1 Columbus Blue Jackets News Clips November 10-11, 2020 Columbus Blue Jackets Cleveland Monsters/Prospects

Columbus Blue Jackets News Clips November 10-11, 2020

Columbus Blue Jackets PAGE 02: The Hockey Writers: Blue Jackets’ Texier Steps Into the Spotlight PAGE 04: Columbus Dispatch: When will NHL return? League, players assessing options for 2020-21 amid COVID-19 concerns PAGE 06: 1st Ohio Battery: Forecasting the Blue Jackets' Lineup on Opening Night PAGE 08: 1st Ohio Battery: Commissioner Gary Bettman Speaks On What Options Are Being Discussed For Next Season

Cleveland Monsters/Prospects

NHL/Websites PAGE 10: The Athletic: Down Goes Brown: Which NHL team makes the best current lineup out of ex- players? PAGE 15: The Athletic: NHL player poll: Bubbles, schedules and more thoughts on the 2020-21 season PAGE 18: Sportsnet.ca: NHL entering crucial stretch in planning for next season PAGE 19: Las Vegas Review-Journal: NHL commissioner discusses possible changes for 2020-21 season

The Hockey Writers / Blue Jackets’ Texier Steps Into the Spotlight By Mark Scheig - November 10, 2020

The Columbus Blue Jackets entered the 2020 offseason with one big question in their top-six. Thanks to Gus Nyquist’s surgery, they now have two big questions. - Is Alex Texier ready to be a full-time top-line player? - Who will replace Nyquist in the top-six while he is recovering? It has been widely expected that Texier would get the first shot to the left of Pierre-Luc Dubois. With Nyquist out, Texier’s role and performance step into the spotlight even more. Alex Texier’s Importance Why is Texier’s role so important? In a worst-case scenario where he struggles, the Blue Jackets would have to fill two top-six roles instead of one. Nyquist was a likely top-six candidate. Texier needs to come to camp ready to impress and earn the opportunity to play on the top line. The chance is there. He will have every opportunity to show he belongs. Texier is coming off a season where a lumbar injury limited him to 36 regular-season games. He recorded six goals and 13 points. While this doesn’t seem like much, Texier did show some positive signs when he was on the ice. In short, Texier outperformed his expectations. These stats are all courtesy of our friends at Evolving Wild. Any numbers shared are all from there unless otherwise noted. We have limited data available since Texier only has two seasons under his belt. But the progression is looking good. Evolving Wild keeps a stat called WAR (wins above replacement.) This is exactly what you might expect. How many more wins does a team get with this player over a replacement player? In 2019-20, Texier finished with a WAR of 0.8. So almost one extra win. He was expected to have a 0.5 WAR. For perspective, Oliver Bjorkstrand led the team in WAR with 2.5 (33rd overall in NHL) followed by Zach Werenski with 1.7 (26th ranked defenseman in NHL.) In terms of GAR (goals above replacement), Texier finished with a 4.3 and was expected to have 2.6. Again, he exceeded expectations. In other words, with Texier in the lineup, you expect to get 2.6 more goals than a replacement player but he ended up with 4.3 more goals. In the end, Texier outperformed his contract. He provided $2.6 million worth of value to the Blue Jackets on the 2019-20 season of his ELC. Texier & the Next Step So while this is good for both Texier and the Blue Jackets, he has yet to play in a full season. In 2020-21, he will step into the spotlight hoping to take that all important next step. With Nyquist out, Texier will be in the spotlight more. The Blue Jackets are going to have to decide if they need to bring in outside help or if they’re going to stay internal and give others a chance. In other words, do you play Texier on the top line and promote someone else to play in Nyquist’s spot? Do you sign a free agent to play on the top line and have Texier start with a lower role in order to work his way up?

