SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 07/27/19 Anaheim Ducks Florida Panthers 1150161 Q&A: Patrick Eaves on yet another NHL table-tennis title, 1150191 The Florida Panthers are built to win now — and they team bonding and his secret weapon could look a lot different by 2022-23 Arizona Coyotes Canadiens 1150162 Coyotes announce theme nights at Gila River Arena for 1150192 Canadiens' Ben Chiarot grew up idolizing Paul Coffey and 2019-20 season Scott Stevens 1150163 Fox Sports Arizona could join Channels 3, 5 in being 1150193 Stu Cowan: Free-agent signing Ben Chiarot excited to join 'blacked out' on Dish Network, Sling TV Canadiens 1150164 Coyotes announce theme nights, promotions for 2019-20 1150194 What the Puck: If the Habs miss the playoffs again it's a season fireable offence 1150165 Coyotes agree to 2-year affiliation with ECHL’s 1150195 Rangers and Pavel Buchnevich reach two-year deal 1150196 Forecasting totals for Rangers, Devils and Islanders 1150166 Jacob Trouba's contract isn't a road map for Charlie 1150197 Rangers, forward Pavel Buchnevich agree on a new McAvoy's Bruins deal contract 1150167 The All- team: The best of the four Boston schools 1150198 Rangers’ buyout window opens with Pavel Buchnevich to take the NHL ice signing, and now they have to get under the cap Buffalo Sabres NHL 1150168 Dominik Hasek may run for president of Czech Republic 1150199 The NHL — Seattle’s team included — strives for diversity 1150169 Mike Bales' objective: Make Sabres goalies 'best version growth to offset ‘white sport’ label of themselves' Ottawa Senators Flames 1150200 Projecting the Senators’ 2021-22 lineup, the first season of 1150170 Ticket tax for new arena would be a fraction of ‘Unparalleled Success’ 's fee — But why? 1150171 Dome sweet Dome: Architect of iconic Saddledome at Philadelphia Flyers peace with potential demolition 1150201 For better or worse: a look at the Flyers' goalie depth 1150172 Ken King speaks out on Flames arena deal 1150202 For better or worse: A look at the Flyers' defense 1150173 5 takeaways from Day 1 of the Blackhawks Convention, 1150203 Penguins Prediction Rewind: Kris Letang piled up pluses including building chemistry and Kirby Dach’s chances of during bounce-back season 1150174 Robin Lehner believed he deserved a long-term deal — 1150204 Penguins pick up defense prospect John Marino in trade but the Islanders thought otherwise. Now, their loss is t with Edmonton 1150175 Andrew Shaw is back, and the Blackhawks couldn’t be 1150205 First Call: Phil Kessel’s ‘leadership’ role with Coyotes; happier to have him another team in on Felipe Vazquez 1150176 Crawford-Lehner gives Blackhawks elite goaltending duo, 1150206 A twist in the Pirates' television rights negotiations: the but Collin Delia isn’t discouraged possible sale of the network 1150177 New assistant coach Crawford adds experience to 1150207 Penguins acquire defensive prospect John Marino from Chicago Blackhawks staff Edmonton 1150178 Blackhawks will try to lighten Toews' load this season 1150179 'One of the great guys in the game': Andrew Shaw fills San Jose Sharks void Blackhawks have been lacking on and off the ice 1150208 NHL expansion draft: Projecting who Sharks will protect 1150180 After active offseason, core group confident Blackhawks from Seattle can get back to playoff contention 1150181 A conversation with John McDonough, Part I: ‘It’s been St Louis Blues humbling. You know it’s been humbling.’ 1150209 Blues trade Schmaltz for Maple Leafs' Borgman in swap of defensemen Colorado Avalanche 1150182 What history tells us to expect from Cale Makar 1150210 Why Lightning fans don’t need to freak out about Brayden Dallas Stars Point 1150183 Stars’ offseason homework: How each player can improve this summer 1150211 Frederik Andersen ready to meet ‘a lot of new faces’ after Leafs’ off-season overhaul 1150184 Red Wings re-sign forward Turgeon for one year 1150212 Leafs’ Frederik Andersen understands off-season roster 1150185 Four Red Wings picks highlight Plymouth summer upheaval is about trying to improve showcase 1150186 Dominic Turgeon and Red Wings agree to new contract 1150187 Joe Veleno, Jonatan Berggren among Red Wings prospects at World Junior Showcase 1150188 What if the Red Wings had started rebuilding (or stopped ‘buying’) sooner? 1150189 Oilers ease pressure on crowded defensive pipeline by trading John Marino to the Penguins 1150190 What the 2021-22 Oilers might look like after their steady build toward contender status Vancouver Canucks 1150216 Patrick Johnston: The Canucks built their arena all by themselves, so why can’t the Flames? 1150217 A dream come true for Canucks fans: Introducing Team British Columbia Vegas Golden Knights 1150213 Deryk Engelland’s role for Golden Knights could be increased this season, not reduced 1150214 Capitals re-sign Chandler Stephenson to one-year, $1.05 million deal 1150215 20 Burning Capitals Questions: What does a revamped Caps' kill look like? Websites 1150218 The Athletic / Helping us capture the spirit of the thing: The NHL All-Interview team 1150219 The Athletic / Tulloch: The NHL’s top 10 regression candidates for 2019-20 1150220 The Athletic / Team Bounce Back vs. Team Fade: Who wins a matchup of players poised to rebound or regress? 1150221 .ca / 21 fun things we learned at Smashfest VIII: Patrick Eaves can't lose 1150222 Sportsnet.ca / Garret Sparks reflects on 'emotionally taxing' Maple Leafs exit 1150223 Sportsnet.ca / Ben Chiarot says it took little persuading to sign with the Canadiens SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1150161 Anaheim Ducks It sounds like you are an especially adept counterpuncher. Would that be an accurate description of your game?

I would say I can put a lot of spin on a ball. Through that, I guess, I can Q&A: Patrick Eaves on yet another NHL table-tennis title, team bonding somehow counterpunch or kind of hopefully know where they’re going to and his secret weapon be hitting off of what spin I hit. I’m learning more about the game. I found a coach out in Newport Beach, so I’m kind of looking at the game from a different perspective now by talking to someone who is a professional. By Lisa Dillman I’m learning more about the game at a higher level. It’s a passion of mine Jul 26, 2019 and I want to learn. I’m a good recreational player. When you play some of these real players, it’s nuts. I’ve been playing checkers all these years

when it’s really a chess game. Are Patrick Eaves and Jeff Skinner the table-tennis version of Roger Who is your ping-pong coach? Federer and Rafael Nadal? His name’s Attila Malek and he was some kind of champion in the late (Only none of us could ever envision Federer — or any tennis player — 70s. He’s pretty special and he has been helping me a lot. He’ll hit with with an Eaves-type beard.) me, run me through drills. It’s just like having any other kind of coach. Eaves, of the Anaheim Ducks, and Skinner, of the Buffalo Sabres, have Returning to the NHL: You’ve played on several teams. So who was your been at the top of the table-tennis heap when it comes to Smashfest, the toughest ping-pong competition? charitable event and brainchild of founder/host Dominic Moore. Eaves has won the event five consecutive years, including Thursday’s gathering I’ve played a lot of good players. The Swedes are always really good. in Toronto. Alfie (Daniel Alfredsson) was the best I’ve ever played. He’s “You’re seeing all these ping-pong bars popping up now,” Eaves said. unbelievable. He would beat me all the time, but it was so fun we’d play. “It’s a fun recreational event and you can do it holding a beer. Or not We’d almost be late for warm-ups for games because we’d be playing. holding a beer.” So it was really fun with him and we bonded over the table.

5 TIME! 5 TIME! 5 TIME! 5 TIME @_SMASHFEST CHAMP, You just get across the table and start chatting with them, learning about @PATRICK_EAVES! #SMASHFESTVIII him and his family. You can learn a lot about a person just from being in PIC.TWITTER.COM/5AZ6NJW7K1 close proximity.

— NHL (@NHL) JULY 26, 2019 The Athletic LOADED: 07.27.2019 Skinner also was the competition’s runner-up last year. What has been especially notable is the $1 million-plus that has been raised in the eight- year history of Smashfest for concussion and cancer research.

The event hits close to home for Eaves, who dealt with concussions and their after-effects earlier in his NHL career. More recently, he has been limited to nine games with the Ducks the past two seasons.

The primary culprit in Eaves’ trip down the medical rabbit hole was a mysterious “post-viral syndrome” (which is as inconclusive as it sounds) just before training camp in September of 2017. Previously, Eaves was misdiagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder that affects 1 in 100,000 Americans.

Eaves has not been on the ice for a game since Feb. 4, 2019 against the New York Rangers. There’s some question about whether he can play again, but Eaves didn’t want to talk about his future or his medical progress a few hours before Smashfest.

The good news was that he was able to fly from Los Angeles to Toronto to participate … and dominate. His love of the game started with intense competitions with his brother Ben and father Mike, a former NHLer.

“We have big battles every summer for the family belt,” Eaves said.

Eaves went on to talk about the rising young challenger, Skinner, the table-tennis culture of the NHL and his not-so-secret weapon, Orange County-based coach Attila Malek, a USA Table Tennis Hall of Famer.

What makes Jeff Skinner such an effective player?

You see him on the ice. He’s got unbelievable hands and scoring touch, and those (skills) just transfer right over to the table. So he puts a lot of spin on the ball. His eye-hand (coordination) is obviously phenomenal and so he’s a very good player. He’s always around at the end. Dom’s always around at the end.

There are some things that transfer over from hockey to the ping-pong table, and I think that’s why most locker rooms have ping-pong tables.

It seems like close-knit teams often have a table in the room. Does it feel like it helps players bond a little bit faster or differently?

I think so because guys are around each other. That’s the biggest way to have a team bond, and I’ve been on a couple teams that have the ranking system and everything so it gets fun. And everyone’s jabbing at each other. It’s not like tennis in any respect where you have to be quiet while you’re playing, and so the locker room can get rowdy. Yeah, it’s just a fun way to bring people together and, through that, the bonding happens. 1150162 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes announce theme nights at Gila River Arena for 2019-20 season

Drake Hills

Arizona Republic

Published 10:52 a.m. MT July 26, 2019

The Arizona Coyotes announced themes for home games next season, starting with an Opening Night series of events against the Boston Bruins on Oct. 5.

The Coyotes arranged 20 different themes and promotions, ranging from a Star Wars Night to Marvel Superhero Night at Gila River Arena. The season's home opener against the Bruins features multiple events, including a pregame party outside the arena, followed by fans receiving a free Kachina jersey rally towel.

Star Wars Night will be the theme for the Coyotes' match up with the San Jose Sharks on Nov. 30. Arizona's next home game is Dec. 14, when fans can celebrate the winter holidays and receive an ugly sweater blanket.

Marvel Superhero Night premieres March 28, when the Coyotes take on the Nashville Predators. Other themes include 90's Night, College Night and Kids Day.

Throughout the regular season, the Arizona Coyotes will host plaza parties ahead of each game played on weekends at Gila River Arena, with five additional mid-week dates, including New Year's Eve when they take on the Blues.Arizona Republic LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150163 Arizona Coyotes Meredith Corporation channels are being affected in 12 markets, including Arizona.

“To be clear, Meredith Corporation chose to black out its own viewers,” Fox Sports Arizona could join Channels 3, 5 in being 'blacked out' on said Andy LeCuyer, Dish senior vice president of programming, in a Dish Network, Sling TV statement. “We offered an extension to keep the channels up while we reach a deal, but they refused. Instead, Meredith chose to turn its back on its public interest obligations and use its viewers as bargaining chips.” Duane Rankin To which James said: “Anybody can get us over the air for free. If you Arizona Republic have an antenna, you can get our signal anywhere in the Valley.

Published 7:30 p.m. MT July 22, 2019 | Updated 8:00 p.m. MT July 22, "Part of being a broadcaster in this country is to be able to provide your 2019 content and your signal free of charge to anyone who wants to access it with an antenna."

LeCuyer also suggested Meredith Corporation would need to make the Fox Sports Arizona could be next. next move. A week after AZ Family announced Dish Network had dropped its CBS 5 "The channels could come back today if Meredith would allow it, and we and 3TV stations off its airways on July 16, FSAZ remains on air through can restore the channels immediately if they give us the green light,” a "temporary extension" while a new contract is negotiated. LeCuyer said in the statement. "On behalf of customers, we ask Meredith Dish representative Erica Dilk confirmed Monday afternoon that FSAZ to stop punishing its own viewers so we can focus on reaching a fair was still available to its customers. deal."

"DISH’s is to keep these channels available to our customers." the James said Meredith Corporation had been trying to negotiate in “good satellite TV-provider said in a statement this past weekend. "We are faith” for months with DISH. When asked what’s fair to both sides and the unsure why Disney, the new owner of these channels, decided to involve difference in dollars, James was not in a position to discuss that part of customers in the contract negotiation process at a point when there is still the situation. time for the two parties to reach a mutually beneficial deal." "That’s above my pay grade," he said. Brett Hansen, FSAZ's senior director of communication and marketing, AZ Family has asked subscribers on its website to call Dish at 1-800- deferred comment to the corporate office in Los Angeles regarding the 333-3474 and request CBS 5 and 3TV return to the lineup or "Press 1" to situation. leave a message for “Arizona Family regarding Dish.” Fox Sports West Director of Communications Whitney Burak confirmed After pressing 1, James, in a voicemail message, apologies for the via email that FSAZ has reached a “temporary extension” with Dish, inconvenience "caused by Dish’s refusal to fully negotiate" with Meredith. which owns Sling TV. "We are ready, willing and able to close a fair deal with Dish," he says on "We currently are in a temporary extension with Dish/Sling TV as we try the message. "Our company has reached fair deals hundreds of times to work towards an agreement," Burak said. without cable operators taking our signal from their customers." Fox Sports has a website, www.KeepMyHomeTeams.com, to update its Arizona Republic LOADED: 07.27.2019 viewers on the negotiations.

ATTENTION DISH & SLING CUSTOMERS: You will lose the D-backs, Suns and Coyotes on FOX Sports Arizona. Don’t miss your home team’s games – Act today! https://t.co/hpLDa6xQeO

— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) July 20, 2019

"The FOX Sports Regional Networks and DISH/Sling have reached a temporary extension while we work together towards an agreement for carriage of these networks." a statement on the website reads. "Thank you for your continued support and check back for future updates."

More than 21 of the Fox Sports Regional Network channels, including Arizona, will be impacted by these negotiations.

FSAZ is the broadcast station for the Diamondbacks, Suns and Coyotes.

Josh Rawitch, senior vice president content and communications for the Diamondbacks, Casey Taggatz, vice president communications and content for the Suns, and Rich Nairn, executive vice president of communications and broadcasting for the Coyotes, all respectfully declined to comment on the ongoing negotiations with the network.

As for CBS 5 and 3TV, Dish announced on July 16 in a statement that Meredith Corporation, which owns the stations, had "blacked out" Dish customers' access to its local channels "in an effort to gain negotiating leverage as it demands higher monthly rates."

Kevin James, vice president and general manager for the stations, responded to Dish's statement: “Based on Dish’s point of view, they would want to put a statement out there that puts them in the best light.”

James said the individual stations aren’t involved in the negotiations, but he believes the stations will come off Dish’s signal if the two corporations can’t mutually agree on a deal.

However, he had no problem in calling Dish’s statement suggesting Meredith Corporation was completely at fault as "totally inaccurate.”

Dish's release also said Meredith Corporation was asking the carrier “to pay for subscribers who choose to receive their local channels for free over the air.” 1150164 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes announce theme nights, promotions for 2019-20 season

BY HUNTER HIPPEL

JULY 26, 2019 AT 6:10 AM

The Arizona Coyotes have announced 20 theme and promotional nights for select home games this upcoming season.

The Kid’s Postgame Slapshot, where kids 14 and under can take a slapshot on the ice after the game, will be held after every home game on Saturdays and Sundays expect for the Oct. 5 matchup against the Boston Bruins (home opener), the Feb. 15 matchup against the Washington Capitals and the April 4 matchup against the .

Plaza Parties will be held outside Gila River Arena before each Saturday and Sunday game. Parties will also be held before the game against the Montreal Canadians on Oct. 30, the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 31, the on Feb.17, the Vancouver Canucks on Mar. 12 and the Detroit Red Wings on March 20.

Below is a list of every Coyotes theme night and promotion over the course of the regular season:

Saturday, Oct. 5 vs. Boston Bruins (Opening Night): NHL Network Kachina rally towel, pregame party on plaza

Thursday, Oct. 10 vs. Vegas Golden Nights: College night, jersey koozie

Wednesday, Oct. 30 vs. : HOWL-o-ween night, trick- or-treating on concourse pregame

Saturday, Nov. 2 vs. Colorado Avalanche: Gila River Hotels & Casinos State Forty Eight t-shirt

Saturday, Nov. 9 vs. Minnesota Wild: Military appreciation night, Coyotes camouflage hat

Saturday, Nov. 16 vs. Calgary Flames: Hockey Fights Cancer night presented by Dignity Health, Coyotes to wear lavender Hockey Fights Cancer jerseys during warmup

Sunday, Nov. 24 vs. Edmonton Oilers: Fans encouraged to bring canned goods and other non-perishable food items for team’s food drive benefiting St. Mary’s Food Bank

Saturday, Nov. 30 vs. San Jose Sharks: Star Wars Night

Saturday, Dec. 14 vs. : Ugly sweater blanket courtesy of Gila River Hotels & Casinos

Sunday, Dec. 29 vs. Dallas Stars: Scarf giveaway courtesy of Fox Sports Arizona

Tuesday, Dec. 31 vs. St. Louis Blues: New Year’s Eve

Thursday, Jan. 30 vs. Los Angeles Kings: Go Green Night presented by SRP

Tuesday, Feb. 4 vs. Edmonton Oilers: Phoenix Rising Night

Thursday, Feb. 6 vs. Carolina Hurricanes: Car shade courtesy of Gila River Hotels & Casinos

Monday, Feb. 17 vs. New York Islanders: Kids Day, President’s Day, Howler mug giveaway

Saturday, Feb. 22 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning: Health & Wellness Night, Kachina water bottle giveaway

Saturday, Feb. 29 vs. Buffalo Sabres: Country Night, hat giveaway courtesy of Gila River Hotels & Casinos

Friday, Mar. 20 vs. Detroit Red Wings: Turn Back the Clock/90’s Night, Kachina Fanny Pack courtesy of Gila River Hotels & Casinos

Saturday, Mar. 28 vs. Nashville Predators: Marvel Superhero Night

Saturday, Apr. 4 vs. Winnipeg Jets: Fan Appreciation Game

Arizona Sports LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150165 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes agree to 2-year affiliation with ECHL’s Rapid City Rush

BY HUNTER HIPPEL

JULY 25, 2019 AT 12:15 PM

UPDATED: JULY 25, 2019 AT 12:25 PM

The Arizona Coyotes and Rapid City Rush are back in business with each other.

The Coyotes announced in a press release Thursday that the team has agreed to a two-year affiliation with their former ECHL affiliate. The announcement comes after the Coyotes completed the 2018-19 season with the Norfolk Admirals and the year before with the Fort Wayne Komets as their ECHL partners.

The Rush and Coyotes were affiliates from 2015-17.

“We are excited to once again partner with the Rapid City Rush as our ECHL affiliate,” said Coyotes assistant General Manager Steve Sullivan in a press release. “The Rush are a first-class organization with a passionate fan base. We look forward to working with owners Jeff Dickerson and TJ Puchyr (Spire Sports and Entertainment) as well as owner Scott Mueller and head coach Daniel Tetrault.”

The Rush, who play their home games at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City, South Dakota, completed the 2018-19 season without an affiliate, and in 2017-18 were affiliates of the Minnesota Wild.

The team finished last season with a 30-33-5 record and did not qualify for the ECHL playoffs. Tetrault will enter his third season with the team.

The Coyotes barely missed the Stanley Cup playoffs last season, finishing four points out of the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150166 Boston Bruins term bridge deal or something in the six-year, $36 million range that comparable players like Esa Lindell and others signed.

The best course of action for both the Bruins and McAvoy, as we’ve Jacob Trouba's contract isn't a road map for Charlie McAvoy's Bruins mentioned a couple of times? deal It would be sign a bridge contract for a couple of years where the young D-man gets the $5-6 million per season based on his closest comparable By Joe Haggerty players (Lindell, for one), and puts together the kind of dominant seasons that would put him closer to the Trouba/Ekblad max contract July 26, 2019 9:21 AM neighborhood a couple of years from now that he’s clearly aspiring to at this point.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.27.2019 Jacob Trouba is a right shot, restricted free agent defenseman who plays in the Eastern Conference.

This is about all that the 25-year-old Trouba has in common with unsigned Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy after Trouba signed a seven-year, $56 million contract last week with the New York Rangers that will make him the No. 1 defenseman on Broadway for the foreseeable future for a rebuilding group of Blueshirts.

Well, they will also have shared David Quinn as a head coach when Trouba starts playing for the Rangers this fall.

But that’s it. That’s all, folks.

Some will attempt to draw Trouba in as a comparable to McAvoy in contract talks between the young D-man and the Boston Bruins, and on the surface that might make some sense. In simple terms, they are both RFAs and they both play the defenseman position, and they are both in the “future/possible No. 1 defenseman” category.

But they are far from comparable as players. Trouba is an established player who hit 50 points last season, played all 82 games and averaged 22:53 of ice time during a strong final campaign with the Winnipeg Jets.

Savard joins Blues as assistant coach

Trouba has topped 22 minutes of ice time per game in all but one of his six solid NHL seasons with Winnipeg, and has averaged seven goals and 30 points over the course of a Jets career that began as an 18-year-old D-man prodigy. He’s missed time with injuries over the years and he’s clearly a two-way defenseman rather than “offensive defenseman” when it comes to performance.

But Trouba is also exactly what the scouts are looking for as a top D-man with the size (6-foot-3, 202-pounds), skating and ability to do a lot of different things well while winning his share of battles in the defensive zone.

McAvoy is one of the aforementioned No. 1 prototype defensemen as well, but he’s still very much in-the-making when it comes to development. McAvoy has played two NHL seasons as he hits restricted free agency for the first time this summer, and lags far behind Trouba when it comes to actually proving his potential.

At the same crossroads in their development, Trouba signed a two-year, $6 million contract extension and then followed that up with a one-year deal in Winnipeg for $5.5 million this past season. All the while, whispers about trades and offer sheets were out there for Trouba as it was clear the Winnipeg D-man was looking to get back to a US market at some point.

That finally happened with the trade to New York.

Bruins sign Shen to entry-level deal

McAvoy, on the other hand, has topped out at seven goals and 32 points in the better of his two NHL seasons (his rookie campaign) and has missed a whopping 47 games due to injuries in his first two seasons. So there is still much more to be proven by the 21-year-old before he gets the kind of massive payday that Trouba just leveraged with New York.

McAvoy also can’t be tendered with an offer sheet by other NHL teams this summer because he has fewer than three full years of NHL service based on the 40-game rule adopted by the league when it comes to restricted free agents. His only two options are to sign the contract offer given to him by the Bruins or sit out the NHL regular season if he isn’t satisfied by what the Bruins offer him.

Trouba’s last contract is much more along the line of what McAvoy can expect this time around with his second contract, whether it’s a short- 1150167 Boston Bruins off Leetch’s pace. Leetch would be up the ice all the time, confident that Aucoin could take care of business at the other end.

Second defensive pair: Any coach would be happy to deploy Sweeney The All-Beanpot team: The best of the four Boston schools to take the (Harvard) and Manson (Northeastern) as a shutdown duo. Sweeney did NHL ice not mind executing the grunt work while Ray Bourque was doing his thing. Manson, meanwhile, has grown into an excellent right-side NHL defender. Also, Manson was critical in the Northeastern renaissance, By Fluto Shinzawa helping to attract players like Adam Gaudette, Dylan Sikura and Jeremy Davies to Huntington Ave. Jul 26, 2019 Third defensive pair: The smooth-moving Poti (BU) would assume the

puck-moving and up-ice duties of this partnership. The recently retired Boston College, , Harvard and Northeastern are all Orpik (BC), meanwhile, would be content staying in his end and making separated by, just about, the distance of a well-struck slap shot. It is not life wretched for anybody who dared to approach him with the puck. hyperbole, then, to declare that the four Beanpot schools comprise Goaltending: Schneider (BC) would be the steady ace, tasked to employ college hockey’s most distilled cluster of talent. his calmness and technical precision to quiet down the net. In terms of So it stands to reason that since the Beanpot was introduced in 1952, the style and personality, DiPietro (BU) is the complete opposite of tournament’s participants have dressed a constellation of collegiate stars Schneider. But when DiPietro was healthy, the Winthrop native with NHL futures. BC and BU, because of their pedigrees, have launched challenged Martin Brodeur as the sharpest puckhandling goalie in the majority of sparkling professional careers. But Harvard and hockey. Northeastern, the latter especially of late, can also be proud of their Honorable mentions: F Ted Donato (Harvard), F Mike Sullivan (BU), F contributions. Adam Gaudette (Northeastern), D Dan McGillis (Northeastern), D Mike Below is the lineup of the best players from the four schools, taking their Mottau (BC), G Scott Clemmensen (BC). college and professional performance into consideration. It includes 10 The Athletic LOADED: 07.27.2019 Massachusetts natives, three members of the Hockey Hall of Fame, one NHL general manager and two assistant GMs:

Forwards

Shawn McEachern-Keith Tkachuk-Tony Amonte

Johnny Gaudreau-Jack Eichel-Joe Mullen

Brian Gionta-Chris Drury-Bill Guerin

Kevin Stevens-Craig Janney-Scott Young

Defensemen

Brian Leetch-Adrian Aucoin

Don Sweeney-Josh Manson

Brooks Orpik-Tom Poti

Goalies

Cory Schneider

Rick DiPietro

First line: You can only shake your head to think about a team that included McEachern (BU), Tkachuk (BU) and Amonte (BU) in the same season. In 1990-91, McEachern led the team with 82 points. Amonte was on his heels with 68 points. Tkachuk, in his first and only NCAA season, added 40 points. Tons of speed on both flanks and an immovable object in the middle. Cripes, what a line.

Second line: The NHL profiles of Gaudreau (BC) and Eichel (BU) are far from completion. Given how they’ve started their NHL careers, it is expected that both Hobey Baker winners will be among the best at their respective positions. If either Gaudreau or Eichel approach the career accomplishments of Mullen (BC), the first American to score 1,000 NHL points, that will be a very good thing.

Third line: It would be miserable to play against a trio of Gionta (BC), Drury (BU) and Guerin (BC). All three were dogged on the puck and usually won the battles in which they engaged. Guerin, in particular, was not afraid of ditching his gloves to claim his space. Gionta would have to play his weak side, but it’s not like he’d spend much time on the perimeter anyway. The 5-foot-7 firebrand made his living in front of the net.

Fourth line: In today’s game, it’s never bad to have more skill than sandpaper on the fourth line. If the opponents rolled out the meatheads, Stevens (BC), Janney (BC) and Young (BU) would be happy to go on the attack. Stevens could keep stronger defensemen honest with his muscle and give needed space to the creative Janney and Young.

First defensive pair: You could argue that Leetch (BC) was the greatest NCAA player of all time, even if his stay in Chestnut Hill lasted just one season. Aucoin (BU) did not play with the same panache as Leetch. But Aucoin, feared for his heavy shot, played in 1,108 NHL games, only 97 1150168 Buffalo Sabres

Dominik Hasek may run for president of Czech Republic

By Staff

Published Fri, Jul 26, 2019|Updated Fri, Jul 26, 2019

Dominik Hasek's passion for politics might soon lead him to a different post-playing career in his home country.

The Hall of Fame told Czech Republic website iDNES it is possible he will consider making a presidential run in the future. Until then, Hasek, 54, continues to own and operate his energy drink company, "Smarty." He also continues to do charitable work with the Buffalo Sabres Foundation and Hasek's Heroes, which provides underprivileged children with hockey equipment, ice time and coaching.

“One can imagine. Why not?” Hasek told iDNES when asked about a possible presidential run. “Now I have my job, which I really love and want to do it to the (fullest). But what will be in two (or) three years? And then I’ll decide. Everything is possible.”

Hasek, who played for the Buffalo Sabres from 1992-2001, has little political experience, however, he told iDNES that he studies three hours a day. Hasek spoke in May at the Million Moments for Democracy rally demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Andrej Babis and Marie Benesova.

Milos Zeman was elected to a second term as president in 2018 and is not allowed to run again. Speculation in the Czech media is that he might not finish his term.

“I like to do things that are responsible," he said in the interview. "I have no doubt that the office of the President is very responsible, so if I were to take it from this side, I would (have to) be excellent. But the president must have a number of other qualities, so we’ll see.”

He has been an iconic figure in Czech Republic since leading the country to a gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

Hasek won two Stanley Cups during his career, both with the Detroit Red Wings, and won the Vezina Trophy, which is awarded to the league's top goaltender, six times during his tenure in Buffalo.

Hasek posted a .926 save percentage and 2.22 goals-against average during his nine seasons with the Sabres, two of which ended with him being awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy.

Buffalo News LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150169 Buffalo Sabres and winning tight games, so I think he’ll be able to use that experience to help both of us. ...

"I think for Linus it’s a guy who’s going to push [him] and from what I’ve Mike Bales' objective: Make Sabres goalies 'best version of themselves' been told [Bales] is a straight shooter. He’s going to tell you what he thinks. For me, truthfully, I try to hold myself accountable and do that, but maybe for Linus it will be a little extra push. I think both of us will benefit By Lance Lysowski| from that."

Published Fri, Jul 26, 2019 Bales, a former teammate and coworker of General Manager Jason Botterill's, has yet to approach Hutton or Ullmark with in-depth technical

adjustments ahead of training camp. Conversations between player and Carter Hutton never thought much about the importance of the defensive coach have mostly involved life away from the rink. structure around him. The 33-year-old, like most National Hockey League Bales, though, has spent hours watching film from last season to goalies, was always consumed by keeping the puck out of his own net. diagnose what went wrong in net for the Sabres. His perspective changed after one season with the Buffalo Sabres. Buffalo ranked fifth in the NHL in 5-on-5 save percentage during the Repeated lapses in the defensive zone negatively impacted the team's season's first 25 games, a stretch that included the 10-game winning goaltending, leading to a historic second-half collapse and, ultimately, streak and saw both goalies face the ninth-most unblocked 5-on-5 shot Phil Housley's dismissal as coach. attempts during that span. "You realize the importance of the team in front of you – the quality of Those busy nights in goal turned ugly. The two goalies finished 25th in 5- chances," Hutton told The Buffalo News. "We want to have structure, but on-5 save percentage after a second-half collapse in which the team had I have to worry about my game. ... If it’s going to be a busy night or not a numerous breakdowns in the defensive zone. busy night, I have to make sure I’m consistent as possible." Ullmark and Hutton posted save percentages on high-danger scoring Housley's replacement, Ralph Krueger, hasn't revealed many details chances of .845 and .807, respectively, according to about how he plans to remedy the Sabres' defense. However, his NaturalStatTrick.com. Comparatively, Mrazek's was .863, though he approach will include the addition of one of the league's most successful faced fewer high-danger chances than Ullmark and Hutton. goalie coaches: Mike Bales, who helped the Pittsburgh Penguins' goalies win back-to-back Stanley Cups, guided the Carolina Hurricanes' tandem Martin Biron, a former Sabres goalie who was a teammate of Bales' in to the Stanley Cup playoffs last season and joined the Sabres last month. Rochester in 1997-98 and currently works as a television analyst for MSG, theorized that the regression in Buffalo's net last season resulted Bales, who will also collaborate with the coaching staff on offensive- and from the beginning to focus too much on the defensive-zone defensive-zone structure, does not plan to reinvent the way either Hutton structure around them. or Linus Ullmark play in net. Instead, he wants to work with both goalies to help them avoid the mistakes that plagued them during the second half "I think what happened is you get to a point where you are standing on of last season. your head, especially early in the season, things are going well and everything is positive," Biron said. "Then you start giving up goals where "Both are very talented guys," Bales, who spent the past two seasons in there’s a guy wide open on the back door and that’s a tap-in. Then you Carolina, told The Buffalo News in a recent phone interview. "They play a start worrying about, ‘Well, I've got to worry about the guy on the back little bit differently from each other. At the end of the day, you’re trying to door,’ and you start getting beat on clean shots. You start second- get that consistency out of them. There’s ebb and flows to the season. guessing yourself. You start to almost try to overthink every situation. Everybody has highs and everybody has lows. It’s limiting those peaks The consistency is out the window because you don’t have a solid plan, a and valleys and trying to get them to stay at their highest level. If we can solid base, and it’s not just because of your game." do that we’re obviously going to have a very successful season." Bales' plan for each goalie differs. Hutton is 33 and has played 188 NHL Bales resigned as the Hurricanes' goalie coach three weeks after the games – including a career-high 50 with Buffalo in 2018-19 – over the team was swept in the Eastern Conference final, a playoff run made past seven seasons. He has a firm grasp on technique, but Bales wants possible by outstanding goaltending. Carolina's 5-on-5 save percentage to help Hutton manage the inevitable frustration that comes from an 82- improved from 30th to 12th over the past two seasons, despite its team game season. defense allowing the 10th-most high-danger scoring chances in the NHL in 2018-19. Ullmark, who is currently an unsigned restricted free agent, will turn 26 this month and has played 63 NHL games over the past four seasons, Their goalie tandem, Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney, helped the most recently a career-high 37 in 2018-19. Bales plans to help Ullmark team combine for the 15th-best high-danger save percentage in the with both the physical and mental aspects of the game. Ullmark, is 6 feet, league. 4 inches and athletic but can struggle with his technique. Bales, a 47-year-old whose post-playing career began in 2011 as a The Sabres' defensive structure will be one of the more prominent development coach with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey storylines entering training camp in September, yet any adjustments League, had similar success upon being promoted to the Penguins prior made by Krueger will hinge on his goaltending. to the 2013-14 season. "The first part is getting to really know the guys on a personal level, which The Penguins were swept in the Eastern Conference final during the takes time," Bales said of his process. "Obviously, I go through video and lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, when they ranked sixth in 5-on-5 look at different aspects of their game, things that we can work on and save percentage. They were 29th in that statistic in 2011-12, and Marc- figure out areas to improve. Andre Fleury, the first overall draft pick in 2003, was marred by inconsistency, particularly with his technique in goal. "The biggest thing for me is to get to know the guys and start working together with them to try to figure out how we can best move forward, get The team's 5-on-5 save percentage made gradual improvement over the them to be as consistent as possible and get them to play to their next four seasons, finishing 22nd, 13th, fifth and seventh, respectively. strengths. I always say I like to help guys become the best version of With Fleury out because of injury during the Stanley Cup run in 2016, themselves. Guys have a lot of strengths and weaknesses. You try to Matt Murray, a 22-year-old, broke the record for most postseason wins build on the strengths and improve the weaknesses as best as you can." by a rookie and posted a .923 save percentage and 2.08 goals against- average. Buffalo News LOADED: 07.27.2019 Fleury and Murray then combined for a .931 5-on-5 save percentage during their second consecutive Stanley Cup run the following spring.

"It’s obviously great," Hutton said of Bales' resume. "He has the accolades to go with it. He’s coached players in high-pressure situations. If you look at the last few years here he’s been really successful, whether it was in Pittsburgh or Carolina. We need to be playing those tight games 1150170 Calgary Flames Sutherland said that projections released by the city would represent the arena’s lowest possible usage during its earliest days, or a sort of worst- case scenario.

Ticket tax for new arena would be a fraction of Edmonton's fee — But He said it will take time for events like concerts to build up and keep the why? arena busy throughout the year in between Flames, Hitmen and Roughnecks games.

SAMMY HUDES “The modelling was on very, very low usage,” said Sutherland. “I anticipate once it gets kicked in and they start doing stuff — that should Updated: July 26, 2019 happen over a period of time — it should generate significantly more money than the current modelling does.”

Asked why the ticket tax is so much lower than the one up north, A ticket tax for events held at the proposed new Calgary arena falls short Sutherland pointed to a more balanced agreement between the Flames of the threshold that would be needed for the city to recoup its investment and the City of Calgary. in the facility, one economist says. The $483.5-million agreement to build included a $226- Council is expected to vote Tuesday on whether to ratify the deal struck million contribution from the city and $132.5 million from Katz’s company, between the ownership of the Calgary Flames, the City of Calgary and before the ticket surcharge. the Calgary Stampede, which would see a $550-million arena built to replace the Saddledome. “Let’s be honest. The Edmonton deal’s not very good,” said Sutherland. “The Edmonton Oilers didn’t give $275 million.” Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp. and the city would each kick in $275 million to cover the building’s construction costs and split the Calgary Herald: LOADED: 07.27.2019 difference on any potential overruns. But the city projects more than $400 million in returns over the 35-year lease of the arena to the Flames, including $155.1 million from a “facility fee,” or ticket tax.

The city would retain two per cent of ticket revenue for all events hosted at the arena, including hockey games, concerts and Stampede events. The city’s total revenue generated from the fee would be capped at $3 million per year for the first five years of the lease.

But University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe questioned why city officials and the Flames settled on a ticket tax rate of two per cent. For the city to break even on returns from its investment, that tax should be in the range of six per cent, according to Tombe.

“The higher that ticket tax is, to the extent that it’s borne by the people attending events, which I think is the case, the lower the public’s contribution needs to be,” said Tombe.

“It does seem like that balance between the public contribution and the ticket tax needs further explanation.”

Tombe noted that the city’s 2017 proposal to the Flames included a higher ticket tax; $185 million in revenue from a user fee that would have covered one-third of arena costs.

“My impression is that the Flames view the ticket tax as the burden on them and not on the patrons of the events themselves,” Tombe said.

“So the question really does come down to how much (burden) of the ticket tax would be borne by the patrons rather than the Flames. That’s a complicated question. It really depends on how sensitive consumers are to prices. I think for an event like this, like hockey games, people are not overly sensitive to the price.”

The fee is notably smaller than the ticket tax applied to events at Rogers Place in Edmonton, which opened in 2016.

(City of Calgary)

The rate of that tax is set annually, according to terms set out in an agreement between the City of Edmonton and the Edmonton Arena Corp., a private company headed by Oilers owner .

The tax, which stood at 9.5 per cent last season, must cover the repayment of $125 million to the city over a 35-year term. Tombe said the rate is likely re-evaluated each year based on factors such as attendance levels and the total number of events held at the arena.

But he said the City of Calgary hasn’t provided enough information on how it settled on a two per cent levy to rationalize such a major difference.

“That is a discrepancy that I cannot explain,” said Tombe. “It is absolutely a good question.”

Coun. Ward Sutherland, vice-chair of council’s event centre assessment committee, said it was a figure decided on by the team that negotiated the deal with the Flames’ owners, headed by Barry Munro. 1150171 Calgary Flames “It’s too bad it has to go, but everything has its time in the world.”

Calgary Herald: LOADED: 07.27.2019

Dome sweet Dome: Architect of iconic Saddledome at peace with potential demolition

SAMMY HUDES

Updated: July 26, 2019

As the Scotiabank Saddledome meets its probable demise, the man who designed Calgary’s iconic arena says he’s comfortable if his building is torn down to make way for a new hockey rink.

An agreement between the City of Calgary and Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp. — which owns the NHL, WHL and lacrosse teams that call the Dome their home — includes plans to demolish the aging 19,000-seat arena to make way for a new NHL facility.

Council is scheduled to vote on the deal Tuesday..

Barry Graham, lead architect of the Saddledome, said he’s at peace with seeing it go.

“I’ve been around a long time,” said Graham, 80. “So I’ve seen a lot of them demolished. I’ve been in the architecture business for a long time, so it’s part of the world these days. There’s not much you can do about it. They get old and they need to be replaced.”

Graham, who has been retired for about two decades, said the Saddledome has served the Flames and the city well.

“It’s been a pretty good building for the city, I believe,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that these things happen. It’s like anything else. It wears out and it doesn’t suit the needs of what people are looking for right now, so I guess you just tear it down and start all over again.”

The Saddledome, which opened in October 1983, is now almost 36 years old. It’s the oldest NHL arena that hasn’t undergone major renovations.

Despite its association with western culture, Graham said that wasn’t the original intent when the Saddledome first started taking shape. His firm, Graham McCourt Architects (now GEC Architecture), actually settled on its now well-known design to satisfy a variety of technical and budgetary requirements.

“You’re looking for something that’s somewhat unique,” said Graham, who still lives in Calgary. “I can’t remember exactly what generated the shape of the building, but it was part of the process of developing various ideas and seeing how they look.

“It was fairly appealing in its shape and its purpose. It’s an iconic kind of shape.”

Graham called the Dome “certainly a building for its time.” Like all buildings, he said the arena had its shortcomings but has served its purpose for close to four decades.

It’s unclear what Calgary’s proposed new arena would look like, as officials say the city and its partners are still months away from discussing a design for the $550-million facility.

But Graham said it’s time for a “fresh look,” one that won’t be associated with the exterior of the Saddledome.

“I think it should start from Square 1. I don’t think anybody wants to repeat anything about the Saddledome. It was good for its day.

“The process is different for every building. You have to respond to the location and the program and, of course, there’s a major budget consideration, which you must allow for.”

If approved, shovels won’t be in the ground to build the new rink before 2021, according to the city. Construction is estimated to last three years, so the Flames won’t be moving out of the Saddledome before 2024.

“It was fun while it lasted,” said Graham. “There’s a lifespan and then you have to start all over again.

“I think everybody should be reasonably satisfied with how it turned out and how long it lasted. It was kind of an iconic building for the City of Calgary, which is nice to see. 1150172 Calgary Flames The councillor says he’s still scrambling to get information out about the agreement and he is still going over the fine print himself.

“This could be the best deal in the world. It could be the worst deal in the Ken King speaks out on Flames arena deal world. At this point, I don’t know,” says Farkas.

