NHL 2011-12: 50 Things You Need to Know About the NHL

The 2011-12 NHL season is not far away, and very soon training camps will begin.

Hockey is slowly building in popularity since the lockout season of 2004-05, and with a new television deal and an exciting 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs, there is real excitement heading into the season.

Let's look at 50 things you need to know about the upcoming season.

Nicholas Goss is a Boston Bruins featured columnist for Bleacher Report, and was the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston. Follow him on Twitter for Bruins & NHL news and analysis.

The Original Six Teams Are Competitive

The Toronto Maple Leafs were the only Original Six team not to make the playoffs last season, and there is a great chance they could make the postseason in 2012.

The Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins all made the playoffs, with the Bruins capturing their first Stanley Cup title in 39 years in 2011.

Hockey Has the Most Exciting Playoffs

The Stanley Cup playoffs are unbelievably exciting, and there were a record 49 first-round games last season and many Games 7s throughout the postseason.

Arenas were full and the drama had fans on the edge of their seat.

The Bruins Have a Good Chance to Repeat as Champions

The last team to repeat as Stanley Cup champions was the Detroit Red Wings in 1998.

The Boston Bruins enter this season as the defending champs, and did not lose any major pieces from their title roster.

The squad is young and ready to improve on their 2011 regular season.

Overtime Playoff Hockey Is the Best in Sports

Sudden-death playoff hockey is the most exciting overtime action in sports, and 19 of the first 59 playoff games went into overtime last season, including Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Bruins and Canucks.

The Rangers Will Own MSG

The New York Rangers signed the free-agent prize of the summer, forward Brad Richards, to improve their offense and help Marian Gaborik.

The Rangers will likely be the only team playing in Madison Square Garden this winter with the Knicks probably not playing due to the NBA lockout.

The Rangers will be good and fun to watch, and their popularity will increase this season.

The Shootout Is Exciting, Even If Players and Coaches Don’t Like It

The shootout is one of the most exciting things in sports, as it prevents hockey games from ending in ties with players going one-on-one with the opposing team’s goalie after a scoreless overtime.

A lot of players don’t like the shootout and think continuous overtime should determine the winner, but the excitement of the shootout is very high.

Winnipeg Will Bring New Energy to the Sport

The Winnipeg Jets are once again an NHL franchise, and after years of wanting another pro team, the city of Winnipeg will give its full support to the Jets this season.

Having another team in Canada will only improve the sport in the long run.

Nicklas Lidstrom Can Tie Bobby Orr for Most Norris Trophies

Detroit Red Wings captain and defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom added a seventh Norris Trophy win to his Hall of Fame resume last season. In 2012, he can tie Bruins legend Bobby Orr with an eighth Norris win.

Patrick Kane and Chicago Will Be Better in 2012

Patrick Kane did not have a spectacular season last year, and the Chicago Blackhawks struggled to an eighth-place finish in the Western Conference despite being the defending Stanley Cup champs.

The Blackhawks and Kane will be much better this season.

The NHL and NBC/Versus Signed a New 10-Year Deal

The NHL signed a new 10-year television deal with NBC/Versus to broadcast national TV games, including the Stanley Cup Finals.

NBC’s great coverage will continue, but many hockey fans wish ESPN had made a stronger bid to own the TV rights to the NHL.

Sidney Crosby’s Absence Could Hurt the Sport

Sidney Crosby is still suffering from concussion symptoms following multiple concussions he suffered back in January.

Crosby is the face of the sport, and without him, the game could suffer. He hopefully will be back by December.

The NHL Will Benefit from the NBA Lockout

NHL teams that play in cities with NBA teams will benefit from basketball’s current lockout.

Fans will have no choice but to go to NHL games in the winter if they want to see a sporting event, and this will cause people to be more aware of the sport and its players.

Steven Stamkos Proved There Is Loyalty in Sports

Steven Stamkos did not leave the Tampa Bay Lightning this summer when he was a restricted free agent. He signed a five-year deal to stay in Florida, and showed there is loyalty in sports by not demanding a move to a bigger hockey market.

To put it simply, he did what NBA star LeBron James should have done last summer.

