Anaheim Ducks center Antoine Vermette has been suspended 10 games by the NHL for slashing a linesman. Vermette slapped his stick against the back of linesman Shandor Alphonso's legs after losing a faceoff to Minnesota Wild captain Mikko Koivu during the third period of the Ducks' 1-0 win Tuesday night.
Former division rivals Anaheim and Dallas are both ready to start the 2016-17 season on Thursday night at American Airlines Center and look forward to doing so for similar reasons.
Vincent Lecavalier, who played for 17 years in the NHL and won a Stanley Cup, officially announced his retirement on Tuesday. Lecavalier first announced his decision to retire at the end of the 2015-16 season when he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in January, and he reiterated his plans as recently as April.
Goaltending clinic on tap as Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers host Carey Price and Montreal; desperate Ducks open crucial homestand; more games, NHL storylines to watch this week.
Last season the Anaheim Ducks fell short yet again in the Conference Finals and failed to get the Stanley Cup — something that could break a team’s spirit. Most of the Ducks stayed intact this summer and new pieces like Carl Hagelin have been added to help get over that postseason hump.