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SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 1/24/2020 1172451 For Ducks right wing Jakob Silfverberg, unselfishness is a 1172477 After David Perron’s own struggles with head injuries, the ‘no-brainer’ Blues forward wants to help Stars’ Stephen Johns 1172478 What NHL awards do Stars players have a realistic chance of winning? 1172452 Jam-packed Pacific, Pt. I: Coyotes reach All-Star break in tight division race 1172453 2 Arizona Coyotes among top vote-getters for NHL 1172479 Detroit Red Wings play 'stupid,' Filip Zadina plays smart midseason awards with watching 1172454 Steve Peters is the rarest of birds: an NHL coach who has 1172480 Red Wings' Tyler Bertuzzi to compete in NHL accuracy never been fired shooting contest 1172481 Report: Trevor Daley asks Red Wings for trade to Stanley Cup contender 1172455 Bruce Cassidy, returning to St. Louis as All-Star Game 1172482 NHL at the break: Ted Kulfan's contenders, surprises and coach, has persevered — in life disappointments 1172456 What does Rangers forward Chris Kreider think about a 1172483 Red Wings send Filip Zadina, Givani Smith to Grand possible trade to the Bruins? Rapids for weekend games 1172457 NHL All-Star Notebook: Bruce Cassidy enjoying All-Star 1172484 Moritz Seider gives Red Wings the biggest - and shortest - experience scare of the season 1172458 NHL trade targets: Top-6 forwards for Bruins to pursue at deadline 1172459 David Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron among NHL's 1172485 Oil Spills: Edmonton Oilers and their NHL trade midseason award contenders possibilities in midst of fight for playoff spot 1172460 Bruins at the break: Good, but not good enough — and 1172486 JONES: McDavid knee injury documentary bares they intend to create more competition harrowing journey of non-surgery route 1172487 JONES: Oilers star McDavid's off-season injury rehab the focus of upcoming Sportsnet show 1172461 Ralph Krueger's 'very positive attitude' resonates with 1172488 Lowetide: What do Connor McDavid’s best lines tell us Nashville's Roman Josi about his optimal linemates? 1172462 Fellow NHL all-stars explain why Sabres' Jack Eichel is 'one of the best' Florida Panthers 1172463 Former Sabres prospect Justin Bailey riding unique hat 1172489 Panthers player poll: The guys in the room pick the best trick streak nickname, worst dressed and more Calgary Flames 1172464 Tkachuk billboards go up in Edmonton as total funds 1172490 CBA and salary cap expert Jeff Solomon keeps the Kings’ raised tops $67,000 bottom line in the black 1172465 All-Star game in St. Louis is a family affair for Tkachuks 1172491 A fresh appreciation of Kings All-Star Anze Kopitar, the 1172466 How Flames’ seventh-round pick Dmitry Zavgorodniy player Wayne Gretzky calls a ‘dream’ improved to become a legitimate NHL prospect 1172492 LIZOTTE TO ; PRIOR TO INJURY, HIS LINE WAS CLICKING 1172467 Rod Brind’Amour recalls a snowy scene, a career- changing day with the Canes 1172493 2020 NHL All-Star game schedule 1172468 Hurricanes player poll: The day we learned Jake Gardiner 1172494 Five All-Star Games, five unique experiences for Wild has the worst chirps of all time forward Eric Staal 1172495 Wild’s Eric Staal making NHL All-Star Weekend a family affair 1172469 ’s historic appearance in the NHL’s skills competition — and its impact — is detailed i Canadiens 1172470 10 defining moments of Patrick Kane’s career entering 9th 1172496 Stu Cowan: No matter the metrics, Danault has been huge All-Star Game plus for Habs 1172471 Blackhawks enter All-Star break with revived playoff 1172497 The Canadiens are trending toward a very rare level of hopes, but with work left to do disparity between their process and results 1172472 Inside Patrick Kane's gameday routine with Blackhawks 1172473 Blackhawks player poll: Who’s funniest? Smartest? Nicest? Scariest? And who cheats in two-touch? 1172498 Has Ryan Johansen’s season been as bad as it seems? 1172474 Avs’ Nathan MacKinnon is pseudo leader of four rival Blues at All-Star Game in St. Louis Columbus Blue Jackets 1172475 Blue Jackets 4, Jets 3 | 3-2-1 breakdown 1172476 Are the Blue Jackets a legitimate playoff contender? St Louis Blues 1172499 NHL rumors: Did Devils’ Travis Zajac turn down trade? 1172534 It can be a tough road to stardom for some NHL players 1172500 What Devils’ mindset will be coming out of bye week 1172535 BenFred: How an All-Star effort landed St. Louis another 1172501 The state of the NJ Devils' roster: Who needs to prove NHL marquee event themselves in the second half? 1172536 Alumni shine bright on this All-Star Weekend night 1172502 Devils player poll: What do you want to learn from the 1172537 Stanley Cup to visit Missouri Capitol tracking data revolution? 1172538 St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington shares pre-game rituals, advice in visit to middle school 1172539 Jon Hamm, Jenna Fischer, and Wayne Gretzky 1172503 Ryan Strome on Islanders rock bottom, trade deadline, all are NHL All-Star Game honorary captains things Rangers 1172540 Contract status a distraction? Not for Pietrangelo, who's in 1172504 Isles' Mathew Barzal on his benching by coach Barry the midst of a career year Trotz: 'I was in the wrong' 1172541 NHL All-Star Game weekend activities in St. Louis include 1172505 Why February is an important month for the Islanders concerts, fan fest 1172506 Islanders trade board: What scouts and executives are 1172542 ‘He’s changed the culture’: Bond between Blues’ Chris saying about their options at the deadline Zimmerman, NHL has led to St. Louis hosting big events 1172543 Blues’ analytics trending upward … who’s leading the surge? 1172507 Ryan Strome on Islanders rock bottom, trade deadline, all things Rangers 1172508 Why Rangers should strike on Alex Georgiev trade 1172544 How to add fun to the NHL All-Star skills competition 1172509 Listen to Episode 8 of ‘Up In The Blue Seats’: All-Star 1172545 Five players who could be NHL all-stars if it weren’t for Break, Farrah Fawcett feat. Tom Laidlaw their flashier teammates 1172510 As trade rumors swirl, Chris Kreider stays focused on 1172546 How to add fun to the NHL All-Star skills competition helping Rangers improve 1172511 Rangers' wild-card chase conundrum: All-in or fold their hand? 1172547 Marlies should be stronger from their experiences with the 1172512 Weighing Ryan Strome’s value to the Rangers both on the Maple Leafs ice and as a trade asset 1172548 The final 33 games of the NHL season could be a referendum on the Maple Leafs roster NHL 1172549 Maple Leafs defenceman Jake Muzzin will join Marlies for 1172513 KeyArena developer’s CEO dismisses report that Amazon a conditioning stint is front-runner for naming rights deal 1172550 There's plenty of All-Star talent on Canadian teams these days 1172551 Maple Leafs send Muzzin to Marlies on conditioning loan 1172514 Flyers’ Sean Couturier on pace to win Selke Trophy; 1172552 When Auston met Freddy: Matthews and Andersen are Lehigh Valley Winter Classic to benefit special needs play BFFs with the Maple Leafs and now All-Stars in St. Louis 1172515 Flyers All-Star Travis Konecny: Getting under opponents’ 1172553 Wheeler’s 2020 NHL prospect pool rankings: No. 21 skin now surpassed by his scoring Toronto Maple Leafs 1172516 Flyers Travis Konecny and Brian Elliott pick their most 1172554 Maple Leafs trade tiers: Who’s tradable? Who’s skilled teammates untouchable? Who could realistically move ahead of the 1172517 Gritty was accused of punching a kid, and it broke the deadline internet 1172518 Flyers mascot Gritty under investigation after youth claims Canucks he slugged him 1172564 Ed Willes: Rubbing elbows with game's greats means 1172519 Flyers' rivalry renewal with Penguins gets a 10-day something to Canucks All-Stars interlude 1172565 Division-leading Canucks now the odds-on favourite to win 1172520 A trophy-by-trophy look at PHWA's midseason awards, the Pacific which had Sean Couturier win a Selke 1172566 Patrick Johnston: GM Benning hasn't ruled out possibility 1172521 Flyers think they’re ‘in a great spot’ as sprint to the finish of Tryamkin rejoining Canucks about to begin 1172567 NHL hockey writers rate Quinn Hughes as second-best 1172522 Top 20 Flyers prospects: Assistant GM Brent Flahr weighs rookie at midseason in on the defensemen and goalies 1172568 ‘That was a home run’: The inside story of how Quinn Hughes fell to the Canucks at seventh overall in 2018 1172523 Ex-Penguins defenseman Hal Gill finds a home in Vegas Golden Knights Nashville 1172555 Golden Knights’ Max Pacioretty soaks in All-Star Game 1172524 Taking stock of Penguins’ health, goaltending and trade atmosphere mentality at break 1172556 Blues’ David Perron praises ex-Golden Knights coach 1172525 Tim Benz: Penguins better come back sharp from break. Gerard Gallant And fast. 1172557 Golden Knights player poll: Fastest skater, best ping pong 1172526 Tristan Jarry, in St. Louis for his first NHL All-Star game, player, worst taste in music and more reflects on his rapid ascension 1172527 Joe Starkey: Penguins almost can't go wrong with goalie choice 1172558 Capitals' division chock full of playoff contenders at 1172528 Penguins' Mike Sullivan honored by PHWA in midseason All-Star break vote 1172529 Tristan Jarry’s market: How a grocer’s son shocked the Penguins and earned a trip to the NHL All-Star Game 1172530 Sharks owner gives GM Doug Wilson his backing 1172531 Doug Wilson's job is safe despite Sharks' disappointing season, owner says 1172532 Sharks storylines, developments to watch through remainder of season 1172533 The Sharks’ first half was miserable, but their issues may run deeper than just one poor season Websites 1172569 The Athletic / 20 Questions with Hometown Hockey host Tara Slone: On haunted studios, Joydrop, and a strange h 1172570 The Athletic / Bourne: Some analytics-based hockey thoughts, with the last word from the twins from Evolving H 1172571 The Athletic / 16 Stats: The loss of Dougie Hamilton, playoff roller coasters and Elvis 1172572 The Athletic / I was an AHL coach for a day: Here’s what I learned 1172573 Sportsnet.ca / Maple Leafs' works through nagging pain in scoring binge 1172574 Sportsnet.ca / NHL Power Rankings: Pressing Questions Edition 1172575 Sportsnet.ca / Matthew Tkachuk is an all-star veteran, with pictures to prove it 1172576 Sportsnet.ca / Quinn Hughes is winning over peers at his first all-star weekend 1172577 Sportsnet.ca / From 18 to 42: Identifying the best NHL player at every age 1172578 Sportsnet.ca / What to watch for in Elite Women's 3-on-3 game at All-Star weekend 1172579 Sportsnet.ca / 3 trade deadline moves the Canucks should explore 1172580 TSN.CA / Why 'Torts' deserves the Jack Adams Award at Midseason 1172581 TSN.CA / voted PHWA’s best Comeback Player at Midseason 1172559 Jets' season facing difficult prognosis 1172560 Five things that must happen for Jets to make playoffs 1172561 Jets hope to use break to figure out what type of team they want to be down the stretch 1172562 Jets' Hellebuyck voted NHL's best goalie in mid-season awards 1172563 Jets’ moms trip a reminder that NHL results are impacted by much more than worthiness SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1172451 Anaheim Ducks goals. They killed penalties. They were kind of the heartbeat of the team. When they were doing their job, everyone else just fed off that.”

The good times came to an end suddenly, but not without warning. After For Ducks right wing Jakob Silfverberg, unselfishness is a ‘no-brainer’ trips to the Western Conference finals in 2015 and ’17, the Ducks were Ducks star turned down an All-Star Game invitation to be with his wife for suddenly too old, too slow and too out of step with the latest shifts in the the birth of the couple’s second child way the NHL played its games.

A rebuilding project was undertaken. Cogliano was traded last season to the Stars. Perry joined him this season as a agent after Murray By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | PUBLISHED: January 23, 2020 at 7:59 am | bought out the rest of his contract. Kesler underwent hip surgery last UPDATED: January 23, 2020 at 10:54 am summer that put his career in jeopardy.

Silfverberg skated onward.

Jakob Silfverberg was involved in one of the biggest trades in the Ducks’ “You see what ‘Silfvy’ does now,” Cogliano said. “I was a ball-and-chain history. He played on one of their best lines. He has been and continues on them at times. ‘Silfvy’ was a tremendous player to play with. He was to be one of their best leaders. He also made one of the biggest personal one of those guys when he’s playing well, he just took over the game, decisions since the franchise began play in 1993-94. really, because he was just that player. The puck just stuck to him.

Actually, it was “a no-brainer for me,” as he put it recently. “People maybe don’t understand how hard he works at his game. Phenomenal player. I respect players who play 200 feet and go up and After all, family comes first. down the ice, and he’s one of those guys. He’s a player who defends So, Silfverberg turned down an invitation to represent the Ducks at the well, but he can also score.” NHL All-Star Game on Saturday in St. Louis in order to be at home with Silfverberg’s game has evolved the past two seasons. Last season, he his wife, Clara, for the birth of the couple’s second child. The league led the Ducks with 24 goals and was second with 43 points behind Ryan selected Max Pacioretty of the Vegas Golden Knights to replace him. Getzlaf’s team-leading 48. That helped earn him a five-year, $26.25- “It was, like, right away, this is probably not going to work unless this million contract extension in March. baby comes super early,” Silfverberg said last week. “It kind of sucks. It Murray could have skipped the extension, traded Silfverberg at the would have been a really cool experience, but at the end of the day, it deadline last season and received draft picks and prospects in return. was just a no-brainer.” But there was something about Silfverberg that made Murray think twice Silfverberg always seems to do the right thing, which was one of the about such a move. Silfverberg had something extra to give the Ducks. reasons he was acquired from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for It didn’t take Eakins long to appreciate Silfverberg’s multifaceted game. Bobby Ryan on July 5, 2013. It was one of the reasons he was placed on Hired last summer to replace the fired Randy Carlyle and mentor the a line with Ryan Kesler and Andrew Cogliano starting in 2014-15. Ducks’ many young players, Eakins found a leader in Silfverberg, It was also one of the reasons he was selected to play in the All-Star someone to guide the transition on the ice and in the dressing room. Game in this transitional season for the rebuilding Ducks. He has been “He’s just been a great, great leader here,” Eakins said. “He’s really the best and most consistent player on a team that grapples for stepped that up this year. He’s been incredible with all of our players consistency far too often and frequently makes the wrong choice. here, young and our vets. He’s certainly leads by example every day in The only consistent thing about the Ducks is their inconsistency. practice and every day in the weight room.”

Silfverberg, a 29-year-old right wing from Sweden, stands out amid the Eakins continued unprompted with an extended appraisal of Silfverberg’s chaos, though. On the ice, he’s as calm, cool and collected as when the best attributes. Ducks were Stanley Cup contenders just a few seasons ago. Off the ice, “Extremely smart,” he added. “Extremely conscious of others. He’s a very he’s slightly less so, awaiting the birth of his child with nervous tension. mindful guy. He has enough skill, but for me, it’s his will every day. “Things are moving a little quick at home and the phone’s on high alert Whether it’s his will to work in practice, his will to work in games or his right now,” he said while the team was in Nashville. “Hopefully, I make it will to have a positive effect and influence on others for their behalf, not through the trip. It’s closing in, so we’ll see in the next couple of days. his own. Hopefully, the timing is at the break. That would be really good. “He’s got a great mind for the game, that’s for sure. Not only can he “If not, we’ve got plans to induce. We’ve got it somewhat figured out. I’m make a play, but whatever line we put him on he makes it better on both super pumped.” sides of the puck. Offensively, as well. With him, we certainly don’t want him to be a one-trick pony. We want ‘Silfvy’ to score. Silfverberg has unwavering support from the Ducks. “We want him to prevent goals, as well. He’s just accepted his role on his “In a perfect world, he’d be at the All-Star Game,” coach Dallas Eakins team incredibly well. I think they see a human being first and a player said. “But we are a family-first organization here, and nothing is going to they’d all like to become, one that plays on both sides of the puck, one trump that man’s family to us. In a perfect situation, if all the great things that is a great father. One that is a great teammate, a guy who is a real weren’t happening with him and his family, then, absolutely we’d love for positive influence.” him to be there. But we’re more excited he’s got another addition to that awesome family of his.” You also can call Silfverberg an All-Star this season, even if he won’t play in the All-Star Game. Silfverberg called his selection “an honor.” It also was a recognition for all the little things he does that add up to big things for a team going through Orange County Register: LOADED: 01.24.2020 tough times, according to Eakins. Silfverberg had 15 goals and 14 assists in 44 games at the break, but there was more to his game than statistics.

It’s always been that way, which was why so many eyebrows were raised when Ducks general manager Bob Murray swapped the high-scoring Ryan for the little-known Silfverberg, a prospect by the name of Stefan Noesen and a first-round draft pick that turned out to be Nick Ritchie.

Starting with the Ducks’ acquisition of Kesler from the after the 2013-14 season, Silfverberg played a key role on their Shutdown Line 2.0, their defensive-oriented group that tossed wet blankets over the opposition’s best lines.

“They did everything,” said Corey Perry, a former Ducks right wing now with the Dallas Stars. “They shut down teams’ top lines. They scored big 1172452 Arizona Coyotes The Oilers also rank only 19th in the NHL in fewest “expected goals against per 60 minutes,” an advanced metric that measures defense. They also don’t have outstanding goaltending.

Jam-packed Pacific, Pt. I: Coyotes reach All-Star break in tight division Calgary Flames: 3rd place in Pacific Division (57 points) race Coyotes’ record vs. CGY this season: 1-1-1

Out of the top 12 teams in the Western Conference, the Flames have the BY MATT LAYMAN | JANUARY 23, 2020 AT 4:29 PM UPDATED: worst differential at -12. They’re 25th in the league in scoring, 13th JANUARY 23, 2020 AT 5:42 PM in goals allowed per game, 22nd in power play percentage, 25th in faceoff percentage and have the third-worst team shooting percentage in the league. Star forward Johnny Gaudreau is on pace for the least The Arizona Coyotes have reached the All-Star break in one of the most productive NHL season of his career. tightly-contested division races in years. Below is a breakdown of the teams in the race, including two Central Division teams that are All that said, Calgary has a respectable .915 save percentage as a team contending for Wild Card spots. Next week, we’ll predict how the race will with David Rittich and Cam Talbot in goal (Rittich was selected to replace shake out. the Coyotes’ Darcy Kuemper in the All-Star game). The team’s kill ranks seventh in the NHL, and then there’s the stat that matters: The If you’re looking at the NHL standings, don’t blink — they might change Flames hold a divisional playoff spot after a hefty sample size of games. again by the time you open your eyes. Arizona Coyotes: 1st Wild Card spot (57 points) Arizona was in first place one minute, in fourth place the next. The margins are that thin. As the NHL enters its All-Star break, the Coyotes The Coyotes have lost five of the previous six games going into the All- have 57 points in the standings with 51 games played. Calgary (57 Star break, have seen injuries to both of their top two , points, 50 games), Edmonton (57 points, 49 games) and Vancouver (58 haven’t had the elite PK unit they did last year and rank only 22nd in points) are ahead of Arizona, so the Coyotes occupy the first Wild Card scoring. But they still hold a playoff spot at the break, which should be spot in the Western Conference. encouraging to panicked fans.

The Vegas Golden Knights have the other Wild Card spot. Arizona should get Darcy Kuemper back after the All-Star break if all goes according to plan, and Niklas Hjalmarsson being back ought to help See here: a defensive corps that has been the identity of the team the past couple years. The Coyotes still have one of the best goals against per game A look at the standings as there are no games on today's NHL schedule: averages (5th in NHL), and there’s been a long-enough list of pic..com/P3ZTYIergs contributors on offense for the Coyotes this year that they can afford to — Matt Layman (@mattjlayman) January 23, 2020 have guys go cold from time-to-time.