My take: I think Texier deserves a chance to show he can stay on the top line. But with that said, don’t rule out the possibility of another move happening. GM Jarmo Kekalainen said that they’re watching the market to see if an opportunity arises aka if a team needing cap space makes a player available that they want. Regardless of what the team decides to do, Texier is going to play a major role in 2020-21. The Blue Jackets hope that he will bring enough production to the table to help lessen the blow of not having Nyquist for months. Side Dishes - And then there was one. Pierre-Luc Dubois. With Vladislav Gavrikov signing his new deal, Dubois is the only outstanding RFA the Blue Jackets have. I mentioned this to Brian Hedger when he joined us on THW Live last Wednesday, but I wonder if there will be any “hard feelings” in future seasons. It’s only a matter of time before Dubois signs his new deal. But given it’s not done yet and the history of some other tough negotiations, will Dubois remember this and will it have an affect on him staying when he could go UFA? Luckily for us we won’t have to worry about it for a few seasons. - Speaking of Gavrikov, locking him up for three years at under $3 million is a big win. Any time you can lock in a top-four defender at that price, you do it. The Blue Jackets did a nice job here. - I’ll give you a way too early sleeper for next season. Eric Robinson. I think he exceeds expectations. Don’t be surprised if he carves himself a top-six role eventually. - Last one on Yegor Chinakhov. When coach Bob Hartley says that he hasn’t seen a wrist shot as good since Joe Sakic, you take notice. That’s very high praise for someone that many in the hockey world didn’t even know existed. If this pick works out for the Blue Jackets, woah. Just another day in the office for Kekalainen.

Columbus Dispatch / When will NHL return? League, players assessing options for 2020-21 amid COVID-19 concerns By Brian Hedger - November 11, 2020

The silence is telling.

Despite holding private discussions about options for playing its 2020-21 season, the NHL hasn’t revealed much publicly. Still unanswered are questions about when next season will begin, how long it will last and under what protocols it will played amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

All that’s known currently is that Jan. 1 is a tentative goal for starting the season, which has already been pushed back a month from Dec. 1 and might be delayed again.

“There hasn’t been a lot of conversations, because I don’t think they know anything,” said Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno, who is staying informed through defenseman David Savard, the team’s rep with the NHL Players' Association.

“I think everyone’s waiting for this election to be over and waiting to see what’s going to happen with the cold/flu season. So, to make any predictions is probably scary for the league, because they don’t want to have to backtrack. For us as players, it’s frustrating because we want to know there’s a season to work toward.”

Teams and their owners also want to know, along with millions of fans.

“I think right now, there’s too many things out of their control, with all the different (state regulations) about travel,” Savard said. “Stuff like that makes it complicated, but they are working on trying to figure out the best scenarios for both sides. The players want to play and I think the owners don’t want to lose a season either.”

Here is a rundown on where things stand:

Negotiations The NHLPA has formed another return-to-play committee that includes a handful of players, but the new committee has not held talks with the league yet. Instead, NHLPA president Donald Fehr has spoken with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly about potential options. According to the Ottawa Citizen, the league is scheduled to hold a teleconference with its board of governors Thursday to outline options – including a start date, length of season and format for hosting games.

Hub cities? The postseason format of strict quarantine “bubbles” in Canada does not appear to be a viable option, since players almost universally feel it was too constraining. A more likely scenario would be hub cities that have fewer mobility restrictions. A recent report in The Athletic cited Columbus as a possible U.S.-based hub, while an all-Canadian hub might be necessary because of border restrictions on “non-essential” workers trying to enter Canada.

One option floated as a possibility includes a two-weeks-on, one-week-off format where teams commute to the hubs for games.

“In talking to people in the league, I think everybody knows there’s going to be some sacrifice that’s going to be made again,” Foligno said. “It’s just a matter of how much we are willing to live with to make it work.”

Start date The league would like to begin Jan. 1, but that will likely be determined by how long negotiations take on the new format. Teams that were part of the NHL’s 24-team postseason will likely get about two or three weeks for training camp, while the seven teams that missed the postseason might be granted up to 10 more days.

Play or not play? Don’t underestimate the impact of not having fans at games because of the pandemic. That lost revenue might even be a dealbreaker for some owners. “I think the league is gathering as much information from teams and owners as possible, because I’m sure there are some owners that are like, ‘Hey, listen, unless you guarantee me this, this and this, I’m not opening my doors,’ ” Foligno said. “That’s what I worry about.”

It’s a legitimate concern.

“Right now, not having any fans in the arenas, it’s a big loss for (owners) and we’re all 50/50 on the (hockey-related revenue), so players will lose some money, too,” Savard said. “It’s tough for both sides, but at the same time I think we all think we need to play and figure out a way to keep the sport going, keep the fans involved. I think that’s going to be the best thing in the long run.”

