2024-25 NHL Schedule

Yes the season did just end for the National Hockey League. But fear not, we are three months away from the start of next season. The schedule has been released for the 2024-25 NHL season. Don't worry we will post schedules for the Lightning, Rangers and Islanders. Before that, here's some of the big dates on the calendar this season. 

October 4-5: New Jersey Devils vs. Buffalo Sabres (Global Series Czechia)
November 1-2: Dallas Stars vs. Florida Panthers (Global Series Finland)
December 31: St. Louis Blues at Chicago Blackhawks (2025 Discover NHL Winter Classic)
February 10-21 4 Nations Tournament
March 1: Detroit Red Wings at Columbus Blue Jackets (2025 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series)

Now then, here's what we got for the teams we cover here on the show!

OCTOBER:
Oct 10 vs Utah 7:30 PM
Oct 12 @ Dallas 8:00 PM
Oct 14 @ Colorado  9:00 PM
Oct 17 @ St. Louis 8:00 PM
Oct 19 vs Montreal 7:00 PM
Oct 22 vs Detroit 7:45 PM
Oct 25 @ New Jersey 7:00 PM
Oct 26 vs Florida 7:30 PM
Oct 29 vs Anaheim 7:30 PM
Oct 30 @ Columbus 7:00 PM

NOVEMBER:
Nov 1 @ Buffalo 7:00 PM
Nov 3 @ Rangers 1:00 PM
Nov 5 vs Pittsburgh 7:30 PM
Nov 7 @ Ottawa 7:00 PM
Nov 9 vs New Jersey 7:30 PM
Nov 12 @ Edmonton 9:00 PM
Nov 14 @ Vancouver 10:00 PM
Nov 16 @ Seattle 4:00 PM
Nov 19 @ Calgary 9:00 PM
Nov 21 @ Detroit 7:00 PM
Nov 23 vs St. Louis 7:30 PM
Nov 25 vs Detroit 7:30 PM
Nov 27 vs Boston 7:30 PM
Nov 29 @ Washington 3:00 PM
Nov 30 vs Buffalo 7:30 PM

DECEMBER:
Dec 3 @ Montreal 7:00 PM
Dec 5 vs Seattle 7:30 PM
Dec 7 vs Carolina 5:00 PM
Dec 8 @ Ottawa 5:30 PM
Dec 10 vs Los Angeles 7:30 PM
Dec 12 vs Chicago 7:30 PM
Dec 15 @ Chicago 3:00 PM
Dec 17 @ Carolina 7:00 PM
Dec 21 @ Toronto 7:00 PM
Dec 23 vs Buffalo 7:30 PM
Dec 28 vs Pittsburgh 7:30 PM
Dec 29 @ Pittsburgh 5:30 PM
Dec 31 @ Toronto 1:00 PM

JANUARY:
Jan 2 vs Toronto 7:30 PM
Jan 5 @ Boston 6:00 PM
Jan 9 @ Vegas 10:00 PM
Jan 11 @ Utah 9:00 PM
Jan 14 vs Ottawa 7:30 PM
Jan 16 vs Philadelphia 7:30 PM
Jan 18 vs San Jose 7:30 PM
Jan 20 vs Columbus 7:30 PM
Jan 24 vs Philadelphia 7:30 PM
Jan 25 vs Carolina 7:30 PM
Jan 28 vs Colorado 7:30 PM
Jan 30 @ Philadelphia 7:00 PM

FEBRUARY:
Feb 1 @ Tampa Bay 7:00 PM
Feb 2 @ Florida 6:00 PM
Feb 4 vs Vegas 7:30 PM
Feb 7 @ Winnipeg 8:00 PM
Feb 8 @ Minnesota 8:00 PM
Feb 23 vs Dallas 7:30 PM
Feb 25 vs Rangers 7:30 PM
Feb 27 @ Boston 7:00 PM

MARCH:

