Nine NHL teams enter the regular season carrying only "20 or 21 skaters" because of the league’s $82.5M salary cap, which is up only $1M after three years static at $81.5M, according to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston. Additionally, there are 13 teams already in long-term injured reserve “before they’ve basically even played a game.” The Maple Leafs, who are just $4 under the cap, “could barely fit a coffee run based on the room they had left,” while the Canucks “came over the top and became the first team ever to hit the number on the head.” Johnston: “Needless to say, there’s going to be a lot of pressure on managers managing the cap in a season with so little flexibility” (“Insider Trading,” TSN, 10/11). FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW's George Richards noted the Panthers set their initial roster for the 2022-23 NHL season and "will start with 20 players," meaning "everyone on the roster will dress each night." The Panthers will come in "just under the NHL salary cap limit" and will "have to get creative if any player gets hurt." Normal bumps and bruises usually mean a "night off for the player and a chance for someone else to step in and get a chance," but the Panthers do "not have such luxuries" (FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW, 10/11).

BACK TO NORMAL: SPORTSNET.ca's Luke Fox wrote there is "trust that our first so-called 'normal' season in three winters will be devoid of viral outbreaks, dreary Zoom press conferences, and playoffs in July." The NHL’s flagpole events will "take over some of the most fun towns in North America." Fenway Park gets "taken over by the Winter Classic," while All-Star weekend is "storming Fort Lauderdale Beach." Both the draft and awards ceremony will "converge in Nashville." More female hockey minds "occupy front office jobs than ever before," and Sharks GM Mike Grier is about to "oversee the first NHL campaign by a black general manager" (SPORTSNET.ca, 10/11). In L.A., Helene Elliott noted the NHL "will be back to normal this season," as "normal as it gets in the NHL, that is." The league will see the Coyotes "play in a 5,000-seat arena on the campus of Arizona State for at least two seasons while awaiting construction of a new home" (L.A. TIMES, 10/11).

MUTED START: In Toronto, Kevin McGran wondered "did anyone notice" the first two NHL regular-season games "have already been played" in Prague? McGran: "Does it even make sense? Shouldn’t the season opener be a big deal? I get playing games in Europe, but they should never open the season over there" (TORONTO STAR, 10/11).

Altitude TV launched a campaign to "pressure Comcast to return the regional sports network back to its subscribers," according to Saja Hindi of the DENVER POST. The network will "display the message 'Why Did Comcast Dump Us?' on a digital billboard on the side of a truck that will move along Interstate 25" and around Denver. The billboard also will "count the days since Comcast has not responded to the latest offer from Altitude TV to end the blackout." KSE Media Ventures CEO Matt Hutchings said the company wants to “give a message to our fans, remind them of what we’ve been doing, what our efforts are and to reinforce the fact that we’ve made a very fair and simple offer to Comcast to put us back on the air.” They also asked customers and fans to "contact Comcast Customer Service" and "sign an online petition demanding Comcast carry Altitude Sports." The dispute between the companies "goes back to 2019." State lawmakers even "got involved in the blackout this year, proposing and then killing a bill" that would have allowed the attorney general to "mandate nonbinding mediation for any renewal disputes that have lasted at least six weeks after a contract expired." One of the bill’s sponsors from last year, state senator Kyle Mullica, said discussions are likely for next year’s legislative session “if we’re not able to air those games on the largest platform in the state" (DENVER POST, 10/11).

PUBLICITY STUNT: In Denver, Mark Kiszla wrote the new Altitude offensive in a TV war that has "caught fans in the crossfire might seem pathetic and desperate if it wasn’t so ridiculous and absurd." But this is "not a drill or a 'Saturday Night Live' skit." It is a "publicity stunt when we all know what executives of Altitude and Comcast need to do is lock themselves in a room until a deal is hammered out." Kiszla's proposal is to "find a way to merge Altitude with AT&T SportsNet into a regional sports outlet that could provide games nearly 365 days per year, by adding the Rockies to fill summertime gaps in the broadcast schedule" of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment's "hockey, basketball, soccer and lacrosse empire in Colorado." Kiszla: "We were all sick and tired yesterday of talking about loyal Avs and Nuggets fans being left in the dark" (DENVER POST, 10/11).