1st Ohio Battery / Forecasting the Blue Jackets' Lineup on Opening Night By Jacob Nitzberg - November 11, 2020

It's never too early for a good old-fashioned lineup prediction. With the start date of the NHL season unknown, the Blue Jackets still have time to make more trades or moves in free agency, but GM Jarmo Kekäläinen's main priority at the moment is re-signing restricted free agent Pierre-Luc Dubois. If the Blue Jackets decide not to make any more moves this offseason (besides re-signing Dubois), here's a prediction of John Tortorella's lineup, starting with forwards. Forwards Key Additions: Max Domi (Trade with MTL), Mikko Koivu (Free Agent Signing), Mikhail Grigorenko (Free Agent Signing) Key Subtractions: Alexander Wennberg (Buyout), Josh Anderson (Trade with MTL) Line 1: Alexandre Texier - Pierre-Luc Dubois - Oliver Bjorkstrand Line 2: Nick Foligno - Max Domi - Cam Atkinson Line 3: Liam Foudy - Mikko Koivu - Emil Bemstrom Line 4: Boone Jenner - Riley Nash - Mikhail Grigorenko Scratched: Kevin Stenlund Injured: Gustav Nyquist In the AHL: Eric Robinson, Nathan Gerbe, Stefan Matteau, Ryan MacInnis, Kole Sherwood, Calvin Thurkauf With Nyquist's injury, the top six needs to be shuffled around a bit. Foligno will likely get bumped up for the time being, based on Tortorella's willingness to play him in the top six previously. The addition of Koivu, who'll play center on the third line, allows Jenner to return to his natural position on the wing where he's been a 30-goal scorer. Grigorenko, Nash, and Jenner make up a solid fourth line with speed, skill, and experience. Defensemen Key Additions: Gavin Bayreuther (Free Agent Signing) Key Subtractions: Ryan Murray (Trade with NJD) First Pairing: Zach Werenski - Seth Jones Second Pairing: Vladislav Gavrikov - David Savard Third Pairing: Dean Kukan - Andrew Peeke Scratched: Scott Harrington, Gavin Bayreuther The defensive corps aren't as deep with the loss of Murray, but they're still fairly solid. The first two pairs are set in stone, and the third pair isn't likely to change, either. Bayreuther was brought in as a

seventh or eighth defenseman that can pitch in when needed, but he's unlikely to make a huge impact at the NHL level. Goaltenders 1A: Joonas Korpisalo 1B: Elvis Merzlikins The Blue Jackets' two-headed monster is back for another season, and Tortorella will likely ride the hot hand. Both goalies are incredibly talented and had great runs last season, but Korpisalo has the edge over Merzlikins in terms of experience. There you have it. Agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments.

1st Ohio Battery / Commissioner Gary Bettman Speaks On What Options Are Being Discussed For Next Season By Ed Francis - November 11, 2020

When you make the Stanley Cup playoffs, you either end your season with a loss, or you hoist Lord Stanley.

Columbus, of course, experienced the former.

And while they'd love to get a new season started, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is beginning to give clues that - as expected - the NHL may have been too ambitious in their hopes. The All-Star Game was cancelled, as was the January 1st Winter Classic in Minnesota; both signs that the league does not believe they can be ready for a start in roughly seven weeks.

That amount of time would mean training camps would need to start just a few weeks from now, which seems unlikely. Extended training camps for the seven franchises that were not a part of the bubble would start even sooner, making a January 1st start even less likely.

However, we are starting to get more information from the league on how next season may look - whenever it starts.

One option that can be crossed off the list: the full-time bubble, similar to those in Toronto and Edmonton that played home to the entire Stanley Cup playoffs.

That leaves three options on the table: teams playing in hub cities for shorter periods of time, teams playing in their own arenas with attendance where guidelines allow it, or a hybrid of the two. Bettman described the hub city idea as being one in which teams would play a burst of games for 1-2 weeks, then have roughly that same amount of time off.

The commissioner also noted that minimizing travel will be of the utmost importance.

"As it relates to the travel issue, which is obviously the great unknown, we may have to temporarily realign to deal with geography," Bettman said.

For the Blue Jackets, this may mean they'll be seeing a lot of Pittsburgh, Detroit, Buffalo, Chicago, Nashville and St. Louis in 2021. There is also the possibility that teams from the western conference won't be on Columbus' schedule at all, with Bettman hinting that not all teams will play each other.

"Having some of our teams travel from Florida to California may not make sense," Bettman said. "It may be that we're better off, particularly if we're playing a reduced schedule, which we're contemplating, keeping it geographically centric ... to deal with the travel issues."

Previously, the league has said they would like a minimum of 48 games, with several options on the table between 48 a full 82 game slate.

For the Blue Jackets, one positive to the winter start is that it'll give forward Gustav Nyquist to recover from shoulder surgery. Completed last week, Nyquist is scheduled to miss five to six months. This would

8 put Nyquist on track for a return in roughly April, which could coincide with the end of the regular season, and get the top six forward back in time for a potential playoff run.

