Sport-Scan Daily Brief
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 8/9/2021 Boston Bruins 1219196 Don’t Be Surprised To See Forbort With McAvoy On Bruins Blue Line Colorado Avalanche 1219197 Sunday Notes: Graves says MacKinnon stuff exaggerated, Virtanen denies allegations as agent blasts media Detroit Red Wings 1219198 My early look at Red Wings' lineup has familiar faces with fresh faces Los Angeles Kings 1219199 A look at the first ever We Are All Kings camp + Photos and Blake Bolden Q&A Minnesota Wild 1219200 Wild signs Will Bitten to one-year, two-way deal Pittsburgh Penguins 1219201 Dan’s Daily: Virtanen Denies Allegations, Sad List of UFAs San Jose Sharks 1219202 Can an NHL player like Evander Kane ‘throw’ a game? A look at the possible ways Vegas Golden Knights 1219203 With Reed-Francois Taking Mizzou AD Job, Las Vegas Sports Market Loses Third Major Player In Three Weeks SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1219196 Boston Bruins Don’t Be Surprised To See Forbort With McAvoy On Bruins Blue Line Published 14 hours ago on August 8, 2021 By Jimmy Murphy Could new Boston Bruins defenseman Derek Forbort find himself riding shotgun with Charlie McAvoy to start the 2021-22 regular season? Training camp is still a month away but Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy already admitted that it’s no guarantee the Terriers connection of Matt Grzelcyk and Charlie McAvoy remain the Bruins’ top pairing this coming season. “Did not work out as well as we would have liked. It was a lot of demands on Grizz,” Cassidy said of the former Boston University defensemen pairing together as they did for the Terriers during the 2015-16 season. That’s why the Boston Bruins bench boss would like to see what the 6- foot-4, 220-pound Forbort could do to help his top defenseman and handle the elevated physical rigors that playing on a top pairing in the NHL brings. No one is questioning that the 5-foot-9, 175-pound Grzelcyk has the skills to play the left side with McAvoy on the right of the top pairing, but his skills may free up more down the lineup. “Forbort is a bigger, different type of defender than Gryzz,” Cassidy pointed out last week. “So we want to see how that would look with Charlie. Whether we do that every night remains to be seen. That’s a big ask. We know Grizz can slot in there at times. I think you’ll see some toggling.” Forbort was part of a spree of signings that Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney made on the opening day of NHL Free Agency. Sweeney also signed forwards Erik Haula, Nick Foligno and Tomas Nosek, as well as goalie Linus Ullmnark. The 29-year-old rearguard, who was drafted 15th overall by the Los Angeles Kings at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, was signed to a three-year, $9 million contract on July 28. “Derek was a player we identified through our own scouting staff and analytics staff that would come in and complement our group,” Sweeney said after the free agency frenzy. “He’s played extended minutes, he’s healthier. He had a rebound year [in Winnipeg] from not being healthy the previous season and went in and played a much-elevated role. “[He’s a] primary penalty killer, which is also important. Lauzy [Jeremy Lauzon] and Kevan [Miller] picked up a lot of those details, and Derek was excited in thinking about playing with a couple different partners we have in Charlie [McAvoy] and Brandon [Carlo] from penalty killing to elevated minutes in a shutdown role. We’re going to need him to do that.” Forbort spent the 2021 NHL season with the Winnipeg Jets on a one- year contract that carried a $1 million cap hit. The new Boston Bruins rearguard had two goals and ten assists in 56 games. Forbort averaged 20:45 TOI per game, had 115 blocked shots and 80 hits. As Shinzawa pointed out, he also averaged 2:43 TOI on the penalty kill. He could definitely fulfill what team President Cam Neely and GM Don Sweeney were looking for after watching their depleted and small blue line get manhandled by the Islanders in the second round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The expectation, for now, is that if Forbort slots in next to McAvoy, then Grzelcyk will drop down to the third pairing left slot alongside Connor Clifton, while Mike Reilly would play next to Brandon Carlo on the second pairing. For a second straight season, the Boston Bruins blue line appears to be a work in progress. Boston Hockey NowLOADED: 08.09.2021 1219197 Colorado Avalanche Sunday Notes: Graves says MacKinnon stuff exaggerated, Virtanen denies allegations as agent blasts media Published 16 hours ago on August 8, 2021 By Adrian Dater Ryan