Mar 1 vs Nashville 12:30 PM
Mar 3 @ Rangers 7:00 PM
Mar 4 vs Winnipeg 7:30 PM
Mar 8 @ San Jose 10:00 PM
Mar 9 @ Anaheim 9:00 PM
Mar 11 @ Los Angeles 10:30 PM
Mar 14 vs Edmonton 7:30 PM
Mar 16 vs Florida 7:30 PM
Mar 18 @ Pittsburgh 7:00 PM
Mar 20 vs Montreal 7:30 PM
Mar 22 vs Calgary 4:00 PM
Mar 24 vs Columbus 7:30 PM
Mar 26 vs Vancouver 7:30 PM
Mar 29 @ Tampa Bay 2:00 PM
Mar 30 @ Carolina 5:00 PM

APRIL:
Apr 1 vs Tampa Bay 7:30 PM
Apr 4 vs Minnesota 7:30 PM
Apr 6 vs Washington 12:30 PM
Apr 8 @ Nashville 8:00 PM
Apr 10 vs Rangers 7:30 PM
Apr 12 @ Philadelphia 1:00 PM
Apr 13 @ New Jersey 1:00 PM
Apr 15 vs Washington 7:30 PM
Apr 17 @ Columbus 7:00 PM

OCTOBER:
Oct 9 @ Pittsburgh 7:30 PM 
Oct 12 vs Utah 7:00 PM
Oct 14 vs Detroit 7:00 PM
Oct 17 @ Detroit 7:00 PM
Oct 19 @ Toronto 7:00 PM
Oct 22 @ Montreal 7:15 PM
Oct 24 vs Florida 7:00 PM
Oct 26 vs Anaheim 7:00 PM
Oct 29 @ Washington 7:00 PM

NOVEMBER:
Nov 1 vs Ottawa 7:00 PM
Nov 3 vs Islanders 1:00 PM
Nov 7 vs Buffalo 7:00 PM
Nov 9 @ Detroit 7:00 PM
Nov 12 vs Winnipeg 7:00 PM
Nov 14 vs San Jose 7:00 PM
Nov 17 @ Seattle 9:00 PM
Nov 19 @ Vancouver 10:00 PM
Nov 21 @ Calgary 9:00 PM
Nov 23 @ Edmonton 10:00 PM
Nov 25 vs St. Louis 7:00 PM
Nov 27 @ Carolina 7:00 PM
Nov 29 @ Philadelphia 1:00 PM
Nov 30 vs Montreal 1:00 PM

DECEMBER:
Dec 2 vs New Jersey 7:00 PM
Dec 6 vs Pittsburgh 7:00 PM
Dec 8 vs Seattle 1:00 PM
Dec 9 vs Chicago 7:00 PM
Dec 11 @ Buffalo 7:30 PM
Dec 14 vs Los Angeles 1:00 PM
Dec 15 @ St. Louis 6:00 PM
Dec 17 @ Nashville 8:00 PM
Dec 20 @ Dallas 8:00 PM
Dec 22 vs Carolina 12:30 PM
Dec 23 @ New Jersey 1:00 PM
Dec 28 @ Tampa Bay 7:00 PM
Dec 30 @ Florida 7:00 PM

JANUARY:
Jan 2 vs Boston 7:00 PM
Jan 4 @ Washington 12:00 PM
Jan 5 @ Chicago 3:00 PM
Jan 7 vs Dallas 7:00 PM
Jan 9 vs New Jersey 7:00 PM
Jan 11 @ Vegas 10:00 PM
Jan 14 @ Colorado 9:00 PM
Jan 16 @ Utah 9:00 PM
Jan 18 vs Columbus 7:00 PM
Jan 19 @ Montreal 7:00 PM
Jan 21 vs Ottawa 7:00 PM
Jan 23 vs Philadelphia 7:00 PM
Jan 26 vs Colorado 1:00 PM
Jan 28 vs Carolina 7:00 PM