Hey Avs Fans! Be in the lookout for this truck around town today! Take a photo, and tag ? • @AltitudeTV • @comcast • @Xfinity And you’ll be entered to win a pair of tickets to tomorrow nights @Avalanche home opener! pic.twitter.com/jqsXCPRgJO

Sabres play-by-play announcer Dan Dunleavy had to “patiently wait” for broadcaster Rick Jeanneret to retire to “become the full-time voice of the Sabres,” according to Alan Pergament of the BUFFALO NEWS. Under terms of his original five-year deal, Dunleavy was “expected to be the full-time play-by-play announcer upon Jeanneret's retirement” following the 2016-17 season. Dunleavy, 57, “waited six more seasons than the original plan.” Sabres VP/Broadcasting Chrisanne Bellas said, “We’ve done a really good job allowing our fans to get to know him for 10 years. I look it at as a new era for the Sabres and a new era for Sabres broadcasts.” After splitting the schedule with Jeanneret and gradually doing more games each season, it is Dunleavy’s “solo moment.” Dunleavy said, “This is the right time. I’ve considered myself someone who has to battle and hang in there for positions like this just because not many of them come along in this business.” Dunleavy said he has grown by “seeing all the moving parts of a broadcast” that “wouldn’t be visible up in the booth.” Dunleavy: "I’ve come here to be Dan Dunleavy. Rick Jeanneret is so uniquely one of a kind. … Rick had 51 amazing years and he impacted a lot of lives. And I want to come here and show ... my talent and my skill” (BUFFALO NEWS, 10/11).

MassMutual during last night’s NHL coverage on ESPN debuted a new ad starring Lightning C Steven Stamkos and D Victor Hedman that features a “satirical take on youth sports and financial planning,” according to David Cohen of ADWEEK. The ad, titled “Baby Skates,” comes via Grey, N.Y., and is part of the insurer’s “Uncomfortable Truths” campaign. Stamkos in the spot is “pressuring Hedman to start thinking about getting his child into youth sports early in order to avoid worrying about how he is going to pay for college.” The spot will continue to air on ESPN as well as on TNT, NHL Network and the league’s social and digital outlets (ADWEEK, 10/11).

The "first battery-powered ride-on Zamboni toy for children ages 3-6" is coming to market, and the product has been “a long time coming,” according to Alex Silverman in this week's SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL.  The NHL and the Zamboni Company signed their initial cross-licensing agreement in 2000, and in the years since, the “well-known ice resurfacing machine has been turned into everything from diecasts and plush toys to Monopoly tokens and Pez dispensers.” Now, the NHL and Zamboni have teamed up with Canada-based Kool Karz Playground for the new toy. The four-wheeled replica ice resurfacer “features several authentic touches, ranging from Zamboni’s signature horn sound to a snowflake emblem on the steering wheel.” There is also a “‘snow collection tank’ for storage, working headlights, rubber tires and a speaker offering Bluetooth, USB and SD card connectivity, along with a soundtrack of Zamboni noises.” The ride-on Zamboni, which comes “adorned with NHL decals and includes stickers for all 32 NHL teams,” will “retail for $349.99 in the U.S.” ( SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 10/10 issue). In Toronto, Kevin McGran wrote, “I can’t believe it has taken this long. I also can’t believe they didn’t add a vacuum cleaning function for when the kids are ‘resurfacing’ the living room” ( TORONTO STAR, 10/11).

In Detroit, Bob Wojnowski notes the Red Wings “have a new coach, Derek Lalonde, solid free-agent additions and bubbling hope for the opener Friday night” against Montreal. They “should be better, perhaps significantly better.” GM Steve Yzerman’s plan “is taking shape.” He has drafted “impactful players” and “made solid veteran acquisitions.” The Wings “upgraded virtually every area through free agency and trades, and people have noticed” (DETROIT NEWS, 10/11).

HIGH HOPES : In Edmonton, Robert Tychkowski writes the Oilers appear “poised for something dramatic this season.” This year is “a chance to re-do the ill-fated 2017-18 campaign,” when the Oilers were “considered favourites in the West.” That is “exactly where they are again -- considered favourites in the West based on their wealth of raw talent” (EDMONTON SUN, 10/11).

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