SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 08/30/19 1151441 An NHL lockout would cause damage for everyone — 1151469 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins head coach named especially the Coyotes team’s general manager 1151442 Fox Sports 910 hire Dan Sileo has repeatedly been fired 1151470 Former Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy announces for racist and sexist comments retirement 1151471 Penguins Predictions: Which returning player will receive warmest ovation? 1151443 David Pastrnak, Tuukka Rask among 25 highest-rated 1151472 Penguins add GM duties for new AHL coach Mike Vellucci players in 'NHL 20' San Jose Sharks 1151473 Apparent racist Instagram comment gets ire of Sharks’ 1151444 Sabres Mailbag: Is Victor Olofsson ready to make an Evander Kane impact? 1151474 Sharks' Evander Kane calls out racism in hockey in 1151445 One big question facing each defenseman and goalie on response to bigoted comment the Sabres roster heading into the 2019-20 season 1151475 Sharks' most important trades in team history: Acquiring Brent Burns 1151446 Why will look and sound different when the NHL Tampa Bay Lightning returns this fall 1151476 Handicapping the players who will snag the last few 1151447 Building a better : Flames’ prospect Tyler Tampa Bay Lightning roster spots Parsons reaps the benefits from new style of training Maple Leafs Carolina Hurricanes 1151477 Maple Leafs' Marner skating on his own, keeping options 1151448 Will Justin Williams return or retire? Hurricanes’ coach open as summer winds down Rod Brind’Amour has an idea. 1151478 Johnsson aiming for plus-20 vision with the Maple Leafs 1151449 State of the franchise: Have the Hurricanes finally entered this season an era of sustainable success? 1151479 Trevor Moore not taking anything for granted with Leafs 1151481 From running stairs in France to forced time off: Colorado Avalanche Perspectives on summer training in the modern NHL 1151450 Loss of Altitude: Nuggets, Avalanche and Rapids 1151482 Offseason extravaganza: What the Maple Leafs have (and broadcasts “TBD” amidst carrier negotiations haven’t) accomplished this summer Detroit Red Wings Vancouver Canucks 1151451 Christoffer Ehn looks to fill checking role for Red Wings 1151491 Why the Canucks could face significant cap challenges 1151452 2019-20 NHL Season Preview: Detroit Red Wings ahead of Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes’ next contrac Vegas Golden Knights 1151454 How much money will Darnell Nurse make on his next 1151483 Golden Knights Hire TV Studio, Rinkside Broadcasters To NHL contract? Replace Gismondi, May, Lazoff (Who Now Works For Anahe Kings 1151455 LA KINGS ANNOUNCE ROOKIE CAMP SCHEDULE, ROSTERS 1151484 Caps of Year Bracket: Burakovsky Splits the D vs Dowd-to-Stephenson Alley-Oop Minnesota Wild 1151485 Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky comes to Evgeny Kuznetsov’s 1151456 Q&A: Bill Guerin talks state of the Wild, Kaprizov plans, defense Spurgeon and more 1151486 'Something an artist truly dreams about': Taylor Kampa Olson on painting Nicklas Backstrom and his family Canadiens 1151487 As Braden Holtby enters a contract year, he is determined 1151457 If Habs peak at right time anything can happen, Claude not to be a distraction Julien says 1151488 Braden Holtby’s long-term future is uncertain, but he’d 1151459 Claude Julien believes the Canadiens can and will ‘love’ to remain in D.C. improve from within; here’s how he might pull it off 1151460 Devils’ most important players: No. 9 Nikita Gusev | What winger brings to table in 1st NHL season 1151462 A Gritty-themed ‘anti-runners’ 5k is happening 1151463 Carter Hart might be the Flyers’ No. 1 goalie, but first he’ll have to beat out Brian Elliott 1151464 Let's paint the town ... Gritty? Flyers Charities announce new 5K 1151465 Which Flyers player will be most impacted by new coaching staff in 2019-20 season? 1151466 Flyers to be featured on NHL Network show ‘Behind The Glass’ 1151467 Matt Niskanen's new challenge: leading a Flyers team he's unfamiliar with 1151468 2019 NHL farm system rankings: No. 7 Philadelphia Flyers Websites 1151492 The Athletic / From running stairs in France to forced time off: Perspectives on summer training in the modern 1151493 Sportsnet.ca / How Canadiens' Drouin is preparing to take next next step in 2019-20 1151494 Sportsnet.ca / Leafs' Harpur ready to get back to winning after Battle of swap 1151495 Sportsnet.ca / Why Devils' Wayne Simmonds is betting on himself: 'It's redemption' 1151496 Sportsnet.ca / Markov prefers Canadiens return; agent says multiple teams calling 1151497 Sportsnet.ca / Blues goalie Jordan Binnington enjoying spotlight after long road Winnipeg Jets 1151489 Why Sportsnet will look and sound different when the NHL returns this fall 1151490 State of the Franchise: Winnipeg isn’t exactly rebuilding but growing pains are on the way

SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1151441 Arizona Coyotes The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2019

An NHL lockout would cause damage for everyone — especially the Coyotes

By Craig Morgan

The Coyotes are riding a wave of momentum heading into the 2019-20 season.

They finally have a deep-pocketed owner whom other NHL governors have labeled “legitimate” and “the real deal.” Spearheaded by team president Ahron Cohen and executives such as Marina Carpenter and Olivia Matos, they have crafted a thoughtful and inclusive brand in the community. While they have never enjoyed the draft lottery luck of the Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, or Buffalo Sabres, they have built a solid team on goaltending and team defense that missed the playoffs by four points last season despite an alarming rate of key injuries.

And now they have .

The last time the Coyotes had this much momentum was 2012 when they were coming off a Western Conference Final berth, IceArizona was in the process of purchasing the team from the league and saving it from potential relocation, and the playoff crowds had provided a glimpse of what a winning hockey team could accomplish in the Valley.

Then the NHL locked out the players and that momentum was lost. The Coyotes haven’t made the playoffs in seven subsequent seasons.

It would be inaccurate to suggest that the storm clouds are as dark as they were in 2012. There aren’t as many divisive issues as there were seven years ago, and both sides — the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA) — generally agree the game is in a good place. Like Arizonans, Coyotes fans know that just because there is a chance of rain in the forecast, that doesn’t mean it will ever hit the desert floor. That said, each side has some bones to pick, and Sean Gordon of The Athletic did a terrific job of laying out all the talking points, as well as the current mood.

Here are the key points to know as we hit the weekend:

• The league must provide formal, written notice by Sunday if it intends to opt out of the final two years of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which will expire in the fall of 2022.

• If the league declines its option to reopen the agreement, the NHLPA will have until Sept. 15 to decide if it wants to terminate the deal in 2020, setting the stage for a possible work stoppage in 12 months.

• In taking the temperature of league executives, most analysts agree that there is little appetite on the NHL’s part to opt out of the current agreement.

• Those same sources have a harder time reading the NHLPA’s intention, with escrow the main sticking point. It is harder to read the players because they are a more diverse lot, with young players chasing different goals than aging veterans who are looking toward their retirement with increasing concern.

We’ll know in a couple of weeks which way the sands are shifting, but it can’t be overstated just how bad a lockout would be for the Coyotes. Alex Meruelo’s purchase of the team last month was a massive step toward long-sought stability, but Meruelo needs time to build traction and community partners. He needs time to build trust. That’s hard to do when there are no games being played.

While fans always seem to come back in time, the ill will created by a third work stoppage in the team’s 23-year Valley tenure could be problematic at the box office and with corporate sponsors.

There may be teams that would feel the lockout as much as the Coyotes — most notably the Carolina Hurricanes, who are in a similar situation to the 2012 Coyotes’ – but with the Suns, Cardinals and Diamondbacks floundering, there is finally opportunity to seize momentum and build a sustainable future.

The immediate future could have a big say in the Coyotes’ pursuit of that goal. 1151442 Arizona Coyotes It’s fair, also, to wonder how the Arizona Coyotes feel about the hire, having just announced their move from Arizona Sports 98.7 FM to Fox Sports 910 AM.

Fox Sports 910 hire Dan Sileo has repeatedly been fired for racist and Here’s how Sileo explained himself to the Union-Tribune: “I’ve sexist comments stepped on my(self) so many times in this business. But I also think that’s what makes me somebody that people want to tune in to. That wonder of, what will he say next? Will he get fired for something today?” By Scott Bordow Aug 29, 2019 Does Fox Sports 910 really believe whatever buzz Sileo generates is worth the trouble?

On its Twitter account Thursday, Fox Sports 910 AM announced the It’s not as if Sileo has been a huge ratings hit recently, either. He’s hiring of longtime talk show host Dan Sileo. worked at various stations in San Diego since 2014 and the San Diego Reader reported in July 2018 that Sileo’s four-hour morning show on In a four-paragraph statement, program director Aaron Trimmer said The 97.3 The Fan earned a 0.0 Nielsen rating for the coveted demographic of Dan Sileo Show will debut Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. and added that Sileo’s men ages 25-54. “unparalleled passion and enthusiasm for Sports Talk make him the perfect host for afternoon drive on Fox Sports 910. We’re thrilled to have I’m looking forward to hearing what Fox Sports 910 or iHeart has to say one of the country’s best hots join our market-leading program lineup.” about Sileo. Until then, one last thought:

What Fox Sports 910 and its parent company, iHeartRadio, conveniently Really? failed to mention is that Sileo was fired three times by Florida radio stations in a 20-month span from 2012-13 for racist or sexist comments The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2019 on air or on his personal Twitter account.

Which got me wondering: Did anyone from Fox Sports 910 even bother to do a Google search of Sileo? Or did the station know of Sileo’s past and simply not care?

A little after 4 p.m. Thursday, Trimmer said in an e-mail that he had received my request for an interview and would be back in touch.

Until that explanation comes, here’s what I would like to ask Trimmer or someone at iHeart’s corporate office:

Was anyone at iHeart aware that in March 2012, Sileo was fired from his morning show on WDAE 620-AM after referring to three NFL players as “monkeys?”

In talking about the and free agents , and , Sileo said: “If they got those three monkeys, I’m good. I’m ready, man. I’m ready. I want those guys. Those guys are great players.”

Did Fox Sports know that in January 2013, nine months after being hired by WQAM-AM in , Sileo was suspended after several sexist tweets directed at Fox Sports broadcaster ?

The Tampa Bay Tribune reported that one of the tweets referred to a 2008 incident in which a stalker secretly recorded a video of Andrews in her hotel room. Sileo tweeted, “pepe (sic) hole best thing for ur career.” Sileo also called Andrews a “bimbo,” told her she should make dinner for him, “bake me a cake,” and said, “love Erin either naked or in a porn … not at a sports desk.”

Did Fox Sports not care that two months after being suspended, Sileo was fired by the station for a joke about being Jewish. Here’s what Sileo said: “Hey, one thing I’m very proud of, I saved every nickel I had. That must be the half-Hebrew in me. ‘Cause I saved it… That’s part of the old culture there, man, right? That’s why when that $2.06 on that airplane got taken from me, man, I’m still pissed off at that thing.”

According to the Miami Herald, the Anti-Defamation League wrote a letter WQAM asking that Sileo be disciplined.

Finally, did anyone at Fox Sports 910 or iHeart know that in November 2013 Sileo, a former Miami Hurricanes player, was fired from WMEN 640-AM in Miami after he posted a photo of Florida State on his personal Twitter account and offered $1,000 to anyone who “takes this kid out?”

In a statement, WMEN executive producer Marc Eisenberg wrote, “As a result of Dan Sileo’s action on his personal Twitter account on November 3, 2013, WMEN has terminated his independent contractor relationship with the station. The ownership, staff, and management of WMEN 640 Sports do not condone his actions, which have no place in sports.”

No place in sports. Shouldn’t that also be the case in the Valley? Beyond that, shouldn’t Sileo’s history have immediately disqualified him from being hired by Fox Sports 910? It’s inconceivable that the station A) didn’t do its homework or B) thought in today’s era of inclusivity it was smart to hire a man who has repeatedly been fired for racist or sexist comments. 1151443 Boston Bruins

David Pastrnak, Tuukka Rask among 25 highest-rated players in 'NHL 20'

By Justin Leger August 29, 2019 4:06 PM

Unsurprisingly, Boston Bruins stars David Pastrnak and Tuukka Rask both earned high ratings in EA Sports' upcoming "NHL 20" .

EA Sports revealed rankings 30-21 on Thursday, and that range is where Pastrnak and Rask landed. The 23-year-old winger was given a 90 overall rating and No. 25 rank while the veteran goaltender earned a 90 rating and a No. 22 rank.

Rask a top 10 goalie? NHLN releases ranking

Pasta anyone? The first 90 OVR player on the list have cemented themselves as one of the top Right Wingers in #NHL20! How many points will @pastrnak96 put up for the @NHLBruins this year? #NHL20Top50 pic.twitter.com/Su38AZEyDL

— #NHL20 (@EASPORTSNHL) August 29, 2019

It’s Tuukka Time! The @NHLBruins goaltender has become a staple on this list clocking in at #22 in #NHL20. @tuukkarask‘s 5 star reflexes highlight his 90 OVR rating! #NHL20Top50 pic.twitter.com/EEEsDOGcou

— #NHL20 (@EASPORTSNHL) August 29, 2019

Pastrnak slides all the way up to the No. 25 spot after being left out of last year's top 50. Rask was the No. 23 ranked player in "NHL 19."

EA Sports will release the remainder of its ratings over the next couple of days. We should expect two more Bruins standouts -- Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand -- to find there way somewhere within the top 20.

"NHL 20" is set for a September 13 release on Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151444 Buffalo Sabres Brian Gilbride: What has led to Rasmus Ristolainen not being traded? Are teams hesitant, is there a lack of interest or are the Sabres not satisfied with what they've been offered?

Sabres Mailbag: Is Victor Olofsson ready to make an impact? Lysowski: A number of factors have led to the lack of movement, or substantive rumors, involving Ristolainen.

By Lance Lysowski Published Thu, Aug 29, 2019|Updated Thu, Aug 29, A number of teams are unable to make any significant trades or free- 2019 agent signings because they have one or more unsigned restricted free agents. That includes the Winnipeg Jets, who seem to be an ideal fit for a Ristolainen trade. Also, Ristolainen did not do the Sabres any favors by publicly expressing his frustrations. Hockey season is upon us. The Buffalo Sabres' prospects challenge will be held Sept. 6-9 in Harborcenter, with training camp opening only a few Botterill might not have much leverage to make a trade since teams days later. could be under the impression that the Sabres are motivated to move Ristolainen before the season starts. That could explain why both We'll soon learn more about Ralph Krueger's plan for the Sabres and Botterill and Krueger have spoken publicly about being prepared for should have a better idea how the roster could look when the season Ristolainen to be a Sabre this season. opens in Pittsburgh on Oct. 3. There is still time for the team to make a trade or add players on a tryout basis, however, as of now, it appears Lastly, the Sabres aren't going to trade Ristolainen unless they receive a Victor Olofsson will have the opportunity to earn a prominent role in the significant haul that reflects what they're giving up: a high-upside, 24- NHL during training camp. year-old right-shot defenseman with a reasonable contract.

I'll begin this week's Sabres Mailbag with my prediction that Olofsson will Trades can occur in September – dealt defenseman Erik become a reliable player in Buffalo this season: Karlsson to San Jose in the weeks leading up to last season's opening night – but there are a number of factors that will make it difficult for the Ryan: Among the following players, who is most likely to emerge as an Sabres to move Ristolainen. above-average NHL player this season: Linus Ullmark, Victor Olofsson, Will Borgen or Dylan Cozens? ...

Lance Lysowski: Olofsson. The 24-year-old is the most well-rounded Ron: Do the Sabres have any interest in Edmonton winger Jesse player of the group right now, possessing an elite shot and above- Puljujarvi? average defensive awareness. The Sabres handled Olofsson's development brilliantly. Rather than rushing him to North America, the Lysowski: I have not heard that the Sabres are among the teams team chose to keep Olofsson in Sweden through the 2017-18 season. interested in Puljujarvi. In my opinion, the acquisition cost would be far Olofsson was ready when he arrived in Rochester last fall, and he led the too high. Sure, Puljujarvi has signed a contract in Finland that has an team with 30 goals in 66 regular-season games. NHL opt-out clause until Dec. 1, but the Oilers will only trade the 21-year- old if they receive the right player in return. There will be growing pains if Olofsson does earn a full-time role in Buffalo this season. After all, he's only played six NHL games. However, I Puljujarvi is an intriguing player. He's a skilled player at a position of need believe he's ready for a top-six role. Cozens will eventually become the that was drafted fourth overall only three years ago. But the Sabres best player of this group, but he's likely going to play another junior already have a surplus of forwards and want to give young players in the season with Lethbridge. Additionally, Will Borgen probably won't have the organization an opportunity to make the team. There doesn't seem to be opportunity to play much in Buffalo after the team acquired Colin Miller a fit. and Henri Jokiharju, who are also right-shot defensemen. ...

... Derek Roland: What sort of role can we expect for Rasmus Asplund to Peter Morris: Is there any interest in bringing Jason Pominville back? Are play in the next few years? there going to be any players on one-way contracts sent to Rochester? Lysowski: Asplund gradually improved during his first season in North Lysowski: Barring injury, the Sabres don't seem to have room to add America and became a reliable -killer for the Amerks. He also Pominville, even on a tryout basis for training camp. The 36-year-old improved offensively during the All-Star break, finishing with 10 goals winger is still talented enough to play in the . among 41 points in 75 regular-season games. That was evident last season when he finished fourth on the team with Asplund will likely need at least one more season in Rochester, but he 16 goals. has the upside to become a reliable third-line center. He's been However, the Sabres added Marcus Johansson and Jimmy Vesey this overlooked by people outside the organization because the Sabres have offseason, plus General Manager Jason Botterill likely wants to give Jack Eichel, Casey Mittelstadt and Dylan Cozens. However, Asplund is a young players an opportunity to carve out a role, specifically Olofsson, strong two-way player and has untapped potential. He's only 21 years old Tage Thompson and C.J. Smith. and he should produce more offensively this season.

It's probably fair to wonder why the Sabres chose to let Pominville walk ... while bringing back Johan Larsson and Zemgus Girgensons. The Todd: Which player are you most looking forward to watching at the problem is Pominville likely wouldn't see time on the power play or prospects challenge? penalty kill. Meanwhile, Larsson and Girgensons are above-average in the latter. Additionally, bringing Pominville in on a tryout wouldn't make Lysowski: Cozens would be the obvious answer if he is cleared to much sense because the Sabres are going to want to use ice time in participate. He was outstanding at development camp before suffering preseason games on young players or other forwards who are competing the thumb injury, and I want to see if he could surprisingly compete for an for a roster spot: Arttu Ruotsalainen, Curtis Lazar, Jean-Sebastien Dea NHL roster spot in training camp. and Scott Wilson, among others. Since Cozens is unlikely to participate, my answer is Matej Pekar, the In reference to your second question, yes, the Sabres are likely going to Sabres' fourth-round draft pick from last June. Pekar is likely best have to send one or more players on a one-way contract to Rochester. remembered by fans for his physical play in last summer's development Lazar, Dea and defenseman John Gilmour are the most likely candidates camp. at the moment. Fans will be disappointed that I didn't mention Vladimir Sobotka, but I believe he'll at least be the teams' 13th forward entering Pekar, though, is also very skilled and coming off a season in which he the season. scored 14 goals among 36 points in 33 games for Barrie of the prior to suffering a broken collarbone. The 19-year-old is The Sabres will face a difficult decision with Smith since he would have likely headed back to the OHL for a second junior season, but I want to to clear waivers if they attempt to send him to the Amerks. see how he performs against a player such as New Jersey's Jack Hughes at the prospects challenge. Remember, an injury prevented ... Pekar from participating in development camp in June. Buffalo News LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151445 Buffalo Sabres him a world of good, but a return to average would be a big improvement on its own.

John Gilmour — 26 years old — Third season One big question facing each defenseman and goalie on the Sabres roster heading into the 2019-20 season Will his speed separate him from the competition?

Two things help Gilmour stand out as he enters training camp. He was the second-leading scorer among defensemen in the AHL last season By Joe Yerdon Aug 29, 2019 with 54 points (including 20 goals) and he’s a very fast skater. One thing that hasn’t happened in limited NHL duty is puck possession. He had a 39.9 CF% in nearly 79 5-on-5 minutes last season and was 49.6 in 415 Whether it’s about the lineup, if they’ll score enough goals or how new minutes two seasons ago. It’s a small sample and one he’d want to prove coach Ralph Krueger will be different than his predecessors, the 2019-20 to be different. With Pilut recovering, Scandella coming off a bad season Buffalo Sabres season is going to be filled with questions. and Hunwick out for the season, the opportunity to set himself apart will be there in camp. On Wednesday, we addressed the forwards. We’ll be talking about the defensemen and goalies today. Right-handed defensemen

Before starting, best wishes to Matt Hunwick, whose neck injury from last Brandon Montour — 25 years old — Fourth season summer will keep him from playing this season. Is pairing with Dahlin his destiny? Left-handed Defensemen Montour’s arrival from Anaheim was a bit of a coup. Snagging a young Rasmus Dahlin — 19 years old — Second season defenseman who has the ability to both possess the puck and be physical, even at the cost of a first-round pick, was needed. In 20 games How does he adapt to being the No. 1 guy? his 5-on-5 CF% was over 54, but with Dahlin they were at 57.4 percent in Crowning an 18 year-old as a No. 1 defenseman always feels a little 120 minutes together. As far as an offensive defense pair, they had two- weird because there’s not much of a record to work with, but Dahlin was thirds of their faceoffs in the offensive zone. When you’re able to hang it last season. He was great in possession, tops in defense scoring and onto the puck as much as they do it makes sense. What’s more the calming influence the Sabres haven’t had on the blue line in a long incredible is goalie save percentage when they were on the ice together time. He’s “The Man” now even though he’s still a teen. How he handles was .955. That’s not their doing, but that’s still pretty remarkable. Having that is worth watching, whether the Sabres are bad or not. It sounds like Montour play high-event hockey with Dahlin would make for a good a heavy burden for a young player to take on, but it’s natural as he foundation for the team’s attack. evolves into a challenger for the Norris Trophy. Sophomore seasons Rasmus Ristolainen — 24 years old — Seventh season sometimes have slumps, but he should rise above that. Can he adjust to not being the No. 1 guy if he stays? Jake McCabe — 25 years old — Fifth season We may have discussed Ristolainen’s situation a fair bit this summer. Can he handle the second pair duties? He’s still with the Sabres and, for now, it seems like he’ll be there when With Pilut likely on the shelf to start the season, the left-handed defense camp opens. If he’s sticking around, he cannot be the No. 1 minutes part of the depth chart is in an odd place without an absolute No. 2 guy. eater on defense. It’s been said the past four seasons that as long as Asking McCabe to play second-pair minutes isn’t a problem, but he’s Ristolainen’s minutes can be reined in, the Sabres could be better off for ideally the player you want to steady out the third pair. His possession it. Now that Dahlin is undoubtedly their No. 1 defenseman, being numbers are OK if not remarkable, the fifth-best of current Sabres with choosier about Ristolainen’s minutes and situations isn’t just a nice idea, 300-plus minutes at 5-on-5. He’s a fierce competitor, plays with a snarl, it’s needed. Teaming him up with Dahlin did not work well last season, and does a lot of the dirty work asked of defensemen. Whether it’s Colin but pairing him with Pilut did. If he’s staying in Buffalo, revisiting that and Miller, Brandon Montour or Rasmus Ristolainen, he provides reducing his workload would help limit the damage and play to his complementary play next to them. As he compares to Marco Scandella, strengths. he’s undoubtedly the No. 2 guy on the left, but as compared to Pilut or Colin Miller — 26 years old — Fifth season perhaps a defenseman playing on their offhand side, it gets less clear. The advantage of McCabe is you know exactly what you’re getting. Who makes best sense as his defense partner?

Lawrence Pilut — 23 years old — Second season The addition of Miller from Vegas gives Buffalo a shot-generating machine. His 5-on-5 CF% the past three seasons with the Golden Can he be the second-pair defenseman right now? Knights and Bruins before that were 60.1, 55.4, and 56.0. Those shots Everything Pilut did last season excited those looking for the Sabres to generated have also led to scoring chances at the same rate, but a lot of take a step into a more analytical age. Of defenders with over 300 5-on-5 freedom for opponents at the blue line as well. The choice of who to pair minutes played, he trailed only Montour in CF% (53.2 to Montour’s 54.5), him with is going to be fascinating to watch. Dahlin makes sense although Pilut had 13 more games played. He generated a lot of scoring because just about everyone makes sense with him, but McCabe has chances but was on the ice for more goals allowed than scored. Once been a steady defender in the past and would provide a proper he’s rehabbed and recovered from offseason shoulder surgery, a full counterpart. Pilut with Miller would be fun to watch in the offensive end, season of Montour and the addition of Miller will provide other puck but could have a hard time reining in opponents. Regardless of who he movers. Funny enough, Ristolainen was one of his most productive plays with, he should get second pairing minutes. partners. Pilut isn’t needed to be a physical force in his own end, but he Zach Bogosian — 29 years old — 12th season is asked to be responsible. That’s something he was able to do with Rochester late last season and in the playoffs. That kind of growth should Can he respond well from hip surgery two years in a row? help him eventually take over on the second pair. Last season, many worried about how Bogosian would return from Marco Scandella — 29 years old — 10th season offseason hip surgery. He responded with a solid and responsible defensive performance that gave the Sabres stability in helping Dahlin How does rebound from his worst season? find his footing. He’ll have to do it again once he’s recovered from an Nothing went Scandella’s way last year. Among Sabres defensemen who operation on his other hip. His 19 points were the most since 2015-2016 played 300-plus minutes at 5-on-5, his CF% was the lowest at 46.4 and he was leaned on the most minutes-wise to lead the Sabres’ penalty percent. Making matters worse, his goals-for, scoring chances-for, and kill to 12th in the NHL. He was strong at defending the blue line as well. high-danger chances-for were all worst on the team. Although he helped In a year where a lot of things went wrong on defense, Bogosian did a lot us learn about how a NHL salary isn’t as big as it appears, he heads into well enough. the final year of his deal hoping Krueger’s new style (maybe like what we Casey Nelson — 27 years old — Fourth season saw in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey) will help him and the rest of the defense play to their strengths. A best-case scenario season would do How can he stand out in competition? In Nelson’s Sabres career he’s been essentially the same guy he’s always been. He’s solid on possession numbers (52.5 CF% last season; over 50% for his career) and he’s comfortable moving the puck. In 38 games last season, he spent his time with Dahlin early on followed by Nathan Beaulieu and Scandella. He got more physical last season and blocked more shots, but one thing he hasn’t done a lot in 93 career games is score. With four goals and 18 points for his career, more scoring would help him stand out. Finding a way to do that in preseason will be tough.

Will Borgen —22 years old — Second season

Can he provide grit on the blue line?

Something that helped Borgen get noticed last season in Rochester was his mean streak. He’s physical and didn’t back down from a fight. Those elements (physicality more than fighting) were missing from the Sabres lineup often enough to make Twitter grumpier than usual. He got a taste of the NHL last season and was over 54 percent CorsiFor and was credited with 12 hits in four games. He’s a smart player who was in Buffalo at a time when things turned south. A smart, physical defenseman who can hold his own in his end isn’t the sexy thing these days, but it gives Borgen a chance to offer something that’s lacking with other defenders.

Henri Jokiharju — 20 years old — Second season

Will he get the “Pilut treatment” this season?

The acquisition of Jokiharju from Chicago shook things up with the defensive group because he’s young, very skilled, and checks all the boxes for what you’d like out of a modern defenseman. It also helped make things very crowded. There are injuries and there are guys that will miss the start of the season, but Jokiharju can be sent down without waivers. We saw how the Sabres used that freedom with Pilut last season. Teams can’t stuff every veteran in the AHL because you have to develop guys there, and Jokiharju qualifies as a developing prospect regardless of his high talent level. But he can certainly force the issue by being better than the competition.

Goalies

Carter Hutton — 33 years old —Seventh season

Was his first half or his second half the real deal?

Last season we saw two different versions of Hutton. The first half saw Hutton play the way he did in St. Louis two seasons ago. He was active in net but steady, putting up a .911 save percentage in 32 games through the end of January. From February onward, he had a .902 and went 3- 11-2 in the final 18 games played. By the end he was frustrated, expressing how he hadn’t seen that many shots in a long time in his career. He was right. In his previous 138 career games, he faced an average of 24.8 shots per game. Last season it was 30.8 per game. That’s a rough adjustment. His 50 games played was the most of his career and if you’re looking for a recipe for a hard second half of the season, that’ll do it. Reducing his number of games played doesn’t seem likely unless Linus Ullmark takes off, so it’s up to Hutton to adjust better and his defense to lend more of a hand.

Linus Ullmark — 26 years old —Fifth season

Can he learn from a tough second half of the season and reach his potential?

The change between Ullmark’s first half and second half was drastic. From the beginning of February until the end of the season (17 games), Ullmark’s save percentage was .890 and he went 5-9-2. Compare that with his first 20 games, where he went 10-5-3 with a .916 save percentage. Ullmark came into last season with a job already won as the backup. It’s essentially that way now, but with prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen entering his first season in Rochester and veteran Andrew Hammond penciled in as the No. 3, he’ll be pushed to be better. Ullmark could be the No. 1 this season, but he’ll have to work doubly hard to stay ahead of the guys behind him and catch up to Hutton.

The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151446 Calgary Flames “And the objective,” Millman said, “was to take Bob and create a radio station around him.”

McCown became a definitive voice. For years after it launched, TSN Why Sportsnet will look and sound different when the NHL returns this 1050 could never quite crack into the ratings he drew for that afternoon fall drive slot. At least not until this year, when OverDrive crept close and threatened a full palace coup.

By Sean Fitz-Gerald Aug 29, 2019 It was believed McCown still had about a year-and-a-half left on his contract in June, when the station announced the long-time host had reached the end of his run. McCown politely declined an interview request, but posted on Twitter: “I am leaving Prime Time Sports and Rogers Communications sent a thunderclap rolling across the Canadian Rogers. But nobody can shut me up when I still have things to say. Stay sports media landscape on a Tuesday morning in November 2013, tuned.” having secured exclusive national rights to the NHL for the staggering sum of $5.232 billion. The deal was to run for 12 years. James Sharman

The communications company did not have to pay the full amount up In April, it was confirmed that DAZN (pronounced: dah-zone) had front, but the installments were still eye-popping. It was reported that snapped up full rights to the English Premier League in Canada, around $300-million was due in that first season, with the value purchasing the broadcast rights that had belonged to TSN and Sportsnet. increasing through the life of the deal, to a final annual payment of $500- It is a three-year deal for an undisclosed sum. million due in 2025-26. The fallout at Sportsnet became clear over the summer. Soccer analyst Not one of Canada’s seven NHL teams made the playoffs in 2016. No James Sharman announced on Twitter in July that he was no longer Canadian teams advanced past the first round last spring. Combined with working at Sportsnet. Soccer reporter John Molinaro and Craig Forrest, the general industry pressures — declining ad revenue and cord-cutting the retired goalkeeper and long-time analyst, also announced they had among them — the financial picture looked more and more challenging. parted ways with the company.

Scott Moore, the executive who helped build so much of what Sportsnet Don Cherry became, left the company last October, before job cuts had to be made. They arrived this year, both in front of the camera and behind, with two Rumblings about his future with reached Don more high-profile names announcing their departures this week. Cherry in July, and he returned a reporter’s phone call within an hour. The 85-year-old was not ready to retire, and he was not going to leave Sportsnet will look and sound different when hockey returns. Here are the network quietly. some of the confirmed moves made so far this summer: “I guess it’s all over Twitter,” he said. “The bosses phoned me. When they saw it, they couldn’t believe it, either. They said there’s not one bit of credence in any of it at all. That’s why it’s out of the blue. That’s why it Forced into retirement as an NHL player by concussion at the age of 32, sort of hit me that hard.” Kypreos was one of the first on-air personalities to sign onto Sportsnet when it launched in October 1998. Less than a year into his job, a Sportsnet did not issue an official public response to the rumours, but two Toronto-based newspaper suggested his future with the network was in sources on the network side said Cherry would be keeping his usual seat “limbo.” on air. As Cherry said shortly after Rogers signed its deal with the NHL: “They won’t fool with Coach’s Corner. And that’s the main thing, isn’t it?” The network opted to keep him, and over the next two decades, he appeared on a number of shows and in a number of roles. By 2013, he The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2019 was part of the At Noon panel, with Doug MacLean, Daren Millard and Scott Morrison.

As of this week, none of those four are still with the network.

On Wednesday, Kypreos posted a statement on Twitter to say he and Sportsnet had “decided to part ways” after nearly 21 years. Sportsnet’s public relations department posted a note praising Kypreos as “a true professional” who worked with “commitment, dedication and passion,” but did not say why he opted to part ways two weeks before NHL teams open training camp.

Doug MacLean

Word of MacLean’s departure was circling weeks before the former NHL executive announced it over Twitter on Wednesday. The 65-year-old spent a decade at Sportsnet, often working alongside Kypreos, and had recently been working alongside Caroline Cameron.

It is believed that MacLean’s contract had expired and that Sportsnet had made it clear it would not pay him at the same level in any subsequent contract.

“After covering the greatest game in the world for the past 10 years I won’t be returning to Sportsnet,” he wrote on Twitter. MacLean thanked his former colleagues — naming Kypreos — and suggested his time would now be split between Florida, Prince Edward Island and a book.

MacLean also has outside business interests. He has said he has been approached to run for office in his home province of PEI, but has so far spurned all political entreaties.

Bob McCown

Nelson Millman, the former program director at The Fan, attributed the birth of Toronto’s first all-sports radio station to three acquisitions. The station had the rights to the Maple Leafs, it had the rights to the Blue Jays, and it had McCown. 1151447 Calgary Flames able to get more flexible and more stronger in those end range of motions. But I really dialed it in with the FRC training and I have become more flexible and more stronger. It’s quick results.”

Building a better goaltender: Flames’ prospect Tyler Parsons reaps the Parsons chuckles as he recalls other hockey players at the gym trying benefits from new style of training the class for the first time.

“You get D-men from Michigan State and forwards and they’re like, ‘Man, By Darren Haynes Aug 29, 2019 this is all goalie stuff, this is easy.’ Then they come in and they’re sweating through their shirt the first two minutes and they’re like, ‘Oh my god, I don’t know how you even do this stuff,'” Parsons said. “You’re really sore the next day, but the day after that, you feel so good.” Tyler Parsons was supposed to spend this summer in Calgary. But he didn’t. It’s Parsons’ commitment to getting the most out of it that maximizes the impact. He calls it one of the best decisions of his life. “If you do it lazily, you won’t get anything out of it,” said Dan Allison, head The original plan was for the Flames’ top goaltending prospect to stick of strength and conditioning at Omnevo and Parsons’ personal trainer for around town and do the group training at WinSport with other players in six years, going back to when he was playing midget AAA for Little the organization. That plan was so set in stone that in April, he and his Caesars. “It’s all about the attitude and mindset that you have and that’s fiance, Darien Brooke, signed a seven-month lease on a home in Airdrie, what sets him apart. In those classes, nobody took it more seriously. Ty’s a town just north of Calgary’s city limits. all business.” Then plans changed, rather suddenly, after a trip home to Michigan in VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM late May.  PAILS AND RAILS — @TYPARSONS_1 HAS INCREDIBLE “I went back to my gym that I always train at and they had some new MOBILITY. THIS SUMMER HE HAS PUT IN THE WORK TO DEVELOP styles of training with functional range of motion stuff that they MORE CONTROL OVER HIS BODY AND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT incorporated right into my strength and conditioning program,” said OF STRENGTH IN END RANGES. GET READY TO WATCH THIS GUY Parsons. “I did three or four days of that, before I headed back to Airdrie, and I just got so much benefit out of it. I said if I want to take that next KILL IT OUT IN CALGARY THIS YEAR! . . .  step, really make the next jump, I need to be doing this. So, I literally got #FUNCTIONALRANGESYSTEMS home and told my fiance, ‘We’re moving back home.'” #FUNCTIONALRANGECONDITIONING #FRC #FRCMS #KINSTRETCH #HIPMOBILITY #MOBILITY #MOBILITYTRAINING Just like that, the couple packed up everything, wrangled out of their #DEGREESOFFREEDOM #OMNEVO #TRUSTTHEPROCESS lease, jumped in the truck with their three dogs — two German #STRENGTHTRAINING #PREHAB #PT #PHYSICALTHERAPY #HIPS shepherds and a pit bull-chihuahua mix, rescued from a Stockton animal #HOCKEY #SPLITS #SPLITSTRAINING #ADDUCTORS shelter — and made the 40-hour trek back East. #EVERYDAMNDAY #CONTROL #CONTROLYOURSELF #CONTROLMOVEMENT #MOVEMENTISMEDICINE “A very, very good decision. One of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” #MOVEYOURBODY #JOINTHEALTH #HOVERS #HIPLOVE Parsons said, as the soon-to-be 22-year-old prepared to travel to #HIPCONTROL Washington for this week’s annual NHL rookie orientation. After that, it’s on to Calgary for rookie camp, which opens on Sept. 5. A POST SHARED BY ZACHARY ATWOOD SPT, FRCMS (@PRIMAL.RECOVERY) ON AUG 27, 2019 AT 3:54AM PDT The return home did come with one catch. Brooke, a Canadian, can only stay in the United States for six months out of the year. Thus, they “No one else on this planet moves in a weirder way at 110 percent effort hunted for a place as close to the border as possible, but on the north than a goaltender does, other than maybe a Cirque du Soleil performer,” side. They found a spot in Windsor, 10 minutes from the 1.5 kilometer said Louwers. tunnel that connects the southern Ontario city with Detroit. For June, July and August, Parsons would cross the border daily, making the 40-minute With falling into their own unique category among athletes, drive to Omnevo Wellness Academy in Livonia, a Detroit suburb, where Louwers, supported by his colleague Zack Atwood, also an FRC certified he spent grueling, five-hour days doing training. coach, embarked on a “passion project” to dissect how goalies move and how they could help them by creating very specific movements for them. The reason for the 11th hour change of heart? The implementation of Functional Range Conditioning training at the academy. You know it “The whole premise of what we’re doing is trying to do is bridge the gap made an impact if on his minor league salary, Parsons was willing to between flexibility and mobility,” Louwers explained. “Flexibility is a break his lease and drive all the way across the country to take the passive range of motion that they can get to by basically pushing into the training. It makes for quite the compelling testimonial. position. What we found is that a lot of (goaltenders) can get into a position, but they can’t really control the position. If you can get into a “Talk to any hockey player, throughout the season they’re going to have position by cranking on your joints, that’s not going to be as effective in a lot of joint pain because there’s so much wear and tear on their groins, translation to sport than if you can actually actively control that position.” shoulders and everywhere. You’re strapping your foot into a boot and you’re doing things that you’re body is not supposed to do. So you’ve got The three goals when training using the FRC system are developing to incorporate that into your training to help build up those areas,” greater mobility, building up joint strength and enhancing one’s ability to explained Parsons. “FRC is all about getting into the end range of control their body. motions and strengthening them.” “The system is relatively new, but the principles have been around While admittedly a bit surprised, his trainers were thrilled to have him forever in one way or another,” said Louwers. “After a three-month back. season with us, our goal is that they’ve generated a lot more control in these positions, which is going to add a lot more resilience to their on-ice “At the end of the day, there’s so much going on that leads to an athlete’s presence. Their joints, their tissues, their ligaments, everything will be a success that if we can be a small part of it,” said Kevin Louwers, FRC little bit more prepared to take that uncontrolled environment and external certified coach and strength coach. “To have a guy like him ditch a multi- load that hockey brings into their bodies.” million dollar facility with anything he’d ever want at his access, to come hang out and train with us in the environment that we’ve created, it’s Louwers said they introduced some of the FRC concepts a little bit last really cool.” year, but this is the first time they got heavily into it.

