11:10 p.m. ET

Thursday, Feb. 10

At National Indoor Stadium

Finland vs. Slovakia, 3:40 a.m. ET

United States vs. China, 8:10 a.m. ET

Denmark vs. Russian Olympic Committee, 11:10 p.m. ET

At Wukesong Sport Center

Canada vs. Germany, 8:10 a.m. ET

Friday, Feb. 11

At National Indoor Stadium

Czech Republic vs. Switzerland, 3:40 a.m. ET

Latvia vs. Finland, 8:10 a.m. ET

Canada vs. United States, 11:10 p.m. ET

At Wukesong Sport Center

Sweden vs. Slovakia, 3:40 a.m. ET

Saturday, Feb. 12

At National Indoor Stadium

Germany vs. China, 3:40 a.m. ET

Russian Olympic Committee vs. Czech Republic, 8:10 a.m. ET

Slovakia vs. Latvia, 11:10 p.m. ET

At Wukesong Sport Center

Switzerland vs. Denmark, 8:10 a.m. ET

Sunday, Feb. 13

At National Indoor Stadium

Finland vs. Sweden, 3:40 a.m. ET

China vs. Canada, 8:10 a.m. ET

At Wukesong Sport Center

United States vs. Germany, 8:10 a.m. ET

Monday, Feb. 14

At National Indoor Stadium

Qualifying round Game 1, 11:10 p.m. ET

At Wukesong Sport Center

Qualifying round Game 2, 11:10 p.m. ET

Tuesday, Feb. 15

At National Indoor Stadium

Qualifying round Game 3, 3:40 a.m. ET

Qualifying round Game 4, 8:10 a.m. ET

Quarterfinal 1, 11:10 p.m. ET

Wednesday, Feb. 16

At National Indoor Stadium

Quarterfinal 3, 3:40 a.m. ET

Quarterfinal 4, 9:30 a.m. ET

At Wukesong Sport Center

Quarterfinal 2, 1 a.m. ET

Thursday, Feb. 17

Semifinal 1, 11:10 p.m. ET

Friday, Feb, 18

At National Indoor Stadium

Semifinal 2, 8:10 a.m. ET

Saturday, Feb. 19

At National Indoor Stadium

Bronze medal game, 8:10 a.m. ET

Gold medal game, 11:10 p.m. ET