Farkas says a delay could be allowed by mutual agreement. They could Rick Bell ask the Flames and then “the ball would be in the Flames court.”

Or the puck would be in the Flames end.

Ken King isn’t thinking much about what a no vote on the arena would Coun. Evan Woolley pens a letter asking the city’s arena negotiating mean. team to ask the Flames for an extension so the public can discuss the arena deal into September. Obviously, Woolley wants the answer from “If there’s a no vote we go back to business as usual in the Saddledome the Flames before the arena vote Tuesday. and we try our very best to make it work. No threats. No nothing. We go back to work. Our owners are committed to Calgary,” says the vice-chair Farkas writes a similar letter. of the group who owns the Flames. Nenshi is ready.

“I have no interest in contemplating or speculating on what no means. “I’m not sure what dragging out this decision will do,” says the mayor. Call me the day after.” Does Nenshi think city council has made up its mind? City council is expected to vote Yes to the arena on Tuesday. If it is a no, the deal is dead but one day the city will still have to replace the “Yes,” he says. Saddledome. “But, you know, they always surprise me.” We will let Mr. King speak. Calgary Sun: LOADED: 07.27.2019 “They have a willing partner right now and I don’t know if they’ll have a willing partner when they decide it’s time. That’s a risk,” he says.

“That’s not a risk of us running away. But we’re in a position where our owners can cut a cheque right now. It’s tough in this market to cut a cheque for $275 million. I don’t know what the world will look like five years from now.”

What would happen five years from now?

“I think we go back to square one. I can’t predict what the appetite will be for that kind of investment,” says King.

“When you have capital allocated for something, that capital doesn’t sit there forever. It’s allocated for this now and, in the future, maybe it will be allocated for something else.”

Ken King isn’t thinking much about changing the deal. People argue for changes.

“We’re not renegotiating. We are not re-trading the deal. You can’t say: OK, we’ve agreed to this, now let’s see how far we can push the other party.

“It is what it is. If we put in more money, they’d be happier. If they put in more money, we’d be happier. It doesn’t work that way. An agreement is an agreement. You do not re-trade a deal.”

Ken King isn’t thinking much about city council delaying a vote on the deal.

“After all these years we’ve gone through this, I think it’s really important when you have a deal you should execute and get on with things.”

King adds it would be unfortunate if talk of delaying the vote is just code for trying to defeat the deal though he’s quick to say people have the right to do what they want.

“I’m not trying to convince anybody, including you, of anything. The deal has to stand on its merit. It doesn’t stand on some charm offensive. We’re prepared to proceed and our partner needs to decide if they’re prepared to proceed.”

Coun. Jeff Davison says if this arena deal goes in the toilet, if it’s killed by delay or killed outright this coming Tuesday, he will move to disband the city hall committee in charge of getting an arena.

“I have no Plan B. I don’t know that I would be the one to lead a Plan B. I don’t think it’s as simple as going back and saying: Hey Flames, we need to rejig this or this or this,” says Davison.

“The timeline is what the timeline is. Never assume in any business negotiation at any time that the person across the table from you doesn’t have other options.”

Jeromy Farkas is one councillor wanting more time.

Farkas says he’s undecided on the arena but doesn’t like the lightning pace to a vote on the deal. 1150173 Chicago Blackhawks 2. The Andrew Shaw love is real

Conventiongoers erupted when Shaw was introduced Friday, reclaiming his role as a fan favorite just a few weeks after returning to the Hawks in 5 takeaways from Day 1 of the Blackhawks Convention, including a trade with the Canadiens. building chemistry and Kirby Dach’s chances of making the team Truth be told, he’s also a favorite of his teammates — even if they’re reluctant to admit it.

By JIMMY GREENFIELD “It kills me to throw out compliments to Shawzy right away, but you have CHICAGO TRIBUNE | to,” Toews said. “We all know what he meant to our team. When we knew he was not coming back to our team a few years ago, there was a JUL 26, 2019 | 8:49 PM void and a feeling we were going to have without him in the locker room.

"He’s just such a competitor and the way he plays is a huge part to his personality. He’s a high-energy guy who the fans love for good reason. If it was hard for Blackhawks fans to watch their team adding and He’ll run through a brick wall for his teammates and he brings so much in subtracting players seemingly every other day, imagine how difficult it the locker room.” was for those who wear the sweater. Veteran Brent Seabrook couldn’t hold back his affection for Shaw. In the blink of an eye, Artem Anisimov, Dominik Kahun, Henri Jokiharju and John Hayden, among others, were gone. For Jonathan Toews, the “He’s one of the great guys in the game,” Seabrook said. “He’s one of changes were understandable but the frenzy of activity was unusual and those guys that always brings energy, whether it’s on the ice or off the a little disheartening. ice. You need those guys around to spark things. The season gets long. The season gets dragged out. You’re in some dark cities, some snow “It was half exciting and half kind of nerve-wracking not knowing every and weather and all that kind of stuff. A guy like Shawzie really brings day around July 1 and the draft (what) was happening,” Toews said. "You that energy, that fire.” never really know what’s going to happen or how things turn out. Obviously, it depends on what other teams are doing and what 3. Collin Delia said all the right things opportunities present themselves. But you never like seeing teammates move on to other teams, especially guys that you build relationships and The player affected the most by the Lehner signing was Delia, who was friendships with. in line for the backup-goalie job until Lehner’s arrival. They don’t come more mentally tough than Delia, who sharpens his mind by making “Looking at the guys who are coming in, hearing their reputation and leather goods and is preparing to open a store in Chicago. track record as teammates in their locker rooms and seeing what they bring as players and all of a sudden you start thinking about what they He likely will need to keep an eye on it from Rockford, though, because can bring to your team and where they fit into your roster. It’s exciting to he’ll probably open the season as the IceHogs’ starting goalie. think about all the possibilities right now.” “If anything it was reinvigorating,” Delia said. “If this is what I want to do, An aura of change was in the air Friday night at the 12th annual if this is the business I want to be involved in, things like this are going to Blackhawks Convention at the Hilton Chicago as newcomers Robin happen. I’ve met Robin. He’s a great guy. I’m really excited to pick his Lehner, Calvin de Haan, Olli Maatta introduced themselves to fans for brain on a lot of goaltending things. He had a great year last year. He the first time — and in some cases met their new teammates. went through a lot. To see him come out on top and have such a great year statistically is really inspiring for me. I can learn a lot from him.” De Haan, acquired from the Hurricanes, isn’t worried about fitting in on or off the ice. 4. Where is ?

“For me on the ice it’s all the same kind of stuff,” de Haan said. “It’s Crawford had a good excuse to miss this weekend’s convention: He shoot, pass, score. You skate around, you do whatever, you body-check. married longtime girlfriend Kristy Muscolino last weekend. That’s stuff easy. It’s the off-ice stuff takes a bit of getting used to. That didn’t stop questions about how the Hawks intend to split time Knowing guys (and) what their routine is. Do they play Xbox, what do between Crawford and Lehner once the season starts. they do for fun, stuff like that.” “It’s week to week,” goaltending coach Jimmy Waite said. “We’ll see how Here are four other takeaways from Day 1 of the convention: it goes. It’s a good problem to have if you have two goalies like that. They 1. Patrick Kane and Toews like what they see in top pick Kirby Dach both know that it’s a big year for us and they’ll be ready to go.

Adam Boqvist and Dach, the Hawks’ top draft picks the last two years, :It’s hard to predict how it’s going to go, how many games (each) is going were the only prospects brought to the Waldorf Room to talk with the to play. Everything is going to settle it by itself.” media. Chicago Tribune LOADED: 07.27.2019 Boqvist electrified crowds at last week’s development camp, but considering the Hawks have a crowded group of veteran defensmen, he is probably going to start the season with Rockford.

Dach is a different story. The Hawks have better forward depth than they did a year ago, but general manager Stan Bowman has said repeatedly he intends to give Dach, the No. 3 pick last month, a chance to make the team. Kane has liked what he has seen.

“He’s one of those guys that looks like he can skate well for a big guy but he can also control the puck really well,” Kane said. "Long reach, so you can see the comparisons when they talk about him maybe being like a (Ryan) Getzlaf type of player. But it seems like he can skate really well too. It looks like he has a big, athletic build. Looking forward to seeing what those guys can do in camp and let it play out the way it is.

So could Dach make the opening-day roster? Toews isn’t counting him out.

“He’s one of those guys that could probably step in this year and cause a stir in training camp,” Toews said. “I’m excited to see what he can do. I’m not trying to add any pressure to him but I got the feeling he’s got that mindset he’s going to come in and not move over, not get out of the way for anybody and he’s going to want to make our team right off the hop.” 1150174 Chicago Blackhawks Nevertheless, the Islanders decided not to offer Lehner, who turned 28 on July 24, more than a two-year deal. Instead, they gave free agent Varlamov, 31, a four-year, $20 million contract.

Robin Lehner believed he deserved a long-term deal — but the Islanders Varlamov hasn’t been a Vezina finalist since 2013-14. His save thought otherwise. Now, their loss is the Blackhawks’ gain. percentage last season with the Avalanche was .909, well below Lehner’s .930 mark.

By JIMMY GREENFIELD “I would lie if I said I wanted to go somewhere (else rather than) stay in Long Island on a long-term deal,” Lehner said. "The season ended, I felt CHICAGO TRIBUNE | like I was going to be prioritized. I saw two of my teammates sign long- term contracts within the next couple of weeks. I knew a long-term JUL 26, 2019 | 10:47 AM contract was negotiated for our captain (Anders Lee), and obviously it was disappointing. But it’s also a reality of we’re not there yet, and I have nothing against them. It just is how it is. There’s no hard feelings. Robin Lehner began writing and talking about his mental health and addiction issues last September. “But when (Hawks general manager Stan Bowman) called, it instantly turned, like it was a flip of a switch to me, where it was like, ‘OK, this is He hasn’t stopped since. going to be a nice place to just go and have a good year.’ Just focus on this year. I know there’s an opportunity if I perform that I probably can It’s a brave choice the new Blackhawks goaltender made with eyes open stay, but that’s not my mindset this year. My mindset is to come in and wide. There remains a social stigma attached to mental illness, and NHL play as good hockey as I can and contribute to this team for this year and teams aren’t rushing to hand out long-term contracts to drug addicts see what happens.” when they have other options. The risk to Lehner’s future, he knew, was vast. When Lehner first began talking to the Hawks, Bowman barely mentioned the addiction and mental health issues. He talked hockey and But the choice to continue talking about the issues affecting him is not what he felt Lehner could bring to the team by creating a powerful 1-2 entirely his own. Even after being one of the NHL’s top goalies with the tandem in goal with Corey Crawford. Islanders last season, when he was named a Vezina Trophy finalist, Lehner’s struggles and why he went public with them is often the first Other teams offered similar deals to the one the Hawks offered, Lehner thing he’s asked about. said, but this was an easy choice for him. On the first day of free agency, hours after the Islanders announced Varlamov as their new goalie, the That strikes him as contradictory because of this uncomfortable truth: His Hawks announced they had signed Lehner to a one-year deal worth $5 voice is only as powerful as his statistics. million. “We wouldn’t be having this conversation if I was godawful last year,” Lehner’s support system is firmly in place, but it’s comforting to him to Lehner said. know the Hawks have long been proactive in providing support for their If you follow hockey, chances are you have heard about Lehner’s journey players. from being on the verge of suicide to becoming a leading advocate for “They have a bunch of mental coaches,” Lehner said. “They have a transparency about mental health and addiction issues. therapist who works for the team. That’s the first team I came to that has You know this because Lehner, who signed with the Hawks earlier this that. Whether I’m going to use it or not, I don’t know, but they seem to month as a free agent, decided to use the loudspeaker he’s afforded as a emphasize the mental health and mental skills aspect more here than a top athlete to help those suffering in silence. lot of other teams that I’ve been on. That’s a positive, but that’s more after the fact. I just like what Stan told me and I really like this city.” Lehner isn’t silent anymore, and he’s no longer suffering as he was in March 2018, when after years of drinking, drug abuse and battling When Lehner first needed help, he entered a program supported by the demons, he finally sought and received help. NHL and NHL Players’ Association that’s available to every player. The Hawks have their own resources available, including two mental skills The last year has been transformative for him. Lehner entered the NHL’s coaches — who are also therapists — who always travel with the team, treatment program, spending nearly two months in rehab and coming to according to team physician Dr. Michael Terry. terms with a new reality about who he is. As Lehner wrote in a piece for The Athletic last September, a few months after leaving rehab: “I am an “We have access to and have had an addiction specialist speak to the addict that was diagnosed as bipolar and ADHD with PTSD and trauma.” team in the past,” Terry said. "That’s been a great resource for some of the guys. Then from a medical standpoint, our primary internal medicine That powerful article was just one part of Lehner’s openness, which has docs are excellent at kind of low-level things from a mental health led to widespread acclaim and resulted in a remarkable moment at last standpoint, the less complicated things. But they also are good at month’s NHL awards ceremony in Las Vegas. His acceptance speech for referring people for more in-depth therapy through some of the positions the Masterton Trophy — given to the player who best exemplifies “the that we have at Northwestern (Memorial Hospital) qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey” — sought to remove the stigma about mental health issues. “From a league standpoint, most of those efforts are duplicated. They have a program set up which is very comprehensive for the athletes with “I’m not ashamed to say I’m mentally ill,” Lehner told a national TV mental health or addiction needs. That allows (them) to see somebody audience. “But that doesn’t mean mentally weak.” outside of the organization. I think sometimes players may feel like they’ve got a stigma if they go through the team, and of course that’s not Less than two weeks later, the Islanders gave Semyon Varlamov, an the case. But they may be more comfortable going through the league, older goalie coming off a less successful season, a four-year contract. where all of that information is kept very private to protect the player’s They would be moving on without Lehner. confidentiality.” When Lehner signed with the Islanders as a free agent last July, he had To understand the kind of player the Hawks signed, it’s important to look not yet gone public with his issues and not yet proved he could still be an back before Lehner’s life changed with the decision to go public. He let effective goaltender. After his article was published, the Islanders people close to him know he was planning to publish an article about his supported him completely and without hesitation. issues. Every one told him not to do it. It’s extremely important to Lehner that there isn’t confusion about his [Most read] Review: Chance the Rapper’s new ‘The Big Day’ » appreciation for people within the Islanders organization over the past year. “The (NHL) program, agents, my lawyer, close friends ... everyone didn’t want me to publish it,” he said. “The NHL didn’t even want to put it on “They were just good human beings,” Lehner said. “That’s what I their website. I had to go through The Athletic. I was pretty much the described them as. They didn’t do anything special except be good driving force of it. Everyone who said no was being cautious and was just human beings. They are quality people and they care. They care about trying to be nice to me because they knew how big of an effect it can the person, not only the player, which I commend them for have. tremendously.” “It’s a big risk. I had just come out of rehab ... and I knew it was going to have people looking at me differently. I know business-wise it’s going to affect me, and I said this from day one, it’s going to play a role in my (contract) negotiations going forward. Obviously, less and less as the years go by of me being in a good place.”

Lehner deeply appreciates all the people who have reached out to him via email or social media. The number is so vast, he can’t reply to everyone wishing him well or telling him of their own issues. But he reads everything he can.

“Helping others helps myself because me talking about the right things and trying to show a path also helps me stay on that path,” he said. “It’s a little bit about hypocrisy too. I can speak about this as much as I want, but if I don’t do it, it will make me feel pretty bad about myself too. It helps me stay in a true lane.

“Service is a big part of my rehabilitation. It makes me feel good and helps with a lot of the things that I’m dealing with. ... I don’t try to do too much, too little. I do what I can.”

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150175 Chicago Blackhawks

Andrew Shaw is back, and the Blackhawks couldn’t be happier to have him

The Hawks recently reacquired Shaw from the Canadiens after trading him before the 2016-17 season for two second-round picks.

By Khobi Price

Jul 26, 2019, 8:00pm CDT

Andrew Shaw #65 of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates his third period goal against the St. Louis Blues in Game Six of the Western Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the United Center on April 23, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois.

None of winger Andrew Shaw’s old Blackhawks teammates could hide their excitement about having him back.

Sure, Shaw is coming off one of the best seasons of his career. He had a career-high 47 points last season and was a goal away from matching his career high of 20, which he set with the Hawks during the 2013-14 season.

But what many of his teammates missed and are happy to have back is the infectious energy he brings, on and off the ice.

‘‘The season gets dragged out, [and] you’re in some dark cities [with] snow and weather and all that kind of stuff,’’ defenseman Brent Seabrook said during the Hawks’ annual convention Friday at the Hilton Chicago. ‘‘And then a guy like [Shaw] really brings that energy, that fire. He’s probably over my shoulder right now, poking me.’’

Shaw returns to the Hawks a more mature and experienced version of the on-ice irritant that helped them capture Stanley Cup titles in 2013 and 2015.

But make no mistake about it: Even though he’s older and wiser, he hasn’t changed. He said he’s still the same guy and will bring the same noise in the locker room he used to.

‘‘I’m still going to have a lot of fun,’’ Shaw said. ‘‘I’ll still annoy guys from time to time, but it’s all fun and games. I have grown up. I’m older, I’m married, I have a lovely daughter and she’s made me change even more. But I’m still the same guy.’’

Captain Jonathan Toews said the Hawks understood what they were losing when they traded Shaw to the Canadiens after the 2015-16 season for two second-round picks.

Toews said Shaw is the kind of person who would run through a brick wall for his teammates.

‘‘He’s one of those guys you love to have on your team,’’ Toews said.

Winger Patrick Kane recalled a conversation he and Shaw had over dinner in Chicago before Shaw was traded back to the Hawks.

‘‘I remember him saying to me [that] if he got traded to one place, he’d want to come back to Chicago,’’ Kane said. ‘‘We’re fortunate it worked out and happy to have him back because he is such a great kid and brings a lot on the ice, as well. His game’s getting better and better, too, and probably better than we’d last seen him here in Chicago. He’ll definitely be able to help us out.’’

Shaw said he kept up with the Hawks and always had an eye out for how they were doing. He said it was tough to see them go from perennial contenders to missing the playoffs in consecutive seasons.

Shaw said the Hawks must recapture the success they had when he was last on the team and indicated he thinks their offseason moves will help.

‘‘They’ve made some great moves, getting tougher, grittier, stronger on the back end,’’ Shaw said. ‘‘I think everyone’s excited, and [it] has that buzz feeling. I think everyone’s ready for the season to start.’’

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150176 Chicago Blackhawks Delia said. “I want to eventually be the starter here one day, and I will have to do things each year to prove that.”

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 07.27.2019 Crawford-Lehner gives Blackhawks elite goaltending duo, but Collin Delia isn’t discouraged

The Hawks clearly see veteran Corey Crawford and star addition Robin Lehner as their top two goaltenders for 2019-20. Presumed No. 3 option Collin Delia has plans to re-enter his name into the conversation.

By Ben Pope@BenPopeCST

Jul 26, 2019, 7:33pm CDT

It was clear on Jimmy Waite’s face: The Blackhawks’ goaltending coach is very excited for the season to come.

Corey Crawford remains the franchise’s cornerstone goalie — for now — but the addition of Robin Lehner, a 2019 Vezina Trophy finalist, completely reconstructs the position group. With a pair this experienced and talented, Crawford’s injury struggles aside, Waite can hardly go wrong.

So perhaps one can’t blame him for writing Collin Delia, the 25-year-old that most thought had won the permanent backup job after he signed a three-year, one-way contract in February, completely out of the picture.

“It’s good for him this year to be able to play another year [in the AHL] and get some more experience and make sure that, when he comes in for good in the NHL, that you’re ready for it,” Waite said Friday at Blackhawks Convention.

But Delia himself has other plans.

“I’m heading into camp trying to be the starting goalie,” Delia said shortly after. “Even if somebody had me penciled in at the start of this year as a ‘2,’ I wasn’t going into camp trying to be a ‘2.’ I want to be a starting goalie in this league and for this team, and I think I have the ability. It’s not a matter of how, but when.”

Statistically, Lehner, 28, was the clear best of the three goalies last season — yet Crawford, and Delia were essentially identical.

The newcomer ranked second in the league last year with a .930 save percentage, albeit on a much more defensively stout Islanders team (with the Sabres the season before, his save percentage was .908.)

Crawford and Delia, meanwhile, both turned in .908 averages with the Hawks.

But of course, that doesn’t make them equal. The 34-year-old Crawford has proven himself repeatedly over his decade-long career; Delia was only signed two years ago as an undrafted college free agent.

And after returning on Feb. 27 from his second injury absence, Crawford recorded a .919 save percentage in 16 appearances the rest of the way, while Delia sunk his average with an .880 mark from Jan. 17 on.

“I thought he was the same old Crow, the last month or so,” Waite said.

Naturally, therefore, much of the attention has focused on how Crawford, not Delia, has responded to Lehner’s addition.

Crawford is one of few players not in attendance at the convention this weekend, but Waite said the move wasn’t made to send a message to him.

“Corey’s been hurt a lot the past two years,” the coach said. “Bringing in a second veteran guy, we had to do that this year [because] this is a very big year for us. We needed that to protect ourselves if something happens. Hopefully, everything’s going to go smoothly.”

Still, Delia can make a convincing case that his 2018-19 performance deserves a little more thought going into training camp than it’s receiving.

He’s watched Martin Brodeur clips all summer while working on his own puck-moving skills. He’s also about to open a leather store in Pilsen. He doesn’t sound like a man planning to leave Chicago soon.

“If anything, it was reinvigorating: If this is what I want to do, if this is the business I want to be involved in, things like this are going to happen,” 1150177 Chicago Blackhawks Crawford has been around the game professionally as a player or coach for nearly 40 years. He still has his familiar stylish, spiky hair but knows he brings more than that to a team that has missed the playoffs the last New assistant coach Crawford adds experience to Chicago Blackhawks two years. staff "I'm the gray hair on the team," said Crawford, who's old enough to be the 34-year-old Collitons's dad. "I think one of my big roles is to offer perspective." Joe Aguilar He's always had that as a coach. Follow @JoeAguilar64 Daily Herald Times LOADED: 07.27.2019

Grandma approved of him. To think a Stanley Cup-winning head coach would actually pick up the phone to talk hockey and grandson Wade with her.

"My grandma used to call him because she just loved him," Chicago Blackhawks assistant coach Sheldon Brookbank said of new Blackhawks assistant coach Marc Crawford, who coached Wade Brookbank (Sheldon's big brother) in Vancouver in the early 2000s. "He would take the call. My grandma would just want to say, 'You're doing such a great job.' (Laughing) Not like, 'Play my grandson!' "

Considering his resume, which also includes coaching Wayne Gretzky, Blackhawks fans figure to approve of Crawford, too.

The Blackhawks hired Crawford in early June. "Crow" -- yes, he and Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford share the same nickname -- was named interim head coach for Ottawa on March 1 after the dismissal of Guy Boucher. The Senators finished the season 7-10-1 under him.

"I loved being the head coach at the end of the year, but I'm really at ease and at peace with where I am in the hockey world right now," said Crawford, 58. "I love coaching, and I get as much of a kick out of being an assistant as I do being a head coach.

"I like the interaction that comes with being around young players and young people. It really helps me stay young. I like the way that they dress. I like the music that they listen to."

Crawford, a fourth-round draft pick by Vancouver in 1980, won the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year for the in 1995. The next season, the franchise moved to Colorado and Crawford's Avalanche won the Stanley Cup that season. He replaced Mike Keenan as head coach of Vancouver midway through the 1998-99 campaign, but six seasons later he was let go after winning a franchise-record 246 games.

He later had head-coaching stints with Los Angeles and Dallas, and was head coach of the 1998 Team Canada (Gretzky) squad that was surprisingly denied gold in Nagano. Before ending up in Ottawa, he coached in the Swiss National League.

"We've already learned a lot from him just having him in the room," said Brookbank, who joined head coach Jeremy Colliton's staff midway through last season. "He just gives us a different perspective because he's been through so much over the years. He's very open and willing to share. He's been incredible so far."

One year when he was coaching Vancouver, Crawford wanted to provide protection for stars Henrik and Daniel Sedin, so he put defenseman Wade Brookbank on a line with the twins. Brookbank scored goals in consecutive games.

"And (the Sedins) remembered it when they retired. They mentioned Wade being one of their favorite wingers," Crawford said with a laugh. "Wade doesn't talk to me anymore because I never played him with them again."

Coming to Chicago allows Crawford to reconnect with Wade Brookbank, a pro scout for the Blackhawks, and also provides him the opportunity to see his son regularly.

Dylan Crawford, 29, is a video coach for the Blackhawks.

"I got to work with my dad when I was working my way up in the junior coaching ranks," said Marc Crawford, a native of Belleville, Ontario. "My dad was our head scout/director of player personnel. I worked with him for two years. When the opportunity came up to come here, I was really excited because I'm never going to get this opportunity again to go to work with my son." 1150178 Chicago Blackhawks "We feel that's what we were missing. We've added a little bit of physicality and an edge. We need to have that dimension."

As the club's best and most responsible defensive forward for much of Blackhawks will try to lighten Toews' load this season his career, Toews has always drawn tough assignments, allowing others to freelance and pile up points.

Barry Rozner It sounds like Colliton wants to feel more comfortable playing different lines in different situations, not tied to specific matchups. Follow @BarryRozner If you look at the last few Stanley Cup champs, you see their ability to roll four lines and three sets of defense with less of a concern for which line was out there in a given situation. As his stars were getting older in Detroit, Mike Babcock made it a point to save their minutes wherever he could. "We want to be flexible with how we can build our lineup," Colliton said. "I'd like to be a little less reliant on certain players who can play against He used younger legs on the penalty kill from the start of camp each year the other team's top players. We'd like to use more of our group. in order to prepare them for the job, not thrown in during the season and surprised by the responsibility. "We want to have a flow to the team where we can play at a high pace and put pressure on teams over 60 minutes, and to do that you need More than six years ago, the question was put to Joel Quenneville about depth in your roster." possibly saving Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa in that regard, but his answer was simply that they're still good at what they do and it hasn't Obviously, there will still be moments when Toews is called upon to been a burden for them. handle the job.

All these years later, Toews was still on the Hawks' first PK unit last "There are certain times when you are concerned with matchups," season, picking up several extra shifts per game, but he's 31 and will Colliton said, "but we want to have more of the group able to play against reach 900 games played around Dec. 1, while averaging a career-high anyone, and feel like we're going to come out on the positive end of it. 21 minutes a game last season. "I think we made some major headway there. We've really increased the It would be a huge benefit to Toews and the team if they could relieve depth in our group. In goal, on defense, up front, we have competition Toews of this task. throughout the roster for roster spots, for roles."

"We could. That's an option," head coach Jeremy Colliton said a few Being able to roll all the lines and all the defense has been a hallmark of minutes before the puck dropped on the Blackhawks Convention Friday the best teams the last few years, and the Hawks are no longer able to afternoon. "We could build the lineup that way. get away shortening the bench for so much of the game.

"Part of what we want is to be able to use people according to who we're Whether they are deep enough and talented enough to compete with the playing and what the matchup looks like, and how best we think we're best teams will be determined many months from now, but depth will at gonna win that night. least allow their best players a break.

"Offensively, (Toews) had as good a year as he's ever had and there's no And if it means Toews doesn't have to kill every penalty anymore, that reason he can't do that again. will only benefit the veteran.

"But we ask him to do that while we're also asking him to take every Even if he's not quite ready to give up some of those minutes. single defensive zone faceoff, every single PK shift -- the first one and often twice -- and to match up against top lines. It's hard. Daily Herald Times LOADED: 07.27.2019

"It's not that he can't do it -- and he will do it at times -- but maybe it doesn't have to be every single time. I think we'll get more out of him offensively throughout the year, and maybe he'll be fresh for the playoffs, which we expect to be in."

With a significant turnover on the roster, the Hawks have added several players with PK experience. This could allow Toews a break, and the captain is OK with that.

"There's going to be games where some guys aren't going, but I'm going and I want to be out there, and I want to be playing those big minutes," Toews said Friday. "But as a center playing the penalty kill, the power play, 5-on-5, it's not easy playing 22 or 23 minutes four nights a week.

"When you get your minutes down, it only helps your third and fourth lines stay in the game and lets them do their job, too."

Toews then smiled and wondered why this interrogator wanted to cut his ice time, since no player in the history of hockey has ever wanted fewer shifts.

"You're supposed to get me more minutes," Toews laughed. "No, I think guys like (Ryan) Carpenter and (Zack) Smith will definitely help win crucial draws in the defensive zone and take up some PK minutes.

"That depth of the bottom six and guys who can play two-way hockey is only going to help. When you balance those minutes out, everyone plays better."

It's not just that Toews plays heavy minutes and draws all the toughest defensive assignments, but the man doesn't ever play an easy shift. It's admirable that he plays so hard, but he doesn't need to be the only guy playing the most difficult minutes.

"We have more versatility to our team," Colliton said. "We have defenders who can play either side. We have guys who want to kill penalties and defend and take that role. We have forwards who can play different positions, play against good players. 1150179 Chicago Blackhawks

'One of the great guys in the game': Andrew Shaw fills void Blackhawks have been lacking on and off the ice

By Charlie Roumeliotis

July 26, 2019 11:55 PM

The Blackhawks didn't want to trade Andrew Shaw in the summer of 2016 but were forced to due to salary cap implications and the fact he was due a large raise. That's usually what happens when you win multiple Stanley Cups before the age of 23.

After he was dealt, Shaw's presence both on and off the ice was sorely missed. The package he brings to the table is an ingredient that has been lacking on the Blackhawks for a few seasons now.

Three years later and "The Mutt" finds himself back in Chicago, where he put on the Blackhawks sweater for the first time since the reacquisition and was welcomed back by fans with a roaring ovation at Friday's Opening Ceremonies at the 12th annual convention.

Thunderous ovation as Andrew Shaw is welcomed back to Chicago by #Blackhawks fans. pic.twitter.com/U4Os8plc3n

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) July 26, 2019

And Shaw's former — and now current — teammates are thrilled to have him in their dressing room again.

“It kills me to throw out compliments to Shawzy right away, but you have to,” captain Jonathan Toews said. “We all know what he meant to our team. When we knew he was not coming back to our team a few years ago, there was a void and a feeling we were going to have without him in the locker room.

"He’s just such a competitor and the way he plays is a huge part to his personality. He’s a high-energy guy who the fans love for good reason. He’ll run through a brick wall for his teammates and he brings so much in the locker room.”

The part of Shaw's on-ice ability that the Blackhawks really admire is that he can play any style and anywhere in your lineup. Need him to deliver a big hit? He'll do it. Need him to block a shot? He'll do that, too. Need him to play wing or center? He can do both. And he can do it on any of the four lines.

"It's exciting," Patrick Kane said. "He's a really fun kid to be around, great for the locker room. We were actually having dinner in Chicago a couple days before [the trade] just kind of talking about certain things. I remember him saying to me if he got traded the one place he'd want to come back to is Chicago, so fortunate it worked out and happy to have him back because he is such a great kid and brings a lot on the ice as well.

"He's a guy, you look at his year last year, he scored [47] points, almost 20 goals, so his game's getting better and better too and probably better than when we last saw him here in Chicago. I'm sure he's looking for a bigger role, he'll definitely be able to help us out and happy to have him on our side again."

Perhaps more importantly is that Shaw's personality is perfect for the camaraderie of the group. The most common trait among championship teams, in any sport, is the bond between the players. Every successful team needs guys like Shaw to keep things loose at the rink and also away from it.

“He’s one of the great guys in the game,” Brent Seabrook said. “He’s one of those guys that always brings energy, whether it’s on the ice or off the ice. You need those guys around to spark things. The season gets long. The season gets dragged out. You’re in some dark cities, some snow and weather and all that kind of stuff. A guy like Shawzie really brings that energy, that fire.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150180 Chicago Blackhawks with Jeremy [Colliton] and our new coaching staff, we're pretty confident that we're going to get off on the right foot this season. Obviously we've got to work really hard to do that — there's nothing given to you — but After active offseason, core group confident Blackhawks can get back to we feel good considering where we're at right now. playoff contention "And if we get back to the playoffs, anything can happen. It comes down to belief, it comes down to everything we do on a daily basis to try and build that team chemistry and belief that we have in the locker room. I By Charlie Roumeliotis think that's really what it comes down to is having that good feeling when you're going into the playoffs, knowing that when you get out of that first July 26, 2019 9:00 PM round there's no telling how far you can go these days."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.27.2019 The Blackhawks roster looks vastly different now than when it ended the 2018-19 season. That was evident during Friday's Opening Ceremonies at the 12th annual Blackhawks Convention, when new faces were introduced to the jam-packed crowd at the Hilton Chicago.

GM Stan Bowman has reshaped the lineup through free-agent signings and trades, and while it may be difficult to see some players go, the Blackhawks are excited about the new additions going into the 2019-20 campaign.

"It was half exciting, half kind of nerve-wracking not knowing every day," captain Jonathan Toews said. "It felt like July 1, even around the draft too, things were happening. You never really know what's going to happen or how things turn out. Obviously it depends on what other teams are doing and what opportunities present themselves, but you never like seeing teammates move onto other teams, especially guys that you build relationships and friendships with.

"But looking at the guys that are coming in, hearing the reputation, the track record that they have in their locker rooms and seeing what they bring as players and all of a sudden you start to think what they can bring to your team and where they fit into your roster. It's exciting to look at all the possibilities right now."

After winning three Stanley Cups in six years and earning a postseason berth for nine straight seasons, the Blackhawks haven't made the playoffs in two straight seasons, haven't won a playoff game in four and haven't won a series since the 2015 Stanley Cup Final. They don't like sitting on the sidelines when the meaningful hockey is being played, and they're hoping to change that.

"It's been a long summer," Patrick Kane said. "I think all of us are looking forward to getting back to training camp and getting this thing going again. We want to be in the playoffs, but it's not like because we have a better team all of a sudden you're guaranteed a spot. We have to go about the progressions, we have to go through training camp, we have to go through preseason, we have to go over to Europe to have a good start to the season over there.

"Obviously you don't want to look too far again, you kind of just want to enjoy the moment you're in right now and that's obviously training, getting ready for camp, getting yourself as ready as possible. It's where we're at, but I kind of like the direction the team's heading. It seems like with a lot of the players we have this year there will probably be more defined roles and that'll be good for us."

The Blackhawks have used the past couple seasons to retool on the fly and building the farm system back up. Players like Adam Boqvist, Kirby Dach, Ian Mitchell and Alex Nylander give the organization hope for the future.

But right now the Blackhawks are focused on becoming a perennial playoff contender again, and giving themselves a chance to get back to the top of the mountain.

"Look at the moves Stan and the management team has made, I think we're all excited and we're all looking forward to getting back into camp and getting this thing rolling," Brent Seabrook said. "We've got an opportunity to be a competitive team. Our goal is to make the playoffs and give ourselves a chance to win it."

And the core group is confident that they can help make that happen again, especially after watching the chaotic Stanley Cup Playoffs where anything is possible.

"At the end of the day the core group, we're all confident in ourselves that we keep building this team in the right direction," Toews said. "We add some grit, some character, some guys that can play different roles, we get that belief back and especially with the way we finished the season last year, I'd say the latter half of the season, the way things were going 1150181 Chicago Blackhawks It’s hard to believe 10 years have passed since we’ve won it. It was a Stanley Cup that none of us even knew we won until one of our players disrobed as he was going down the ice. And I think people are going to A conversation with John McDonough, Part I: ‘It’s been humbling. You remember that because there’s still a mystery around that. Like, where’s know it’s been humbling.’ the puck? And it would have been probably been inconceivable to think two or three years earlier that the Blackhawks were going to win the Stanley Cup. Coming back here, enjoying all of it. Remember the day of the parade, we don’t know if it was going to be 100,000 people or By Scott Powers 200,000 people. We’re down here on one of the buses, and on a police Jul 25, 2019 radio they had estimated the attendance to be 2 million people.