Parsons’ excitement about the new science-based FRC training was “I wouldn’t’ say it’s revolutionary, that’s a very strong statement to make, obvious at development camp. In early July, it had only been a short but it’s definitely something new and I don’t know that there is anybody time, but he was already downright giddy about how the training had him out there and delivering it in a way that we’re currently delivering it, to feeling. hockey goalies specifically,” said Louwers.

“I love it,” Parsons said at the time. “So far, it’s crazy, the difference.” The As many as 30 goalies would attend the one-hour weekly class that good feelings continued the rest of the summer. “I never thought I’d be focused entirely on FRC. “All of these goalies, though they may have different discrepancies, they “Ty’s been probably the most fun person to ever work with because he’s all do pretty much the same movements for a living,” said Louwers. “It’s like a Frankenstein for Zack and I,” Louwers said. “We can create some kinda a cool population to do a case study on because they’re going to of the most insane set-ups to strengthen his body in ways that no other be the ones that are going to notice a big shift in this very singular joint- human, other than a hyper-mobile person like himself can ever even focused strengthening.” think about getting into.”

The results so far, at least anecdotally, have been exceptional. Parsons has noticed the improvement, too.

“About a month and a half, two months in, after we had been doing this “From the start of the summer when I go down into the splits position — work consistently, all the guys were coming back and saying that they’re going down into the splits and then pulling my legs back into a standing seeing improvements, not only in no longer feeling the pain that they felt, position, I was never able to do that. That requires a lot of upper body but they are seeing a lot of actual performance improvements,” said strength to pull yourself up from the splits positions and now I can, Louwers. “That’s something we projected would happen because when easily.” you move better, you feel better and you perform better.” The ankles are another area of focus. Tyler Parsons with his strength and conditioning coach Dan Allison. “In that RVH position (Reverse, Vertical, Horizontal), they’re cranking What makes the program such a great fit for Parsons is the off-the-charts their ankle into the post. They’re driving that foot pretty high up”, said flexibility he was naturally gifted with at birth, which facilitates the Allison. “Ankle dorsiflexion is when you bring your toe up to your shin. acrobatic style he plays. It’s a style he needs to play considering at 6- Goalies need a lot of that. If they don’t have that, you’re going to deal foot-1, he is considered short by NHL standards. with an ankle injury and the next thing you know, your knee is going to hurt on the inside and now your hip is going to hurt. It’s all connected.” “He was born with these joints that are just really, really lax. The joints are kinda flimsy, they move around like a gymnast,” Allison described. On the cusp of another hockey season, his trainers at Omnevo have left Parsons with a program to continue working on throughout 2019-20 — Injury mitigation is another attractive element of the FRC training. on his own, wherever he ends up playing — so he can keep feeling how “Ty does crazy movements on the ice and earlier in his life, maybe he he’s feeling. They know he’ll follow through on it, too, because that’s the wasn’t as prepared for that and maybe his hip is tweaked after a game level of commitment you get from Parsons, who is all-in, all the time. for a set amount of days or weeks or whatever it may be,” said Louwers. “Ty is one of the few guys that when we send off, we know he’s going to “Now we’re trying to prepare him for that in advance so that when he falls continue to do any work that we ask him do,” said Louwers. “What Zack into that same position, this time his body is prepared for that and it won’t and I are trying to do this season is build out a complete online goalie cause that setback.” mobility warm-up, recovery routine program for these guys so they can Less time sitting in the medical room’s barrel of ice and more time on the take this with them wherever they go.” sheet of ice is the best way for goaltenders to develop. The cool part is no apparatus is needed. Other than incorporating a yoga “By doing this, if you get an injury, instead of being out for a month, block or two if available, these are all exercises that use only your body you’re out for a week or a week and a half. So it really decreases the weight — so no excuses. time of your injury because you’re building up so much strength in those Navigating through a season relatively pain-free should also lead to end range of motions,” Parsons said. performance improvements also.

When the rookies hit the ice for the first time next Friday, one of the “We were just talking to some of the goalies yesterday about how areas in which you may notice a difference is Parsons’ ability to come out damaging it is when you’re feeling pain. When you’re trying to focus on of the splits. someone shooting a 100 mph puck on you, if you’re thinking about how “Ty is a bit of an interesting breed because he already has the your hip hurts right now, that’s going to completely take you out of what prerequisite to get into the splits position,” explained Allison. “It’s been a we would call flow state, which is 100 percent necessary for a goalie to project to use these FRC principles to try and increase this range of play at that level,” said Louwers. “All this coaching, teaching and thinking motion that they’re getting in and strengthen and learn how to control being done by the athlete during the offseason, should translate into a their body in those positions, so when they do have to drop into it, it’s not whole lot more thoughtless movement options when they’re just thinking a forced, passive cranking on your hips structure, it’s a motion that you about their sport and just reacting. That’s the goal with all of this.” can control.” (L-R) The Omnevo team, Atwood, Allison, Kevin Louwers, and Anna You’re essentially convincing your nervous system that while this doesn’t Nettles with Tyler Parsons (centre). seem like a very good idea, it’s actually OK. The Omnevo team are excited to see how it all translates.

“Our body has protective mechanisms for these exact reasons. If you try “Him feeling better, knowing that his body is there for him to do the crazy to get down into the splits, your body is not going to let you and that’s for things that he does on the ice, to be the best goalie that he knows he can good reason because it knows that you can’t control that position. What be, that all translates over to his confidence being up quite a bit, too, and we’re doing by loading these positions is you’re basically communicating just being able to go out there and play and be available and be the Tyler to your nervous system to free up more space, and that you can control that we all love to watch,” Allison said. that space.” To that point, Parsons says this is the best he’s ever felt. VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM “I feel 1,000 percent better than I would, just doing my strength and SPLIT’S STANCE INTERNAL/EXTERNAL ROTATIONAL PAILS/RAILS conditioning training every summer like I used to,” Parsons said. “I’ve had     @PRIMAL.RECOVERY TAKES @NHLFLAMES a really awesome summer.” GOALTENDER @TYPARSONS_1 THROUGH THIS FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT.  ♾ ♾ ♾ THE POSITIONING IS SPECIFIC TO TYLER A byproduct of his improved strength in certain positions is less urgency AND ANY HOCKEY GOALIE LOOKING TO INCREASE RANGE OF to get to those positions and overall, a more calm, less frantic approach than we’re used to seeing. MOTION AND STABILITY IN UNNATURAL POSITIONS.     #HOCKEY #OFFICETRAINING #GOALIES “I’ve changed my game a little bit. Through all this training and I’m doing #FUNCTIONALRANGECONDITIONING lots of meditation training. What you’ll notice is you’ll see me more #FUNCTIONALRANGESYSTEMS #FUNCTIONALTRAINING composed,” Parsons explained. “I’m much more upright, more patient. #FUNCTIONALSYSTEMS #FUNCTIONALTRAINING Because I have so much strength, I feel like I don’t need to go into those #FUNCTIONALMOVEMENT #ANKLE #MOVEMENT #OMNEVO end range of motions very much and it’s allowed me to have more body #ACCOUNTABILITY #OFFICETRAINING #COLLEGE #JUNIORS control. I’m not so aggressive on everything. Just staying a lot more #ADVERSITY #TRUSTTHEPROCESS #MOVEMENT patient.” #MOVEMENTJOURNEY #DEPOSITS #DAILYMOVEMENT #MOBILITY #GOALIENATION The improvement on the physical side has helped him on the mental side, too, which is an area that he has struggled with in the past. A POST SHARED BY CHRISTIAN KARBLER (@COACH_KARBS) ON AUG 22, 2019 AT 4:44AM PDT “I’m just living day to day. I’m just enjoying life. Life is so much bigger than hockey,” Parsons said. “While you’re here, you’ve got to put in the work every day because there’s always another guy coming up to take your spot and now I’m feeling a lot better mentally. People around me — my parents, my fiance — they see a significant difference.

“It’s really good to feel this good again. But I’m not going to say it, I’m just going to do it and see what I’m capable of.”

Just three years ago, Parsons was the second goaltender selected in the 2016 NHL Draft. While his stock has fallen after two so-so pro seasons, there’s still plenty of time for him to get back to being the highly-touted goaltender he was when he was taken just six picks after Carter Hart.

“It is a process and it does take time, but if I can make that time line a little shorter, that would be great,” Parsons said. “I’m just going to put in the work every day and have fun with it and not get too caught up in it.”

With Cam Talbot only on a one-year deal, a goaltending spot on the NHL roster could be opening up next summer. If Parsons can play as well this season as he feels, his next move to Calgary won’t be short-lived like the last time, but could be permanent.

The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151448 Carolina Hurricanes “It didn’t work out probably the way we all wanted it to in a lot of ways. But at the end of the day, he’s here and we’re happy for that. And it will push him, hopefully, to be even better. That’s the whole deal.”

Will Justin Williams return or retire? Hurricanes’ coach Rod Brind’Amour THE GOALIE SPOT has an idea. The Canes went into last season unsure about their goaltending. For much of preseason, Petr Mrazek and Scott Darling were competing, but BY CHIP ALEXANDER AUGUST 29, 2019 12:21 PM Darling suffered a hamstring injury in the last preseason game. The Canes picked up Curtis McElhinney on waivers from Toronto and Mrazek and McElhinney became a solid twosome.

Much like last summer, Rod Brind’Amour has spent considerable time Mrazek is back, signed to a new two-year contract, and the Canes traded mulling over various lineups for the Carolina Hurricanes. for veteran James Reimer. Alex Nedeljkovic, after a big year with the Checkers, and another newcomer, Anton Forsberg, will be in the mix. The one name the Canes head coach still is not sure about in the lineup: Justin Williams. “I thought that was our most improved area last year,” Brind’Amour said. “I think we have a lot of options. I think (Reimer) has a lot to prove, too. Brind’Amour played golf with Williams and the newly retired Cam Ward The other two guys are kind of question marks. But that will play out.” on Wednesday at MacGregor Downs in Cary. A day later, he remained noncommittal about Williams’ eventual decision -- retire or return -- other Brind’Amour smiled when asked about his golf round Wednesday with than to say it should come soon. Williams. He did note that Williams was his partner and they were the winning team, which Ward confirmed. Williams, the Canes captain, does have a name plate up in the team’s Raleigh Center Ice locker room. The locker stall is there waiting for him. “Yeah, I did have to swap some cash,” Ward joked. Will he be using it? News Observer LOADED: 08.30.2019 “That’s the million dollar question,” Brind’Amour said in an N&O interview Thursday. “Obviously I’ve talked to him and I have a pretty good idea where his head is and where his heart is. He’s going to make a good decision really soon here and it’s going to be the right one, whatever it is.

“From our standpoint, if he plays it’s awesome and it’s easy. If he doesn’t then you know what, we’ll move on and we’ll be all right. He’s obviously thought about it forever. If he doesn’t (return) then it’s the right thing for him.”

Brind’Amour said for now, with Williams unsigned, he has to plan as if Williams won’t be with the team, that he will decide to retire at 37. “Then if he doesn’t it’s almost like an addition and a huge addition,” Brind’Amour said.

POTENTIAL LINEUPS

In looking at potential lineups, Brind’Amour said he has Sebastian Aho, Jordan Staal, Erik Haula and Lucas Wallmark penciled in as the centers. There is some flexibility, he noted, in that forwards Jordan Martinook and Teuvo Teravainen could be options at center.

“We’re pretty solid there,” Brind’Amour said.

Martin Necas

Martin Necas, the Canes’ first-round draft pick in 2017, made the Canes roster after preseason training camp a year ago but spent nearly all of last season with the Charlotte Checkers in the .

Necas, 20, was drafted as a center, but the speedy Czech Republic native spent much of last season on the wing with the Checkers. That likely will be the plan should Necas again win a spot on the NHL roster in camp, which begins Sept. 12.

“To give him the best chance to make it I think he’s probably a winger,” Brind’Amour said. “Right now I look at it a lot like Aho a few years ago. I think we all agree that’s a tough position, center. It’s just a lot of responsibilities for a young kid.

“Marty’s best chance to play now is the wing. Do I think he’s a center man? Yes, at some point. We’ll see.”

Brind’Amour was hesitant at first to play Aho at center but the Finnish forward proved last season he can handle all those responsibilities. And with Aho’s contract situation settled, even if it took an offer sheet July 1 from the to get it done, Brind’Amour didn’t have to plan for training camp wondering if Aho will be available or be an extended holdout.

The Canes preferred a contract with a longer term, but they matched the Canadiens’ offer of five years at an average of $8.454 million a year. Unlike other unsigned restricted free agents in the NHL, Aho was set.

“From my standpoint it’s great that we know he’s here,” Brind’Amour said. “We had two months to plan and didn’t have to spend a lot of energy figuring out what if he isn’t here. So that made it easier. 1151449 Carolina Hurricanes emergency. That’s more of a Plan B in my mind than promoting offseason acquisitions James Reimer or Anton Forsberg, but the Canes clearly have options before panicking if Mrazek doesn’t pan out as State of the franchise: Have the Hurricanes finally entered an era of planned. sustainable success? The Mrazek emergency options feel like quantity over quality as they currently stand, although the brass seems higher on Forsberg than you might expect. But if a Hurricanes waiver acquisition could play an By Sara Civian Aug 29, 2019 indispensable role in their trip to the playoffs, and if a Blues AHL call-up could win the whole thing, I’ll give the benefit of the doubt until there’s a

reason not to. Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour’s self-awareness was the Justin Williams (James Guillory / USA Today) source of some money quotes last season, and May 2 brought one of the realest. Biggest off-ice question

“It’s about getting relevant,” he said after the Hurricanes took a 3-0 Justin Williams? Round 2 lead over the Islanders. “That’s how I phrased it Day 1. I think we’re still coming out of (irrelevance), still getting out there. No one was That’s it. That’s the question. talking about our team because we hadn’t done anything. You have to It’s hard to put much else into perspective with the status of the captain’s make noise, and I think we’re still there no matter what happens this return unknown. The Hurricanes have at least attempted to prepare for it year. We need to keep moving forward.” on the ice, trading for Erik Haula and signing Ryan Dzingel to fill some A reporter noted that when the Canes do make the playoffs, they tend to mid-roster gaps, but Williams is so much more than a generic roster spot make deep runs. to fill.

“Well I think when you don’t make the playoffs for so long you’re probably NBC’s Brian McNally asked me last week if I thought it was strange that, well-rested,” Brind’Amour half-joked. “No, I don’t know the answer to that. knowing Williams, he still hasn’t made a decision. I said actually that’s It’s been a long time, certainly. I give a lot of credit to teams that can do it why I don’t think it’s strange — he wants to make sure he can give 110 every year, come back and go through all this … then they turn around percent if he’s going to give anything. and do it again. Those teams are special.” Regardless, training camp begins in roughly two weeks and it’s starting As important as the first step — the Hurricanes’ first trip to the playoffs in to feel like a decision will just never come. Someone close to him a decade — was, Brind’Amour made it clear before, during and after last laughed when asked if he thinks Williams will play. season that it should only be the beginning. Carolina has only made “He can’t not.” back-to-back playoff appearances once (2000-01 and 2001-02), and the lack of consistency hurts the franchise’s “relevancy” more than the deep If I had to guess I’d say the same thing, but one wonders if coming down runs help. to the wire might create some tension even if he does return (I don’t think it will, but it’s still a fair question). If he doesn’t come back, who is Now that the Canes have the attention of their fan base again, can they captain? keep it? Is it awkward to give the “C” to only one of the former co-captains Welcome to (insert corny name indicating this is the start of a multi-part (Jordan Staal or Justin Faulk)? Is it too much pressure for 21-year-old column here). Sebastian Aho when he should focus on being the best player on the From now until training camp, we’ll meet here twice, sometimes thrice a ice? Could Jaccob Slavin be the guy? week to dissect the upcoming Hurricanes season like the hockey junkies Who knows. we are. We’ll sift through the best bets and worst anxieties. We’ll make some predictions we will almost certainly regret later. We’ll finally catch Young stars up with some of the Canes as they’re rolling back into town. If the above questions are the shot, the young Canes talent approaching Finally. prime years are the chaser. Aho broke out as a bonafide first-line center last season, this season we might see how far he can take it when he’s It’s our training camp training camp. comfortable. Andrei Svechnikov’s even strength production and expected We will get into each of these topics more specifically these next few goals were extremely rare for a teenage rookie, especially one mostly on weeks. Let’s ease back into this with the big picture first. the third line playing sheltered minutes. Give him some skilled linemates and more ice time and see what happens. Slavin might be an old soul, Biggest on-ice question but he’s only 25 and he’s (somehow) looking to improve.

The need to prove himself quenched, can Petr Mrazek now provide And those are just the stars. consistency? If not, will a backup plan suffice? Depth chart analysis The Hurricanes knew their Mrazek-Curtis McElhinney Cinderella tandem wouldn’t reprise this season, so they focused on re-signing the younger, Brind’Amour half-joked in the midst of an injury bug last season that the hungry team-wide confidence booster who stole the starting job headed best thing about the Hurricanes’ system is how many fourth-liners are into the playoffs. Though the news was buried in an eventful offseason, ready for a call-up at any given moment. A few of those “put me in coach” Mrazek’s two-year, $6.25 million contract seems like a great deal for the players — Patrick Brown, Greg McKegg to name a few — have moved Canes. If he maintains or elevates his game, it’s a steal. If he regresses on, but Carolina’s depth is very much alive. It’ll be tough to crack this to some of his early career inconsistency, the Canes aren’t wasting too roster. many valuable Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov or Jaccob Slavin prime Center: Aho, Staal and Haula could potentially be a better Top 9 down years. the middle than the team has had in years.

Plan A is obvious: The fan favorite goalie excels in his quasi-bridge deal Lucas Wallmark likely slots in at fourth-line center. At certain points last and the Hurricanes lock him up for the long term. season he was Top 10 in the league for expected goals, he just caught It’s fair to have your doubts, as there’s a reason he called Don Waddell the absolute brunt of the Canes’ bad-bounce curse. That curse was lifting asking for a one-year, prove-yourself deal one year ago — he needed just as Staal went down, so Wallmark stepped in and focused more on redemption. As Brind’Amour says, it was a great first step. matchups and faceoffs than scoring. Especially in a fourth-line role, his versatility is a strength in terms of depth. He’s going to have to muster up that same magic starting potentially more NHL games than he ever has, though, and the Hurricanes are well There’s also Martin Necas. He’ll likely start on a wing, but stuff happens versed in promising former backups struggling with a larger workload. and he could compete for a center spot if need be. Dzingel and Jordan Martinook are also capable of shifting to center. At this point, Calder Cup champion and AHL goalie of the year Alex Nedeljkovic could be ready to step in in the event of a Mrazek Per usual, there are reinforcements that can play in the bottom six down ice he’s spending closer to the ceiling than the Hurricanes have in the in Charlotte: recently-signed Brian Gibbons (if he doesn’t make the team recent past. out of camp), Clark Bishop … maybe even Morgan Geekie. Even with Williams unsigned, the Canes have the 13th least projected Wing: Training camp is going to be intense at this position. I’d cap space in the league ($2,495,209) as it currently stands. They’d end differentiate between “left” and “right” wing, but Brind’Amour’s old school up in the Top 5 if Williams returns. Where this would be a source of approach pretty much means anyone should be able to play anywhere — anxiety for most fan bases, it’s relief for Canes fans knowing there’s an especially with all this competition. investment being made in what they love. Tough moves will be made, tough trades are still on the table, but you can take solace in the fact that Should Williams return, he, Svechnikov, Necas, Martinook, Brock management clearly wants to win. McGinn and Saku Maenalanen are most realistically competing for a spot on right side. This is what I mean when I say the Hurricanes have Staal is the only player with a no-move clause and Faulk is the only prepared for his retirement — if he goes, all the bases are still covered player with a modified no-trade clause. Waddell is free to make tons of on-ice with an extra skater, and it opens the door for Julien Gather to moves, and if his history is any indication, he will. compete for a spot, too. Final assessment On the hypothetical left, there’s Teuvo Teravainen, Nino Niederreiter, Dzingel and Warren Foegele. I mean, jeez. This Hurricanes team might In a vacuum, the Hurricanes will come out of training camp with a team not win a Cup but it is definitely going to win a track meet. as strong or stronger than last season’s ECF roster. In the real world, the is a bloodbath on paper. It was the summer of Ray Of course all of this is just on paper, there are bound to be regressions Shero, as the Devils added P.K. Subban and Jack Hughes for almost and disappointments, but you’re in good shape when staple playoff roster nothing, the Rangers’ rebuild is accelerating at exponential speeds, I players are now competing for their jobs out of training camp. would never count out a team with Sidney Crosby on it.

Defense: It’s a strange time in Canesland when defense raises a few The Hurricanes have the tools for an era of sustainable success, but it’ll questions. Calvin de Haan’s $4,550,000 AAV was too much to sit on a come down to the details this season. second/third pairing, but at times his reliability was the unassuming glue that let the talent flourish. The talent’s still there, obviously, with Slavin, The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2019 Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce and Faulk still one of the best Top 4 in the league.

The third pairing is reason for concern, with Trevor van Riemsdyk recovering from injury and a void that’ll need to be filled with inexperience. The competition for the last spot is probably Haydn Fleury (remember that he isn’t waiver exempt anymore) and Gustav Forsling in Tier 1, and Chase Priskie and Jake Bean in Tier 2. A lot of possibilities, but the uncertainty is palpable.

(I know someone is going to get pedantic about left or right side — Brind’Amour doesn’t care.)

Special teams

Power play: Butt of all jokes, eventual playoff-ender, self-proclaimed “garbage.”

Folks, the Hurricanes power play was straight up not having a good time last season. It ranked 20th in the NHL with a 17.8 percent regular-season power play percentage, and it’s not like that was the worst, but it held back a team that made it to the ECF despite the bottom-half ranking.

Further, it was about deployment and structure over goals that often felt like they were lucky. Why is Faulk breaking sticks from the blue line when his wrister is amazing and actually works? Why do you tout noted shooter Hamilton as your “best defenseman” but bury him on the second unit?

Why are you playing the perimeter? Why am I breaking out in hives right now?

I watched Necas in Charlotte during the Calder Cup and, frankly, I was amazed at his movement on the power play. I get earning it. I get playing your proven players, but for the love of god on some weekday west coast trip in the beginning of the season, just try him out.

Penalty kill: The penalty kill was oddly a source of strength for the Canes at times, but I guess that’s what happens when you put Aho and Teravainen in a space where most folks aren’t being creative and you let them do their thing. That was a great move by Brind’Amour, and he told me once that as long as they’re young and able, why not put them out there?

Count on that again.

The team ranked eighth in least goals allowed per 60 on the penalty kill. The loss of de Haan hurts the most in this department. Fleury might never score that first NHL goal, but if he can replace de Haan in this aspect he doesn’t even need to.

Salary cap watch

It was the best of times, it was the least frugal (?) of times.

Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has called some bluffs off the ice, mostly in letting GM Don Waddell interview for the Wild GM position, but on the 1151450 Colorado Avalanche regional sports networks they own this way, nor do they treat each other’s regional sports networks this way. For example, neither DIRECTV nor Comcast is handling rates and carriage with AT&T Sportsnet, which Loss of Altitude: Nuggets, Avalanche and Rapids broadcasts “TBD” is owned by the same parent company as DIRECTV and carries amidst carrier negotiations Colorado Rockies games, in the same manner they propose for Altitude.

According to Martin, as part of negotiations, Altitude has offered temporary extensions of the current deal until a new deal can be agreed By Doug Ottewill - August 29, 2019 upon. The networks have declined the extensions as well as multiple/various proposals made by Altitude.

In response to Altitude’s release, DISH Network offered the following By the time you read this, you may not be able to flip the channel over to statement via email: “DISH’s goal is to keep Altitude Sports available to Altitude Sports and Entertainment. our customers at a reasonable cost. We are unsure why Altitude has With current contracts set to expire with DISH Network (Wednesday decided to involve customers in the contract negotiation process when night), DIRECTV and Comcast (both Saturday), the immediate future of there is still time for the two parties to reach a mutually beneficial deal.” Stan Kroenke’s regional sports channel is up in the air. At current, Said Martin of DISH’s comment: “DISH declined an extension and said Altitude and its major carriers appear to be at an impasse with regard to we were so far apart there was no purpose in an extension, so if they negotiating a new deal. Wednesday morning, Altitude sent out a press won’t talk and I can’t involve the consumer – the fans – then who do I release that brought the troubling situation to the public. involve?” “That Altitude’s three major distributors would each reject Altitude’s fair milehighsports.com LOADED: 08.30.2019 offer, and in unison insist instead that Altitude accept terms that would render the telecast of local professional sports completely nonviable is more than disappointing and is a disservice to the community,” said Jim Martin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Altitude’s parent company, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment in the official statement. “The upcoming Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche seasons are each among the most highly anticipated in both teams’ history. For these distributors to collectively seek to deprive our fans the opportunity to watch their home teams is inexcusable and disheartening.”

In a phone call on Wednesday, Martin elaborated.

“There aren’t many differences in number, but the differences we have are major in nature,” he said.

The two primary areas of disagreement: Price and carriage.

“In our last extension, KSE has received an 8 percent annual rate increase. The current proposal on the table asks for a 5 percent increase and most recently we offered the first year flat.”

In a statement to the Denver Post, Comcast claimed that Altitude demanded “significant annual price increases” throughout their agreement and that “Over the past year, more than 95 percent of Altitude subscribers watched less than the equivalent of a game per week. The price increase Altitude is again demanding is unacceptable given the network’s low viewership.”

These assertions did not sit well, as Altitude offered a quick rebuttal in a statement sent out after 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

“Altitude Sports respectfully disagrees with Comcast’s mis- characterization of carriage negotiations,” said Matt Hutchings, president of Altitude Sports and Entertainment.

“Altitude has never requested a significant increase in its fees in six months of good-faith negotiations. In fact, Comcast is demanding that Altitude take a substantial and economically unviable reduction in fees. The cable company has never proposed reducing fees to its customers; yet it continues to find ways to increase rates, including creating a tier that would take a city’s treasured sports teams off its most basic cable package.”

Martin says that the carriers have countered with proposals that involve substantial rate decreases, one of as much as 60 percent.”

With regard to carriage, according to Martin, Comcast, DIRECTV and DISH Network would all like to alter how Altitude is being offered (or packaged). For 15 years, Altitude has been part of a larger basic package; in the current negotiations, they would like to offer Altitude in a more limited manner, such as a tier that’s geared solely toward sports.

“(Carriage) is a huge issue,” said Martin. “There are those who believe sports should be packaged separately, but the reality for professional sports and their regional telecasts in today’s world is that if they do not have broad-based distribution, it’s not a sustainable economic model for the networks or the teams.”

Martin also points out that the distributors are not handling these negotiations in the same manner in which they’ve handled other regional networks, and they’re not treating current negotiations the same amongst each other. He adds that Comcast and DIRECTV do not treat the 1151451 Detroit Red Wings

Christoffer Ehn looks to fill checking role for Red Wings

By Ansar Khan

(Another in a series of player profiles prior to training camp.)

Christoffer Ehn

Position: Center/left wing

Age: 23

Height/Weight: 6-3/181

2018-19 stats: 60 games, 3 goals, 6 assists, 9 points, minus-5 rating, 6 penalty minutes.

Career stats: Same.

Contract: One year remaining at a $760,000 cap hit. Will be a restricted free agent without arbitration rights after the season.

2018-19 in review: Made NHL and North American debut in season opener Oct. 4 vs. Columbus. … First NHL point Oct. 11 vs. Toronto (assist). … First NHL goal Dec. 23 at Toronto. … Scored one of team’s seven shorthanded goals for the season March 25 at San Jose. … Logged season-high 17:54 April 2 vs. Pittsburgh. … Recorded season- high five shots on goal March 29 vs. New Jersey. … Won 47.4 percent of face-offs (84-of-177). … Appeared in 17 games for AHL Grand Rapids Griffins (two goals, five assists, plus-4).

2019-20 outlook: Ehn surprised by earning a roster spot out of training camp in his first season in North America. The 2014 fourth-round pick (106th overall) was better-prepared for the NHL than some others due to his age and experience of playing in the Swedish men’s league with Frolunda.

The coaching staff and front office were swayed by Ehn’s attention to detail and responsible defensive play. Aside from two relatively brief stints in the AHL, Ehn was a fixture on the Red Wings’ fourth line.

The organization is hoping he has a little more offense in him, but he hasn’t shown that at any level. If he’s going to remain in the NHL, it will be as a bottom-six checking forward and penalty killer who can play center and the wing.

Ehn’s primary competition for a roster spot in training camp might come Ryan Kuffner. Both are young, waiver-exempt players who will only stick around if they’re in the lineup regularly.

Quotable: “Just have to keep working on the right side of the puck and keep things simple. There are no secrets to my game. I just have to skate a lot. I need to work on my face-offs every day because it’s a really important part of the game. I will try to create some offense as well.” – Ehn

Key question: Does Ehn need more experience at the AHL level?

Michigan Live LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151452 Detroit Red Wings off still from what other contending teams can offer. On those clubs, he’d be better suited as a second fiddle.

On average, the top eight teams’ first-line centres are worth 3.4 wins with 2019-20 NHL Season Preview: Detroit Red Wings all eight being valued higher than Larkin, while second-line centres are worth 2.2 wins on average. Larkin is a top-line calibre centre, but he’s not in the elite tier and that’s the foundation from which elite teams are By Dom Luszczyszyn Aug 29, 2019 generally built upon. Those types of teams have players of Larkin’s ilk usually commanding a second line. And that’s according to this model;

Evolving Hockey’s WAR is even less kind. For 25 straight seasons, spanning from 1990 to 2016, the Detroit Red What’s separating Larkin from the next tier is his ability to drive play, Wings were a playoff team. The regular season was mostly a formality specifically targeting and defending dangerous areas of the ice. While the for over two decades in Detroit as it always ended with a postseason Red Wings earn a great shot share (relatively speaking) with Larkin on berth. the ice, that advantage diminishes when the threat of those shots are Until it wasn’t, and thus a new regular season formality was born. The taken into account. Last year his Corsi percentage was a strong 53.6 Red Wings have missed the playoffs handily in three straight seasons percent, but his expected goals rate was just an average 50.2 percent. It and it looks extremely unlikely that the team’s new streak ends this was his first year above 50 percent, too, though it’s worth noting Larkin season. has grown a lot over the last few seasons. On offence Larkin brings the heat with his speed, but he still struggles at the other end of the ice, The odds? Two percent. It takes a special kind of bad to have that kind of giving a lot of his value back. While his relative numbers were strong last certainty toward failure, one the Red Wings qualify for. season, the fact he plays for a bad team has to be considered.

Last season the Red Wings finished with 74 points. The year before it Efficiency also plays a role in his projected value here. While Larkin was was 73 points. The most likely landing spot for next season is right in the 37th in points per game at 0.96 among forwards, most of that was due to same ballpark with a 45 percent chance of landing somewhere between his huge ice time advantage where he ranked ninth in the league, playing 70 and 80 points and an average projection right in between at 73.7 21:51 per game. His point rate drops substantially when looking at points points. per 60 where he ranked 64th with 2.64. At 5-on-5 that drops further as his 1.94 points per 60 ranked 110th. That’s not only not first-line calibre, it It’s an extremely bleak projection, one exacerbated by the fact the team was fourth-best on this very team. That he hasn’t shown much as a arguably plays in the league’s toughest division, one where three playoff power-play driver doesn’t help matters, either. spots are basically spoken for already. It would take everything going right for Detroit and everything going wrong for plenty of teams in front of That’s the rub with Larkin, who’s obviously not the problem in Detroit – them for the team to have a winning season. The Red Wings were one of far from it – but may not be the long-term solution to the No. 1 centre the league’s weakest clubs last year and only got worse after dealing problem that plagues all rebuilding teams. In Larkin’s defence though, he Gustav Nyquist and Nick Jensen. Prior to the deadline, the Red Wings is mostly a man on his own island. While usage (teammates and had an expected goals percentage of 46, but that already bad number competition) is accounted for here, there’s a chance that it downplays dropped significantly afterwards, all the way to dead last in the league at just how alone Larkin is on the Red Wings when it comes to quality help. 39 percent. Surround him with more talent and he may just prove to be the elite option after all. His transitional (entry and exit) and playmaking (shot There should be no surprises about how dire this projection is, especially assist) numbers are certainly at that level suggesting he has the talent to after they didn’t do much to improve their underlying talent (unless you do so and with his main issues being in his own end, a capable defence count adding two fourth-line calibre players) in the offseason, all while corps likely helps dramatically. many other teams made tangible improvements. Anthony Mantha, who scored at a 59-point pace last season, is the lone A number of those teams were some of Detroit’s peers at the bottom of other top of the lineup player on the roster when it comes to value; his the standings, creating a sizeable separation between the Red Wings proximity to Larkin may be a surprise considering the gap between them and the rest of the league. In terms of average projection, there’s a on the scoresheet. Part of that is caused by ice time differences, but also massive five-point gap between Detroit – the team projected to be the was due to a slow start for Mantha. In the season’s second half, he league’s 30th strongest team this year – and the next worst team. The scored 34 points in 40 games and led the team in points per 60. For him, Red Wings are in a league of their own, closer to the Senators than the his ability to push play in the right direction is also crucial as he’s the rest of the league. That’s never a good sign. team’s best driver in that regard, stronger than Larkin according to my As you hopefully know by now, being ranked 30th doesn’t mean that’s model. He has a higher xG RAPM in each of the last three seasons, necessarily where Detroit lands, it’s just the team’s likeliest end result. though Larkin bridged the gap significantly last season. Because they’re far off from the next worst team, though, the chances of Mantha’s stronger history is vital to his standing here, as are his stronger being in the league’s bottom two is quite high at 44 percent. Bottom five defensive numbers and his ability to convert that expected goal is 75 percent and bottom 10 is 93 percent. With the Red Wings earning advantage into a tangible one on the scoresheet. Over the last three over 80 points in just 1-in-5 simulations, it’s likely going to be a very long seasons, Mantha’s goals percentage is three percentage points higher season in Detroit. than his expected goals percentage. Larkin’s is the opposite. Mantha is a For this franchise, that’s a good thing, though. big part of what makes the top line go.