The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: Which NHL team makes the best current lineup out of ex-players? By Sean McIndoe – November 10, 2020

Have you ever had an ex that, for whatever reason, you had to move on from, but then you find out that they’re doing well in their new life without you and you feel genuinely happy for them? No, of course you haven’t, nobody wants that. Seeing an ex go on to bigger and better things is miserable. And that’s especially true for hockey fans, who hate to see a player that used to be part of their favorite team go on to success somewhere else. So today, let’s all feel that misery together, as we try to answer the question: Which team could build the best six-man starting lineup of players who used to play for them? But first, a few ground rules: Let’s be clear on something important: We’re trying to make teams that are good right now. Imagine we’re trying to build the best team for a single season played this year. If a player was an elite superstar years ago but no longer is, he won’t be a strong choice. (Call this the Patrick Marleau rule.) And it should go without saying, anyone who’s retired or otherwise inactive isn’t an option, because this isn’t an all- time team. (Call that the Jaromir Jagr rule.) We want three forwards, two defensemen and a goalie, and a team has to have a decent option at all six spots to qualify. But otherwise, we don’t care about specific positions. Players who’ve changed teams during this offseason count, but free agents who remain unsigned do not. You’re not officially an ex until you’ve found a new home. That’s the Zdeno Chara rule. Players that were traded away as prospects count, even if they never played a game for the team. But we’re not including players who were drafted with picks a team traded away. Your rights have to have belonged to the team at some point before you can be an ex. As always, I’ll try to cover about half the league, then turn it over to you in the comments to fill in the rest, improve on my choices, and tell me about which obvious player from one team I forgot that will ruin my whole day. And we’ll start with a team that seems like it could be the favorite … Ottawa Senators Forwards: Mark Stone, Mika Zibanejad, Matt Duchene Defense: Erik Karlsson, Zdeno Chara Goalie: Robin Lehner Man, the last few years have done a number. The Senators were probably one of the first teams you thought of when you saw the premise, and rightly so. They’ve executed a full-scale rebuild, which means they’ve parted with a lot of good players. The forward line is stacked, and they could even run out a Jean-Gabriel Pageau/Mike Hoffman/Ryan Dzingel second line. They might want to trade one of those guys for a defenseman, because a 43-year- old Chara is the only thing close to a weak spot here (but still good enough to beat out Cody Ceci and Mark Borowiecki).

It’s a very good lineup, as you probably expected. Can anyone beat it? Let’s try a few division rivals and find out. Buffalo Sabres Forwards: Ryan O’Reilly, Evander Kane, Tyler Ennis Defense: Tyler Myers, Marco Scandella Goalie: Robin Lehner O’Reilly is the big name, based on a disastrous trade that still aggravates Sabres fans. Ennis narrowly beats out Conor Sheary as the third forward, and I went with Scandella over Zach Bogosian and Andrej Sekera as the second blueliner based on where he is right now. Meanwhile, Lehner beats out Ryan Miller to make a second appearance on the list, reminding us that he’s somehow already on his fifth NHL team. Montreal Canadiens Forwards: Max Pacioretty, Max Domi, Alex Radulov Defense: Ryan McDonagh, P.K. Subban Goalie: Jaroslav Halak That’s not a bad lineup, although it would have looked better a few years ago when the blue line would have been a major strength. McDonagh’s status has dipped, but he’s still a solid player, while Subban’s stock has plunged. If you wanted to make the argument that Jordie Benn would be a better choice at this exact moment, it might not be completely crazy. Speaking of Subban and stacked blue lines, let’s head to the Western Conference … Nashville Predators Forwards: Kevin Fiala, Patric Hornqvist, James Neal Defense: Seth Jones, Shea Weber Goalie: Devan Dubnyk Talk about having a type; even when we focus on ex-players, the Predators are still loaded with defensemen and weak in star power up front. The blue line is silly, with Jones and Weber as our picks and Subban and Ryan Suter available as a second pairing, but the forwards keep this group from serious contention. By the way, if you don’t remember Dubnyk’s Predators era, it lasted two games. Chicago Blackhawks Forwards: Artemi Panarin, Teuvo Teravainen, Nick Schmaltz Defense: Niklas Hjalmarsson, Nick Leddy Goalie: Corey Crawford Up front, there’s one giant name that stands out – if you look at a list of the best seasons of the cap era by a Hawks forward, it’s basically all Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, retired guys, and then Panarin’s two- year stint. The other options are solid, though, and you could flip a coin between Schmaltz and Phillip Danault. The defense is OK, although it gets better if you want to still count Dustin Byfuglien as active. And listing Corey Crawford as the goalie is just … too soon, man. By the way, Panarin is probably the single best player we’ll encounter in this whole exercise. Of the top 10 scorers in the league last year, he’s the only one who has an ex-team. Speaking of which …

