SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 7/26/2020 1189200 Coyotes finalize roster before heading to Edmonton 1189230 Edmonton Oilers set for once-in-a-lifetime bubble 1189201 Tocchet approves of team energy as NHL season reboot experience approaches for Coyotes 1189231 Edmonton Oilers salute Colby and Emily Cave in final 1189202 Is John Chayka the former Coyotes general manager? He camp scrimmage and the team aren't saying. 1189232 JONES: NHL commissioner Bettman happy betting on 1189203 Report: Job opportunity caused rift between Coyotes, GM Edmonton John Chayka 1189233 Oilers scrimmage: gets Maurice Richard treatment in fitting tribute 1189234 Lowetide: Will the last stay-at-home defenceman please 1189204 Bruins excited as they wrap up camp, prepare to head to turn out the lights? 1189205 What are the Bruins packing for what could be 10 weeks Florida Panthers in isolation? 1189235 This Panther had concerns about playing amid COVID-19. 1189206 NHL again misses opportunity to promote league Here’s why he feels better now 1189207 Swan song for Torey Krug? 1189236 Panthers wrap up training camp in Florida. Next up: Two 1189208 Bruins unsure if Ondrej Kase can join team for flight to months in Canada (they hope) Hub City 1189209 Bruins' Brad Marchand expects 'really sloppy hockey' in NHL's return 1189237 Austere days/weeks/months ahead for Wild in Edmonton 1189238 Day 8: Fer shur I'm in Canada now, eh? 1189210 Sabres, Bills offer social media greetings to Jays 1189239 Canadiens head to Toronto with Domi on the fourth line 1189211 SNAPSHOTS: Flames prospect Ruzicka should reap benefits of summer-camp invite 1189240 Predators forward Rocco Grimaldi ready to turn the page 1189212 Excited about a trip to Edmonton? Honest, the Flames can as NHL season prepares to resume hardly wait 1189241 Islanders’ Barry Trotz Trotz will make changes on fly in 1189213 Defenseman Dougie Hamilton misses Hurricanes’ final Panthers series practice in Raleigh 1189242 Lou Lamoriello more concerned with Islanders' success right now over Ilya Sorokin's development 1189243 Islanders' Lou Lamoriello expects exciting atmosphere, 1189214 Goalie Corey Crawford joins Blackhawks’ practice after even without fans recovering from COVID-19 1189244 Islanders make their cuts, say Ilya Sorokin will join them 1189216 A new hope: Hawks' goalie Crawford makes first next week appearance at training camp 1189217 Will Blackhawks' Corey Crawford be ready for Game 1 of Qualifiers? 1189245 Rangers’ : Build on their pre-pandemic momentum 1189218 What dealing with COVID-19 was like for Blackhawks' 1189246 K'Andre Miller emerges into steady presence at Rangers Corey Crawford camp 1189219 How bad were Blackhawks defenseman 's injuries? 1189220 Blackhawks' Corey Crawford confirms he tested positive 1189247 Joel Farabee, Nate Thompson still in running for lineup for COVID-19 spot as Flyers finish camp in Voorhees 1189221 Blackhawks' Corey Crawford skates for first time since 1189248 Flyers goalie Carter Hart takes part in full practice, says being ruled 'unfit' he’s ready for Tuesday’s exhibition vs. Penguins 1189222 Corey Crawford joins Blackhawks after testing positive for 1189249 Hart in rhythm, ready to go as Flyers eye Toronto trip COVID-19 1189250 Dave Scott 'couldn't be happier' with Flyers, but there's more action to be done 1189251 NHL playoffs Flyers vs. Canadiens: Previewing possible 1189223 Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon participate in final 1st-round matchup scrimmage before Edmonton 1189224 Grading the Week: Time to start engraving Bol Bol’s 2020-21 rookie of the year award? 1189252 ‘Things are moving in the right direction’ for Sidney Crosby and the Penguins 1189253 Penguins forward Sidney Crosby misses final scrimmage, 1189225 Blue Jackets still have lineup decisions to make hopes to practice Monday 1189226 Coach John Tortorella wonders if Columbus Blue Jackets 1189254 Dropped gloves, big scrimmage comeback put are prepared for series exclamation on Penguins camp 1189255 It’s all about Sidney Crosby’s status as the Penguins head to Toronto 1189227 The line of Denis Gurianov, Roope Hintz and Tyler Seguin 1189256 Penguins player grades: Evgeni Malkin has been split up. Here are adjustments the Stars are 1189228 It’s wheels up for Edmonton: Check out the Stars’ bubble roster for the resuming season 1189229 The Stars feel confident, hockey-wise. But living in Edmonton’s secure zone presents its own challenges. 1189257 Here are 10 pending free agents the Sharks could be 1189280 Hear this: Jets fear no team tracking this postseason 1189281 Ehlers' status still in question after Jets' Saturday skate 1189282 JETS SNAPSHOTS: Jets not sure what to expect when it St Louis Blues comes to players kneeling as NHL starts back up 1189258 Hochman: Nostalgia on ice — the Blues’ reunited top line 1189283 Bubble-bound Jets looking forward to ‘enormous summer brings back memories of, well, last year camp,’ and intense playoff hockey 1189259 Blues goalies getting in gear with first game a week away 1189260 Next stop, Edmonton: Against long odds, Blues head to hub city SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1189261 JT's Quarantine Chronicles: The temptation of Sherlock Holmes 1189262 Steen's back, Sundqvist's not as Blues have last practice in St. Louis 1189263 Dreaming of the Stanley Cup? World Series? Super Bowl? How about all three in Tampa Bay? 1189264 Maple Leafs hope their strength will be at even strength after training camp tweaks 1189265 Welcome to life between the lines, Maple Leafs, where everything is ‘a bit bizarre’ 1189266 'Sense of adventure' for bubble-bound Leafs 1189267 Tavares, Leafs ready to 'chase Stanley Cup as Phase 4 begins on Sunday 1189268 Exhibition game a big chance for Robertson to show he belongs in Leafs lineup 1189269 Punches and pranks: Untold tales of Tie Domi 1189284 Canucks notebook: Ferland's feeling great, just like his play at training camp 1189270 3 extra takeaways from Golden Knights camp 1189271 Bill Foley will be cleared to watch Golden Knights playoff games 1189272 Golden Knights Jon Merrill talks pause, playoffs and bubble life 1189273 Golden Knights round-robin games to air on AT&T 1189274 Five things we learned from Golden Knights training camp 1189275 Ilya Samsonov will not travel with Caps for NHL restart after suffering injury during shutdown 1189276 Secure zones, regular testing and empty arenas: NHL details life inside its hub cities 1189277 For perhaps the final time, the Capitals now place their Stanley Cup hopes on Braden Holtby's shoulders 1189278 Capitals goalie Ilya Samsonov suffered injury prior to camp, will not travel with the team to Toronto 1189279 Ilya Samsonov is injured and will miss the rest of the Capitals’ season Websites 1189285 Sportsnet.ca / Sources: Coyotes' relationship with GM Chayka fell apart over new opportunity 1189286 Sportsnet.ca / Flames' three biggest questions entering week of NHL restart 1189287 Sportsnet.ca / Canucks finish training camp with peak conditioning and depth to spare 1189288 Sportsnet.ca / Oilers Notebook: Edmonton honours Colby Cave to close training camp 1189289 Sportsnet.ca / Quick Shifts: 'Wild card' Nick Robertson pushes fate to the wire 1189290 TSN.CA / Toronto Maple Leafs ready to 'expect the unexpected' as restart nears 1189291 TSN.CA / Eight takeaways as Toronto Maple Leafs wrap up Phase 3 1189200 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes finalize roster before heading to Edmonton

Richard Morin

Arizona Republic

Before flying to Edmonton ahead of their qualifying round matchup with the Nashville Predators, the Coyotes revealed the 31 players traveling with them to the Western Conference bubble city.

The roster consists of 17 forwards, 11 defensemen and three . By all accounts, each member of the roster was healthy enough to get on the plane.

Most players who participated in the Coyotes' Phase 3 program at Gila River Arena made the roster, which is larger than the standard Stanley Cup Playoff roster.

The additional space allowed the Coyotes to bring players such as forwards Barrett Hayton, Brayden Burke, Hudson Fasching, defensemen Victor Soderstrom, Kyle Capobianco, Jordan Gross, and Adin Hill, among others.

The Coyotes open their best-of-five series against the Predators on Aug. 2 in Edmonton, the site of all Western Conference postseason games and, ultimately, the Stanley Cup Final.

Arizona Republic LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189201 Arizona Coyotes

Tocchet approves of team energy as NHL season reboot approaches for Coyotes

Jack Williams

Arizona Republic

After two weeks of skating as a full team at Gila River Arena, the Coyotes are less than a week from facing off in NHL games for the first time since March.

The team concluded its Phase 3 training camps on Saturday in what coach Rick Tocchet said was the strongest practice the team has had since returning to the ice. Tocchet has said he's looking for more energy and balance from the team, and Saturday the Coyotes showed him just that.

"We've had pockets of that type of energy I saw today throughout camp, but coming into that plane ride to Edmonton I think that was our best practice. That was a great sign," Tocchet said.

The next test for the Coyotes is to adapt to the pressure and intensity of playoff hockey. While scrimmages have provided the team with some insight into what to expect, Tocchet said its hard to tell where the team is at from the last time they were on the ice until the face other teams.

In addition, the last time the Coyotes played in postseason games was in 2012. Only one member on the current roster, Oliver Ekman Larsson, was apart of the Coyotes when they were last in the playoffs. Arizona also brings in a younger core who has had little to no experience in a postseason play situation.

"A lot of our players are going to get a crash course on how it is to play playoff hockey," Tocchet said. "I'm anxious to see what those guys are going to do. I believe in pressure hockey and how you handle things under pressure. I thought parts of last year we did a good job, but we need to get to another level."

With a young core going into the unknown, along with the modifications due to the Pandemic, the Coyotes are looking to their veteran players who have been to the playoffs before and coaches who have a familiar sense of the playoff atmosphere. Five players and Tocchet have won the Stanley Cup, with forward Phil Kessel most recently winning it in 2017.

"That's where some of the guys that have been there before and some of the coaching staff share their wisdom," Tocchet said. "It's my job to get these guys a game plan and have them relax. I don't want them too wired up, especially the young guys. The other thing is routine. We're going to have a certain time when we practice pracitce and when we're away from the rink you have time to relax your mind."

The NHL recently released it's plans Edmonton bubble and how exactly things will look. Players are divided up between four different hotels within a two block radius of Rogers Place. In those two blocks, players have access to eight different spaces for entertainment, 13 different training facilities, 14 different places to eat and drink, and a 900 person capacity health testing area.

Once the Coyotes land in Edmonton, they will have three days to train before facing Vegas in an exhibition game on July 30. Vegas offers an early challenge for the Coyotes as the Golden Knights are one of four teams in the Western Conference who will be playing in the round robin series before the playoffs.

In the regular season, Coyotes dropped their series to Vegas, 3-1, with their last showdown happening on Dec. 28 in Las Vegas in a 4-1 Golden Knights win. Forward Michael Grabner scored the only goal for the Coyotes while goaltenders and Adin Hill split time.

After the exhibition game, Coyotes will have two days to prepare for their play in series against Nashville on Aug. 2.

Arizona Republic LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189202 Arizona Coyotes

Arizona Republic LOADED: 07.26.2020

Is John Chayka the former Coyotes general manager? He and the team aren't saying.

Kent Somers

Arizona Republic

Is John Chayka now the former Coyotes general manager?

The answer remained unclear on Saturday as the team practiced for the last time before departing on Sunday for Edmonton, the site of its qualifying round series against Nashville.

What is clear is Chayka’s relationship with his employer, owner Alex Meruelo, is fractured and probably beyond repair.

“We have no comment on the situation,” a team spokesman said.

Chayka also is not talking about the situation.

An NHL source confirmed a report by Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet that during the pandemic Meruelo gave Chayka permission to talk to a “third party” about a position.

Chayka signed a contract extension last fall that runs through the 2024 season.

According to the source, when Chayka indicated interest in that opportunity, Meruelo wanted to retract his written permission.

That caused additional damage to his relationship with Chayka.

That played a part in Chayka not being invited to a recent dinner meeting with forward Taylor Hall, an impending unrestricted free agent, the source said.

That meeting included Meruelo, his son Alex Jr., and team President and CEO Xavier Gutierrez.

The group made Taylor a contract offer, and Chayka did not find out about the meeting until a day or two later, the source said.

“Things came to a head when Gutierrez and Meruelo’s son stepped in and began to run hockey operations,” the source said.

Chayka, 31, joined the Coyotes in 2015 and became the youngest general manager in the history of the four major professional North American sports just a year later as a 26-year-old.

Chayka has completely rebuilt the Coyotes roster with only two players remaining on the active roster – Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Brad Richardson – since he rose to power in 2016.

Chayka, who became the eighth general manager in Coyotes history, also revamped the team's scouting department and was responsible for drafting some of the Coyotes' top young players such as Clayton Keller and Jakob Chychrun (2016), Barrett Hayton (2018) and Victor Soderstrom (2019).

Chayka used the newfound depth in the Coyotes' prospect pipeline to make major trades for both Phil Kessel and Hall, as well as make under- the-radar acquisitions such as the trade for Darcy Kuemper, who is now the Coyotes' top goaltender, among others.

Chayka hired head coach Rick Tocchet prior to the 2017-18 season and the Coyotes' record has gradually improved in each year since.

This season, the Coyotes were being investigated by the NHL for illegally working out draft-eligible players prior to the NHL Scouting Combine. The league has not yet levied punishment on the Coyotes, who may be liable to pay a hefty fine depending on the severity of the infractions.

The dispute between Chayka and ownership, however, does not involve the investigation, sources said.

Before joining the Coyotes, Chayka co-founded and worked for the statistics firm Stathletes, a statistical analytics outfit that provides insight into player and team tendencies and boasts a number of NHL clubs as current clients 1189203 Arizona Coyotes

Report: Job opportunity caused rift between Coyotes, GM John Chayka

BY MATT LAYMAN

JULY 25, 2020 AT 11:38 AM

UPDATED: JULY 25, 2020 AT 12:14 PM

Days of speculation around the job status of Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka led to a report Saturday about a job opportunity that caused the relationship between the two parties to go south.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Coyotes were approached during the pandemic about a job opportunity elsewhere for Chayka, and the team gave him permission to explore it. When it became apparent that he might leave the organization, the Coyotes pushed back against the idea of him exiting.

Per Friedman, a source said: “It was not a lateral move. He was not going to be the GM of another NHL team.”

“The two sides discussed the possibility of a ‘transition period’ where the GM would stay through the remainder of Arizona’s season,” Friedman wrote, “but talks fell apart.”

Last week, there were reports that Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo, his son Alex Jr. and CEO Xavier Gutierrez met with free agent-to-be Taylor Hall and that Chayka was not present. Conflicting reports made it unclear the reason for Chayka’s omission from the meeting.

On Saturday, Arizona Sports learned that the Coyotes would not be making public the names of which hockey operations staff would travel with the team to the Edmonton bubble to resume the season that was paused because of the coronavirus pandemic. Another reporter, Craig Morgan, was given the answer “no comment” when he asked a team spokesman whether Chayka was still the team’s GM.

While it’s not clear where the story goes next, it is hard to imagine that the two sides reconcile if the reports are true that Chayka had/has a job opportunity elsewhere and that the relationship between the GM and the team have soured.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189204 Boston Bruins “Again, it’s something I’ll probably have enough time to think about it once I make that decision,” he said.

Teammate Brad Marchand doesn’t envision Big Z hanging up the skates Bruins excited as they wrap up camp, prepare to head to Toronto quite yet.

“I really don’t,” he said. “He just seems like that guy who’s going to play By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff forever. I think you can kinda get a sense when a guy is going to wrap it up — he doesn’t have that attitude. He’s still doing more than anybody, Updated July 25, 2020, 6:02 p.m. still wants to win more than anyone, and his drive internally.”

When the subject has come up in the past, kidded Marchand, Chara has talked about playing until he’s 70 years old. Camp Renaissance drew to a close late Saturday morning in Brighton, with Torey Krug leading the Bruins through their final post-practice “Which I think is two years away, so …” Marchand said. “I think he is stretching session at Warrior Ice Arena’s center ice. going to play longer. He has a lot more to give and is still one of the best defensemen in the league so I can’t see him walking away from the Hoping to make a repeat run to the Stanley Cup Final — one with a game yet.” different ending to the final game — the Bruins will practice for the first time in Toronto on Monday, Step No. 1 on a postseason odyssey that The Bruins will be in Toronto with some 340 other NHLers from the 11 could take up to 10 weeks to complete. other clubs in the Eastern Conference.

They leave Sunday on a 5:30 p.m. charter, flight plan in place, final Unlike any other Cup run in league history, the players this year truly are destination unknown. in a community. The Bruins, for example, will be headquartered in a hotel that also will be housing three or four other teams. “I’m excited — I think we are all excited now,” third-line center Charlie Coyle said. “We’ve put in the work. We know we’re playing. We know Marchand, for one, doesn’t like the potential coziness of the situation. we’re going to it, so we’re just kind of itching to get there.” “Not at all,” said the L’ll Ball o’ Hate. “I think once we get into that, teams Once again, the Bruins practiced Saturday without David Pastrnak and are really going to stay away from one another, especially during the Ondrej Kase, which meant they went the full two-week return-to-play playoffs. During the regular season, guys don’t want to be around one camp without their top two right wingers participating in a team workout. another at the hotels. Maybe the odd guy that you know, but if you see a group of guys, you kinda walk the other way — especially during playoff Post-practice, coach Bruce Cassidy said he expects Pastrnak — in time, if you’re matched up with a team and they’re in the hotel, I mean, quarantine the past 10 days, per his agent — to be cleared for the flight you are going to build up a hate for that team pretty quickly. That’s the to Toronto. He was not as optimistic about Kase, the 24-year-old who way playoffs go, and you’re not going to want to be anywhere near them was acquired from Anaheim at the trade deadline. in the hotel.” “Kase, I’m not sure,” Cassidy said. “I guess we’ll get a confirmation on Teams are up there to win, “do what it takes,” Marchand said. that [Sunday].” “You have to learn to hate pretty quick,” he added. “That’s what the It is presumed that Kase also has been absent because of quarantine, playoffs are all about.” although the club has adhered strictly to league policy and not made public any player’s health condition. What, then, if he is in the lobby, waiting for an elevator, and it means loading in there alongside a member of a rival team? Pastrnak and Kase skated with a collection of local amateurs and minor pros in Malden during the days leading up to the start of the NHL’s Phase “Well, uh,” Marchand said, “I think there might be a six-feet rule. I think 3 camp on July 13. It’s likely they both have been in quarantine in part that’s a little closer than six feet, so I’ll take the next one.” because of those sessions — be it because they tested positive after the workouts, or perhaps because of an abundance of caution by Bruins Cassidy said he received a schedule of all practices for the first two management, fearing that one of the two Czech forwards could drag the weeks in Toronto, which would entail the workouts the Bruins will have highly infectious pandemic bug into the Boston dressing room. through the entirety of the round robin series that begins Aug. 3 against Philadelphia (3 p.m). His squad won’t work out after arriving on Sunday, The Bruins had 33 players on their camp roster, a contingent that and will be on the ice at 2:30 p.m. Monday. Before leaving Boston on included four netminders: starter Tuukka Rask, backup Jaroslav Halak, Sunday, the entire squad will undergo testing for COVID-19 … Chara on and minor leaguers Dan Vladar and Max Lagace. Cassidy said all four the prospect of perhaps rewriting the finish of last season’s Cup Final, in tenders will be in the Toronto camp. which the Bruins lost Game 7 vs. St. Louis: “I think it’s a long road, you are talking last year, last game, but we need to prepare ourselves to play “I think we are two players over,” said Cassidy, noting that GM Don those first three [round-robin] games and just taking it from there. It is a Sweeney later in the day would trim the roster. “We’ll see what the best long process, a long road, and I think our focus has to be on the fit is for us. We do plan on taking four goaltenders. All 10 defensemen beginning of that road and not looking too much ahead.” are here, but we do have some decisions to make [among the forwards].”

Big question for ‘Z' Boston Globe LOADED: 07.26.2020 Since signing his first pro contract in the summer of 1997, team captain Zdeno Chara has never been without a deal in hand this late in the summer.

Now age 43, and with no contract for play beyond the postseason, Chara’s career timeline could be at an end. If so, the Trencin Tower of Power wasn’t tipping his hand Saturday about any of his future plans.

No surprise, of course, because Big Z has been tight-lipped the last few years whenever media members have raised the prospect of retirement.

Where is his head on the subject as he boards the flight to Toronto?

“I honestly just try to stay where my feet are,” he said. “I am focusing on how I am going to be playing and performing. I am open minded. We will see what is going to happen, but as of right now I am really only focusing on my performances.”

Chara, who has played 1,023 of his 1,553 regular-season games in a Boston sweater, also is not sure where he wants his career path to lead once his playing days are finished. 1189205 Boston Bruins “I knew the risk/reward involved,” recalled Chara, “and the chance of going back and kind of repacking, and then coming back to North America, was almost slim to none.”

What are the Bruins packing for what could be 10 weeks in isolation? at the time had a mandatory military requirement, said Chara, that would have forced him to report almost immediately to duty for at least 18 months had he chosen to go home. He was also concerned a By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff return to Slovakia might trigger IIHF-mandated financial requirements — compensation possibly earmarked for his last team in Slovakia — that he Updated July 25, 2020, 12:57 p.m. feared the Islanders might opt not to pay.

“That was risky,‘' said Chara. “Because, who knows, the Islanders might The Bruins’ playoff contingent, a party of 50-plus, will jet off to Toronto on have said, ‘No, we’re not going to pay for him … we don’t have the Sunday for the start of what could be 71 days on the road chasing the budget,’ or, ‘Well, you know what, he’s not worth it for us.’ Then I would Stanley Cup. be back home stuck in the army and who knows what happens, right?”

The charter flight’s underbelly will be full of bags carrying at least a He stayed, played a season in Prince George, then spent the next couple of guitars (lead stummers: Brad Marchand and Jeremy Lauzon), season, his first as a pro, between AHL Kentucky and the Islanders. bunches of books, untold decks of cards, PlayStations and laptops, and a When he returned home in the summer of 1998, for the first time since Halloween’s motherlode of treats to satisfy the sweet-toothed cravings of packing up his one bag for St. Louis, he was 21 with a secure foot on the a roster of more than 30 NHLers, ages 21-43. NHL career path.

“Yeah, Snickers,” said rookie forward Jack Studnicka, revealing the No. 1 “I made up my mind,” said Chara, recalling the flurry of quick , smart item on his playoff camp survival kit. “I do love Snickers bars. It’s kind of decisions he made that summer of 1996. “I had a few things with me, and my go-to snack.” I didn’t care what I had in my bag. What was important was what was inside of my head and my heart — and that was playing hockey, and Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the NHL has been forced to commitment and discipline and work ethic. I just wanted to make it.” bundle up its 24 playoff teams and station them in two Canadian sites — Edmonton and Toronto — for a postseason tournament like none in The stay in the bubble will have its challenges, no matter what gets league history. stuffed in those bags loaded onto the Bruins’ charter. Games and practices will fill their work hours, and the odd Snickers bar or protein The Bruins, like their brethren on 23 other teams, in recent days had to shake can satisfy the occasional craving. But the idle hours of a long pack for a journey that could end abruptly in elimination early next month postseason run into September has the potential to trigger cabin fever for or stretch all the way to Game 7 of the Cup Final on Oct. 4 in northern some. Alberta. “I think that is definitely a concern maybe some guys have,” said goalie “You could have a foot and a half of snow there by then,” noted Tuukka Rask, whose workload, in terms of playing minutes, portends to Marchand, proud son of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a man well-versed in be the heaviest. “It is one thing if you can go to a place, leave, and go do Canadian meteorology. “So, it’s kind of tough to plan what clothes to things. But we are not really going to have that opportunity here. You bring.” can’t just go outside for a walk, or go get a coffee … we are going to be really tight and confined to the hotel.” The L’il Ball o’ Hate’s answer: the “everyman” suitcase full of extra sweat shirts and sweat pants. Rask loves to play the drums, and was gifted a fine set by his teammates this season when he became the winningest goalie in franchise history. “Stuff that will be good in the snow,” he mused. “We’re not allowed to go But cool-hand “Tuukks” won’t be hauling his Lars Ulrich kit to Toronto. outside anyway, so you don’t really need a jacket.” Instead, Lauzon and Marchand, the guitar-playing Black and Gold The 700-plus players split across the two cities essentially will be in brothers, will have charge of the instrumentals. Ah, if only Rask had quarantine-like bubbles, confined to secure campuses comprised mainly dared to drum. of their hotel and connected by transportation — in some cases foot power — to nearby practice rinks and the main arenas. In the hotels, “Exactly,” said Marchand, noting the possibility to “put a show on every players will have access to fitness centers as well as recreation lounges night.” and meeting rooms dedicated to their teams. “There’s definitely going to be some days when they get long, and nights Overall, they will operate under strict league and provincial orders not to when they get long, where you go a little bit crazy,” added Rask. “But at stray beyond their hotels and campuses. The order of the day, what end of the day really only four teams will go through that. And two teams could be 2½ months for some, will be hockey, sleep, and find a way to at the end of the day will go the distance. For those two teams, it’s going keep busy. to be worth it.”

“My son won’t allow me to bring his PlayStation,” kidded team president In interviews with a dozen team members in recent days, the most . “So I stocked up on some books.” common survival tools included tablets and gaming devices, as well as board games, cards, and books, though most said their tomes would be By the eye of team captain Zdeno Chara, it’s not really about what goes in digital form. into the bag in these kinds of circumstances. Succeeding in big journeys is more about a mind-set than a checklist of goods or the comforting “We’re going to have a lot of extra time, and to be honest, I gamed a lot,” salve of a deep Netflix binge. said left winger Jake DeBrusk, referring to the long league-wide lockdown that began March 12. “So fresh out of quarantine, I want to say Chara, the NHL’s oldest player at 43, arrived in North America from I am kind of bored of it. I am definitely looking for different things to do.” Slovakia nearly a quarter-century ago to begin his career journey to the unknown. Then only 19, he traveled to St. Louis for the 1996 NHL Draft Veteran center Charlie Coyle said he’ll have some books and plans to with little more than the clothes he was wearing and the few items he keep busy on his Netflix account. Overall, the long playoff run in Boston shoveled into his one carry-on bag for the flight out of Bratislava. last spring, that carried the Bruins to Game 7 of the Cup Final, had a rhythm and routine he enjoyed. “I took one suit, I think,” Big Z recalled the other day. “Otherwise, you know, shoes, sneakers, some stuff like that. Casual clothing. And that “Obviously, this wasn’t going on,” he said, noting the pall of the was it.” pandemic. “But you’d go play a game or practice and you’d want to get your rest anyway, right? I mean, it’s nice to get out for a walk — I don’t What he initially planned to be a one-week, one-suitcase trip ended up know what it is going to be when we get to Toronto. But for the most part, being a two-year stay in Canada and the US, Chara explained, because it’s nice to rest and relax.” it quickly became clear to him that his best chance of kick-starting his career was to tell NHL and junior team scouts that he was open to During the 2004-05 lockout, Chara played in Sweden, and dedicated playing immediately in North America. In a matter of days, the Islanders much of his downtime there to becoming fluent in a new language. He selected him in the draft, and the Prince George (British Columbia) mastered English long ago, one of the handful of languages he speaks, Cougars followed suit in junior draft. so learning the native tongue won’t be necessary in either hub city. Like that big trip to St. Louis long ago, with but one bag in his hand, Chara figures he “will keep it simple” when packing this time for the playoffs. His list includes casual clothes, reading material, and the crucial supply of vitamins and diet supplements he takes for his strict, plant- based diet.

“We’ll all be at the hotel,” said the well-traveled big man, “and we pretty much won’t be allowed to go outside the environment that we’ll be presented. So, I will keep it simple. I don’t think it’s rocket science.”

No, but it could be 10 weeks in space they’ve never traveled. Simple, and maybe a bit of Snickers, could carry them a long way.

Boston Globe LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189206 Boston Bruins The NHL’s denial is shortsighted, and shortchanges everyone who loves the game, particularly the millions of fans who invest their money and time. They deserve an unfiltered view, particularly considering this NHL again misses opportunity to promote league venture involves public health and taxpayer interests. Now is the time for more depth and insight, not less transparency. Having hundreds of passionate members of the media, pros from every hockey-loving country, covering the postseason every year provides a spring By Matt Porter Globe Staff smorgasbord for fans. Updated July 25, 2020, 10:20 a.m. The NHL has repeatedly told the Professional Hockey Writers Association that our ever-shrinking access is not normal, and that it believes in our partnership. It has said these new access limitations will They’re almost there. As of Thursday, the NHL reported zero positive not carry beyond the time of a global pandemic. Its words are difficult to tests for COVID-19 for the week. On Sunday, the league will descend on believe. Edmonton and Toronto, ready for a masked-up, socially distant, 24-team chase for the Stanley Cup. “The NHL has always tried to obsessively control the media narrative by restricting or granting access,” said agent Allan Walsh, an outspoken Mathieu Schneider, the former defenseman now working as the right- voice on many matters. “This is not a player safety issue, it’s a pretext hand man for NHLPA head Donald Fehr, sees this as a space mission. that will backfire. This kind of backward thinking continually holds the He compared life in the bubble to a trip to Mars. NHL back.”

“No one’s ever been in there,” Schneider said. “We’ll have to work Not the Sockeyes. Not the Metropolitans. Not the Evergreens. through things. I’m sure we’re going to face a ton of challenges. We might have a good book when we get out of there.” Release the Kraken, they did.

Hopefully, someone will write an honest one. When they hit their first losing streak, they’ll be the Seattle Squids. But first, the NHL’s 32nd franchise has to pay the final installments of that Hockey’s back, and we’re pleased to cover what unfolds on the ice over $650 million expansion fee, the last expected in March 2021. the next 10 weeks. The NHL has put a lot of thought into its return-to-play plan, covering everything from testing to ice conditions (with no fans or By then, they’ll have sold enough merchandise to fill up Puget Sound. morning skates in the game rinks, the ice should be ideal, even for three That deep-sea blue home jersey, with its “S” logo, anchors and tentacles, games a day). The league and the NHLPA hammered out a collective is a winner. bargaining agreement without a work stoppage. Now for the important question: Which current Bruin will be wearing it? There’s a lot of fascinating stuff ahead for hockey fans, deprived of the We don’t know when the Seattle 32s will have their pick, so we can only sweet sounds of whirring skates and whizzing rubber biscuits these last project using today’s roster. Let’s assume for this exercise that every four-plus months. UFA- and RFA-to-be reaches an extension (dinner, starting with a But we would be remiss if we didn’t first take stock of some small-minded calamari appetizer, is on Torey Krug). behavior by the NHL. Anyone with three or more years of pro experience is eligible for the Forever working against its own interests as it tries to grow the game, the expansion draft. To help stack the deck in Vegas three years ago, Boston league is not allowing independent media to report from inside its used a 7-3-1 model (protecting seven forwards, three defensemen, and a bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton. goalie), as opposed to the other option, eight skaters and a goalie. The Knights selected defenseman Colin Miller, who spent last season as a As of Friday, four American reporters planned to cross the border — regular scratch in Buffalo at a $3.875 million cap hit. Samantha Pell of the Washington Post and John Wawrow of the Associated Press were going to Toronto, Sarah McClellan of the The Bruins must protect Brad Marchand, Charlie Coyle, and Patrice Minnesota Star-Tribune and Adrian Dater of Colorado Hockey Now were Bergeron because they have no-movement clauses. They will protect setting up shop in Edmonton — for the opening of the playoffs. Aside David Pastrnak because he is David Pastrnak. from being allowed to watch the games from a perch in the arena, they If they used a 7-3-1 model, the other three forwards might be Jake will be restricted. DeBrusk, Anders Bjork, and Ondrej Kase, assuming they solidify their No face-to-face interactions, which are the lifeblood of good story telling. supporting-cast roles. No first-hand account of what the plans and diagrams the NHL released If Krug stays and Matt Grzelcyk remains on his upward development late this past week actually look like in person. No view of anything but curve, the Bruins could submit an 8-1 list. This would let them keep the games of the teams they cover, then a timely exit from the rink and Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, Krug, and Grzelcyk, and Marchand, more Zoom calls. Coyle, Bergeron, and Pastrnak up front. It would hurt to lose someone The Globe is assessing its options as the rounds go on. like DeBrusk, who would surely be plucked.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league doesn’t expect to Tuukka Rask is sure to be a keeper — somehow. Since the deals for change those access rules, leaning on the “health and safety” aspect of Rask ($7 million) and David Krejci ($7.25 million) will expire next year, the explanation. More media, Daly said, would be an “unnecessary risk” the Bruins could leave them off their protected list and let them become that could “overburden the system.” free agents. That could work if they are confident they can re-sign them. If Rask re-ups before the draft, he would fill the goalie slot. But if they go That doesn’t hold water considering the league is welcoming three the UFA route, they could protect the most promising young goalie in the writers for NHL.com — most of them former print journalists, and good system (Jeremy Swayman, Kyle Keyser, or Dan Vladar). Again, that’s if ones, but league employees nonetheless — and 24 team-specific Rask and Don Sweeney agree on term and dough. Krejci, same thing. It “content creators.” This means that the first recording, of a never-before- could be a fine line for Sweeney to walk. seen postseason involving up to 744 players from 24 teams, 170 games and 350 practices over a span of 70 days, will be a sanitized, league- Like 29 of their brethren (Vegas is exempt), the Bruins will be shipping a approved version. valuable piece to the Pacific Northwest. If they don’t snatch a Grzelcyk, DeBrusk, Kase or Bjork, the Kraken’s tentacles could wrap around Trent Meanwhile, the NBA is allowing reporters inside the bubble to chronicle Frederic, Nick Ritchie, Karson Kuhlman, Sean Kuraly, Connor Clifton, or the most unique time in its history. Globe ace Gary Washburn is one of Jeremy Lauzon. 17 reporters granted access in Orlando. After quarantining, he is to be tested regularly, and he and his peers will be able to do interesting, Krug could be going elsewhere regardless. factual reporting. You will know what’s really happening when “One of the first things we talk about in this locker room is being aware of multimillionaire athletes live together for two months in the middle of a the situation that’s right in front of you, and then accepting that situation,” pandemic, and whether the league is making good on its stated Krug said. “For me, it’s no secret that this could potentially be the last run objectives. He will be your honest eyes and ears. I have at winning a Cup with this group. Not only that, I get to do that while I’m stuck in a bubble with all those guys and get to enjoy their “Obviously, we’re all living day to day here,” Daly said. “We’ll see what company 24/7 for as long as we’re there. I’m just trying to enjoy it. happens.”

“That’s the fun part of it. Going to battle, and we get to return to a hotel Quick takes on some of the better play-in series: The Hurricanes have room and reminisce on the games and create better memories than we the best-looking defense in the postseason, with Dougie Hamilton back. already have right now. I’m excited about the opportunity. I know those The Rangers should start Henrik Lundqvist. If it goes well, great. If not, guys are, as well.” turning to Igor Shesterkin will be an easy call … There’s a lot of talk about Leon Draisaitl, but Connor McDavid should take over the ETC. Edmonton-Chicago series … Which team will look to trade pieces of its The downtown Toronto area where the Bruins are staying, Hotel X, is core after this postseason: the Flames (, Sean next to a soccer stadium. BMO Field is ready for outdoor activities, game Monahan, Elias Lindholm) or the Jets (Patrik Laine, , Mark viewing, and dining. Up the street, the Royal York Hotel and its sunny Scheifele, Blake Wheeler)? … The best “skill vs. will” series, the biggest patio deck are connected to Scotiabank Arena by an NHL-use-only clash of styles, is Toronto-Columbus. The Jackets will try to grind the underground tunnel. Leafs to fibers … Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy doesn’t think the coronavirus will have ended the post-playoff handshake tradition. “I think In a two-block area in Edmonton, the league will have the JW Marriott, you can still go through the line,” Cassidy said, suggesting a fist bump. Delta, and Sutton Place hotels, and the palatial confines of Rogers Place, “Maybe by that far down the road, you never know. Maybe a handshake which has an on-site practice rink. will be something we can do.” … It’s wild to see former Montreal star Alex Kovalev, not known for his practice habits as a player, appointed as head Each city has 14 secure and “diverse restaurants, bars, pubs, and coffee coach of the KHL’s Kunlun Red Star. The Slash, followed by Glen shops,” the league said, a slew of fitness centers and eight activity Murray’s goal in 2004, is one of the most bewildering moments in recent spaces (think: tennis courts, TopGolf suites, movie theaters, places to Boston-Montreal history … Breakout candidate WATCH: Vegas’s Alex run around and play ball). Eventually, they might have “excursions,” such Tuch said he lost 10 pounds during the pause, and is in the best shape of as golf. his life. The Knights have one of the best top-six groups in the league. If What will life be like in the Secure Zone? the Boston College product can drive the third line (with Chandler Stephenson and Nicolas Roy), the Knights could come out of the West … Players may not take advantage, certainly not if they’ll have to play with TV programming notes: NESN will carry Thursday’s Bruins-Blue Jackets others not wearing their colors. exhibition game with an hour of pregame and postgame analysis. The Aug. 2 round-robin opener against the Flyers is on NBC (3 p.m.). NESN “I don’t have any interest,” said Torey Krug, who has a lot of close friends will take the Aug. 5 game against the Lightning, and likely the Aug. 9 date around the league he does not plan to chat with until the offseason, even with the Capitals. The majority of first-round games will be on NESN … if they pass each other in the hall. Teams will get their own hotel floors The Islanders released renderings of their rink, UBS Arena at Belmont and hangout spots, so don’t expect any soccer games to break out Park. Jarring to see the scoreboard hanging over the Islanders logo at among players on different teams. center ice, and no black holes and/or cars at one end of the rink. If you “You’re going to war with them every single night, especially in a playoff liked watching hockey at Barclays Center, frankly, I don’t see how … series,” Krug said. “To see guys outside the rink, it’s tough to do. I think I Oskar Lindblom signed a three-year, $9 million extension with the Flyers. speak for most guys in our room saying we’re going to stay together as a Lindblom, 23, had 11 goals and 18 points in 30 games before he was group, collectively.” diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma in December. He will be cheered in every rink when he returns, likely next season … Tampa Bay netminder Fresh views Andrei Vasilevskiy on his activities during quarantine: “I was buzzing on the Bayshore, shirtless, rollerblading. I just got a jet ski for myself. I was Every team will have its own goal songs and chants piped in — that fishing five days a week, for sure. I even caught a small shark a few blasted Columbus cannon lives on — but on opening night Aug. 1, fans weeks ago. I know it’s a tough time, but at least I have some happy will see a new game, NHL chief of content Steve Mayer said. Renderings moments during this quarantine.” Wonder what he’ll be up to in the shared by the league show LED screens, monitors, and staging filling the bubble. lower bowl. Mayer said the league will use 32 cameras for a broadcast, a dozen more than a normal game. One of the new angles comes from a tracking cam, called a JITACAM, that dollies back and forth at ice level, over the crowd. Boston Globe LOADED: 07.26.2020

“You’re going to get an amazing feel for the speed of our game,” Mayer promised. “We can go in the stands and show camera angles we’ve never seen before.”

Puck and player tracking will not be in operation for the first two rounds, but could be available for the conference finals and Cup Final.

A good question for one of the league’s top medical consultants, Dr. Winne Meeuwisse: If a player tests positive on a team inside the bubble, will the whole team have to self-isolate?

“In the healthcare setting there’s a number of protective measures that can be taken like we’re taking in the bubble,” Meeuwisse said. “The one thing we cannot do with players is put masks on them when they play, but we’re mitigating that risk by doing testing on a daily basis.

“We still will do contact tracing because there’s degrees of exposure, and if we feel a degree of exposure is unusually high, they still may be quarantined.

“I think it will continue to be the case that if players are quite uncomfortable, that they have the option not to participate.”

What might cause them to cancel this whole thing, or plow ahead without some teams (as Major League Soccer did with its tournament)? That’s to be determined.

Commissioner said the league will lean on the advice of medical experts and local authorities. Deputy commissioner Bill Daly, speaking in generalities, added that one positive test would not burst the bubble, but that “an outbreak” would. 1189207 Boston Bruins man, but he has yet to practice with the B’s. Jack Studnicka has seen time there the last couple of days, as has Anders Bjork. Karson Kuhlman has also filled the spot.

Swan song for Torey Krug? Krejci, who has been rekindling his chemistry with Jake DeBrusk on the left during camp, seemed unfazed by the uncertainty on the right.

By STEVE CONROY | [email protected] | Boston Herald “I’ve been skating with Jake the last couple of weeks and it seems like he came into camp in really good shape. He’s skating and he’s handling the July 25, 2020 at 5:47 a.m. puck really well so that’s good to see,” said Krejci. “And on the right side, yeah, we’ve been rotating some players. But it doesn’t matter.

Individually, you have to show up each practice, prepare and then Torey Krug is not one to ignore the elephant in the room. whoever is on your line, just try to talk a little bit, find the chemistry. It’s a little bit more challenging when the right wingers are rotating, but it is The Bruins’ dynamic defenseman has not been shy about saying how what it is. There’s nothing you can do about it. All you can do is focus on much he’s loved his time in Boston and that he wishes it could continue. yourself and be prepared as you can be and talk a lot,. I think talking is But without a contract for next year and the salary cap remaining flat for very important, especially now when we don’t have much time to do next season and possibly beyond, the pending unrestricted free agent – things. So you have to talk on and off the ice to figure things out and go who’ll be one of the top targets in the league when the market opens – from there.” … knows that the upcoming Stanley Cup tournament could very well be his last chance to become one of the many Boston athletes to win a Kase and David Pastrnak remained out – both skated just one day in championship over the past two decades. Phase 3 and not at all with the full team – and Nick Ritchie missed his second day in a row. Paul Carey also made his way on to the absentee With that uncertain future, Krug is ready to dive into this Cup run with his list for the first time. teammates and enjoy it as much as he can. While not exactly 100 percent positive about it, coach Bruce Cassidy said “One of the biggest things we talk about in this locker room is being he expects every player on the playoff roster to be on the team charter to aware of the situation in front of you and then accepting that situation. Toronto on Sunday. For me, it’s no secret that this could potentially be the last run I have of winning a Cup with this group and, not only that, I get to do it while stuck “It’s been indicated to me – and, of course, that could change – but, yes, in a bubble with those guys and get to enjoy their company for 24/7, for that’s the plan right now,” said Cassidy. as long as we’re there,” said Krug. Cassidy expects much of the angst around the coronavirus to dissipate “I’m just trying to enjoy it. Obviously we have to remain focused. We have once teams get to Toronto. a job to do. But that’s part of the process that we all enjoy in here. It’s “I think it will fade a lot,” said Cassidy. “I think once we’re in there, it might always fun to go to battle with these guys. I’m not approaching the be the safest place to be in terms of not getting infected. You’re going to games any differently. I’m still willing to sacrifice and do anything for this have some outside people coming in that are working there but they’re all group as they are for anyone else in this locker room. That’s the fun part screened and tested as well. So you really shouldn’t come in contact. of it, you go to battle and then we get to return to a hotel room and The only way you would is if you left and that’s pretty punitive if your do, reminisce on the game and create better memories … I’m excited about both internally from your teammates that you let them down and from the the opportunity and I know those guys are as well.” . So I think once we’re there, everyone can sort Krug is also generally pleased with how the short training camp has of take a deep breath and feel a lot safer. Hopefully that gets us all gone. When discussing various return to play scenarios earlier in the focused on the task at hand. The drawback is that you don’t get to go spring, Krug had expressed some concern about getting enough time to home.” get back into shape and playing form. But he’s been pleasantly surprised with how much was accomplished in the two-week span. He said his own injury history – and quick returns – helped to ease his mind. Boston Herald LOADED: 07.26.2020 “I feel pretty good to be honest. I was a little skeptical coming into this but then I realized that I’ve gone a few times in my career where I’ve gone with two, three, four months off and then jumped right onto the ice and into regular season action,” said Krug. “I feel good. The energy in the room and on the ice has been spectacular, so we’re all excited to jump into game action. It feels about time now. Practice is not the fun part of the job for us. Getting into game action is, but we’re excited and eager to go.”

While Krug is looking forward to being holed up in a hotel with his teammates – sort of like an elongated Pee Wee tournament – the B’s will also be sharing their Toronto hotel with NHLers they could be facing off against. Krug plans on keeping the proper social distance – and then some.

“I don’t have any interest” in mingling, said Krug. “I have friends around the league, guys I had played with, guys I grew up playing with and have known for a long time, but we’re going into this bubble with a job to do and we’re going there for a purpose. It’s very tough to be on the ice against a team and opposing players, you’re going to war with them every single night, especially in a playoff series. And then to see guys outside of the rink, it’s tough to do. I think I speak for most guys in the room that we’re going out there to just stay together collectively. There will be time to interact with those guys at a different time. I think most guys across the league would say the same thing.”

So, for now at least, Krug is all about Black and Gold.

Who’s on Krejci’s right?

Ever since Jarome Iginla left for Colorado after the 2013-14 season, there has been a revolving door on David Krejci‘s right wing, and it’s anyone’s guess who’ll be playing in that spot when the puck drops for real in Toronto on Aug. 2. The hope was that Ondrej Kase would be the 1189208 Boston Bruins

Bruins unsure if Ondrej Kase can join team for flight to Hub City

By Joe Haggerty

July 25, 2020 3:15 PM

BRIGHTON, Mass – The Bruins may continue to grapple with lineup challenges even after arriving at the Hub City in Toronto as it’s not clear whether forward Ondrej Kase will be traveling with the rest of the team on Sunday.

The B’s are expected to fly to Toronto late Sunday afternoon after one last round of testing for all 50 people in the B’s party headed to the Hub City, and Bruce Cassidy confirmed after Saturday’s practice that David Pastrnak and Nick Ritchie are expected to travel with the big group. It’s still in question if Kase will be headed to Toronto with the rest of his teammates as it’s been less than two weeks since his one-day appearance at the Bruins practice facility.

“Pastrnak and Ritchie I believe will be traveling. Kase I’m not sure [about]. I guess we’ll get confirmation on that [on Sunday]. That’s my understanding,” said Bruce Cassidy. “We all get one last test today and hopefully we get a good result tomorrow and can head on the plane. Stay healthy. Spend some quality time with your family or the people that are important to you. Stay away from people that you haven’t been in regular contact with. Continue to social distance and mask up.

"We’d hate to see a last-minute casualty especially where it impacts the whole group. You get on the plane and you’ll be in tight quarters for a while, so today is an important day. Everybody has worked hard to get to this point and we’re all looking forward to getting to Toronto.”

Pastrnak has missed all but one practice during Return to Play camp while serving in quarantine after close exposure to somebody that tested positive for COVID-19.

Ritchie has missed each of the last three practices with the Bruins while “unfit to participate” after largely skating with Charlie Coyle and Sean Kuraly on a jumbo third line in the first week of camp practices. Cassidy said Ritchie’s status as a bigger-bodied player could exacerbate the difficulty of catching up if he begins to miss extended time.

“I think the bigger guys take a little longer to catch up. That just seems to be the way the body works to get everything going and the motor running,” said Cassidy. “Nick would definitely fall into that category with hopefully [Pastrnak and Kase] taking less time. They’re efficient skaters so that will come back quickly, but all of them will have issues with timing and execution while playing in tight spaces because they haven’t done it. That’s where they have to be careful, keeping your head up and making plays.”

Kase, meanwhile, has missed the entire Bruins Return to Play camp after skating one day on his own last week following practice with a smaller group of B’s players that included Pastrnak. His status is unknown after being “unfit to participate” for most of the last two weeks and now potentially unable to travel with the rest of the group to Toronto.

It’s been clear in the last few days that the Bruins have given long looks at right wing to Anders Bjork and Jack Studnicka during scrimmages and practices with the idea that we might not see Kase at the start of Return to Play with the Black and Gold. For a player that suited up for just six games after arriving in a trade deadline deal with the , this isn’t exactly the kind of start anybody was looking for out of him.

Cassidy indicated that the Bruins will need to cut two players from Return to Play camp before heading to Toronto, and those cuts will be among the forward group. The B’s will be taking all 10 D-men from camp as well as the four goaltenders (Tuukka Rask, Jaroslav Halak, Dan Vladar and Kyle Keyser) that worked out regularly over the last two weeks.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189209 Boston Bruins

Bruins' Brad Marchand expects 'really sloppy hockey' in NHL's return

By Joe Haggerty

July 25, 2020 11:57 AM

BRIGHTON, Mass – The NHL has carefully laid out their plans for the Hub cities in Toronto and Edmonton and spent the last few days describing everything in detail from the in-game experience on television to the expected quality of the ice.

The visual mock-ups make it look like the playing out in Times Square and the NHL has already proclaimed “there are no concerns about ice conditions” despite the playoff games being played out in the late summer heat. But the NHL players themselves still have their doubts, including a candid guy in Brad Marchand who's always been unafraid to criticize the ice quality even at his home TD Garden rink during the playoffs.

He didn’t hold back on Saturday morning about what he thinks awaits the NHL as the entire team gets ready to load up for Toronto on Sunday.

