Could Stars assistant Misha Donskov be the right coach for the Bruins?
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Meanwhile, on Thursday, Joel Quenneville landed squarely and securely back on the coach's retread mill,
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Quenneville directed the Blackhawks to three Cup titles in 10-plus years in Chicago. He is a proven commodity, albeit a senior proven commodity. Surrounding himself with young, bright assistants who can relate to 20-somethings will be key, particularly on a roster dotted with very young talent expected to blossom as core/franchise players.
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Cronin, booted after two years, had the Ducks pointed firmly in the right direction. They again finished out of the playoffs but improved by 21 points ― from 59 to 80 — a very substantial leap.
Quenneville in 2008 likewise inherited a club that missed the playoffs under Denis Savard's direction. The Blackhawks jiggled up from 88 to 104 points and made it to the playoffs, ending a string of five consecutive DNQs.
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As the coaching search remains active on Causeway Street, one name to keep in mind: Misha Donskov, now in his second year as an assistant coach on Peter DeBoer's
staff in Dallas.
Donskov, 48, was DeBoer's Team Canada assistant during February's 4 Nations Face-Off. Sweeney, remember, was GM of that championship squad.
'Really good guy,' was how one highly respected executive of another NHL club assessed Donskov when reached late in the week. 'Smart, organized, hard working. Paid his dues, for sure. Would be a progressive thinker with enough savvy to know when old school still applies.'
Born and raised in Montreal (similar to late Bruins coach Pat Burns), Donskov has considerable experience coaching at the junior, international, and NHL levels. One of the expansion Golden Knights' first hires as director of hockey operations, he helped then-GM
George McPhee craft a roster that made the Golden Knights an instant success story.
In the summer of 2020, Donskov became one of DeBoer's assistants in Vegas and retained the job when
Bruce Cassidy took over the bench. He hoisted the Cup with Cassidy and crew in June 2023 and weeks later reunited with DeBoer in Big D.
Unquestionably, Donskov has to be considered a 'reach' candidate with the Bruins, but reach might be the ingredient this team needs.
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NBC Sports
33 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
Good news, bad news for NASCAR Cup drivers ahead of Richmond race
For the second time this month, the NASCAR Cup Series competes at a short track. The series was at Iowa Speedway two weeks ago and now heads to Richmond Raceway for Saturday night's event (coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET on USA Network). Here is a look at the good news and bad news for Cup drivers and teams heading into Richmond. 23XI Racing — Good news: Watkins Glen represented the third time this season the organization had two cars finish in the top 10 with Bubba Wallace eighth and Tyler Reddick ninth. … Wallace has scored four top 10s in a row, tied for the longest streak in his Cup career. … Wallace finished fourth at Richmond last August, his best finish at the track. … Both of Reddick's top 10s at Richmond came in the last two races there. … Reddick was third at Richmond last August. … Corey Heim, the regular season champion in the Truck Series, is back in the No. 67 this weekend, making his third Cup start of the year. Bad news: Riley Herbst was 33rd at Richmond last August in his only Cup start there. Front Row Motorsports — Good news: Noah Gragson will make his 100th career Cup start Saturday at Richmond. Bad news: Todd Gilliland has not placed better than 15th in six Richmond starts. … Zane Smith has not placed better than 16th in 11 career Cup short track starts. Haas Factory Team — Good news: Cole Custer has qualified in the top 12 in three of his six Cup starts at Richmond. Bad News: Custer's 34th-place finish at Watkins Glen was his worst result since Michigan in June. Hendrick Motorsports — Good news: William Byron extended his lead to 42 points on Chase Elliott with his fourth-place result at Watkins Glen. … Byron has scored back-to-back top-five finishes. … Elliott has four top-five finishes in the last eight Richmond races. … Elliott has placed in the top 10 in eight of the last 10 short track races and that doesn't include his victory in the Clash exhibition race at Bowman Gray Stadium this year. … Alex Bowman's average finish of 9.3 over the last nine races is the best among full-time drivers. … Bowman will make his 350th career Cup start Saturday at Richmond. Bad news: Chase Elliott's 26th-place finish last weekend at Watkins Glen marked the first time this season he's placed outside the top 20. … Kyle Larson's average finish in the last 12 races is 19.25 — his worst over any 12-race span since joining Hendrick Motorsports ahead of the 2021 season. Hyak Motorsports — Good news: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has made 388 consecutive Cup starts, which is the