Lots of exciting hockey stuff to look forward to this week, including the release of EA Sports’ NHL 15 on Tuesday and the beginning of the NHL Rookie Tournament a few days later. I’m certainly tempted to buy first hockey video game of this console generation, but given the likelihood of poor reviews, I might wait until the price drops in a few weeks. Anyways, on to the news from the weekend!
**We finally have a venue for the 2015 Winter Classic, as the Hawks and Caps will face off at Nationals Park on New Year’s Day (Second City Hockey)
**More players previews from Tracey Myers, with Nick Leddy (link), Marcus Kruger (link) and Duncan Keith (link) getting looks (CSN Chicago)
**Speaking of NHL 15, it appears to be missing practically half of the functionality of last year’s game, and people are understandably pissed. The gameplay in the demo was superb, easily the best of any game in the series, but CPU drafting in Be in a GM mode, among other things, is pretty absurd. Again, this game costs $60. (Polygon)
**Cam Ward didn’t expect to enter the season as a member of the Hurricanes. “To be honest, at the start of the summer I didn’t think I was coming back.” (NHL.com)
**Evander Kane says he’s happy to be with the Jets, quieting some of the speculation surrounding a possible trade (Pro Hockey Talk)
**Aaron Ekblad expects to make the Panthers after being selected No. 1 overall in the 2014 draft (Panthers)
**Martin Brodeur would be willing to back up Carey Price in Montreal if the Canadiens would have him (Toronto Sun)