Sure, the NHL season is two months in, with all 32 teams determining whether they have a legitimate chance at the Stanley Cup. But this year there's an extra factor playing filtering all eyes looking toward the future.
For the first time since the Sochi Olympics in 2014, active NHL players will populate Olympic rosters. That means by the end of December, most NHL players will have an idea of whether they will represent their country at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy this upcoming February.
New York Rangers fans will likely have more than a few reasons to tune in, as the team is expected to be well represented in Milan, especially on Team USA.