“I think it’s going to be really sloppy hockey, to be honest with you,” said Marchand. “We’ve been off for four or five months, whatever it’s been, and it takes more than a couple of weeks to get it all back and be at the top of your game. And the ice conditions are not going to be good. So I just don’t think it’s going to be great hockey.

“But we’ll all be on the same playing field and we’ll have had the same amount of time to get ready. We’re just going to have to battle it out, regardless of the situation. It’s still going to be intense and hard-fought, and there are going to be some nice plays. But it’s going to be a little choppy, especially to start [at the beginning of August.]”

Clearly, the NHL hopes that empty arenas with the lack of body heat and humidity from arena doors opening and closing will keep the ice sheet as pristine as could be for the 2-3 games expected to be played on it every day. The NHL will hold morning skates at different arenas to likewise prevent the ice from getting too chopped up with all the activity.

There is little doubt that things could be a little rough around the edges when the qualifying round games start taking place on Aug. 1, and it’s still in question just how much intensity will be brought to the round-robin games amongst the top seeds without much on the line. But, as Marchand alluded to, everybody hopes the Stanley Cup playoff level is close to what it would normally be once the usual four rounds of postseason series get going in Toronto and Edmonton a little less than two weeks into the month of August.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189210 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres, Bills offer social media greetings to Jays

Mike Harrington

Jul 25, 2020 Updated 11 hrs ago 0

Buffalo's two major-league teams have opened their social media arms to welcome the city's big summer addition in the wake of the news that the Toronto Blue Jays will be playing the majority of their home games in Sahlen Field.

The Buffalo Bills' official feed welcomed the Blue Jays and said, "Wings on us while you're in town," with a photoshopped picture of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in a half-Bills, half-Blue Jays uniform.

The Blue Jays' response was a GIF of Guerrero swinging at last year's All-Star Home Run Derby with the notation, "It's time to CIRCLE THE WAGONS."

The Buffalo Sabres rated high on the snark-meter toward Leafs fans when they tweeted a good-luck salutation with the note: "The only time a Toronto team is welcomed into Buffalo with open arms."

The tweet was accompanied by a picture of defenseman Rasmus Dahlin posing with then-Bisons third baseman Guerrero after the Sabres' No. 1 overall draft threw a ceremonial first pitch in the ballpark on Aug. 11, 2018.

Buffalo News LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189211 Calgary Flames “So we felt like he fit in the scrimmages really, really well. For him, getting prepared for next camp, he knows exactly now the way we play. He knows what’s expected, in terms of him as a player, when he shows up SNAPSHOTS: Flames prospect Ruzicka should reap benefits of here. He knows at what pace we expect the game to occur at. All those summer-camp invite things are going to make him better.”

OFF THE GLASS

Wes Gilbertson The Flames’ finalized return-to-play roster includes 17 forwards, 10 defencemen and four goalies. Included on the list is blue-line blue- July 25, 2020 5:23 PM MDT chipper Juuso Valimaki, who has yet to play a game this season after major knee surgery. “You never know — we may, by the end of it all, end

up having to use all 31 guys,” Ward said. “If we’re playing at the right Adam Ruzicka was one of four hopefuls trimmed from the Calgary intensity, injuries are going to happen this time of year, so we’re going to Flames’ return-to-play roster before their trip to the bubble in Edmonton, need extra bodies obviously. And we feel confident in the guys that we’re but the 21-year-old centre will undoubtedly benefit from his participation bringing with us to Edmonton.” … Gawdin and Phillips have both missed in this one-of-a-kind training camp. the past several practice sessions, so their exclusion is likely injury- related … Mackey always knew his stay would end this weekend — the This was sort of like summer school for Adam Ruzicka. Flames’ prized college free-agent signing isn’t eligible until the 2020-21 campaign — but he left a positive first impression at the Saddledome. Class has now been dismissed — the 21-year-old centre was one of four Ward had high praise for the 23-year-old defenceman, who inked an hopefuls trimmed from the Calgary Flames’ return-to-play roster before entry-level deal after three seasons with the NCAA’s Minnesota State their trip to the bubble in Edmonton — but Ruzicka will undoubtedly Mavericks. “What I like about him is when he sees a play, he makes it. benefit from his participation in this one-of-a-kind training camp. He doesn’t wait and look for something else,” Ward said. “He moves the “It’s an honour that I can be here,” Ruzicka said before the final cuts were puck ahead quickly. He makes smart decisions. He’s a player that has revealed. “It shows me that they count on me in the future. It’s good they shown us in this time period that he’s able to see the next play before it called me up and they show me that I improved during the season. It’s happens … For me, he looks like he’s going to be an NHL player for a really good for me.” long time. Ultimately, that will be up to him, but we’ve really liked what we’ve seen out of him” … After missing Friday’s scrimmage, Elias A first-year pro, Ruzicka admittedly wasn’t expecting this call. Lindholm was back on the ice for the final practice in Calgary. Sam

After the was paused — and ultimately cancelled — due to the COVID-19 crisis, he’d returned home to Slovakia. Calgary Sun: LOADED: 07.26.2020 He was just digging into a meal in late June when his phone buzzed. The incoming number started 4-0-3. Flames assistant general manager Brad Pascall was on the other end.

“I was back home eating dinner and all of a sudden, I get a call to pack my stuff and in the next few days, I was on a flight here,” said Ruzicka, who posted 10 goals and 27 points in 54 outings as a rookie with the AHL’s Stockton Heat. “I think that was a Friday at around 5 or 6 p.m. And then Sunday morning at 6:45 a.m., I was flying to Calgary.”

His flight home will be booked soon enough.

It’s certainly not a huge shocker that Ruzicka didn’t crack Calgary’s list of 31 bubble boys — also excluded were Glenn Gawdin, Connor Mackey and Matthew Phillips — but just being a part of Phase 3 will undoubtedly be beneficial for the up-and-coming centre.

With the Flames jumping right into a won-or-done qualification series against the Winnipeg Jets, there was a different sort of focus and intensity to these prep sessions. This didn’t feel like a standard training camp in fall.

“The guys want to get ready for the playoffs and win the Stanley Cup, so they’re taking it really serious every practice and also in the scrimmages, every shift. So it’s been a pretty serious manner,” said Ruzicka, the youngest of Calgary’s summer-camp invitees. “It’s a lot of good experience for me to practise with all the NHL guys. I’m trying to learn everything from them, you know? They are well-experienced guys and especially in the scrimmages, just the way they move around with the puck and in areas and the defensive positions and all of that … It’s pretty much all around the game that I’m looking into it. It’s all tools that I’m looking for.”

This guy has an intriguing tool box already.

He’s a solid dude at 6-foot-4 and 202 lb. He has a heck of a shot. A fourth-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, he seems to have received the message about finding more consistency in his game.

While Ruzicka’s minor-league stat-line doesn’t jump off the page, he was really surging with points in 11 of his last 14 games with the Heat before the pause.

He won’t be headed to Edmonton, but his arrow is still pointing up.

“It was an opportunity for us to get to work with him, more than we ever have, as a staff,” said Flames interim coach Geoff Ward of Ruzicka. “We found him to be very, very coachable. We liked what he did in terms of continuing to develop his defensive play as a young player. He has a really good brain. He has offensive skills. 1189212 Calgary Flames “I keep telling people, it reminds me of a youth hockey tournament in summer,” Tkachuk said with a grin. “You go to the hotel, you see everyone around that’s in the tournament. You go to the rink, you’re Excited about a trip to Edmonton? Honest, the Flames can hardly wait looking at the scores of the other games. You’re seeing people in the elevator. You’re seeing people in the restaurants. It’s going to be crazy.

“I think every single person outside of our bubble is going to have a Wes Gilbertson million questions for us when we get out. They’re going to want to know what it was like, what’d you do and all this stuff. I think it’s up to us just to July 25, 2020 5:01 PM MDT make the most of it. It’s not an ideal playoff scenario — you would rather be playing in front of a sold-out crowd in your home city — but I think they’ve done a real good job, it sounds like, under the circumstances. Without checking the archives at the Glenbow Museum, we can safely They’ve allowed things for us to do in the bubble when we’re not skating, assume that no travelling party from around these parts has ever been so where maybe at first, we thought we were just going to be hotel room, excited about the spectre of an extended stay in Edmonton. locker-room, rink and then do that all over again the next day.

The Calgary Flames are, finally, bubble-bound. “But then again, it’s playoffs. I’m not going to be running around all day, doing all these activities anyway … We’re looking forward to it. We’re After Saturday’s skate at the Saddledome, the Flames packed their gear, looking forward to just spending quality time with each other. But saying packed their garb and packed their gaming consoles. that, we’re there to win. It’s not going to be fun if we don’t win.” On Sunday, they’ll board a bus and head three hours north to check into Agreed Monahan: “This is a chance to win the Stanley Cup, and you the NHL’s so-called ‘secure zone.’ don’t want to let that slip past you.” If all goes well, they’ll be there for two-plus months. Without checking the Hoping that they’ll be bubbled for two-plus months, the Flames planned archives at the Glenbow Museum, we can safely assume that no to pack some of the comforts of home. travelling party from around these parts has ever been so excited about the spectre of an extended stay in Edmonton. Second-line centre Mikael Backlund, apparently not a Tim Hortons guy, will bring his own coffee machine. “Ever since you put your first foot in Calgary … You just want to get to playoffs,” declared Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson earlier in the Interim coach Geoff Ward had several books picked out. week. “I told Looch (Milan Lucic) this — ‘I just kind of want to go to Edmonton right now and get it going.’ There will be plenty of PlayStations and Xbox consoles in the luggage stow, while iPads will be a must for the fathers who will be “Right now, we’re so close. You just want it be Aug. 1 and get it going.” communicating with their kiddos by FaceTime.

True, the puck doesn’t officially drop until Aug. 1 — that’s next Saturday, So when will dad be back home? That all depends on how their Stanley with the Flames and Winnipeg Jets set to open a best-of-five play-in Cup quest goes. series at 8:30 p.m. MT — but the time has come to settle into their summer digs. The Flames, despite being seeded as the top dogs in the Western Conference, won just one playoff date last spring. From Sunday until who-knows-when, the Flames will be crashing at Sutton Place Hotel, about a five-minute stroll — via a fenced-in walkway Their previous post-season appearance, back in 2017, ended in a sweep for health and security reasons — from Rogers Place. by the other guys.

They’ll have their own meal room, meeting room, training room and Only six holdovers remain from their last series victory, in 2015. coaches’ offices at the hotel, plus a team suite and lounge at the arena if “I’m sick of losing. I’m sick of losing in these first rounds,” said Tkachuk, they want to watch other games. who is 1-8 in nine career playoff games. “I know a lot of guys in this room The players and staff are not allowed to leave the bubble, but the NHL’s feel the same way, and we want a little bit of redemption after last year. brass is doing their darnedest to ensure they aren’t bored while they’re “It’s time for us to prove we’re an elite hockey team.” there. There’s a wide range of activities both indoors and outdoors, everything from movie theatres and basketball courts to ping-pong tables If they can do that, they won’t be leaving Edmonton for a long while. and patio hangout areas.

There are a total of 14 restaurant options inside Edmonton’s secure zone. Whether the skating stars are craving steak, sushi, tacos or a Calgary Sun: LOADED: 07.26.2020 double-double from Tim Hortons, it’s all available.

There is, of course, a testing centre for all players, staff, league officials, etc., to be swabbed daily for COVID-19.

“You almost feel like a little kid going to a hockey tournament,” said Flames first-line centre and alternate captain Sean Monahan after Saturday’s practice at the Saddledome, their final twirl in their home barn until likely sometime in November.

“When you go to a tournament as a kid, you’re in the hotel with your team playing mini-sticks and stuff like that. And I’m sure we’re going to be playing board games and whatnot to keep busy when we’re not at the rink.

“As a player and as a teammate, you want to be around the guys as much as you can. Right now, we’re basically forced to do that, so I’m pretty happy about it. We’ll be with each other every day. We’ll be eating all of our meals together and all of our free time will probably be together with our team. The guys are looking forward to that and obviously looking forward to the challenge of fighting for the Stanley Cup.”

As he envisioned life in the bubble, Matthew Tkachuk was also reminiscing about his minor-hockey days.

He might be looking around Rogers Place for the raffle table. 1189213 Carolina Hurricanes “Just all over the ice, he’s an impact player out there. Hopefully he’s back as quick as he can be. And we’ll definitely need him, for sure.”

With Hamilton out the last two practices, Sami Vatanen replaced him in Defenseman Dougie Hamilton misses Hurricanes’ final practice in the No. 1 defensive pairing and on the power play. Raleigh Slavin said he has been impressed with Vatanen, a Feb. 24 trade deadline acquisition from the . The Finnish BY CHIP ALEXANDER defenseman, Slavin said, had a lot of the same attributes as Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen, saying, “He brings some of that same skill JULY 25, 2020 10:37 AM set but on the defensive side.”

Brind’Amour said the Canes would have coronavirus testing Sunday, then take a late-afternoon flight to Toronto. It’s on to Phase 4 after two RALEIGH weeks of training camp, on to the “bubble.” Defenseman Dougie Hamilton again was absent Saturday as the “I really liked the first week. Everyone was just excited to be back,” Carolina Hurricanes put in their final training camp practice in Raleigh, Brind’Amour said. “It’s what they do. They just want to play hockey and The Canes will leave Sunday for Toronto, the hub city for the Eastern they were jacked up. They’re ready to play some games.” Conference teams in the NHL’s Return to Play format. They will play one exhibition game, Wednesday against the Washington Capitals, before the Aug. 1 start of their best-of-five qualifying round against the New York News Observer LOADED: 07.26.2020 Rangers at Scotiabank Arena.

“We’re at a point where mentally and physically the guys want to get going and play games,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said in his Saturday media call.

But Hamilton’s status is a big question mark. He had recovered from a broken left fibula, been medically cleared and had been skating when the NHL Phase 3 training camps began July 13. But he left the ice in some discomfort Wednesday during practice, was absent from practice on Thursday at PNC Arena and again Saturday.

Under the Phase 3 protocols, teams are not allowed to release information on injuries or absences other than saying a player is “unfit to play” — the term Brind’Amour used again Saturday about Hamilton. Brind’Amour said Thursday he was hoping Hamilton’s situation wasn’t “something that’s long term.”

The Canes called off a scheduled Friday practice at PNC Arena, leaving those outside the team to guess about Hamilton’s availability until Saturday.

Forward Martin Necas left the ice during Saturday’s practice. Brind’Amour said Necas “did something when he was skating around” but didn’t consider it an issue.

The NHL is allowing each team a 52-person travel party, including as many as 31 players, to enter the “bubble” and Secure Zone in Toronto for Phase 4. Teams were required to turn in their travel lists Friday, which will be released by the league.

Brind’Amour said Saturday that everyone that was in Raleigh — including Hamilton — was on the player roster. He said defenseman Brett Pesce, who still is rehabbing from shoulder surgery and was not at camp, would be on the Phase 4 roster.

“He’s not quite up to speed,” Brind’Amour said. “Hopefully we see him at some point. If we’re talking about Brett Pesce playing then things are going in the right direction.”

Hamilton was one of the NHL’s best players before his Jan. 16 injury, sidelining him for the final 21 regular-season games before the NHL paused the season March 12 during the pandemic. He was selected for the NHL All-Star Weekend but unable to attend and compete for the Metropolitan Division All-Star team.

It initially was believed Hamilton could recover from the injury in eight to 12 weeks and that he could rejoin the Canes if they reached the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs. The NHL’s suspension of the 2019-20 season because of the spread of the coronavirus added to his recovery time.

Once camp began, Hamilton again joined Jaccob Slavin as the Canes’ top defensive pairing and quarterbacked the top power-play unit. He again gave the Canes some offensive flair on the back end, showing off the skills that helped him score 14 goals and add 26 assists before his injury.

“You look at our power play and a healthy Dougie and what that power play is able to do,” Slavin said Saturday in a media call. “Obviously the season Dougie was having leading up to being injured was spectacular. You look at the type of player he is, the offense he brings. I know for both of us the defensive zone together was good this year. 1189214 Chicago Blackhawks ‘‘Hopefully I can get in the right shape and be able to see the puck well enough to be at the top of my game,’’ he said.

Goalie Corey Crawford joins Blackhawks’ practice after recovering from COVID-19 Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 07.26.2020

By Ben Pope@BenPopeCST

Jul 25, 2020, 10:52am CDT

With a newborn baby and a 2-year-old in the house, Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford wasn’t going out much this spring in Chicago, pandemic or not.

So when he began feeling ill and tested positive for COVID-19 — news he announced Saturday after joining practice for the first time — he was stunned.

‘‘I was trying to stay as safe as possible with my family,’’ Crawford said. ‘‘We spent a lot of time at home, actually, with two young kids. . . . So it was actually a really big surprise that I tested positive. I was just hoping to recover as quickly as possible.’’

Crawford, 35, said he was concerned after hearing on the news that, for some, the effects of the coronavirus could last for months. Fortunately for him, his symptoms never escalated beyond flulike.

And the timing worked out relatively perfectly. After feeling better, he was able to stay apart from the Hawks for 14 days and return just in time to travel Sunday to Edmonton, Alberta, for the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

‘‘It was a lot tougher at the start, the first few days that I started feeling symptoms,’’ he said. ‘‘The last couple of weeks were a little bit easier. But I still couldn’t really do much in case there was something wrong with my lungs or my heart, so we had to get that checked out first, before I really started pushing in the gym more or come on the ice.’’

On Saturday, Crawford’s situation went from cloudy to back to normal almost immediately. He previously had been declared ‘‘unfit to participate’’ by coach Jeremy Colliton, with no information given about his ailment or a timetable for his return.

Crawford did some laps on his own before practice at Fifth Third Arena, then took part in some drills with goalie coach Jimmy Waite, then tended the Black Team’s net for half of the Hawks’ two-period scrimmage.

‘‘Today felt decent for the first time on the ice, and I’m just going to try and build off of that,’’ he said. ‘‘It was a good session with Jimmy doing the goalie drills; pushing around the crease felt great. It’s just a little bit more the cardio part, the endurance and the legs. After I get a few practices, that’ll feel a lot better.’’

The goalies who had fought all camp long for the No. 1 job were relegated to a rotation for the Team Red net. took the first period and the second.

It sounded as though they knew all along Crawford might come back, and Crawford mentioned he had been texting with Subban, in particular, throughout his time away.

Still, the job isn’t automatically Crawford’s again, given his lack of preparation. He showed some rust in the scrimmage, allowing three goals — including one on a floater by taxi-squad forward Reese Johnson that should have been an easy save.

‘‘First day back, the biggest thing is feeling the puck and getting comfortable and getting his game legs back,’’ Colliton said. ‘‘I’m not going to critique things on [his] Day 1 here.

‘‘But we don’t have a lot of time, so we do have some urgency. He knows that, and he’s been through it before, as far as trying to come back off an injury and get right in.’’

The Hawks will travel to Edmonton on Sunday morning and practice in the NHL’s bubble Sunday afternoon and Tuesday before facing the Blues in an exhibition game Wednesday.

Crawford said he has ‘‘never really been someone that skates a ton in the summer anyway,’’ so he hopes one week will be enough time to get him ready for Game 1 against the Oilers on Saturday. 1189215 Chicago Blackhawks ‘‘Hopefully I can get in the right shape and be able to see the puck well enough to be at the top of my game,’’ he said.

Goalie Corey Crawford joins Blackhawks’ practice after recovering from COVID-19 Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 07.26.2020

By Ben Pope@BenPopeCST

Jul 25, 2020, 10:52am CDT

With a newborn baby and a 2-year-old in the house, Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford wasn’t going out much this spring in Chicago, pandemic or not.

So when he began feeling ill and tested positive for COVID-19 — news he announced Saturday after joining practice for the first time — he was stunned.

‘‘I was trying to stay as safe as possible with my family,’’ Crawford said. ‘‘We spent a lot of time at home, actually, with two young kids. . . . So it was actually a really big surprise that I tested positive. I was just hoping to recover as quickly as possible.’’

Crawford, 35, said he was concerned after hearing on the news that, for some, the effects of the coronavirus could last for months. Fortunately for him, his symptoms never escalated beyond flulike.

And the timing worked out relatively perfectly. After feeling better, he was able to stay apart from the Hawks for 14 days and return just in time to travel Sunday to Edmonton, Alberta, for the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

‘‘It was a lot tougher at the start, the first few days that I started feeling symptoms,’’ he said. ‘‘The last couple of weeks were a little bit easier. But I still couldn’t really do much in case there was something wrong with my lungs or my heart, so we had to get that checked out first, before I really started pushing in the gym more or come on the ice.’’

On Saturday, Crawford’s situation went from cloudy to back to normal almost immediately. He previously had been declared ‘‘unfit to participate’’ by coach Jeremy Colliton, with no information given about his ailment or a timetable for his return.

Crawford did some laps on his own before practice at Fifth Third Arena, then took part in some drills with goalie coach Jimmy Waite, then tended the Black Team’s net for half of the Hawks’ two-period scrimmage.

‘‘Today felt decent for the first time on the ice, and I’m just going to try and build off of that,’’ he said. ‘‘It was a good session with Jimmy doing the goalie drills; pushing around the crease felt great. It’s just a little bit more the cardio part, the endurance and the legs. After I get a few practices, that’ll feel a lot better.’’

The goalies who had fought all camp long for the No. 1 job were relegated to a rotation for the Team Red net. Malcolm Subban took the first period and Collin Delia the second.

It sounded as though they knew all along Crawford might come back, and Crawford mentioned he had been texting with Subban, in particular, throughout his time away.

Still, the job isn’t automatically Crawford’s again, given his lack of preparation. He showed some rust in the scrimmage, allowing three goals — including one on a floater by taxi-squad forward Reese Johnson that should have been an easy save.

‘‘First day back, the biggest thing is feeling the puck and getting comfortable and getting his game legs back,’’ Colliton said. ‘‘I’m not going to critique things on [his] Day 1 here.

‘‘But we don’t have a lot of time, so we do have some urgency. He knows that, and he’s been through it before, as far as trying to come back off an injury and get right in.’’

The Hawks will travel to Edmonton on Sunday morning and practice in the NHL’s bubble Sunday afternoon and Tuesday before facing the Blues in an exhibition game Wednesday.

Crawford said he has ‘‘never really been someone that skates a ton in the summer anyway,’’ so he hopes one week will be enough time to get him ready for Game 1 against the Oilers on Saturday. 1189216 Chicago Blackhawks "So in terms of timing with defensemen and positioning and forwards helping out in the D-zone -- none of that needs to be discovered. That chemistry is already in place."

A new hope: Hawks' goalie Crawford makes first appearance at training And honestly, isn't it worth taking a chance even if Crawford is only at 60- camp 70 percent? After all, he was playing some of his best hockey down the stretch before the NHL paused its season March 12. In his final 20 apperances, Crawford was 10-9-1 with a .928 save percentage and 2.35 John Dietz goals-against average.

Follow @johndietzdh If he can't go, the Hawks would be forced to play either:

Updated • Malcolm Subban, who owns an .899 save percentage in 66 NHL games. 7/25/2020 7:08 PM • Collin Delia, who has appeared in just 18 NHL games

• Or Kevin Lankinen, who would be making his NHL debut. Chicagoans have laid their eyes on hundreds of masks over the past few months. "Listen, if (Crawford's) right and he feels healthy enough to go -- he'll go. It's that simple," Weekes said. "If he's ready to go, I'm sure he'll tell coach But only one had Blackhawks fans screaming with delight when it made Colliton, 'Yo. Get me in there. Let's roll.' He's earned the right to be able its appearance at 10:25 a.m. Saturday. to say that if he feels that way. Underneath it was the face of Corey Crawford, who practiced for the first "Now, if he doesn't feel right or if his conditioning is off or his strength time during this training camp at Fifth Third Arena and now has just one feels off, he's not going to put the team in harm's way. week to see if he can be ready to face the Edmonton Oilers in a best-of- five series that begins in Edmonton on August 1. "Either way, I think this is a best-case scenario for the Hawks. Their young guys are going to be ready. … and your veteran ace has a chance For two weeks, we wondered, pondered, dicussed and guessed what to be ready as well, and at least he's going to be traveling with you. was keeping the two-time Stanley Cup winning goalie off the ice. Well, after practice was over Crawford wasted no time in letting us know that "So if he's ready to go, it wouldn't surprise me to see him in the net." he did indeed contract the coronavirus.

"I was trying to stay as safe as possible with my family," said Crawford, who said he and his family rarely went out. "It was actually a really big Daily Herald Times LOADED: 07.26.2020 surprise that I tested positive.

"I was hoping to recover as quickly as possible (especially) hearing some people the symptoms can last for months. It seemed to go by fairly quick with pretty much flu-like symptoms."

After testing positive, Crawford stayed in the guest room of his home and away from his wife, 2-year-old and newborn baby. Once he started feeling better, he wore a mask around the house and around the kids.

"The first few days I started feeling symptoms, that was the hardest," Crawford said. "I couldn't really do much in case there was something wrong with my lungs or my heart.

So we had to get that checked out first before I really started pushing in the gym more or (I came) on the ice. All that has been done. The doctors did a good job.

"I think we were safe about it where we didn't put anyone else at risk. I'm just excited to be back on the ice and seeing pucks again."

Crawford looked extremely quick and agile while doing drills with goaltending coach Jimmy Waite and other coaches before practice began. He later allowed 3 goals during one period of a 20-minute scrimmage.

"Today felt decent for the first time on the ice," Crawford said. "I'm just going to try and build off of that. … It's just the cardio part, the endurance in the legs. After I get a few practices, that'll be a lot better.

Now the question is, can Crawford be ready in less than a week to face Connor McDavid and Co.?

Think about how many balls players hit getting ready for the baseball season. Or how many passes a quarterback throws getting ready for the football season.

Is a week of seeing pucks, reading plays and rediscovering your timing really enough?

Maybe. Maybe not.

But one thing the Hawks have going for them is that Crawford is very familiar and very comfortable with his team's systems and personnel.

"This isn't a new guy that's never played for this team," said NHL Network analyst and former goalie Kevin Weekes, who appeared in 348 games from 1997-2009. "They know Crow and he knows them. 1189217 Chicago Blackhawks pop in there, it's almost the expectation for him and at the same time, it's not really fair."

The Blackhawks need Crawford to be the best version of himself to have Will Blackhawks' Corey Crawford be ready for Game 1 of Stanley Cup a shot at making a deep run in the postseason as the No. 12 seed, and Qualifiers? he was prior to the March 12 pause. He strung together 10 consecutive starts and went 6-4-0 with a 2.41 goals-against average and .930 save percentage over that span, which validated Crawford plays better when By Charlie Roumeliotis he gets into a consistent rhythm.

July 25, 2020 4:40 PM Whether he can find that rhythm by Game 1 remains to be seen, but don't count Crawford out.

"Corey is an all-world goaltender," said. "If there’s one guy Good news: Corey Crawford is back on the ice after missing the first 12 who could step in, it would be him, especially being the goaltending days of training camp because he was ruled "unfit" to participate. He position. Hopefully he comes back and stands on his head." confirmed on Saturday he had tested positive for COVID-19, which was the reason for his absence.

Bad news: Saturday was the final day of training camp in Chicago, and Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.26.2020 there are only seven days between now and the Blackhawks' five-game play-in series against the Edmonton Oilers.

The Blackhawks leave for their hub city of Edmonton on Sunday and Crawford will be part of the trip. He was included on the 31-man roster the team submitted to the league on Friday, which made it official.

The question now is, can he get up to speed in time to be the starter for Game 1?

Some goaltenders need extra time before training camp to get their conditioning and puck tracking at the right level before the start of the regular season. Crawford isn't one of them, but that doesn't mean he's not behind the eight-ball.

"Obviously there's not much time, but I've never really been someone that skates a ton in the summer anyway," Crawford said. "But I feel like it takes a few practices just to get your legs under you, it doesn't really matter what you do in the gym. Today felt decent for the first time on the ice. I'm just going to try and build off of that."

On his first day of practice, Crawford worked with goaltending coach Jimmy Waite for 20 minutes before taking shots from his teammates for the first time in camp. The focus was on cardio, endurance and just feeling the crease again. He even participated in the first period of the team scrimmage, where he gave up three goals, but the rust was to be expected.

"It was a good session with Jimmy," Crawford said. "After a few practices, that will be a lot better."

Even though he doesn't skate much during the offseason, Crawford still missed valuable preparation time ahead of the NHL's Return to Play plan. This isn't a normal training camp with multiple preseason games to get acclimated for an 82-game season. The Blackhawks have only one exhibition contest against the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues on Wednesday and that's it before heading into the qualifying round.

Head coach Jeremy Colliton will use that time to evaluate the goaltenders before naming his starter next Saturday.

"It's great to have him out there," Colliton said of Crawford. "We'll get him ready as soon as we can. ... We don't have a lot of time, so we do have some urgency, but he knows that, and he's been through it before as far as trying to come back from an injury and get right in, so we'll keep going on that process. The challenge is, every day, to do what we can to prepare him to be ready. We don't need to make that decision right now."

The Blackhawks are scheduled to have an off day on Monday and Thursday, but ice will be available to them every day at the practice facilities in Edmonton for players who want to skate. Crawford, you figure, will take advantage of that extra practice.

At this point, it's difficult to see a scenario where Crawford isn't the Game 1 starter. Whether he feels at the top of his game or not, the Blackhawks have the best chance of advancing with No. 50 between the pipes because of his championship pedigree and the psychological boost it would give his teammates.

"He's always risen to the occasion," said. "When he's gotten in tight spots or when he's been hurt, he comes back and plays great. I laugh, because the amount of preparation that a guy like me needs to go play at my best as opposed to a guy like Crow who can just 1189218 Chicago Blackhawks

What dealing with COVID-19 was like for Blackhawks' Corey Crawford

By Scott King

July 25, 2020 2:59 PM

The Blackhawks were complete on Saturday after the team had waited the first 12 days of Phase 3 training camp for goalie Corey Crawford to join the squad.

On a Zoom video conference call with Blackhawks media following Saturday's practice, Crawford announced he had previously been diagnosed with COVID-19 and had been quarantining at his family's home in Chicago the past few weeks.

Crawford was deemed "unfit to play" after his absence on Day 1 of practices but was on the ice Saturday for the session and even participated in some of a scrimmage before heading in early.

It was the Hawks' final training camp practice in Chicago before heading to Edmonton for the NHL's 24-team postseason in which they'll face the St. Louis Blues in an exhibition game on Wednesday and begin a best- of-five play-in series against the Oilers next Saturday.

Click to download the MyTeams App for the latest Blackhawks news and analysis.

The two-time Stanley Cup champion described what dealing with COVID- 19 was like for him and his family.

“A lot of people have different symptoms. I heard some stuff on the news. I was trying to stay as safe as possible with my family," Crawford said. "We spent a lot of time at home, actually, with two young kids: a new baby at home and our 2-year-old. We didn’t really spend that much time, a lot of time out.

"It was actually a really big surprise that I tested positive. I was just hoping to recover as quickly as possible, hearing that some people’s symptoms could last for months. But it seemed to go by fairly quick with pretty much flu-like symptoms. Once those were gone, the bad ones, within a few days it was just more trying to recover and get the 10 days — and we even went further than that, the two weeks, to just make sure it was the safest thing.

“The last couple weeks maybe was a little bit easier, but I still couldn’t do much in case there was something wrong with my lungs or my heart. So we had to get that checked out first before I really started pushing in the gym or come on the ice. All that has been done. The doctors did a good job. I think we were safe enough about it. We didn’t put anyone else at risk. I’m just excited to be back on the ice and seeing pucks again.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189219 Chicago Blackhawks

How bad were Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook's injuries?

By Scott King

July 25, 2020 12:04 PM

On Friday, during a very candid Zoom video conference call with Blackhawks media, Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook announced that he would not be traveling with the team to Edmonton for the NHL's 24-team postseason.

The three-time Stanley Cup champ fully participated in the Hawks' Phase 3 training camp in Chicago from July 13-25. He hadn't been with the team since a morning skate on December 18 ahead of a game at the United Center against the Colorado Avalanche. Seabrook was a healthy scratch for the contest then stayed in Chicago to undergo medical evaluation when the Hawks traveled to Winnipeg the next day.

The 35-year-old blueliner then underwent a right-shoulder surgery later in December and separate hip surgeries in January and February. According to the longtime Blackhawks alternate captain, the injuries that required surgery noticeably affected his quality of life for a considerable amount of time before the procedures.

"My shoulder, it was probably hard to sleep for five years," Seabrook said. "Sleeping was a challenge. I hurt my shoulder when I was 18 in the World Juniors and I got a second opinion, actually, and Dr. Terry got me hooked up with a doctor in Winnipeg, and he was my doctor when I hurt it in Winnipeg with the World Junior team.

"Dr. Terry, our decision was to strengthen it, and we could get 10 good years out of it, so that’s what I did. And we ended up getting 15. Don’t know how many of those were good, but we got 15 years out of it and it progressively got worse.

"I haven’t been able to throw a baseball or football for a long time. Sleeping on it’s been tough. We did an MRI, and there were definitely some issues that Dr. Terry could see. The alarming thing to me was there were two separate issues that he couldn’t tell me if they could be fixed until he was in my shoulder. That was alarming and he ended up fixing one and leaving the other one alone. Just cleaning it up and with the hips, I’ve had trouble with my back for a long time, getting out of bed, probably more information than you need, trying to sit on a toilet, things like that. Playing with the kids it was just hard to get on the ground, and that’s been going on for 5-10 years. When we decided to do the shoulder, I asked them to fix my back, too. He said let’s look at the hips first and go from there. They looked at the hips, he figured there was some stuff we could do to alleviate a lot of that pressure and stress."

Seabrook is feeling rejuvenated after rehabbing from the surgeries and is looking forward to joining the Blackhawks in next season's training camp.

"I feel incredible. I feel like I’ve been able to get up out of bed. It’s been actually really weird the last two or three months when I get up out of bed. It’s been in my head a lot, remembering how hard it was to do certain things and not having to do that anymore. I still catch myself not wanting to do something too quick because I still remember that. Now it’s just been incredible. Getting down and helping my kids tie their shoes has been nice. Tying my own shoes has been nice, putting on a sock, getting out of bed. I’ve been happy with the decisions that I’ve made, and I couldn’t have asked for a better surgeon and the help he’s given me through this and the guidance has been great."

Despite being able to participate in summer camp, Seabrook didn't feel he was ready for postseason hockey yet and didn't want to take a roster spot from another player.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189220 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks' Corey Crawford confirms he tested positive for COVID-19

By Charlie Roumeliotis

July 25, 2020 12:35 PM

The biggest storyline of Blackhawks training camp 2.0 was the fact Corey Crawford had been out since Day 1 because he was ruled "unfit" to participate. Saturday was his first day on the ice in Phase 3 and now we know the reason for his absence.

Crawford confirmed after practice that he tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to quarantine in Chicago for the past few weeks. He mainly felt flu-like symptoms at the beginning and even self-isolated beyond the 14-day period to be extra cautious.

"I'd say it was a lot tougher at the start," Crawford said. "The first few days that I started feeling symptoms, that was the hardest. The last couple weeks — maybe a little bit more — was a little bit easier, but I still couldn't do much in case there was something wrong with my lungs or my heart, so we had to get that checked out first before I really started pushing in the gym more or come on the ice. But all of that has been done.

"The doctors did a good job. We were safe enough about it, we didn't put anyone else at risk and I'm just excited to be back on the ice and seeing pucks again."

Click to download the MyTeams App for the latest Blackhawks news and analysis.

The most difficult part for Crawford was wondering when it would pass. He had seen reports that symptoms, for some people, could last for months.

"I was just hoping to recover as quickly as possible," he said. "I think it was just a shock. It's kind of a little bit of the unknown, too, because everyone feels it a little bit differently."

Crawford didn't take any chances during the first few days when the symptoms were at its worst. He slept in the guest room of his house and wore a mask around the house to protect their two-year-old son and newborn baby.

“I was trying to stay as safe as possible with my family," Crawford said.

After going 12 straight days without practicing, Crawford finally got the clearance to participate in the final day of camp in Chicago and felt great. But he knows it's going to take time to get to a level he needs to be for the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Game 1 against the Edmonton Oilers, which is exactly one week from Saturday.

"I'm just excited to get back to playing hockey," said Crawford, who was included on the Blackhawks' 31-man postseason roster. "Going to try and get into it as quick as possible and try and get that game shape back."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189221 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks' Corey Crawford skates for first time since being ruled 'unfit'

By Charlie Roumeliotis

July 25, 2020 10:30 AM

After missing the first 12 days of training camp, Corey Crawford skated for the first time on Saturday and even participated in the team scrimmage. He had been ruled "unfit" from Day 1, according to head coach Jeremy Colliton.

Crawford confirmed after practice that he tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to quarantine in Chicago for the past few weeks, which was the reason for his absence. But he's back and ready to go as the team prepares to make a postseason run.

"Excited to be back," Crawford said. "Going to try and get into it as quick as possible and try and get that game shape back."

It's great news for the Blackhawks, who leave for Edmonton on Sunday and are four days away from facing the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues in their lone exhibition game before taking on the Oilers in a best-of-five play-in series on Aug. 1.

The Blackhawks submitted their 31-man roster on Friday and the list reportedly included Crawford.

The challenge for Crawford will be whether he has enough time to get back up to game speed. There are only seven days between Saturday and Game 1 of the qualifying round, and goaltenders normally need extra time for conditioning purposes and puck tracking.

But if Crawford is cleared to play, the Blackhawks' chances increase significantly in the qualifying round (and beyond). He was one of the best goaltenders going into the pause, recording a .928 save percentage in his past 20 starts.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189222 Chicago Blackhawks sheet for a scrimmage after about 15 minutes, goalies Kevin Lankinen and Malcolm Subban were waiting in the two nets. Crawford skated over to Lankinen and replaced him.

Corey Crawford joins Blackhawks after testing positive for COVID-19 As the scrimmage showed, Crawford will need some time to find his rhythm. He was noticeably searching for and reacting to the puck slower than usual. He didn’t face a lot of shots, but he still allowed three goals By Scott Powers over a 20-minute period. Subban and Crawford were replaced for Collin Delia and Lankinen in the second period. Jul 25, 2020 “Obviously, there’s not much time,” Crawford said. “I’ve never been

someone who skates a ton in the summer anyway. But I feel like it takes As they say, better late than never. a few practices just to get your legs under you. It doesn’t really matter what you do in the gym. Today felt decent for the first time on the ice. I’m One day before the Blackhawks depart for the NHL bubble in Edmonton just going to try and build off of that. It was a good session with Jimmy and undergo their final preparations for the Edmonton Oilers in a play-in doing the goalie drills; pushing around the crease felt great. It’s just, I series, Corey Crawford made his first appearance at training camp and think, a little bit more the cardio part, the endurance and legs. After I get announced he had been absent because he had tested positive for a few practices, that will be a lot better.” COVID-19. Delia, Lankinen and Subban have looked fine in the practices and “I just wanted to start off by saying I tested positive for COVID,” Crawford scrimmages over the last two weeks, but no one is denying that Crawford said. “I’ve had to quarantine in my place here in Chicago for the last few likely gives the Blackhawks a much better chance at winning. His weeks. So, that was the case for my absence at camp. I’m excited to be experience, including in the Stanley Cup playoffs, far exceeds that of the back. I’m going to try to get into it as quick as possible and try to get that other goalies, and he has consistently continued to play at a high level. game shape back.” Before the season pause, Crawford was playing some of his best Crawford is unsure where he contracted the virus. He said he spent most hockey. He had started 10 consecutive games and stopped 317 of 341 of his time during the league’s pause at home because he has young shots for a .930 save percentage. Since Jan. 1, he has a .928 save children. He was initially concerned about how much the virus would percentage in 20 games. affect him considering what he had heard about other people’s experiences. Crawford’s ability improves the Blackhawks’ chances, but it also gives his teammates more confidence, as one league source explained. “A lot of people have different symptoms,” Crawford said. “I heard some stuff on the news. I was trying to stay as safe as possible with my family. “The team would be more confident with him (than the other goalies),” We spent a lot of time at home, actually, with two young kids: a new baby the source said. “They can play more of an offensive style they like to at home and our 2-year-old. We didn’t really spend that much time a lot play.” of time out. It was actually a really big surprise that I tested positive. I Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton didn’t declare Crawford as his starting was just hoping to recover as quickly as possible, hearing that some goalie Saturday, but all signs point to that as long as Crawford can people’s symptoms could last for months. But it seemed to go by fairly improve his form over the coming days. quick with pretty much flu-like symptoms. Once those were gone, the bad ones, within a few days it was just more trying to recover and get the 10 “Obviously, his track record and his highest level is a big lift for our team days — and we even went further than that, the two weeks, to just make to have him back in our group,” Colliton said. “We just got to take it day sure it was the safest thing. by day. We’ve been doing that in the past here, in the past couple weeks, not knowing what was going to happen as far as us getting him back. “The last couple weeks maybe was a little bit easier, but I still couldn’t do And now the challenge is every day to do what we can to prepare him to much in case there was something wrong with my lungs or my heart. So be ready. And we don’t need to make that decision (on who will start) we had to get that checked out first before I really started pushing in the right now.” gym or come on the ice. All that has been done. The doctors did a good job. I think we were safe enough about it. We didn’t put anyone else at risk. I’m just excited to be back on the ice and seeing pucks again.” The Athletic LOADED: 07.26.2020 It was not known publicly why Crawford was absent. The NHL and NHL Players’ Association had agreed all players who missed practice would be announced as “unfit” to participate.

Because of that, there was a lot of speculation about whether Crawford had tested positive. Blackhawks general manager had recently expressed hope Crawford would join the team before leaving for Edmonton, and Crawford was included on the roster list submitted to the NHL on Friday, but nothing was definite.

There was the question of whether Crawford would appear, but there was also one of what sort of shape he would be in if he did. When Crawford was returning from a concussion after missing most of the 2017-18 season, he needed a lot of time to resemble anything like he did before.

This was a different circumstance, but time still wasn’t on the Blackhawks’ side. They face the St. Louis Blues in an exhibition game Wednesday and open their series against the Edmonton Oilers on Aug. 1. Crawford has a week to get up to speed.

One former NHL goalie weighed in on the reality of returning to game action in a week’s time.

“A lot of it depends on how good he was training before he took time off,” the goalie said. “If it’s been four months since training hard, it will take weeks. But if he only took a few weeks off, then it shouldn’t take too long to get his timing back.”

Crawford participated in the majority of practice. He worked with goalie Jimmy Waite for at least 30 minutes before practice and joined the team once practice started. When the team moved to the facility’s other ice 1189223 Colorado Avalanche

Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon participate in final scrimmage before Edmonton

By ANDY YAMASHITA | [email protected] |

PUBLISHED: July 25, 2020 at 3:54 p.m. | UPDATED: July 25, 2020 at 3:59 p.m.

Both Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon participated in the Avalanche’s final training camp practice Saturday before the team leaves for Edmonton.

MacKinnon, who missed practice on Friday, was suited up and played in both the drills and the scrimmage in full capacity. The center almost scored a goal too, breaking away through the middle only to see his shot saved in the one-on-one with goaltender Michael Hutchinson.

Makar was a little easier to spot. Sporting the red non-contact sweater, the defenseman took another step in his return after missing almost a week’s worth of practices after being listed “unfit” to play. He last skated with the Avalanche July 18, but returned to the ice Friday to participate in drills.

“It’s definitely good to have him back,” fellow defenseman Ian Cole said. “No one in our room was concerned that it was a long-term thing or he wasn’t going to get back, so everyone knew it takes time and (we want to) make sure he gets right, gets whatever it is fixed and then go from there.

“He’s a great player, and we’re certainly a better team with him than without him.”

Intensity important ahead of NHL Restart

With the final day of training camp under their belts, the Avalanche will trek to Edmonton to begin the NHL season and compete under circumstances that they’ve never experienced before. For head coach Jared Bednar, it all comes down to the intensity his players have before the puck drops in Colorado’s exhibition game against the Minnesota Wild July 29.

Wednesday’s exhibition will be the Avs only warm up before the season restarts and will see the team take the ice together in a competitive setting for the first time since the NHL cancelled games March 12.

“We have to be prepared and ready to play meaningful games at the highest possible intensity and competitiveness that we can right from the time that we get there,” Bednar said.

Cole agreed, and said despite the amenities the NHL is providing players in the bubble — food trucks, movie theaters, etc. — he thinks everyone understands that the trip to Edmonton is really a work trip.

“We’re there to win hockey games,” he said. “We’re there to win a Stanley Cup.”

The return to play will be particularly challenging for Cole, who just became a father a few days ago. Now, he will have to leave for Edmonton for the next few months, but he understands the circumstances and is ready to compete.

“Obviously you’re going to miss your family,” he said. “But at the same time you only get so many opportunities to win a Stanley Cup and this is a great opportunity for us.”

Following Wednesday’s exhibition, the Avs jump right back into the season with the St. Louis Blues on Aug. 2, the Dallas Stars Aug. 5, and the Las Vegas Golden Knights Aug. 8.

Denver Post: LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189224 Colorado Avalanche And the conference media cognoscenti picked Daz’s Dudes to finish fifth out of six teams in the MWC Mountain Division?

Something doesn’t add up. Grading the Week: Time to start engraving Bol Bol’s 2020-21 rookie of the year award? All aboard the Daz Train, ladies and gents. It’s going to be a wild 2020.

(As if it hasn’t been already.)

By MATT SCHUBERT | [email protected] | The Denver Post

July 25, 2020 at 6:00 a.m. Denver Post: LOADED: 07.26.2020

Welcome to the inaugural edition of what’s to become a weekly feature here from The Denver Post sports department: Grading the Week.

Each Saturday in this space, yours truly will hand out grades to teams, athletes, leagues and/or sports figures from around the Centennial State. Please disregard that I’m actually a failure myself. I’ve got opinions, and I must share them.

Now, on to the grades…

Bol Bol — A+

Even if you aren’t one of the lucky Denverites who actually has Altitude Sports, all you had to do was go to Twitter to luxuriate in the euphoria of Nuggets rookie Bol Bol’s (sort of) NBA debut on Wednesday.

It was after one of his six blocks in particular — the one the 7-foot-2 forward collected off the glass, dribbled up court and casually threw in the other basket for a pull-up 3 — that the mania really started to take hold. At one point, an NBA stats muckety muck even wondered aloud about Bol’s eligibility for next year’s rookie of the year award (since, you know, he has yet to play an actual NBA game).

Move over Michael Porter Jr., Nuggets fans’ hearts belong to a new love: The man whose name’s so nice, you’ve got to say it twice.

Of course, the league drug tested Bol after his 16-point, 10-rebound, six- block supernova against the Washington Wizards. And who can blame them? Nobody should have access to unicorn DNA.

NHL — C-

The NHL made things a whole lot harder on the Avalanche and star rookie Cale Makar than it needed to this week.

By not allowing the Avs to acknowledge what was ailing their defenseman — not even in the vague “lower body injury” sense we’re accustomed to from Colorado — the NHL left it open to speculation for several days whether or not Makar had COVID-19.

If I’m a betting man — and in Colorado, I now can be — I’d want a little more clarity than “unfit” to practice.

Then again, subterfuge seems to be the way of the world these days. The Nuggets just spent the past few weeks pretending they weren’t missing roughly half their team in Orlando.

Rockies — C+

Everyone should have someone who loves them like the Rockies love Drew Butera.

Who cares if he was looking up at Mendoza with a .175/.250/.281 slash line the past two seasons in purple pinstripes? If you’ve got to carry a third catcher in this wild 60-game MLB season, let it be the guy who handles pitchers with a modern-day Crash Davis panache (I’m just going to assume since he rarely plays).

On the plus side, it looks like we’re getting a 16-team MLB playoff bracket. So all the Rockies have to do is be average. And we all know they can do that.

Mountain West media — D+

Let’s see, the Colorado State football team has …

+ Preseason All-Mountain West Conference offensive player of the year Warren Jackson,

+ The second-most preseason All-MWC selections in the conference (tied with San Diego State),

+ A former Nebraska recruit at quarterback who can sling it. 1189225 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets still have lineup decisions to make

Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch

Jul 25, 2020 at 6:01 AM

The Blue Jackets will fly on Sunday to Toronto, where an NHL quarantine "bubble" awaits, but they still have lineup questions to answer.

A starting goalie must be determined before Aug. 2, when either Elvis Merzlikins or Joonas Korpisalo will start the opener of a five-game series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. A third defense pairing also needs to be decided and coach John Tortorella must complete his forward lines.

"I’m not settled, I’ll tell you that," Tortorella said Thursday. "I know two (defense) pairs are going to be together. I know sets of forwards, two each, are going to play together. I’m not sure where everything else falls into play yet."

The top two defense pairings are Zach Werenski and Seth Jones as the first unit with Vladislav Gavrikov and David Savard as the second. Ryan Murray is expected to play on the third pairing, assuming his body holds up, and his partner will be chosen from a group that includes Dean Kukan, Markus Nutivaara, Scott Harrington or possibly even rookie Andrew Peeke.

There are just as many tough decisions up front, where rookies Liam Foudy and Alexandre Texier haven’t found a home yet and might be pressured to stay in the lineup by Nathan Gerbe, Devin Shore or Kevin Stenlund.