(The first tiebreaker in the standings is games played. Thus, Arizona is Like other teams in the division, it would only take a winning streak or a behind Edmonton and Calgary, despite having the same point total.) losing streak to completely change the narrative of this season for Arizona. But in a year in which the Coyotes have held first place quite Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston noted on Saturday, Jan. 18 that the top five often, this is an opportunity that shouldn’t be squandered. teams in the Pacific Division were separated by only one point (that was still true on Thursday), and that was the latest that had happened in any Vegas Golden Knights: 2nd Wild Card spot (57 points) division since Jan. 1, 1987. Coyotes’ record vs. VGK this season: 1-1-1 So, what now? There are a number of factors that have contributed to In a move that was baffling to most, the Golden Knights fired head coach each team’s successes and failures so far this season, so here’s a look Gerard Gallant last week. It seems weird, then, to note that Vegas is a at every team in the thick of the playoff race — including the Coyotes — playoff team at the moment. and things to consider as the league enters the home stretch of games: Vegas has lost six of its last seven going into the All-Star break, but Vancouver Canucks: 1st place in Pacific Division (58 points) perhaps its .902 save percentage as a team is more troubling. The Coyotes’ record vs. VAN this season: 0-1-0 Golden Knights have been fine offensively, but their goals-for and goals- against averages are both 3.04. Their goal differential is barely positive at Predicted before the season as more of a bubble playoff contender, the plus-2. Canucks find themselves in first place at the break. Winnipeg Jets: 3rd in Wild Card standings (54 points) Jacob Markstrom has been stellar. Among NHL goalies with as many or more games played as him (34), Markstrom’s .916 save Coyotes’ record vs. WPG this season: 1-0-0 percentage is third behind only Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy and The Jets are in the Central Division, but could challenge Arizona for a Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck. He also ranks 12th in the NHL in goals playoff spot if it comes down to Wild Card positioning. saved above average (GSAA), according to Evolving-Hockey. The Jets have a minus-8 goal differential this season. They have the Forward Elias Pettersson ranked third in the division in points with 51 (21 fourth-worst penalty kill in the league. They also have several elite goals, 30 assists) and rookie standout Quinn Hughes has been a big part offensive players on their roster and a goaltender who was voted as the of the Vancouver blue line. There’s not a glaring weakness for a team midseason Vezina Trophy winner in Connor Hellebuyck. that ranks in the top half of the league in both special teams functions and is second in the NHL in faceoff percentage. If the Jets get into the playoffs, Hellebuyck is going to be a big reason why. But similar to Edmonton, it’s fair to question whether a team has Edmonton Oilers: 2nd place in Pacific Division (57 points) what it takes when they rely on one or a few players too heavily. It’s also Coyotes’ record vs. EDM this season: 1-1-1 worth questioning whether Winnipeg’s defensive corps — which lost Jacob Trouba, Tyler Myers, Ben Chiarot and Dustin Byfuglien this year Head coach Dave Tippett deserves some credit in his first year with the — will withstand the final stretch of hockey to get to the playoffs. Oilers, who went from second-to-last in the division last year to a likely playoff team this year. One last thing to chew on: The advanced analytic +/- expected goals per 60 minutes (+/-xGA60) measures a team’s “expected” goal differential Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are the same-old studs as the two per 60 minutes of playing time, based on probabilities generated by the leading point-getters in the league, but beyond that, it’s slim pickin’s: The quality of the shots a team generates compared to the shots it faces. The Oilers’ next-leading scorer (Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) has 42 fewer points Jets are dead last in the NHL in this statistic, and it’s not close, at -0.77. than Draisaitl, and even with two of the most elite offensive hockey The next-worst team is Detroit at -0.49, which has the worst record in the players in the world, Edmonton ranks only 12th in the league in goals per league by a huge margin. game. Chicago Blackhawks: 4th in Wild Card standings (54 points)

Coyotes’ record vs. CHI this season: 2-0-0 The Blackhawks are in the Central Division, but could challenge Arizona for a playoff spot if it comes down to Wild Card positioning.

Right off the bat, one troubling thing to note about the Blackhawks is the fact that they are giving up more shots per game than any other team in the league (35.2). They also are only 19th in the league shots-for. Like Winnipeg and Calgary, Chicago also has a negative goal differential (-6).

But goaltender Robin Lehner has been a great signing for the Blackhawks with a .922 save percentage, and rookie Dominik Kubalik’s 21 goals have put him in the Calder Trophy conversation. If they get through the end of the season and see production from stars like Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Alex DeBrincat, the Blackhawks have an outside chance.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172453 Arizona Coyotes 3. Victor Olofsson, Buffalo Sabres

Lady Byng Trophy: To the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high 2 Arizona Coyotes among top vote-getters for NHL midseason awards standard of playing ability

1. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

BY MATT LAYMAN JANUARY 23, 2020 AT 9:16 AM 2. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

3. Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis Blues

Two members of the Arizona Coyotes organization were among the top Vezina Trophy: To the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his position finishers in the midseason NHL awards, which were released on Thursday. 1. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets

Goaltender Darcy Kuemper finished third in the voting for the Vezina 2. Ben Bishop, Dallas Stars Trophy, which is awarded to the league’s top goaltender, and general manager John Chayka finished second in the Jim Gregory GM of the 3. Darcy Kuemper, Arizona Coyotes Year voting. Jack Adams Award: To the coach adjudged to have contributed the most Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck (1st) and Dallas’ Ben Bishop (2nd) to his team’s success finished ahead of Kuemper. Colorado’s finished ahead of 1. Mike Sullivan, Pittsburgh Penguins Chayka, who beat out St. Louis’ Doug Armstrong (3rd). 2. , Columbus Blue Jackets The awards are voted on by the Pro Hockey Writers Association, which is comprised of about 300 journalists. They were asked last week to give 3. Craig Berube, St. Louis Blues their top three selections for each award, and the results were then tallied Jim Gregory GM of the Year Award: To the General Manager adjudged on a points-based system. to have contributed most to his team’s success Kuemper and Chayka each seem like logical selections, given that 1. Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche Kuemper has been an anchor for a Coyotes team that has spent most of this season in a playoff position and Chayka is the one who constructed 2. John Chayka, Arizona Coyotes the roster. For the GM of the Year award, voters were asked to pick the general manager who has most contributed to the success of his team. 3. Doug Armstrong, St. Louis Blues

This year, Kuemper, who is currently out with a lower-body injury, has Rod Langway Award: To the defenseman who best excels in the held a .929 save percentage and a 2.17 goals against average, both of defensive aspect of the game which were better marks than first-place Hellebuyck. 1. Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes Chayka built the Arizona roster, which has spent much of this season in 2. Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning first place. This year, he traded for both and Taylor Hall, and didn’t give up any of the organization’s most prized prospects (depending 3. Roman Josi, Nashville Predators on who you ask) in either trade. He traded defenseman Kevin Connauton, who has mostly been in the minors this year, for forward Carl Comeback Player of the Year Award: To the player who returned to a Soderberg, who is tied for second on the Coyotes with 13 goals. previous high level of performance that was interrupted by subpar play, long-term injury or major illness The Coyotes’ leading goal-scorer at the break is Conor Garland with 16 goals, even though Garland is on a deal paying him only $775,000. 1. William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs Similarly, Christian Dvorak has 13 goals and 30 points this season, often 2. Anthony Duclair, Ottawa Senators playing as the team’s top-line center, but eight Arizona players are making more money than Dvorak’s team-friendly deal ($4.45 million). 3. Max Pacioretty, Vegas Golden Knights

Here’s a look at the entire voting results for the PHWA’s midseason Arizona Sports LOADED: 01.24.2020 awards:

Hart Trophy: To the player adjudged to be most valuable to his team

1. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

2. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

3. David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins

Norris Trophy: To the defenseman who demonstrates the greatest all- round ability in the position

1. John Carlson, Washington Capitals

2. Roman Josi, Nashville Predators

3. Dougie Hamilton, Carolina Hurricanes

Selke Trophy: To the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game

1. Sean Couturier, Philadelphia Flyers

2. Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins

3. Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis Blues

Calder Trophy: To the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition

1. Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche

2. Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks 1172454 Arizona Coyotes “If Toc says, ‘I want to see that face-off in Pittsburgh last night, we have it. That’s great, but it’s also a tremendous amount of work maintaining all that information.”

Steve Peters is the rarest of birds: an NHL coach who has never been Peters has been producing data in one form or another since 1997 when fired former Coyotes GM Bobby Smith hired him part-time at an annual salary a shade under $15,000. By his own research, Peters is the fourth- longest-tenured coach in the NHL behind New York Rangers video coach By Craig Morgan Jan 23, 2020 Jerry Dineen (1994), Tampa Bay Lightning video coach Nigel Kirwan (1996) and video coach Mario Leblanc (1996).

Peters is also the rarest of birds: an NHL coach who has never been It’s 11:30 a.m. in Sunrise, Fla. The Coyotes and their coaches have fired. He has worked under six head coaches: Jim Schoenfeld, Bobby taken the ice for practice at BB&T Center, affording video coach Steve Francis, Rick Bowness, Wayne Gretzky, Tippett and Tocchet. In his 22 Peters the chance to hole up in the coaches’ office without distraction. seasons on the job, his role, his salary and his reach just keep His set-up looks like a situation room, with multiple screens of varying expanding. sizes, a server he installs anew in every city, a printer, and a web of cords snaking every which way across the floor like a laser field in an art “He has survived ownership changes, GM changes, coaching changes, gallery. you name it,” Tocchet said. “I affectionately joke that he’s a cockroach. He could survive a nuclear blast. It’s amazing that he’s lasted this long Steve Peters works in the Florida Panthers coaches room at BB&T but I think it’s a combination of his perseverance, his work ethic and the Center. (Craig Morgan / The Athletic) simple fact that he’s very good at what he does.” “It looks like shit but it works well and it’s mobile,” Peters said. Genesis of a job While the coaches and players run through some of the on-ice strategies Peters grew up in a hockey household. His dad, Bob Peters, was the that they hope to employ against the Florida Panthers the next night, head coach at North Dakota and Bemidji State, where he rose to No. 6 Peters is watching video of the Panthers’ previous game against the on the NCAA’s all-time wins list (744), capturing one Division III and five Pittsburgh Penguins to spot structural tendencies in Florida’s forecheck, Division II national titles. When Peters was a child, his father asked him neutral-zone play, defensive-zone play and special teams. to write down the scores of all the college games so that when he came When he finds something notable, he isolates it, makes a clip of it and home he’d know how every team had fared. moves on. Peters attended the University of North Dakota to play hockey. He was a “You always look at the last three games for an opponent,” he said. “You goalie, but by his fourth year, it was clear that he wasn’t going to play. don’t want to go any further back than that because then you’re looking “When I got there, I was a wide-eyed 18-year-old coming out of at personnel issues, system changes, injuries that could change what Minnesota high school (Bemidji) and my first day on the ice, I’m out there they’re doing. against Eddie Belfour,” Peters said. “Nobody knew who he was. He was “Now there are exceptions. If Edmonton is coming in and (Connor) playing Junior B in Manitoba, he was 21, and he wasn’t a smooth, McDavid is coming back from an injury, we’ll go further back because stylized goaltender. He was diving around. He worked hard and got the he’s such an integral part of what they do. To scout a game without him job done, but he wasn’t pretty. is useless.” “I was a stand-up goalie and played with textbook technique and I Peters estimates that he creates about 300-400 clips per scout game and thought, ‘I’m going to beat this guy out.’ Twenty years later, he’s fourth 600 for the Coyotes’ own games, but that volume of video doesn’t make all-time in wins in the and he’s in the Hall of its way to coach Rick Tocchet, assistants John MacLean, Phil Housley Fame.” and Corey Schwab, or the players. Peters whittles it down to about 150 With classes to complete before earning his degree, Peters joined the clips in the first look-through, and then he whittles it further with each Fighting Sioux coaching staff for his final season. One of his duties was viewing. By the time the information reaches the players on a game to break down game film. It was a job for which he had some training. night, there will be 10 clips that highlight the three most important keys to beating an opponent. “We were the first family in our neighborhood to get a VCR when I was a kid and I started taping games,” Peters said. “Then I started messing Players will view those clips on their phones, iPads or in meetings, but around with making highlights of our high school team on VHS. I’d put Peters also arranges for key clips to play over and over on what the team two machines together and start editing film. It’s funny how that ultimately calls the loop, a feature Tocchet brought with him from his assistant led to this.” coaching days with Pittsburgh. The loop is a video stream of the most important characteristics of each opponent that plays throughout the day The path was not direct. When Peters left North Dakota, he wrote letters on a screen in the locker room for active, passive or maybe even to every NHL team asking if they needed help. Most ignored his letters. A subliminal viewing by the players. few, the New Jersey Devils, St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks, sent him “rejection letters” that he still keeps on his desk. Instead of his dream “In the Dave Tippett era we would go through every zone, every system, job, Peters worked in the service industry at various hotels in Idaho and and the detail was much greater, but we found that the ability to retain Minnesota, including The Decathlon Hotel and Athletic Club, which that information went down,” Peters said of the Coyotes previous hosted the Hobey Baker Award ceremony for college player of the year. coaching staff. “If we have the younger players focus on two or three things, we find that works better.” Through constant hounding and constant attendance, Peters was granted access to Hobey Baker meetings and he was eventually named As we talk, Peters is examining the Panthers’ control forecheck. With the executive director of the Hokey Baker Award. One of the guest speakers exception of Vincent Trocheck, who likes to chase, Florida generally he brought in was Minnesota North Stars alumnus Bobby Smith, who backs off into 1-2-2 defensive formation when the Coyotes defensemen became GM of the Coyotes after they relocated from Winnipeg. Around set up behind the , preferring to attack at the red line to create the same time, Peters decided he’d had enough of Minnesota’s cold, turnovers. The Panthers’ strategy alters the Coyotes’ breakout approach gray weather so he moved to Phoenix and applied for a host of hotel and where they might look to pass to a player through the middle or have a resort jobs. Smith told Peters he had nothing for him unless he wanted to post-up guy on the side. When Florida dumps the puck in, however, the hand out game programs and work for free as an intern. Panthers attack through the face-off dots, rather than along the walls, so hard rimming of the puck is generally available as a means to beat the “I was going to do it; I just wanted to be around the game,” Peters said. pressure. “Within a week, the video guy of the then-Phoenix Coyotes, Aaron Neurer, quit one month before training camp and I got a call from Bobby “We have a lot of data,” Peters said. “Every team, every game for the last Smith. He said, ‘If you’re interested, the job is there.’” two seasons, we have it and it’s broken down into all the stats that the NHL keeps: hits, shots, penalties, power plays, advanced stats. The problem in 1997 was that it wasn’t a full-time job. Peters had an apartment, a wife and bills to pay so he worked in the marketing department for Best Western International, representing hotels on the East Coast. He’d start at 6 a.m., leave at 3 p.m. and drive down the I-17 tabletop to floor. He yells at me, ‘Who was eating popcorn? This room is from Beardsley Road to America West Arena and work for the Coyotes not for guys to eat in.’ He was pissed. ‘Don’t let it happen again.’ I felt until midnight. terrible, but it got worse.

“I had 10 VCR decks, I had a big a 3-meter satellite dish and I worked at “He goes out for the second period and I go to the equipment guys and night in a tiny little office underneath the stands at America West Arena say, ‘I need to get one of the kids in here to vacuum up the popcorn in where literally, if I stood up, I’d hit my head under the stairs,” he said. this room.’ The kid comes in, plugs the vacuum into the wall that has all “There was beer dripping down the walls from the fans above, but it was the outlets that run my machines and my server — and the wall we the NHL. I could hear the bench, I could see the ice when I poked my happen to share with the medical room and all their machines. He plugs head out of the office so it was amazing. I felt lucky to be there.” it in, the second period has started, he hits the power and everything goes out. He starts vacuuming but I have nothing: no computers, the Evolution of a job server is down, no video, no lights and we missed half the period by the When Peters first began cutting tape for the Coyotes, the process was time we got maintenance to come down and fix it. Nobody has ever sat in arduous and time-consuming. the head coaches seat ever again and there is no food allowed in the room.” “I had to tape the games on a VCR,” he said. “I’d have times where I’d be in a hotel behind the bar hooking up to their cable system. I would Peters said he never outed Hanzal before this interview, but Tippett had unhook hotel cables and bring my whole trunk up to a room, or I would other sources. call desk clerks and ask, ‘Hey, can you tape this game tonight? I’ll give “I found out it was Hanzal, but Petey got shit from the coaches about the you a Keith Tkachuk autographed stick.’ mess in the coaches office,” Tippett said, laughing. “Petey is intense “The amount of hours I work has changed very little over time but the during the game — one of the best in the business at his job.” amount of information I can produce has grown exponentially. We’ve Peters’ favorite story is the goal he missed but didn’t miss. gone from taking eight hours to break down one game to where we can break down 30 games to the most minute details.” Two years ago in Tocchet’s first season as coach, the Coyotes were playing in Washington. Former Coyote Max Domi took a penalty at the Teams were loath to share game film of themselves with opponents in end of a shift and all the replays were showing the penalty. At the very Peters’ early years, which led to a black market of data. end of the replay, the feed showed a previous by former Coyote “We used to trade DVDs with teams,” he said. “Say I’m in Florida like we Mario Kempe. From the angle Peters was viewing, the puck appeared to are right now. Florida wouldn’t provide a game tape to let’s say Dallas, enter the net, hit the net camera and come out the other side. their next opponent. So I would tape the Florida game and I would put it “I’m thinking, ‘Shit. I missed a goal,’” said Peters who turned to security up in the ceiling tiles here in the coaches room. I’d call the Dallas guy director, Jim O’Neal, and director of team services, Dave Griffiths, for and say, ‘Hey, I left you a copy of the game tape, second tile from the verification. “We all saw it, so I’m screaming into the headset, ‘Mac right.’ Sometimes, we’d leave it in hotel rooms or some other arranged (MacLean), you have to stop the play! The puck’s in the net. We have a place, and they did the same for us. It was the cold war.” good goal.

As more and more teams embraced the need for video, the importance “He’s saying, ‘What? I can’t hear you,’ so I throw down my headset, run of the position grew. The Coyotes brought Peters on full-time in 2001 and out to the ice live in a National Hockey League game. I physically push he started traveling with the team. He’d even fill in on occasion as a (assistant equipment manager) Denver Wilson out of the way and I jump practice goalie. on the end of the bench and I’m waving my hands: ‘Stop the play! Stop Former Coyotes goalie Jason LaBarbera, left, and Steve Peters. the play!’ I made eye contact with some fans and they’re looking at me (Courtesy of Steve Peters) like I’m crazy. The puck drops and I scream. I’m walking down the tunnel swearing louder and louder. All I can think now is, ‘Rick Tocchet is going His duties now include spotting goals or offside plays that the officials to kill me. It’s my first year with Toc. I’m a dead man walking. I missed may have missed, providing shift-by-shift video breakdowns for every this goal.’ player, breaking down opponents and, since Tocchet took over, presenting 5-on-5 concepts before the players; an honor he had never “I get back to the video room and by now I can see the overhead view. I been granted in his first 20 years on the job. look at it and I say, ‘Oh, it just hit the post and went out.’ It was an optical illusion.” “I have him listed as an assistant coach for a reason,” Tocchet said. “He doesn’t just press play, he does our pre-scouts, he collaborates with our Deadline pressure coaches, he comes up with ideas, he presents in front of the players. The Coyotes game in Sunrise has ended in a 5-2 victory. Outside the That position has evolved and it’s a very important position. coaches’ room, the scene is raucous. Florida native Jakob Chychrun has “He’s like an office manager, too. He keeps things moving. I can tend to a throng of family and friends waiting to congratulate him in the media stay on something too long and he’ll move me along. He’ll say, ‘Hey, room and Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo is in the hallway outside the we’ve got to get to this topic now.’ He’s not afraid to tell me, ‘Hey, let’s locker room with his own entourage, high-fiving players, coaches, GM go,’ which I respect and appreciate.” John Chayka and just about everybody else who walks past him.

The coaches room in every arena is equipped with a large screen The door to the coaches’ room is not soundproof, but Peters must block provided by the league that includes the blue-line camera, net cams and out the distractions. When the game ends, he has very little time to home and away feeds. While Schwab serves as the team’s eye in the accomplish a lot of work. sky and keeps an eye on his goalies, he is generally looking at other “Postgame is the worst, especially on the road,” he said. “If we lose, Toc aspects of the game such as which opponent’s line is up next, which wants to see all this stuff but I’ve got to get all of these computers and player may have just gone down the tunnel with an injury and when an screens and the server and the cords into that trunk and out the door in opponent is looking to pull their goalie. Peters will give the bench a heads 20 minutes. That means everybody has to look at their clips, get off the up via headset if he thinks the officials may have missed a call. server and I have to pack up before (equipment manager) Stan (Wilson) There have been snafus along the way. knocks on the door to take everything to the truck. Plus, I have to prep the players’ iPads, get all the shifts broken down and get them on the Former Coyotes center Martin Hanzal had the flu one season and missed computer. a game in St. Louis, opting to watch it from the video room. The Blues’ video room is one of the smaller in the league and it was inside the “Hopefully, by the time I get to the plane, the cards are ready, I can put medical room. the cards in the iPads and get the iPads to the players at the back of the plane. Sometimes, I joke with Jimmy or Griff, ‘Hey can we circle the “Hanzal hadn’t eaten in a day and he was finally starting to feel like he airport a few times so I can get this done?’” could eat so he gets a bunch of popcorn and he goes and sits in Dave Tippett’s chair to watch the game,” Peters said. “I’m not paying attention Peters used to use the time on the plane to read, watch movies or nap, because I’m watching the game. He has popcorn all over the place and but the advent of technology has made flights another workspace. the first period in St. Louis didn’t go well. Tip comes in angry about the “Once we’re on the plane, everybody goes off into their own world,” he team’s play and his entire workspace is covered with popcorn from said. “Toc does a game review and he’ll go through the whole game. The assistants do the special teams and I work on the chances report: what we gave up, what we generated and who’s at fault on a chance against.”