Columbus Blue Jackets Forwards: Artemi Panarin, Jakub Voracek, Ryan Johansen Defense: Ryan Murray, Anton Stralman Goalie: Sergei Bobrovsky The great offseason exodus of 2019 does some of the heavy lifting here, and we don’t even need to call on Duchene (or Brandon Saad or Jeff Carter or William Karlsson or even Josh Anderson). The defense is not good, and I toyed with the idea of going with a Jack Johnson/Kris Russel pair just to torture the analytics guys. So we’re dynamite up front and weak on the blue line, meaning your feelings about this team as a contender probably rest on whether you think Bobrovsky’s first year in Florida was a fluke or a sign of what he is now. Tampa Bay Lightning Forwards: J.T. Miller, Jonathan Marchessault, Jonathan Drouin Defense: Kevin Shattenkirk, Tony DeAngelo Goalie: Ben Bishop I was really hoping they’d bolster the team by sneaking in a Steven Stamkos trade before my deadline, but no dice. This is a good squad, although given how much talent we’ve seen in Tampa over the years, it’s impressive how rarely the Lightning part with a player who goes on to genuine stardom somewhere else. Let’s cover off another Canadian team you’re probably wondering about … Edmonton Oilers Forwards: Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, David Perron Defense: Jeff Petry, Justin Schultz Goalie: Cam Talbot It’s a good team. It’s probably not as good as you thought it would be. Along with the Bruins, the Oilers form the second half of a Peter Chiarelli resume that should be unbeatable, since trading away good players is kind of his whole thing. He did it in Edmonton too, with Hall as the obvious highlight, but the rest of the squad is just OK. Hmm. Star power up front, but not enough depth to really contend. Nope, doesn’t ring any bells for the Oilers, let’s move on. Minnesota Wild Forwards: Eric Staal, Charlie Coyle, Jason Zucker Defense: Brent Burns, Marco Scandella Goalie: Darcy Kuemper There’s been a ton of recent turnover in Minnesota. The forward options are basically all from the last year or so, and we didn’t even use Mikko Koivu or Mikael Granlund. They’ve also been rumored to be on the verge of moving a big-name defenseman, and if that happens then this roster will look a lot better than it does with Scandella penciled in. Carolina Hurricanes Forwards: Elias Lindholm, Jeff Skinner, Eric Staal Defense: Justin Faulk, Noah Hanifin Goalie: Anton Khudobin

The Hurricanes are an underrated team when it comes to making fun trades, so it’s no surprise to see them able to put together a decent squad. I’m not sure it’s all that much more than decent, but aside from maybe Hanifin, there aren’t any obvious weak spots. OK, I’ve been putting this off long enough. Let’s bring the hurt. Toronto Maple Leafs Forwards: Nazem Kadri, James van Riemsdyk, Kasperi Kapanen Defense: Jake Gardiner, Tyson Barrie Goalie: Tuukka Rask That’s … not as painful as I thought it might be? The Leafs have churned through a bunch of players over the years, but a lot of them aren’t especially effective anymore. That includes names like Phil Kessel, Alex Steen and Tyler Bozak, and honestly van Riemsdyk too, even as he’s still a consistent 20-goal scorer. Gardiner had a rough first year away from Toronto, although that’s balanced out by Barrie’s inevitable 2021 Norris win. Still, that’s not as bad as I expect. (The Rask trade still hurts, though.) Anaheim Ducks Forwards: Kyle Palmieri, William Karlsson, Corey Perry Defense: Shea Theodore, Sami Vatanen Goalie: Frederik Andersen The Ducks were a fun one. The forward group isn’t especially scary, but it’s deep, with other options including Nick Bonino, Andrew Cogliano, Bobby Ryan and Ondrej Kase. You could make an argument for at least a few of those guys over a 35-year-old Perry, but he had a strong Cup Final and he was a lifelong Duck before that, so I’m putting him on the team. The blue line is good, thanks to Theodore emerging as a Norris-level stud. Arizona Coyotes Forwards: Taylor Hall, Max Domi, Dylan Strome Defense: Tony DeAngelo, Keith Yandle Goalie: Thomas Greiss This team probably should have been captained by Oliver Ekman-Larsson, but apparently that ship has sailed. It’s still a solid entry, with a blue line that features a nice mix of young and old and a recent MVP up front. Your mileage may vary on Greiss over Dubnyk or Mike Smith in goal, but based on last year he’s the right call. Three more contenders to close this off … St. Louis Blues Forwards: T.J. Oshie, Paul Stastny, Pat Maroon Defense: Alex Pietrangelo, Kevin Shattenkirk Goalie: Ben Bishop Fun fact: If you go by points scored by a Blues defenseman in the cap era, the top 13 spots on the list are all either Pietrangelo or Shattenkirk. That gives us a strong back end, especially once you remember that oh yeah, Ben Bishop started off as a Blues prospect/backup option like a decade ago. The forwards are too weak to make the Blues true contenders, but it’s a solid entry.