Merzlikins appears to have a lead for the starting goalie job, especially after Korpisalo allowed a combined 13 goals in two scrimmages to start this week, but that’s not a sure thing.

The Blue Jackets will get a few more practices plus an exhibition game next week in Toronto before a final lineup is set.

Dealing with ‘soreness’

Nick Foligno returned to practice Thursday after being "unable to practice" Monday and Tuesday. The Blue Jackets’ captain, who missed one practice and two scrimmages, also added a slight measure of clarity to his health status.

"I was just dealing with some soreness," he said. "Just a few lingering things, but it was nice to be back out there with the guys and get a little ‘Torts’ (conditioning) skate. It was good."

‘Kraken’ a joke

Foligno has three young children, so his "dad joke" ability is elite, which he proved when asked about the release Thursday of the nickname for the NHL’s latest expansion team: Seattle Kraken.

"We were ‘Kraken’ a lot of jokes in the locker room today," he said, trying to keep a straight face.

Foligno quickly added some goodwill to his "Kraken" crack.

"I think it’s great," he said. "It’s wonderful to have another team in the league. Pretty cool logo, pretty cool jersey. I wasn’t expecting those colors (three shades of blue), but I think it works."

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189226 Columbus Blue Jackets Neither Elvis Merzlikins nor Joonas Korpisalo, who was riddled for a combined 13 goals in two scrimmages to start the week, has looked particularly solid in training camp.

Coach John Tortorella wonders if Columbus Blue Jackets are prepared "We’re certainly evaluating," Tortorella said of his goaltenders, who had for series separate stretches of greatness during the regular season. "The scrimmage games are big for the goaltenders in evaluating them. We’re not thrilled about 13 goals, but it’s not … it doesn’t put you into a Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch concern.

Jul 25, 2020 at 5:30 AM "I think we’ve got two really good goalies. We still have to figure out who’s going to start, so … I’ll leave it at that."

Other concerns included some important players looking less than Time is running out. prepared as the clock ticked down on the final camp workouts. After leaving the ice after practice Friday, the Blue Jackets essentially "For the most part, I’ve liked what I’ve seen," Tortorella said Thursday. wrapped up a two-week training camp to prepare for the conclusion of "It’s just two or three guys that are pretty important people. It’s a concern the season, which was stopped in March 12 by the coronavirus pandemic of mine that they do that type of stuff … the team concept, as far as our — more than four months ago. neutral zone, our reloads, all the things we’re teaching. They will leave Sunday for Toronto, one of the NHL’s two quarantine "I’m not so sure we’re getting total concentration out of some key people. "bubble" hubs for an improvised 24-team playoffs, and a week later the That’s what we’re trying to get." Jackets begin a best-of-five qualifying-round series against the hometown Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.

The Blue Jackets will hold a handful of practices in Toronto and play one Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 07.26.2020 exhibition game, July 30 against the Boston Bruins. But the clock is ticking before the modified Stanley Cup playoffs begin.

In other words, this is not your father’s playoffs — nor was it his type of training camp. This is way different, and Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella is a little concerned that some members of his team don’t yet fully grasp that.

"We’ve just got to be really careful not to fall into the trap of thinking we can wade ourselves into this," said Tortorella, noting some troubling issues in practices and scrimmage games this week.

"Each day is an important day," he said. "This isn’t getting ready for regular season and then trying to find your game in 15 games during the regular season. This is a sprint. And I think some guys have been dead on, right from the start. Other guys, not so much."

The unknown is how the Maple Leafs are practicing in the eyes of coach Sheldon Keefe, who played for Tortorella with Tampa Bay from 2001-03. Keefe and 22 other coaches might have similar concerns about players, all of whom went through the equivalent of a full offseason before the start of these camps.

It wouldn’t be surprising if many players are fighting an inclination to methodically build their intensity, the way they usually do before a season. They are creatures of habit, and such a tack would only be natural.

But that approach could be lethal to the hopes of any team hoping to win the Stanley Cup, especially teams such as the Jackets and Maple Leafs who are fighting to stay in the hunt right away.

"We’re in single digits (in days) now, as far as getting ready to play (Game 1), and I just don’t want us to fall in the trap of wading in," Tortorella said. "We need to get ready to go."

If they’re not, it could get ugly in a hurry.

Toronto is loaded with elite offensive talent, especially among its forwards, and the Jackets got to this point primarily because of defense and goaltending, though each facet took time to round into shape in the regular season.

The Jackets improved immensely in those areas between December and March, but nearly half the season was gone by then. This time, there is no time for "finding" their top level.

"We’re hitting the ground running," said captain Nick Foligno, who returned to the ice Thursday after sitting out Monday and Tuesday. "We’re playing for something right away. Not to say the regular season isn’t important, but this is the Stanley Cup playoffs, so I do think it’s important to get that mentality.

"I don’t want guys running each other through the boards (in scrimmages), but just getting that mentality that you’re going to go through somebody or through their stick — I think we’ve got to find that."

The Jackets’ goaltenders, meanwhile, need to find the puck more often. 1189227 Dallas Stars

The line of Denis Gurianov, Roope Hintz and Tyler Seguin has been split up. Here are adjustments the Stars are making.

By Matthew DeFranks

9:08 PM on Jul 25, 2020 CDT

FRISCO — One of training camp’s most exciting experiments is now over.

After spending the first nine practices of training camp together, the line of Denis Gurianov, Roope Hintz and Tyler Seguin was split up on Saturday morning, the final day of Stars training camp.

Here’s what the shakeup resulted in:

Jamie Benn – Tyler Seguin – Denis Gurianov

Roope Hintz – – Corey Perry

The other two lines (Mattias Janmark – Joe Pavelski – Alexander Radulov, and – Radek Faksa – Blake Comeau) remained the same.

Stars interim coach Rick Bowness said on the first day of training camp that the coaching staff wanted to see what Gurianov-Hintz-Seguin could do with all that speed on one line together. The trio was dangerous in transition, as is expected from a trio of speedsters, but wasn’t holding the puck in the offensive zone as much as expected.

“It was clear to me, after a couple of scrimmages, Seggy just wasn’t getting the puck,” Bowness said. “It’s as simple as that. He’s our best player, get him the puck. We tried it. We wanted to take a look at all that speed on that line. It would be very difficult to defend it, but you’ve got to be able to make some plays, and I thought that was missing in that line.”

Benn and Seguin are very familiar with each other, and the two have spent more than 2,200 minutes of 5 on 5 time together in the last three seasons. The Stars have outscored teams 105-77 during that time.

Another option for Bowness would have been to create two lines like this:

Jamie Benn – Tyler Seguin – Corey Perry

Roope Hintz – Jason Dickinson – Denis Gurianov

That would have kept Benn and Seguin together with another possession-style player in Perry, while allowing for his three young forwards in Hintz, Dickinson, Gurianov to play together again. Of course, it’s always a look that Bowness could go back to if needed.

No Bishop: Goaltender Ben Bishop missed another day of practice Saturday, but Bowness said the Stars gave him the option of going on the ice or doing an off-ice workout.

“You want to skate or you want to work out and go home?” Bowness said. “That’s what he did.”

Bishop hasn’t been on the ice with the Stars since Wednesday’s simulated game in which he allowed six goals. He missed practice Thursday due to maintenance, Bowness said, and the Stars were off on Friday. Bishop also missed the first practice of training camp, but Bowness said the three days of practice in Edmonton allow Bishop time to get ready for Thursday’s exhibition against Nashville.

Bowness said that in a perfect world, Bishop would play two periods against the Predators, with backup Anton Khudobin playing the third.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189228 Dallas Stars his first AHL season with a .917 save percentage and 2.57 goals against average.

“It’s a mental, it’s a physical grind,” Nill said of the AHL season. “As you It’s wheels up for Edmonton: Check out the Stars’ bubble roster for the mentioned, we thought from January on, his game once again took off. resuming season He took it to another level and we’ve seen [that] in camp here also. We thought he’s been very good. He looks real calm in net. He’s steady. He’s competitive and he’s a big man.” By Matthew DeFranks Oettinger is the Stars’ goaltender of the future, a former first-round pick in 8:55 PM on Jul 25, 2020 CDT 2017 that attended Boston University for two seasons before turning pro this season. When the Stars needed a goalie down the stretch in March,

it was Oettinger who got the call and not Bow. FRISCO — You don’t want to be on the roster bubble. But you do want to Forwards (17) be on the bubble roster — and the Stars have theirs now. Dallas Stars center Joe Pavelski (16) celebrates his score with right wing Stars general manager Jim Nill said the team reduced their 35-man Alexander Radulov (47) during the first period of an NHL matchup training camp roster to the league-maximum 31-man roster by sending between the Dallas Stars and the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday, Feb. home forwards Joel L’Esperance and , defenseman Dillon 23, 2020 at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Heatherington and goaltender Colton Point. NHL regulars: Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Denis Gurianov, Mattias That meant that the Stars’ last two first-round picks made the roster: Janmark, Joe Pavelski, Alexander Radulov, Roope Hintz, Jason forward Ty Dellandrea and defenseman Thomas Harley. Dickinson, Corey Perry, Andrew Cogliano, Radek Faksa and Blake After the cuts, the Stars will take 17 forwards, 10 defensemen and four Comeau. goalies to Edmonton for the resumption of the 2019-20 season. Teams Next man up: Justin Dowling. were allowed a 31-man roster with a maximum of 28 skaters. The Stars elected to only carry 27 skaters in order to bring a fourth goaltender. On the roster: Jason Robertson, Joel Kiviranta, Nick Caamano and Ty Dellandrea. Let’s go position-by-position to break down the Stars roster. Off the roster: Joel L’Esperance and Rhett Gardner. Goaltenders (4) The decisions up front had to do with what role a player could play in the Dallas Stars goaltender Ben Bishop (30) makes a save on a shot by the NHL. Can he play on the power play? Can he kill penalties? Is he a wing Buffalo Sabres' Henri Jokiharju during the third period on Thursday, Jan. or a center? Is he a top-six or bottom-six forward? 16, 2020, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. The Sabres won, 4- 1. Dowling is a forward that’s trusted by the coaching staff, with the experience of playing all 13 postseason games last year and the Dallas Stars goaltender Ben Bishop (30) makes a save on a shot by the versatility to play wing, center, top-six, bottom-six and power play. During Buffalo Sabres' Henri Jokiharju during the third period on Thursday, Jan. training camp, Dowling also worked with the kill, but it is unlikely 16, 2020, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. The Sabres won, 4- he will play there when games resume. 1.(Ashley Landis / TNS) Robertson is perhaps the most-offensively talented player not in the NHL regulars: Ben Bishop and Anton Khudobin. Stars’ top 12 forwards, and could jump Dowling to be the first forward off Next man up: Jake Oettinger. the bench if the Stars lose an offensive winger like Alexander Radulov, Corey Perry or Denis Gurianov. He tied for the team lead in Texas with On the roster: Landon Bow. 25 goals in his first professional season, is a play-maker in the offensive zone, and made his NHL debut earlier this season. Off the roster: Colton Point. At the start of training camp, Robertson practiced on the third-unit power The fact that Point was left off the roster was not surprising at all. He play with Dowling, Mattias Janmark, Stepehn Johns and Esa Lindell. The spent the entire 2019-20 season with ECHL affiliate Idaho, save for a third unit won’t ever make it into the game, but it gives an indication of one-game cameo with AHL affiliate Texas. The only mildly surprising part how the Stars coaches and management feel about him and his of the Stars’ decision was the choice to take four goalies to Edmonton offensive ceiling. For Robertson, it would not take much for him to get instead of three, and it’s a decision that has a trickle-down effect on the into a game. rest of the roster. Kiviranta (5-11, 180 pounds) and Caamano (6-3, 200 pounds) bring Nill said the Stars wanted to bring four goaltenders to Edmonton in case similar profiles with different size. Both are speedy, pesky wingers that injuries or illness ravage the depth at the position. The COVID-19 testing can kill penalties if needed, and also bring energy to the game. procedures would make it tough, if not impossible, to add a goaltender on short notice if they suffer two injuries and need a backup goalie. During camp, Caamano has impressed with his ability to hold on to pucks in the offensive zone and can be a bit of an agitator as well. Kiviranta “If you take three goalies, and you get an injury, then you’re down to was, for stretches of the season, Texas’ best forward that could chip in two,” Nill said. “If you go into another game, you might have a back-to- offensively and still be responsible defensively. back and another goalie gets hurt, you cannot get that next goalie in there in time. … We just think it’s too risky to go in there with three That brings us to Ty Dellandrea. goalies. This is something new for everybody, and we just thought it’s the best thing to cover our bases in case there was an injury to a goalie.” Dellandrea, 20, has never played in an NHL game but the organization believes he’s turned a corner from September, when he was cut from the The decision to take four goalies instead of three meant that the Stars team during training camp. In between, he won a gold medal with could only take 27 skaters instead of 28. As the Stars decided to take 10 Canada at the World Juniors, and posted a career-high 32 goals with defensemen to Edmonton, they had to cut two forwards instead of one. Flint in the . Essentially, the decision came down to whether the Stars would rather have a fourth goaltender (Bow) or an 18th forward (L’Esperance or “I think Dellandrea has come in and really opened up a lot of eyes,” Nill Gardner). said. “He’s taken his game to another level, you can tell. We always talk about development and it takes time, and he’s gone from being a young It’s still very, very unlikely that Bow plays. It’s also very unlikely that hockey player to being a man now. His performance in camp showed it.” Oettinger plays a game in the postseason. As a reminder, a well-traveled and quality backup goaltender like Khudobin has never started a It’s not clear what kind of role Dellandrea can serve in Edmonton. He’s postseason game. So, while theoretically possible, carrying a fourth shown he can score in the OHL, and he also profiles as a two-way goaltender is more for insurance than anything. forward down the line. During training camp, he primarily played center, and killed penalties alongside Caamano. He very well may be the final As for the third goalie, Oettinger claimed that position in the second half Stars forward to get into a game, or he may ride the wave of training of the AHL season and didn’t let go of it during training camp. He finished camp past older players like Kiviranta and Caamano. If L’Esperance was included, he would have been an offensive option for the Stars. He can play center, but it would have been tough to find a spot for him on the power play. L’Esperance makes an impact around the net, and the Stars already have plenty of players (Benn, Pavelski, Faksa, Perry, Radulov) that can camp out in front of the net. He’s also more of a pure scorer than a play-maker like Robertson.

Gardner is a defensive-minded center who was one of the first recalls of the season for the Stars, but he lacks speed compared to Kiviranta and Caamano, and would have been the eighth center on the depth chart.

Defensemen (10)

Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (4) makes a break down the ice past St. Louis Blues left wing Sammy Blais (9) during the first period of an NHL matchup between the Dallas Stars and the St. Louis Blues on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020 at American Airlines Center in Dallas.

NHL regulars: Esa Lindell, John Klingberg, Jamie Oleksiak, Miro Heiskanen, Andrej Sekera, Stephen Johns.

Next men up: Taylor Fedun and Joel Hanley.

On the roster: Gavin Bayreuther and Thomas Harley.

Off the roster: Dillon Heatherington.

This roster decision really came down to three players (Bayreuther, Harley and Heatherington) for two spots.

Harley is the name that jumps out because, well, his play jumps out. He’s an 18-year-old that already has NHL-ready size at 6-3 and above- average skating to go along with advanced offensive skills. His highlights are pretty, and his training camp helped cement his spot on the roster.

This comes after he was one of the final nine defensemen in training camp way back in September.

“He was close to making our team last year, and his game has improved,” Nill said. “Coaches, ourselves, we thought he got better and better every day in camp. We like what he brings. We’re going to have 10 defensemen, where he fits in that pecking order, that will be decided by performance and injuries as we move forward.”

Harley can quarterback a power play, he’s done so in the OHL, but would be way down the depth chart. He also won’t be killing any penalties for the Stars. Harley is dynamic at 5 on 5, even given his defensive deficiencies.

With Heatherington, it could have been argued that the Stars should have added him to the roster to combat the physicality of the playoffs, especially given the size of the Blues and the trouble Dallas had with St. Louis in the second round last year. Without Roman Polak, the Stars are down a piece of their physicality on the back end, and Heatherington could have filled it.

Do the Stars feel like they’re lacking size on the back end with Polak (and now without the 6-4, 225-pound Heatherington)?

“We’ve got Jamie Oleksiak and Stephen Johns,” Nill said. “I know everybody goes back to last year against St. Louis and having troubles handling St. Louis on the cycle. People forget Jamie Oleksiak got hurt in the Nashville series, wasn’t available for us. And Stephen Johns was injured at that time. With those two guys on the back end, that gives us pretty good size. Esa Lindell is a heavy guy also. So we’re not worried about our size on the back end, not worried about the size of our team.”

As long as the Stars were confident in their size on the back end, Bayreuther was a clear choice. He finished the AHL season on a tear, with 14 points in the final 16 games, a stretch that impressed Stars executives after a slow start to his season. Bayreuther has never played an NHL playoff game, but played 19 games in 2018-19.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189229 Dallas Stars “Now, I feel very comfortable with our team,” Bowness said. “We see the commitment from our players and everyone involved looking after themselves.”

The Stars feel confident, hockey-wise. But living in Edmonton’s secure Bowness said the Stars would practice Monday, scrimmage Tuesday and zone presents its own challenges. practice Wednesday before playing against Nashville in an exhibition Thursday afternoon at 3 p.m. The Stars scrimmaged for the final time during training camp Sunday. By Matthew DeFranks “You can tell the guys are now getting really dialed in,” Bowness said. 7:30 PM on Jul 25, 2020 CDT “It’s real, we’re going to Edmonton, and we’re going to playing for the Stanley Cup.”

Nill said: “I could tell today, everybody’s chomping to get to Edmonton.” FRISCO — And now it’s off to Edmonton.

After 10 days of an unusually timed, but normally run training camp, the Stars will travel to Edmonton on Sunday for the resumption of the NHL’s Dallas Morning News LOADED: 07.26.2020 2019-20 season, playing their first exhibition game Thursday against Nashville and their first round-robin game against Vegas on Aug. 3.

In a way, the most fragile two weeks on the NHL’s calendar could be behind them. When training camps opened July 13, the 24 teams returning to play did so in their own markets, at their own practice facilities. Players and staff were tested every two days, but they were still living at home, interacting with the public in grocery stores, and many teams (including the Stars) were doing so in COVID-19 hotspots.

Throughout training camp, no Stars players missed any time for coronavirus-related reasons. Now, they’ll bring a 31-man roster into the bubble in Edmonton, where players and staff will stay at the J.W. Marriott and shuttle between Rogers Place for games and the Terwillegar Community Recreation Centre for practices.

“The big thing for everyone is ‘Okay, what does this bubble look like?’” Stars interim coach Rick Bowness said. “We hear a lot about the bubble, but until you’re actually there and you’re living in it and you see the parameters that you have to live by, that’s the biggest issue that we’re facing right now. We just have to get up there and we have to see what the whole thing looks like.”

Once they arrive in Edmonton, players and staff will be tested for COVID- 19 daily and the league has protocols for handling both symptomatic positive results and asymptomatic results. For asymptomatic people, they need to test negative twice in two days in order to leave isolation. For symptomatic people, they need to test negative twice in two days after the resolution of their fever.

Earlier this week, the NHL presented their plans for living in the hub cities of Edmonton (Western Conference) and Toronto (Eastern Conference). They will have 14 restaurants, bars, food trucks and coffee shops in Edmonton. There will be eight movie theaters, dining areas and activity spaces. Each team will have their own gyms and coaching offices. Players will be able to play pool, ping pong, cornhole, basketball or soccer.

The Stars feel like they are where they need to be, hockey-wise, but have to get used to living inside what the NHL is calling the “Secure Zone.”

“There’s not much else to do other than get up there and get settled, get comfortable with our living situations and the situation that we’re in,” Stars captain Jamie Benn said. “I think the best thing is that we’re most comfortable on the ice and around each other and at the rink. Just looking forward to it.”

From July 17-23, Edmonton reported 141 total new coronavirus cases, according to data released by Alberta. Dallas County reported a single- day high of 1,267 new coronavirus cases on Saturday alone.

“We know we’re heading to Edmonton, where Alberta’s got a low infection rate,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said. “On top of it, we’re going to be in a bubble. Once we’re in that bubble and everybody’s healthy, and we know everybody’s healthy, really it might be one of the safest places to be.”

Bowness, 65, said “a couple of months ago, I was probably thinking I probably won’t go” to Edmonton because of coronavirus concerns, especially about how the virus affected people older than 60 years old. During the first two days of training camp, Bowness remained on the bench in a mask as he awaited COVID-19 results for the rest of the team. 1189230 Edmonton Oilers “We’re not taking it lightly, we’re not just going in there to play games and have a good time. We’re here to win a Stanley Cup, that’s the primary objective.

Edmonton Oilers set for once-in-a-lifetime bubble experience “Although we can’t have the freedom of doing whatever we want, going wherever we want, seeing whoever we want, at the end if you can hold that Stanley Cup, it’s all worth it. We’re all excited about this opportunity.” Robert Tychkowski Because of recent adversity on and off the ice, Tippett says the Oilers July 25, 2020 7:04 PM MDT have become a very close team this season, which he believes will serve them well in this closed-off environment.

“You have to have a good team off the ice, too, with chemistry and how There were times when the Edmonton Oilers wondered if this day would you go about things,” he said. “I like our group that way. As we’ve gone ever come — when they packed their bags, kissed their loved ones on through the year, things have molded together and they’ve really goodbye and entered a quarantine bubble for the strangest Stanley Cup become a tight group. playoffs the NHL has ever seen. “I haven’t heard any comments from our players about not wanting to do But what started out as an implausible, if not seemingly impossible, it or concerns about it. Our players are excited to get in and get playing.” undertaking is now here. The league made it to Phase 4 of its return-to- play strategy and will open its safe zones in Edmonton and Toronto on Sunday. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 07.26.2020 Game on.

“I’d be lying if told you I didn’t think there was only a small percentage of this actually working out,” said Oilers winger Zack Kassian, after the Oilers wrapped up Saturday’s Colby Cave Memorial Fund scrimmage, their final order of business before entering lockdown in the JW Marriott.

“I’m very happy, very grateful that it did. This doensn’t happen without the NHL and NHLPA (Players Association) working together with health officials and the government and the two hub cities.”

It seemed like a long shot, getting past the pod stages, then main training camps without any major outbreaks that could have toppled the entire endeavour. But with just hours to go before check in, it looks like they’ve done it.

“It’s an amazing thing, what they’ve done here,” said head coach , shaking his head that, less than a month ago, the hub cities still hadn’t even been officially selected yet.

“Two weeks ago, they were still just talking about getting things done and now it looks like we’re going to be able to move ahead. There were concerns about players coming into Phase 2, and then getting to Phase 3; I give our medical staff a ton of credit making sure everyone was doing the right things and the protocols were in place.

“You also have to give the players and staff a great deal of credit because they really decided to hunker down and do what’s needed to get themselves into the bubble healthy, without any virus in there. Teams have done a great job.”

And now, here they are, set to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will not only challenge them physically, as the NHL playoffs always do, but also push their limits emotionally.

No leaving the grounds. No seeing the family. No fans in the building. Nothing but wall-to-wall dudes for as long as two months.

“I don’t have very high expectations for the bubble,” chuckled Kassian, adding the only creature comfort item he’ll be bringing in is his trusted espresso machine. “I’ve never been in (a quarantine bubble) before, this is a new experience for all of us. But we’re here for one ultimate goal and that’s to win the Stanley Cup. It’s going to be tough, especially on the guys with kids, but at the same time, you only have so many kicks at winning the Stanley Cup.

“Hopefully we’re in there for the two months and hopefully we can come out as champs, but there is still a lot of work to be done.”

The Oilers are approaching this as part adventure and all business. It’s like a guys’ trip, but instead of four or eight buddies competing for a cheesy golf trophy, it’s 31 teammates fighting for a Stanley Cup.

And when it’s all over — assuming the NHL gets to the end of Phase 4 and crowns a champion at centre ice in Rogers Place — the players will have been part of something historic.

“It’s something that all of us are going to remember for the rest of our lives,” said forward Cooper Marody. “It’s something that’s monumental. Everybody’s worked so hard these last two or three weeks in training camp. Everybody has been really grinding hard and getting ready for this. 1189231 Edmonton Oilers the first time on the ice. It’s about the cardio and endurance in the legs, getting that back,” he said.

CRACKS IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT Edmonton Oilers salute Colby and Emily Cave in final camp scrimmage The Oilers have been medically fine through Phase 3 but there were a couple of blips on the screen Saturday. Darnell Nurse was a non-starter Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal for the scrimmage.

July 25, 2020 6:46 PM MDT Maybe it’s just a little soreness for the second-pairing defenceman who sat below the coaches in the stands.

“He’ll be fit to to practise tomorrow,” said Tippett, shutting all thought it Emily Cave saw her late husband Colby’s jersey everywhere she looked was something serious. Saturday afternoon as the Edmonton Oilers saluted their fallen teammate and his strong wife with every player zipping around the ice wearing He also lost centre Riley Sheahan after a few shifts but doesn’t know his Colby’s old No. 12 during the final Phase 3 scrimmage. situation. Hurt, sick? Tippett would shift Gaetan Haas, flying at camp on a fifth line, into Sheahan’s spot, should he remain out awhile. At game’s end, they all held their sticks high in a sign of solidarity as Emily looked on at the Downtown Community Arena, with the jerseys Kailer Yamamoto was also shaken up in a collision in the third period of auctioned off for the Colby Cave Memorial Fund. The teammates the scrimmage Saturday, wincing as he skated to the bench, but included forward Cooper Marody, who wrote a wonderful song, Agape, Draisaitl’s winger was back later so it appears minor. about Colby and Emily’s love, a song that has had a huge following on This ’n’ that: Smith gave up seven goals in the Thursday scrimmage and Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube. five more Saturday while Mikko Koskinen was beaten twice in both “It was a tremendous honour for all of us and a great idea by the games, so edge to Koskinen late in Phase 3. But Tippett wouldn’t commit organization to honour Colby and it meant a lot that we could salute to who gets the start Aug. 1 or if he’ll go with one or both tenders against Emily and her family,” said Marody. Calgary in their only exhibition Tuesday. It’s already started (nothing to see here, just move along) when it comes to information. “We’ve got two “We’re playing for Colb and Emily and we’re so motivated. His legacy is goaltenders still and nobody’s hurt there,” said Tippett. Yeah, but only living on.” one net … The Oilers and Flames will get to dress a seventh defenceman and 13th forward for the game because it’s the only Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, James Neal, Philip Broberg and exhibition for everybody before the tournament. Tyler Benson scored for a deeper Team Orange squad against Mike Smith in a 5-2 victory. Leon Draisaitl and linemate Tyler Ennis beat Mikko Koskinen for Team White in the final camp tuneup. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 07.26.2020 But the score was incidental.

This was for Colby Cave, who died in April of a brain bleed. He was only 25 years old.

The reaction to the song has been tremendous.

“Initially, the song was only for Emily and her family and she loved it so much and it gave her quite a bit of peace,” said Marody, “but she and her family wanted the whole world to hear Colby’s love for Emily … the man that he was.

“We’re seeing people around the world inspired by their story. The numbers have been great. In just over a month, there’s been 65,000 streams on Spotify and around there on Apple Music and a ton on YouTube. It’s making an impact on Emily and that was the goal.”

Marody, the farm team’s No. 1 centre, missed much of this past American Hockey League season in Bakersfield, Calif., with a concussion and was also sick. He only played 30 games. But he’s had a good camp, playing right-wing rather than in the middle on a sixth line. He’ll be going into the bubble as one of the 31 players for the Stanley Cup tournament.

“You can do one or two things with adversity. You can play the victim and complain, but I worked super hard to get back and I’m super thankful for the opportunity to come to the rink,” he said.

HE’S BAACCKK!

Hawks No. 1 goalie Corey Crawford said his absence for all but one day of Phase 3 camp was because he tested positive for COVID-19 and was quarantining at home, but he will be on their charter flight to Edmonton on Sunday. He’ll try to squeeze in a week of practices here before the Aug. 1 opener against the Oilers.

“First few days, it felt like flu-like symptoms, but after that was a bit easier,” he said. “I did stay in the guest room for a couple of days and with two young kids (a two-year-old and a newborn), I was very careful round them. I couldn’t do much (exercise) in case there was something wrong with my lungs or my heart until I got checked out by the doctors. We were safe and didn’t put anyone else at risk.”

Crawford gave up three goals in 20 minutes of scrimmage. It’s very much up in the air if he’ll play the first game.

“I’ve never really been a guy who skates a ton in the summer anyway but it’ll take a few practices to get my legs under me. Today felt decent for 1189232 Edmonton Oilers decision for the health and well being of everybody. And now were in a place where we think we’ve made a terrific decision.”

Bettman not only credits the players association for the part they’ve JONES: NHL commissioner Bettman happy betting on Edmonton played to make it happen, but the players themselves for what they’ve continued to do since the ratification of the return-to-play protocols and the new collective bargaining agreement. Terry Jones “The players have been extraordinarily professional and responsible in July 25, 2020 11:51 AM MDT what we’ve asked them to do in terms of keeping themselves safe and healthy.

“Last week, I think we tested 800 players involving 2,500 tests and there It was October of 2011 when I joined then-Edmonton mayor Stephen were two positives. I’d like none. But that’s incredible. And our belief is Mandel on an Air Canada flight with a connection to New York. that with everything that we’re doing, once we get into the hub and At the same time, owner Daryl Katz and several members of his everybody is being tested every day and everybody is social distancing Edmonton Oilers entourage were flying on his private jet to New York as and adhering to the protocols, we’re going to have as good a chance as well. anyone to crown our champion and present the Stanley Cup. And that’s what this has been all about. The project to build a new downtown arena in Edmonton had effectively fallen apart and Katz’s organization and Edmonton city council couldn’t “Were happy to be coming to Edmonton because we think all the critical possibly have managed to get further apart. factors have come into play.”

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman had effectively issued a summons both This could turn out to be the crowning achievement of Gary Bettman’s the owner and the mayor to the NHL offices on the Avenue of the career, and thinking back to that day in New York, it would be appropriate Americas in Manhattan. for it to happen in Edmonton.

I reminded Bettman of that Friday when he joined current Edmonton mayor Don Iveson, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and Oilers Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 07.26.2020 Entertainment Group executives Bob Nicholson, Stu Ballantyne and Tim Shipton for a Zoom conference call to celebrate Edmonton as the front- to-finish hub city for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs.

“I can’t help but think of the numerous sessions I had with mayor Mandel and Daryl Katz to get this magnificent facility built. If you had asked me then if we’d be there today, the answer would have been ‘No,’ for a hundred reasons. And none in anticipating COVID-19,” Bettman responded. “So if we can get to the end of the road we’ve mapped out here, this will be a great success story and a testament to a made-in- Alberta solution.

“Daryl probably lobbied me harder than any other owner that was interested in hosting a hub,” laughed Bettman. “That is not an exaggeration. There were multiple e-mails, multiple texts and multiple phone calls every single day until we announced we were coming to Edmonton.

“And you know what? The best thing I can say is that he was right. With everything that has been going on in North America, he said, ‘This is a place where not only do we have the infrastructure with the great arena, not only is this a city that will do everything that needs to be done to make this event a success, this is a place where you’ll be safe.’ He was right.”

Bettman may get booed everywhere he goes, but Edmonton fans are more than aware that, at a time when Winnipeg and City were relocating, the NHL commissioner fought to keep the Oilers alive coming out of the Peter Pocklington ownership crisis.

Against all good sense, Bettman allowed a 28-person ownership group to keep the team in town.

To be presiding over the occasion with Edmonton selected as the prime site to hold the majority of playoff games, including the two conference finals and the Stanley Cup final, will have to be of significant personal satisfaction to Bettman when he presents the Stanley Cup here in early October.

I suggested to the commissioner that if the players managed to make it into the two hub cities of Edmonton and Toronto with no new positive tests, and liked their new digs and the lengths that have been taken to insure their health and happiness, the NHL could emerge as the leader of all pro sports league return-to-play projects.

“Our goal is not to be perceived by whomever as the leader,” said Bettman who provided the players with an hour-long video presentation to watch before they headed to Edmonton and Toronto on Sunday. “Our goal is to do the right things at the right time under extraordinary circumstances. We watched what everybody else was doing but we moved at our own pace, at our own time.

“I know there were some people wondering why we waited so long to select from the 10 presentations to be hub cities. But ultimately, I wanted to use the data and have the ability in real time to make the best possible 1189233 Edmonton Oilers So, wearing Cave’s number Saturday was extra special for him.

“It was a great idea from the organization to honour Colby,” Marody said.

Oilers scrimmage: Colby Cave gets Maurice Richard treatment in fitting Of course, Saturday wasn’t only about Cave. tribute The scrimmage was the final evaluation ahead of Tuesday’s exhibition game against Calgary. Tyler Ennis, James Neal and, naturally, Connor McDavid were among the standouts in a game that was short a couple of By Daniel Nugent-Bowman players.

Jul 25, 2020 Ailments and adjustments

As the puck dropped Saturday, it was the first time since Caleb Jones’ The numbers on the scoreboard — Team Orange 5, Team White 2 — absence at the start of training camp last week that not all players were hardly mattered Saturday. Instead, it was the same two digits on each accounted for. player’s back that stood out above all else. Defenceman Darnell Nurse didn’t play in the scrimmage because he was Surely, you know the Roch Carrier book “The Hockey Sweater,” the one deemed “unfit to play” but watched on from the stands. in which all the kids wear Maurice Richard’s iconic No. 9 Canadiens Nurse got tangled up with Yamamoto during a drill at practice Thursday jersey on the outdoor rink. and appeared to be favouring one of his legs as he glided off the ice. He To temper hyperbole, Saturday’s scrimmage wasn’t quite the same. The only missed one turn through before returning to the ice and finishing tribute, although different, was just as apparent and meaningful as each practice. Oilers player took to the ice wearing Colby Cave’s old No. 12. Tippett said after Saturday’s scrimmage that he expects Nurse to Cave, who died April 11 after a brain bleed, would have been on participate in the next practice. Edmonton’s playoff roster. Centre Riley Sheahan left the scrimmage early and was also deemed The Oilers started and concluded their final tuneup scrimmage by going “unfit to play.” He joined Nurse in the stands to watch the rest of the to the corner of the rink, where his widow, Emily, was sitting with her action. Tippett had no update on Sheahan. family, and saluting them by waving their sticks. Emily teared up and With the two out for most of Saturday’s skate, a defence pairing and wiped her eyes. some lines had to be shuffled.

“That’s the least we could do for Colby and Colby’s family — especially Philip Broberg, a camp standout and the youngest player in Edmonton, Emily,” winger Zack Kassian said. “Words can’t describe what that family took Nurse’s spot alongside rookie Ethan Bear on Team Orange. They has been through and what Emily’s been through. were the most effective defensive duo Saturday with Broberg ripping a “We’re here to help any way we can down the road.” wrist shot past Mike Smith.

Emily has been a pillar of strength since Colby died. She moved to Broberg, Edmonton’s 2019 first-round pick, will be heading into the Edmonton in May to run a memorial fund in her late husband’s name. bubble with the rest of the Oilers on Sunday and is full marks for earning a spot on the playoff roster. Proceeds from the fund, including a future auction of Saturday’s jerseys, are being used to support community programs with an emphasis on Without Sheahan, Team White initially rotated Leon Draisaitl and Gaetan mental health initiatives and providing access to sports for Haas at centre. The lines became a jumbled mess when playing every underprivileged children. second shift became too taxing for Draisaitl and Haas. Josh Archibald even got a shift or two in the middle. Emily has crafted a letter for each player. They will soon receive them, along with a small gift, to be kept in their lockers for the playoff run. It’s a Neither Nurse’s nor Sheahan’s ailments appear to be serious considering way to keep Cave in everyone’s thoughts. they watched from the bleachers. Missing a shutdown defenceman or a top penalty-killing forward heading into the playoffs wouldn’t be good for “It speaks to her character and her passion to not just let Colby’s legacy the Oilers. fade away,” forward Cooper Marody said. “She’s one of the strongest women I’ve ever met in my entire life.” To the surprise of no one, Tippett wasn’t tipping his hand about his goaltenders after Saturday’s scrimmage. Cave joined the Oilers in January 2019 after he was claimed off waivers by former GM Peter Chiarelli. He finished last season with the Oilers and He wouldn’t give any information about who would start Tuesday against bounced between Edmonton and Bakersfield this season. Calgary or if both goalies would play.

“He was a real lively person,” coach Dave Tippett said. “He’s missed What we do know is Mikko Koskinen came out on top again over Mike around the dressing room.” Smith in another intrasquad matchup. He allowed four goals to Smith’s 12 over the last two games. Though he was beloved by his teammates in Edmonton, his greatest impact seemed to be the one he made on his younger peers in the Smith had McDavid’s line barrelling down on him in both games. minors. (McDavid was instrumental in setting up two goals on the same shift Saturday.) Bakersfield coach Jay Woodcroft recently said how vital Cave was to mentoring winger Kirill Maksimov, who was struggling early in his first pro That’s something Tippett seemed to be taking into consideration. season. “I tracked the scoring chances in the game. The orange team had a lot Kailer Yamamoto remembered how often Cave, Emily and their Cavalier more scoring chances,” the coach said. “Those are things you just watch King Charles Spaniel-poodle mix puppy, Chester, showed up at the and take it all in. We’ll see where it goes from there.” house Yamamoto shared with Tyler Benson, Ryan McLeod and Evan Koskinen was the better of the two goalies during the regular season, but Bouchard. In between moments of calming the dog down, Cave acted as Smith and Tippett have a long track record together for three separate the big brother to the foursome. organizations.

He’d find a way to connect with each of his teammates. Cave and Tippett has said multiple times that he expects both goalies to play during Marody forged a bond through their love of Hillsong music. Two months the postseason. after Cave died, Marody, a budding musician, released the song “Agape” as a tribute to the couple’s love, a ballad that included a sample of his wedding vows. The Athletic LOADED: 07.26.2020 (Proceeds from streams of the song go the Colby Cave Memorial Fund. Marody said there have been roughly 65,000 plays on each of Spotify and Apple Music.) 1189234 Edmonton Oilers Anton Stralman, Florida: 17:42 five-on-five; 2:27 penalty kill; nine seconds power play; 36.7 percent against elites; 48.20 percent DFF.

Zdeno Chara, Boston: 17:07 five-on-five; 3:11 penalty kill; six seconds Lowetide: Will the last stay-at-home defenceman please turn out the power play; 46.4 percent against elites; 45.90 percent DFF. lights? Adam Pelech, NY Islanders: 17:23 five-on-five; 2:47 penalty kill; three seconds power play; 40.0 percent against elites; 44.60 percent DFF.

By Allan Mitchell Nikita Zaitsev, Ottawa: 18:14 five-on-five; 3:02 penalty kill; 10 seconds Jul 25, 2020 power play; 35.1 percent against elites; 39.60 percent DFF.

In a division with 16 teams, there were six defencemen who meet the Larsson definition. When I was young, defencemen who delivered most of their value without the puck were called stay-at-home types, and they wandered the The takeaway is most NHL teams have replaced the stay-at-home NHL in great numbers. They were rugged, unselfish and tough. In 1973, rearguard with a two-way type who has more utility. the great hockey writer Jim Proudfoot called St. Louis Blues veteran Bob Also, many of the names above have faltered with their original team, Plager “the most damaging body checker in hockey.” reinventing themselves in the role of a coach and or general manager in Stay at home. Mind the store. Rattle bones. Let ’em know you’re there. another NHL city who puts high value on defensive play.

The defensive defenceman of the early 1970s wanted to angle off a Finally, there are brilliant veterans such as Chara, who has seen his rushing winger and crush him along the boards. Further collisions power-play time reduced over the past few seasons. Chara remains a occurred behind the net, in front of the net and at the blue line. Some stunning presence at even strength and on the penalty kill. This is a players of this type preferred a hip check, others used elbows or special player, and we won’t see a similar defenceman again. shoulders. This player type has seen his role erode since the arrival of Bobby Orr, The stay-at-home defenceman of the 1970s played the man and ended and it’s now at critical levels. So then, should an NHL team devote draft the opponent’s possession. A second sequence, involving taking assets to these players? possession of the puck and finding an outlet, was often required by the Oilers and defensive defencemen defending team. In 2014, I listed William Lagesson among the team’s top 20 prospects, Each passing year, that kind of player edges closer to extinction. The suggesting he was the only player who represented the defensive modern version still makes big hits, but the ones who hang around don’t defenceman player. This was just ahead of the period that would lead to put themselves out of position to do it. What else does the modern player upheaval in the scouting department (Bob Nicholson’s forensics) and of this type deliver? more focus on getting offensive pieces with the early selections.

Last man standing The days of defence-first players such as Marincin and David Musil Adam Larsson is a good example of the modern defensive defenceman. appeared to be ending. Over the past three seasons, he has averaged 18:30 a game at five-on- However, in the summer of 2016, the club’s new management made the five, 2:03 on the penalty kill and five seconds on the power play (via deal for Larsson, meaning Peter Chiarelli either highly valued the role of Natural Stat Trick). He also played 34 percent of his five-on-five minutes this type of defenceman or had incorrectly assessed Larsson’s ability. over those three seasons against elite competition, according to Puck IQ. Chiarelli also drafted players who match that style in Markus Niemelainen To give you an idea of how quickly times are changing for this type of and Philip Kemp. player, Larsson is the only Edmonton defender who played those When Ken Holland took over the team, he inherited Larsson, Lagesson, minutes along with the high percentage of minutes against elites. Niemelainen and Kemp as a fairly substantial pipeline of defensive In 2014-15, Mark Fayne and Martin Marincin played roles similar to blueliners. Larsson in 2019-20 (although with fewer minutes per game). Holland’s first pick

Across the NHL in 2019-20, looking for a matching deployment Oilers fans were surprised by Holland’s first selection as Oilers general comparable for Larsson nets us 10 names. Here are the men who played manager. Philip Broberg’s resume had lots of positives, but his scoring 17.5-plus minutes a game at five-on-five (while scoring at .75 points per numbers suggested he was not a future power-play quarterback. What’s 60 or fewer), at least two minutes on the penalty kill and less than 30 more, his draft-plus-one season in the SHL included just one point on the seconds on the power play — while also facing elite opponents at least power play. 34 percent of total ice time. Sorted by Dangerous Fenwick percentage (definition here) versus elites, we’ll start with the Western Conference: The SHL is a difficult league to evaluate offence, especially as it pertains to young defenders who don’t get power-play minutes. I looked at Josh Manson, Anaheim: 17:01 five-on-five; 2:21 penalty kill; nine Broberg’s 2019-20 campaign and found it similar to even-strength seconds power play; 37.7 percent against elites; 50.00 percent DFF. numbers by Victor Soderstrom and Erik Brannstrom, and not far from Adam Larsson, Oilers: 18:30 five-on-five; 2:03 penalty kill; five seconds Oscar Klefbom at the same age and in the same league. power play; 34.0 percent against elites; 47.00 percent DFF. Broberg’s recent performance in Edmonton has turned some heads and Jason Demers, Arizona: 17:25 five-on-five; 2:15 penalty kill; 10 seconds offers some insight into what the scouts saw in the young defender’s power play; 35.2 percent against elites; 41.50 percent DFF. game during 2018-19. Perhaps the new management group will create a blue line populated entirely by two-way and offensive defencemen. Jay Bouwmeester, St. Louis: 18:18 five-on-five; 2:36 penalty kill; five seconds power play; 37.50 percent against elites; 41.20 percent DFF. What does it all mean?

The 2019-20 Western Conference had 15 teams and only four players In the interests of full disclosure, this is one of my favourite player types, who qualify as stay-at-home defencemen as defined by Larsson’s usage. and I’m already in mourning over a future without them. It’s inevitable. I’ve deliberately stayed away from using ‘shutdown’ as a description Dylan McIlrath was born 25 years too late, and there’s not a lot that can because there are several players not on the list who qualify but who also be done about it. play a significant role with the man advantage or contribute consistent I value Larsson, he brings a lot to an NHL team. If you look at the right offence at five-on-five. Now let’s check out the Eastern Conference: side of Edmonton’s defence, he (along with rookie Ethan Bear) were vital Cody Ceci, Toronto: 17:01 five-on-five; 2:51 penalty kill; five seconds pieces. If Holland decided to deal him, Larsson would fetch a handsome power play; 34.8 percent against elites; 50.70 percent DFF. return even if the number of teams that would be interested is fewer than five years ago. Patrick Nemeth, Detroit: 17:52 five-on-five; 3:22 penalty kill; nine seconds power play; 43.1 percent against elites; 49.60 percent DFF. There are players in the 2020 draft who could become effective in the role. Tyler Kleven from the U.S. National Team is highly rated, Yan Kuznetsov from UConn and Cade McNelly are also candidates for the draft who could develop into that role.

NHL teams are more interested in acquiring players who spend less time defending. Puck retrieval and puck movement are valued highly, management and coaching staffs pursuing possession before the turnover and looking to avoid defending in high-danger areas.

For the Oilers, at the 2020 draft, it’s reasonable to expect none of these player types to be added to the pipeline.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189235 Florida Panthers Saturday was a step forward for Ekblad and fellow defenseman Chase Priskie, who has also been sidelined the last three days. The two defensemen skated before practice in Coral Springs, Quenneville said, This Panther had concerns about playing amid COVID-19. Here’s why he and could practice again as soon as Monday once the team arrives in feels better now Canada.

“They both skated prior to practice and they’re progressing,” the coach said. “We’ll see what Monday’s plan is with them when we get on the ice BY DAVID WILSON in Toronto.”

JULY 25, 2020 04:23 PM With Ekblad out, Mark Pysyk has slid back from right wing to defenseman to fill in for Ekblad alongside defenseman Mackenzie

Weegar on the Panthers’ top defensive pairing. Priskie, who spent the Almost two months ago when plans for the NHL’s return to play had not entire regular season in the American Hockey League, is unlikely to be in yet entirely been set in stone, Anton Stralman was one of the players Florida’s lineup, but is on the 30-man roster traveling to Ontario on most vocal about his skepticism regarding the league’s desire to finish Sunday. the season amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The defensemen’s presence at the Panthers IceDen suggests their Stralman had good reason to be worried. He has had asthma his whole issues are not COVID-related, but the NHL is not allowing teams to life and in 2011 he learned he has bronchiectasis, a condition which disclose whether players have tested positive for the virus. leads to the permanent enlargement of parts of the airways in his lungs.

It can cause repeated lung infections, which he dealt with throughout his life before he got a treatment tailored for people with cystic fibrosis. It’s Miami Herald LOADED: 07.26.2020 exactly the sort of underlying condition people worry about with the coronavirus pandemic still raging.

“Is it worth it?” the defenseman said to The Athletic last month. “I know everybody wants hockey back, but safety has to come first. And it’s a little bit worrisome, I can’t deny that. Even though most players are young and healthy, I’m sure there are players like me that have underlying health issues. I don’t know how my body will react if I get this virus.”

Almost two months later, Stralman has been on the ice for all of the Florida Panthers’ postseason training camp at the Florida Panthers IceDen and he’ll join the team when it travels to Toronto on Sunday to play in the expanded postseason.

When Stralman voiced his concerns in June, the NHL had just announced its return-to-play plan about a week earlier, slim on the details of how the league would make it work safely. As the NHL started to announce more and more details about the plan, Stralman started to feel better. He decided he was comfortable playing.

“I don’t think it was very difficult in the end. Once you saw the protocols and what was in place going into the hub cities, and the way it’s set up, I think we’re very well protected as players,” Stralman said. “My concern was probably more so for everybody else. I think most players are in the best shape possible and not a whole bunch of underlying issues, but it’s not just the players. There’s a big organization around it and I’m sure people are in older age groups and also with maybe underlying issues that needs to be into consideration. I hope that was on everybody’s mind and not just the safety of players, and that’s why I raised all those questions, really. Obviously, hoping and thinking that people in positions that are making these decisions had that in mind.”

Once Florida enters the “bubble” Sunday in Canada, regulations will ramp up even more. The Panthers will stay at the Fairmont Royal York and everyone they come into contact will be tested every day. Teams and NHL staff will only be allowed to go from the hotel to the arena, and back, save for a handful of league-approved excursions.

Stralman got a little taste of the NHL’s rules throughout training camp, too. Since camp began, players have been tested every other day, and they must pass temperature and symptom checks before they enter the Panthers IceDen. Seeing the safety the league is taking at team facilities has made Stralman even more comfortable.

“I do feel safe, although as crazy as Florida is right now it’s not like I’m out there. I’m at the rink and then I go home, and then once a week I go to the grocery store and that’s pretty much it,” Stralmans aid. “I feel like I’m in a spot where it’s fairly safe, and there’s no school and my family’s not even here, so that also made it a little bit easier from that perspective.

“I feel confident with the decision of being here playing and I’m looking forward to it.”

The Panthers were without their top defenseman for the third straight day Saturday as they wrapped up postseason training camp at the IceDen.