Most of the time when a flight lands in the first stop on a trip, Peters will accompany the equipment managers to the arena. While they unload, wash and prep equipment, he sets up his war room. When he finally gets back to the hotel room, he works some more.

“I like that quiet time in the hotel and I get a lot done,” he said. “My wife is used to me watching games in bed with a laptop on my knees.”

If the Coyotes are on the East Coast and there is a game that Peters needs to watch on the West Coast, he might go to bed and then wake up to watch it. Only once did his late-night approach cost him.

“We were in Columbus in the days before each computer had an HDMI output. Mine had one,” he said. “We stayed overnight after a game and there was a big MMA fight. The players wanted to have it on during dinner. The only computer we could watch it on was mine.

“The Sharks played that night and the game didn’t start until 10:30 Columbus time so I couldn’t even start working until midnight, but the MMA fight started at midnight so I really couldn’t start working until 2:30 in the morning but I had to have the game done by the time the plane took off the next morning so the coaches could work on the game.

“The last time I remember looking at the clock was 5:30 in the morning. My phone in the hotel rang and it was (former director of team services Rick Braunstein): He says, ‘Petey, where are you?’ I said, ‘I’m in my room. Where are you?’ The engines were going, the two guys in charge of each bus assumed I was on the other and I wasn’t. I was in my bed. The players knew why I missed it so as I’m walking on to the plane, all the players were apologizing, saying ‘If you have a fine, we’ll pay your fine.’ Fortunately, our GM was not on that flight and Dave Tippett said, ‘Wait for him.’”

Filling a need

In the early days of video analysis, Peters often ran into roadblocks with players, but a new generation is feeding the need for data and providing further job security.

“(Keith) Tkachuk and (Jeremy) Roenick, when they played, the last thing they wanted to do was Watch video of themselves because they knew it was just mistakes,” Peters said. “These guys want to see it, especially (Nick) Schmaltz and (Clayton) Keller. They want to see where their opportunities are to score. You’ll see them on the bench with the iPads.

“This generation of players wants to see everything; they want information and we’ve got a lot to give them.”

Peters admits that his work hours are long. He may have only 4½ hours of sleep on a given night, but he insists he’s a good napper and he sees no need for pity because the hours come with the job.

“What keeps me going is the evolution of the job,” he said. “When I started, I was an ancillary piece. I was excited when Stan Wilson gave me a team T-shirt. I was so far down the totem pole that I was scratching and clawing to get a T-shirt. Now I have my hands in more and Rick Tocchet has allowed me to become a member of the coaching staff.

“I had never been allowed to present to players before. Now I do all the 5-on-5 meetings for our opponent. I get input on lineups, I get input on when we travel and I have a voice in the coaches’ office. I am involved and that gives me a lot of juice. I appreciate Rick Tocchet allowing me with my experience to have that voice.”

The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172455 Boston Bruins Cassidy has earned his respect from the GM who fired him in Washington, Vegas president of hockey operations George McPhee.

“It didn’t mean he wasn’t a good coach, because he was, and he is,” Bruce Cassidy, returning to St. Louis as All-Star Game coach, has McPhee said. “It’s a real credit for him to persevere the way he has.” persevered — in life Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper, who has coached the Atlantic the last two years, saluted him, too.

By Matt Porter Globe Staff January 23, 2020, 9:57 p.m. “Know what I like? He’s straightforward, to the point, and honest,” Cooper said. “When I talk to him, I don’t see a guy [misleading] me. I appreciate that. He conducts himself like a pro. How he’s grown as a coach, ST. LOUIS — Bruce Cassidy sank into a chair in the Stifel Theatre, the especially having to work his way back from minors, I’ve got tons of 86-year-old building next to the Enterprise Center. He was watching the respect for that.” crew set up the stage for the media day. After Cassidy finishes this weekend — about the hardest coaching It was his first time back in this city since June 9, when his Bruins beat decision he’ll have to make is who will start Saturday’s All-Star 3 on 3 the Blues, 5-1, in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. He had no hard with David Pastrnak — he’ll enjoy a few more days with his family, then feelings about this place. return to the grind. Lately he has injected the Bruins’ lineup with a touch of youth, alerting a group of holdovers from last year’s Cup Final that “We won here. That wasn’t a problem,” Cassidy said. “Last time I left nothing is promised. Trades are likely to come, changing the team’s here I was in a great mood. When I left here, I thought I had a great makeup. A coach is always moving, always tinkering, always thinking chance to win the Cup.” ahead. Everyone back home knows what happened next. Cassidy has no Thursday, before he was about to soak in the All-Star experience, he problem discussing it. He reviews those days with the calmness of a man took a moment to think way far ahead. who has been kicked before and responded. “I would love — love — it if you look back and say, ‘Hey, that guy was a Cassidy has overcome a lot in this game. A first round pick (18th overall coach for the Bruins,’ and the Bruins fans say, ‘He did a pretty good in 1983, Chicago) who blew out his knee. There was the firing in job,’ ” he said. “Because that’s been my team my whole life. Washington, another in the OHL (Kingston) and a comeback through the minors. He got another chance in the NHL — and after bringing the “This whole story, to be able to make a comeback, and to do it with Bruins to the sport’s biggest stage, they were blown out in Game 7 at Boston? It’s a little surreal. It could have been 30 different teams. Why home. Boston?

Now Cassidy is here as the coach of the Atlantic Division All-Stars, “People believe in what they believe in, but maybe the hockey gods said, tapped for his work with the first-place Bruins at the league’s midseason ‘OK, maybe we took a little away from him with some knee injuries and break. There’s no place he’d rather be. some lousy medical care, but we’re going to give a little something later on. Cassidy was twice an all-star coach in the IHL (1998 and 2000). What they’ll call him Friday and Saturday has a different ring. “I believe that in life, you get out what you put in it. They probably thought, you know what, he worked hard, he coached the minor league “It sounds great,” he said. “I’m proud to represent the Bruins. It’s a team and did a decent job, let’s throw him a bone. reflection of the players. I get to go to the game because of their performance on the ice. It’s an honor for me.” “I got an opportunity, I think I was ready for it, did a good job and got rewarded. It’s that simple. Me and a lot of guys.” His two children, Cole, 9, and Shannon, 10, were waiting for him backstage as he chatted with a Globe reporter Thursday afternoon. They Boston Globe LOADED: 01.24.2020 were about to watch their dad absorb the hockey glitz and glamour for the first time. A special treat awaited.

They were to head to the Enterprise Center ice Friday morning, at the NHL’s player-coach family skate, to meet the stars from the other teams. “They’re fortunate they have Pasta and Marsh and Bergy around the room,” Cassidy said of David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. “But this will be different. Cole still talks about Pavel Datsyuk’s moves. It’s a great memory. Can you imagine skating around with these guys?”

Cassidy said he doesn’t stop and smell the roses too often. If he does, it’ll be in the summer. Being here, though, he was reflective.

As were those who have watched him grow.

His coach with the Ottawa 67s, Hockey Hall of Famer Brian Kilrea, remembered a young defenseman who didn’t say much, and didn’t have to.

“He was just so cool and easy with the puck,” said the 85-year-old Kilrea, recalling Cassidy’s 111 points in 70 games in his OHL debut, in 1982-83. “He knew where the puck was going on every shift.”

Anaheim general manager Bob Murray, his teammate in Chicago and the IHL, watched knee injuries limit what that mind could do on the ice.

“He couldn’t move anymore,” Murray said. “I know if I was that good — and he was really good — and it gets taken away from you, it’s going to hurt. That’s all we wanted to be as kids.”

When Cassidy was thinking of calling it quits and coaching in the mid ’90s, Murray consoled and counseled him.

“You feel bad for him, but you don’t want to say that,” Murray said. “If anything, I was hard on him. [Expletive] that, go and do it. Nobody’s going to feel sorry for you.” 1172456 Boston Bruins Boston Globe LOADED: 01.24.2020

What does Rangers forward Chris Kreider think about a possible trade to the Bruins?

By Matt Porter Globe Staff, January 23, 2020, 7:46 p.m.

ST. LOUIS — Chris Kreider feels as if his name has been in trade rumors since he came out of Boston College in 2012.

“It’s not something you worry about,” Kreider said at the NHL All-Star media day, amid a swirling mass of reporters at Stifel Theatre.

The Rangers are still deciding whether to deal Kreider, an unrestricted free agent and potential trade target of several teams. But the big winger, who was here as a replacement for injured teammate Artemi Panarin, isn’t thinking about what could come next.

“We’ve had some pretty good success recently,” he said. “We’ve dropped a few that we’d like to have back, but over the last couple weeks it’s been so much fun.”

Asked if playing for Boston has ever crossed his mind, he wasn’t going there.

“I’m so thankful and appreciative to the New York Rangers for giving me the opportunity to live out my dream,” he said. “Until I’m not a Ranger, I’m a Ranger.”

Warmer outlook

Freezing rain and a spitting of snow greeted the NHL’s best and brightest for All-Star Weekend. That will not be the case next year.

South Florida will host the 2021 festivities, league sources told the Globe. The gala will land at the Panthers’ BB&T Center for the first time since 2003. If anything is going to curb the trend of stars choosing rest over representing at the league’s midseason showcase, it’s a vacation to nearby Fort Lauderdale, with its beaches, boats, and balmy seabreezes.

Before he was concussed, Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask chose to skip St. Louis to rest, noting it was a “selfish” decision. Alex Ovechkin, who was elected Metropolitan Division , begged out for the second year in a row. Both will take a one-game suspension, per league rules. Unlike previous seasons, in which players have sustained minor injuries of mysterious nature in the days before the break, both Rask (age 32) and Ovechkin (34) acknowledged time off was more important.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told ESPN earlier this month skipping the event was a concern.

“Last year I was much more willing to look the other way,” Daly said. “But two years in a row is probably something we do need to address with the players’ association, so it doesn’t become a trend.”

One card the NHL could play, and one that had several fans among Bruins players who were polled last week: rotate the event among more enticing locations, such as Vegas, Los Angeles, Tampa or Sunrise.

“Especially if it’s going to be in the middle of a bye week,” Brad Marchand said last week. Marchand was honored to be an All-Star in 2017 and ’18, but was more thankful for the rest and family time (he escaped to Turks and Caicos).

“We’re expecting to have another good run, so we need the time to recover and feel good going into the playoffs,” Marchand said. “If it’s in warm places, nice cities, then people want to go. I don’t think guys are eager to go to some of the cities around the league.”

Bruins defenseman John Moore, a Winnetka, Ill., native who started his NHL career in Columbus, had a different perspective.

“I want to take nothing away from St. Louis,” he said. “You think about the boost to the local economy. That’s a tangible thing. Should we be catering to million-dollar athletes because they want to be somewhere warm? I don’t know.”

Moore has sunny memories from his lone pro All-Star appearance. In 2011, at the AHL’s game in Hershey, Pa., his East team won and each player earned $500. “I bought my parents a snowblower,” he recalled. “Also, there was chocolate-flavored toothpaste in the hotel room.” 1172457 Boston Bruins

NHL All-Star Notebook: Bruce Cassidy enjoying All-Star experience

By MARISA INGEMI | Boston Herald January 23, 2020 at 8:34 PM

ST. LOUIS — It’s not easy out there in the current NHL coaching climate.

Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy noted during the All-Star Game media day on Thursday that several of the recent coaches relieved of their duties during this season had brought a team to the Stanley Cup Finals in the past.

“You see a guy like Gerard (Gallant), Peter (Laviolette), you’re like, ‘gee those guys have success,’ , Gerard, all guys who had teams go to the Stanley Cup, so you start thinking, well we lost in the Stanley Cup Final last year.”

There’s no reason to believe Cassidy isn’t safe, even in today’s climate; the Bruins are atop the Atlantic Division and Cassidy signed a long-term extension in the fall. But as he gets ready to coach his first All-Star Game, the unpleasant topic is still not easy to evade.

“It’s part of the business we signed up for,” he said. “Before it’s if you’re not going well and now it’s a little more unpredictable. Sometimes a team is going well but there’s something behind the scenes, maybe not meeting expectations, so you never really feel safe. But if you let it bother you I don’t think you’re better off for it.”

Cassidy will get to coach the Atlantic captain, David Pastrnak, which will help bring some familiarity as he coaches players who are typically rivals.

It’s also a chance to get a bit more creative, though, and have some fun with the league’s marquee event.

“I called a previous coach the other day, he had been to a few of them,” said Cassidy. “He said, not really (any strategy). He said talk to your guys and find out who wants to play with who. It just so happens our captain is Pasta so we’ll have a good sit-down and get the feel of the room and find out who wants to play with who. I think sometimes you take players away from teammates, let them play with other people, but if (Brady) Tkachuk and (Anthony) Duclair want to play together, then we’ll talk about it.”

The low pressure is a change of pace from the last time Cassidy coached an event in St. Louis. This time, a win or loss won’t send him home feeling too many emotions.

This time it’s a fun showcase with the best players in the world.

Women’s 3-on-3 could steal the show

Elite women’s hockey players will partake in NHL All-Star festivities for the second season in a row, but this time, they have their own stage with the 3-on-3 competition during the skills contest on Friday night.

“We’ve all been joking because we’re all hanging out together right now and we’re all friends off the ice, and as soon as it gets on the ice, it really comes down to pride for our country,” said Team USA’s Annie Pankowski. “I know that it’s going to be a great game and it’s going to be some amazing talent. We’ve never had an opportunity to play 3-on-3, and I think it’s just going to be so much fun.”

The rivalry matters, but for one night, that’s put aside with all focus on the growth of the game and exposure for all involved.

“I think for us it’s big visibility, a big platform to be here at the NHL All- Star Weekend. It’s going to be exciting I think for us,” said Canada’s Marie-Philip Poulin. “I know we talk about the Canada-U.S. rivalry, but tomorrow it’s all about women’s hockey. We want to grow it together. We want to grow all of this together. And seeing this again today, seeing little girls wanting to play hockey, wanting to start altogether, I think that’s where we all started where we had no idea how to put our shin pads on, where to put our shoulder pads, but that’s part of it. That’s part of the journey. It’s going to be real exciting.”

Boston Herald LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172458 Boston Bruins top targets. That being said, there will be shortage of suitors for a player like Toffoli as well.

Kyle Palmieri, New Jersey Devils NHL trade targets: Top-6 forwards for Bruins to pursue at deadline 2019-20 stats: 44 GP, 16 G, 15 A, 103 SOG

Contract: $4.65 million salary cap hit, UFA after 2020-21, modified no- By Joe Haggerty January 23, 2020 7:00 PM trade clause

The 28-year-old winger has really blossomed with New Jersey and has The Bruins sit at the break in the NHL regular season in first place in the been good for at least 20 goals and 50 points in each season with the Atlantic Division and are a virtual lock for the . Devils while providing a deadly option on the power play. The 5-foot-11, 185-pounder would bring a shooter and finishing presence to Boston’s There is plenty for the Black and Gold to be proud of as David Pastrnak second power play unit and is exactly the kind of player who could finish leads in the NHL in goal-scoring and the Perfection Line, power play and off a lot of the David Krejci set-ups that aren’t currently turning into goals. goaltending have been undeniable strengths for the team all season. Palmieri would undoubtedly cost the Bruins a first-round pick and a But there are also some needs on this team with the trade deadline significant prospect given that he’s signed through next season and isn’t roughly a month away, and the Bruins are expected to be active over the a straight “rental” player. But once again Palmieri would be a player who next month looking to improve a team that ultimately fell short in last would likely fit into Boston’s long-term plan. season’s playoffs and will need some new blood on a roster that’s played a lot of hockey over the last 18 months. On the downside, Palmieri isn’t the ideal solution at just 5-foot-11, 185 pounds and is more of the same of what they already have, and wouldn’t LIVE stream the Celtics all season and get the latest news and analysis necessarily give the Bruins somebody to battle with the big defensemen on all of your teams from NBC Sports Boston by downloading the My corps that have successfully bottled them up in the playoffs. Teams App. Haggerty: Could Pastrnak be a Hart Trophy contender? The biggest need for the Bruins remains a top-6 right wing capable of scoring goals, finishing off plays and being enough of an offensive Ilya Kovalchuk, Montreal Canadiens weapon that the Bruins don’t become a one-dimensional offense in the 2019-20 stats: 25 GP, 7 G, 10 A, 57 SOG playoffs too reliant on Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak when the going gets tough. Contract: $700,000 salary cap hit, UFA after 2020-21

There won’t be any shortage of candidates for the Bruins at the deadline Wouldn’t it be hilarious if the Bruins passed on Kovalchuk when they and really, truly it will come down to A) their desperation level to fortify could have signed him to a two-way, $700,000 contract, but instead their offensive attack B) the development of their young players over the traded away perfectly good assets to Montreal for his services at the next month and C) how much they are willing to give up in assets — trade deadline? either in a big way like with Rick Nash a couple of years ago or smaller, more reasonable moves like Drew Stafford or Marcus Johansson-level It would be the second time Don Sweeney would do something like that trades that actually ended up working out pretty well in the short term. after he similarly passed on Lee Stempniak as a tryout option in training camp and then traded draft picks to Carolina in exchange for him at the There are no shortage of trade options expected to be available at the trade deadline five years ago. The 36-year-old has four goals and eight trade deadline, so let’s go through a few of the skilled top-6 forwards that points in eight games since going to Montreal and now has seven goals will be available (All salary information via Cap Friendly): and 17 points in 25 games this season.

Chris Kreider, New York Rangers It wouldn’t be a big cost for the Bruins to acquire him, and he’s another goal-scoring talent who could be dynamic with David Krejci, and a potent 2019-20 stats: 48 GP, 17 G, 15 A, 117 SOG finisher who could make Boston’s second PP unit a lot more dangerous.

Contract: $4.625 million salary cap hit, UFA after 2019-20, modified no- Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Ottawa Senators trade clause 2019-20 stats: 46 GP, 19 G, 12 A, 103 SOG The price may have just gone up even more with Chris Kreider getting selected as an All-Star this weekend, and it’s well-deserved given his Contract: $3.1 million salary cap hit, UFA after 2020-21 ability to parlay skating speed and a 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame into an average of 25 goals and 50 points each season. He’s fast, he’s big and The Bruins could go a different route and trade for a third-line center that he will play on the nasty side from time to time, bringing a lot of different would allow them to push Charlie Coyle over to the wing for the rest of elements that the Bruins could use in their top-6 right now. this season, and for a playoff run. Coyle would certainly bring the size, strength and offensive ability that the Bruins need for a top-6 wing, and Kreider is Boston’s top choice at the trade deadline and will be a player J.G. Pageau is the kind of scrappy two-way center who would bring that the Bruins could potentially pay a high price for as they did with Rick speed, tenacity and some underrated offense to the table along with Nash a few years ago. Given his background as a Massachusetts native penalty killing and face-off ability. and a college hockey player, one would also expect they’d be planning to keep Kreider beyond this season if they traded for him. The 27-year-old is on pace for 33 goals and 54 points this season and already has three shorthanded goals in 46 games this season. Haggerty: NHL Power Rankings at the All-Star break Considering he’s already matched his season-high in goals and is just 12 points away from his career-high in that category too, it might be the right Tyler Toffoli, Los Angeles Kings season to buy in on JGP as a rental before he hits free agency.

2019-20 stats: 49 GP, 12 G, 15 A, 126 SOG SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.24.2020 Contract: $4.6 million salary cap hit, UFA after 2019-20

The 27-year-old Toffoli is a natural right wing, has a Stanley Cup title on his résumé and is on pace for 20 goals and 45 points this season for a Kings team that doesn’t have much in the way of offense at all. Toffoli has surpassed 30 goals and 50 points once in his career, but is more along the lines of a player capable of the numbers he’s putting up this season.

It certainly looks like the 6-foot, 200-pounder has lost some of his game as the Kings have edged away from competitor status, and perhaps a return to a legit Cup hopeful like the Bruins would return some of the bounce to his game. He won’t cost nearly as much as Kreider, and remains a secondary option for the Bruins should they miss out on their 1172459 Boston Bruins 2. Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks

3. Victor Olofsson, Buffalo Sabres

David Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron among NHL's midseason award Lady Byng Trophy — to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best contenders type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.

1. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche By Joe Haggerty January 23, 2020 12:05 PM 2. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

3. Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis Blues The NHL regular season midpoint is a natural time to take a peek at the candidates for the NHL Awards, and that’s exactly what the PHWA Vezina Trophy — to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his (Professional Hockey Writers Association) does with their Midseason position. NHL Awards timed to come out at All-Star weekend. 1. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets The first-place Bruins are well-represented, as Boston’s lone All-Star player representative David Pastrnak has been named one of three 2. Ben Bishop, Dallas Stars finalists for the Hart Trophy at the halfway mark. 3. Darcy Kuemper, Arizona Coyotes

The 23-year-old Pastrnak leads all players with 37 goals scored in 51 Jack Adams Award — to the coach adjudged to have contributed the games played for the Bruins at the break and is fourth in the NHL with 70 most to his team's success. points while on pace for 60 goals and 114 points this season. 1. Mike Sullivan, Pittsburgh Penguins LIVE stream the Celtics all season and get the latest news and analysis on all of your teams from NBC Sports Boston by downloading the My 2. John Tortorella, Columbus Blue Jackets Teams App. 3. Craig Berube, St. Louis Blues While Patrice Bergeron has missed time with injuries and Brad Marchand Jim Gregory GM of the Year Award — to the General Manager adjusted went ice cold in much of December and January, Pastrnak has been the to have contributed most to his team's success. constant game-breaker and power play weapon who, at times, has been the one thing pulling the Bruins through some of the tough times. 1. Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche Pastrnak was one of three players on the midseason Hart Trophy list along with Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Colorado’s Nathan 2. John Chayka, Arizona Coyotes MacKinnon in some very select company. 3. Doug Armstrong, St. Louis Blues The Bruins were also represented on the Selke trophy midseason ballot Rod Langway Award — to the defenseman who best excels in the as Patrice Bergeron was one of three finalists for the award for best defensive aspect of the game. defensive player, an award that No. 37 has already won four times in his esteemed NHL career. 1. Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes

Bergeron is winning 58.3 percent of his faceoffs while ranking fourth in 2. Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning the NHL with 550 draw wins overall and has posted 21 goals and 41 points in 42 games along with a plus-15 rating. Bergeron was named a 3. Roman Josi, Nashville Predators Selke Trophy midseason finalist along with Philadelphia’s Sean Couturier Comeback Player of the Year Award — to the player who returned to a and St. Louis center Ryan O’Reilly, a trio of names who are no strangers previous high level of performance that was interrupted by subpar play, to being considered for the league’s top defensive award. long-term injury or major illness. Haggerty: Lauzon makes strong case to stick around 1. William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs Here are the full results for the PHWA Midseason NHL Awards with 117 2. Anthony Duclair, Ottawa Senators writers from all 32 NHL chapters participating who will also be voting on the genuine NHL Awards ballot at the end of the season. So it's a pretty 3. Max Pacioretty, Vegas Golden Knights good indicator both Pastrnak and Bergeron could be finalists at the end of the season as well: Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.24.2020

Hart Trophy — to the player adjudged to be most valuable to his team.

1. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

2. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

3. David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins

Norris Trophy — to the defenseman who demonstrates the greatest all- round ability in the position.

1. John Carlson, Washington Capitals

2. Roman Josi, Nashville Predators

3. Dougie Hamilton, Carolina Hurricanes

Selke Trophy — to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game.

1. Sean Couturier, Philadelphia Flyers

2. Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins

3. Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis Blues

Calder Trophy — to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition.

1. Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche 1172460 Boston Bruins a minor-leaguer. It also serves notice to those whose competitiveness might have been compromised by fatigue or roster comfort.

All that said, the Bruins have done some good things through 51 games: Bruins at the break: Good, but not good enough — and they intend to create more competition • Tuukka Rask submitted Vezina-level play up to his Jan. 14 concussion. Rask’s .939 five-on-five save percentage is the highest in the league among goalies with 1,000 or more minutes played. He is in line to be By Fluto Shinzawa Jan 23, 2020 available after the break.

• The Bruins are expected to allow a league-low 2.00 goals per 60 minutes of five-on-five play, according to Evolving-Hockey. The Karson Kuhlman, assigned to Providence on Wednesday, will probably situational partnership (immediately after power plays, endgames while be up for good when he’s recalled following the Bruins’ midseason break. protecting leads) of Zdeno Chara and Brandon Carlo, in particular, has The cases for fellow youngsters Jeremy Lauzon and Anton Blidh as full- been outstanding: 10 goals for and two goals against at five-on-five, time NHL players are not as airtight, but they are options. according to Natural Stat Trick.

The message management and coaches are sending via their presence • Brad Marchand (21-44–65), Patrice Bergeron (21-20–41) and David in the lineup on Tuesday, however, could not be clearer: Going forward, Pastrnak (league-leading 37 goals) are too dangerous to be kept quiet for playing time will not be guaranteed for the incumbents on this good-but- long. not-great team. • Although the power play is 0-for-15 in the previous four games, it “We decided a couple weeks ago that we needed a little more internal remains No. 3 in the league (25.4 percent). Meanwhile, the Bruins have competition,” Bruce Cassidy said. “Generally, that starts from the bottom the fifth-best penalty kill (83.1 percent). up. We identified some guys in Providence that were playing well.” General managers who are satisfied with play, however, do not place two The Bruins command first place in the Atlantic Division. Eight points veterans on waivers in a three-day span. Don Sweeney will make more separate the Bruins and the second-place Lightning. transactions before the Feb. 24 trade deadline.

The standings are misleading. It’s been a good pre-break run. But unless the Bruins shape up, resumption of a similar performance will not be good enough. Tampa owns the league’s best goal differential at plus-38. The Bruins are third (plus-34). Job security might be one reason the Bruins (9-7-7 in their The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 past 23 games) have been treading water for longer than they expected.

“For where we are in the standings, I feel like some days you go home and it’s like, ‘God, we should all feel better about ourselves,’” Cassidy said. “You’re in first place. You got out of the gates well. But as a coach, you’re always looking at: ‘Is your game in order from start to finish?’ That’s where we go home at night and say, ‘We’ve got to fix this. We’ve got to tidy up this.’ The Bruins have always protected leads. There’s a good example, right? This is a year where they have gotten away from us. Why is that? So we always seem to be in fix mode this year even though we’ve been fairly consistent at accumulating points.”

The Bruins started the season with scant roster turnover. Brett Ritchie and Par Lindholm were the only newcomers to a lineup that fell one game short of a Stanley Cup.

Ritchie has been demoted to Providence. David Backes, waived last Friday, might soon join Ritchie.

Cassidy has scratched Lindholm for five of the previous seven games. On Tuesday, in the final game before the Bruins’ break, Lindholm had company in the TD Garden press box: John Moore and Joakim Nordstrom.

NHL players, particularly those who occupy the lineup’s lower tiers, know job security is an oxymoron. Ritchie is on a one-year, $1 million dice roll of a deal. Lindholm is earning $800,000 this year and next. Nordstrom is playing for his next contract. Moore has been scratched before.

It is still a shock to the system, however, when you report to the rink to see your name absent from that night’s lineup — or from the varsity roster at all. Ritchie, better of late but ghostly overall, got the boot first. Two days later, Backes received word that his time in Boston — perhaps in the NHL altogether — is over.

The situation is not as bleak for Nordstrom or Moore. Perhaps both veterans will be back in uniform when the Bruins resume play on Jan. 31 against Winnipeg. But an unwelcome visit to the Garden’s ninth floor cannot help but grab both of the players’ attention. A coach does not yank players out of the lineup to signal satisfaction with their performance.

Kuhlman, Lauzon and Blidh are not the Bruins’ high-end prospects. It appears Kuhlman’s NHL future is as a No. 3 right wing, penalty killer and energy forward. Lauzon’s so-so skating could make top-four residence a challenge. Blidh projects to be a fringe fourth-liner.

Their limitations, however, do not dampen their eagerness to make the most of their opportunities. Against Vegas on Tuesday, all three exhibited a frenzy to maximize each shift by competing. This style of play can be infectious. No teammate wants to fall short of the standard of work set by 1172461 Buffalo Sabres Cozens' big night

Sabres prospect Dylan Cozens had three goals among four points in Lethbridge's 7-1 victory over Moose Jaw in a Ralph Krueger's 'very positive attitude' resonates with Nashville's Roman game Wednesday night. It was Cozens' first hat trick of the season and Josi his fourth four-point game.

Cozens, who was drafted seventh overall by Buffalo last June, has 24 By Lance Lysowski Published Thu, Jan 23, 2020 goals among 53 points in 33 games for Lethbridge. He has four goals among seven points in three games since returning from the IIHF World Junior Championship, where he won a gold medal with Canada.

ST. LOUIS -- As a boy growing up in Switzerland, Nashville Predators Skills competition defenseman Roman Josi would watch the country's national team compete in the Winter Olympics and IIHF World Championship. The NHL All-Star Skills Competition begins Friday night in Enterprise Center at 8 p.m., Eastern. The events will include fastest skater, save The Swiss were never viewed as one of the global powers. However, streak, accuracy shooting and hardest shot. The elite women's 3-on-3 Josi was among a generation of young players who witnessed the game will begin at 6 p.m. country's breakthrough in . Switzerland upset Russia at the world championships in 2000 and pulled off a shocking win over Canada Buffalo News LOADED: 01.24.2020 at the Winter Olympics in 2006.

The man behind Switzerland's bench for both wins: Ralph Krueger, who coached the national team from 1997-2010. Josi played under Krueger for two world championships in 2009 and 2010, and they were reunited for Team Europe's run to the final at the World Cup of Hockey in 2016.

"He’s a great speaker," Josi said of Krueger Thursday night during all- star media availability at Stifel Theatre. "When he steps in the room and says something before the game, he’s one of those guys that everybody is listening. He has a very positive attitude. … He’s one of those guys you like as a player."

Remarkably, two Swiss players are all-stars this season: Josi and New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier, who was drafted first overall in 2017. Though the latter never played under Krueger, both developed through the national program built by the Buffalo Sabres' coach.

Krueger had the junior national teams use the same systems and tactics he deployed with the senior program. A professional approach helped the Swiss build an impressive pipeline for its national team.

Josi was drafted 38th overall by the Predators in 2008 after playing in Switzerland's top professional league at 17 years old. The 29-year-old has been selected to three NHL All-Star Games and helped Nashville reach the Stanley Cup final in 2017. His 48 points in 47 games this season make him a likely Norris Trophy finalist.

"Number one, I coached him for multiple years, and I know him as well as any player in the National Hockey League and his offensive production has been outstanding," Krueger said of Josi when the Sabres were preparing to face the Predators last Saturday in Nashville. "He’s brilliant in what he can create with the smallest gaps and smallest holes. You need to be really solid defensively to neutralize him."

Josi also helped Switzerland win a silver medal at the world championships in 2013 and has served as the Predators' captain for the past two seasons. The NHL seemed attainable to Josi after Mark Streit, who played under Krueger, joined the Montreal Canadiens in 2005.

Streit went on to play 786 regular-season games over 12 seasons in the league.

"That was huge," Josi said of Streit. "He was the first skater who made it to the NHL and that kind of opened the doors for us younger kids. That belief you can make it from Switzerland. The NHL seemed so far for kids from Switzerland. … He gave us that belief."

Olofsson finalist

Sabres winger Victor Olofsson received the third-most Calder Trophy votes in the Professional Hockey Writers Association's midseason award balloting, the results of which were unveiled Thursday morning. Olofsson, 24, finished behind Colorado's Cale Makar and Vancouver's Quinn Hughes.

Olofsson has 16 goals among 35 points in 42 games this season. A lower-body injury has kept him out of the Sabres' lineup since Jan. 2.

Jack Eichel was not among the three finalists for the Hart Trophy, which was led by Edmonton's Connor McDavid. Other midseason award winners include Washington's John Carlson (Norris Trophy), Philadelphia's Sean Couturier (Selke), Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck (Vezina), Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan (Jack Adams) and Toronto's William Nylander (Comeback Player of the Year). 1172462 Buffalo Sabres During the skills competition Friday, Eichel’s speed will be matched against Barzal, Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon, Edmonton’s Connor McDavid, Ottawa’s Anthony Duclair, Philadelphia’s Travis Konecny and Fellow NHL all-stars explain why Sabres' Jack Eichel is 'one of the best' Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes.

However, Eichel has also developed his play away from the puck.

By Lance Lysowski Ryan O’Reilly knows Eichel better than any other all-star since the two are close friends and played three seasons together in Buffalo. Like many young centers, Eichel took time to learn the nuances of the position, such as faceoffs and defensive-zone coverage. ST. LOUIS -- Fans inside the 3,100-seat Stifel Theatre were able to watch and listen to each NHL all-star answer questions during media day O’Reilly, who is regarded as one of the best two-way centers in the Thursday night. league, was impressed by Eichel’s defense when the Sabres played the Blues twice this season. In addition to being the best player on the ice One group wearing St. Louis Blues apparel wasn’t paying attention when both games, Eichel helped shutdown O’Reilly during the first meeting. the Metropolitan Division all-stars sat at their respective podiums. The fans were too busy watching the nearby NHL Network set, where Buffalo O’Reilly had zero shots on goal with a minus-3 rating when Eichel scored Sabres captain Jack Eichel was being interviewed. two goals in a 5-2 Sabres win Dec. 10 at KeyBank Center.

Among other topics, Eichel teased what he will wear on the red carpet “You see how confident he is in his game,” O’Reilly said. “You’ve seen Saturday night ahead of the NHL All-Star Game in Enterprise Center. him put the team on his back and take control of a game and make these This is the 23-year-old’s third all-star selection in as many seasons, and unbelievable plays. Just dominate. It’s very impressive to see, even in all he’ll again compete in the fastest skater competition as part of the skills aspects of his game. Defensively, playing against him the two times, it challenge Friday night. was so hard. He’s skating, he’s making it difficult on guys. He wants the puck and he goes and gets it. That’s why he’s one of the best players in This all-star appearance is different than the two that preceded it, though. this league.” Eichel is amid an MVP-caliber season in which he’s on pace for 47 goals, 57 assists and 105 points. He’s already matched his previous career high Eichel's play has generated a blend of admiration and annoyance around of 28 goals with 33 regular-season games remaining, a performance that the league. He has what Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson has captivated players from around the league. called "all the tools you could ever want," and his skill set has helped him draw 21 penalties, the third-most in the NHL. “I get the opportunity and challenge to play against him four or five times a year, and you can see him developing every year,” Tampa Bay Even Eichel's competition expressed excitement to watch him compete in Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman said on stage Thursday night. “The the 3-on-3 all-star tournament, which begins Saturday night with the consistency he’s had this year, the point streak, is very impressive. You Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions playing at 8 p.m., Eastern. can see how much he means to that team. He’s one of those guys who’s a challenge to play against every night and seeing him at 3 on 3 is going The event will be a snapshot of speed, shot and strength that have made to be very fun.” Eichel one of the league's best.

Eichel isn’t done, either. A number of all-stars, including Chicago "You have breakfast watching highlights and he’s on there every Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane, noted that Eichel will continue to morning," MacKinnon said. "He’s really unique. He’s effortless out there. improve with age and experience. Though Eichel averaged more than a It doesn’t look like he’s going that fast, but he’s the fastest guy on the ice. point per game last season, he’s on a historic pace during his fifth year in Just effortless power. One of the best players in the league right now in the NHL. general ..."

The former second overall draft pick could finish with the most goals and Buffalo News LOADED: 01.24.2020 points of any Sabre since Pat LaFontaine and Alexander Mogilny in 1992-93. Eichel’s 17-game point streak that ran Nov. 16 through Dec. 17 tied Gilbert Perreault for the longest in franchise history.

The streak began with a four-goal game Nov. 16 against Ottawa and ended Dec. 19 in Philadelphia when an upper-body injury prevented Eichel from playing against the Flyers. He has six multi-goal and 17 multi-point games this season.

“Very impressed with his game,” Kane, a South Buffalo native, said. “He’s another guy that could be up there for a -- if the Sabres ever made the playoffs -- like an MVP-type of situation. He’s a guy that really carries that team and when he’s on the ice, he has the puck a lot. He finds ways to get it back and really drives the play when he’s out there. … He’s definitely an amazing talent.”

All-stars mentioned the herculean efforts and highlight-reel goals. Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk lamented over Eichel scoring four goals, including two in the second period, of a 4-2 Sabres win. The season highlight-reel also includes a nifty move to beat Vegas’ Marc- Andre Fleury during a 2 on 1 earlier this month, a penalty-shot wrister to send Buffalo to an overtime win over Edmonton and his toe drag that fooled Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Eichel joined as the only Sabres with at least 20 goals and 50 points in five consecutive seasons to start their careers. Eichel is also the seventh player to represent the team in at least three all-star games, joining Martin (7), Perreault (6), Dominik Hasek (5), Mike Ramsey (4), Phil Housley (3) and Mogilny (3).

Eichel ranks third among all NHL forwards in average ice time per game (22:06) and is shooting 17.2 percent, more than double his rate through 49 games last season. He’s always had elite speed, as New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal noted.

“First glance when you watch him, his skating is second to none in the league,” Barzal said. 1172463 Buffalo Sabres “I’m kind of focusing on controlling what I can control,” he said. “Do I think that one day I can find a way to stick in the NHL? One hundred percent. I think you look at guys’ careers and everyone has a different path to get Former Sabres prospect Justin Bailey riding unique hat trick streak where they want to be.

“Obviously, I’m grateful for everything that’s happened in my career. I’ve played a good amount of NHL games. … I definitely know what it takes to By Bill Hoppe get to the NHL. I’m still trying to figure out how to stay there full time.”

The 6-foot-4, 214-pound Bailey credits his offseason training – he spent much of the summer working out in Arizona – for his strong season. He In his first four and a half seasons of pro hockey, former Buffalo Sabres said he added a little size without losing any speed. prospect Justin Bailey compiled 13 two-goal games but never scored a hat trick. “I knew what I needed for my body,” he said. “I’m 24 now, I’ve been a pro now for five years.” Then on Jan. 10, in his 312th appearance, the Williamsville native recorded three goals in the Utica Comets’ 5-2 win against the Lehigh Bailey enjoyed a strong start this season, scoring three goals in the first Valley Phantoms. four games. The Comets, meanwhile, roared out of the gate, winning their first eight contests. Entering Wednesday’s games, they ranked first Following a game without a goal, the speedy Bailey exploded again early in the North Division. in the Comets’ 6-5 victory against the on Jan. 15, scoring three times in the opening 15:15. The Comets feature one of the AHL’s deepest lineups. Bailey is one of six players who have already recorded 30 points. “It’s a little bit of a streak that doesn’t happen very often,” Bailey said of having two hat tricks in five days. Bailey, a right-handed shot, has been skating at left wing, a position he played two years ago with the Sabres. He said he prefers playing there Bailey’s mother, Karen Buscaglia, who attends as many of her son’s because he can grab pucks that rim around in the defensive zone on his games as she can, missed the special performances. forehand and zoom up the ice. “She was … kind of just like, ‘Damn, I don’t get to see any of your hat Playing in Utica, the AHL’s smallest media market, can be a special tricks,’ ” Bailey said. experience. The Comets routinely pack the Adirondack Bank Center, Then on Friday, the wintry weather nearly forced Buscaglia to cancel her their 3,900-seat home. outing to Utica. But instead of driving, she made the three-hour trip by “You could say the Comets are kind of the main attraction in the city,” he train. said. “It’s a smaller barn, it gets loud, the ceiling’s low. I remember Bailey scored twice in the second period before his teammates set him playing against Utica, you kind of knew the first 10 minutes of the game, up for an empty-net goal in the Comets’ 6-3 win over Hartford. An you were going to have to kind of weather their storm. ... player hadn’t recorded consecutive three-goal “I can only imagine what it’s like come playoff time.” games since former Sabres winger Mark Mancari in January 2011. Buffalo News LOADED: 01.24.2020 “It was a pretty cool moment for her to be there on Friday,” Bailey said.

Buscaglia said the moment was kind of “surreal.”

Having compiled 13 goals and 19 points in his last 13 games, Bailey is the AHL’s hottest scorer. He just earned player of the week honors. His 22 goals were tied for sixth in the league entering Wednesday’s games.

“All those games, it was kind of crazy, just like everything I was shooting was going in,” Bailey said.

Bailey, 24, has acclimated well to the Comets, his third AHL team in the last year, providing offense and showcasing his versatility for the Vancouver Canucks’ top affiliate.

“I’ve been playing every situation,” said Bailey, who has scored nine power-play goals and also kills penalties.

Last January, the Sabres traded Bailey to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Taylor Leier, a swap of young AHL wingers.

Bailey, a second-round pick in 2013, was one of the Sabres’ top prospects for years. He scored 20 goals in each of his first two seasons with the and earned recalls to the Sabres.

