Around the NHL 2025-26 Season

[Gatorman0519]

I watched the NJ/Toronto game last night. Wow is that NJ team fun to watch. Their speed and aggressive attack style is quite effective. Every time Toronto made a mistake odd man rushes came out of nowhere. They even scored on a 4 on 1.  I wish the Sabres had a team like that. 

[Wyldnwoody44]

24 minutes ago, Gatorman0519 said:

I watched the NJ/Toronto game last night. Wow is that NJ team fun to watch. Their speed and aggressive attack style is quite effective. Every time Toronto made a mistake odd man rushes came out of nowhere. They even scored on a 4 on 1.  I wish the Sabres had a team like that. 

We sorta tried that with Donny G, now we have an actual dinosaur as coach... No way that's happening. 

[That Aud Smell]

52 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

This is cool

Agreed. I'll cop to mixed emotions re the Nordiques. I still like to think that QC will get an NHL franchise somehow.

[bob_sauve28]

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/22/nhl-kalshi-polymarket-prediction-market-deals.html

The National Hockey League said Wednesday it’s reached a multi-year licensing agreement with prediction markets Kalshi and Polymarket. More sports leagues may be coming soon.

Tarek Mansour, Kalsh’si co-founder and CEO, told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” the deal marked a “seminal moment” for prediction markets and the company.

“A league like the NHL partnering with us is a strong sign that prediction markets are here to stay,” Mansour said.

As part of the NHL deal, Kalshi and Polymarket will gain access to the league’s proprietary data and rights to use NHL marks and logos. In return, Mansour said, the hockey league will get a suite of customer protections. The NHL said both companies will receive brand exposure during broadcasts.

Mansour said the NHL deal could be replicated across other leagues: “Be on the lookout for more announcements soon,” he told CNBC.

Representatives for the NBA and NFL did not immediately respond to requests for comment. MLB declined to comment.

In August, the NFL expressed its concern about prediction markets, which allow customers to trade on the outcomes of events across entertainment and culture like election results or the length of the ongoing government shutdown.

Kalshi and other event trading platforms are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Yet many states, regulators and tribes are pushing back on prediction markets, arguing they amount to unregulated gambling. Multiple state and federal lawsuits are in progress over the alleged risks.

[That Aud Smell]

19 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

Kalshi and other event trading platforms are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Yet many states, regulators and tribes are pushing back on prediction markets, arguing they amount to unregulated gambling. Multiple state and federal lawsuits are in progress over the alleged risks.

Bro - what? I don't gamble (outside of stuff like fantasy football and March Madness brackets) so I must ask: What in fresh hell is this?! It's gambling ... but it's not?

These entities are getting access to the league's proprietary data?!

I'm probably just naive and uninformed here, but this seems shady as hell.

[Flashsabre]

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/article/islanders-fire-goalie-coach-greco-six-games-into-the-season/
 

Wow that wouldn’t fly in Buffalo😂

[shrader]

5 hours ago, Brawndo said:

This is cool

Let's try to piss off as many people as we can in one single game.

[Weave]

Matt Savoie with his first NHL point last night.

[mjd1001]

A few days ago I brought up similar McDavid stats to the ones below, but with a few more games played, and Austin Matthews getting criticized in Toronto quite a bit right now...thought it was interesting:

Austin Matthews:

-2020-21  through 2023-24:  280 games, 210 goals, 364 points, +103 (61.5 goals, 106.6 points, +30.2 per 82)

-Since, Last year/so far this year:  74 games, 37 goals, 84 points, +14 (41 goals, 93 points, +15.5 per 82)

 

Connor McDavid:

-2020-21 through 2023-24:  294 games, 173 goals, 513 points, +106 (48.3 goals, 143.1 points, +29.6 per 82)

-Since, Last year/so far this year: 74 games, 27 goals, 108 points, +18 (29.9 goals, 119.7 points, +19.9 per 82)

 

So...is the most recent year just a statistical anomoly?  Or are these guys past their statistical peak and not likely to see the production they had in the past?