In order to get back to the glory years, it’s going to take a few more The addition of the pleasantly surprising Tyler Bertuzzi on the left side of painful ones to build a contending foundation. That should be the goal for that duo also helped. He led the Red Wings in points per 60 last season. this season, one that the team looks very likely to achieve. It seems like The Red Wings top line is the team’s lone bright spot here despite its new management is finally on the same page as fans clamouring for a ranking as the 29th best line. That’s first-line calibre and even though it’s proper rebuild, too. on the low end, there’s potential here considering their collective age. When the trio was on the ice last season they earned 53.7 percent of the For the 2019-20 season, though, there’s a clear shortage of talent, expected goals and outscored opponents 11-8 in their 181 minutes showcasing just how much work needs to be done to get the Red Wings together. That’s not too shabby in a small sample and speaks to Larkin’s back to where they belong in the league’s hierarchy. There are some potential with the right fit on either side. bright spots, but still a lot of holes in this lineup. The big issue up front in Detroit is not the top line, but what happens The brightest spot is thankfully at the most important position when it when the top line is off the ice. It’s a common refrain for most bottom- comes to building a contender: a No. 1 centre. Dylan Larkin is the team’s feeders, but even more so for the Red Wings as they have a serious best player, a workhorse who eats minutes in every situation and came depth problem that’s exacerbated by some anchors. At 2.5 combined awfully close to putting up a point-per-game campaign last year. At 23, wins, Detroit’s bottom nine ranks as the league’s worst (there are 58 there’s still room to grow too as Larkin is just entering his prime. But in players that provide more value than that on their own). It’s 4.2 wins order to become a contender, the Red Wings will need more growth still below league average and nearly seven wins below what a contender from Larkin from his current level. He is firmly in first-line territory, but far averages. The bottom six is the big problem as it’s worth just 0.1 total wins, an astonishingly low number for six players combined. With forwards being the largest drivers of team value, Detroit’s depth league’s worst. Their 1.4 combined wins are a full 0.6 wins worse than issues, more than anything, are what’s holding the team back. Without the next worst team, and that ignores the fact that the team’s seventh one of Larkin, Mantha or Bertuzzi on the ice last season, the Red Wings defencemen, Jonathan Ericsson, is this year’s Mr. Irrelevant as the were outscored 89-55 in 1,833 minutes and had a horrific 39 percent player expected to provide the least value at negative-0.8 wins. So … 0.6 expected goals rate. That’s not a typo. As good as the top line is, it’s near total wins. Yikes is an understatement. impossible to salvage that kind of wreckage. There’s a clear dichotomy between the top four and the bottom pairing Andreas Athanasiou is really the only other threat the team has up front guys here, as the Red Wings do have four OK players to man the top two playing on the second line. He had a nice breakout last season, scoring pairs. The top four ranks as the league’s 23rd best group. No one here is 30 goals and 54 points and his per-60 rates were even better as his 1.97 a world-beater by any means, but they can play. points per 60 at 5-on-5 ranked third on the team, a borderline first-line rate (and more than Larkin). While he’s a zone-entry wizard, he’s not a Filip Hronek is a diamond in the rough and though his numbers don’t strong play-driver. He’s fine when paired with another skill player like shine very brightly, it’s because he got buried with some of the league’s Larkin, but struggles otherwise. What gives him extra value though is toughest usage thanks to weak partners and surprisingly tough how his speed and craftiness allows him to draw a lot of penalties. His competition. It’s a problem he shares with many other Detroit defenders projected plus-13 differential this season is the 12th highest mark that are in way over their head. according to my model. That was very clearly the problem with Mike Green. Ever since coming to That Frans Nielsen is anchoring the second line really says it all about Detroit, he was rarely put in the best position to succeed. Now he’s in a the team. At this point he isn’t much more than a third-line centre. It’s no steep decline and though he still provides some value as a puck-mover wonder the Wings are outchanced routinely without the top line on the and on the power play, he’s turned into a huge liability at both ends of the ice. Rounding out the centre depth are Valterri Filppula and Luke ice at even strength. He was one of the team’s worst players in the Glendening, two thoroughly replaceable fourth-line calibre players. second half. It’s clear he’s lost a step too with how poor his penalty Filppula is not a reasonable option on a third line anymore, despite a differential is as he struggles to keep up and stay healthy. The Wings are percentage-driven season with the Islanders, while Glendening is who projected to be one of the league’s least disciplined teams and Green he’s always been. Last season, both centres had an expected goals plays a big role in that. It’s an area the team needs to fix considering they share under 45 percent (Glendening significantly so due to his inability to had a bottom five penalty kill last season. move the puck effectively) and were immense drags on their respective Danny DeKeyser and Patrik Nemeth round out the top four and neither teams. That’s obviously not going to cut it. are exactly adept with the puck nor drive play much offensively. It’s worth The winger options in the bottom six aren’t much better. Darren Helm is noting though that DeKeyser had a massive resurgence in the second part of the possession problem as he’s regularly hemmed in his own half with his average Game Score jumping from 0.14 to 0.63 per game zone getting outshot, though it looks like he may be limited to the bottom on the strength of a 49 percent expected goals rate, eight percentage six. Offseason acquisition Adam Erne comes from GM Steve Yzerman’s points better than when he was on the bench. former team and is a dependable defensive player, but will either play too That these are the team’s best options on the back end (unless high in this lineup on the third line where he’s slated to start or drown DeKeyser keeps up those second-half numbers) could be what’s holding trying to keep his linemates afloat on the fourth line. That includes Justin the forwards back, though that does a disservice to the damage done by Abdelkader, who is one of the largest value drags in the league at the players rounding out the team’s defence corps where the team negative-0.6 wins. Only 10 other players are worse (spoiler alert: one is employs some serious drags. Even in sheltered minutes Trevor Daley, Detroit’s seventh defenceman) and only two of those project to take a Madison Bowey and Jonathan Ericsson could not keep up last season as regular shift. Abdelkader simply shouldn’t be on an NHL roster anymore all three posted an expected goals rate under 39 percent in Detroit, a and purging him from the starting lineup would provide a massive boost mark only nine other players also managed league-wide. All three are via addition by subtraction. At least the team isn’t giving him 16 minutes well below replacement-level for very good reason. Daley and Ericsson in per night anymore, but having him on a fourth line with Helm and particular were among the league’s weakest players tracked at exiting Glendening gives the Red Wings the second worst line in hockey. In 77 and entering the zone which explains a lot about their lopsided shot disastrous minutes together last season, the trio earned a 34 percent counts, while the jury is still out on Bowey whose sample size there is expected goals rate. low.

That leaves Filip Zadina, Taro Hirose and potentially Michael Rasmussen If a player can’t reliably get the puck out, this is what happens. It explains as the team’s X-factors – the players that can bring some hope to what a lot about why the team’s forward depth looks so unassuming as they will likely be a wretched season. With rebuilding teams, everything can’t exactly rely on anyone to get them the puck. hinges on whether the younger players can live up to their expectations, contribute at the NHL level and build toward their potential. They define That underwhelming defence group is tasked with protecting perhaps the whether the team has pieces in line for the next step or if they’re still a team’s biggest positional strength which is somehow goaltending. That it ways away. Right now, none of the three project to be very impactful, but is isn’t very reassuring considering their below-average performance last there’s obvious upside there that can be tapped, dragging the team season. Jonathan Bernier isn’t anything special as a backup, while upwards. Jimmy Howard is an average starter, nothing more. Howard’s last season where he posted a save percentage higher than expected was in 2016- Zadina is the most tantalizing as last year’s sixth-overall pick, but there’s 17, which is what’s propping up his value here. Over the last three no guarantee he’s a full-time NHLer this year and may start in the AHL. seasons, he’s saved 5.2 goals over expected, but 9.7 of those happened The skill is there, after an AHL season where he scored 35 points in 59 three seasons ago. games as a teenager, but the Red Wings will be patient here with the glut of winger options and the knowledge that this season won’t be an easy Neither goalie helped matters when it came to stopping the bleeding from one. If his nine-game tryout last season is any indication, he may need a a defence that allowed the seventh most difficult shots against lot more seasoning. Though he scored three points in that stint, his (measured by expected save percentage) as the team allowed 10 more expected goals percentage was a comically low 22 percent. He’s a goals than expected. Detroit was in the league’s bottom five in both potential game-breaker and a big rookie performance could be what expected and actual goals per 60 last season as a direct result of both elevates this team, but he may not be ready yet. their defence and goaltending.

Rasmussen – the ninth-overall pick from the year prior – isn’t in the Overall, it’s not a pretty picture. This is a seriously feeble team that’s not current top 12 after a disappointing rookie season, but he would still be just missing depth throughout the lineup thanks to some of the weakest an improvement over some of the Red Wings’ options. His scoring last collection of talent at the bottom of the lineup in the league, but also truly year was fourth-line calibre, and his on-ice shot rates weren’t much elite pieces. Larkin can maybe get there one day with his speed and skill, better, but at 20 there’s still lots of time to turn things around. Hirose is but he needs help to do it that he’s likely not getting in Detroit anytime likely a virtual unknown outside Detroit, but he’ll get a legitimate shot in soon. camp after scoring seven points in 10 games last season out of college. This season will be critical in both finding out which of the young guys Considering his 44 percent expected goals rate and 1055 PDO, can be that help and getting a blue-chip prospect at the end of it to add to expectations should be tempered despite the point totals. the collection. With a lot of teams hoping to compete this season, there’s Somehow, the team’s forward depth after the top line isn’t the weakest a lot separating the Red Wings from the rest of the league and that’s a aspect of the roster – it’s unsurprisingly the defence group, ranked as the good thing. There’s a great chance that there’s a shiny reward at the end of what should be a mostly miserable season on the ice. How shiny remains to be seen, but with a stacked crop of young talent ready to be selected in 2020, it’s a good year to be bad.

Market Expectations

Detroit Red Wings: 76.5 points

The market is slightly more rosy on Detroit’s chances, but not by much with a three-point difference between our projection and the team’s point total line. It’s in the same ballpark.

What Fans Predict

Public Sample: 1337

Fan Sample: 158

The public’s collective expectation is nearly identical to what my model has for the Red Wings, a tie for second last with the next worst team. The team’s own fans are a bit more bullish, but not be much and even they would still take the under on where the oddsmakers are pricing the Red Wings. There’s not much separation in the distribution above, though, as it seems everyone agrees: it’s going to be a rough year for the Red Wings.

What The Athletic Insider Thinks

Max Bultman: Pretty spot on. The story of the Red Wings’ season is likely to be one of two scenarios, and neither is likely to prove satisfactory. Option No. 1 is they stay as bad or get worse than a year ago. Option No. 2 is they have the look, feel and stats of a better team, but make little to no progress in the standings (and possibly even fall lower). While option No. 2 is clearly preferable, it’s still going to be a tough way to go through six months for all involved. If the Red Wings can avoid another lottery-induced heartbreak, though, maybe it pays off in the end — getting a top-3 or top-4 pick in the NHL Draft might well provide the kind of elite talent the team is missing, extend its depth by default and make sure the bottom-out doesn’t last much longer. But as Dom’s numbers show, it’s really hard to envision a scenario where the Red Wings are even close to a playoff team this year. That has to be demoralizing for the team’s young players, who continue to improve their own games, but have thus far only been rewarded by slipping deeper and deeper into the league-wide cellar. There has been progress in spite of that, and the light at the end of the tunnel continues to look closer year by year. It’s just not close enough to chase down in 2019-20.

The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151454 Edmonton Oilers This becomes readily apparent when looking at the 15 players in the salary cap era who most closely compare to Nurse’s current situation. All 15 played out their entry level contracts and then signed two-year bridge How much money will Darnell Nurse make on his next NHL contract? deals (or two one-year deals at the same point) with their respective clubs. All had scoring numbers and minutes played which match reasonably well with what Nurse did last season at the same relative points in their careers. By Jonathan Willis Aug 29, 2019 Those 15 players split into three groups based on their next contracts:

short-, medium-, and long-term deals. It’s possible to forget that there were warning signs of the great restricted The equivalent column is the key one here. All of these deals are free agent stalemate of 2019. Just a year ago, a number of prominent expressed in terms of a projected $83.5-million upper limit for next RFAs were still unsigned as the calendar rolled over to December, a list summer. For example, Keith Yandle only signed for $5.25-million, but he headlined by William Nylander and a trio of good young defencemen. did so at a time when the cap’s upper limit was just $59.4-million; the Edmonton’s Darnell Nurse was one of those three, and on September 5 $7.38-million figure is what that translates to against an elevated cap. he pointed out that his stalled negotiations with the Oilers were but one In this case, the two closest matches for the season Nurse just had are piece of a larger puzzle. the two most recent deals: Dumba’s 2018 extension with Minnesota, and “I’m not the only guy in this position,” he said. “I think (Shea) Theodore Lindell’s 2019 agreement with Dallas. Both players hovered around the and (Josh) Morrissey are still waiting, too. There’s a couple of guys. I same 24 minutes-per-game mark that Nurse did last year, with Dumba don’t think I’m surprised. scoring 0.11 points per-game-more than Nurse and Lindell coming in 0.11 points-per-game lower. “Obviously when you go into the summer you think something would be done, especially going through it the first time, you think something would A five-year extension in the $6.0-million range seems about right here. be done right away, but it’s an educating process.” Nurse outscores Lindell, and probably commands more money if his deal matches Lindell’s length. Dumba outscores Nurse, so it makes sense for Although the Nylander negotiations went right to the wire, the three Nurse’s money to come in a little shy over the same length. players mentioned by Nurse all signed deals before the end of September. Morrissey and Nurse agreed to nearly identical two-year The wrinkle here is that we’re basing this on Nurse’s performance last bridge deals in the middle of the month; they were followed eight days season. It was a career-best offensive year, and if something (for later by the announcement of a seven-year pact between Theodore and example, no top unit power-play time) changes he may not replicate it. the Golden Knights. Yet he could also improve again, driving his price-point higher at term.

Vegas paid an up-front penalty: Theodore’s more complicated deal took It isn’t clear that the Oilers save much on the cap hit by knocking a year longer to finalize and carries a $5.2-million cap hit over its first two years, or two off a Nurse extension, since the two heavy-minute players years in which the Oilers and Jets are paying their defencemen $3.15- (Pitkanen and Barrie) are both still hovering around that $6.0-million million and $3.2-million, respectively. average. A deal probably comes in a little bit lower—both players had scored more the season prior, significantly more in Pitkanen’s case, and The trade-off for the Golden Knights is that for the five following years so they had more of a track record than Nurse does—but these figures Theodore — he of 37 points, 20 minutes-per-game and a 57.1 percent should not be especially appetizing for the Oilers. Corsi — is locked down on terms which seem pretty favourable already. Next summer, Edmonton and Winnipeg get to go through the whole From Nurse’s perspective, a three- or four-year deal might be a good process all over again, but they’ll do it having already sucked the value way to maximize career earnings. The downside there is one of security: out of two cheap years. for a professional hockey player, one bad hit or unfortunate fall can wipe away millions. Going to five or six years might mean leaving some money It doesn’t seem a great decision for the Jets, though coming off a three- on the table, but it also locks in big paychecks against injury risk. round playoff run (and losing to the champion last year) they at least had an argument that bridging Morrissey would make winning in the short Also of note: this kind of deal certainly ups the likelihood of trade. Half of term easier. the players featured on this chart were dealt before the end of the contracts they signed here, and theoretically Krug could push it to four of For the Oilers, who came nowhere near the playoffs last season and six. aren’t particularly expected to this coming year, the short-term arguments are a lot weaker, particularly since a more disciplined front office could These aren’t bad contracts; they just tend to indicate a lack of have found the money for Nurse somewhere. It’s hard not to note, for commitment on the part of one or both sides. example, that the money Brandon Manning will be paid this coming year These are really two different situations melded together. more than covers the difference between the contract of Nurse and that of Theodore. Coburn and Quincey both had strong age-23 seasons in the first half of their respective two-year bridge deals. The problem was that both fell off Short-term cap concern is one of the two classic arguments against a at age 24. Coburn’s scoring rate fell 34 percent; Quincey’s 31 percent. long-term extension for a young player from a team perspective. The Nurse, who has some things in common with Coburn (the No. 8 pick 10 other is one of risk. If the team has private reservations that the price on years before Nurse went No. 7) could conceivably find himself in a a player is going to climb, it can bet against him (or, more diplomatically, shutdown role next season that hurts his scoring. ask for a longer run of success before committing, though this amounts to the same thing). A player in that position has good reason not to want a long-term deal coming off that kind of platform year. A team too might develop In Nurse’s case, it was reasonable to ask whether he would score reservations about giving a player major term after a disappointing enough to place himself in-line for a big raise. When Montreal took a campaign. Another two-year deal is a reasonable solution, avoiding an bridge-deal approach to P.K. Subban, a 14-goal man as a rookie, it immediate showdown while leaving the question of unrestricted free seemed obvious that it would backfire. Nurse, who had scored 14 goals agency to the future. over the entire 197 games of his entry level contract, was not so obviously talented in that regard. Coburn’s case is instructive: he and the Flyers worked out a four-year extension a little over a year into his new contract. Quincey’s case is, too: In that respect, Nurse’s performance last season deserves some he was traded as a pending UFA. Those are basically the options and appreciation. The bridge deal gave him an opportunity to earn a big pay the two-year deal gives the parties time to decide which way it’s going to raise, and he authored a career-best 10-goal, 41-point campaign, go. including a stretch where he stepped in for Oscar Klefbom on the top power-play unit, which didn’t miss a beat. The other scenario here is an ugly one for the team. Trouba signed a one-year deal with Winnipeg, walking him to within a season of free As a result of his efforts, Nurse is in a position where he is going to get agency. The Jets dealt him from a position of terrible weakness this paid. summer, and landed a return that reflected that weakness. None of their possible options were very good after they agreed to the initial one-year extension, which put all the power in the hands of the player.

That Trouba’s ultimate extension with the Rangers was basically a UFA pact (seven years, $8.0-million AAV) underlines the other downside. Not only does the player have a lot of control over his destination after going from a two-year bridge to a one-year extension, but when it comes time to negotiate money he can almost act like he’s already on the open market.

A year out, the likeliest outcome for Nurse and the Oilers seems to be a long-term extension modeled on the Lindell and Dumba contracts, a cap hit starting with a six over five or six seasons. The more strained the relationship or the circumstances, the shorter the term is likely to be.

The other option, often floated online, is for Edmonton to trade Nurse next summer rather than re-sign him. The timing would be right: a player looking for a raise, but one who still has two years left under team control. The rationale is that with Klefbom signed long-term, Larsson and Russell still under contract, and a wealth of prospects graduating the Oilers could move a valuable player from their blue line to address other problems. Whether such an idea appeals to Edmonton’s management could end up depending a lot on how well its key defensive prospects play this season, to say nothing of how well Nurse plays in his first year under the new regime.

Whatever happens going forward, the past two seasons and the one to come likely represent Nurse’s peak in terms of cap hit-to-value delivered. He has positioned himself for a big raise, and barring some truly shocking developments in 2019-20 he’s going to get one.

The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151455 Los Angeles Kings 46 Blake Lizotte 5-7 172 Lindstrom, MN 12/13/97

48 Mikey Eyssimont 6-0 180 Littleton, CO 9/9/96 LA KINGS ANNOUNCE ROOKIE CAMP SCHEDULE, ROSTERS 49 Mason Bergh* 6-0 174 Eden Prairie, MN 3/6/95

JON ROSENAUGUST 29, 2019 52 Arthur Kaliyev 6-2 194 Tashkent, UZB 6/26/01

PROSPECTS AND SCOUTING 60 Joseph Garreffa^ 5-7 176 Toronto, ON 8/9/99 Via LA Kings: 62 Stephen Baylis* 6-1 201 Ottawa, ON Rookie Camp Schedule and Media Availability (Subject to change – all 8/1/94 times approximate) 63 Brad Morrison 6-0 170 Prince George, BC Friday, September 6 1/4/97

10 a.m. – Practice 68 Samuel Fagemo 6-0 190 Goteborg, SWE 3/14/00 11:30 a.m. – Players and Coaches Media availability 79 Jonathan Yantsis^ 6-2 209 Markham, ON Saturday, September 7 4/28/99 10 a.m. – Practice 86 Akil Thomas 5-11 177 Toronto, ON 11:30 a.m. – Players and Coaches Media availability 1/2/00

5 p.m. – Game vs. (Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena) 87 Aidan Dudas 5-7 164 Parry Sound, ON 6/15/00 Postgame – Players and Staff Media availability 88 Johan Sodergran 6-2 205 Stockholm, SWE Sunday, September 8 11/20/99

1 p.m. – Game vs. Colorado Avalanche (Great Park Ice & FivePoint 89 Rasmus Kupari 6-1 188 Kotka, FIN 3/15/00 Arena) Defensemen Postgame – Players and Coaches Media availability 44 Mikey Anderson 5-11 197 Roseville, MN Monday, September 9 5/25/99

10 a.m. – Practice 50 Sean Durzi 6-0 185 Mississauga, ON 10/21/98 11:30 a.m. – Players and Coaches Media availability 53 Jordan Spence 5-10 177 Sydney, AUS Tuesday, September 10 2/24/01 1 p.m. – Game vs. San Jose Sharks (Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena) 54 Tobias Bjornfot 6-0 193 Upplands Vasby, Postgame – Players and Coaches Media availability SWE 4/6/01

Wednesday, September 11 57 Billy Constantinou^ 6-0 185 Scarborough, ON 3/25/01 9:30 a.m. – Practice 58 Markus Phillips 6-0 207 Toronto, ON 11 a.m. – Players and Coaches Media availability 3/21/99

Thursday, September 12 71 Austin Strand 6-4 216 Calgary, AB 2/17/97 Recovery Day 76 Max Gottlieb* 6-0 207 Old Bridge, NJ Slated to skate for the Kings in rookie camp are 2018 first round pick 1/27/95 Rasmus Kupari, along with 2018 second round pick Jaret Anderson- Dolan, who appeared in five games with the Kings last season. Also 90 Vincent Sevigny^ 6-3 170 Quebec, QC expected to play are five players selected in the 2019 NHL Draft, 4/14/01 including one of the Kings first round picks from this years’ draft, defenseman Tobias Bjornfot along with forwards Arthur Kaliyev and Goaltenders Samuel Fagemo, defenseman Jordan Spence and goaltender Lukas 33 Lukas Parik 6-4 185 Neratovice, CZE Parik. 3/15/01 LA Kings Season Ticket Memberships for the 2019-20 season are on 37 Jacob Ingham 6-3 191 Barrie, ON 6/10/00 sale now with three membership levels: Full Season, Half Season, and Quarter Season. Deposits are also being accepted for Groups of 15 or 75 Matthew Villalta 6-2 165 Kingston, ON more and Private Event Suite rentals, and deposit holders will receive 1/3/99 exclusive pre-sale windows before the general public. Individual tickets for the 2019-20 season will be on sale to the general public on August 1 ^ – Camp Invite with Season Ticket Member and eNews subscriber pre-sales in advance * – AHL Contract of this date. Select Mini-Plans and Ticket Packs will also go on sale prior to the public on sale of August 1. Call 1.888.KINGS.LA or visit –Lead photo via Andre Ringuette/NHLI LAKings.com for more information. LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 08.30.2019 Forwards

28 Jaret Anderson-Dolan 5-11 191 Calgary, AB 9/12/99

43 Drake Rymsha 6-0 187 Huntington Woods, MI 8/6/98 1151456 Minnesota Wild Did you or an agent do your contract with Craig Leipold?

I did my deal with Craig.

Q&A: Bill Guerin talks state of the Wild, Kaprizov plans, Spurgeon and Really? more Yeah. You know what? I mean, if I can’t do my own contract, then how’s he going to trust me to do player contracts? He’s easy to deal with. And you know what? If I wanted something, he was fair, I was fair, and it’s Michael Russo Aug 29, 2019 great.

I assume the Joel Eriksson Ek deal announced on your first day as GM, Bill Guerin has been busy since being introduced as the Wild’s new you didn’t do that one even though it said, “General Manager Bill Guerin general manager one week ago today. announced …?”

On Friday, he threw out the first pitch at the Twins game, then met with No, TK (assistant GM Tom Kurvers) did that. TK and (director of hockey Twins executives Derek Falvey and Thad Levine and got to meet operations) Chris O’Hearn did that. manager Rocco Baldelli. What will it be like calling old Devils teammate, now agent, Claude On Monday, he held his first hockey operations meeting, sitting down and Lemieux up and negotiating restricted free agent Kevin Fiala’s deal? talking over the roster and training camp for three hours with coach I’ve done deals with Claude before. Quite a few actually. And him and I Bruce Boudreau and his staff. are old teammates and friends. We’ve got a great relationship. We have On Tuesday, he got his first taste of the Great Minnesota Get-Together to find something that works for both of us. by doing a bunch of radio and TV interviews and eating a couple Pronto I’ve heard they were negotiating a short-term bridge deal with Fiala and Pups at the State Fair. Afterward, he drove out to Eagan in the afternoon weren’t close. Where are you at right now? and spent two hours with Vikings GM Rick Spielman. He got the full tour of the Vikings’ impressive practice facility, watched some practice and Nothing has changed. I’d say, status quo. met with coach Mike Zimmer. Later that night, Guerin and Boudreau sat down for a get-to-know-each-other dinner at a popular (aka $$$$$) Ryan Donato steakhouse in Minneapolis. Ryan Donato (Brace Hemmelgarn / USA Today)

“He has got my full support,” Guerin has said of Boudreau, adding that Two players Paul (Fenton) traded for last year, Ryan Donato and Fiala, their dinner was downright entertaining and informative. “He’s been both showed flashes at times — Ryan a productive first dozen games, around this game a lot longer than I have, so I’ll learn a ton from working Fiala one real good game against Nashville. What do you think of both as with him. I’m really looking forward to creating a relationship with Bruce. players? He’s won a ton of games in this league and trust me, he has a lot of friends in the game, including my old boss (Penguins GM Jim I played with Ryan’s dad (Ted), so I’ve known Ryan since he was a little Rutherford).” kid, and he’s just like his dad from a work ethic and hockey sense point of view. It’s in his blood. Ryan just makes plays. … I scouted his Wild On Wednesday, Guerin and owner Craig Leipold took in the local debut at Madison Square Garden, and on little sleep, a lot of travel, and Minnesota pro’s daily pre-training camp skate and scrimmage in Edina, he had a huge game. He just makes it happen. Fiala can fly. He’s got then went to lunch with Wild captain Mikko Koivu. incredible talent and ability, but like a lot of young kids, he has to learn to “On you guys, right?” Koivu, with a wink toward a reporter, cracked as bring it on a nightly basis. We’ll help him be better, help him be more the three exited the rink for a trendy sushi spot on 50th and France. consistent. He needs to be pushed because you can’t teach what he has. Now we just have to get him signed. Later Wednesday, Guerin also got together with Zach Parise as the new GM tries his darnedest to meet with or speak with almost every player on So negotiating contracts was part of your duties in Pittsburgh? the roster before he leaves next week for the Wild’s prospects Yeah. Oh yeah. (Assistant GM) Jason Karmanos and I split them up, and tournament in Traverse City, Mich. it just depended on the circumstances or relationship or whatever, but Most importantly, of course, Guerin carved out time last Friday to sit yeah, he and I worked very closely together. And obviously (GM) Jim down with The Athletic to discuss his new team and dream job after eight (Rutherford) had input on everything, too. But yeah, we both did years as player development coach, then assistant GM with the contracts. Pittsburgh Penguins. You have so many friends, so many ex-teammates in hockey. I’ve got to Part 1 of the Q and A with his wife and three of his kids appeared assume a ton of them will be calling you looking for jobs in every Tuesday. Here is Part 2, one-on-one with Guerin on the state of the Wild. capacity. What will it be like fielding these calls or even fending off a lot of people? You moved around a lot as a player, but is it overwhelming to land your first GM job and have to uproot your life and learn a new city and team in You just have to be upfront and honest with them. The quicker that you late August? Training camp starts Sept. 12. I’ve got to think going to the can respond to them and let them know where things sit, the better. I office right now is absolutely hectic as you suddenly dive in to everything. don’t want to lead anybody on. Hey, look, this is a hard business to get into, and jobs are, they’re at a premium. You know what? I just don’t There’s a lot going on, but I’m thoroughly enjoying it. I don’t feel believe in leading anybody on. I’m happy with the staff here. I’m not in a overwhelmed. I feel motivated and excited, and it’s been great. The rush to do anything, that’s for sure. I’m comfortable with all the guys. I family aspect of it, one’s going to graduate school in England, so she’ll be know a lot of them. But I really just want to see how things have been in England all year. One’s in college, two are in boarding school. It’s a working. But in saying that, I can’t say that I won’t bring somebody in. little different because we don’t have to find a school. We don’t have to find soccer teams or anything like that, or hockey teams or anything. That Do you have the ability to even expand the staff if you want? It does part’s all set, so it’s different in that way and we can take our time a little seem like the Wild have a very thin front office compared to a lot of bit more and just kind of figure out the family aspect as we go. As far as teams. the work stuff, getting through (last) Wednesday, Thursday and (Friday) We’ve talked about it and I really just want to see how things are going was big. I’m going to just chip away at. here. I’m really comfortable with everybody right now. TK and Chris So, the announcement comes that you’re the new Wild GM. Did your O’Hearn had everything teed up for me and ready to go. They did the phone just explode? Eriksson Ek deal. I mean, that’s great. I have complete trust in these guys. They’re good people and good hockey guys. (Pulls out phone.) As of right now I have 409 texts, and I’ve returned about a hundred. It’s been overwhelming. The messages that I’ve gotten What would you say is your philosophy toward building a team? I know and the amount of all the other general managers reaching out, is really talking to you a couple of weeks ago you said you genuinely feel like awesome. It’s overwhelming and the support I’ve gotten from everybody, there’s a solid base and foundation here to be successful, that this is not it’s amazing. a tear-down situation. Do you still feel that after really sinking yourself into the roster and reserve list the past three weeks? Yeah. I really feel like this is a great situation to be coming into. I was just I’m super excited for the rookie tournament because that, to me, is the standing in Tommy Kurvers’ office (last Thursday) and we were just time to get together with the guys (scouts) who drafted these players, looking at the board and just talking about guys. I told him, “There’s some who put all these prospects together, and to get to know the prospects good hockey players on this team, and there’s some good veteran guys, and to get to know the amateur staff. It’s a perfect time. and there’s some really good young players.” To me that says it’s a good foundation. Some really good defensemen, some good forwards, You’ll learn very quickly there will be incessant Kirill Kaprizov questions goaltending solid. You know what? Every team tries to get better. We this year. Wild fans have been clamoring for this guy for four years, need to get better, and that’s it. It’ll be up to me to help us get better, but I especially the past couple after he signed an extension to stay in the do think we need to walk into that room and get guys believing again that KHL. You’re now the Wild’s third GM since he was drafted, which has to if we all pull the same rope, this team can be a top team in this be a little concerning to him. How fast do you need to get in front of him? conference. We have a lot of good players. There’s a lot of things in I’ve already talked to his agent. I did actually talk to him Day 1, and he’s place here, and we just have to start thinking bigger and better. To me, a very important piece. I need to establish a relationship with him and it’s a mindset thing. I’ve got to get those guys to change their thought make sure he knows how much we can’t wait for him to get here and how process. important he is to our future. He’s a fabulous player, and I want to make It’s funny, I was looking at the roster, too, yesterday and I was thinking sure he knows he’s a very important person for us. So I plan to visit him that if a couple guys like Eric Staal and Jason Zucker can bounce back to in Russia. Absolutely, 100 percent. We just have to help him out. There anything close to the way they were two years ago and you get two or are obstacles, but just like everything else, there’s a way around it, and three of Kevin Fiala, Ryan Donato, Luke Kunin, Jordan Greenway and there’s a way to do it. He won’t be the first one. We’ve got to make it so Joel Eriksson Ek to show significant strides, this team could have a it’s not intimidating or … as easy as possible so he can come over here decent year. Is this what you’re referring to? in a year, play and enjoy it.

Absolutely. The veterans — guys like Zach Parise, Mikko Koivu, Ryan It seems like everybody from Bruce Boudreau to Paul Fenton to maybe Suter, Eric Staal — have to take charge, be that rock solid foundation for even now you come into this organization and probably don’t off the hop these younger guys. But the younger players, we need them to take a realize how good Jared Spurgeon is until they get their eyes on him. How step. Make a push. Don’t wait your turn. If you can outperform somebody well do you know Spurgeon as a player, and do you think that he’s next and earn more ice time, then do it. We need them to make that step. And on your priority list to really chat with considering he’s a year from that’s really important. Everybody on the team can be a leader in their unrestricted free agency? own way. But the best way to do it is to have the guys perform, show up Oh no, he’s a top priority. Really important player for us. I hear nothing every night. And I do think, especially with the fact that Matt Dumba and but great things about him as a person, and these are the type of people Mikko Koivu are back healthy, that if we stay healthy, get some we want to play for the Minnesota Wild. Character is huge to me, and this bounceback years and get some breakthroughs by the young kids, we guy epitomizes that and you just don’t let guys like that go. We want to should have a very good team. I mean our top-four D corps is very good. make sure a person like him stays with us for a long time. And then, his Dumba was leading the league (for blue-liners with 12 goals) when he game, that’s the way that the game is done these days. A great skater, got hurt (last December) and he was still leading the league like a month- moves the puck, gets involved in the play, all that. Competes. I mean, and-a-half later. What’s that tell ya? teams would kill to have him.

Matt Dumba Jared Spurgeon

We’ve talked before about the way you led as a player. How much do Spurge was very honest with me before Paul was fired that he wanted to you have to really impress upon these guys that it’s team before sit down with Paul and hear his vision for success to find out if he wanted individuals? From your due diligence into some of the stuff going on in to commit longterm here. Do you think that’s going to have to be that locker room and guys maybe pulling in different directions, do you something that you’re going to have to do pretty quickly with him as well? think that you can go in there and mend that fairly quickly by just having some honest conversations? Yeah, absolutely. I mean, the guys … players want to win. And when they’re looking at being a UFA, they want to know what’s going on, and Listen, that’s going to be the philosophy, where that’s going to be the they want to know that they’re going to be in someplace that they’re mandate, that’s going to be the culture. It’s going to be team first. There’s going to have a chance to win, and have success, so absolutely. I plan to no other way to do it. You can’t have individual agendas. It’s all about the meet with him and, like Kaprizov, make sure Jared understands what we team and it’s all about winning. And if a player can’t understand that or think of him as a person and a player and that he will have a chance to doesn’t want to adhere to it, then he’s not going to fit here. But the win Stanley Cups if he remains in Minnesota, in particular, because he’s players have to buy into it. The coach is totally on board with that. The the type of player that can help us win Stanley Cups. players have to buy into that for us to be successful. We’ve got to change the mentality in that locker room. It starts at the top. Our top players, our Mikko Koivu, same thing, last year of his deal. Coming off a major, major older guys have to take control of this thing and help create that winning knee injury at 36 years old. Do you almost feel like you’ve got to get your culture in the dressing room. And they will. eyes on him to decide whether or not he’s going to be back, or how do you handle that? Boudreau seems to be walking on air right now. He didn’t mean this as a slight to Paul Fenton, but he told me yesterday that after your press Mikko’s been here for a long time. He’s a captain. He’s a hell of a player. conference, he hadn’t seen such smiles on the players’ faces in months These are things that we’ll all sort out. I can’t really say exactly what I’m and months and months, that after last year’s disappointment of not going to be doing with him, because we’ve got to see how things go. But making the playoffs and all the trades in the second half and a lot of the he’s a very important guy in this organization. And he’s really well-liked. stuff going on behind the scenes, that there has been a big stress lifted He’s had a hell of a career, and you know what? If it makes sense, it off this organization. He really believes that you coming in this close to makes sense. But he’s a priority guy, too. These guys are all extremely the season could be a big pick-me-up for the players, that there’s sort of important guys. an energy going into the season that otherwise wouldn’t exist this late in Jason Zucker dealt with his name in the press all last year because the offseason. Can your pedigree, your credibility, could hiring a new GM Fenton kept on trying to trade him — in fact once to you guys in this late in the summer actually lift a team? Pittsburgh. Will you meet with him and try to ease his mind? I hope so. I respect Bruce for feeling that way, and I do think the players Yes. He’s safe. But if I can make the team better, I will. feel like it’s time to move on. Last year is last year. We’re moving forward, and we want everybody feeling good coming in. Excited, you Goaltending. You mentioned that you feel the goaltending’s solid, but know? Training camp’s right around the corner. This is the time of year Devan Dubnyk is 33 and has two years left on his deal. Very young you’ve got to be itching to get back. So, if Bruce has that feeling and the goalies in the organization behind him. Whether it’s Dubnyk or somebody players have that feeling, that’s great. That’s what we want. We want else, will you have to start figuring out a succession plan maybe? people that are excited to be with the Minnesota Wild, and I’m excited. It’s great. Yeah, yeah. We’ll dive into that, for sure. I’m comfortable where we are right now, but like you always say, in this business, you have to project How quickly do you need to get a crash course on not only the players out and we have to do that with every position. And you have to. You’ve here, but the prospects? got to think about it, and we will. You have a pretty full lineup, especially 16 forwards that could be vying for 13 or 14 roster spots. Any chance you’d sign any of these many free agents to a pro tryout for training camp?

I don’t think so right now. I’m not saying I definitely won’t, but I want to see the young kids in camp and not shield them out. Plus, it is not fun to be on a PTO. It’s very hard.

As a player, who were your biggest influences? Leaders? Players you played with?

I was so fortunate to come in in New Jersey as a young player with an older established team, a lot of veterans. There were guys like Kenny Daneyko, John MacLean, Scott Stevens, Bruce Driver, , all these guys that had been around for a long time that I got to see every day. And just the way they carried themselves, and along the way, I’ve had some amazing teammates and just guys I just learned from. And I’ve played for one of the best, and that’s (former Devils GM, current Islanders GM) . I learned a ton from him. I learned a ton from (former Devils coach) Jacques Lemaire. I played for Glen Sather (in Edmonton), and he was amazing, too. And we were an OK team, but he made us feel like we were the ‘82 Oilers. It was great. I played for some amazing people.

Bill Guerin and Jim Rutherford

From a GM perspective, what would you say you learned from Lou, Ray Shero, Jim Rutherford?

Oh my God. The three of them, everybody’s got their own style, but Lou was the … we all know Lou, the discipline, the structure, and all the sacrifice, what it takes to win. Ray was, obviously, I won with him as a player (in 2009), but I really learned the structure of how things work after you’ve played (when I worked for him on the development side). But he was fantastic. And Jim was just kind of a different style, but always willing to make a fair deal. Treats people well. Great relationships with the other GMs, understands that it’s a relationship business. And not afraid to move. And he’s aggressive and I like that and I hope to be that way here. I learned a lot from all three of those guys.

I did this story with Zach Parise last month and he has immense respect for Lamoriello, and even his rules, which were notorious in New Jersey: No facial hair, you couldn’t tape over the stripes of your socks, you had to use the same color tape as your socks, no clear tape, no jersey tuck-ins, no jeans, shirts and ties always, you couldn’t pick your number, no guests in the locker room, broadcasters had to fly commercial. I assume you won’t be going to such extremes?