Player Safety Will Be a Hot Topic All Season

The NHL is doing its best to eliminate injuries in all areas of the game, and concussions are at the forefront.

Concussions suffered by prominent players like Sidney Crosby and Marc Savard have endangered their careers, and the league must do their best to protect their stars.

San Jose Has Its Best Chance at a Stanley Cup This Season

The San Jose Sharks will have their best chance at winning the team’s first ever Stanley Cup this season.

They traded poor playoff performer Dany Heatley this summer and also acquired skilled defenseman Brent Burns from the Minnesota Wild.

This will be the year the Sharks and captain Joe Thornton get to the Cup Finals.

The NHL CBA Expires Next Summer

The NHL could be headed to a lockout next summer if a new CBA isn’t reached. The league has slowly built its popularity up since the 2004-05 season was completely lost due to a lockout.

The league’s owners will do their best to avoid that situation this year.

The Phoenix Coyotes Could Be the Next Team Relocated

The Phoenix Coyotes are not doing well in Arizona and could be the next team to be relocated.

The Coyotes have had big ownership struggles the past few seasons, and have had some financial trouble, too.

It’s probably best for the sport if they move to a stronger hockey market like Quebec.

Evgeni Malkin Will Need to Lead the Penguins Without Sidney Crosby

The Pittsburgh Penguins will get one of their superstars who was injured last season back this winter, and that is Evgeni Malkin, who has recovered well from ACL and MCL tears suffered last season.

Malkin must carry the load offensively for the Penguins and be a 100-point player again while Sidney Crosby is eased back from concussion symptoms.

Shea Weber Could Be Traded from Nashville

Shea Weber and the Nashville Predators did not have a good summer, as both sides were unable to reach a contract extension.

Weber likely feels unwanted by the Predators after they valued him so low at his arbitration hearing, and if things don't go well this season, Nashville will have to trade him or risk losing him in free agency.

The Bruins Will Continue Their Humorous Signs in the Playoffs

“Never ever date a Flyers fan, even if she shaves her mustache.”

The Bruins put these signs and others outside the TD Garden during the playoffs the last two years, and I can’t wait to see what the marketing team comes up with this year.

The Toronto Maple Leafs Could End Their Playoff Drought

The Toronto Maple Leafs have gone a long time without making the NHL playoffs, but that could change this season as they have built a nice roster of young talent.

Players like defenseman Luke Schenn and winger Phil Kessel will be counted on to bring playoff excitement back to one of hockey’s most storied franchises.

The Bruins and Canadiens Rivalry Is Back to Its Old Form

The Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens have the best rivalry in the NHL, and over the last three seasons, they’ve heightened their hatred towards each other to the level it was during the 1970s.

The two teams have met in the playoffs three times the past four seasons, with two of those series going to seven games.

It’s great for hockey to have the Bruins-Habs rivalry firing on all cylinders.

The New York Islanders Could Face Relocation

The New York Islanders are having trouble convincing their fans and the people of Nassau County to help them build a new arena.

The Islanders desperately need a new arena, and if they cannot get one, they may be forced to relocate to New York City, or another town entirely.

Bruce Boudreau Could Be Fired If Capitals Fail in Playoffs

The Washington capitals have not gotten to the Stanley Cup Finals since Alexander Ovechkin joined the team, and if they fail again in the 2012 playoffs, coach Bruce Boudreau could be fired.

Boudreau was lucky to escape last year’s terrible collapse in the first round against the eighth-seeded Montreal Canadiens, but he will not survive another postseason meltdown.

Steve Yzerman Is Building a Winner in Tampa Bay

Steve Yzerman is creating a Stanley Cup-contending team with the Tampa Bay Lightning as the club’s general manager, and is just adding to his Hall of Fame legacy.

Yzerman, who was one of the game’s greatest players during his career with the Detroit Red Wings, has built a great roster in Tampa with the likes of Steven Stamkos, Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis

The Lightning came within one game of the Cup Finals last season, and could easily get back to the Finals for the first time since 2004 this year.

Columbus Will Be a Surprise Team in the West

The Columbus Blue Jackets are looking to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2009, as they made two big additions this summer.

