Duffer’s Dabbles: Impressive Hockey Talent at Michigan Football Game

They were playing football at the Big House and a couple of big time NHLers were watching the action with sideline passes to watch Michigan defeat Rutgers. Restricted free agent defenseman Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks were those players.

Hughes played college hockey at Michigan. Both he and teammate Pettersson are restricted free agents without contracts. It would appear that they aren’t close to signing new contracts – or close to Vancouver for that matter.

Just when you thought you’d have to wait to see it – Quinn Hughes defends against Owen Power 👀@BuffaloSabres @Canucks pic.twitter.com/ToOeG6AOk0

— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) September 24, 2021

Hughes, Pettersson and Ottawa Senators holdout forward Brady Tkachuk are all working out and skating together in Michigan.

Hey, since they’re already in town and evidently like it here, perhaps Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman should take some of that salary cap space he’s created and drop by with some offer sheets.

Just a thought.

You Got To Move It, Move It

It was a wild summer for goaltender Vitek Vanecek. He was a Washington Capital. Then he wasn’t. He was a Seattle Kraken. Then he wasn’t. Now he’s back with the Capitals like he never left. And he’s got all those frequent flier miles to boot.

There are NHL officials visting every team during preseason to inform them that the league intends to crack down on cross-checking this year. The NHL is the only league that finds itself telling it’s member teams, “Yeah, you know those rules in the rulebook? Well, we’re actually gonna start enforcing them.”

Defenseman Erik Johnson is back to health with the Colorado Avalanche after missing all but four games last season due to concussion-related issues. Now the question is where does he fit into the Colorado D-corps?

Speaking of injured defenseman, Michal Kempny is among those slated to play in Washington’s preseason opener against the Boston Bruins. A member of the club’s 2017-18 Stanley Cup-winning team, Kempny was limitedto two games last season. Both were played with the AHL’s Hershey Bears. With the departures of Zdeno Chara and Brenden Dillon, there’s certainly room for Kempy on the Caps’ back end.