Aaron Ekblad missed practice once again for an undisclosed reason, but Joel Quenneville continues to express optimism the defenseman will be good to go when Florida opens the qualifying round against the New York Islanders next Saturday in Toronto. 1189236 Florida Panthers

Panthers wrap up training camp in Florida. Next up: Two months in Canada (they hope)

BY DAVID WILSON

JULY 25, 2020 03:38 PM

For months, the Florida Panthers longed to just skate on the ice inside the Florida Panthers IceDen. The COVID-19 pandemic robbed them all of hockey for nearly three months before they were finally able to return to their Coral Springs practice facility last month for small group workouts and eventually — starting July 13 — an actual postseason training camp.

Now, they’re excited to be leaving it behind. A real hockey game is just one week — and one bizarre trip to Canada — away.

“Uh, I haven’t packed yet,” center Aleksander Barkov said sheepishly. “For me, I pack last minute, but obviously I know we’re going to be there for a while.”

The Panthers hope it’ll be more than two months. On Sunday, Florida will depart for Toronto, ready to spend anywhere from two weeks to two months up in Canada for the NHL’s expanded postseason. The Panthers will open up the qualifying round of the Stanley Cup playoffs next Saturday against the New York Islanders. If they get all the way to the Stanley Cup Final, they could be playing into October.

“I’m excited to start playing games now and get to Toronto, so it’s going to be fun to go [Sunday],” center Lucas Wallmark said. “Actually I’m going to start packing [Saturday], but, to be honest, I don’t exactly what I’m packing. We’ll figure it out [Saturday].”

The training camp has been a somewhat strange affair, but Florida believes it has prepared the team well as it gets to ready to live in a “bubble” for the coming weeks or months. They’ve all gotten in the routine of going to the IceDen to practice and then return home with very few diversions elsewhere to limit exposure to the coronavirus. They’ve been tested for the virus every other day, and they’ve been adhering to NHL regulations, like mandatory mask-wearing and social distancing.

All throughout camp, coach Joel Quenneville has seemed please with his team’s play, too. In the last week, players have repeatedly said they’re ready to travel and play in real games after itching for competition for more than four months.

“It’s great. It’s been a good couple of weeks here. Nice to see all the boys and all the staff again,” defenseman Anton Stralman said. “I’m ready for the next step going to Toronto and get adjusted to all that, and hopefully win some games.”

Sunday is the travel day for most teams, as 12 Eastern Conference teams head to one hub city in Toronto and 12 Western Conference teams head to another hub city in Edmonton. Teams are required to have one off day in the first four days, so Quenneville said he expects the Panthers to take Tuesday off ahead of their Wednesday scrimmage against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Scotiabank Arena. Florida will then practice again Thursday and Friday to get ready for the Islanders.

So far, New York hasn’t been a big focus point for the Panthers in practice. The first week of camp was mostly just about getting back on the ice as a group after being away from one another since March. By the end of the first week and into the second week, they were fully back to practicing normally, honing in on their techniques and philosophies. The Islanders were always secondary to focusing on themselves.

Quenneville said they have started to sprinkle in some talk about New York, though, and the Islanders will obviously become a larger focus for Florida once it begins practicing in Toronto.

“It’s going to be a fun week now that you can finally see the opponent,” Quenneville said. “Hockey’s back, so it’s going to be great right off the bat when we land.”

Miami Herald LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189237 Minnesota Wild hotel for meetings, meals and training along with an exclusive VIP area. There also will be a lounge area for each team at Rogers Place, and clubs will set up in one of six locker rooms the night before their games.

Austere days/weeks/months ahead for Wild in Edmonton Aside from ordering room service, players can eat from 14 on-site restaurants with cuisines ranging from steak to vegan. Modified buffet- style meals also will be offered, and players can use the concierge to By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune order meals, pharmacy needs and items from grocery and department stores. Laundry service will be available at $4 per pound. JULY 25, 2020 — 11:41PM A dress code isn’t being enforced by the league, but the Wild has

adopted its own — deciding to wear team-issued polos and pants to EDMONTON, Alberta – Jared Spurgeon figured out a strategy for games. “We at least want to look like a team and be presentable,” Zach packing clothes, sticking with basic colors so he can easily mix and Parise said. match tops and bottoms, but there was one part of his wardrobe that Games galore concerned him as he filled his bags. A credential will be assigned to every player specifying where they’re “I’m more worried about bringing enough underwear,” the Wild authorized to go and who they’re allowed contact with, and this defenseman said recently by cellphone from St. Paul. identification will get them into access points throughout the bubble. The Wild will leave the Twin Cities on Sunday for Edmonton, the Western Testing will be conducted daily, and players will track their health on an Conference hub for the NHL’s 24-team, tournament-style restart, but app. players have no clue when they’ll return. For the games, the NHL has curated each team’s goal horn and song If they don’t survive a best-of-five qualifying matchup against Vancouver and pump-up videos. The league also has specially produced videos that that begins next Sunday at Rogers Place, the Wild could be back home involve fans, and it will implement LED screens and stages without fans in mere days. sitting in the seats. It will have access to EA Sports’ library for crowd noise for TV broadcasts. But should the team advance to the typical, four-round, best-of-seven format, its stay could stretch into weeks or even months. The last When they are not playing or practicing after the first five days, players possible day the Stanley Cup could be awarded is tentatively set for Oct. will have plenty of options to occupy their free time. 4. They can check out movie theaters and indoor/outdoor spaces for Ping- “We’re packing a lot,” Luke Kunin said. “We hope to be there for a while.” Pong, cornhole, basketball and even soccer.

An open-ended business trip, however, isn’t the only switch for the Wild “It has to be fun or otherwise it’s going to get old,” Suter said, “especially in a revamped resolution to the season that was halted March 12 by the not having a whole lot to do.” coronavirus pandemic. Here for hockey Teams will be huddled in a bubble and living under strict protocols while Violating the rules for bubble life can result in penalties against clubs like also playing the most meaningful hockey of the year amid a unique fines or loss of draft picks, and those who leave without permission could atmosphere. be removed or face a strict quarantine upon return. “It’ll be different,” Ryan Suter said, “but we’re all willing to make the “The players know,” coach Dean Evason said. “They get it. We have sacrifice and try to win.” been in constant communication with them.” Alone time The circumstances are unusual and not what players are used to, but That’s one of the few familiar aspects of the NHL’s plan to finish the they haven’t forgotten why they’re doing this. season, with the Stanley Cup at the end of the journey. “We play hockey,” Kevin Fiala said. “That’s what we’re there for.” Players will notice changes as soon as they touch down in Edmonton, starting with the bus ride to downtown from the airport when they must sit socially distanced from each other. Star Tribune LOADED: 07.26.2020 They’ll also have to be spaced out throughout their time in the bubble, and players are required to wear face coverings when they’re outside their hotel rooms except when they’re exercising, skating or eating socially distanced from others.

Every player will have his own hotel room, and during the first five days in Edmonton, players are permitted only to train and engage socially with personnel from their own team. Otherwise, they’ll be confined to their rooms — downtime the Wild has already been anticipating.

“I haven’t been much of a reader since I’ve left college,” Ryan Donato said, “but it might be time to open up the books again.”

Ryan Hartman is bringing a virtual reality gaming system, and he also plans to catch up on the show “Yellowstone.” Marcus Foligno will be on FaceTime — “Probably going to annoy my family members a lot,” he said — and Suter will rely on his iPad and computer to stay busy.

The younger set, such as Jordan Greenway and Joel Eriksson Ek, is predicting quite a bit of video game action. “I can show the guys the ropes,” Greenway said.

Food for thought

No guests are allowed in players’ rooms, but families will be able to join players starting with the conference finals. Edmonton will host that round and the Stanley Cup Final, with Toronto housing the Eastern Conference playoffs until those stages.

Housekeeping will be offered every third day, but hotel staff can’t enter rooms while players are there. Each team will have its own space at the 1189238 Minnesota Wild

Day 8: Fer shur I'm in Canada now, eh?

By Sarah McLellan

JULY 25, 2020 — 1:17PM

Editor's note: Sarah McLellan is covering the Wild during the NHL postseason in her birthplace of Edmonton, but first must spend 14 days confined to her hotel room. She'll write regularly to her father, who now lives in Arizona, with an update on life with limited freedom.

Dear Dad,

My accent is coming back.

Well, I never really lost it. Since we lived in Canada until I was 9 years old, that was enough time to pick up the dialect. Even after we moved to the States, some of the words I said still sounded Canadian – like “about” and “mom” – and I was glad they did. It was a reminder of where I came from, and I was proud of my past and to show it off.

But whenever I’m back in Canada, to cover hockey or to visit family, it seems like the longer I’m here, the stronger my accent becomes. Being in quarantine is no different.

After just a few days, I noticed when you and I chatted on the phone or I did interviews with radio stations that my tone was changing. It gets a little higher and even when I’m not asking a question, it sounds like I am by how my voice goes up an octave as I finish what I’m saying. I just sound friendlier – and I’m a really nice person to begin with!

I’ve also gotten back into the habit of adding exclamations like, “eh,” “for sure,” and “right” to everyday conversations.

Once I’m out of quarantine, I figure I will blend right in with other Edmontonians when I order coffee from Tim Hortons.

Being back here and hearing my accent has also reminded me of all the Canadianisms in my vocabulary, some that have faded the longer I’ve lived in the U.S. but some that are permanent fixtures. I still call a cash register a till. Macaroni and cheese will always be Kraft Dinner. What Americans call a garbage disposal is a garburator. Smarties are similar to M&Ms – not the chalky candies. In Canada, we call those Rockets. And knit hats are toques, not beanies.

We’ve already established how I rotate between pop and soda, and sometimes I call a washroom a restroom. I could pronounce the last letter of the alphabet “zee” or “zed.” A sofa is also a couch and a chesterfield, just like I will also call a robe a housecoat. Colored pencils are the same as pencil crayons, and my running shoes are also known as runners. And when I’m at a restaurant, I might ask for the bill or the check.

While I may get quizzical looks from Americans and Canadians depending on which version I use, you understand what I’m saying. You’ve always understood.

Call you later.

Love,

Sarah

Star Tribune LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189239 Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens head to Toronto with Domi on the fourth line

Pat Hickey • Montreal Gazette

Publishing date:Jul 25, 2020 • Last Updated 9 hours ago

Is Max Domi a fourth-liner?

Or is he, as coach Claude Julien said Saturday, a guy who’s playing centre on one of the four lines?

Canadiens head to Toronto with Domi on the fourth line

As the Canadiens wrapped the Brossard portion of the phase 3 Return to Play training camp, Domi was in the middle of what appeared to be a fourth line. He was joined by Jordan Weal and Dale Weise, a veteran, albeit one who spent the first half of the season in the American Hockey League.

Julien, who doesn’t like to assign numbers to his lines, said the Domi line was part of his plan to create four balanced lines that could give him the best chance to win against the Pittsburgh Penguins, whose offensive prowess extends beyond superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

“You’ve got good balance and you have some experience on each line because we’re a young team,” Julien said. “When you have some young players in your lineup, you try to give them an opportunity to have some success by having some experienced guys around them.”

Julien doesn’t have the last change in the first two games of the best-of- five series and that influenced his line combinations

“It’s important to me that there’s a certain element of trust — I’m not going to use the word comfort — but knowing that they can do the job,” Julien said. “They don’t just have one line, or one player, that can do the damage. They have more than that on different lines. If we’re going to win this series, we’re gonna need everybody to do their job and do it against some of Pittsburgh’s best players.”

Which brings us back to the fourth line, which isn’t a fourth line.

“When you look at Dale Weise, he’s a guy who’s been around for a long time and he has a lot of experience and a lot of playoff experience,” Julien said. “When you look at Jordan Weal, he’s a guy we’ve put on our power play and, when you see him with the puck, he makes things happen. There’s an element of grit and an element of skill that Max has on either side of him.

“I don’t think Max is disappointed at all by his linemates,” Julien added. “When people label them as a fourth, line, I never said they were a fourth line. At the end of the day, what I tried to do is balance things out so that we counter a team with experience, a team that’s going to be throwing certain players out there, and we need to make sure we’re not a big disadvantage.”

Julien’s lines represent a vote of confidence in second-year centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who was on the Laval Rocket’s injured reserve list when play was halted in March. He reported to this camp with some extra muscle and more polish to his skating. He’s on a line — we hesitate to call it the third line — with Artturi Lehkonen and Paul Byron.

The line the Penguins will try to avoid with the last match has Phil Danault between Tomas Tatar and Brendan Gallagher, while rookie Nick Suzuki is at centre with Jonathan Drouin and Joel Armia.

As the Canadiens move into the bubble in Toronto, the defence also came together with Brett Kulak joining Jeff Petry on the second pair. Kulak missed the first eight days of training camp after testing positive for COVID-19. Kulak didn’t start skating until Wednesday and he had his first full practice on Friday.

The Canadiens play an exhibition game against the Maple Leafs on Tuesday and the qualifying series against the Penguins begins on Aug. 1. All games start at 8 p.m. and will be televised on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189240 Nashville Predators Now, though, he's happy to be doing some real exercise. Happy some real games are on the horizon.

Happy to keep turning the pages. Predators forward Rocco Grimaldi ready to turn the page as NHL season prepares to resume

Tennessean LOADED: 07.26.2020

Paul Skrbina

Nashville Tennessean

— Let's just say Rocco Grimaldi plays by the book.

Or books.

Grimaldi read the Bible in 23 days during the quarantine.

Check that. He reread the Bible in 23 days.

The man known for his speed on the ice also, apparently, is a speed reader.

And he's ready to turn the page to the resumption of the NHL season.

The 5-foot-6 Predators forward caught wind of the "30-day shred," a plan to read the Bible in 30 days, a few months before the season was paused in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He thought maybe he could attempt it during the summer. Turned out, the idea wasn't on the backburner for long.

"It was a really cool and tough experience," Grimaldi said. "With the quarantine, I had a lot more time on my hands than I would (have) in the summer."

And so the reading began.

"I decided to give it a go," he said. "(Wearing) the number 23, I wanted to do it a week quicker."

Grimaldi said he gleaned many lessons and much perspective reading the book so quickly. It allowed him to see the story as a whole, rather than in bits and pieces.

"A lot of times if you read a chapter or two you're only getting a glimpse of the story," he said. "You're not really getting the entire thing and why things happened the way they did."

Grimaldi hasn't been reading only the Bible. He said he's absorbed a lot of different books – he estimated six or seven during the break.

He plans to bring three or four more books to Edmonton, where the Predators will travel to face the Coyotes in a play-in playoff round beginning Aug. 2.

Grimaldi said he's loosely followed what's been going on in the NBA and MLS bubbles.

He also has some insider information as he prepares for what he hopes is a two-month-plus stay in Edmonton.

His high school classmate at Oakland Christian School and best friend Caleb Stanko is a midfielder for FC Cincinnati.

Grimaldi acknowledged there are a lot of differences between the situations, namely MLS plays about once a week while the NHL schedule will be much more compact.

Still, he's been able to glean some insight.

"I've kind of been picking his brain with what he's been up to and what the rules have been and stuff," he said. "We just have to do what we're asked to do – everyone play their part and have a good playoff run."

Books weren't the only thing to keep the active Grimaldi busy during his downtime. He also turned to YouTube to dive into hockey clip rabbit holes. He had a FaceTime workout buddy in Boston.

He appreciated having someone there to motivate him, even if it was virtually so he didn't "just have to sit there in my house by myself sweating it out.

He also gave his video game system some exercise. 1189241 New York Islanders

Islanders’ Barry Trotz Trotz will make changes on fly in Panthers series

By Mollie Walker

July 25, 2020 | 11:18PM

Barry Trotz knows that there’s no time to waste in a best-of-five play-in series.

That’s why the Islanders head coach said he is prepared to make quick adjustments to his lineup should his team fall behind early in the qualifying round against the Florida Panthers.

“You’re probably a little quicker on the trigger [to make lineup changes] than you will through maybe a seven-game series or during the regular season,” Trotz said on a Zoom call Saturday. “It all depends on what you have, it might be a systematical adjustment that can correct what’s not going right or it could be a player adjustment.

“I think you don’t have much time, you don’t have that extra life, you get down two and now your back’s against a wall. You’ve got to be focused, you’ve got to be ready.”

The Islanders had to submit their 52-person traveling list and 31-player roster to the league Friday, making the absences of Jakub Skarek, Grant Hutton, Oliver Wahlstrom and Kieffer Bellows from Saturday’s training camp notable. There were 30 players who participated Saturday, leaving one spot open for one of those four.

Considering Bellows was in the Islanders’ lineup most recently, it’ll likely be the 22-year-old winger who takes that 31st spot. Additionally, president Lou Lamoriello confirmed recently signed goaltender Ilya Sorokin was part of the 52-person traveling party and is set to meet up with the team in Toronto. Sorokin does not count against the team’s 31- player roster because he is ineligible to compete.

After declining to reveal the Islanders’ official roster, Lamoriello noted that the NHL plans to announce every team’s official squad at the same time Sunday. But Trotz expressed his confidence in the team he’s heading to Toronto with Sunday.

“I just think with our coaching staff we’ve gone over multiple scenarios, situations that we feel and weighed the pros and cons,” Trotz said. “Obviously, our focus is trying to get by the Florida Panthers and then hopefully have a really long run to win a Stanley Cup like the 24 other teams. We put all the factors in position, the experience, all that, we felt like this would be the strongest roster and give us all the flexibility.”

New York Post LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189242 New York Islanders “Ilya will join the team at some time next week,” Lamoriello said. “There’s no specifics of time at this point, but he will join the team to just go through the experience.”

Lou Lamoriello more concerned with Islanders' success right now over Sorokin, who will turn 25 on Aug. 3, has spent the last five seasons with Ilya Sorokin's development CSKA Moscow in the KHL and was named the playoff MVP in leading his team to the in 2019.

By Andrew Gross “He is on Long Island and has been and he’s serving the protocol for what the mandated protocol is as far as quarantine,” Lamoriello added. [email protected] @AGrossNewsday “He’s 100% healthy, 100% clear.”

Updated July 25, 2020 6:09 PM

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 07.26.2020 Lou Lamoriello confirmed this much about Ilya Sorokin, the Islanders’ highly anticipated goalie prospect: He is on Long Island and 100% healthy in quarantine after arriving from Russia on Tuesday, and he eventually will join the rest of the team in Toronto without impacting the team’s active roster, as he’s ineligible to play.

But the Islanders’ president and general manager, speaking after Training Camp 2.0 concluded on Saturday at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow, also made it clear that his mind is not on Sorokin.

“With Ilya, I don’t want it to be a distraction,” Lamoriello said. “I think we’ve answered enough questions on him as far as what will transpire. He’s not eligible. We’ll worry about him next year. As far as his development and his process, that will all take place. Right now, let’s just focus on this team getting prepared for the Stanley Cup playoffs.”

The Islanders will depart for their quarantined arena/hotel bubble in Toronto on Sunday, face the Rangers in an exhibition game on Wednesday and open their best-of-five qualifying series against the Panthers on Saturday.

On Sunday, the NHL expects to announce the rosters for each of the 24 teams reporting to Toronto or Edmonton as a hub city.

Lamoriello said the Islanders will carry 28 skaters and three goalies. They had 27 skaters and three goalies on the ice on Saturday.

NHL teams have a 52-person maximum for their traveling party, and Lamoriello insisted that Sorokin will not count against the 31-player roster.

“The Islanders’ roster is compliant regardless of interpretation,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in an email to Newsday. “They only have 31 players.”

So it seems clear — save for that one extra spot — which players are going. Goalie Jakub Skarek, defenseman Grant Hutton and forwards Kieffer Bellows and Oliver Wahlstrom did not practice Saturday, but the Islanders likely will take either Bellows or Wahlstrom.

“If you watched practice today, you could assume what the roster is,” Lamoriello said.

Semyon Varlamov, Thomas Greiss and Christopher Gibson were the goalies. Sebastian Aho, Johnny Boychuk, Noah Dobson, Andy Greene, Thomas Hickey, Nick Leddy, Scott Mayfield, Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock and Devon Toews were the defensemen. The forwards were Josh Bailey, Mathew Barzal, Anthony Beauvillier, Derick Brassard, Casey Cizikas, Cal Clutterbuck, Michael Dal Colle, Jordan Eberle, Ross Johnston, Otto Koivula, Leo Komarov, Tom Kuhnhackl, Andrew Ladd, Anders Lee, Matt Martin, Brock Nelson and Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

“Our focus is trying to get by the Florida Panthers and then, hopefully, have a really long run to win the Stanley Cup,” coach Barry Trotz said. “We put all the factors in — position, experience — and we felt this would be the strongest roster and give us all the flexibility.”

Sorokin, a 2014 third-round draft pick, signed a one-year, entry-level deal for $925,000 for the remainder of this season on July 13 as well as a one-year, $2 million extension for 2020-21. part of the NHL-NHL Players’ Association return-to-play/collective bargaining agreement extension, unsigned draft picks such as Sorokin were ruled ineligible to play if signed for 2019-20 but could have this season count toward free agency. The second deal keeps him from being a restricted free agent this offseason. 1189243 New York Islanders

Islanders' Lou Lamoriello expects exciting atmosphere, even without fans

By Andrew Gross [email protected] @AGrossNewsday

Updated July 25, 2020 6:05 PM

The former Providence College baseball player and coach and Cape Cod League hall of famer watched the Yankees’ season opener and was impressed with the television product despite the empty stadium.

Lou Lamoriello expects much the same when the NHL resumes play in empty buildings in Toronto and Edmonton.

“I thought they did a great job,” Lamoriello said on Saturday. “I thought the pitcher said it best after the game. [Gerrit] Cole looked at the building and was wondering what the atmosphere was going to be like without the fans until he got the ball in his hands and threw the first pitch. Then, it was a regular baseball game.

“I think the same thing will happen with the [NHL] players,” Lamoriello added. “Once that first hit takes place or the first shot, they’re going to be focused on playing. I do know the NHL has worked very hard to try and create some kind of atmosphere. I think the experience is going to be great for the players and for all of us, particularly the fans, because they’re going to see live hockey that’s going to be televised.”

The Islanders face the Rangers in an exhibition game at Toronto on Wednesday and open a best-of-five qualifying series against the Panthers on Aug. 1 at Scotiabank Arena.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189244 New York Islanders the top 12, but Johnston, Kuhnhackl and Ladd have gotten the longest looks in that spot so far.

Wednesday’s exhibition game against the Rangers won’t matter as far as Islanders make their cuts, say Ilya Sorokin will join them next week a result, of course, but the game will matter in terms of who dresses for that one open forward spot and who gets the Game 1 start in goal. The need for some intensity after two weeks of easing off on teammates will By Arthur Staple be important, as well.

Jul 25, 2020

The Athletic LOADED: 07.26.2020 Lou Lamoriello wouldn’t say which three players were left off of the 31- player roster that’s headed to Toronto on Sunday. All NHL teams had to submit their list of 31 players and 52 total traveling staff by 5 p.m. ET on Friday, and the Islanders had four players who weren’t on the ice for Saturday’s final practice on Long Island: Forwards Kieffer Bellows and Oliver Wahlstrom, defenseman Grant Hutton and goalie Jakub Skarek.

The league will announce every team’s roster on Sunday. “If you watched our practice (Saturday), you can assume what our roster is,” Lamoriello said.

Lamoriello added that Ilya Sorokin is quarantining on Long Island and will join the team sometime next week, when he’s passed all of the COVID- 19 protocols. “He’s 100 percent healthy,” Lamoriello said. Sorokin, as Lamoriello indicated last week, will not count toward the 31-player roster because he is ineligible to play in Toronto.

So, one of the four players who didn’t skate on Saturday morning is still making the trip. It’s almost certainly Bellows, the 22-year-old wing who had a decent showing in his first NHL action this season, posting 2-1-3 in eight games. He’s mostly skated with one of the extra forward lines during the two-week camp, but it makes far more sense to have him as one of the 18 forwards than Wahlstrom, whose entry-level contract would not slide a year if he played one game in the tournament.

Hutton, 25, played well in his first full pro season with Bridgeport after signing as an undrafted free agent out of Miami (Ohio) in the spring of 2019. The big, righty defenseman posted 6-15-21 in 55 games in the AHL. He’s a restricted free agent after this season who is getting a bit old to spend another full season in the minors, so seeing what he could contribute in a short camp was the right call, as was sending him home. The Isles bring 10 defensemen to Toronto, with Thomas Hickey and Sebastian Aho the fifth pair.

In goal, Skarek was also an expected cut. The 21-year-old goalie likely heads back to Europe for the full 2020-21 season, given the uncertainty of pro hockey below the NHL level in North America. Skarek wasn’t getting anywhere near a tournament game, so with Sorokin expected to join at some point next week for practices and extra skates, Skarek was expendable for the final 31.

Lamoriello clarified that teams could bring a maximum of 28 skaters and an unlimited number of goalies, so even if Sorokin counted against the roster total, he still wouldn’t take up a spot.

The GM also made it clear, after weeks and weeks of wondering and speculating about Sorokin, that he’s done answering questions about his new goalie.

“Right now, I don’t want it to be a distraction. I think we’ve answered enough questions on him,” Lamoriello said. “As far as what will transpire, he’s not eligible. Our focus is on the players we have here, the team that is getting ready. Ilya, we’ll worry about him next year. As far as his development, that will take place. Now, let’s focus on this team getting prepared for the Stanley Cup playoffs.”

Trotz had indicated earlier in the week that the roster cuts would come down to roles and having enough depth to fill each role. Wahlstrom is the team’s top forward prospect, but the coaching staff didn’t see him supplanting Bellows or one of the other extra forwards in terms of versatility and being able to fill a role if needed.

“With our coaching staff, gone over multiple scenarios, just weighed the pros and cons,” Barry Trotz said. “Our focus is trying to get by the Panthers and having a really long run. We put all the factors in — position, experience, all that.”

Kuhnhackl and Johnston traded off on LW3 on Saturday, with Komarov and Dal Colle alternating on LW5 while Bellows sat out. Komarov has been back at practice for a couple of days now, wearing a full shield to protect his injured eye. It’s difficult to gauge whether he’s an option for 1189245 New York Rangers

Rangers’ goal: Build on their pre-pandemic momentum

By Mollie Walker

July 26, 2020 | 3:17am

Rangers' surreal playoff journey will be like a 'jump on a moving train'

The Rangers have dedicated all of training camp 2.0 to getting back to the brand of hockey they were playing before the regular season was suspended.

Back to the three-plus goals a game they averaged through the final 10 matchups. Back to the cohesiveness the team finally found after months of gelling several new faces. Back to the competitiveness that drove them to make the final cut for the playoffs.

“I don’t want to forget what happened the last 2¹/₂ months of the season, when we were playing good hockey, had continuity between our lines,” coach David Quinn said.

Throughout the past two weeks of training camp, the Rangers have collectively expressed their plan to pick up where they left off. Quinn had revealed he felt as though he was already coaching playoff hockey before the coronavirus pandemic shutdown, considering the team was fighting tooth and nail to qualify for the organization’s first bid to the tournament since the 2016-17 season.

Now, with less than a week until the play-in series against the Hurricanes in Toronto, the challenge is to get back to that.

“We just kind of wanted to get back together and pick up where we left off,” he said. “Because we felt like we were playing good hockey and were giving ourselves a chance night-in and night-out doing the things we were doing.”

Quinn, who will be coaching in his first postseason, wasted no time in distinguishing between his expanded roster when training camp 2.0 began. He separated the players who spent more time with the team’s AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, and other prospects from the main roster on Day 1. He said he wanted to be “crystal clear” it wasn’t a normal training camp, when several roster spots are up for grabs.

The Rangers’ lines and defensive pairings have remained relatively the same, except for changes that were prompted by outside factors — like Brendan Lemieux’s suspension, Chris Kreider being healthy and Michael Haley remaining on the injured list.

Coming in and knowing what he wants his lineup to look like has allowed Quinn to shift his focus elsewhere. The one area he said he wanted to polish before the break was sharpening the team’s defensive zone structure and puck pressure, so that’s exactly what Quinn set out to accomplish in the past two weeks.

A handful of players have alluded to a sense of comfort throughout the team that wasn’t there at the start of the 2019-20 season. With Quinn’s message of getting back to how the team was playing before the hiatus, it’s allowed the Rangers to come into camp knowing what their role is.

In turn, the Rangers are finding it easier to navigate back into a competitive mindset.

“Neither team has played since March, so it’s a complete different situation, and we just have to go into this with the mindset of doing everything we can,” Mika Zibanejad said. “Try to get back to the way we played when we finished the season, before it got paused.”

New York Post LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189246 New York Rangers Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 07.26.2020

K'Andre Miller emerges into steady presence at Rangers camp

By Colin Stephenson [email protected] @ColinSNewsday

Updated July 25, 2020 6:47 PM

On his first day practicing with the Rangers — the actual Rangers, as opposed to the unsigned draft picks invited to the club’s annual summer prospect camp — K’Andre Miller literally fell down the first time someone passed him the puck.

Eventually, the nerves went away. Miller, the 20-year-old defenseman out of the University of Wisconsin who signed with the organization in March, grew into a steady presence who didn’t look at all out of place in the Rangers’ Training Camp 2.0.

Miller, who signed a standard three-year, entry-level contract that will begin in 2020-21, is not eligible to go to Toronto on Sunday as the Rangers restart their 2019-20 season with a best-of-five qualifying series against the Carolina Hurricanes. But he left an impression on the organization with his skill set and the intelligence he displayed in his cameo appearance.

“You could see the nerves early on, but I think he’s really kind of acclimated himself and played with an awful lot of confidence, kept things simple,’’ coach David Quinn said of Miller, one of three first-round picks by the club in 2018. “You see the physical tools he has. He’s a special physical specimen and he’s a guy that understands what he’s capable of doing. And I love the fact that he didn’t try to do too much. I thought he let the game come to him.’’

“He is a player that we think has a great future with the Rangers,’’ team president John Davidson said of the 6-4, 211-pound Miller. “When we found out . . . we were allowed to bring one player that could come to your camp and then would not be able to travel to Toronto, we talked about it. You can never have enough defensemen . . . and he’s a perfect fit for us. K’Andre Miller’s a big part of our future. This is an ideal time to get him here to help him get himself acclimated to how we play the game.’’

Miller’s career with the Rangers got off to a shocking, disturbing start. On a Zoom call with Rangers fans in early April, a couple of weeks after he signed his contract, someone typed a racial slur over and over and over on the call’s chat feature. Miller is biracial, the son of a Black father and white mother. The Rangers and the NHL launched an investigation into the incident, but the perpetrator was not found.

Miller didn’t speak about the incident for two months before issuing a statement on Twitter in June, in the aftermath of the George Floyd tragedy, when the nation was seeing protests demanding racial justice and police reform all over the country. In his statement, he spoke of feeling as if he had “never been fully accepted by either the Black community or the white community’’ and how, throughout his hockey career, he always has been “one of the only people of color’’ on the teams he played for.

He also talked about how being drafted by the Rangers — they traded up to get him with the second of their three first- round picks — was one moment when he “didn’t have to be defined by the color of my skin, but rather on my hockey skills, athletic ability and character.’’

Said Miller, “This is how it should be all the time.’’

The Rangers drafted Miller because he was big, could skate, could shoot and could make plays at both ends of the ice. They believed he could be a future cornerstone of their franchise, and they got a little taste of the possibilities during this mini-training camp.

“What I really like about K’Andre’s game is how quick he’s thinking, recognizing plays, his hockey sense,’’ Quinn said. “His physical skills are obvious to everybody. I mean, he skates really well, he’s got great size, he’s got great reach. But I like the little small-area plays he’s been able to make, and how quickly he’s been able to move the puck.’’

1189247 Philadelphia Flyers “It’s a little different. They told us today they’re going to be doing our laundry, so at least you’ll get some clean clothes once a week,” he said. “It shouldn’t be too bad.”

Joel Farabee, Nate Thompson still in running for lineup spot as Flyers Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 07.26.2020 finish camp in Voorhees

by Sam Carchidi,

The Flyers juggled their lines slightly Saturday for their final training- camp practice in Voorhees as they prepared for Tuesday’s exhibition game against Pittsburgh.

Scott Laughton, who has played a lot of center in camp, was shifted to the second-line left winger. He took the spot held by Joel Farabee, who dropped down to the fourth unit and rotated with Michael Raffl. Raffl also rotated with Nic Aube-Kubel as the fourth-line right winger.

The lines:

Line 1: Sean Couturier centering Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek.

Line 2: Kevin Hayes centering Laughton and Travis Konecny.

Line 3: Derek Grant centering James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Pitlick.

Line 4: Nate Thompson centering Farabee/Raffl and Aube-Kubel/Raffl.

The top three defensive pairs looked the same: Ivan Provorov and Matt Niskanen; Travis Sanheim and Phil Myers, and Robert Hagg and Justin Braun.

In Tuesday’s exhibition in Toronto, teams are allowed to dress 13 forwards and seven defensemen. That means all of the above forwards figure to play in that game, along with the six aforementioned defensemen and Shayne Gostisbehere.

When the round-robin tourney starts Aug. 2 and 12 forwards play, it appears Farabee and Thompson are battling for the last lineup spot. Hagg seems to have beaten out Gostisbehere for the No. 6 spot on defense.

Farabee, a 20-year-old rookie with good speed, has had a strong camp. Thompson brings experience and is a solid penalty killer.

Assistant Michel Therrien said the coaching staff likes Farabee’s hockey IQ, positioning and “the way he sees the game. Definitely he’s going to have a really good chance to play” at some point.

Toronto-bound

Having completed the Voorhees part of their training camp, the Flyers will head to the Eastern Conference hub city, Toronto, on Sunday.

The players said camp gave them a chance to get their speed, timing and skating legs back.

“I think we are pretty sharp, pretty business-like,” van Riemsdyk said. “We’ve gotten better as we have gone on here.”

Face #Flyers in Tuesday’s exhibition game. https://t.co/kCRRH9fLWU

— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) July 25, 2020

He said the exhibition and round-robin games “will jack up the competitiveness that comes from playing other teams.”

Daddy Coots

New dad Sean Couturier was given the honor to lead stretches after practice and was saluted with stick taps and cheers.

Couturier’s wife, Laurence, delivered their first child, Ella, on Thursday.

The Flyers head to Toronto on Sunday.

“I couldn’t imagine leaving” so soon, Braun said. “It’s a tough situation for him to have a child and then have to leave immediately for maybe 2 1/2 months.”

On another topic, Braun was asked how difficult it was to pack clothes when you don’t know if you’ll be away for a few weeks or 2 1/2 months. 1189248 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers goalie Carter Hart takes part in full practice, says he’s ready for Tuesday’s exhibition vs. Penguins

by Sam Carchidi,

Flyers goalie Carter Hart took part in a full-team practice Saturday for the first time since he left Tuesday’s intrasquad scrimmage because of apparent back spasms.

Hart, 21, probably the Flyers’ most indispensable player, said he expects to be at 100% when the Flyers restart their season Aug. 2 against Boston in a round-robin tournament in Toronto.

After the Flyers finished the Voorhees portion of Training Camp 2.0 on Saturday, Hart said he felt he would be his old self after playing in Tuesday’s exhibition against Pittsburgh in Toronto. It’s the Flyers’ only tune-up before facing Boston in the the first of three games in the seeding tourney.

“I feel really good right now,” Hart said. “The plan is to be good to go for Tuesday.”

The Flyers haven’t announced their lineup for Tuesday, but Hart might split duties with .

“It’ll definitely be nice to get that first game in, just getting back into the game mentally,” said Hart, who last played on March 10, a 2-0 loss to Boston that ended the Flyers’ nine-game winning streak. It was the Flyers’ final game because the coronavirus outbreak halted the regular season two days later.

Carter Hart says he thinks playing in one exhibition will be enough to get him back to where he was at the end of the regular season. #Flyers pic.twitter.com/HAtMlreP2i

— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) July 25, 2020

Hart said the Flyers need to use the exhibition and the three round-robin matchups “to help us prepare and to really feel what a playoff game is going to be like come Aug. 11.”

The young goalie “definitely looked real good out there today,” rookie left winger Joel Farabee said. “As a team, we obviously believe in him, all the coaches believe in him, and fans believe in him. He’s such a great goalie. Him and Moose [Brian Elliott] are going to be huge down the stretch for us. They’re a big reason why we won a lot of hockey games this year.”

Hart finished with a 24-13-3 record, a .914 save percentage, and the league’s eighth-best goals-against average (2.42). He was especially effective after returning from a lower-abdominal injury late in the season, going 9-2 with a .934 save percentage in his last 11 appearances.

“Hartsy is definitely one of the young guys, but he’s definitely a leader in a way, too,” Farabee said. “We rely on him a lot.”

Even though Hart has never played in an NHL playoff game, the Flyers are unconcerned, based on his work ethic and his strong regular season.

“He gets it. He’ll be ready,” defenseman Justin Braun said. “He’s dialed in on his game. ... and when he’s dialed in, he’s one of the best in the league. It’s been fun playing in front of him. When you need that big save, you saw that lateral movement” to make a key stop. “You need that every once in a while, especially in the playoffs.”

Hart, who turns 22 on Aug. 13, could become the youngest goaltender in Flyers history to win a Stanley Cup playoff game. The youngest is Pete Peeters, who was 22 years, 235 days when he won a 1980 playoff game.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189249 Philadelphia Flyers "To be quite honest, I’m not sure what the plan is with Carter," assistant coach Michel Therrien said Saturday. "He felt really good today on the ice. That’s a good sign."

Hart in rhythm, ready to go as Flyers eye Toronto trip Therrien said Hart, head coach Alain Vigneault and goaltending coach Kim Dillabaugh are likely to meet and discuss the goaltenders' respective workloads once the club gets to Toronto.

By Rob Parent [email protected] You get the idea Hart will have a lot of input.

8 hrs ago "Going into this postseason, it’s like no other," said Hart, who has had no other NHL postseason. "It's uncharted waters for everybody. It’s going to

be a new situation. It’s not your normal, typical playoffs. Just prior to his team packing up and packing it in as far as their "Me and Moose (Elliott) had a good chat there on the bench that one Philadelphia-area activities in the Comeback 2020 hockey tour are scrimmage and we were just taking a break between periods. He said to concerned, Flyers goalie Carter Hart pronounced himself fit and ready to me, ‘This is what it’s going to be like for your first playoff game.’ That’s go ahead of Tuesday's lone exhibition game in the NHL's Eastern pretty crazy. Playoff games, he said, are mostly about atmosphere and Conference bubble in Toronto. all that, so it’s going to be different for everybody. The Flyers were scheduled to fly to Toronto Sunday, get tested in the "I think as athletes, as professionals, it’s our job to adapt and overcome COVID way and then get tested in the hockey way by the Penguins whatever’s thrown our way." before games start to sort-of count up there. Delaware County Times LOADED: 07.26.2020 After the exhibition on Tuesday, they will practice then commence an Eastern Conference seeding mini-tourney against the Boston Bruins next Sunday, the Washington Capitals on Aug. 6 and finally the Tampa Bay Lightning on Aug. 8.

That will determine the top four Eastern clubs' seeding for the Stanley Cup playoffs, which will be expected to follow a normal timeline except for the first round being a best-of-five. Beyond that, the Flyers and everyone else are hoping this visit to Toronto becomes a two-month-long hockey odyssey.

"I think it’ll be great for us," Hart said on a Saturday non-Zoom video chat. "We’re in fourth place right now and we can only move up from here (in the seeding mini-tourney). I think we’re lucky in the sense that we put ourselves in a good position, so we deserve to have those three extra games than some other teams going into the qualifiers where they play one exhibition game and then have to fight for their lives to get into the playoffs.

"It’s nice that we have those three games for us to determine the seeding and also to see what the atmosphere is going to be like playing in front of no fans and how the setup is going to be. I think for us, we need to use those three games to our advantage and help us prepare for Round One."

Certainly Hart needs as much prep time as he can get. He took part in scrimmage work Saturday after mostly resting this week due to what was believed to be back spasms. He left Tuesday's scrimmages early.

Hart, however, has pronounced himself ready for the exhibition game.

"I feel good," Hart said. "Just kind of taking things a little more precautionary the last couple days. I've been ramping it up the last two days. I feel really good right now.

"It’ll be nice to get into a game on Tuesday when no one’s played a game in more than four months. It’ll definitely be nice to get that first game in there, just getting back into that game mentality. Just run through everything that you would normally do on a game day because it’s been a long time for all of us."

Presuming he runs through that game and the seeding tourney (also exhibition, just don't tell the NHL), Hart will become the youngest goalie in franchise history to start a playoff game.

"He gets it. He’ll be ready," defenseman Justin Braun said of Hart. "He’s dialed in on his game. He’s got one job back there - stop the puck. When he’s dialed in, he’s one of the best in the league. It’s been fun playing in front of him. When you need that big save, you saw that lateral movement on a couple plays this year coming across and making that save. You need that every once in a while, especially in the playoffs."

However, there are no guarantees that Hart will be asked to carry the club through the seeding tourney and the playoffs. That's partially due to everyone coming off a nearly four-month long period of inactivity, and partially due to caution since Hart is coming off a touch of back spasms.

Oh, and veteran Brian Elliott has looked good in the scrimmages, too.

Thus... 1189250 Philadelphia Flyers "We’re a little disappointed to see that order but as we've gotten to understand it more, that’s a long time away through February," Scott said. "I don’t think we have full clarity from the mayor’s office or the city. That’s a long time away and we’re hopeful that date could move up. Dave Scott 'couldn't be happier' with Flyers, but there's more action to be done "In terms of what it does financially, our idea was always to start with social distancing as we kind of came back for the next season. It hurts a little bit, but it’s not the end of the world. The goal is to start the next season, at least have the games on television. Never really had the By Jordan Hall expectation by this fall or late this year, that we’d really be in a position to July 25, 2020 7:30 PM have fans in the building. I think as we get into calendar ’21, we've got a lot of thoughts around social distancing and kind of ramping up from there as people feel safer. Hopefully we get a vaccination at some point here in the not-too-distant future." Back on Nov. 27, 2018, Dave Scott was poignant and blunt about his business letting down an important group of investors. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.26.2020 For the second straight season, the Flyers were in last place of the Metropolitan Division at Thanksgiving.

"I personally feel our fans deserve better," Scott, the chairman and CEO of Comcast Spectacor, said at the time. "I think we have great fans and they have been patient."

Scott and then-team president made the decision to fire general manager . The Flyers wanted more progress and, therefore, more action — "really making some things happen," as Scott said.

In 2019-20, Flyers fans required much less patience and Scott saw the results of greater action. After stomaching the tumultuous 2018-19 campaign, they watched the best home team in hockey this season. No NHL club had more wins or a better point percentage on home ice than the Flyers (25-6-4, .771), who turned into a top-six team overall a year after finishing 22nd in the league standings.

On Thursday, Scott was able to sing a different tune compared to November 2018, a time that triggered a domino effect of change within the team's hockey operations department and coaching staff.

The club is now in promising position to go on a run during the NHL's return-to-play 24-team tournament. As the new-look Flyers began rolling in November, attendance started to spike.

"It was wonderful," Scott said of the Flyers' dominance at the Wells Fargo Center. "The energy was great in the building, that’s the best since I’ve been around we’ve ever played at home. Look at the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference, too, we had a tremendous record this season. I thoroughly enjoyed it and we’re ready for the next step here."

The desired action truly commenced last offseason. New general manager Chuck Fletcher brought on board experienced coaches Alain Vigneault, Mike Yeo and Michel Therrien. Then, over a span of 11 days last June, Fletcher signed Kevin Hayes (after trading for his contractual rights earlier in the month) and traded for Matt Niskanen, Justin Braun and Tyler Pitlick. At this February's trade deadline, Fletcher acquired Derek Grant and Nate Thompson to supplement the team's run.

"I couldn’t be happier with what we’ve done, what was done at the trade deadline, the new guys coming in, Kevin and the others," Scott said of Fletcher's work. "I think we got it right — it’s a great balance, the new additions, the vets fit in really great with our whole team. ... I couldn’t be happier with what he’s put together."

Fletcher and the Flyers have much more work to do, though. The GM knows that. Professional sports are a what-have-you-done-for-me-now business. The Flyers haven't won a Stanley Cup since 1975. They haven't won a playoff series since 2012. Ultimately, Scott and the fans will want more than just a strong regular season or one bounce-back year. There are also difficult decisions ahead from a roster standpoint after 2019-20.

"It's all about winning, whether it's in business or a hockey team and getting deep in the playoffs and winning the Cup — I mean, that's what we're all after," Scott said back in November 2018.

The Flyers will have a unique and different 2020-21, as well. The season will start later (possibly Dec. 1) and the question of when fans are allowed back in the stands is completely up in the air, particularly after the city's announcement of its plan to cancel all large-scale events through February 2021. 1189251 Philadelphia Flyers This has been a season like no other — from the season being suspended in early March to going on a hiatus for nearly five months because of the coronavirus outbreak, it’s been difficult. The Flyers also had to handle the news of Oskar Lindblom being diagnosed with Ewing’s NHL playoffs Flyers vs. Canadiens: Previewing possible 1st-round sarcoma back in December. It was a statement not a single person would matchup have expected. What was even more unexpected was that just a few months later, Lindblom was officially done with his treatments and now,

according to general manager Chuck Fletcher, there’s even a possibility By Brooke Destra of him traveling to the Toronto bubble with the team.

July 25, 2020 12:20 PM It’s a story with a happy ending for a player that rightfully deserves it. His teammates have been playing for Lindblom — when he was around, it was clear the team wanted to do well, he lit up the room and his kindness is something worth fighting for. Leading up to the Flyers' Aug. 2 round-robin opener — which officially commences the team's run at the 2020 Stanley Cup in the NHL's return- The image of captain Claude Giroux handing the Stanley Cup off to to-play 24-team tournament — we're going to break down every possible Lindblom should be motivation enough for the team. In a year with so first-round matchup for the club. much negativity, having a moment like that to look back on could possibly (definitely) make it all worth it. Today, we look at the 12th-seeded Canadiens, who the Flyers faced three times in the 2019-20 season, having a 2-1-0 record. Why matchup could be trouble for Flyers

Flyers by the numbers It wasn’t a major issue during the 2019-20 season, but one fear always lingers — one that happened against the Canadiens back in January — Goals per game: 3.29 (seventh overall) is when the Flyers play down to their opponent. In those games, they Goals allowed per game: 2.77 (tied for seventh fewest) often sit back on their skates, turtle with a lead or have to play a game of catch-up. This could be a worst-case scenario trap series, given the Power play percentage: 20.8 (14th overall) seeding — and with so many eyes on the surprising Flyers team pushing Penalty kill percentage: 81.8 (11th overall) to make a Cup run, it’s possible they fall into it.

Canadiens by the numbers Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.26.2020

Goals per game: 2.93 (19th overall)

Goals allowed per game: 3.10 (13th most)

Power play percentage: 17.1 (22nd overall)

Penalty kill percentage: 78.7 (19th overall)

How they could meet

The Flyers find themselves in a very strong position with their round-robin seeding because they can only improve. They’ll be matched up against the Canadiens if they can earn the No. 1 seed and Montreal knocks off the fifth-seeded Penguins in the best-of-five qualifying-round series.

Why matchup could be favorable for Flyers

On paper, the Flyers coming out on top of this series almost seems like a no-brainer. Comparing the numbers above, the Flyers dominate in every category, but the biggest factor are those goals for and goals against.

Goaltending

The Flyers’ goaltending duo of Brian Elliott and Carter Hart has been dominant with whatever game head coach Alain Vigneault throws at each netminder. While there was some strategy in playing Hart at home and Elliott on the road the majority of the time, it’ll be interesting it see how the tandem plays out. This is probably the best problem a team could have — having two sturdy goalies ready to go. Where a young Hart gets his first taste of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, this isn’t Elliott’s first rodeo. This will be the veteran goaltender’s eighth trip to the postseason as he has 45 playoff games under his belt — for a netminder, that’s not a bad résumé.

On the opposing end of the ice, the Flyers will be going up against one of the most respected in the game with , who has also seen the playoffs on eight separate seasons. This season has been an interesting one for Price though — and an inconsistent one at that. With a 27-25-6 record, it’ll be interesting to see how Price emerges. If the Flyers shut down Price, it’s over for the Habs.

Full health

While the Canadiens wouldn’t have even made the playoffs had the season ended in a normal fashion, the Flyers would’ve been entering the race for the Stanley Cup with a few banged up roster spots. During the mandatory league hiatus, Philippe Myers (right knee patella fracture) and James van Riemsdyk (fractured right index finger), two injured players that would’ve created absences and raised concerns in the winding 13 games of the season, had more than enough time to recover.

Something worth playing for 1189252 Pittsburgh Penguins Jumping on the main rink for practice Friday, Crosby was greeted like a conquering hero by his teammates who applauded him by “clapping” their sticks on the ice.

‘Things are moving in the right direction’ for Sidney Crosby and the “It speaks to the respect that he commands amongst his peers and the Penguins importance that he brings to our team,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “When Sid is part of the active practice, I just think it elevates our whole level of intensity and execution out there.”

Seth Rorabaugh There appears to be minimal concern by Crosby over his ability to do that next week for the team’s first practice in Toronto or its exhibition contest. Saturday, July 25, 2020 6:10 p.m. “Ideally, I would have liked to get in a little bit more with the scrimmages

and the game situation (drills),” Crosby said. “But with that being said, I The Penguins concluded their training camp in Cranberry on Saturday think the fact that I’ve been able to skate for a good chunk of time will with a scrimmage. help getting through that.