FEBRUARY:
Feb 1 @ Boston 3:30 PM
Feb 2 vs Vegas 6:00 PM
Feb 5 vs Boston 7:00 PM
Feb 7 vs Pittsburgh 7:00 PM
Feb 8 @ Columbus 7:00 PM
Feb 22 @ Buffalo 5:30 PM
Feb 23 @ Pittsburgh 3:30 PM
Feb 25 @ Islanders 7:30 PM
Feb 28 vs Toronto 7:00 PM

MARCH:
Mar 2 vs Nashville 7:00 PM
Mar 3 vs Islanders 7:00 PM
Mar 5 vs Washington 7:30 PM
Mar 8 @ Ottawa 12:30 PM
Mar 9 vs Columbus 6:00 PM
Mar 11 @ Winnipeg 8:00 PM
Mar 13 @ Minnesota 8:00 PM
Mar 15 @ Columbus 7:00 PM
Mar 16 vs Edmonton 7:00 PM
Mar 18 vs Calgary 7:00 PM
Mar 20 vs Toronto 7:00 PM
Mar 22 vs Vancouver 1:00 PM
Mar 25 @ Los Angeles 10:30 PM
Mar 28 @ Anaheim 10:00 PM
Mar 29 @ San Jose 10:30 PM

APRIL:
Apr 2 vs Minnesota 7:00 PM
Apr 5 @ New Jersey 1:00 PM
Apr 7 vs Tampa Bay 7:00 PM
Apr 9 vs Philadelphia 7:30 PM
Apr 10 @ Islanders 7:30 PM
Apr 12 @ Carolina 3:30 PM
Apr 14 @ Florida 7:00 PM
Apr 17 vs Tampa Bay 7:00 PM

OCTOBER:
Oct 11 @ Carolina 7:00 PM
Oct 12 vs Carolina 7:00 PM
Oct 15 vs Vancouver 7:00 PM
Oct 17 vs Vegas 7:00 PM
Oct 19 @ Ottawa 1:00 PM
Oct 21 @ Toronto 7:30 PM
Oct 22 @ New Jersey  6:45 PM
Oct 24 vs Minnesota 7:00 PM
Oct 26 vs Washington 7:00 PM
Oct 28 vs Nashville 7:00 PM
Oct 30 @ Colorado 9:00 PM

NOVEMBER:
Nov 1 @ Minnesota 8:00 PM
Nov 3 @ Winnipeg 3:00 PM
Nov 5 @ St. Louis 8:00 PM
Nov 7 vs Philadelphia 7:00 PM
Nov 14 vs Winnipeg 7:00 PM
Nov 16 vs New Jersey 7:00 PM
Nov 19 @ Pittsburgh 7:00 PM
Nov 21 @ Columbus 7:00 PM
Nov 23 vs Dallas 7:00 PM
Nov 25 vs Colorado 7:00 PM
Nov 27 vs Washington 7:30 PM
Nov 29 @ Nashville 3:00 PM
Nov 30 vs Toronto 7:00 PM

DECEMBER:
Dec 5 vs San Jose 7:00 PM
Dec 8 @ Vancouver 4:00 PM
Dec 10 @ Edmonton 9:00 PM
Dec 12 @ Calgary 9:00 PM
Dec 14 @ Seattle 10:00 PM
Dec 17 vs Columbus 7:00 PM
Dec 19 vs St. Louis 7:00 PM
Dec 22 vs Florida 5:00 PM
Dec 23 @ Florida 7:00 PM
Dec 28 vs Rangers 7:00 PM
Dec 29 vs Montreal 5:00 PM

