World Juniors, Winter Classic highlight post-holiday hockey schedule
The NHL resumes play following its holiday break with 14 games Wednesday. That begins a busy five-week stretch in the hockey world leading up to the 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend to be hosted by the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena from Feb. 1-3.
2024 IIHF World Junior Championship
The 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship is set to showcase some of the top draft-eligible players in hockey. Macklin Celebrini of Canada, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, will lead the way in Gothenburg, Sweden. Other notable players to watch include Zeev Buium of the United States, Adam Jiricek of Czechia, and Konsta Helinius of Finland. The tournament will also feature NHL prospects such as Matthew Poitras, who was loaned to Canada by the Boston Bruins after playing 27 NHL games this season, and Rutger McGroarty, the U.S. captain and No. 14 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.
The battle for all-time points continues as Sidney Crosby closes in on Joe Thornton. Currently three points behind Thornton, Crosby looks to climb up the NHL points list. With 34 points in 31 games this season, Crosby is on pace for another impressive year.
The NHL's final games of 2023 will feature several divisional matchups. The Minnesota Wild will host the Winnipeg Jets in a Central Division showdown, while the Dallas Stars and Chicago Blackhawks clash in another divisional matchup. The Atlantic, Metropolitan, and Pacific Divisions will also have games on New Year's Eve, including a Winter Classic between the Seattle Kraken and the Vegas Golden Knights.
Winter Classic in Seattle
The 2024 Discover NHL Winter Classic will be held in Seattle at T-Mobile Park, home of the Seattle Mariners. The game will feature the Seattle Kraken, the NHL's newest expansion team, facing off against the Vegas Golden Knights. This will be Seattle's first outdoor game and the second for Vegas, who previously played in the NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe.
The NHL will reach its midpoint of the regular season on January 13th with all 32 teams in action. The day will be filled with 16 games, including notable matchups like the New York Rangers vs. the Washington Capitals and the Calgary Flames vs. the Golden Knights. Several players will also be making their first returns to their former NHL homes.
Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada will take place on January 20th, with all seven Canada-based NHL teams playing. The host city for off-ice activities will be Victoria, British Columbia. The day will feature matchups like the Winnipeg Jets vs. the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadiens vs. the Boston Bruins.
2024 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game
The 2024 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will showcase 40 players from the Canadian Hockey League who are eligible for the 2024 NHL draft. Among the participants are Tij Iginla, son of Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla, and Tanner Howe. Both players received an A rating from NHL Central Scouting in their November players to watch list.
Minnesota Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is closing in on Patrick Roy's wins record. With 549 wins, Fleury is just two wins away from passing Roy for second place in NHL history. Fleury is also approaching a milestone of his own, as he is two games away from playing in his 1,000th NHL game.
Philadelphia Flyers coach John Tortorella will coach his 1,500th game on December 29th, becoming the first coach born in the United States to reach this milestone. Lars Eller, of the Pittsburgh Penguins, is set to play his 1,000th NHL game on January 27th, becoming the first player born in Denmark to achieve this milestone. Eller has had stints with the Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, and Washington Capitals.