third-longest active streak behind Joey Logano's streak of 600 and Brad Keselowski's streak of 568. Bad news: Stenhouse has only one top-20 finish in his last seven starts at Richmond. Joe Gibbs Racing — Good news: The organization has more wins at Richmond (19) than at any other track. … Joe Gibbs Racing has won 10 of the last 18 Richmond Cup races. … Christopher Bell has eight top-three finishes in 24 races this season. … Bell's average finish of 7.3 at Richmond is his best among active oval tracks. … Chase Briscoe has had four top-five finishes in the last five races. … Briscoe is the only driver to finish in the top 10 in all three short track races this season, placing ninth at Martinsville, fourth at Bristol and second at Iowa. … Denny Hamlin has five wins at Richmond. … Hamlin has finished in the top two in six of the last eight Richmond races. … Hamlin has won three of the last 10 short track races, including this season at Martinsville. … Hamlin has more wins (five) than any other driver on short tracks with the Next Gen car. … Hamlin has led at least a lap in each of the last nine races at Richmond. Bad news: Ty Gibbs has finished outside the top 20 in the last three races. … Christopher Bell has had a speeding penalty in each of the last three races at Richmond. … Briscoe has never scored a top-10 finish in eight Cup starts at Richmond. Kaulig Racing — Good news: AJ Allmendinger will make his 100th Cup start with Kaulig Racing on Saturday at Richmond. Bad news: Allmendinger has finished 26th or worse in his last seven starts at Richmond. … Ty Dillon has had three consecutive finishes of 28th or worse. Legacy Motor Club — Good news: Erik Jones' 12th-place finish at Watkins Glen moved him to within one point of 20th in the season standings. … Jones has seven top-15 finishes in the last 14 races. … John Hunter Nemechek has three top-15 finishes in the last six races. Bad news: Nemechek has not placed better than 25th in three Richmond Cup starts. Richard Childress Racing — Good news: Austin Dillon won at Richmond last August. … Dillon has placed in the top 10 in two of the last three Richmond races. … Dillon's last two Cup wins have come in the final three weeks of the playoffs (Daytona in August 2022 and Richmond in August 2024). … Kyle Busch's six Cup wins at Richmond are the most among active drivers. … Busch's average finish of 7.6 at Richmond is his best among active ovals. Jesse Love will in the No. 33 car this weekend, making his fifth Cup start of the season. Bad news: Although Busch has 16 Cup short track wins, his most recent victory on that style of track came in April 2019 at Bristol. Rick Ware Racing — Good news: Cody Ware's 29th-place finish at Watkins Glen snapped a streak of four finishes of 32nd or worse. Bad news: Ware has never finished better than 34th in four Richmond Cup starts. RFK Racing — Good news: Chris Buescher continues to hold the final Cup playoff spot with two races left in there regular season. … All three of Buescher's top-10 finishes at Richmond, including a win, have come in the last five races there. … Brad Keselowski led a season-high 68 laps in finishing third at Iowa last month in the most recent short track race. … Ryan Preece's average finish of 10.9 over the past nine races ranks fourth among full-time drivers. … Preece has 11 top-15 finishes in the last 13 races. Bad news: Preece has one top-15 finish in nine career Cup starts at Richmond. Dustin Long, Spire Motorsports — Good news: Carson Hocevar placed eighth at Richmond last August. Bad news: Justin Haley's 27th-place finish last weekend at Watkins Glen was his worst result since Nashville in June. … Haley has not finished better than 21st in eight Cup starts at Richmond. … Michael McDowell has one top-10 finish in 27 Cup starts at Richmond. Team Penske — Good news: Ryan Blaney will make his 350th consecutive Cup start Saturday at Richmond, the fifth-longest active streak in the series (behind Joey Logano at 600, Brad Keselowski at 568, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at 388 and Kyle Busch at 373). … Blaney has scored four consecutive top-10 finishes this season. … Blaney has scored the most points (119) on short tracks this season. Bad news: Richmond is the only oval on the circuit that Blaney does not have a top-five finish. … Austin Cindric does not have a top-10 finish in seven Cup starts at Richmond. … Logano has not finished better than ninth in the last 10 races. Trackhouse Racing — Good news: Organization placed all three cars in the top 10 for the first time in a race last weekend at Watkins Glen with Shane van Gisbergen winning, Daniel Suarez seventh and Ross Chastain 10th. … Chastain's finish at Watkins Glen tied for his best result over the past nine races. … Chastain finished fifth at Richmond last August. Bad news: Suarez has placed 25th or worse in five of the last seven races. Wood Brothers Racing — Good news: Josh Berry's average finish of 9.0 at Richmond is his best among tracks he's made multiple starts. … Berry finished second at Richmond in April 2023. .. Berry qualified third at Richmond last August. Bad news: Berry has one top-10 finish since his victory at Las Vegas in March.