I think one of the events that helped changed the course of the franchise was the outdoor game at Wrigley Field. I think that’s something that There were no time limitations. Blackhawks fans looked at and just say, OK, that’s probably destined for other teams, not necessarily for us. But now something unique that has There were no set topics. an aura and a mystique, something good is happening, something It was just an invitation to talk about the state of the Blackhawks leading different is percolating over there. But all that led up to the all of this into this weekend’s fan convention. coming together. The importance of hiring Joel (Quenneville), how he was the perfect fit for all this. Bringing in Marian Hossa, that in my Blackhawks president John McDonough sat down at his desk Thursday opinion, we don’t win three Stanley Cups without Marian Hossa. I don’t morning, I sat down across from him and for nearly 60 minutes we talked know if you win any. But you got Marian Hossa come in and Brian about the Blackhawks. This is first half of that conversation. The second Campbell and other free agents that played a role, and other players that half will run Saturday. just emerged in the 2010 Cup team. It wasn’t just your primary players, you think back now and you had Andrew Ladd and you had Dustin How much has the fan convention evolved from the idea you first had Byfuglien and Colin Fraser and Adam Burish and all these guys who with the Cubs? They just went on 34 years. This will be 12 years for the played a role, it was a significant role. Blackhawks. This is something you’ll always be remembered for. You obviously had a long of string of successful seasons. This has now The genesis was really to break down the barriers. This was pre-sports been your longest string of unsuccessful seasons since you’ve been talk radio. This is pre-fan fest. The idea was to break down the barriers president. What have you learned during this down period? between the fans and the players and the management. To give them an opportunity to engage with them, to ask questions, to meet them, to be in Well, the lesson that I’ve learned, and it’s not really a lesson, is really more of a social setting and then obviously the autograph thing realizing that you got to reinvent this every single year. That we’ve seen happened. I think one of the reasons it was so successful is from the the game go in the last 10 years from being a heavier game, more beginning I asked Harry Caray to be the honorary chairman. We had a physical game, fighting played a role in the game before, now it’s speed very good relationship. He agreed to it. I basically told him this was going and skill, and it will probably at some point spin back again. But the to be a cocktail party for about 10,000 people. He said, “I’m onboard.” consequence of the reality of the salary cap is you draft well, you develop well, players are paid the requisite amount they should be paid What it’s become, I’m incredibly proud of. I knew we had a very commensurate with their performance, you’re not going to keep successful event on our hands when we won the division in 1989, and everybody. So, you’ve got to make real good decisions, prudent they were scalping convention passes on Michigan Avenue. We had, decisions on the complimentary players, people that you know may not whatever, 12,000 or 15,000 people. The Cubs convention has been sold show up on the scoresheet every night, but they add a lot to your culture. out ever since. Ours has been sold out. I think it’s an opportunity for fans Goaltending is absolutely critical, absolutely critical, which we’ve found to express their allegiance to the team, get a little bit closer and just kind out the last few years certainly. of spend three days basking in that. That you might be walking down a hallway or going into a bar or a restaurant, and you might see somebody But it’s been humbling. You know it’s been humbling. When you finish who played, had a snapshot moment in your life that was very significant. first in the Western Conference as we did in ’16 during the regular So, it’s been good. I think it’s been good for the Cubs. I think it’s been season, and you don’t make the playoffs the following year, that’s a fall very good for the Blackhawks. I’m very proud of it. I’m very glad to see from grace. That gets your attention. And it certainly got our attention. what they’ve done with it. And it’s worked for us. We’re entitled to none of this. Was it a great decade? It was a great decade. But now it’s about we’ve had nine or 10 player transactions I think this year will be the best representation we’ve ever had. We don’t during the offseason, the team I think is going to have a bit of a different compensate the players. The players come in. Because our players, like personality. But we recognized, and we did recognize a few years ago, the Cubs’ players, they get it. The current guys, the former guys, the the conference is tougher. We still have a very, very good group of core broadcasters, the draft choices, they’re committed to this. We explain to players. Our window is open. But a lot of things have to go right. But them what this is. Because players coming in from another organization, very, very humbling, very, very sobering, but yet very, very inspiring to this is completely foreign to them. They don’t have conventions. What is get back into the tournament and do a lot of damage and get it done a convention? So, you have 12,000 people descend on downtown again. Chicago in the middle of the summer or with the Cubs in the dead of the winter. It’s unique. But it’s been very, very successful. I think you learn about people through adversity. Stan Bowman as the Blackhawks’ general manager also had a long run of success from when With the anniversary of the 2009-10 team coming up, a lot of those he first took over that position. You’ve shown a lot of confidence in him players will be in town this week. Have you had a chance to reflect on throughout the ups and downs. What have you learned about him the that season, what that Cup team means to the city? past few years? How do you assess his performance this offseason in Well, I think that was kind of the lightning strike. So, some good things terms of turning this around? were happening when Rocky (Wirtz) took over. They sensed some things Well, first of all, Stan as a general manager is unwavering. I recognize where happening. The sellouts started. You know we went to the there’s a fair amount of criticism. I understand that. When you don’t Western Conference final. It kind of progressed almost systematically succeed, there’s going to be criticism with everybody. Stan is I believe when most things don’t. You talk about, OK, well, there’s this plan. You’re impervious to that. He is tireless. He’s very bright. He’s the ultimate going to get younger, then you’re going to acquire Marian Hossa, then networker. I couldn’t ask for anything more in a general manager. We’re this is going to roll into a very successful run for your franchise. I’m not so in the results business. That is what ultimately matters. I get that. But my sure about plans. I think that you’ve got to have the ability to audible faith in Stan Bowman is incredibly strong. He has contributed so much to because plans do change. But this came together pretty well. this organization. We’re looking forward for really good things. When you win the Stanley Cup, you’ve got to have breaks. You’ve got to We had a hockey summit yesterday where we had Stan, myself, Rocky, have talent. You’ve got to have supernatural things happen that maybe Al (MacIsaac), Ryan Stewart, Mark Kelley, Jeremy (Colliton), the haven’t happened before, some things along the well. You’ve got to have coaching staff, Barry Smith, Scotty Bowman, and it was incredibly great coaching. And the regular season in our sport doesn’t even healthy. We’ve done this now for two years. And it’s really, let’s talk about resemble the postseason. Every other sport, it’s pretty close, it’s pretty our business, but let’s maybe go to those dark areas that, wow, this is a close. But it’s exciting. tough subject to bring up, and we’re talking about in front of our owner. It was very, very healthy. We talk about our process and our system every difference. I think adding Tomas Mitell, I think adding Marc Crawford, a day, and I’m a real big believer that if you do have a good process and a seasoned veteran that is here to help Jeremy, who has a lot of good decision-making system, the wins are going to come, the results experience, you know Sheldon Brookbank was with him last year, I think are going to come. They have not the last two years, and that’s that’s going to help him immensely. He’s very, very confident. I think he’s disappointing. I could sit here, and I can say some of it has been got some momentum. But I don’t think he takes anything for granted. circumstantial. There have been some circumstances which I could point He’s been around the coaching ranks for a while, he played in the NHL. I to, but our fans don’t want any excuses. They don’t want any excuses. think he’s a new breed of coach, and I think we’re going to be very They want results. They are accustomed to the bar being very high. successful in his tenure. They’re accustomed to summer celebrations. They really like parades. And anything short of that to our fanbase is a disappointment. I get that. At Colliton’s introductory press conference, you said you thought last So we’ve ratcheted that up sky high. Now we have to live up to those year’s team was a playoff team. Colliton said in retrospect he didn’t standards or try to live up to those standards. understand how long it would take the core players to learn a new system and break some habits. Looking back, do you feel like you put So we’ve learned an awful lot in the last two years. It’s not easy here. It’s any undue pressure on him? not easy here. There’s a lot of challenges. There’s a lot of dialogue. I empower the hockey people to make the decisions. They’re responsible We’re all under pressure whether I articulated that I thought this was a for obviously making all the personnel decisions. We talk about system playoff team, and I think for a day we were or a couple hours (laughs). and process and what kind of team do we want to have, and then it’s up But I don’t think it put any undue pressure. This is the Chicago to Stan and his group to go ahead and Norm Maciver and put that group Blackhawks. It’s an Original Six franchise and a great hockey market. together. And if our expectations are short of making of the playoffs or if I articulate something different … the expectations are high here. Jeremy Was there more urgency this offseason? Not that you’re not looking to understands that. win every year, but it felt like last offseason some band-aid moves were made, and this offseason — and you did have more cap space — it I know what you brought up all the time about if there’s any additional seemed like moves were made with more purpose to fix specific areas. pressure. I didn’t want him and I don’t want him, nor do I want Stan, to make any decisions based on the fact that there’s more urgency or I think so. We have more cap space, that’s part of it. I don’t think there’s there’s more pressure or this year is going to be the year that’s going to any more urgency. I would like to think there’s a strong sense of urgency tell the direction of our franchise. With Jeremy, there had to be patience. every year. It was difficult last year where obviously our penalty kill … we He had to earn the trust and respect of our players. It took a while. You had a very poor season on the penalty kill. It was almost indescribable know that. You’ve talked to Jeremy. I’ve read what you’ve said. I don’t that we would be ahead in a game and relinquish that lead in many know if that took him by surprise, but he’s brand new to the league. I instances within 60-90 seconds or two minutes, and that kind of became think part of it was the shock and the move with Joel. I don’t think the a trend. And our penalty kill was just ineffective. Addressing that, a lot of players saw it coming. I think it took them a while to adjust. Here’s a guy, people in our industry that have rich, robust backgrounds will say that it’s the only voice they’ve heard for 10 years, they’ve won three Stanley your best penalty killer is your goaltender. So, we feel very fortunate to Cups, they’ve had incredible success, and now someone new is coming have acquired Robin Lehner, and we think he’s going to play a role. in, so he’s going to be tested. And I think he was, and I think he prevailed, and I think the players feel very, very satisfied and confident But there are so many parts of this that need to come together. You’re that he’s their head coach. going to have nine or 10 new players on the roster. It’s going to look different. Your core guys are still together. But I’m very, very optimistic. But there were definite challenges. And I would have conversations with I’m optimistic about the young players that are coming. We talk about this Jeremy when I would run into him over at the practice facility or here, and reference too, and this isn’t one of those examples that it’s easy and it’s he’s up to it. I never saw any weakness whatsoever. If anything, I think convenient to use when you’re a situation like we were, the St. Louis he was more determined than ever. The tougher it got, the more Blues had the worst record in the NHL on Jan. 1. That’s just the reality of determined he was. Because he could tell this thing was going to turn our game. The L.A. Kings won the Stanley Cup a few years ago as the and it did. eighth seed in the conference. So, those things can happen. Some would say there should be more urgency and pressure on Stan for But we want to get off to a good start. That’s important. We want to play the upcoming season based on the last few years. How do you balance better at home. That’s very, very important. We want to make it difficult your expectations for that position with what’s occurred the past few for teams to come in here when they know they’re going to be playing in years? front of 22,000 people and make this a very difficult building to play in again. But it’s been very, very challenging because we know what the Well, I have to look at the body of work. Do I think Stan is any less expectations are, and the expectations come from Rocky, they come effective today than he was two or three years ago? He’s 45, 46 years from me. From a standpoint, are we on it? We’re on it. We know the old. He started as the youngest general manager in the NHL, I think, to psyche of our fanbase. win a Stanley Cup. I’ve never see him work harder, be more committed. But when I talk about … I don’t want Stan to make any right-now There was a report Stan Bowman could be working on a contract decisions. We need to have sustained success. It’s not just about 2019- extension. Is that something that’s in the works? 2020. It’s we feel there are a lot of good, young players in our systems. I don’t want any knee-jerk decisions that are going to feel good now that I’m not going to get into really Stan’s contract status right now. He’s in we’re going to regret. good stead. I’m proud of the job that he’s doing. At some point if there’s something to announce, we will. That’s a hot seat. Any general manager, it’s not what have you done for me lately. What have you done for me today? What have you done for What did you learn about Jeremy Colliton this past season? me today to make our jobs better? I can cite other examples in Chicago. I learned that we put this guy in a really difficult situation. You bring a guy We’ve won three Stanley Cups in 10 years. Other people play a role in in from Rockford who had a very successful year, his first year coaching that, I understand that. But for the ingredients I look for in a general in North America, and he’s replacing a legend, a day one Hall of Famer manager, I’m really proud of Stan. But that’s the hot seat. That’s where in Joel Quenneville. A very tough, emotional decision on behalf of the everybody gets a chance, you got to work, you make very public organization and then you put him into this. It had to be the ultimate decision, so people are invested in this. I look at the fans that come to challenge for him. As you know in sports, in any sport, from day one our games, they’ve investors in our product. So every move, every you’re not granted respect. You’ve got to earn respect. Over a period of decision, I get letters. It’s micro-scrutinized. I go to restaurants, I go to time, he did a terrific job of earning the respect of our players. Winning malls, I go with my family, wherever you go people weigh in on decisions and losing looked the same to him. you make. I think that’s great because people care about the Blackhawks. They care about them. That wasn’t the case 12 years ago. I’ve been doing this for 39 years, the streak we went through from shortly We were a roamer. There was indifference here. There was resentment. after he started, it might have been a 12-game span, I’d never seen That’s just the facts. anything like it. We were being tested. Everybody in this franchise was being tested. We’re down 2-, 3-0 with 14 minutes left in the first period But I have a lot of faith in him. I give him a lot of room. I give him a lot of seemingly for three weeks, and he stayed the course. I really like his space. Stan is not the kind of guy you smother. You give him room to energy. I think he’s very, very bright. I think he’s a good manager. He has breathe. We have a very good flow of communication, as I do with his coaching staff now in place, and I think that’s going to make a big Rocky. I think it’s been effective. But this is a business of what have you done for me right now and where are we.

As far as Jeremy is concerned, I think you’re going to see from day one the confidence. He’s got his coaching staff. He has been involved in the acquisition of the players that we’ve acquired in the offseason. He and Stan have a very good relationship, a very, very good relationship. They don’t always agree, and I like that. I like that. Jeremy’s very strong. He has a very strong personality, as does Stan. Stan, he’s very measured. There’s not a lot of emotion there, but he’s a very strong personality, and I like to see that. I don’t think friction sometimes is bad. But we’re all trying to do the same thing – we’re trying to make sure this organization going forward, not just in 2019-2020, that there’s something that this fanbase can be proud of for their entire lives. Not just remember from 2010 to 2016 the Blackhawks won three Stanley Cups. It’s there’s something there, there’s sustained success. It’s hard to win ever year. As a matter of fact, it’s hard to win, period. It’s hard to win once. But we recognize all of that is in the past. We’re not good sentimentalists. We’re not good at reminiscing and reflecting. It’s about today.

I always say you won too much. If you were the ’85 Bears, it lives on forever…

Well, I’ve heard other people say that, and I don’t know if that’s wrong. One of the things I’ve heard is you won too soon. I’ve heard that when we won in 2010. Like Rocky came in, you won too soon. You won too many in too short of a time. So, I really don’t know how to respond to that.

I think it galvanized the fanbase. I think this younger demographic that we’re going to need going forward, I’ve got three kids in their 30s, they are all-in. The generation after them, hopefully they’re all-in. This a different world. The social media world and knowing that’s critical that we tap into that. We talk about millennials or you talk about Gen Zs or you talk about people that may have been following sports may have been the Blackhawks of the previous golden era with (Bobby) Hull and Mikita, regardless of what generation, they want to be around success. They’re all addicted to winning. They want to be around success because they want to be at events that they can attend something they’ve never seen anything like this before. I went to a Blackhawks game, it’s compacted into two hours and 30 minutes, you can set your watch to it. If there’s a shootout or overtime, it’s probably 2:35. I know exactly when I’m going to get home. For those 2 1/2 hours, it’s going to be riveting, spellbinding and I’m committed to it. But I expect to see a good performance.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150182 Colorado Avalanche Makar had a successful playoff run with the Avalanche, to say the least, but his lack of experience showed in various situations.

On this play in Game 5 against the Calgary Flames, Makar was What history tells us to expect from Cale Makar confronted by high-end NHL speed in the form of Johnny Gaudreau. A blocked pass high in the Calgary zone caught Barrie and Makar poorly positioned for a Flames breakout. BY LUKE MARSHALL The two-game NHL veteran stood between Gaudreau and the Avalanche JULY 26, 2019 net before he got caught watching Sean Monahan’s pass and let Gaudreau get a step on him. His mental lapse in positioning led to a

penalty shot that would have changed the outcome of the game had The Cale Makar hype train is leaving the station. Conductor Joe Sakic Grubauer not made a spectacular save. asks you to take your seats and hold onto something. This is going to be In Game 2 against the San Jose Sharks, Makar was tasked with covering a wild ride. Evander Kane as the Sharks cycled in the offensive zone. Makar showed Sakic and company dealt Tyson Barrie to the Toronto Maple Leafs on solid positioning and strength to keep Kane from getting in scoring July 1, effectively doubling down on their confidence in the NHL newbie. position while the Sharks possessed the puck down low. He even lifted Following this move, the expectations for Makar are sky high and don’t Kane’s stick to keep him uncomfortable. seem to be coming back to Earth anytime soon, and for good reason. But as soon as the puck got to the point, Makar jumped out in front of Wherever Makar has gone, success has followed. He burst onto the Kane just in time for a Brent Burns wrist shot. The Sharks winger was not 2017 NHL draft scene with 75 points in 54 regular-season games as a only able to tip the shot but also collected his own rebound and slotted member of the Brooks Bandits, making him the number one ranked one in the back of the net while Makar laid helplessly on the ice. defenseman in the American Junior Hockey League and the sixth-best The fourth overall pick’s playoff performance was nothing short of point producer overall (the next best defenseman was ranked 30th). He mesmerizing, and I’m well aware that I’m nitpicking. However, opposing was just as impressive in the post-season, logging 18 points in 13 games teams will do everything in their power to make things difficult for a rookie en route to an Inter Pipeline Cup Championship. defenseman, especially one who commands top minutes. Makar is a Makar led all draft-eligible players by a wide margin with 198 net shot potential game-breaker, but he will make rookie mistakes in his first NHL attempts and 106 controlled zone exits. His metrics, combined with season. mesmerizing skating and puck movement, gave Colorado the confidence On the other hand, the Avalanche organization is well aware of the risks to take him fourth overall. associated with dishing their most productive defenseman in favor of an The then 18-year-old followed up a reasonable first campaign at the unproven 20-year-old. Their belief in Makar should not be taken lightly. University of Massachusetts (21 points in 34 games) with a season that The Calgary native first set himself apart when he propelled a historically proved he was NHL ready. As a sophomore, he led all NCAA underachieving hockey team into the national spotlight. Before he joined defensemen with 49 points (one point shy of leading all NCAA players) the UMass Minutemen, the program had never won a conference title. and ranked second in college hockey with a +33 rating. With Makar setting school records in points and assists for a He capped off a jaw-dropping season by leading UMass to their first-ever defenseman, the Minutemen not only won the but also Frozen Four appearance and winning the Hobey Baker Award for the top added a first-ever Frozen Four appearance and number one overall college player. ranking to their resume. His success combined with an unprecedented professional debut led the Makar led the program’s success but also transformed its culture. Avalanche to gamble on a rookie-led NHL blue line. The question remains: can Cale Makar fill the 59-point void created by Tyson Barrie’s “I’ve been a coach at this level for seven years now and he’s far and departure? away the best player I’ve seen on the ice at this level,” UMass head coach Greg Carvel told ESPN. “If you’re around people who are While Makar has defied expectations just about everywhere he’s played, performing at a high level, it inspires you to do the same. What Cale does his 20-year-old feet will likely feel small when trying to fill the enormous on the ice during games and in practice, it inspires me to coach better. shoes Barrie left behind. When you have a kid of that caliber, I feel a responsibility to be the best Barrie’s 2018-19 season ranked seventh in points for all NHL coach I can be.” defensemen and fourth on the Avs. His unmatched chemistry with Makar put an entire program on his back and made the players and Colorado’s top line and 25 power-play points emphasized the importance coaches around him better. Who’s to say he can’t do the same for the of his role. Expecting Makar to replicate all of that is simply unrealistic. Avs? Only nine defensemen in NHL history have topped 59 points in their Despite his rookie status, Makar’s not your average NHL newcomer. His rookie seasons. Of those nine players, zero are current NHLers. Heck, success while playing in some of the most high-intensity hockey games only 15 defensemen have ever topped 50 points. The best rookie season in the world last year proved that he’s special. by a current NHL defenseman is Tyler Myers’s 48-point anomaly in the 2009-10 season. No. 8’s determination in the Stanley Cup Playoffs earned him a goal and five assists in ten games. His 0.6 points per game are tied for the fourth- In the last five years, top-drafted defensemen have capped out at around best playoff performance from a rookie defenseman in the last five years, 45 points in their rookie years and have averaged 20.5 points. Miro and were competitive with Tyson Barrie’s dominant 0.67 points per game Heiskanen, drafted one spot before Makar in 2017, notched 33 points in the postseason. last year with the Stars. Sustaining that level of production would put Makar on pace for just over As Avs fans are all too familiar, 2017 Hobey Baker winner Will Butcher 49 regular-season points next year, edging out Tyler Myers for the best put up 44 points in his first year with the Devils. Conversely, Colorado’s rookie campaign by a defenseman in recent memory. 2015 first-round draft pick Duncan Siemens produced just two points in 16 games during his rookie campaign. From the AJHL to the NCAA to the NHL playoffs, Makar has been a production freak. Joe Sakic is banking on him replicating that unreal Stats courtesy of NHL.com. production at the NHL level. And while producing 60 points in his first Young players often struggle to get used to the speed, skill, and size of NHL season is extremely unlikely, Makar could just be the guy to do it. the NHL. Tyson Barrie only managed 38 NHL points in his rookie year BSN DENVER LOADED: 07.27.2019 and bounced between the NHL and AHL before becoming an elite offensive defenseman later in his career. Even Nathan MacKinnon needed time to adjust, as it took him four full seasons before he produced numbers that would label him a superstar. 1150183 Dallas Stars The last impression of Hintz last season would have you believe that there is nothing he needs to improve on because he was incredible during the Stars playoff run, scoring five goals and dishing out three Stars’ offseason homework: How each player can improve this summer assists in 13 games while playing on a broken foot. But Hintz has a tendency of showing up in spurts and while he did so when it mattered most last season, he needs to do it consistently over the course of a full regular season and beyond now that he’s a top-six forward. He had 22 By Saad Yousuf points in 58 NHL games last season, which is less than what he’s Jul 26, 2019 capable of. Consistency, or lack thereof, initially kept Hintz bouncing between the NHL and AHL before he cemented his spot with the Stars. The Dallas Stars ended their 2018-19 season by taking the eventual Taking that consistency to the next level can carry him a good player to a Stanley Cup champions to double-overtime in Game 7 of the second great one. round of the playoffs. They battled injuries from the start of the season with Alexander Radulov, John Klingberg and Jason Dickinson. That trend Denis Gurianov continued all the way through the end, with Roope Hintz and Mats Gurianov’s skill and speed caught the attention of the coaching staff in Zuccarello playing hurt in the playoffs while Jamie Oleksiak finished his bursts last year, only for it to eventually wither off into the wilderness season on the shelf. somewhere. Like Hintz, whom Gurianov played very well with in the AHL This past offseason brought changes; Zuccarello’s and Jason Spezza’s and could be paired with in the NHL for the foreseeable future, departure, and Joe Pavelski and Corey Perry’s arrival among them. Sean consistency would go a long way. He’s just one step behind Hintz in that Shapiro provided an educated guess of what the Stars’ new lineup could department; he still needs to earn the confidence of Montgomery and look like entering next season. Now, here is The Athletic’s look at each of show that he belongs in the NHL on an everyday basis. the players on the team, or possibly on the team, can improve on this Jason Dickinson upcoming season: Dickinson needs to work on his hands and challenging the goalie. He did Jamie Benn a lot of great things on the open ice but once he got to the goalie, the Head coach Jim Montgomery was very complimentary of Benn’s season shot was pretty direct and easy to save. Last season was Dickinson’s during exit interviews, saying Benn “sacrificed his offense for the first full campaign in the NHL, and he had some big moments early on, betterment of the team,” which helped establish Montgomery’s culture in including a two-goal game and a couple of overtime game-winners. Dallas because of the captain buying in. That’s great, but Benn’s 53 However, he also had a stretch of 38 consecutive games late in the points were the lowest in any season he’s played at least 45 games since season without a goal. He spent a lot of time on the fourth line last his rookie campaign. Benn doesn’t need to be an Art Ross Trophy season and should be elevated to the third line this upcoming year, but contender — and he won’t be — but getting back into the neighborhood the production needs to follow the promotion and it starts with him giving of 65-75 points will be important to the team’s success. Benn does not himself a chance by getting more creative at the point of attack. mind deferring to others, and Tyler Seguin and Radulov, his likely Dickinson will also need to improve on faceoffs if he lines up at center linemates, want the puck. His production might be aided by playing on a instead of the wing. He only won 43 percent last season. line with Pavelski, but regardless of where he lines up, Benn and the Radek Faksa team need better offensive output from the captain. Montgomery used Faksa’s line to match up defensively with other teams’ Tyler Seguin top lines, and Faksa was often matched on the best player, so he exerted Seguin’s 33 goals were a little down from the season before, when he a lot of his energy on the defensive end. He still managed to be the top scored 40, but his 80 points were the second-best total of his career. goal-scorer behind the trio of Seguin, Benn and Radulov with 15 goals. Seguin also tied for seventh in the NHL with 22 goals since January 1st, But he could stand to be more of a consistent offensive presence, both so he got rolling after some early-season struggles finding the net. with scoring himself and creating for others. Honestly, Seguin could benefit from a bottle of Felix Felicis — that’s a Blake Comeau liquid luck potion, for the non-Harry Potter fans — because if all of the shots that hit the post go in, we’re probably talking about how Seguin set The Stars need some bottom-six scoring, and Comeau can’t afford to be a career-high in points and came close to doing the same in goals. Early lackluster in that area despite his valuable defensive presence. Last last season, some within the organization wanted to Seguin attack the year’s seven goals won’t cut it in 2019-2020, so across-the-board net more instead of playing from outside. He came around to that as the improvement needs to be a priority. season progressed, so a lot of the same plus some better luck should bring even better results for the Stars’ top offensive weapon. Andrew Cogliano

Alexander Radulov Cogliano is a top-three skater on the team but his scoring days seem to be in the rear-view mirror. He needs to grow more comfortable in his role Radulov could benefit from being more disciplined this season. Aside as a catalyst and using his speed and skill to help create for his from the off-ice things that resulted in Montgomery benching him linemates. That’s not to say he doesn’t need to score, but creating for (eliminating those would obviously be great), Radulov seemed to have a others is the next-best option if he can’t do it himself. knack for taking untimely penalties. Radulov’s 27 penalties were just one back of Roman Polak for the team lead despite playing in seven fewer Corey Perry games. Radulov is a talented player, and the Stars are better off when Perry scored single-digit goals for the first time in his career last season, he’s on the ice, not in the penalty box. a byproduct of injuries limiting him to a career-low 31 games. Perry just Joe Pavelski needs to show that he’s fully healthy and can be a semblance of the player he was for so long in Anaheim. Pavelski is coming off of a remarkable season. The 38 goals – second- best of his career – are good for anybody, but it’s only more impressive once you add in the fact that he was 34 years old. Then consider he did Whether or not Dellandrea is playing at the NHL level is completely up in that while only taking 188 shots, the lowest total of his career in any the air, but he’ll either be in Dallas or back to Flint in the OHL. If he season he played at least 50 games, and it looks even more unlikely. Is makes the jump, his immediate acclimation to a much higher level of play his incredible shooting percentage sustainable? Probably not. Getting off will be interesting to see. a few more shots would be welcomed, especially if he’s producing the way he did, and that’s the main thing for Pavelski this season. He doesn’t Mattias Janmark need to improve his scoring, but even maintaining it would be phenomenal news for the Stars. He’s also playing in a new city after 13 Janmark scored six goals last season, the same number as Dickinson, years in San Jose, so feeling out his linemates and how his games fits but his season is remembered a little less favorably due to the lack of with theirs will be important. dramatic finishes. And, like Dickinson, Janmark needs to work on how he finishes in front of goal. Too often, the goalie would just stand and simply Roope Hintz catch Janmark’s shots. He needs to make them work harder and, in turn, score a few more goals. Esa Lindell

Lindell needs to improve his positioning on the defensive end, do a better job controlling the puck and keep the shots down when he’s on the ice. Lindell has grown into one of the most valuable pieces on this team thanks to the minutes he eats up and the breadth of things he does in them. However, now he has a new contract to live up to, so he will be under the microscope about doing the little things a lot more.

John Klingberg

One area Klingberg himself hopes to improve on is in becoming more of an outspoken leader in the locker room. His play on the ice as a defenseman in five-on-five situations certainly plays in his favor. The power play isn’t all on Klingberg, but he does quarterback it and making some improvements there would be key for the Stars in taking the man advantage from slightly below league average last season to a true strength.

Miro Heiskanen

Pretending there is something Heiskanen could drastically improve would be foolish, but he can still polish the things he already does so well. Most of all, the wunderkind is no longer a well-kept secret, so the key will be adjusting to the newfound attention he will garner from the opposition.

Stephen Johns

Things seem to be trending in the right direction on Johns’ availability, although some question marks still linger. Should he be cleared to play, it will be interesting to see how he’s able to fit in after a 18-month hiatus.

Roman Polak

Polak will look better if the defensemen around him improve and take larger roles. Polak was asked to play more minutes than what was originally intended last season, so getting that number down a little bit should put Polak in a place where he’s more comfortable and therefore allow him to excel.

Andrej Sekera

Sekera’s arrival was lost in the excitement of the Pavelski signing and the mild outrage over Perry’s arrival. The injury history is scary — Sekera has torn his ACL and Achilles in back-to-back years — but before all of that, he was a defenseman who played in the top pairing. His main concern should be showing he’s fully recovered. If so, he could be a candidate to play next to Heiskanen, depending on what happens with Johns.

Jamie Oleksiak

Oleksiak struggled with consistency last season, but like Hintz, he played well in the playoffs. In fact, Montgomery said he believes that if Oleksiak hadn’t gotten hurt in the playoffs to prematurely end his season, the Stars would have beaten the St. Louis Blues and advanced to the Conference Finals. However, Oleksiak was also the recipient of many healthy scratches from Montgomery during the regular season. So which player is he? If Oleksiak can replicate his postseason play over a full campaign, he’s a valuable piece of the puzzle.

Ben Bishop

It’s hard to point out flaws in a goaltender who had the kind of year Bishop had. He played well all season and especially well in the playoffs. If there’s anything he can improve upon – and it’s not totally in his control – it’s durability and trying to stay healthy for a full season. But even if he can’t, the Stars are lucky because…

Anton Khudobin

I have nothing bad to say about Khudobin’s play or point out ways he can improve; he really is the perfect backup goalie. He had a great attitude even when he went stretches without game action, helped out his teammates and did a great job in net when called upon. The only way he could improve would be to read or watch the Harry Potter series; his nickname is Dobby, and he shares it with a recurring character from that world. Sadly, that’s something he has said he will not do.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.27.2019

1150184 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings re-sign forward Turgeon for one year

Michael Eggert

The Detroit News

Published 7:27 p.m. ET July 26, 2019

The Detroit Red Wings have re-signed forward Dominic Turgeon to a one-year contract.

The team announced the move Friday. The 23-year-old Turgeon had six goals and 14 assists in 72 games last season for Grand Rapids of the AHL. He also played in four games with the Red Wings.

Turgeon played in five games with the Red Wings in 2017-18.

Detroit drafted Turgeon in the third round in 2014.

Detroit News LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150185 Detroit Red Wings Aug. 3, where there's reserved seating and a $5 charge for parking. For more information, call 734-453-8400 or go online at usahockeyarena.com.

Four Red Wings picks highlight Plymouth summer showcase World Junior Summer Showcase

Saturday: USA White vs. Finland (1 p.m.)

The Detroit News Saturday: USA Blue vs. Sweden (4 p.m.)

Published 5:05 p.m. ET July 26, 2019 | Updated 8:34 p.m. ET July 26, Sunday: USA Blue vs. Finland (1 p.m.) 2019 Sunday USA White vs. Sweden (4 p.m.)

July 30: Canada vs. USA (4 p.m.) First-round draft choice Joe Veleno is one of four Detroit Red Wings' draft picks who will compete in the World Junior Summer Showcase, which x-July 31: Canada vs. Finland (1 p.m.) got underway Friday and continues through next weekend at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth. x-July 31: USA vs. Sweden (4 p.m.)

The nine-day tournament features 11 international games with many of x-Aug. 2: Canada vs. Sweden (1 p.m.) the best under-20 players representing four nations: the U.S., Canada, x-Aug. 2: USA vs. Finland (4 p.m.) Finland and Sweden. x-Aug. 3: Sweden vs. Finland (1 p.m.) Veleno, a 6-1, 194-pound center who had 42 goals and 104 points for the last year, will play for Canada and will open x-Aug. 3: Canada vs. USA (4 p.m.) the tourney against Team USA on Tuesday at 4 p.m. x-Game on NHL Network Two of the other Detroit picks, goalie Jesper Eliasson and forward Detroit News LOADED: 07.27.2019 Jonatan Berggren, are with Team Sweden and will face the USA Blue team on Saturday at 4 p.m., and the USA White team on Sunday at 4 p.m.

Eliasson was a third-round selection who had a 2.43 goals-against average and .919 save percentage with the Vaxjo Lakers, and forward Jonatan Berggren was a second-round pick who missed most of the year with Skelleftea AIK because of a back injury.

Seventh-round pick Otto Kivenmaki will play for Finland, which plays against the USA White team on Saturday at 1 p.m., and the USA Blue team on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Kivenmaki is a 5-8, 140-pound center who had a combined 13 goals and 51 points for Jr. A Liiga and Liiga in Finland last year.

The tournament also serves as an audition for the world junior championships in Ostrava and Trinec in the Czech Republic on Dec. 26, 2019-Jan. 5, 2020.

The has medaled in four straight world tourneys, winning gold in 2017, silver in 2019 and bronze in 2016 and 2018.

In Plymouth, the 44-player U.S. roster is divided into two teams for the first portion of the camp and will be trimmed to one roster on July 30. In Friday's two-period scrimmage, Trevor Zegras (Anaheim) scored the shootout winner for Team Blue.

Forty-one of the 44 players have been drafted in the NHL, including 2019 first-round picks Alex Turcotte (L.A. Kings), Matthew Boldy (Minnesota), Cam York (Philadelphia), Spencer Knight (Florida), Cole Caufield (Montreal), Bobby Brink (Philadelphia), John Beecher (Boston) and Ryan Johnson (Buffalo).

Michigan State goalie Drew DeRidder is one of three 2020 draft-eligible players on the U.S. roster. The 5-10, 170-pound native of Fenton, Mich., posted a 3.23 GAA and a .906 save percentage with the Spartans last year.

The 2020 consensus top three players, Canada's Alexis Lafreniere and Sweden's Alexander Holtz and Lucas Raymond, will also be in Plymouth for the summer showcase and could be available if the Red Wings fall from their sixth-worst drafting position in the previous two NHL drafts.

Lafreniere, a 6-1, 192-pound center who is projected to be the No. 1 pick, had 37 goals and 105 points with the Rimouski Oceanic last year and was the player of the year in the Canadian Hockey League.

Holtz is a 6-0, 183-pound winger who scored 30 goals in 38 games with Djurgardens in Sweden's junior league, the most ever by a player 17 or younger in the league.

Raymond is a 5-11, 170-pound winger who had 48 points in 37 games with Frolunda and scored a hat trick in Sweden's gold-medal victory at the worlds last year.

Tickets are as low as $5 per game and as high as $20 for the last day on Aug. 3. All seating is general admission and parking is free except for 1150186 Detroit Red Wings

Dominic Turgeon and Red Wings agree to new contract

By Peter J. Wallner | [email protected]

Dominic Turgeon is staying within the Detroit Red Wings organization.

The team announced Friday it re-signed the center to a one-year contract.

Last season, the 23-year-old Turgeon has 20 points (6-14-20), a plus- one rating and 41 penalty minutes in 72 games with the ’s . He's entering his fourth pro season.

Turgeon also appeared in four games with the Red Wings and has skated in five NHL games for Detroit since debuting in 2017-18. In nine total NHL games, Turgeon has registered two penalty minutes, five shots on goal, six hits, 11 blocked shots and four takeaways in 10:43 average time on ice.

Irony awaits Dominic Turgeon following recovery from blood clot

Red Wings prospect, after undergoing surgery in Texas following the health scare, heads back there for the Griffins' season opener.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound forward has totaled 212 AHL games with the Griffins over the last three seasons (2016-19), logging 70 points (26-44- 70), a plus-21 rating and 70 penalty minutes.

He won a 2017 championship with Grand Rapids and has registered five points (2-3-5) and two penalty minutes in 22 total Calder Cup Playoff games.

Originally drafted by the Red Wings in the third round (63rd overall) in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Turgeon spent four seasons in the with the prior to his professional career, tallying 152 points (67-85-152) and 91 penalty minutes in 259 games from 2011-16.

Michigan Live LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150187 Detroit Red Wings “We wanted to see him when he got here to evaluate him medically and see where he was at and I thought he looked really good and checked out well on the medical side,” Martin said. “Our expectation is that he’s in Joe Veleno, Jonatan Berggren among Red Wings prospects at World a position to have a more meaningful role at the Elite League level in Junior Showcase Sweden. Last year wasn’t necessarily a write-off, but it was a tough thing for him. He didn’t play a lot of hockey.”

Otto Kivenmaki, Finland By Ansar Khan | [email protected] Position: Center Posted July 26, 2019 at 06:05 AM Height/Weight: 5-8/154

Drafted: 171st in 2018 Four players from the Detroit Red Wings’ 2018 draft class are taking part in the World Junior Showcase at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth – 2018-19: Assat Porti (SM-lliga in Finland) centers Joe Veleno, Jonathan Berggren and Otto Kivenmaki and Bypassed until late in the draft due to his size, Kivenmaki has gained goaltender Jesper Eliasson. weight and gotten stronger over the past year and still has a ways to go.

Teams comprised of prospects from the United States, Canada, Sweden “He was a bit of tweener last year in Finland,” Martin said. “He was and Finland will be competing from Saturday to Aug. 3 as nations probably too good for the junior league he played in and it wasn’t enough evaluate candidates for their World Junior Championship teams. of a challenge for him, yet early in the season when he was up in the “I think it’s one of the most competitive under-20 evaluation environments highest league, he had some challenges adjusting to that and didn’t have outside of the World Juniors,” Red Wings assistant general manager a ton of success. Ryan Martin said. “It’s always very competitive and highly organized and “To his credit and to our player development group’s credit, they worked structured as compared to regular summer hockey. These players, in with him and by the end of the year he graduated from the junior level most cases, are trying out for their respective country’s team. I think that into the Elite League. The last 20 games he played extremely well for his brings out the best in people. age. I’m sure that’s a real confidence boost for him. He’s needs to “I know, as being a member of the U.S. evaluation staff for the last continue to put on strength and this is going to be an important year for several years, this is a big part of our evaluation process. Certainly not him and his development to hopefully play full-time in the (Finnish) Elite the only piece, as we get out and watch these players throughout the fall League and try to be an impact player.” and then into the winter camp before the tournament, but this is certainly Jesper Eliasson, Sweden a big piece of that.” Position: Goaltender Here is a look at the four Red Wings prospects participating. Defensemen Jared McIsaac (Canada) and Alec Regula (U.S.) were Height/Weight: 6-3/209 selected but can’t take part due to injuries. Drafted: 84th in 2018 Joe Veleno is coming off a strong junior season in Drummondville. (Mike Mulholland/MLive) 2018-19: Vaxjo Juniors (Sweden)

Joe Veleno, Canada He’s coming off a strong season in Sweden’s junior ranks (2.43 goals- against average, .919 save percentage) and is slated to move up to the Position: Center men’s league with Altuna.

Height/Weight: 6-1/191 “With goalies, the most important thing is playing time and opportunity, not necessarily what league they’re playing in,” Martin said. “He played Drafted: 30th in 2018 some big minutes. The quality of competition is respectable.”

2018-19: Drummondville (QMJHL) Michigan Live LOADED: 07.27.2019 Veleno, one of the Red Wings’ top prospects, had a dominant season in juniors (42 goals, 104 points in 59 games) and is ready to turn pro. He’ll be competing for an NHL job in training camp but barring a rash of injuries and an exceptional showing, he appears destined to start the season with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

“He’s made the commitment to be in Detroit and train with some of his fellow pros and he’s really putting in the time,” Martin said. “I think his expectation is he’s going to be competing for a job in Detroit, but if he’s not ready for that we want what’s best for his development. We have a real good option to put him down in Grand Rapids. We’re going to be a young team down there. Our centers are young, so that’s an opportunity for him to play a lot of minutes in a lot of different situations down there. That’s what the American League is for, development.”

Veleno has two assists in five games for Canada at last year’s World Juniors.

Jonatan Berggren (left) missed almost all of last season due to a back injury. (Mike Mulholland/MLive)

Jonatan Berggren, Sweden

Position: Center

Height/Weight: 5-10/181

Drafted: 33rd in 2018

2018-19: Skelleftea AIK (Sweden)

This skilled center was limited to 16 games due to a season-ending back injury in November. He has recovered and is coming off a strong development camp. 1150188 Detroit Red Wings Not trading for David Legwand

On the morning of March 5, the Red Wings were out of the playoff picture, in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. They were only a point What if the Red Wings had started rebuilding (or stopped ‘buying’) back of eighth, and five back of fourth, so you can certainly understand sooner? what was thinking in trying to make another run at it. But with hindsight: Legwand chipped in 11 points in 21 games in the regular season, zero in the playoffs, and Detroit lost to Boston in five games in By Max Bultman the first round. They also gave up Calle Jarnkrok and a 2014 second- round pick (No. 46 overall) in addition to Patrick Eaves. How you feel Jul 26, 2019 about this option probably comes down to how important the playoff streak was to you, how essential you think Legwand was to getting there, and how much you value Jarnkrok — a down-lineup center who has Usually, it’s not posed as a serious question so much as a statement of carved out a solid career as a Predator. It’s also worth noting (no matter wistfulness. how unpredictable for a player who hadn’t played an NHL game at that time) that when Nashville plugged Jarnkrok into its lineup down the What if the Red Wings had started rebuilding sooner? stretch of that 2013-14 season, he scored 9 points in 12 games in his Most who ask it probably have a few ideas, but there’s not much answer own right. expected. The final gasps at preserving Detroit’s legendary playoff streak That draft pick became Julius Bergman, a right-handed defenseman who did, probably, set back an inevitable rebuild — but when a team has won never did make the NHL. But, before the end of Round 2, Brandon as much as the Red Wings had at that time, you can understand why Montour and Ryan Donato were both selected. Bergman doesn’t make a they acted the way they did. The conversation usually doesn’t go much difference in 2019, but either of those other two could have. further than those two talking points. The Legwand deal was by no means an indefensible trade considering But, right now, I’ve got a lot of free time. I’m guessing you do too. And the circumstances of the moment. But it also could very well have been a there might be no better time than these hockey-less months to actually situation where the internal options could have accomplished the same indulge that nagging question. outcome. Sean Gentille did something similar in Pittsburgh this week, wondering Not trading up for Dominic Turgeon what things might have looked like if the Penguins hadn’t traded …*checks notes*… every draft pick in their pursuit of winning multiple Trading up in the draft for a player you want can, in general, be a Stanley Cups over the last decade. The results were wild. And they perfectly fine move. In fact, if there’s a player a team feels particularly certainly didn’t mean the Penguins shouldn’t have gone for it all those strongly about, it can pay off pretty easily. That’s how the Lightning got years — the Stanley Cup rings they all wear are more than enough — Brayden Point. But, if you’re a team starting a rebuild (or at least but it was a fun, worthwhile look at what a few alternative universes might peripherally aware that one might be on the horizon soon), giving up be. multiple draft picks isn’t generally a recommended strategy. So, with hindsight, would Detroit undo the 2014 trade-up for Turgeon, when it But that exercise, perfect as it was for the Penguins, doesn’t quite fit for moved up from 76 to 63, giving up an additional 2015 third-rounder (No. Detroit. By the time the writing was on the wall for the Red Wings’ last 80) in the process? Turgeon’s been a fine player in Grand Rapids, he era, the problem wasn’t so much trading draft picks (although there was has had two quick visits to the NHL, and he’s certainly not any kind of some of that) as it was signing big contracts for lengthy term. Still, there obstacle to the rebuild. But how about when I tell you the player picked at is value in doing something similar — not to just pick apart past decisions the Red Wings’ initial No. 76 spot was Elvis Merzlikins? Merzlikins is the with the benefit of hindsight (though in certain cases that is warranted), Blue Jackets’ top goalie prospect who should be ready to play in the NHL but more so to consider how things could be different had the Red Wings this year after posting a save percentage of .921 or better in three of the started thinking less like a buyer, just a couple years sooner. past four seasons in Switzerland. So, here’s the premise: There’s obviously no way to guarantee the Red Wings would have taken Instead of limiting this admittedly revisionist history to the draft, we’re him, but if they had, Merzlikins would be a real asset for them these going to open it up to all the types of transactions relevant to team days. It’s premature to anoint him a sure thing, but for a team whose building. When we run into picks Detroit traded away, I’ll discuss the nearest goalie prospect has yet to play a game in the AHL, the net is still player selected in that spot, as well as an alternate name the Red Wings somewhat mysterious in the Red Wings’ rebuild. The player picked 80th could have had a reasonable chance to pick there had they kept it (within the next year was Brent Gates, and the most impactful player selected in the next 30 picks or so). the next 30 picks from there was Denis Malgin at 102. It’s hard to worry too much about that pick. It might be a little less exciting that way, but going back and getting every decision correct is a quick way to be found out as being a time traveler. 2015 Or Doug Wilson. The Abdelkader contract Plus, we’re already testing the Butterfly Effect enough as it is. The problem has never been that the Red Wings decided to extend Simple enough? Honestly, it might not be. But, it’s late July, and we’re Justin Abdelkader in November 2015. He was coming off a 44-point gonna do it anyway. Let’s ride. season and in the process of following it up with 42. He was 28. Of course they wanted to extend him. And the problem wasn’t even 2014 season necessarily giving him $4.25 million, although at that point he had topped 30 points only once over a full season. The problem was locking in that The date is May 30, 2013. Last night, the Red Wings suffered an cap hit for seven years, right around the time players become a risk of excruciating 2-1 overtime defeat in Game 7 of the Western Conference dropping off. semifinals. The Chicago Blackhawks are moving on, and, after coming back from a 3-1 series deficit, they will go on to win the Stanley Cup. Hindsight doesn’t easily account for the flow of negotiations between players and teams — and, make no mistake, it’s impossible to blame Remember: This was a year shortened by the lockout, but the Red Wings Abdelkader for any part of this contract. But this wasn’t a deal that had two point-per-game forwards and came within a game of the needed much hindsight to evaluate. SB Nation wrote this Nov. 12, 2015. conference finals. It would be really hard to ask a team under those It proved reasonably prescient. So, might it have been a better idea to circumstances to consider a rebuild. It’s probably not a team that should offer just a touch more money, say, $4.7 million, for three, four, or maybe give a five-year contract worth $4.9 million per year to a 30-year old who even five years instead? Certainly in hindsight he wouldn’t have been had 4 points in 17 games the previous year, but it’s not a team that cries able to live up to that AAV very long either, but the trade-off for less term out for a teardown. as a UFA tends to be a bit more money. The Red Wings were tight to the So we can’t, in good conscience, begin there. Instead, let’s start this cap in 2016, when the extension kicked in, but they did have at least a exercise in March 2014, at the trade deadline of an ensuing season not half-million dollars of room when it was all said and done. meeting expectations. Abdelkader would still have had to agree to any contract — and the front- but it doesn’t pose a threat to the rebuild. DeKeyser, meanwhile, is not loaded nature of the contract does suggest Detroit was worried about the the problem on the defense, and the earliest his contract could really be timeline — but something closer to the above would have kept an a factor is 2021-22 — a year before it expires. But that year, he’s really emerging player in town, respected his right to be fairly compensated for the only veteran under contract. I get the frustration with his deal his performance, and wouldn’t have locked the Red Wings in too long- compared to expectations, and certainly Dom’s system frowns upon it. term. If it had been three years, that deal would be up now. If it were four, But it does not, at present, appear to be so egregious as to warrant a he’d be going into his last year on it. Even five would be easy enough to mulligan. manage. And Detroit still could have chosen to keep him around when it expired, just at a number that was easier to maneuver around. Instead, it And that’s really where this exercise wraps up. You could argue with a will run through 2023. couple signings in the last two years as well, but by then, the Red Wings had missed the playoffs and were at least showing the hallmarks of a Not trading for Erik Cole team that knew it was rebuilding — even if it didn’t immediately say so. The Red Wings traded players at the deadline to acquire picks. They On March 1, the day of this trade, the Red Wings were sitting in fifth signed mostly short-term contracts. And even if you disagree with a place in the East — a much more obvious “buying” position than the couple individual moves in that span, they don’t really fit the parameters Legwand trade a year prior. They were three points behind second place. of this question. They were also only five points up on seventh. So you can understand the desire to add — that player could have been the difference between So, what would the present team look like, had it acted more like a home ice in the first two rounds, or an unfavorable road matchup right out rebuilder (or at least less like a buyer) starting at the 2014 deadline? of the gate. Well, if the organization had retained the players it traded and made the same picks at those draft slots (far from a given) … maybe something The question is, was Erik Cole, in what turned out to be the last year of like this: his career, the right guy for that? And was he really worth sacrificing Mattias Janmark, Mattias Backman and the 49th pick in the 2015 draft? Forwards