New York Rangers Forwards: J.T. Miller, Kevin Hayes, Eric Staal Defense: Keith Yandle, Ryan McDonagh Goalie: Antti Raanta I’m not sure what bums me out more, that I didn’t even really consider putting current-day Henrik Lundqvist in the goalie spot, or that after I did think about it I ended up with him as third-string behind Cam Talbot. Still, the Rangers offer a good lineup with a strong blue line (that would have a Shattenkirk/Brady Skjei second pair) and a forward line that isn’t the best we’ve seen but has three solid options, including Staal’s third appearance. Let’s close it out with a team that might make a late run for the crown … Boston Bruins Forwards: Tyler Seguin, Blake Wheeler, Joe Thornton Defense: Dougie Hamilton, Torey Krug Goalie: Anton Khudobin Yeah, that’s a way better team than I expected. The Bruins haven’t done a rebuild in forever, which should work against them. But in Boston’s case, they benefit from the other side of the coin, as they’ve moved a few young players who went on to big things. The third forward spot is a bit weak, since Thornton isn’t elite anymore (and our other options are guys like Phil Kessel, Milan Lucic and Loui Eriksson), but the blue line is great. Khudobin’s playoff run gives us a nice dose of recency bias, and means I don’t have to get sneaky and use Martin Jones as the goalie. So who you got? I think the Bruins might be just good enough to clip the Senators at the end, although I could see cases made for the Blackhawks, Blue Jackets and maybe the Ducks and Coyotes. Then again, we only covered 16 of the 31 teams, so if you want to offer up a different option, go ahead. Anyone want to take a crack at the Golden Knights? Want to get excited about starting a Flames team with Dougie Hamilton, T.J. Brodie and Cam Talbot before realizing they have no forwards? Want to make Capitals fans sad with a Filip Forsberg-based team? Are you an Islanders fan who’s going to insist on putting together a team that doesn’t include John Tavares? Let me see what you’ve got in the comment section. (And if any NHL GMs want to take this opportunity to screw up my whole post with an old-fashioned blockbuster trade … do it.)

The Athletic / NHL player poll: Bubbles, schedules and more thoughts on the 2020-21 season By The Athletic NHL Staff – November 11, 2020

With the news that the NBA plans to start next season on Dec. 22, for a 72-game season, attention turns to the NHL to figure out its plan for the 2020-21 season. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun last week that Jan. 1 “remains our objective” for puck drop. But the joint NHL-NHLPA Return to Play committee has not yet met, though a source said the top leaders of the two organizations have been in daily contact about the season. As challenging as it was to put together the summer postseason tournament, there are even more issues to solve for a full season. Is the Canada-U.S. border going to be open? What will the winter months bring in terms of COVID-19? What will the local authorities in each market allow? Will arenas eventually be allowed to open to at least some fans? One option that seems to be gaining traction, as detailed by The Athletic’s Michael Russo, includes starting next season in four hub locations, with modified bubbles that wouldn’t be walled off or nearly as strict. This would require temporarily realigning the league (including an all-Canadian division if the Canadian teams can’t cross the border) and hoping at some point all 31 arenas could open with some semblance of fans in the stands. The season would likely be shortened somewhere in the range of 48 to 60 games. One other issue that may arise is player salaries. In July, to get a flat cap and for both sides to get a collective bargaining extension, the players agreed to defer 10 percent of their 2020-21 salaries and put another 20 percent (of the remaining 90 percent) into escrow. That means they’re expecting to play for 72 percent of their salaries. A union source said the players expect the owners to adhere to the terms of the CBA no matter how many games are played next season and whether there are fans or not. But some teams that are bleeding money may scoff at that. “As with anything else, it’s all on the fly, right?” Daly told Russo last month. “We have to work with the Players’ Association over what a return to play plan looks like for next year. And anything considered, talked about, discussed in the context of that ultimately has to be signed off on by both sides. Everybody has an interest in us having a season and awarding a Cup next year. And everybody will be pulling in the same direction in terms of getting there.” So after 24 teams lived in two bubbles last summer, what are they willing to put up with to complete the 2020-21 season? The Athletic polled a small selection of players (34 from 12 different teams) to find out how long they are willing to be in a bubble, how many games are needed for a legitimate season and more. How long would you be willing to be in a bubble? While the 2020 postseason bubble was a huge success in terms of getting the season completed safely, the reviews from everyone inside were mixed. Players, coaches and staff inside the bubble were away