But his development stalled, and with a new regime running the Sabres, his days in the organization seemed numbered. He cleared waivers last season and was a healthy scratch with the Amerks before being dealt.

Bailey played 11 games with the Flyers. Still, they did not tender him a contract offer – Bailey’s grateful the Flyers let him find a new organization instead of stashing him in the minors – making him a free agent.

“I’m happy where I am right now,” said Bailey, who signed a two-way contract with the Canucks on July 4.

Bailey, who played 52 games for the Sabres, has always found his way back to the NHL.

Two years ago, he suffered a high ankle sprain and endured a 21-game goal drought with the Amerks, yet he rebounded and received a late- season recall. Last year, following a tough stretch in Rochester, the Flyers summoned him from Lehigh Valley right away.

Right now, Bailey doesn’t want to worry about the NHL. 1172464 Calgary Flames

Tkachuk billboards go up in Edmonton as total funds raised tops $67,000

JASON HERRING Updated: January 23, 2020

Drivers in Edmonton were reminded of much-maligned Calgary Flames winger Matthew Tkachuk Wednesday, after billboards featuring the feisty forward popped up in Alberta’s capital.

The advertisement, featuring Tkachuk’s No. 19 and boasting “Matthew Tkachuk’s friendship tour coming Jan. 29” — the date the Edmonton Oilers next face off against the Flames — are appearing on rotation on some electronic billboards in the city.

The idea for the antagonizing billboards came from Flames fan Mohamed Elsaghir, who started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the billboard as a joke. It quickly picked up steam and a Calgary radio station offered to co-ordinate the billboards themselves, leaving funds raised to go toward ALS research — a cause chosen in support of Flames assistant general manager Chris Snow, who announced his diagnosis with the disease in December.

Overall, Elsaghir’s campaign raised more than $21,000, which he had an opportunity to present to Snow on Thursday.

“(Snow is) one strong individual. To keep such a positive attitude while going through something like this is incredible,” he said. “In the end, I hope both Oilers and Flames fans realize how much good we accomplished.

“Hockey differences aside, this is why I love Alberta.”

Though originally planned, Tkachuk’s face doesn’t appear on the billboards due to legal “hurdles,” Elsaghir said.

The fundraising for ALS wasn’t the only Battle of Alberta charity this month. Edmonton fans raised more than $37,000 for Brown Bagging For Calgary’s Kids, who say they will be able to feed about 18,500 schoolchildren with the money.

Add in money for an Edmonton youth shelter and the total money raised tops $67,000.

A vitriolic Battle of Alberta on Jan. 11, which featured Oilers forward Zack Kassian pummelling Tkachuk after taking several hard hits from the Flames player, sparked the philanthropic month. The two teams meet again next week for a home-and-home on Jan. 29 and Feb. 1.

Calgary Herald: LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172465 Calgary Flames “My wife is crazy when it comes to those things — she makes us take pictures,” said Keith with a chuckle. “I don’t know what we did with all the pictures from his bedroom, but he has so many. The last all-star game I All-Star game in St. Louis is a family affair for Tkachuks played in was Montreal and he got to take pictures with Iginla and Toews and Kane and guys he plays against now.

So, it’s weird when you look at it. He was a little boy looking for Kristen Anderson, Postmedia autographs.

“Now he’s out there pissing them off.”

When the National Hockey League announced that the All-Star game Maybe not this weekend though . . . was heading to St. Louis, of course, the Tkachuks had hoped. “It’s a fun event,” said Chantal. “And it’s fun to see the players have fun These things aren’t a guarantee, as so many things can happen during and enjoy meeting with people from other teams or reconnecting with the course of a season; an invite is based on many things, one of which guys they’ve known throughout their careers. is performance. “For someone like Matthew, a lot of these guys were his idols growing But when it was announced that Chantal Tkachuk’s eldest son — and, up. For him to get to play with them in something like this is incredibly just this week, her middle child, too — would be participating in an event special.” that they’d drug their kids to many times over Keith’s playing career, she was thrilled. Keith is pumped, too.

“For both of them, it was a personal goal and it was something that they “That’s the rink he grew up going to and skating at, sitting on the bench, hoped they could both be here,” said Chantal, calling earlier this week watching practice,” he said. “I think he’s more pumped for us. But for me, before her house began filling up for the weekend’s festivities. “We didn’t he gets to go play with guys he normally doesn’t get to play with in a really talk about it. But I think it was the elephant in the room. Everybody great environment. knew it was in St. Louis and everybody was hoping that they might have “You’re looked at as one of the better players in the league for having a chance to do that. one of the better years. I’m happy for him. He’s worked hard to get it and “Especially because it will be the only time in their career that it will be it’s a bonus to do it in his hometown.” here.” ICE CHIPS

Here, as in, Enterprise Center which has been so well attended by the Both of the Tkachuk brothers are set to square off in the NHL Shooting Tkachuks that it could be considered one of their second homes. It was Stars competition. They’re two of eight NHL all-stars and one each the place they grew up watching their dad skate when he was a member Canadian and American elite women’s all-star team member who’ll be of the Blues in the early 2000s nearly up until his retirement in 2010. positioned on an elevated platform behind the goal, approximately 30 That significance is not lost on anybody. feet above the ice surface. From there, they’ll shoot pucks at a variety of targets located on the ice, with each target possessing different point “You can go a whole career and not have it all line up like that,” pointed values. Each player will attempt seven shots and earn points for each out Flames general manager Brad Treliving. “So I think this will be target hit . . . Matthew and Brady will join Boston’s David Pastrnak, certainly one of those that when he looks back throughout his career and Chicago’s Patrick Kane, Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin, Blues when his career is done, this will be one of those really cool moments. forwards Ryan O’Reilly and David Perron, and Maple Leafs forward . . . Flames captain Mark Giordano will be competing in the NHL “He’s very deserving. For me, he’s continuing to take steps forward and Hardest Shot competition . . . Netminder David Rittich is set to debut in has again this year. He’s so important for us.” the NHL’s Save Streak, a massive shootout grouped by division where Keith represented the Phoenix Coyotes three times at the NHL All-Star goalies will compete to make the most consecutive saves. Each goalie game and did again twice more as a member of the St. Louis Blues will face one opposing division and a minimum of nine scoring attempts. before his career was over. Calgary Sun: LOADED: 01.24.2020 Matthew, who is currently leading the Calgary Flames in scoring with 15 goals and 23 assists in 49 games this season, was named the Calgary Flames representative along with captain Mark Giordano and netminder David Rittich.

Brady, a member of the Ottawa Senators, was named as a last-minute injury replacement for Auston Matthews this week — a no-brainer considering his current season and connection to the city.

So, between Matthew and Brady’s incoming pals, their family and friends — plus all of the NHL commitments, alumni get-togethers and their own party they’re hosting on Saturday night — this weekend will be nothing like they’ve ever experienced in Keith’s days.

“Obviously, it’s such an honour and so special to have it be in St. Louis and in (their) hometown,” Chantal said. “It makes it that much more special for Matthew, Brady and our family. It’s going to be at the rink they grew up going to all the time and watching their dad and skating at.

“We’re just able to include that many more people in the celebration because it’s in St. Louis. It makes it really, really special for all of us . . . your first one is pretty cool.”

Chantal has a tough time remembering Keith’s first one in 1997 in San Jose while Matthew was born later that year in December.

But she happily can supply the photo evidence of her brood at the others. Matthew as a toddler in 1999 with the Tampa Bay Lightning mascot. In 2004 at Minnesota, sitting on the lap of Chris Pronger when he was barely in grade school. And in 2007 in Dallas, when he, Brady, and younger sister Taryn were between a kneeling Dustin Brown and Jarome Iginla on the ice. 1172466 Calgary Flames Previously reliant on the perimeter to create, Zavgorodniy now attacks the net without hesitation. He’s always been quick, but that new-found separation gear allows him to turn outside lane attacks into net drives. How Flames’ seventh-round pick Dmitry Zavgorodniy improved to But even more promising is the way he attacks the net from any part of become a legitimate NHL prospect the offensive zone, whether that’s down low, off the puck or from behind the net. Rather than settle for short-side jam plays on a strong goaltender, he brings the puck across the crease, forcing the goaltender to move and increasing the likelihood of a goal. No longer does he fear By Mitch Brown Jan 23, 2020 getting bowled over; he attacks the net first and worries about staying on his feet later. Even if Zavgorodniy’s drives aren’t successful, since he’s forcing the goaltender to move, his efforts create opportunities for his One hundred and twenty-seven. That’s the number of points that Dmitry teammates. Zavgorodniy is on pace for in a 68-game season. A product of the new-found separation gear and net-driving mentality, Beyond the obvious impressiveness of a 1.87 points-per-game clip, it’s Zavgorodniy has almost eradicated the unpressured long-range wrister even more remarkable when considering that Zavgorodniy scored just 64 from his repertoire. The long-range wrister without pressure isn’t points last season. necessarily a bad play, but it’s not the best one. His shot packs long- range power, but it originates from well behind his skates, allowing to While Zavgorodniy has undoubtedly received a boost playing with goaltender to easily track the puck off his stick. Since he had the space projected No. 1 pick Alexis Lafrenière and 20-year-old Cédric Paré, he’s to get closer to the net, why not use it? made the leap. His skating has improved to the point where he continually separates from defenders, enabling him to be more Zavgorodniy has exchanged the unpressured wristers from a distance for aggressive than ever getting to the dangerous areas of the ice. Now closer, but pressured looks. The trade-off is easily worth it for a player of more than ever, his game aligns with what he’ll have to do in the NHL, his skill level, as pressure doesn’t alter his shot mechanics. Here’s a which makes projecting him as an NHLer easier. particularly glaring example. Zavgorodniy, rather than stickhandle through the defender, uses his speed to gain the outside lane. Another Zavgorodniy isn’t doing what one typically expects from a small, high- defender closes in at the top of the circle. Sensing pressure, many scoring junior player. He’s not dangling through everyone to score players shoot from the circle, which is fine — it’s a guaranteed shot, but dazzling goals or making crazy passes through five players that rarely with no traffic, no passing threat and plenty of distance, it’s not all that work anywhere else. Instead, he’s the sanitation worker on his line, doing dangerous. Zavgorodniy instead initiates contact with the defender by the tough work that is often taken for granted. dropping his shoulder and sticks his butt out to keep the defender on his A quick bump from the opposition is often all that’s required to knock back. The defender rides him to the hash marks, where Zavgorodniy — Zavgorodniy down. Some games, it seems like he’s spending more time without showing any shines of a player pulling on him — wires a shot off on the ice than with the puck. But somehow, Zavgorodniy wins battles. the post. He wins them over and over, even if he’s knocked to the ground in the Patient and crafty, Zavgorodniy regularly stickhandles when most players process. Since he can’t win with strength or size, he’s found new success shoot. He’s not afraid to attempt an extra move to try to get a better look with skill and timing. with defenders bearing down on him. Sometimes, his patience pays off in There are two ways that Zavgorodniy wins battles, the first of which is the form of a play that only a handful of his peers can make. Others, it’s a dictating when the initiation of contact takes place. Armed with closing missed opportunity as a result of an overhandle. speed, he’s able to dip off the radar, then pounce once the defender While a talented shooter, I hesitate to describe Zavgorodniy as a finisher. drops his guard. This trickery leads to the mechanics of how he initiates He absolutely can finish, often in clever and creative ways, but he contact. Much like Johnny Gaudreau, he shrinks during the battle, trying continually bungles cross-slot passes because of his lack of a one-timer to shift the momentum of the defender to his back. Then, he attacks the and he produces little on breakaways. He doesn’t have that instinctual- opposition, pinning their skates along the boards with his feet, taking type finishing ability (i.e., movement timed with teammates’ actions into control of possession or buying time for a teammate to support the battle. passing and shooting lanes) characteristic of 30-goal-scorers in the NHL. Here’s an example: after shooting on a 2-on-1, he recovers possession However, Zavgorodniy does have more identity as a passer, really by pinning the defender’s skates to the boards while Paré supports the leaning into the short-range passes that made him so tantalizing in battle. After receiving the return feed, he sends a saucer pass over the previous years. With defenders in his face or pulling him to the ice, he defender’s leg for Lafrenière to hit out of mid-air. While it’s a high degree finds a way to complete passes into the slot for teammates. Many of of difficulty on the shot, Zavgorodniy has no other options — he trusts these passes travel through sticks, skates and bodies to land perfectly on that elite talent will do what elite talent does. the stick of the target. He integrates look-offs and fakes into the passes The second and most crucial way Zavgorodniy wins battles is by limiting to keep his desired lane open and his shooter free of pressure. the amount of time he spends battling. As a player who’s often swatted The same short-range passes that stand out in the offensive zone are a away, he understands his best bet is to escape the battle as quickly as vital part of Rimouski’s breakout. Zavgorodniy routinely hits challenging possible. With quick cuts and turns, and hand speed to match, he often targets while pressured by the opposition, sending passes into space for fishes the puck out and slips away with possession in one swoop. his teammates to maintain their stride through pass reception. More The sum of controlling contact and escapability is a player who wins speed has enabled Zavgorodniy to make greater use of the give-and-go battles, escapes them and immediately creates opportunities. In the clip in transition. He’s become quite dangerous as middle or outside lane below, Zavgorodniy initiates contact to push the defender off-balance as support, using his speed to slip past defenders and create a return they go into the boards. Zavgorodniy times a stick lift with the defender opportunity. touching the puck while extended on the backhand. If he stick-lifts earlier, The final area that’s worth describing is Zavgorodniy’s defensive game. the defender can take control of Zavgorodniy’s stick. Any later, and the His activity level and commitment to hunting down steals have always defender will seal him off along the boards and escape with possession. been selling points. At least once a game, he makes a timely interception After escaping the battle and turning to the slot, Zavgorodniy’s defining in the slot or steals the puck from a player along the blue line. He often skill shows itself: making plays while pressured. With a defender in his gambles for a steals at the cost of positioning, which will hopefully face, he passes the puck through a set of legs to the tape of his balance out with more experience. Whether he’s pressuring the puck teammate. carrier on the backcheck, antagonizing the goaltender or forcing puck Zavgorodniy also has the skills to avoid puck battles altogether. In close- carriers into bad decisions on the breakout, he’s making life miserable for quarters, where many players get squeezed along the boards, the opposition. Zavgorodniy out-maneuvers many defenders with cutbacks and On the second shift of Nov. 17th’s game, Zavgorodniy skated down the stickhandling. He enters his cutbacks with a neutral body position before ice for a routine retrieval. The ensuing puck battle ended with tensioning his body and leaning his inside edge to turn back the other Zavgorodniy clutching his neck and skating to the bench. With one hit, way swiftly. Even defenders with particularly strong footwork struggle to Zavgorodniy’s chance for 100 points and representing Russia at the match Zavgorodniy, who is always seeking to face the slot as he plans World Juniors was erased. his escape. With an 8-12 week recovery time, Zavgorodniy’s expected return time is somewhere in mid-January to February. While Rimouski will likely continue their high-scoring ways without Zavgorodniy, they’ll need him for the playoffs.

A year ago, Zavgorodniy seemed like a skilled long-shot to play in the NHL. His game just wasn’t advanced enough. Now, it’s quite easy to see where he fits in an NHL lineup. He’s talented enough to support top-six scorers with retrievals and dual-threat scoring or take the lead on a secondary line. I suspect time in the AHL is required to add strength and adjust to the pro pace, but an NHLer seems quite possible. Not bad for the 198th pick.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172467 Carolina Hurricanes Which is what Brind’Amour said at the time: “My job is to show up and play.”

Maurice, the day after the trade, noted that the same things usually were Rod Brind’Amour recalls a snowy scene, a career-changing day with the said in describing Brind’Amour. Canes “A great character guy. A perfectionist when it comes to physical conditioning,” Maurice said in 2000. “He’s a very intense man. A man BY CHIP ALEXANDER JANUARY 23, 2020 01:00 PM with a tremendous amount of pride to his game.”

In 2002, Brind’Amour and the Canes were playing in the Stanley Cup final, losing to a Detroit Red Wings team packed with future Hockey Hall RALEIGH-Many remember the great Raleigh snowstorm of January of Famers. In 2006, he was the Canes captain, raising the Cup in victory. 2000, when almost two feet of snow fell in a week’s time, paralyzing the After retiring as a player in 2010, his jersey number, No. 17, was retired city. by the Hurricanes.

Rod Brind’Amour does. He flew into the middle of the storm, landing in On Tuesday night, Brind’Amour was behind the Canes bench and what seemed to be a surreal scene, appearing stunned, dazed and Maurice behind the Winnipeg bench as the Jets’ coach. confused by all that was happening to him. “There’s three or four guys that I thought had the biggest impact (on the On Jan. 23, 2000, Brind’Amour was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes by Canes franchise),” Maurice said before the game. “Kevin Dineen, Gary the Philadelphia Flyers. It ended the Canes’ messy situation and Roberts, Ron Francis and then Rod Brind’Amour, in that chronological contentious contract talks with center Keith Primeau, while bringing in a order. They were the right kind of character guys that they could turn a veteran player who would help alter the future of the Carolina franchise franchise around. And they did.” and one day make it a Stanley Cup champion. As a coach, Brind’Amour said it’s easier to relate to a player who has “It was a tough time for me when I first got here, I can tell you that,” been traded to the Canes, who had no say in the matter, that was forced Brind’Amour said. “It’s strange how things work out. I never would have to make a transition he didn’t expect and is much harder than he guessed we’d be saying that, you know 20 years ago, that this would be expected. how it all worked out. I feel pretty blessed, pretty fortunate that it’s worked out the way it has.” Brind’Amour had been with the Flyers for eight-plus seasons when he was traded. Then 29, he had suffered a hairline fracture in his left foot in Twenty years later, Brind’Amour is the Canes’ second-year head coach. preseason in 1999-2000 and had played just 12 games by late January. After the Canes’ 4-1 win Tuesday over the Winnipeg Jets he again has Then, he was gone. his team well-positioned for a push to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs. “It’s always tough ... when you get traded from a place that you feel is a part of you,” he said. “It’s an adjustment. It takes some time just to feel But flash back to January 2000. On the morning of Sunday, Jan. 23, he normal.” was with the Flyers in Pittsburgh, going through a morning skate, being kidded by then-teammate about a possible trade. He was the Brind’Amour said he did quickly learn the meaning of “Southern perfect fit for the Flyers, a gritty, high-effort, low-maintenance type who hospitality.” Caught in a line that stretched outside a Harris Teeter during didn’t take any shifts off. Flyers fans loved him. the snowstorm, he said a lady told him to go ahead and go inside the store, that he had no overcoat. At 2 p.m. that day, Brind’Amour got a phone call — from Paul Maurice, then the coach of the Hurricanes. The trade had been made and his new “That’s what stood out, how nice everybody was, accommodating,” coach, not Flyers general manager Bob Clarke, was giving him the news. Brind’Amour said. “A little different than I was used to, let’s put it that way.” He quickly hopped a flight and arrived at RDU to find two new teammates, Ron Francis and Gary Roberts, waiting for him. And a And now his home of 20 years. As Forslund put it, “Rod has completely snowstorm. All Brind’Amour had with him was the suit he was wearing. embraced North Carolina.”

“I didn’t have anything and then I got caught in the snowstorm for 10 THE TRADE days and couldn’t get anywhere,” he said. “I left my rental car on the On Jan. 23, 2000, the Carolina Hurricanes traded center Keith Primeau highway. I couldn’t move. It was an interesting time.” and a fifth-round pick in the 2000 NHL Draft to the Philadelphia Flyers for Brind’Amour had worn No. 17 with the Flyers but that number was taken center Rod Brind’Amour, goaltender Jean-Marc Pelletier and a second- on the Canes — by forward Jeff Daniels, now one of Brind’Amour’s round pick in the 2000 draft. assistant coaches. Brind’Amour was assigned No. 27 for the rest of his News Observer LOADED: 01.24.2020 first season.

And No. 27 wasn’t very good in his first game for the Canes the next night, in what was then called the Entertainment and Sports Arena. The Canes topped the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in overtime but Brind’Amour had three penalties including a high-sticking call that resulted in a power- play score for the Habs.

“It was probably the worst game of my life,” Brind’Amour said after the game. “At least we won.”

Brind’Amour also said he was nervous, which was understandable. At a press conference earlier that day, he appeared dazed, his eyes widening as he answered questions.

“I remember him being, I wouldn’t say confused but almost lost,” , the Canes’ longtime television play-by-play man, said. “Not lost as a player, but lost in where he was. At that time there was such a stark difference from where the Hurricanes were as a franchise and where Philadelphia was. More attention, bigger city, everything. And then dropped into this circumstance.