It was by far the most combative and intense of the four scrimmages they “Things are moving in the right direction. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get in staged during their preparation for the NHL’s postseason tournament in that exhibition game.” August. Tribune Review LOADED: 07.26.2020 There was nearly a fight between forwards Jared McCann and Brandon Tanev during the second period after McCann ran into goaltender Tristan Jarry and was hit by Tanev in response. Gloves were dropped at center ice, but before any blows were exchanged, assistant coach , serving as a referee, broke up McCann and Tanev, who hug after the period expired.

There were other instances of heated interactions, including when typically docile Teddy Blueger was so angry with a hit from defenseman Jusso Riikola, he broke his own stick with a cross check on Riikola’s left arm.

Add seven goals, a few highlight-reel saves and even a disallowed goal thanks to a kicked puck, this scrimmage had a little bit of everything and suggested the Penguins were ready for the playoffs.

With one exception.

Sidney Crosby.

The Penguins captain again did not participate in the scrimmage, instead working out on the team’s auxiliary rink for approximately an hour with reserve goaltender Casey DeSmith and a coach. Aside from participating in Friday’s practice, Crosby mostly has been working out separately since he abruptly left a scrimmage July 18.

The team has not officially disclosed the reason for Crosby’s absences, citing the NHL’s new rules for withholding medical information during the coronavirus pandemic. But Crosby all but confirmed he has been dealing with a minor physical ailment while speaking with reporters via video conference after Saturday’s scrimmage.

He also expressed optimism he will be able to resume practicing Monday in Toronto and play against the Philadelphia Flyers in an exhibition game Tuesday at Scotiabank Arena.

“Monday’s kind of the soonest I guess as far as (practicing) with the team,” Crosby said. “I’m hoping that I can skate with the team on Monday and just take it from there. Ideally, I’d be able to play in that game. If not, just kind of go a day at time from there. But I’m hoping that I can get in that game.”

The decision to hold him out of so many scrimmages and practices has been precautionary.

Identifying the specific nature of Crosby’s ailment is a matter of speculation but given most workouts appear to focus on edge work and involve him skating in tight, confined motions, it is a reasonable assumption his malady is what most coaches might label with the popular but nugatory “lower-body” designation.

Regardless, he offered an upbeat assessment of his well being.

“I felt pretty good,” Crosby said. “I had skated on my own on the (auxiliary rink) for a good amount of time. It was just good to get out there with the guys and have a little bit more game-situation stuff going on. But I felt good.”

Having missed 28 games between November and January because of a core muscle injury, Crosby seems willing to ease his way back into a normal routine instead of fighting through whatever ails him.

“Something like that, it takes a while,” he said. “The more you can play games and stress it, I think the better it responds over time.” 1189253 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins forward Sidney Crosby misses final scrimmage, hopes to practice Monday

Seth Rorabaugh

Saturday, July 25, 2020 12:15 p.m.

Note: CCPA compliance requires embedded widgets like Facebook, Twitter and inline videos be disabled in stories.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby is not participating in his team’s final scrimmage of its training camp in Cranberry on Saturday.

He did skate with a coach and goaltender Casey DeSmith on an auxiliary rink at the team’s facility, however.

Crosby abruptly left a scrimmage July 18 for undisclosed reasons and did not join his teammates on the ice until practice Friday. He has been skating by himself and with a coach predominantly for the past week.

The team has officially declined to offer any reason for Crosby’s absences, citing the NHL’s new rules on withholding medical information during the coronavirus pandemic. A team source has indicated to the Tribune-Review that Crosby is dealing with a minor physical ailment, and his absences have been for precautionary reasons.

During a video conference with local reporters after the scrimmage, Crosby indicated he is hopeful to practice with teammates Tuesday in Toronto.

The Penguins are scheduled to face the Philadelphia Flyers in an exhibition game Tuesday at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. They are slated to open a best-of-five qualifying round series against the Montreal Canadiens, also in Toronto, on Aug. 1.

Tribune Review LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189254 Pittsburgh Penguins opening. Moments later, Marino was alone with three opponents in the corner and somehow emerged with the puck, flipping it up the ice to create an odd-man rush. I’ve missed watching Marino play. He makes everything look easy. Dropped gloves, big scrimmage comeback put exclamation point on Penguins camp 6. Prospects Samuel Poulin and Pierre-Olivier Joseph have a chance to be solid building blocks for the Penguins down the road. But neither looks ready to play a role in these playoffs. Which, duh. They’re 19 and 21, respectively. Poulin is really strong for his age and hasn’t gotten pushed Matt Vensel around the last two scrimmages. And he already has an NHL-caliber shot, which Jarry saw firsthand when the youngster cracked him in the cage. But Poulin needs more polishing before he makes his pro debut. The Penguins on Saturday held their fourth and final intrasquad Meanwhile, the knock on Joseph has been that he’s not strong enough scrimmage of their postseason training camp. It was nearly a full-squad yet. That checks out. He also seemed nervous with the puck when affair, with 14 skaters a side and all four goalies in uniform. pressured. Again, both kids rightfully have the Penguins excited. But they’re not ready yet. There was one notable absence. Tribune Review LOADED: 07.26.2020 Sidney Crosby, who practiced with the team Friday, was held out. He instead skated on an individual basis on the other rink for more than an hour, so we presume it was merely precautionary as he works his way back from whatever he is or was dealing with. Per NHL rules, the Penguins can’t share details.

With Crosby out, Evan Rodrigues was again between Jake Guentzel and Conor Sheary. That line wore white, as did the Teddy Blueger line. Tristan Jarry was their goalie. In black were the trios led by Evgeni Malkin and Jared McCann and the top defensive pair of Brian Dumoulin and Kris Letang, plus Matt Murray.

Here are six observations from the scrimmage, which got a little chippy before the black team won, 5-2, thanks to five unanswered goals in the third period.

1. As the Penguins huddled at center ice at the end of Friday’s practice at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, coach Mike Sullivan told his players he wanted them to treat this scrimmage as if it were an actual game, both in terms of preparation and passion. Well, two guys took that a little too seriously. During the second period, McCann and Brandon Tanev dropped the gloves moments after McCann drove the net and Tanev stood him up. They were separated before haymakers were exchanged. Sullivan initially seemed irked, but he probably didn’t mind the end result. Both teams ratcheted up the intensity after that and the second half of the scrimmage felt like a game that had something at stake. That couldn’t hurt with Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens now just seven days away.

2. One thing Sullivan definitely couldn’t have been thrilled about was some of the decisions made at the blue line, one of the most critical areas on the ice. Whether it was forwards trying to dance around a defender at the offensive blue line or a careless pass exiting the zone, a bunch of plays Saturday were similar to ones that killed the Penguins in last year’s early playoff exit. Kris Letang was involved in a few of those plays in the scrimmage, including a breakout pass that was picked off by Anthony Angello. Letang screamed a four-letter word as he scrambled to get in position. Sam Lafferty’s shot from the slot thankfully sailed wide.

3. It was fair to wonder about Patric Hornqvist’s game readiness after the power forward spent two weeks in quarantine upon returning from Sweden and then missed the first week of camp due to potential secondary exposure to COVID-19. Yeah, Hornqvist is going to be just fine. He had plenty of juice left during the third period when he scored a pair of goals, the first on a deflection and the second on a nifty move in front. He added a goal in a power play drill, just for kicks.

4. Can you believe I made it all the way to No. 4 before getting into the goalies? Murray was solid. He surely wishes he could have a five-hole goal by Angello back. But he made several quality saves, including a point-blank Guentzel one-timer and a Rodrigues breakaway. Tristan Jarry, on the other hand, fell apart in the third period. The first two goals that got by him were legit. But he should have shrugged off the long- distance Patrick Marleau wrist shot that gave the black team the lead. In total, Jarry allowed four goals Saturday. Overall, he had a pretty good camp. But it probably wasn’t enough to put Murray on the pine.

5. John Marino did not forget how to play hockey during the pause. The blue-liner, who turned 23 in May, is rarely out of position and always seems to make a smart decision with the puck. In the first period of the scrimmage, Evgeni Malkin barged down the right wing, 1-on-1 with the rookie. Malkin didn’t have a great angle, so he dropped his shoulder and tried to barrel through Marino on his backhand. But Marino stood his ground and calmly poked the puck into the corner when he got an 1189255 Pittsburgh Penguins 5 Points

17 It’s all about Sidney Crosby’s status as the Penguins head to Toronto Plus/minus

6 By Rob Rossi Avg. TOI Jul 25, 2020 20:50

The increased workload might have contributed to a poor start to Sidney Crosby learned a long time ago that few things in life go November. Crosby was held without a point and recorded a minus-7 according to plan. rating in three consecutive games before he aggravated the sports hernia Losing the bulk of a couple of prime seasons early last decade wasn’t when the Penguins played the Blackhawks at PPG Paints Arena on Nov. part of any plan. Neither was eating through a straw while a surgically 9. repaired jaw healed over the final month of a lockout-shortened season. That would be Crosby’s final appearance until Jan. 14. And the same could be said of everything else he has dealt with during his 15 seasons, from a broken foot to a high-ankle sprain to various groin He underwent surgery on Nov. 14 in Philadelphia to repair the sports strains and a bout with the mumps. hernia and any complications from the incident Nov. 9. In a statement confirming the procedure, the Penguins said Crosby would miss at least For the record, it was never part of Crosby’s plan to miss out on about six weeks. half of the two-week summer camp the Penguins wrapped up with a fourth scrimmage Saturday afternoon. He wasn’t a participant in that He was out for 28 games, the longest stretch of his career for a non- scrimmage and practiced only once with teammates over the final six concussion injury. The Penguins went 18-6-4 without Crosby, earning an days of camp. NHL-best 71.4 percent of possible points in his absence.

So, does it really matter what Crosby plans for when the Penguins arrive Crosby scored four points in his first game after the extended absence. in hub city Toronto, where an exhibition game against Philadelphia and a Including that home game against the Wild, Crosby produced 11 goals Stanley Cup playoffs series against Montreal await? Perhaps not. and 19 assists in 24 games upon returning to the Penguins, a 38- goal/103-point pace that probably should have helped the Penguins do Still, speaking Saturday afternoon, Crosby said he hopes to practice better than 12-11-1 with their captain again in the lineup. Monday in Toronto and play against the Flyers on Tuesday. The critical component would be the practice, which would only be Crosby’s second During the COVID-19 pause, Crosby remained in Pittsburgh. Teammates with the Penguins since he did not finish a scrimmage on July 18. said he basically organized and led small-group workouts at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex during Phase 2. He showed no signs of being “I’m hoping I can skate with the team Monday and just kind of take it from hindered during Phase 3 (summer camp) until leaving the Penguins’ first there,” Crosby said Saturday. He also reported feeling “pretty good scrimmage. skating with the team (Friday)” and said “things are moving in the right direction” when asked about his status. He did not return to the ice until this past Wednesday, skating on his own for consecutive days before joining the final practice of summer camp NHL protocol for its return from the COVID-19 shutdown prohibits club Friday. personnel from providing specifics about players’ injuries and/or illnesses. The Athletic previously reported Crosby experienced The Penguins are scheduled to travel to Toronto on Sunday. They are discomfort around his core, an area on which he underwent surgery last slated to open a best-of-five qualifying-round series against the November. Canadiens on Aug. 1.

Though he returned to play in January, Crosby conceded Saturday that The Athletic LOADED: 07.26.2020 “trying to develop strength isn’t something that happens overnight.” He also said the games he played in before the NHL shut down on March 12 were beneficial to “stress” the repaired and/or weakened muscles.

He might have experienced more on and off the ice than any current NHL player, but recovering from major in-season surgery is new to Crosby. The particular surgery he underwent is one past players have described as “aggravating” if not “annoying” because of pain that lingers for months following the procedure.

Aside from a concussion saga that limited him to 63 regular-season games from January 2011 until March 2012, Crosby has never had as trying a season — at least because of injury — as he has in 2019-20.

He first noticed core-area discomfort during training camp last September. Diagnosed then as a sports hernia injury, Crosby considered a surgery that would have occurred early in the regular season. However, injuries to several teammates — notably centers Evgeni Malkin and Nick Bjugstad — persuaded him to put the Penguins’ needs ahead of his own and try playing through his pain.

The Penguins went 8-5-0 in October despite playing most of those games without Malkin and winger Bryan Rust, who would go on to be their leaders in points and goals, respectively. Crosby’s value to the club during the opening month was greater than his overall numbers, as he was the only center on the roster with experience playing heavy minutes and in all situations.

Sidney Crosby in October

Games

13

Goals 1189256 Pittsburgh Penguins Crosby did not play during the entirety of it Winger Jake Guentzel missed its final six games

The Penguins played 41 percent of their games without Crosby this past Penguins player grades: Evgeni Malkin season. They went 18-6-4 in those games. Malkin either scored or set up 40 percent of their goals, even though he missed two of the games because of illness. By Rob Rossi Feasting on opportunities provided to a No. 1 center, Malkin reasserted Jul 25, 2020 himself among the elite forwards with Crosby out. As the next chart shows, Malkin stood out from similarly productive forwards in a

noticeable way. After a long layoff because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Penguins NHL leaders (Nov. 11-Jan. 13) have resumed practicing in preparing for the Stanley Cup playoffs. They will play the Montreal Canadiens in a best-of-five series in Toronto, with Artemi Panarin Game 1 on Aug. 1. Until then, The Athletic will continue grading players based on the pandemic-shortened regular season. 4.84

Historians might not look back upon the 2019-20 NHL season as one of Jonathan Hubedreau Evgeni Malkin’s best. 4.53 Current pundits who tend to discount Malkin — never forget: He was the Nathan MacKinnon only player to have won the Calder, Art Ross, Hart and Conn Smythe trophies and Stanley Cup and be left off the NHL 100 list — could make 4.45 the case that he failed at his mission to “get back my level,” too. Evgeni Malkin He did not win a third scoring title. 4.34 He was never a candidate to become MVP for a second time. Nikita Kucherov His team had to play in a qualifying round instead of finishing with enough points to earn a bye into the best-of-seven portion of the Stanley 4.05 Cup playoffs. (Stats in the above charts were researched at Natural Stat Trick.)

It’s all true. It’s understandable to take for granted a great offensive season from What’s truer, though, is that Malkin has rarely been better than he was Malkin. People have been doing that with him since his debut in 2006-07. this past season. And it happened to work out that his 14th season was Since, he ranks second among only four players to appear in at least 900 similar to that of Sidney Crosby, who in 2018-19 excelled in all areas as games and average at or above 0.99 points. He and Crosby are the lone he never had before in a future Hall of Fame career. two current players in the all-time top 20 of points per game; Malkin is Malkin followed Crosby’s lead in 2019-20. 13th at 1.19, as recorded by QuantHockey.

Only if nitpicking could somebody find fault with Malkin’s offensive People were hoping, almost expecting, this version of Malkin given the performance. At five on five, he was the only player to finish at or above intensity of his training last summer, believing he could again become an 1.15 goals and 2.00 points per 60 minutes while also playing a part in at offensive force while also adding an overdue element of responsibility to least 84 percent of his team’s goals while on the ice. He also won more his game. than he lost on faceoffs for the first time. During a lunch meeting in June 2019, Malkin and coach Mike Sullivan For most players, a season such as the one Malkin had in 2019-20 would discussed the future. Malkin wanted more ice time. Sullivan wanted more qualify as a career achievement. attention to detail and increased defensive awareness.

Malkin, of course, is not most players. Malkin averaged 19 minutes and 31 seconds, his most since the 2013-14 season. Though, if anybody doubted whether Malkin could still hang with the NHL’s best players, a glance at his 26-game stretch from Nov. 11 Sullivan might argue he earned the increase of 43 seconds per game through Jan. 13 served as a reminder of “Beast-mode Geno.” from 2018-19. In fact, Sullivan made that exact point a lot, regularly saying something along the lines of “Geno’s attention to detail has just Malkin at five-on-five (Nov. 11-Jan. 13) been terrific.”

Goals/60 A lot of coaches have praised Malkin over the seasons. Only with Sullivan, and only this season, did “attention to detail” get mentioned as a 1.16 positive. 9 At even strength, Malkin’s expected goals against and high-danger Assists/60 chances against, each per 60 minutes, were down from 2018-19 and more akin to what they were in 2016-17. There are probably better 2.31 measures for defensive performance for forwards, but if opponents are not expected to score too much or generate too many quality chances at 2 five-on-five with Malkin on the ice — well, that’s just about as good as it Points/60 gets from No. 71.

3.47 Malkin has said his best hockey happened during the 2008-09 season. He won the scoring title, finished second in the MVP vote and scored 36 3 points in the playoffs. (That last total remains the most by any NHL player in a single postseason since in 1993.) IPP But Malkin did win the MVP, and his second scoring title, in 2011-12. He 82.76 also registered a 10.2 point share, as measured by Hockey-Reference, in 7 2017-18.

Take another look at that chart after considering the following facts: Still, he was never the two-way strongman in those seasons that he was in 2019-20. When at his best previously, Malkin’s chief defensive Malkin had missed 11 of 17 games prior to that run attribute was possessing the puck. This past season, Malkin made a habit of playing keep away, but he also chose simple plays over riskier ones.

The result was a version of Malkin completely foreign to the NHL: The so-called Beast had learned patience.

It was a great look for Malkin. He graded at an A-plus.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189257 San Jose Sharks since. It’s unclear whether it will be Talbot or David Rittich in net when the Flames face the Jets, but Talbot was outstanding over the final few weeks of the regular season, going 9-3-1 in his last 14 games. The 33- year-old would likely be the cheapest option of the goalies listed here. Here are 10 pending free agents the Sharks could be tracking this postseason Forwards

The Sharks finished the season tied for 27th in the league with 2.57 goals per game. Even if they bring back all of their forwards, they’re still By Kevin Kurz going to need some help up front. Remember, the Sharks don’t have any forwards likely to be among the league’s top 10 in scoring. They will have Jul 25, 2020 to get contributions from all four lines, which just didn’t happen last season.

In the best-case scenario, it will still be another four months before A right wing is the Sharks’ biggest need (and preferably a right-handed Sharks fans get to see their team take the ice for an actual game again. shot, too) after that position was a black hole for much of 2019-20. In case you missed the recent news, the NHL is hoping for a Dec. 1 Tyler Toffoli, Canucks — You’re forgiven if you forgot that the longtime opening night for the 2020-21 season, with a full 82-game slate to follow. Kings forward was dealt just before the trade deadline to the Canucks The Sharks’ front office has its work cut out to make the team a and will face the Minnesota Wild in the play-in round. There’s a chance contender again, as is the plan. General manager Doug Wilson has said that Vancouver will try to retain Toffoli in the offseason, but if they don’t, numerous times that he still views the team’s core as elite, which means there’s been plenty of speculation that he wants to return to California. he’ll try to build a better support group around players such as Erik Remember that Toffoli, 28, and Jones are good friends from their days in Karlsson, Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl. Los Angeles together. Toffoli posted 24 goals and 44 points in 68 games this season, so he wouldn’t come cheap. But if the Sharks get rid of The flat salary cap makes that more difficult. The cap will remain at $81.5 some salary elsewhere, he could very well end up being a target. million for at least next season and possibly many more, as the league deals with financial uncertainty. Sharks owner Hasso Plattner has always Evgenii Dadonov, Panthers — Another forward who would carry a been willing to spend to the cap, and on a team that already has some significant price tag is the 31-year-old Dadonov, who posted 70 points for lengthy, big-money contracts, Wilson’s task of remaking the roster won’t Florida in 2018-19 when Bob Boughner was still the head coach there. be easy. According to The Athletic’s James Mirtle, the Sharks have the His production dropped a bit this season with 25 goals and 47 points in fewest number of players signed plus restricted free agents in the league, 69 games under Joel Quenneville, but Dadonov (a left-handed shot) will and need to sign five players just to get to the roster minimum. be a very popular guy if he hits the open market. CapFriendly.com shows the Sharks with $66.6 million committed to just Mikael Granlund, Predators — Like Dadonov, Granlund is a left shot and 13 players for 2020-21. the Sharks would probably have to move money out to get involved in the Some of those empty roster spots will be filled by rookies or players still bidding, but the 28-year-old has been a consistent offensive threat in his on their entry-level deals. The Sharks will undoubtedly need some of eight NHL seasons. His production has dipped a bit recently — he those guys to step up and show they are full-time NHL players. But it’s managed just 30 points in 63 games with Nashville this season, after 54 difficult to see the team being playoff-caliber without adding at least one points in 79 games last season — but he was trending in the right or two players of significance in the offseason. The Sharks won’t be able direction after the Predators made a coaching change to John Hynes. to sit quietly during the free-agency period like they were forced to do in Craig Smith, Predators — Our man in Nashville, Adam Vingan, figures the summer of 2019. that the Predators will re-sign one of either Granlund or Smith. If it’s To that end, there are a handful of pending unrestricted free agents who Granlund, then Smith could end up being a target. Smith was on pace for will be getting back on the ice with their respective teams this week that his sixth 20-goal season before the league was shut down, with 18 goals the Sharks could be interested in. Here are 10 players that I could see in 69 games. The Madison, Wisc., native turns 31 in September. The the Sharks pursuing in early October when the market is expected to Predators face the Coyotes in the play-in round. open in advance of training camp in mid-November. Jesper Fast, Rangers — The winger has put together some decent Goalies seasons with the Rangers, the best of which came in 2017-18 when he had 33 points (13g, 20a) in 71 games. He managed 12 goals and 29 Aaron Dell’s likely departure as an unrestricted free agent means the points in 69 games this season, and will likely play on Artemi Panarin’s Sharks will have to find a backup or even someone to take over as the line when the Rangers face the Hurricanes in the play-in round. No. 1 goalie for Martin Jones. There’s no one in their system who can step in and play NHL games right away, but there are a few goalies out Defensemen there who could give the team more reliable goaltending than they’ve We’ve been speculating here for a while that the Sharks could try to gotten in each of the last two seasons. move Brent Burns in the offseason — and might have to if they’re going Thomas Greiss, Islanders — A familiar name to Sharks fans after he to truly remake the roster into a playoff team. If they don’t, though, they’ll played parts of four seasons here from 2008-2013, Greiss has probably be seeking a moderately priced right-shot defenseman to play established himself as a pretty darn good NHL goalie since his departure. on the third pair with Mario Ferraro. Here are three players set to return It’s unclear whether the 34-year-old will be the starter for the Islanders this week who could fit that bill. when they face the Panthers in the play-in round, but it can be assumed Radko Gudas, Capitals — Opposing forwards could be in line for some it that this will be his last run with the Islanders, who have Semyon bumps and bruises against the Capitals, who have Gudas and Brenden Varlamov locked up for the next few years and prospect Ilya Sorokin on Dillon manning the blue line. Both are pending free agents, but Gudas, the way. In the last two seasons combined, Greiss is 39-23-6 with a 2.47 30, plays the right side. If the Sharks are looking for a little more meat on goals-against average and .921 save percentage. The Islanders’ system the back end — very possible, considering Dillon’s departure and Radim likely has something to do with that, but Greiss has been steady. Simek’s slight regression in 2019-20 — the hard-hitting Gudas could be a Anton Khudobin, Stars — Also 34 years old, Khudobin has shown to be a good fit. He may have to wait to get into playoff action, as according to very capable backup goalie throughout his career. He’s currently the No. our Tarik El-Bashir, he’s currently Washington’s seventh defenseman. 2 goalie in Dallas behind Ben Bishop, and the Stars are hoping to bring Dylan DeMelo, Jets — DeMelo has made a nice career for himself after him back in the offseason. He’s coming off of a good regular season, with the Sharks traded him to Ottawa as part of the deal for Erik Karlsson. a 16-8-4 record, 2.22 goals-against average and a league-leading .930 The Senators flipped him to Winnipeg for a third-round pick just before save percentage in 30 games. Khudobin also has a very good .919 the trade deadline, so he’ll get a chance to keep playing against the career save percentage in 11 NHL seasons. He could be out of the Canucks later this week in the top four. For a team like the Sharks, where Sharks’ price range, though, as he may get upwards of $4 million the overall culture was an issue this season, bringing back a talented guy annually from Dallas. who’s already well-liked in the dressing room could make sense. Cam Talbot, Flames — Prior to trading for Jones in 2015 the Sharks had Trevor van Riemsdyk, Panthers — While brother James is the more some interest in Talbot, who was then with the New York Rangers. household name, the 29-year-old van Riemsdyk has played steady Talbot got dealt to Edmonton, though, and has had some ups and downs minutes over his six-year NHL career, the past three of which have come in Carolina. He’s not the flashiest offensive guy with just one goal and eight assists for nine points in 49 games this season, but he’s an upgrade over pending UFA Tim Heed as a right-shot third pair guy.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189258 St Louis Blues has speed and has power — and his shot’s always on point. He’s one of those guys that will hopefully score a lot of goals for us in this upcoming playoff and be a huge piece to this team.”

Hochman: Nostalgia on ice — the Blues’ reunited top line brings back Tarasenko is arguably on the Blues’ Mount Rushmore of goal scorers. memories of, well, last year He is currently fifth all-time behind Garry Unger, Brian Sutter, Bernie Federko and the iconic Brett Hull. But Tarasenko is only 28 — as are, interestingly, Schenn and Schwartz. But for all this hullabaloo about him being back on the top line, Tarasenko isn’t on the top line for the power Benjamin Hochman play. Curious, sure. But it makes sense. Berube (and assistant Marc St. Louis Post-Dispatch Savard) have cooked up a perfect power play smorgasbord — the unit is third-best in the whole league. So, Tarasenko will play on the second unit, which is sort of like having O’Reilly on a second line.

The old group is reuniting and going on the road. The Blues play an exhibition on Wednesday against Chicago in Edmonton (it’s like Hockey Mad Libs these days). Then, a week from Should be a heck of a show, a reunion tour of sorts, as they’ll reminisce Sunday, is the first of three round-robin games. This one against similarly over their greatest moments and try some new stuff. high-powered Colorado. Venues include Rogers Place in Edmonton and ... well, that’s about it. By then, the Schenn line should be rocking. Jaden Schwartz. Brayden Schenn. Vladimir Tarasenko. The band back “All three guys have the ability to score a goal, but I think they all do it together. differently,” Berube said. “They’ve been together for a few years now as As the Blues travel to the hub city bubble in Edmonton, a sub-story is the a line, and they’ve been an effective line for us. They’re not always return of the top line, just in time for the 2020 postseason. Much has together, but we have them together quite a bit, and when they are, been made about Tarasenko’s arrival at summer practice after shoulder they’re a good line that finds a way to make big plays at big times.” surgery — he’s looking, they say, like Vladimir Tarasenko out there. But St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 07.26.2020 more specifically, No. 91 will rejoin Nos. 10 and 17 to make sweet music. After all, Schenn tied with for the most goals on the Blues this season (25), while Schwartz had the second-most (22). And Tarasenko, the Blues’ best goal scorer since “Hull & Oates” played St. Louis Arena, gives this line three voracious scorers.

Or another way to look at how good this line makes the Blues overall — consider that their second-best line has the defending MVP of the Stanley Cup Final.

“We all know what the (Ryan) O’Reilly line can do — but you add Vladi with Schwartzie and Schenner, it’s an element that’s hard to stop,” explained Alex Pietrangelo, the Blues’ captain. “You have Schenner up the middle, with the speed and vision. And Schwartz being able to get the puck from almost anyone and be able to make plays in any situation. And I think 91, we all know what he can do when he gets the puck on his stick. So it’s an X-factor we haven’t had (for most of the) season. There have been injuries on other teams, but not many have the caliber of player (of Tarasenko) coming back and in here into the playoffs.

“He changes the dynamic of the team.”

Now, the line is still getting reacquainted. Speaking to reporters on a Zoom last Thursday, Schwartz described the nuances necessary for the boys to click. He sounded confident that it would happen by the time the team got to Alberta.

And all three members from this line have something most opponents don’t — a recent résumé featuring personal playoff success. For some of these 2020 teams and players, they’ll have to simultaneously get acquainted with playoff hockey as they get acquainted with bubble hockey. The Blues’ top line can rely on laurels, though of course can’t rest on them.

Schwartz scored the breathtaking, soul-taking game-winner at Winnipeg, and then he somehow topped that with a home hat trick to win that first- round series. After coach Craig Berube mentioned Tarasenko’s play to the media, No. 91 responded with a dominant final two rounds. And Schenn contributed throughout the postseason, while scoring a great goal in Game 7 of the Cup Final. It was a classic moment for this line. Schwartz played the puck toward the left corner, Tarasenko retrieved it and zipped it to the slot, where Schenn’s one-timer put the Blues up 3-0 at Boston.

“I think we’re really going to have to use exhibition games and these three qualifying games to really get it back,” the center Schenn said. “We are familiar with each other, and we read off each other pretty well. We like to try and play fast. If you look on both sides of my wings, you have one of the best goal scorers in the NHL, who can really shoot the puck and find the open ice, and then Schwartz is quick and works really hard. Both are really easy to play with. So I’m not sure exactly why (the line works so well), but all three bring something different to the table and that’s why it clicks. …

“Valdi was itchin’ just before this whole thing went down (with the season paused). It’s been a long break for him. But he’s one of those guys who 1189259 St Louis Blues Roster set The Blues’ official 31-player roster for Edmonton had no surprises, with

Hofer and defenseman Tyler Tucker the only players in camp who won’t Blues goalies getting in gear with first game a week away make the trip. Hofer, however, will be on standby in case disaster strikes and the team needed a fourth goalie, who would be allowed to be added to the roster.

Tom Timmermann “He’ll be ready and stay ready the best he can,” Berube said. “That’s all we can do with him.” 4 hrs ago Everyone on the Blues playoff roster except for third goalie Husso got in

at least one game for the Blues this season. One challenge that goalies faced after the long break was quickly getting Forwards — Ivan Barbashev, Sammy Blais, Tyler Bozak, Troy Brouwer, up to speed. Skaters were able to get on the ice in many cases and get Jacob de la Rose, Klim Kostin, Jordan Kyrou, Mackenzie MacEachern, in some work, but for goalies, there weren’t many options for facing NHL- Ryan O’Reilly, David Perron, Austin Poganski, Zach Sanford, Brayden caliber shots while staying at home for a stretch longer than many Schenn, Jaden Schwartz, Alexander Steen, Oskar Sundqvist, Vladimir offseasons. Tarasenko, Robert Thomas. Blues goalies Jordan Binnington and Jake Allen feel they’ve made good Defense — Robert Bortuzzo, , Justin Faulk, Carl progress on being ready for a season that starts a week from Sunday. Gunnarsson, Niko Mikkola, Colton Parayko, Alex Pietrangelo, Derrick “I feel like it’s gotten a little easier as I’ve gotten older,” Allen said. “You Pouliot, Marco Scandella, Jake Walman. learn new ways to adapt a little bit quicker. It’s been pretty good couple Goalies — Jake Allen, Jordan Binnington, Ville Husso. weeks. A lot of it is timing, playing at game speed. In the exhibition game you’re going to try to get as much feel for the game as you can. For me St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 07.26.2020 personally, just reading the plays again, doing little details correctly that make your game successful. I think the timing and feel was a big thing for me these past couple weeks and I think the boys look pretty good.”

Binnington said, “It’s overall getting your game back, your timing, getting your legs under you. That’s what this time was for. I think we did a good job in preparing for that. I think we’re in a good spot and we’ll keep moving forward with that.”

Bubble bound

The Blues will enter their bubble on Sunday in Edmonton, but in a lot of ways, the players have already been in one in St. Louis during camp to minimize their health risks.

“I’ve been here a month now today,” Allen said, “and I haven’t really done anything. It’s been a long month. My wife and kids are back in Canada. I’ve been to the rink, the gas station, played golf a couple times. That’s literally all I’ve done. I’m looking forward to getting to Edmonton to get in the bubble to be able to hang out with the guys a little bit more and relax and watch sports again as everything starts up, golf, baseball and the competition. I think we’re all missing that a little bit.”

Steen returns

Alexander Steen was back on the ice after missing the past three days while coach Craig Berube said he was doing rehab work. Oskar Sundqvist, who was hurt in a fall into the boards on Friday, did not skate. Vince Dunn missed his ninth day on ice, and at least his 10th overall, which means that, if he has tested negative twice for COVID-19, he’s eligible to rejoin the team. Berube said Friday that Dunn would travel with the team on Sunday. The Blues won’t be on the ice again until Monday in Edmonton, so that would be Dunn’s next chance to skate.

“I think it was good that (Steen) got out here today and tomorrow he can be off again and be back on the ice Monday,” Berube said. “He felt pretty good so that’s a good sign.”

Short practice

The Blues had a short practice on Saturday, their final full day in St. Louis, consisting mostly of a three-on-three tournament played cross-ice at Centene. The final game, between the White and the Gray squads (the other teams were Dark Blue and Light Blue), went to and then to a shootout. It ended with Robert Bortuzzo scoring against Ville Husso and then Binnington stopping Steen to end it.

In an earlier shootout during the round-robin phase, Joel Hofer made stops on both Brayden Schenn and Vladimir Tarasenko. There was one penalty in the series of matches, with not surprisingly Sammy Blais tripping Alex Pietrangelo, but Hofer stopped that penalty shot too.

“That was good,” Berube said. “I thought we’d have a little competition and a little fun at the same time and let these guys get out of here and spend time with their families and hang out with them before we leave. That three-on-three stuff is good, in the zone there. It’s timing, competition, you can make quick plays, and you’ve got to think quick. It was good to do.” 1189260 St Louis Blues ice together, I think we could come together to put together a few songs maybe.”

Teams are allowed to bring a maximum of 31 players to the hub city, Next stop, Edmonton: Against long odds, Blues head to hub city eight more than the pre-trade deadline roster limit. Of the 33 players who were in Phase 3 camp with the team, only prospects Joel Hofer and Tyler Tucker won’t be coming to Edmonton.

Jim Thomas No dress code

4 hrs ago Unlike normal road trips, suit coats and ties will be optional when the Blues board the plane Sunday. As part of the return to play negotiations

between the league and the NHL Players’ Association, there is no dress EDMONTON, Alberta — Seems a lifetime ago, that flight back from code for these playoffs. Anaheim on March 12. Blues players kind of figured it was coming, but Even so, tank tops and flip flops won’t be the order of the day when the news came out officially in mid-flight that the NHL season was being players board the plane, or head to practices and games. shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic. “I just want guys to look respectable coming to the games,” Berube said. There was nothing but uncertainty at first. And waiting. Then spurts of “There’s no dress code, but when you’re going to the games I think it’s activity and hope, followed by spikes in the virus and less hope. important to look respectable. That’s all.” “I think the unknown’s scary in a lot of situations, especially in this,” What does Binnington think about this dress code-free postseason? veteran goalie Jake Allen said. “When you got to the end of March, and into April and into May, you’re always wondering and you’re hoping.” “We’ll have to see,” he said. “I think we’re all professionals and we know to kind of put ourselves together well for the event. I think there should be “At the start, you try to say, ‘OK, how you gonna get this done?’” general some creativity around the league. manager Doug Armstrong said. “Every step (the NHL) has taken, your belief grows a little bit. Obviously, what’s happening in the United States, “Most of the young guys have some pretty good style, so hopefully they right now, with the number of tests being positive, you had a little bit of a can have fun with it and each person can show a little bit of personality in scare ... that ‘Were they gonna be able to pull this off?’” what they’re wearing. And if they want to keep it cool, keep it classy — businesslike — whatever works for you.” Entering Phase 3 (training camp), the Blues had several players and an assistant coach that had tested positive, according to a source familiar No matter what, the Blues will be dressed for success. And no matter with the situation. But camp ended Sunday with only one player not on what O’Reilly and Binnington concoct with their guitars at the team hotel, the ice because of what’s believed to be a positive test for COVID-19 in they want to make beautiful music on the ice. Vince Dunn. In a normal hockey training camp, teams start playing exhibition games Dunn still hasn’t returned to the ice, but coach Craig Berube said he is just three, four days in. During the regular season, they rarely go more accompanying the team to Edmonton. Obviously, Dunn wouldn’t be than a couple of days without a game. Well, the Blues have been at it getting on the plane if he were still positive. since July 13.

So hello Phase 4. It’s off to Edmonton, and into the hub city “bubble.” And they’re starting to sound exactly like football players two weeks into Yes, it sure looks like the Blues will get the opportunity to defend their camp. Stanley Cup. “Getting a little tired of hitting our own guys. It’s not the same, you “I’ve always had a lot of optimism,” Allen said. “Especially when they know?” captain Alex Pietrangelo said. really started to hammer out the details on this. I think since the beginning of training camp I’ve had that same optimism. Now we’re down (How many times have you heard that before in Macomb or Rams Park to the wire here and it seems like we’re gonna give things a go. in late July?)

“Credit to a lot of people that made this work. It’s gonna be fun for the “They’re ready to get going,” Berube said. “We need some games, right?” league, for the fans, and everyone involved.” Let the games begin. Two weeks of camp ended Saturday in St. Louis at Centene Community St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 07.26.2020 Ice Center. The team departs for Edmonton on Sunday. They’ll be on the ice for practice Monday and play the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday in an exhibition game.

Then it gets real, with the Blues’ round-robin opener Aug. 2 against Stan Kroenke’s Colorado Avalanche.

“It’s gonna be a unique experience and something we’ll look back on and say, ‘Wow, we actually went through that.’” center Brayden Schenn said.

Preparing for the trip

Players left Centene early Saturday afternoon to finish packing and spend some time with family and loved ones. They are planning on a long stay in Edmonton, with the Cup Final potentially going into early October.

Berube said he’ll do his packing Sunday, but there won’t be a guitar (like Ryan O’Reilly) or an Xbox (like the younger players) as part of his luggage.

“No, I really don’t do much of that stuff,” Berube said. “I don’t play video games. I don’t play an instrument. So I’ll have to find another way to keep myself busy.”

But goalie Jordan Binnington plans on bringing a guitar — it’s a hobby he picked up during the pandemic pause — and O’Reilly already has expressed an interest in jamming with him.

“I think I could learn a lot from that period of time in the bubble (about the guitar),” Binnington said. “It could be fun. Yeah, from what we do on the 1189261 St Louis Blues Can’t do it. I’m staying in. I will order a couple of beers from the hotel “Grab & Go.”

Let’s see what we can find on TV. JT's Quarantine Chronicles: The temptation of Sherlock Holmes St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 07.26.2020

Jim Thomas

6 hrs ago

(Seventh in a series of dispatches from Canadian quarantine.)

EDMONTON, Alberta _ On my first hockey trip through Western Canada, and just my second trip on the beat in 2017, the Blues charter landed after midnight.

We were in the middle of nowhere. Nothing but snow on the ground, and it was so cold outside. One look at the barren landscape and I wondered if the pilot hadn’t overshot and landed in the Arctic Circle. This was mid November, by the way.

And my welcome to Edmonton moment.

In a scheduling quirk, the Blues had the next couple of days off before playing the Oilers. The next night several members of the radio and television traveling party invited me out for a drink at a place near the team hotel.

It took me a while to finish my stories, so I joined them in progress at Sherlock Holmes Pub.

The first thing I noticed when I walked in the door was Blues television analyst Darren Pang _ small in stature, but big in heart. A flight attendant had him slung over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes. I believe they were dancing. I asked no questions.

I sat down at a big table with radio play-by-play man Chris Kerber, a prince of a fellow. We talked about my football experiences, I asked Chris about covering hockey. We may have had a beverage or two.

Later in the evening, Todd McLellan _ then head coach of the Oilers _ stopped by. (Not to our table, but to the establishment.)

Next thing you know, it was past midnight and only Chris and I remained among the media contingent. But the chairs around our big table remained occupied _ by a late-arriving crowd of councilmen (and women) and municipal officials from small towns all over Alberta.

Friendly folks, they were in town for a convention. Chris and I learned a little about small-town politics, and then called it a night. No worries because the Blues weren’t practicing the next day.

I quickly learned that the Sherlock Holmes Pub is a popular establishment among visiting hockey media from all over the league.

I bring this up because when I checked in a week ago at the Westin, I could see the Sherlock Holmes sign beckoning from across the street. Little more than a long slapshot away.

Saturday marked Day 7 of my 14-day quarantine. Halfway home. I finished my Post-Dispatch duties relatively early. I’d behaved all week _ never left the room.

Saturday night. Who would notice? Who would know if I snuck over for a cold one? And most importantly, the COVID-19 rates in Edmonton are ridiculously low.

I called the place to see if they were open and what the ground rules were. They were open, yes, but at 35 percent capacity inside and socially-distanced.

No problem. Mask up. The stage was set.

Then I thought about the customs agent in Toronto (“We take COVID very seriously.”)

I could hear my wife's voice in my head. (“I don’t want you kicked out of Canada.”)

I remembered the hotel general manager, dutifully taking note early in the week of when my quarantine would end. She politely called it “self- isolation” since I didn’t actually have the COVID. Nice gesture, right? 1189262 St Louis Blues 10 - Brayden Schenn 17 - Jaden Schwartz

20 - Alexander Steen Steen's back, Sundqvist's not as Blues have last practice in St. Louis 70 - Oskar Sundqvist

91 - Vladimir Tarasenko Tom Timmermann 18 - Robert Thomas 13 hrs ago Defense

41 - Robert Bortuzzo MARYLAND HEIGHTS -- The Blues had their last practice at Centene Community Ice Center for who knows how long on Saturday as they 29 - Vince Dunn prepare to say their goodbye to St. Louis on Sunday and head into the NHL's bubble in Edmonton for the remainder of the season. 72 - Justin Faulk

Alexander Steen was back on the ice after missing the previous three 4 - Carl Gunnarsson days, but Oskar Sundqvist, who was hurt after taking a tumble on the ice 77 - Niko Mikkola and hitting the boards, wasn't on hand. Also missing was defenseman Vince Dunn, who hasn't skated since Day 2 of camp, though coach Craig 55 - Colton Parayko Berube said Thursday that Dunn would travel with the team to Edmonton. 27 - Alex Pietrangelo The last practice consisted mostly of a three-on-three tournament played cross-ice, ensuring close quarters at all times. The tournament final, 51 - Derrick Pouliot between the White team and the Gray team, went to overtime and after 6 - Marco Scandella that didn't settle things, a shootout followed. That was tied after three rounds, so it went to sudden death, where defenseman Robert Bortuzzo 46 - Jake Walman scored on Ville Husso, and then Jordan Binnington stopped Alexander Steen to end it. Goalies

"It came down to the wire, a little shootout action," Berube said. "That 34 - Jake Allen was good. I thought we'd have a little competition and a little fun at the 50 - Jordan Binnington same time today. Let these guys get out of here, get them to their families and hang out with them before we leave. That three-on-three 35 - Ville Husso stuff's good there, in the zone. It's timing, competition, you can make St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 07.26.2020 quick plays, you've got to think quick. I think it was good to do."

The victorious White team consisted of Ryan O'Reilly, David Perron, Zach Sanford, Justin Faulk, Bortuzzo, Austin Poganski and Niko Mikkola, with Binnington in goal.

Roster set

The Blues submitted their 31-man postseason roster on Friday and announced it on Saturday. No surprises, though there really wasn't room for any. The Blues had 33 players in camp, and defenseman Tyler Tucker wasn't eligible for the postseason and Joel Hofer was a fourth goalie. Berube said Hofer will continue to work on his own and stay ready in case for some reason the Blues needed a fourth goalie. Teams have been told that in case of injuries to other goalies, they would be allowed to bring in a fourth goalie.

Here's the roster:

Forwards

49 - Ivan Barbashev

9 - Sammy Blais

21 - Tyler Bozak

36 - Troy Brouwer

61 - Jacob de la Rose

37 - Klim Kostin

33 - Jordan Kyrou

28 - Mackenzie MacEachern

90 - Ryan O'Reilly

57 - David Perron

53 - Austin Poganski

Blues roster, salaries and player profiles

NHL live odds and latest line

Updated: NHL scores and schedule

12 - Zach Sanford 1189263 Tampa Bay Lightning It’s entirely fair to point out that attendance has been an ongoing problem in Tampa Bay for as long as we’ve had pro sports, but it should also be noted that devotion was not exactly cultivated by the product on the field or ice. Dreaming of the Stanley Cup? World Series? Super Bowl? How about all three in Tampa Bay? “I can remember going to the Buccaneers games back in the ’70s and ’80s and people would be sitting in the stands with bags over their heads,” said Paul Catoe, who was the general manager at WFLA-Ch. 8 and later ran the Tampa Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau. “I was with John Romano the television station back then, and we had a sky box at the old Sports Columnist sombrero (Tampa Stadium) to entertain clients. I can remember vividly that we couldn’t get enough clients to fill the box. We had tickets in the stands, and we couldn’t give the tickets away. No one wanted to go.”

Imagine life for Tampa Bay sports fans six months from now. Could five The turnaround began more than a decade ago, but it’s taken time for all decades of jokes and insults be buried in parades of confetti? Have the three franchises to synchronize their ascensions. For the Lightning and dues of the past finally led to glory? Rays, it started when Jeff Vinik and Stuart Sternberg became owners. The rewriting of their narratives moved quickly enough, although the two Let’s face it, in the world of sports, we have often been dismissed as teams have only made the playoffs in the same season twice (2011 and America’s poorer relations. We’re the home of indifferent fans; historically 2019) in the past decade. frugal or neurotic owners; last-place teams far more comical than lovable. The Bucs had a stellar run after Malcolm Glazer bought the team in the Yet, look at us now. Three franchises with bankable stars and realistic mid-1990s, culminating in four consecutive playoff appearances and the shots at the Stanley Cup, the World Series and the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl in the 2002 season. But after the Glazer family purchased Lightning. The Rays. The Buccaneers. . Blake Snell. the Manchester United soccer team for $1.47 billion, the commitment to Tom Brady. Six months of games, and three historic trophies within spending seemed to wane for a while in Tampa Bay. Since that 2002 reach. season, the Bucs have gone 107-165. Has the golden age of sports arrived in Tampa Bay? The hiring of coach Bruce Arians was a turning point last season, and the “It’s amazing the opportunity we have right now,” said former Tampa two-year, $50 million contract given to Brady this spring has suddenly Mayor Dick Greco. “Let’s just hope this is our time, because it can mean made the Bucs the darlings of the NFL. so much more than just the sports themselves.” And it has brought us to this unaccustomed perch as baseball and No doubt, these are far-flung fantasies. In the era of the coronavirus, we football get going, and hockey prepares for the postseason. In the 22 can’t be sure seasons will be played to completion. On top of that, it’s years that the three franchises have been active together, they have yet rare for even major markets to have multiple champions at the same to all finish with records in the same season. time. Could 2020 be the first? Could the next six months be the most But if we’ve learned anything through years of disappointment, it’s that exhilarating run of sports in Tampa Bay history? the journey is sometimes its own reward. That feeling of excitement and “It’s as promising a moment as we’ve ever had around here,” said Rick anticipation that greets every kickoff or puck drop or first pitch. The idea Nafe, the former executive director of the Tampa Sport Authority and that your team’s potential has earned your abundant faith, and that director of operations at Tropicana Field. “If there is ever a time to drink somehow, you’re now in this together. the Kool-Aid, it might be now.” “In a market of this size, you wouldn’t think you’d have three teams this Decades later, Tampa Bay takes its shot at ruling the sports world good at the same time,” said ESPN broadcaster Dick Vitale, who may be Tampa Bay’s most high-profile fan, with season tickets for the Rays and It’s not your imagination. Teams from Tampa Bay make the playoffs far Bucs. “But, like everything else in life, winning can be contagious and less than they should. losing can be, too. I think one organization sees another and says, ‘We’ve got to try to match that, man. We have to do what they do.’ I think If you add up all the teams and playoff spots available in hockey, football that’s what we’re seeing. I’m embracing it, absolutely. and baseball during the seasons Tampa Bay has had teams, the expected percentage of postseason appearances would be 40.7. The “Listen to me: I’m 81 years old and I’m acting like I’m 12 … but I actual percentage for the Lightning, Bucs and Rays is 29. absolutely feel all three have a legitimate chance to win it all.” To be fair, all three franchises began as expansion teams, which involves The folks in Las Vegas agree. The Lightning have the second-best odds natural growing pains. Even so, Tampa Bay has not often been the of winning the Stanley Cup behind the Bruins, according to the center of the sporting world universe. sportsbook betonline.ag. The Rays are the fourth favorite to win the World Series, and the Bucs have the fifth-best chance to win the Super So what was the single best season in Tampa Bay sports history? Bowl. No other market has more than two teams in the top 10, let alone There have only been three seasons (2007, 2011, 2019) when at least the top five in those lists of odds. two of Tampa Bay’s teams qualified for the postseason, and only the And Brady’s arrival, along with Rob Gronkowski, has the rest of the Lightning in 2011 made an extended run in any of those years. nation paying attention to Tampa Bay like never before. By default, that probably points to the Bucs’ Super Bowl victory in the “I just sent an email to (chief operating officer) Brian Ford over at the 2002 season (when the Rays and Lightning had losing records) or the Bucs saying, ‘Here I am sitting home bored because of the coronavirus Lightning’s Stanley Cup championship in 2004 (when the Rays and Bucs and you guys have got more than you can say grace over,’” said had losing records) as Tampa Bay’s “glory” years. businessman Leonard Levy, who was instrumental in Tampa Bay getting Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 07.26.2020 the Bucs as an expansion team in 1976.

