NHL Talking Points: IIHF, Lamoriello out, Marchand’s antics and more

NHL Talking Points is a weekly column where we highlight 10 stories that have been circulating around the league. This week, we take a look at the end of Lou Lamoriello’s tenure as the Maple Leafs’ GM, hype surrounding the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, Brad Marchand’s antics and more.

The past week has been one of excitement in the world of hockey. Some Stanley Cup dreams were crushed while others were strengthened, the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship began and the behavior of an infamous winger on the Boston Bruins continues to make headlines.

Let’s have a look at 10 stories that have been circulating around the National Hockey League.

1. The NHL recently announced finalists for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy.

Described by NHL.com as “an annual award given to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community,” the nominees for the trophy are Jason Zucker (MIN), P.K. Subban (NAS) and the Sedin brothers (VAN). More on the wide-ranging contributions of each respective player here.

2. Lou Lamoriello’s tenure as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs has come to a conclusion.

Unexpectedly, the talk circuit of Toronto media is now preoccupied with a number of overarching questions. Who will serve as his replacement? When shall an official announcement be made? Will Lamoriello continue to have a role within the organization? Or is he destined to work with another team? So many ideas, but such few answers — albeit for the time being. Look for Mark Hunter and Kyle Dubas to make headlines over the course of the upcoming weeks, as they’re seen as the frontrunners to replace the Leafs’ famous ex-GM, who was notorious for overseeing the early stages of the Shanaplan.

3. The Dallas Stars announced that Jim Montgomery will serve as the team’s new head coach.

The news comes weeks after Ken Hitchock officially retired following 22 years of piloting hockey clubs from behind the bench. It’s a decision that signals a new direction for the Stars, who have struggled to usher forth winning ways for the majority of the past decade. Montgomery is now the fourth coach in history to go straight from the NCAA into an NHL head coaching job — an ambitious move, no doubt, but one that may very well provide Dallas with a much needed spark.

4. Following a massive performance during Sunday’s victory over the Bruins, J.T. Miller of the Tampa Bay Lightning reflected on a hit that he had delivered to David Backes.

Upon realizing that his opponent was not moving his legs, Miller told reporters the following:

There’s little doubt that the fallout of the hit was less than favorable, as Backes had to be helped off the ice by teammates and would not return to the game. Nevertheless, it’s moments like this that remind fans of the significance of not only player safety, but also the importance of upholding an admirable degree of respect — even amidst the most competitive moments. We wish Backes a full recovery.

5. The NHL was recently roasted for posting a promotional photograph of a fan wearing a Tom Wilson jersey.

The controversy came a matter of hours after the league suspended the Capitals’ winger for delivering a heedless hit to Zach Aston-Reese of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The image was all but certainly scheduled to be uploaded prior to the play in question, but fans were peeved nonetheless.

6. Has Joe Thornton played his last game for the San Jose Sharks?

It might be a little too soon for fans of the organization to seriously entertain the implications of this question, but it’s one that will occupy hockey news until the league’s free agency period is set into motion on July 1. Should the veteran center opt to stay with the team, he’ll almost definitely have to accept a reduced role, as the Sharks’ recent playoff run shows that the franchise has swiftly moved on from the Marleau-Thornton core.

7. The 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship began on May 4.

Set in Copenhagen and Herning, Denmark, the tournament provides hockey fans with an opportunity to watch some of their favorite stars square off on the international stage. It also highlights the sport’s more general global impact, as this is the first time that South Korea has qualified for the competition.

8. The 2018 Western Conference Final promises to serve as a unique moment in recent hockey history.

For starters, it’ll include the Vegas Golden Knights — a team that continues to take the world of sports by storm through advancing to the NHL’s final four in its inaugural season. The fact that Vegas’ victory came at the expense of the Sharks’ elimination also means that this shall be the first Western Conference Final which will not include a team from California since 2009. Sorry, Sharks fans — Grandma Pavelski won’t lift Lord Stanley’s trophy this time around.

9. The Bruins may have been eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs, but Brad Marchand’s antics are still in full swing.

Look no further than Twitter for an epic roast between the Bruins’ star forward and the Montreal Canadiens.

https://twitter.com/Bmarch63/status/993508815537692672

10. It appears that Marchand’s behaviour has prompted a response from the league itself.

Prior to Game 5 of the Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators’ second-round series, players were literally warned that licking an opponent could result in a 10-minute misconduct.

Indeed, these are strange times to be a hockey fan.

NEXT: All 30 NHL Franchises Ranked By All-Time Greatness

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