10 Biggest Takeaways from the 2014 NHL Preseason

Though NHL preseason action doesn't affect regular-season standings, there are some key takeaways that could have an impact upon team and player performance when the puck drops for the regular season October 8.

The absence of a key player sidelined by a preseason injury will certainly affect a club's regular-season roster. Several teams have depth issues at center. Some veteran players and promising prospects are finding it tough to secure roster spots.

Issues such as contract holdouts, salary cap overages, the debate over hockey analytics and the future of a well-respected head coach have at times overshadowed other preseason storylines.

As the regular season draws near, here's a look at the biggest takeaways from this year's NHL preseason. 

Unless otherwise indicated, all player and team news and stats via NHL.com.

10. The Debate over Advanced Stats Continues

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In recent years there's been an increase of interest in advanced stats, or hockey analytics. Advanced stats are several systems (Corsi, Fenwick and PDO) that track such things as shot attempts, unblocked shot attempts, shooting and save percentage.

As Yahoo Sports' Nicholas J. Cotsonika observed, over the summer the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers hired several analytics gurus to track their stats this season. The most notable is Kyle Dubas, the Leafs' new assistant general manager (pictured above). 

Debate over the validity of advanced stats in the NHL community carried on throughout the preseason. The Denver Post's Mark Kiszla reports Colorado Avalanche GM Joe Sakic and head coach Patrick Roy have little use for analytics to tell them their club's weaknesses. 

Another skeptic is Buffalo Sabres coach Ted Nolan, who told The Buffalo News' Mike Harrington, “You can never underestimate the human aspect of the game.” LAKingsInsider.com's Jon Rosen reports defenseman Drew Doughty was blunt, calling advanced stats like Corsi “a bunch of crap”.

This debate won't be fading anytime soon. If anything, there will be considerable scrutiny upon teams using advanced stats to evaluate performance this season. If these clubs improve, it'll be considered further validation for the “fancy stats” crowd. If not, it'll provide further ammunition for critics of analytics.

9. Maple Leafs' Media Circus in High Gear This Year

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are always the subject of intense media scrutiny. It's the price they pay for playing in Canada's biggest hockey market and not winning a Stanley Cup since The Beatles were in their heyday. After falling out of playoff contention late last season, the Leafs began training camp under a harsher-than-usual media spotlight.

The scrutiny facing the Leafs in preseason was best summed up by this front page of the Toronto Sun's sports section. It depicts head coach Randy Carlyle, scoring star Phil Kessel and team captain Dion Phaneuf with the caption, “The Circus is back in town!”

It began when the Toronto Star's Dave Feschuk reported Kessel apparently clashed with assistant coach Steve Spott this summer over breakout strategy.  David Shoalts of The Globe And Mail observed Carlyle was both “under the microscope” and “in the crosshairs” this season. Adding insult to injury, ESPN The Magazine ranked the Leafs dead last in its ultimate standings of all North America's professional sports franchises.

The media hype only adds to the pressure facing the Leafs, especially as preseason injuries mount. David Booth (fractured foot) will miss four weeks. David Clarkson (fractured orbital bone) and Cody Franson (badly bruised knee) could miss the season opener against the Montreal Canadiens.

8. Mike Babcock's Future Is Uncertain

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Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock is entering the final season of his contract. The Detroit Free Press' Helene St. James reports Wings general manager Ken Holland expressed doubt an extension for Babcock will be in place before the season opens.

Though it's entirely possible the Wings could re-sign Babcock between now and next summer, the fate of one of hockey's most-respected coaches is giving rise to speculation over his future.

The Toronto Sun's Steve Simmons suggests if Babcock truly wanted to remain with the Red Wings he would've re-signed by now. Simmons went on to speculate about possible suitors for Babcock if he becomes a free agent next summer, suggesting Toronto, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and San Jose could come calling.

There's no doubt Babcock would command top dollar on the open market. The Red Wings' performance this season will only provide fodder for further conjecture, especially if they struggle to reach the playoffs. If he's still unsigned by season's end, the quiet whispers over his future could build to fever pitch by next summer.

7. Avalanche's Poor Preseason Record Raises Eyebrows

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Preseason standings usually don't foreshadow how well or poorly a team will do during the regular season. Lineups are stocked with prospects or training camp invitees trying to earn roster spots, while players assured of roster spots are still rounding back into playing shape.

Still, it was surprising the Colorado Avalanche, who finished among the top clubs in the Western Conference last season, went winless through seven preseason games (0-5-2).

In the wake of a 2-1 shootout loss to the Los Angeles Kings, The Denver Post's Mike Chambers reports Avs defenseman Erik Johnson believes it's simply a matter of solidifying team chemistry and improving the special teams play, while captain Gabriel Landeskog feels they must get their systems where they need to be.

Some critics (including Yahoo Sports' Ryan Lambert and SB Nation's Evan Sporer) believe the Avalanche could be in trouble this season if they don't improve their puck possession and defensive play. It'll be interesting to see if the preseason numbers are much ado about nothing, or an early indicator of trouble to come.

6. Contract Disputes Can Still Happen

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In the NHL's salary cap world, contract disputes occur less frequently than they once did. This season, however, several notable young players garnered headlines as their contract talks dragged through the preseason.

Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug and right wing Reilly Smith, St. Louis Blues winger Jaden Schwartz, and Dallas Stars center Cody Eakin and defenseman Brenden Dillon missed most of the preseason before finally inking new deals with their respective teams. 

Columbus Blue Jackets center Ryan Johansen remains the sole exception. Negotiations between Blue Jackets management and Johansen's agent grew contentious before training camp began. NHL.com's Dan Rosen reports talks only recently resumed following a week of silence. It's anyone's guess right now if he'll be re-signed before the start of the season. 