“I just remember him being kind of a confused athlete asking ‘What’s happened to me, how am I going to do this?’ And then immediately doing his job.” 1172468 Carolina Hurricanes The Winner: Hurricanes’ head strength coach Bill Burniston

Receiving votes: Slavin, Aho

Hurricanes player poll: The day we learned Jake Gardiner has the worst If you’ve ever heard Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour say “Go see chirps of all time Billy” in his legendary postgame locker room videos, you know of a man Canes players love and respect — Burniston.

If you’ve ever heard the classic rock and general 80s music blaring By Sara Civian Jan 23, 2020 during the Canes’ pre-game, off-ice warm-ups, you also know Billy’s work. He provides the tunes many Canes players have groaned about pre-game — but they know better than to cross Burniston. The Athletic recently published a leaguewide poll that sampled anonymous NHL player opinions on categories like best player in the If you’ve ever wondered who plays the topical bangers postgame (AKA, game, advanced analytics and the best and worst officials. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Theme in Philly, She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy in Nashville, Oops I did it Again after Svechnikov’s second lacrosse Not many Hurricanes players made the cut in any category, save for the goal, etc.), that’s team registered massage therapist Tristan Simmons. usual suspects. Jaccob Slavin, Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen got That’s what happens before and after the player of the night gets his jam. multiple nods apiece in the “Most Underrated” category. All-Star Slavin showed up again on the “Best Defensive Defenseman” leaderboard, with “So after a Canes’ win, Roddy will let me know whose song to cue up to 5 percent of the total vote. play after he addresses the team,” Simmons told The Athletic a few months ago. “All the guys have given me a song of their choice. Not It’s a mystery to me why folks like Jordan Martinook and Joel going to give out the list, but let’s just say I’m pulling for a big night from Edmundson didn’t get votes for “Player you would most like to have a Joel Edmundson, hands down best ‘tune.’ That’s the song that plays beer with,” but whatever. when the guys come off the ice after a win, but before Roddy addresses them it’s usually random. Unless there’s a theme, like L.A., it was easy to Twelve Hurricanes participated in the poll overall, though not everyone play Taylor Swift, New Jersey you may hear something from the boss — answered every question. The whole dressing room had fun with the Bruce Springsteen — and so on!” answers, as this dressing room often does. (Editor’s note: Edmundson went on his infamous first point streak of the One Cane tried to vote for color commentator Tripp Tracy for dirtiest season shortly after Simmons told me about this, and it brings me great player. Another tried to vote for Justin Williams for his Game 7 pleasure to report that the song was “Any Man of Mine” by Shania goaltender. Twain.) When asked if he pays attention to advanced analytics, one Cane simply B̶e̶s̶t̶ Worst Chirps responded: “I don’t have an Instagram.” The Winner, in a landslide: Jake Gardiner There were also tons of insightful and honest answers. I appreciated that more than they know. Received a (pity) vote: Haydn Fleury

These 12 players had even more fun with a few Hurricanes-specific I started out with pure intentions, on a quest to find the wittiest player on questions, to point where many of the votes are just jokes and can’t be the Hurricanes. It turned into an accidental roast. taken seriously. But if there’s one important takeaway, it’s how bad Jake Gardiner apparently is at chirping — which is actually endearing, isn’t it? The Athletic: “Who has the best chirps?”

I swear I tried my best to get this group to take this seriously, but you Player A: “Dzingel’s are pretty good, I’ll give him that. But you need to do know them by now. worst chirps, because that’s definitely Gards (Jake Gardiner).”

Who spends the most time in the weight room? Player D: “I’m saying Fleury ’cause I know he said Gardiner.”

The Winner: Warren Foegele Player B: “Worst chirps? That’s a no brainer. Jake Gardiner. Hands down.” Receiving votes: Andrei Svechnikov, Joel Edmundson, , Ryan Dzingel (strictly biceps) Player A, from a few stalls over: “I TOLD HER TO MAKE THAT QUESTION!” There were so many “just kidding” votes on this one, including a player voting for himself. Just a sampling of what I was dealing with: Player E, from across the room: “Literally Gardiner. He’s got, like, three of ’em …” Player A: “Who spends the most time in the weight room, guys?” Gardiner, just sitting there minding his own business: “What are you Player B: “Me!” talking about? Best chirps by a mile.”

Player A: “No, I’m not saying you. Warren Foegele.” Player D: “I didn’t say you. I said Fleurs.”

The Athletic, to Player A immediately after: “OK. Who is the funniest?” Gardiner: “I appreciate that.”

Player B: “ME!” The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 Player B: “No one’s really always just, like, crushing it in the weight room,” he paused, then perked up. “Ryan Dzingel, always on the bicep curl train.”

*Dzingel jokingly flexes from across the room*

Player B: “OHHHH! THERE HE IS! YUP!”

Player C: “Is this weights or stretching? There’s a big difference.”

Who is the best dressed?

The Winner: Nino Niederreiter

Receiving votes: Petr Mrazek

Tweets by Nino_Socks

We all know who Tripp Tracy wouldn’t vote for.

Who has the worst taste in music? 1172469 Chicago Blackhawks

Kendall Coyne Schofield’s historic appearance in the NHL’s skills competition — and its impact — is detailed in a new documentary: ‘It’s teaching future generations of our game gender doesn’t matter’

By JIMMY GREENFIELD CHICAGO TRIBUNE |JAN 23, 2020 | 11:26 AM

It was just about year ago that Kendall Coyne Schofield gave women’s hockey — all of hockey — a jolt that changed it forever.

After Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon withdrew with an injury, Coyne Schofield was asked to replace him in the fastest skater event to become the first woman to compete in the All-Star skills competition.

The Palos Heights native finished seventh in a field of the NHL’s eight fastest players with a time of 14.346 seconds.

The echoes of that single lap still are reverberating. This week, the Blackhawks released an 18-minute documentary called “As Fast As Her” that tells Coyne Schofield’s story of becoming a hockey pioneer.

“Having a moment like that, it’s teaching the future generations of our game that gender doesn’t matter,” Coyne Schofield says in the documentary. “Everyone plays the same game, they love the game. What was so special to me was to hear from so many people, thousands and thousands of young people — boys and girls — who picked up the sport because they saw that moment or said they want to be as fast as her.”

Coyne Schofield already had won an Olympic gold medal, a silver medal and had been a member of five U.S. teams that won world championships when the Avalanche asked her on the eve of the event to replace MacKinnon.

“I almost fell over,” she says.

Legendary tennis player Billie Jean King, who has been fighting for gender equality in sports for decades, understood the magnitude of the moment.

“She had one opportunity,” King says in the documentary. “She could either blow it or make it, and she made it.”

The documentary shows video of Coyne Schofield playing on the United Center ice as a child and how she attended ’s hockey camps. Granato was a member of the first U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team that won the 1998 gold medal in Nagano.

“She broke a barrier that I don’t think anyone could foresee,” Granato says in the documentary. “It’s epic. Like, what she did was epic. You just can’t script it any better. It was more than just a race. It was so much bigger than that for women’s hockey. We talk about the Olympics and a gold medal and what a gold medal can do, but that moment was also a gold medal. That moment was historic.”

And it lives on.

“To see the amount of girls playing I can’t put into words,” Coyne Schofield says. “I think about being so lonely in the rinks my whole childhood. Not seeing other girls and then just seeing the growth of the game it shows that we’re worth something.

“Cammi heard she wasn’t worth anything. I’ve heard I’m not worth anything, and I continue to fight and play this game so these little girls aren’t told they’re not worth anything.”

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172470 Chicago Blackhawks After another triple-digit season in 2018-19 — this time a new career high of 110 points — boosted his progress towards 1,000, Kane finally hit the milestone Sunday, making him the 90th player and youngest American 10 defining moments of Patrick Kane’s career entering 9th All-Star Game ever to do so.

It’s been an eventful week for the Blackhawks star, making this a good 2020: Appearing in ninth All-Star Game time to look back on Kane’s top career accomplishments so far. Kane will be the most experienced All-Star in St. Louis this weekend, and has said he continues to enjoy the annual event despite his overwhelming familiarity with it. Catching Gordie Howe and his record 23 By Ben Pope Jan 23, 2020, 4:24pm CST All-Star appearances will be difficult, though, to say the least.

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 01.24.2020 ST. LOUIS — Patrick Kane will make his ninth career NHL All-Star Game appearance this weekend, putting him at least two ahead of all other active players.

The lighthearted showcase will conclude Kane and the Blackhawks’ highly eventful week, which began Sunday when Kane scored his 1,000th career point, and continued Tuesday when both Kane and the coach who oversaw most of his career — Joel Quenneville — were honored.

Although the 31-year-old wing still has many years of dominance left in him — he’s been open about his drive to play until he’s 40 — this weekend seems like a good time to look back on 10 key moments in Kane’s on-ice career to date.

2007: Drafted 1st overall

After an earth-shattering 145-point season with the OHL’s — which retired Kane’s jersey last week — Kane was drafted by the Hawks first overall. Neither second pick James van Riemsdyk nor third pick Kyle Turris have scored even half as many points as Kane has in the years since.

2008: Won Calder Trophy

Kane scored just 21 goals in his rookie season — which remains his lowest in a season yet — but added 51 assists and won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie, beating out Nicklas Backstrom and teammate Jonathan Toews.

2009: Cover athlete of NHL 10

After another strong (if unspectacular) 2008-09 season, Kane was chosen as the first Hawks player ever to headline an edition of EA Sports’ popular NHL video game series.

2010: Scored Stanley Cup-winning goal

Kane’s innocent sliding shot that slipped through Flyers goalie Michael Leighton — and, seconds later, was found hidden under the back of the net — will live in Hawks’ lore forever. The goal cemented Kane’s status as a Chicago icon.

2013: Sent Hawks to Cup Finals

Kane’s Cup-winning goal in 2010 may top his list of his 431 career goals (381 regular season, 50 postseason) in terms of historical significance, but his double-overtime, series-ending, hat trick-completing goal in Game 5 of the 2013 Western Conference Finals isn’t far behind. Jonathan Quick never stood a chance.

2014: Signed eight-year contract

Kane and Toews both signed eight-year extensions with the Hawks in July 2014, and their $10.5 million cap hits made them the highest-paid players in hockey at the time. Both have since earned every dollar, too.

2015: Scored Cup-sealing goal

From nearly the same spot on the United Center ice where he defeated the Kings two years prior, Kane buried a 2-on-1 feed from Brad Richards to essentially seal the Hawks’ Cup-clinching Game 6 win over the Lightning.

2016: Won Hart Trophy

Despite his dominant record in the playoffs, Kane — entering 2015-16 — had never produced in the regular season at the same rate as the likes of Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin. That changed that season, when Kane recorded 46 goals and 60 assists to hit the triple-digit point plateau for the first time and win the NHL scoring title.

2020: Scored 1,000th point 1172471 Chicago Blackhawks Colliton also has continually insisted that concussed Andrew Shaw could still return at some point this season.

And while the 51 completed games certainly outweigh the 31 to go, that Blackhawks enter All-Star break with revived playoff hopes, but with work latter number is still sizable. left to do “It’s important to keep the wins going because we’re still not in that The Hawks’ 11-5-0 stretch entering the break boosted their odds playoff spot,” Murphy said. “There’s still a lot of work to be done.” substantially, up to around 35 percent. Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 01.24.2020

By Ben Pope Jan 23, 2020, 6:55am CST

Somehow, only 31 remain in the Blackhawks’ 2019-20 season, which was once barely chugging by at steam-train speed.

Outside of All-Star representative Patrick Kane, the Hawks won’t take the ice again for more than a week — not until practice in Arizona on Jan. 30 — and won’t play again until Feb. 1. That’s because the team’s bye week, a practice instituted by the NHL three years ago, falls directly after this weekend’s All-Star break.

This lengthy stretch typically provides an opportunity for players to rest, vacation and prepare for the season’s stretch run, but conventional wisdom indicates it might be arriving at an inconvenient time for the Hawks. Winners of 11 of their last 16 games — even after an emotional 4-3 loss to the Panthers on Tuesday — the team presumably would have preferred no interruptions to this momentum.

Then again, the Hawks won their last two games before the break last season, then their first five after it to put together their longest winning streak of 2018-19. And defenseman Connor Murphy said Tuesday that the knowledge of the upcoming break has influenced the Hawks’ recent success, too.

“We’ve had a few back-to-backs lately, so sometimes it’s a little of that extra mental help, knowing that if you have a little bit of a break to recoup your body, you can give that extra little push,” Murphy said.

“You can look at it different ways, but anytime you’re winning, you want to keep that going any way you can and get back out there. You just roll with your schedule and whenever the games come.”

This winning has revived the Hawks’ formerly left-for-dead playoff chances, too.

They’re now tied with the slumping Jets for ninth in the West with 54 points. They trail the eighth-place Golden Knights by three points with a game in hand.

In the low teens at the holiday break, the Hawks’ odds of qualifying for the postseason are now up to 40.7 percent, according to MoneyPuck, and 33.8 percent, according to Hockey Reference.

The conference is notably weak and full of parity, with third place and 12th place separated by only seven points (58 to 51), so an enormously wide range of possible outcomes remains plausible. According to the odds, the Hawks currently top the Jets and Wild but unsurprisingly trail the Predators, Knights and Coyotes.

3rd through 12th place in the Western Conference are separated by just 8 points right now.

Here's an aggregation of each of those teams' playoff odds (including the Blackhawks) by the 3 major calculators: pic.twitter.com/yFbTc8TFuK

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) January 23, 2020

Coach Jeremy Colliton predictably believes in his team’s chances, even if he’s likely not poring over the projections too much yet.

“It’s up to us; it’s how we play,” Colliton said after the loss to the Panthers. “Guys like Kirby [Dach], I thought he was really good tonight. That’s very encouraging. That needs to be the case, where he takes steps forward. Up and down our lineup, [we have guys] who can continue to improve, and that needs to happen. And if it does, then we’re going to have a chance.”

Getting contributors back from injury should continue to help. The recent returns of Brandon Saad and Drake Caggiula have worked wonders. Dylan Strome could return soon after the break, although Colliton has been more pessimistic than expected about his time line recently. 1172472 Chicago Blackhawks 11:15 a.m. — "Marination Session"

After fulfilling his media obligations, Kane heads to the lounge with a few teammates — DeBrincat and Strome are regulars — to hang out. This is Inside Patrick Kane's gameday routine with Blackhawks one of Kane’s favorite activities of the day.

"We call it our Marination Session,” Kane said smiling. “We just marinate By Charlie Roumeliotis January 23, 2020 10:20 AM on the couch for the next 45 minutes because we got some pretty comfortable couches there. Usually we'll be watching Hockey Central on Sportsnet. We'll watch that and just relax and talk about hockey and just sit and marinate on the couch for the next little bit." It's been a memorable week for Patrick Kane. 12 p.m. — Lunch He became the ninth player in London Knights history to have his jersey retired and first to do so after playing just one season. He also became Once the Marination Session is over, Kane hops in the shower before the youngest American-born player ever and 90th player in NHL history eating lunch with a handful of teammates at the rink. Brent Seabrook and to hit the 1,000-point mark for his career. Jonathan Toews are always part of the group, along with strength and conditioning coach Paul Goodman. Same with Kirby Dach, who’s living And this weekend, the Blackhawks superstar is participating in his ninth with Seabrook this season. Strome is slowly starting to become a regular. career NHL All-Star Game. The average amount of All-Star appearances for the other 43 players combined is 2.4. “We had a bigger crew in the past,” Kane said. “But it seems like most guys like to take their food home now, so we only have four or five guys. At age 31, Kane is still at the top of his game and showing no signs of A couple guys now are starting to join in. It’s getting to be a bigger crew." slowing down anytime soon. Kane’s go-to meal for lunch? Chicken with asparagus and some gluten- To get a glimpse of how one of the greatest players in the game free pasta. prepares, NBC Sports Chicago takes you inside Kane's gameday routine on a typical home game with a 7:30 p.m. start. 2:30-4:30 p.m. — Pregame nap

8:30 a.m. — Wake up Just before 1 p.m., Kane is back home for the afternoon. He stays up for a bit and unwinds before taking a pregame nap, which is the most well- The alarm sounds. Kane is up and immediately jumps in the shower. He known hockey tradition. doesn't waste any time. And Kane isn’t afraid to share his naps have gotten longer this season. After getting dressed, Kane places his breakfast order to the team, which he will eat at the rink. "This year I've been doing like two-hour naps,” Kane said. “They're nice. I always get in bed for my nap and tell my girlfriend, ‘this is the best part of "Two eggs over medium with sweet potatoes, spinach and then berries," game day.’ It's nice to have that two-hour nap at home and get up and Kane said. "And they have a green drink for us usually, so that's my get ready for the game.” breakfast." By 4:30, Kane is awake and ready to start his pregame preparations. He On practice days, his breakfast includes egg whites. On the second hops in the shower — his third of the day — and counts on his girlfriend game of a back-to-back, he might have some oatmeal or overnight oats. Amanda to bump up the tunes. "I like to switch it up," Kane said. "Not try to eat the same thing every “She has a playlist that will go throughout the house,” Kane said. day." After putting on his suit, Kane is ready to roll out. 9:10 a.m. — Arrive at the rink 5:15 p.m. — Arrive at United Center Kane lives in Gold Coast Chicago, so his commute to and from the United Center isn't very long. He typically listens to music, but not The Blackhawks are required to be at the arena by 5:30 because they always. have a team meeting at 5:45. Kane likes to make sure he has his ducks in a row before that. "Sometimes podcasts if there's something I'm interested in listening to," Kane said. "If there's a good Spittin' Chiclets episode I'll listen to that. But "Usually before then I'm getting all my equipment ready,” Kane said. it's only 10-15 minutes in the car for me, so usually I'll listen to whatever “Tape your stick, make sure everything else is good.” music in the morning." The meeting isn’t a long one. It’s a quick final rundown of the opponent What kind of music? that night and lasts about 5-10 minutes.

"It's kind of rotated throughout the years," Kane said. "But nothing too “After that I have a little bit of time,” Kane said. “Go back on the couch for heavy in the morning. Just wake up and get going." like 20 minutes, sit there for a little bit, and then I go do my off-ice warmup.” 9:30 a.m. — Team meeting before morning skate His off-ice warmup begins with a 5-10-minute stretch with Goodman, After eating breakfast, Kane is ready for the regularly scheduled special who’s been with the team for 12 seasons. teams meeting. First the penalty kill then the power play. But he's one of three players exempt from the former. “He’ll stretch me out and activate everything,” Kane said. “Get everything going then do maybe 5-7 minutes on my own, just kind of a dynamic "Me, [Alex] DeBrincat and [Dylan] Strome are the only ones that don't warmup. Usually I have a tennis ball, throw it around with Pauly and attend that meeting," Kane said with a laugh. against the wall, different things. Run some routes, we say, and then get Of course, the three of them will attend the power play meeting shortly ready for the game." after. 7 p.m. — Pregame warmups By that point, it's around 10 a.m. Kane spends the next 10 minutes Kane’s body is fully activated by this point and ready to hit the ice for "getting the body ready for morning skate," which starts at 10:30. He pregame warmups. He’s the second to last one out of the tunnel, in front begins putting on his equipment around 10:10 before hitting the ice and of Toews and behind Duncan Keith — the three current team captains he’s usually one of the first ones out there. with Seabrook out for the season. Morning skate runs about 20 minutes long, but most guys stay on the ice After a 16-minute warmup, Kane is the last one off the ice, a tradition he longer and often times play a game called “Two-Puck," where you get started way before the NHL. The last time he didn't follow that was Feb. two chances to score on the goaltender. The first is a shot from the slot. 24, 2015, which happened to be the game Kane broke his collarbone and The second is a shootout-type attempt. Make one of the two and you missed the remainder of the regular season. He was on pace to be the advance to the next round. Last one standing wins. Kane is a frequent NHL’s leading scorer. Now he makes sure he’s always the last one off, participant. You can only imagine how many wins he's racked up over the no matter what. years. 7:40 p.m. — Puck drop

The game has officially started. Kane averages the sixth-most minutes of any NHL forward, so you’ll see him on the ice more than most.

Where we don’t see him is during the 17-minute intermissions.

"I'll sit there and retape my stick,” Kane said. “Probably like a 2-3-minute leg shake-out with Pauly in the intermission and then just sit there and get ready. I'll take all my top equipment off, untie my skates then put them back on."

10:10 p.m. — End game

A little after 10, the game will have ended. Give or take a few minutes, depending on whether the game finished in regulation or went to overtime.

If Kane had a big night, he'll speak to the media for a second time. Recently, that's been the case.

Some players have a post-game workout. But Kane normally isn't one of them.

"It depends," Kane said. "Sometimes you're so tired after the game you just sit there and relax, kind of chill that way. I usually like getting in the sauna after the game or like going from the sauna to the cold tub, back and forth. Other times, if we have back-to-back games, I'll probably get my body stretched out a little bit and get ready that way."