from their family and friends, were taken out of their usual routines and there were even complaints about the different amenities between Edmonton and Toronto. So it is not surprising to see here that players don’t want to go into another prolonged bubble situation. “I don’t want to be locked up anymore,” said an Eastern Conference player. “The bubble in Edmonton wasn’t great,” said a Western Conference player. “If it was like the Toronto one then it wouldn’t be so bad. I would say half the season max.” There was an obvious divide between players with families and single guys. “I loved the bubble. I thought it was fun,” said a Western Conference player. “That was my opinion — obviously, it’s going to be different with families and everything, but I’m single. So I’d be willing to give it up to play hockey again with the guys.” “I think the only way to be doable would be with families this time. Too long to be gone from families again,” said an Eastern Conference player from a team that went deep. How many games minimum need to be played for a regular season? The NHL is no stranger to abbreviated seasons thanks to two lockout-shortened seasons. The 2020-21 season will likely be reduced due to very different circumstances. It’s believed the entire season needs to be wrapped up by the end of June before the Olympics begin in July. But players seem to be OK with a short season if it means a less chaotic season. “I don’t want the schedule to be too tight,” said an Eastern Conference player. “I think if you try to jam too many games in, that’s when games can get canceled,” said a Western Conference player. “I think if we spread it out, 60 games would be perfect. The hockey might even be better — guys’ll be rested a little more.” Are you comfortable playing in front of fans? Even once the NHL settles on a plan for the new year, this is a question that will come up throughout the season. In the NFL, some teams are allowing fans at reduced capacity; some aren’t. And it’s less a question about what players want, experience-wise, and more about the long-term financial health of the league. The NHL can’t survive on TV contracts alone while buildings sit empty. But teams, the league and individual jurisdictions won’t want to risk the health of fans and players. “Depends on what’s going on with the virus,” an Eastern Conference player simply said. Overall, though, players want to see and know they need fans in the stands. “I believe it’s the only way our league can financially survive,” said a Western Conference player who wasn’t part of the 2020 postseason. “I’m good with full-blown, 100 percent (attendance), if they put a little bit of protection from the tunnel,” said an Eastern Conference player. “If you’re that much of a fan and you miss the game that much? It’s your own choice coming to the games … obviously, we want people to be safe, but things have to get back to normal here pretty soon.” “I am definitely comfortable playing in front of fans. Zero issues,” echoed a Western player.

Which teams will be better or worse when the 2020-21 season begins? Teams That Got Better Teams That Got Worse Montreal (6 votes) Chicago (4 votes) Buffalo (4) Arizona (2) Colorado (4) Vancouver (2) Detroit (3) Calgary Toronto (3) Edmonton Vegas (3) Rangers Washington (2) Calgary Minnesota Vancouver "Mine" Finally, we asked players to look into their crystal balls and think about which teams will be most or least improved once the 2020-21 season begins. We received a wide range of selections on both sides. And you’ll see teams show up on both lists. Of note, players like the changes made by the Canadiens and Red Wings. “Still don’t think they make the playoffs, but I think they improve the most based on last year’s points,” an Eastern Conference player said about the Red Wings. “I think all the non-playoff teams got stronger,” said a Western Conference player. On the flip side, the Blackhawks made no secret about starting a rebuild, and players took notice. “Pissing off their core franchise players never helps anyone,” said a Pacific Division player. Let’s end it with some levity. This quote will remain completely anonymous. “No one has signed me yet so the jury is out.”

