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Overlooked NHL storylines of the 2016-2017 season
Ryan Dzingel of the Ottawa Senators watches a shot by Bobby Ryan #9 (not shown) go in the net against the New York Islanders at 18:54 of the second period at the Barclays Center on April 9, 2017. The Islanders were eliminated from the postseason on the second to last day of the season.  Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Overlooked NHL storylines of the 2016-2017 season

Sidney Crosby got a lot of points, Alex Ovechkin scored a lot of goals and, yes, the regular season is really long. These have been the storylines at the end of every NHL season for the past 10 years, and this year was no different.

Thankfully, some new blood came along this year to inject a little more variety into the NHL, but even then those stories got overplayed. We get it, Connor McDavid is a freak, Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine are snipers, and, oh, did you know this was the last season for Joe Louis Arena?

These are all great stories, but stories that have been brought up and repeated ad nauseam for a good portion of the season. Here are some stories you might have missed during the 2016-2017 NHL season.

Bob Miller retirement


Los Angeles Kings play-by-play announcer Bob Miller talks to fans after the game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Staples Center on April 8, 2017. This was Miller's last game after broadcasting for 44 years with the team. Kings won 3-2 in overtime. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

This is definitely not overlooked in Los Angeles, but the rest of the NHL needs to give credit where credit is due. Bob Miller has been the voice the LA Kings since 1973, but his smooth and steady delivery will be missing from the airwaves after health concerns are driving him to retire at the end of this season. He has seen over 500 players and 25 coaches through his 44 years of service, and became an announcing icon that not only did his job right, he successfully educated sunny southern California about the game of hockey – an overlooked feat in itself.

Suspensions and fines down from last year… by a lot


Referee Mike Leggo points in his last game as a NHL official during the first period of the game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Arizona Coyotes at Staples Center on April 2, 2017. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY

During the 2015-2016 season, 40 players were suspended 203 total games and forfeited over $2.9 million in fines. This year, 27 players were punished with a suspension, missing 84 games total and giving up $1.1 million dollars of total salary. There was also a huge drop in fines from $124, 583.78 last year to $35,833.33 this year. A lot of the suspension numbers can be contributed to Raffi Torres nearly killing Jakob Silfverberg last year, but even factoring that out still results in the NHL appearing to be a kinder, gentler league. Quick, someone get Happy Gilmore to attack someone with a skate to make this hockey again.

NY Islanders streaking at end of the season


New York Islanders center Alan Quine (10) and goalie Thomas Greiss (1) react after the win against Ottawa Senators at Barclays Center on April 9, 2017. The Islanders won 4-2.  Nicole Sweet-USA TODAY Sports

The Islanders were eliminated from playoff contention on the second to last of the season, adding some excitement to the last week of the regular season. New York was on a five-game winning streak, putting pressure on the Toronto Maple Leafs to keep pace. After firing Jack Capuano midseason, Interim Coach Doug Weight has led the Islanders to a 23-12-4 record since taking over. Even after being eliminated from the playoffs, the Islanders beat the Ottawa Senators Sunday night to end their season winning six in a row and putting the NHL on notice for next year.

Florida’s fall from grace


Florida Panthers right wing Jaromir Jagr (68) pats right wing Shawn Thornton (22) on the head as they play a video tribute to Thornton during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, April 8, 2017. Thornton played in his last NHL game Saturday, which sadly, was not a playoff game.  AP Photo/Joel Auerbach

I guess firing the coach that got you to the playoffs last year 21 games into the season didn’t work out after all. The Florida Panthers went from Atlantic Division Champions to near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Injuries to key players did not help their cause, but firing Gerard Gallant threw the team into a loop they never recovered from despite having nearly the same main playmakers from last year.

Calgary’s ascension


Calgary Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan on his bench against the Arizona Coyotes during the overtime period at Scotiabank Saddledome.  Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Now on to coaching decisions that didn’t end up costing a season. Things weren’t looking for the Flames to start the season under first-year head coach Glen Gulutzan, but after figuring each other out, Gulutzan and the team started clicking. In their last thirty games of the season, the Flames are 20-9-1 including eight wins in overtime or shootout. Not only are they having success, they are getting hot when it matters and winning close games, which will serve them well in the ever-tight Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Dallas’ free-fall from the top


Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (left) and right wing Ales Hemsky (right) did not have the 2016-2017 season fans expected after a solid 2015-2016 showing.  Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

GAME OF THRONES SPOILERS: Remember how Stannis Baratheon had a pretty sick military that was supposed to topple the Lannisters, and somehow mucked that up because of green fire ultimately resulting in failing to capture the Iron Throne? That’s kind of what happened to the Dallas Stars, except the green fire was free agency. The Dallas Stars won their conference in 2015-2016, but lost key defensemen Alex Goligoski and Jason Demers before the start of this NHL year. That was catalyst in what was to be a terrible year, where the Stars finished 6th in the Central Division, ranked 29th in goals against and didn’t make the playoffs. So much for being Stanley Cup contenders.

Elite Emergence of Mark Scheifele


Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (55) during warm up prior to the game between the Winnipeg Jets and the Minnesota Wild at MTS Centre.  Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

Lost in the Patrik Laine hype was Mark Scheifele improving again after notching 61 points last year. The Canadian center leads an exciting young core in Winnipeg, contributing 82 points for the season, good for 7 th best in the NHL. The Jets were left out of the playoffs this year, but they have a bright future if continue to build around Scheifele, and the other young guns on this team.

Hockey teams continue to dominate Twitter


Shea Theodore on 'Ducks Twitter' in front of the fans during the team's home opener white carpet ceremonies before a game against the Vancouver Canucks on October 23, 2016. John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Sports twitter is a beautifully ugly place. Those who are in the game participate in some of the most intelligent, but savage conversations that are contained to 140 characters. Which is why fans should appreciate Hockey Twitter. Before NBA teams started mentioning and subtweeting one another, NHL teams got the ball rolling with some of the best trash talking from official team Twitter accounts. Check out this exchange between the Penguins and the Senators. Going to need burn cream after that.

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