JANUARY:
Jan 2 @ San Jose 10:30 PM
Jan 4 @ Los Angeles 9:00 PM
Jan 5 @ Anaheim 8:00 PM
Jan 9 vs Boston 7:00 PM
Jan 11 @ New Jersey 7:00 PM
Jan 12 @ Pittsburgh 5:00 PM
Jan 14 @ Boston 7:00 PM
Jan 16 vs Anaheim 7:00 PM
Jan 18 vs Detroit 7:00 PM
Jan 20 @ Toronto 7:30 PM
Jan 21 @ Montreal 7:00 PM
Jan 24 @ Chicago 7:30 PM
Jan 25 @ Detroit 7:00 PM
Jan 28 vs Chicago 7:00 PM
Jan 30 vs Los Angeles 7:00 PM

FEBRUARY:
Feb 1 vs Islanders 7:00 PM
Feb 4 vs Ottawa 7:00 PM
Feb 6 vs Ottawa 7:00 PM
Feb 8 @ Detroit 1:00 PM
Feb 9 @ Montreal 1:00 PM
Feb 23 vs Seattle 6:00 PM
Feb 25 vs Edmonton 7:00 PM
Feb 27 vs Calgary 7:00 PM

MARCH:
Mar 1 @ Washington 12:30 PM
Mar 3 @ Florida 7:00 PM
Mar 4 vs Columbus 7:00 PM
Mar 6 vs Buffalo 7:00 PM
Mar 8 vs Boston 3:00 PM
Mar 11 @ Carolina 7:00 PM
Mar 13 @ Philadelphia 7:00 PM
Mar 15 @ Boston 7:00 PM
Mar 17 vs Philadelphia 7:00 PM
Mar 20 @ Dallas 8:00 PM
Mar 22 @ Utah 5:00 PM
Mar 23 @ Vegas 8:00 PM
Mar 25 vs Pittsburgh 7:00 PM
Mar 27 vs Utah 7:00 PM
Mar 29 vs Islanders 2:00 PM

APRIL:
Apr 1 @ Islanders 7:30 PM
Apr 3 @ Ottawa 7:00 PM
Apr 5 @ Buffalo 7:00 PM
Apr 7 @ Rangers 7:00 PM
Apr 9 vs Toronto 7:00 PM
Apr 11 vs Detroit 7:00 PM
Apr 13 vs Buffalo 6:00 PM
Apr 15 vs Florida 7:00 PM
Apr 17 @ Rangers 7:00 PM

End Of An Era In The Bay

Sixteen years of service. That's what the Tampa Bay Lightning got out of Steven Stamkos. He was the big name that was on the free agent market. There had been some hope that a deal would get done to keep Stammer in a Lightning jersey. Steven even said he really wanted to stay in the Bay. That era came to an end today, when Stamkos signed a four year deal at $42 Million, which comes to $8 Million a year.

There's so much to digest take out of all of this.

From the Lighting point of view is where we going to start. You going to have to find a way to replace two different aspects of Steven Stamkos. First is the point production. He's a forty goal scorer. He was a regular at being able to find the back of the net. Over 500 goals (all in a Bolts uniform) is proof of that ability. To try and replace that, Jake Gentzel was traded for and signed to a long term contract. It might not get the exact desired result, but it's what Bolts management is hoping for (more on that later).. To try and fill the role of captain, that's too be determined. Whoever that is, is going to have some big skates to fill. Stamkos knew how to be able to carry himself both on and off the ice and lead the way for this hockey club. He set the bar very high for being a captain for this Tampa Bay hockey club.

Tampa Management dropped the ball here. It has been well document that both sides tried to reach a deal to keep Steven here before the free agency period kicked off today. Julien BriseBois many feel could have handled this whole situation better. By not getting this done before the start of last season. The way he handled this and not getting his captain back here where he belongs in Tampa, a place Stamkos has said he would have loved to stayed after playing his whole career to this point, is such a sad state of affairs. Look, most of us understand that this is a business, and every teem goes through rebuilding phases. This maybe the start of one in Tampa with Stamkos going out the door. But the timing didn't seem right and the way Stamkos left leaves a bit of a sour taste in the mouths of a lot of people around the organization. From management to players to fans alike.

