2019 has been a very busy year throughout the hockey world. There have been several big trades and free agent signings (including a record-setting contract), plenty of changes behind the bench, and much more. Over the coming days, PHR will take a look back at the top stories from around the game on a month-by-month basis. Next up is the month of March, one that featured plenty of news, even if the trade deadline had passed.
Ottawa Fires Guy Boucher: On the first day of March the Senators decided to take another drastic step in their rebuild, firing head coach Guy Boucher and replacing him with Marc Crawford for the last few days of the season. Boucher defensive system had taken the Senators all the way to the Eastern Conference Final in 2017 but hadn’t clicked with the new group of players. The Senators would continue to overhaul their roster and bring in rookie head coach D.J. Smith in the offseason.
Ted Lindsay Dies At 93: A few days later, the entire hockey world was in mourning as it said farewell to one of the giants of the sport. Ted Lindsay, a builder of the game on and off the ice, passed away at the age of 93. Even though he is gone, his career as a player and the work he did to form the NHLPA will never be forgotten.
Wright Given Exceptional Status: Just a few months after turning 15, Shane Wright was granted exceptional status by the OHL allowing him to enter the draft a year early. Wright was picked first overall by the Kingston Frontenacs and he has already started to dominate the league, scoring 29 points in his first 28 games in junior. He won’t turn 16 until next Sunday, and is eligible for selection in the 2022 NHL draft.
Stone Inks Huge Extension: It took a week before the Vegas Golden Knights could officially announce it, but Mark Stone eventually got his huge payday. The pending unrestricted free agent signed an eight-year, $76MM contract extension with the Golden Knights after arriving there in a deadline trade from Ottawa. The 26-year old immediately became one of the highest-paid wingers in the game and showed just how dominant he could be with an outstanding postseason performance. Now in the first year of the deal, Stone is on pace for another 70-point season and is trailing only Max Pacioretty in team scoring.
Quinn Leaves College: After two years at the University of Michigan, Quinn Hughes decided to turn pro and sign with the Vancouver Canucks. The young defenseman got into five games down the stretch for the Canucks, burning the first season of his three-year entry-level contract and getting him closer to restricted free agency where he will command quite a bit of salary. The smooth-skating Hughes has been outstanding this year for the Canucks and will be in contention for the Calder Trophy as one of the league’s best rookies. With 27 points in 37 games, there is already talk of a Norris push at some point in the future.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images