Janmark’s carved out a pretty nice career in Dallas, but this one Left wing Center Right wing ultimately is about the draft pick. Dallas used that selection on Roope Hintz, one of the Stars’ best emerging young players. Sean Shapiro has Tyler Bertuzzi ($1.4 M) Dylan Larkin ($6.1 M) Anthony Mantha him projected as Dallas’ second-line center this year, at just 22 years old. ($3.3 M) That is exactly what the Red Wings need, especially going forward with Andreas Athanasiou ($3 M) Roope Hintz ($811,667) Filip young winger . Zadina ($894,167)

Would Detroit have actually taken Hintz? Who knows — although the Mattias Janmark ($2.3 M) Calle Jarnkrok ($2 M) Taro Hirose Red Wings’ European scouting presence is pretty strong. Are there ($925,000) variables in play? Of course. And you can do this with all kinds of trades through the years. But the fact is, a second-round pick traded for a player Justin Abdelkader ($4.7 M*) Luke Glendening ($1.8 M) Darren who played only 11 games is now an emerging top-six center. That Helm ($3.85 M) stings really, really bad. Defensemen 2016 Left defense Right defense The Frans Nielsen deal Danny DeKeyser ($5 M) Filip Hronek ($714,166) This is a tough one, because you get where the Red Wings were coming Patrik Nemeth ($3 M) Mike Green ($5.375 M) from. They didn’t get Steven Stamkos, the kind of player who, had they landed him, could have made a long-term deal age fairly gracefully. Trevor Daley ($3.17 M) Oliwer Kaski ($925,000) Stamkos was an MVP-level player, the kind who changes a team’s direction if he signs. But when he didn’t, the Red Wings tried to go a Jonathan Ericsson ($4.25 M) Madison Bowey ($1 M) similar direction, just with a player who, while unquestionably good Goalies (Nielsen was coming off a 52-point season in which he got Selke votes), wasn’t so good that he made them a real Cup threat. And he was 32. Jimmy Howard ($4 M)

Again, you can understand why the Red Wings felt like they had to add Elvis Merzlikins ($874,125) someone, and since Nielsen was a free agent being asked to change teams, you can understand why he wanted significant term as security. *Abdelkader’s AAV raised by $450,000 to compensate for shorter term in Detroit did probably need someone for its second line. There’s also not this scenario. many other signings from that summer that look like they were better Projected team salary (approximate): $59,389,125 options at center. But in hindsight, the play for the Red Wings might have been to just go with the team they had and see what happened. That’s right, this lineup doesn’t even hit the cap floor. Henrik Zetterberg’s and Johan Franzen’s LTIR contracts would get them there, of course, but It would have been tough to do in the moment, and it would be an this really illustrates how much flexibility Detroit could have if it still had oversimplification to say the management group should have not have the highly affordable (and still young) Jarnkrok and Hintz as their second- tried to improve their team. That’s antithetical to the sport. But there is a and third-line centers. Valtteri Filppula doesn’t get signed in this scenario, point where the long view has to supersede immediate needs. For as either. Jonathan Bernier’s absence accounts for a bit more of the good as Nielsen was for a long time, this contract crossed that threshold. difference, although him not being in this projection was kind of a toss- And it will still be on the books at $5.25 million for three more seasons. up. He certainly still could have signed last summer in this ultimate But, hey… there’s a way it could have been markedly worse. universe, but if Merzlikins were a Red Wing, wouldn’t Detroit at some point have wanted to clear some space for him? Either way, it’s open for You could also argue about the Darren Helm and Danny DeKeyser debate. contracts here. They both graded as C- value or worse when Dom Luszczyszyn analyzed all the league’s contracts earlier this summer. In Also up for debate: Janmark being in the hypothetical lineup this year general, I do think DeKeyser in particular is a better player than is over, say, Michael Rasmussen. Rasmussen could start in Grand Rapids reflected there. But the main reasons I’m not going to spend much time this season, but he could just as easily return from a big summer and on those two in this exercise are these: First, Detroit had to still fill out a make the team out of camp. (Of course, Rasmussen in that spot would team, and both of those players might still be in the top 9/top 4 this year only make it less expensive.) (DeKeyser definitely will be). Second, while you can quibble about their Is this lineup more competitive in 2019-20 than the one Detroit could cap hits relative to their production, neither AAV is so high that it’s actually trot out? It’s hard to say for certain. The defense, the main flaw actually causing problems for Detroit right now, nor is either likely to of the real Red Wings, turns out to be identical. Jarnkrok and Janmark before Helm’s comes off the books in 2021. don’t necessarily help the team’s scoring much. But the cap picture is Helm’s contract may not be efficient, but it’s still less than $4 million a certainly lighter, and, if Hintz reaches his potential, the future outlook year on a rebuilding team that’s not in a cap crunch. It’s not good value, likely would be sunnier too. All of this forces the fair questions of how the ripples of these actions (or inactions) would have factored into draft position, personnel decisions, and the like. They’re ultimately unanswerable, but can’t be ignored, either. It probably would not have ended up exactly like this, for Butterfly-Effect-based reasons.

The path Detroit took in real life can, in some ways, be explained. In others, it’s hard to not see some folly. But the point of this exercise isn’t to feign omniscience, nor is it to imply Detroit could have possibly guessed how things would play out with all the prospects, picks and contracts mentioned above.

But this glimpse at the path not taken isn’t actually so implausible.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150189 Edmonton Oilers Speaking with team radio analyst Bob Stauffer in December, Howson explained that Marino’s offensive opportunities were limited by the presence of more highly touted players on the roster, notably Adam Fox. Oilers ease pressure on crowded defensive pipeline by trading John Howson described Marino’s season as “terrific” despite the superficial Marino to the Penguins scoring difficulties.

“John is a two-way defenceman,” Howson said. “He gets the last 30 seconds on the power play. He’s on the first penalty kill. John’s game has By Jonathan Willis really grown. I’m really excited about John. John’s a junior this year and he looks like a pro playing college hockey. Jul 26, 2019 “He’s big and strong and he moves really well. He makes great outlet

passes. We’re really excited about where he is and look forward to him The Oilers made their second dead-of-summer trade on Friday, dealing joining the Oilers.” blue line prospect John Marino to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange Unfortunately for Edmonton, which has been waiting four years while for a conditional sixth-round draft pick in the 2021 draft. It isn’t a move on Marino develops, he won’t be joining the organization. Still, if there’s one the same scale as last week’s Milan Lucic deal, but it does check some place the Oilers can afford to take a hit to their prospect depth, it is on boxes as Edmonton’s new management group continues to rework the defence. organization. Marino cracked Mitchell’s top-20 prospects, but only ranked fourth In a move which may hint at an increase in transparency under the new among right-shot defencemen, behind Evan Bouchard, Ethan Bear and management, the club also announced what the conditions on the trade Joel Persson, all of whom were immediate impediments in his path. were. To that list we might well add righties Filip Berglund (22 and playing Edmonton Oilers regular minutes in Sweden’s top league), Philip Kemp (a 20-year-old who ✔ made the most recent U.S. world juniors team) and Mike Kesselring (19 and coming off a strong second half in the USHL). Vincent Desharnais, a @EdmontonOilers 2016 pick of the Oilers who just signed an AHL deal with the Condors, is in the picture, too. · 18h Marino would also have been competing for eventual recall with a long The #Oilers have acquired a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2021 list of lefties in Edmonton’s system, including 2019 first-rounder Philip #NHLDraft from the @Penguins in exchange for unsigned draft pick Broberg, AHLers Caleb Jones and William Lagesson (both played on the defenceman John Marino. right side at points last year, with Jones there for the whole season) and Edmonton Oilers junior standout Dmitri Samorukov. Seen from that perspective, it’s easy to come up with reasons why ✔ Marino might have preferred to sign somewhere else rather than risk @EdmontonOilers getting lost in the shuffle.

The #Oilers will receive the sixth-round pick if Marino signs an ELC prior Nobody could have known in 2015 that Edmonton would be in this to the start of the 2021 #NHLDraft or if Pittsburgh trades Marino's rights position in terms of its defensive pipeline in 2019, and as problems go as an unsigned draft pick to another team prior to the 2021 Draft. this is a good one to have —⁠ even if it does come with some incidental costs along the way. Moreover, trading Marino now and maybe getting 68 something back is preferable to letting him walk as a free agent in a year.

4:06 PM - Jul 26, 2019 Signing Marino would have been preferable to trading Marino, but this Twitter Ads info and privacy deal reflects both sensible asset management and a deep prospect pool. Both are positives for the Oilers. 24 people are talking about this The Athletic LOADED: 07.27.2019 There are benefits and drawbacks to drafting college-bound players, and one of the negatives from a team perspective is that the player has more options in terms of his professional future than the typical prospect out of major junior.

Often, these players exercise their right to become unrestricted free agents. Marino had that right, and could have exercised it next summer by refusing to sign with the Oilers. He still has that right, only now the team on the other end of the deal is the Penguins, who presumably believe they stand a better chance of getting the player than Edmonton did.

This trade acts as confirmation of the persistent rumours that Marino was reluctant to sign with the Oilers. A signed Marino would surely have more value even as a piece in a system flush with defencemen than a maybe- 2021 depth pick does.

Marino ranked 18th in Allan Mitchell’s most recent Oilers prospect ranking, moving up one slot from the previous summer, despite a down year statistically. The reasoning behind that ranking was that Marino had something Mitchell and talent appraisers everywhere tend to value: a range of skills.

“Marino’s appeal is as a defender, with skating being his strength,” Mitchell wrote. “Although a lack of power-play time has obscured his actual offensive ability, he’ll make his money in pro hockey defending against oncoming opponents.”

That assessment is in-line with a midseason appraisal from Oilers executive Scott Howson. 1150190 Edmonton Oilers Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog and Blues’ Jaden Schwartz are other top wingers slated for unrestricted free agency, but Gallagher is the only member of the trio who shoots right. That’s a trait the Oilers lack What the 2021-22 Oilers might look like after their steady build toward without Kassian and Alex Chiasson, whose contract is up in two years. contender status Nugent-Hopkins also needs a new deal after the 2020-21 season. The Oilers have the money to offer a modest pay bump and there should be a fit for both sides. By Daniel Nugent-Bowman James Neal, whose contract expires after the 2022-23 season, can be Jul 26, 2019 bought out for nearly $1.92 million annually over double the remaining length. That could happen after either of the next two seasons if he

doesn’t return to his 20-goal form. Without the aid of rose-coloured glasses, Ken Holland envisions a slow, With $2.25 million in dead money heading into the 2020-21 season steady build to make the Oilers a consistent playoff contender. before considering a Koskinen buy out, having productive Neal on the Over the next two years, he expects the Oilers will be in tough, battling roster would be a boon for the Oilers. for a postseason berth. Tyler Benson, Kailer Yamamoto and Cooper Marody will all get their But by the summer of 2021, Holland should have more money at his chances with the Oilers over the next two seasons, the last two of their disposal to shape the team as he sees fit. The cap will continue to rise – entry-level deals. While it’s hard to know for sure how exactly they’ll fare, likely to $85 million, conservatively – problem contracts are either they shouldn’t break the bank on their next contracts. expiring or about to run off and prospects on cheap deals should be in The Oilers need help on the third line and the best potential options are position to play meaningful roles. Cedric Paquette and Sean Kuraly. Either one, at the right price, could be It’s expected that this is the time to add one or two key pieces in free a good get as a centre. Both will be 28 when the 2021-22 season starts, agency to round out the team. but Paquette has produced less offence and thus might come cheaper.

“I think of 2007 when I signed Brian Rafalski to a five-year deal. He was Jujhar Khaira is still under team control. Ryan McLeod should be ready the perfect fit for the Red Wings at that point in time,” Holland said. “He for full-time duty at least on the wing after two AHL campaigns. Joseph and Nick Lidstrom found fabulous chemistry. We obviously won the Cup Gambardella needs a new contract. He’s the only AHLer from last in ’08 and went to Game 7 of the finals in ’09. season currently on a two-year deal, so he should have a higher chance of factoring into the team’s longer-term plans. Josh Archibald is a long “Certainly, I’d like to get to that position in the next, next summer.” shot to still be with the franchise, but the Oilers could use him – or someone like him – as a 12th or 13th forward. If Holland has the summer of his dreams in two years, the 2021-22 season should be the start of the Oilers’ window for sustained success. Raphael Lavoie is a pure wild card here. The unsigned 2019 second- rounder won’t be the 13th or 14th forward when the 2021-22 season After looking back at what could have been, let’s look ahead to what begins. He’ll be in the AHL instead if that’s where he’s slotted since he’ll could be. only be 21. But after a final year of junior and a full year of pro, perhaps Before getting into a full positional analysis, there are a few things worth he can crack the lineup as a top-nine forward. If he can’t, a player on a noting. league-minimum deal is bound to be the replacement.

The dead money above consists of retained salary on Milan Lucic’s Defence contract ($750,000 annually) and the buyouts of Andrej Sekera and Klefbom is locked in as a top-four defenceman. Then things get Mikko Koskinen (both $1.5 million for 2021-22 and 2022-23). This plan interesting. calls for Koskinen getting bought out in June 2021, before the last year of his contract. With Larsson potentially gone, Klefbom needs a new partner. There would be several possible internal options for the right-side spot. But Only eight players on this depth chart are currently under contract for the other than maybe Bouchard, it would be wishful thinking to pencil in any 2021-22 season: Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, James Neal, Ryan of them for top-pairing duty. McLeod, Oscar Klefbom, Evan Bouchard, Dmitri Samorukov and Philip Broberg. Naturally, some estimating was required for the rest of the There are two right-handed options in free agency who could fit the bill – group. Dougie Hamilton and Jeff Petry. Hamilton is five years younger and has been a more productive offensive player over the course of his career. Although Adam Larsson could be an unrestricted free agent in two But for those reasons, he would probably be too expensive for the Oilers. summers, The Athletic projects the Oilers will re-sign him, leave him exposed in the Seattle expansion draft and lose him to the new NHL At 33, Petry wouldn’t require the same term as Hamilton. As long as he team. keeps it up, adding someone who’s managed at least a Corsi For percentage of 51 over the last four seasons and a minimum of 40 points There’s also one last player who isn’t accounted for in any way here: over the last two would be swell. It would be Petry’s second stint as an Jesse Puljujarvi. Holland said he’d ideally like to get a player in his late Oiler. teens or early 20s for the disgruntled winger. Such a prospect would still be under control at the start of the 2021-22 season and, depending on Darnell Nurse’s next contract could be in the neighbourhood of $6-million his salary, could replace a handful of players in this projection. For now, AAV. There’s no guarantee Holland pays up. Considering Nurse is only we’ll have to assume he’s eventually moved for a draft pick or two. 24 now, we’ll assume Holland does re-sign him.

Forwards Entering his third pro season, Bouchard should be ready for a second- pairing job at worst. He’d take Kris Russell’s job after his contract With McDavid and Draisaitl in middle of their long-term pacts, the Oilers expires. have two-thirds of their first line – or two top centres – locked up on bargain contracts. Just as they are now, they represent a great starting There are several possibilities to round out the group. Joel Persson starts point to form a top-six forward crew. his Oilers tenure in the fall, but he’ll hit UFA status in two summers. Ethan Bear and William Lagesson, both RFAs next offseason, could also Zack Kassian’s contract expires in less than a year and the Oilers could be in the mix. Caleb Jones, Samorukov and Broberg might be the best use an upgrade at first-line right wing anyway. Insert Canadiens’ Brendan choices. Gallagher, born in Edmonton but raised in Vancouver. Jones appeared in 17 games for the Oilers last season and could make Gallagher pulls in a $3.75-million cap hit right now and would likely get a the team in the fall. He, too, is an RFA next summer. Top prospect decent raise, especially if he improves on 30-goal, 50-point efforts from Samorukov will have played two pro seasons. the last two seasons. He could dig out pucks for McDavid and Draisaitl and be a nuisance in front of the net. At 29, Gallagher is unlikely to Like Lavoie up front, Broberg won’t be on the team as the seventh command the full seven-year term. defenceman. The eighth pick in the 2019 draft will be 20 by then, so he’ll either be getting regular minutes in Edmonton or be playing elsewhere. Don’t bet against the former option.

Goaltending

It would solve so many problems if Koskinen could firmly secure the top job and play to his $4.5-million AAV contract. Holland wouldn’t have to spend as much money to shore up the position and instead would have more available to improve the forward ranks.

But aside from an excellent month and a half, Koskinen didn’t play like a No. 1 goalie last season. He finished with a .906 save percentage. Further regression means Holland will have to strongly consider a buyout.

Luckily, there are several strong options in free agency like Tuukka Rask, Frederik Andersen, Pekka Rinne, Jordan Binnington, Devan Dubnyk, Antti Raanta, Philipp Grubauer and Petr Mrazek.

Binnington, the 2019 Stanley Cup champion, is the youngest member of the group; he’ll be 27 in two years. It’s hard to know how he’ll progress, but he may be one of the least expensive options because of his limited track record.

Cost is important because, under this scenario, the Oilers would be paying Koskinen $1.5 million not to play for them. They could free up some cash by buying out Neal, but they’d probably want to reinvest in a replacement at forward rather than in net.

With Koskinen out of the picture, the Oilers could count on Shane Starrett to fill the backup job. He was on the AHL all-rookie team last season and will start the 2019-20 back in Bakersfield.

The other internal possibilities are Stuart Skinner and Dylan Wells. Failing that, using free agency or the trade route will be necessary to fill the spot.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150191 Florida Panthers With that in mind, let’s fast-forward to the year 2022 and see what the Panthers might look like.

The 2022-23 Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are built to win now — and they could look a lot different by 2022-23 As we stand in 2019, one could argue that the biggest-name player on the Florida roster is goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. A two-time Vezina Trophy winner as the best goaltender in the NHL, Bobrovsky is a game-changer By George Richards at a position of need.

Jul 26, 2019 His seven-year deal with the Panthers includes a no-movement clause for the first five. Barring any sort of injury, come 2022, Bobrovsky will be gearing up for his fourth season in Sunrise.

SUNRISE, Fla. — This offseason should have made it pretty clear that That said, the most important player for the Panthers moving forward is the Florida Panthers want to win, and they want to win right now. Sasha Barkov.

Owner Vinnie Viola gave general manager Dale Tallon and his hockey Re-signing captain Aleksander Barkov will likely be Florida’s top priority operations department the financial tools to do what was needed to entering the 2022-23 season — if they haven’t already done it before enhance both the roster and the men behind the bench. then. (Stan Szeto / USA Today)

If there were any before, there will be no excuses for missing the playoffs Barkov, who will turn 24 before training camp, has grown into one of the now. best two-way centers in the game and is just now reaching the prime of his career. Since Viola bought the team before the 2013-14 season, the Panthers have made the playoffs only once — when they won the Atlantic Division As it stands now, the six-year contract extension Barkov signed with and set franchise records for wins and points in 2016. Florida in 2015 will expire at the conclusion of the 2021-22 season.

They have missed the postseason in each of the following three seasons. Unless the Collective Bargaining Agreement changes, the Panthers cannot sign Barkov — who should expect a huge raise over the $5.9 After missing the playoffs by a single point in 2017-18, expectations were million annual salary he gets now — until the end of the 2020-21 season, high for the Panthers last season. Then the team went out and won just when he would start the final season of his current deal. two of its first 11 games, never really gained traction and ended up 12 points behind Columbus for the final postseason spot in the Eastern On the open market now, Barkov would likely get at least $9 million per Conference. season based on his recent production. Realistically, he could probably get much more. The contracts signed by Artemi Panarin ($11.6 million Viola was frustrated and vowed changes would come. per season from the Rangers) and Jeff Skinner ($9 million a year from Boy, did they. Buffalo) this offseason bode well for the future of Barkov’s bank account.

Florida moved on from coach Bob Boughner after two seasons and went But Barkov would not be the only high-profile player the Panthers would after the biggest free agent on the coaching market, signing Joel have to retain with a new contract around this time. Quenneville to the largest coaching pact in franchise history. Right now, the Panthers have six current roster players under contract for Free-agent goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was lured to South Florida with a the 2022-23 season with around $39 million in cap space committed to seven-year, $70 million contract — again, the biggest contract the team them. Only two of those players are forwards. Huberdeau is one of them, had ever doled out. although the six-year contract he is currently playing under would expire in 2023. Florida also added veteran help by signing defenseman Anton Stralman and forwards Brett Connolly and Noel Acciari. Those who are not signed, aside from Barkov, include Trocheck and Frank Vatrano. As we stand right now, the Panthers have over $79 million committed to players for the coming season with restricted free agent Denis Malgin still Others, most notably Evgenii Dadonov and Mike Hoffman, enter this to be signed. Defenseman Ian McCoshen agreed to a one-year contract coming season in the final years of their contract. It is not inconceivable Monday. to think one, but probably not both, would still be with the Panthers three years from now. “I feel really good about our team,” Tallon said. “Starting with coaching, now goaltending and all the way up through. Coming off development With a much higher salary cap expected due to a new national television camp, all the depth we have in the organization, we are really excited deal and other increased hockey-related revenue going into the player- about not only the present now but the future as well.” salary pool, the Panthers should have the resources — theoretically — to try to keep their top players. So why are the Panthers making such a push now? Trocheck ($4.75 million per season) and Vatrano ($2.5 million) are both One reason is to give the South Florida market a consistent, winning signed for the next three seasons, and both contracts are set to expire hockey team to cheer for. In their first 25 years, the Panthers have made when Barkov’s does. Retaining one or both would be a priority behind the playoffs just five times and have not appeared in the postseason in Barkov, although time, development and the production of those players consecutive years since 1996 and ’97. in the coming years could obviously change things.

Another pressing issue is the players in whom the Panthers have Although the Panthers are not in panic mode by any means right now, invested. they have looked down the line and are already taking 2022 into consideration. Since Dale Tallon took over in 2010, the Panthers have had a number of high draft picks and some others who have become the core of the team. When the team signed Stralman, it was to a three-year contract. In other While some of those players (, Mike Matheson) are locked words, the money Stralman makes ($5.5 million annually) will be off the up long term, others only have a few years remaining on team-friendly books by the time the Panthers would need to re-sign Barkov, Trocheck deals before they will need to be re-signed. and/or Vatrano.

If the Panthers want to keep most of these core players — like captain Florida gave Brett Connolly four years (so he should be here in 2022-23), Aleksander Barkov, Vincent Trocheck and Jonathan Huberdeau among but Noel Acciari got three. others — it will be costly. So the franchise will try and win now — and worry about all of those contracts later. The Panthers would also be losing some of the dead money they are committed to right now, including the $1.1 million of salary retention held In short, the Panthers could look very different just a few years down the back due to Roberto Luongo’s early retirement as well as the retained road. But if everything goes according to plan and the team becomes a salary from defenseman Jason Demers. So, add a shade under $2 success on and off the ice, the roster could look a lot like it does right million to the pool. Florida also will have $1.2 million taken off its cap in now. 2022-23 because it bought out goalie Scott Darling in the James Reimer deal.

The Panthers also have three drafts and a couple of offseasons to add more players.

By this point, the Panthers also should have a number of top-end prospects coming through their system, and while they only have six players officially under contract for the 2022-23 season, they actually will have more than that when the time comes.

Talented forwards Owen Tippett, Aleksi Heponiemi and Grigori Denisenko, for instance, have yet to establish themselves in the league (only Tippett has played in an NHL game) and should theoretically be on the roster three years from now, as they would remain under team control.

Younger players currently with the Panthers — like Henrik Borgstrom, for example — would also be with the team in 2022 barring a trade or injury.

Goalie Spencer Knight, Florida’s top draft pick last month, could also be close to the NHL roster by 2022.

“We didn’t really block any of our young guys with long-term deals, so that was a thought process as well,” Tallon said on July 1. “With Denisenko, Heponiemi and Tippett and all these kids, we didn’t want to block them out of a possible chance to play.”

The Athletic LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150192 Montreal Canadiens bigger role and more opportunity in Montreal was something that was appealing to me and it was big reason why I chose here. Having a great city and a team on the rise was just bonus.” Canadiens' Ben Chiarot grew up idolizing Paul Coffey and Scott Stevens Première journée au travail. Free-agent signing explains why he will now wear No. 8 during his first First day at work.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/W5U4jW7O2m— visit to Habs' practice facility in Brossard. Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) July 26, 2019

On improving his play last season and earning a bigger role with the Jets: STU COWAN “Definitely with the opportunity I think I’ve shown I have more levels to my MONTREAL GAZETTE game and I think in speaking with (Canadiens coach) Claude (Julien) that’s something I want to do here is I want to reach another level. I don’t Updated: July 26, 2019 feel like I’m done developing, per se. It’s kind of like a cliché thing to say in hockey is guys are developing at their own pace, but I feel like I’ve still

got some developing to do and I feel like I’ve got more levels to go and As a kid growing up in Hamilton, Ont., Ben Chiarot was a big Maple I’m hoping to do that here in Montreal with Claude and be able to learn Leafs fan, but his two favourite players — defencemen Paul Coffey and from some of the guys like a Shea Weber. There wouldn’t be a better guy Scott Stevens — didn’t play for the Maple Leafs. for me to watch and learn from and the way he conducts himself. Certainly, playoffs last year and the year prior were big for me. Playoff Chiarot wore No. 77 as a kid in minor hockey in honour of Coffey, but hockey kind of suits my style. It’s a heavier game, more physical. So I switched to No. 7 as a defenceman in the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets. definitely think I have more to give than what I’ve already shown.” After signing a three-year, US$10.5-million contract with the Canadiens on July 4 as a free agent, Chiarot will now wear No. 8. On how at 6-foot-3 and 219 pounds he has had to adjust his game as play in the NHL continues to get quicker: “I wore No. 7 and it’s retired for the guy right over there,” Chiarot said Friday in the Canadiens’ locker room at the Bell Sports Complex in “When I started, the big, strong defenceman that could just kind of clear Brossard while pointing at a photo of Hall of Famer Howie Morenz on the the front of the net was still used. They had guys like that here (with the wall. “I wanted a single digit and I wasn’t going to ask Shea (Weber) for Canadiens) … like a Hal Gill or even going back further a Sheldon No. 6, so I took No. 8.” Souray … big guys that just kind of cleared the front of the net. So when I went to junior (with the ) that’s kind of what they said: When Arpon Basu of The Athletic joked it would be fun to make a video ‘You’re going to be one of these guys.’ But as I’ve gotten older, you of him asking Weber for No. 6, Chiarot smiled and said: “That’s probably develop your game and you work on your skating and other aspects of not going to happen.” your game. You kind of grow with the game. It’s gotten faster and you No. 6 and No. 8 are the only two single-digit numbers that haven’t been see the teams that won Stanley Cups like Pittsburgh that just can flat out- retired by the Canadiens. skate the other team. So you’ve seen the game go that way where you need to be able to skate and defencemen need to be able to join the rush Chiarot visited the Canadiens’ practice facility for the first time Friday and move the puck. So I’ve developed my game and used that and it’s since leaving the Winnipeg Jets and signing his new contract and spent become a stronger part of my game now is skating. You have to be able almost 20 minutes answering questions from the media. to skate with the smaller guys as we found out in Montreal last year when we came in here. Skating is the biggest thing and speed is a huge part of “I grew up 45 minutes from the ACC (in Toronto), so I was a big Leaf the game now. So you have to be able to do both.” fan,” he said. “Scott Stevens was a big guy I looked up to. I was around 11, 12 years old when he was winning Stanley Cups (with the New On devait la faire. We had to do it. Jersey Devils) and laying guys out all over the place. He was a big guy for me that I looked up to. Paul Coffey was another one. I had a video, 퐂퐡퐢퐚퐫퐨퐭퐨퐟퐅퐢퐫퐞. pic.twitter.com/SmjWwfV9Iq— Canadiens Montréal Skate Like Paul Coffey, as a kid that I watched all the time. So those (@CanadiensMTL) July 26, 2019 would be the two biggest guys that I looked up to as a kid. My dad kind of On what his role with the Canadiens might be: told me whether it was Paul Coffey — ‘You want to be able to skate like that’ — or the intensity that a Scott Stevens had, those were two guys “There’s nothing specific that needs to be said. I’m a big believer that you that I tried to take pieces of their game.” need to earn what you get. Especially when you’re new to a team, there’s nothing given. You have to come in and earn your opportunities and earn Here’s some more of what he Chiarot had to say Friday morning while your ice time. I don’t think I’m any different than that just because you wearing his new No. 8 Canadiens sweater. sign a new contract. Whatever the case may be, I think that you still need On what he likes about this Canadiens team: to come in and earn your place. We had some loose talks with Claude and with (general manager) Marc (Bergevin) about what I would do, but “When we came in here with Winnipeg (last season) they absolutely I’d like to keep that between us and we’ll figure things out once the skated us into the ground (winning 5-2 at the Bell Centre). I think both in season gets going.” Winnipeg and in Montreal, both times they beat us (the Canadiens won 3-1 in Winnipeg). This is a fast team and a young team and you have the When asked if he knows any of his new teammates: best goalie in the world (Carey Price) in net. I’ll do my part to help on “I played with Joel Armia in Winnipeg and he’s a good friend of mine. So I defence and add to what they already have there. But I think this is a talked to him when I signed here. Nate Thompson reached out and team that is trending toward the playoffs and came very close last year texted me. Max Domi, I skated with him a couple of summers ago back in — I think they had 96 points. All the pieces are here. A little bit it reminds Ontario. So I knew a couple of the guys. Army would be the one guy that me of where we were in Winnipeg a few years ago with some of the I knew the best.” young pieces and the leadership of a guy like (Shea) Weber and Price. I think all the pieces are here for us to be successful and I’m hoping what I On not having to play against Weber now: bring, I think we should be trending in the right direction.” “When you’re killing penalties and Shea Weber’s winding up to take a On why he decided to leave Winnipeg after posting 5-15-20 totals in 78 slapshot … there’s not many things scarier than standing in front of that games last season, along with a plus-6 rating and 62 penalty minutes, shot just because you know if it hits you it’s got a chance of putting you while averaging 18:37 of ice time: out for about a month or two. I’ll be happy to not be standing in front of that again.” “We had a great D corp in Winnipeg. You can see the guys that have moved on … (Jacob) Trouba going to be a No. 1 in New York and (Tyler) Ben Chiarot: bon avec les enfants. Myers likely a top-pair guy in Vancouver. It was really deep … it was a deep back end and so I came in and you just try and scrap for every Ben Chiarot: good with kids. ✅#GoHabsGo opportunity that you get. So I did that the last couple of years and then pic.twitter.com/wFiXTf4zW4— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) this past season I was able to get some more ice time and better July 26, 2019 opportunity. Really, the difference was like two or three minutes of penalty-kill in my ice time. It wasn’t that big of a difference. So to have a When asked what he enjoyed most about coming to Montreal as a visiting player:

“We were always in and out of Montreal. We’d come in usually on an East Coast road trip. So we’d come in kind of the night before and play the next night. But the best part about coming to Montreal is playing at the Bell Centre. It’s the best atmosphere in the league. You ask, the consensus around the league would be the Bell Centre is the funnest rink to play in. So that’s always the best part.”

When asked who had the biggest impact on him as a young player growing up:

“My parents, my dad, my family in general put a lot of time in. My dad, like every player, has a lot that goes into not just the player that you become but the person and what values you have. I think if you went around each (NHL) room, each player’s dad would kind of say this is what’s important in a player and that’s what that player’s good at. So my dad was big on the intensity and the physicality that comes with playing hockey and that’s what you put importance in. I think that’s kind of what you see as what kind of player I am now.”

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150193 Montreal Canadiens ice. Chiarot is a left-hand shot — something the Canadiens have been missing on the blue line — and he could be paired with either Weber or Jeff Petry. Stu Cowan: Free-agent signing Ben Chiarot excited to join Canadiens Ben se fait déjà de nouveaux amis. 欄 "Playing Saturday night at the Bell Centre — there’s nothing in hockey Ben already making new friends. #GoHabsGo that’s quite the same," defenceman says. pic.twitter.com/gkQk8GJXIq— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) July 26, 2019

STU COWAN Chiarot said he has had some “loose talks” with GM Marc Bergevin and coach Claude Julien about what his role will be, but added: “I’d like to MONTREAL GAZETTE keep that between us and we’ll figure things out once the season gets going.” Updated: July 26, 2019 After putting on a bleu-blanc-rouge jersey for the first time, posing for

photos in front of his new stall and while standing behind the big CH logo first visit to the Bell Centre was as a 9-year-old when his minor hockey on the floor, Chiarot was asked what it felt like to be in the Canadiens’ team visited Montreal. He still remembers attending the Canadiens’ locker room for the first time. morning skate and watching in awe as defenceman Sheldon Souray fired “Looking at the names up there (on the walls) … Marc Bergevin was slapshots and then attending a game that night against the New York telling me that this is an exact replica of what’s downtown (at the Bell Rangers. Centre),” Chiarot said. “You think about the names that have gotten “That was my first taste of seeing what the NHL was like,” the 28-year-old dressed in a Habs dressing room … I don’t think I’ve soaked it in Hamilton native recalled Friday morning when he visited the Canadiens’ completely yet, but I’m sure at some point this year I will. It’s amazing the practice facility in Brossard for the first time since signing a three-year, history that’s in this city with this team. It hasn’t fully sunk in yet, but it’s US$10.5-million contract contract on July 4 as a free agent. exciting to be a part of it.”

The Bell Centre is a big reason why Chiarot decided to sign with the Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.27.2019 Canadiens after spending his first five NHL seasons with the Winnipeg Jets. In 78 games last season, the 6-foot-3, 219-pounder posted 5-15-20 totals — setting career highs in goals, assists and points — had a plus-6 rating and 62 penalty minutes while averaging 18:37 of ice time. Chiarot is an upgrade on Jordie Benn — who signed with the Vancouver Canucks as a free agent — since he is four years younger, will be more comfortable in a top-four role and, like Benn, can kill penalties. Chiarot also plays a strong physical game.

However, Chiarot won’t help the Canadiens’ brutal power play or add much offensively with 12-52-64 totals in 305 career NHL games.

“I really enjoy playing in Canada in a place where it matters,” Chiarot said after putting on his new Canadiens jersey with Benn’s old No. 8. “I enjoy the pressure that comes with having to perform every night and playing Saturday night at the Bell Centre — there’s nothing in hockey that’s quite the same. To have the opportunity to do that every week was something I was excited about and it was a big reason why I decided to come to Montreal.

“Certainly, a good team was important to me,” Chiarot added. “Everything as far as the players, it goes a lot smoother when a team is winning and playing on a good team was important to me. To get to play in a city like Montreal, for an Original Six team, it was a great opportunity for myself and for my family.”

This is an exciting time for Chiarot and his family. His wife, Jacqueline, gave birth to their first child — daughter Emerson — a month ago and they were going house-hunting Friday afternoon. His family members in Hamilton now won’t have as far to travel to watch him play.

“Guys have their reasons for not wanting to come here,” Chiarot said when asked about free agents who don’t want to play in Montreal for a variety of reasons that could include the weather, taxes, language and the fact the Canadiens have missed the playoffs in three of the last four years. “But for me, it’s a great city, a place that loves hockey and a team that’s close to making the playoffs. There wasn’t really anything negative in my mind that would make me not want to come to Montreal. So everything for me was positive about coming here and I’m excited.

New #Habs defenceman Ben Chiarot visits Brossard locker room for first time #HabsIO pic.twitter.com/03lJduozA0— Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) July 26, 2019

“When someone says you have a chance to play for the Montreal Canadiens it’s pretty special and I didn’t need to be sold on anything to come here and play here.”

The Canadiens beat the Jets both times they met last season — 5-2 at the Bell Centre and 3-1 in Winnipeg — and Chiarot was impressed by the team’s youth and speed, saying all the pieces are there for them to be a playoff team next season after missing the postseason in each of the last two years. He called Carey Price “the best goalie in the world” and is looking forward to learning from captain Shea Weber both on and off the 1150194 Montreal Canadiens that will make Bergevin’s era officially one of the worst eras in the over 100-year history of the Canadiens.

This is a fellow who inherited a pretty decent team, that then went on to What the Puck: If the Habs miss the playoffs again it's a fireable offence the conference final in 2014. Since then, they have won squat. Okay to The current roster assembled by general manager Marc Bergevin doesn't be more accurate, they have won one measly playoff series since that look like it will be strong enough to compete for a post-season berth. 2014 run. One! And they’ve missed the playoffs in three of the past five years and missed the last two playoffs.

I say if the Habs this season don’t make the playoffs again under BRENDAN KELLY Bergevin, it’s a fireable offence. Does the owner of the Montreal Canadiens feel the same way? MONTREAL GAZETTE Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.27.2019 Updated: July 26, 2019

Close to a month after the opening of NHL free agency, it’s a fair bet the lineup of the Montreal Canadiens today is the lineup you’ll see when they open the 2019-2020 season on the road against the Carolina Hurricanes. Honestly, there is little chance general manager Marc Bergevin will orchestrate any blockbuster trades between now and the season opener. Who exactly would he be trading from this roster?

And that’s the point. If I’m right and what you see is what you get, it’s not looking great. My colleague Stu Cowan reported this week the sports book SportsBetting.ag lists the Habs as having 33-1 odds of winning the Stanley Cup and it also lists the over/under odds for points totals next season and the Canadiens were at 88.5. Just to refresh your memory, Montreal had 96 points this season and still missed the playoffs, for the second consecutive season.

In other words, at 88 or 89 points, they are almost certainly not in the playoffs. And I actually think 88 or 89 points is a rather optimistic prediction for a team that has at best stayed the same as last season and/or has arguably gotten worse with the loss of Andrew Shaw.

I know we have been arguing about this all summer and, obviously, the pro-Bergevin crowd is always oddly optimistic in the face of facts that suggest there are no reasons for optimism. But here’s the thing. Let’s take it back to basics. A pal sent me the roster of the Canadiens the other day and it was, frankly, a little shocking.

As in, shockingly not so good. The first point to note is they’re short of wingers. On left wing, you have Tomas Tatar, Jonathan Drouin, Paul Byron, Artturi Lehkonen and Charles Hudon. On right wing, it’s even skimpier with Brendan Gallagher, Joel Armia, Riley Barber and Dale Weise. Keep in mind most people don’t expect Hudon, Barber or Weise to play for the big club.

They have more depth at centre, though arguably still no bona fide No. 1 centre, which has been the case since they traded away 400 years ago. The centres are Phillip Danault, Max Domi, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Jordan Weal, Nick Cousins, Ryan Poehling, Nate Thompson, Phil Varone and Matthew Peca. Again most figure Peca and Varone will be in Laval and Poehling also might well be playing with the Rocket, depending on how his camp goes.

Given the shortages on the wings, you figure at least one of these centres will have to play on the wing. You also have to admit it’s not a forward corps with a lot of depth. One Top Six guy goes down with an injury and the whole thing collapses like a house of cards. Not to mention if a fellow named Drouin continues the slump he was on for the last third of the past season, the house of cards also falls to the ground.

The blue-line corps is just as rickety. Bergevin still hasn’t found an ideal candidate to play on the left with Shea Weber on the first pairing and if you think losing Jordie Benn and picking up Ben Chiarot is anything but a wash, I have a swamp in Florida I’d love to sell you.

Between the pipes, you’d have to say it’s about the same as last year given Keith Kincaid’s numbers last season were similar to Antti Niemi’s. But to remain the same, it also means Carey Price has to have a strong season again. In other words, no injuries and no issues upstairs. He’s already publicly complaining about the fact his window of opportunity is closing and he’s tired of hearing the hype about prospects. So that doesn’t bode well for a happy Price next season, especially if the Habs do as middling as SportsBetting.ag predicts.

I know these words of doom and gloom drive some fans crazy, but look at that roster and tell me how it looks like a squad that’s going to do any damage. And if we naysayers are right and they do miss the playoffs, 1150195 New York Rangers

Rangers and Pavel Buchnevich reach two-year deal

By Brett Cyrgalis

July 26, 2019 | 9:16PM

The Rangers’ final arbitration case has been settled, as they came to terms with 24-year-old Russian winger Pavel Buchnevich on a two-year deal worth $3.25 million per year days before his Monday hearing.