New York Times
33 minutes ago
- New York Times
Sabres depth chart projection: 6 key questions about Buffalo's forward group
BUFFALO, N.Y. — When the Buffalo Sabres opened training camp in September, Lindy Ruff didn't have a lot of time. The team had just two weeks of practice and one preseason game before the NHLers went to Europe for an exhibition game in Germany and the season-opening Global Series in Prague. That meant Ruff started camp with his NHL group already decided, despite the fact he was still getting to know his team as a first-year coach. Advertisement This training camp should be a lot different. Ruff is more familiar with these players, the team is coming off another disappointing season, and there are some new faces sprinkled into the lineup. That should give Ruff time to experiment and create more competition. At this point, the defensive pairings seem easy to project on paper. There will be competition for the seventh and eighth spots on the depth chart. But when everyone is healthy, the top six on defense should look like this: Bowen Byram – Rasmus Dahlin Owen Power – Michael Kesselring Mattias Samuelsson – Conor Timmins The real intrigue of camp will be how Ruff and his staff put together the forward lines. We won't know exactly what Ruff is thinking until the Sabres take the ice for training camp in mid-September. Here's my best guess at the forward lines with a look at some of the key questions that will determine the opening-night lineup. Zach Benson – Josh Norris – Tage Thompson Jason Zucker – Jiri Kulich – Alex Tuch Jack Quinn – Ryan McLeod – Josh Doan Jordan Greenway – Peyton Krebs – Justin Danforth But right now, here are a few considerations facing Ruff when Buffalo opens the season against the New York Rangers on Oct. 9. Ruff was clear about two things late last season. One is that he liked Tage Thompson at wing. The other is that he liked Jiri Kulich as a center. As of now, this lineup operates under the assumption Ruff will stick to those two beliefs when he puts together his lineup. The Sabres' center depth hinges on those two decisions. Thompson excelled at wing last season. His offensive game took off, and it seemed to help him stay fresh. Kulich also looked his best at center. He was better able to use his skating ability to open up scoring opportunities. He was also more than capable of handling the defensive responsibility of the position. Though making Thompson a center could strengthen that position, it would create questions elsewhere in the lineup. Here's a version of what the Sabres could look like if Thompson were a center and Kulich a wing. Advertisement Benson – Thompson – Tuch Kulich – Norris – Doan Zucker – McLeod – Quinn Greenway – Krebs – Danforth Extra: Beck Malenstyn Zach Benson handled himself well when he was playing on the top line with Thompson at the end of the season. He's an eager forechecker with playmaking ability and has already proved to be a strong defensive forward. Those skills fit well with the way Thompson plays: The Sabres had a 55 percent expected goal share when Benson and Thompson were on the ice together at five-on-five last season. If training camp started today, Benson would be my first pick to be that top-line left wing. Beyond Benson, the options are less than perfect. The Sabres could stack the top line with Alex Tuch, Josh Norris and Thompson. They could put Jason Zucker on the top line, but that's higher in the lineup than he should be playing. The other interesting option would be Josh Doan, who brings similar forechecking and defensive ability to Benson but has a better shot. I'd let Benson get the first crack at it, though. Norris played only three games after the Sabres acquired him at the trade deadline. He was the team's No. 1 center in all of those games. In one game, he centered Thompson and Tuch. In another, he centered Benson and Thompson. In the other, he centered JJ Peterka and Thompson. If Norris is the No. 1 center, it makes sense to pair him up with Thompson to start. But the question of whether Norris is a No. 1 center boils down to whether he can come close to playing 82 games. He entered the offseason healthy, which is a great sign for a player who has dealt with multiple shoulder injuries in his career. He had 21 goals in 56 games last season, a sign that his 30-plus goal potential is still there. When the Sabres acquired Norris, Ruff said he views him as a No. 1 center. I expect him to play there opening night. Doan is a fascinating player to follow entering training camp. At just 23 years old, he hasn't fully developed into the player he will be. What is Doan's ceiling and how soon can he hit it? We know he is