[ska-T Palmtown]

33 minutes ago, Weave said:

Matt Savoie with his first NHL point last night.

I thought he had one last year?

[kas23]

19 hours ago, That Aud Smell said:

Bro - what? I don't gamble (outside of stuff like fantasy football and March Madness brackets) so I must ask: What in fresh hell is this?! It's gambling ... but it's not?

These entities are getting access to the league's proprietary data?!

I'm probably just naive and uninformed here, but this seems shady as hell.

It’s different, but I don’t even see it as shadier than regular gambling, which is a way of extracting money from the unsuspecting. The lottery is a tax on the mathematically challenged. Gambling in casinos is heavily weighted towards the house - yet it is legal. Sports gambling (Draftkings, etc) plays on people’s hometown emotions. This is no different. Just a new way of taking people’s money. 

[Jorcus]

20 hours ago, bob_sauve28 said:

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/22/nhl-kalshi-polymarket-prediction-market-deals.html

The National Hockey League said Wednesday it’s reached a multi-year licensing agreement with prediction markets Kalshi and Polymarket. More sports leagues may be coming soon.

Tarek Mansour, Kalsh’si co-founder and CEO, told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” the deal marked a “seminal moment” for prediction markets and the company.

“A league like the NHL partnering with us is a strong sign that prediction markets are here to stay,” Mansour said.

As part of the NHL deal, Kalshi and Polymarket will gain access to the league’s proprietary data and rights to use NHL marks and logos. In return, Mansour said, the hockey league will get a suite of customer protections. The NHL said both companies will receive brand exposure during broadcasts.

Mansour said the NHL deal could be replicated across other leagues: “Be on the lookout for more announcements soon,” he told CNBC.

Representatives for the NBA and NFL did not immediately respond to requests for comment. MLB declined to comment.

In August, the NFL expressed its concern about prediction markets, which allow customers to trade on the outcomes of events across entertainment and culture like election results or the length of the ongoing government shutdown.

Kalshi and other event trading platforms are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Yet many states, regulators and tribes are pushing back on prediction markets, arguing they amount to unregulated gambling. Multiple state and federal lawsuits are in progress over the alleged risks.

 

Watching my favorite business podcast this morning discussing this. Draftkings and Fanduel are not allowed to operate in some states including Texas and California. They fear that the polymarket groups are going to get a back door into those markets. Also interesting to note Donald trump Jr. is a paid advisor to both platforms and directs investments to polymarket. Not to say Draftkings and Fanduel did not do a lot of political wheeling and dealing to get where they are. I only bet on horseracing so in general this is of no concern to me except the more money that is involved the bigger chance of game fixing. If you don't think that could be a problem I suggest reading the Big Fix by Brett Forest. It's about soccer match fixing. NHL would be a border line fixing target but some salaries are low enough that there could be an opening. The more that is wagered on the NHL the more vulnerable it becomes.   

[bob_sauve28]

2 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

 

Watching my favorite business podcast this morning discussing this. Draftkings and Fanduel are not allowed to operate in some states including Texas and California. They fear that the polymarket groups are going to get a back door into those markets. Also interesting to note Donald trump Jr. is a paid advisor to both platforms and directs investments to polymarket. Not to say Draftkings and Fanduel did not do a lot of political wheeling and dealing to get where they are. I only bet on horseracing so in general this is of no concern to me except the more money that is involved the bigger chance of game fixing. If you don't think that could be a problem I suggest reading the Big Fix by Brett Forest. It's about soccer match fixing. NHL would be a border line fixing target but some salaries are low enough that there could be an opening. The more that is wagered on the NHL the more vulnerable it becomes.   