If your roots in Tampa Bay predate Raymond James Stadium, Tropicana Field and Amalie Arena, then you know how rare this opportunity feels. Yes, we’ve had our moments. The Bucs won the Super Bowl in January 2003 — and haven’t won a playoff game since. The Lightning won the Stanley Cup in June 2004 — and were immediately decimated by labor strife.

Our awkward years spanned generations. The Bucs set the NFL record for consecutive losses in the 1970s, then got worse in the 1980s and early 1990s. The Lightning were bought and sold five times in their first 16 years, and the original Rays owner managed to alienate the entire community before we even had a chance to grow jaded. 1189264 Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs hope their strength will be at even strength after training camp tweaks

By Mark Zwolinski

Sports Reporter

Sat., July 25, 2020

It wasn’t five-on-five or die. But once the third phase of NHL summer camps began two weeks ago, the Maple Leafs turned their focus to improving their play at full strength, especially in their own zone.

After talking about it at length during Phase 2, Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe and his staff put “subtle adjustments” in place the last two weeks. The aim was to eliminate the club’s dramatic contrasts on defence and offence. With the puck, the Leafs were among the NHL’s best teams this season in Corsi (shot-attempt differential) and offensive-zone puck possession. Yet, they were also near the bottom in goals against per game.

“We feel good about some of the subtle adjustments we talked about offensively … and the main point in camp was defensive elements,” Keefe said Saturday, a day before the Leafs were to enter the Toronto bubble. “We’re anxious to see how it works out in an exhibition game (Tuesday vs. Montreal). Frankly, we hope to see things jump out at us in all areas.”

After a four-month delay caused by COVID-19, Keefe and the Leafs were working on getting all five skaters on the ice to play more as a unit and transition to offence more quickly.

“When things picked up, the coaches and the organization took time to assess where we were at, what we wanted to work on, and that led to a lot of things,” Leafs captain John Tavares said.

The Leafs understand the need to clean up their play in their zone against play-in round opponent Columbus, which was the league’s fifth- best team in shot differential at even strength.

The Blue Jackets are strong defensively, ranking among the league leaders in shot blocking and five-on-five save percentage, despite relying on unsung goalies Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins. But they are also one of the best teams in producing off the forecheck. That can cause fits for the defensively loose Leafs.

Keefe wants to see tangible results in the team’s performance against the forecheck and cycle. Toronto ranked last in the NHL in goals against off the cycle, according to SportLogiq. That contrasts with the Leafs’ puck possession metrics; they led the league with almost seven minutes per game with the puck solely in their possession in the offensive zone.

It appears the game plan is to get the Leafs moving quickly from their end of the ice into the offensive zone, where they can establish a tone for their games. They have had four months to ponder it, discuss it, and work on it. On Tuesday, they’ll begin to see if it all paid off.

“(There were) things Sheldon wanted to implement, especially away from the puck, to set us up well and get us in position to play with the puck,” Tavares said.

“We talked about play with the puck and how we wanted to control it. I think that’s been a major focus here, how we can do a better job getting the puck back when we don’t have it, and when you have to defend, how we can defend well and limit opportunities — do a better job defensively.”

Toronto Star LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189265 Toronto Maple Leafs into this that has been really time-crunched, so we’re still getting some details.

“We’re all going through this, all of us are leaving what we’re used to Welcome to life between the lines, Maple Leafs, where everything is ‘a bit every day, leaving our families, our loved ones. We’ve got to really lean bizarre’ on each other. So there’s no doubt that we’ll be spending a lot of time together. It should be a ton of fun. Be supportive of whatever anyone is going through, especially knowing the restrictions that we have.”

By Rosie DiManno Tavares points out the obvious: They’re privileged to be playing the game they love, in the crucible of the playoffs, despite a pandemic that has Star Columnist convulsed the entire planet. No one can predict how events will unfold or Sat., July 25, 2020 how a team will cope if stricken by a COVID-19 infection through the lineup, always a possibility even with all the precautions taken, which include daily testing for the players and a fortnight of total quarantine at the front end. When 22 charter flights land in Toronto and Edmonton on Sunday, disgorging up to 52 players, coaches and staff from every NHL post- So, indulgences for pro athletes — ones that weren’t provided to the go- season club, the whole slew of them will be entering into parts unknown away Blue Jays — but one shouldn’t underestimate their sacrifices and — a hermetic hockey biodome. stoicism either.

The Maple Leafs may have a theoretical advantage in that Toronto, hub is abandoning a wife pregnant with their first child, for bubble city, is home. They will have some familiarity with a sphere that instance, though she will be in good hands, moving in with the Hyman extends from Scotiabank Arena to the team hotel to the nearby outdoor family. recreational area on the Exhibition Place grounds — all sealed by perimeter fencing and security, providing what NHL commissioner Gary “Unfortunately, I’ve got a baby coming. I’m lucky that the baby’s due in Bettman described as an “impenetrable barrier.” Decembers. Some guys, they’re leaving young kids and expecting mothers during the time we’re away. But we’re going out there and doing But with deserted rinks — no-fan zones — there essentially will be no what we love. Everybody going in the bubble understands. You make telling the difference in atmosphere or mood when the Leafs host the sure your family is taken care of while you’re away.” Columbus Blue Jackets. They’re all curious about what lies straight ahead, especially in this Following a final convening at their suburban practice facility, the Leafs coming first-week intro to seclusion. One can only play so much Fortnite, headed home Saturday to pack their bags and enjoy one last evening poker and pickleball — though Jake Muzzin announced he would be with family and friends before disappearing into a playoff vacuum that humping his golf clubs for some hallway chipping. could extend for two months. (They wish.) Hyman said he expects Muzzin and Mitch Marner to be stirring the pot for Or, in the case of Tyson Barrie, make no big deal of it. team shenanigans. “We’ll have a bunch of gamers there too so there’ll be some heated competition on the side.” “A little laundry,” said the one-year-a-Leaf as players rotated through Zoom scrums. “Nothing too crazy. Probably just order something in and The Leafs will have a preview of what this post-season will entail when just relax, lay on the country. Probably it’s going to look a lot like what it’s they face off against Montreal in an exhibition game Tuesday. Although a going to look like inside the bubble. Very low key.” friendly can hardly replicate the intensity of a real contest, especially in the mania of a best-of-five first round play-in. Well, that’s one way to sidle up to the hockey hereafter in this resumed season amidst a global crisis. “You have to treat it like a real game,” said Hyman. “Pretty intense and uptempo so I don’t think anyone will be holding back. One tune-up before In fact, just another slice of the coronavirus crazies. it’s the real thing.” “It’s weird,” Barrie observed. “End of July and we’re still at the rink. The They’re all treating it like a grand adventure, albeit the novelty will likely whole thing has been a bit bizarre. It’s a weird climate right now.” wear off quick. But boredom is also a fact of life for players in the fat Climate-controlled, for the most part, except when the players — both margins of any season. here and in Edmonton, Hub City West — venture outdoors to compounds Coach Sheldon Keefe is eagerly anticipating this queer chapter in a that include existing restaurants, pop-ups, coffee shops, workout kennels season that began with him behind the Marlies bench. Adjustment redux. and some finer amenities offered to clubs that, in Toronto, ended up in So many teams occupying the same hotels, getting on the same Hotel X rather than the Fairmont Royal York, where the Leafs are physically-distanced elevator cars, overlapping on practices and congregating. everybody wanting to get on the first bus back to their nest. They’re all accustomed to the hotel life, of course. But this is odder, With a foot out the door and on the eve of isolation, Keefe had one core exactingly restrictive and potentially cabin fever maddening. Players are message for his players. compelled to stay within the lines, transported as necessary by sanitized buses and walking from hotel to rink through dedicated tunnels. “Expect the unexpected and be comfortable being uncomfortable.”

Hundreds of NHLers in town and don’t you dare try to get an autograph. Toronto Star LOADED: 07.26.2020 Virtual fans only, with LED screens and banners to — on the TV feed anyway — cover up the vastness of empty seats. With canned crowd noise and cheers, the NHL having also invited season ticket holders to submit videos supporting their teams and jeering opponents. For a Toronto crowd, this might actually have been the sounds of silence, 19,000 people sitting on their hands.

Goal songs and goal horns but, alas, no Smell-O-Vision to mimic the scent of popcorn and … sushi?

Into this mystifying other world John Tavares will steer his teammates, called upon to do what was never asked of his Leafs captain predecessors — steer the club through pandemic playoffs.

“From what I understood, there’s going to be some meals together and obviously we’ll be a the rink quite a bit,” Tavares said. Players are encouraged to watch other games — three a day to start at Scotiabank — from the luxury suites. “We have our treatment room, our lounge as well. Obviously quite a bit of planning and quite a bit the league is putting 1189266 Toronto Maple Leafs Defence pairings didn’t change through camp, so Rasmus Sandin and Martin Marincin are the extras who’ve been with the starters’ with Calle Rosen and the “unfit to play” Timothy Liljegren added from the taxi squad for insurance, making 10 defencemen. Kasimir Kaskisuo and Joseph 'Sense of adventure' for bubble-bound Leafs Woll join and Jack Campbell as third and fourth goalies, respectively.

That left a couple of reserve spots on the roster for forwards Nic Petan, Lance Hornby Denis Malgin and the injured Andreas Johnsson, whose knee surgery Published:July 25, 2020 likely sidelines him until later rounds if Toronto gets that far. Forwards Tyler Gaudet, Egor Korshkov, Adam Brooks, Kenny Agostino and Updated:July 25, 2020 8:18 PM EDT defencemen Teemu Kivihalme and Mac Hollowell were not posted Saturday.

LET’S GET PHYSICAL They’re only going a few steps from their Bay St. home, but the Bubble Buds are about to take a trip that’s unprecedented in their 103-year The Blue Jackets held an off-ice workout Saturday and flew to Toronto, history. coach John Tortorella as anxious as Keefe to get an exhibition game in after inter-squad matches became a drudge. Both coaches want to see “There’s a sense of adventure to it for sure,” said defenceman Tyson their teams turn it up physically, after weeks of laying off heavy hits Barrie on Saturday before he and 51 other Maple Leafs, coaches and because of injury risk. staffers had one last sleep in their own beds before reporting to the NHL’s COVID-19 safe house. The Jackets play the Bruins in a friendly on Thursday and all 24 clubs want to see the newly installed ice in both hub sites and how it handles “We don’t totally know what the set-up will be like. It’s excitement, a bit of the heat. They also want to check out the backdrop art around the lower nerves, but we’re ready to get it going. The whole thing’s a bit bizarre. It’s bowl that will replace fans, the piped in crowd noise, music and dressing the end of July and we’re at the rink. It’s a weird climate, but I’m glad we room set up. were able to sort something out and finish these playoffs. We’re lucky to be able to play.” “Momentum wise, a crowd can make you uncomfortable,” reminded Hyman. “When you’re in a game, really playing and doing well, you don’t As the Leafs held one last practice at the Ford Performance Centre, really notice it as much. But when you’re the home team and you score, directional dressing room signs and rival team banners were going up all and the fans go crazy, it puts more pressure on the away team to handle around them. Toronto is the Eastern Conference hub for 12 of the 24 that. Obviously there’s not home ice advantage here.” clubs in the Stanley Cup tournament. Like the other 11, the Leafs will be confined to a hotel — practice rink — Scotiabank Arena bubble, in their All clubs will be moved around three different dressing rooms at SBA case quartered at the Royal York with a dedicated walkway there and depending on home teams as each series unfolds and as rooms are back to maintain quarantine. sanitized between games. The Leafs will eventually be out of their room and on the visiting bench. When they play the Montreal Canadiens in an exhibition Tuesday, ahead of Game 1 of the best-of-five opening series against Columbus next PAPA HYMAN Sunday, it’ll be the Leafs’ first action since the NHL shuttered on March 12 in Covid’s shadow. Hyman and wife Alannah found out early during the NHL hiatus they’ll be expecting their first child in December. So it’ll be a little harder for him to “This felt like a long time coming,” said winger Zach Hyman. “We didn’t be separated if the Leafs go two or three rounds. Alannah will stay with know if it would happen (through weeks of small-group practices, then a Hyman’s family during the tournament, though Hyman was quick to say two-week training camp). Everyone is healthy and the unique thing is those Leafs with kids or whose partners are further along with now we’ll be with each other 24/7.” pregnancies will have it harder in the coming days.

Each member of the Leaf pod will get a final Covid test Sunday morning, Asked which Leaf would likely have the best parental advice for him, spend a final few hours with family, then board a bus for the bubble. Hyman knew whom to put on speed dial. Seven teams are at the Royal York, five at Hotel X on the CNE grounds, handy to Coca-Cola Coliseum and BMO Field for outdoor activities. “Jason Spezza, he has four (daughters),” laughed Hyman.

Dining, team lounges and recreational activities are planned for both For bedtime stories, Spezza sometimes uses one of the children’s books sites, with an eye to isolated excursions for clubs that make it to the next Hyman has authored the past few years. Hyman had to stop work on his round. Edmonton, the Western hub, will also host the four conference latest project to attend camp, but might pick it up while in the bubble. finalists and the Cup championship. LOOSE LEAFS Like Columbus counterpart John Tortorella, Leafs head coach Sheldon Pickleball, a combination of tennis, ping pong and badminton, is on the Keefe is anxious to get settled in the bubble environment. games’ list for Leafs with off-ice down time … Matthews knows a little “I’m curious how it’s all going to flow,” Keefe said. “You’ve got so many Russian and is using it to better communicate with newcomer Mikheyev: teams occupying the same hotel, the same space. We’re just going “He’s trying. Not bad,” Mikheyev said … There will be radio of Leaf through some of the logistics, the simple facts; how many people allowed games starting with Tuesday’s exhibition. Joe Bowen and Jim Ralph will in the elevators at a particular time, the nature of the practices. There’s call them in studio, depending on whether Sportsnet or TSN has the going to be overlap; teams trying to leave at the same time. We’re trying rights. to remain very flexible.” Toronto Sun LOADED: 07.26.2020 ROSTER REGISTERED

The Leafs’ final playoff roster was established at 30 as of Saturday night, though Keefe’s starters have been determined based on practice lines in the main group. He’s settled on Auston Matthews between Hyman and William Nylander, with Ilya Mikheyev, voted MVP of the scrimmage tournament by the media and back from wrist surgery, on the left with centre John Tavares and Mitch Marner.

While coy about where rookie Nick Robertson fits, the kid did more penalty kill drills, ending the day on left with centre Alex Kerfoot and . With Kyle Clifford, Pierre Engvall and Jason Spezza strung across the fourth line, Frederik Gauthier was not attached, but Keefe insisted the exhibition game would determine a lot. 1189267 Toronto Maple Leafs undergo changes after the playoffs, and no one can say for sure when the 2020-21 season will start.

“The pandemic has given perspective on a lot of different things,” Tavares, Leafs ready to 'chase Stanley Cup as Phase 4 begins on Tavares said. “There’s still so much unpredictable, even now. We don’t Sunday know where things are headed.

“This should be a really good opportunity that we need to maximize and should enjoy.” Terry Koshan Toronto Sun LOADED: 07.26.2020 Published:July 25, 2020

Updated:July 25, 2020 6:39 PM EDT

Traikos: What is Bubble hockey?

John Tavares figured he would spend part of the day on Sunday deciding which last-minute items to jam into his luggage with the Maple Leafs heading into the bubble.

The Leafs captain is planning for a long stay in the secure zone, and knows what he would love to bring out of it: The Stanley Cup.

Tavares isn’t taking the chance to not only play hockey in the midst of the coronavirus global pandemic, but to try to win the Cup, for granted. Neither are his Leafs teammates.

“In the big picture, we’re fortunate to be back playing and have the opportunity to compete for the Stanley Cup,” Tavares said on Saturday after the Leafs had their last pre-bubble practice at the Ford Performance Centre.

“We know what a lot of people are going through, what the world’s going through, society, and to be able to do this, have a chance to complete this season, continue to compete and chase the Stanley Cup, there’s nothing better than that.”

Once another round of Leafs tests for COVID-19 were to be completed on Sunday morning, the Leafs were to spend the day with their families before heading to the Fairmont Royal York as a team that night to formally begin Phase 4 of the National Hockey League’s Return to Play plan.

No hockey player ever reaches full capacity on satisfaction, but Tavares and the Leafs skated off the ice on Saturday with the knowledge they had gained plenty in the preceding two weeks of training camp.

The level of competition through the scrimmages was high and befitting of a team that mostly had been together since the initial stages of Phase 2.

“A lot of what we tried to start was in Phase 2 and prepare ourselves to make training camp productive and get over the hurdles of getting the kinks out and just trying to feel it again,” Tavares said. “We really wanted to get running in camp, and a lot of credit to the group.

“I like the competitiveness, the tempo and flow we had. Guys brought it every day and we’re excited to be back at it. We’ve still got a good week here to continue to build. Focus will continue on our opponent, but we know how much we still have to work on ourselves. It has been a great couple weeks.”

From the view of coach Sheldon Keefe, there were no complaints about the determination and ethic. Next for the Leafs, both in practices that will resume on Monday and in an exhibition game against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, will be the sharpening of execution in the days leading up to Game 1 of the qualifying round against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Aug. 2.

“In terms of the effort, and the work that our guys put in, they definitely met the expectations,” Keefe said. “As coaches, normally you set really high and probably unrealistic expectations in terms of the execution and the detail of how everything would look.

“That’s something that takes time naturally. It’s difficult to do when you’re playing head-to-head against your own teammates, especially with the playoffs on the horizon and you’re not wanting to be the one who injures any of your own guys.

“Those things took away from some of the detail that’s required.”

Tavares and the Leafs plan to leave nothing open to debate once the post-season begins. They’re not blind to the fact that the team will 1189268 Toronto Maple Leafs

Exhibition game a big chance for Robertson to show he belongs in Leafs lineup

Terry Koshan

Published:July 25, 2020

Updated:July 25, 2020 6:15 PM EDT

Nick Robertson has passed the first test.

The 18-year-old rookie winger was impactful through the Maple Leafs’ five training camp scrimmages, and in the club’s final practice on Saturday before it heads into the bubble on Sunday night, Robertson found himself on a line with centre Alex Kerfoot and Kasperi Kapanen.

Coach Sheldon Keefe won’t yet pencil Robertson into the lineup for Game 1 of the qualifying round against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

What does Robertson have to do against the Montreal Canadiens in an exhibition game on Tuesday night to tell Keefe he is ready to play against Columbus?

“He needs to look comfortable,” Keefe said. “He needs to make an impact on the game, be it through his work ethic and his enthusiasm and his ability to create some offence and capitalize when he gets chances.

“Can he look like himself and be able to play in what I suspect is going to be the highest-calibre game that he’s played in? This is going to be not just an NHL exhibition game, but one that’s full of NHL players.”

Frederik Gauthier was the 13th forward on Saturday, with Pierre Engvall centring the fourth line between Kyle Clifford and Jason Spezza.

“We have decisions to make in terms of our bottom six and how that shakes out and how one decision might affect another,” Keefe said, “so we’re just trying to keep all our options open.”

Toronto Sun LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189269 Toronto Maple Leafs The third year comes around and we’d drafted a young kid, Paul Mitton. And Tie said to him, “I’m playing with Mike Ricci. I’m on the first line now. I can’t be in the penalty box all the time. You’re going to have to learn how to fight. I’ll teach you how to.” Tie would stay with him on the ice Punches and pranks: Untold tales of Tie Domi after practices and teach him how to fight. They worked out together all the time.

Paul Mitton, teammate, Peterborough Petes (1987-89): He was Ricci’s By Joshua Kloke bodyguard. There’s so much more to fighting. Hanging on properly if you Jul 25, 2020 get punched. How do you hang on and catch your breath? How do you stay defensive? How to fight with both hands. It’s a lot more of an art than people realize. Back then, intimidation was everything. And he was great at that. Trash talking, knowing when to fight, who to fight, what time When you bring up Tie Domi’s name to former teammates, coaches and of the game to fight. There was more to it than just throwing punches. He adversaries, the result is almost always the same: a chuckle followed by took me under his wing that season. He was great. a good story. So after practice, he was throwing me stuff and we were just throwing Quickly, they will all clarify: No one is laughing at Domi. fake punches, as you do. But I threw a bomb and landed it straight But it seems anyone who has been around the former NHL pugilist has square in his face. And I hurt my hand. come away with a memorable tale or two about one of the more He shook it off, but again, I landed another one straight square in the polarizing and colourful characters in recent history. face. And he didn’t go down. He just threw me off and stormed off the ice As the owner 333 fighting majors, more than any other player, there’s all mad and swearing. There were guys in the stands and they were all plenty to be said about Domi the scrapper. But there were other sides to laughing. My hand was so sore, though. Domi, too. He was a natural entertainer in the dressing room. He was a Gord Stellick, general manager, Toronto Maple Leafs (1988-89): The one loyal and generous teammate. He was a better hockey player than most thing about Tie is he had a bit of a spunky (pre-draft) interview, which people gave him credit for. was good. The interview process was pretty rudimentary back then. It And he left a considerable impression on those who knew him. Here are was just to get to know people. Tie had a little bit of an attitude that we the untold stories of Tie Domi, as told by 23 players, coaches and liked. A little bit more forthcoming and a little bit more of a personality. opponents. Most of the other people were a lot more nervous. It wasn’t that he was Young Domi relaxed, but he had more personality come out. There was a confidence. I wouldn’t call it maturity, but whatever it would be, he had that. He liked Domi was drafted by the Peterborough Petes in the seventh round of the being Tie Domi. 1986 OHL Priority Draft. Legend has it that Petes scouts left the rink early after seeing Domi play a single shift for the Windsor Bulldogs Jr. B At the 1988 NHL Draft, Stellick and the Leafs selected Domi in the team. During that shift, Domi got into a fight, leaving scouts with the second round (27th overall). impression he could handle himself on Dick Todd’s traditionally rough- Domi the fighter and-tumble Petes of the mid-’80s. In his first season in Peterborough, Domi delivered on the hype. He arrived in Peterborough as a brash 16-year-old for the start of the 1986-87 season. Dagenais: His first exhibition game, I think he lasted nine seconds (before fighting Bryan Marchment). Dick Todd, coach, Peterborough Petes (1986-89): When he came (to Peterborough), I brought him into the office and had a talk with him. I It quickly became clear to Domi’s teammates that fighting wouldn’t be a said, “I understand that you’re a tough guy.” He said, “Yeah, I am.” I said, chore for him. “Well, you’re not that big. And you’re coming up against bigger, older players. I don’t know whether you’re going to be able to handle it.” He Jody Hull, teammate, Peterborough Petes (1986-88): Dick Todd’s teams said, “Oh, I can handle it. I fight Bob Probert in the summer and I’m not always had lots of guys who could protect the guys on their team. (The afraid of him at all.” That showed he had a lot of courage right off the bat. Belleville Bulls) were built the same way. They had a lot of guys not afraid to drop the gloves. Tie was in a fight with Troy Crowder. Troy has 6 Mike Dagenais, teammate, Peterborough Petes (1986-89): That first inches, if not more, on him and he’s at centre ice fighting Tie. season, there was an expectation that rookies were to be seen, not heard. That didn’t apply to him. Not that he was disrespectful, but he was Tie literally stops and looks over at the Belleville bench and (Bulls coach) open and raw. “This is who I am,” that sort of thing. Larry Mavety, and he’s laughing. He says to Larry, during the fight, “Is this the toughest guy you’ve got?” He was always the loudest in the room. Sometimes that has a negative connotation, but this time it doesn’t. He was always involved and As teammates, we’re looking at each other and saying, “Can you believe engaged in anything that was going on. If there were four or five Tie is doing that?” conversations going on at one time among 22 guys, he wanted to be a That’s how Tie was. That’s how Tie made his mark. He had a big smile part of all of those conversations and lead all of those conversations at on his face. He enjoyed what he was doing. the same time. Mark Freer, teammate, Peterborough Petes (1986-88): I was watching Todd: I used to have the team run 5 miles in the fall on Mondays. So Tie the fight and Tie said, “Is this the toughest guy you’ve got?” I turned to resisted the work ethic and the training program in that first year. Jody Hull and said, “Great, now you and I are going to have to fight in the Everybody would be back at the rink, finished and showering, and I’d be next shift because he just pissed their whole bench off.” waiting for Tie in my car. Finally, Tie would come walking along, half an hour behind everybody else. I’d lecture him all the way back to the rink. After being drafted by the Leafs in 1988, Domi spent parts of the 1989-90 He’d say, “Coach, my legs are too short, I can’t run.” and 1990-91 seasons in the AHL, where he continued to make a name for himself. One game early in November I told him he was sitting out. He said, “Well, I quit.” He went off back to his boarding house. He phoned the captain at Stephane Quintal, teammate, Winnipeg Jets (1993-95): I was playing for the time, Dallas Eakins, and told him he was going home. Dallas said, the Maine Mariners. He was playing for Binghamton. We knew before the “What’s your problem?” Dallas got through to him and told him that he game that we were going to fight each other. It was the only time I fought better start listening and hang in there. He came back to me and said, him. “OK, I’ll stay.” I told him, “You can be a big fish in a little pond or you can learn to swim in this pond. But you’re going to need to make changes.” I think I did OK. After the game, I was sitting at the bar. He came with a beer. He bought me a beer and just said, “Good fight tonight.” After that, The next year, he came back and he’d come to grips with the running whenever we played each other, there was mutual respect. After I got and the training. He was in the top four on the team in terms of traded to Winnipeg, you don’t know a lot of the players and he was really conditioning and running. He had got himself into far better shape. His good to me. On the ice, he knew what he had to do and when to do it. He work ethic had changed. was really a professional. He was good to teammates and good in the a good time. We all got along. Three months later, they fought each dressing room. A good team player. other. Tie did really well against this good buddy of mine. And after, Steve gave me this look. And I looked back at him and I felt so empty. Jay McKee, opponent, Buffalo Sabres, (1995-2006): I got in a fight with You want to win the game. Tie looked at me after the game and you (Domi) in preseason. It was in front of our net. I actually dropped the could tell he wanted to say sorry, but he couldn’t. Even though we were gloves first. I tried to hold on to him tight. I know if we go toe-to-toe, he’s together as a group (at the concert), Tie just wanted to win the game and winning that, no question, unless I get a lucky shot in on his chin, which be a good teammate. When the game was on, he played so hard. He nobody ever really did on him, right? I remember after the game he never strayed from the team aspect. called (McKee’s then-teammate) Doug Gilmour and he said, “Dougie, tell that Jay McKee, if he ever drops the gloves first with me again, he’s Macoun: Tie’s one of those guys that the longer you’re away from the dead.” (Laughs) game, the more you appreciate what he brought. He was one of those guys, you hate to blow too much steam up him, but he was a self-made John Paddock, coach, Binghamton Rangers (1990) and Winnipeg Jets man. In theory, he wasn’t a great player, but all the way up he continued (1992-95): We were in Calgary and Tie got in a fight with Sandy to work hard, skate hard, stay in shape. All the way along, it was like, McCarthy and Sandy opened him up for a bunch of stitches around the “Well, he’s too good to send down.” And he had an incredible career. Tie eye. I had never seen Tie cut before. That doesn’t mean you don’t get hit, would drive you crazy sometimes, but he was definitely an asset. I but some guys just don’t cut easy. I give him so much respect for doing respected the job that he did. It was a tough job. Tie was willing to go to his job and the personal pride he had in it. We were in Calgary a few battle for his team. Say whatever you want about Tie Domi, he was not weeks later and he had that date marked. He went right at him because afraid to do his job. he’d lost the fight. I guess you’re not supposed to say this stuff anymore, but he did a really good job in that fight. Joe Bowen, broadcaster, Toronto Maple Leafs: Tie, on any team he was on, very quickly became the best friend to that team’s best player. You Jamie Macoun, teammate, Toronto Maple Leafs (1994-98): Some guys can go through every team that he was associated with (and) he was would quietly watch the dressing room and quietly pick up on things. immediately the star player’s right-hand man. Timmy Hunter was a physical player when I played with Calgary. And if you were one of those guys that you knew was going to get into a fight Mats Sundin (in Toronto) and Teemu Selanne in Winnipeg. But that’s his that night, you’d go to Timmy and say, “Timmy, what’s this guy do?” personality. He was very outgoing. Crude around the edges, obviously. It Right away, he’d tell you. wasn’t that he forced himself on everybody. That’s just how he worked out. But Tie wasn’t shy about just being there to do his job and taking on anybody. (He didn’t) necessarily need to learn what anybody else does I think they appreciated what he was doing for them on the ice to make because he’d say, “I’m there, I can do it.” In some ways, you wanted him sure that they felt comfortable. If there was ever an issue, you had to go just to be the younger guy that would watch the senior guys. But Tie was through him before you did anything. It was an appreciation of what he confident because he was a smaller guy and he had to be confident. He did. He’s a character and always has been. never backed down, ever — in a conversation in the dressing room, or the bus, he’d never back down. VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM

Domi’s last fight was against McKee on April 16, 2006, in a 6-0 Sabres SPENDING HONEYMOON WITH MATS & JOSEPHINE AND THEIR win. FRIENDS THINGS NEVER CHANGE A LOT OF LOVE & LAUGHS #FRIENDS #LOVE McKee: I was just outside of the scrum and Domi was coming flying in. As a player, you know he’s coming towards the pile. I just tried to hold on A POST SHARED BY TIE DOMI (@TIE_DOMI) ON JUL 31, 2017 AT to him to keep him off the pile but as soon as I grabbed him, he started 9:42AM PDT throwing them. I like to think I have a high IQ but I think all I did was hang on. With a guy like me, a middleweight at best, that’s the intelligent move. As his popularity in Toronto increased, so too did his reach across the Unless you want to be on the IR for a while. city.

He has huge hands. If you want to know what it’s like to get punched by Bryan McCabe, teammate, Toronto Maple Leafs (2000-06): He’s the Tie Domi, it’s like having a friend of yours throw a cinder block at your Mayor of Toronto. He knows everyone. You need a reservation for head. Heavy hands with a lot of power behind them. I had no fear of dinner? You call Tie. If you needed to get in somewhere, he was the right fighting. I didn’t do it often. When you end up with your gloves off and the guy to call. guy across from you is Tie Domi, unless you’re the designated tough Jonas Hoglund, teammate, Toronto Maple Leafs (1999-2003): He really guy, you’re not too excited. took care of you, on and off the ice. If he cared for you, and you showed Domi the teammate that you care for the team, he would do anything for you.

Dagenais: We had a bench-clearing brawl in Oshawa. It was a five-on- Alyn McCauley, teammate, Toronto Maple Leafs (1997-2003): He was so five and something ignited it so both benches cleared. The referees, their well-connected. I asked him, “Tie, I’m looking to get a wedding ring, do approach to get this under control was to look for the biggest problems you know anyone? Do you have anyone you use?” He said, “I’ve got a and obviously, Tie was one of the biggest problems. They got him out of guy.” After practice, he gave me a number and said, “Talk to this guy. his fight and off the ice as quickly as possible. The way the old Oshawa He’ll help you out.” That wasn’t the only time, but that was a very (Civic Auditorium) was set up was you’d come off the ice, go down a significant purchase in my life. quick tunnel and (then) hung a left to the visitor’s dressing room. Tie Tie contacted (Royal de Versailles in Toronto) and said he was sending hung the left but stopped and hid behind a wall. He waited a few minutes, me there. When I walked in there, (the owner) knew Tie had sent me peeked out and all the referees were busy with the other fights. He there and that I was with the Leafs. My wife was impressed. Tie sent me decided it was a good idea to come back out on the ice. to the right place, and I got the right ring so it was good. He was always It gets better. very willing to help you solve a problem when you were in the 416 or 905 area code. One of the referees notices him and tells the other referee. Now they’re chasing Tie and Tie is skating in and out of guys (fighting) and pile-ons. Domi the prankster He’s got two guys chasing after him and he’s weaving around, just trying As Domi loved to be the centre of attention, he loved playing a good to get a punch in whenever he can. It honestly reminded me of Keystone prank on his teammates. And on some occasions, he didn’t mind being Cops, the way they were chasing him around. the butt of a joke, either.

Once it ends, you’re like, “Holy shit,” and you’re trying to compose Shayne Corson, teammate, Toronto Maple Leafs (2000-03): Tie was one yourself. And Tie’s walking up and down the room saying, “Let’s do this of the biggest pranksters going. He loved giving it to the boys and egging again.’ them on. He’d screw around with guys’ skates, cut their laces so you’d Jamey Hicks, teammate, Peterborough Petes (1986-89): I spent so much have to redo them, or he’d cut guys’ sticks so they’d take a slap shot and time with him in Peterborough. We lived on the same street together. He (they) would break. He’d get that barrel laugh going. He’d get the biggest invited me out to a John Cougar Mellencamp concert in the summer. And laugh of anybody from it. I brought a buddy of mine, Steve Herneman. You’re young, you’re having Freer: I put some tape onto his skates once and followed him out onto night. The coach said, “You don’t have to fight tonight. Don’t worry, Tie, the ice. And of course, you’re going to fall. And I started to laugh and he no one’s going to fight you on the other side. Just go out and play.” And jumps up and said, “That’s it, Freer. You’re dead.” He chases me down he scored four goals that night. He wouldn’t shut up the rest of the night the stairs. And this is like a minute before practice. And if you were late about it: “This is an easy league, they’re not utilizing my talent,” all that on the ice for practice, you were fined $25. stuff.

So he chases me down the stairs and I run into the weight room and I Doug Gilmour, teammate, Toronto Maple Leafs (1994-97): We had a lock the door. And he’s standing there shouting, “You’ve got to come practice on Sunday after a Saturday game. We came into the dressing out.” Tie doesn’t realize there’s a back door to the weight room and you room for the practice and Tie’s equipment was hanging up and soaking just have to walk across cement for 50 steps. I get out of the weight wet. Somebody had grabbed it and put it in the hot tub half an hour room, get out on the ice and Dick Todd blows the whistle for the 3:30 before we went on the ice. He was mad and trying to figure out who had stretch. done it. He was telling people to swear on their kids that (they) hadn’t done it and all this other stuff. A minute later, Tie comes out on the ice and (Todd) says, “Tie, you’re late. That’s a fine.” And he says, “A fine? Well, fuckin’ fine Freer, he’s still Kirk Muller was downstairs on the trainer’s table. But he wouldn’t swear in the weight room.” And Dick points over to me. And Tie just starts on his kids, so Tie runs up, grabs (Muller’s) stuff and puts it in the hot tub swearing and carrying on. You could play an innocent joke on him and and hung it back up. Kirk came back upstairs and Tie started to laugh at he’d get all wound up. him, saying “Ha, look at your stuff!”

Mitton: I was driving us to Dairy Queen after school one day on our way But Kirk had switched all his stuff with Jamie Baker’s beside him. Tie to practice. We grabbed a couple banana splits. He didn’t have his didn’t get him back at all. seatbelt on. We were eating as we were driving and I realized someone ahead of me locked their breaks on a turn, so of course, I locked my The softer side of Domi breaks. (Tie) went straight into my dashboard and had banana split all Over the course of his 16-year NHL career, Domi suited up for 1,020 over his face. He was yelling at me, in that voice of his, “Don’t you dare regular-season games, including 777 with the Maple Leafs, 11th most in tell anyone.” And I thought, “Oh, I’m going to have to tell someone.” But I franchise history. Many of his former teammates got to appreciate all of don’t know if I ever told anyone because I was too scared. We used to the elements that made him such a popular figure in dressing rooms and always give it to him, but he’d always take it, too. with fans in whichever city he was playing.

Andrew MacVicar, teammate, Peterborough Petes (1986-89): He let guys MacVicar: We played at Maple Leaf Gardens one game and my parents tease him as long as he knew guys respected him. He’d always come to flew out to see me play. Of course, I was trying to be all cool when (my protect you and defend you. No surprise to anyone, he has a very mother) came to try and give me a hug. And I went a little stiff. And she protective instinct. looked over at Tie and said, “Listen, if Tie Domi can give his father a hug If you weren’t on the team and you teased him, it was war. and a kiss on the cheek, you can at least give your mother a hug.”

Guys used to tease Tie about the size of his head. But I had a pretty big Corson: Everybody remembers him as one of the toughest guys in the head too, and he’d always say, “Well, MacVicar’s got a bigger head than league. And he was. I have a lot of respect for him as a fighter because me.” he wasn’t the tallest guy, but he was built like a truck and solid as a rock. But the thing I learned more about him when I got to play with him (is We walked out of the arena after practice and we forgot that the farmer’s that) he’s a much better skater than people gave him credit for, and he market was going on in the parking lot. There was a pumpkin there. Now, had great hands. He understood the game. I didn’t do pranks. That was really out of my character. Whatever possessed me, I guess because I felt I knew Tie well enough that he’d Garry Valk, teammate, Toronto Maple Leafs (1998-2002): He was difficult get a laugh out of it, I got this pumpkin and I put it in the dressing room at times, but in a good way. Tie had a real belief in himself and he with his helmet and I drew his face on it. He used to have a broken tooth, showed it. The more Tie Domi played, the better he played. He always so I drew the teeth in and left it there. had a belief. And I know: I played with Mats Sundin. Tie had a great hockey IQ. He could have gotten away from the fighting role if he played The next day it’s there, the boys were laughing about it. Tie was asking more. He was a good skater and had good hands. everyone who did it, but no one would say anything. I was incredibly happy he was on my team. I remember wrestling him in Finally, he was getting annoyed. He wanted to decide: Was the practice one day. He grabbed me with one arm and threw me down. The (perpetrator) being an arsehole, or was it a guy just joking around? old iron bar. He just chucked me. That’s when it really hit me how strong Somewhere along the line, it comes out it’s me. And he doesn’t believe it. he was. Natural man strength. He didn’t outlift Gary Roberts, but just He looks at me. He asks me (if it was me), and I told him (it was) and I incredible strength. was off the hook. But everyone was roaring in laughter. So (teammate) Dan Jansen said straight-faced, “Tie, do me a favour: Would you head- He wasn’t happy playing four minutes a night and he shouldn’t have butt the pumpkin?” been. He was a good player. You don’t last over 1,000 games if you’re not a good player. In hindsight, enough was enough, but Jenner tossed the pumpkin at him, and Tie head butts the pumpkin and it comes apart in four pieces. When considering Domi’s legacy, his fighting and physical style of play is Everyone is killing themselves with laughter. He throws the pumpkin what stands out. But those who played with him argue Domi never pieces down to the other end of the room. The coach came out and lost played an intentionally dirty brand of hockey. his mind. We all got in shit and had to clean it up. Jason York, former NHL defenceman: I like Tie a lot. Tie’s from the (Domi) was a bit of an entertainer. Windsor area. My wife’s from the Windsor area. I thought Tie played the game pretty clean. He was never dirty. He’d fight, but he’d fight the tough Rob Zamuner, teammate, Binghamton Rangers (1990-91): He used to guys. Somehow he got tied up with (former forward) always call me “fat ass.” I had a huge back end. Every time I’d get into Magnus Arvedson. And Magnus, great player, he got turned around the Air Canada Centre, I’d hear this loud scream from out of nowhere: backwards against Tie and he was looking the other way and punching, “Hey, fat ass.” All the guys on my team were wondering who he was but not really looking. (Domi) could have hurt him, but he didn’t. We were talking to. “That would be me, boys.” laughing later when we played the video for (Arvedson). I played against Tie a lot and I can’t remember once getting a cheap shot. Dagenais: With his attitude came this expectation that he had to be the toughest guy in any room. Anything that questioned that, whether it was Quintal: We were playing in the Chicago Stadium. Steve Smith was after a prank or a verbal jab or whatever, he went against that. Tie. Tie doesn’t want to fight him. Finally, Steve cross-checked Tie and Tie said, “That’s enough.” They dropped the gloves and (Domi) knocked Zamuner: I have a soft spot for Tie. I played with him in New York. I told him out. When Steve fell down, it was a horrible scene. Tie was almost (Domi’s son, Max) this story, but you can only imagine Max probably crying after the game. He was devastated. Tie liked to fight and he was hears so many stories about his dad. And I was surprised he hadn’t really good at it. But he knew that was his job, that was a way for him to heard this one. stay in the league. But that really hurt him. I saw his face after the game Tie had got sent down to the minors and I was in the minors with and I was like, “Oh wow.” When you fight someone, you don’t want to Binghamton at that time. He came down and he was on my line one see someone get hurt the way Steve did. He was devastated. Darcy Tucker, teammate, Toronto Maple Leafs (1999-2006): As I’ve gotten older and more mature, I’ve realized how difficult it was to play the role that Tie did. He had to answer the bell each and every time someone went near Mats or one of our better players and not once did he ever back away from it. There are many things that come along with that and Tie handled them. A lot of the tough guys that went through that era are left with not only the physical scars but also the emotional scars. I’ve got to give Tie credit as he came out on the other side of it and he’s doing amazing.

One of the most unfortunate moments of Domi’s career came in Game 4 of the 2001 Eastern Conference semifinals when Domi egregiously elbowed New Jersey Devils defenceman Scott Niedermayer in the head with seconds left in the game. Domi was suspended for the remainder of the playoffs and the Leafs lost the series. He later called the elbow “the dumbest thing I did in my career.”

Cory Cross, teammate, Toronto Maple Leafs (1999-2002): The next day, Tie addressed the team and apologized and was really emotional about it. He knew he was wrong. He knew he shouldn’t have done that. He was playing unbelievable. He felt emotional that he let his emotions get the best of him. He knew guys weren’t happy with what he did. And he was apologetic. He’s a tough guy on the outside, but on the inside, he’s pretty soft. He’s a pretty emotional guy when it comes down to it.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189270 Vegas Golden Knights Leaguewide, the NHL said it only had two positive tests the first five days of camp Monday.

Pacioretty is also the Knights’ only injury concern. He missed the last four 3 extra takeaways from Golden Knights camp practices with what DeBoer said was a “minor issue.”

Defenseman Jon Merril said that between small-group workouts and camp, the Knights’ training and medical staff have worked hard to make By Ben Gotz players feel comfortable.

Las Vegas Review-Journal “They’ve done an unbelievable job and (I) 100 percent felt safe every day,” Merrill said. July 25, 2020 - 2:22 PM LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 07.26.2020

The Golden Knights second training camp of the season is complete.

The team will head for its playoff bubble in Edmonton on Sunday after 10 days of full-team, on-ice workouts. The camp gave the Knights the chance to work on a lot of areas of their game, including some coach Pete DeBoer didn’t think they would have time to address.

He said because the team did not travel and had no preseason games, they squeezed in the equivalent of three months’ worth of practices during the regular season.

“I thought guys were great,” DeBoer said. “They were dialed in. We had very few dips in our energy levels or our execution. I thought we got better as camp went on.”

The Knights put a lot on display in camp, including a new-look third-line, a simmering goaltending battle and a penalty kill that’s still seeking consistency. Here are three additional observations:

1. Depth is there

One upshot of the camp for DeBoer was the chance to get his eyes on several players in the Knights’ system.

Seven of the team’s 10 call-ups skated with the coach for the first time. Overall, DeBoer came away impressed.

“They all have (stood out) in that I think they’re excited to be here,” DeBoer said. “Your biggest fear is they slow the group down and what you’re trying to do because they aren’t up to speed tactically or they’re not up to speed from a skill point of view and they’re slowing down your practices. That hasn’t been the case. I think they’ve all fit in.”

DeBoer having confidence in the call-ups is important because several could be crucial next season. The Knights’ top three backup skaters — forward Tomas Nosek and defensemen Jon Merrill and Deryk Engelland — are pending unrestricted free agents.

The flat salary cap may make it difficult for the team to retain them. So some of the depth players sticking around — such as forwards Patrick Brown, Gage Quinney, Keegan Kolesar and Reid Duke and defensemen Nic Hague and Dylan Coghlan — may be asked to fill in the gaps.

2. Round robin will be taken seriously

The Knights, by virtue of their top-four finish in the Western Conference, get to avoid jumping into a do-or-die playoff series right away.

The team still doesn’t plan on treating its three round-robin games against the Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche as extra exhibitions. The Knights view it as a goal to grab the No. 1 seed and the home-ice advantages that come with it.

That includes last change and being able to put their sticks down last on faceoffs.

“We want to get the top seed,” right wing Ryan Reaves said. “It’s not going to be feeling each other out. I think that’s going to be full playoff intensity, from our team anyways. I expect that from the other three teams.”

3. Team has been safe and (mostly) healthy

The Knights’ No. 1 goal of camp was keeping their players healthy and free of COVID-19.

Mission pretty much accomplished. DeBoer knocked on wood Friday because he said the team has avoided the coronavirus so far. DeBoer said the only two players to miss practices during camp — Marc-Andre Fleury and Max Pacioretty — were not absent because of COVID-19. 1189271 Vegas Golden Knights

Bill Foley will be cleared to watch Golden Knights playoff games

By David Schoen

Las Vegas Review-Journal

July 25, 2020 - 12:24 PM

If the Golden Knights capture the Stanley Cup, owner Bill Foley can be there to see it happen.

The NHL is putting the finishing touches on a plan that would grant Foley and other team owners access inside arenas to watch the 24-team postseason tournament.

Foley said Saturday that senior-level management is no longer being classified as spectators and he will be cleared to attend Knights’ games at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta.

“Not finally resolved yet, but we do expect to be in a position to allow limited attendance by Club owners/executives for their own team’s games,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly wrote in an email.

Knights president of hockey operations George McPhee first raised the issue of Foley and other team owners being unable to watch games in person on the latest episode of “The Bob McCown Podcast.”

Foley, who spoke by phone from his home in Whitefish, Montana, is not part of the Knights’ 52-person traveling party set to depart Sunday morning and plans to stay outside the NHL’s secure zone in Edmonton.

Once he is granted clearance by the league and provincial government of Alberta, Foley plans to watch games from a team suite at Rogers Place away from players and staff.

The Knights face Arizona in an exhibition game July 30 and open the round robin Aug. 3 against Dallas before games against St. Louis (Aug. 6) and Colorado (Aug. 8). The conference quarterfinals are scheduled to begin Aug. 11.

“I definitely want to go,” Foley said. “The further we go in the playoffs, the more anxious I am to be there.”

The lone obstacle to Foley attending games in Edmonton is the mandatory 14-day quarantine for anyone entering Canada, which is in effect through Aug. 31.

Foley was not part of the exemption granted to NHL players and staff by the Canadian government.

“If they lift it, I’ll start going to games,” he said.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189272 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights Jon Merrill talks pause, playoffs and bubble life

By Ben Gotz

Las Vegas Review-Journal

July 25, 2020 - 10:41 am

Jon Merrill has had a lot on his plate the last five months.

The Golden Knights defenseman has tried to educate himself about the global COVID-19 pandemic that paused the NHL season. He’s worked to keep his game sharp so he can help his team win the Stanley Cup. And he’s had to entertain three young daughters while his fiancee finished up her master’s degree.

Merrill took time out of his hectic schedule to chat with the Review- Journal’s Golden Edge podcast Friday about his break from hockey, his expectations for the league’s “bubble” in Edmonton and much more.

Check out the full interview above, and read selected highlights below:

(On his “daddy daycare” during the pause)

My fiancee was finishing up her master’s program in the late spring there so pretty much all the parenting responsibilities fell solely on me. For a while there during finals time for her, it was daddy daycare around here. That would probably be my greatest accomplishment of the quarantine, is just surviving it. Everyone’s in one piece and got three meals in them every day. That was definitely my biggest accomplishment.

(On how he maintained his hockey flow during quarantine)

Just let it ride, baby. I think sometimes the best hair (is) touched the least. You just have to let that natural grease start to come in. Let the flow do what it wants. It’s definitely got a mind of its own up there right now.

It’s looking like you don’t care but you really kind of do care, is the look you’re going for for sure.

(On if he ever considered opting out of the NHL’s restart)

I wouldn’t say I didn’t consider it. I think any player that says they didn’t, I think they’re lying to you a little bit because you obviously weigh the options. I think it took a few months for me to really understand more about COVID. I think we’ve learned more about it throughout these few months here and how it’s transmitted and what’s safe, what’s not safe. We’ve all learned about social distancing and masks and things like that. Definitely early on I was against (returning). I was (like) ‘Man, we’ve just got to take care of our people and we’ve got to do what’s right’ and it just didn’t seem right. It didn’t seem like sports was something that was a necessary operation. But as it went on I realized we can do this and we can do this in a safe way. Once that was established, I was all for it. You know, let’s go play. As long as we can do it a safe way and it makes sense and things like that, I’m all for getting back out there and competing with the boys and getting after a Cup.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189273 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights round-robin games to air on AT&T SportsNet

By David Schoen

Las Vegas Review-Journal

July 25, 2020 - 10:31 am

Updated July 25, 2020 - 10:37 am

Re-program those DVRs. The Golden Knights’ broadcast schedule for the Stanley Cup playoffs is starting to come into focus after some initial confusion.

The league sent an email Saturday confirming the Knights’ round-robin opener against Dallas on Aug. 3 will be televised on AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Cox 313/1313, DirecTV 684, CenturyLink 760/1760, U- verse 757/1757, Dish 414/5414).

A person with knowledge of the broadcast schedule also told the Review- Journal the Knights’ remaining round-robin games against St. Louis (Aug. 6) and Colorado (Aug. 8) will be broadcast on ATTSN.