No, but I’m a big believer in him. I guess I’m kind of in between, but I believe in … you present yourself well. We’re representing the Minnesota Wild. You know what? You’re going to be buttoned-up, you’re going to look good, you’re going to work. But I’m also pretty loose in other ways, but there are some things that I won’t budge on.

What would those be?

Uhhh, I don’t know (laughing). I don’t know. But no, the one thing I did learn from Lou and he always says this, “We don’t have a lot of rules. The ones we have, we follow.” And that, to me, hits home because there are certain things you need in order to win, and then you’ve got to have fun, too.

But the players can have facial hair?

Yes. They can have facial hair.

The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151457 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Gazette LOADED: 08.30.2019

If Habs peak at right time anything can happen, Claude Julien says

"The most disappointing thing for me as a coach was that I felt our team was playing its best hockey at the end of the year," he says.

PAT HICKEY, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: August 29, 2019

Claude Julien has a pretty good idea why the St. Louis Blues won the and it’s also the reason why he has one regret about the way last season ended for the Canadiens.

“The thing I took from it — and I’ve always believed this — is if you peak at the right time, anything can happen,” Julien said prior to teeing it up Thursday in Jonathan Drouin’s charity golf tournament at Laval-sur-le- Lac. “Once you get in the playoffs, it’s everybody’s opportunity if you peak at the right time.”

The Canadiens were deprived of that opportunity when they let a playoff berth slip away during the final week of the season.

“The most disappointing thing for me as a coach was that I felt our team was playing its best hockey at the end of the year,” said Julien.

Julien noted that Tampa Bay was swept in the first round of the playoffs after finishing with the best regular-season record in the NHL, while St. Louis won the Cup after they began 2019 with the worst record in the league.

“You look at Tampa Bay — and they weren’t playing their best hockey — and, as bad as (the Blues) were in the first half, they played well in the second half,” said Julien. “You can talk about a lot of things, like size, but there were players on that team that weren’t re-signed and so they didn’t have the ultimate answer. They just peaked at the right time.”

While the Canadiens had a strong half, Drouin was one player who struggled. The 24-year-old matched his career high with 53 points, but he slumped during the final third of the season. He had only eight points over the final 26 games and four of those were assists he collected in an 8-1 rout of Detroit.

Julien is confident Drouin can turn things around after a summer of hard work on and off the ice.

“I think Jonathan did a lot of good things over the offseason,” said Julien. “He’s training hard and he’s taken some steps to improve his game,” said Julien. “He’s been watching video with (assistant coach Dominique Ducharme). We had a good chat while he was doing these things. A guy who takes charge of his career and his situation is a good sign.

“He’s still a young player and that’s the exciting part of it,” added Julien. “He wants to improve and if that happens, our team will be that much better. He can be an impact player. He has all the tools, but what we want to see is consistency day in and day out. He has to get more inside and he knows that. He has the ability to make those plays and we showed him that.”

Julien said Drouin was a perimeter player down the stretch.

“I don’t think he was able to get to the inside but, when he did, he had success,” said Julien. “People forget that some players are impact players at 21 or 22 like (Connor) McDavid, but there are other guys who take a little longer to become impact players. I like his approach and his attitude and we’ll work with that.”

Drouin, whose tournament benefitted the CHUM hospital foundation, agreed with Julien’s assessment.

“I have to be less conservative and get into the dirty areas more,” said Drouin.

When asked about the reasons behind his late-season slump, Drouin said: “I wish I could tell you. I put a little too much pressure on myself when things didn’t go my way for five or six games and it carried over for 25 or 30 games until the end of the season. For me, it’s coming to the rink every day with a good attitude. I know at the end of last year, even though it wasn’t going well, I was in the gym and did my work. With the summer I’ve had and what I’ve looked at and figured out about my game, I think it’s going to be a good year.” 1151459 Montreal Canadiens “With what I’ve looked at and what I’ve figured out about my game, I think it’s going to be a good year,” said Drouin, whose 53-point output in what felt like a disappointing season nevertheless tied his career best.

Claude Julien believes the Canadiens can and will improve from within; “I think the sky’s the limit,” added Matthew Peca, who also participated in here’s how he might pull it off the tourney and is another player whose NHL career is still something of a blank canvas (59 NHL games).

By Sean Gordon Aug 29, 2019 In each of the past two occasions where a 96-point team missed the playoffs in the salary cap era, they regressed badly the following season. But the Canadiens’ underlying numbers are elite; they showed last year that they can play with anybody at 5-on-5, finishing fifth in the NHL in Funny, when the gigantic black Lincoln SUV disgorged its lone occupant terms of both expected goal and shot differential. in front of the members’ veranda at Laval-sur-le-Lac golf club Thursday morning, he didn’t look especially concerned, let alone burdened by the With most of the roster returning from a season ago, that might (should?) weight of the impending challenge. be repeatable.

Claude Julien is well aware of everything his club’s rivals have done this “We bought into our system last year and played well because of it, and summer, but in this business there’s no point worrying about it. that shouldn’t change this year,” Peca said.

“I can’t control what the other teams do,” he said, “but I hope to be able It’s easy to be optimistic in August, but the Canadiens have the central to control mine.” elements of a successful plan in place. The system will of course evolve, as it did at various points last season. As is his custom Julien has already Good one. Does anyone really doubt the tightness of Julien’s grip at this put dozens of hours into picking apart his team on video, thinking about point? what they do well, what they don’t and how to bridge the distance True to form, he’s been back at work for some time, reviewing the between the two. strengths and weaknesses of his game plan in minute detail and “We have a lot of time in the summer to look at that, believe me,” he said. generally plotting his assault on the Atlantic Division. To no one’s surprise, kickstarting the power play has been a point of “We’ve been back at it for a while but in the last two days we’ve brought emphasis. The Canadiens scored 31 times with the man-advantage last in all the coaches to do some review and preparation, and to look at the season, the lowest total in the league (although Nashville had a lower adjustments we want to make, etcetera,” he said shortly before teeing off success rate). Had Montreal been able to put together the 23rd-most at Canadiens forward Jonathan Drouin’s charity golf tournament. “So prolific power play in the NHL last season (Philadelphia at 40 goals), that yes, we’ve already started.” would have theoretically been worth an extra three points in the As was chronicled in this space when the Canadiens cleaned out their standings. The Canadiens missed the playoffs by two points. Special lockers in April, this is a team where 12 players either tied or bested their teams is an issue, and an urgent one, as The Athletic’s Arpon Basu has career highs for goals or points or, in some cases, both. ably pointed out.

Given all the new high water marks inscribed on the Montreal hull, how Reinventing the power play means evaluating new options, and one of much room for improvement is there really? them could be to move Shea Weber and his man-eating slapper closer to the left faceoff dot, a.k.a. the Ovechkin/Stamkos spot, which some “There is (room),” Julien said. “Career year is one thing, but experience is people have been yelling at them to do for some time. another. A lot of those young players have gained another year of experience and they’re going to want to take up more and more space on “We’ve started talking about that . . . so yes, but you have to look – our team. So that’s the opportunity we have to improve our hockey club there’s training camp and exhibition games, you need to have someone aside from some of the acquisitions we’ve made.” who’s going to bring the puck up the ice, but of course Shea is more dangerous closer to the circle than up top,” Julien told The Athletic’s The idea the Canadiens will bank on improvements from within will Marc Antoine Godin. doubtless be of limited comfort to Montreal fans who may have believed the star-crossed offer sheet to Carolina centre Sebastian Aho signaled a Will it work? It might just. Here’s how the Montreal power play has looked summer of swinging for the fences. with Weber in each of the past two seasons according to Micah Blake McCurdy’s HockeyViz.com. Nor does it seem like a particularly persuasive theory given the busy offseasons in Toronto, Sunrise, Fla., Newark, Manhattan and other Once Weber returned from injury in late November, he quickly resumed Eastern Conference destinations. his role on Montreal’s top power play which . . . essentially stopped generating shots from the inner slot when he was on the ice. Perhaps Status quo doesn’t cut it when one’s competitors improve measurably. moving him lower and having someone else pull the strings at the top of Seems like a pretty straightforward equation, right? the zone will maximize the impact of a weapon the Canadiens absolutely want to use. Maybe. That creates another problem, although Montreal does have Jeff Petry, Various analyses of the NHL aging curve tell us players typically enter who handled quarterbacking duties on the top power play more than the peak of their prime at around age 22 and generally maintain it admirably two seasons ago when Weber was sidelined by injury. Most through their age 26 season. teams nowadays roll out a power play featuring four forwards and one Thus, it’s not entirely unreasonable for Julien to think he will see growth – defenceman, and while the Canadiens didn’t look appreciably better on some of it incremental, some of it exponential – from the likes of Jesperi the few occasions where they sent both Weber and Petry out at the same Kotkaniemi, who just turned 19 in July, and under-25 players who play time last season, that’s no reason not to try. And if they can figure out key roles like Drouin, Artturi Lehkonen, Victor Mete and perhaps even how to get Weber the puck for clear one-timers from the circle – like the from regression candidate Max Domi (whose shooting percentage from Capitals and Lightning do quite regularly for Ovechkin and Stamkos – it’s last season suggests he won’t repeat his goal total of 28, which isn’t the hard to imagine that goals won’t result. same thing as saying his point total will swan-dive heroically over the Here’s Washington’s power play with Ovechkin last year; note how the cliff.) angry purple blob is appreciably closer to the net: Drouin, who turned 24 in March, has played 322 NHL games; by this Fixing the power play isn’t as simple as moving Weber a few feet closer stage, players have usually revealed what they are going to be at the to the net. Julien said he’s also preoccupied with balancing his top two NHL level, but it’s not unheard of to see jumps in production around the power play units and ensuring he has the right mix of shooters and 300-game mark. Domi has suited up for 304 NHL games, Lehkonen has playmakers. The odds are low the Canadiens will be as bad as last year played a little over 200, Mete just 120. The Canadiens’ lineup is studded playing with the extra man; if they are it won’t be for lack of analysis and with players like this (Joel Armia is 26, but he’s played only 237 NHL invention on the coaches’ part. games) and we haven’t even talked about the potential newbies Ryan Poehling, Nick Suzuki and Josh Brook. Though Julien would not be drawn into how the lines would look (“We’re not at that stage yet, even in the coaches’ room”), he did say the plan is to put a team on the ice that will be fun to watch. That will eventually wear thin as a substitute to actual winning, but of the many criticisms one could make of the Canadiens last year, ‘boring’ was far down the list

“We want to give our fans exciting hockey, we want to play with a lot of passion,” he said. “But we also want to take another step forward . . . the players want to come back this year and make the necessary tweaks to get into the second season.”

The Montreal lineup will not feature Andrew Shaw, Jordie Benn or this season, but Julien said he’s confident the latter two players’ replacements – Ben Chiarot and Keith Kinkaid – will amount to upgrades.

When he looks at other teams he doesn’t see much reason to be jealous, at least not so far as he’s willing to admit. When asked if he saw anything in the St. Louis Blues’ Stanley Cup conquest that suggested that Montreal needs to make changes, he offered this answer:

“Probably the most disappointing for me, as a coach, was I felt our team was probably playing our best hockey at the end of the year, and if we could have snuck in, like anything else, we probably could have given ourselves an opportunity . . . you look at St. Louis, as bad as they were in the first half they were peaking at the right time and they won a Stanley Cup. I know people are going to talk about all kinds of things, whether it’s the size and this and that but there’s still a lot of players on that team that didn’t get re-signed.”

The Canadiens are not the Blues, clearly, but he’s not wrong about the benefits of fortuitous timing. Ideally, admission to the playoffs for Julien’s troops next spring will require no sneaking.

Much hinges on whether Montreal’s Cup-winning coach can wring a few extra percent of improvement out of his key players, and on the progression of his youngsters.

He’s evidently hopeful. And he may even have reason to be.

The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151460 New Jersey Devils His addition brought another piece to the Devils’ forward group, and it addressed a need for the Devils up front. He primarily played left wing in Russia, despite being a right-hand shot. He could slot onto the left wing Devils’ most important players: No. 9 Nikita Gusev | What winger brings on the second line with Taylor Hall on the top line. to table in 1st NHL season But if Gusev is comfortable playing on his natural side, he gives the Devils another option on right wing on the top two lines, along with Kyle Palmieri. Gusev’s ability to play either side, plus Jesper Bratt’s flexibility By Chris Ryan to play either wing, gives the Devils some options in deploying him.

Star Ledger LOADED: 08.30.2019 In just two weeks, Devils players will be reporting for training camp.

To help you prepare for the 2019-20 NHL season, NJ Advance Media will be counting down the 18 players most important for the Devils’ success this winter.

Continuing the countdown, we’ll take a look at No. 9 on our list: forward Nikita Gusev. The countdown will continue through Sept. 6, when the No. 1 player will be revealed.

So here’s a look at Gusev’s 2018-19 season, the trade that brought him to New Jersey, what he brings to the table for 2019-20 and what to expect from the forward.

Top 18

No. 18: Miles Wood | No. 17: Blake Coleman | No. 16: Pavel Zacha | No. 15: Andy Greene | No. 14: Will Butcher | No. 13: Wayne Simmonds | No. 12: Jesper Bratt | No. 11: Travis Zajac | No. 10: Damon Severson

Buy Devils tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek

And now on to No. 9 ...

Nikita Gusev

Position: Left wing/Right wing

Age: 27 (28 on July 8)

2018-19 stats: 62 GP, 17 G, 65 A, 82 P with St. Petersburg in KHL

Look back at 2018-19

Gusev, who was drafted in the seventh round of the 2012 NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning, has played the entirety of his professional career in Russia, and he posted another stellar campaign in the KHL in 2018-19. He led the league in points with 82 in 62 games last season — a remarkable number for a league where scoring is much lower than the NHL.

Over his past three KHL seasons, Gusev has been one of the league’s most prolific scorers, posting 225 points in 173 games. He signed a one- year entry level contract with the Vegas Golden Knights at the end of the 2018-19 season prior to the NHL postseason, but he did not appear in any games.

Due to the Golden Knights’ cap crunch, they couldn’t meet Gusev’s salary demands, prompting a trade to the Devils in July. The team landed him for a 2021 second-round pick and 2020 third-round pick before signing Gusev to a two-year contract with the $4.5 million AAV.

What he brings to the table

The one knock on Gusev’s game is that he’s just an average skater, but his skill and creativity on the offensive end more than make up for that lack of elite speed. As evidenced by his 65 assists last season, Gusev is excellent at setting up scoring opportunities for teammates.

Despite scoring only 17 goals, Gusev’s shot is considered a strength, and playing with centers such as Nico Hischier or Jack Hughes could allow Gusev to access his shot more.

One of the most promising signs about Gusev’s transition to the NHL was his performance on the international stage. Playing against NHL competition at the World Championships in May, Gusev didn’t slow down, posting four goals and 12 assists in 10 games.

2019-20 expectations

While Gusev has all the tools and talent to be productive in the NHL, he’ll still need to go through an adjustment to playing on smaller ice against better competition. But if Gusev can quickly adapt, he’ll be a staple in the Devils’ top six. 1151462 Philadelphia Flyers Last year, a Facebook page was created for a “Running of the Grittys” event initially scheduled for January and then for March, but that run never took place.

A Gritty-themed ‘anti-runners’ 5k is happening Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 08.30.2019

by Stephanie Farr

There will be wooder. There will be nacho cheese. There will be Grittys as far as the googly eyes can see.

The Flyers and our evil mascot overlord, Gritty, announced Thursday that a Gritty-theme “anti-runners 5k” will take place Sunday, Oct. 13.

We tasted all the Gritty-themed foods in Philly. Here’s what’s worth eating.

This is going to be the best race since Michael Scott’s Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro- Am Fun Run Race for the Cure.

On Oct. 13, you have the chance to finish second in the first-ever #Gritty5K! Registration opens at 2PM.

(Obviously, @GrittyNHL is coming in first place.)

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) August 29, 2019

Two news releases were issued Thursday about the event — one from Gritty’s squad, a.k.a. the Flyers’ official communications team, and one from the oscillating orange giant himself.

According to Gritty’s release, the race is 33,792 hot dogs long, but “if you want to take a shortcut and run the first 50 hot dogs then sit the rest out,” he cool with that.

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“If you wanna do it for the gram and not really run, also acceptable,” Gritty wrote.

ATTN Gritizens: pic.twitter.com/4C2QGGq4qL

— Gritty (@GrittyNHL) August 29, 2019

Prizes will be awarded for the fastest runners or “try-hards,” but prizes will also be available for the best-dressed participants, including one for “best in fur.”

Runners will encounter a variety of Gritty antics along the route, which will run from the Wells Fargo Center through the Navy Yard and end back at the sports complex, at Xfinity Live.

Staying on brand, Gritty has already proclaimed himself the victor.

Gritty has already called first place. Everyone else, get in line.

“I will obviously win. I’ll do whatever it takes,” he is quoted as saying in the official news release. “I’ll spin signs around so people run the wrong way. You don’t follow the rules when it’s your event. You just soak in the glory when crossing through those flaming gates of victory.”

It was unclear from the release whether the finish line will actually be flambéed.

A block party or “Gritty Worshipers convention” will be held following the race.

Gritizens can sign up beginning at 2 p.m. Thursday. Registration is $45 through Sept. 5 and $50 thereafter. Proceeds will benefit the Flyers Charities.

I’ve since been ejected. pic.twitter.com/6ims2CQpsc

— Gritty (@GrittyNHL) February 24, 2019

» READ MORE: Why the Gritty meme has such resilience

No word yet on whether Gritty himself — who has a history of streaking at public events — will be fully clothed during the race. 1151463 Philadelphia Flyers career, I want to win and I want to be in the playoffs. Whatever happens happens, but I’m going to try my best to play a lot of good hockey and win a lot of games this year.”

Carter Hart might be the Flyers’ No. 1 goalie, but first he’ll have to beat Elliott, who was pleased the Flyers added some “defensive defensemen” out Brian Elliott in the offseason, says he and Hart have a “teammate relationship” and are there for one another. by Sam Carchidi, “Everybody wants to play a lot of minutes and everybody has to accept times in the season where you’re not going to play as much,” he said. “… It’s just how you look at it. You can’t whine or be a baby about things. If you’re not playing, you work harder and try to get in. You have to be a After an impressive rookie year, Carter Hart is expected to be the Flyers’ good teammate.” No. 1 goalie this season. Breakaways Right? The NHL Network will air Behind the Glass: Philadelphia Flyers Training Not so fast, general manager Chuck Fletcher said earlier this week. Camp, a four-part series that will be shown Sept. 25, Sept. 30, Oct. 7, Fletcher loves Hart’s upside, loves his promising future and the skill he and Oct. 14. … Veterans Matt Niskanen, Shayne Gostisbehere, and brings to the game’s most important position. Scott Laughton are at camp early. A solid backup goalie is needed because the Flyers play 17 sets of back-to-back games. But he said the 21-year-old Hart will have to beat out veteran Brian “Moose” Elliott in training camp, which will begin Sept. 13 in Voorhees, Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 08.30.2019 before he can be declared the Flyers’ No. 1 goaltender entering the season. Fletcher said he anticipates the No. 1 goalie playing 50-55 of the 82 games.

“But whoever can do the job, I’ll be happy. They’re both capable of doing it,” Fletcher said. “They get along well, and they both have very strong work ethics and are talented goaltenders. I think it’s a good combination. Carter obviously has lots of upside and a bright future, and Brian Elliott is such a highly competitive veteran guy who has played very well when he’s been healthy. Knock on wood, he’s healthy right now and feeling great.

“We like our tandem, and I think we’re comfortable with either guy.”

Elliott, 34, hindered by core-muscle and hip injuries over the previous two seasons, arrived at the Flyers’ practice facility in Voorhees early and has been on the ice daily this week. Hart, who had a 2.83 goals-against average and .917 save percentage in 31 games last season, is expected to arrive this weekend.

“Brian’s feeling great, and he’s had a great summer,” Fletcher said. “It’s the first summer in a while where he’s been healthy and has been able to train. I think it’s been shown, particularly the last couple seasons, you really need two goalies to play at a high level over parts of the season to have success.

"We like our tandem, and we like our depth in goal. Carter’s going to have a great career. I think he’s going to be a very good goalie for a long time, but there’s still work to be done. I know he’s ready for it. We’ll just see how things play out at camp.”

Flyers goaltender Brian Elliott has been hampered by injuries the past two seasons.

It’s been a great summer for Elliott and his family. Their second son, Eddie, was born July 31. In addition, the goaltender feels “as healthy as can be right now” after injuries allowed him to play in just 26 games last season. He had a 2.96 GAA and .907 save percentage.

“Last year, it was just a battle to get back on the ice after surgeries in the summer [of 2018],” he said after competing in an informal scrimmage Wednesday. “Now, I’ve had a good summer of training and rehab and it’s definitely a different feeling than last year. I definitely feel I have an opportunity to help the team win a lot of games. I texted Carter the other night and he’s coming in soon, and I’m excited to get going with him as well.”

Elliott isn’t hung up on a No. 1 or No. 2 goaltending designation.

“I’ve always approached every season that I’m going to play a lot of games,” he said. “Labels never mattered to me. When it comes down to it, you get put into a game and you perform. That’s what it all comes down to, and usually if you’re winning a lot of games, then you’re playing a lot of games.”

If Hart beats out Elliott and gets most of the starts, will it be difficult for the veteran goalie to play, say, only 25-27 games?

“You take the good with the bad, and whatever role you find yourself in, you have to come with a positive attitude,” Elliott said. “You do what you can to make this team a great team in this league. At this point in my 1151464 Philadelphia Flyers

Let's paint the town ... Gritty? Flyers Charities announce new 5K

By Brooke Destra August 29, 2019 12:55 PM

Things are about to get a whole lot grittier in Philadelphia — no, seriously, there are about to be hundreds of Grittys (Gritti?) running around South Philly.

Flyers Charities recently announced a Gritty-themed 5K set to take place during the week of the team's home opener.

It all starts 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13.

Participants are being encouraged to dress up in all things orange and furry. Best-dressed runners will even have the chance to win special prizes once they cross the finish line.

The route will be covered with some of Gritty's favorite things — maybe even his pet Claw'd will make a guest appearance?

Here is an official statement from the event coordinator himself to further break down the event for you:

ATTN Gritizens: pic.twitter.com/4C2QGGq4qL

— Gritty (@GrittyNHL) August 29, 2019

If you're interested in signing up for the event, registration opens here at 2 p.m. today.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151465 Philadelphia Flyers

Which Flyers player will be most impacted by new coaching staff in 2019- 20 season?

By Jordan Hall and Brooke Destra August 28, 2019 4:17 PM

Going End to End today are NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jordan Hall and Brooke Destra.

The topic: Which Flyers player will be most impacted by the new coaching staff in 2019-20?

Hall

We've written about the importance of a coaching staff for a player like Shayne Gostisbehere (see story).

In 2019-20, head coach Alain Vigneault and assistant coach Mike Yeo will implement their system, predicated on attacking and dictating possession.

"He's always been a believer of getting the puck going north and getting the D up in the play," Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said of Vigneault. "I think our D is ideally suited for Alain."

Gostisbehere knows a thing or two about pushing pace and putting pressure on opponents. In fact, that's what he loves to do. It's a style that plays to his strengths.

Many eyes will be on Gostisbehere and an anticipated rebound season from the 26-year-old.

Whether it's positive or negative — there will probably be some of both — coaching will impact Gostisbehere's game considerably in 2019-20.

And the outcome from it will be paramount to the Flyers' playoff chances.

Destra

Even though this is their first season with the Flyers, the previous relationship formed by Vigneault and Kevin Hayes from their time with the Rangers will play a huge factor heading into 2019-20.

There is always a level of uncertainty when a new player joins a fairly established roster, but the previous time that they spent together could make the transition much easier.

This has the potential to become a positive domino effect throughout the team. Hayes knows what to expect from Philadelphia’s newest head coach and may be able to better help his teammates get used to the new face behind the bench.

“Playing under A.V. for four years, we had a great relationship, on and off the ice,” Hayes said when he signed with the Flyers back in June. “He demands hard work.”

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Flyers to be featured on NHL Network show ‘Behind The Glass’

Dave Isaac, NHL writer Published 9:00 a.m. ET Aug. 28, 2019

The last time cameras followed the Flyers’ every move for a television series they had a legend on their roster in Jaromir Jagr, a fiery coach Peter Laviolette nearly got into a shoving match with an opposing player and inquisitive goalie Ilya Bryzgalov stole the show.

Starting in a couple weeks the cameras will be back and the Flyers…don’t quite have the same camera-happy star power they once did.

The NHL announced Wednesday morning that the Flyers will be featured in a four-part show on the NHL Network titled “Behind The Glass.” Last year was the first season of the show, featuring the New Jersey Devils.

“We are thrilled to be working with the NHL and NHL Network to showcase a different, all-access side of the Flyers organization," Valerie Camillo, president of business operations for Flyers and Wells Fargo Center, said in a press release. “This is an incredible opportunity to give our fans and the hockey community a never-before-seen look at our club and to spotlight the promising young talent we are developing that will bring the Flyers to the next level.”

Cameras already followed defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere for a day both on and off the ice two weeks ago. There will also be features on 21- year-old phenom goalie Carter Hart and newcomer Kevin Hayes, who figures to center the Flyers’ second line. A press release promises “behind-the-scenes insight” into the evaluations from general manager Chuck Fletcher and new coach Alain Vigneault as they whittle a roster down to 23 players during training camp. The action will continue overseas as the Flyers start their season in Prague where Jake Voracek will play host in his home Czech Republic.

Training camp is expected to begin in the second week of September with rookie camp starting the first weekend of the month. The series will air starting Sept. 25 at 8 p.m. with subsequent episodes Sept. 30 at 8 p.m., Oct. 7 at 10 p.m. and Oct. 14 at 8 p.m.

FOR COMPLETE FLYERS COVERAGE stay with the Courier-Post

Courier-Post LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151467 Philadelphia Flyers “I don’t know what’s gone on here in the past or anything but it’s hard if you’re chasing it,” Niskanen said. “You can be .500 for the first month and a half even, probably, and then find your way. But if you fall too far, Matt Niskanen's new challenge: leading a Flyers team he's unfamiliar you’re in trouble. It’s a long, uphill battle then. Hopefully everyone comes with ready to go and we can jell quickly.”

Wylie hoping to sign

Dave Isaac, NHL writer Published 3:22 p.m. ET Aug. 29, 2019 Speaking of defensemen, Wyatte Wylie will be a player to keep an eye on in rookie camp. The 2018 fifth-round pick is in a unique situation having a late birthday. He turns 20 on Nov. 2 and would be eligible to sign his entry-level contract and forego a fourth season with the Western VOORHEES — It’s one thing to play against a team and recognize the Hockey League’s Everett Silvertips. That’s what he’s hoping to do. skill set in opponents. The view is from the other side of the ice and doesn’t really take into account the person’s life or practice habits or how With the Silvertips’ blessing, he has been absent for most of their camp that person’s game gets put together. and spent the majority of his summer in the Philadelphia area training and hoping to turn pro. Wylie, a righty-shot who stands at 6 feet and 190 Matt Niskanen is starting to learn those things about his new Flyers pounds, was among those on the ice Thursday and would likely end up teammates. with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms if he signs. The potential of that will It’s something that a newcomer would probably do anyway and is depend on how he does in rookie camp and whatever kind of look the especially important for Niskanen because part of the reason the Flyers Flyers give him in NHL exhibition games. Last fall Wylie didn’t play in any traded for him on June 14 was to help be a leader for an otherwise green of the Flyers’ preseason games before they sent him back to Everett. defense group. He and Justin Braun, acquired from San Jose four days Courier-Post LOADED: 08.30.2019 after Niskanen, will be mentoring and playing.

Defenseman Matt Niskanen came to town early to get used to his new surroundings with the Flyers and meet new teammates.

“Yeah that’s part of our responsibility, I think, but we have to come in and play well, too,” Niskanen said. “There’s a talented group here and we think we can add to it. It’s gonna be up to the players and the coaches to find the right fit. Hopefully we can take a talented group and make us a good team.”

The 32-year-old defender came into town early to get acclimated and set his family up with housing in South Jersey. Most of the Flyers’ veterans aren’t in town just yet — more are expected to arrive after Labor Day weekend, including the coaching staff — so there haven’t been many for Niskanen to study just yet.

Of those who were on the ice at the team’s practice facility Thursday for an informal skate, only Shayne Gostisbehere and Robert Hägg played more than a game for the Flyers on defense last season.

“Nisky’s won a Stanley Cup. It’s a cool experience to have,” Gostisbehere said earlier this month. “I haven’t really had that much experience on the back end from my tenure with the Flyers. To have those guys, I want to see how they operate, how they carry themselves not only on the ice but off the ice. I think we obviously got more righties, so probably some guys playing their natural sides now.”

Niskanen is one of those righties and figures to play with either Travis Sanheim, who inked a two-year, $6.5 million deal in June, or Ivan Provorov who remains unsigned as training camp is set to kick off on the ice Sept. 12 for veterans. Rookie camp will be on the ice from Sept. 7-10 and finish with a rookie game against the New York Islanders on Sept. 11 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, at the Lehigh Valley Phantoms’ home rink.

All that, plus the Flyers’ exhibition schedule, gives Niskanen time to meet his new teammates and try to see how he’d fit with them on a defense pair and maybe make a few well-timed suggestions on their game. But he realizes that the biggest reason he’s now in Philadelphia is that the Flyers didn’t make the playoffs last season and haven’t won a postseason round since 2012.

“My first year in Washington they missed (the playoffs) the year before, but I was a little younger then,” Niskanen said. “It’s a little different but they have good players and guys that have been around in this room. I know they’re gonna be hungry to get back in the playoffs. I’m gonna do my part but there’s good people here so I don’t have to come in here and shake people’s trees or anything. We’ll do it by committee. I think the biggest thing is working and playing for the betterment of the team and finding out what works for us and an identity and hopefully start fast. It’s easier to get into the playoffs if you get a good start.”

One milestone for that has been Thanksgiving in the U.S.

In the last 13 seasons, 75.48 percent of teams that were in playoff position on Thanksgiving were still there when the postseason began in the spring. The Flyers haven’t been in playoff position on Thanksgiving since 2011. They’ve made the playoffs anyway in three of the last six seasons. 1151468 Philadelphia Flyers zone. He defends well due to his feet and great brain, but it will be interesting to see how that translates versus men, as I wouldn’t call him a top-tier defender.

2019 NHL farm system rankings: No. 7 Philadelphia Flyers 4. Philippe Myers, D, Lehigh Valley-AHL

Jan. 25, 1997 | 6-foot-5 | 209 pounds

By Corey Pronman Aug 29, 2019 Tier: Very good NHL prospect

Myers was very good initially in the AHL (as luck would have it, I was at Corey Pronman’s deep dive into the farm system of every NHL one of his worst games early last season) earning a lengthy call-up to the organization includes a ranking of all of the team’s prospects, broken into Flyers. What makes Myers appealing initially is his 6-foot-5 frame and tiers based on their projection; the impact on the upcoming season and how well he skates for a big man. He’s more than that, though, as he has an overall ranking of all players under 23. Further explanation of above-average skill and can create with the puck. He can evade checks Pronman’s system, player eligibility, prospect tiers and the complete in open ice and has offensive creativity to set up his teammates. I’ve ranking of all 31 teams can be found here. seen him try to do too much, leading to costly turnovers, which is something he needs to work to reign in. Defensively he has value The Flyers’ farm system is very deep. There are a lot of players in this because of how well he closes gaps with his mobility, and he has some system, including those who project to play, those who project to play push back in him, too. All the components are there for NHL success. high in the lineup and those who stretch out the system at the lower levels. They also have talent at every position. 5. Isaac Ratcliffe, LW, Guelph-OHL

Key additions: Cam York, Bobby Brink Feb. 15, 1999 | 6-foot-6 | 201 pounds

Key subtractions/graduations: Carter Hart, Oskar Lindblom Tier: Very good NHL prospect

2018 farm system ranking: No. 12 Ratcliffe had a great season, scoring 50 goals and being a top player for Guelph in the playoffs on its way to an OHL title. You don’t find many 6- 2019 draft grade: B-minus foot-6 forwards with Ratcliffe’s hands and ability to score goals. His hands allow him to make the 1-on-1 moves in open ice to get past Prospect Ranking defenders, and he has an excellent, hard release to beat goalies from 1. Joel Farabee, LW, Boston University- mid-distance. He can make some plays, but he’s certainly more of a goal-scorer than a passer. Ratcliffe can play the soft skill game, but he Feb. 25, 2000 | six-foot | 163 pounds can play in front of the net and isn’t afraid to use his big frame. As you can expect for someone his size, his quickness is an issue. I think given Tier: High-end NHL prospect the rest of his skill set he’ll be able to manage in the pros, but the pace Farabee was very good between college and the world juniors. He was will be a big test for him. one of the best forwards in his conference as a freshman. He was his 6. Bobby Brink, RW, Sioux City-USHL usual competitive, two-way self, but last season I saw an extra level of offensive creativity that didn’t always come out in his draft season. With July 8, 2001 | 5-foot-8 | 159 pounds the puck he was dynamic, constantly making high-skill dekes and passes, and being a true driver of offense. He can attack with his skill, or Tier: Very good NHL prospect by lowering his shoulder and driving. His main flaw remains his skating. Brink was the best player in the USHL last season and a driving force on It’s not bad, but his quickness is very average. Everything else about him whichever line he was on. Brink is an interesting player in that he doesn’t is a plus though and given how well he’s produced at various levels, I look the part of a top prospect. He’s listed at 5-foot-8, he skates fully expect he’ll make a great pro forward. awkward, and he doesn’t look all that smooth and coordinated. His 2. Morgan Frost, C, Sault Ste. Marie-OHL hockey sense is just fantastic, though. He’s an elite passer with the patience, anticipation and overall vision to make unique passes seem May 14, 1999 | 5-foot-11 | 170 pounds routine. I’ve seen him hover around the zone, waiting out options as defenses scramble to figure out what play he’s going to make. Brink has Tier: High-end NHL prospect very impressive hands and a good shot, too, but what will get him to the Frost was one of the best players in the CHL the past two seasons. He is pros is his ability to make plays. He competes and even killed penalties pure skill. The passes and dekes he does require a crazy amount of skill at the junior level. What may hold him back is his skating. He moves with and creativity. He makes seam passes off his back foot, or lightning quick a weird stutter in his stride, and his feet flail. His top speed is fine due in handles through feet and sticks seem routine. He can be a true first part to his size, and he’s got good power on his edges to allow him to power play unit type who quarterbacks an offense. The questions on his maneuver around the ice. But he lacks any kind of explosiveness that game revolve around his speed and size. He skates at a fair level, but you want in a player that size. scouts have concerns about his pace and if his game has enough 7. Samuel Ersson, G, Vasteras-Allsvenskan quickness for a 5-foot-11 guy. It’s a legit concern, and one I’ve had for a while, but he’s so smart and so skilled that I think he can overcome it and Oct. 20, 1999 | 6-foot-2 | 176 pounds not become one of those tweeners who sticks in the AHL because of a lack of high-end speed, especially because he’s not that small either. Tier: Very good/legit bubble He’s been solid defensively in junior, but that will be a hurdle for him to Ersson was a rock all last season between his pro team in Sweden’s tier- cross in the pros. 2 pro league and at the world juniors for Sweden. His hockey sense is 3. Cam York, D, USNTDP-USHL fantastic. There is no stress in his game. He tracks pucks at an elite level. He always seems in a great position to take away a shooter’s Jan. 5, 2001 | 5-foot-11 | 174 pounds angle. He has good quickness in his game, with a sharp glove and strong legs to make tough saves, but he often doesn’t need to lean on those Tier: High-end/very good bubble elements because of how good his sense is. He’s not the biggest goalie York was the No. 1 defenseman on the USNTDP this past season, the at 6-foot-2, but that’s really the only criticism I could make of his game. I main power play quarterback for most of the season, and he had one of see Ersson on a sharp upward trajectory right now. the most productive statistical careers ever by an USNTDP defender. 8. Wade Allison, RW, Western Michigan-NCHC York’s hockey sense is what makes him so valuable. His poise with the puck is fantastic. He’s never pressured into bad decisions and exhibits Oct. 14, 1997 | 6-foot-2 | 205 pounds great vision. His teammates constantly praise what a calming influence he is when he has the puck. York has a high skill level but often does not Tier: Legit NHL prospect lean on his stick handling, preferring to make a play to his forwards. He Allison had a tough go at times last season bouncing back from a torn skates well. He lacks the dynamic top gear you’d like in a small ACL. I thought he had some very impressive moments, though. He’s got defenseman, but he can skate pucks out of trouble or into the offensive quick feet and hands; and with his 6-foot-2 frame, when he comes barreling through the neutral zone he can be imposing. He has the very 14. Wyatt Kalynuk, D, Wisconsin-Big 10 quick hands to make skilled plays, but also has a hardness to his game. He gets to the net, he hits hard and he wins puck battles. I still don’t love April 14, 1997 | 6-foot-1 | 181 pounds his decision-making at times and find he forces plays. I’ve underrated his Tier: Legit/chance bubble offensive potential, though; there’s a real player there. His coach Andy Murray said he thinks Allison is a top six-forward in the NHL. I see the Kalynuk was a top player for Wisconsin and in the Big 10 conference. upside, but I’m not sure if he gets there based on his up and down play in He’s a skilled defenseman who can make plays and skate at a pro level. college. I’d like to see him get a bit better defensively in case that top-six Kalynuk was often asked to carry pucks up the ice for Wisconsin and offense doesn’t happen. either pass or skate the puck into the offensive zone. Kalynuk is a good talent, but I wouldn’t call either his offensive or defensive aspects high- 9. Noah Cates, LW, Minnesota-Duluth-NCHC end. He’s skilled but not a gamebreaker. He can make stops with his Feb. 5, 1999 | 6-foot-2 | 190 pounds body and gap control, but I’ve seen the odd blunder that makes me wonder if he can shut down good forwards at the pro level. Tier: Legit NHL prospect 15. John St. Ivany, D, Yale-ECAC Cates was one of the most important players on the NCHC and NCAA champion. He’s a highly intelligent forward who can make offensive July 22, 1999 | 6-foot-3 | 198 pounds plays. Scouts love his compete level. Some even say he’s a real bulldog Tier: Legit/chance bubble (you’re a hockey nerd if you get the joke). I think he has good stick skills. He’s not a flashy dangler, but he can handle pucks in small areas. He St. Ivany was a quality defenseman for Yale and played well enough in has all the components except quickness, as his game lacks speed and the first half that he worked his way onto the USA World Junior team pace at times. I think his speed has improved to a roughly average level after not being on the radar last summer. St. Ivany is intriguing because where he will make it to the league, but some scouts are still skeptical. he’s a 6-foot-3 defenseman with offensive ability. He’s got the hands to create with the puck and he can run a power play well. The big point of 10. Tanner Laczynski, C, Ohio State-Big 10 contention over St. Ivany has always been his skating. I don’t think his June 1, 1997 | 6-foot-1 | 190 pounds stride is all that bad, but he’s got heavy feet and his game can lack pace. He defends fine due to his hockey sense and reach, but when the game Tier: Legit NHL prospect gets quicker he can struggle.