11 p.m. — Postgame meal before bed

After a busy night on the ice, Kane starts to unwind off it. He hasn't eaten since lunch and doesn't like to eat right before game time, so this is when he'll finally get his postgame meal in.

"Sometimes I'll go out to eat after and you're not getting back until like midnight or maybe even 12:30," Kane said. "And then I like to wind down for 30-45 minutes, watch TV. I usually watch a show sometimes, get your mind off hockey a little bit.

"But I'll also check up on the highlights too and see what's going on that night. If I'm in bed by 1:30, 2:00 after a game, if I'm sleeping by then I'm pretty happy."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172473 Chicago Blackhawks “Kubalik. His release makes it look a little bit harder, too. It’s pretty cool to watch.”

“Not Dach.” Blackhawks player poll: Who’s funniest? Smartest? Nicest? Scariest? And who cheats in two-touch? “Biggest muffin: Patrick Kane.”

Best shooter

By Scott Powers and Mark Lazerus Jan 23, 2020 Also receiving a vote: Jonathan Toews

“DeBrincat. It’s his release. You never know when it’s coming.”

Conducting The Athletic’s annual player poll is a delicate endeavor. This Best passer is hockey we’re talking about, and players are wary of talking smack about another team’s player in public. It often takes several assurances Not only did nobody else get a vote, nobody else got any consideration. of anonymity and a reminder that nearly 400 of their colleagues are Every answer was pretty much immediate. No thinking required here. participating in the poll to assuage their fears. Best skater

But talking shit about a teammate? Oh, that’s not hard at all. Also receiving votes: Kirby Dach, Erik Gustafsson, Dominik Kubalik, Olli We got nearly 20 players to weigh in on the best — and the worst — of Maatta, Dylan Sikura, Jonathan Toews the Blackhawks. We granted anonymity just in case, but in hindsight, we “Saad. The power that comes out of him is incredible to watch. You can’t probably didn’t even need to. After all, chirping is as much a part of the knock him off the puck when he’s at top speed, and it doesn’t take him game as cross-checks and face-washes. long to get to top speed.”

Here are the results, listed in terms of percentage (not every player “I’ve always liked Tazer. He’s quick in transition and turning and stuff like chose to answer every question), along with the best accompanying that.” chirps. “Duncs is the fastest skater.” Who would you NOT want to fight? Best two-touch (pregame soccer) player Also receiving votes: Duncan Keith, Slater Koekkoek, Brandon Saad Also receiving votes: Dominik Kubalik, Andrew Shaw “Did lots of guys say Lehner? I don’t want to say Lehner. He’s big- headed enough. Ah, fuck, I don’t know. Seabrook.” Seven players immediately voted for themselves upon hearing the question. Said one player: “That’s because it’s a game of no integrity.” “Seabrook. I’m a shorter guy and he’s got that long reach. I feel like I’d be in one if it came to that.” “He’s a scummy player, but I’m going to go with (Lehner). He wins all the time. He just bullies you.” “I would not want to fight Lenny.” “Lehner’s (the dirtiest). That’s why he’s the best.” “I think Saader’s pretty strong. Stronger than he knows.” “DeBrincat’s the worst. He’s the worst and he gets mad about everything. “Koekkoek. He’s got that look in his eye.” ‘SHOW EFFORT!’ He gets fired up.”

Most underrated “I don’t play, but I can tell you who the biggest cheaters are.” DeBrincat Also receiving votes: Calvin de Haan, Connor Murphy and Lehner? “Yup, DeBrincat and Lehner.”

“I’d say (Lehner) but he’s getting a lot of attention.” “Lenny probably has the most wins, but he forces his way sometimes.”

“Saader is a guy that comes to mind. The guy just plays hard every night. “I’ll say Kampf. He probably has the best skill out of anyone.” He’s hard to play against.” “I don’t play, but I’m the best player.”

“De Haan. Before he got hurt, he was playing really solid.” Best storyteller

“Carpenter. I think he just does everything. He’s a guy who works so Also receiving a vote: Dylan Strome hard, but can also produce and create. He’s a great locker-room guy, too.” “We’ve got a lot of good storytellers.”

Best dresser Most likely to be a future coach

Also receiving votes: Adam Boqvist, Drake Caggiula, Corey Crawford, Also receiving votes: Alex DeBrincat, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Brent Olli Maatta Seabrook, Andrew Shaw

“I think Murph has pretty sick style.” “Toews. He’s the guy we like to picture should be a coach.”

“I’m sure Nylander thinks he is, but he’s not.” “Toews. He’s such a good leader and someone that you can always talk to. A really good communicator, especially with the young guys.” “We don’t have a lot of flashy guys.” “Shaw’s dad coached.” Worst dresser Most likely to be a future GM Also receiving votes: Kirby Dach, Robin Lehner, Andrew Shaw, Dylan Strome, Jonathan Toews Also receiving votes: Corey Crawford, Robin Lehner, Brent Seabrook, (!) “Gilbert. For sure.” “Strome. He’s always fucking looking up stats.” “Gilbert. And he should know it.” “Strome. He’s a numbers guy.” “I’d say Tazer. Dude, roll your pants more.” “Strome? He didn’t even go to college.” Hardest shot “Kane. He just knows the players, knows the league, knows it.” Also receiving votes: Adam Boqvist, Drake Caggiula, Olli Maatta, Connor Murphy, Brandon Saad “Kane, just his overall knowledge of the league. Him and Stromer and DeBrincat watch so much hockey. It’s kind of cool to hear some of their “Seabrook’s got a bomb.” conversations.”

“Sharpie. Can I pick him? C’mon, he’s still pretty much on the team.” Most likely to be a future broadcaster

Also receiving votes: Drake Caggiula, Alex DeBrincat, Dennis Gilbert, Patrick Kane, Connor Murphy, Brent Seabrook

Drake Caggiula offered himself up as a teammate searched for an answer. “Jules, you’re not good-looking enough to be a broadcaster.”

“Oh, man, who’s got the good looks? Maybe Murph.”

“Lehner, because he likes talking. Likes hearing his voice.”

“Gilbert’s a funny guy, likes to talk.”

Most superstitious

Also receiving votes: Adam Boqvist, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Slater Koekkoek, Zack Smith

One of the joys of the Blackhawks beat is telling a newbie that he or she should do a story on Brent Seabrook’s pregame rituals. It’s like telling Happy Gilmore to meet you at the ninth green at 9 p.m. And to wear something nice.

“It’s Highzy. No one knows that, but its Highzy.”

“Highmore. He’s in an absolute panic.”

“Keith has so many weird, quirky things that he does.”

“Probably Kaner. He gets upset when I fuck with his shit.”

Nicest/most considerate

Also receiving votes: Adam Boqvist, Patrick Kane, Brandon Saad, Brent Seabrook

“Saad. So nice, down-to-earth, easy to talk to.”

Funniest

Also receiving votes: Robin Lehner, Zack Smith, Dylan Strome

“Shaw. Maybe not ha-ha funny, but he gets laughs just because of the stupid shit he says.”

Smartest

Also receiving votes: Dennis Gilbert, Robin Lehner, Brent Seabrook, Zack Smith

“Not me.”

“Not too bright of a team.”

“Jeez. Lot of dumb guys in this room.”

“Lehner, in his mind, is always right.”

“I think Gilly’s undercover smart.”

“(Toews) is always studying something and reading up on stuff.”

“(Saad) looks like he’s pretty smart.”

Loudest

Also receiving a vote: Duncan Keith

“Shaw. He never shuts up.”

The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172474 Colorado Avalanche

Avs’ Nathan MacKinnon is pseudo leader of four rival Blues at All-Star Game in St. Louis

By MIKE CHAMBERS | January 23, 2020 at 4:33 PM

Nathan MacKinnon is off to St. Louis for NHL All-Star Game weekend at Enterprise Center, home of reigning Stanley Cup-champion St. Louis Blues. The Avalanche’s only all-star will captain the Central Division — serving as the pseudo leader over 10 players, including four Blues.

St. Louis (68 points) and Colorado (62) stand first and second in the Western Conference standings and have split their four games against each other, with both winning twice at home.

At this rate, the Central Division title could come down to the April 4 regular-season finale between the two at the Pepsi Center.

This weekend, however, it’s all fun and games between respected rivals.

“They won the Cup,” MacKinnon said of the Blues’ four all-stars. “Me being captain doesn’t hold any bragging rights over those guys, that’s for sure.”

MacKinnon, 24, played his first two seasons with the Avs as a teammate of now-Blues center Ryan O’Reilly. When O’Reilly was traded to Buffalo in 2016, MacKinnon took over O’Reilly’s lease at a downtown Denver condominium. They remain close friends.

“I spent a lot of time with him,” MacKinnon said of O’Reilly, the 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP. “It’s always catching up with Factor; such a great guy. He’s really the only guy I know really well on their team. It’ll be great to see him. All the Western guys (Central and Pacific division) are in one room so I’m excited to get to know more of them.”

MacKinnon is making his fourth All-Star Game appearance and second straight as the Central’s captain. But he didn’t play a year ago in San Jose because of a leg injury.

“Me not playing last year doesn’t dictate my hunger for the All-Star Game. It’s a fun event. I had fun last year, not playing,” he said. “I really didn’t miss much. You play for like 10 minutes 3-on-3 and do a hard lap in the fastest skater. But it’s a fun event, for sure.”

MacKinnon is expecting to participate in Friday’s skills competition. He doesn’t have any vacation plans after this weekend. The Avs don’t have to report for practice until Jan. 30.

“Just hang out and get my body ready for another 33 games,” MacKinnon said.

Footnotes. Two Colorado-raised 25-year-old defensemen will compete in All-Star weekend and both Seth Jones and Jaccob Slavin will represent the Metropolitan Division. Jones is the lone all-star from the Columbus Blue Jackets and Slavin is the only representative of the Carolina Hurricanes. Both Jones and Slavin grew up playing for the triple-A Colorado Thunderbirds. … Among the four divisions, the Central is the only one that didn’t have original members decline to play or back out because of injury.

Denver Post: LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172475 Columbus Blue Jackets crossbar or was it the body check by Dmitry Kulikov that he fought off along the right-wing wall prior to the shot?

Call it a draw. Blue Jackets 4, Jets 3 | 3-2-1 breakdown Kulikov is 6-feet-1, 204 pounds and he got a pretty good shot on Bjorkstrand (6-0, 177) – who bounced off the wall, nearly fell while Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch Jan 23, 2020 at 5:31 AM Jan 23, balancing on one skate and then recovered to scoop the puck. Without 2020 at 7:54 AM flinching, he carried it straight to the net for a shot from the lower inside half of the right face-off circle, which is where the shot itself took center stage.

Oliver Bjorkstrand did it again, scoring two more goals, and the Jackets’ “That’s not slipping a check,” Tortorella said. “That;s working through it other big dogs led the hunt for their sixth straight win. and that’s been the biggest part of his game that he’s improved at, is playing along the wall. It’s just a hell of a shot. There’s not much room It was time for the Blue Jackets’ biggest names to finish off a remarkable there." run that saved their season. No, there wasn’t, but it didn’t matter. A bevy of role players and subs from the kept things moving forward for a month, racking up points during an injury crisis, but Dropping to one knee, Bjorkstrand flicked the puck perfectly into a near- the top dogs hunted down another victory Wednesday night at impossible window that Brossoit didn’t even realize was open. In fact, Nationwide Arena – a 4-3 victory against the Winnipeg Jets in which they after the puck hit the net and Bjorkstrand began celebrating in Captain overcame three one-goal deficits. Morgan pose, Brossoit just sat on his knees in disbelief.

The victory pushed the Jackets’ winning streak to a season-high six It was hard to blame to him. Everybody else felt the same. straight games, upped their record to 16-2-4 in their past 22 and sent a clear message to the rest of the league: watch out for the Blue Jackets, “He’s fearless now,” Foligno said of Bjorkstrand. “He’s being rewarded for because they’re getting healthier by the day. it. He puts himself in such great positions because he gets around and he gets his nose dirty. He has pretty big scoring areas because of his The proof was right out on the ice Wednesday night. shot and he’s made good on that.”

Oliver Bjorkstrand scored two goals, including the winner with 5:38 left in 2) Top-notch top line the third, for his second two-goal game in a row – after rifling two lasers into the New York Rangers’ net Sunday for a 2-1 victory at Madison Tortorella has stumbled onto another interesting line combination through Square Garden. mixing and matching against the Rangers on Sunday. It’s his top group this time, with Foligno at left wing, Dubois in the middle and Bjorkstrand He now leads the team in goals with 16, moving past Zach Werenski and on the right. Pierre-Luc Dubois – who merely combined for four assists against the Jets (three by Dubois). After creating both of Bjorkstrand’s goals in the third period to down the Rangers, playing together for about a period, the trio had quite a night Seth Jones had a goal and assist, sending himself to the NHL All-Star against the Jets. game this weekend in St. Louis on a high note, Gustav Nyquist scored a huge game-tying goal late in the second and captain Nick Foligno Foligno nearly scored 30 seconds into the game, forcing Brossoit to finished with an assist for his third game in the past four with a point. make a good glove save off a wrist shot from between the circles, and they just rolled along from there. Earlier this season, when things looked much more dire, these were the guys who clutched their sticks tighter than vice grips. It was up to them to Combined, the three forwards totaled two goals, four assists and six figure it out, because there wasn’t a procession of additional stars waiting points – with Bjorkstrand scoring the goals, Dubois dishing out three of outside the locker room door. the assists and Foligno getting a primary assist on Jones’ goal to tie it 1-1 in the first period. “You’re not going to go out and trade for guys that have a 25 percent shooting percentage,” coach John Tortorella said. “You stick with your Dubois and Foligno did a lot of the heavy lifting, winning the puck along guys. The biggest thing is them is believing in themselves and keep the walls and delivering some big hits, while Bjorkstrand led the team banging away at it.” with nine attempts – three shots on goal, three that were blocked and three that missed the net. That’s exactly what happened against Winnipeg and it was a fitting end to a memorable stretch that started after four straight losses Nov. 30 to His final one was right on target and it decided the game. Dec. 7 threatened to sink the Jackets’ season. “I think we went through three sets of lines the last game (in New York) Naysayers who blew them off all offseason looked right about their dire and then we settled on these lines that I started and finished tonight’s predictions then, when Columbus couldn’t buy a goal, but it’s a much game with,” Tortorella said. “I just felt we had more flow offensively when different story 22 games and 46 days later. we found those lines. It wasn’t a lot of thinking. It was just trying to get something going offensively.” Thanks to their top dogs, the Jackets head into a nine-day break in the schedule smiling – knowing they’ve positioned themselves nicely for a It worked. 31-game sprint to the finish when they return. 3) Another strong finish

“We know you slip up a little bit and you’re right out of the playoffs,” The Blue Jackets are making a habit out of winning games by winning Foligno said. “We’ve worked so hard to get to this point so we’re not the third periods of close games. In their past 22 games, this was the going to let it go. We’re not going to let it slip, certainly not after the 16th time they’ve started the third down by a goal, tied or leading by a momentum we’ve carried here the last little while. Great opportunity to goal – and in those games they improved to 12-2-2. finish it and now enjoy the break.” They are developing confidence in key situations and learning how to Here is the 3-2-1 from a happy hockey town … three takeaways, two make sure they either win games in the third or push it to overtime or questions and one more thing: shootouts to earn points. It’s a huge reason they’ve put together this 16- Three Takeaways 2-4 stretch and clawed back into the playoff race.

1) Bjorkstrand’s beauty “I think it’s kind of what the team has turned into with a lot of different personnel over the past month, and now some of our regular personnel It’s a toss-up to decide what was more impressive on Bjorkstrand’s short- coming in, I just think they just keep playing,” Tortorella said. “Through it side winner with 5:38 to play. all here, there’s been no anxiousness. They just keep on playing.”

Was it his ridiculously good wrist shot, which was lifted through a tight Two Questions window of space between goalie Laurent Brossoit’s shoulder and the 1) Is the nine-day break a concern? Without question, the Jackets are going to face a challenge to ramp up their intensity after such a long time off.

They’ve played the past six weeks at a fevered pitch – first trying to save a season spiraling out of control, then trying to stay afloat amid a tidal wave of injuries and lately trying to keep a six-game winning bender going while injured regulars filter back into the lineup.

They’ve barely been able to catch their breath, let along let their guard down, and now they’re getting nine days off for some well-deserved down time. Ramping it all the way back up to the level they’re at now is going to be quite a challenge, especially for back-to-back road games in Buffalo on Feb. 1 and Feb. 2 in Montreal.

Worrying about it, however, won’t change anything – which Tortorella, of all people, pointed out following the game.

“There’s no sense in worrying about it,” he said. “You just have to hope your guys are … I think we’ve got good people. They’re professionals. I used to get all nervous about it in my earlier days. When you’re playing really well, you want to keep on playing. You don’t worry about it anymore. I think you trust your guys. You have to trust them.”

It should also help to get two practices in before starting back up in Buffalo.

2) Did Elvis make a save with his butt?

The short answer is, “Yep.”

A longer explanation involves a solo rush by Jets center Blake Wheeler at 12:04 of the second period, a shot that flipped into the air after Merzlikins made a sprawling save with his right pad and a puck that dropped ever so gently between the goalie’s legs near the left post.

Merzlikins was on his stomach at the time and squeezed his legs together to cover the puck as Wheeler leaned in to get a closer look into the, uh, slot … area. For lack of a better term, though, Elvis made a butt save.

And the crowd appreciated his cheeky effort.

One More Thing

Just how much have the Jackets improved their playoff position?

Well, heading into this weekend’s all-star break they occupy the first wildcard in the Eastern Conference with 61 points in 51 games – a point ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes, who have a game-in-hand.

Looking up the standings, the Jackets are just one point behind the New York Islanders for third in the Metropolitan Division – which is truly stunning. The Islanders have played two fewer games, which must be factored into it, but they went 4-4-2 in their past 10 games while the Jackets roll into the break at 8-2-0 in theirs with a six-game winning streak.

How far have the Jackets come in the past six weeks?

After losing to Florida on Dec. 7 in Sunrise, Fla., Columbus woke up Dec. 8 in seventh place of the Metropolitan Division and trailed Carolina for the second wildcard by 11 points. They have since passed Carolina and made up 13 points on the Islanders, who were second in the Metro and a whopping 14 points ahead of the Jackets.

That’s how far. Impressive run.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172476 Columbus Blue Jackets The values are higher still, and this is a lineup that doesn’t include Dean Kukan (.64 GSVA) or Sonny Milano (.4).

Columbus is clearly exceeding its initial projections, so which players Are the Blue Jackets a legitimate playoff contender? specifically are contributing to the surge in the Blue Jackets’ performance?

Alison Lukan Jan 23, 2020 The chart below shows every player’s projected GSVA for the season (gray), along with any change through 50 games. Red indicates a decrease in GSVA (less value-added than expected), and blue shows an increase in value created by the player’s performance on the ice. (Click Not many pundits had Columbus fighting for a playoff position this chart to enlarge) season. Many assessed that key departures and untested goaltending would likely be too much to overcome. But after a furiously paced Data via Dom Luszczyszyn; players marked * had no preseason GSVA December and January, the Blue Jackets are holding on to a wild-card and were given the same preseason estimate as a replacement-level spot, and while it’s early, the team has made itself a relevant part of the player (0) postseason discussion. This chart matches stories that our eyes have told us. Players like Oliver But is it real? Could the experts have been wrong or is this a bump in Bjorkstrand, Zach Werenski and Vladislav Gavrikov have made production that ultimately will be unsustainable? significant contributions. As have Ryan Murray and Riley Nash. It took Cam Atkinson some time to find his game, and Anderson has battled Are the Blue Jackets a contender? through an injury that hampered his play. Before the beginning of the season, our Dom Luszczyszyn worked with So some players have stepped up, and while others have struggled, the local writers to project how each of the 31 NHL teams would perform. He overall boost in value has seemingly won out. used his excellent Game Score Value Added (GSVA) model, which you can read more about here (and find answers to frequently addressed So the Jackets are playing better. But are they good enough? questions here). Earlier this year, The Athletic’s Shayna Goldman calculated the GSVA of Here’s how the initial model assessed Columbus. (Click image to an average “Stanley Cup contender” based on the average GSVA for the enlarge) following teams (in no particular order): Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues, Luszczyszyn’s projection had the Blue Jackets earning 83.4 standings Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights. points and finishing 22nd in the league. Strengths included the top line along with Gustav Nyquist and Josh Anderson on the forwards side, and Here’s how a contender rates out. the defense ranked out highly. The biggest question mark was, of course, goaltending with the Columbus tandem projected to come in right about OK, so how does Columbus fare against these values? Here’s a look at replacement level. the initial preseason projection for the Blue Jackets compared with the team’s current GSVA projections as well as that of a contender. And yet here we are at the All-Star break, even after a slow start and a slew of injuries, with Columbus on a 98.4-point pace. As of Thursday, it It’s no surprise that a healthy Blue Jackets defense ranks higher than the sits eighth in the league. This is quite a difference from those preseason average contender, particularly when you add in the resurgence in numbers. Werenski’s play. Even with some key players out, it remains strong. Goaltending, as we mentioned, is exceeding expectations, and if it falls What’s changed? Because GSVA uses game score data as its off a bit, it’s got a little wiggle room to still be “good enough.” foundation, it’s grounded in on-ice performance and we can look at it over time as the season progresses. Unsurprisingly, the forward group has the most ground to make up, and it is particularly hard hit by the list of injuries that have befallen the team So, how does GSVA evaluate the Columbus lineup now? this season.