**UPDATE** On October 6, the Blue Jackets announced the re-signing of Johansen to a three-year, $12 million contract. 

5. The First Cuts Are the Deepest

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Several NHL prospects found their big-league dreams put on hold as they were demoted to the minors or returned to their junior teams. Among the notables were Arizona Coyotes winger Max Domi, Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Haydn Fleury, Philadelphia Flyers blueliner Samuel Morin and Vancouver Canucks forward Hunter Shinkaruk. 

Several veteran players vying for roster spots via professional tryouts now face the prospect that their NHL playing careers are over. The New Jersey Devils released Tomas Kaberle, Ruslan Fedotenko and Mike Komisarek. Veteran forward Ville Leino failed to make the cut with the Boston Bruins, while the St. Louis Blues released defenseman Ryan Whitney. 

The Calgary Flames parted ways with rugged blueliner Sheldon Brookbank, the Toronto Maple Leafs with Henrik Tallinder and the Pittsburgh Penguins with Dan Carcillo, though he's since landed with the Chicago Blackhawks. 

Those still battling for jobs includes Ilya Bryzgalov (Minnesota Wild), Scott Gomez and Jordin Tootoo (New Jersey Devils), Simon Gagne (Boston Bruins) and Raphael Diaz (Calgary Flames).

4. Several Prospects Poised for NHL Debuts

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For all the promising youngsters who failed to earn NHL roster spots during preseason, a handful appear on the verge of doing so.

The Edmonton Sun's Terry Jones feels Oilers 2014 first-round pick (third overall) Leon Draisaitl may have cemented a spot as the club's second-line center. The Calgary Herald's George Johnson believes young Flames forwards Johnny Gaudreau and Sam Bennett have earned roster spots. The New York Post's Zach Braziller reports 19-year-old Rangers left wing Anthony Duclair has been dazzling throughout preseason.

According to Pittsburgh Tribuine-Review's Josh Yohe, Penguins coach Mike Johnston feels winger Kasperi Kapanen, their 2014 first-round pick, could make the opening-night lineup. Though Tampa Bay Lightning winger Jonathan Drouin is sidelined by a broken thumb, NHL.com's Dan Rosen reports Drouin could debut on their third line.

Other notable prospects who could also make the cut include Florida Panthers defenseman (and 2014 first-overall pick) Aaron Ekblad, Buffalo Sabres center Sam Reinhart, New York Islanders defenseman Griffin Reinhart, Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander, Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak and Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers.

3. Injuries Taking an Early Toll

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As per ESPN.com, a number of NHL players were hobbled by various injuries during the opening week of preseason.  Among them:

• Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal will miss three to four months with a fractured right fibula.
• Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Nathan Horton is out indefinitely with a degenerative back injury, while promising forward Boone Jenner will miss five weeks with a broken right hand.
• Dallas Stars defenseman Sergei Gonchar will miss three to five weeks to an ankle injury.
• Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk is sidelined with a separated right shoulder.
• New York Rangers center Derek Stepan will spend four to six weeks on the shelf with a nondisplaced fractured fibula.
• Toronto Maple Leafs forward David Clarkson suffered a fractured orbital bone, winger David Booth will miss four weeks to a broken foot, while Cody Franson is day-to-day with a bruised kneecap.
• Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitri Orlov could miss the start of the season with a broken wrist.

The absence of these players, particularly those sidelined for lengthy periods, could have significant early impact this season for their respective clubs.

2. Centers of Attention

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Injuries to key centers or lack of depth at that position leave several NHL teams facing a doughnut scenario in preseason, as they have a big hole in the middle.

After Edmonton Oilers' management failed to find an experienced center in the offseason, the Edmonton Sun's Terry Jones reports the Oilers are experimenting with 2014 first-round pick Leon Draisaitl as their second-line center.

The New York Daily News' Pat Leonard reports the Rangers could consider using winger Martin St. Louis to center their first line while Derek Stepan remains sidelined with a broken leg. 

With Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal also out with a broken leg, the Raleigh News & Observer's Chip Alexander reports they are trying prospect Victor Rask as their second-line pivot.

The Washington Capitals are still seeking someone to center their second line. Alex Prewitt of The Washington Post reports they're auditioning rookie Evgeny Kuznetsov and veterans Marcus Johansson and Brooks Laich at that position.

It will be worthwhile tracking how well these teams address their problems at center over the course of the season. If their problems persist, they could be forced into the trade market for help.

1. Blackhawks and Bruins Must Shed Salary

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Entering preseason, the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks each faced a salary cap crunch. Both clubs are over the salary cap ceiling and must become cap compliant before the start of the season.

The Blackhawks must dump around $2.2 million. ESPN.com's Scott Powers reports defensemen Johnny Oduya and Nick Leddy are rumored to be trade candidates, though both claim they're not affected by the speculation.

After re-signing Torey Krug and Reilly Smith, the Boston Herald's Stephen Harris reports the Bruins will only have about $425,000 in cap space. With the Bruins carrying a surplus of defensemen, one of them could be moved to free up additional salary.

Which defensemen the Blackhawks and Bruins trade could affect their respective performances this season. Oduya forms a solid defense pairing with Niklas Hjalmarsson, making him difficult to replace. Johnny Boychuk is among the Bruins defensemen rumored to be trade bait, but dealing him to dump salary will leave a gaping hole on the Bruins' blue line.

**UPDATE** Shortly after this was published, the Bruins and Blackhawks shipped Boychuk and Leddy respectively to the New York Islanders for draft picks and prospects.