The NHL season is back. Tonight we have preseason hockey at midnight ET being played down in Australia, and NHL training camps are in full swing. 

This is Unnumbered Thoughts. Essentially a weekly catch-all of musings, notes, and stories that I find interesting. 

This will typically be a weekly feature here at EP Rinkside, typically running Thursday or Friday morning. So, with that, let’s get going. 

A. The Mike Babcock situation was the first real test for new NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh. 

While the podcast 'Spittin Chiclets’ brought the accusations to light and set everything into motion, it was the NHLPA investigation by Walsh and Ron Hainsey that ultimately unearthed enough evidence that the Columbus Blue Jackets realized they had to make a change. 

It’s a strong opening statement