NHL nuggets: Brad Marchand hates faceoff rules; Claude Giroux working out at wing
Meanwhile, the Devils' Brian Boyle isn't sweating his recent cancer diagnosis
The 2017-18 NHL season is right around the corner.
If you're not busy reading up on the latest of our team-by-team previews, don't worry. There's plenty more to talk about. With preseason in full swing, let's take a spin around the league for a look at some headlines:
Devils forward Brian Boyle taking his cancer diagnosis in stride
The Devils dropped a stunner Tuesday when they announced their 32-year-old center, signed to a two-year deal this offseason, has been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, a type of bone marrow cancer. The team did say, however, that the leukemia was discovered early and is therefore treatable, and if anyone's in good spirits about the whole thing, it sure seems like it's Boyle.
Brian Boyle is handling discussing the news of his cancer by somehow making everybody else feel better about it. He has a terrific outlook.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) September 19, 2017
Brian Boyle: "I'm looking forward to getting back on the ice. When that is I don't know, but I'm looking at Oct. 7."
— Ken Campbell (@THNKenCampbell) September 19, 2017
"My wife won't let me have Skittles anymore." - Brian Boyle has a hell of a sense of humor
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) September 19, 2017
Bruins wing Brad Marchand can't stand NHL's enforcement of faceoff penalties
Brad ain't happy, according to CSN New England's Joe Haggerty. In response to the league going heavy on faceoff slashing calls, which are aimed to keep players at a near-standstill before the puck is actually dropped, the feisty Bruins standout said this, per Haggerty: "The slashing is one thing, but this faceoff rule is an absolute joke. That's how you ruin the game of hockey by putting that in there." Now let's see how long the enforcement lasts once regular-season play begins.
Claude Giroux experimenting at left wing for the Philadelphia Flyers
Color this writer a fan. This might not be anything more than typical preseason practice stuff. In fact, the longtime center said himself, according to CSN Philly, that his recent move to left wing was more for drills. But it's not the worst idea for the long haul in Philadelphia, where Nolan Patrick should fight for playing time sooner rather than later. Let Giroux use that shot from the left and simultaneously expand the Flyers' top-six forward depth.
Penguins still eyeing a third-line center ... and it might be Riley Sheahan
General manager Jim Rutherford has been talking about getting the Pens a new third-line center for months, and, really, there's no rush to land one for an organization that has turned young up-and-comers into quality depth on championship teams before. But we might finally be nearing a deal now that October is quickly approaching. The latest name to be thrown around, as Pensburg detailed, is that of Riley Sheahan, the 25-year-old Detroit Red Wings reserve. He would sure be a younger successor of departed vets like Nick Bonino and Matt Cullen.
