Laczynski had his third straight strong collegiate season as an important 16. Ronnie Attard, D, Tri-City-USHL player for Ohio State. He is not a very flashy player, but he’s a very smart one. He makes plays and can be a guy who, once his team is set up March 20, 1999 | 6-foot-3 | 207 pounds inside the offensive zone, can find his teammates. OSU coach Steve Tier: Legit/chance bubble Rohlik also highly praised Laczynski’s shot and compete level. The main concern on his projection to the NHL is his footspeed, which I think is Attard’s development spiked in his third season in the USHL, setting the roughly average. I think he’s quick enough to be a solid pro, but it won’t record for most goals by a defenseman in the league and being the clear be a selling point of his game. best rearguard in the league. Attard has qualities that make him valuable at both ends of the rink. He’s a 6-foot-3 defenseman who skates well for 11. German Rubtsov, C, Lehigh Valley-AHL a big man, with the ability to close gaps and kill plays. He’s also quite June 27, 1998 | six-foot | 187 pounds physical and can be tough for opposing forwards to deal with. With the puck, Attard has sneaky good skill and a cannon of a shot. With his Tier: Legit NHL prospect skating, he’s able to transition pucks through the neutral zone with his feet and create inside the blue line with his skill. He’s not a natural puck- I was down on Rubtsov after he crossed the pond and looked rather mover and when he goes beyond trying to make basic plays he becomes ordinary in the QMJHL. Early on in the 2018-19 season, though, he was prone to turnovers. With that said, I think some offense will translate to very impressive, showing the skill and offensive mind that made him a the pros because of his hands and an accurate, hard shot. first-round pick. But his season ended rather early due to injury. I see a player with very good hockey sense, good but not amazing hands, and a 17. Yegor Zamula, D, Calgary-WHL strong compete level that allows him to play tougher defensive minutes. His skill won’t dazzle and his speed is average, but I think Flyers fans March 30, 2000 | 6-foot-3 | 176 pounds ought to be optimistic about how his first two months of pro hockey went Tier: Legit/chance bubble as they may get an NHLer in Rubtsov, and going into last season that wasn’t a given. Zamula, signed at Flyers camp after going undrafted, had a good season in Calgary. I was impressed by his play when I went through there 12. Mikhail Vorobyev, C, Lehigh Valley-AHL several times last season. He’s a 6-foot-3 defenseman with skill who can Jan. 5, 1997 | 6-foot-2 | 194 pounds make plays. Sometimes he tried to do too much, resulting in costly turnovers, but I like the offensive imagination. Calgary coach Steve Tier: Legit/chance bubble Hamilton praised Zamula’s composure and play with the puck, but noted the coach wanted Zamula to play heavier on the defensive side of the Vorobyev made the Flyers out of camp but was sent down to the AHL by puck. I also think he could stand to get a bit quicker. November. He’s a player with offensive ability, as he has high-end vision and looks to make plays. He’s got the patience to wait for options to 18. Matthew Strome, LW, Hamilton-OHL develop. The rest of his skill set doesn’t have a glaring hole but nothing about him stands out. He’s got some skill, he competes fine and is 6-foot- Jan. 6, 1999 | 6-foot-4 | 205 pounds 2. His skating is OK; it’s not a selling point but I’ve seen slower forwards. Tier: Has a chance You just wonder if he has enough talent to stick in the league full-time, especially given he’s never been that productive in any league for years. Strome is intriguing because of his talent level. He’s a 6-foot-4 winger with legit pro puck skills and offensive sense. He has the patience and 13. Samuel Morin, D, Philadelphia-NHL vision to make high-end plays and can create chances by breaking down July 12, 1995 | 6-foot-6 | 203 pounds defenses with his hands. He scores goals around the net due to his touch and ability to get inside. That will translate to the pros. He’s slow and his Tier: Legit/chance bubble skating hampers him, which has always been his thing and it’s a big reason why we haven’t seen much of a jump in scoring from his draft Morin’s write up hasn’t changed much in two years, mostly because he season. If he gets quicker, I think he plays NHL games; if he doesn’t, he hasn’t played much hockey in the past two years after tearing his ACL. won’t. Some scouts think it’ll happen and some think he’s an AHLer. When he’s healthy, he’s a huge defenseman who is physical and skates very well for such a tall man. He’s always had offensive upside 19. Nicolas Aube-Kubel, RW, Lehigh Valley-AHL questions, and those haven’t gone away, but I believe if he’s healthy he could be a serviceable third-pair defenseman in the NHL who can penalty May 10, 1996 | 5-foot-11 | 187 pounds kill. He has a toolkit that could even get him a tier higher. He just needs Tier: Has a chance to get back to playing. Aube-Kubel had a solid third pro season mostly in the AHL and earned a on breakouts or off the offensive blue line, because of his vision. He’s got little bit of ice time up with the Flyers. He’s a player who does a lot well. sneaky good skill, too, but he’s not a flashy player. He does understand Aube-Kubel has good speed. He plays with pace, attacks directly to the how to open lanes and has confidence with the puck. Wylie is not the tough areas and gains the zone with control frequently. He has some biggest defenseman, though, and his skating is average. skill, and he’s got a very good shot. He’s not the biggest, but he competes hard for pucks. Aube-Kubel scored more than he did in past 26. Yegor Serdyuk, RW, Victoriaville-QMJHL seasons and has some skill, but I question if his offensive upside is high June 3, 2001 | 5-foot-10 | 159 pounds enough to play in the league on a regular basis outside spot call-ups. Tier: Has a chance 20. Jay O’Brien, C, Providence-Hockey East Serdyuk had a productive season in the Q. He’s an elite goal-scorer who Nov. 4, 1999 | 5-foot-11 | 185 pounds can snipe it from anywhere in the offensive zone. That trait makes him at Tier: Has a chance least intriguing for the NHL. The issue is nothing else in his skill set rises to that level. He’s small, is a very average skater and has good but not O’Brien did not have a good season. He struggled in college and at the great skill. world juniors, and is now going to the BCHL for a season before transferring to Boston University. He’s got some pro attributes, but was Depth Players an overdraft at 19th overall. I think O’Brien has good skill, he’s got some Mark Friedman, D, Lehigh Valley-AHL (Age: 23): Friedman has very speed and he can make some plays, but I wouldn’t call him a dynamic good sense and skates well, but is an undersized defender without a ton offensive player by any means. Getting him back on track, where he can of offensive skill. play with the puck, compete for pucks and get comfortable again will be key for him next season. Pascal Laberge, RW, Lehigh Valley-AHL (21): Laberge has skill but hasn’t been healthy and productive for years. He had a had trick and 21. Kirill Ustimenko, G, Dynamo-MHL four-point game in one of the few games he played last season.

Jan. 29, 1999 | 6-foot-3 | 187 pounds Maksim Sushko, LW, Owen Sound-OHL (20): He’s a smart player with a Tier: Has a chance hard shot, but he lacks NHL speed.

Ustimenko has been a solid goalie at the MHL level for the past few Olle Lycksell, RW, Linkoping-SHL (20): He has a lot of skill and offensive years, with some great stretches and some so-so ones. The athletic tools IQ, but his quickness is average, he’s undersized and he needs work off are legit for the pro level. He’s 6-foot-3 and is very quick. He can make the puck. highlight reel saves because of how powerful his pushoffs are and with Bryce Brodzinski, RW, Blaine-U.S. High School (19): Brodzinski won the his quick glove. However, his hockey sense worries me at times. I always Mr. Hockey award in Minnesota as a second-year prospect. His puck feel like he’s searching for the puck rather than tracking it, and he skills and goal-scoring ability are impressive, but his skating would worry scrambles a lot in his crease. He signed with the Flyers at the end of the me for the professional level. season. 2019-20 Impact 22. Connor Bunnaman, C, Lehigh Valley-AHL Myers is all but a lock to break camp with the team. Morin is in a tough April 16, 1998 | 6-foot-1 | 207 pounds spot to where he needs to stay up or else go through waivers but I could Tier: Has a chance see him bump Robert Hagg as the 7th D. Vorobyev and Aube-Kubel could play games but I’m not sure either will be all that useful in the NHL. Bunnaman had more success initially at the pro level than I expected. He Farabee and Frost could very well play games this season and if they hit scored 19 goals as a rookie in the AHL and showed he could be a quality the ground running in the pro game, possibly even really help the Flyers. player at that level. Bunnaman has some skill and I like his net front play Rubtsov is a wild card based on how little he played last season but how a lot. The main concern for getting to the next level is I don’t know if he good he looked when healthy. has NHL speed. Organizational Top 10 (23 and Under) 23. Adam Ginning, D, Linkoping-SHL Ivan Provorov, D (22) Jan. 13, 2000 | 6-foot-4 | 205 pounds Travis Konecny, RW (22) Tier: Has a chance Nolan Patrick, C (20) Ginning got decent ice time for Linkoping as an 18-year-old defenseman in the SHL. He’s a player who coaches praise a lot because of his Carter Hart, G (21) hockey sense and compete level. He’s a big defenseman who leans on Joel Farabee, LW (19) checks and can be tough to play against. He doesn’t have much offense but has above-average vision. I’m not sold that he has NHL speed or Morgan Frost, C (20) skill, though. He can struggle to defend quicker players and be forced Travis Sanheim, D (23) into bad decisions when he’s pressured because of his limitations. Cam York, D (18) 24. Felix Sandstrom, G, HV71-SHL Oskar Lindblom, LW (23) Jan. 12, 1997 | 6-foot-2 | 192 pounds Philippe Myers, D (22) Tier: Has a chance Provorov took a step back last season production-wise, but I still like the After showing promise as a teenager, Sandstrom’s star has faded a bit player a lot. He’s never had the high-end skill to be the 17-goal, 40-point the past two years due to injury and inconsistent performance. I saw guy he was two seasons ago. However, he’s got great sense, he can moments from him last season that were impressive. He has strong legs play tough minutes and I think he’ll be a very good defenseman for a and can make tough saves. On his good days he’s a calm, efficient while – but might not be a star. goalie who squares up a lot of pucks. However, I’ve also seen days with mental miscues like over slides, bad poke checks or general iffy Patrick and Konecny are two very talented players who have played well positional play. He needs to find that consistency in his game. but have yet to have a major breakthrough season. I don’t know if either will ever be an impact guy, but both could be very solid top-six guys for a 25. Wyatte Wylie, D, Everett-WHL while. Nov. 2, 1999 | six-foot | 190 pounds Sanheim’s role increased in the second half and he looked good. He’s Tier: Has a chance such a great skater and has offensive ability. His defensive game will never inspire, but he can create with the puck in the NHL. Wylie was leaned on by Everett to play a lot of minutes last season. He’s a very smart two-way defenseman. He makes a lot of good plays, be it Anyways, Carter Hart. He had a tough start in the AHL but impressed a lot following his call-up to the Flyers midseason. He’s got fantastic hockey sense and has better athleticism than I thought this time last season. I don’t see elite quickness for a guy without elite size for him to reach the top echelons of the league, but I see a guy who could be a very good starting goalie for a while.

The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151469 Pittsburgh Penguins The Penguins made one other personnel change Thursday, promoting Wilkes-Barre/Scranton video coach Madison Nikkel to assistant video coach in Pittsburgh, where he will work with video coach Andy Saucier.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins head coach named team’s general Nikkel, a 25-year-old Boston College grad, was in Wilkes-Barre for three manager seasons.

Tribune Review LOADED: 08.30.2019 JONATHAN BOMBULIE | Thursday, August 29, 2019 1:45 p.m.

The last three men to hold the position of general manager of the Wilkes- Barre/Scranton Penguins – Bill Guerin, Jason Botterill and Chuck Fletcher – have left the job to become a GM in the NHL.

Mike Vellucci does not intend to run that streak to four.

The Penguins announced Thursday that Vellucci, who was named head coach of the AHL club in June, will also act as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s general manager, filling the position held by Guerin until he left to join the Minnesota Wild last week.

The 52-year-old Vellucci said he aspires to be a coach, not a GM, at the NHL level.

“I came here as a coach,” Vellucci said. “I came to work for Billy. I won a championship in the American League. I want to do it again, but eventually, I want to coach in the National Hockey League. This wasn’t a thing that I sought out or wanted or was a must. It was an opportunity that came up with (general manager Jim Rutherford) the last day or two here.”

Vellucci said Guerin found out he got the Minnesota job while the organization was holding coaching meetings at Nemacolin Woodlands last week. Vellucci and Rutherford had preliminary discussions about taking over AHL GM duties then before finalizing the arrangement on Thursday.

When Guerin left, Rutherford said he could afford to take his time in choosing a new full-time assistant GM for the Penguins. The Wilkes- Barre GM role was a little more of a pressing matter, with NHL training camp set to open in about two weeks.

“Mike has experience and success in being a general manager and coach,” Rutherford said in a release. “We are fortunate to have someone that can handle both duties.”

The dual role is nothing new for Vellucci. He performed both tasks with the Carolina Hurricanes the last two seasons, acting as coach and general manager of the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers. He led the team to the Calder Cup last season. Vellucci was also a dual coach and GM with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League from 2001-14.

He said handling both jobs helps him have a better feel when the time comes to call a player up to the NHL.

“I’m going know how they act and react on the bench,” Vellucci said. “I’m going to know how they play in tight moments, loose moments and what kind of character they have. I’m going to know inside and out from being on the bench. That’ll give me a foot up in that aspect, and I’ll be able to communicate that to Jim and the rest of the staff.”

He said the greatest challenge of being coach and GM is handling the delicate balancing act between trying to win at the AHL level and trying to develop prospects for NHL duty. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton saw its streak of 16 consecutive playoff berths end last season, and in northeastern Pennsylvania, Vellucci will be expected to start a new one post haste.

“Sometimes, when you’re coaching, all you worry about is wins and you don’t really care about anything else, but when you’re doing a dual role, my job is both, so I have to go to bed at night, I may be mad at a player, but I know the next morning I have to develop him and stay on it,” Vellucci said.

When it comes to Xs and Os, Vellucci said he won’t have to worry about playing a dual rule. His systems will essentially be Mike Sullivan’s systems.

“We’re going to mimic our NHL style of play, so when the players get called up into Pitt, it’s going to be a smooth transition,” Vellucci said. “We just had meetings with Sully there and he told us what kind of systems they’re going to play. The majority of it is going to be the same systems.” 1151470 Pittsburgh Penguins

Former Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy announces retirement

JONATHAN BOMBULIE | Thursday, August 29, 2019 11:26 a.m.

Ben Lovejoy, a defenseman who did two tours of duty with the Pittsburgh Penguins and helped the team to the 2016 Stanley Cup, announced his retirement from the NHL on Wednesday night.

Lovejoy, 35, played 11 NHL seasons, including parts of seven with the Penguins. He made the announcement while working as an analyst on NHL Network’s “NHL Tonight” show.

A smooth-skating right-handed shooter, Lovejoy signed with the Penguins as an undrafted free agent out of Dartmouth in 2007. After three seasons in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he worked his way into the NHL lineup by 2010-11.

Lovejoy was traded to Anaheim in 2013 and spent most of the next three seasons with the Ducks before the Penguins reacquired him in a controversial 2015 trade deadline deal for Simon Despres. The move paid dividends for the Penguins the next season when Lovejoy was a key component on the team’s championship blue line.

He appeared in all 24 playoff games, recording two goals and four assists.

After the season, Lovejoy signed a three-year deal with the New Jersey Devils. He ended his career with the after a trade-deadline move last year.

All told, Lovejoy played 184 regular-season games for the Penguins, recording 38 points and a plus-22 rating.

In 2017, he became the first active NHL player to announce that he will donate his brain for the purposes of concussion research. He remains the only player to publicly make such a pledge.

Tribune Review LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151471 Pittsburgh Penguins THE PREDICTION

A. Kessel

Penguins Predictions: Which returning player will receive warmest Kessel should get the longest, loudest ovation because his departure ovation? was more recent, but Fleury can’t be counted out. Pittsburghers still love their Flower.

Tribune Review LOADED: 08.30.2019 JONATHAN BOMBULIE | Thursday, August 29, 2019 6:01 a.m.

Whether the Pittsburgh Penguins will be a better team without Phil Kessel is a topic for debate.

Whether many Penguins fans will miss him is not.

During his four years with the team, Kessel built a fervent fan following seldom seen in the history of the franchise, with a few incidents from last season illustrating the point.

When Kessel scored a power-play goal during a specific two-minute stretch of a 5-2 win over Detroit on Dec. 27, he won a free Big Mac for everyone in attendance. The crowd chanted, “Thank you, Phil.”

Now, it’s possible anyone winning fans free fast food would have received the same treatment, but a couple of ovations later in the season were more pure.

When Kessel showed signs of obvious frustration as two outstanding scoring chances were turned back by Florida goalie Roberto Luongo during a 16-game goal drought in March, the crowd gave him a standing ovation to offer support.

“I thought it was awesome, the reception and the way the fans were encouraging him out there,” Sidney Crosby said at the time.

When Kessel broke the drought a few days later with a goal in a 3-0 win over Columbus, the roar from the crowd was deafening.

“The fans and the city have been great to me since I’ve been here,” Kessel said. “I’ve loved playing here. I have unbelievable memories here. They’ve been nothing but supportive, and I really appreciate it.”

THE QUESTION

Which former Penguins player will receive the loudest ovation when he makes his return to PPG Paints Arena this season?

MULTIPLE CHOICE

A. Kessel

The popular winger will make his return Friday, Dec. 6 with the Arizona Coyotes. There has always been a contingent of fans perturbed by Kessel’s lack of defensive awareness and run-through-a-wall mentality, but those sentiments tend to pop up more from angry talk show callers or in the coaches’ office at PPG Paints Arena. The arena crowd has always loved Kessel, and the reaction to the tribute video the team will undoubtedly create for him should be something else.

B. Marc-Andre Fleury

The Vegas Golden Knights and their smiling goaltender will pay a visit to Pittsburgh on Saturday, Oct. 19. It will be the third time Fleury has come to the arena as a visitor, so there’s a good chance the crowd reaction will be muted by the passage of time. Of course, there’s also a chance it will remain as a strong as ever. The connection between Penguins fans and their longtime goalie is real. When he returned for the first time in February of 2018, fans gave a standing ovation that had Fleury in tears. It was one of the most emotional moments in recent Penguins history.

C. Olli Maatta

Maatta and the Chicago Blackhawks will play at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday, Nov. 9, setting the stage for an emotional homecoming for the popular Finnish defenseman who was traded for salary cap relief early in the offseason. It’s unlikely Maatta, a defenseman whose game largely lacked flash, will receive the kind of ovation a longtime starting goalie or a dynamic goal scorer would, but it’s not completely out of the question. One would have to look long and hard to find someone who doesn’t like the personable Maatta, and that type of connection manifests with fans as well. Maatta cemented his status as a fan favorite with an exuberant performance at the team’s 2017 championship parade that ended with a photographer catching him taking a nap on a sun-soaked balcony. 1151472 Pittsburgh Penguins within the organization. “We are fortunate to have someone that can handle both duties.”

Succeeding at the GM job in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton helped both Guerin Penguins add GM duties for new AHL coach Mike Vellucci and Jason Botterill, now in Buffalo, become NHL general managers. But Vellucci instead hopes to follow the path forged by both Dan Bylsma and Mike Sullivan. MATT VENSEL “I came here as a coach,” he said. “I won a championship in the American League and want to do it again. But eventually I want to coach in the National Hockey League. [A dual role] wasn’t a thing that I sought The loss of Bill Guerin a few weeks before training camp left a void in the out or wanted or was a must.” Penguins organization, which had to, among other things, pick a new general manager for its American Hockey League club. While developing prospects for the Penguins takes precedence over winning AHL games, both Vellucci and the Penguins believe the two are That took Jim Rutherford a week and probably not too much brainpower. tied together. After all, the Penguins already had in the fold the man who coached and Vellucci, who is familiar with Penguins prospects because he assisted managed Carolina’s AHL affiliate to the Calder Cup just a couple of the Hurricanes with amateur draft scouting, admits he had more top-end months ago. prospects to work with during his time with the Checkers. But he is Rutherford and the Penguins made official the most logical outcome excited about the roster this season and the challenge of helping to Thursday by announcing that Mike Vellucci, hired in June to coach the develop the next Jake Guentzel. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, will serve as that club’s GM, too. “[I like that] we do have younger guys coming in, which is great, and then Bill Guerin talks to the media at a meet and greet prior to his USA Billy did an awesome job surrounding them with some older veterans,” he induction in 2013. said.

Mike DeFabo The Penguins also announced that Madison Nikkel has been named assistant video coach. Nikkel, who had been the video coach in Wilkes- Penguins' Bill Guerin hired as Wild general manager Barre/Scranton, will assist Andy Saucier with analyzing and compiling video for pre-scouts. While Vellucci says he didn’t campaign for this dual role, he called it “perfect.” "With technology constantly evolving and changing the way we prepare for and analyze games, we want to remain cutting-edge and in the “I’ve proven in the last couple of years that it can be successful if it’s forefront among NHL teams," Saucier, the Pittsburgh video coach, said in done the right way,” he said on a conference call. “I’m just really happy to a statement. "With that being said, we are extremely excited to add be here in Pittsburgh and work with the guys up top to make our Madison to our video coaching staff." prospects better players.” NOTE — Former Penguin Ben Lovejoy announced his retirement The Penguins snatched Vellucci shortly after the Carolina Hurricanes and Thursday. Lovejoy signed with the Penguins in 2008 and spent parts of the coach surprisingly agreed to mutually part ways three weeks after seven seasons with the organization over two stints. The 35-year-old Vellucci and the Charlotte Checkers won their first AHL championship. won a Stanley Cup in 2016 and also played for the Anaheim Ducks, New He replaced Clark Donatelli, who resigned after four years as coach in Jersey Devils and Dallas Stars. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Post Gazette LOADED: 08.30.2019 Like Rutherford, he worked for Carolina’s Peter Karmanos in the Compuware youth hockey program in Michigan before heading to the Ontario Hockey League.

Vellucci for 14 seasons held a dual role with the Plymouth Whalers. In 2012-13, he became the first person to win both the OHL’s Executive of the Year award and Coach of the Year award in the same season. He also won the Coach of the Year award in 2006-07 after leading the Whalers to the OHL championship.

He joined the Hurricanes as an executive in 2014, the same day that Rutherford stepped down as Hurricanes GM. Vellucci took over as Checkers coach two years ago and last season led them to the AHL’s best record and the Calder Cup.

Upon joining the Penguins, Vellucci was pumped to work with Guerin, who as assistant general manager oversaw the AHL club the last two seasons. But Guerin got hired to run the Minnesota Wild after it abruptly fired general manager Paul Fenton after just over a year, leaving Wilkes- Barre/Scranton without a GM.

Who will see top-line action alongside Jake Guentzel and Sidney Crosby?

Matt Vensel

These seven questions await when Penguins camp begins in a month

The organization’s coaches were at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort for meetings when Guerin accepted the GM job in Minnesota. Shortly after that, Rutherford talk with Vellucci about the possibility of doing a dual role here, too.

Thursday morning, he called to offer Vellucci the job. Rutherford, however, must still hire another assistant GM in Pittsburgh, which he is in no rush to do.

“Mike has experience and success in being a general manager and coach,” said Rutherford in a statement announcing a pair of promotions 1151473 San Jose Sharks

Apparent racist Instagram comment gets ire of Sharks’ Evander Kane

One of few black NHL players, Evander Kane wrote ‘This is what I’m talking about, happens all the time’

By GARY PETERSON

Apparently there isn’t an offseason for racism.

On Wednesday Evander Kane, the San Jose Sharks’ hard-charging left winger, dropped in on Instagram to share his excitement for the Sharks’ season opener, only to see an “othering” break out.

It dropped just after a comment, apparently from a Sharks fan: “Awww yes another SHARKS season, can’t wait!!!”

The objectionable comment read: “Stick to basketball.”

Because racists like to play in the shadows, you have to employ a bit of imagination to ferret out the message here.

See, Kane is black, a rarity in the largely white NHL. Whereas basketball players — college and pro — are typically black.

Thus @jaybisss’s message could have been exhumed from the lyrics of a 1960s song, “Society’s Child” that hasn’t aged well at all:

“Why don’t you stick to your own kind.”

Kane put the comment on blast, screenshotting it and writing in a new post:

“This is what I’m talking about, happens all the time just never publicly talked about and just ignored. This exact thing was shouted at me in the penalty box in Denver during game 4. It’s racially motivated, IT IS a problem in society and in SPORTS. There is focus on racism in football, basketball and baseball. But in the Hockey world it’s easier to ignore, dismiss and forget because let’s face the facts hockey is a white sport. But there are black players in the league and other minorities in our sport. Time to notice it, and give it the attention it deserves. The old way of thinking is done!”

Perfectly stated.

View this post on Instagram

This is what I’m talking about, happens all the time just never publicly talked about and just ignored. This exact thing was shouted at me in the penalty box in Denver during game 4. It’s racially motivated, IT IS a problem in society and in SPORTS. There is focus on racism in football, basketball and baseball. But in the Hockey world it’s easier to ignore, dismiss and forget because let’s face the facts hockey is a white sport. But there are black players in the league and other minorities in our sport. Time to notice it, and give it the attention it deserves. The old way of thinking is done!

A post shared by Evander Kane (@evander9kane) on Aug 28, 2019 at 3:57pm PDT

Reaction to the slur was supportive of Kane.

“Well said and we love having you here in San Jose!”

“I’ve always wanted to see this addressed in hockey. There’s no wrong time to start.”

“Appreciate you Kaner.”

Here’s one from former Sharks defenseman Douglas Murray: “Well said.”

One commenter believed the offending Instagram account had been deleted: “Damn he changed his IG name within 3 mins  ”

And there was this from the apparent offender: “can i just clearing and apologize for that, i was not the one that commented, my friend (tagged himself) has my login”

Another friendly reminder not to believe everything you hear coming from the shadows.

San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151474 San Jose Sharks

Sharks' Evander Kane calls out racism in hockey in response to bigoted comment

By Marcus White August 28, 2019 9:35 PM

After a fan told Sharks winger Evander Kane to "stick to basketball" in an Instagram comment, the 28-year-old took to the platform to criticize hockey's blind eye to racism.

Kane, who is black, wrote that another fan had "shouted" that to him at Denver's Pepsi Center during Game 4 of San Jose's Stanley Cup playoff second-round series with the Colorado Avalanche.

View this post on Instagram

This is what I’m talking about, happens all the time just never publicly talked about and just ignored. This exact thing was shouted at me in the penalty box in Denver during game 4. It’s racially motivated, IT IS a problem in society and in SPORTS. There is focus on racism in football, basketball and baseball. But in the Hockey world it’s easier to ignore, dismiss and forget because let’s face the facts hockey is a white sport. But there are black players in the league and other minorities in our sport. Time to notice it, and give it the attention it deserves. The old way of thinking is done!

A post shared by Evander Kane (@evander9kane) on Aug 28, 2019 at 3:57pm PDT

When a commenter wrote that Kane should not "let stupid s--t bother you and move on," the Sharks star replied that his post wasn't just about this instance.

Evander Kane Instagram comment

The NHL was the last major sports league to integrate, and Sports Business Daily found that, at the start of last season, fewer than 5 percent of NHL players were people of color. Black players, such as former Shark Joel Ward and current New Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. Subban, have faced racist abuse on social media. A few fans were banned from attending games in Chicago in 2018 after chanting "Basketball, basketball, basketball" at then-Washington Capitals forward Devante Smith-Pelly, and current Devils forward Wayne Simmonds had a banana thrown at him during a preseason game in 2011.

The league has made efforts to root out racism in the sport. Willie O'Ree, the league's first black player, long has been at the forefront of the NHL's efforts to bring the sport into underserved and underprivileged communities. In 2017, the NHL hired Kim Davis as its executive vice president of social impact, growth initiatives and legislative affairs. Davis, a black woman who worked for over two decades at JPMorgan Chase, was a driving force behind a traveling museum that highlighted contributions of black players and coaches to the sport during a nationwide tour in February.

Davis told The Undefeated in March that she felt her hiring said "a lot about ... the sport's willingness to embrace differences and change." The racist comment Kane highlighted indicates just how far there still is to go.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151475 San Jose Sharks

Sharks' most important trades in team history: Acquiring Brent Burns

By Marcus White August 29, 2019 4:11 PM

Editor's Note: For having only existed as an NHL franchise for 27 seasons, the Sharks sure have been involved in a seemingly inordinate number of headline-stealing trades. Some of the greatest players in San Jose franchise history have been acquired via trade, and each has inevitably played a major role in the successful evolution from expansion team to perennial cup contender. This week, NBC Sports California will look back at the five most important trades in Sharks franchise history, continuing with the trade for Brent Burns.

From the moment he traded for him eight years ago, Sharks general manager Doug Wilson always envisioned Brent Burns as an elite defenseman.

“There’s such a shortage of defensemen in this league, and guys at that level and that style of play and that size,” Wilson told the Sporting News on June 24, 2011, shortly after acquiring Burns in a trade with the Minnesota Wild on the first day of the 2011 NHL Draft.

For a while, it looked like Burns was more likely to become an elite power forward than a transcendent blue liner. Following an up-and-down first season in San Jose, he moved to forward -- specifically, to Joe Thornton’s wing -- during lockout-shortened 2013 season.

He remained there the following year, scoring a then-career-high 22 goals in the 2013-14 campaign. In 5-on-5 situations, Burns shot and scored at what remain the highest rates of his career (11.93 shots per hour; 1.14 goals per hour). But after the Sharks parted ways with defenseman Dan Boyle, Burns moved back to the blue line and emerged as one of the NHL’s best.

Since the start of the 2014-15 season, Burns ranks first among defensemen in goals (101), tied -- with current teammate -- for first in assists (260), first in points (361), first in shots on goal (1550) and tied for second in games played (410). This past season, he became the second blue liner this century to record 65 assists in a season and the first Sharks defenseman to score 80-plus points in a single campaign.

Burns’ emergence spurred the Sharks’ return to the NHL’s upper echelon. They’ve made the postseason each of the last four seasons, a run book-ended by appearances in the Stanley Cup Final (2015-16) and the Western Conference final (2018-19).

The Sharks acquired Burns, at least in part, to take the torch from veteran leaders like Boyle, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. Thornton is the only one still standing -- or will be, when he ultimately re-signs with the Sharks as expected -- and Burns, in many ways, is the bearded face of the team at this point.

Without his arrival in San Jose, it’s difficult to envision the Sharks finding a second wind of contention in the Thornton era. There was no true No. 1 defensemen in the pipeline capable of eventually filling Boyle’s skates, and who knows whether Wilson could have landed another one via trade, let alone one on the precipice of their prime.

Wilson recognized Burns’ unique combination of size and skill when the general manager first traded for the defenseman just over eight years ago, and that blend placed him firmly among the NHL’s elite blue liners and helped the Sharks keep their Stanley Cup window open.

How much longer it stays so will partially depend on how gracefully Burns, 34, ages during his last six years under contract. Because of that, Burns’ acquisition has the potential to shape a decade-and-a-half of Sharks history.

Only one other trade has done the same.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151476 Tampa Bay Lightning “He finished the top scorer in the league, and no one was expecting that of him,” Groulx said. “I think training camp will tell it all. He’s still a young player, and when you look at his progression the last two years, it’s Handicapping the players who will snag the last few Tampa Bay phenomenal. He came from the East Coast league to a part-time player Lightning roster spots in the AHL to top scorer in the league. Phenomenal. …

“He’s a tougher player to play against, and he’s one of the best players on our team in puck pursuit. He’s become relentless on the forecheck, By Joe Smith Aug 29, 2019 he’s got a good stick, is moving his feet, being hungry. With that, he’s creating chances for himself and for his teammates. He’s a young player

still, and I don’t know what’s next for him, but when you look at what he’s TAMPA, Fla. — With just a couple of weeks left until training camp accomplished as a person, as a player, he understands what he’s got to opens, the Lightning roster is taking shape. do, and he believes that, ‘You know what, I’m getting closer to my dream.’” The blue line makeover is effectively complete, with Tampa Bay signing veteran Luke Schenn on July 1 and also adding a “pissed off” Kevin SOMETIMES YOU JUST GOTTA TAKE A LAP FIRST.#SYRVSCHA Shattenkirk, who was bought out by the Rangers in early August. The PIC.TWITTER.COM/88PT2C3EQX Lightning boast eight defensemen on one-way deals (and Luke — SYRACUSE CRUNCH (@SYRACUSECRUNCH) MARCH 21, 2019 Witkowski on a two-way), so unless highly touted prospect Cal Foote blows them away in camp, they’re pretty much set. Roest has watched Verhaeghe the past couple of seasons and has been impressed by his attitude and determination to take the next step. Up front is where it gets interesting because there are a few spots up for grabs. With Stanley Cup champ Pat Maroon signing a one-year, “At the exit meetings, he was asking, ‘How can I get better?'” Roest said. $900,000 deal over the weekend, hoping to reignite his championship “I told him and he did it. From power skating and getting stronger, connection with Jon Cooper, the veteran will effectively take the place of working on his skill. He was at the right place at the right time, he worked Adam Erne, who was dealt to Detroit two weeks ago. and it paid off. The way he played last year was impressive. He’s got a good chance to be a good player for us.” But there are at least a couple of openings: a winger to fill out the bottom six and a 13th forward role. And there are plenty of intriguing options, Alex Volkov from AHL co-leading goal scorers Carter Verhaeghe and Alex Barré- Boulet to Mitchell Stephens, Alex Volkov and veteran Cory Conacher. There’s a reason Volkov was among the final cuts in the last two There’s also Danick Martel, who spent most of last season with Tampa Lightning training camps. Bay after getting claimed off waivers, primed to improve on the nine Volkov, a 6-foot winger, has an intriguing toolkit. He’s a very smart player games he appeared in last season. with the ability to score (back-to-back 23-goal seasons for the Crunch). I’m told this is a wide-open race for whoever plays the best in camp. You could sense from watching Volkov go through power-play drills with Essentially, it’s big-boy pants time for these guys. the likes of Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos last fall that he fit right in. To help break down this battle, we got some insight from AHL coach Ben Groulx of the Syracuse Crunch and Crunch GM Stacy Roest, the long- “He’s just so skilled,” Stamkos said. “He’s got a lot of poise with the puck. time Lightning director of player development. You can see the confidence he has when he’s handling the puck and making those skilled moves. It’s a great fit.” “(This summer) is enormous for them in their career,” Groulx said. “They had to work on everything they needed to, to show that determination ALEX VOLKOV ADDED ANOTHER FOR US IN THE SECOND PERIOD. and discipline, what is required to deal with and stay focused during WE HOLD A 2-0 LEAD THROUGH 40 MINUTES. #BRIVSSYR summertime. You come back to camp and show people what you can INTERMISSION REPORT PRESENTED BY @GANNONPEST. do.” PIC.TWITTER.COM/EJEFO0IYGY

Carter Verhaeghe — SYRACUSE CRUNCH (@SYRACUSECRUNCH) JANUARY 5, 2019

Few Lightning prospects made a bigger jump in the past year than Kucherov took Volkov under his wing (and out to lunch) at last year’s Verhaeghe, who got picked off the scrap heap from the Islanders (and camp, marveling at how well the 22-year-old has made the transition to their ECHL affiliate) during a development camp deal and then went on the North American game. They often worked on drills together after to score 34 goals for the Crunch last season. practice, and the reigning Hart Trophy winner believes Volkov could be in Verhaeghe, 24, racked up 82 points, setting a new Crunch record, and the NHL sooner rather than later. we broke down his resurgence here. “It’s a different league, you’re playing the best players,” Kucherov said. ANOTHER GIVEAWAY, ANOTHER GOAL.#SYRVSUTI “You grow a little faster even though you play the third or fourth line like I PIC.TWITTER.COM/HUAIY0RZWB did my first year. (Volkov) is a great player with unbelievable vision. He has all the tools to play here. It’s up to him.” — SYRACUSE CRUNCH (@SYRACUSECRUNCH) MARCH 7, 2019 The Lightning believe Volkov is a guy who could play on either wing on “They gave me a chance, and as a player, that’s all you can ask for,” the first through fourth line. He has the two-way compete and creativity to Verhaeghe said of the Lightning organization. “I always thought I was a fit in the top six and the defensive commitment and forechecking ability to good player. I always felt I belonged. When I got to stay in this league, I handle the wing spots. It’s just a matter of consistency with Volkov, and wanted to make the most of it. You can see I’m getting more confidence. he needs to raise his game to the next level.

