There is a special kind of vitriol that hockey fans have for draft picks who refuse to sign with their team. In a sport with a very stoic, selfless culture, it seems arrogant for a player to risk the beginning of his career for a better option than the one in which he had no say.

The 2024-25 National Hockey League season is sliding in fast, and there are some interesting threads to follow as the season unfolds. After all, hockey is more fun when you know what you’re watching for.