The broadcast details for the Knights’ exhibition game against Arizona on Thursday is still to be determined, according to the person.

That game was listed by the league as being on NHL Network, but an email from the network with the upcoming schedule indicated the game would not be shown in the Las Vegas market.

The Knights’ game against Dallas was originally announced as part of NBC Sports Network’s coverage of the NHL’s 24-team postseason tournament, but it will be blacked out on that channel in Las Vegas.

Knights play-by-play announcer Dave Goucher and analyst Shane Hnidy will handle the call for ATTSN.

The games can also be heard on the radio at Fox Sports Las Vegas (98.9 FM, 1340 AM).

Golden Knights TV schedule

Games in Edmonton, Alberta

Exhibition

■ Thursday: Knights vs. Arizona, 7 p.m. (TBA)

Round-robin play

■ Aug. 3: Knights vs. Dallas, 3:30 p.m. (ATTSN)

■ Aug. 6: Knights vs. St. Louis, TBA (ATT)

■ Aug. 8: Knights vs. Colorado, TBA (ATT)

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189274 Vegas Golden Knights Ryan Reaves and William Carrier are the NHL’s top two hitters over the past two seasons, and Cousins is a pesky forechecker who regularly makes life miserable for opposing defensemen.

Five things we learned from Golden Knights training camp That line rounds out Vegas’ forward group, giving the Golden Knights three dangerous scoring lines and one line that calls itself the “meat grinders.” Theoretically, that leaves opposing teams with no shifts to take a breath, which is exactly what DeBoer wants. By Jesse Granger “I think that’s the whole idea of that group,” DeBoer said. “I see them as a Jul 25, 2020 really hard group to play against. I think they have underrated offense to them.”

The Golden Knights wrapped up training camp Friday afternoon and will Special-teams units will look slightly different be flying to Edmonton on Sunday. After two weeks of practices and DeBoer rolled out new power-play units for camp. Here’s what they scrimmages, the team is finally ready to depart for the NHL bubble and looked like: will face the Arizona Coyotes in its lone exhibition game Thursday. Power-play unit 1: Stastny, Stone, Pacioretty, Marchessault and Throughout camp, coach Peter DeBoer and his staff put the team Theodore. through an assembly of drills, specific game situations and full scrimmages. The first observation from it all is that the team appears Power-play unit 2: Karlsson, Smith, Tuch, Schmidt and Martinez. focused and physically ready to compete at the highest level. But what else can we gain from what we saw on the ice at City National Arena? Power-play unit 3: Cousins, Reaves, Peyton Krebs, Dylan Coghlan and Nic Hague. There’s a lot to be learned from the line combinations, defensive pairs and special-teams units DeBoer used over the past two weeks. Not only The Golden Knights will use only two power-play units in Edmonton, but to project what the Golden Knights will look like when they drop the puck the third unit is worth noting because it gives a glimpse into DeBoer’s in the first real game against the Dallas Stars on Aug. 3, but also where power-play depth chart. If any of the forwards in the top two units go each of the reserve players stands, and who is likely to step into the down, Cousins and Reaves likely would be the next men up, which might lineup in the event of an injury. come as a surprise with forwards such as Roy and Stephenson available.

Here are my five main observations from Golden Knights camp: Reaves has shown he can cause havoc as the net-front presence, and DeBoer clearly thinks Cousins has more offense to offer than he has The top-six forwards, and defensive pairings, will remain the same shown at this point in his career.

This was obvious from the start of camp. DeBoer loved the way his top- The penalty-kill units are also switched up, reuniting Karlsson and Smith six forwards played down the stretch — prior to injuries — and will keep as one of the better killing duos in the league. them intact, at least to start the postseason. Penalty-kill unit 1: Roy, Stephenson, McNabb and Whitecloud. William Karlsson will center the top line between the team’s two leading scorers — Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty. On paper, it’s one of the best Penalty-kill unit 2: Karlsson, Smith, Schmidt and Martinez. lines in the Western Conference, and in a small sample size during the Penalty-kill unit 3: Stastny, Stone, Theodore and Holden. regular season, the group was dominant. Karlsson and Stone are among the team’s best forecheckers and specialize in turning takeaways into Penalty-kill unit 4: Tomas Nosek, Tuch, Jon Merrill and Deryk Engelland. immediate offense, while no one on the team finishes plays better than Pacioretty. Roy and Stephenson get penalty-killing duties, largely because the other four penalty-killing forwards are also on the power play. This prevents Pacioretty missed practice this week, but DeBoer confirmed it wasn’t them from overplaying while giving Roy and Stephenson additional ice COVID-19 related, and didn’t seem all too worried about it. However, the time. The two looked solid in penalty-killing drills during camp and fact Nick Cousins replaced him on the top line for practice might be a hint worked well with stay-at-home defenders McNabb and Whitecloud. that DeBoer likes Cousins as a potential top-six replacement if injuries occur. DeBoer mentioned he will use a lot of different penalty killers to keep players fresh, so it’s good Vegas has eight forwards he is comfortable Paul Stastny centers the second line between wingers Reilly Smith and sending over the boards while down a man. Jonathan Marchessault. The three also played well together this season, and looked extremely sharp at camp, controlling play nearly every time Reserve depth chart becoming clearer they touched the ice during scrimmages. Stastny’s passing ability shines There is no official depth chart for which players will step into the lineup between two of Vegas’ best scoring threats. in the likely event of injuries at some point during the playoffs. However, On defense, DeBoer didn’t touch his pairings from earlier in the season, based on how DeBoer deployed those players in camp, we have a pretty leaving Brayden McNabb and Nate Schmidt on the top unit, Shea good idea. Theodore and Alec Martinez in the middle, and Nick Holden with rookie I believe Nosek and Patrick Brown have separated themselves in terms Zach Whitecloud on the bottom pairing. of the reserves, and they would be the first two forwards deployed. Vegas might finally have an offense-minded third line Nosek played in 67 games this season for the Golden Knights, more than many of the players on the opening-night roster. He’s versatile enough to Under , the Golden Knights’ third forward unit was mostly play center or wing and filled Cousins’ spot as a fourth-line center when used as somewhat of a checking line. That was largely because Cody he was moved up the lineup because of Pacioretty’s absence at practice. Eakin centered it and is much more defensively responsible than he is a playmaker. Brown is another versatile bottom-six player who can play all three forward positions. DeBoer has complimented him on several occasions However, the newly constructed third line of Nicolas Roy, Chandler during camp, and he’s shown well in the scrimmages. He also scored a Stephenson and Alex Tuch has looked dynamic at camp and will create goal in his lone appearance with Vegas this season. matchup problems for the bottom six for most teams. Tuch is finally healthy and will play with two fast, physical forwards who are constantly The next forwards likely would be Gage Quinney and Keegan Kolesar, looking to create offense. If this line can remain healthy, and produce who skated with Nosek for most of camp. They each played for Vegas consistently, Vegas will be hard to beat. this season in a limited capacity, and DeBoer seems to trust them in small spots. Finally, Reid Duke and Peyton Krebs are the least likely to The fourth line is designed to be a pain get into a game. Despite Krebs showing plenty of potential in camp, I just don’t see the team tossing him into a playoff game at this point. Asked about the construction of the fourth line, DeBoer replied, “Who would sign up to play against those three guys? I think that’s all you have As for defenders, Vegas has plenty of veteran presence in its reserves, to say. Not many guys are going to look up at a faceoff and be excited and those players would likely be the first to step in. Merrill and about those three guys coming at you and hounding you.” Engelland skated together on the “fourth” defensive pairing for all of camp. The two played a combined 98 games this season, so they should be more than ready if their name is called. Rookies Hague and Coghlan likely follow those two in terms of depth.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189275 Washington Capitals The Capitals had to submit their final travel roster to the NHL on Friday night, with a maximum of 31 players allowed to travel. The team originally had 34 players on its training camp roster.

Ilya Samsonov will not travel with Caps for NHL restart after suffering On Saturday morning, Samonsov and forward prospects Shane Gersich injury during shutdown and Garrett Pilon did not practice with the team, which meant only 31 players were on the ice for its final practice before it headed to Toronto.

Washington Post LOADED: 07.26.2020 By Samantha Pell

July 25, 2020 at 9:59 PM EDT

Washington Capitals backup goaltender Ilya Samsonov suffered an injury before the resumption of the 2019-20 NHL season and will not travel with the Capitals to Toronto on Sunday, the team said Saturday.

Samsonov will remain in Washington to continue to undergo treatment for the injury, the nature of which was not disclosed. The team confirmed it was in fact an injury and not novel coronavirus-related. The Capitals expect him to be healthy for the 2020-21 season.

“He’s a guy that is a really good young prospect for us, so for us not to have him with us is disappointing,” Capitals Coach Todd Reirden said. “I thought he has made some strides and obviously put together a pretty good run this year. To be without him is certainly disappointing, but the right thing to do is to leave him here and allow him to get treatment so that he is ready to go next year when we have that opportunity to start playing hockey again.”

Samsonov, 22, did not skate with the team in training camp, which started July 13. He arrived in Washington in early July and has been seen interacting with teammates off the ice. The young netminder had a standout rookie year, going 16-6-2 with a .913 save percentage and a 2.55 goals against average. Samsonov opened the year with an 11-2-1 record, making him the first goaltender in franchise history to record 11 wins in his first 13 starts.

The Capitals still will have goaltender Braden Holtby at their disposal for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs. Holtby, who was in goal when the Capitals won the 2018 Stanley Cup, was expected to be between the pipes for the postseason, with Coach Todd Reirden telling reporters in mid-June that it was Holtby’s “job to lose.” Holtby, a pending free agent, posted a 25-14-6 record with an .897 save percentage and a 3.11 goals against average in the regular season.

“Yeah, I think Holts has been looking good in net,” center Lars Eller said. “We’re gonna need him to be one of our best players as he was in ’18 when we went on that run. And he’s got it in him. We have all the confidence in the world that Holts can carry us far … we’re gonna miss Sammy but I feel good about the guys we have in net.”

With Samsonov out, the team only has two other goaltenders: Pheonix Copley and Vitek Vanecek. Reirden said the team is still deciding who the No. 2 goaltender will be and confirmed Saturday that the team would have brought all four goalies into the bubble if Samsonov was not hurt.

Copley went 17-8-6 with the team’s American Hockey League affiliate in Hershey in the 2019-20 season and also had a .905 save percentage and 2.47 goals against average. The 28-year-old goaltender went 16-7-3 in 27 games for Washington in the 2018-19 season, which was his first full year in the NHL.

Meanwhile, Vanecek had a solid campaign in Hershey in 2019-20, posting a 2.26 goals against average and .917 save percentage behind a 19-10-1 record in 31 games while splitting time with Copley. Vanecek, 24, has yet to make his NHL debut. He was called up to the Capitals earlier in the season but did not make an appearance.

“I feel really good about Pheonix Copley, and I feel really good about Vitek Vanecek. I do,” Reirden said. “I want to have them around. That’s a position where you got to protect yourself in that situation, and unfortunately we have a player that is injured, and he’s a player that had a big impact on our team this first year.”

Reirden said that either Copley or Vanecek will see time in the team’s exhibition game against Carolina on Wednesday. The plan is for Holtby to get the first two periods against the Hurricanes, and then whichever one is the backup goalie will play the third. 1189276 Washington Capitals “We don’t expect it to be perfect,” Meeuwisse said. “We expect, with the number of people, that we’re going to have some positive tests, and we have a method and a process designed in advance to deal with that. And we’ll continue to consult with the local health authorities as that unfolds.” Secure zones, regular testing and empty arenas: NHL details life inside its hub cities The league also is unveiling its #WeSkateFor initiative this postseason. On Aug. 1, the first day of the qualifying round, ceremonies at two games — Chicago vs. Edmonton at Rogers Place and Montreal vs. Pittsburgh at Scotiabank Arena — will honor front-line pandemic workers and By Samantha Pell protesters for social justice. Steve Mayer, the NHL’s chief content officer, July 25, 2020 at 9:00 AM EDT confirmed that the Black Lives Matter movement will be acknowledged.

“We’ll see how our players react naturally to what we will present opening night, but there will be some moments within the opening night ceremony From social justice initiatives to testing protocols and in-game that will touch on Black Lives Matter and social justice,” he said. presentation, the NHL detailed life for players and coaches inside the league’s two postseason hub cities, Toronto and Edmonton, on Thursday Throughout the tournament, players and teams will be able to wear night. helmet decals and other items through the #ISkateFor hashtag.

In Toronto, which will house the 12 Eastern Conference teams in the With no fans in attendance, the NHL will fill the empty space with LED modified 24-team postseason tournament, players will stay at the Royal screens, monitors and stages around the ice. Mayer said Friday that the York or Hotel X. The Washington Capitals will be in Hotel X with the NHL has a goal song, goal horns and in-arena music from each of the 24 Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning and Pittsburgh teams participating. The league also has compiled fan videos from Penguins. various teams.

Toronto’s “secure area” will have four practice rinks — three NHL rinks Broadcast-wise, both Sportsnet in Edmonton and NBC in Toronto will be and an Olympic-sized rink. There will be 14 on-site restaurants, bars, using 32 cameras per game, which is 12 more than normal. The NHL pubs and coffee shops only accessible to team personnel. Additionally, also partnered with EA Sports to mimic crowd noise. players will have access to tennis courts, golf suites, movie theaters and Notes: The Capitals held an intrasquad scrimmage Friday, which started fitness studios. BMO Field, which is a short walk from Hotel X, will be at 4 p.m. to simulate the timing of their exhibition against Carolina on July used as an outdoor space for recreational activities, in addition to game 29 and first round-robin game against Tampa Bay on Aug. 3. The blue viewing and dining options. All practices in Toronto will take place at Ford team, which was stacked with the team’s top three lines and top two Performance Centre, the Maple Leafs’ training facility. defensive pairings, lost, 2-1, to the red team, which largely featured The NHL also created a concierge system to allow anyone in the bubble prospects alongside No. 1 goaltender Braden Holtby. to get food, pharmaceutical needs and goods delivered from outside Washington Post LOADED: 07.26.2020 vendors.

Every NHL coaching staff will have an office in a suite at Scotiabank Arena, and the general managers will also have a suite. The same goes for the Western Conference teams at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

In Edmonton’s secure zone, the teams will stay at the Sutton Place Hotel or the JW Marriott. Similar to Toronto’s setup, players will have access to bars, restaurants, entertainment options and activity spaces. For practices in Edmonton, the NHL is using Rogers Place and Terwillegar Arena, which has four rinks.

There also are plans in Edmonton to potentially look at opportunities for outside excursions after 14 days. It is an evolving situation as the league stays in touch with health officials in Alberta and Ontario.

As of Friday, there were 150 NHL league office employees and well over 1,000 people on the ground in Toronto and Edmonton working to make the hub cities up to par before teams arrive on Sunday. Teams were told by the NHL to submit their full travel roster by 5 p.m. Eastern time Friday, with up to 52 team personnel and no more than 31 players.

“First and foremost, and you’ve heard us say this all over again, health and safety is driving all of our decisions and all of our attention and focus,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Friday on a conference call with media. “That is the primary aspect of what we have to accomplish over the next couple of months.”

The NHL provided an update on testing Thursday, with deputy commissioner Bill Daly saying there were no positive tests this week. The NHL has been encouraged by the test results thus far, and believes it is trending in the right direction as teams head to their respective hub cities. On Monday, the league reported only two positive tests in the first five days of training camp (July 13-17) after 800-plus players were tested.

“We have faith in our bubble,” Daly said. “We have faith in the strength of the perimeter of our bubble.”

In the hub cities, the NHL will be in charge of daily testing for the coronavirus, with results available within 24 hours. The league is working with LifeLabs in Toronto and DynaLIFE in Edmonton to administer the tests.

Both companies assured the NHL that they had excess capacity. Willem Meeuwisse, the NHL’s chief medical officer, said Friday that the league’s testing will not interfere with testing for the general public. Meeuwisse, however, acknowledged the uncertainty that comes with the bubble. 1189277 Washington Capitals "He's got it in him," Eller said. "We have all the confidence in the world that Holts can carry us far."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.26.2020 For perhaps the final time, the Capitals now place their Stanley Cup hopes on Braden Holtby's shoulders

By J.J. Regan

July 25, 2020 1:35 PM

In 2018, the Capitals had a choice to make in net. The team's No. 1 netminder, Braden Holtby, struggled immensely in the season forcing backup Philipp Grubauer to pick up the slack. As the postseason approached, head coach Barry Trotz named Grubauer the starter. Down 2-0 in the first round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the team turned to Holtby to save the season and he did, helping lead the team to its first Stanley Cup.

Now in what will most likely be his final season in Washington, the Caps will rest their playoff hopes again on Holtby's shoulders.

"We're gonna need him to be one of our best players as he was in '18 when we went on that run," Lars Eller said.

Todd Reirden declared that the No. 1 job was Holtby's to lose heading into training camp, but even if that was the case, the leash was going to be short.

For much of the season, Holtby was outplayed by the player seen as his soon-to-be replacement, Ilya Samsonov. Samsonov put together a strong rookie campaign with a 16-6-2 record, .913 save percentage and 2.55 GAA. Those numbers are stronger than Holtby's .897 save percentage and 3.11 GAA. Samsonov, however, struggled down the stretch of the season as the defensive play in front of him deteriorated, allowing Holtby to reassert himself as the No. 1.

But even if you believe Samsonov would still be the better option heading into the playoffs, that discussion is now moot with Saturday's news that Samsonov suffered an injury prior to camp and will not travel with the team to the hub city of Toronto.

"At the time when I made the statement about Braden Holtby, it was still a conversation between him and Samsonov," Reirden said. "It wasn't that I knew something that I wasn't telling you guys. That was a situation where I believe in Braden Holtby starting this playoff series and run for us. I thought he was going to get the first chance, now it's where he goes with it. That hasn't changed."

Holtby is in the last year of his contract. Why this could be the final season for Holtby in Washington is something that has been discussed and written about ad nauseam all season, but to put it bluntly, I do not believe it makes sense for either the team or Holtby to return. The future belongs to Samsonov, the team needs the cap space and if Holtby still sees himself as a No. 1, it is not going to be in Washington.

But in his final sendoff, there will be no dispute as to who is the No. 1. The future may belong to Samsonov, but the present belongs to Holtby. There is no goalie controversy, there is no debate. The crease is Holtby's and the team's hopes for a second Stanley Cup now rest on his shoulders.

Holtby's numbers for the 2019-20 season do not instill much confidence, but his penchant for strong play in the postseason certainly does.

"Holtby's been one of our leaders for many years," Nicklas Backstrom said. "He always shows up at the big moments, too. He's going to shine this playoffs."

Holtby has the fifth-best playoff save percentage of all-time with a .928. In 2018, Holtby responded to his rough regular season with a brilliant postseason, posting a .922 save percentage and 2.16 GAA as the team marched all the way to the Cup.

The Caps will need a similar performance from Holtby if they hope for success in 2020.

Holtby forever cemented himself into the history of the franchise with his performance in 2018. Now he has one final opportunity to add to that legacy as he takes the crease for Washington in the playoffs. 1189278 Washington Capitals

Capitals goalie Ilya Samsonov suffered injury prior to camp, will not travel with the team to Toronto

By J.J. Regan

July 25, 2020 12:03 PM

The biggest question of the Capitals training camp has been answered and the news is not good.

Goalie Ilya Samsonov, who has not taken part in any practice during training camp, suffered an injury prior to camp and will not travel with the team to Toronto, the team announced to the media on Saturday. The Caps will travel to the hub city of Toronto on Sunday taking with them only Braden Holtby, Pheonix Copley and Vitek Vanecek.

Samsonov will remain in Washington for treatment and is expected to be healthy for the 2020-21 season.

In order to protect the privacy of players in terms of illness and the coronavirus, the new policy for the 2020 season is that teams do not have to disclose any information regarding player absences for health reasons other than labeling them "unfit to play." Because of that, the status of Samsonov has been unknown throughout camp.

And so the Cup hopes of Washington will once again fall squarely on the shoulders of Holtby.

For much of the season, Holtby was outplayed by Samsonov as shown by Samsonov's superior numbers (.913 save percentage vs. Holtby's .897, 2.55 GAA vs. Holtby's 3.11). Samsonov, however, struggled as the team's defensive play deteriorated with a 0-4-1 record, .869 save percentage and 4.34 GAA heading into the season pause. That allowed Holtby to reassert himself as the No. 1. Heading into training camp Todd Reirden had already declared that the No. 1 job was Holtby's to lose.

With Samsonov out, Copley is expected to be the primary backup. As the team's backup in 2018-19, Copley went 16-7-3 with a .905 save percentage and 2.90 GAA.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189279 Washington Capitals went on that run. And he’s got it in him. We have all the confidence in the world that Holts can carry us far.”

Added Nicklas Backstrom: “We have a good chance; we got a good Ilya Samsonov is injured and will miss the rest of the Capitals’ season team, and Holtby has been one of our leaders for many years. He always shows up in the big moments, too. He’s gonna shine in these playoffs.”

The Athletic LOADED: 07.26.2020 By Tarik El-Bashir

Jul 25, 2020

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Capitals’ depth suffered a big loss before the team played its first game in the NHL’s restart.

Backup goalie Ilya Samsonov has sustained a season-ending injury, Washington announced Saturday morning, and will not join the team in Toronto. Instead, the rookie will remain in Washington and continue to receive treatment.

Samsonov is expected to be healthy for the 2020-21 season, the team said.

Coach Todd Reirden would not divulge the nature or severity of Samsonov’s injury, though he did say it’s not COVID-19 related. It’s also unclear exactly when Samsonov got hurt.

But we do know this: The 23-year-old returned from Russia earlier this month and was included on the team’s preliminary 34-man return-to-play roster, but he never got on the ice in camp, which opened July 13 and ended Saturday.

“It’s disappointing for the player, (and) it’s disappointing for us,” Reirden said. “He’s a guy that’s a really good young prospect for us. For us not to have him with us is disappointing. I thought he made some strides and put together a pretty good run this year.

“The right thing to do is to leave him and allow him to get treatment so that he is ready to go next year when we do have that opportunity to start playing hockey again.”

Although Reirden announced Braden Holtby as the team’s No. 1 netminder in mid-June, the loss of Samsonov still represents a blow to the team’s depth at arguably the game’s most important position. Samsonov played well as a rookie, going 16-6-2 with a .913 save percentage and a 2.55 goals-against average.

Without Samsonov, Holtby’s backup will be either Pheonix Copley and Vitek Vanecek, both of whom will accompany the team to Toronto. Reirden said Holtby will play the first 40 minutes of Wednesday’s exhibition versus Carolina. The final 20 minutes will go to either Copley or Vanecek.

“I would say that I’m looking to play Braden in two of the three periods (versus) Carolina, and we’ll make our decision (on) who will play the third period of that game,” Reirden said. “And then we’ll decide moving forward from there what gives us the best situation with a backup.”

Copley has never appeared in an NHL playoff game, but he was a Black Ace during the Caps’ run to the Stanley Cup in 2018. Vanecek, meanwhile, is a two-time AHL All-Star but has yet to make his NHL debut.

The spotlight now turns to Holtby, who had re-established himself as the Caps’ starter with a string of strong performances in late February and early March.

“At the time I made the statement about Braden Holtby (being the playoff starter), there was still a conversation between him and Samsonov,” Reirden said. “It wasn’t that I knew something I wasn’t telling you guys. That was a situation where I believed in Braden Holtby starting this playoff run for us. I thought he was going to get the first chance. Now, it’s where he goes with it.

“We’re confident in Vanecek and Copley in that backup role. But I was certainly real confident with the way Braden Holtby looked during that scrimmage (on Friday).”

Holtby’s teammates expressed similar confidence in his ability to lead the Caps on a deep run.

“I think Holts has been looking good in net,” Lars Eller said. “We’re going to need him to be one of our best players, as he was in ’18 when we 1189280 Winnipeg Jets "In a best-of-five, I don’t know if there will be much of a feeling out or getting to know each other (phase) in the first couple of games," he said. "It will be intense right from the drop of the puck."

Hear this: Jets fear no team Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 07.26.2020

Jason Bell [email protected]

There is no fear factor on the part of the Winnipeg Jets as they brace for a short but onerous playoff series against a formidable opponent.

Winnipeg’s hopes for an extended stay in Edmonton hang on success in a best-of-five qualifying-round series with Calgary. The Flames have some all-world talent up front, with a top line of Sean Monahan (22G, 26A) between Johnny Gaudreau (18G, 40A) and Elias Lindholm (29G, 25A), and a second unit of centre Mikael Backlund with Matthew Tkachuk and Andrew Mangiapane.

Jets centre Mark Scheifele said Saturday he relishes the opportunity to go head to head with the league’s premier players.

'Playing against guys like Monahan and Gaudreau is always fun, they're special players'‐ Mark Scheifele on the Flames' stars

"Playing against guys like Monahan and Gaudreau is always fun, they’re special players, they’ve got a lot of skill. Matthew Tkachuk, who has only stuck his baby toe in the water, he’s gonna be a special player in this league. It’s guys like that that motivate me, the stars of the league," said Scheifele. "That’s what gets me going, the opportunity to play against guys like that and test my skills against them.

"It’s playoff hockey, the Stanley Cup playoffs, what can get better than that? That’s kind of the way I’ve looked at this whole situation. It’s gonna be fun and it’s gonna be fun to play against a good team in Calgary. It’s gonna be a tough test, but that’s what we live for, we live for these moments."

The Flames also employ a deep back end — even without Travis Hamonic of St. Malo, Man., one of a handful of NHLers to opt out of the 2020 playoffs. The team boasts marquee blue-liners such as Mark Giordano (the 2019 Norris Trophy winner), T.J. Brodie and Noah Hanifin.

Their goaltending isn’t nearly as consistent as head coach Geoff Ward would prefer, and he has a choice to make between David Rittich and Cam Talbot.

Rittich earned the lion’s share of the assignments but Talbot shone brightly just prior to the shutdown; it’s still up in the air who will stand guard in the crease for Game 1 of the series Saturday night at Rogers Place.

Winnipeg head coach Paul Maurice said rarely has he met an athlete that doesn’t draw motivation from matching up against the other teams’ best.

"Nobody ever dreams of scoring the game-winning Stanley Cup goal against the fifth line. You beat the best goalie in the world, you beat the best (defence) in the world and you beat the other best team in the world," he said.

And despite a four-month interruption and the fact the mercury might push 30 C outside, there’s no denying the enthusiasm of the postseason.

"Playoff hockey is way better than anything else. The coaching dynamic almost completely changes. You’re grinding guys during the regular season. Not everybody is really happy with you and you’re not happy with everybody else. When you get into the playoffs and it’s all emotion, all excitement. It’s a different kind of motivation from me to the players. You know they’re driving," said Maurice.

"They want quick information, actionable information that they can put into the game and then, you want to let them play. Open up the door and away they go. This would be like, I don’t know, if you celebrated the 12 days of Christmas. You got something on each one of the first 12 days, it’s really not that big of a deal, but Christmas is going to be pretty good. The playoffs are Christmas."

Expect no easing into the collision of western Canadian rivals, said Winnipeg defenceman Neal Pionk. 1189281 Winnipeg Jets Adam Lowry and Andrew Copp form a dynamite checking tandem, while Jack Roslovic is slowly developing into an acceptable two-way performer. The fourth line, featuring centre Nick Shore with Mathieu Perreault and Mason Appleton, provides a scrappy forecheck with a hint of offensive Ehlers' status still in question after Jets' Saturday skate flair.

In the case of injury, expect Maurice to turn to blue-liner Luca Sbisa and forwards Jansen Harkins and Bourque. Jason Bell Falling behind early in the series, however, would call for changes to [email protected] some of the aforementioned combinations.

"You’re not going to wait very long because you don’t have that kind of Training camps by their nature are inherently uncertain and come with a time. You’re not giving this five games to see if that (unit) has got it going, list of personnel issues for the people in charge to consider and clarify. you’re going to have to make your adjustments very, very quickly. Make hard decisions on who is going and who is not and allocate ice time The Winnipeg Jets' summer session has had a scant few. accordingly," said Maurice. "So, while you worked your way into an NHL season with a whole bunch of unknowns, we have very few unknowns It was revealed before the first skate that 13-year NHL veteran centre here, in terms of how we’re going to start, assuming we stay healthy. But Bryan Little wasn't ready to return to the team after he took a puck to the we won’t wait very long until we make adjustments." head in early November, suffering a concussion and perforated eardrum. Pionk said while summer camp offered little drama, it was a crucial yet Anthony Bitetto's conspicuous absence from camp was finally explained self-evident step in the team's preparedness. Thursday when the veteran defenceman disclosed he'd been through an extended quarantine, split between Nashville and Winnipeg, after testing "It’s a little bit different, but at the same time your mindset is the same. positive for COVID-19 in late June. You’re trying to get in shape and you’re trying to get ready for Game 1," said Pionk, who turns 25 next week. He led all Jets defencemen with 39 Now, the pressing question is the status of slick, swift winger Nikolaj assists. "Whether it’s the start of the regular season or the playoffs, the Ehlers, who skated briefly Saturday morning but didn't participate in a idea going into any training camp is to put your best foot forward and be scrimmage. He was also held out of the scrimmage Thursday. Gabriel at your best when that first game starts." Bourque assumed his spot on the second line with centre Cody Eakin and Patrik Laine. Scheifele said he knew exactly what to expect from the unique July workouts. Jets head coach Paul Maurice offered no real clarity on the injury, which is part of the return-to-play protocol. "Just back to playing hockey, that’s what it all comes down to," he said. "During the stoppage, after one day I was ready to play again. There was "He just skated with the first group and we’re happy that he did. We’ll see a lot we had to deal with, but now that we’re playing again that’s the where he is (Sunday)," he said. "If it was Saturday night today, possibly excitement, playing the game we love every single day. We get to (he could play). I’m hopeful. Here’s my answer, all 24 teams are really compete for the Stanley Cup and that’s the ultimate dream." hoping they can put their best players on the ice." The Jets players, coaches and training/equipment staff go through Otherwise, there's been little intrigue at the Iceplex as the Jets prepare another round of COVID-19 testing Sunday morning before boarding an for a best-of-five 'play-in' series against the Calgary Flames, with afternoon flight to the Alberta capital. enrolment in the 16-team Stanley Cup playoffs on the line. Game 1 is Saturday, Aug. 1, with a 9:30 p.m. CT start time. Assuming Ehlers and Harkins make the trip, Winnipeg's 33-man camp roster must trimmed by two bodies before the club departs. There's been no time spent the last two weeks speculating about goaltending battles, line combinations, defensive partnerships, who's who Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 07.26.2020 on special-team squads or which feisty longshot might earn a roster spot.

Maurice and his staff began the process of easing their squad back to game shape without any lingering lineup dilemmas, after a four-month recess from the rigours of the 2019-20 NHL season owing to the coronavirus pandemic shutdown.

Save for the fresh concern about Ehlers and the absence of Jansen Harkins (not fit to play, according to the coach) Saturday, Winnipeg's a chipper, able-bodied bunch -- and the lineup is set.

"The difference would be that maybe in a normal camp at the start of the year, you would probably have brought some new players in... you’re not really sure what you’re going to get until you get into the regular season. It’s almost the opposite that’s going to happen here," said Maurice, whose team was ninth in the Western Conference (37-28-6) but had won four straight contests before the season was paused March 12.

"You’ve got a really good idea of where you were when you ended up and what your team looks like when it’s healthy, and away you go.

Vezina Trophy candidate Connor Hellebuyck (31-21-5, 2.57 GAA, 9.22 S%, six ) will start every game against the Flames and Laurent Brossoit provides insurance in the event of a calamity, an injury to the No.1 goalie.

Underrated defenceman Josh Morrissey is paired with relative newcomer Dylan DeMelo. Neal Pionk, perhaps the most pleasant surprise of the year, plays alongside Dmitry Kulikov, while Nathan Beaulieu and Tucker Poolman make up the third unit.

Up front, the Jets are led by one of the league's most dangerous trios, centre Mark Scheifele (29G, 44A) and wingers Kyle Connor (38G, 35A) and captain Blake Wheeler (22G, 43A), and can come right back with Eakin, Laine (28G, 35A) and Ehlers (25G, 33A), assuming he's good to go. 1189282 Winnipeg Jets Heading into a bubble for an unknown amount of time, Maurice decided to put his faith in someone else when it comes to packing.

“There have been four times in my career that my wife has packed for me JETS SNAPSHOTS: Jets not sure what to expect when it comes to and today is one of them,” he said. “I’ve been home for three-and-a-half players kneeling as NHL starts back up months. She’s ready. I will not be allowed to be late (Sunday), let’s just put it that way.”

CLUTCH IN PLAYOFFS Ted Wyman Going back to 2015, Scheifele has played 27 playoff games and has Published:July 25, 2020 been the Jets best forward, with 16 goals and 28 points.

Updated:July 25, 2020 4:27 PM CDT Fourteen of those goals came in 2018 when the Jets beat Minnesota and Nashville and advanced to the Western Conference final. He set an NHL

playoff record with 11 goals on the road that year. As Major League Baseball games got underway this week, strong actions Every iota of those previous experiences stays with Scheifele and had were taken by players in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. given him great confidence heading into what he hopes will be another Every player knelt before the national anthem was played and some long playoff run. were kneeling as the anthem was played, a statement against racial “I think the biggest thing I learned — every single game, every single inequality first made by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin playoff game I’ve been in — you learn how to deal with adversity,” Kaepernick in 2016. Scheifele said. The en masse kneeling was clearly orchestrated to fit in with MLB’s “You learn that all it takes is a split second to get open and that can overall strategy to support Black Lives Matter at a time when America is change the series, that can change a game. So, you have to be sharp all still reeling from the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis game, no matter if the game’s going well, no matter if the game’s going police officer. poorly, you have to be ready for anything in the playoffs. Those are the It would be shocking if there is not some kind of similar action taken by guys that succeed and excel in those tight situations.” NHL players and staff when the league starts its playoff tournament in Of course, experience will only go so far this year, as the players are Edmonton and Toronto next Saturday. heading into a tournament like no other. Two members of the Winnipeg Jets were asked about kneeling on “It’s a new experience for all of us, this play-in series, and what we went Saturday, a day before the Jets were scheduled to head to Edmonton through the last four months,” Scheifele said. and enter the secure zone, but it was clearly not a topic they were comfortable with discussing. “That stuff only makes us stronger as people. If you deal with that adversity and you look at it in a positive light, you’re gonna come out “Not really,” Jets assistant captain and co-leading scorer Mark Scheifele stronger, you’re gonna come out on top. My thought is to just enjoy the said when asked if kneeling during anthems had been discussed among experience, enjoy playing the game of hockey and work your hardest the players. “I prefer to talk about hockey questions. Guys are free to do every single shift and those guys get rewarded in the end.“ whatever they want.” GOING AGAINST BEST Defenceman Neal Pionk wasn’t much more forthcoming. Scheifele has always seemed to excel when he plays against the best of “I’m not really sure what to expect,” Pionk said. “That will be something the best in the NHL. we talk about as a group. The leaders will discuss it and then we’ll go from there.” He has always held himself up to the standards of players like Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, Connor McDavid and Nathan McKinnon. Asked for an opinion on athletes kneeling for anthems, Pionk said: “For this interview, I’ll probably just stick to hockey questions for now. So he relishes the idea of going against the top players in Calgary’s Thanks.” lineup, slick scorers like Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau, and Matthew Tkachuk, who is physical, can score and is an absolute agitator. You can’t blame players for not wanting to wade into political, societal discussions as they try to get ready for a playoff series and a trip into the “Playing against guys like that is always fun, they’re special players, uncharted waters of the NHL bubble. they’ve got a lot of skill,” Scheifele said. “Matthew Tkachuk, who has only stuck his baby toe in the water, he’s gonna be a special player in this But given the current environment around the world, with protests still league. It’s guys like that that motivate me, the stars of the league. That’s going strong in some U.S. cities and with athletes in many sports offering what gets me going, the opportunity to play against guys like that and their support with action, some sort of statement from NHL players test my skills against them. should be expected. “It’s playoff hockey, the Stanley Cup playoffs, what can get better than EHLERS ON MEND? that? That’s kind of the way I’ve looked at this whole situation. It’s gonna Left-winger Nikolaj Ehlers, an integral player on the Jets second line, left be fun and it’s gonna be fun to play against a good team in Calgary. It’s Thursday’s scrimmage early and did not take part in the scrimmage on gonna be a tough test, but that’s what we live for. Saturday morning. “We live for these moments.” He did, however, skate with the secondary group of players on Saturday, Winnipeg Sun LOADED 07.26.2020 which is an encouraging sign that he will be ready to play when the playoffs start next week.

“We’ll see where he is tomorrow,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said.

The Jets will practice in the morning Sunday and leave for Edmonton later in the day.

Missing from practice on Saturday was left-winger Jansen Harkins, who had replaced Ehlers in the scrimmage on Thursday. Maurice simply said he was “unfit to practice,” as per NHL protocols.

Gabriel Bourque, who has been the 13th forward during training camp, skated in Ehlers’ spot on left wing Saturday, alongside centre Cody Eakin and right-winger Patrik Laine.

LOOK WHO’S PACKING 1189283 Winnipeg Jets What impresses Maurice the most is how thorough the league has been in creating downtown bubble village for the teams in Edmonton.

“This is going to be interesting,” he said. “I sat through that presentation. I Bubble-bound Jets looking forward to ‘enormous summer camp,’ and know what’s happened here (for training camp in Winnipeg), so I know intense playoff hockey the equipment and medical staff, the workload they’ve been under for the last month and a half has been so impressive.

“What they did to our facility here to make it compliant and then you sit Ted Wyman and realize that the NHL has been doing the exact same thing. They’ve got a section of a city cordoned off for us to be able to get around. I’m Published:July 25, 2020 looking forward to getting into it just to see some of those things.” Updated:July 25, 2020 4:25 PM CDT What he’ll likely see more of is a lot of video, a lot of practices, a lot of meeting rooms and a lot of games in short period of time.

Neal Pionk was planning to pack at the last minute, Mark Scheifele was Though the process of trying to win five rounds of hockey to claim the throwing some extra underwear in his bag and 53-year-old Paul Maurice Stanley Cup is a grueling marathon, the play-in series with Calgary is was talking like a kid getting ready to go to summer camp. going to be a sprint, with Game 1 being ultra-important in a best-of-five.

After two weeks of training camp, the Winnipeg Jets will head into the Oddmakers have made the Flames slight favourites to win the series, but secure zone in Edmonton on Sunday to finish off preparations for the it’s pretty close to a toss-up. That makes the prospect of this series, and NHL’s summer playoff tournament. these post-season games in August, even more intriguing for Maurice and his charges. After they practiced Saturday at the IcePlex in Winnipeg, you could sense nervous excitement around the team as they prepared to head into “Playoff hockey is way better than anything else,” he said. “The coaching an unknown and finally get to play hockey again after a four-and-a-half dynamic almost completely changes. You’re grinding guys during the month shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. regular season. Not everybody is really happy with you and you’re not happy with everybody else. When you get into the playoffs and it’s all “It’s like this enormous summer camp,” Maurice said of the “bubble” in emotion, all excitement. Edmonton, where the 12 Western Conference teams will play their playoff games. You want to let them to go out and play. Open up the door and away they go. This would be like, I don’t know, if you celebrated the 12 days of “I hope I get to stay for a really long time.” Christmas. You got something on each one of the first 12 days, it’s really not that big of a deal, but Christmas is going to be pretty good. Scheifele, who tied for the team scoring lead with winger Kyle Connor (73 points) in 2019-20, said there were not a lot of last-day preparations “The playoffs are Christmas.” going on for a trip to Edmonton that could last anywhere between two weeks and two months, depending on how far the Jets advance in the Winnipeg Sun LOADED 07.26.2020 playoffs.

“Make sure you bring a lot of clean underwear and that’s about it,” he said. “I’m just ready to play hockey, that’s all that really matters. It doesn’t take much to make me happy. As long as there’s a hockey stick in my hand I’m pretty happy. (Hockey is) what we love to do. All the rest is just white noise.”

The Jets will practice one last time on Sunday morning in Winnipeg and depart for Edmonton later in the day. Once there, they will check into the Sutton Place Hotel and be assigned a team floor. At that point, they’ll be inside the bubble, which includes three downtown hotels, Rogers Place arena, 14 restaurants, eight movie theatres, a series of fenced-off downtown walkways, fitness areas, gaming rooms and lounges.

They’ll play an exhibition game against the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night and then will open their best-of-five qualifying round series against the Calgary Flames next Saturday.

“I’m a last-minute kind of packing guy so I’ll probably pack (Sunday) morning,” Pionk said. “You just have to pack a little more. We could be there potentially until the start of October, so a few more things here and there. A couple of video games and hopefully someone brings a deck of cards.”

The Jets will take a roster of 31 players to Edmonton — provided everyone tests clean for COVID-19 — though Maurice would not yet reveal that final list. Two players currently in training camp will not be going to Edmonton.

For Scheifele, it doesn’t matter much what the living conditions are like in Edmonton. What matters is that the playoffs are nigh and the games are going to be intense right off the hop.

“I think it’s the adrenaline,” Scheifele said, when asked what he likes most about playoff hockey. “When it gets into a tight game, it’s in the third period, it’s the guys that are calm, cool and collected but have that adrenalin buried deep inside them, that’s ready to come out. What I’m looking forward to is a real game situation where everything is on the line and that adrenalin starts pumping.

“That’s what I’m craving the most.”

Just like everyone else, the players and coaches got their first real idea of what the secure zones are going to look like on Thursday when the NHL released an extensive video. 1189284 Vancouver Canucks “That was probably the best thing for me,” he admitted. He hasn’t experienced any symptoms since the season ended. In coming

back to playing, he knew the biggest challenge would be getting attuned Canucks notebook: Ferland's feeling great, just like his play at training again to hockey at top speed. So far, so good, he said. camp “The game is starting to slow down for me,” he said.

Projecting next-up defencemen Patrick Johnston Asked about Jalen Chatfield’s work in camp, Green was upbeat about Published:July 25, 2020 the depth defenceman’s efforts. It seems very likely he’s going to be the primary right-shot depth defenceman, ready to go if one of Tyler Myers, Updated:July 25, 2020 11:06 PM PDT Troy Stecher or Chris Tanev gets hurt.

“It’s been really good for our young guys to be here. We didn’t know who we were going to take coming in,” Green said. “It’s been real productive Micheal Ferland skated on the Canucks' third line to close the summer for them. 2020 training camp. Expect him to play in Edmonton “He’s always in really good shape, we knew that about him. We knew Micheal Ferland still has to play an NHL game, but there’s little doubt he’d be ready to go. He’s a quick player … the playoffs are even faster he’s proving to be the biggest good-news story of the Vancouver than the regular season.” Canucks’ summer training camp. Chatfield hasn’t played an NHL game yet, but his steady skill set is With the team leaving for Edmonton on Sunday to begin life inside the evident in just about every practice. He’s not a flashy player, but he gets NHL hub-city bubble, the burly winger looks set to play a big role for the the basics right, which is all you want from a player who needs to be Canucks in their upcoming Stanley Cup playoffs qualifying series against ready and reliable for spot duty. the Minnesota Wild, which starts Aug. 2. It was also notable the Olli Juolevi skated on Friday with Troy Stecher. Ferland was a delayed addition to the main camp group in the two-week The 2016 first-rounder drew praise from his coach during the week for COVID-19-induced summer training camp. He didn’t join his NHL mates the progress he’s shown. With Jordie Benn still away with his fiancée in until late last week, after initially not skating at all in camp, and then only Dallas awaiting the birth of his first child, Juolevi appears to be the next- skating with a smaller, secondary group dominated by Utica Comets. choice blueliner. Slowly but surely he’s been more and more involved with his NHL Team travel list teammates. In a scrimmage Friday night at Rogers Arena, Ferland skated on a line with Adam Gaudette and Antoine Roussel and was also NHL clubs had to submit their 52-person list of personnel — including up part of the second power-play unit. to 31 players — to the league by Friday at 2 p.m. We know is on the list — he’ll travel as the team’s third goaltender. His rise through the ranks has been notable. That’s a line that could be deployed as a third attacking trio by head coach Travis Green. Ferland Domingue made his first appearance with the main group on Friday was signed last summer to be the gritty, pounding, scoring winger that evening, playing the first period for Team White. He was replaced by many once hoped Jake Virtanen would become. Thatcher Demko for the second period.

Ferland’s season, of course, went nowhere close to plan. He came in The third period consisted entirely of power play and penalty killing work, with a concussion history but it was a cold picked up from his four-year- with Jacob Markstrom tending the goal with all the action. old daughter that put his season behind. He started the season slowly, literally, and never got back up to speed before he suffered a concussion Green said setting his list of 31 players was as difficult as it was to set in a fight against the ’ Kyle Clifford on Oct. 30. the more conventional 23-man rosters.

He tried to return to play in December but his concussion symptoms “Whenever you’re making a decision on players it’s hard,” he said. came back. He tried again in February with the Utica Comets, but lasted ICE CHIPS — Zack MacEwen skated with Tyler Motte and Jay Beagle just a period. He was shut down for the season. on Friday night but was absent from Saturday’s practice. He was listed “It’s been a tough year, coming to the rink and not being able to skate as unfit to participate, Green said, but the coach admitted he expected with the guys,” he said Saturday. But his play Friday during the the big winger to travel to Edmonton on Sunday. … Alex Edler appeared scrimmage seems to suggest he’ll be in the lineup against the Wild for to cut his face in a board battle with Tyler Myers on Saturday and left their best-of-five tilt. practice.

His symptoms, he said, were primarily about his ability to track many Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.26.2020 players moving at once. The best analogy was he felt like he was drunk. (Ferland has been sober for more than six years now.)

“My eyes weren’t working right. I’d get migraines,” he said. His vestibular system — which controls eye movement and balance — was out of whack.

QUALIFYING ROUND SCHEDULE

CANUCKS VS. MINNESOTA WILD

(TV: Sportsnet; Radio: Sportsnet 650 AM; all games at Rogers Place in Edmonton)

Game 1: Aug. 2, 7:30 p.m. PT

Game 2: Aug. 4, 7:45 p.m. PT

Game 3: Aug. 6, faceoff time TBD

Game 4: (If necessary): Aug. 7, faceoff time TBD

Game 5: (If necessary): Aug. 9, faceoff time TBD

The irony of the COVID-19 pandemic shutting everything down was it proved to be a benefit for Ferland: it kept him from trying to skate. It forced him to rest. 1189285 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Sources: Coyotes' relationship with GM Chayka fell apart over new opportunity

Elliotte Friedman | @FriedgeHNIC

July 25, 2020, 2:10 PM

It appears the relationship between John Chayka and the Arizona Coyotes fell apart over another job opportunity for the team’s current general manager.

According to multiple sources, at some point during the pandemic, the Coyotes were approached about Chayka’s availability and granted permission for him to explore the situation.

“It was not a lateral move,” one source said. “He was not going to be the GM of another NHL team.”

From what I understand, when it became apparent Chayka could leave, the Coyotes dug in and resisted. He has four years remaining on his contract, and, at least until this occurred, owner Alex Meruelo was a huge supporter of his GM. The two sides discussed the possibility of a “transition period” where the GM would stay through the remainder of Arizona’s season, but talks fell apart.

The Coyotes repeatedly have declined to comment. Craig Morgan, who runs the azcoyotesinsider.com website, tweeted Saturday that he asked a team spokesman if Chayka was still GM. Once again, the organization declined to discuss the situation.

Chayka is laying low, uninvolved in team business, not returning messages sent by anyone from agents to annoying reporters. He hasn’t attended practices, and sources indicate his office has been cleaned out. President and CEO Xavier Gutierrez, assistant GM Steve Sullivan and Alex Meruelo Jr., the owner’s son — listed as Strategic Advisor, Business and Hockey Operations — are handling much of the team’s business.

We’ll see where this goes from here.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189286 Websites Both are popular in the room and the duo has a great relationship, meaning whatever decision is made will not fracture the team chemistry.

Expect the starter to have a short leash no matter who it is. Sportsnet.ca / Flames' three biggest questions entering week of NHL It says here: Talbot should and will start. restart Will Juuso Valimaki play?

Highly doubtful. Eric Francis | @EricFrancis While speculation runs rampant that the 21-year-old first rounder won’t July 25, 2020, 6:52 PM get his first taste of action this season in the playoffs, his status has remained a closely-guarded secret by the general manager who refuses to let the media talk to the Finnish blueliner. Cam Talbot did not see action in the Calgary Flames’ final intra-squad game of camp. The pairings to this point seem set in stone with Mark Giordano and TJ Brodie headlining a back end that has Noah Hanifin with Rasmus He sat on the bench for all three periods wearing most of his equipment, Andersson and Derek Forbort with Erik Gustafsson. topped with a ball cap and face covering while he watched David Rittich play the whole game. Oliver Kylington and Michael Stone played plenty of NHL games this season and are capable of stepping in if needed, leaving Valimaki pretty At the other end of the ice, Jon Gillies and Artyom Zagidulin split the far down the depth charts given he has spent the year rehabbing from action. knee surgery.