I really think Verhaeghe has a strong chance of making the Lightning’s Groulx noted that Volkov was disappointed last fall when he didn’t make opening roster for a few reasons. First of all, he fits the profile of what the Lightning’s opening roster, but after a little adversity, he took off and Tampa Bay could use: a bottom-six wing who could also play center. matched his numbers from the previous season. But there’s even more in Verhaeghe also brings some size at 6-foot-1, 187 pounds and has the tank, Groulx believes. improved his skating in recent years. He’s responsible defensively and has a deceptively good shot. “He’s got an NHL shot,” said Crunch “He has to come back and show people that (he’s) ready at training teammate and former Lightning forward Gabriel Dumont. camp, and if you need more time in the AHL, take the step,” Groulx said. “Don’t be satisfied with the 22-23 goals and 40-something points, which Verhaeghe, re-signed to a one-year, two-way deal this summer, also is good, but he can do better. It’s all about consistency, bringing his ‘A’ must clear waivers to get sent back to Syracuse, and there’s a decent game every day. chance another club would take a flier on him. “One thing (Volkov) has, the more you demand from him, the better he is. But what struck me the most about watching Verhaeghe and talking with He’s got a great capacity to push himself. He’s a good skater, he’s a the development staff is how much he is starting to fit the identity of what horse in the gym. He’s impressive physically. Some guys need more the Lightning want in a player. growth in order to be the best version of themselves. I believe (Volkov) is in that category. Is he ready to play in Tampa Bay? Training camp will take care of that. If you look at (Mathieu) Joseph last summer, he had a Unless Barré-Boulet tears it up in training camp, he’s likely to at least great summer, came into camp and performed and they gave him a start this season in Syracuse, but his time in the NHL is coming sooner chance.” than many of us thought.

Mitchell Stephens Danick Martel

When Mitchell Stephens was drafted in the second round in 2015, As an incumbent on the roster, you wonder if a spot is Martel’s to lose. scouting director Al Murray compared him to Ryan Callahan to describe the prospect’s game and projection. The 24-year-old already proved he could be a fit in a 13th-forward role last season, when he logged just nine games but was effective when he And with Callahan’s career over due to serious back issues, Stephens, got in and had a great attitude when he didn’t. 22, may be a guy who could slide into the bottom six and potentially the penalty kill. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound forward is relentless on the There’s no better example than his mid-December game in Vancouver forecheck, is responsible defensively and is capable of playing either when, told he’d be replacing injured Ryan Callahan minutes before wing or center. warmups, Martel jumped in with a spin-o-rama assist while being a disruptive pain-in-the-butt for the entire Canucks team. It was his first MITCHELL STEPHENS SENT HOME OUR ONEGROUP INSURANCE game in a month. GOAL OF THE GAME. PIC.TWITTER.COM/WC8NTVLXCH The Lightning were sufficiently intrigued by Martel to keep him on their — SYRACUSE CRUNCH (@SYRACUSECRUNCH) FEBRUARY 27, roster for almost the entire season, not wanting to risk losing him on 2019 waivers. “He already proved me wrong (once),” GM Julien BriseBois said. And Martel, re-signed to a one-year deal, would have to clear Injuries cost Stephens last season, when he was limited to just 32 games waivers again after training camp if Tampa Bay tries to squeeze him (11 goals, 13 assists). through.

But you could tell how much the Lightning thought of Stephens during This is why it’s a huge preseason for Martel. Perhaps he earns a spot last year’s training camp when they had him, Joseph and Volkov on the and a more regular role, as he has the attributes to be an effective same schedule, skipping the prospect tournament and in the mix for an penalty killer. But if Martel is outplayed by some of the other prospects NHL job. Joseph, of course, stole the show with a superb camp, made who may have bigger upside, then he could be the odd man out. the team and stuck all year. Volkov and Stephens battled until late, and Stephens knows he’ll have a shot now in camp again. Danick Martel played in just nine regular-season games for Tampa Bay last season, but he played well when he got on the ice. (Douglas “It’s an opportunity to show your abilities,” Stephens said. “There’s a lot DeFelice / USA Today) of guys in that situation. Tampa has an unbelievable team up there, and there are a lot of guys that are big impact players in the league. Cory Conacher Ultimately, you’re going have to try and take someone’s job. My goal is to train hard and go from there.” With only 13 games of NHL experience, it’s hard to know what the Lightning have in Martel. While he’s not a guy you’re going to see Does Stephens believe he’s NHL ready? flanking Brayden Point or Steven Stamkos in a top-six role, it’s hard to gauge his upside. “I do,” Stephens said. “I didn’t really have a full season this year, but with this summer, I’ll try to get better every day, training or skating, and it’ll be That’s not the case with Cory Conacher. beneficial.” Conacher, 29, is a veteran of 189 NHL games, and with two stints with Alex Barré-Boulet Tampa Bay, they probably have a pretty good book on what he’ll bring. He’s been a very good AHL player and leader, especially for someone If you read The Athletic prospect guru Corey Pronman’s analysis of the who has that amount of NHL experience. Lightning farm system, you’ll notice an interesting name at the top: The Lightning have passed Conacher through waivers before, including Barré-Boulet. last fall, believing they had better NHL options at the time. But they also That’s pretty telling considering not too long ago, the undrafted, 5-foot-10 were proactive in signing him to a one-year, one-way deal for $700,000, winger was an under-the-radar 2018 summer signing. But Barré-Boulet’s knowing they’d have some significant cap issues this summer. breakout season with the Crunch last season, tying with Verhaeghe for Conacher still believes he can play in the NHL, and I don’t doubt that. He the AHL lead with 34 goals, showed how far the now-22-year-old, can provide some scoring punch on the wing in a bottom-six role or be a Quebec-born kid has come. good soldier as a 13th forward who spends most of his nights in the “Barré-Boulet is full of skill and hockey sense,” Pronman wrote. “When press box. He’d be a safe pick for the extra forward role. watching him in the Q two seasons ago, he’d make all kinds of cute The undrafted forward has had to fight all his life for his lot in the league, plays, and you wondered if it would translate. It did. Barré-Boulet has doing so while living with diabetes, and that’s been both impressive and such great patience and instincts as a distributor and can make admirable. You just wonder if there are some younger prospects in the defenders look silly with his one-on-one play. A big reason for his Lightning system who could squeeze him out again. improvement was adding quickness to his skating, to where he could skate with pros. He’s not that big and could be a tad quicker for an The skinny undersized guy, but he competes well. He looks like one heck of a free agent signing right now. I really believe this is a question that will have to be answered in camp, but Verhaeghe, Volkov and Stephens will be given every chance to The skillset was evident during last year’s development camp, when succeed in a competition with Martel and Conacher. It would take a Barré-Boulet dared to try some of his slick moves in three-on-three monster camp for someone like Barré-Boulet, Taylor Raddysh or Boris action. “He can stickhandle and score in a phone booth,” said Crunch Katchouk to make it. A tie-breaker could be whom the Lightning think teammate Cameron Gaunce. they’d lose on waivers, which is why Martel is one to watch.

KIDS GOT TRICKS. #TORVSSYR PIC.TWITTER.COM/8SGVKODUY2 My bet is on Verhaeghe cracking the roster as the fourth-line winger with Paquette and Maroon. Stephens or Volkov would be the front-runners for — SYRACUSE CRUNCH (@SYRACUSECRUNCH) FEBRUARY 24, the other spot, with Martel or Conacher the safer fallbacks. 2019 If there’s one thing the Lightning have shown in the cases of Point and There’s still a sense that Barré-Boulet, coming off his first year as a pro, Joseph, it’s that prospects can play their way onto a team. could use some more AHL seasoning. Barré-Boulet told me late last season that he believes he caught some other teams off guard with his So who will that guy be this year? surprise start and will have to adjust and step up his game with more focus on him. Barré-Boulet did score half of his goals (17) on the power The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2019 play, so that boosted his numbers, but he has the ability to score in top- six, five-on-five play, too. 1151477 Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs' Marner skating on his own, keeping options open as summer winds down

Terry Koshan

As the Maple Leafs have been gathering at their suburban practice facility — more regulars are likely to arrive after the long weekend to join players such as , , Andreas Johnsson and Kasperi Kapanen — restricted free agent Mitch Marner has been biding his time with workouts on and off the ice at a rink north of the city.

Marner, skating with a smaller group that has included forward Anthony Cirelli of the Tampa Bay Lightning, politely declined an interview request from the Toronto Sun as he stepped off the ice one day earlier this week.

Marner’s agent, Darren Ferris, has spoken to the Zurich Lions in Switzerland about the possibility of Marner training with the club as contract negotiations with the Leafs have not yet borne fruit. Marner likely would join Zurich for practice purposes once Leafs camp gets underway on Sept. 12; before that, it’s possible that Marner will skate with his former junior club, the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League.

For his part, Johnsson isn’t concerned about the idea that he or, perhaps, Kapanen could be moved by the Leafs in order to help get a new Marner contract under the salary cap.

“I don’t think about that,” Johnsson said. “I’m sure they will figure everything out, the staff and Mitch, for the team. I don’t worry.”

Toronto Sun LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151478 Toronto Maple Leafs “I’m excited about this team. It’s a lot of new players and I feel like we have a lot of good players. I’m sure we will be fine.”

Toronto Sun LOADED: 08.30.2019 Johnsson aiming for plus-20 vision with the Maple Leafs this season

Terry Koshan

Twenty goals wound up being a fine accomplishment for Andreas Johnsson last season, but the Maple Leafs forward wants more.

How much more?

Well, the 24-year-old doesn’t want to reveal an exact number.

“I want to beat 20, that’s what I’m looking for, but after that, we will see,” Johnsson said on Thursday after taking part in an informal workout with several Leafs teammates and others at the . “I don’t want to think about it too much.

“You can’t think, ‘oh, I’m going to try to score 40.’ It doesn’t work like that. You want to beat 20 and sometimes it’s going to be in your favour and you get more (scoring) opportunities and sometimes you pass more. My goal is to beat last year.”

A better start than he had in 2018-19 would put Johnsson on a path to that goal, and so too would a stronger regular-season finish.

Johnsson scored two goals in the first 18 games a year ago before recording a hat trick against the visiting Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 24. In the final 17 games of the season, Johnsson scored once.

When Johnsson ended 2019-20 with 43 points in 73 games – he finished fourth among forwards in National Hockey League all-rookie team voting behind Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks, Brady Tkachuk of the and Anthony Cirelli of the Tampa Bay Lightning – he was able to look back and take some satisfaction in what he had produced. In seven playoff games, Johnsson had four points, tying for third on the team.

The reward from the Leafs was handsome: Johnsson signed a four-year contract with an annual average value of $3.4 million US in June.

All of this came after Johnsson, in the spring of 2018, helped spearhead the ’ Calder Cup championship and was named the American Hockey League playoffs MVP. As memorable as that run was, and as much as it helped entrench Johnsson’s standing as a full-time member on the Leafs roster, Johnsson is expecting that the longer off- season that is now wrapping up will help him avoid last fall’s sluggish beginning.

“With the summer being longer, I was able to prepare myself a lot more,” Johnsson said. “When we won the Calder Cup the year before, I basically only had 1 1/2 months to get ready for last season. This summer was three or four months. That will probably help.”

There are a couple of factors for Johnsson that could potentially come into play as he looks to improve on 20 goals.

If wingers Mitch Marner, unsigned for now, and Zach Hyman, who is recovering from off-season knee surgery, remain on the sideline once the regular season starts, players such as Johnsson could see a bump in ice time.

“Somebody else will have to step up,” Johnsson said. “It’s a good opportunity for everyone on the wing. You want everything to be there for the team and to be ready as soon as possible, but it’s a big opportunity for a guy like me and other guys.”

Johnsson arrived in Toronto last Saturday after spending the off-season at his home in Gothenburg, Sweden, training with the likes of fellow NHLers Henrik Lundqvist, John Klingberg, Christian Folin and Kevin Fiala.

On Thursday, Johnsson was his hallmark self, taking nothing off as he chased down lose pucks and fought for chances in front of the net during scrimmage.

He wants to get going, wants to show demonstrate he is worthy of the contract, wants to top 20 goals.

“Being here a couple years, it feels good, so it’s fun to come back, especially now when you have had a longer summer,” Johnsson said. 1151479 Toronto Maple Leafs

Trevor Moore not taking anything for granted with Leafs

Lance Hornby

“The second you think your job is secure is the second it’s taken,” warned Moore, perhaps reminding himself of that credo by wearing his No. 9 helmet with the Marlies during Leafs summer skates and not his usual 42. “I’m coming in with the same mentality: I’m hungry, I want to be here and do any kind of role they need me to.”

Moore, now 24, was an NCAA free agent who earned a two-year deal at $775,000 US to alleviate the Leafs salary crunch. He is projected by some to get as high as third line wing this year or better if the injured Zach Hyman can’t start the season or Mitch Marner is absent because of his contract issue.

Moore, initially called up last season to take the injured ’ roster spot, had eight points in 25 games in various bottom six forward situations and was in every playoff game. He even received some praiseworthy quotes from hard-to-please head coach .

“From my game to the playoffs, I felt much more confident I could play on that level,” Moore added. “I want to be more explosive out of the corners and things like that. But the game plan is still the same, grind away, win some battles. You don’t want to see teammates get hurt, but it breeds opportunity for guys like us. You have to go right from the start because that might be your best opportunity.”

NIC OF TIME

This past July 24 was surely a dark day for Nic Petan.

Already on the fringe of Toronto’s roster and not utilized in the playoffs, Petan heard of general manager adding five budget-price forwards to the Leafs roster in Garrett Wilson, Pontus Aberg, Nick Shore, Tyler Gaudet and Kalle Kossila, on top of Jason Spezza earlier in the month. They came in a variety of sizes and one- or two-way contracts that will further challenge the 5-foot-10 Petan.

He scored once in his five games as a fourth-liner after a trade deadline deal with Winnipeg for Par Lindholm and played just 18 combined contests with both teams.

“I have full confidence that if I get the opportunity to play my game and do what I do, I can produce and hop in the lineup wherever,” Petan said. “I really have nothing to lose here.”

As the Leafs lost in seven games to Boston in the first round, Petan was being bag- skated with the other healthy scratches.

“It was tough, but understandable because I’d come in late,” he said. “As an outside guy, you want to think you could have changed things, but that’s hard to do.”

Petan said he used that down time wisely, getting to know the Leafs’ sports science team and all the development tools available to hone his game.

“Speed and skill is what I’ve always worked on. Explosiveness and power is what I’ve done this summer. I feel comfortable in my frame.”

Petan, who is from Delta, B.C., also organized a home province golf tournament for mental health awareness that Leafs mates Morgan Rielly and Alex Kerfoot attended.

LOOSE LEAFS

Former Leafs defencemen Calle Rosen, who was traded to Colorado in the Nazem Kadri deal, and Andreas Borgman, now with the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage, joined old mates at Wednesday’s workout … The Sabres have announced that ex-Leafs blueliner Matt Hunwick’s neck issues will not allow him to play in 2019-20 … Daren Puppa, briefly a Leaf in the ’92-93 season as Felix Potvin’s backup after Grant Fuhr was traded to Buffalo, put pads on for the first time in 18 years recently in a Sabres alumni game. He’d retired because of various injuries.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151481 Toronto Maple Leafs He ended up appearing in more than 900 regular season games. Now 37 and a season removed from his last game, he stood in the concourse at Varsity Arena as camp attendees worked through precision drills on the From running stairs in France to forced time off: Perspectives on summer ice under the watchful eyes of trained professionals. training in the modern NHL “I guess I’m proud of what we did,” said the BioSteel co-founder. “I think a lot of us were kind of at the precipice of this, and figured it out ourselves.” By Sean Fitz-Gerald Aug 29, 2019 Tyler Seguin was still a teenager when he gave up other competitive sports to focus on hockey. He was heading into his OHL draft year, and ran out of time for competitive lacrosse. It was late September, in 1983, and Edmonton Oilers captain Lee Fogolin was describing how training camp had evolved over the course of his By that point, those kinds decisions seemed mandatory: Hockey had career. He was a veteran defenceman on a roster that featured four become year-round. ascendant 22-year-old players: Paul Coffey, Mark Messier, Glenn Anderson and Wayne Gretzky. At 27, was he ever envious of generations who seemed to have more freedom in the summer? “When I first broke in, it took you a week before you could pass the puck and go the length of the ice,” Fogolin told the Globe and Mail. “We didn’t “I like the generation I’m in,” Seguin said. “I think it’s cool seeing how get rolling until the end of October.” young kids are now, looking at eating properly, looking at training properly. It’s because of social media, and I think it’s one positive point Glen Sather was the general manager as well as the coach, and Fogolin that’s come out of it.” believed the thing that “burns him up the most” was when “a guy isn’t in condition.” Tom Wilson tries to build a month into the summer where he does not do much of anything. When he was younger, he said he would always be in It was not that long ago when some high-level players would struggle to the gym, trying to lift a house on the benchpress or lifting more heavy find a couple of weeks to get into shape before the start of the season. weight with squats. (Two decades before Fogolin addressed the subject, Chicago Black Hawks coach Rudy Pilous blasted his roster for being overweight, telling “Now, you start to work a bit smarter,” he said. “Pick your spots, see how the Globe he “might even lock them up in a steambath and throw away your body’s responding.” the key.”) The 25-year-old had a shortened summer last year, having won the Three dozen professional players skating this week at the BioSteel Pro Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals. He knows a few retired NHL Hockey Camp at the University of Toronto sometimes find themselves at players from growing up in Toronto, and he has heard some of the the other end of the spectrum. Rather than finding time to get in shape stories about the old days, when the summer did not religiously intersect over the summer, they have to find — or be forced to find — time to rest. with an arena.

The concept of year-round training is not new, but it is evolving and “It was a different time,” he said. “We’re pretty fortunate to play in the era expanding. Minor hockey officials now wrestle with the challenge of youth that we do. The game’s in a good place, but there’s elements of the old- players spending their summers on the ice. Professionals have to strike a school hockey that would definitely be appealing.” balance between recovery and rebuilding for another season in an ever- Erik Gudbranson has developed a post-season tradition: Depending how faster-moving sport. and when the year ended, he would buy a plane ticket to somewhere in It could mean finding interesting ways to exercise while on vacation in the world he had not yet visited, then immerse himself in the culture as Europe, or threatening to lock the doors to the gym. Here are part of a summer break that usually lasted for three or four weeks. perspectives from five professionals spending the last week of August This year, after Gudbranson got married, it was France. working out at Varsity Arena: “I walk around, try to be active,” he said. “In a few of the hotels we stayed Matt Nichol, the long-time trainer who runs the BioSteel camp, has been at, going down to the beach, there were some stairs, and I’d just run up working with NHL players for 20 years. Most players were already them a few times. But you’ve got to let the body relax, you’ve got to let training through the summer when he started, but their efforts were often the body rebuild itself.” scattered, and he said their on-ice work amounted to simple games of shinny. He has heard of the minor hockey players who are on the ice year-round. (He played other sports in the off-season, such as soccer and volleyball, He noticed a change after the NHL returned to work following the 2004- while growing up in Ottawa.) 05 lockout. Teams were under a salary cap for the first time, and they seemed more willing to sign cheaper, younger players who were fast, “If they love what they’re doing, if they love being at the rink and they strong and willing to work. love training and practising, then by all means do that,” he said. “I’d be interested to see how they feel about the game when they’re 20 years “I’m not saying that’s the reason,” Nichol said. “But from what I saw, it old, and whether they’ve burnt out and don’t want to do it anymore.” kind of coincided.” Nichol was the strength and conditioning coach for the Maple Leafs when He smiled. he introduced changes to the training cycle in 2003 or 2004. Every fourth “ had a great quote: ‘There’s no more out-of-shape average or fifth week, he had players work at 50 per cent of their regular load. guys,’” he said. “You can be an out-of-shape superstar if you have that Some players were frustrated, thinking that, if they were in the gym, they level of talent, but if you’re an average guy, the margin of error is so should be lifting as much as possible. slight — you have to be in shape.” “Eventually, I said, ‘you know what? I’m locking the gym — you guys Mike Cammalleri was a second-round NHL draft pick when he left the don’t have to go on vacation, but you can’t come here,’” he said. “A lot of University of Michigan to start his professional career in 2002. Teams guys complained, which was probably a reflection of the hard-working had hired strength and conditioning coaches by then, but he felt players guys we had on those Leafs teams back in the day.” were sometimes left to patch their own workout plans together over the Today, he instructs his elite clients to take a long weekend every four summer. weeks. And right in the middle of summer, they have a mandatory Along with fellow Toronto-based prospect Mike Zigomanis, he would run vacation week. Nichol tells players he does not want them lifting, and he track with coaches at York University. He lifted weights, and he skated. does not want them sprinting: “Go try a yoga class. Try swimming. Try He was invited to summertime shinny with local Maple Leafs players some sort of meditation class. Go for a long walk.” such as and : “That was kind of a big deal, to get “If we can budget time to have a vacation in the middle of the summer … invited out to that skate.” then certainly your 10-year-old kid can do that,” he said. “The fun is a “If I look back, we were totally over-training,” Cammalleri said with a side effect, but I actually get better results from my training.” smile. “We thought: ‘Well, we’ll just do everything.’” The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151482 Toronto Maple Leafs The Leafs ranked 13th in 5-on-5 expected goals last season. Can Babcock guide a more skilled roster toward defending less and hogging the puck more?

Offseason extravaganza: What the Maple Leafs have (and haven’t) How will he adjust his deployment tactics with trusted favourites like Ron accomplished this summer Hainsey, Patrick Marleau, Connor Brown and Nikita Zaitsev all gone? Will he lean more on Travis Dermott when he gets healthy, give Nic Petan a chance and trust Andreas Johnsson in top-six duty all season? By Jonas Siegel Aug 28, 2019 How will he use Tyson Barrie?

And ultimately, what if the Leafs can’t get past the first round again? Will Dubas know the coach’s fate even before that dreaded question is Days after the season ended in Boston for the second straight spring, we posed? sorted through nine priorities that would define the Leafs’ offseason. So while the larger question has faded for now, it’ll be there lurking in the Let’s check back on their progress with training camp fast approaching. shadows all season. 1. The head coach 2. Who’s the backup? Kyle Dubas let it hang out there for 11 days: would Mike Babcock be It never felt tenable for Garret Sparks to return, not after he was banished back to coach the Leafs for a fifth season? (and then briefly recalled) in favour of Michael Hutchinson right before Finally, on May 6, Dubas fired word to Bob McKenzie that the Leafs were the playoffs and not after a season when his fitness to handle a backup’s “all in on Mike and Mike is all in on us.” He declined to say more until the sporadic duty was never established; Sparks’ .906 even-strength save draft combine. percentage was tied for 51st among 60 goalies to appear in at least 20 games. “I think at the end of every year people will find that I — maybe I just won’t answer (that question about whether the coach will return the Dubas’ faith in him, over Curtis McElhinney, ultimately went unrewarded, following season) because I always like to take the time to analyze and Sparks was traded to Vegas. everything,” Dubas said in Buffalo at the end of May. “And like I said that Who fills the position next season, however, is still TBD. day (at the end of the season), I want Shanny to evaluate me and for me to then — if I’m going to be here — to evaluate everybody else. And Hutchinson is back after signing a one-year deal ($700,000) and projects that’s all that I’ll do every season.” as the No. 2, though the Leafs probably have to be hoping that Michal Neuvirth, with a .910 career NHL save percentage, flashes something of “I just think it’s smart business,” the Leafs GM concluded. intrigue in his pro tryout. His NHL track record is longer than Mostly yes, but also no. Hutchinson’s and includes a .921 even-strength save percentage over the past five seasons — which is equal to Jonathan Quick, James It sure seems like smart business to make such a gigantic decision — Reimer and Cam Talbot for 27th among 55 goalies to play at least 100 whether or not to replace the coach — with care and deliberation. games.

But leaving Babcock’s job dangling for as long as Dubas did, particularly Neuvirth looks more the part of NHL backup at this point than in a hockey mosh-pit like Toronto, felt unfair and undermining. It’s hard to Hutchinson, someone capable of handling the load for a few weeks at a imagine the coach was pleased with how it all played out. time if Freddy Andersen is hurt or struggling.

That said, this was setting up to be a make-or-break year for him no Hutchinson passed a five-game test last season when Andersen and matter what Dubas did or didn’t say. Sparks were both out (.914), but was largely sub-average in stints with Florida and Winnipeg before that and posted only a .910 save Babcock was given the biggest contract ever for an NHL head coach percentage in 23 regular season games with the Marlies. (eight years for a reported $50 million) to deliver a Stanley Cup to Toronto. Another year without tangible progress on that goal won’t show Can he really soak up 20-22 starts with reasonable success? Can well on him regardless of circumstance — even the current divisional Neuvirth? And if not, can Dubas find a modest upgrade at a reasonable playoff format which probably means another tough first-round matchup cost? (The list of potentially available goalies on expiring deals includes next spring. Craig Anderson, Jimmy Howard, Jaroslav Halak, Thomas Greiss, Cam Talbot and Brian Elliott so there are options out there in case neither He needs a win plain and simple, even just one round. Hutchinson nor Neuvirth works out.) “We didn’t reach our expectation this year,” Dubas said in his season- 3. Problem contracts ending press conference in April. “We had a hundred points, and we went to Game 7 against the Bruins in the first round — so it’s tough to Getting out from under the Nikita Zaitsev (five more years, $4.5 million say that it was tangible progress. I think anyone watching the series cap hit), and Patrick Marleau (one more year, $6.25 million) contracts would say we played a lot better in this series than the team did the year was arguably the front office’s finest work of the offseason. before. But we have to continue to improve everything we do.” The first-round pick, sacrificed in the Marleau-to-Carolina deal, isn’t Dubas said the Leafs needed to “adapt and evolve” and it will be largely nothing obviously, particularly since the Leafs moved their 2019 first- up to Babcock to spur that change with greater flexibility and creativity in rounder to acquire Jake Muzzin. But for a Cup-calibre team in a cap day-to-day decision-making. straitjacket, it’s a price worth paying, especially since no current assets were relinquished nor was any salary retained. Two fresh voices on his bench should help. Jim Hiller had been a Babcock assistant since the 2014-15 season, when the two were still in “For us, we couldn’t take anything back, in terms of a salary back, Detroit; D.J. Smith joined them a year later in Toronto. because of our (cap) situation and wanting to protect ourselves,” Dubas explained of the price to trade Marleau, who remains unsigned. “And we That’s four straight seasons of the same ideas and opinions whipping didn’t want to give up any other younger players. In fact, we were trying around. to get them all signed. So, that’s how it all came together. Paul McFarland, the innovative 33-year-old who spent the last two “It’s not perfect. There’s no science that tells you how much (the pick is) seasons on Bob Boughner’s staff in Florida, and Dave Hakstol, head worth like in baseball, which would be great.” coach of the Flyers for three and a half seasons, will, at the very least, bring along a different line of thinking. Maybe Brown sweetened the Zaitsev deal for the Senators, giving them a controllable NHL winger alongside a minute-muncher on defence. But the Will that result in a more dynamic power play? For instance, making the Leafs were going to have to part with his $2.1 million cap hit anyway in all most of Matthews’ shot? Can the penalty kill, which hurt the Leafs again likelihood. They also got back a Zaitsev replacement in Cody Ceci, and in the playoffs, tighten up with new personnel? then signed him for one year at the same (pricey) $4.5 million cap hit. Questions abound for Babcock and his staff. Five years of Zaitsev were essentially swapped for one year of Ceci, who also happens to be two years younger with — potentially — more upside. Imagine if no team was willing to swallow Marleau’s cap hit and way as well, and kind of set our defensive line way up the ice. That’s remaining salary, or the term that remained on Zaitsev’s deal and the really what we want to do.” Leafs were trapped with both anchors. Viewed through the lens of increased mobility and puck distribution, the What does the roster look like now? How about the short- and long-term swap of Hainsey, Gardiner and Zaitsev for Muzzin, Barrie and Ceci looks financial picture, with Mitch Marner still without a contract? Would Dubas like an upgrade. have been free to go longer on deals for Andreas Johnsson and Kasperi Kapanen? Could the Leafs squeeze in Tyson Barrie at half-price, along Muzzin is a modern-day version of Hainsey, a better skater and puck with Alexander Kerfoot, and then sign the latter to a four-year contract? mover and still stout defensively. Barrie is a potentially more explosive version of Gardiner. Ceci, the biggest question mark, is about Zaitsev’s This was a big, important score for the Leafs. equal with room for growth.

4. New deals for Johnsson and Kapanen There’s also Dermott, who won’t turn 23 until December. He’ll need time getting back to normal after offseason shoulder surgery, but there’s Does a world exist where one, or both, of the new deals for Johnsson reason to think, with his zest, size and skills, that he can grab a bigger and Kapanen end up as misfires? Maybe, though it’s unlikely given the slice of the minutes pie in his second full NHL season. age and upside of the two wingers. More in question is whether the Leafs can unlock greater value from Johnsson is exactly 82 regular season games into his NHL career and Ceci, a first-round pick who stumbled through six bumpy seasons in signed for the next four seasons. It’s entirely possible he can’t meet his Ottawa. To what degree will a superior partner (either Rielly or Muzzin) post-Nov. 24 pace of 60 points. Even 40-odd points for four percent of help? Will Babcock ease the difficult assignments he often drew as a the cap wouldn’t amount to an overpay, though. Senator and hand them over to the one-time Team Canada combo of Check out the closest contract comparables, per CapFriendly: Muzzin and Barrie?

The Leafs are getting a bargain if Johnsson breaks out. His $3.4 million Finally, who grabs third pair duties initially with Dermott sidelined and a cap hit is tied, for the moment, with Paul Byron (0.42 career points per spot open on the right side? Dubas has suggested Sandin and Liljegren game) for 174th among NHL forwards next season. He’ll be 28 when the won’t need to be rushed with all the additions, but maybe an impressive deal ends. camp from one or both changes that conversation, especially if no one else really shines. Kapanen’s per-game production isn’t as strong as Johnsson’s to this point (0.41), but he’s two years younger and has 51 more games of Barrie isn’t quite the big, strong, right-shooting defensive presence experience and thus his price comes in maybe a little higher than imagined for front-line duty with Rielly. But he also didn’t cost the Leafs expected at $3.2 million, but for three years. William Nylander, Johnsson or Kapanen; he was pried away at half-price (the Avalanche retained $2.75 million), and came with a potential Nazem He’ll remain under team control (RFA) when the deal expires. Kadri replacement in Kerfoot who’s four years younger and now signed for four years (one more than Kadri) for $3.5 million ($1 million less than The Leafs will be happy if they consistently get the 20 goals and 44 Kadri). points Kapanen produced last season. Anything more than that is bonus, and there’s reason to think, with his size, speed, skill and pedigree, that The Leafs can see what sticks on defence, with everyone but Rielly the 23-year-old develops into more of an all-around threat. unsigned after this season:

Both players could be underpaid in the very near future. Either contract Barrie: UFA could be moved with ease tomorrow. Muzzin: UFA Most important was the timing of the deals — less than a week after the Leafs unbuckled themselves from Marleau (again, important!) and days Ceci: UFA before July 1, when Kapanen and Johnsson could have drawn offer Martin Marincin: UFA sheets. Push the cap hit of either deal up to $4.23 million and the cost for a poacher would have only been a second-round pick. Holl: UFA

The Leafs also avoided arbitration with Johnsson. Harpur: RFA

Solid work. Dermott: RFA

5. The captaincy Schmaltz: RFA

No change here yet, but worth doing at some point before the regular 7. Get deeper season begins. The Leafs got deeper in two key areas this summer: centre and right 6. Upgrade the defence defence.

Of the six defenders to play for the Leafs on opening night last October, Babcock had good reason to gripe about the lack of the former, but not four are now gone, including three top-four staples: Hainsey, Zaitsev, anymore. Kerfoot seems likely to slide into Kadri’s old spot, but he can Jake Gardiner and Igor Ozhiganov. also play the wing. Jason Spezza, doing the whole twilight of his career thing at home in Toronto, can do both as well. So can Petan. Frederik No part of the roster has been remade more in Dubas’ image over the Gauthier is still around in case of emergency (though the Leafs may lose last year, with Muzzin, Barrie, Ceci, Jordan Schmaltz, Ben Harpur, and him to waivers if he doesn’t crack the team out of camp), and Nick Shore perhaps a dark horse like Teemu Kivihalme or hotshot prospect Rasmus (236 career NHL games) could emerge as a depth option at either Sandin, joining Morgan Rielly and Travis Dermott (when he’s recovered forward spot. from injury) on the Toronto blueline this season. This roster is better equipped to handle an injury at centre or elsewhere Maybe gets a real shot too, or Timothy Liljegren breaks up front with a troupe of options that includes a number of Tyler Ennis through. Award candidates like Kenny Agostino, Pontus Aberg and Russian That’s a lot of turnover, particularly at the top. unknown Ilya Mikheyev.

When dealing for Barrie five months after landing Muzzin, Dubas (We’ll see if this is true right off the hop, with Zach Hyman sidelined to explained his desire for defenders who could “move the puck effectively start the year.) and efficiently to our forward group.” “What I’ve really tried to do is just find players as versatile as possible, “I think we have a certain way that we want to play as a group,” Dubas and then we’ll see through training camp and exhibition where the guys said following the trade featuring Barrie, who had a career-high 59 points all fill out,” Dubas explained. last season with Colorado. “We want to be very competitive, but we want One important question: To what degree can Kerfoot replace Kadri’s to be able to really get mobile, and really move the puck effectively — production? The two almost mirrored one another last year: really, just get the puck, pass the puck to our forwards. And if we have defencemen that get up in the play and support it and push the play that Kadri: 73 GP, 16 goals, 44 points (13 PP points/31 ES points), 55% faceoff

Kerfoot: 78 GP, 15 goals, 42 points (16 PP points/26 ES points) 56% faceoff

On the back end, Babcock will finally have the left-right mix he’s long desired after dressing five lefties in Game 7 last spring. The Leafs still feel thin in goal, but that can change if Neuvirth hits in his return from injury, Hutchinson settles in as Andersen’s backup or Dubas finds someone else via trade or perhaps, waivers.

8. Draft

We won’t know whether Dubas’ first real draft in charge (he was weeks into the job in 2018) was a success or not, for some time. What we do know is that eventually those efforts will need to pay off if the Leafs want to contend for a while.

Consider Toronto’s draft record (under previous regimes) — and lack of related success — from 2009 until 2015:

That’s just five NHLers outside the first round.

Two are fringy forwards playing elsewhere (Josh Leivo and Greg McKegg). Another, Brown, should play a long time somewhere, and two more, Dermott and Johnsson, look like real promising long-term pieces for the organization.

A seventh-rounder in 2011, Sparks may get to 50 games for someone (he’s played 37), and Jeremy Bracco and Pierre Engvall both have varying degrees of NHL potential. But regardless, the Leafs need to do a whole lot better in June.

Their hit rate of 20 percent over that seven-year period (10/49) needs to go up. Anaheim, a drafting juggernaut during that stretch, landed NHLers with almost half their picks (21/47).

Because the Leafs are well-stocked now — and for the foreseeable future — the draft feels less essential. That will change once secondary players surrounding the core, like Hyman perhaps in 2021, have to be replaced.

9. The Marner contract

Updating the state of the Marner standoff earlier this month, head honcho James Mirtle outlined three-, six- and seven-year deals as the three likeliest outcomes.

We can probably scratch off the longest of those options. The Marner camp has been reluctant to go the eight-year route, as it would make Marner a first-time UFA at 30 when the value of his next contract would presumably take a hit. Why sign for seven years then to become a UFA at 29?

Six years makes more sense if the deal is stretched out: Marner gets security and a big ticket and the Leafs get him under contract long term — one year longer than Matthews and Nylander, but with the same UFA date (2025) as Tavares.

But what number gets a six-year deal done if Marner is seeking similar coin to Matthews, who signed a five-year deal with an $11.634 million cap hit?

If the Leafs aren’t comfortable with the price tag, maybe three years is the right compromise. But what’s that number look like? Around $9 million in what would be a precedent-setting bridge deal? Would Marner go for that, knowing a bigger payday was in store in 2022? Does it even make sense for the Leafs to pay less now, and much more a short time later?

And if the two sides are sparring now what happens if (when?) Marner has piled up stats, and potentially, awards for three seasons?

Marner was always the biggest and thorniest offseason priority so perhaps it’s fitting that he’s last (save for the captaincy) to be completed. Maybe it takes the pressure point of camp, or the start of the regular season, to bring the two sides together.

The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151483 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights Hire TV Studio, Rinkside Broadcasters To Replace Gismondi, May, Lazoff (Who Now Works For Anaheim Ducks)

By Alan Snel

Vegas Golden Knights fans not only were pained to say goodbye to player favorites like Erik Haula, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Colin Miller but they also had to bid farewell to AT&T SportsNet broadcaster studio host Nick Gismondi, studio analyst Brad May and rinkside reporter Alyson Lozoff.

The Knights Thursday named replacements for Gismondi, May and Lozoff by naming Daren Millard as lead pregame, intermission and postgame host; former NHL goaltender and ex-Las Vegas Wranglers player Mike McKenna as the lead studio analyst on the pregame, intermission and postgame panel; and Las Vegas hometowner Stormy Buonantony as rinkside reporter.

From Golden Knights

Here’s Buonantony on Twitter:

Millard on Twitter:

Meanwhile, Darren Eliot, currently VP for hockey programming and facility operations, will now be featured as an analyst in select games throughout the 2019-20 season.

From the Golden Knights announcement:

“We are very excited for Daren Millard, Mike McKenna and Stormy Buonantony to join our broadcast team and to have Darren Eliot take on an increased role,” Vegas Golden Knights President Kerry Bubolz said. “The group will deliver unique insights and engaging commentary to our audiences each and every telecast and be prominent fixtures in the Las Vegas community. Daren and Mike will be an outstanding top pair on the desk and we are proud to welcome Stormy back home as our first ever ‘Vegas Born’ broadcaster.”