This now opens the Blueshirts’ window for a contract buyout from Monday until Wednesday at 5 p.m. The most likely buyout candidates would be defensemen Brendan Smith and Kevin Shattenkirk, both of whom have two years left on their deals, which would carry dead cap space for four years.

The Rangers remain over the $81.5 salary-cap ceiling, with a 10-percent summer allowance continuing until just before the start of the regular season, Oct. 3.

That creates many issues for general manager Jeff Gorton, who must find a way to shed salary. That could very likely start with trading Chris Kreider, who has one more year on his deal at $4.625 million. The club also has two more restricted free agents to sign — defenseman Tony DeAngelo and forward Brendan Lemieux.

New York Post LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150196 New York Rangers problem. They overpaid to keep captain Anders Lee and their blue line didn’t get any better, either.

There was a lot that went right for the Islanders last season as they Forecasting point totals for Rangers, Devils and Islanders finished with 103 points and just one point behind Washington for the top spot in the Metro Division. But they didn’t improve and I feel they got worse in certain areas, particularly in net. By Ian Cameron The pick: I’d go Under 94.5 points for the Islanders. VSiN July 26, 2019 | 10:01am New York Post LOADED: 07.27.2019

LAS VEGAS — NHL season point totals have started to pop up at a variety of Las Vegas and offshore sportsbooks for the 2019-20 season. In terms of the three New York area teams, I have the arrow pointing downward for the team that advanced the furthest of any of them last season, the Islanders, while I suspect we will see improvement and potentially dramatic improvement from the Rangers and Devils.

Devils

They are building a solid team heading into next season emphasizing skill and speed throughout their roster. General manager Ray Shero made some shrewd moves in the offseason to improve the depth of this squad by trading for veteran defenseman P.K. Subban from the Predators to provide a critical element of puck moving ability from the blue line that all teams must have in the current era of the NHL.

Up front, this could be the most talented Devils team in years. Taylor Hall, who had 37 points in 33 games before a knee injury ended his season prematurely, is back along with Kyle Palmieri, who had 27 goals.

The Devils add 2019 first-overall pick Jack Hughes to give them a great tandem at center with 2017 first-overall pick Nico Hischier. They signed Wayne Simmonds, who is another offensive weapon who can be a value signing if he can reclaim the form he had with the Flyers. New Jersey’s fourth line enters the season with Blake Coleman and Travis Zajac on it, and both scored 19-plus goals last season, which speaks to the improved offensive depth this team has.

Goaltending is the major question mark with Cory Schneider trying to re- establish himself as NHL caliber, and youngster Mackenzie Blackwood who could be the future in net. The Devils’ points total is 88.5. This team had just 72 points last season but is primed for a big improvement.

The pick: Over 88.5.

Rangers

The Blueshirts also have reasons for optimism next season. Their offense should improve. They were far too reliant on only one line for scoring last year, specifically on Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. They made a big splash this offseason by signing free agent Artemi Panarin to a seven-year deal, giving them a big-time goal scorer, and they drafted Finnish sensation Kaapo Kakko second overall. All of a sudden, the Rangers have a much improved top-six forward group.

The Rangers needed to improve on defense, and they did so with Jacob Trouba, who is a rock-solid defenseman who is coming off career highs in assists and points. He can play relatively solid in the defensive zone while adding a physical presence and can chip in offensively from the blue line.

Henrik Lundqvist, at 37, will play a vital role in the success of this team, but all signs are looking up for the Rangers this season. Their win total is also 88.5 after garnering 78 points last season.

The pick: This is another squad with the chance to get to 90 or more points.

Islanders

The outlook isn’t as positive for me with Islanders. Yes it’s true they were the only team from the New York area to make the playoffs a season ago. There is no doubt Barry Trotz was an excellent hire and he turned the Islanders into the best defensive team in goals allowed per game in the NHL last season after being the worst the season before, but their offseason wasn’t the greatest.

Pretty much by their own choice, they lost goaltender Robin Lehner to Chicago, and he was a huge factor in the turnaround last season. They replaced him with an inconsistent and injury-plagued Semyon Varlamov, which isn’t a reliable backup plan. They missed out on snagging a big- time goal scorer, and their lack of depth offensively is a still a massive 1150197 New York Rangers

Rangers, forward Pavel Buchnevich agree on a new contract

By Colin Stephenson [email protected] @ColinASteph

Updated July 27, 2019 1:26 AM

The Rangers and restricted free agent Pavel Buchnevich have reached agreement on a contract.

The agreement with the forward, announced by the Rangers on Friday night, means the team and player have avoided salary arbitration, which had been scheduled for Monday. It also opens a second buyout window for the Rangers, who are over the $81.5 million salary cap and are going to have to do something drastic to shed enough salary to get under the cap by opening night, Oct. 3.

The buyout window opens on Monday and will be open for 48 hours.

Buchnevich’s deal is for two years and worth a reported $3.25 million per year. Buchnevich, 24, had 21 goals and 17 assists in 64 games this past season.

The clock now starts on the Rangers, who need to trim their payroll after an active summer spent aggressively adding assets they believe will speed up their rebuilding process.

The summer started when they won the No. 2 overall pick in the NHL Draft Lottery, which they used to take Finnish forward Kaapo Kakko, and continued when general manager Jeff Gorton traded for 21-year-old defenseman Adam Fox and top defenseman Jacob Trouba. Then, on July 1, Gorton landed the biggest prize of the free-agent market, winger Artemi Panarin, signing him to a seven- year, $81.5 million deal.

But in spending big on Panarin and Trouba — a restricted free agent whom they locked up last week with a seven-year, $56 million deal — the payroll quickly shot above the cap limit. Gorton still has two RFAs left to sign, defenseman Tony DeAngelo and forward Brendan Lemieux.

So Gorton now must trade away some significant salary — forwards Chris Kreider, Vlad Namestnikov and Ryan Strome are the most likely candidates — or reduce payroll by buying out the contract of a player or two.

The two names thrown around most often as potential buyout candidates for the Rangers are defensemen Kevin Shattenkirk and Brendan Smith. Both have two years left on four-year contracts signed in the summer of 2017.

A buyout of Shattenkirk — whose cap hit for each of the next two seasons is $6.65 million — would save $5.2 million against the cap this season, according to CapFriendly’s calculation. But next season, his cap hit would be $6.1 million, and the Rangers would carry $1.433 million of dead money on their salary cap in the two seasons after that.

A buyout of Smith, who carries a cap hit of $4.35 million per in each of the next two seasons, would save the Rangers $3.38 million this season, according to CapFriendly. But his cap hit would be $3.15 million next season, and the Rangers would carry $1.15 million in dead money on their payroll for two years after that.

If the Rangers don’t want to use the buyout option, then trading Kreider, who is entering the final year of his contract and carries a $4.625 million cap hit, would seem to be the likeliest move. If they don’t trade Kreider, they’ll have to sign him to a contract extension somewhere in the range of seven years and $7 million per year, and that won’t help their salary- cap situation in the next few years.

It’s hard to imagine teams lining up to trade for Namestnikov ($4 million this season) or Strome ($3.1 million). It would be harder still to imagine teams being willing to trade for Shattenkirk or Smith, even if the Rangers retain some of their salaries.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150198 New York Rangers playing on a third line, assuming that Artemi Panarin, Kaapo Kakko, Vitali Kravtsov and Kreider or Buchnevich are on the top two lines.

Buchnevich had a breakout second half of last season to finish with a Rangers’ buyout window opens with Pavel Buchnevich signing, and now career-best 21 goals and 38 points in 64 games. He also was a project of they have to get under the cap coach David Quinn, who aimed to have Buchnevich present a consistent level of engagement.

By Rick Carpiniello The Rangers, who signed Trouba to a seven-year, $56 million arbitration- avoiding deal last week, have two remaining unsigned restricted free Jul 26, 2019 agents, winger Brendan Lemieux and defenseman Tony DeAngelo.

With all the moves and additions Gorton and team president John Davidson have made, they still have work to do this summer, and The Rangers avoided salary arbitration with 24-year-old winger Pavel Friday’s signing of Buchnevich doesn’t change that at all. Buchnevich by reaching an agreement on a new two-year contract worth $3.25 million (cap hit) per season. The Athletic LOADED: 07.27.2019 But they did much more with the signing. Rangers GM Jeff Gorton put more wheels in motion during what has already been an active offseason.

The Buchnevich settlement — the Rangers haven’t had a player actually reach arbitration since Nik Zherdev in 2009 — opens a second 48-hour buyout window Monday.

The Rangers sit $4 million or so over the salary cap, depending on which players are actually on their 23-man roster opening night, by which they must be cap-compliant.

Gorton can get under the cap in many ways, but one way would be a buyout, with Kevin Shattenkirk and Brendan Smith the most likely candidates, and Marc Staal and others somewhat less likely victims.

The downside of any buyout is the dead cap space lasts twice the remaining term of the bought-out contract.

If the Rangers buy out the last two years of Shattenkirk’s contract (worth $6.65 million per), the cost to the team would be $1.483 million in 2019- 20, $6.083 million in ’20-21, then $1.483 million in both ’21-22 and ’22- 23. Charts by CapFriendly.com:

To buy out Smith’s remaining two years at $4.35 million per, the cost over the next four seasons would be $970,000, $3.146 million, $1.146 million, $1.146 million:

For Staal (two years left at $5.7 million per), it would cost $2.9 million, $3.7 million, $1.2 million, $1.2 million:

So it’s not an easy decision — much more complicated than “good riddance.”

Another possibility would be to buy out a player like Vladislav Namestnikov, who has one year at $4 million remaining and therefore would result in only two seasons’ worth of dead cap space — $1.33 million in each of the next two seasons. But the Rangers would be more likely to trade Namestnikov, who is just 26, and could eat a percentage of his remaining contract to facilitate the deal, thus eliminating the dead cap space in 2020-21.

Other than the 48-hour buyout window — which was assured of opening when Buchnevich and Jacob Trouba filed for arbitration — Gorton is not under any kind of pressure to get under the cap. The window, though, is a clear and present opportunity that closes Wednesday evening.

Still very much in the conversation is a potential trade of Chris Kreider. But Gorton wouldn’t trade Kreider just to clear cap space, and he certainly wouldn’t trade Kreider because of his inconsistencies. Gorton would trade Kreider only for a package that was worthwhile.

Mostly, Gorton would be trading Kreider simply because next July 1 he will be a 29-year-old unrestricted free agent looking at (and for) a seven- year, $7-million-plus deal like the one Kevin Hayes got from Philadelphia. The Rangers aren’t likely to want to sign Kreider to an extension of that magnitude at his age.

If a trade for Kreider doesn’t materialize, and Gorton can find another way to get under the cap (he will), then holding onto Kreider perhaps until the trade deadline is a possibility. Kreider would probably bring a first- rounder plus from a contender before the deadline, as did Hayes and Rick Nash the year before that.

It also stands to reason that, unless the Rangers are going to deal Buchnevich (a possibility), they are going to have an extra top-six winger 1150199 NHL The siblings grew up in Minnesota, where their father, Dr. Joel Boyd, had been the NHL’s first black team physician, with the Wild. Kyle Boyd played youth hockey there as one of few black players.

The NHL — Seattle’s team included — strives for diversity growth to “There wasn’t a ton of diversity,’’ Kyle Boyd said. “I think there are still offset ‘white sport’ label things that aren’t stereotypically associated with people of color, and hockey is one of those things.’’

By Geoff Baker Part of Boyd’s job is changing that through NHL initiatives like “Learn to Play” programs for first-time players, or implementing street hockey Seattle Times staff reporter leagues in areas without rinks. He said reaching diverse communities is a reason NHL Seattle picked Northgate Mall for its future training facility,

where three ice sheets for public use will be regionally accessible with State lawmaker Eric Pettigrew remembers growing up as one of the few light rail. black children in South Central Los Angeles who enjoyed watching “There are so many kids that want to give this a try,’’ he said. “And our hockey over other sports. job is to kind of lower those barriers of entry.’’ So, when the World Hockey Association (WHA) formed as a rival league State legislator Pettigrew’s childhood hockey hero, White, 74, who retired to the NHL in 1972, Pettigrew and a fellow L.A. Kings-loving pal would go from the WHA in 1975 without playing in the NHL, agreed access is see the new circuit’s L.A. Sharks. Partway through the Sharks’ first critical. White, living in British Columbia, sounded elated his long- season, they traded for Canadian-born winger Alton White, only the forgotten wink at Pettigrew was so impactful, adding he’d often speak to second player of color in a major professional hockey circuit. black youths whom a rink attendant brought to Sharks games in L.A. “I didn’t see very many black people at the hockey games, let alone black “There was a lot of hockey being played, but there wasn’t a lot of black players,’’ Rep. Pettigrew, 58, (D-Seattle) said. “So, we’re standing near participation,’’ White said. “Hockey’s a sport where you start very young. the entrance where the players come on the ice and we saw him — and I You have to get a lot of your basic skating and all that stuff in at a young was about to lose my mind. We were two black kids screaming at Alton age.’’ White, going ‘Alton! Alton!’ At that time in L.A., children didn’t have many places to play. “And he looked over and winked at me. It was the best moment ever for a 10- or 11-year-old kid having this hockey player — a black hockey player “Now they have great programs where kids are getting to start at a young — acknowledge me.’’ age and really honing skills,’’ White said. “And there’s more black participation because black players like , Ray Neufeld and Pettigrew said White’s wink “was probably one of the biggest moments of Grant Fuhr came along. Once kids identify with these players, they say, my life’’ and inspired him to “think outside the box of South Central L.A.’’ ‘Well, if he can do it, so can I.’ ’’ He moved from the city to his grandparents’ home at 14 to avoid gang life, eventually earning college degrees at Oregon State and the The same 1981-82 season as Fuhr’s debut, Buffalo Sabres forward Val University of Washington and by 2003 was elected to Washington’s state James became the NHL’s first U.S.-born black player. Mike Grier in 1996 legislature. became the first U.S.-born black player developed in this country, while Canadians Jarome Iginla — one of three black captains in NHL history — But it took years after the wink for black players to truly start integrating Anson Carter and Jamal Mayers also debuted that year. within pro hockey, saddling the NHL with a “white sport’’ label it’s spent decades trying to shed with various diversity initiatives. The Boston Two years ago, ex-Philadelphia Flyers alternate captain Wayne Bruins’ Willie O’Ree broke the NHL color barrier in January 1958 — a Simmonds replicated Fuhr in being named All-Star Game MVP. decade-plus after Jackie Robinson in baseball — and it took 16 more years for a second black player, Mike Marson, to join the Washington NHL pioneer O’Ree, 83, inducted into the Hall of Fame last year, has Capitals. been the league’s diversity ambassador since 1998. He said there are 36 programs across North America helping grow the game compared to five Of 89 black players throughout NHL history, only six — O’Ree, Marson, when his role began. Bill Riley, Tony McKegney, Bernie Saunders and Ray Neufeld — debuted before the 1980s. Future Hall of Fame goalie Grant Fuhr joining “There are more boys and girls playing hockey today than ever — the Edmonton Oilers in 1981 slowly led to more, as did NHL-sponsored especially girls,’’ O’Ree said. “I can tell you, these kids are just hungry to community programs starting in 1995 that got youths from nontraditional get on the ice and play.’’ hockey backgrounds playing the game. He said it matters that black youths see NHL stars that “look like them” — Kim Davis, hired in 2017 as NHL executive vice president for social having had no black NHL role models growing up in New Brunswick and impact, growth initiatives and legislative affairs and overseeing the leaning on an older brother who preached the value of working hard and league’s “Hockey is for Everyone’’ diversity, gender and LGBTQ inclusion ignoring racist taunts. effort, said this isn’t merely about doing “the right thing’’ but cultivating O’Ree played in a six-team NHL and felt diversification would eventually younger, more multicultural fans. come after the league’s expansion to 12 squads in 1967 and 21 following “We understand that for us to continue to thrive and survive as a sport, its 1979 merger with the now-defunct WHA. we have to ensure our sport is welcoming to all audiences,’’ Davis said. “There were just too many good players out there not getting a chance,’’ Black players from the U.S., Canada and with Caribbean heritage O’Ree said. comprise the largest chunk of players of color in an increasingly diverse The league’s historical lack of black players is often blamed for a similar NHL, alongside other athletes of Latino, Asian and Middle Eastern dearth of executive representation. Following repeated pledges of a descent. commitment to diversity, NHL Seattle hired six women and two The NHL had 27 black players last season and 20 more with rights held employees of color — including Kendall Boyd-Tyson — among 11 vice- by teams. It’s had at least 20 black players since 2015-16 and is hiring a presidents. senior executive to monitor off-ice job candidates and help team offices Dartmouth graduate Kyle Boyd moved here last year and landed his NHL and boardrooms better reflect the league’s changing personnel. Seattle role after a chance on-ice meeting with CEO Tod Leiweke while Still, given players of color exceed 80% in the NBA, 70% in NFL and 40% skating in Kent. in MLB, the NHL has work ahead mirroring those leagues. They met again for coffee, during which time he told Leiweke his sister, NHL Seattle last month hired Lakeside High School history teacher Kyle Boyd-Tyson, was also a Seattle resident and Topgolf executive. She’s Boyd, 29, to spearhead local outreach efforts as director of youth and now an NHL Seattle vice president focusing on analytics encompassing community development/training. And his sister, Kendall Boyd-Tyson, 32, both the team and KeyArena — including strategies for sponsorships, is now an NHL Seattle vice president for strategy and analytics. marketing, ticket sales and arena operations. Boyd-Tyson played Division III basketball at Emory University, but her college hockey was limited to captaining a non-varsity club while attending Yale University’s business school. She described it as “one of the best leadership positions I ever had’’ helping dozens of second-year classmates and future business leaders of varying on-ice skills with skating and hockey basics.

But it was her business skills NHL Seattle coveted, particularly having vetted Topgolf growth opportunities like computer applications and new technology. And though her father was a racial pioneer in hockey, Boyd- Tyson doesn’t view herself that way.

“What I’m most impressed about,’’ she said, “is everyone who’s been hired (by NHL Seattle) — male, female, minority — is a rock star.’’

She added: “I strive to get hired on my merits and experience, and my education has always been a big piece. The diversity piece, for me I see it as the skin I live in. An example to others, but I certainly don’t lead with it.’’

NHL executive vice president Davis said the league is now a global business requiring the same non-hockey executive skills as major companies like Amazon. And teams must be inclusive, she added, to attract top executives.

“We know from data that people are going to be more apt to be interested in being recruited into any organization where they see someone that looks like themselves and can envision and imagine and see a trajectory for themselves in that talent pool.’’

Davis said NHL teams employ about 29% female administrative staffers, which is high relative to other leagues. But ethnic diversity numbers “are not as robust.’’

Ex-players, traditionally white males, comprise most NHL coaching and hockey operations hires. But that’s slowly changing — for example, NHL Seattle recently hired analytics specialist Alexandra Mandrycky as hockey operations director.

Given that, and with NHL players of color now more frequent, the game’s administrative ranks could soon look significantly different.

Davis said NHL street hockey programs have been very successful attracting athletes of color from nontraditional markets like Las Vegas and Southern California. Also, NHL-backed financial subsidies help offset expensive equipment and travel costs that similarly impact families of white hockey players and those of color.

Washington lawmaker Pettigrew never played his favorite sport because of cost and no rink access. But the self-proclaimed “hockey geek” is exactly the fan the NHL’s diversity efforts are cultivating. He loves his hometown Kings, keeps a Simmonds jersey from when he broke in with that team and routinely enjoys Canucks games in Vancouver with his legislature buddies.

Pettigrew can’t wait for the NHL’s arrival here and sees growth potential beyond traditional hockey communities.

“Who knows?’’ he said. “There might be an Eric Pettigrew out there that gets winked at by a Wayne Simmonds and the next thing you know, they’re a top-notch player.’’

Seattle Times LOADED: 07.27.2019

1150200 Ottawa Senators Term lengths and signing bonuses (something the Senators owner has been loathed to pay and surely a factor in losing the services of Karlsson, Stone and Duchene) are sure to be part of the next negotiation. Perhaps Projecting the Senators’ 2021-22 lineup, the first season of ‘Unparalleled part of the Senators’ strategy going forward is to see where all that goes. Success’ In the meantime, that’s not going to help with the signing of Thomas Chabot. The defenceman is entering the final season of his ELC and is eligible to be signed to a contract extension. If the Senators franchise D- By Chris Stevenson Jul 26, 2019 man makes it to next July 1 without a contract extension, he would appear to be a prime target for an offer sheet.

But, as I said, we’re operating under the premise here that the Senators The outlook for this season is pretty bleak for the rebuilding Ottawa are going to be able to sign all of their up-and-coming potential stars. Senators, which was outlined in this piece on Monday. Given those qualifications and assumptions, what could the Senators After divesting itself of three of the best players in the NHL in Erik roster look like in 2021-22? Karlsson, Mark Stone and Matt Duchene last season, there is no reasonable expectation this team will score enough goals to be anything At this point, the Senators have six significant players under contract for but a last-placed club again this season. that season. Bobby Ryan will be in the last year of his deal and he might have been dumped off on another team or bought out by then. He could That’s on top of the other massive challenge facing new coach D.J. also agree to be exposed in the 2021 expansion draft after some kind of Smith — to start chipping away at the league-worst 302 goals the deal is worked out with Seattle. Senators gave up last year. Defenceman Nikita Zaitsev will be in the third season with the team, with But there can be a hopeful future, even if that hope has to be qualified two additional years left on his deal. Forwards Josh Norris and Alex and come with a leap of faith that this rebuild will unfold in the best Formenton and defencemen Erik Brannstrom will be in the last year of possible way. their ELCs. I know there are a number of you passionate Senators fans who are Forward Marian Gaborik will be off the books at that point, but the reading this and saying, “I can’t invest any more emotion, never mind Senators will still owe defenceman Dion Phaneuf two more payments of money, until this owner is gone.” $354,167. I get that. Given the Senators commitment to spending close to the cap at this point For the purpose of this exercise, I’m asking you to suspend your rancor, and the cap flexibility they should have, given the number of young your mistrust and your skepticism (all of which the owner has justifiably players set to be on the roster, this looks like a great opportunity to make earned) and take that giant leap of faith. I’m asking you to believe for a a big splash in the free-agent market, especially for an established, No. 1 moment the owner is going to live up to the promise he made in centre. February. Who could be available? While this was a pledge (the word used in the Senators’ press release) There’s not much in the way of unrestricted free agent centres for the he made not to you the fans, but to the team’s corporate sponsors and summer of 2021 with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (who’s just had a 69-point partners, it’s still a pledge. season with the Edmonton Oilers), looking like the best option. How Colin Again, we’ll give the owner the benefit of the doubt with the “close” to the White, Logan Brown and Josh Norris develop will dictate how urgent NHL’s salary cap. What’s close? Within $1 million? Within $3 million? adding help at centre will be. Also, he said “every year from 2021,” so we’ll assume that’s kicking off If it looked at that point that a move to augment the centre position was the five years of Unparalleled Success™ for the 2021-22 season. necessary, Nugent-Hopkins would be 28 by then and fit in with what the In an attempt to predict what the Senators roster could look like in 2021- Senators are building at that point. 22, we’re going to take that leap of faith and assume the organization will If it looks like none of the Senators’ kids will be capable of evolving into a spend upwards of $85 million (or whatever the salary cap is two years No. 1 centre in that window and Nugent-Hopkins isn’t regarded as the from now). That’s a rather large leap of faith given the Senators are answer, the summer of 2022 shapes up as an interesting one for the spending considerably less in real dollars this season ($45.7 million at Senators to make a big move. Evgeni Malkin, Patrice Bergeron, this point, according to Graeme Nichols analysis here) than the $60.2 Aleksander Barkov, Nazem Kadri and Sean Couturier are all set to be million salary floor this season. The Senators still have to sign RFA UFAs that summer. centre Colin White, which will boost their cap number to around $63 million, I’d say. An interesting name there for me is Couturier. He will be 29. He had had back-to-back seasons of 76 points and has evolved into one of the NHL’s Think about that: that’s a bump of about $35 million per season in real best two-way forwards. If the Senators’ kids haven’t taken a big leap dollars starting two years from now (from under $50 million in real dollars forward, he could move in right at the top of the depth chart. being paid out now to “close” to the cap). I say that because at that point the Senators are going to need their cap space and not shore it up with Could the Senators attract a free agent like that? the “fake” cap dollars they’ve accrued in deals like the ones for Nikita Zaitsev and Artem Anisimov. Well, I’ve asked you to suspend your disbelief for this piece, so let’s pretend for a moment the Senators are an appealing option in 2021 or Of course, the owner will be receiving a tidy $21.6 million (U.S. currency) 2022. It would be an opportunity to join one of the up-and-coming young in expansion fees when the Seattle franchise settles its account. That will teams which might be just a season away from contending for a Stanley go a long way to help him, for one season anyway, augment the payroll. Cup. It’s a chance to play with a winger like Tkachuk who should be well And despite many fans in Ottawa clamouring for a new building, it’s not on his way to being a dominating force at that point or Alexis Lafreniere, happening. When discussions about a new rink started as part of the who the Senators took with the first pick in the 2020 draft. development of LeBreton Flats about five years ago, 2022 was projected as the potential first season. There’s also the fact the Senators could offer a player like Couturier as much money as anybody (they’re going to spend close to the cap, right? Alas, there will be no surge in revenues during the house warming period They’ll have lots of cap space, right?) associated with new facilities. That could have been a perfect storm here in Ottawa: the beginning of the five years of Unparalleled Success™ A player like that represents the kind of player the Senators are likely taking place in a new building. Ah, well. going to need either by trade or signing to get where they want to be in that 2021-2025 window. There is one other thing to consider which could impact the roster in 2021-22. There exists the possibility of a work stoppage. Right now the How about this in 2021-22: CBA is poised to expire after the 2021-22 season, but either side could Forwards opt out this fall which would end the current CBA in September 2020. Brady Tkachuk ($9M) — Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ($10M) — Drake Batherson ($5M)

Alex Formenton ($747K) — Colin White ($6M) — Jonathan Davidsson ($2.5M)

Alexis Lafreniere ($925K) — Logan Brown ($3M) — Rudolfs Balcers ($2.5M)

Vitaly Abramov ($2.5M) — Josh Norris ($925K) — Max Veronneau ($2.5M)

Defence

Thomas Chabot ($10M) — Jacob Bernard-Docker ($925K)

Erik Brannstrom ($864K) — Christian Jaros ($3.5M)

Christian Wolanin ($2.5M) — Lassi Thomson ($925K)

Max Lajoie ($2M)

Goaltenders

Marcus Hogberg ($4M)

Filip Gustavsson ($3M)

Mads Sogaard ($975K)

This has the looks of a team that can play fast. Part of the premise of this exercise is all the prospects progress as expected and live up to their promise.

The blue line could be one of the most skilled in the league and would be the engine of the team. This is a group that can move the puck to the forwards or skate it out themselves.

The forwards are a mix of size and speed with offensive potential all the way down through to the fourth line. As I mentioned, Tkachuk should be a force at that point. There’s speed on the wings and the potential for a lot of offence being generate from the middle of the ice.

If things go the way the Senators would like, Hogberg and Gustavsson would be in a brilliant battle to lay claim to the No. 1 job in goal.

As far as salaries go, I’ve taken some wild guesses. I’ve stayed conservative with most of the players coming out of their ELCs signing bridge deals. Chabot and Tkachuk, of course, should be signed to the longest term possible. White, currently an RFA, might be in a position to cash in if he signs a two-year bridge deal heading into next season. The Senators benefit from players like Norris, Formenton and Brannstrom still in the final years of their ELCs at that point, according to CapFriendly.

It requires a giant leap of faith, but in my fantasy world, this would be a pretty interesting team to watch.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150201 Philadelphia Flyers Among the eight goalies, the Flyers had last season was Cam Talbot, who the Flyers traded Anthony Stolarz for and who had become Hart’s mentor over the last couple summers in Edmonton. Talbot wanted the For better or worse: a look at the Flyers' goalie depth chance at a bigger workload and reportedly declined an offer from the Flyers before inking a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Calgary Flames.

Dave Isaac In the Flyers’ eyes, they wanted either Talbot or Elliott and signed the latter five days before he would have become an unrestricted free agent. Published 3:17 PM EDT Jul 26, 2019 He missed half the season with an injury tied to the abdominal ailment that needed surgery in February of 2018 and again later that spring. The team is encouraged that Elliott won’t be in recovery on his way into Among the oddities that came with Ron Hextall’s ousting as Flyers training camp and that he’s already at what he considers to be full general manager, last December was how on Earth the former goalie strength. could have felt good about starting the season with two injured netminders. “We know his medical history better than anybody,” Fletcher said. “He came back and he battled for a while there, but he came back healthy at It didn’t take long before it was clear that Brian Elliott wasn’t ready to the end and I thought he played quite well. Our team started to struggle a complete a comeback after offseason surgery and Michal Neuvirth was little bit down the stretch. I don’t think we gave an awful lot of support to already hurt and so too was farmhand Alex Lyon. This was all in the first whatever goaltender we put in the net. Particularly the last 10-15 games, week of training camp. we got a little loose defensively. But physically, he looked good, he moved well, he felt good, he played some great games for us and at the Hextall said he looked at potentially upgrading the position in the end of the year, knock on wood, he was healthy.” offseason but everyone available was in the same class as Neuvirth and Elliott, so he pressed on. “(I feel) really good,” Elliott added after signing his new deal with the Flyers. “Just hopefully keep getting better and really prepare really well Whoops. for the season and have a good rest of the summer in the gym and on The Flyers went on to use a record eight goalies in the 2018-19 season the ice.” because of an injury situation that was totally predictable and ended up If there is an injury issue, the Flyers hope the new faces they’ve brought with a combined save percentage of .895, which tied them for third-worst in are better suited to carry the workload than the one's last season. in the league. Goaltending in Philadelphia has been called a laughingstock for decades and the absurdity of using eight goalies only Lyon is still third on the depth chart behind Hart and Elliott and past him, fueled that fire last season. it might depend on how the goalies are playing. The team signed Jean- François Bérubé on July 1 for added depth. He played 43 games in the Carter Hart, who even Hextall saw as the goalie of the future, was called American Hockey League last season but might be pushed down to the up because of the laundry list of injuries after only 18 games of ECHL in the current scenario because the Flyers also have 2015 third- seasoning in the AHL. He had a trial by fire in 31 games and will likely round pick Felix Sandström in North America after starting his carry the load for the Flyers this season. professional career in his native Sweden and the plan is for Sandström to “I know coming up to the NHL at 20 years old in December, and just play in the AHL. Also in the mix is 2017 third-round pick Kirill Ustimenko, experiencing things on and off the ice, at the rink and away from the rink, who seems destined for the ECHL’s Reading Royals if everyone above all the little experiences I’ve gone through, now I know what it is like to be him is healthy. an NHL hockey player,” he said. Roster comparison The Flyers hope Hart will provide some certainty at the position this fall, Before the Flyers made their trek to Las Vegas to open last season, they but they need to make sure they’re not in the same situation where they already needed to snag an extra goalie. Cal Pickard was claimed off may need to trot out seven other goalies just to complete a season. waivers and started what became a long string of goalie transactions in FLYERS CHANGES: For our subscribers: Digging deep on the changes Philadelphia. the Flyers have made It was Stolarz. It was Lyon. It was Neuvirth, who will reportedly be in His partner will be another familiar face, as the 34-year-old Elliott training camp with the Toronto Maple Leafs on a tryout this fall. It was returned on a one-year, $2 million contract. briefly Mike McKenna, who had a crazy week in January of being on three teams in three days and played one game for the Flyers. It was Carter Hart, left, and Brian Elliott, right, are the Flyers' top two options in Talbot. It was Hart. It was Elliott when he was healthy. goal this season. They don't want to see a repeat of last year when they used eight goalies. They simply need consistency after a record-long parade of goalies came through. “We believe strongly that Carter’s our goalie of the future,” current GM, Chuck Fletcher, said last month. “At times last year he was our goalie of Looking ahead to the fall, it would be shocking if the Flyers had to deal the present. We certainly anticipate him being one of two goaltenders. with another slew of injuries like they did last year. That alone should But it’s no different than anybody — he’s going to have to come in and help. The newcomers that the Flyers drafted, who have only played in earn his ice time. We do have 17 back-to-backs this year. You guys know Europe, are both wild cards. Sandström played one game for the Lehigh how difficult the NHL schedule is with travel. I anticipate both guys Valley Phantoms last season but that’s not a big enough sample size to playing. I think the days of a 65- to 70-game goaltender are probably know what to expect and Ustimenko has never played in North America. gone. Somewhere in the 30-50 range for each guy. It’ll depend on As for what they’ll have in the NHL, Hart, and Elliott, it will all come down performance, health, schedule. Alain Vigneault and the coaching staff will to how the games are broken down. come up with a good plan. It’s nice to have two quality options and two guys we know can work together. I think that certainty was important to While Hart seems to have the tools to be a top goalie in the NHL, only us.” eight goalies in the league played 60 or more games last season: Minnesota’s Devan Dubnyk, Montreal’s Carey Price, Winnipeg’s Connor The combination of Elliott and Hart, and how the Flyers came to find that Hellebuyck, San Jose’s Martin Jones, Sergei Bobrovsky, then of the to be the best plan moving forward, is the topic of the final segment of Columbus Blue Jackets and now of the Florida Panthers, Vegas’ Marc- our three-part subscriber series dissecting the Flyers’ moves this Andre Fleury, Vancouver’s Jacob Markstrom and Toronto’s Frederik summer. Andersen. What’s new Of their eight total backups who played more than 10 games, only ex- Well, nothing in terms of names. There had better be something new in Leaf Garrett Sparks (.902), Vegas’ Malcom Subban (.902) and the form of consistency, however, or it will be two straight summers the Winnipeg’s Laurent Brossoit (.925) had save percentages north of .900, Flyers got burned by not bringing someone else in between the pipes. which likely played a part in why the eight ironmen played so much. The verdict Unlike the forward and defense corps, the Flyers didn’t do much to improve the talent between the pipes from last season. Hart could be their starter for the next decade-plus, so there certainly wasn’t a need to make a big splash like the Panthers did paying Bobrovsky $10 million per season. How the Flyers can improve their goaltending with two incumbents is by finding the right mix.

Reigning Vezina Trophy winner Andrei Vasilevskiy played in 53 games for the Tampa Bay Lightning last season. He might’ve played more if a fractured foot hadn’t cost him 14 games, but he also told reporters in the spring of 2018 how he could have used some rest.

“I mean, 50-plus games. When you play in 20-plus games, it's like you think, ‘Oh, I'm good, I can play 60-plus,’” Vasilevskiy told the Tampa Bay Times in March of 2018. “But now when I'm on 50-plus, I'm like, ‘That's tough.’”

So where do the Flyers find that balance for Hart and Elliott?

Kim Dillabaugh was retained as the Flyers’ goalie coach and will likely have a strong voice in that discussion. New head coach Alain Vigneault will make the ultimate call.

Courier-Post LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150202 Philadelphia Flyers the price for Braun raised some eyebrows because it included a second- round pick, Fletcher recouped it on draft night when he moved back a few spots to select…yup, another defenseman in Cam York.

For better or worse: A look at the Flyers' defense Braun and Niskanen, both 32 years old and right-handed shots, will both likely play on the top two pairs, as Fletcher said earlier in the offseason he envisions Myers at least starting the season in a third-pair role where Dave Isaac Gudas had been playing. Braun has one year left on his contract while Niskanen has two, but that doesn’t solve the immediate issue of Published 3:02 PM EDT Jul 25, 2019 overcrowding and clearly the Flyers will rely on their new veterans so Braun or Niskanen won’t be the odd man out.

It looked as though the Flyers were starting to turn a corner in the Each Braun (84) and Niskanen (125) have more playoff experience than summer of 2013. They were keeping their first-round draft picks and MacDonald and Gudas combined (23 for MacDonald and 15 for Gudas). using them to revitalize their defense after years of band-aids, duct tape In an age where hockey is increasingly being projected and evaluated by and few draft picks. This was mostly because the cost to acquire Chris some analytics that can dehumanize the sport, the Flyers decided that Pronger in 2009 was steep and when his career ended two years later, their young players lacking playoff experience wasn’t just an arbitrary after he took Mikhail Grabovski’s stick to his right eye, the Flyers had to side effect of a team that struggled to defend. pony up even more to attempt to replace him piecemeal. “I know the St. Louis team is probably having a ball right now but when Ivan Provorov has been the Flyers' de facto top defenseman for most of the party settles down, they’ll realize how tired they are,” Niskanen said the last three seasons. He's got a little more help now after the additions in a conference call last month when asked to quantify how hard it is to this summer. win it all. “It takes everybody. The whole team, the whole organization’s gotta be all in and you need some things to go right. What a feeling, Starting with the 2013 draft, three straight years they took blueliners with though, when you pull it off. Congrats to those guys. Being a year away their first selection in the hopes of building a whole crop of homegrown from it now, you realize just how hard it was and all that goes into it. It defensemen, let alone just one, which hadn’t been done since they takes everything you’ve got for two months. It’s a series of sprints that selected Joni Pitkanen fourth overall in 2012 and even he wasn’t around are the toughest that I’ve ever done.” for more than three seasons. Roster comparison First of this group to graduate to the NHL was Shayne Gostisbehere, a third-round pick in 2012. After being selected in the second round in There were some tumultuous times for the Flyers last season from a 2013, Robert Hägg came overseas from his native Sweden and first- change at general manager to a change behind the bench with the rounder Samuel Morin has turned into a real pro in the minors. The coaching staff, including assistant Gord Murphy who ran the defense. biggest prize, 2015 first-rounder Ivan Provorov, became the Flyers’ No. 1 The discombobulation off the ice continued onto it with several different defenseman only 20 games into his rookie season and last season 2014 pairings. top pick Travis Sanheim showed he could shine in the NHL, too. Here’s a look at what the Flyers had most often at even strength without Despite all this, the Flyers’ homegrown defense has seemingly hit a road repeating players (for example, the second- and third-most often used block. pair both included Gudas) according to NaturalStatTrick.com.

Add undrafted righty Phil Myers to the mix after 21 games late last Ivan Provorov & Travis Sanheim season and the Flyers have six defensemen they found and brought up Robert Hägg & Radko Gudas to the NHL, but none of them have ever won a playoff round in the NHL and Fletcher thought that defending was the biggest problem the Flyers Shayne Gostisbehere & Christian Folin/Phil Myers had last season. Andrew MacDonald was mostly used as an extra after starting the Something may have to give with this homegrown stable of defenders season on the injured list; Morin got to play a handful of games after soon. recovery from knee surgery eat up nearly all of his season and Mark Friedman made his NHL debut in the Flyers’ season finale. Not only were the surrounding veterans not good enough, the Flyers are paying three of them — Andrew MacDonald, David Schlemko and Radko No one had a good season on the back end, which was especially odd Gudas — to not play for Philadelphia this fall. Gudas performed the best for Provorov who was terrific and consistent for his first two seasons. of the three and helped land Matt Niskanen in a trade with Washington, There was a lot of irregularity in his game his third time around and he but the Flyers had to eat some of Gudas’ salary to get the salary- said none of it was injury related. Of all the regulars, Gostisbehere was strapped Capitals to give up a valuable commodity. MacDonald and the only one on the positive side of the shot-attempt differential at even Schlemko saw the final year of their respective contracts bought out by strength and even he was maligned by trade rumors, inconsistency and the Flyers. confidence issues.

“To assess our D, I think we have some high-end young talent and I think For better or worse: A look at the Flyers’ forward group we’re probably a little bit younger than some of the teams that are still playing,” Fletcher said at the end of the regular season, with an eye on For the better part of three seasons the Flyers have had Provorov as playoff teams that had a better balance of veterans and young players. their No. 1 and it looked like it was fine until he got tripped up this “The experience these young guys got is critical, but I think that’s season, when it was pretty important from a personal standpoint in a probably a fair question: do we have enough experience on our back contract season. His agent and the Flyers are still trying to pound away end?” at a new contract. At times, they’ve put Provorov with another puck- moving defender like Gostisbehere and at times he was with MacDonald The course he took over the next two months shows his answer was not who wasn’t known for that at all. Finding a regular partner for him, in the affirmative and the revitalization of the defense is the latest topic of probably Niskanen, could help him because Niskanen has been a three-part series comparing last season’s Flyers to what they have consistent for a long time and has the leadership skills that the green lined up this fall. back line is lacking.

What’s new Assuming the Flyers go with a lefty and a righty on each pair, something they haven’t been able to in quite some time, here’s a look at the At some point, whether it be before the puck drops on the regular season potential depth chart in the fall. or over the next couple seasons, the Flyers will almost certainly be forced to part with one of their homegrown defensemen. They have six already, Ivan Provorov & Matt Niskanen will likely carry seven on their final roster, and need to pare down their roster after Fletcher added two veterans who he thought would help bring Travis Sanheim & Justin Braun the team to the next level. Shayne Gostisbehere & Phil Myers

In addition to Niskanen, a Stanley Cup champion with the 2018 Capitals, Extras: Robert Hägg & Samuel Morin he brought in Justin Braun from San Jose for a pair of draft picks. While There’s at least one extra body there, which will have to get figured out at some point whether that be before September’s training camp or in exhibition play with one being waived and headed to the minors if he clears. As was the case for the roster as a whole, Fletcher’s theme this summer was making sure players can be slotted in the right spot. The biggest change for the defense from last year, aside from Provorov having a more stabilizing force, is Sanheim being able to play his natural left side.

Considering the Flyers now have more than a handful of homegrown prospects and four of the six have at least 100 games of NHL experience, there was no need for sweeping changes or a clearing of the house on defense. What Fletcher sought to do was provide a couple stabilizing pieces to help the maturation process.