already one of the most efficient forecheckers in the NHL. He also has a dangerous shot and is willing to play at the front of the net. Those skills could make him useful in the top six if Ruff decides to go that route. Advertisement Don't miscast Doan just because he had only seven goals last season. At the very least, he should be a quality third-liner for this team. But as we saw with Zucker last season, the net-front skills can earn a player more ice time in better situations. A strong forechecker who also has back-to-back 20-point seasons, Danforth played center and wing for the Columbus Blue Jackets last season. His experience will be a welcome addition to the locker room. Danforth's career faceoff percentage is just shy of 50 percent. If he plays wing, that allows Peyton Krebs to stay in the lineup. If Danforth is at center, either Krebs could move to the wing or Beck Malenstyn could jump back onto the fourth line. The beauty of Danforth is his versatility. Injuries and performance will dictate who needs to stay in the lineup, and Danforth can plug a hole at center or wing. I have him starting on the wing because it keeps Krebs in the lineup. But Danforth's presence creates some healthy competition at the bottom of the lineup. Where Quinn fits in this lineup has been a lingering question all summer. The Sabres signed him to a two-year extension worth more than $3 million per year, so they have some faith in him. I put him on the third line with Ryan McLeod and Doan, but he needs to be a lot better defensively to handle the matchups McLeod was getting. Ideally, the Sabres might want a line that has Zucker playing with McLeod and either Doan or Jordan Greenway. But to do that, Ruff would need to trust Quinn in a top-six role. After the way he struggled in the first half of last season, that's a risk. The good news is that Quinn still had 39 points last season in what was considered a down year. He is two years removed from the torn Achilles tendon that cost him most of the 2023-24 season and more than a year removed from the broken leg from that same season. His skating suffered last season because of those injuries. If he can regain some of his burst from before the injury, Quinn could give the Sabres some of the scoring they'll need with Peterka gone. (Top photo of Peyton Krebs, Mattias Samuelsson, Alex Tuch and Zach Benson: Hannah Foslien / Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
New York Times
36 minutes ago
- New York Times
The ultimate 2025-26 Penguins fan NHL roadtrip guide: Part 2
Let's get right to it: If you have the itch to see the Penguins play on the road — and I see you in airports and arenas all season long, so I know you do — I'm here to help. Here's the second and final part of my annual rankings of the best cities for Penguins fans to visit. Part 1, which published on Tuesday, is here. Enjoy, and safe travels. • It's a very friendly place. • The food (especially the BBQ) is excellent. • The traffic isn't bad, and you'll find that it's a relaxing place in general. • It's not a terrible drive from Pittsburgh and there are direct flights. • Not a wide variety of hotels, but they're generally cheap there, at least. Advertisement • PNC Arena is pretty mid. • The Penguins haven't won here in eight years (really). • It's not an overly exciting place. Stay at the Crabtree Valley Marriott. The breakfast is outstanding, a great mall is across the street, and you're a 10-minute drive to the arena. I'm actually embarrassed that I have Raleigh ranked this low, simply because I love it. It's not that exciting, but it's a nice city. You get the best of southern charm in Raleigh. If you're looking for a relaxing getaway, go for it. (The Penguins play here twice in March. Maybe Pitt will have a men's basketball game at Duke or North Carolina around this time, which offers the potential of a double dip. Consider this when the ACC hoops schedule is released.) • If you don't like the Saddledome, I don't know if we can be friends. • The Penguins play only two more games in the Saddledome before the new, surely not-as-cool new building opens. • If you like mountains, you'll love Calgary. • Downtown Calgary is a hybrid of Denver and Pittsburgh, in a good way. • Super friendly place, and the steak and bacon here are top notch. • It's quite a lengthy trip. • The weather here in January, when the Penguins visit, can be quite dicey. Rent a car and make the quick drive to Banff. Probably the most beautiful place I've ever been. (Or, if you aren't the scenic type, join me on a three-hour drive to Medicine Hat the night before the Penguins-Flames game to watch Benjamin Kindel play. This way, you can say you've