They acquired forward Jeff Carter in a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers prior to the draft, and signed defenseman James Wisniewski as an unrestricted free agent.

These two players, along with superstar power forward Rick Nash, will make the Blue Jackets a playoff contender again.

The Detroit Red Wings May Be Playing Their Last Season in the West

The Detroit Red Wings may move to the Eastern Conference next season due to the Winnipeg Jets relocation from Atlanta this year.

Winnipeg is farther west than Detroit, but the Jets will remain in the East for this season.

Detroit may join the East next season as Winnipeg will likely move to the West, so Red Wings fans should take in all the excitement of the Red Wings’ rivalries while they can.

This Could Be a Make or Break Season in St. Louis

The St. Louis Blues must return to the playoffs or the team may make some drastic changes, including moving players and/or coaches.

The expectations are high for the Blues, who want to give their loyal and passionate fanbase a winning product.

Alain Vigneault Will Be on the Hot Seat in Vancouver

Alain Vigneault has coached some very talented teams with the Vancouver Canucks the last few years, but he has only made one Stanley Cup Final.

Last year’s collapse and embarrassment against the Bruins in the Finals will put Vigneault on the hot seat in Vancouver, because his team is not young and they lost key parts in the offseason due to free agency.

Claude Julien Will Remain an Unpopular Man in Boston

Claude Julien might have been the most often criticized Stanley Cup-winning coach of all time last year, and before the Bruins won his job was in real trouble.

Julien’s defense first system is still not popular and there are better candidates for the job. Despite winning the Cup last season, don’t expect Julien to get a free pass this season from the fans or media.

Carey Price Will Make a Ton of Money After This Season

When the Montreal Canadiens decided to trade breakout goaltender Jaroslav Halak to the St. Louis Blues after their impressive run to the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals, they were basically telling Carey Price that he’s the future and he’s going to get a massive contract.

Price didn’t disappoint last season as he led the Canadiens to 38 wins with little help from his backups.

Even with just a decent season this year, Price will get paid big time from Montreal.

PK Subban Is the Next Great Defenseman in the NHL

Montreal Canadiens defenseman PK Subban is one of the best young defenseman in the NHL, and is very skilled at both ends of the ice.

The smooth skating Subban can score goals and shut down opposing team’s best scorers.

For all of his quality, he does dive and flop more than most of the NHL.

Drew Doughty Will Be Under Big Pressure to Perform in L.A.

Drew Doughty has yet to sign a new contract with the Los Angeles Kings and is still a restricted free agent, but when he does sign, he will be under enormous pressure to perform at a high level.

After a poor season compared to 2010, Doughty did not impress the Kings fans last season and did not develop the way they or the team anticipated.

Doughty will get paid, but will have added pressure to live up to the contract.

Jonathan Toews Will Become a Hart Trophy Candidate

Jonathan Toews is the leader of the Chicago Blackhawks and is one of the best players in the NHL.

He has the ability to score 40 goals and dish out 40 assists this season, and with an improved roster he will take the Blackhawks back to the West Finals.

Teams Will Take 3-0 Leads More Seriously in the Playoffs

Three times in the past two NHL playoffs has a team with a 3-0 series lead lost the next three games to force a deciding Game 7.

The Bruins collapsed in the 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Philadelphia Flyers by blowing a 3-0 lead and losing the series, the San Jose Sharks nearly collapsed last season against the Detroit Red Wings with a 3-0 series lead and the Vancouver Canucks lost a 3-0 lead to the Chicago Blackhawks last season but won in Game 7 to avoid a historic collapse.

The Anaheim Ducks Will Be a Playoff Team

Led by offensive stars Ryan Getzlaf, Bobby Ryan and Hart Trophy winner Corey Perry, the Anaheim Ducks will be a playoff team in 2011-12.

The Ducks will also be boosted by the return of stud goalie Jonas Hiller back from injury.

Taylor Hall Will Be a Star This Season

Last year’s No. 1 overall pick Taylor Hall had a good rookie season for the Edmonton Oilers, and he will become a star this season.

Hall had 22 goals and 20 assists last season for Edmonton.