“Until we learn to play the right way and have better details and have better habits — we tweaked the personnel to cut down the goals against — until we do that, we’re not gonna win games,” Fletcher said. “We’re not gonna win consistently and we have no chance. That’s the focus and continuing to draft and develop and continuing to augment the roster with trades or free agency as needed. Everything’s the same going forward. We need to get better and we feel we’ve made some moves this summer that should allow us to become a better team defensively and if we do that, we’ll win more hockey games.”

The verdict

Only a couple days after last season ended, Fletcher met with the media following his exit meetings with players and it was clear that the thing that bothered him most was the red goal light that kept going off behind the eight goaltenders the Flyers used. Fletcher specifically cited the team yielding 280 goals, third most in the league and 89 more goals than the league’s stingiest team, the New York Islanders.

“I think we spent too much time defending this year and that’s not all on our defensemen,” Fletcher said on April 8. “Again, I think our forwards at times are very loose with the puck and we lose a third guy in the offensive zone all the time. We’re giving up odd-man rushes. We’re turning the pucks over. I think we put a lot of pressure on our defense at times by the way we play. I think (interim coach Scott Gordon) worked hard at cleaning that up and we did get better when we had that stretch and won a lot of hockey games there.”

For our subscribers: Digging deep on the changes the Flyers have made

Fletcher alluded to a stretch where the Flyers went 12-1-1 from mid- January to mid-February. It told him that the potential to play responsibly was there, but felt the defense needed a push over the edge. The flashy move this summer was to trade for the rights of center Kevin Hayes and sign him to a deal that will pay him $9 million in real money this season. Monetarily, he made a similar investment to improve the defense considering the buyouts and salary retained in the Gudas-for-Niskanen swap.

The transactions on defense could prove to be even more important to the team’s success than Hayes, especially if operating under the assumption that the young defensemen the Flyers have groomed are able to either bounce back from a down year or take the next step in their development. That might’ve happened without the additions of Niskanen and Braun but Fletcher didn’t want to take any chances on leaving them without the proper tools to make it so. There’s plenty of reason to believe that defending should improve next season as a result.

Courier-Post LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150203 Pittsburgh Penguins performance showed Letang has definitely not begun an age-related decline. An injury-related decline might be a different story, however.

LESSONS LEARNED Penguins Prediction Rewind: Kris Letang piled up pluses during bounce- back season • Make projections based on the six-month sample of the regular season rather than the two-week sample of a playoff series. After a few critical mistakes in a first-round loss to the Islanders in April, that applies to JONATHAN BOMBULIE | Friday, July 26, 2019 2:51 p.m. Letang as much now as it did 12 months ago.

Tribune Review LOADED: 07.27.2019

Last summer, beat writer Jonathan Bombulie made a series of predictions leading up to the start of the 2018-19 season. Some were OK. Some were hilariously off the mark. In this series, Bombulie will explain what he was thinking and where his logic went off course.

THE QUESTION

Will Kris Letang be a plus player or a minus player this season?

A. Minus

B. Plus

C. About even

THE PREDICTION

B. Plus

THE RIGHT ANSWER

B. Plus

THE RATIONALE

• At this time last year, there was ample reason to think Letang, who had just turned 31, was in the middle of a decline. He was coming off a season that saw him post a career-worst minus-9 rating. He had also just recently made a couple of high-profile mistakes that hurt the Penguins’ chances in a second-round series loss to the Washington Capitals.

• It wasn’t popular to predict a rebound, but it was wise for a couple of reasons. First, in 2017-18, Letang was a few months removed from major neck surgery. A full offseason of training would make a world of difference. Also, the save percentage for Penguins goalies when he was on the ice five on five in 2017-18 was .888. That’s extraordinarily low. He was in line for some better puck luck.

READER REACTION

A sample of Facebook comments:

• “I can see Rutherford trading Kris Letang this season. I believe some team’s GM will give some good offers to him that he can’t resist and move on from Letang. If not, Letang needs to be on second pairing with 15-18 minutes a night.”

• “Letang’s issues are mainly in his head. I thought Gonchar became an even better defensemen after age 30. Gonchar aside from that wicked shot was a very cerebral player and that helped him adapt. Letang? I have yet to see him capable of that. He could almost live up to that contract with some emotional maturity and smarts. He still has the physical gifts despite losing a step.”

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED

• Letang wasn’t anywhere close to beginning a decline. In fact, he had an all-star season. His plus-9 rating was his best since 2012-13. Plus-minus is a stat that requires context, of course, so here’s some: When Letang was on the ice five on five, the Penguins outscored their opponents, 74- 47. His rating was hurt by the fact that he was on the ice for 11 shorthanded goals against and nine empty-net goals against. He actually played a lot better than his plus-9 indicated.

• His puck luck improved, too. When Letang was on the ice five on five, his goalies had a .927 save percentage.

THE FLAWS IN THE LOGIC

• Not a whole lot of flaws, for once. Letang bounced back to have a stellar season.

• To nitpick, the prediction didn’t make much mention of Letang’s injury history, and it probably should have. He did miss 17 games with an upper-body injury late in the year. His brilliant regular-season 1150204 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins pick up defense prospect John Marino in trade with Edmonton

JONATHAN BOMBULIE | Friday, July 26, 2019 12:02 p.m.

The Pittsburgh Penguins took a stab at acquiring a prospect on defense Friday, trading a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2021 draft to the Edmonton Oilers for John Marino.

The Oilers will acquire the pick if Marino, a rising senior at Harvard, signs with the Penguins before the 2021 draft. Marino, Edmonton’s sixth-round pick in the 2015 draft, could play out his senior season without signing a contract and become an unrestricted free agent on Aug. 15, 2020. If he does that, the Penguins will owe Edmonton nothing.

“John is a mobile defenseman who excels at moving the puck while also playing with an edge to his game,” general manager Jim Rutherford said in a release. “We are excited to acquire him as we continue to add defensive depth to the organization. The next step is to work on getting a contract done with him.”

Marino, 22, is a 6-foot-2, two-way right-handed defenseman who skates well. In his freshman and sophomore seasons at Harvard, he totaled 31 points and a plus-41 rating. As a junior, he had three goals, 11 points and a minus-3 rating.

Marino is the second defensive prospect the Penguins have traded for this summer. They acquired 20-year-old Pierre-Olivier Joseph in the Phil Kessel deal last month. Defense has been a shallow part of the team’s prospect pool for a few years.

Tribune Review LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150205 Pittsburgh Penguins Anthony Castrovince posted, “…26 earned runs allowed in a 31-inning span of relief work entering Thursday made it clear where the upgrade needs to come for Minnesota.”

First Call: Phil Kessel’s ‘leadership’ role with Coyotes; another team in on He also noted how the Twins have essentially been a .500 club since Felipe Vazquez June 1, and the Indians are barking up their tree in the AL Central. Cleveland stands just two back entering the weekend.

TIM BENZ | Friday, July 26, 2019 9:07 a.m. Castrovince also pointed to San Diego’s Kirby Yates as another relief pitcher they may try to acquire.

The issue may be that the Dodgers have at least four top-flight prospects In “First Call” Friday, Phil Kessel is taking on some added responsibility that may interest the Pirates. in Arizona. Another team in the mix for Felipe Vazquez. The worst Pirates trade of all time. It’s unclear if the top of the minor league systems of any of these other teams are as intriguing. Role change for Phil Meet the Mets Phil Kessel: Leader! The last-place Pirates visit Queens for a weekend series against the Yeah, I couldn’t type it with a straight face either. But that’s the picture of Mets. The Pirates have a five-game losing streak, the longest such active Kessel they are trying to paint in Arizona. streak in MLB.

We witnessed a lot of Kessel’s positive traits over his four years in The Mets also are limping along at 47-55. That’s just one win more than Pittsburgh. His shot, his vision, his skating, his clutch scoring. the 46-56 Pirates.

But, Phil as a blood-and-guts leader? Eh, not so much. The Pirates won’t face Noah Syndergaard. And the former All-Star may be shipped out soon by the Mets, anyway. Yet, that’s what Kessel tells NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman he can be with the Coyotes. ESPN’s Buster Olney says the Mets are trying to trade Syndergaard. He lists the Padres and Astros as potential destinations. “I haven’t really got to have that in my career. I think it’s going to be great. I’m going to do whatever I can to help these guys win and help Olney also suggests that the Dodgers may be curious about New York them improve. (If) the young guys have questions or anything they want closer Edwin Diaz. to talk about, I’m there to talk about it. Try to get our team better and them better.” Record-setting Sox

Kessel’s coach, Rick Tocchet, is singing that same song. As well all know, the Red Sox and Yankees play 500 times per season.

“He’s going to accept the role of trying to help young guys, take the And all of the games are on ESPN. young guys out for dinner,” Tocchet said. “It’s a wider range of leadership Of all the billions of times those two American League East rivals have for Phil coming here because it’s a different dynamic, a different team played one another, last night marked the largest margin of victory for the (than the Penguins).” Red Sox in the 117-year history against the Bronx Bombers.

Maybe he can invite everybody over for a movie night. I assume his new Boston won 19-3. pad in Arizona has a sweet theater man cave like the one he had in Pittsburgh. Masahiro Tanaka allowed 12 runs on 12 hits and three walks in 3⅓ innings. It was the second-most earned runs ever allowed by a Yankees Thanks for the memory pitcher. Carl Mays gave up 13 in a complete game against Cleveland in ESPN’s David Schoenfield compiled a list of the worst trade-deadline 1923. deals in the history of each MLB club. Xander Bogaerts had four hits and two home runs for the Red Sox.

For the Pirates, it’s the infamous July 23, 2003, trade with the Cubs. Tribune Review LOADED: 07.27.2019 Dave Littlefield dealt Aramis Ramirez and Kenny Lofton to the Cubs for Jose Hernandez, Bobby Hill and Matt Bruback.

I’ll give you a moment to calm your churning stomach.

As Schoenfield points out, the net WAR as a result of that trade was a minus-40.3 for the Pirates.

Lofton went on to hit .327 that year for the Cubs as they went to the playoffs.

Ramirez went on to hit 239 homers in Chicago and 65 more with Milwaukee. That’s along with 1,068 RBIs in the two cities.

Hill hit two homers in 185 games in Pittsburgh. Jose Hernandez hit .223 after the trade. Matt Bruback never made the big leagues.

Yet I still worry that the Chris Archer trade may go down as even worse someday.

Maybe Minnesota?

For weeks, it sounded like Los Angeles or bust for Felipe Vazquez.

The Dodgers appeared to be the team most interested in acquiring the Pirates closer.

But as we pointed out Wednesday, the Astros and Nationals popped up on MLB.com as options this week.

Now, add the Twins to the list. MLB.com also threw their name onto the list of clubs that may be willing to acquire the flame-throwing lefty. 1150206 Pittsburgh Penguins Since then, they went 78-83, 75-87 and 82-79, and entering the weekend series against the New York Mets, they were 46-56 and in last place in the NL Central.

A twist in the Pirates' television rights negotiations: the possible sale of Their opening-day payroll, which increased from $34.9 million in 2010 to the network $98.8 million in 2016, was $76.6 million this year.

The collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the Major Jul 26, 2019 6:26 PM League Baseball Players Association assigns each team a market score, based on population, cable households and income, for the purposes of Bill Brink: revenue sharing. The Pirates rank 27th out of 30 teams. The San Diego Padres (25th) agreed to a 20-year deal in 2012 with Fox Sports that will

reportedly pay them an average of $50 million a year along with a 20% An intersection between the possible sale of a television network and the equity stake in Fox Sports San Diego (a deal Mr. Bevilacqua helped expiration of a rights agreement could have interesting effects on the negotiate). The Cleveland Indians (24th) receive $400 million on a 10- Pirates against the backdrop of a shifting media landscape. year deal that began in 2013.

AT&T is considering selling its four regional sports networks in order to The passage of time could help the Pirates get even more than that, but reduce debt, according to a report from Bloomberg earlier this month. television realignment does not make renegotiation easy. Among those: AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, which broadcasts Pirates and “I’ve got this expiring deal with AT&T, who may or may not be my partner Penguins games. The Penguins’ rights agreement runs through 2029, … when I’ve got to redo this deal, what do I think about all the potential but the Pirates’ contract expires after this season. It is already unusual outcomes here?” Mr. Bevilacqua said. “You’re trying to think through all for this much time to have passed without a deal in the final year of a this without having perfect information.” contract, and the potential of a sale could add one more moving part. In the end, according to industry experts, a reunion with AT&T SportsNet, “Clearly if you’re AT&T and you are interested, having the Pirates locked whatever its name and parent company, makes a good deal of sense. up for a period of time does create more value to be sold,” said Ed Splitting up the Pirates and Penguins doesn’t do anybody any favors, and Desser, who spent 23 years negotiating media rights deals while working given the lack of other local options, a reunion seems plausible. There for the NBA and launching NBA TV before founding a media consulting could be a tradeoff — another company acquires the RSNs, but AT&T firm. “On the other hand, the Pirates are no doubt looking for a big receives help on the distribution end, for example. increase, and if that makes the network less profitable, then that has a negative impact on the valuation." Or, the dark-horse option.

One possible reason for the delay in the Pirates’ negotiations is the “Ever since the three Fox networks, Denver, Pittsburgh and Seattle went recent activity of Sinclair Broadcast Group, whose acquisitions confirm to, originally DirecTV and then to AT&T, there has been speculation that industry belief in the importance of live sports. When Disney purchased since all three of those markets are Comcast cable markets, that it would 21st Century Fox, a deal that became official in March, the Department of make sense that Comcast be the buyer,” Mr. Desser said. “That hasn't Justice required it to sell 22 regional sports networks, known as RSNs. happened for whatever reason. Maybe price, maybe lack of interest, I Sinclair purchased them for $9.6 billion in May. don’t know. And Comcast is still in that business in many other markets, so there’s a certain logic to it.” Sinclair also will partner with the Chicago Cubs to launch an RSN called Marquee Sports Network, which will exclusively broadcast Cubs games Post Gazette LOADED: 07.27.2019 beginning next year. Bloomberg reported that Sinclair could be interested in purchasing AT&T’s RSNs.

Any acquiring company will perform due diligence on the four RSNs. An expiring contract with the Pirates could lower the value if the team asks for more money, while a long-term deal with the club could increase value.

“It works both ways,” said Chris Bevilacqua, who negotiated TV contracts for the Texas Rangers and San Diego Padres and led the creation of the Pac-12 Network during three decades of work in the media industry. “I think you just have to also kind of step back and look at the reality of the marketplace.”

The Pirates, Penguins and AT&T declined to comment.

Great importance

AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh has already changed hands in recent years. In 2006, News Corp. sold the network, then FSN Pittsburgh, to Liberty Media as part of an asset swap. Liberty formed a new company with DirecTV in 2009 that operated the RSN, and AT&T bought DirecTV in 2015. Not much changed except the logos on the microphones, but this time could be different.

Even if AT&T doesn't sell, the coming negotiations hold great importance for a Pirates team that has lost local revenue in recent years due to declining ticket sales.

The Post-Gazette reported in 2013 that the current TV deal, a 10-year contract that took effect in 2010, pays the Pirates in the neighborhood of $20 million each year. Pirates president Frank Coonelly has disputed that number but said nondisclosure agreements prevent him from providing the actual figures. Though decreased attendance has resulted in less local revenue, that will correspond with larger revenue-sharing receipts after years of decline in that area.

The Pirates have an average attendance of 19,485 per game this year, up about 1,000 per game from last year but down from 30,847 in 2015. They went 98-64 that year and made the playoffs for the third year in a row, but lost the wild-card game for the second consecutive season. 1150207 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins acquire defensive prospect John Marino from Edmonton

Jul 26, 2019 4:38 PM

Jessie Wardarski

Penguins General Manager Jim Rutherford smiles as he takes questions during a press conference after being elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame, Tuesday, June 25, 2019, at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry. The Penguins general manager made another offseason move on Friday when he acquired defensive prospect John Marino from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a conditional 2021 sixth-round draft pick. (Jessie Wardarski/Post-Gazette)

The Penguins continued their busy offseason on Friday when they acquired 22-year-old defenseman John Marino from the Edmonton Oilers.

The move adds a young, defensive prospect to a Pittsburgh organization that’s especially thin at that position in its minor league system. In exchange, the Penguins will send Edmonton a conditional 2021 sixth- round draft pick.

Marino is currently unsigned. The Oilers will only receive the Penguins’ 2021 draft choice if he signs with Pittsburgh or if the Penguins trade his rights to another organization.

“John is a mobile defenseman who excels at moving the puck while also playing with an edge to his game,” Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said in a statement. “We are excited to acquire him as we continue to add defensive depth to the organization. The next step is to work on getting a contract done with him.”

Marino was drafted in the sixth round (154th overall) by Edmonton in 2015, so in that sense the Penguins are trading a future sixth-round pick for a former sixth-round pick. He played the last three seasons at Harvard, tallying 42 points (seven goals, 35 assists) in 101 career games. He’s currently listed on Harvard’s roster, so he could return to school next season.

Prior to college, the product of Brockton, Mass., played one season with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL. He finished with five goals and 25 assists in the regular season and two assists in the postseason on the way to helping Tri-City earn the Clark Cup Championship.

Post Gazette LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150208 San Jose Sharks Burns, on the other hand, has no such clause, and there is certainly a scenario in which San Jose elects to expose him. For instance, if Burns declines rapidly over the next two seasons, and is entering his age-36 NHL expansion draft: Projecting who Sharks will protect from Seattle season with still three additional seasons left of an $8 million cap hit, the expansion draft would afford the Sharks the opportunity to get out of the remainder of that contract. Of course, there's no guarantee that he would be picked up by Seattle in that situation. By Brian Witt July 26, 2019 7:00 AM However, based on Burns' performance last season, a rapid drop-off

doesn't seem likely. And if he is able to maintain anything close to his Editor's note: This week, NBC Sports California will look ahead to the Norris Trophy-level production, there simply isn't another defensemen in 2021 NHL Expansion Draft, at which time the Seattle franchise officially the organization worth protecting over Burns at this time. will join the league as its 32nd team. Every team in the league will be Goalie affected, as players from (nearly) every roster will be made available to Seattle for its inaugural roster. We conclude with a projection of the Martin Jones Sharks' protected list. One could make the case the Sharks should expose Jones, but looking Two summers from now, the Sharks will have to submit their protection at the current organizational depth chart, San Jose might not be able to list for the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. risk that. Of course, if 21-year-old Josef Korenar (2.54 GAA, .911 SV% in 34 games with the Barracuda last season) makes the leap between now While that may seem like quite a distance in the future, teams are and the expansion draft, things could get very interesting. already preparing for the arrival of the currently unnamed Seattle franchise, which will join the Pacific Division ahead of the 2021-22 Option B: 9 players (eight skaters, one goalie) season. Seattle's roster will be comprised of players from the other teams in the league (except Vegas) who were left unprotected by their Skaters respective clubs. Erik Karlsson

We've covered the rules that will govern the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft, Marc-Edouard Vlasic and identified the goalies, defensemen and forwards San Jose is likely to both protect and expose. San Jose has two options at its disposal. Either Logan Couture a) protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie, or b) protect eight skaters (forwards or defensemen) and one goalie. Timo Meier

Based on what we know now, here's an educated guess at who the Tomas Hertl Sharks will protect in each of those scenarios. Evander Kane

Option A: 11 players (seven forwards, three defensemen, one goalie) Kevin Labanc

Forwards Alex True

Logan Couture The tough decisions here revolve around Kane and Burns. If the Sharks Timo Meier choose to go with Option B, it's difficult to envision them using three of their eight skater protections on defensemen. With Karlsson and Vlasic Tomas Hertl having no-movement clauses, Burns is the odd man out.

Evander Kane It could certainly come down to a choice between Kane and Burns, given their sizeable cap hits. If one of San Jose's young forward prospects, Kevin Labanc such as Alex Chmelevski or Ivan Chekhovich, emerges between now Marcus Sorensen and then, it might allow the Sharks to expose Kane and protect Burns (or anyone else) instead. Alex True This is a projection for True, but if he continues along his current Couture, Meier and Hertl are all locks to be protected. There's no chance trajectory, the 22-year old will be worth protecting in either scenario. Sharks general manager Doug Wilson lets any of them get away. Goalie: Kane is slightly more questionable, but hard to envision him not being protected in this scenario. He'll be entering his age-29 season at the time Martin Jones and carries a $7 million cap hit, but there's a reason Wilson both traded See Option A. Unless another goalie emerges, the Sharks probably won't for the dynamic winger and signed him to a long-term contract. be able to afford to let Jones get away. However, San Jose likes its Labanc just re-signed a one-year contract with San Jose, but he appears organizational depth at that position, and it will be worth keeping an eye to be a critical piece of their foundation moving forward. If the Sharks re- on who Jones' backup is over the next two seasons. sign him to a long-term contract next offseason, you can be sure it's with Verdict the intention of keeping him in San Jose for more than a year. As things currently stand, it sure seems like San Jose's evaluation of Sorensen and True are the toughest calls here, as it likely means Burns heading into the 2021 offseason will have a determining effect on exposing other young forwards like Dylan Gambrell and Antti Suomela. which option the Sharks choose to go with. If they feel like he can still However, True's development -- he led the AHL Barracuda with 55 points play at a high level two years from now, then Option A would seem to be in 68 games last season -- makes that easier to swallow. Sorensen is the way to go. But if Burns falls off, or if San Jose needs to find a way to due to hit unrestricted free agency during the 2021 offseason, but the bet get out of some major salary, he could be on the chopping block. here is that San Jose re-signs the speedy winger (who has been a favorite of Peter DeBoer's) and protects him as well. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.27.2019

Defensemen

Erik Karlsson

Marc-Edouard Vlasic

Brent Burns

Karlsson and Vlasic are certainties. Both have no-movement clauses and are thus automatically protected unless they waive those clauses, which they won't. 1150209 St Louis Blues

Blues trade Schmaltz for Maple Leafs' Borgman in swap of defensemen

By Ben Frederickson

Jul 24, 2019

The Blues traded defenseman Jordan Schmaltz for Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Andreas Borgman, the teams announced Thursday on Twitter.

Borgman, 24, signed a one-year, two-way contract with Toronto in March that will carry a reported NHL salary of $700,000 in 2019-20. Borgman spent last season in the American Hockey League, where he scored four goals and totaled 13 assists in 45 regular-season games for the Toronto Marlies. He made his NHL debut during the 2017-18 season, totaling three goals, eight assists, 36 blocks and 121 hits in 48 games with the Maple Leafs. He was a plus-4 player in 657 minutes that season. The native of Sweden first joined the Maple Leafs as a free agent in May 2017, after he was named rookie of the year in the .

Schmaltz, 25, had played in 42 games for the Blues since the 2016-17 season. That included a career-high 20 games last season. He totaled zero goals, two assists, 18 hits and 44 blocks for the Blues last season. He was a minus-7 player in more than 501 career NHL minutes. Schmaltz was a first-round pick (25th overall) of the Blues in the 2012 NHL draft.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150210 Tampa Bay Lightning Aho and defenseman Jacob Trouba are the only top-level restricted free agents to have signed so far. And both have extenuating circumstances: Aho had the offer sheet, and Trouba refused to re-sign with the Jets Why Lightning fans don’t need to freak out about Brayden Point because his fiance is pursuing a medical career in the United States. Trouba was traded to the Rangers and signed with them.

The big piece that still must fall is Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner. By Diana C. Nearhos Toronto’s cap situation is tighter than the Lightning’s. The Maple Leafs are already over the cap, with up to $10.5 million of potential long-term Published Yesterday injured reserve relief. Reports say Marner wants to match teammates’ Auston Matthews’ and ’ $11 million-a-year contracts.

TAMPA — We can ease up on the Brayden Point alarm. That would be one heck of a comparable, so it makes sense for other players to want to see what happens there. There’s a but, though. With each announcement of a Lightning minor-league signing this offseason, fans’ responses on Twitter have been about the same. “Sign Marner and the Leafs don’t appear to be close on a deal. How long does Point please” when the team re-signed defenseman Dominik Masin. Point, or any other restricted free agent, want to wait on them? “What’s the Point?” to defenseman Ben Thomas’ new contract. One general manager suggested to ESPN that Point will be the one to One Twitter user, @bustdstuff, changed her name to break the stalemate. JustSignBraydenPointAlready. So keep waiting for him. But there’s no need for Lightning fans to be But not having Point, a restricted free agent, under contract in July is not alarmed. Yet. a crisis for the Lightning. If he’s not signed by October, there is a Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 07.27.2019 problem.

But every indication points to Tampa Bay and Point coming to terms before the season starts.

“I expect to be back,” he said at the end of the season.

General manager Julien BriseBois has not shared details of his meetings with Point’s agent, Gerry Johannson, other than their beverage choices at one meeting (tea for the GM, coffee for Johannson). But BriseBois has consistently called the meetings productive.

Reports said the Canadiens inquired about submitting an offer sheet to Point before they instead gave one to the Hurricanes’ Sebastian Aho, another Johannson client. (Carolina matched the offer sheet.) If Point or his agent indicated he wouldn’t sign an offer sheet with another team, it means he wants to stay here.

So what’s the issue? In short, the delay is because contract negotiations are tricky.

The Lightning doesn’t have much salary cap space. It has $5.6 million available under next season’s $81.5 million cap, according to the salary website CapFriendly, but it can exceed the cap limit by up to $5.8 million if Ryan Callahan is placed on long-term injured reserve because of a degenerative back problem revealed after last season. It’s likely that’s what will be done with Callahan, so, Tampa Bay has up to about $11.4 million to work with.

Another issue is the length of a Point deal. Point is five years from unrestricted free agency, thus making that the ideal term.

The Lightning could go one of two ways with a Point deal. It could lock Point up in a long-term contract that would keep him into unrestricted free agency. Or it could do what it usually does with players such as Point coming off entry-level deals: go with a three-year bridge contract (see: Tyler Johnson’s three-year, $10 million deal or Nikita Kucherov’s three- year, $14.3 million contract before their current deals).

Salary projections by the EvolvingWild statistics trackers have a three- year contract for Point that would be about $7 million annual average value. But that’s not rated as a likely deal, with a 6 percent probability. Instead, a five- or six-year deal around $8 million annually is rated most likely.

But why haven’t the Lightning and Point figured this out yet?

BriseBois has said the offseason schedule dictates the order in which players are signed. First the draft takes the bulk of management’s attention. Before free agency starts July 1, teams want to lock up their pending unrestricted free agents. Next comes signing unrestricted free agents after the market opens. Then come arbitration-eligible restricted free agents (those who have played a certain number of years based on their signing age, four for Point), before the arbitration deadline. Finally, full attention turns to non-arbitration restricted free agents.

BriseBois and Johannson have been in contact throughout all the above, but a deadline hasn’t been hanging over them. Now, the deadline is the start of training camp in September. 1150211 Toronto Maple Leafs “I just try and prepare to be in the best shape possible,” he said. “Once we get closer to camp and to the season, we can have that discussion.”

The Leafs punted out-of-favour backup Garret Sparks in a cap-inspired Frederik Andersen ready to meet ‘a lot of new faces’ after Leafs’ off- move with Vegas earlier this week, but re-signed Michael Hutchinson, season overhaul who started five games for Toronto last season and also agreed to a professional tryout with Michal Neuvirth.

JOSHUA CLIPPERTON Andersen said he’s interested to see how the 31-year-old Neuvirth, a veteran of 257 regular-season games and 14 playoff starts, measures THE CANADIAN PRESS up.

PUBLISHED JULY 26, 2019 “I met him a few times,” he said. “Excited to see how well he does.”

UPDATED 9 HOURS AGO Andersen added he’s moved past the disappointment of the series with Boston – Toronto had a chance to close things out in Game 6 at home

before also falling in Game 7 on the road. Frederik Andersen’s busy off-season has seen him fly home to Denmark, “You still think about it sometimes, but it’s not a focus,” he said. “It’s work to hone his on-ice skills in California and attend a couple of something you look back on and try and use as an experience and weddings. motivation for what you’re doing in the summer.” For all the Maple Leafs’ jet-setting No. 1 goalie has seen and done, the And Andersen was of course queried about Marner, the restricted free Jewish nuptials of Toronto winger Zach Hyman take the cake. agent still in need of a lucrative new contract. The goalie said he’s “That was a lot of fun,” Andersen said with a smile. “It’s a little different spoken to the 22-year-old forward, but shies away from talking to when you lift everyone up on the chairs and break the glass.” teammates about personal business.

Something a little different is also what the netminder and his teammates “He’s confident that he’s going to be here for camp,” Andersen said. will experience the first day of training camp following the Leafs’ summer “Hopefully Kyle and him and his agent can get it done. of roster upheaval. “I want to see him back really bad.” Toronto waved goodbye to forwards Nazem Kadri, Patrick Marleau, Globe And Mail LOADED: 07.27.2019 Connor Brown and Tyler Ennis, as well as defencemen Ron Hainsey and Nikita Zaitsev, via trade or free agency since being eliminated by Boston in the first round of the playoffs for the second consecutive spring.

Jake Gardiner, a consistent contributor on the back end since 2013, remains an unrestricted free agent, but it’s hard to envision a scenario where general manager Kyle Dubas will be able to fit him under the salary cap with star winger Mitch Marner still in need of a new contract.

Meanwhile, players joining the fold include forward Alexander Kerfoot and blueliners Tyson Barrie, Cody Ceci, Jordan Schmaltz and Ben Harpur – just to name a few.

“A lot of new faces,” Andersen said Thursday night at the annual Smashfest charity table-tennis event. “Saying goodbye to guys I got to know a lot over the last few years is tough.

“We keep building and keep trying to find ways to improve.”

Andersen, who was 36-16-7 with a .917 save percentage and a 2.77 goals-against average last season, doesn’t think it will take long for the group to mesh.

“It’s going to be a challenge, but I think most hockey players can become good friends,” he said. “I don’t think that’s going to be the biggest concern.”

A concern for Andersen in 2018-19 was the nagging groin problem that saw him miss a chunk of games. But the netminder, who will turn 30 on Oct. 2 when Toronto hosts Ottawa to open the NHL schedule, said he’s been working hard to put the issue behind him.

“That’s of course been a focus, trying to rehab some things, the groin, and try and get that back to 100 per cent,” Andersen said. “You push the limits in some of the other [areas] to try to get better and quicker.”

Andersen was a surprise inclusion at Smashfest’s eighth edition – an event hosted by former Leafs centre Dominic Moore and supported by the NHL Players’ Association. Heading into Thursday, the event had raised more than $865,000 since 2012 for awareness and research related to concussions and rare cancers.

Since being acquired in a trade with Anaheim back in 2016, Andersen is 107-53-26 with 10 shutouts to go along with a .918 save percentage and 2.75 GAA in three seasons sporting blue and white.

He’s started 66, 66 and 60 games – Andersen likely would have received the nod more last season had he not been injured – and a consistent theme around the Leafs has centred around the goalie’s workload.

The past four Stanley Cup-winning netminders have started 58 games or fewer in the regular season and Andersen let out a “here we go” before one reporter could finish his question about rest. 1150212 Toronto Maple Leafs Andersen said he is interested to see how the 31-year-old Neuvirth, a veteran of 257 regular-season games and 14 playoff starts, measures up.

Leafs’ Frederik Andersen understands off-season roster upheaval is “I met him a few times,” he said. “Excited to see how well he does.” about trying to improve Andersen added he has moved past the disappointment of the series with Boston. Toronto had a chance to close things out in Game 6 at By Joshua Clipperton home before also falling in Game 7 on the road.

Fri., July 26, 2019 “You still think about it sometimes, but it’s not a focus,” he said. “It’s something you look back on and try and use as an experience and motivation for what you’re doing in the summer.”

Frederik Andersen’s busy off-season has seen him fly home to Denmark, And Andersen was of course queried about Marner, the restricted free work to hone his on-ice skills in California, and attend a couple of agent. The goalie said he’s spoken to the 22-year-old forward, but shies weddings. away from talking to teammates about personal business.

For all the Maple Leafs’ jet-setting No. 1 goalie has seen and done, the “He’s confident that he’s going to be here for camp,” Andersen said. Jewish nuptials of Toronto winger Zach Hyman take the cake. “Hopefully Kyle and him and his agent can get it done. I want to see him back really bad.” “That was a lot of fun,” Andersen said with a smile. “It’s a little different when you lift everyone up on the chairs and break the glass.” Toronto Star LOADED: 07.27.2019

Something a little different is what the netminder and his teammates will experience the first day of training camp, following the Leafs’ summer of roster upheaval.

Toronto said goodbye to forwards Nazem Kadri, Patrick Marleau, Connor Brown and Tyler Ennis, and defencemen Ron Hainsey and Nikita Zaitsev since being eliminated by Boston in the first round of the playoffs for the second consecutive spring.

Jake Gardiner, a consistent contributor on the back end since 2013, remains an unrestricted free agent, but it’s hard to envision a scenario where general manager Kyle Dubas will be able to fit him under the salary cap, especially with star winger Mitch Marner still in need of a new contract.

Meanwhile, players joining the fold include forward Alexander Kerfoot and blueliners Tyson Barrie, Cody Ceci, Jordan Schmaltz and Ben Harpur — just to name a few.

“A lot of new faces,” Andersen said Thursday night at the annual Smashfest charity ping-pong event. “Saying goodbye to guys I got to know a lot over the last few years is tough. We keep building and keep trying to find ways to improve.”

Andersen, who was 36-16-7 with a .917 save percentage and a 2.77 goals-against average last season, doesn’t think it will take long for the group to mesh.

“It’s going to be a challenge, but I think most hockey players can become good friends,” he said. “I don’t think that’s going to be the biggest concern.”

A concern for Andersen last season was a nagging groin problem that saw him miss a chunk of games. But the netminder, who will turn 30 on Oct. 2 — the same night Toronto hosts Ottawa to open the NHL schedule — said he has been working hard to put the issue behind him.

“That’s of course been a focus, trying to rehab some things, the groin, and try and get that back to 100 per cent,” Andersen said. “You push the limits in some of the other (areas) to try to get better and quicker.”

Since being acquired in a trade with Anaheim back in 2016, Andersen is 107-53-26 with 10 shutouts to go along with a .918 save percentage and a 2.75 goals-against average. He has started 66, 66 and 60 games — Andersen likely would have received the nod more last season had he not been injured — and a consistent theme around the Leafs has centred around his workload.

The last four Stanley Cup-winning netminders have started 58 games or fewer in the regular season, and Andersen let out a “here we go” before one reporter could finish his question about rest.

“I just try and prepare to be in the best shape possible,” he said. “Once we get closer to camp and to the season, we can have that discussion.”

The Leafs punted out-of-favour backup Garret Sparks in a cap-inspired move with Vegas earlier this week, but re-signed Michael Hutchinson, who started five games for Toronto last season, and also agreed to a professional tryout with Michal Neuvirth. 1150213 Vegas Golden Knights When Vegas dealt Colin Miller to Buffalo earlier this offseason to alleviate salary-cap problems, president of hockey operations George McPhee said a rookie will fill his place in the lineup. Whether that’s Jimmy Deryk Engelland’s role for Golden Knights could be increased this Schuldt, Nic Hague, Zach Whitecloud, Dylan Coghlan or Jake Bischoff season, not reduced will be determined in training camp and preseason.

Whoever wins the job can expect to be glued to Engelland’s hip for most of the season. By Jesse Granger Jul 26, 2019 “He’s great. It’s like having another coach. It really is,” Gallant said of Engelland’s leadership. “The players in our locker room respect him 100 percent, so it’s just like having another coach in the locker room, and When Deryk Engelland was selected by the Golden Knights during the that’s a great thing.” expansion draft, and subsequently signed a one-year deal contract with the team, it appeared to have all the makings of a final run. “It starts in camp,” Engelland said, “to help them out if they need a hand, or just a little bit of advice here or there always goes a long way.” Engelland called Las Vegas home far before the Golden Knights, living there for more than a decade after a short stint with the Las Vegas The Golden Knights’ two elder statesmen, Deryk Engelland and Marc- Wranglers of the ECHL. He was 35 years old and returning to play for his Andre Fleury, celebrate after a win. (Anne-Marie Sorvin / USA Today) hometown team. But Engelland had other plans, as he went out and had the best season of his professional career in 2017-18, and followed it up It’s hard to believe Engelland’s career has taken such an upswing in his with another solid 2018-19 campaign. mid-30s, and he partially credits the move to Vegas for that — along with hours and hours of work he pours into the gym and rink. Engelland signed his third consecutive one-year deal with the Golden Knights on Tuesday, and those who believe he’ll be returning in a “You come in here the first year with a clean slate and have to prove diminished role should think again. yourself all over again,” Engelland said. “Maybe sometimes you get a little comfortable in other places, but here, it was completely open, and it “Yeah, I don’t expect anything to change for him,” coach Gerard Gallant rejuvenated a lot of guys, myself included. said by telephone from his home in Prince Edward Island. “I don’t expect his role to change at all. We’re not looking for a whole bunch of offense “You get going on a good note, and the confidence builds. When you’re from him, but we want him to move the puck and play the way he’s playing with confidence, that’s when you’re at your best.” played and be a big part of our penalty kill, and being on the ice for the Engelland — who was an unrestricted free agent — said he had multiple last minute of hockey games.” offers from teams around the league, but said he was always confident Engelland was third on the team in average ice time last season with he’d return to Vegas. 19:53 per game. He played 1,471 minutes across 74 games, ranking fifth “There were some offers out there, but ultimately, this is home. This is among Vegas skaters. They were impressive numbers for a 36-year-old. where my heart is,” Engelland said. “We’ve started such a great culture “On the ice, he’s a guy who plays 18-20 minutes a night for us, and they here and I’d like to see it out to the end.” are hard, physical minutes,” Gallant said. “He might not score many He ended up signing a one-year deal worth a base salary of only goals, but as a coach, I’m excited to have him back.” $700,000, but bonuses that could elevate it as high as $1.5 million. Gallant trusts Engelland, who turned 37 in April, as much as any player Here’s what those bonuses look like, as first reported by PuckPedia. on his bench, which has been shown by his willingness to put him on the • $300k for 10 games played. ice during the toughest defensive moments of every game. He also led the team in shorthanded time on ice with a whopping 3:12 per game. • $100k for 20 games played. Only one other player on the Golden Knights averaged more than two minutes per game: Brayden McNabb at 2:48. • $100k for 30 games played.

Engelland’s penalty-killing numbers are even more impressive when • $100k for finishing in the top five in time on ice. compared to other players around the league. He was seventh in the • $100k if the team makes the playoffs. NHL in average shorthanded time on ice despite Vegas being the fourth- least penalized team in the league. • $25k per playoff round won up to $100k.

The average age of the six players with more penalty-killing time than If all goes well and he stays healthy, it’s likely Engelland will meet most of Engelland was 30.3, and none of them was as old as Engelland. those goals, and he plans on signing another one-year deal this time next summer. “I think it’s experience and confidence,” Engelland said. “I kill (penalties) a lot with McNabb, and I think we work well off of each other and know “I think I still have a few good years left, and no matter what it is, I’m just where each other are going to be. Penalty kill is all about sacrifice, and taking it a year at a time, and seeing how the body holds up after this having (Marc-Andre Fleury) back there as your best penalty killer, every year and go from there,” he said. “I’m very motivated. The first year, I game is a key for us.” thought, was obviously my best year as a player, and last year was a little down. There’s always room to improve and get better, even at this Many point to Engelland’s five-on-five Corsi of 50.15, which was the age. If I want to keep playing, I have to come out and perform.” second-worst on the team behind Cody Eakin, as proof his game is slipping. But many of Engelland’s metrics actually show he was better in He admitted he’s thought of joining the Golden Knights in another 2018-19 than he was the previous season. His hits (165), blocked shots capacity upon retirement, but that’s still a distant future in his eyes. (152) and takeaways (26) all went up from 2017-18, and he reduced his “This is going to be home for a long time, and you’re hoping to be able to giveaways from 53 to only 24. transfer over to something with the team,” he said. “I haven’t gotten that He also spent only 18 minutes in the penalty box, which goes against the far. I think we’ll wait until the career is done, and I hang them up, to try to narrative that his skating isn’t good enough at his age. figure out what I’ll do.”

Engelland has averaged more than 18 minutes per game for the past For now, Engelland will play as long as he can in hopes of finally hoisting three seasons, and that appears unlikely to change this season. If the Stanley Cup. anything, Engelland’s role might increase with the introduction of a rookie “You talk to a lot of guys who have retired after long careers, and they defenseman on Vegas’ blue line. wished they had played longer,” Engelland said. “They just tell you to “(I expect my role to) stay the same on the ice,” Engelland said. play as long as you can, and I think the body is holding up well, so I want “Physical, blocking shots, killing penalties, and on top of that, there are to keep going and help the team achieve our ultimate goal of winning in spots on the back end now, so I’ll help the young guys as much as I can. any way that I can.” Point them in the right direction, and when they need help, give them The Athletic LOADED: 07.27.2019 some advice and help them succeed.” 1150214 Washington Capitals

Capitals re-sign Chandler Stephenson to one-year, $1.05 million deal

By Isabelle Khurshudyan July 26 at 10:36 PM

The Washington Capitals re-signed depth forward Chandler Stephenson to a one-year, $1.05 million deal, a person with the knowledge of the situation confirmed Friday.

The team avoided arbitration with Stephenson — his hearing was scheduled for Aug. 1 — but with the roster now filled out and every restricted free agent under contract, the Capitals are more than $1.3 million over the NHL’s $81.5 million salary cap ceiling.

CapFriendly.com was the first to report the news.

#Capitals have settled with Chandler Stephenson ahead of his arbitration hearing on a 1 year contract that carries an AAV of $1.05M.

Stephenson was scheduled to go before an arbitrator on August 1st.

