Five storylines to watch as NHL gets game on
The NHL enters a new era of hockey that features John Tavares, Steven Stamkos and maybe even Jamie Benn as the new faces of the league.
Sid “The Kid” Crosby is a wily, old veteran at 28, celebrating his 10th season in the league this year.
The future already holds a new and improved overtime and could see the league expand.
Can the Chicago Blackhawks be confirmed as a legitimate dynasty should they manage to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions or will the Cup return to Canada for the first time since 1993?
Here are five storylines to watch as the NHL season begins Wednesday:
OT man down
The five-minute overtime period that follows regular-season games ending in a tie will be played 3-on-3 instead of 4-on-4. Should a team enter overtime on a power play, or gain the man advantage during the overtime period, it would add a player for a 4-on-3 advantage. Two penalties being served at the same time would give a team a 5-on-3 advantage.
Kane troubles
Is Chicago Blackhawks right wing hero Patrick Kane a sinner or a saint? Kane was reportedly accused of sexual assault in early August, but no charges have been filed. Kane fully participated in the Blackhawks’ training camp and will play as the investigation continues.
Babcock’s move
Mike Babcock enters his first season as coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Babcock won 458 games in 10 seasons as coach of the Detroit Red Wings, but made the decision to leave Hockeytown in favor of a reported eight-year contract, valued around $50 million. Babcock made the playoffs every year he was in Detroit and won a Stanley Cup with the Wings in 2008.
McDavid expectations
Edmonton’s Connor McDavid, the first overall pick in this year’s NHL Draft, is the biggest prospect since Sydney Crosby in 2005. Does Edmonton have the key cog to return a struggling franchise to the glory days of when a young Wayne Gretzky helped win four Stanley Cups in five seasons?
Torres suspension
The NHL suspended San Jose Sharks’ Raffi Torres for 41 games for a shoulder-to-head hit on Anaheim Ducks’ Jakob Silfverberg. It’s one of the longest suspensions in NHL history and sets a precedent for how the NHL might handle cases that involve excessive violence going forward.
Dallas Stars schedule
Date, Opponent, Time, TV
Thursday: vs. Penguins, 7:30 p.m., FSSW
Saturday: at Avalanche, 8 p.m., FSSW
Oct. 13: vs. Oilers, 7:30 p.m., FSSW
Oct. 15: at Lightning, 6:30 p.m., FSSW
Oct. 17: at Panthers, 6 p.m., FSSW
Oct. 20: at Flyers, 6:30 p.m., NBCSN
Oct. 22: at Penguins, 6 p.m., FSSW
Oct. 24: vs. Panthers, 7 p.m., FSSW
Oct. 27: vs. Ducks, 7:30 p.m., FSSW
Oct. 29: vs. Canucks, 7:30 p.m., FSSW
Oct. 31: vs. Sharks, 2 p.m., FSSW
Nov. 2: at Maple Leafs, 6:30 p.m., FSSW
Nov. 3: at Bruins, 6 p.m., FSSW+
Nov. 6: at Hurricanes, 6 p.m., FSSW
Nov. 8: at Red Wings, 2 p.m., FSSW
Nov. 10: vs. Maple Leafs, 7:30 p.m., FSSW+
Nov. 12: vs. Jets, 7:30 p.m., FSSW
Nov. 14: vs. Wild, 7 p.m., FSSW+
Nov. 17: at Sabres, 6 p.m., FSSW
Nov. 19: at Capitals, 6 p.m., FSSW
Nov. 21: vs. Sabres, 7 p.m., FSSW
Nov. 24: vs. Senators, 7:30 p.m., FSSW+
Nov. 27: vs. Canucks, 7:30 p.m., FSSW
Nov. 28: at Wild, 7 p.m., FSSW+
Dec. 1: at Flames, 8 p.m., FSSW+
Dec. 3: at Canucks, 9 p.m., FSSW
Dec. 4: at Oilers, 8 p.m., FSSW+
Dec. 8: vs. Hurricanes, 7:30 p.m., FSSW
Dec. 11: vs. Flyers Stars, 7:30 p.m., FSSW
Dec. 12: at Blues, 7 p.m., FSSW+
Dec. 15: vs. Blue Jackets, 7:30 p.m., FSSW
Dec. 17: at Flames, 7:30 p.m., FSSW+
Dec. 19: vs. Canadiens, 6 p.m., FSSW+
Dec. 21: at Wild, 7 p.m., FSSW
Dec. 22: vs. Blackhawks, 7:30 p.m., FSSW+
Dec. 26: at Blues, 7 p.m., FSSW+
Dec. 27: vs. Blues, 5p.m., FSSW
Dec. 29: at Blue Jackets, 6 p.m., FSSW
Dec. 31: vs. Predators, 7:30 p.m., FSSW
Jan. 2: at Devils, 6 p.m., FSSW+
Jan. 3: at Islanders, 4 p.m., FSSW
Jan. 5: at Rangers, 6 p.m., FSSW+
Jan. 7: vs. Jets, 7:30 PM FSSW
Jan. 9: vs. Wild, 7 p.m., FSSW
Jan. 15: at Ducks, 9 p.m., FSSW+
Jan. 16: at Sharks, 9:30 p.m., FSSW
Jan. 19: at Kings, 9:30 p.m., FSSW
Jan. 21: vs. Oilers, 7:30 p.m., FSSW
Jan. 23: vs. Avalanche, 7 p.m., FSSW
Jan. 25: vs. Flames, 7:30 p.m., FSSW
Feb. 2: at Jets, 7 p.m., FSSW
Feb. 4: at Avalanche, 8 p.m., FSSW
Feb. 6: vs. Blackhawks, 7 p.m., FSSW+
Feb. 9: at Wild, 7 p.m., NBCSN
Feb. 11: at Blackhawks, 7:30 p.m., FSSW
Feb. 13: vs. Capitals, 7 p.m., FSSW
Feb. 15: at Predators, 7 p.m., FSSW
Feb. 16: at Blues, 7 p.m., NBCSN
Feb. 18: at Coyotes, 8 p.m., FSSW
Feb. 20: vs. Bruins, 7 p.m., FSSW
Feb. 23: at Jets, 7 p.m., FSSW
Feb. 25: vs. Jets, 7:30 p.m., FSSW
Feb. 27: vs. Rangers, 3 p.m., FSSW
Feb. 29: vs. Red Wings, 7:30 p.m., FSSW
March 1: at Predators, 7 p.m., FSSW+
March 4: vs. Devils, 7:30 p.m., FSSW
March 6: at Senators, 4 p.m., FSSW+
March 8: at Canadiens, 6:30 p.m., FSSW
March 11: vs. Blackhawks, 7:30 p.m., FSSW
March 12: vs. Blues, 8 p.m., FSSW
March 15: vs. Kings, 7:30 p.m., FSSW
March 17: vs. Lightning, 7:30 p.m., FSSW
March 19: vs. Islanders 7 p.m., FSSW
March 22: at Blackhawks, 7:30 p.m., FSSW
March 24: at Coyotes, 9 p.m., FSSW
March 26: at Sharks, 3 p.m., FSSW
March 29: vs. Predators, 7:30 p.m., FSSW
March 31: vs. Coyotes, 7:30 p.m., FSSW
April 2: at Kings, 3 p.m., FSSW
April 3: at Ducks, 8 p.m., FSSW
April 7: vs. Avalanche, 7:30 p.m., FSSW+
April 9: vs. Predators, 7 p.m., FSSW+
This story was originally published October 6, 2015 at 8:42 PM with the headline "Five storylines to watch as NHL gets game on."