NHL playoff buzz: Johnston's rise, Rempe's role, officiating

The Stanley Cup playoffs have been phenomenal, and we're only halfway through. Breakout stars have emerged, controversies have broiled and the hockey itself has been as entertaining as ever.This season's"hockey related revenue" figures haven't been released by the NHL and NHL Players Association yet, but expect a big jump for Florida. The Panthers were a bottom-10 team but have experienced serious growth since their trip to the 2023 Stanley Cup Final.

"Toronto had some city rinks that you could sometimes go to, but a lot of them were no sticks. So me and my buddy would show up at 6 a.m. and just skate for a while because that was the only ice we could get. No shinny was allowed," Johnston said."There was a park near my house, and my dad and a lot of the dads helped build a rink there. We made a little rink in my back driveway that I'd rollerblade on, and just work on stick skills.

The common theme of most complaints: the need for transparency and consistency. One coach commented to our broadcast crew that his players were getting kicked out of faceoff circles by linesmen and never got explanations for why.The 2024 NHL draft will take place June 28-29 in Las Vegas.

But when the Rangers are on the ice, they work. Practices have a midseason intensity, including battle drills. Even guys I know are banged up are going all out. Several players in exit meetings last year expressed a desire to be coached harder, and that's the culture coach Peter Laviolette instilled when taking the job this year.

When I talked to Rempe last week, he praised the communication he has received from Laviolette and his staff. The rookie knows his game is built on physicality and emotion, but he needs to stay in control to stay on the ice.

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