He'll be an RFA with Arb rights again next summer.https://t.co/fPq5wpFYz4 pic.twitter.com/8A83dGsIBQ

— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) July 27, 2019

Stephenson had five goals and six assists in 64 games last season, playing mostly in a fourth-line role with penalty killing responsibilities. Considering Washington’s salary cap constraints and the signings of wingers Garnet Hathaway and Brendan Leipsic — which were made in part because of management’s dissatisfaction with its fourth line last year — it’s unclear whether Stephenson will have a place in the lineup this season.

Stephenson’s new deal comes on the heels of an arbitrator awarding defenseman Christian Djoos a one-year, $1.25 million contract Wednesday. The Capitals are allowed to exceed the salary cap’s upper limit by 10 percent until final rostersare set on Oct. 2, so there’s no immediate rush to make a corresponding move to clear space. Their options to do so include making a trade, or just simply waiving players who spent all of last season in the NHL, such as Stephenson and/or forward Travis Boyd.

Stephenson was the Capitals’ final restricted free agent left unsigned and was a versatile piece of their 2018 Stanley Cup run, when he had two goals and five assists in 24 playoff games. Stephenson will be a restricted free agent when this contract is completed, meaning Washington will still own his negotiating rights.

He was also the Capitals’ final arbitration-eligible case, meaning the organization will have the opportunity to buy out any player with a salary cap hit of at least $3,455,438 in three days, but Washington is unlikely to do that.

Washington Post LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150215 Washington Capitals awaiting an arbitration hearing and it’s unclear if he will even be back with the Capitals given they are over the salary cap right now.

Washington has a plan for that, though. Even during an injury-plagued 20 Burning Capitals Questions: What does a revamped Caps' penalty kill season where he played for three different teams, forward look like? was 14thin expected goals against on the PK (9.86). A knee injury limited Hagelin’s overall PK time (113:04), but even at age 31 next month his speed on the penalty kill helps. By Brian McNally July 26, 2019 10:00 AM The Capitals admittedly didn’t see much of a boost after acquiring Hagelin from at the trade deadline from the Los Angeles Kings. They were 22ndin the NHL before he arrived (78.6 percent) and with him, the The long, endless summer is only halfway done. The Capitals last played success rate only ticked up to 79.2 in his 20 games. But they’re excited a game on April 24 and will not play another one until Oct. 2. to have him in the toolbox for a full season. But with free agency and the NHL Draft behind them now, the 2019-2020 So Eller, Wilson, Hagelin and Dowd are all good options. But there is roster is almost set and it won’t be long until players begin trickling back better depth now, too. Garnet Hathaway played 128:36 on the PK for the onto the ice in Arlington for informal workouts. Calgary Flames last year. The free-agent signing ranked 62ndin With that in mind, and given the roasting temperatures outside, for four expected goals against (13.25). weeks NBC Sports Washington will look at 20 burning questions facing Washington defenseman Dmitry Orlov was pretty good in his PK time the Capitals as they look to rebound from an early exit from the Stanley (112:33) with 9.58 expected goals against, 10thin the NHL. And Michal Cup playoffs, keep alive their Metropolitan Division title streak and get Kempny was 34th (11.24) in almost equal ice time (117:25). But Gudas is back to their championship form of 2018. likely to see big minutes here. He logged 202:28 for the Flyers in 2018-19 The list will look at potential individual milestones, roster questions, and was just ahead of Carlson at 178thin the rankings (20.79). prospects who might help and star players with uncertain futures. Today, Remember, the players who topped 200 PK minutes are almost all we look at what a revamped Caps' penalty kill look like. defensemen. Only five of the 32 players who were above 200 were The biggest area of weakness for the Capitals in 2018-19 was the forwards. Of those 27 defensemen, Carlson and Gudas ranked first and penalty kill, which finished at 79.2 percent. That was tied for 23rdin the second in expected goals against. It’s a small list, but not many players NHL. Only one playoff team – the Colorado Avalanche - was worse. are asked to play that much on the PK.

Can you win that way? Sure. The Boston Bruins finished second in the Swapping Niskanen for Gudas, having Hagelin and Jensen for a full Atlantic Division despite a PK at 79.9 percent and were Stanley Cup season and adding in-depth players better suited to the role should help runners up. The margin between where the Capitals fell and the middle the Capitals improve its penalty kill this season. tier teams was only about one percentage point. But it is still an area Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.27.2019 that can and should be improved.

The Capitals goalies have to be better here. Braden Holtby and Pheonix Copley had a combined save percentage of 83.6. That was third-worst in the NHL (29th) and not too many playoff teams live in that neighborhood. The Carolina Hurricanes were 23rd at 84.9 and the Toronto Maple Leafs were 22nd(85.5).

So start there. But Washington can also make life easier on its goalies. First, maybe take fewer penalties in the first place. The Capitals took 277 minors last year. That was the sixth-most in the league.

It remains to be seen if the tactics will change on the PK. But the personnel will definitely be different. Defenseman Matt Niskanen led all Capitals in PK ice time at 221:31, but he was traded to Philadelphia for Radko Gudas. John Carlson was second on the team (207:04). He is back, obviously. Brooks Orpik was third among defenseman in shorthanded minutes (138:58), but he retired.

In all, there were 228 players with 100 minutes of PK time last season. According to the website Natural Stat Trick, Lars Eller was 163rd (19.51) and Tom Wilson was 76th(14.04) in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA). They were also Washington’s top two forwards on the PK and are back again.

Niskanen struggled at 24.96 expected goals against. That ranked 209thout of the 228 players who were above the 100-minute threshold. Carlson was 181st(20.93). No surprise that big-minute defenseman will rank lower on this list, but that Niskanen number was way too high.

But Niskanen is gone now so a late addition at the trade deadline should play a much bigger role on the PK this time around. Nick Jensen was second on the Detroit Red Wings with 166:19 PK minutes in just 60 games there. Overall, he ranked 152nd(18.84) in expected goals against playing for two teams in two different systems. His PK minutes were close to Carlson and Niskanen, too, so the comparison is fair.

One player who should probably see even more ice time on the PK is Nic Dowd. He ranked sixth in the NHL in expected goals against (9.17). Again these are all players with at least 100 minutes short-handed and, while not a rate stat, that number in those minutes is more than enough to earn more ice time shorthanded.

Dowd (105:45) was very good at doing what was asked of him. So was forward Chandler Stephenson (12:03), who ranked 48thamong the 228 players with 100 minutes of PK time. But Stephenson (113:22) is 1150216 Vancouver Canucks “I’d never taken on a project of this size, but I remember meeting with a banker from CIBC and he said think of it as a shopping mall,” Griffiths told Postmedia News in 2016.

Patrick Johnston: The Canucks built their arena all by themselves, so “You have an anchor tenant, the Canucks. You’re going to have why can’t the Flames? sponsorship revenue, suite revenue, food service contracts — all of those things are credit-worthy. I learned very quickly how to finance something that complex.” Patrick Johnston Rogers Arena cost about $250 million in today’s dollars to build; the new arena in Calgary is currently projected to cost more than twice that. A further comparison would be the renovation of Seattle’s city-owned Key If he did it again, Arthur Griffiths still wouldn’t ask for government funding Arena using private funds. The Jerry Bruckheimer-Tod Leiweke-led to build his own hockey arena. consortium is spending upwards of $900 million of their own money and When Rogers Arena, then GM Place, opened in 1995, long-ago Canucks not a cent of public cash. owner Griffiths financed construction entirely through private means. So why is Calgary set to follow Edmonton — despite being in a province That the Calgary Flames look set to wrangle money out of the City of that prides itself on a DIY spirit — in bucking a national trend by helping a Calgary to help build a new arena doesn’t change his mind, either. hockey team build an arena? Canada’s five other NHL squads built and own their arenas all by themselves. Public money means diminished control; the Canucks’ long tenure as a tenant of the Pacific National Exhibition taught Griffiths plenty about “That’s a political question … but there’s no fundamental reason,” Tombe having government as a landlord. replied.

“Why in the world would we ever have wanted to go back down that By getting the city to foot half the bill of the new arena, the Flames, who road?” he said this week. will operate the arena and keep the lion’s share of the profits, are reducing their own overhead and risk. But having government as a partner isn’t something that appears to daunt the Flames, who count billionaire Murray Edwards as their lead And the team has further reduced its risk by getting the city to collect a investor. ticket tax that will go toward the public portion of funding instead of adding the cost into the price of the ticket. That’s a revenue figure that In a plan presented this week by Calgary’s city council, the Flames will will be subject to some variability; while demand for hockey tickets in put up half the cash toward what’s currently projected as a $580-million is pretty constant, the projections rely on all the other events at arena. The city will cover the rest. Residents there have just a week to the arena providing strong sales, too. provide feedback to municipal leaders. Tombe said the city could have set the ticket-tax rate higher and thus Griffiths may not be one to take government money for a new arena, but drawn less — or even nothing — from the public coffers to cover their he can understand why others might. $290 million portion of the arena budget, or they could have looked at raising annual residential tax rates by $20 to $25 on average. “It’s a public amenity,” he noted. The public could derive a benefit from a new venue, plus new arenas can have a lifting effect on a city’s public Either way, of course, the city is still going to be making service cuts. spirit, for a time anyway. Rogers Arena remains a counterpoint to all this. As a private company, But economists will warn against claims there’s a real economic case for Canucks Sports and Entertainment does not share its figures, and while throwing public funds behind it. Studies have repeatedly shown arenas the hockey team may be struggling to generate revenues, you can don’t really produce broad economic benefits. presume the firm is doing well overall based on how busy the arena is.

“There is some concrete public good to a new arena,” University of It has been two decades since Griffiths held an active stake in the Calgary economist Trevor Tombe said this week. “The arena will be used Canucks or the arena, but he still speaks proudly of what it did for the city by the Stampede, for example. But I’m embarrassed about how our and his former team. government is proceeding.” “The building obviously does well for the Canucks.” The proposal also has some notable flaws, he said. Its projections don’t reflect the reality of inflation, and there are rosy assumptions about ticket Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.27.2019 sales and how busy the new venue will be.

“The right way is accounting for future cash flows,” Tombe said. “What are the opportunity costs of the foregone alternatives?”

The public money that’s being diverted to the project could, for example, be placed into an investment fund that would likely return better profits than building an arena ever could.

The new arena proposal comes the same week Calgary’s city council is debating $60 million in cuts to city services, including 9-1-1, the fire department and libraries.

“We have a huge long-term challenge,” Tombe said of the budget hole. “Council needs to be clearer about the trade-offs.”

The Scotiabank Saddledome is outdated and needs replacing; a new arena with corporate suites would be better at generating revenues. But those dollars will end up in the team’s pockets, not the public’s.

Cast aside the idea the Flames could move. The NHL already has weak members in Arizona and Florida — they’re not going to abandon a profitable Canadian market.

The question, then, is what is the project worth to the city’s residents? They’d be accepting pumped up civic spirit but still losing other public assets.

Startup costs for private projects are challenging, but the potential for profit over the long run is good for arena owners. 1150217 Vancouver Canucks highs in goals and assists in 2018-19 and appears primed to maintain that pace playing with some talented Sharks linemates. We expect much of the same from him here.

A dream come true for Canucks fans: Introducing Team British Columbia C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton Oilers, Burnaby, B.C.

2018-19 stats: 28 goals, 41 assists in 82 games

By Israel Fehr Jul 26, 2019 The highest-drafted player on our squad, Nugent-Hopkins quietly had his most productive season during an otherwise disappointing year for the Oilers. The 26-year-old will do a bit of everything and his versatility will If the most asked sports question in Vancouver is “will the Canucks ever come in handy, with a role on both special teams. win the Stanley Cup?” the second is either about why the Canucks didn’t take a player from B.C. in the draft or wondering when an established RW Brett Connolly, Florida Panthers, Prince George, B.C. star is going to sign as a free agent. 2018-19 stats: 22 goals, 24 assists in 81 games

Pining for our born and bred to come home and help the Canucks lift that It took a while for Connolly to make good on the promise that made him elusive Cup is a natural part of being from British Columbia. the sixth-overall pick in 2010. Nearly a decade later, his career-high 22 There’s some merit behind it — the province has a legacy that includes goals this past season in Washington earned him a four-year deal for $14 Hall of Fame forwards, a bunch of really steady pros who had lengthy million with Florida. If there’s a weakness with our roster it’s that we don’t careers and in recent years, a rapidly improving cast of defencemen. have a ton of pure snipers. We’ll need Connolly to step up. That a number of those players have seemed to raise their game against Third line Vancouver further fuels the desire to see them in Canucks colours. LW Alexander Kerfoot, Toronto Maple Leafs, West Vancouver, B.C. We’re about to make this dream a reality (well, as much as we can here at The Athletic) by building our own Team British Columbia and pitting it 2018-19 stats: 15 goals, 27 assists in 78 games against other All-Region teams put together by fellow The Athletic scribes. Every player on our roster was born in B.C., so no need to claim The analytically savvy Maple Leafs are betting that Kerfoot can be their anyone as we would have with Scott Niedermayer (born in Edmonton but third-line centre as they push for a Cup. The soon-to-be 25-year-old’s raised in Cranbrook) and Duncan Keith (born in Winnipeg but calls game is perfect for today’s NHL. For us, his possession and playmaking Penticton home) in past versions of this exercise. abilities will come from the wing, where he’s also played for Colorado during his first two NHL seasons. There are plenty of options for our coaching staff, too. Canucks coach Travis Green is the pride of Castlegar; Lightning coach Jon Cooper is C Ryan Johansen, Nashville Predators, Port Moody, B.C. from Prince George and here we’re claiming Carolina’s Rod Brind’Amour, 2018-19 stats: 14 goals, 50 assists in 80 games Ottawa-listed birthplace but reps Prince Rupert and Campbell River. We’d like a few more goals from our third-highest cap hit but a 50-assist We’ve done our best to keep players in the positions they currently play pivot is a problem every team would like to have, especially considering (although, it wasn’t always possible) and have tried to assemble lines his strong underlying metrics. Perhaps in a situation where he needs to and pairings that have a reasonable chance to work on the ice. As usual be more of a scorer he could get closer to the 25- or 30-goal plateau like in Vancouver, it comes back to the same question: Is it good enough to he did for a couple of seasons in Columbus. Johansen could also move win the Cup? up this depth chart without anyone blinking an eye. A Benn-Johansen- First line Kane line would be an absolute load to handle.

LW Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars, Victoria, B.C. RW Danton Heinen, Boston Bruins, Langley, B.C.

2018-19 stats: 27 goals, 26 assists in 78 games 2018-19 stats: 11 goals, 23 assists in 77 games

In his prime, Benn was a physical specimen who could score with the Playing with two pass-first linemates is an opportunity for Heinen to best of them. From 2013-14 through 2017-18, he was third in the NHL in unlock his goal-scoring potential. At his best in Boston, he’s played at a points behind Sidney Crosby and Patrick Kane and he won the Art Ross fast pace and shown a willingness to be aggressive. The direction from in 2014-15. The numbers aren’t quite what they used to be but we’re our coaching staff: go to the front of the net, keep your stick ready at all gunning for a Cup and aren’t too concerned with how the 30-year-old will times and the goals will come. look down the line. He’s our leader up front and will wear an “A” on his Fourth line sweater. LW Jujhar Khaira, Edmonton Oilers, Surrey, B.C. C Mathew Barzal, New York Islanders, Coquitlam, B.C. 2018-19 stats: 3 goals, 15 assists in 60 games 2018-19 stats: 18 goals, 44 assists in 82 games The boxcar stats don’t stand out, but Khaira is an analytics darling with The 2017-18 Calder Trophy winner took a step back in terms of point endless drive who does a lot of things well in terms of possession and production in his sophomore season, but he’s still on the shortlist of the physicality. He’s probably earned a more prominent role with the Oilers most dynamic young players in the league. His playmaking skills — 107 and we’re happy to slot in him here on our team. assists in 166 NHL games — should create ample goal-scoring opportunities for the wingers on his line. C Kyle Turris, Nashville Predators, New Westminster, B.C.

RW Sam Reinhart, Buffalo Sabres, West Vancouver, B.C. 2018-19 stats: 7 goals, 16 assists in 55 games

2018-19 stats: 22 goals, 43 assists in 82 games We’re betting on a bounce-back here after Turris had a rough go of it with Nashville last season. The version of Turris from the World Reinhart moved to the wing last season to play alongside Jack Eichel on Championship is an encouraging sign to that end. Buffalo’s first line, so that’s where we’ll keep him, seeing as we have more options down the middle. The 2014 No. 2 overall pick showed off RW Colton Sissons, Nashville Predators, North Vancouver, B.C. his all-around game, topping 40 assists for the first time, and should be a 2018-19 stats: 15 goals, 15 assists in 75 games lock for 25 goals in this spot. Sissons has been a rock for the Predators for a few years now and was Second line recently rewarded with a seven-year deal. He’s a hard-nosed player who LW Evander Kane, San Jose Sharks, Vancouver, B.C. kills penalties and has come up big in clutch moments.

2018-19 stats: 30 goals, 26 assists in 75 games Extra: RW Jake Virtanen, Vancouver Canucks, Abbotsford, B.C.

Another power forward who was rumoured to be on the Canucks’ radar 2018-19 stats: 15 goals, 10 assists in 70 games for a long time, Kane has settled in nicely in San Jose. He set career Virtanen will get a shot on this team at some point but he’ll have to work Price didn’t get back to the otherworldly level he was at before he turned for it. The skating and the shot are certainly there, though the 30 but still turned in an excellent season after getting over some early consistency and decision making has been lacking. Plus, what’s the point hiccups. He’s going to have to carry this team at times, so not much of having this fake team without the fun of the Jake debates, anyway? changes from his regular NHL existence. It’s business as usual for the 2014-15 Hart and Vezina Trophy winner, and we like the sound of that. First pairing Martin Jones, San Jose Sharks, North Vancouver, B.C. Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs, West Vancouver, B.C. 2018-19 stats: 36-19-5, 2.94 GAA, .896 SV% 2018-19 stats: 20 goals, 52 assists in 82 games The Sharks had success last season in spite of Jones’ individual Rielly’s talent has been obvious since his minor hockey days at Hollyburn struggles. As our backup, we only need him to pick up the slack every so and he’s grown into a bona fide No. 1 defenceman for Toronto. He was often. His playoff numbers with San Jose (60 GP, 2.41 GAA, .916 SV%) fifth in Norris Trophy voting this past season and his slick skating and suggest he will be just fine. excellent vision play a huge part in fuelling the high-octane Leafs offence. The 25-year-old isn’t the loudest in the room but he leads by example Salary cap situation and gets our other “A.” Well, not unlike the Canucks, the cap is proving to be a bit of a problem. Tyson Barrie, Toronto Maple Leafs, Victoria, B.C. Even with Barzal still on his ELC, we’re way over the limit. In fact, it’s not even close. B.C. Boys get paid (put it on a T-shirt). Remember how big of 2018-19 stats: 14 goals, 45 assists in 78 games a deal it was that Hamhuis took a discount to come to Vancouver? We’re Very few defencemen in the league produce points like Barrie does. His going to need a few more of those types of deals down the line to make 116 points over the last two seasons rank sixth among D-men and his 55 this work long term. power-play points are tied for third. Paired with Rielly, which we might The Turris and Johansen deals are where we get the least return on see next season with the Leafs, there’s the potential for even more investment given their place on the depth chart and paying our backup offensive fireworks. goalie over $5 million isn’t exactly common across the NHL. The Rielly Second pairing deal is a steal, though, and the rest of the contracts on the books mostly represent fair value on the open market. Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights, Aldergrove, B.C. But yeah, we forgot to loop in our capologist before we fell in love with 2018-19 stats: 12 goals, 25 assists in 79 games our lineup. Wait, we have a capologist?

Big (6-foot-2, 195 pounds), young (24) and skilled, Theodore began to If we needed to shed some dollars, Laurent Brossoit (Winnipeg Jets, Port come into his own last season. He had eight points in seven playoff Alberni) at $1.225 million could capably fill the backup role coming off a games for Vegas and the expectation is for him to pick up where he left solid year while Jordan Weal (Montreal Canadiens, North Vancouver) off. On our squad, we think he’ll thrive next to an even bigger and his $1.4-million cap hit could slot in as a more traditional fourth-line defenceman with a familiar name. centre. Byram and Dillon Dube (Calgary Flames, Golden) are mighty enticing on their ELCs as well but we’re playing to win right now and Shea Weber, Montreal Canadiens, Sicamous, B.C. being cap compliant in this make-believe scenario is completely 2018-19 stats: 14 goals, 19 assists in 58 games overrated. The astounding numbers below include our extra forward and two press-box-bound defencemen. Weber gets the captaincy and packs the most muscle on our blue line. He might top the recent wishlist of players fans would have loved to see Total cap hit: $109,022,619 on the Canucks. At 34, Weber can still handle tough minutes and is Over the cap: $27,522,619 (!!!) among the most respected players in the game. Projected point total Third pairing Our submitted configuration spits out a projection of 95 points for next Jordie Benn, Vancouver Canucks, Victoria, B.C. season via Sean Tierney’s WAR lineup generator, which incorporates 2018-19 stats: 5 goals, 17 assists in 81 games data from Evolving-Hockey. This was a consideration when it came to making a final call on who made the cut. But remember, we can always Hey, here’s a B.C. boy who did come home! Benn signed with the have some fun with numbers. Making Brossoit the backup, which as Canucks on July 1, where he’ll be relied upon to provide stability on the mentioned would help our cap situation, bumps the projection to 101 back end. Also, it’s cool that we get to have a brother connection on the points and that goes up to 106 with him as the starter and Price as the team as we would have had in the ’80s and ‘90s with the Courtnall backup. We all know that’s not going to happen. brothers and Vancouver had for so many years with the Sedins. Lineup generated by Sean Tierney’s lineup tool, chart by Shayna Troy Stecher, Vancouver Canucks, Richmond, B.C. Goldman

2018-19 stats: 2 goals, 21 assists in 78 games There are some other more relatively reasonable alterations out there that would bump up the projection a tad but we like how our mix of skill, Stecher has become a fan favourite in Vancouver after signing as a smarts and size is spread throughout the lineup and trust that Price will college free agent and it’s not just because he grew up nearby going to be there with big saves on the nights the scoring isn’t up to snuff. The games and rooting for the Canucks. He brings energy and a relentless playoffs are our goal and we should get there. But are we good enough work ethic, plus he’s a great quote in the room. to win the Cup? Fourth pairing: Veterans Dan Hamhuis (Nashville Predators, Smithers) This wouldn’t be a true Vancouver hockey team without some and Brent Seabrook (Chicago Blackhawks, Tsawwassen) would have disagreement about the answer to that question as well as the roster been locks for the top four not too long ago but time waits for no man and construction and lineup philosophy, though, so give us your lines and all that. pairings in the comments. For the time being, Brenden Dillon (San Jose Sharks, Surrey) and Justin The Athletic LOADED: 07.27.2019 Schultz (Pittsburgh Penguins, Kelowna) will give us experience and contrasting skill sets to step in when needed, but it probably won’t be long before 2019 No. 4 overall pick Bowen Byram (Colorado Avalanche, Cranbrook) makes a case for a spot on this team.

Goaltenders

Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens, Anahim Lake, B.C.

2018-19 stats: 35-24-6, 2.49 GAA, .918 SV% 1150218 Websites whether it’s taking punishment in front of the net on the power play or building relationships in the dressing room as was obviously the case when he made his emotional departure from New Jersey prior to last The Athletic / Helping us capture the spirit of the thing: The NHL All- year’s trade deadline. That honesty extends to reporters as well. It’s the Interview team willingness to really consider a question before preparing an answer. It might seem like a small thing but how often do we say this is a details game and Brian Boyle understands that the details are important on every level, even if it’s talking to ink-stained wretches like us. By Craig Custance Jul 26, 2019 Third line:

Ryan Reaves (3) – Joe Thornton (3) – Nathan MacKinnon (3) Sometimes we’re a bit hard on hockey players when it comes to interviews and the tendency to give vanilla answers. And it’s true, they do Joe Thornton brought us one of the greatest hockey quotes of all time, often seem to loathe to say anything interesting. They lean too much on sharing his thoughts on how he’d celebrate a four-goal game. That alone cliches. I’ll be the first to admit that I occasionally feel media envy puts him on the team. He also seems to prefer doing every interview watching an NBA press conference. without a shirt on, so he has that going for him… MacKinnon is great because he’s not afraid to say something interesting. He speaks But I also realized just how good we have it when I asked the NHL honestly, with confidence and insight. When Colorado starts going on writers at The Athletic to help out with an All-Interview team as part of our long playoff runs here in the next several years, he’s going to be a media Lineup Week package of stories. The request was made to name the favorite. three forwards, goalies, defensemen and coaches they enjoying interviewing the most. In all, 36 writers responded and over 120 different Jesse Granger’s scouting report on Reaves: Ryan Reaves is as brash off players were mentioned. That’s crazy. Everybody seemed to have the ice as he is on it, and it makes for a fantastic interview. He’s witty different favorites and players they go to for insight and information. And enough to crack a joke or two but more importantly, in the end, he will so, this All-Interview team is part appreciation, part recognition and a talk very candidly about the game, not using cliches to censor his glimpse for subscribers to see just who we enjoy chatting with the most thoughts. when the dressing rooms open up. Fourth line: The panel: 36 of our NHL writers who aren’t on vacation right now. Total votes in parenthesis. David Backes (2) – Auston Matthews (2) – Taylor Hall (2)

Forwards Backes is just an absolute pro. Great guy. Great conversationalist. But also willing to share information and insight so that you leave the Top line: conversation feeling like you’ve learned something. When he was with the Blues and you were covering a playoff series you had to consciously Nick Foligno (6) – Sidney Crosby (7) – Justin Williams (6) make a point of going elsewhere for quotes or else every story had a The top vote-getter amongst the forwards also happens to be the best Backes quote in it… I was certainly concerned that Matthews would go to player (arguably!) in the NHL and one of the best to ever play the game. Toronto and lose his personality under the spotlight and that hasn’t Crosby has continued a lineage that started with Gordie Howe, was happened. He’s got a bit of an edge to him at times, which I like. He can passed to Wayne Gretzky and exists now with him where he understands be engaging, funny and interesting. his stature in the game. He knows he’s going to be asked about league Corey Masisak’s scouting report on Taylor Hall: One thing that stands out issues. He knows his quotes are going to become headlines. And he still about Taylor Hall is his willingness to be objective about his team’s play. makes an effort to give thoughtful, extended answers to nearly every Another thing is his grasp of what is going on around the NHL (and other question thrown in his direction. He also earns points here because of his sports, considering his tweet about the NBA during the playoffs) and his accessibility. I’ve covered a million playoff games involving the Penguins ability to provide context and insight on issues large and small. And he and you can always count on Crosby to answer questions after, win or might be the most fluent player in the sport when it comes to analytics — lose… Nick Foligno is just a beautiful human being. He’s funny. He’s conversations with him can (and usually do) go well beyond the basic insightful. He’ll take every last question. One of the all-timers. concepts like Corsi and PDO. Sara Civian’s scouting report on Justin Williams: Williams is thoughtful Others receiving multiple votes: Gabriel Landeskog, Jason Spezza, Brad and isn’t afraid to call you out on your cliches in a way that actually Marchand, Brad Richardson, Patrick Kane, Vincent Trocheck, Brandon makes you better. You have to spar with him for a minute but if you make Dubinsky it out alive, you have something more substantial than anything in the NHL these days that is just so original. Anyone who has interviewed him Defense even twice knows he’s going to be a stellar coach when the time comes because of the way he articulates his answers and everything he knows. Drew Doughty (12) – Brent Burns (8) Not that this is about media members feeling validated, but he will Ian Cole (6) – P.K. Subban (5) address you by name and look you in the eye — something colleague Eric Duhatschek has essentially called a lost art between media and Nate Schmidt (4) – Victor Hedman (4) players. Keith Yandle (4) – Ben Lovejoy (4) Second line: The defense is loaded. Oh man. Drew Doughty is the best. I’ll let Lisa Steven Stamkos (4) – Matt Duchene (5) – Brian Boyle (4) break him down further but he always delivers. He seems to enjoy the process more than any player in the league… You never know where a Stamkos is another player who earns points for his stature in the game conversation with Brent Burns is going to end up. I once interviewed him and willingness to answer questions with courtesy and consideration. He and accidentally ended up buying a 35-foot Winnebago… Ian Cole might doesn’t lean on cliches. He listens while you’re asking the question and be the best in the league when it comes to talking about his teammates. tries to share his insight. You never feel rushed and it ends up feeling A great guy to go to for insight into the player sitting next to him. Ben more like a conversation than an interview… Matt Duchene was in my Lovejoy and Nate Schmidt are very similar… Subban is smart, fun, top three. He’s a hockey nerd and I mean that as a high compliment. entertaining, not afraid of making a statement. If there’s something He’s a great guy to talk to about anything league related or to get insight controversial in a game, you want him involved because you know he’s into opposing players. He can explain things about the game that only a going to say something interesting about it afterward… Hedman is a bit player who sees the game at a high level can do. He’s great. low key but incredibly smart and articulate. If you want to know what Scott Burnside’s scouting report on Brian Boyle: I think what draws makes an opposing player great, and really get specific about it, you ask people in our business to Brian Boyle in terms of being a go-to guy for Hedman. interviews is what draws teams like the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lisa Dillman’s scouting report on Drew Doughty: Drew Doughty would Lightning, New Jersey Devils and most recently the Nashville Predators have been on an All-Interview Team in any decade, really. Think of him to Brian Boyle when it comes to leadership and creating a culture of as an unplugged, unfiltered throwback in a day where cliched caution winning. It’s the honesty that Boyle brings to all the moments of the game seems to be the operating philosophy. I remember him telling me last season that he loved the Jimmy Butler story, of Butler calling out the Timberwolves. Doughty: “I could see myself doing something ridiculous like that. But not to that extent.” If he decides to … well, we’ll be waiting.

Others receiving multiple votes: Torey Krug, Ryan Suter, Seth Jones, Mark Giordano, Zdeno Chara, Connor Murphy, Kevin Shattenkirk, Kris Letang, Erik Karlsson

Goalie

Marc-Andre Fleury (7)

Henrik Lundqvist (5)

Pekka Rinne (3)

Ryan Miller (3)

Cory Schneider (3)

Antti Raanta (3)

This list could have been about 20 deep. Goalies are fascinating because so many of them are students of the game. From a media perspective, one of the worst trends has been the limitation of their media access in the morning of games because every guy on this list is insightful, thoughtful and a blast to chat with.

Rob Rossi’s scouting report on Marc-Andre Fleury: Marc is funny. He likes to have fun. He acts in the same manner with the media as he does with his teammates — accountable in tough times, but always focusing on something positive. He’s does that with his self-depreciation and a wit that is quicker than his glove.

He has been through enough to provide insight on almost any issue, and he is happy to serve as a voice for a story about teammates or league issues. His experience as the face of a couple of franchises gives him a unique perspective on the role media plays in framing a narrative. And he came up at a time when media and players playfully bantered, so he is comfortable building relationships with reporters. As he has often said: “It’s a game, you know. We play it, you write about us playing it. We have good jobs.”

Probably also helps he doesn’t read the stories. A lot of players say they don’t. He doesn’t. Frees him to be expansive and engaging.

Coach

Head coach: Paul Maurice (9 votes)

Assistants: John Tortorella (6 votes), Bruce Boudreau (3 votes), Barry Trotz (3 votes)

Others receiving multiple votes: Bruce Cassidy, Jon Cooper, Peter DeBoer

These are the guys we deal with the most. There are conversations every morning. There are press conferences after every game. You don’t make it as an NHL head coach without having an advanced hockey mind and an ability to communicate and that’s what makes most coaches such an interesting conversation. You’ve seen the Tortorella highlights but he’s also extremely engaging when he wants to be and brutally honest. It’s a great combo… Boudreau is funny, a fantastic story-teller and good for at least two great one-liners in every conversation… Trotz is a teacher. Ask him a good question and you’ll definitely learn something new.

Murat Ates’ scouting report on Paul Maurice: By now, everyone knows that Paul Maurice is charismatic, clever and quotable whether he’s offering insight or just shooting the shit. That said, I think what’s most unique about Maurice is how quickly he reads the room — how well he makes reporters feel understood. Personally, Maurice and I went from zero to him joking about stealing my laptop and slashing my tires in an awful hurry and I think that’s a great example of Maurice knowing his audience and speaking directly to it.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150219 Websites of Draisaitl’s career – where he was shooting 11 percent prior to last season.

Realistically, we should expect him to regress to his career average in The Athletic / Tulloch: The NHL’s top 10 regression candidates for 2019- 2019-20 (which is now closer to 13 percent after last year’s 50-goal 20 season). If he can find a way to keep generating shots at a high volume, especially on the power play, he can help stave off some of that regression (with his talent, I wouldn’t put it past him). If he spends most By Ian Tulloch Jul 25, 2019 of the season running Edmonton’s second line, however, it’s likelier he takes on more of a playmaking role and finishes the season closer to 35

goals – which is still superb when you’re capable of generating 50-plus A few days ago I published my top 10 breakout candidates for 2019-20, assists like Draisaitl. which seemed to generate a lot of buzz. With that being the case, I 3. Morgan Rielly, LD, Toronto Maple Leafs thought it would be fun to take a look at the opposite end of the spectrum. Which players are most likely to take a step backwards next If there were any concerns about my Leafs bias, I hope this will help season? dispel them. Much like Draisaitl, Rielly is a great player who I expect to perform well in 2019-20. The issue is that he shot well above his career If we’re going to look for indicators that a particular type of player is going average last year, resulting in a 20-goal season that he realistically won’t to break out, we need to be looking for signs of regression the other way. be able to repeat. Answering this question is never fun, but it’s an important aspect of predicting future performance. The best predictors tend to be shooting The biggest question last season was whether Rielly had drastically percentage-based; we know that players aren’t likely to continue shooting improved his shot quality. We can look into that using a metric called well above their career average. The same logic applies to goaltenders, “Expected Goals”, which determines how often a particular shot should although I didn’t include many of them on the list due to the volatility of result in a goal. For example: a three percent shot from the blueline is save percentage from year to year (it’s much more difficult to predict). worth 0.03 expected goals, whereas a 20 percent shot from the slot is worth 0.20 expected goals. When you see one of your favourite players listed here, please try to remember that this isn’t a reflection on their play; it simply means they’re Looking at the numbers, we can see that Rielly increased his shot unlikely to produce as well as they did in 2018-19. Since most players volume last season, but his shot quality remained roughly the same. It’s are unlikely to repeat career years (or spikes in shooting percentage), possible he generated a few more open looks off the rush, but nothing that opens the door for a lot of big names to make the list. There are that would justify the shooting percentage boon we saw last year. bound to be disagreements over which players were and weren’t Realistically, we should expect him to regress closer to his career included, which I genuinely enjoy; they can lead to some great average shooting percentage moving forward, which is probably going to discussions in the comments section (we’ll try our best to keep things cost him about eight goals at five-on-five. civil, though, since I know this can be a touchy topic). Try to keep this in mind when you’re reading the “What’s wrong with Without further ado, let’s dive into things! Morgan Rielly” articles a few months into the 2019-20 season. He’s still the same player, he just went on a shooting percentage bender last year. 1. Andrew Shaw, RW, Chicago Blackhawks 4. John Carlson, RD, Washington Capitals We’re going to start with Shaw because he’s the best example of what we’re discussing. He’d always been a player who produced roughly 30- What’s interesting about Carlson is that he and Rielly had very similar 40 points per season, but he exploded in 2018-19 with a career-high 47 seasons last year. Both finished in the top five of Norris voting after points in only 63 games. putting up monster point totals and a high plus-minus in big minutes (plus-minus is a terrible stat, but it’s typically a major consideration for Something doesn’t add up here. I could see this making sense if he was Norris voting). playing on a line with Sidney Crosby or Connor McDavid for the first time, but his most common linemate was Max Domi (who we’re going to talk Unlike Rielly, I doubt Carlson’s goal totals are going to drop dramatically. about later). We’ve seen Shaw play with talented players like Jonathan My bigger concern is how well he’s going to impact goal differential at Toews and Brandon Saad in the past, so I don’t think linemate quality is five-on-five, not to mention his assist totals (for fantasy owners out there). a strong enough argument to justify such a big increase in points. In 2018-19, Carlson was on the ice for a lot of goals, which helped prop up his assist numbers and plus-minus. The problem is that those Looking at it more closely, power-play time wasn’t a factor either; he only numbers aren’t sustainable when you look at the Capitals’ shooting put up six points with the man advantage in 2018-19, which is exactly his percentage with him on the ice. career average. This all comes down to even-strength production, and there’s one simple explanation for his meteoric rise last season: a I’ve heard the argument that Carlson gets to play with some extremely shooting percentage bender. talented finishers in Washington’s top six, but that also would have been the case in his previous seasons with the team. If we’re looking at this Here’s a look at how Shaw’s team has shot with him on the ice at five-on- objectively, we shouldn’t expect the Capitals to shoot north of 10 percent five throughout his career (we call this On-Ice Sh% – the team’s shooting with Carlson on the ice next season, let alone 12 percent. percentage while Shaw was on the ice). It’s worth noting that I still think Carlson and Rielly are effective top- To help explain how unsustainable those numbers are, Crosby’s pairing defencemen, but everything went right for them in 2018-19. That Penguins have only shot 8.7 percent with him on the ice at five-on-five isn’t likely to repeat itself next season (especially in the shooting since 2013. We just don’t see players sustain on-ice shooting percentage department), which is why I doubt either player finishes in the percentages north of 11 percent – even the best players in the world – top five of Norris voting in 2019-20. which is why we should expect some serious regression for Shaw in 2019-20 (and his linemates, which we’re going to discuss later). 5. Elias Lindholm, RW, Calgary Flames

2. Leon Draisaitl, C/LW, Edmonton Oilers The Dougie Hamilton trade worked out nicely for both teams last season, with Carolina adding a top-pairing defenceman en route to their first Let me start by saying that Draisaitl is a phenomenal player (I wouldn’t be conference final appearance since 2009, and Calgary getting 78 points surprised if he puts up 35 goals and 55 assists next season). With that out of Elias Lindholm (not to mention Noah Hanifin’s strong year on the being said, his 50-goal total from last year seems unsustainable when we second pairing). The question I keep asking myself is: how much of take a look underneath the hood. Lindholm’s production is sustainable? A 20 percent shooting clip isn’t a sustainable number moving forward. He was roughly a 40-45 point player in Carolina the previous four Even the best snipers in the league don’t convert on that many of their seasons, but skyrocketed into a near point-per-game forward with shots at five-on-five (Steven Stamkos hovered around 16 percent in his Calgary in 2018-19. I understand that he turned 24 (which research prime). We could make the argument that Draisaitl’s going to spend a suggests is when most players peak) and got to play big minutes with solid chunk of next season alongside McDavid, who can help inflate his elite talent (Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan), but something still shooting percentage, but those two have actually shared the ice for most feels a bit off. His most common linemates were Sebastian Aho and Jeff Skinner in 2017-18, both of whom had excellent seasons the year after As a longtime Kessel fan, it hurts to say this, but age (and context) is without Lindholm. That makes me wonder how much the “quality of going to catch up with him sooner rather than later. linemates” argument should factor into the equation here. 8. David Perron, RW, St. Louis Blues When I try to isolate for Lindholm’s individual impact on offence, it’s hard to see much that screams point-per-game player. You’re probably wondering why Perron is on this list considering how well he’s produced over the last two seasons (66 points in 70 games with He doesn’t touch the puck that often in transition, isn’t a high-volume Vegas two years ago, followed up by 46 points in 57 games with St shooter and generates shot assists (passes leading to a shot) at a Louis). Initially, I was in the same boat. I assumed that a player who slightly above league-average rate. That doesn’t explain Lindholm’s produced at a 77- and 66-point pace would continue that level of offensive explosion in 2018-19. production unless there were some major red flags.

The better explanation is that he shot well above his career average at I ended up finding quite a few. even strength (11.9 percent compared to 7.3 percent in the five years prior) and generated a bunch of secondary assists, which we know aren’t The biggest thing that stood out was his shooting percentage on the as repeatable. Neither of those aspects are likely to repeat themselves in power play; he shot over 39 percent with the man advantage last year, 2019-20, which is why Lindholm finds himself on this list. which is wildly unsustainable (his career average was 11 percent heading into 2018). That’s obviously not going to repeat itself, but it’s his 6. Max Domi, C, Montreal Canadiens five-on-five play that I find even more concerning.

Remember when I brought up how Andrew Shaw’s line had an As you can see, he generated shot assists at an elite rate when he was unsustainably high shooting percentage at five-on-five? Max Domi was in Vegas, which helps explain why his assist numbers were so strong in another major benefactor of that, potting 28 goals last season despite 2017-18. Fast forward a year, and he isn’t generating nearly as many only scoring five the year before when you exclude empty-netters. The passes in the offensive zone (the sample size isn’t the greatest, but as reality is probably somewhere in between those two figures, so let’s try the graphic indicates, these microstats tend to normalize around 30 our best to work this out. games).