seen him play before he was big-time, and you can say you've been to Medicine Hat.) Calgary is so cool. If you like Denver, you'll like Calgary. It's the superior Alberta city. • The artist formerly known as Staples Center is a very nice building. • You're fairly close to Manhattan Beach, which is a great spot for dining, fishing and vibing (did I use 'vibing' right?). • LAX is hell on earth, but at least we have cheap, direct flights there from Pittsburgh. • I can't emphasize enough how nice the weather always is in Southern California. Advertisement • While L.A. is surrounded by many beautiful beaches and places to visit, the downtown area is awful. • This trip won't give you that nostalgic, hockey-loving feeling that some places will. • Cross-contamination alert: Thursday Night Football rears its ugly head as Steelers-Bengals will still be in the third quarter when the Penguins and Kings drop the puck. If you're doing the California swing, stay in Orange County close to the Ducks arena for the entire trip. Just rent a car and drive to L.A. for the second game of the trip, when the Penguins play the Kings. Traffic in L.A. is terrible but not quite as bad in the years following Covid, and you'd rather stay in Orange County. If you're doing the Kings game, you're probably seeing the Ducks play the Penguins two nights earlier in Anaheim. Both are fun trips worth doing. But, as you'll read below, I think you'll prefer the Anaheim portion of this trip. • Manhattan, you may have heard, offers a fair amount of restaurants and things to do. • Being there for Mike Sullivan's Rangers debut — and Dan Muse's Penguins debut, we should mention — would be something. • Madison Square Garden truly lives up to its reputation. • Because the Penguins are there in October, it should be noted that fall in New York is glorious. • From a transportation perspective, getting to New York is an unimaginable pain on most occasions. • It'll cost you. If you're looking to save some cash, stay in Newark (I know, I know, but the airport Marriott is nice and located right next to a train to the city) and just spend all day in Manhattan. You'll save a few hundred in hotels, and Pittsburgh has direct flights to and from Newark. While I'm not a huge NYC person, I know many people are. There is truly nowhere else like it. And if you haven't experienced MSG, what are you waiting for? It's worth it. • Downtown Chicago, I have concluded, is America at its very best. • Probably America's best food city. • Plentiful and inexpensive direct flights there from Pittsburgh. • As big cities go, the hotels are very cheap (and very nice). • As big cities go, the people are so friendly. • The area around the United Center isn't the best. • This probably won't be a Stanley Cup Final preview. Advertisement So, the Penguins play here on Dec. 28. Maybe you're off from work that week. If so, flying on the morning of the 28th to Chicago and giving yourself a long weekend for New Year's Eve in one of America's greatest cities isn't the worst idea. (Bonus tip: Find a good Steelers bar — there are a few — and watch Steelers-Browns early in the afternoon before making your way over to the United Center. Now that's a day.) I personally like Chicago for baseball more than hockey, primarily because the weather in June is a little nicer than December and Wrigley Field is a place you need to experience. That said, you should do this trip if you're off that week and feeling it. It's fun. • American Airlines stinks, but American Airlines Arena is really nice. • Downtown Dallas is great. • The JFK Museum is within walking distance of the arena and is an amazing place. • One of the finer steakhouse cities I've encountered. • Hotels are plentiful and cheap. • Direct flights are easy to find. • Not what I would call a great hockey town. • The Penguins play here on the same day as a Steelers-Ravens game, another cross-contamination concern. I can't speak highly enough of the JFK Museum. If you're lucky, Penguins communications czar Tom McMillan will be giving private tours. I like Dallas a lot. It's easily my favorite city in Texas. It might not be worth making this trip without an additional reason to go to Dallas that weekend. Then again, it might be. You'll like it. • It's a simple, five-hour drive from Pittsburgh, or you can take a direct flight. • The building isn't young but has held up quite nicely. • It's one of the world's greatest cities, filled with culture and a diverse range of activities that is hard to articulate. • The Hockey Hall of Fame is a must-see destination for any hockey fan. Advertisement • Ticket prices in Toronto are notoriously absurd. • Toronto traffic