As for Stamkos himself, he will still going to prove in Nashville that he has a lot left in the tank. He is going in to help a Nashville team that is right now full blow in win now mode in a tough and talent heave Western Conference. Predators GM Barry Trotz has a game plan and went out to get players he felt he could help bring the Cup to the Music City.

There's more to this in the days to come as free agency continues. But the immediates fall out is shock and disappointment from the Tampa faithful.

Thanks for everything you did here in Tampa Steven and best of luck in Nashville!

Hockey Hall Makes Call

The time has come. The Hockey Hall has elected the class for induction in 2024. And its a solid class too. The inductees for this years class are builders Colin Campbell and David Poile. In the players category will see the induction of former United States women's national team forwards Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell-Pohl, Shea Weber, Jeremy Roenick and Pavel Datsyuk. The induction ceremony will take place at the Hall in Toronto on November 11th.

The two men going into the builders category have a long history in the game. Colin Campbell started as a coach in the league, working with the New York Rangers in 1994 when they won the Cup. After that, he spent twenty five years with scouting, officiating and hockey operations. He played over 600 games in the league on a couple different teams, but was mostly known for his post playing career. He then coached in the game from 1985 until 1997, spending four years as head coach with the Rangers. After the Rangers fired him in 1998, he went into hockey operations, a role he still holds to this day.

David Poile has been a general manager in this game for 40 years. He began his career in Atlanta with the Flames in 1972 as an administrative assistant.  He then took over in 1982 as the GM of the Washington Capitals. It was a role he held for fifteen years. Then he was tabbed to run the expansion Nashville Predators when they came into the league in 1997 and built them from the ground up. He finally retired as GM at the end of the 2023 season. Back in 2018 he became the winningest GM in the history of the league, passing Glen Sather.

Darwitz and Wendell-Pohl were both stars on the international stage, representing the Untied States multiple times at the Olympics and in several other international tournaments. Darwitz was at three Olympics (20026, 2006 and 2010) and eight more world championships. From 1999 to 2007 Wendell-Pohl played in 147 games on the international level, scoring 106 goals.

Jeremy Roenick finally got into the hall after a long wait. Roenick started his career in Chicago in 1988 and ended it in 2009 after 1,363 games 513 goals and 1,216 points. He added in another 122 points in 154 career playoff games. Roenick numbers speak for themselves. He may have been very outspoken, sure. But when it came down to it, he was able to produce on the ice.

Pavel Datsyuk. They didn't call him the magic man for nothing. He broke into the NHL in 2001 and played his entire 14 year career in Detroit. He won two Stanley Cups, played in multiple all star games, was a three time winner of the Selke Trophy.  Datsyuk played in 953 games scoring 918 points. But his game was more than just his numbers. What he could do handling the puck was better than most players can ever dream of.

Shea Weber is the last player to get in. Weber broke into the league in 2005 and played 16 years and 1,038 games. He scored 224 goals and 589 points. He was a seven time all star. weber was one of the best captains in the league a a proven all around defender.

Congratulations to the 2024 hall of fame class!

Stanley Resides In Florida

It seems as of late that Lord Stanley likes to reside in the state of Florida. For the 3rd time in the last five seasons, the Stanley Cup calls the state of Florida home. The Lightning won back to back in 2020 and 20201. Now the Florida Panthers for the first time in their history can call themselves champions. Florida won their first cup in franchise history, beating the Edmonton Oilers in seven games.

Before we get into it from the winning side, lets take a look for a moment from the Edmonton point of view.

Conor McDavid. Conn Smyth winner as MVP of the playoffs. Yes, its only the sixth time in league history somebody from the losing team has won MVP of the playoffs. It could have gone to Sergei Bobrovsky of the Panthers, but lets be real here, McDavid was the main reason why the Oilers were even in game seven of the finals. Sure, you can make the detraction that Conor was held off the scoreboard at the start of the series and over the last two games. But consider this. McDavid joins Gretzky and Lemieux as the only guys to collect 40 or more points in a single playoffs. He broke Gretzky's record for most assists in a single playoffs with 34.

