Evan’s NHL Daily: Tatar Analysis, Flames Stars Talk Extension

If you’re a Calgary Flames fan, it’s been one heck of a summer. In June, word came out that most of the players entering the final year of their contract were open to getting moved to a new NHL team. Well, it’s September, and a few of them are changing their tune.

With the Colorado Avalanche, hockey is officially back on Thursday, and we took a deeper look into the Tomas Tatar signing.

All that and more in this Thursday edition of Evan’s Daily.

Colorado Hockey Now

Why Tomas Tatar Was Exactly What The Avalanche Needed

Why Tomas Tatar Was Exactly What The Avalanche Needed

Hockey is back on Thursday, as the Avalanche rookies will hit the ice at 9:30 AM for practice, before heading to Vegas. I’ll be headed up to the mountains after practice, as I’m in a wedding this weekend, but I’ll put some quick hit thoughts up, and will get some interviews after practice to post over the next few days.

Around The NHL

A few weeks back, Elias Lindholm was pretty blunt about what he sees happening this season. On Wednesday, Flames GM Craig Conroy admitted Lindholm is open to staying with the organization, but they’ve got to negotiate a deal.

Another player who was rumored to want out was Noah Hanifin. Like Lindholm, he’s also apparently open to staying, but if you read his quotes, I’m not sure it should make Flames fans feel any better.

“I just want to see how this year kind of played out a little bit and take my time a little bit,” Noah Hanifin said, via Eric Francis of Sportsnet.

To me, that sounds like a guy who is ready to play out the season and leave in free agency, if he has to. That would be worst case scenario for the Flames.

The Flames season kind of hinges on how good of a season Markstrom has. If he plays well, they can compete for the playoffs, and if that team is in the hunt for the postseason around the deadline, Conroy will have some interesting decisions to make.

National Hockey Now

Kris Letang Joins Canadiens’ Informal Practice … with Penguins Gear

After his sternum injury in the playoffs, Matthew Tkachuk is ready to go.

Matvei Michkov got to his new team in the KHL, and immediately showed how good he can be.

Three predictions for the Nashville Predators

The Keith Kinkaid era in Colorado was brief, as he’s returned to the New Jersey Devils.