NHL pluses and minuses: New players, a reunion and a farewell

Times columnist Helene Elliott rates the pluses and minuses in the NHL from the previous week:

+ Defenseman Johnny Boychuk has had an immediate impact on the New York Islanders, who acquired him from the salary cap-squeezed Boston Bruins just before the season began. He had a goal and five points and a plus-1 defensive rating in his first two games, contributing to the Islanders’ 2-0 start.

+ The Edmonton Oilers held a reunion of their 1984 Stanley Cup championship team last week, and it was an impressive gathering. Apparently, time heals all wounds — fans gave a standing ovation to former owner Peter Pocklington, who has long been vilified for sending Wayne Gretzky to the Kings in 1988.

+ Spurred by the signing of center Ryan Johansen to a three-year, $12-million contract just before the season began, the Columbus Blue Jackets are 2-0. Johansen, centering for Nick Foligno and Cam Atkinson, has contributed three assists to share the team scoring lead.

- Exhibition games don’t count, but injuries suffered during exhibition games do. The Carolina Hurricanes lost center Jordan Staal to a broken leg in their second preseason game and indefinitely lost forward Jeff Skinner — their top goal scorer last season with 33 — to a concussion, at least the third of his NHL career.

- R.I.P. Valeri Karpov, drafted 56th by the Ducks in 1993. He died last week as the result of head injuries suffered in a fall, according to Russian news reports. He played 76 NHL games over three seasons, collecting 14 goals and 29 points, and finished his career in Russia. He also represented his homeland at the 1994 Winter Olympics.

- Attendance at the Florida Panthers’ home opener was announced as 11,419, a franchise-low for a home opener. That won’t help their push for a bailout of $80 million in tax money. Broward County (Fla.) has hired a consultant to study whether the BB&T Center in Sunrise can survive without the Panthers, who claim to have lost $30 million last season. What if the answer is yes?