The group will join the Golden Knights current lineup of broadcast personalities including TV play-by-play announcer Dave Goucher, TV color commentator , VGK Insider Gary Lawless, radio play- by-play announcer Dan D’Uva, Deportes Vegas radio play-by-play announcer Jesus Lopez, and Deportes Vegas radio analyst Herbert Castro.

Lozoff has already accepted a new job as the rinkside reporter for the Anaheim Ducks.

VGK fans went to Twitter to say goodbye to the former Knights TV hosts.

Gismondi went to Twitter to say his goodbye.

Gismondi also posted this photo on Instagram of Lozoff, May and himself.

AT&T SportsNet, the official TV home of the Vegas Golden Knights, will produce and televise 76 games during the 2019-20 regular season.

The first regular season game to air on AT&T SportsNet will be Oct. 4 against the San Jose Sharks, a rematch of the first round of the 2019 . The network broadcasts will include both pre-game and post-game shows.

Vegas Golden Knights: Knight Life is the weekly show that will air on Fridays before the pre-game show or at 7pm on Friday nights when there is no game.

LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151484 Washington Capitals It’s being played at noon in a half empty arena. Someone has to move on. It’s Dowd.

mvioli: Yeahhhhh I’m okay with advancing Dowd because Stephenson Caps Goal of Year Bracket: Burakovsky Splits the D vs Dowd-to- was actually able to finish for once. Stephenson Alley-Oop jmurph: what if we just blow up the bracket and put our favorite Vrana goal in its place?

By NBC Sports Washington August 29, 2019 4:52 PM JJ Regan: Ouch. Mere from the top rope

What's the point of a bracket then?

With less than a month before training camp opens in mid-September, bmcnally: I think we'd be heroes we are taking one last look back at the 2018-19 season as we dive into the best goals of last year. We compiled our bracket based on the mvioli: I would love to substitute a Vrana goal here cumulative rankings of our Capitals team, from reporters to producers and everyone in between, and now is your turn to help us determine the bmcnally: Everything is pointless JJ. Nothing matters. Let's advance the best Capitals goal of 2018-19. Below is a Slack conversation between best goals the members of our Capitals content team. jmurph: it doesn't much matter because whatever advances is going to jmurph: Last matchup of the first round today, as Andre Burakovsky get smoked by the Ovi okie-doke in Round 2 makes his way into the bracket by splitting the Devils defense facing off JJ Regan: Never took you for a nihilist against another Dowd alley-oop, this time finished by Chandler Stephenson against the Sabres. Can we possibly advance two Dowd jmurph: this conversation took a dark turn... alley-oops in the same bracket? JJ Regan: We believe in nothing Lebowski! Rob Carlin: If we could have nothing but Dowd alley oops in round 2, I’d jmurph: before marmots start running amok, let's end this thing here, be fine with it. This is a total blowout. DOOWWWWDDDD Dowd to Stephenson is moving on but not for long. mvioli: This alley-oop wasn’t nearly as impressive as the one to Hags. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.30.2019 JJ Regan: I'm going to be honest, I watched the Burakovsky goal several times just to make sure I was watching the right one.

It was a good goal, a really nice play...but what the heck is it doing in this bracket let alone No. 8?

I feel like that is probably TMac's fault again.

Dowd wins this easily. timmcdonough: *whispers* it was against the Sabres jmurph: the pass from Kempny is inch perfect and Burky still has a lot of work left to do to get past both Devils defensemen, recollect the puck and score

JJ Regan: Good goal

I think all the Vrana goals that have already lost would beat that Burakovsky goal. bmcnally: The idea that neither Vrana goal made it and one of these will advance is hard to take. Dowd's first alley oop was top notch. This is very good, but it's really just a pass into space. That Burakovsky goal was...a goal? Can we eliminate both of these? jmurph: very possible, unfortunately for V, that's not how brackets work

Rob Carlin: Dowd looks up, sees Stephenson, weights it perfectly to let him skate on it, then Stephenson actually finishes. This is the winner. Let’s be done with this timmcdonough: classic 8-9 matchup - no one has a good feeling about either one, we're all forced to choose because someone has to move on to get destroyed.

JJ Regan: Yeah, I do not have high hopes for the winner. bmcnally: The Burakovsky goal looks like it came during a preseason game. The Devils aren't even trying on any level. It was a nice finish I guess. Dowd would lose to his own earlier alley-ooo, but we have to have a winner so I'm advancing this one. Was nice vision and Stephenson finished well. mvioli: Idk I kind of like that Bura was able to score with ‘pressure’ on both sides. And that Kempny pass was great. But that Devils defense was mediocre at best.

This is a terrible matchup.

JJ Regan: The winner is Dowd. the loser is Vrana for not coming up against either of these goals.

Rob Carlin: Good point TMac. This is an NC State vs Stanford 8-9 game. Couple of power conference teams that no one cares about nationally. 1151485 Washington Capitals

Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky comes to Evgeny Kuznetsov’s defense

By Raichele Privette August 29, 2019 3:16 PM

Following his recent suspension announced on Friday, Evgeny Kuznetsov has had the support of many players in the league including his former teammate on the Russian national team, Sergei Bobrovsky.

On Tuesday, goaltender Bobrovsky took to Instagram to vocalize his support for the Capitals forward.

View this post on Instagram

Хочу поддержать @kuzy092. Тяжелая ситуация для него и для его семьи. Согласен, история получилась некрасивой, но не стоит теперь закапывать парня. Не стоит забывать, что все мы люди и спортсменам также как и всем людям свойственно ошибаться. Давайте лучше поддержим человека. Сколько хороших дел он уже сделал для своего родного Челябинска, для российского хоккея в целом. И сколько ещё хороших дел и красивых голов впереди. Держись, старина, сделай правильные выводы и двигайся дальше/ I want to support @kuzy092. It’s tough situation for him and his family. I agree, that history doesn’t look good at all but it doesn’t means that we have to put him down. People often forget that sportsman also humans and they also could make a mistakes. Let’s better give him some support. He made so many good things for his hometown Chelyabinsk and so many good things for hockey and he will make even more good things in the future. Stay strong, man, make right decisions and keep moving forward 

A post shared by Sergei Bobrovsky (@sergeibobrovsky) on Aug 28, 2019 at 12:20pm PDT

Kuznetsov was suspended from international play for four years by the International Federation after testing positive for cocaine use and will not be eligible to return until 2023.

Capitals’ forward Tom Wilson also stood behind his teammate, “We’re going to have his back,” Wilson told Sportsnet at BioSteel Camp in Toronto on Tuesday.

“He’s a great teammate and it’s unfortunate. I know he takes a lot of pride in playing for his country, so wishing him the best with resolving the situation. And obviously, we’re just focused on the Capitals and whatever happens there. We’ll have his back.”

Kuznetsov is expected to meet with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman before the Capitals open training camp on Thursday, September 12.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151486 Washington Capitals

'Something an artist truly dreams about': Taylor Kampa Olson on painting Nicklas Backstrom and his family

By Caroline Brandt August 29, 2019 11:48 AM

The well-known artist made famous for her stunning paintings of some Washington Capitals including Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson had the pleasure of painting Nicklas Backstrom's favorite photo of him and his family with the Stanley Cup after the Caps won it for the first time in 2018.

Taylor Kampa Olson, who goes by the handle "TKO Paintings" on Instagram, was asked by Backstrom to re-create the photo as a surprise for his family for Christmas.

"I saw her on Instagram and I was a big fan of it," Backstrom said about Olson's work.

However, his fiancée Liza had the same idea and reached out to Olson on Instagram, asking her to paint the same photo Backstrom had asked her to.

"I was gonna surprise my family for Christmas," Backstrom said. "But I guess I got surprised."

Painting Backstrom and his family was "something an artist truly dreams about," Olson said, as Backstrom is her husband's favorite player, the reason she became a Capitals fan.

Olson said the painting took around 30 hours to create.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151487 Washington Capitals To that end, Holtby believes Kaye is set to meet with MacLellan soon about a possible extension. How realistic a return ultimately ends up being remains to be seen. But even if Holtby realizes that and has started As Braden Holtby enters a contract year, he is determined not to be a internally moving on from Washington, he shows no sign of it. He has distraction one focus right now and that is enjoying another season with the Caps and trying to win a second Cup.

“It's just one of those things, you let the business side of it take care of it By J.J. Regan August 29, 2019 6:00 AM and you focus on your job,” Holtby said. “I'm lucky enough to be under contract for another year to play hockey here so it's pretty fortunate and

I'm really looking forward to the opportunity with a great team coming ARLINGTON, Va. -- An early playoff exit gave way to a long offseason back.” for the Capitals. Though certainly a disappointing end to the team’s quest Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.30.2019 to defend its Stanley Cup title, goalie Braden Holtby was able to take advantage of the extra rest it offered.

Speaking after an informal skate on Wednesday, Holtby said he feels like he has a little more jump in his step after getting more time to heal and rest.

“There’s an opportunity in everything,” he said.

The extra time off was good to have as Holtby prepares to jump from a long offseason into what will likely be a very long season both physically and mentally.

In addition to returning as the No. 1 goalie for a team hoping to win it’s second Stanley Cup in three years, Holtby is in the final year of his contract. As arguably the best goalie in franchise history and still in his prime, it would seem on the surface that bringing Holtby back would be a no-brainer for general manager Brian MacLellan. Holtby’s situation, however, is made far more complicated by a tight salary cap, the Seattle expansion draft and prospect Ilya Samsonov who is widely regarded as the team’s future starter.

Holtby, however, does not want to think about any of those things.

“Obviously, my goal is to win a Stanley Cup here and everything else, I'm not an agent for a reason,” Holtby said. “I'm a hockey player.”

Hotlby’s future with the Caps became more cloudy when goalie Sergey Bobrovsky signed a massive 10-year, $70 million deal with the Florida Panthers in the offseason. Holtby will be the same age next year as Bobrovsky was this year when he became a free agent. With similar stats, Bobrovsky’s contract is an obvious comparable, but that money will be hard for Washington to fit under the cap.

LIke many, Holtby followed Bobrovsky’s free agency, but his main takeaway was not the term or the money the Russian netminder received, it was how it affected his team.

“We try and keep tabs with what's going on around the league,” Holtby said of Bobrovsky. “I'd like to handle it a little different throughout the year to try and just focus on our team and not let it be a media thing.”

Bobrovsky’s free agency hung over the Columbus Blue Jackets all season creating obvious tension within the team. That tension boiled over in January when Bobrovsky left the bench after getting pulled in a game. He was confronted by teammates and benched by the team for a game as a result.

Columbus rebounded to just barely squeeze into the playoffs and upset the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round, but fell short again of their ultimate goal with a second-round loss to the Boston Bruins.

Holtby does not want to see that happen in Washington.

Even entering a contract year, Holtby stressed that his focus is not on himself or his future, but rather the team and winning a Cup. That is a sentiment he has stressed to both his agent, David Kaye, and MacLellan.

“I think that's pretty universal between myself, Dave and Mac,” Holtby said. “These things are a part of every year, different player or whatever, but the number one thing is to not let it be a distraction and go out and win games.”

For a starting goalie, however, keeping this from becoming a distraction is easier said than done. But while Bobrovsky had already determined the prior year that he would be moving on, Holtby made clear he wants to remain with the Capitals.

“This is all I know here,” Holtby said of Washington. “I’d love [to re-sign]. I think that’s pretty clear. But you don’t worry about that stuff. I’m lucky enough to be here for at least right now so happy for that.” 1151488 Washington Capitals Holtby said he’s excited about the Caps’ potential this season and is a big fan of this offseason’s additions, which include rugged blue liner Radko Gudas as well as defensively responsible forwards Richard Panik, Braden Holtby’s long-term future is uncertain, but he’d ‘love’ to remain in Garnet Hathaway and Brendan Leipsic. D.C. Last season, the Caps didn’t do much to help Holtby’s stats as they routinely surrendered too many Grade-A scoring chances. The newcomers should help in that area and, ideally, give the sagging penalty By Tarik El-Bashir Aug 29, 2019 kill a boost, too.

“Every year, Mac and the staff has done a great of addressing needs,” Holtby said. “They have a lot of people working behind the scenes who ARLINGTON, Va. — Braden Holtby isn’t sure how things are going to do a really good job of that, and I think they did a great job this summer. play out with the Capitals. It’s going to be great to have those few new faces that bring a different He’s entering the final season of a five-year, $30.5 million contract. The element. only NHL team he’s known is facing a salary-cap crunch. And there’s a “But at the same time, us veteran guys need to step up in different areas, first-round prospect, Ilya Samsonov, eyeing the backup job. too. Obviously, one area is the penalty kill, which (starts) from me on out. Holtby is, however, sure of this much as training camp nears: He doesn’t And that’s one of the things we really want to focus on at the start, to want his uncertain future to be a distraction for himself or his teammates. make that a strength of ours. That can change things a lot.”

“The main thing,” Holtby said in his first comments to local media about Asked if the Caps’ aging core is feeling any additional urgency after last his impending contract year, “is we don’t want it to affect the team at all. I year’s first-round playoff exit, Holtby said the group doesn’t feel more think that’s pretty universal between myself, (agent) Dave (Kaye) and pressure, but it does sense the need to maximize its opportunity. Mac (general manager Brian MacLellan). These things are a part of “Anytime you’re in the second half of your career, you start realizing …” every year with different players. But the No. 1 thing is to not let it be a Holtby began before pausing. “You take things for granted when you’re distraction, and to go out and win games.” young, so you try and seize that moment a little bit more as you get older. Holtby said Kaye and MacLellan are expected to hold preliminary But urgency is only useful if used in the right way. I don’t think any added contract talks in the coming weeks. pressure’s on us, I think we just have a taste of winning and how exciting and fun that is and we believe we can do it again.” “What we want to do is, we want to get on the same page before the season starts and go from there,” Holtby said. “Obviously, we’ve met, Whether Holtby gets the clarity he seeks regarding his future in Dave and I, throughout the summer to go over our thoughts. Mac and Washington before the start of the season is unclear. From the sound of everyone has always been extremely great to us in terms of it, though, he’s approaching the situation with a positive attitude. communication. (Kaye) has a job to do. I have a job to do. Those two “I’m lucky enough to be under contract for another year to play hockey aren’t going to influence each other. We’ll just work together and try and here,” he said. “So I’m pretty fortunate and I’m looking forward to the come up with what’s best for our team.” opportunity with another great team coming back.” Holtby said he’d “love” to spend his entire career in Washington, while The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2019 also acknowledging that he doesn’t intend to dwell on it as the process unfolds.

“This is all I know,” he said of playing for the Caps, the team that drafted him in the fourth round (93rd overall) in 2008. “I would love to (re-sign), I think that’s pretty clear. But you don’t worry about that stuff. I’m lucky enough to be here for at least right now, so I’m happy for that.”

Given what Holtby has meant to the team, the decision to keep him would seem to be a no-brainer. He’s a former Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL’s best goalie. He’s made four consecutive All-Star game appearances. He authored one of the greatest moments in franchise history: a sprawling stick save now known simply as ‘The Save’ in Game 2 of the 2018 Final en route to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup. He’s 45 wins from passing Olie Kolzig on the franchise’s all-time list in that category.

But it’s not that simple, at all.

Holtby had save percentages of .907 and .911 the past two seasons, respectively, significantly lower than .925 and .922 he posted the two years before. He turns 30 on Sept. 16 and there’s an intriguing 22-year- old prospect in Samsonov waiting in the wings. Then there’s the Caps’ proximity to the salary cap. He could command a contract comparable to the seven-year, $70 million deal Sergei Bobrovsky inked with Florida in July and, right now, Washington is $1.4 million over the cap, according to CapFriendly.com, with star center Nicklas Backstrom due for a raise next offseason, as well. As things stand, it’s tough to envision a scenario in which both Holtby and Backstrom are brought back in 2020-21.

“Obviously it’s different,” Holtby said of entering a contract year for the first time a while. “Everyone goes through it. It’s just one of those things (where) you let the business side of things take care of it and you focus on your job.”

With about two weeks remaining before camp opens, Holtby is already dialed in on the job at hand. He returned to town last week and has been on the ice each weekday morning since, working with goaltending coach Scott Murray and fellow netminders Pheonix Copley and Samsonov for 45 minutes before taking part in an informal practice with several other team members. 1151490 Winnipeg Jets offensively-middling Mathieu Perreault. Still, a reorganization of Winnipeg’s lines or simply more responsibility given to Adam Lowry and Andrew Copp appears necessary to get the most of out the Jets State of the Franchise: Winnipeg isn’t exactly rebuilding but growing forwards. pains are on the way But who are we kidding? Any discussion about Winnipeg’s forwards is about fine-tuning something that is already very good. It is the Jets defence where the questions are real, tangible concerns. By Murat Ates Aug 29, 2019 After Morrissey and Byfuglien, who plays in Winnipeg’s top four? Can Beaulieu and Pionk beat or at least neutralize top opposition? Imagine the Jets earning a playoff rematch with Vegas — can Winnipeg survive The Jacob Trouba trade, an exodus of unrestricted free agents and an running Morrissey/Pionk and Beaulieu/Byfuglien against inexperienced blueline bring the Jets to an organizational crossroads. In Pacioretty/Stastny/Stone and Marchessault/Karlsson/Smith? 2019-20, Winnipeg will attempt to win and rebuild at the same time. Heaven forbid, what happens if Byfuglien or Morrissey are hurt? It’s an awkward balance, one made more challenging by the extent of Winnipeg’s late-season struggles a year ago. There were mitigating Those are the kinds of problems the Jets will have to deal with all factors — injuries, a compressed schedule and youth were often cited by season. the team — but a fourth-ranked power play and eighth-best save percentage largely obscured substantial even-strength struggles. While Beaulieu acquitted himself well alongside Trouba on Winnipeg’s makeshift top pair to close out the 2018-19 regular season, he’s played Despite leading the Western Conference on New Year’s Day, Winnipeg third pairing minutes for the bulk of his NHL career. Similarly, while collapsed down the stretch — they had the NHL’s seventh-worst shot Pionk’s big minutes alongside Marc Staal in New York give the attempts percentage and second-worst expected goals percentage after organization confidence — they believe he’s a top-four defenceman — Jan. 1. It was jarring that a team as well built as Winnipeg played that Pionk played those minutes to a big loss (outscored 57-38 on 44.2 poorly, even with injuries to Dustin Byfuglien, Nik Ehlers and Josh percent of shot attempts.) Winnipeg will hope its pro scouts have plucked Morrissey. A team that had dominated possession the season before a diamond from what was an otherwise rough Rangers year. started to chip and chase after long stretches of own zone play. Closed- door meetings led to media speculation about issues in the dressing If Beaulieu and/or Pionk can’t take a big enough step forward, then room. Paul Maurice acknowledged “ruffled feathers” at the end-of-season Winnipeg will depend on Kulikov, Niku or Poolman to succeed in a top- press availability while Mark Scheifele sat silently and Blake Wheeler four role. calmly acknowledged that, even when Winnipeg was winning, the Jets Kulikov’s 5-on-5 numbers were last excellent playing third pairing never quite met their own expectations. minutes with Tyler Myers in 2017-18; since then, Winnipeg has been well We explored some less incendiary reasons for Winnipeg’s even-strength below 50 percent in shots, shot attempts, goals and expected goals with issues here and concluded the truth was multifaceted, as it so often is. him on the ice. Poolman was last excellent in the AHL and also while Now, whatever the root cause, the Jets are pressed with finding their way playing extremely sheltered minutes with Ben Chiarot for a brief spell in back to playoff contention with a team that is worse — on paper — than it December 2017; since then he’s mostly been injured. Niku has yet to was last year. achieve excellent result in the NHL; however his AHL track record implies a player who will be able to play top-four NHL minutes eventually — for That’s the challenge. now, he’s moved the puck well but has been outmatched on the defensive side of the ice. The goal is to make the playoffs on Wheeler’s still capable back, Scheifele’s peak and the superlative offence available through Ehlers, Winnipeg’s defence is its biggest on-ice question. Prospects like Dylan Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor — while overcoming team-wide Samberg and Ville Heinola may be highly touted but they’re not short shortcomings in the defensive zone. term solutions. This is a critical season for Winnipeg to find out which of Beaulieu, Pionk, Niku, Poolman or Kulikov can succeed in its top four. Kevin Cheveldayoff and his management team showed situational awareness to go all-in during Winnipeg’s cap-efficient 2017-18 and 2018- And if Byfuglien misses another quarter- or half-season, all bets are off. 19 seasons and then avoided big money or term in free agency. To me, this suggests an organizational strength. At the same time, Winnipeg is in Biggest off-ice question a difficult position on defence and its dependence on Neal Pionk to excel Let me state this clearly: I’ve been asked about “the room” all summer in a top-four role is part of that position. It’s not all roses. and my position is the same that it’s always been; if I ever learn anything Winnipeg’s success depends on a healthy season from Byfuglien and that I can fairly and accurately attribute, I’ll write that. Until then, not only then a step forward from at least one of Pionk, Nathan Beaulieu, Sami do I allow for discord as a healthy component of a team’s dynamics, I Niku, Dmitry Kulikov and Tucker Poolman. That’s a risk and it brings expect it — Winnipeg was a bottom-third NHL team in the second half of uncertainty. Discovering the truth of that uncertainty will be one of the 2018-19. That should piss people off. most interesting storylines of the year. The biggest question, then, becomes about the team’s ability to park the Still, Winnipeg is strong enough in other areas to make a third previous season’s difficulties and move forward with a fresh set of goals. consecutive playoff spot entirely within reach. One underachieving I’m sure every winger wants to play with Scheifele. Guess what? Only season (with asterisks, if you choose to believe in them) does not slam two of those jobs exist and, by my count, Winnipeg has at least six guys shut a contending window, nor does it erode the Jets’ real organizational capable of succeeding in them. Someone’s going to get left out. I’m sure strengths. every player wants to play big minutes on the power play. With top-five results earned largely by Scheifele, Wheeler, Laine, Connor and It’s time to dig into those strengths, and Winnipeg’s weaknesses, too — Byfuglien in back-to-back seasons, I don’t suspect those minutes are this is our Jets State of the Franchise. available.

Biggest on-ice question When training camp began last season, much of the discourse and most of the questioning framed the Jets against their Western Conference final Up front, there’s some room to nitpick. appearance the year before. Given the results, this was to be expected. Wheeler and Scheifele outscored and outchanced their opposition with In the exact same vein, I expect much of the discourse this September to Ehlers at left wing last season but not with Connor. Whatever the context revolve around the team smoothing out its “ruffled feathers” and moving for this divide, the thought of Winnipeg’s top forwards not outscoring their on. competition in any combination is a concern. Can Winnipeg’s leadership group, coaching included, communicate its There will be questions about Laine’s and Connor’s contentedness — way through a season which promises to include its fair share of on-ice Laine’s in particular — until the day each is signed. Meanwhile, Bryan growing pains? I expect that it can and that it will also be aggravated by Little’s inability to control the flow of play while paired with Laine and the storylines. Ehlers was the impetus for two expensive deadline day deals. Little has seen recent excellence with Ehlers and the possession-driving but Still, with Winnipeg’s cap outlook more clear this summer than last, off- Patrik Laine is as divisive of a player in Winnipeg as his first-half/second- ice questions begin with the Jets’ ability to park last season’s issues and half scoring rates from last season — the opinions I catch online are move on. varied. For his part, Laine added to that divisiveness when he told Finnish newspaper Iltalehti that he was unhappy with his deployment. His Depth chart analysis actual words weren’t incendiary at all but the fact that he said them Centre: Mark Scheifele is Winnipeg’s undisputed No. 1 centre. He plays appears to convey more discomfort with his situation than that of big minutes in all three game states, produces points on the power play Winnipeg’s other unsigned RFA, Kyle Connor. and at even strength and is signed through 2023-24 at a team-friendly Laine’s agent, Mike Liut, declined to comment but my opinion is that it’s $6.125 million per season. totally normal for Laine and so many other RFAs to be unsigned right Over the past three seasons, Scheifele has scored 226 points in 221 now. It’s also totally normal for there not to have been very much regular season games and 25 more points in 23 playoff games. His 2.25 dialogue and, as such, I take Laine’s words as honest complaints more in points per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 has been 29th-best among forwards who the vein of posturing than something approaching emergency. We’re have played at least 600 5-on-5 minutes in that time. headed for a short-term deal, but we probably always were.

Also, there’s this: On the ice? I still see a 40-plus goal scorer and, in my opinion, a little more speed and a little more strength are going to help Laine find new After Scheifele, things get cloudy. Bryan Little has been the de facto No. ways to score goals. For the moment, he’s still one dimensional but he’s 2 centre for years but fell to half a point per game last year, his lowest also an enormous luxury for Winnipeg to have at just 21. He’s going to scoring rate since 2008-09. He’s quite clearly a middle-six NHL player get better — the mind marvels at what that might look like. but has been unable to cobble together a possession driving scoring line between Nik Ehlers and Patrik Laine over the past two seasons. Elsewhere on right wing, Jack Roslovic could see his minutes go up on Winnipeg’s third line. I’m also expecting Mason Appleton to earn a full- This may be the year that Little is passed by Adam Lowry in terms of time NHL job out of training camp. even strength minutes. For Lowry’s part, he’s mostly been tasked with providing a shutdown capable third line over the past two seasons with a Finally, Kristian Vesalainen is a possibility on left wing while Andrei group of wingers including Andrew Copp, Brandon Tanev, Joel Armia Chibisov, Mark Letestu, Logan Shaw and Joona Luoto will duke it out for and Mathieu Perreault. Lowry’s line has proven capable of the matchup press box duty. in every iteration and now, at 26, he may be ready to win difficult Given Vesalainen’s high offensive ceiling and his youth — he just turned matchups alongside some of Winnipeg’s better scorers, too. If he 20 in June — Winnipeg may be better off giving him key minutes with the succeeds, Winnipeg’s second line centre issue may be solved — and Moose until he forces his way into the NHL. Playing time is key to sustainably, at that. development and given that Chibisov and Letestu are 26 and Letestu is Winnipeg’s fourth centre will be Andrew Copp at times and Jack Roslovic 34 it may be best to let them take press box duty while the Finns play in at others. Copp, for his part, showed an ability to generate offence in a the AHL. similar role after his injury last season — although rode some friendly Left defence: Winnipeg’s defence is its biggest question mark heading percentages in doing so — and has always been a strong checker. into the season but the rise of Josh Morrissey offers at least one Roslovic strikes me as a better candidate to play as a winger higher up compelling answer in the top four. A shoulder injury meant that Morrissey the lineup but, if his long-term future is in the middle, then he’ll get a turn played just 59 games and the fewest minutes of his NHL career but he at centre at some point this season. still hit 31 points, a career high, while playing against the best Left wing: Left wing isn’t quite locked up yet but, talent-wise, it’s loaded. competition available. He can defend size, speed or skill with equal Kyle Connor doesn’t have a contract but that isn’t a concern in the success and never seems to get lost; it may not be long before we’re slightest. The 34-goal scorer has the full confidence of the organization, talking about Morrissey as Winnipeg’s No. 1 defenceman. as evidenced by his playoff usage: his 21:22 all-situations ice time led all Otherwise, the options are many but the solutions are unclear. Jets forwards. Nathan Beaulieu is probably next on Winnipeg’s depth chart. It’s tough to I often question Winnipeg’s commitment to Connor and not Nik Ehlers as promise that Winnipeg will get the top-four capable player who closed the the Jets’ top left winger — the Ehlers version of the Jets top line got regular season with Trouba as opposed to the one who struggled on a better results last season — but there is no denying Connor’s offensive much worse Buffalo team prior to that. Dustin Byfuglien has carried a skill. This top-speed dismantling of P.K. Subban may have been the wide range of partners to good results over the years — if Beaulieu highlight of Winnipeg’s season: draws Byfuglien as a partner Beaulieu will be in an ideal place to grow.

The only other Winnipeg skater who moves that quickly is Ehlers, whose Dmitry Kulikov is also still in play, while the more offensively gifted Sami injury last season marked the beginning of Winnipeg’s 5-on-5 decline. A Niku shoots left but is an option for either side. Niku’s deployment will be full season of full health — and perhaps an extended audition with a tell as to how Winnipeg views developing while winning — the more Scheifele and Wheeler — should push Ehlers’ point totals back toward minutes he gets, the more future-focused the Jets may lean. 60. Right defence: Dustin Byfuglien is the workhorse and, at 34, still looks Elsewhere at left wing, is close. Mathieu Perreault continues to control extremely capable — when he plays. When healthy, Byfuglien is a 50- possession but scored the lowest points per minute of his 5-on-5 career plus-point player with a power play bomb and even strength hustle. in 2018-19. An offensive resurgence would add meaning to Perreault’s tenacity but, like Little, Perreault’s offence appears to be headed in the Given the dearth of defensive options behind him, Byfuglien’s PK wrong direction. Winnipeg signed former Avalanche forward Gabriel minutes are about to go up, too. But Byfuglien missed 40 games in 2018- Bourque to add PK experience and I think that experience gives Bourque 19 after missing 13 the season before. To me, there is no one else in the the inside track at a fourth line job. NHL as physical, as entertaining and as talented as Byfuglien. If his injury issues become a long-term trend, it will be an absolute shame. Right wing: Blake Wheeler was, is, and will be Winnipeg’s top right winger. Back-to-back 91-point seasons have established a new high Winnipeg’s need for a healthy Byfuglien is accentuated by Neal Pionk’s watermark for Wheeler and, as long as he quarterbacks the Jets power inexperience. Pionk, a 24-year-old with 101 NHL games to his name, play, he has an opportunity to reach similar heights. I say similar — and played a huge role for New York early last season before the Rangers not “the same” — because Wheeler turns 33 on Saturday. He’s well backed off on his minutes. It’s difficult to compare New York to Winnipeg entrenched in a portion of his career in which even the game’s very best straight across but Pionk’s possession numbers weren’t very good and players tend to see their 5-on-5 production drop. imply more of a third pairing defender with plus speed and puck skills than a stalwart D. Even if Winnipeg’s pro scouts knocked this trade out of Wheeler’s 1.99 points per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 was the ninth-best the park, one still expects at least some growing pains at this stage of scoring rate of his NHL career. To be clear, this is still good — 101st Pionk’s late-blooming career. among NHL forwards last season — but Wheeler’s late 20s and early 30s were excellent. He’s as dogged and determined and intensely Tucker Poolman is two years older than Pionk and has played 77 fewer competitive as players get but time’s record is undefeated and that’s the NHL games. Injuries were certainly a large part of Poolman’s story last source of concern. season and his ability to recover from those will dictate, in part, his ability to claim a full-time NHL job. Goal: Connor Hellebuyck’s numbers dropped in 2018-19 — this much is Unfortunately, this aggression appeared to open up more seams and unavoidable. Ten fewer wins and an 11-point drop in save percentage Winnipeg ran the NHL’s fifth-worst penalty kill from New Year’s Day from .924 to .913 certainly creates more questions for Hellebuyck through the end of the season. heading into this season than one year ago. If you like your goaltending metrics with an element of context to them, Hellebuyck’s 5.86 goals It seems adaptation is necessary, and even then, Winnipeg will need new saved above average ranked him second in Winnipeg and 20th among personnel on its PK. Gabriel Bourque may replace Brandon Tanev’s all goaltenders last season, according to Hockey Reference. minutes and leaves the Jets with Copp/Lowry, Scheifele/Wheeler, Little/Connor, and Bourque/Roslovic as viable forward pairings. What does this mean? In the perennially uncertain world that is NHL Meanwhile, Byfuglien, Beaulieu and perhaps even Pionk are all about to goaltending, I continue to believe Hellebuyck is a good bet to post good see their penalty killing minutes soar. numbers. Even though I bristle at some of his puck handling decisions, Hellebuyck has been too good relative to his league too often for me to In the pipeline believe he’s suddenly a below-average starter. Whether it’s Erik Foley, Brendan Lemieux or the Jets’ 2018 first-round What does this really mean? pick, Winnipeg has paid in full for their attempts to win before Wheeler, Laine and Connor’s new contracts ate away at its cap. The Jets’ prospect Given that we expect some trouble in the Jets’ own zone this season, cupboard has been depleted by trades to the point where they’re ranked there is no player in Winnipeg for whom a step forward is more important 27th in Corey Pronman’s most recent ranking. than Hellebuyck. His resurgence — or a lack thereof — could easily be the difference between making or missing the playoffs. That’s not to say there’s no one impressive bubbling under. Vesalainen posted meaningful offence in three different professional men’s leagues Meanwhile, Laurent Brossoit arrived in Winnipeg with a decidedly while still a teenager. Whether you’re looking at his 43 points in 49 SM- mediocre track record (with extenuating circumstances, given liiga games, 13 points in 22 AHL games or 17 points in 31 KHL games, Edmonton’s defence) and then blew the doors off our expectations. This he’s produced against men at a young enough age to think there’s a was a phenomenal development for Winnipeg, who then re-signed substantial NHL career in his future. Brossoit to a one-year, $1.225 million contract this summer. If Brossoit can do it all over again, the small margin of error available to the Jets this On defence, Dylan Samberg and Ville Heinola are the frontrunners of a season suggests to me that he could easily eclipse last year’s total of 21 deep and varied class which includes Leon Gawanke, Declan Chisholm games played. and 2016 first-round pick Logan Stanley. The organization has spoken extremely highly of Stanley of late and, while his potential may be Finally, Eric Comrie still needs a new contract while Mikhail Berdin was eclipsed by Samberg and Heinola, the 6-foot-7 rearguard is likely to strong in his AHL rookie season last year. receive a long look at training camp and a major role with the Moose this season. Special teams Finally, Mikhail Berdin’s .927 save percentage in 23 AHL games was all Power play: If teams across the NHL have figured out Winnipeg’s power kinds of impressive for a professional debut. Whatever becomes of the play, it’s not showing in the results — the Jets scored at 23.4 percent Comrie contract, it seems likely that Berdin will someday surpass him in (fifth-best) in 2017-18 and then improved to 24.8 percent (fourth-best) in Winnipeg. 2018-19. The Wheeler-with-three-deadly-right-handers system is predictable and it is predictably good. Salary cap watch

That’s not to say that, with five incumbents — Wheeler, Scheifele, Laine, As of today, Winnipeg has $16.2 million cap space available with a roster Byfuglien and Connor — there isn’t room to improve Winnipeg’s top unit. size of 19 players for 2019-20. The Jets looked particularly effective last season when Connor created variation by cutting across the net for back-door options and ineffective As soon as Connor and Laine are signed, Winnipeg is out of salary cap when teams faded Byfuglien to play man-to-man tight on Scheifele in the hell and into what should be a prolonged period of salary cap slot. Maurice once suggested that Winnipeg’s three right-handed management. With Myers, Chiarot and Tanev all earning big money in shooters were originally designed to rotate into space; whether it’s this or other NHL cities, the Jets’ biggest big-money/no-trade concerns are Little other variations, fresh looks will be to the Jets’ advantage. To reiterate: it at $5.291 million through 2023-24 and Perreault at $4.125 million through doesn’t matter if it’s predictable if it’s this hard to stop. 2020-21.

Pionk doesn’t have the bomb that Byfuglien does but, as a right-handed Little’s no-movement clause changes to a 14-team no-trade clause at the shot, may be in the mix on Winnipeg’s top unit. If he doesn’t play there, a end of this season — significant because it means the Jets could expose Morrissey/Pionk duo on Winnipeg’s second unit could give Maurice the him to Seattle expansion if they so chose. Perreault’s list of untradeable 3F/2D combination he likes at the end of a power play. If that’s the case, teams is just five names long; if Winnipeg ever decided to move on, he’d the three remaining power play jobs will go to some combination of have even less ability to control his future. Ehlers, Little, Roslovic and Perreault. From the organization’s point of view, this flexibility should be seen as a No matter which format we see, Winnipeg’s second power-play unit is win. Meanwhile, by deciding not to buy out Kulikov this summer, less of a cheat code, less dependent on the handedness of its shooters Winnipeg endures an overpayment today to the effect of clearing up cap and more dependent on quick puck movement. It’s generally run through space in future years — his buyout would have cost the Jets $1.44 either Little (who shoots right) or Ehlers (who shoots left), each of whom million next season. usually – but not always – sets up on his off-wing. They’ve largely been As a result, the Jets’ biggest concerns will move from Laine, Connor and effective in the past two seasons and certainly deserve some credit for Wheeler’s massive raises to a meaningful raise for Morrissey. Like a Winnipeg’s top-five ranking. gardener, a GM’s work is never done but the magnitude of concern Penalty kill: Winnipeg’s penalty kill ranked 22nd last season after eases slightly as soon as Laine and Connor are signed. finishing ninth in its first full year of system implementation. In some When will that be? When I looked at second contracts in the salary cap ways, this regression was predictable; the Jets allowed shot rates so high era to estimate their prices, I discovered (by accident) that more and two years ago that it seemed unwise to bet on Hellebuyck making so more RFA stars were signing deals late in the summer and well into many saves for two seasons in a row. training camp. That was before adjusting for this summer’s particularly In the Jets’ defence, some of their penalty killing collapse came after unique market, where agents and teams alike appear to be waiting for Byfuglien and Morrissey were hurt last season — they were 10th on New Mitch Marner or another marquee domino to fall before digging in to set Year’s Day before things went fully off the rails. As things fell apart, their prices. Winnipeg strayed from the extreme in-zone passivity that marred In short, we could be waiting well past Labour Day and into September previous versions of their PK system. By the time Matt Hendricks arrived before these deals get done. The consensus, including my own sense of at the trade deadline, he shared that forwards were being encouraged to proceedings, is that Connor is far more likely to sign long term than be much more aggressive on 50/50 pucks than they were the previous Laine. With $15.5-$16.2 million available to accommodate both contracts season. (depending on whether they run a 21- or 22-man roster), Winnipeg is well-positioned to start the season. Where could this go wrong? If Laine signs a two-year bridge deal and then goes off for 45-50 goals, his third contract will be enormous. If Winnipeg overestimates what it has in Connor and his deal reaches the mid or high $7 million range, his development into a two-way force will be a necessity as opposed to a luxury.