Prior to last season, Domi scored on 7.8 percent of his shots at five-on- That helps explain the drop-off in his assist rate last season. The only five. In 2018-19, that number jumped to 14.7 percent – almost double reason Perron’s decline hasn’t been more prominent is because he’s what he was shooting before). If we add everything together (all of his been propped up by an unsustainable shooting percentage; he converted five-on-five shots throughout his career), we get a career average of 10 on 16.7 percent of his shots at five-on-five last year despite being a 10 percent. If he takes roughly the same number of shots next year (152), percent shooter in his previous six seasons. When you combine that with we should expect him to shoot at his career average shooting his five-on-four shooting percentage, it becomes clear that his goal totals percentage, scoring 15 goals (seven fewer than the 22 he had last year are going to take a big step backwards. at five-on-five). There’s also the Shaw factor we have to consider (his most common linemate last season). If you’re thinking about drafting Perron in your fantasy league this year, I’d strongly urge you to reconsider. All signs point to his production falling It’s unlikely that both Domi and Shaw repeat career years in shooting off a cliff in 2019-20, which might sting for the St Louis Blues fans percentage, which is why it’s a safe bet for both of them to take a reading this. Then again, I can’t imagine they’re going to be too worked significant drop in five-on-five point production. Now, there’s a chance up about it. that Domi’s overall point totals don’t take too much of a hit if Montreal can fix its power play, which finished second last in the NHL last season. We (Winslow Townson / USA Today) know he’s an excellent passer, so if the Canadiens can find a way to take 9. Ben Bishop, G, Dallas Stars advantage of it at five-on-four, there’s a chance Domi doesn’t drop off as much next year. I was thinking about putting a section where I would list off half of the league’s netminders – since save percentage is so volatile from year to 7. Phil Kessel, RW, Arizona Coyotes year. The best goalies tend to perform worse in the following year and What’s interesting about Kessel is that he doesn’t fit the same criteria as the worst ones tend to do better. I ended up deciding against it (the joke the players ranked above him. His shooting percentage last year was that’s going to get me in trouble comes in the next section), but I thought right in line with what he’s done throughout his career and he hasn’t been that I needed to include at least one goalie on the list. relying heavily on secondary assists. So why does he find his way on the I ended up going with Ben Bishop based on the fact that he turns 33 in list? November, has a history of groin injuries (which is concerning when It really comes down to two words: Evgeni Malkin. you’re 6-foot-7), but most importantly: he drastically outperformed his career averages last season. Malkin has been Kessel’s most common linemate over the past two seasons, which has helped him produce at an elite rate (92 points in Here’s a quick comparison of his actual save percentage at five-on-five 2017-18 and 82 points in 2018-19). He’s also been a staple on over the last few years compared to his “expected” save percentage (a Pittsburgh’s stacked power play with Malkin, Crosby, Kris Letang and metric that determines the percentage of saves we would expect a one of the best net-front players in the league, Patric Hornqvist. goaltender to make based on the shots he faced).

Now that Kessel has been traded to Arizona, he’s going to be playing There’s no denying that Bishop was phenomenal in 2018-19 – he with significantly less talented players. I’d imagine his power-play probably would have won the Vezina if he got a few more starts. The production takes a big hit (especially considering Arizona hasn’t shown issue is that he’s extremely unlikely to repeat that performance in 2019- as much willingness to play their top unit as often as Pittsburgh). 20. He’s much likelier to regress closer to his career average, which is roughly a league-average starter when you adjust for shot quality. Image from Dom Luszczyszyn’s article The good news is that Dallas has done an excellent job of limiting high- I’m a big fan of Clayton Keller’s game, but he isn’t in the same tier as quality shots under Jim Montgomery, so Bishop should be able to hover Malkin when it comes to inflating his wingers’ point totals. When you around the .915-.920 SV% range if the team continues to prevent shots combine that with Kessel’s age (32 in October), it’s a safe bet that we from the dangerous areas like they did last season. I just wouldn’t count see his production decline in 2019-20. on him being the second-best goalie in the league again next year.

Another concern is just how one-dimensional Kessel has become at even 10. The 2018-19 New York Islanders strength over the past few years. In his prime, he used to impact shot differential but Pittsburgh has actually been getting shelled at five-on-five There were so many regression candidates on last year’s Islanders team when Kessel was on the ice. After adjusting for his usage, here’s a look that I decided to bunch them all into one section (I’m sure this will go over at his impact on driving play at even strength. well in the comments). Again, this isn’t to say that all of the following players are going to play terribly next year, the evidence just suggests CF: Shot impact that they aren’t likely to perform as well as they did last season. xGF: Expected Goal impact Now that we’ve got that caveat out of the way, let’s start with the goaltenders. GF: Goal impact Robin Lehner, G, Chicago Blackhawks: After putting up a career-high unlikely for that to happen again. If he put up 40 goals and 65 assists save percentage, it’s unlikely that Lehner is going to have the same kind next season, I wouldn’t bat an eye, but I don’t think he approaches the of success behind Chicago’s defence (which has been notoriously weak 128-point pace he was on last season considering the power play’s sky- over the past few seasons, even despite their veteran additions this high shooting percentage and the number of secondary assists he was offseason). It’s never a great bet to assume a goaltender is going to able to put up at even strength. repeat a career-high in save percentage, which is why I’d put my money on Lehner regressing closer to league average next season. As we all The Hyman-Tavares-Marner line, Toronto Maple Leafs: Removing myself know, though, goaltending is voodoo (so don’t actually put money on from my Leafs bias, this is another situation where everything went right this). (which isn’t likely to repeat itself). The Leafs shot over 11 percent with these players on the ice, John Tavares converted on over 20 percent of Thomas Greiss, G, New York Islanders: I’ve loved Greiss as a goaltender his shots at five-on-five en route to a 47-goal season, Mitch Marner’s for a while now which is why I hate saying he’s going to regress next primary assist rate was one of the highest we’ve ever seen and Zach season, but we just don’t see goalies repeat career years. Very few Hyman scored six empty net goals. I don’t think any of those things are goalies have put up a .927 save percentage in back-to-back seasons going to happen again in 2019-20, but I still expect them to be one of the (and the ones who have are probably headed to the Hall of Fame). As better lines in hockey. much as I like Greiss, I don’t think he’s in that echelon, which is why I expect him to regress closer to .915 next season – which would still be Jeff Skinner, LW, Buffalo Sabres: Part of me wonders if Jack Eichel can very solid. inflate his linemates’ production the same way we’ve seen players like Malkin and Tavares do it. The other part of me looks at the fact that Valtteri Filppula, C, Detroit Red Wings: I couldn’t believe Filppula’s Skinner has consistently underperformed his expected goals throughout numbers when I first looked them up – he scored 17 goals at age 35 last his career (scoring less than we would expect based on his shot season. A lot of that was smoke and mirrors. He shot over 20 percent at locations) and then drastically outperformed them in 2018-19. The five-on-five, which is well below his 11.5 shooting percentage over the answer probably lies somewhere in the middle, but it’s a safe bet that he last seven years. I always root for aging players like him to stay doesn’t approach 40 again next season. productive in their later years, but I don’t think he’s likely to repeat his performance from last year. Dylan Strome, C, Chicago Blackhawks: As fun as it was to see Strome finally break out, it’s worth noting Chicago shot 12.9 percent with him on Leo Komarov, RW, New York Islanders: Individually, Komarov’s shooting the ice at five-on-five. That number is going to drop significantly next percentage wasn’t that high (it was actually below his career average), season, which is going to lead to a lot of questions about Strome (when but he benefitted from wildly unsustainable percentages at the team realistically, we probably shouldn’t expect him to keep scoring at a near level. When you add up the team’s shooting percentage with him on the point-per-game rate). ice (9.6 percent) and save percentage (94.5 percent), you get a PDO of 104.1, which is bound to regress closer to 100 next year. This means The Athletic LOADED: 07.27.2019 he’s unlikely to keep outscoring the opposition, since he was only controlling 45 percent of the shots and scoring chances at five-on-five. The same can be said of Filppula.

Casey Cizikas, C, New York Islanders: I always root for my fellow Mississauga natives, but I have to point out that Cizikas shot well above his career average last year at five-on-five. We know that fourth-liners aren’t going to repeatably shoot above 15 percent at even strength, so realistically, he probably drops down closer to 13 goals next season (despite putting up 20 last year).

Honourable Mentions

Cody Eakin, C, Vegas Golden Knights: He just missed the cut for this list, shooting over 18 percent at five-on-five last season (double his career average heading into 2018). It’s always fun when a player breaks the 20- goal barrier for the first time, but it doesn’t look likely that Eakin will hit that plateau again.

Esa Lindell, LD, Dallas Stars: This isn’t so much about Lindell’s point production as it is his play-driving ability. He’s actually been one of the worst puck-movers in the NHL over the last few seasons, relying heavily on John Klingberg to do the heavy lifting. With Miro Heiskanen likely to get more minutes with Klingberg on the top pairing next season, I’m not sure how much I trust Lindell to drive his own pairing.

Jordan Binnington, G, St. Louis Blues: This isn’t to take anything away from his magical 2018-19 season. I just don’t think it’s a safe bet for a rookie goaltender to repeat a .927 save percentage across a larger sample. If his playoff numbers are any indication, regression to the mean is probably the safest bet for Binnington (and all goaltenders if we’re being realistic).

Pekka Rinne, G, Nashville Predators: Speaking of regression to the mean, it’s unlikely that Rinne outperforms his career averages again next season (after accounting for shot quality), especially considering he turns 37 in November.

Viktor Arvidsson, RW, Nashville Predators: I hate including players that I love on these lists, but I have to be objective. Arvidsson converted on over 16 percent of his shots at five-on-five last year despite being a career 8.2 percent shooting coming into the year. He was on pace to score 47 goals across 82 games, which everyone in their right mind knew wasn’t sustainable, but even 40 seems like a stretch. He’s always been a high-volume shooter, but I’d imagine his shooting percentage drops back closer to the 9-10 percent range.

Nikita Kucherov, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning: I feel evil for even bringing him up, but after a magical season where everything went right, it’s 1150220 Websites up front and should provide more than a little offensive cushion for a team that now has a renewed sense of playoff purpose under sophomore head coach David Quinn. Lundqvist is going to be a significant factor in The Athletic / Team Bounce Back vs. Team Fade: Who wins a matchup managing and, in theory, meeting those elevated expectations. The of players poised to rebound or regress? venerable netminder who declined to entertain thoughts of leaving the Rangers to try and hunt down an elusive Stanley Cup ring is one season removed from a .915 save percentage and two seasons removed from the last of a remarkable seven-season run with a save percentage of at By Scott Burnside Jul 25, 2019 least .920. He’ll be back. Book it.

Defense Last week’s trade of Milan Lucic for James Neal may be the ultimate in Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers wishful thinking deals. P.K. Subban, New Jersey Devils Both players have shown in the past they are elite players. But the elite bus seems to have left the station for both of them. Or is it just idling Since winning the Calder Trophy in 2014-15, Ekblad has seen his around the corner? The Calgary Flames are banking that Lucic can developmental arc at best flat-line and at worst decline. His point totals bounce back and provide a much-needed blend of scoring touch and may not reflect this necessarily but he has not ascended to become truculence (sorry, Brian Burke, for appropriating your oft-used term) for a either an elite defender and/or elite offensive producer the way a first- team that followed up a dynamic regular season by laying a five-game overall pick should be expected to evolve. Whether it’s an issue of playoff egg against the eight-seed Avalanche. The Oilers are projecting conditioning or commitment, last season Ekblad had point droughts of that Neal, 10 times a 20-goal scorer, hasn’t jumped the goal-scoring six, six, nine and seven games and the Panthers missed the playoffs for shark after producing a paltry seven goals last season in Calgary, his first the fourth time in five seasons since Florida took him No. 1 in 2014. after signing a five-year deal worth $28.75 million, and following that up Under Joel Quenneville, though, expect Ekblad to resume the career with a forgettable postseason that saw him a healthy scratch by the time ascendency his rookie season promised with improved play defensively the series ended. and his point totals edging into the high 40s or low 50s. In fact, one source familiar with the team said one of the main reasons the team was It’s a compelling story either way but certainly far more compelling if both so keen to bring in Quenneville was to reshape the blueline – the or one of these players can channel their former selves (or each other’s Panthers were 28th in goals allowed per game – and to get Ekblad back former selves for that matter). But they aren’t alone in searching for a on track. bounce-back season — there are lots of players looking forward to putting the past firmly in their rearview mirror. Here’s a look at our Team As for Subban, the reality is that the high-energy, high-profile Bounce Back. For the sake of brevity, we’ve included a bounce-back defenseman isn’t for everyone and maybe he’s not built to last a long forward line and a couple of spares, a bounce-back defensive pairing and time in any one place. The New Jersey Devils won’t care as they’re a spare and two bounce-back netminders. For what it’s worth we don’t getting Subban at just the right time, highly motivated after he struggled have either Lucic or Neal on our squad. through an injury-plagued 2018-19 in Nashville and then was a mess, as was the entire Predators team defensively, in getting knocked off by And then, since Team Bounce Back has to have someone to play against Dallas in the first round of the playoffs. With just three years left on his just like those guys who showed up in the Iowa cornfield in Field of contract, this seems to be the perfect time for both Subban to rebound Dreams, what about having our bounce-back squad face off against and the Devils to take advantage. Look for head coach John Hynes to players who might be poised to take a step back? You know there are get the most out of Subban, assuming Subban remains healthy, with top- going to be a handful of players who have built up unreasonable end power-play minutes and lots of even-strength ice time. Given the expectations with exemplary play last year who will regress or find it plethora of young talent GM Ray Shero has collected, including 2019 No. impossible to regain the level of play/production they established last 1 pick Jack Hughes, Subban should see his goal totals should get back season. With that in mind, further below we give you Team Fade. to the 20 mark after registering just nine a season ago and his point Team Bounce Back totals should edge into the 50s if not higher after a pedestrian 31 last season. Goaltenders Josh Manson, Anaheim Ducks Cory Schneider, New Jersey Devils It wasn’t so long ago the Ducks and their stable of young defensive talent Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers was the envy of the league. But Brandon Montour, Shea Theodore and Sami Vatanen have all found new homes and last season was a difficult We recall a conversation with Brian Boyle shortly after Boyle was traded one for young defensive mainstays Hampus Lindholm and Manson. The from New Jersey to Nashville. He was talking with great affection and two had been steady partners two years ago when Manson, son of admiration about his close pal Schneider, who was battling his way back longtime NHL defender Dave and the 160th overall pick in 2011, hit a from hip surgery and trying to resurrect his promising career. Never career-best 37 points and was an impressive plus-34. Last season complained, completely focused on getting his game back, Boyle said. It Manson, separated from Lindholm by former coach Randy Carlyle, was, he added, inspirational. By the end of last season, Schneider, slumped to 16 points and he was a minus-eight as the Ducks crashed limited to 26 games and just six wins, started to show signs that he had and burned their way out of the playoffs chase early on. Big, rangy with indeed turned a corner. While youngster MacKenzie Blackwood, 22, above-average offensive smarts Manson figures to return to a productive showed last season he has the goods to be the heir apparent to the New top-four role and it will be a surprise if Dallas Eakins, who comes in as Jersey goal if the Devils are to bounce back from a miserable 2018-19 head coach to replace Carlyle, won’t at least reunite Lindholm and campaign, Schneider, 33, will be critical in providing consistent quality Manson for a look-see. We’re guessing the results will help the Ducks starts and mentoring the talented Blackwood. back into the playoff picture in the Pacific Division. Across the river it was a similarly distressing campaign for Lundqvist, Forwards whose Hall of Fame career is winding toward its conclusion. He did not endure the injury issues that Schneider did but Lundqvist is looking to Evgeni Malkin, C, Pittsburgh Penguins rewrite his current narrative after posting his worst-ever GAA (3.07) and a .907 save percentage that was likewise his worst since arriving in the Tanner Pearson, LW, Vancouver Canucks NHL in 2005. Perhaps more troubling than the stats were the number of Corey Perry, RW, Dallas Stars games where Lundqvist seemed overwhelmed, completely unlike the Lundqvist that has made him one of the most popular Rangers of all- After winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017 and then time. Lundqvist allowed four or more goals 18 times last season and advancing to the second round in ’18, last season was a largely often those games came in clumps. By the end he had been replaced by forgettable one for the Pittsburgh Penguins and specifically their Hall of Alexandar Georgiev as the team’s starter if not in name certainly in deed. Fame-bound center Malkin, who saw his goal totals cut in half year over Lundqvist, among the most forthright of players, admitted as much at the year to 21 and his point total drop from 98 to 72. Yes, injuries were an end of the season. But this is a Rangers team that has quickly cast aside issue but Malkin admittedly was out of sorts and that carried into a four- the ‘rebuild’ label with Jacob Trouba locked in on defense along with game sweep in the first round at the hands of the New York Islanders. collegiate star Adam Fox. No. 2 pick Kaapo Kakko joins Artemi Panarin There’s no doubt in our minds that after an offseason that saw Phil Kessel ushered out of town and talented young forward Alex Galchenyuk Kuemper. The 29-year-old, drafted 161st by Minnesota in 2009, eclipsed coming in to fill the offensive void that Malkin will reverse the trend this career marks in games played (55) and wins (27) by a country mile while season and be back in the 100-point realm. turning in a sparkling .925 save percentage which saw him tied with Vezina Trophy winner Andrei Vasilevskiy of Tampa. The Coyotes should As for the wingers on our bounce-back squad, for the briefest of times be better just by sheer dint of being even a little bit healthier not to Pearson was actually a teammate of Malkin’s in Pittsburgh and if memory mention adding point machine Phil Kessel. But what is realistic for serves sat near the Russian great in the Pens’ dressing room. The Kuemper, who stepped in admirably for the injured Antti Raanta but who problem for Pearson, a one-time 24-goal scorer in Los Angeles where he will have to re-establish himself as the team’s goalie of record? Maybe won a Cup in 2014, the Penguins were one of three teams for whom the Kuemper is Tim Thomas redux peaking well into his career. More likely is 26-year-old toiled last season and his paltry nine goals reflected that. But that he finds his number regressing. having settled into Vancouver, where the Canucks added J.T. Miller and Tyler Myers to bolster a push to the playoffs, we’re looking for Pearson to Defense eclipse career highs in goals (24) and points (44) for the emerging Canucks. Erik Gustafsson, Chicago Blackhawks

Finally, it’s fashionable to write off Perry, the former Hart Trophy and Ryan Suter, Minnesota Wild Rocket Richard Trophy winner who was bought out of his contract by Maybe last season wasn’t an aberration for Gustafsson who jumped from Anaheim in the offseason, as having hit the end of the runway. And five goals total in his first 76 NHL games split over two seasons to 17 last there’s lots of reason to believe it is so as injuries and age have left Perry year. And maybe his 60 points, sixth among all defensemen, will become a shadow of his former self. He scored just six times in 31 games last the norm for the offensively gifted defender. But that’s a pretty big season. But Perry will find lots of help in Dallas in terms of production mouthful for the 27-year-old who was a fourth-round pick back in 2012 and leadership after signing a one-year deal with the Stars. Under Jim and who still needs to work on his all-around game to claim elite status. Montgomery, and given Perry’s obvious motivation, we don’t think hitting More likely is that there’s more than a little settling in terms of his the 20-goal mark will be that big a surprise and he could be closer to 30 offensive production, maybe a lot. when all is said and done for a Dallas team that has emerged this offseason as a viable Stanley Cup contender. As for Suter, the veteran defenseman is coming off one of the most impressive performances we’ve seen in a long time. Suter returned from Evgeny Kuznetsov, Washington Capitals a gruesome ankle injury that doctors thought might end his impressive Nazem Kadri, Colorado Avalanche career and instead the 34-year-old not only returned for the start of the season but played in all 82 games. He recorded 47 points, the seventh We recall a conversation with Washington head coach Todd Reirden just time in his career that he’s had at least 40 points. And, oh yeah, he led all before training camp last September about his high expectations for the NHLers in average ice time per game at 26:42. Remarkable. But now gifted Kuznetsov on and off the ice after Kuznetsov had played a critical what? Surely it is asking too much for Suter to replicate his workload and role in the Capitals’ first-ever Stanley Cup triumph in the spring of 2018. It his production. Isn’t it? didn’t really happen for Kuznetsov, who fell from 27 to 21 in the goal department and recorded 11 fewer points before scoring once in a Alexander Edler, Vancouver Canucks seven-game first-round defeat to Carolina (he did add five assists). For a The Vancouver back end was fortified this offseason by the addition of guy who looked to be stepping into the Hart Trophy conversation, it was Tyler Myers and Jordie Benn and there are important young pieces like a pedestrian season. He should be highly motivated to resume that arc Quinn Hughes on the cusp but it’s easy to argue that veteran defender this season and we’re projecting him to be north of 80 points. Edler remains one of the most important pieces of the Canucks puzzle. Speaking of motivation. After putting the kibosh on a trade to Calgary, The Canucks believed so much that this was so that they signed the 33- Kadri ended up in Colorado in a blockbuster deal that saw Tyson Barrie year-old to a two-year deal worth $6 million per year even though he head to the Leafs. Last season was a forgettable one for the gritty, gifted played in just 56 games last season after missing close to a month with a pivot as Kadri saw his role diminish with the arrival of John Tavares and concussion. He still led Vancouver in ice time at 24:34 and chipped in an his goal totals drop by 50 percent from 32 to 16. Kadri then found himself impressive 34 points. Even if he takes a slightly reduced role with the suspended for the second playoff season in a row for a reckless hit as emergence of Hughes and the arrival of Myers can he still be the kind of the Leafs once again lost in seven games to Boston. The change of difference-maker that has made him one of the team’s most popular and scenery should benefit Kadri, who should be north of 30 goals as part of important players? The Canucks have gambled heavily that they’re ready a high-powered Avs offense. Look for him to be a key part of a team to jump into the playoff picture in the Pacific Division. Having Edler at his many including this author believe is destined for a deep run in the spring best is key to that happening. Just not sure it’s asking too much of him at of ’20. this stage of his career and with his questionable durability.

Greg Thompson / Icon Sportswire Forwards

Team Fade Elias Lindholm, C, Calgary Flames

Goaltenders Jeff Skinner, LW, Buffalo Sabres

Robin Lehner, Chicago Blackhawks Mitch Marner, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs

Darcy Kuemper, Arizona Coyotes After maxing out at 17 goals in his first five seasons after Carolina made him the fifth-overall pick in 2013, Elias Lindholm exploded for the Calgary OK, a pretty easy pick here to suggest that after having a career year Flames last year with 27 goals. Part of a draft weekend blockbuster in coming off immense personal battles that Lehner might take a step back 2018, Lindholm garnered lots of Selke Trophy love not to mention his 26 in his evolution. And would there be any shame in that? None power-play points were just one behind team leader Johnny Gaudreau. Is whatsoever. Lehner, who shared the Williams Jennings Trophy for that the real Lindholm? Or is his real production level more in keeping allowing the fewest goals in the NHL with Thomas Greiss and who was with his previous life in Carolina? We’re suggesting it’s the latter and he’s also a finalist for the Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goaltender, is going to be under considerable pressure to show that last year was not a going to face significantly greater challenges in Chicago where the blip on the radar. Blackhawks last year were 30th in the league with a 3.55 combined GAA compared to first overall under Barry Trotz with the New York Islanders. On Lindholm’s left side maybe it’s the eight-year, $72-million deal that Lehner remains one of the feel-good, nay, empowering stories of last Buffalo handed Skinner. Maybe it’s how determined Carolina was to season. But it’s going to be mighty hard for the 27-year-old to replicate move on from the gifted winger and former rookie of the year and how what happened on the ice this coming season. the Canes ended up going to a conference final while Skinner once again played on a team that didn’t make the playoffs. But the fact is there’s just The same might be said for another terrific, if undertold, story from last something that screams ‘danger Will Robinson, danger’ about the coming season which was the emergence of Darcy Kuemper as the man season in spite of the fact Skinner lit it up with 40 goals. The problem between the pipes for a plucky Arizona squad. Beset by injuries to key was that during a 22-game stretch when the Sabres might have asserted personnel all season the ‘Yotes hung tough in the playoff race far longer themselves as a playoff team from mid-February to the end of March, than expected due in large part to the commitment to team defense Skinner scored just once. Our gut tells us that even with a master of under head coach Rick Tocchet and the stellar goaltending provided by schemes and team-builder like Ralph Krueger behind the bench this could be a tough road for Skinner living up to last year and the monster contract that it yielded.

Finally, we know Leafs fans won’t like this much but even if the Marner deal does get done in a timely fashion, and who knows if that happens or not given how the William Nylander negotiations bled well into the regular season, there is bound to be some fallout. With all of the attention focused on the deal and the fact that Marner went six straight games in the first round without scoring a goal in the Leafs’ seven-game loss to Boston, he’s about to enter uncharted territory in terms of pressure and scrutiny. No one is suggesting he needs to get back to the 94-point plateau he achieved last year but the potential for a whopper drop-off is very much real.

Max Domi, Montreal Canadiens

Tomas Hertl, San Jose Sharks

Domi, not unlike Lindholm, eclipsed previous goal-scoring highs in new environs last season. In Domi’s case with Montreal. His 28 goals were 10 more than his career-best achieved during his rookie season in Arizona and more than three times the nine times he scored in his last season with the Coyotes. Having failed to bring in Sebastian Aho from Carolina via an offer sheet the Canadiens look very much the same as they did a year ago and it might be too much to ask Domi in terms of repeating his offensive output.

Meanwhile, with longtime Sharks center Joe Pavelski in Dallas there will be increased pressure on Tomas Hertl to show last year’s 35-goal, 74- point explosion was a harbinger of things to come and not an aberration. Hertl is just 25 and critical to the Sharks remaining a Stanley Cup contender even as they continue to evolve by getting younger up front with Pavelski’s departure and the decision not to repatriate Patrick Marleau. But his previous goal high was 22 and to expect him to return to the mid-30s or higher seems questionable.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150221 Websites Moore, 38, quietly won the 35-and-over Ontario tennis championship this summer and will be representing his home province in the nationals next month in Toronto. Last year’s 35-plus Canadian champ went on to Sportsnet.ca / 21 fun things we learned at Smashfest VIII: Patrick Eaves capture the world senior men’s title. can't lose “Pretty legit,” says Moore, who’s always incorporated tennis into his off- season training. “I love the game, so for me it’s just fun to compete.”

Luke Fox | July 26, 2019, 1:49 PM 5. It’s Patrick Eaves’s world… we’re just living in it

Eaves started hitting ping-pong balls when dealing with post-concussion syndrome. His eyes had difficulty tracking objects, so he used table TORONTO – A warm, clear summer’s evening, a bottomless supply of tennis as a method to regain his hand-eye coordination. beverages, and the opportunity to play a little table tennis with some NHL stars… “It was actually huge in my recovery,” Eaves says.

Smashfest may be getting old (eight years running), but it never feels that The Anaheim Ducks winger won his fifth consecutive Smashfest title way. Thursday defeating perennial contender Jeff Skinner in the singles final.

As Dominic Moore’s annual charity event disguised as a gigantic ping- “There’s always a bit of buzz about is Eaves is beatable or is he pong party set a new fundraising benchmark for fun, the energy of the unbeatable,” Moore says. “My personal opinion is he’s pretty much night was palpable. Hockey fans mingled, rallied and made merry with unbeatable.” more than 20 NHLers as balls bounced and music blared. 6. CuJo convinced Moore to play in the 2018 Spengler Cup

Indeed, Smashfest VIII was a raucous success featuring its usual A free agent training daily with the Harvard hockey team and trying to champion. (Spoiler alert: Patrick Eaves, whom Moore describes as ping- stay ready in case an NHL club called last winter, Moore didn’t even have pong’s Novak Djokovic, is officially a dynasty.) the Spengler Cup on his radar. Then he bumped into Curtis Joseph at a Over the course of the evening, we had a chance to catch up with a Hometown Hockey event, and the goalie raved about his experience bunch of the NHLers in attendance — Mark Scheifele, Frederik playing for Team Canada at the end of his career. How beautiful Andersen, Alexander Kerfoot, Jimmy Vesey, Brandon Tanev, Cam Switzerland is, how the city of Davos rallies around the event, how Talbot, Ben Harpur — and gathered a few on-the-record nuggets, both enjoyable it is to wear the Red and White when you feel like your career hockey and ping-pong related. is nearing its end.

Here are 21 of them. “You should look into that,” Joseph encouraged Moore.

1. Frederik Andersen wants Mitch Marner to remain a Leaf ‘really, really So Moore placed a call to Hockey Canada’s Tom Renney, who’d bad’ coached Moore when he was a rookie on the New York Rangers. A spot opened up a couple days prior to the tournament, and Moore hopped on The Maple Leafs goalie was one of two surprise guests to participate in an overseas flight. Smashfest unannounced (Calgary’s Cam Talbot the other), and naturally he was asked about a certain teammate of his in need of a contract. “It was an amazing experience — just as CuJo had advertised,” Moore says. “I’d never played for Team Canada before. That alone was an Andersen has been in touch with pal Mitch Marner but won’t bore him awesome moment, to be able to represent Canada.” about business talk. 7. Moore went straight from the Spengler to Auston Matthews’ old pad “I think he’s confident that he’s gonna be here for camp. It’s still a long time, so hopefully Kyle and him and his agent can get it done. I try not to After Canada lost the gold-medal game to KalPa Kuopio in an eight- interfere with him in that stuff,” Andersen says. round shootout, Moore was recruited by the Zurich Lions to play the second half of the Swiss season. He’d never thought he’d play in Europe “I want to see him back really, really bad, so hopefully it works out.” — “I’m passionate about winning the Stanley Cup,” he says — but after speaking to so many Canadians who took pro deals in Switzerland, 2. Mark Scheifele doesn’t regret clapping a high shot past a little boy at Moore and wife Mary decided to give it a shot. his camp “We could go back, wait it out and see if something breaks, or we could A hilarious video of the Jets centre sniping a high, hard puck at close embrace this and live abroad,” says Moore, who would venture up the range past a little kid this summer went viral (watch below). And Alps or hop on a $60 flight to Venice and sightsee during days off. “We Scheifele heard a ton of responses. wouldn’t have traded it for anything. We went thinking we’d stay for two “It was all fun,” he smiles. weeks and ended up there for four months.”

“Some people thought it was mean or I could’ve hurt the kid, but the kid The Lions own apartments outside Zurich that they use to house their was all the way over on the one post. I knew I wasn’t going to miss. I imported players. actually heard from a friend that the parents said the kid still hasn’t “So when I moved in, I sent Auston a picture of the place—and it’s where stopped talking about it. I like to think that I made him smile. he lived. He was like, ‘Oh!’ He loved it there,” Moore says. “It’s kind of in “The camp is all about having fun with the kids and interacting like that. the suburbs of Zurich in a town called Winkle. Nice little place. He has When you see a smile like I saw after I shot that puck on that kid after, fond memories of it. My wife and I loved it.” that’s worth more than anything.” 8. Adam Fox is unlike any other defenceman Moore has seen Mark Scheifele blasting bardown clappers on little ass kids @ his In his 15 years and 897 games as an NHLer, Moore has never seen a hockey camp. Teach ‘em adversity young. #NHL defenceman quite like Rangers rookie Adam Fox, with whom he pic.twitter.com/1XAVDBvqgA practised for four months at Harvard. — (@Uppercut_Slut) June 24, 2019 “Foxy, I was skating with him all fall. He’s an incredible player, this guy. 3. Woo-hoo! Smashfest broke the million-dollar barrier He’s an incredibly unique player. I know he’s your namesake so you’re rooting for him,” Moore tells me. With the money raised for concussion and rare cancer research Thursday night, Smashfest has now raised more than $1 million over its “I’ve never seen anyone play like him. He slows the game down the way eight years. he reads angles and gives misinformation, where he’s looking and the passes he makes. The angles he takes with his feet, it’s a little bit like “It’s awesome,” Moore says. “That’s one of those moments where you [Erik] Karlsson, the way he works the blue line on the power play and look back and say, ‘Wow. I feel good about where we’re at and what sets people up and finds a way to get pucks through. we’ve been able to do.’ ” “But there’s something about Fox that’s different. It’s hard to pinpoint. I’m 4. Dominic Moore is a tennis champion really rooting for him. He’s a really nice guy, quality person, and it’s awesome for him to come to the event. The Rangers have a really good “The way he can control the puck and see the game, his vision on the ice player in him.” is, for me, some of the best I’ve seen. I was a benefactor of that in college. The way he sees the ice and controls the game, that’s his Can he make an impact right away? biggest strength.”

“I think so. I’m very interested to see how his game progresses and 16. Vesey wasn’t surprised at all by his trade to Buffalo translates at the next level, but he’s a unique player. He’s going to fun to watch.” “Rumblings, rumours, agent… this day and age, it’s hard to keep stuff hush-hush. A couple weeks before the trade, I had people sending me 9. Smashfest aims to expand beyond Toronto stuff online,” says Vesey.

After eight summers at Steam Whistle, Moore is finally ready to expand The new Sabre was touched that respected veterans Kyle Okposo and Smashfest and throw ping-pong parties in at least one more city in 2020. Zach Bogosian reached out to him right away to welcome him into the He’s had offers in L.A., New York, Montreal and Vancouver. fold.

“We are ready to expand,” the self-described professional ping-pong 17. Look out: Jack Eichel is already in beast mode event organizer proclaims. “I’m hopeful that we’re able to bring Smashfest to more people in different places next summer.” Vesey has been training daily and hitting the ice three times a week with new teammates Evan Rodrigues and Jack Eichel. 10. “He goes by Alexander, not Alex” “He’s a specimen of an athlete. That maybe shows more true in the gym. Heads up: If you wish to abbreviate new Maple Leaf Alexander Kerfoot’s Not a lot of guys can keep up with what he does in the gym. Last year name, go with “Kerf,” not Alex. was bittersweet with that good start, but he wants to be in the playoffs. 11. Scheifele will only sign your face if you’re too young to drive You might use the word frustration, but knowing Jack for a while, he’s just a competitor. He’s the captain of the team. He was drafted second A grown-up Winnipeg Jets fan handed the all-star a Sharpie and asked overall, and he wants to be the best,” Vesey says. him to autograph his face. “His weights are off the chart, but it’s his athleticism. His running and his “I’m not going to do that here,” Scheifele said. “Maybe if you were a little jumping is on par with a lot of guys in other sports, and we play on kid.” skates. He’s a world-class athlete.”

Heartbreaker. 18. Poutine tastes even better when smothered in mushrooms and bacon

12. Andersen is exhausted by your workload narratives Facts.

As he was being asked a question about the possibility of curtailing his 19. Ben Harpur feels Cody Ceci gets a bad rap high number of starts for the Maple Leafs next season, Andersen said, “Oh, here we go.” Packaged together in an intraprovincial trade from Toronto on Canada Day, defenceman Ben Harpur has spent his entire NHL career with Cody 13. The highlight of Andersen’s summer? Partying at Zach Hyman’s Ceci. wedding In some circles Ceci’s $4.5-million contract with the Leafs was ripped for Andersen had never attended a Jewish wedding until Hyman’s, and he being too rich, but Harpur believes his PK partner deserves more respect loved it. than he’s gotten lately.

“That was a lot of fun,” Andersen smiles. “It was a little different when you “Just playing with him and seeing him grow as a player, he’s really good. lift everyone up in the chairs and break the glass and stuff. It was a lot of I feel he’s underrated in that sense. He doesn’t get a lot of credit for the fun.” minutes he plays and the opponents he plays against, especially in Ottawa,” Harpur says. 14. Kerfoot believes fellow Avalanche-turned-Leaf Tyson Barrie is a better defender than you think “I’m really excited for him to have a fresh start here in Toronto. I know he’s excited about it as well.” “He’s an extremely dynamic defenceman. He can change the game with what he brings on a day-to-day basis — his pace, his ability to make 20. Brandon Tanev is jacked to join Sidney Crosby plays in the offensive end, and he’s a great teammate in the locker room,” Kerfoot says. Crosby and Matt Murray were the first Penguins to welcome the former Jet to the Eastern Conference once the free agent inked an eye-popping “There’s not many D-men that put up the types of numbers he has — and $21-million deal on July 1. he’s more than that. People have critiqued his defensive game at times, but we’ve seen it firsthand. He’s a good defensive player as well. Tanev vows to earn his keep by being “physical, fast and tenacious.” Sometimes people are too hard on him in that sense, but he’s a good “It’s going to be a nice change of pace going to Pittsburgh,” Tanev says. defensive player and one of the best offensive defencemen in the league. “Any chance to go out on the ice with the best player in the world is “Just his skill level — top guys in the league want to play with players like something very special. To learn from him and take things from his game him.” is going to be interesting and good for my game as well.”

15. Andersen picked up Kerfoot and drove him to the Maple Leafs 21. Carter Hart called Cam Talbot before his first NHL start practice rink the day he arrived By the time Talbot was dealt to Philadelphia last season, he figures Kerfoot has been impressed by the warm welcome he’s received in young Carter Hart didn’t need any of his advice. Toronto, where he’s already getting recognized more often in a couple The two trained together last summer and formed a bond strong enough days than in a whole winter in Denver. Moore suggested neighbourhoods that Hart wanted to talk to Talbot before his first career start, a win, on he should go home-hunting, and Andersen offered to drive him to the Dec. 18. Leafs’ rink for the first time. “He can always lean on me if he needs to. He knows I’ll be there for him, “He told me how great it is to play here. The fans here are unlike but he showed what he can do. Everyone knows what he’s capable of anywhere else in the league,” Kerfoot says. now,” says Talbot.

The Sabres’ Jimmy Vesey, who was centred by Kerfoot for three The newest Calgary Flame goalie was asked to project the 20-year-old’s seasons at Harvard, believes his pal is well-equipped for the spotlight ceiling. and scrutiny that awaits. “Honestly, he could do something really special,” Talbot says. “He’s got “I do. I think he has a loosey-goosey attitude — not in a bad way. Things that kind of potential. He’s very cerebral when he’s in there. He thinks the don’t seem to bother him much. He just goes out and plays his game. He game. He’s a student of the game. He always wants to get better. The did that in college, and he’s done that the past two years. He’ll do just sky’s the limit for that kid.” fine,” Vesey says. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150222 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Garret Sparks reflects on 'emotionally taxing' Maple Leafs exit

Mike Johnston | July 26, 2019, 5:55 PM

Garret Sparks described his final season with the Toronto Maple Leafs as “emotionally taxing” several days after being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights for a fourth-round pick and the contract of David Clarkson.

“I mean, you realize your dream of playing in the NHL, and then you know, as the season goes on, it gets harder day by day,” the backup netminder told Tracey Myers of NHL.com. “It’s a grind, physically and emotionally. You could be on the best team in the league, but you’re going to face adversity at certain points.”

The 26-year-old was technically the longest-serving player in the Maple Leafs organization at the time he was traded. He was selected in the seventh round of the 2011 draft, however he toiled away in the AHL and ECHL for years and only saw action in 37 total regular-season NHL games.

The 2018-19 campaign was a tumultuous tale of two seasons for Sparks.

He beat out Curtis McElhinney and Calvin Pickard for the backup role behind Frederik Andersen thanks to a strong showing in training camp and pre-season, which resulted in both McElhinney and Pickard being placed on waivers and claimed.

Sparks made 20 appearances this past season. During his first 10 outings the Elmhurst, Ill., native went an impressive 6-2-1 despite posting a less-than-stellar .905 save percentage.

In early January, though, he took a puck off his head at practice that resulted in a concussion and his season went downhill from there.

“I felt I was finally starting to build some momentum and get my chance,” Sparks said. “I just felt like I got cut down, and it’s hard to regrow after you get your progress chopped off like that.”

His final 10 appearances were rough as he went 2-7-0 with a .899 save percentage and eventually wore out his welcome.

Sparks now gets a fresh start in Vegas where he’ll compete against Malcolm Subban and Oscar Dansk for the opportunity to back up Marc- Andre Fleury.

“All I’ve wanted is a fair opportunity, come camp, to try and make the team and I think that I’ll get a better opportunity [with the Golden Knights] than I would have in Toronto,” Sparks said. “At the end of the day, that’s what you’re looking for as a player.”

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.27.2019 1150223 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Ben Chiarot says it took little persuading to sign with the Canadiens

Canadian Press July 26, 2019, 6:16 PM

BROSSARD, Que. — High taxes, obsessive fans, blanket media coverage and the French language are all reasons invoked to explain why NHL free agents tend to steer clear of Montreal. But Ben Chiarot isn’t worried about any of that.

"Guys have their reasons for not wanting to come here, but for me it’s a great city, a place that loves hockey and a team that, like I’ve said, is close to making the playoffs," Chiarot told reporters Friday at the Canadiens’ training facility. "There wasn’t anything negative in my mind that would make me not want to come to Montreal."

He noted that he knows Canadiens forward Joel Armia from their days together in Winnipeg, and Montreal’s Nate Thompson also contacted him. But there wasn’t much of a sales job needed before Chiarot signed a three-year deal with the club.

"When someone says you have a chance to play for the Montreal Canadiens, it’s pretty special," he said. "I didn’t need to be sold on anything to come here and play here."

Chiarot, who tried on the No. 8 jersey he will wear for the Habs, had few criteria when it came to choosing his next team after six seasons in Winnipeg.

"Playing on a good team was important to me," the 28-year-old defenceman said. "To get to play in a city like Montreal, on an Original Six team, it was a great opportunity for myself and for my family."

He was also looking for a big market where hockey matters.

"I enjoy the pressure that comes with having to perform every night," Chiarot said. "Playing Saturday night at the Bell Centre, there’s nothing in hockey that’s quite the same."

Chiarot repeatedly praised the quality of the Canadiens team, in particular the presence of Carey Price and Shea Weber.

"When we came in here with Winnipeg, they absolutely skated us into the ground. I think both in Winnipeg and in Montreal, both times they beat us. This is a fast team and a young team," he said, praising Price as "the best goalie in the world."

He said he is confident the Canadiens are headed for the playoffs, and he wants to do his part to help on the blue line.

"All the pieces are here," he said. "It a little bit reminds me of where we were in Winnipeg a few years ago."

The six-foot-three, 219-pound defenceman has come on strong in recent seasons with the Jets, averaging nearly 20 minutes of ice time per game, despite the presence of defencemen like Jacob Trouba, Tyler Myers and Dustin Byfuglien on the team. He has had some discussions with coach Claude Julien, but his exact role with the Habs remains to be determined.

"I’m a big believer that you need to earn what you get, especially when you’re new to a team," he said. "There’s nothing given. You have to come in and earn your opportunities, earn your ice time."

Last season, Chiarot had a career-high five goals and 15 assists while playing in a defensive role.

"I don’t feel like I’m done developing," he said. "I feel like I’ve got more levels to go and I’m hoping to do that here in Montreal under Claude and be able to learn from some of the guys, like a Shea Weber. There wouldn’t be a better guy for me to watch and learn from in the way he conducts himself."

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.27.2019