Eric Staal Will Become a Top 5 NHL Player

Eric Staal is an NHL superstar for the Carolina Hurricanes, but since he plays in the non-traditional hockey market of North Carolina, his talents do not get the attention they deserve.

Staal will lead the Hurricanes back to the playoffs this season and will be a Hart Trophy candidate.

Marc Savard Will Most Likely Not Play Again for Boston

Marc Savard will not be ready for the Bruins season opener against the Philadelphia Flyers in October, and he may never play again because of concussion symptoms.

Savard’s multiple concussions have limited his quality of life and have severely damaged his chances of playing in the NHL again.

Matt Cooke Will Be a Changed Man in 2012

Matt Cooke has injured players, damaged their careers and has served multiple league suspensions, but events in his personal life will change him this season.

In addition to off-ice events, the fact that he faces a massive suspension and public backlash if he really hurts another player again will make him a more careful player this season.

Versus Will Continue to Gain More Popularity

Versus is one of the two channels the NHL broadcasts on nationally in the United States, but the channel is still unknown to many people.

Versus is in more homes now than ever, and the growth of the network will help the game of hockey grow as well.

The Winter Classic Will Be the Best (Post) New Year’s Day Event

The NHL’s Winter Classic event has become a hockey tradition, and one of the most exciting events of a sports-packed New Year’s.

The event has become more enjoyable than the college football bowl games, and it will be played at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia this year on January 2 with the Flyers and New York Rangers battling each other in the cold.

The Stanley Cup Is the Best Trophy in Sports

The Stanley Cup is the best trophy in sports, and the joy players express when they finally win it is unlike any emotion in sports.

Every June, hockey players fulfill their childhood fantasies and lift Lord Stanley’s Cup as champions of the NHL.

The Trapezoid May Be Gone Soon

There is a possibility that the trapezoid to the right and left of goaltenders could be eliminated in the near future.

This would allow goaltenders who are good at playing the puck, like New Jersey Devils star Martin Brodeur, the freedom to roam around behind the goal line.

The Florida Panthers Have Once Again Failed to Build a Playoff Team

The Florida Panthers are annually one of the worst teams in professional sports, and they have done little to improve their team this season.

They overpaid for free agent Scottie Upshall and did not make any big veteran signings. They just spent to get to the salary cap floor.

The Panthers are the perfect example of why the NHL shouldn’t have teams in the South.

Henrik Lundqvist Will Be Recognized as a Vezina Candidate

New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist is arguably the best goaltender in the NHL, and has carried the Rangers to the playoffs multiple times.

He is not a perennial candidate for the Vezina Trophy, which is a joke, but in 2011-12, he will be a Vezina and Hart Trophy candidate with an improved team around him that will score more goals.

Don’t Expect Tim Thomas to Regress Much

Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas had an amazing season last year, as he won the Vezina Trophy, the Conn Smythe trophy and set the record for best save percentage in a season.

He also made the most saves in one postseason in NHL history.

Thomas is in his late thirties, but he is fully healthy and hasn’t showed signs of letting age get the better of him.

He has at least two to three more good seasons for Boston left in him.

The NHL Has the Fewest Egos of Any American Sports League

The NHL doesn’t have any LeBron James or Brett Favre-like egos, and the game is better off that way.

Hockey players, for the most part, do not make their displeasure with their team or teammates publicly known as much as football and basketball players, and they are definitely the toughest athletes in sports.

Milan Lucic Is Injury Free and Ready to Become a Star

Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic is one of the best power forwards in the NHL, and played pretty well last postseason despite playing through multiple nagging injuries.

Lucic, 23, scored 30 goals for the Bruins to lead the team. He will have a breakout season in 2012.

Joe Thornton Won Critics Last Year, Is Poised for Deeper Playoff Run in 2012

Joe Thornton led the San Jose Sharks to the Western Conference Finals for the second straight season last year, and played very well throughout the playoffs despite playing through injuries.

Thornton did not get enough help from teammates Joe Pavelski and Dany Heatley, but with a deeper roster and a top defenseman in Brent Burns, the Sharks will make the Cup Finals this season.