Where could this go really wrong? Wheeler’s production will decline between now and 2023-24, when his $8.25 million AAV contract expires. If Wheeler’s staying power is anything shy of Iginla-esque, the last couple years of his deal could be as concerning in the future as Little’s are today.

These are problems for future iterations of the Jets to solve. In the immediate term, value contracts to players like Scheifele, Morrissey and Ehlers make the Jets’ cap situation functional for 2019-20.

Final assessment

Winnipeg’s commitment to winning and development at the same time makes for an awkward balancing act.

I see the overall state of the franchise in much the same way. The second half of 2018-19 was so underwhelming based on the Jets roster that it hurts projections for 2019-20 while, at the same time, Winnipeg has avoided major cap constraints by letting Myers, Tanev and Chiarot walk.

The organization’s strengths are all still there — drafting and development give Winnipeg an abundance of forward talent and a top pairing left defenceman making much less than he’s worth for one more season. The team’s best young players can all put up game-breaking offence. All of Laine, Ehlers and Connor are still in their early 20s and a threat to break out. Roslovic and Vesalainen represent the next wave of scoring while Lowry may quietly be a second-line calibre centre ready to take one more step.

In short, no matter how dire things look — Winnipeg underperformed last season and then lost Trouba, Myers, Chiarot and Tanev — there is still a lot to like about this team today. Even if they step back and even if they miss the playoffs, the Jets are a good bet to be very good well into the 2020s.

The problems are that the patience of the fan base may wear thin, that there are no blue-chip top-four defencemen past Morrissey and Byfuglien and that going from “good” to “contender” to “champion” is difficult by increasing orders of magnitude.

Maurice has his work cut out for him.

The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151491 Vancouver Canucks The next caveat is the performance bonuses that Pettersson and Hughes could earn on their ELCs. Pettersson and Hughes might technically carry cap hits of under $1 million, but the bonuses they can attain would count Why the Canucks could face significant cap challenges ahead of Elias against the cap (Pettersson has $2.85 million in potential bonuses and Pettersson and Quinn Hughes’ next contracts Hughes has $850,000). Last year, for instance, Pettersson hit every bonus available to him so he actually clocked in at $3.775 million on the cap.

By Harman Dayal Aug 29, 2019 If he does that again, and Hughes maxes out his bonuses too, it would cost the Canucks an extra $3.7 million in cap space — something they

wouldn’t be able to afford. The CBA allows performance bonuses to roll Cap management is one of the most integral components of building a over to the following year if a team can’t afford it cap-wise, but in that Stanley Cup contender in the modern landscape of the NHL. It’s case, Vancouver would be committed to spending whatever portion of becoming increasingly important as young, restricted free agents are that bonus they can’t afford this season as dead cap space for 2020-21. realizing their worth and demanding more lucrative contracts. That In short, for next season, the Canucks can have a combined $8.03 means a team that thrives on drafting and developing young talent like million to sign Boeser and Goldobin if they demote Eriksson and the Canucks will have to pay full value a lot sooner than they may have in Schaller. This will leave them with about $30,000 and additional the past when their stars negotiate their second contracts. temporary relief available if they place Roussel on LTIR. The problem is The Canucks’ situation is especially interesting because they’re facing a that Pettersson and Hughes’ performance bonuses would be unable to fit cap crunch before even having to pay two of their core players. this year and thus would roll over to possibly eat up as much as $3.7 Vancouver’s big-ticket costs will come two years out in the offseason of million in dead cap space for 2020-21. 2021 when both Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes will see their entry- So while the Canucks are technically cap compliant without the need to level contracts expire. Will the Canucks face a dangerous cap crunch move out salary, it’s far from ideal because of the restrictions it creates then, just as their Cup contention window opens? Does this inhibit their for 2020-21. ability to land a top tier UFA next summer, like say Tyson Barrie? Will they have to move someone out before the start of this season to sign How much flexibility will the Canucks have next summer? ? If the Canucks miss the playoffs this season, they’ll have all the pressure Let’s dive in. in the world to make it in 2020-21 as they’ll be forced to surrender an unprotected first-round pick to Tampa Bay to complete the J.T. Miller Navigating the current cap situation trade. Vancouver will need to do all in its power to avoid another Ottawa- On the surface, it would appear as if the Canucks are about to run into like catastrophe and that could mean another aggressive offseason. some trouble being cap compliant for this season. The UFA market appears enticing once more as it could feature the likes Using salary cap data from PuckPedia, Vancouver is projected to have of Nicklas Backstrom, Alex Pietrangelo, Taylor Hall, Mikael Granlund, less than $6 million in space with 23 skaters and Brock Boeser and Tyson Barrie, Jared Spurgeon and Torey Krug among others. It wouldn’t Nikolay Goldobin unsigned. surprise me to see them take a run at a legit top-four, right-shot defenceman of Barrie or Spurgeon’s calibre. However, things aren’t as dire as they appear at first glance. Naturally, the question should shift to how much cap space they’ll have to Since a team can only have a maximum of 23 players on their NHL address those needs. roster, the Canucks will have to send down two players to create spots for Boeser and Goldobin. If Vancouver demotes Tim Schaller and Loui Estimated NHL salary cap: $83.5 million Eriksson, they’ll save $1.075 million each (that’s the maximum cap a Projected roster, including estimated RFA contracts: team can bury in the minors this year), which amounts to $2.15 million in total savings. Add that to the $5.88 million the Canucks already have and Projected cap space remaining: $14.1 million they’ve suddenly got a combined $8.03 million to sign Boeser and Goldobin. After accounting for potential performance bonuses being carried over, reasonable contract estimations and a modest cap increase, the It’s a tight figure to plan around, but it should work given that Boeser’s Canucks are projected to have $14.1 million in cap space for next camp is reportedly eyeing $7 million annually on a four-year term. They summer. Vancouver will likely want to keep $3-4 million in flexibility to aren’t leaving themselves with much flexibility if both sides want to go ensure that 2020-21 performance bonuses for the final years of with a higher AAV (perhaps something around $7.5 million) on a more Pettersson and Hughes’ ELCs don’t roll over to the following season as team-friendly six-year term, but they can get some type of deal done that’ll be when they’re on their expensive second contracts. while remaining cap compliant and not having to ship out anyone. We’d be talking about roughly $30,000 in space if Boeser and Goldobin sign With that in mind, they’ll have roughly $10 million in space to spend, but for $8 million combined and Schaller and Eriksson are demoted. without a starting goalie and in need of two more defencemen (including at least one more top-four D). At 34, Alex Edler isn’t a guarantee to be a Where things get interesting is if they decide to use long-term injured legitimate top-four-calibre defenceman anymore, either, which would reserve (LTIR) to create some additional momentary cap relief — a further complicate matters. possibility Jim Benning hinted at during last week’s news conference. Antoine Roussel, who’s recovering from a torn ACL and is expected to As it stands, they likely wouldn’t be able to comfortably add someone like miss the start of the season, fits that bill and could be placed on LTIR. Barrie (it wouldn’t surprise me to see him command something in the $8 million range with a strong season in Toronto) without moving out LTIR allows a team to temporarily exceed the salary cap; if the Canucks’ another contract (especially when we examine next year’s cap situation). opening roster is cap compliant without using LTIR, they can then put Roussel on LTIR and exceed the cap by his $3 million cap hit, less the Moreover, how much better would the team actually be in 2020-21 cap space at that time. (Roussel’s $3 million is subtracted by the cap compared to 2019-20? It’s unlikely that any prospect in the system will be space and that’s how much space the Canucks would have to start the an immediate impact player and the Canucks probably only have the season and replace Roussel on the 23-man roster). flexibility to add one, maybe two premium players before being forced to start moving out other contracts. In other words, if the Canucks sign Boeser and Goldobin for a combined $8 million, they’d have about $30,000 in space. By placing Roussel on What does the cap picture look like when Pettersson and Hughes are long-term injured reserve, they could now exceed the cap by $2.97 signed? million (Roussel’s $3 million minus the $30,000 in cap space) as long as Estimated NHL salary cap: $86 million he stays on LTIR. Depending on other injuries and roster composition, they could be right at the cap when Roussel is back or they might have to Projected cap space remaining: $16.9 million demote a player and go with 22 on the roster. If we assume Pettersson gets the same cap percentage as Auston Sounds tight, but still OK, right? Matthews just got and that Hughes’ contract will be the same percentage as that projected by Evolving Wild for Zach Werenski, the Canucks are projected to be left with $16.9 million in space after assuming an increase on the cap ceiling based on the new U.S. national TV deal that will kick in.

This may seem pretty nice, but that money will be long gone with all the holes to fill. The roster needs two goalies, three top nine forwards, two depth forwards and three defencemen for a total of 10 players. Allocating an average of $1.69 million for 10 of the 23 players on their roster certainly wouldn’t be easy to manage. This also significantly reduces the chance of Vancouver being able to make significant additions in 2020-21 as those cap commitments could carry over to 2021 and beyond where financial flexibility already appears limited.

Barring something unforeseen, Vancouver certainly won’t have any problems signing Pettersson and Hughes. Rather, the problem is that they’ll have very little left in the way of cap space to surround them with help when one considers the $18 million total committed to Eriksson, Roussel, Beagle and a 31-year-old Tyler Myers who by 2020-21 would be projected to provide bottom-pair value.

Hockey fans as a whole seem to assume that rebuilding teams with young stars will always improve on a linear path, but the truth is that teams need to constantly be adding talent if they want to build a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. Adding that help becomes a lot harder when they don’t have a ton of financial flexibility.

Lots can change in two summers and a smart and creative management team could certainly figure out ways to perhaps shed some contracts and manipulate the CBA to their advantage so there’s no need to hit the panic button now. At the same time, it’s something worth keeping an eye on as the Canucks balance short- and long-term priorities in their team-building endeavours.

What does this all mean?

Cap space has become a legitimate asset in the league that can be leveraged for both short- and long-term help. Carolina getting a first- round pick for absorbing a year of Patrick Marleau’s $6 million cap hit is an example of weaponizing with an eye on future assets. Meanwhile, we’ve seen through the Ryan O’Reilly, P.K. Subban and Erik Haula trades among others that great players can be had for pennies on the dollar for teams that have lots of cap space to spare.

For the Canucks, this coming season will present a couple of cap obstacles but nothing serious. Assuming Schaller and Eriksson are sent to the AHL, they’ll have a combined $8.03 million in cap space to sign Boeser and Goldobin with additional temporary relief available if Roussel is placed on LTIR.

While it’s not necessary for them to move out a contract to be compliant in this scenario, it’s something they should explore because as it stands they wouldn’t be able to deal with the extra $3.7 million in cap that could be charged against them if Pettersson and Hughes hit their performance bonuses. These bonuses can be carried over for the 2020-21 season, but it could result in as much as $3.7 million in dead cap space.

Two years from now when the Canucks have to sign Pettersson and Hughes they could be facing some significant challenges. Barring something unforeseen, they’ll by no means be in cap hell, but the hypothetical scenario we presented in this article could see them with just $16.9 million in space and 10 roster spots to fill after signing Pettersson and Hughes.

Again, it’s not something to lose sleep over yet, but it requires awareness and acknowledgement so that short-term moves are made with long-term cap consequences in mind.

The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151492 Websites He ended up appearing in more than 900 regular season games. Now 37 and a season removed from his last game, he stood in the concourse at Varsity Arena as camp attendees worked through precision drills on the The Athletic / From running stairs in France to forced time off: ice under the watchful eyes of trained professionals. Perspectives on summer training in the modern NHL “I guess I’m proud of what we did,” said the BioSteel co-founder. “I think a lot of us were kind of at the precipice of this, and figured it out ourselves.” By Sean Fitz-Gerald Aug 29, 2019 Tyler Seguin was still a teenager when he gave up other competitive sports to focus on hockey. He was heading into his OHL draft year, and ran out of time for competitive lacrosse. It was late September, in 1983, and Edmonton Oilers captain Lee Fogolin was describing how training camp had evolved over the course of his By that point, those kinds decisions seemed mandatory: Hockey had career. He was a veteran defenceman on a roster that featured four become year-round. ascendant 22-year-old players: Paul Coffey, Mark Messier, Glenn Anderson and Wayne Gretzky. At 27, was he ever envious of generations who seemed to have more freedom in the summer? “When I first broke in, it took you a week before you could pass the puck and go the length of the ice,” Fogolin told the Globe and Mail. “We didn’t “I like the generation I’m in,” Seguin said. “I think it’s cool seeing how get rolling until the end of October.” young kids are now, looking at eating properly, looking at training properly. It’s because of social media, and I think it’s one positive point Glen Sather was the general manager as well as the coach, and Fogolin that’s come out of it.” believed the thing that “burns him up the most” was when “a guy isn’t in condition.” Tom Wilson tries to build a month into the summer where he does not do much of anything. When he was younger, he said he would always be in It was not that long ago when some high-level players would struggle to the gym, trying to lift a house on the benchpress or lifting more heavy find a couple of weeks to get into shape before the start of the season. weight with squats. (Two decades before Fogolin addressed the subject, Chicago Black Hawks coach Rudy Pilous blasted his roster for being overweight, telling “Now, you start to work a bit smarter,” he said. “Pick your spots, see how the Globe he “might even lock them up in a steambath and throw away your body’s responding.” the key.”) The 25-year-old had a shortened summer last year, having won the Three dozen professional players skating this week at the BioSteel Pro Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals. He knows a few retired NHL Hockey Camp at the University of Toronto sometimes find themselves at players from growing up in Toronto, and he has heard some of the the other end of the spectrum. Rather than finding time to get in shape stories about the old days, when the summer did not religiously intersect over the summer, they have to find — or be forced to find — time to rest. with an arena.

The concept of year-round training is not new, but it is evolving and “It was a different time,” he said. “We’re pretty fortunate to play in the era expanding. Minor hockey officials now wrestle with the challenge of youth that we do. The game’s in a good place, but there’s elements of the old- players spending their summers on the ice. Professionals have to strike a school hockey that would definitely be appealing.” balance between recovery and rebuilding for another season in an ever- Erik Gudbranson has developed a post-season tradition: Depending how faster-moving sport. and when the year ended, he would buy a plane ticket to somewhere in It could mean finding interesting ways to exercise while on vacation in the world he had not yet visited, then immerse himself in the culture as Europe, or threatening to lock the doors to the gym. Here are part of a summer break that usually lasted for three or four weeks. perspectives from five professionals spending the last week of August This year, after Gudbranson got married, it was France. working out at Varsity Arena: “I walk around, try to be active,” he said. “In a few of the hotels we stayed Matt Nichol, the long-time trainer who runs the BioSteel camp, has been at, going down to the beach, there were some stairs, and I’d just run up working with NHL players for 20 years. Most players were already them a few times. But you’ve got to let the body relax, you’ve got to let training through the summer when he started, but their efforts were often the body rebuild itself.” scattered, and he said their on-ice work amounted to simple games of shinny. He has heard of the minor hockey players who are on the ice year-round. (He played other sports in the off-season, such as soccer and volleyball, He noticed a change after the NHL returned to work following the 2004- while growing up in Ottawa.) 05 lockout. Teams were under a salary cap for the first time, and they seemed more willing to sign cheaper, younger players who were fast, “If they love what they’re doing, if they love being at the rink and they strong and willing to work. love training and practising, then by all means do that,” he said. “I’d be interested to see how they feel about the game when they’re 20 years “I’m not saying that’s the reason,” Nichol said. “But from what I saw, it old, and whether they’ve burnt out and don’t want to do it anymore.” kind of coincided.” Nichol was the strength and conditioning coach for the Maple Leafs when He smiled. he introduced changes to the training cycle in 2003 or 2004. Every fourth “Paul Maurice had a great quote: ‘There’s no more out-of-shape average or fifth week, he had players work at 50 per cent of their regular load. guys,’” he said. “You can be an out-of-shape superstar if you have that Some players were frustrated, thinking that, if they were in the gym, they level of talent, but if you’re an average guy, the margin of error is so should be lifting as much as possible. slight — you have to be in shape.” “Eventually, I said, ‘you know what? I’m locking the gym — you guys Mike Cammalleri was a second-round NHL draft pick when he left the don’t have to go on vacation, but you can’t come here,’” he said. “A lot of University of Michigan to start his professional career in 2002. Teams guys complained, which was probably a reflection of the hard-working had hired strength and conditioning coaches by then, but he felt players guys we had on those Leafs teams back in the day.” were sometimes left to patch their own workout plans together over the Today, he instructs his elite clients to take a long weekend every four summer. weeks. And right in the middle of summer, they have a mandatory Along with fellow Toronto-based prospect Mike Zigomanis, he would run vacation week. Nichol tells players he does not want them lifting, and he track with coaches at York University. He lifted weights, and he skated. does not want them sprinting: “Go try a yoga class. Try swimming. Try He was invited to summertime shinny with local Maple Leafs players some sort of meditation class. Go for a long walk.” such as Tie Domi and Darcy Tucker: “That was kind of a big deal, to get “If we can budget time to have a vacation in the middle of the summer … invited out to that skate.” then certainly your 10-year-old kid can do that,” he said. “The fun is a “If I look back, we were totally over-training,” Cammalleri said with a side effect, but I actually get better results from my training.” smile. “We thought: ‘Well, we’ll just do everything.’” The Athletic LOADED: 08.30.2019 1151493 Websites Julien said Drouin needs to employ it with more regularity.

“The biggest thing is that I don’t think he was able to get to the inside as much as he could, and when he did he had success,” the coach said. “If Sportsnet.ca / How Canadiens' Drouin is preparing to take next next step he can get consistent in that area, which is what he’s trying to do in in 2019-20 watching video and seeing the things that really brings the best out of him… People forget that some players become real impact players at 20, 21, 22, like the McDavids, but there’s other guys who take a little longer Eric Engels August 29, 2019, 3:49 PM but still become impact players. So, I like his approach, I like his attitude, and we’ll work with that.”

Drouin is also excited for the process to continue. He said he feels good LAVAL-SUR-LE-LAC, Que. — “It had nothing to do with my conditioning,” about his conditioning and comfortable about where he’s at from a Jonathan Drouin said as he attempted to explain why his production fell mental standpoint ahead of the 2019-20 season. off a cliff when the Montreal Canadiens needed it most last season. “For me, (the key is) just to be able to at least look at myself in the mirror It was perhaps the most relevant thing he said during the nine-minute, and say that I really did something to (help the team) be in the playoffs bilingual meet-the-media session he held on Thursday prior to teeing off this year,” the Sainte-Agathe, Que., native concluded. as the host of his golf tournament – an annual event he puts on to help honour the 2017 commitment he made to raise over $500,000 per year It’s an attainable goal. over the course of a decade to benefit the University of Montreal Hospital. At the very least, the comment explains why the only thing Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 08.30.2019 Drouin chose to add to his off-season routine was to enlist Canadiens assistant coach Dominique Ducharme to break down video with him.

The 24-year-old didn’t alter his workout regimen, he didn’t switch around his on-ice schedule, nor did he seek out a new skating coach. Instead he committed to a video autopsy of a season that saw him record 47 points over his first 55 games before fizzling out with just six points over his last 26 games.

It was early in the summer that Drouin reached out to Ducharme, his former coach with the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads, to get a better handle on what he did well, what he didn’t do well, and what other players of similar stature do that enables them to produce with the type of consistency he wants to achieve. In this gesture, he showed Ducharme just how committed he is to becoming the player the Canadiens are paying him $5.5 million a year to be.

It’s a gesture that impressed Canadiens head coach Claude Julien, too.

“A guy who takes charge of his career and his situation is a good sign,” said Julien on Thursday. “He’s still a young player, so that’s the exciting part of it. He’s a young player that wants to improve, so hopefully that’s what’s going to happen. If he does, he’s going to make our team that much better. He has the ability to be an impact player when he wants to be.”

Jonathan-Drouin

Drouin has made it clear he wants to be an impact player right now. He’s accumulated 322 games of experience over five NHL seasons — collecting 60 goals and 194 points along the way — and he feels prepared to take the biggest step of his career, one towards becoming the consistent offensive threat he was expected to be when the Tampa Bay Lightning took him third overall in the 2013 NHL Draft.

To take that step, Drouin felt it was essential to first look back and get to the root of why things went from great to terrible for him over the last third of the 2018-19 season.

To start with, he realized he had put too much pressure on himself to produce and began to ignore key details in his game that would’ve allowed him to produce. Drouin then came away from his sessions with Ducharme in possession of some other answers.

His most important revelation?

“There’s some stuff where I complicate things a little bit,” Drouin said. “It’s been one of my problems when I played junior and in the NHL, when I started in this league. Sometimes it’s just (about) making that easy play where it doesn’t look that great or doesn’t look that good on TV but it’s effective. I think that’s what we looked at more than anything is to be more effective in what I do every game. Whether it’s with the puck or without it, it’s just being more… not conservative, but going after it the way I used to do it back when I played my best games in junior and in the NHL in that playoff (with the Lightning in 2015).”

It’s that aggressive game-style that helped him score 242 points in 128 games and add 102 more over 50 playoff games in his three seasons with the Mooseheads. That same style that saw him produce 14 points in 17 games as the Lightning fell just one win shy of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final. 1151494 Websites it’s something I’ve always taken pride in, be it in junior or in the minors. I’m not going to be the guy joining the rush every time,” Harpur says.

“If I can provide them with size, some reach and toughness, that might be Sportsnet.ca / Leafs' Harpur ready to get back to winning after Battle of a good fit for them. Honestly, at this point, my mindset is, whatever I can Ontario swap do to help the Maple Leafs win, that’s what I’m committed to doing.”

Over 103 big-league games, Harpur has all of one goal to his name.

Luke Fox | August 29, 2019, 10:04 AM Ironically, the Niagara-on-the-Lake native grew up a forward, dreaming of offence, until his minor midget coach, Rick Ferroni, nudged him back to the blue line and encouraged Harpur to lead an end-to-end rush every TORONTO — Although he knows a role in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ time he touched the puck. opening night lineup isn’t guaranteed, former Ottawa Senators defenceman Ben Harpur is thrilled to be crossing Ontario’s battle lines. “My dad reminds me that he used to get mad at me for being a defensive-minded forward, so it made sense to switch,” Harpur recalls. For any prideful player, superstar or role player, the constant losing can “[Ferroni] put a lot of confidence in me, and everything just fell into place. eat away at you. And in Harpur’s first two seasons in the bigs, no team I switched to defence, and I started getting attention from scouts.” was more intimate with defeat than the one that traded him away on Canada Day. Despite playing just a half season at his new position, a 16-year-old Harpur was drafted into the OHL by the Guelph Storm and given four Harpur himself, who starts more than 56 per cent of his shifts in the winters to learn how to bail out the penalty committers and use his defensive zone, was a minus-34 during that span. massive frame to box enemies out of the slot.

“The past two years were definitely trying in that sense. As an athlete, as “When they drafted me in Guelph, it was kind of a risky pick. They didn’t a competitor, you never want to lose. Coming second-last and last the know what they had — they were drafting me more on potential. I past two seasons was definitely tough,” says Harper, sounding upbeat in basically learned to play defence there,” he says, grateful the Storm took his interview with Sportsnet. a slow-and-steady approach in his development as opposed to throwing him into the fire. “It becomes tough to come to the rink. You try to make the most of it. You try to enjoy the time with your teammates and build as a team, but when I “It was an interesting part of my career I wouldn’t change for anything. It heard the news I was coming to Toronto, having played against them the was hard at times being a 16-year-old in Guelph not having experience.” past two years and knowing the firepower they have, the D corps they’ve built and obviously the goaltender they have, it’s very exciting to be part When Harpur, Ottawa’s 2013 fourth-rounder, reached the American of that organization.” League, he saw time on both Binghamton’s special teams and chipped in some secondary scoring. By 2017, he says he was skating 30-plus George Harpur is a surgeon who grew up in Markham, Ont., rooting for minutes a night and ready for the next phase. the Blue and White. A family friend had season tickets to the Leafs, so once in a while he’d drive his young son, Ben, along the QEW from their “I was kinda doing everything,” he says. home in Niagara-on-the-Lake to the Air Canada Centre. Just a taste. If Hainsey and Zaitsev are any indication, Leafs coach Mike Babcock “I was a Leafs fan by association. That’s what I grew up watching with my isn’t shy about putting his stay-at-home guys to work. dad. Before I even understood what I was watching, I was watching Mats “Deep down,” Harpur says, “I always knew if I was ever going to be an Sundin,” Harpur recalls. impact player in the NHL and be able to stay, the defensive role was “My dad tells me now that every few months or so I would ask what the going to be my niche.” ‘C’ meant on his jersey. I’d forget. As a kid you don’t understand what’s Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 08.30.2019 going on, but that stuck out to me.”

Harpur had heard rumblings he was on the block prior to his July 1 trade. He knew the Sens’ left side was getting crowded. If he wasn’t dealt, he’d be in for a battle to cling to the lineup.

“I never thought about Toronto,” he says, “but I woke up and heard news and was very excited.”

Goaltender Frederik Andersen — presumably appreciative of management’s efforts to find him some stay-at-home, net-clearing, big- bodied help — was one of the first Leafs to reach out to Harpur via text and welcome the six-foot-six, 222-pounder into the fold.

“He seems like a great guy,” Harpur beams.

John Tavares was quick to fire Harpur a note, too: I’m really excited about the group we have here, and I’m looking forward to having you onboard.

Harpur, 24, already knew Nic Petan from a world junior camp, and he’s gradually getting familiar with the rest of his new teammates through informal summer workout sessions at the club’s practice facility.

With the shedding of PK minute-munchers Ron Hainsey and Nikita Zaitsev (who both ended up in Ottawa), and the re-signing of UFA Jake Gardiner a long shot, the Leafs’ top four is essentially set for October.

Feel free to write Morgan Rielly, Cody Ceci, Jake Muzzin and Tyson Barrie in pen.

But as Travis Dermott recovers from shoulder surgery and a gaping hole opens up on the back end of the penalty kill, the largest man on the roster will be considered the third-pair, left-side favourite.

“I had a big penalty-killing role in Ottawa. I was on the top unit with Ceci, who also came over in the trade. I don’t know if that’ll line up again, but 1151495 Websites overall pick Jack Hughes ("Unbelievable player… I can’t wait to get to meet the guy and play with him").

Still, Simmonds explains, none of those stars were the reason he landed Sportsnet.ca / Why Devils' Wayne Simmonds is betting on himself: 'It's in Jersey. No, it was more about a team and a player betting on each redemption' other that they are not what they showed the hockey world in 2018-19, that they are something greater, fiercer.

Luke Fox | August 29, 2019, 3:46 PM Simmonds holds no ill will to Philadelphia. In fact, he can’t wait for Oct. 9, when the Devils make the short trek to his old barn and a city he’ll always hold dear.

TORONTO – You have to scan back 10 years, all the way to Wayne "Everything about it — blue-collar town. They appreciated everything I Simmonds’ rookie campaign in Los Angeles, to find a stat line as did; I appreciated everything the fans did for me," Simmonds said. "I humbling as the one he threw up in 2018-19: 17 goals, 30 points, minus- grew up in Philadelphia. I owe that town a lot, that organization a lot, and 16. I’m really appreciative of what they did for me."

Toss in a trade from the city that turned him into a man and just two And those blue-collar fans? How does Simmonds think the city to which games played in the post-season before slipping out of Nashville as a he gave his hips and knuckles and abdomen for eight, mostly underpaid, rental gamble that never paid off, and the prototypical power forward’s winters will receive him switching from orange to red? run-up to his long-awaited first crack at unrestricted free agency fell somewhere between underwhelming and disastrous. "To be honest," Simmonds smiles, "I think I would be mad if they didn’t boo me." The New Jersey Devils — that fast, fun-loving, drought-ending upset darling of 2017-18 — had a season just as miserable, tumbling to the Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 08.30.2019 Metropolitan Division basement with a minus-53 goal differential, getting passed over by free agents, and watching the NHL MVP, Taylor Hall, get derailed by injury.

That’s why the player and the team, who agreed to a one-year, $5-million deal on July 1, couldn’t be more suited for each other.

"Our minds are set the same way. I didn’t have a good year; they didn’t have a good year," Simmonds said Thursday upon the conclusion of BioSteel Camp in Toronto. "It’s redemption for both myself and New Jersey, wanting to come back and prove to the league that I’m a good player and they’re a good organization. It just fit well."

In what he describes as a "different" process, Simmonds was in discussion with a number of teams during the UFA interview period — the Philadelphia Flyers, he says, never approached him for a return — but in meeting with Jersey coach John Hynes and GM Ray Shero, he felt their ideologies aligned.

Naturally, he would’ve preferred to knock out one of those set-for-life, long-term deals, but the timing wasn’t right. His recent performance couldn’t command it.

"I’m coming off a down year. I realize that. I know my worth, and I’m not going to sign for anything under my worth. So, it’s kind of a prove-it deal, right?" Simmonds said. "Be healthy, play your game and get back to where you want to be."

A year ago at this time, a nagging laundry list of injuries restricted Simmonds to the bench at BioSteel, "coaching" his friends at the annual summer four-on-four tournament. Hardly the way one wants to gear up for a platform campaign.

New Jersey Devils’ Wayne Simmonds, right, jogs at the 2019 BioSteel Pro Hockey Camp in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 26, 2019. (Mark Blinch/CP)

This week, the 31-year-old looked like his usual bullish self, battling relentlessly in net-front drills with the likes of six-foot-four, 221-pound Darnell Nurse, holding onto pucks longer than expected and sprinting up and down a downtown varsity football field.

Since fizzling out in Nashville, he’s been training diligently for four months straight.

"I actually got to work out this summer — that’s a huge difference. Last year I had bilateral hernia surgery, torn abductor and hip surgery, so when you’re rehabbing all summer and you don’t get a chance to work out, your mind thinks you can do one thing but your body tells you something different," Simmonds says. "I’m in a lot better place physically and mentally and ready to get the season going."

"What I bring to the table, everyone knows. I’m a big, physical winger, go up and down the wing, get to the front of the net and put pucks in the net and protect my teammates at the same time."

Those teammates now include Hall, whom Simmonds recalls battling with back in the OHL; fellow ex-Predator and friend P.K. Subban ("He does promote himself, but he’s still a great teammate and brings awareness to the hockey scene. That’s a good thing"); and 2019 first- 1151496 Websites games with the Canadiens, he’d become just the 36th player in NHL history to play 1,000 games with one franchise.

If it’s not Montreal, Walsh said Markov is opening to playing anywhere — Sportsnet.ca / Markov prefers Canadiens return; agent says multiple Eastern Conference, Western Conference, doesn’t matter. teams calling “He made it very clear to me that he is open to playing in the NHL, period,” Walsh said. “Obviously, it has to be a good fit. It has to be Mike Johnston | August 29, 2019, 1:57 PM something that makes sense to him and makes sense to the team. … There’s 31 teams in the NHL and he’s open to talking to every single one of them.”

Earlier this summer, Andrei Markov made it clear he’s preparing to make And what about the option of signing a professional tryout contract to an NHL comeback for the 2019-20 season. play his way onto a roster?

Earlier this week, former Montreal Canadiens star defenceman took a “We haven’t come to that discussion yet,” Walsh added. “In my opinion, step towards increasing his odds at landing another NHL contract by there are going to be numerous offers and opportunities for him without hiring prominent hockey agent Allan Walsh to be his representation. having to even consider that.”

“Things were busy [Wednesday]. Numerous teams called,” Walsh told Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 08.30.2019 reporters, including Sportsnet’s Eric Engels, Thursday at a charity golf tournament in Laval, Que. “They’re asking questions. They’re asking questions about his conditioning. I forwarded teams a bunch of videos of him training. There’s people who have actually been out there to see him skate in Florida, to see him train.

“For the first day — officially starting [Wednesday] was Andrei Markov’s July 1 — it was a pretty busy day.”

Proud to announce that defenseman Andrei Markov is now a client. He’s been intensively training in Florida this summer and is determined to play in the NHL this season. Welcome to the #OctagonFamily

— Allan Walsh (@walsha) August 28, 2019

Markov was selected by the Canadiens in the sixth round (162nd overall) of the 1998 NHL Draft and debuted during 2000-01. Over the next 16 seasons the Russian developed into a top-end offensive blueliner and accumulated 572 points in 990 games played.

During his time in the NHL, the only defencemen to register more points than Markov were Nicklas Lidstrom, Sergei Gonchar, Dan Boyle and Zdeno Chara.

However, Markov signed a two-year deal with KHL team as a free agent following the 2016-17 season once it became clear he and the Canadiens wouldn’t be able to come to an agreement on a new contract. Markov reportedly sought a multi-year offer, which was something the Canadiens weren’t willing to make.

The Russian didn’t want to explore other NHL options at the time, but left the door open for an eventual return.

Markov registered 33 points in 55 games during his first year with Ak Bars Kazan and followed it up with a 14-point, 49-game showing in 2018- 19.

“When you step on the ice [at the Bell Centre] you feel the fans, they’re so passionate and they support each game and you feel like the crowd’s got your back behind you,” Markvov told Stu Cowen of the Montreal Gazette when reminiscing of his time with the Canadiens earlier this month. “That feeling is kind of like something special, you know.”

Walsh, who also represents Canadiens forward Jonathan Drouin, wouldn’t confirm nor deny that they’ve already spoken with Habs management and he echoed what Markov said earlier this summer — that Montreal is where the defenceman’s heart is and where he’d ultimately like to finish his career.

“More than that, he’s 100 per cent committed to playing in the NHL this year,” said Walsh, who added that Markov only wants a one-year deal. “I think it’s realistic at 40 years old to go year by year.

“Is he open to staying and playing more than another year? He loves the game and he loves to play and as long as he feels that he can contribute and make a difference, mentoring younger guys, helping out five-on-five, contributing to a power play. We believe he has a lot still in the tank and a lot to offer and time will tell how this works out.”

Walsh mentioned more than once that hitting the 1,000-game milestone is something that remains important to Markov.

Markov will be the eighth Russian in NHL history to earn a silver stick if he plays 10 more NHL regular-season games. If he plays those 10 1151497 Websites "You’ve got to understand the process and keep building and let the money chase you."

Malcolm Subban has known Binnington since they were 15 years old and Sportsnet.ca / Blues goalie Jordan Binnington enjoying spotlight after shared the crease for Canada at the 2013 world junior hockey long road championship.

The Vegas Golden Knights backup knew his friend and colleague had Canadian Press August 29, 2019, 4:51 PM this in him. It was just a matter of getting the chance.

"I’m not surprised," Subban said. "He’s always been one of the best, if not the best, goalie in every league he’s played in. TORONTO — Jordan Binnington used to fly under the radar as he methodically went about his summer training. "He just does him. It’s a good example — just do you and believe in yourself. Eventually people will see it and it will show." After a head-turning, seemingly-out-of-nowhere rookie campaign capped by a Stanley Cup victory, those days are long gone. That belief is what helped Binnington manoeuvre the difficult moments in his career. "You missed it," the St. Louis Blues goalie quipped when it was pointed out earlier this week he’d never spoken with reporters at the annual "There were down times," he said. "I realized my back was against the BioSteel camp. "It was only a matter of time. I was putting in the work." wall and I had to work. No one’s going to do it for me and I’ve got to find my own way. You’ve got to be bold because fortune favours the bold. He certainly was, but even the calm, cool Binnington had to admit the last That was my thought process. It all adds up." 12 months have been a whirlwind. Binnington and the Blues will have targets on their backs heading into The netminder started last season No. 4 of the depth chart with a solitary 2019-20. It’s the type of challenge the netminder that needed a name tag game of NHL experience before finally getting his shot for a Blues team at this time last year has relished during a meteoric rise eight years in the floundering in the standings. making.

All the Richmond Hill, Ont., native did from there was go an eye-popping "It’s not always going to be perfect," Binnington said. "It’s how you handle 24-5-1 with a .927 save percentage and a minuscule 1.89 goals-against it. The toughest will succeed and last. average as St. Louis went from last overall to comfortably in a playoff spot. "I’m not too worried about proving stuff to anyone besides myself. I expect the best." But that was only a glimpse of what was to come as Binnington backstopped the Blues through four post-season rounds, getting past the Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 08.30.2019 Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars and San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference before downing the Boston Bruins on the road in Game 7 of the Cup final.

Add to that a Calder Trophy nomination for rookie of the year, and it was a wild ride.

"It happened quickly, but it’s been great," said Binnington, who was selected by St. Louis in the third round of the 2011 draft. "It’s been a long process to get here, too."

The 26-year-old has been a regular participant at the BioSteel showcase, but never attracted the type of attention usually reserved for Connor McDavid or Tyler Seguin until this summer.

The latter saw something in the once no-name goalie at previous camps, picking him first in the annual draft three straight years as four teams of NHLers, other pros and some junior players wrap up their training regime with a 3-on-3 tournament.

"He doesn’t get nervous," said Seguin, whose Stars fell to Binnington and the Blues in the second round. "He’s always had that swag, no matter what."

Confidence is something that Binnington has in spades, but he appreciated the support from his workout partners while toiling in the minors waiting his turn.

"(Seguin) was one of the first people to believe in me around here (and in) the hockey world," said Binnington, who played a combined 217 games in the AHL and ECHL before finally sticking with St. Louis. "Going up against elite athletes and elite players, that’s what it’s about. You want to test yourself against the best."

He added there was a different vibe in the group this summer.

"New respect level, for sure," Binnington said. "Being back in Toronto, being on the streets, it’s really cool talking to people and seeing the influence you had.

"I’m really happy with where I’m at right now."

That includes a new two-year contract worth US$8.8 million he signed with Blues as a restricted free agent after having to settle for three straight one-season pacts.

"You need a good team to win, it’s a fair deal in that aspect," Binnington said. "I’m confident in myself and believe I deserve more and will earn more. That just comes with time and experience.