Graves Good Sunday to all. Hope your lungs are OK, with all this smoke around. Denver had the worst air quality in the world yesterday, according to some story I read yesterday. Lovely. On to some hockey links, including an interview Ryan Graves gave the other day, where he talked some about Nathan MacKinnon and that Zadorov thing. Bonus Voucher! Graves went on John Scott’s podcast, and was asked about those comments Nikita Zadorov made about Nathan MacKinnon. You know, the “chickpea pasta” stuff, etc. Graves essentially said a lot of it was exaggerated, though he also said MacKinnon “totally changed the culture” of the team (YouTube) Vancouver Hockey Now: Jake Virtanen is under investigation for sexual assault from an incident four years ago. The court ordered information sealed, but it has leaked to the press. Police have not charged Virtanen with a crime. His agent blasted the process and media leaks, too. Detroit: Steve Yzerman is doing a pretty good job and a stealthy job as the Detroit Red Wings GM. Kevin Allen ranked his moves as Wings boss, with a couple of interesting choices. Colorado hockey now LOADED: 08.09.2021 1219198 Detroit Red Wings Rasmussen took advantage of the opportunity he got last season to show he’s ready for the NHL. He’s filled into his 6-foot-6 frame and uses it to protect the puck. Smith brings physicality and the willingness to fight My early look at Red Wings' lineup has familiar faces with fresh faces on behalf of a teammate. Erne is another thick body, and he rediscovered his scoring touch last season. This has the potentially to be a heavy line that grinds down opponents. HELENE ST. JAMES THE FOURTH-LINER: Why Wings must consider a larger role for Givani Smith The others Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman spent July giving the roster a bit of a makeover, adding and detracting via trades and the free- Jonatan Berggren, the No. 33 pick in 2018, is the sort of creative forward agent market. the Wings need, and he’s got a good shot and drives the net. He is, however, waiver exempt, so he’d have to have a phenomenal camp to Multiple changes have been made to the team that finished a 56-game earn a spot in the lineup out of camp. Lucas Raymond, the No. 4 pick in slate in May: Behind the bench, in goal, on defense and up front. The 2020, projects to need some time in Grand Rapids. Mitchell Stephens, a expectation is the Wings will be more competitive in 2021-22, but as late-July trade acquisition, could push for a spot in the bottom six. Yzerman noted in late July, “We’re going to have some younger players Veteran Frans Nielsen was on the outside looking in when training camp playing bigger roles, and sometimes that can be a challenge.” began last season, and probably will be the 13th forward. If it comes GM OUTLOOK: Yzerman on free-agent additions: 'Hope it translates to down to it, he could be placed on waivers and assigned to the minors. wins' There’d be a little north of $1 million in salary cap relief, but the bigger gain would be a roster spot. Overall, Yzerman has balanced the mix of core rebuild players with complementary veterans and fresh faces. CARLOS OSORIO, AP Yzerman used free agency to add forward Pius Suter and defenseman Defense pair 1: Nick Leddy-Filip Hronek Jordan Oesterle, and signed swingman Luke Witkowski for depth. Leddy is a puck-moving defenseman and top-notch skater, and should Forward Sam Gagner and defenseman Marc Staal agreed to extensions pair well with Hronek. Hronek has had a tough couple seasons, having before reaching free agency. Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic and had to take on the role of team workhorse after Danny DeKeyser was lost defenseman Nick Leddy were added via trade; the Nedeljkovic trade to a back injury eight games into the 2018-19 season. That overburdened included saying goodbye to Jonathan Bernier, who has been a rock for Hronek, who is only 23. Leddy, 30, will provide balance, and take some the Wings the past two seasons. It won't just be new faces on the bench, of the pressure off of Hronek. either: Former NHL forward Alex Tanguay joined the coaching staff, taking charge of the forwards and the power play. NEW TOP GUY: Nick Leddy can help the Wings on defense. Here's how The Wings take the ice for training camp Sept. 22 and begin their season Pair 2: Marc Staal-Moritz Seider Oct. 14. Here is an early projection for how they will look: It made all the sense in the world to bring back Staal: He’s a 6-4, 209- HERE WE GO: Wings' 2021-22 schedule: What's on deck after pound veteran who does tons of little things to disrupt plays, and pandemic, in Olympic year provides a calming presence.