It looks as if Cory Schneider is finally backed from injury. A short stint to the American Hockey League and then New Jersey Devils fans will have their starting goalie back. Wait a minute, will he be the starting goalie. Well since he has been gone long time backup Keith Kinkaid has been minding the net, and things have went very well. Let’s just say he has not put up backup type numbers. More like elite starter numbers. Kinkaid has started the season with a .941 save percentage and a 1.61 goals against average. Very good to say the least. The truth is Kinkaid has put up way better than backup numbers his entire career. A .914 save percentage and a 2.66 goals against average is fairly strong numbers for a long time backup. Because of the injury of Schneider, Kinkaid has been handed the starting job, and he has made the most of it. With four more years left on a six million dollar deal Schneider is set, but the problem lies in the fact that Kinkaid is in his final year with a $1.25 million cap hit. He is set to be a UFA on July 1st, and a well deserved payday looms. So what do the Devils do? Let Kinkaid go. Trade him now with his stock high or trade Cory Schneider and get fairly high value. I think it will be difficult to keep both salaries on their roster. It will be interesting. I think the Devils will move Schneider before Kinkaid. The main reason is Schneider has proven to me injury prone.
- One week ago people were screaming about the trouble the Edmonton Oilers were in and that game three of their season was almost a must win….well now we are hearing how great the Oilers are. Funny how much a week changes things.
- With the legalization of marijuana in Canada now I predict some problems. Is there a health benefit for some individuals? YES, but what about the other 80% that will use it. I look at all the problems that abuse of alcohol has caused so many and now we are legalizing another substance to abuse. I am just wondering why we are opening up another avenue. Very interested to see how this alters NHL substance abuse policies and programs.
- Slow start surprises are the Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues, and Vegas Golden Knights. Fast start surprises are the Anaheim Ducks, Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens, and Carolina Hurricanes. Oh by the way the Los Angeles Kings are in BIG!!! Trouble.
- Oh by the way – No William Nylander signing – BIG SURPRISE
Brad Burud the owner/editor of the Inside Edge Hockey News. I am a huge fan of hockey, from youth hockey, to junior hockey, and of course professional hockey. I have played, coached, worked as statistician, and watched hockey all of my life. Hockey is not just a game, it is a lifestyle and family. The game of hockey is great! It can bring you nights of great enjoyment. It also brings nights where you feel like your team will never win. I am proud to be a journalist for the greatest game in the world. I have a degree in Business Administration, Psychology from Minot State University. I also have a Hockey General Manager and Scouting, and Sports Communications/Journalism degree from Sports Management Worldwide. I am also a member of the Sports Executives Association. Most of all I am a fan. Hockey is a huge part of my life and my families life.