Sportsnet.ca / NHL entering crucial stretch in planning for next season By Elliotte Friedman – November 11, 2020

Get ready for an intense couple of weeks. With the NBA and its players setting a target date of Dec. 22 for its 2020-21 season tipoff, the NHL and NHLPA are grinding away at the upcoming hockey schedule. Players are ready; it is weird for them to be inactive at this time of year. As originally reported by The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch, deputy commissioner Bill Daly sent a note to all 31 teams on Tuesday stating the league believed that “progress towards finalizing a recommendation to the board of governors is being made.” There is a Board meeting on Thursday, but a recommendation may not be ready by then. *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. Here’s what else we are hearing: •At this point, the NHL hopes to have the Stanley Cup awarded no later than July 15. •Different sources have heard different potential lengths for the 2020-21 season. Some have heard as few as 56 games, others as many as 72. (The later we start, those numbers would drop.) It is possible the league decreases the number of games to keep a couple of “open weeks” at the end of the regular season in case cancellations create a need to balance the schedule. If those prove to be unnecessary, the playoffs would be moved up. •The discussion around hubs is…interesting. Tuesday, during a virtual panel discussion during the Paley International Council Summit, commissioner Gary Bettman indicated the possibilities include teams playing in their own arenas, in hubs, or in a hybrid system. According to multiple sources, there is a growing push for teams to play in their own buildings, with or without fans. One reason, for example, is naming rights on these arenas. With fewer events, those sponsorship deals could be affected. •As far as I can tell, the largest remaining unsettled issue involves player salaries. To them, this issue is settled. They signed a CBA extension last summer agreeing to 72 per cent of their gross pay for the upcoming season. They feel this number is set whether they play one game or 70-something games. However, owners feel those salaries should be prorated, especially if there’s no clear path to attendance — creating losses higher than anything 20 per cent escrow would withstand. At some point, this is going to have to be addressed to see if common ground can be found. It is not an insignificant issue. If Jan. 1 is indeed possible, we’re going to have to know soon, so players can get to their NHL cities. The seven teams that did not make the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs are hoping to get an extra few days of training camp. The next couple of weeks are going to be busy.

Las Vegas Review-Journal / NHL commissioner discusses possible changes for 2020-21 season By Ben Gotz – November 11, 2020

The NHL is considering playing in short-term hubs, realigning its teams and reducing its 2020-21 schedule, commissioner Gary Bettman told NHL.com on Tuesday. The changes would be temporary amid the COVID-19 pandemic. There has been speculation about all three, but Bettman discussing them publicly makes them far more likely to happen. The changes would require input from the NHL Players’ Association. The sides agreed to a return-to-play plan and collective bargaining agreement extension over the summer that allowed the Stanley Cup to be awarded and must reach terms again before the league’s tentative Jan. 1 start date. Short-term hubs is one idea the NHL is considering, along with letting teams play in their arenas or a hybrid format, Bettman said. The plan would be for the hubs to be less strict than they were in Toronto and Edmonton, Alberta, during the postseason. Rather than having teams remain in place, they would play for 10 to 12 days in the hub and then return home for a week, Bettman said during a virtual panel at the 2020 Paley International Council Summit. This format would lower the risk of exposure for players without asking them to sacrifice as much. Las Vegas could be a candidate to host games if the NHL decides to use hubs. It was one of 10 finalists for the 2020 playoffs and one of the last cities eliminated before Toronto and Edmonton were chosen. It would make sense for the league to realign its setup if it plays in hubs, as the U.S.-Canadian border is closed to nonessential travel. That could lead to a seven-team all-Canadian division, something Golden Knights owner Bill Foley hinted at during a radio appearance last month. The NHL then could arrange the 24 U.S. franchises into three eight-team divisions. Bettman has said that the league will play a full 82-game regular season in 2020-21, but shortening the schedule would make sense on numerous levels. It would allow the NHL to get closer to its normal October to June playing calendar in 2021-22. It also could help the league award the Stanley Cup before its national U.S. TV partner, NBC, starts broadcasting the Olympics on July 23. And it would give its 32nd franchise, the Seattle Kraken, plenty of time to prepare for the expansion draft next offseason. A key question if the NHL shortens its season will be if players’ salaries are reduced. The players made financial concessions in the CBA extension that included a flat cap this offseason and a 10 percent salary deferral this upcoming year. Would they accept prorated pay based on the number of games played? Or would they insist on full pay? “It’s undeniable that it would be a huge breaking point,” Vancouver Canucks forward Antoine Roussel said in October. “We negotiated heartily and fairly with everyone. If the NHL comes to us with a prorated approach, it would be like lying to us. And I think all NHL players agree on that point.”