This Week in the NHL: Bedard, Michkov head to head for first time
With 32 teams and seemingly infinite storylines, it’s hard to keep track of all the weekly goings on during the NHL season. That’s why I’m here to help. Every Monday from October to April, I’ll preview the key events, games, narratives and milestones in play for the week.
So what’s on tap for Nov. 18-24?
Nov. 23: Bedard vs. Michkov, Round 1
Chicago Blackhawks @ Philadelphia Flyers, 1:00 p.m. ET
Matvei Michkov didn’t go second overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, but make no mistake: he was a top-two talent in the class behind Connor Bedard and fell to the Flyers at No. 7 partially because no one expected him to leave the KHL until 2026. In the years leading up, Bedard and Michkov were constantly compared to each other and met in many head-to-head international events. We finally get to see their scintillating talents clashing in the NHL when Bedard, last year’s Calder Trophy winner, and the Blackhawks head to Philly to face Michkov, one of this year’s early Calder Trophy favorites. Fingers crossed that Flyers coach John Tortorella isn’t in a healthy-scratchin’ mood.
Nov. 23: Sharks raise Jumbo Joe to the rafters
Buffalo Sabres @ San Jose Sharks, 8:00 p.m. ET
The Sharks will honor the most dominant player in their franchise history Saturday when ‘Jumbo’ Joe Thornton watches his No. 19 get retired at the SAP Center. A surefire Hall of Famer, likely when first eligible next year, Thornton ranks sixth in NHL history in games played, seventh in assists and 14th in points. He won the Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy in his debut campaign with the Sharks after a mid-season trade in 2005-06, and he’s their all-time leader in assists. In the 1997 NHL Draft, Thornton went first overall to the Boston Bruins and Patrick Marleau went second to the Sharks. Little did they know, they’d be the first two Sharks to have their numbers retired. San Jose did it with Marleau’s No. 12 in February 2023.
Sidney Crosby’s 600th goal
Crosby already joined the 1,300 point club in October, and he could hit another big milestone this week. He sits just one goal back of 600. When he gets it, he’ll become the club’s 21st member.