McDavid is the best player on the planet and got a chance to really show it off. He came up just a tad short of the end goal, but he was a big reason that the Oilers were even in this game seven to begin with. There were times where it looked like this was going to really be the Oilers year. They had their high powered offense clicking and their defense was on lockdown. Then there were times they looked lost and at the end of game seven they had flat out run out of gas. And the drought for a Canadian franchise continues, as it has now been 31 years since a Canadian team has hoisted the Stanley Cup.

Now then, on to the Champs. This year was the 30th season of Panthers hockey in Sunrise. It was the 3rd ever finals appearance and second in a row. This year it had a different feel to it. Sure, in the middle of the finals it looked like this Panthers team was on the verge of having one of the greatest meltdowns in the history of professional sports. But they got it together when it mattered most in game seven.

For the longest time, the Panthers had played the role of little brother in a sense to the cross state rivals the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa has had all this success over the last almost twenty five years. The Panthers couldn't seem to hit that level that the Bolts had. So you always wondered what if, if you were and are a Panthers fan;. Over the last two years the chips started falling into place. They got the right mix of scoring defense and goaltending and in the end it finally paid off. The Panthers have stepped out of big brothers shadow.

Congratulations to the Florida Panthers. Your 2024 Stanley Cup Champions!

Say Hey!

The Say Hey Kid! That nickname carries a lot of weight. When you hear that nickname, you think of one of if not they best to ever play center field in a Major League uniform. Of course we are talking about the one and only Willie Mays. To many a baseball fan he was a hero on and off the field. The star passed away earlier this week at the age of 93.

His list of accomplishments on the field is the stuff of legend. And very lengthy at that. All of what you are about to read happened with missing two prime years due to military service.

He played 23 years and 3,005 games with the Giants and Mets. He won a World Series in 1954. Finished as a .301 lifetime hitter, with 2,068 hits, 660 home runs, 525 doubles, 121 triples, 1,909 RBI's and 339 stolen bases. He won rookie of the year in 1951, MVP in 1954 and again in 1965, was a 12 time gold glove winner and 24 times an all star. He was elected to the baseball hall of fame on his first year of eligibility in 1979. At the time of his retirement in 1973, he held the NL record for career runs scored (2,062), and ranked second in league history behind Stan Musial in games played (2,992), third in home runs (660), at bats (10,881), runs batted in (1,903), total bases (6,066), extra-base hits (1,323) and walks (1,464), fourth in hits (3,293), fifth in slugging percentage (.557), and eighth in doubles (523); his 140 triples ranked fourth among players active after 1945. He holds major league records for games as a center fielder (2,829), putouts as an outfielder (7,095) and extra-inning home runs (22), and ended his career behind only Ty Cobb in total games as an outfielder (2,842), ranking seventh in assists (188) and third in double plays (59) in center field.

The numbers really speak for themselves in that very few, if anybody, was better than Willie. He could do it all on the field. He could hit, hit for power, run, steal bases and play great defense. To put it like this, there was almost nothing that man could do on a baseball field (except pitch, but I'm sure if he wanted to he could have done that too). Now in the course of baseball history, there have been plenty of great centerfielders. Mike Trout, Tori Hunter, Carlos Beltran, Jim Edmonds, Ty Cobb, Mickey Mantle, Duke Snyder. Just to name a few. But when you ask most people who's name is at the top of that list of the greatest, Mays is always at or near the top.

His impact on the game both on and off the field will never be forgotten.

Stanley Cup Finals Preview

The time has come. We started this journey back in October, with 32 teams all vying for the richest prize in all of hockey: The Stanley Cup! We are now down to two teams left standing. One team is looking for its first title in thirty four ears. The other is looking for the first title in the history of the franchise. The Florida Panthers will battle the Edmonton Oilers for the Stanley Cup!