Is Talbot nursing an injury? In Friday’s scrimmage he was paired with black ace Alexander Yelesin, which is another sign he’ll remain shelved for the remainder of the Is the club resting him as their chosen starter Tuesday in Edmonton and, season. subsequently, against Winnipeg? As good as he’s looked in camp, how effective could he be making his Or does this mean Rittich is now their man? season debut with everything on the line? Coach Geoff Ward said afterward he wanted to see the other two goalies He’s still the Flames’ future defensive star, which is all the more reason and suggested we not read anything into it, which is hard to do given the to protect him and be extra cautious about his return. importance of the decision. If he does play, it would require the team to protect him in the expansion Camp officially concluded Saturday, but the Calgary Flames still have a draft ahead of captain Mark Giordano and anyone else the team might few questions to answer before they open their qualifying series against sign this summer. Not ideal. Winnipeg on Aug. 1. The only way it makes sense to consider playing him is if the Flames get Let’s examine the three biggest: into injury issues as part of a deep run. Who will start in net? It says here: He’ll watch from afar. It may very well come down to who plays better against Edmonton on How will Calgary use Sam Bennett? Tuesday, when Ward said he’s leaning toward splitting time between the two fellas. Outside of Milan Lucic, no one on the Flames roster has had more success in the playoffs than Bennett. “I think it’s important we see both guys under live bullets and see where they’re at,” he said, further suggesting they still haven’t made their He rose eyebrows as a rookie in 2015, acting as a human wrecking ball decision on a Game 1 starter. against Vancouver in his playoff debut when he was an integral part of the team’s only series win since 2004. “We’re happy with the way the goalies have played.” His three goals and boundless energy in three games caused the It has been pretty well documented around these parts that Rittich was Canucks fits and had many believing the fourth pick overall would be a the team’s MVP before Christmas, admirably shouldering the league’s star. heaviest load. He did it again two years later with two goals in the Flames’ four-game For the third year in a row he sagged in the second half, recording the dismissal, and last year he was one of the lone bright spots against second highest goals against average (3.55) and second lowest save Colorado, leading the team in engagement as well as points, with five. percentage (.889) in the league in the new year. That number matched the amount of points accrued by the entire top That’s when Talbot shone, piecing together a brilliant couple of months line. that had him the easy starter had the playoffs not been put on pause for four months. Earlier this week, Bennett reiterated how much he relishes the post- season’s physicality and emotion – two aspects of the game the Flames Talbot has 15 games of playoff experience to his credit, while Rittich is seem to lack the most every spring. still awaiting his first playoff taste. That’s not insignificant. So, how do the Flames ensure Bennett is given ample opportunity to All things being equal, management would likely love to be able to hand leave his mark in this series? Rittich the keys to see if indeed he’s ready for the challenge. He’s under contract with the Flames for another year and is tabbed internally as the Well, an early injury to Derek Ryan opened the door for Bennett to move goalie of the future. from fourth line winger to third line centre for the first two scrimmages.

But is that future now? He responded with three points in his first game as part of an eight-point outing between Milan Lucic and Dillon Dube. Or do you start Talbot and risk him bolstering his stock as a pending UFA you’d like to re-sign at season’s end? Sure, intra-squad points mean little, but what did count was the fact he remained in Ryan’s spot even when the veteran centre returned to action All that said, you can bet everyone making the decisions has only one for last Sunday’s scrimmage. consideration in mind – which goalie gives them the best chance to win now. Ryan returned to his usual spot Thursday, which was understandable and expected given the chemistry and results his line had the final month Give Talbot the edge so far in camp and during scrimmages, which is not of the season. irrelevant as coaches and management try to see who can jump into the fray as sharp as possible. That bumped Bennett back to the fourth line, where he will no doubt be given ample opportunity to crash, bang and drag the Flames into the fight. If he returns to past playoff form, coach Geoff Ward will strive to give the 24-year old extra ice time, even if he does line up at the start of the night on the bottom line.

There’s also a chance Bennett moves to the middle on that line with Tobias Rieder and Zac Rinaldo, bumping Mark Jankowski from the lineup.

It says here: Bennett will stand out once again on the fourth line.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189287 Websites The biggest surprise of camp was the successful return of Ferland, the robust winger who played only four NHL periods after suffering a concussion on Oct. 30 and twice aborted comeback attempts during the regular season. Sportsnet.ca / Canucks finish training camp with peak conditioning and depth to spare When training camp ended Saturday with aggressive games of two-on- two inside the faceoff circle, Ferland was one of the most physical competitors. He still has to play an actual game, but Ferland is starting to look like the wrecking-ball winger who used to terrorize opponents on the Iain MacIntyre | @imacSportsnet forecheck and cost the Canucks $14 million over four years on a free- July 25, 2020, 8:18 PM agent contract signed last summer.

“I knew to recover, I needed a training camp,” the 28-year-old from Swan River, Man., said. “It’s hard to do that during the year because each VANCOUVER – All it took were the complications of a global pandemic game means so much to us. I knew this was a perfect opportunity to get for veteran Jay Beagle to get the best training camp he has ever myself ready. attended. “Going home (during the shutdown), we didn’t have ice for two months The 34-year-old Vancouver Canucks centre didn’t just like the and I think that was probably the best thing for me. (During the season), I extraordinary two-week summer camp that ended Saturday, but loved kept getting back on the ice and pushing it and pushing it, wanting to get hockey in July. He can’t wait for hockey in August in Edmonton and the back bad, and I just wasn’t giving myself the time to rest. Going home start of the NHL’s Stanley Cup tournament. and having the two months off is what I needed.”

“The pace was good, the pace was high and the guys all look good and Ferland said he feels “normal” again, and promised his game will be, too, ready and healthy,” Beagle said. “It’s been awesome. I think this has if he makes the lineup. been one of the best training camps I’ve actually ever been a part of. “Once the game starts, I’m going to be hitting and I’m going to be hitting “We just had a great training camp. Really pushing our limits and making hard,” he said. sure we had the best training camp we can. We did that and we’re ready to go. We’re excited.” NO RESPECT

We can’t speak to all 13 NHL training camps Beagle has attended – the The only thing tougher than games during the playoffs is the jockeying by first 10 of them with the Washington Capitals – but it is hard to imagine teams to position themselves as underdogs. But the Canucks, on pace Vancouver’s camp going any better. for a 93-point season and playoff spot when the NHL halted in March, have some legitimacy to this claim even if their series against the Wild Young stars Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson looked physically looks even on paper. stronger after training during the NHL’s four-month shutdown, Brock Boeser looked fitter and faster, the veterans are all healthy, goalie Jacob We’re going to let coach Green explain and play us out of training camp. Markstrom got noticeably sharper in the second week of camp and “One thing about playing in a Canadian market is it’s hard to not hear minor-league defencemen Olli Juolevi and Jalen Chatfield climbed the things,” he said. “It’s no secret that no one really picked us to be in the depth chart to give coach Travis Green some injury insurance. playoffs at the beginning of the year. And I think our group has had a lot “I’m happy with camp; it’s been a good camp,” Green said. “Our guys of belief in themselves right from Day 1, and they definitely do now. really committed. At some points, it was hard. But they also understood “We’ve talked about this, really, it feels like since I came here – that that we needed it. And we also. . . had a lot of rest as well so we could things don’t happen overnight. It takes a little bit of time. We wanted to be maximize our time on the ice. It felt like we got a lot of productive work in this spot right now. We wanted to be in this situation to make the done. But I can tell with our group that they’re ready to get to Edmonton.” playoffs. A lot of people didn’t think we had a chance. The Canucks travel to the Western Conference hub city on Sunday and “Since you’re a little kid, everyone has watched the Stanley Cup getting have an exhibition game Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets. They raised. You spend a lifetime chasing it. When you play hockey, you love open their Stanley Cup qualifying series against the Minnesota Wild on it, and at the end of the day you just want to win a Cup. Every year when Aug 2. you get a chance, it’s special and it’s important and you can’t take it for BIG MAC ATTACK granted. I know our guys aren’t.

Rookie Zack MacEwen, who, like so many young Canucks appeared to “You nailed it: Why not us?” progress during the shutdown, was unable to practise on Saturday. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.26.2020 Green said he expected MacEwen to travel with the Canucks to Edmonton, which means his absence is not COVID-19-related. He is believed to have a day-to-day injury.

VIRTANEN STILL ON OUTSIDE

Having lost a spot in the top four lines during the first week of camp, winger Jake Virtanen still looks to be an extra forward. Unless he has a strong exhibition game on Wednesday, the 18-goal scorer could be a healthy scratch against the Wild.

Virtanen was simply outplayed by others, including MacEwen and Micheal Ferland, and his lack of penalty-killing experience won’t help when Green selects the bottom of his lineup.

At the end of camp, this is how Sportsnet projects the Canucks’ lineup:

Forwards: J.T. Miller-Elias Pettersson-Tyler Toffoli; Tanner Pearson-Bo Horvat-Brock Boeser; Antoine Roussel-Adam Gaudette-Micheal Ferland; Tyler Motte-Jay Beagle-Brandon Sutter.

Defencemen: Quinn Hughes-Chris Tanev; Alex Edler-Troy Stecher; Oscar Fanteberg-Tyler Myers.

Goalies: Jacob Markstrom and Thatcher Demko.

BACK FROM OBLIVION 1189288 Websites • As the Oilers’ camp finished up on Saturday, there weren’t many negatives — other than Riley Sheahan leaving the scrimmage and not returning, and Darnell Nurse sitting out the game as “unfit to play.”

Sportsnet.ca / Oilers Notebook: Edmonton honours Colby Cave to close Head coach Dave Tippett had not checked in on Sheahan when he did training camp his post-game Zoom call with the media, but did say, “Darnell Nurse was unfit to play today, but he’ll be fit to practice (Monday), so that’s a good thing.”

Mark Spector | @sportsnetspec With Nurse out, young Philip Broberg played alongside Ethan Bear, scoring yet another training camp goal on a sharp wrist shot coming of a July 25, 2020, 6:50 PM heady feed from Bear. Broberg, as we’ve stated, has stepped ahead of Evan Bouchard at this camp. He was scheduled to head home to Sweden this weekend, but now heads into the tournament, in our EDMONTON — There are few more tragic events than when a young, estimation, as Edmonton’s No. 8 D-man. healthy 25-year-old with a wonderful life ahead of him dies unexpectedly, as Colby Cave did on April 11. Felled by a brain bleed, Cave’s memory Meanwhile, the only real question mark is in goal, where Smith gave up will stoke the Edmonton Oilers’ fire as they enter the playoffs under the 12 goals in the final two scrimmages, to four for Koskinen. Smith, hashtag #WeSkateForColby. however, faced McDavid’s line in both scrimmages, and the Oilers captain has been other-worldly during training camp. On Saturday the team closed their training camp with the Colby Cave Memorial Fund scrimmage, with Team Orange beating Team White 5-2. “You watch it, you take it all in, and you see where it goes from there,” said Tippett, who charted a lot more scoring chances faced by Smith Every Oilers player wore the No. 12, Cave’s number with Edmonton. than Koskinen in the two games.

“I was in tears the other night, kind of had a moment,” said Emily Cave, You know Tippett would prefer to start Smith in Game 1 vs. Chicago, Colby’s wife. “And it hit me that this is the last time I’m going to be able to mostly due to his better puck handling skills. But if Koskinen is stopping see No. 12 on the ice.” more pucks, he’ll have to go with the big Finn. Tippett wouldn’t say what plans he has for Tuesday’s exhibition game against Calgary — who will The Colby Cave Foundation will help kids who can’t afford hockey get play and for how long. into the game. The jerseys worn Saturday — with each player wearing his own name plate — will be auctioned off at a later date to raise funds. • This is only Tippett’s first year behind the Oilers bench. As of today, he has a far better club that most people thought he’d have, with GM Ken “I’m going to miss seeing Colby as a Dad,” Emily said, “but I know how Holland having only one year at the helm as well. many kids he’ll help through his foundation. Those will be his kids and it be remarkable to watch how many lives this will touch.” “To win anything you have to be a good team — not just on the ice. You have to care for each other, pull for each other… That builds a good Emily will leave a letter and a memento in the stall of each Oilers player. team,” Tippett said. “I like our group that way. We have grown, coming “Something to keep in stall or wear every day,” she said. “That’s my way from some adversity the year before, to (now), where they’ve moulded of thanking them all for all the support they’ve given me.” together and really become a tight group. The Colby Cave situation, “Words can’t describe what that family and Emily have been through,” unfortunately, has even bonded the group closer together.” said winger Zack Kassian. “Once an Oiler, always an Oiler. We’re here to This organization lost for so long, players used to almost expect help any way we can going down the road.” something bad to happen. Well, finally that dynamic has been cleansed As sad and unexpected as Cave’s death was, coming a month to the day from the dressing room, and with McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and the kind after Edmonton’s last game this season, the foundation is cathartic for of supporting cast that Kassian was talking about, they expect to win Emily. She was with Cave at her parents’ Ontario home when the brain now. bleed struck. Cave fought for a few days, but was unable to recover. “There are certain times when we’re not playing well, or not practising “When the Oilers reached out to me regarding the foundation I was still hard enough,” Tippett explained. “And from the start of the year ‘til now, kind of in shock, trying to process everything,” she said. “This foundation they know it before I even get to them. There is a lot of accountability in is going to give me a purpose. A reason to get out of bed in the morning. there. People know their roles and everyone is a part of it.” It’s going to keep Colby alive. • Some news out of Chicago, as goaltender Corey Crawford confirmed “I’m going to keep him alive in my heart, but I know his character and why he has not been a participant in Blackhawks camp until Saturday. legacy will help many other people too. I know he’d be super proud. I “I tested positive for COVID so I had to quarantine in my place here the can’t wait to see the amazing things we’re going to do.” last few weeks,” Crawford told the media after his first practice with the Said Cave’s Bakersfield teammate Cooper Marody, “Emily, she’s the team. “That was the case for my absence at camp. I’m excited to be strongest woman I’ve ever met.” back.”

• Kassian was shaking his head at the thought of Sunday finally arriving, The Blackhawks gave up the most scoring chances in the National the day when 24 NHL teams arrive at the Toronto and Edmonton Hockey League last season, by various different measures. Yet, they bubbles, ready to begin a playoffs that many believed could never were tied for 16th in the NHL in goals against. happen. Why? Because the tandem of Crawford and were so good, “I’d be lying to you if I didn’t think there was a small percentage of this Chicago finished the season tied for fourth in the league in team saves actually working out,” Kassian said, crediting the league and the NHLPA percentage at .913. for pulling this off. “Hopefully we’re in there for two months, and hopefully The Blackhawks dealt Lehner away at the deadline. But with Crawford’s we come out as champs.” Stanley Cup pedigree, and the fact he was absolutely on top of his game We’ll see how far this Oilers team can go, but we will say this: with two all season long — 2.77 GAA, .917 saves percentage — you only need solid goalies, 14 NHL forwards and 7 NHL defencemen, this is as deep a one goalie in the playoffs if he is playing well, right? team as the Oilers have fielded in many years. And depth is a Crawford was lit up for three goals in one period before taking a seat prerequisite for any playoff run. Saturday. He is way behind, having missed all of camp. “That a fair accusation,” said Kassian. “Before the pause we were a good Is one week enough for him to find his game? The Blackhawks surely hockey team. Every team going into this, whether it’s the play-in or the hope so, and the competitiveness of this series may ride on it. playoffs, everyone has a chance. Meanwhile, veteran ‘Hawks defenceman Brent Seabrook announced on “I’ve been here for a while,” he continued. “We have a good solid team – Friday that he will not get on the plane to Edmonton. The 35-year-old guys with roles. That’s what you need to win a Stanley Cup – guys underwent two hip surgeries and right shoulder surgery in a five-week playing different roles and guys playing them well. We have the two span earlier this year. superstars… We’re really excited. We feel like we have a chance.” “I’m not going to be going,” he said. “I just don’t feel comfortable yet. As comfortable as I want to feel on the ice. Looking back at it now it was good to see where I’m at … to be ready for camp next year.”

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189289 Websites 2. Ilya Mikheyev was the runaway MVP (as voted by attending reporters) of the Maple Leafs’ five-game Phase 3 scrimmage series, capping off his head-turning performance with a hat trick in Thursday evening’s contest. (Souperman came within a rung post of hat trick in Sunday’s scrimmage, Sportsnet.ca / Quick Shifts: 'Wild card' Nick Robertson pushes fate to the too.) wire But a few other wingers’ names kept popping up as reset camp standouts.

Luke Fox | @lukefoxjukebox We asked Matthews who’s caught his eye, and he gave some love to a guy who’s been riding that thin line between the AHL and NHL his whole July 25, 2020, 8:47 AM career.

“You know, I was actually thinking about that on the bench today. Last A quick mix of the things we gleaned from the week of hockey, serious couple scrimmages Nic Petan has looked really good. The puck’s and less so, and rolling four lines deep. Today’s column marks the final following him around out there,” Matthews said. “It just seems like he had one of the pause. Real hockey is upon us. Believe it. the puck a lot, was making plays and was really involved.”

1. Coach Sheldon Keefe’s message to Nick Robertson with Game 1 only Kyle Clifford echoed the universal praise for Mikheyev and Robertson, a week away? We’re saying there’s a chance. but kicked off his list with Kasperi Kapanen, who had begun coming on in the second half of the regular season. The Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t made a final decision on the 18-year- old Ontario Hockey League terror quite yet, but throughout this Phase 3 Kapanen, who nicknamed he and Clifford the “Smash Bros,” also got a fantasy camp, Robertson has gotten to try out pretty much everything nice nod from coach Keefe as the player who has picked up the pace except Frederik Andersen’s new pads. and made himself known.

The top power-play unit, the top six, the third line, the fourth line — “If I look at his progression through the first three days of camp on to this Robertson has seen shifts with them all. … second phase of this camp, Kappy has really raised his level. The way that he’s played the game in terms of using his speed, getting on the “Every other player that’s in this camp has had experience and has puck, just having second and third efforts on the puck,” Keefe praised. played games in the NHL, played in the minors and all those things. They “Those are the kind of things we need to see from him. He’s a real know what to expect from those experiences,” Keefe explained. difference-maker for us when he does that, and I’ve been happy to see that. It’s a real positive sign for us.” “Nick is the wild card here, in terms of what he can bring and how quickly he can adapt and adjust. We have to be able to give him those 3. The biggest advantage for the eight confirmed playoff teams could be opportunities to be able to see how quickly we can get him up to speed. in net.

“It’s been really positive. Early on, it was a little bit slower for him, but it While the other 16 starting goalies will be thrown directly into the fire after seems the more experience and opportunity we’ve given him he’s done four-and-a-half months off and pressured to win games, easing back into well with it.” action with some round-robin contests should serve goaltenders on the top teams well. Absolutely, a competitive professional camp like this one is much better for the prospect’s development than roller-skating around cones and Tandem-based teams like Columbus, Calgary, Nashville and Edmonton pounding protein shakes back home in California, but despite Keefe’s won’t have much room for error when it comes to selecting their most consistent tempering of the Robertson hype, a guy like, say, third-line left dialled-in starter. While a club like Vegas, which has already qualified for wing Pierre Engvall must be at least wondering if his job is in danger. the Sweet 16, has three games to experiment.

Engvall, 24, is a big body (six-foot-five, 214 pounds) used to checking “We’ve got two starting goalies, so we’re going to play them both,” said grown men. He kills penalties and is defensively sound. Plus, he has the Golden Knights coach Peter DeBoer, who has Robin Lehner and Marc- ability to slide into the middle and take draws. Electing to go with Andre Fleury at his disposal. “I haven’t decided on any of the specifics of Robertson instead would signal an all-in on trying to outscore the that, but both guys are going to play and then we’ll go day to day from Columbus Blue Jackets with all four lines. there.”

“I’m pretty comfortable with Pierre and the job that he’s done in that spot, Keep an eye out for quick hooks in the play-in round, as there can be no but we’re trying to take advantage of the days we have and give Nick patience for a goalie to find his groove. those opportunities,” Keefe said. 4. Again, no wingers finished among the final three vote-getters for the Keefe stresses that Toronto’s lone exhibition game, Tuesday “at” Frank J. Selke Trophy. This makes 17 years and counting since a winger Montreal, will help refine Robertson’s status. Teams have convinced the has received the ultimate acknowledgement for his two-way game (Jere league to allow 13 forwards and seven defencemen to participate in the Lehtinen, 2003). tune-up contests so as to complete their tryouts. (Side note: Expect multiple teams to trot out both goalies in their exhibition.) It’s an award Toronto’s Mitch Marner has made it be known he’d like to earn his way into contention for one day. Even though Robertson’s fate will come down to the wire, he has already left an impression on his teammates and could be next man up should an As far as the defensive arts are concerned, Marner draws inspiration injury arise or the bottom six take a beating. from Ryan O’Reilly, the 2019 Selke champ who has a shot at repeating.

“I’ve really liked the progression that he’s shown. There are other things The two were teammates on Team Canada’s silver-medal-winning 2017 at play here, of course. There’s his play, his development through all this, world championship squad, and Marner was blown away by O’Reilly’s and then there’s also decisions to make on the other players who’ve professionalism and practice habits. played for us up until the pause,” Keefe said Thursday night. “Then “He’s a guy that doesn’t get as much love as he should. And he’s a guy making a decision based on all those factors on what’s going to help us that every single night plays his heart out. He does a lot of things right. best prepare to win Game 1.” He plays every aspect of the game right. Plays penalty kill, power play. If Feels like yesterday that Auston Matthews was the hungry new kid at you need a goal, if you gotta stop a goal from going in, he’s always on camp all the pros were fielding questions about. Now he’s the one the ice,” Marner said. “So, he’s a guy I’ve been watching a lot and really pumping the teenager’s tires. enjoy watching.”

“He’s really tenacious,” Matthews said of Robertson. “He’s hard on the 5. Winnipeg’s Patrik Laine delivered a quick one-liner when asked about puck. He’s obviously got a really hard shot. He likes to shoot it, and his involvement and thoughts on the NHL and PA’s new collective rightfully so — he gets it off quick. He works extremely hard. bargaining agreement: “I just work here.”

“He’s gonna be a really good player for us, regardless if he plays in these On the other end of the spectrum, Maple Leafs rep Zach Hyman took it playoffs or in the future. I think he’s got a really bright future in this upon himself to get heavily involved in the talks. Quarantined in his organization. It’s exciting for him, and it’s exciting for us as well.” condo, he had extra time on his hands and was keen to educate himself Goleman, Focus; Michael Singer, The Surrender Experiment; Gary on the business of the game. Mack, Mind Gym; Mark Divine, The Unbeatable Mind; Vishen Lahkiani, The Code of the Extraordinary Mind; Amy Saltzman, A Still Quiet Place “If something affects you, I want to be able to learn about the process for Athletes: Mindfulness Skills for Achieving Peak Performance and behind it and learn about potentially making it better,” explained Hyman. Finding Flow in Sports and Life. “I was fortunate to be part of the process and be on that negotiation committee and be in the loop.” 9. A return-to-play topic that has popped up during radio hits is ice quality. How will the league keep the playing surfaces in Toronto and Hyman would hop on multiple calls daily as the negotiations intensified. Edmonton fresh in August while hosting triple-headers and multiple After having discussions with guys who’d been involved in the 2013 overtimes? labour dispute, he gained an understanding for the importance of player involvement in the union and was happy to keep other Leafs in the loop For starters, there will be no morning skates at Scotiabank Arena or and relaying their feedback to the owners. Rogers Place in the early going, and the main arenas will be used exclusively for games. That’s where the practice facilities come into play. “For us, it was about stability and making sure that our league is in a spot to prosper over the next six years,” Hyman said. “To provide certainty for But the main benefit for summer ice will be the absence of fans. players and their families was really important for us, so I think that the Maintenance crews won’t be battling the body heat of 19,000 people, and deal reflects that.” the barn doors won’t be swinging open, thus keeping the worst enemy of good ice — humidity — at bay. 6. As you may have heard, for safety reasons, all player interviews will be conducted via Zoom and no reporters will be granted face-to-face Further, unlike past playoff runs in certain cities, there will be no need to interactions with the team. It’s been that way throughout Phase 3 as well. flip-flop between the ice pad and a basketball court.

Vancouver’s Jacob Markstrom believes this arrangement will alleviate Edmonton and Toronto each laid fresh ice in the hubs this week. some pressure off the young Canucks. “We have no issues, no concerns about ice conditions,” NHL director of “It’s for sure a lot different than it could have been, especially in a hockey ops Colin Campbell assured Friday. Canadian market,” Markstrom said. “In previous years, when you’ve been in the playoffs, the locker room is pretty much full of media. We’re not From the Stanley Cup Qualifiers to the Stanley Cup Final, livestream going to have that right now. every game of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, blackout-free, on Sportsnet NOW. “That’s going to be good for our team. Nothing against you guys, (but) it makes it a little bit easier for a lot of young players who have never been 10. Meanwhile… being eliminated early doesn’t look so horrible. in playoff games that play for us.” This 1,000 Game Club gift for the Sharks’ Marc-Edouard Vlasic is 7. Anyone else pleasantly surprised by the league announcement something else. BRB, asking Santa for a Lift Foil for Christmas. Monday that, among all the players returning for Phase 3 of camp, only 1000 @NHL games gift from the boys! @Liftfoils two more positive COVID-19 tests were recorded? pic.twitter.com/56pzlhsa63

With 18 rosters training in the U.S., those results are fantastic. — Marc-Édouard Vlasic (@Vlasic44) July 24, 2020

Further, on Thursday evening, deputy commissioner Bill Daly said there 11. Quietly, it says much about how the Maple Leafs view AHL were no more additional confirmed positives this week. Great defenceman Teemu Kivihalme that after just one run with the Marlies (a) encouragement as clubs fly to the bubbles Sunday. he was invited to Phase 3’s training camp and (b) he was awarded a two- “That’s a great sign heading into the hub,” Leafs forward Alexander year, two-way contract extension this week when so many of the Kerfoot said. “It speaks volumes to how committed everyone is across organization’s pending RFAs have yet to be taken care of. the league. I can only speak to our team, but we’re doing everything we Yes, Kivilhame is already 25, but the Finn’s cap-friendly deal and the can. The rules are there for a reason, and we’re pretty much at home and late-blooming of fellow Minnesota resident Justin Holl hints that he could at the rink. be a depth option in the future.

“So, it really limits the interactions with the outside world and limits the “In my time with him at the Marlies, I really started to appreciate a lot of ability to contract the virus.” things about his game, in particular how he uses his skating, which is 8. While the majority of NHLers will be stuffing Xboxes and PlayStations really, really strong. It’s his greatest asset and utilizing it to defend, which into their bubble luggage, John Tavares likes to read books before going is something we’ve talked about him trying to do,” Keefe explained. to sleep. “He’s always kind of seen himself as a guy that skates the puck and is The latest page-turner on Tavares’ nightstand is Ryan Holiday’s Stillness involved on the offence and all that part of it. There’s a lot of things that Is Key, which draws from Stoic and Buddhist philosophy to illustrate the can happen with guys who skate as well as he does that can really power of slowing down in getting ahead. become an asset in defending. Calle Rosen is similar in that nature with his development. We like that about him, and you can never have Tavares said he leans on nonfiction, self-improvement and philosophical enough depth on defence.” texts to not aid his game but his family and personal life as a whole. Yesterday, Toronto signed Teemu Kivihalme to a 2-year, 2-way “Beliefs and who you are and obviously what you do every day as a contract with an AAV of $725,000 at the NHL level. hockey player — your commitment and desire for that — I think they’re all kind of in sync and in synergy. They all kind of work together and Kivihalme improved as the AHL season progressed and earned the affect one another, and it’s how can I continue to be better in all areas trust of his coaches – by the end of the season he played on the 1st and learn more and continue to challenge myself to improve who I am as defensive pairing for the Marlies pic.twitter.com/xGGIfAMfS7 a person, as a hockey player,” Tavares explained. — Finnish Jr Hockey (@FINjrhockey) July 19, 2020

“I read and look a lot of stuff to improve my game. I’ve always been 12. Count me among the immediate fans of the Seattle Kraken, players curious and always wondered what’s made great hockey players or great or no players. athletes or why people are successful. But now, especially having a family and where I’m at now in my life, having a better sense of improving From the carbon-footprint-free Climate Pledge Arena to the hiring of the all aspects of my life and how they kind of work together is important.” NHL’s first female pro scout (Cammi Granato) to the new Twitter bio (“now that we have a name, we’re strategizing all the ways to draft your Dr. Ellen Choi is a Ryerson professor and social psychologist specializing favourite player”) to the historic repurposing of the Key Arena roof, the in the effects of mindfulness training as it relates to performance under Kraken have our full attention. pressure. I’m loving the colour scheme and logo, especially the secondary mark, We informed her of Tavares’ reading material, and she sent this list of which subtly incorporates the Space Needle into an anchor. Bravo. further reading for athletes looking to gain a mental edge: George Mumford, The Mindful Athlete; Phil Jackson, Sacred Hoops; Daniel “It’s pretty awesome that Seattle’s gonna get a good hockey team. It’s a great sports city. I grew up a pretty big Kevin Durant fan when he was drafted there, so now it’s exciting to have more variety of sports there,” said Matthews, at little risk of getting exposed in the expansion draft.

“The jerseys and everything, they kind of went similar with the Golden Knights — a little flashy, but I think it’s a pretty nice.”

Who did this?!?! Literally, who did this….I want a name! pic.twitter.com/dnL5HeWoUl

— NHLtoSeattle (@NHLtoSeattle) July 24, 2020

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189290 Websites One wonders what is going through the head of Nick Robertson, who has never played an NHL game, but once again found himself skating on Toronto’s third line at Saturday’s practice. Afterwards, Keefe laid out a litmus test the 18-year-old must pass in Tuesday's lone exhibition game if TSN.CA / Toronto Maple Leafs ready to 'expect the unexpected' as the Peterborough Pete hopes to crack the Game 1 lineup. restart nears "He needs to look comfortable," Keefe said. "He needs to make an impact on the game, be it through his work ethic and enthusiasm or his ability to create some offence and capitalize when he gets chances. All Mark Masters those kinds of things. Really looking to see, can he look like himself and be able to play what I suspect is going [to be] the highest level, highest calibre of game that he's played in? ... We’re just really looking to see if John Tavares still isn't packed. he can be comfortable and be himself and then see how it all sorts itself out in terms our other players." "I've got a few things done," the Leafs centre said following Saturday's 75-minute practice. “It's not something you've ever been through so it The other players battling for that last forward spot appear to be Pierre takes a little time to think about it. You'll have to wing it a little bit." Engvall and Frederik Gauthier. At Saturday's practice, Engvall skated between Kyle Clifford and Jason Spezza on the fourth line while Gauthier Tavares isn't really the 'wing it' kind of guy. He's all about preparation and was the 13th forward. details and being ready. But playing professional hockey in a pandemic is going to be unlike anything anyone has seen before. “We're just trying to keep all our options open," Keefe said. "So between Engvall and Spezza we wanted to get them some reps at centre ice and "You'll have to continue to adapt and expect the unpredictable and just playing low in the defensive zone and those types of responsibilities that be able to deal with it," said Tavares, who will turn 30 in September. "If come with it. We want to remain as flexible as possible and remain as there are certain games that go into overtimes and push the start times prepared as possible for any decision that we might make." later that's something you've never dealt with before, so there's a possibility for a lot of different things. You just have be very open-minded — TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 25, 2020 and adjust on the fly and deal with those circumstances." Zach Hyman is getting ready for the playoffs and also to be a dad. The Leafs didn't always handle adversity well during a roller-coaster regular season that saw Mike Babcock fired, injuries to key players and "Unfortunately, I've got a baby coming," the winger said of his imminent generally inconsistent play. departure. "I'm lucky that the baby's due in December. Some guys, they’re leaving young kids and expecting mothers during the time we're "We have to deal with the momentum swings that you see in playoff away. But we're going out there and doing what we love. Everybody series better than we handled some things in the regular season," going in the bubble understands. You make sure your family is taken Tavares admitted. care of while you’re away."

Finish Phase 3 strong #LeafsForever Hyman's wife, Alannah, will move in with his family during the playoffs, pic.twitter.com/SJC7RAU5Pc which gives the 28-year-old some peace of mind.

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) July 25, 2020 The stringent safety rules in Phase 4 mean teams will mostly be spending time amongst themselves, especially early on, and Hyman may In uncertain times, Tavares believes his teammates understand the end up picking the brain of some of the dads on the Leafs, including opportunity at hand. Tavares, Spezza, Clifford and Jake Muzzin. Who's at the top of the list "Pandemic's given [us] perspective on a lot of different things," he said. when it comes to asking for advice? "We know what a lot of people are going through, what the world's going "Come on, Spezz! He's got four of them so he knows what he's doing," through, society, and to be able to do this, have a chance to complete Hyman said with a chuckle. "I'm sure I'll be asking him for lots of advice." this season, continue to compete and chase the Stanley Cup, there's nothing better than that." — BarDown (@BarDown) July 24, 2020

The Leafs players will report to the practice facility on Sunday morning to Keefe has made it clear how valuable Toronto's one exhibition game will undergo COVID-19 testing, but then they will have the afternoon off to be in terms of both evaluating players and also how much progress the spend with family and make final preparations for what they hope will be team has made when it comes to incorporating system tweaks, the longest and strangest road trip of their lives. The team will re- especially on the defensive side of things. assemble at night and take a bus to the Fairmont Royal York. There are plenty of other questions that need to be answered as well. Sheldon Keefe, like Tavares, wasn't packed as of Saturday afternoon. "One of them is the conditioning level of our group and seeing how we "My wife has helped to really set aside a lot of things for me to be able to get through that in a game environment and playing three full periods, choose from," Keefe revealed with a smile. "It's going to be a challenge stop time," Keefe said. "I've got to manage that ... I want to try to make for me to not overpack and keep it simple and make sure I've got the sure I get them the appropriate minutes to prepare them for what's to things I need. I do tend to overpack for a lot of road trips just to give come but, of course, not overdoing it and putting them in bad spots so myself options but I want to stay a little bit lighter in this case and not that’s a challenge." over think it." The Leafs held six scrimmages during Phase 3, but only once (Sunday It's easy to overthink things these days and so Keefe's message to the July 19) did they play a full 60 minutes. team echoes that of his captain. How intense will Tuesday's exhibition game against Montreal be? "Expect the unexpected and be comfortable being uncomfortable," said Keefe, who will turn 40 in September. "That's a big part of it here. We just "You treat it like a real game, because that's the only way you can get have to take things as they come, not complain, just keep our head down prepared," said Hyman. "I think all these exhibition games will be pretty and continue to work and be as prepared as possible, as focused as intense and up tempo and I don't think anyone will be holding back." possible for the challenge ahead ... We've put in the work here over the Tyson Barrie isn't as certain. last couple of weeks – and even further back if you look at Phase 2 – to be as prepared as we can be for the physical demands of what's to "It will be competitive," the defenceman said. "I'm not sure if guys will be come. The mental part of it now, we've just got to remain focused on really throwing the body. You don't want to lose a guy going into the what we can control." meaningful games, but I'm sure it'll have a good pace to it. It'll be fast, if anything. I'm not sure if you'll see the typical dump and run guys over How NHLers are preparing for life inside the bubble kind of thing that you might see in Game 1 of the play-in, but it will be From espresso machines to video game consoles and plenty of good to get a game in and see what it's like with no fans and have the underwear, NHLers tell Mark Masters what their 'must haves' are to bring arena set-up, because it might be a bit odd." inside the NHL's bubble. So, what exactly happened these last two weeks? Glad you asked. It’s the return of #Leafs Training Camp Takeaways, presented for the first time ever in late July.

This is - dare I say - unprecedented: https://t.co/SZ35CIzugt

— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) July 25, 2020

The exhibition game will be a key test for Toronto's power play, which struggled to convert down the stretch. Despite the four-month pause, assistant coach Paul McFarland hasn't made any big changes to the system or personnel.

"The same idea," Barrie said of the unit's marching orders. "We have the same crew."

How are things feeling so far?

"You never get the full feel for it until you're in an actual game," Barrie said. "We won't know until we get it going."

After the coaching change, Toronto’s power play took off connecting on 27 of 86 chances (31.4 per cent) and leading the league from mid- November to early February. But from Feb. 8 to the end of the regular season, the Leafs connected on just six of 41 power-play chances (14.6 per cent), which ranked 26th in the NHL in that stretch.

"When we were really going well it was just simple," said Barrie, who has retained his job as quarterback of the top unit. "We were moving the puck quickly and shooting when we should and not over-complicating things. You can see [things work well] when we shoot and there’s a rebound and something special will happen off that either Mitch [Marner] finds someone backdoor or William [Nylander] or whoever would find the open guy. I think that's when we're at our best, when we're firing the puck and making plays off the rebounds and retrievals."

Lines at Saturday’s practice:

Forwards

Nylander - Matthews - Hyman

Mikheyev - Tavares - Marner

Robertson - Kerfoot - Kapanen

Clifford - Engvall / Spezza

Gauthier

Defence

Rielly - Ceci

Muzzin - Holl

Dermott - Barrie

Sandin - Marincin

Goalies

Andersen

Campbell

Power play units at Saturday’s practice:

PP1

Barrie

Marner - Tavares - Matthews

Nylander

PP2

Rielly

Kapanen - Kerfoot - Spezza

Hyman

TSN.CA LOADED: 07.26.2020 1189291 Websites afternoon, it wasn’t clear yet where exactly Keefe was going to be slotting some of those bodies.

"I'm still working through that," Keefe said of choosing a lineup. "I think TSN.CA / Eight takeaways as Toronto Maple Leafs wrap up Phase 3 we have decisions to make here, in terms of really our bottom-six and how that shakes out, and how one decision might affect another so we're just trying to keep all our options open today."

Kristen Shilton Keefe moved Pierre Engvall into Frederik Gauthier’s usual spot at fourth- line centre for Saturday’s practice, and had Jason Spezza taking reps

down the middle as well. While Keefe knows he has a number of players TORONTO — The Maple Leafs held their final training camp practice in who can fit in throughout, determining the right combination remains a Phase 3 of the NHL’s return-to-play plan on Saturday, wrapping up an challenge. often-intense two-week program ahead of Phase 4's playoff tournament. "Between Engvall and Spezza, we wanted to get them some reps at By Sunday evening, the Leafs will have completed one final COVID-19 centre ice and in playing low in defensive zone and those responsibilities test and moved into the NHL’s Eastern Conference hub city bubble, that come with it," Keefe explained. "We want to remain as flexible as which happens to be right downtown. Toronto will be quarantining at the possible and remain as prepared as possible for any decision that we Royal York Hotel for the duration of its qualifying-round series against might make or anything that might happen that's outside of our control Columbus that begins on Aug. 2, shuttling only between their lodgings that'll force us to make a lineup change. That's really what this is about." and other league-sanctioned off-site venues. The Leafs are also expected to bring injured forward Andreas Johnsson If the Leafs advance past Columbus and move into the official 16-team with them into the bubble, which would alter the lineup down the road if postseason field, it might be weeks before anyone sees family and he were to become available. Johnsson began skating again last month friends again. And while that won’t be easy, there’s a high degree of following a February knee surgery, and Dubas said that he thought anticipation around finally finishing the NHL season that was halted in Johnsson could be available by the second round of the postseason. March amid the COVID-19 pandemic. All eyes on Nick Robertson "There is a sense of adventure to it for sure," said Tyson Barrie on a Never mind that 18-year-old Nick Robertson was the only player in Leafs Zoom call with reporters Saturday. "We’re going into this, and we don't camp without some kind of NHL experience. Toronto’s second-round pick totally know what the set-up is like or what it's all going to be like. (53rd overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft parlayed his incredible 55- [There's] excitement, but nerves too. We've been here a while [preparing] goal, 86-point season with the OHL’s Peterborough Petes into a true shot and we're ready to get it going. It's nice to have camp behind us now and at making the Leafs’ postseason roster. have things start for real." After starting off slowly in camp and being relegated to skating with the Before the Leafs get to that, here are eight takeaways from their work in reserves, Robertson was thrust onto the Leafs’ third line with Alex Phase 3, and where it all might lead them in this next chapter of the Kerfoot and Kasperi Kapanen for scrimmages this week and has season. remained with Toronto’s main group ever since. Takeaways It hasn’t been an entirely seamless transition, though. Robertson’s best Sheldon Keefe set a high bar for first NHL training camp weapon is his shot, but the stifling play of NHL competition has made it nearly impossible for him to get it off. While Robertson has the speed to Since he was promoted behind the Leafs’ bench in mid-November to keep up with his teammates, his defensive details and play away from replace the fired Mike Babcock, Sheldon Keefe hadn’t had a chance to the puck are a beat behind. truly catch his breath, and properly install the systems he most wanted Toronto to execute. Still, Robertson has earned high praise from the Leafs throughout camp for his work ethic and his clear desire to be a part of the team. Whether Those four months between the Leafs’ last regular season game and the Robertson winds up appearing in that series against Columbus could be start of training camp gave Keefe plenty of time to "binge watch" his determined by how he performs in Tuesday’s exhibition game. team, and he put it through an intense two weeks of near-daily practices, specific special teams-focused sessions, and a variety of "I think he needs to look comfortable," said Keefe. "He needs to make an scrimmages, from two-period stop-time games to a full three-period impact on the game, be it through his work ethic and his enthusiasm and outing with TV timeouts worked in. his ability to create some offence and capitalize when he gets chances. Just really looking to see, can he look like himself, and be able to play The purpose was to prepare the Leafs for every situation they might see what I suspect is going to be at the highest level, with the highest calibre come playoffs. And while Keefe had some mixed reviews on the results of game, that he's played in. This is going to be not just an NHL in the end, it wasn’t solely because of how Toronto performed. exhibition game but it's going to be one that's full of NHL players, which you don't always get in an exhibition game, especially the first one. So "In terms of the effort, and the work that our guys put in, they definitely we're really looking to see if he can be comfortable and be himself." met their expectations [for camp] there," Keefe told reporters on Saturday. "As coaches normally do, in your head you set really high, and Pressure is on for Frederik Andersen probably unrealistic, expectations in terms of the execution and the detail of how everything would be and would look. I think that's something that Aside from Robertson, Frederik Andersen may have had the most takes time naturally. And it's difficult to do when you're playing head-to- scrutinized camp of any Leafs’ player. head against your own teammates, especially with playoffs on the Andersen kicked off Phase 3 with some great practice days, looking horizon and you're not wanting to be the one that injures any of your own sharp and efficient in the crease. When Toronto began scrimmaging late guys. All those things I think took away from some of the detail that's last week, Andersen was facing a split-squad that included all six of required." Toronto’s top forwards, and his game lost some of its shine. Going up Keefe said the Leafs one and only exhibition game against Montreal on against a number of odd-man rushes, Andersen was often on the losing Tuesday is where he hopes to see a true translation of what the Leafs end, but was confident all those missteps would ultimately better him learned in camp. when it counted.

"We expect it will solve some of those problems for us and get us up to "We're still working [on my game], ramping everything up," Andersen said speed to be as prepared as possible for what's to come." on Thursday. "I think you could tell more and more the intensity was rising throughout the [scrimmages] and it's certainly been something Leafs’ playoff lineup still a work in progress we're building on and getting that game-like intensity going. It's important to get the timing going and I think it's going in the right direction, I think Toronto is permitted to bring 52 people into the NHL’s bubble on Sunday, I've been feeling better and better." a number that must include players (31 at most), coaches and support staff. Leafs’ general manager Kyle Dubas said on a conference call At the other end of the ice, Jack Campbell was terrific in nearly every earlier this month the plan was to have 16-17 forwards, nine or 10 scrimmage. But Keefe was quick to quell any notion that the Leafs have defencemen and four goalies along for the ride, but as of Saturday a goaltending controversy on their hands before stepping into a do-or-die No one knew for sure whether the NHL would ever reach Phase 4 of its five-game series against the Blue Jackets. return to play plan, and actually pick up the 2019-20 season in a postseason tournament spread across two hub cities. Now that it’s "For the guys who have done it before, [they know] Frederik Anderson become a reality, the league has tried to offer as much information as was a big reason why that [playoff] series against Boston [last season] possible about what teams can expect in the bubbles, but that hasn’t went to seven games," Keefe said. "And the work that he did to be the totally taken the edge off concerns about what life will be like. backbone of the team there at different times [was critical]. We feel good about his ability to do that, so when you have somebody who has done it "It's felt like it's a long time coming, and we didn't know if it was going to for you and has that ability, you're going to give them a little bit more happen or not," said Hyman. "But luckily to date, everybody's been opportunity, and trust that they're going to find their way if it doesn't go healthy and everything's been on the right path so we're just excited to well. Obviously, we're really happy with Campbell as well in the extra get into our setup, get into the hotel, see what's available, see the depth that he provides us but Fred's our guy, we got to do all that we can lounges. I think the really unique thing about this is we're going to be with to have him prepared." each other 24/7 pretty much, and that's pretty special and doesn't happen very often. So it's a very unique situation and it's going to be Ilya Mikheyev’s ready for prime time something that we're all going to take advantage of and hopefully have a It was only 39 games into his NHL career that Ilya Mikheyev suffered one long run here." of the most gruesome injuries he could imagine. Facing the New Jersey Many of the Leafs have said their travel essentials include a gaming Devils on Dec. 27, Mikheyev had ligaments and an artery in his right console of some kind, which is music to Hyman’s ears. He runs his own hand severed by Jesper Bratt’s errant skate blade, forcing the rookie to company 11Gaming, centered around online sports and is looking skate off in a trail of his own blood. forward to passing the time that way.

After surgery that same night, Mikheyev worked his way back to the brink "I think it's going to be pretty fun," he said. "We’ll have a bunch of gamers of a return in March, only to see COVID-19 shut the league down in there so there will be some heated competition on the side and we'll instead. But Mikheyev stayed the course from there, working tirelessly have a lot of team get-togethers in the player lounge so it'll be fun." with the Leafs’ staff to re-build his game throughout the four-month long pause. Although the Leafs were about 24 hours away from heading to the Royal York when camp concluded on Saturday, almost no one had actually The fruits of those efforts were on display immediately in camp, from how packed for the excursion. But there was still time for all that. quick Mikheyev was to the puck, to his increased physicality, to his vastly improved shot. "Today’s the day," laughed Hyman. "I don't like packing. But I think I'm going to overpack because it's better to have more than less, so I'll be Skating back on a line with John Tavares and Mitch Marner, it was like bringing a big suitcase." Mikheyev had never missed a minute of action, and after a three-goal performance in Toronto’s final scrimmage this week, Mikheyev was voted No dress code, no problem Phase 3’s Most Valuable Player by the observing media. In a normal season, players would arrive to every game in a full suit, "He was excellent," Keefe agreed. "He probably more so than anybody is perhaps one punctuated by flashy accessories. really excited and happy to be back here playing in a team environment. It's been a long road for him to get back to playing game action so he had But these are unprecedented times, and the NHL has relaxed its policy a little extra jump all throughout this [camp] and that was really great to when it comes to player fashions. While some clubs have opted to keep see it. [Their line] played with chemistry all throughout, so that was a a dress code amongst itself with more comfortable attire (like matching really good piece and it obviously means a lot to our team." golf shirts), the Leafs will have no such parameters put on them.

Expectations high for exhibition play "We don't have any dress code, guys have the freedom to do what they want going to games," Tavares said. "And then we do have an apparel The Leafs will get just one tune-up before Columbus when they play package that the team was great on getting out to us and going above Montreal in a preseason game on Tuesday, and John Tavares doesn’t and beyond with having some stuff for us [to wear] around the hotel and expect it will be a typical exhibition match. going to practices and meetings. But I think as a group we want to give guys the freedom to be themselves and do whatever they choose going "I think you're going to see pretty much the true rosters for every team," to games." he said. "That is a little less typical than in a traditional preseason, other than maybe the last preseason game. But even then there's still guys While it may not be a permanent change by the NHL, it’s certainly a being held out or some adjustments being made or guys competing for welcome one for now amongst many of the Leafs. certain spots so this is going to be basically your only trial run to really start feeling good about yourself. It’s the only real, true preparation in "I'm really looking forward to it, honestly," said Auston Matthews last terms of game-like [conditions] you're going to get before they count, so it week. "It’ll be a pretty cool opportunity for guys to express themselves should be something different and be highly competitive and I think like other leagues are able to. We have a lot of young guys on our team everyone's really looking to get a lot out of it." and I think that's kind of a trend now nowadays, and I think, at times, hockey can kind of fall behind as far as that stuff goes. I’m definitely Since the spot of all Toronto’s games from exhibition through at least the looking forward to it." third round (if the Leafs advance that far) will be Scotiabank Arena, the tilt against Montreal will be the first opportunity to play in that building as TSN.CA LOADED: 07.26.2020 visitors instead of the home team, and to experience an arena entirely empty of fans.

"When a crowd is loud, it can make you uncomfortable," said Zach Hyman of adjusting to games with an audience. "I think that when you're in the game and when you're really playing and you're doing well, you don't really notice the crowd as much. But I think that for momentum swings, when you're a home team and you score and the fans are going crazy, it puts a little extra pressure on the away team and [having] to handle that."

If there’s parity now in that respect, the Leafs will have to find an edge in other ways.

"The home ice advantage will be a coaching matchup or face-offs or things like that," said Hyman. "But it's not really [the same as] home ice advantage, so it'll be interesting to see how that plays out and how it affects everything and I think everybody's curious about that."

Leafs bracing for life in isolation