is worse than Los Angeles traffic, in my opinion. So, check this out. If you're looking to save money before the holidays — most of us are — but still want to treat yourself, I have a plan for you. The Penguins play in Toronto on Dec. 23, which is a Tuesday, at 4 p.m. The league scheduled this game at 4 so players can have extra time off over the holidays. Because of this … it would be a long, long day … but if you want to remove all hotel costs and plane costs, you could pull off a day trip. Leave Pittsburgh at 9 a.m., get there by 2 p.m., visit the HHOF for an hour, go to the game, get out of town by 7 p.m., and you're home at midnight. It's worth it. It's Toronto, which means it's a little overwhelming. But it's always worth it. • The Swedish people are very polite and likable. • Stockholm is beautiful, walkable and truly worth seeing. • The air and water quality are noticeably better than what we get in Pittsburgh. • The breakfast food in Sweden is top-notch. (The rest of the food is pretty blah but not awful.) • Old Town, located on the edge of downtown Stockholm, is a great blend of history, restaurants and shopping. • Everyone speaks English, and transportation is very simple and comfortable. • Those are a long couple of flights. • There will only be a few hours of daylight when the Penguins play here in November. Go to the ABBA Museum and thank me later. In fact, there are a number of magnificent museums all located within walking distance from one another. You can very easily spend a few days here and never be bored. The Penguins and Predators play two games in Stockholm in November. Because I was just in Stockholm for Worlds in May, I figured I'd add this city to the list. Truthfully, I can't recommend this trip enough. Rent a car for a day, drive north and enjoy a northern lights show. See some hockey along the way. Stockholm is a breathtaking city. I absolutely loved it and suspect most of you would, too. You may even meet friends there. I met Penguins fans Alvin and Ellen there, and now we are pals. Advertisement • If you like to drink, this is your trip. • If you like live music, this is your trip. • If you like country music in particular, this is your trip. • Lots of direct flights on Southwest to Nashville from Pittsburgh, and they're usually cheap. • It's a surprisingly good hockey town, and reminding Preds fans of the Patric Hornqvist trade will be fun for the whole family. • If an entire downtown full of people binge drinking annoys you … well, think twice about this trip. • The price of those downtown hotels will get you every time. Stay at a hotel near the Grand Ole Opry and Uber into downtown. You'll save a ton of money and maybe even check out a concert at the famous venue, if that's your thing. Also, while downtown, you have to visit the Johnny Cash Museum. It never disappoints. Nashville has dropped a smidge in my ratings, though it remains a great destination for a hockey trip. I'm not a big drinker so it can get a little excessive at times. That said, it's great fun and I recommend it. (But not until next season, as the Penguins don't play in Nashville until the 2026-27 campaign.) • Orange County > Los Angeles by a wide margin. • Disneyland is about two miles away — literally. • Beautiful beaches are nearby. • It's very easy to get tickets at Honda Center. • Good, affordable hotel scene. • I like Honda Center, but it's starting to show its age. • Not exactly a great hockey atmosphere; it's pretty terrible, in fact. Avoid LAX at all costs. It's a horrible place. I strongly recommend flying to John Wayne Airport in Orange County. If you just want a couple of relaxing days at the beach, or Disneyland, and in the California sun, this is a great spot. Catching a hockey game is a nice bonus. Strongly recommended trip. Advertisement • You get to see the champs, and they're worth seeing. • You're a mere 30-minute drive from the ocean while watching an NHL game. Not bad. • The area around the Panthers' arena is great, with a beautiful mall and lots of good places to eat. • Tons of Pittsburghers will be joining you. • There are many affordable, direct flights to Fort Lauderdale. • The Penguins play here in October, which means it will feel like a swamp. • Driving on South Florida highways is legitimately frightening. Stay at the beach. It's a bit more expensive, but don't taunt yourself by staying inland, even if that would save you some cash. Go big or go home. Or something like that. You save a lot of money on tickets and on your flight, so you can splurge a bit on the hotel. You can't go wrong with this trip. Personally, I like the Gulf Coast a bit more. It's a little more laid-back and more