Florida got here with three tough series wins to march through the Eastern Conference. They started with a five game win over Tampa Bay in the first round, a six game win over Boston in round two and finally by dispatching the New York Rangers in six games in the Eastern Conference finals. This is the 2nd year in a row and third time in franchise history that the Panthers have reached the Cup finals. They are still in search of their first title.

Edmonton got here by beating Los Angeles in five games, followed by beating Vancouver in seven games in round two and beating the Stars in six games in the conference finals. This is the seventh time in Oilers history they are playing for a Stanley Cup. Their last appearance in the finals was a loss in 2006. Edmonton is looking for its first cup since 1990. This is going to be one hell of a series. You got two of the best offensive teams in the game going head to head. This series could be a massive statement for Conor McDavid. He's the best player in the world right now and he's do so much during his career. Only thing he's missing is the Cup. Now he's finally got his shot at it. And its not just Conor and Leon leading the charge this playoffs. Mattias Janmark, Ryan McLeod, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Philip Broberg have all scored big goals at different times this post season. It really is a team effort.

There was some level of trepidation going into this post season. Stuart Skinner had been good in the past couple of seasons. Last year he had firmly took hold of the starting job in Edmonton, but wasn't quite able to get the Oilers to the promise land. This year he has, now the question is, can he help them finish the job. This has been a good, well balanced hockey club in this playoffs.

So to is the team they playing in the Florida Panthers. For as good of an offensive hockey club as they have, and they have a good one, they are just as known for their goaltending. Sergei Bobrovski has been just as good if not better. He's playing outstanding hockey and has really shown the hockey world that he has been worth every cent that the Panthers have been paying him. Bob's play this year in the playoffs is proving that last year's run was no fluke.

Same thing goes for the rest of the Panthers as well. Tkachuk, Verhaeghe and Barkov have all been playing out of their minds as the playoffs have gone along. They, like the Oilers, have been operating at a different level. They are well coached, balanced and deep. This is going to be a very tough team to beat.

Pick: Panthers in 6!

Clark Impact Being Felt

There was little doubt that Caitlin Clark was going to have an impact on the WNBA. There's a lot more eyes on the sport then there have been in its 28 year history. There have been some big names and great players that have played the game. Becky Hammond, Sheryl Swoopes, Rebecca Lobo, Lisa Leslie, Cynthia Cooper just to name a few. All great players in their own right. But none have had the impact, or hype, coming into the league that Clark has.

For as good as Clark has been, not all the attention has been positive.

Don't worry we will touch on the positives. But, as you can figure, there we're going to be some comments made about it. One was from Pat McAfee. He made one slip comment about Clark, which was made during a positive rant about what she's done for the game. He did promptly apologize for the comment after it was made. He got taken to the woodshed slightly for it, but it was quickly remedied between him and Clark, as it should have been. yes it was a boneheaded comment, but McAfee took ownership of it.

Then there's Jemele Hill. She took to the internet to do what she does best. Take a big story and somehow manage to turn it racial. Hill, at one point when the WNBA season started, tried to put the spin on it that Clark was popular because she was white and using her sexuality (I'm paraphrasing here). But that's what Jemele Hill does, she uses racial issues in stories when there isn't one. Hill, to her credit, did eventually go on to back Clark and what she's done for the women's basketball game.

So that's just some of the negative stuff that's whirled around the start of Caitlin Clark's pro career. i give her credit where its due. At 22 years old, she's handling this will grace and professionalism beyond her years. A lot of that started to show through when she became a big name in the game playing at Iowa. Clark is quick to realize, 11 games as of this writing into her WNBA career, that the pro game is different than in college.

Clark has been good at what she does and has drawn eyes onto the sport.. It's not only getting eyes on her, but its getting eyes on the league and the greater game as a whole. She isn't quite at the same skill level, but Clark has the marketability and drawing power of what guys like Michael Jordan and LeBron James have done with the NBA.