 

[Jorcus]

15 hours ago, mjd1001 said:

A few days ago I brought up similar McDavid stats to the ones below, but with a few more games played, and Austin Matthews getting criticized in Toronto quite a bit right now...thought it was interesting:

Austin Matthews:

-2020-21  through 2023-24:  280 games, 210 goals, 364 points, +103 (61.5 goals, 106.6 points, +30.2 per 82)

-Since, Last year/so far this year:  74 games, 37 goals, 84 points, +14 (41 goals, 93 points, +15.5 per 82)

 

Connor McDavid:

-2020-21 through 2023-24:  294 games, 173 goals, 513 points, +106 (48.3 goals, 143.1 points, +29.6 per 82)

-Since, Last year/so far this year: 74 games, 27 goals, 108 points, +18 (29.9 goals, 119.7 points, +19.9 per 82)

 

So...is the most recent year just a statistical anomoly?  Or are these guys past their statistical peak and not likely to see the production they had in the past?

 

Some of it is circumstance. In Matthews case last year he had some injury issues and he was playing for a defensive minded coach. I think a healthy Matthews on a free wheeling team he would be right back to where he was. A few games in he is still probably a point a game player this year. 

McDavid I kind of feel that there is less and less support around him. It's him and Leon doing almost all the work. 

Both these players reached very lofty levels that would be hard for anyone to maintain. Go back and look at Crosby and Ovechkin numbers and I think you see what Hall of fame stats look like over the years. It's hard to expect some of the outlier years that these guys had all the time. 

[That Aud Smell]

48 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

Watching my favorite business podcast this morning discussing this. Draftkings and Fanduel are not allowed to operate in some states including Texas and California. They fear that the polymarket groups are going to get a back door into those markets. Also interesting to note Donald trump Jr. is a paid advisor to both platforms and directs investments to polymarket. Not to say Draftkings and Fanduel did not do a lot of political wheeling and dealing to get where they are. I only bet on horseracing so in general this is of no concern to me except the more money that is involved the bigger chance of game fixing. If you don't think that could be a problem I suggest reading the Big Fix by Brett Forest. It's about soccer match fixing. NHL would be a border line fixing target but some salaries are low enough that there could be an opening. The more that is wagered on the NHL the more vulnerable it becomes.   

[Believer]

Sports gambling will end more coach and player careers in college and professional sports. Book it.

Organized crime. Temptation. Easy money. Greed. Addiction. Potent mix.

The NHL is not immune to it.

[Jorcus]

28 minutes ago, Believer said:

Sports gambling will end more coach and player careers in college and professional sports. Book it.

Organized crime. Temptation. Easy money. Greed. Addiction. Potent mix.

The NHL is not immune to it.

Also Ref's The criminals look for the weakest link. Either guys who have addictions or don't get paid very well. Ref's are an easy place to start. In game betting makes it worse. In the book I referenced there were people in the stands giving signals to players or refs during the game by turning hat's from one side of the head to the other. It's easy when you have a sport with a ref who can call penalties at will or a goalie who can determine the outcome late in a game on his own. 

[Thorny]

16 points in 7 games for Eichel. 

He’s certainly lived up to the early billing 

18 hours ago, mjd1001 said:

A few days ago I brought up similar McDavid stats to the ones below, but with a few more games played, and Austin Matthews getting criticized in Toronto quite a bit right now...thought it was interesting:

Austin Matthews:

-2020-21  through 2023-24:  280 games, 210 goals, 364 points, +103 (61.5 goals, 106.6 points, +30.2 per 82)

-Since, Last year/so far this year:  74 games, 37 goals, 84 points, +14 (41 goals, 93 points, +15.5 per 82)

 

Connor McDavid:

-2020-21 through 2023-24:  294 games, 173 goals, 513 points, +106 (48.3 goals, 143.1 points, +29.6 per 82)

-Since, Last year/so far this year: 74 games, 27 goals, 108 points, +18 (29.9 goals, 119.7 points, +19.9 per 82)

 

So...is the most recent year just a statistical anomoly?  Or are these guys past their statistical peak and not likely to see the production they had in the past?

They’ve just realized their seasons actually start in April. At the very least in McDavid’s case. I’d pay much more attention to his 33 points in 22 playoff games last year 

Edited 14 minutes ago by Thorny