of a Midwest vibe, which is more my speed. South Florida is intense, but it's also very entertaining, and you'll enjoy this trip quite a bit. • Magnificent beauty at the footstep of the Rocky Mountains. • Downtown Denver is a treat. • You know Sidney Crosby will be fired up to play against Nate MacKinnon. • Lots of direct flights, lots of nice hotels. • You'll be joined by about 7,000 Penguins fans. • The airport is about seven counties from downtown. • The weather is usually nice … usually. Rent a car. That Uber to downtown is expensive and — more to the point — if you're that close to the mountains, you're doing yourself a disservice if you don't take a drive and enjoy them. I have to say, I don't think I've ever met anyone who dislikes Denver. Everyone is friendly. Lots of Pittsburghers live there. It's a beautiful place and a good hockey town. So long as the high altitude doesn't bother you, you'll love it. Advertisement • Downtown Tampa has rapidly improved over the years and is a very nice place to visit. • Lovely beaches are nearby. • The weather during the winter really can't be beaten. • As southern markets go, this is a great hockey town. • Hattricks Tavern is a great hockey bar. • Bern's Steak House is legendary; the best restaurant I've ever experienced. • Inexpensive, direct flights. • Hotels here are wildly expensive. • Florida isn't for everyone. Get to games super early. The traffic in Tampa is much worse than you'd think. Plus, the area around Amalie Arena is great fun before puck drop. One of my favorite stops. You'll be in a good mood the whole time you're here. Fun hockey town, beautiful weather, and there's so much to see and do. Also, I'll note that the Penguins play here in April on my birthday. Bern's would be a thoughtful birthday gift. Just saying. • It's Vegas. If you know, you know. • You won't get bored, nor will you go hungry. • T-Mobile Arena is one of the NHL's best venues. • Vegas has become a true hockey town in short order. • Sure, we have casinos in Pittsburgh now, but gambling in Vegas just feels different — and better. • The weather in March will likely be nice and, during the hockey season, it's pretty much always nice in Vegas. • Only one, but it's a big one. The cost of being in Vegas has become outrageous. Since Covid, the price gouging at casinos — namely the cost of hotel rooms, the outrageous resort fees, and the price of food (the days of $5 prime rib are long gone) — has taken something away from this trip, or any visit to Vegas for that matter. I'm a Vegas guy. I'll always love it there. But I have to call it like I see it. I'm the least cheap person you'll ever meet, but don't pay $8 for a bottle of water in the casinos. Find a drug store on the Strip and stock up there. Advertisement It's a must-do if you've never been to America's playground. You'll enjoy it. I don't normally harp about money so much, but I'm telling you, things have really changed in Vegas. (If you're abundantly wealthy, disregard, and throw me a few chips in March.) • Geographically speaking, easily the most beautiful city in the NHL. • If you like the outdoors, there are hiking trails galore (so I hear). • A perfectly diverse city in every imaginable way. • If you like to experiment with different types of cuisine, this is your city. • High-level nightlife. • Hotel prices are not so good; in general, this is a very expensive place. • It requires a long day of flying to get there. Try to book a flight that arrives in Vancouver around sunset. Best view in the league. Breathtaking. It's very expensive, it takes a long time to get there and it might rain once you arrive. No matter. This is the crown jewel of NHL cities in many ways. The natural beauty, diverse eateries and overall experiences will blow you away. • Greatest atmosphere in hockey. • The Bell Center remains a spectacular venue. • Gibbys steakhouse is a must-visit. • A walk around Old Montreal is as good as it gets. • The nightlife is legendary. • None that I've ever encountered. Stay at the Marriott Chateau Champlain. Excellent hotel located right beside the Bell Center. It's also a quick walk to the hotspots in downtown Montreal. Montreal's love for Crosby will warm your heart. Also, the Penguins play here only once this season, but it's on the final Saturday before Christmas. Perfect. Montreal is beautiful during the holiday season. There is a vibe in that city that I've never been able to articulate, but it's the best. The nightlife, the food, the hockey atmosphere and the style are unlike anywhere else on the NHL circuit. (Top photo of Sidney Crosby in Vancouver: Derek Cain / Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
