from Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe,

So as 2019-20 dawns, and your faithful puck chronicler readies to cross into a sixth decade of day-to-day coverage, count the recovery of the Lightning, their 62-win roster barely changed, high among the most interesting story lines of the new seasons.

A few more to consider as the vulcanized biscuit is about to drop:

- Puck and Player Tracking is about to take a big leap over the boards. The new league initiative, announced in January at All-Star Weekend festivities, won’t be rolled out to the scale originally anticipated. But it’s coming and it should become an increasing talking (and visual) point throughout the season.

Now, what is it? Numbers, lots of ’em. The league’s intention is to have stats — player speed, puck speed, shift lengths, etc. — constantly streaming to fans. In arenas. During broadcasts. Numbers, numbers everywhere, accumulated by invisible digital bugs tucked into player equipment, the puck, and all over the 31 barns.

On the surface, the data will add to fan engagement and general knowledge — numbers for the sake of numbers. Deeper down, the numbers will be intended to interface with the oncoming behemoth that will be the gambling industry (also rolling out in fits and starts). Hockey fans will be able to review the numbers and then factor them into their wagers, similar to the way horse players scrutinize the Daily Racing Form before placing their bets.

- The rulebook didn’t change substantially, but one tweak will force players to dash back to the bench if they lose their helmets (akin to the longstanding rule that forces players to discard broken sticks immediately).

The new rule will allow a player, stripped of his helmet, to continue playing if he is in possession of the puck or in an immediate puck battle. Otherwise, he must exit stage left.

A player who intentionally strips another player of his helmet, intending to force an opponent off the ice, will be assessed a two-minute minor. The same penalty will apply for a player who continues playing despite losing his helmet.

A good rule, and one that will lead players to perfect the sleight-of-hand move to pop the bucket off an opponent and not get caught for a penalty.

Unfortunately, the new rule would have negated one of the most exciting plays of the 2019 postseason when Krug, his lid stripped by the Blues’ David Perron just in front of Tuukka Rask, bolted down the ice and crushed Robert Thomas with a check.

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