The lines have been jumbly as John Tortorella has continued to mine for So the Jackets have some room to grow into a true “contender,” and they offensive production, so these aren’t the exact combinations night in and must maintain their current level of play with little to no drop off — night out, but these are the players on the roster card for Columbus as of particularly offensively — but they certainly come by their position in the right now. (Click chart to enlarge) playoff conversation earnestly.

Data via Dom Luszczyszyn Going into Wednesday, Micah Blake McCurdy’s model shows Columbus in the hunt with a projected final point total of 94.1, which will be close Of course, the biggest question has become one of the greatest and maybe good enough for a playoff spot; and Money Puck shows the strengths for the Blue Jackets. Elvis Merzlikins sits at 10th among all Blue Jackets as having a 60.37 percent chance of making the NHL goaltenders in GSVA. That’s impressive given his rough start, but postseason. (Click chart to enlarge) we also want to carry a note of caution here. Without any prior NHL experience and a lack of ability to truly assess how goaltending The work isn’t done, of course. Thirty-one games remain and a lot can translates league to league, the small 20-game sample size that happen in that span. It’s also important to note that if you say a model got Merzlikins has is highly susceptible to variance. Nonetheless, it’s a strong preseason projections wrong, there’s certainly room for error in performance even if it regresses a bit. midseason projections, as well. No model is perfect, and Luszczyszyn himself has addressed measuring uncertainty in a game that can be filled Some might be surprised that Merzlikins’ partner, Joonas Korpisalo, with “unpredictable chaos.” didn’t rank out as highly. He is an All-Star, after all. What hurt Korpisalo here is that he played behind the Blue Jackets defense at its best. The But for now, this Blue Jackets roster is finding ways to improve and build shot quality he has faced (1.92 five-on-five expected goals per 60) is a case to fight for a postseason spot, even if stacking up offensively lower than Merzlikins’ 2.17 expected goals against. Because the might be a bit of a struggle. Enjoy the All-Star break — if the first 50 workload wasn’t as heavy for Korpisalo, goals against carry a greater games are any indication, the latter part of the season could be a wild impact in his valuation. ride.

But it’s not just goaltending. Looking at the skaters in the lineups, there’s — All projections via Dom Luszczyszyn, data via NaturalStatTrick and a lot more blue, and in darker shades (indicating a higher level of value) HockeyViz; The Athletic’s Shayna Goldman contributed to this article. than in our preseason projection. And it’s also a lineup that doesn’t include players who are still out because of injury like Josh Anderson, The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 Alexandre Texier, Ryan Murray and Dean Kukan.

What does the lineup look like in terms of GSVA if it’s fully healthy? (Click chart to enlarge)

Data via Dom Luszczyszyn 1172477 Dallas Stars After the game, Johns said he would use the bye week and All-Star break as his own personal training camp, working on his conditioning after re-entering the best hockey league in the world after a lengthy After David Perron’s own struggles with head injuries, the Blues forward absence. He said he “felt like I was in quicksand all night.” wants to help Stars’ Stephen Johns If Johns can be a reliable presence for the Stars again, it bolsters a defense that already allows the fewest goals in the NHL. His size and skating profile meshes well with Miro Heiskanen (who missed the By Matthew DeFranks Minnesota game due to a concussion), and his passing adds another puck-mover on the back end to supplement Heiskanen, John Klingberg

and Esa Lindell. ST. LOUIS — David Perron had one simple question. Briefly: Stars goalie Ben Bishop finished second the Professional Hockey “Do you have his phone number?” Perron asked Thursday night during Writers Association’s midseason voting for the Vezina Trophy, behind All-Star Game media day. “I have to send him a message.” Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck. The general managers actually vote on the year-end Vezina Trophy, not the PHWA. ... Stars defenseman Miro Perron is one of the few people in the world who understands what Stars Heiskanen (six penalty minutes in 47 games) finished fourth in Lady defenseman Stephen Johns has experienced over the last 22 months Byng voting. and what he will experience as he re-acclimates to playing in the NHL. Dallas Morning News LOADED: 01.24.2020 Johns’ injury — post-traumatic headaches — is relatively unfamiliar. His recovery — he missed 160 preseason, regular season and postseason games — was abnormally long. His future — after debuting Saturday in the final game before the All-Star break — is unwritten.

But a look at the All-Star Game this weekend in St. Louis reveals a success story that Johns would love to repeat: that of St. Louis forward Perron.

Perron is 31 years old and playing in his first All-Star Game after scoring 21 goals and assisting on 28 others during the first half, winning the Central Division’s “Last Men In” fan vote. Nearly a decade ago, though, Perron missed 13 months of hockey due to a concussion, and missed 24 games after another concussion.

“It was one of the toughest times in my life because there’s not many people that trust you,” Perron said of the year-plus absence. “There’s a lot of doubters, a lot of people that think that maybe you don’t want to play hockey or maybe you’re just fine being at home not doing anything. It’s the hardest thing in your life for sure when you go through that. It took me a while to recover from that, and it still affects me today. I hope for him that he goes on and plays the rest of the year and plays well. I hope everything goes well.”

On Nov. 4, 2010, Sharks forward Joe Thornton steamrolled Perron in neutral ice after exiting the penalty box, shouldering Perron in the head and ending his season after 10 games. Perron did not play again until Dec. 3, 2011. Now, Perron is on pace to shatter his career high for goals scored (28) and could also eclipse his career-best for points (57).

When Johns returned to action over the weekend in St. Paul, he said that the previous 22 months had been the toughest time in his life, much of it spent in isolation away from the rink and away from his teammates. Perron understands that.

“At times, people are trying to be nice, saying, ‘How’s it going?’ but you get that 50 times a day, it gets on your nerves a little bit,” Perron said. “It’s extremely hard to go through, but I’m glad he’s back playing. From then, it only gets better because you’re used to playing hockey every day, and that’s what we want to do every day. When you don’t do that, it’s the hardest time, for sure.”

When he returned to the ice in 2011, Perron began slowly, with four goals in his first 26 games, including a 13-game goalless streak. But he rebounded in the final 31 games with 17 goals.

“You got to be patient. You got to take it one day at a time,” Perron said. “I think that’s one of the things for me, that I still cherish in this league every day for this reason, because I remember those days. I’m trying to push it further down more and more every year. And hopefully, one day we’re 30 years away from that, and I haven’t had a concussion since. That’s how I see it.”

Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby is the most high-profile active player to missed more than a year due to concussions, but was not named to the All-Star team this year. Crosby played eight games in 14 months after big hits in Jan. 2011 rendered him largely a spectator until his full-time return in March 2012.

Johns played 18:29 during Saturday’s 7-0 loss to the Wild, registering two shots on goal, two hits and picking up an interference penalty. He was on the ice for two goals against, including one after he turned the puck over in the defensive zone. 1172478 Dallas Stars The PHWA doesn’t vote on a midseason Masterton, but there was a vote for “Comeback Player of the Year.” It was given to Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander, who has returned to traditional form after a What NHL awards do Stars players have a realistic chance of winning? down year in 2018-19, when he missed the first two months of the season because of a contract dispute.

Personally, I don’t think Nylander fits the bill for Masterton, but I’m sure By Sean Shapiro Jan 23, 2020 he’ll end up getting quite a few votes on the final ballot since many look at the Masterton as a version of the “Comeback Player of the Year”

award. Historically, the Dallas Stars haven’t been prominently featured at the My gut says Johns won’t win the Masterton because of the market and NHL Awards Ceremony. the lack of a big name. By his own choice, Johns also hasn’t publicized The Stars have only won five individual regular-season awards since the the full extent of his struggles the way Robin Lehner did last season team moved to Dallas in 1993, with three of those being the trio of Selke when won the award. Either way, he should be among the finalists for the Trophies Jere Lehtinen nabbed as the NHL’s best defensive forward in award, especially if he comes out of the All-Star Break looking like the 1998, 1999 and 2003. Jamie Benn won the Art Ross in 2015, while Ed Johns of old after his personal training camp this week. Belfour and Roman Turek shared the William M. Jennings Trophy in Vezina Trophy 1999. Bishop finished second in the mid-season Vezina from the PHWA, while There were other near-misses. Marty Turco probably should have won Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck “won” the mid-season award. the Vezina Trophy in 2003 when he set the then-record for goals against It’s an interesting indicator, but it is important to remember that the average in the modern era, but he finished second to Martin Brodeur. PHWA doesn’t actually vote on the award for the NHL’s best goaltender. Ben Bishop finished second in the Vezina voting in 2019, but it wasn’t really close when it was revealed that Andrei Vasilevskiy got 28 of the 31 That vote belongs to the NHL’s 31 general managers. Last season, first-place votes. Bishop got two first-place votes for the Vezina — one from his own GM in Jim Nill — and was actually left off the Vezina ballot entirely by seven of Before the Stars moved to Dallas, the franchise snagged Calder Trophies the 31 GMs. in 1969 and 1979 when Danny Grant and Bobby Smith were named Rookie of the Year. Al MacAdam won the Bill Masterton Trophy in 1980, Historically, two things have come into play with the Vezina Trophy: which is the last time before Lehtinen that any North Stars or Stars player games played and wins. Last season, both were held against Bishop, won a voted-upon regular-season award. who only played 46 games and won 27. Vasilevskiy won the Vezina with 53 games played and 39 victories. On Thursday, the PHWA announced its mid-season awards, which offer a peek into the minds of the voters who will be deciding many of the The good news for Bishop’s Vezina chances this season is that year-end awards. It’s important to note that not everyone participates in Vasilevskiy’s win effectively lowered the bar for the games-played voting for the mid-season awards, but six of last year’s eight mid-season requirement. A goalie doesn’t need to play close to 60 gams to win the award winners were also crowned in June. Vezina anymore, especially not in an era when GMs are putting more and more value into proper tandems that split the regular-season Today, I wanted to take a realistic look at the awards that Stars players workload. could either win or realistically be in the running for at the end of the season. The key word is realistic, so we aren’t going to waste our time Bishop is tied for third in save percentage and ranks sixth in goals pretending the Stars have a Hart Trophy candidate for league MVP. against average at the All-Star Break . Of the top-10 goalies in goals against average, Bishop has the most games played so far with 32. The There are, however, four awards that could impact the Stars, even if one same goes for his place on the save-percentage list. of them is more of a future indicator than something for the 2019-20 season. When it comes to goals saved above average, a metric that doesn’t hold as much weight with GMs, Bishop leads the NHL with 17.10 goals saved Norris Trophy above average in all situations according to Natural Stat Trick. The next None of the Stars are going to win the Norris Trophy this season. It’s closest goalie is Darcy Keumper at 15.65 goals saved above average. pretty clear that it’s going to end up on the mantle of Washington Capitals By that ideology, Bishop should be the Vezina favorite. He’s statistically defenseman John Carlson as he continues to run away from the field the best at his position, and his workload for this day and age is certainly when it comes to defenseman scoring. heavy enough for trophy consideration. This year, is however, important when it comes to Miro Heiskanen Hellebuyck, however, has the traditional stats going for him. He’s got potentially winning a Norris in the not-too-distant future. more wins and games played, and based on expected workload, he’s You win the Norris in one of two ways: You either run away from the rest going to finish with much more of each than Bishop by the end of the of the defensemen when it comes to points, or you build up a case and a season. It’s probably going to be a closer vote than last year, but in the reputation that gives you a chance in a year when there isn’t a clear-cut end, Bishop is likely going to be left as the runner-up for the NHL’s best “best offensive” defenseman. goaltender when the ballots are counted for the second straight season.

The latter is how Heiskanen is going to have to win a Norris Trophy William M. Jennings Trophy someday, because it appears unlikely that he’ll ever have that barn- The Jennings is presented to the goalies on the team that have allowed burner year when he scores close to 80 points in a season. Heiskanen the least amount goals during the course of the NHL season. Goalies should, however, end up on some ballots this season — likely a must play at least 25 games to get the award, so it’s often shared by a smattering of fourth- and fifth-place votes, which will at least put him in tandem like it was 1999, when Belfour and Turek took home the the conversation to be a serious candidate to win it in the next couple of Jennings for Dallas. seasons. Last season, the Stars looked at the Jennings as a team award. It was Bill Masterton Trophy something they wanted to win as a group but ultimately came up short Each spring, every chapter of the PHWA picks a Masterton Nominee for against the New York Islanders. the player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, This season, the Stars are the leader at the turn as the teams entered sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.” I can tell you with some the All-Star Break. Dallas has allowed a league-low 120 goals, seven certainty that Stephen Johns is going to be the nominee for Dallas. ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets and 12 clear of the Islanders. Johns also has a legitimate chance to win the award, especially if he is Dallas would have had an even larger lead in the race for the Jennings if able to play the remainder of this season and does so at a high level. they didn’t drop a 7-0 dud of a loss against the Minnesota Wild on Johns missed all of last season and the first 47 games of this season Saturday. while dealing with post-traumatic headaches, and there was fear his NHL career was over. While the Stars have sprung a leak twice in the past six weeks — they also allowed seven goals against the Florida Panthers — stylistically and performance-wise, this is the award that looks like it might be presented to Bishop and Anton Khudobin at the NHL Awards in June.

Star-Telegram LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172479 Detroit Red Wings unimpressive showing during exhibition season raised concerns about his development.

Now, he’s playing on the top line, and stands out nightly for how Detroit Red Wings play 'stupid,' Filip Zadina plays smart with Steve confident he is with and without the puck. Yzerman watching “To be honest it just takes patience,” Zadina said. “I have to be on the ice, and if I will be on the ice, I will get more confidence and then the game will be easier for me and play good hockey.” Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press Published 6:02 a.m. ET Jan. 23, 2020 | Updated 10:21 a.m. ET Jan. 23, 2020 Zadina was awarded his first goal when his attempted pass deflected in off Joel Eriksson Ek’s stick.

“That was the puck luck we actually need as a team,” Zadina said. “I tried SAINT PAUL, Minn. —The Detroit Red Wings played stupid hockey, but to go back there for Bert and it ended up in the net and I was glad for it.” Filip Zadina played to win. Zadina put the Wings up 2-1 when he fired a shot through traffic that Zadina left XCel Energy Center on Wednesday with his first career two- ricocheted into the net while Givani Smith was creating havoc in front. goal game, tallying both markers in the first period, before the Wings Four of Zadina’s goals and eight of his points have come during man caved and collected a 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild. For a team as advantages, another positive for a team with a power play that ranks 29th weary as the Wings – they enter the nine-day NHL All-Star break a at 14.8%. league-worst 12-35-4 – witnessing a player vital to the rebuild turn in a such a good performance is a balm. Detroit Free Press LOADED: 01.24.2020

“He had a great game,” Dylan Larkin said. “He got a good bounce on his first goal. We needed that as a team. He was one of very few bright spots and showed up to play.”

Larkin set up Zadina’s first goal to tie Tyler Bertuzzi with a team-leading 36 points. Since being called up Nov. 24, Zadina, 20, has scored a team- leading eight goals and is tied with Bertuzzi for second on the team with 15 points in that 26-game span.

“He works,” Larkin said. “I think as a centerman, he’s a guy you want to play with because he works on the forecheck and when he gets the puck, he’s not looking for the quickest way to get it out of his hands. He’s not holding on to it too long, he’s looking to play give-and-gos and find me and then get to spots and find Bert and get to his spot where he can shoot it.

“He’s a smart player and that’s the one thing playing with him that I enjoy playing with him. That’s going to help our team a lot if he keeps developing.”

Zadina drew a penalty with 1:13 to go in the third period and led the Wings with seven shots on net.

Path ahead: Red Wings look at old rival Avalanche and see what's possible

“I thought Fil actually was a bright spot,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “I thought his game complete. …. He’s been confident with the puck, playing from the right side. He’s learned a lot of the lessons that we wanted him to learn, and as a result he’s a guy that has the puck on his stick a good amount and can create offense.

“Overall I thought he did a really good job.”

While Zadina put in an impressive performance while general manager Steve Yzerman watched from the press box, other Wings did not. The Wings were outshot 11-0 at one point in the second period, and allowed the Wild to score twice in 67 seconds. That was especially disappointing as it came a day after a meeting emphasizing defensive zone coverage ran long.

“I thought we had some guys that weren’t ready to play at the start of the game and we had a little bit of fool’s gold through the first,” Blashill said. “It catches up to you as the game goes along and it caught up to us, and then we played stupid.

“We’ve talked about being an efficient team and making sure that, especially in the second period, when you need changes, you have to get pucks in behind. We have to continue to work at it. But some of it is, when your brain is not ready to roll, it’s hard to catch up, and we had enough guys that weren’t ready to go at the drop of the puck. I can’t fathom how that can be possible with where we’re at and the number of games we have won. How do you let any game slip away at all, how do you not make sure you’re ready to go?’”

Analysis: How will Steve Yzerman shape the Red Wings at trade deadline?

The Wings have until Jan. 31 when they play at the New York Rangers to ponder that question. Zadina has earned the right to think about other things, having shown such tremendous improvement since an 1172480 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings' Tyler Bertuzzi to compete in NHL accuracy shooting contest

The Detroit News Published 8:59 p.m. ET Jan. 23, 2020 | Updated 10:10 p.m. ET Jan. 23, 2020

Detroit Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi will compete in the accuracy shooting contest at the NHL All-Star Game in St. Louis on Friday.

Bertuzzi, who leads Detroit with a 17.5 shooting percentage in 51 games this year, will be one of eight players who will vie for the $30,000 first prize.

"You don't know really what to expect when you go in there," Bertuzzi said. "You shoot a puck every day so you can't do that bad."

The seven other players are: Jaccob Slavin (Carolina), Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton), Jonathan Huberdeau (Florida), Nico Hischier (New Jersey), Tomas Hertl (San Jose), Alex Pietrangelo (St. Louis) and Mark Scheifele (Winnipeg).

Detroit Red Wings left wing Tyler Bertuzzi is congratulated as he passes the team box after scoring a goal against the Colorado Avalanche in the first period.

The contest is a timed event with shooters positioned 25 feet from the goal line with target Images appearing on an LED screen placed on the goal line.

Time will start at the referee's whistle and each player will shoot pucks at the target Images, which will disappear from the screen after being successfully hit.

The clock stops when the player has successfully hit all target Images.

The NHL All-Star Game on Saturday will feature a three-game tournament played in a three-on-three format with each NHL division competing for a $1 million winner-take-all prize pool.

Detroit News LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172481 Detroit Red Wings

Report: Trevor Daley asks Red Wings for trade to Stanley Cup contender

Mark Falkner, The Detroit News Published 5:43 p.m. ET Jan. 23, 2020 | Updated 4:50 a.m. ET Jan. 24, 2020

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Trevor Daley has asked general manager Steve Yzerman to be traded to a Stanley Cup contender, according to NBC analyst Pierre McGuire.

"I talked to Trevor before the game last night and he said he would be amenable to being moved," McGuire said on Ottawa TSN 1200 on Thursday.

Trevor Daley

"I know he's talked to Steve Yzerman about a trade. I could see Dallas where he started his career being very interested and I could see Colorado being very interested and (NBC color commentator) Eddie Olcyzk brought up Vegas on our show last night. I can see three teams in the Western Conference being very interested."

Daley, 36, is in the final year of a three-year contract worth $3,166,666 this year. He has four assists (including two assists in Wednesday's 4-2 loss against the Wild) in 26 games in an injury-riddled season.

"Trevor Daley has no time left on his contract and he's won two Stanley Cups both with Pittsburgh," McGuire said. "He was a really important part of those two Cup teams. He's more of a puck mover and a guy that can still jump into the rush. He had two assists last night and I thought he played a really solid game."

McGuire said Detroit's players and coaches are going through "an amazingly difficult exercise" with an NHL-worst record of 12-35-4.

"They know they're doomed in terms of where their season is going to be," McGuire said. "Most of them are trying to instill a certain brand of hockey that they want to play this year and Steve Yzerman has had a lot to say about that as he should."

McGuire said while this year's team is on pace for a historically bad season, he feels there is hope with potential prospects in the system.

"I think Detroit is going to turn the corner pretty quick when they do turn the corner," McGuire said. "If they win the lottery, they're going to get a generational player so that could really speed up the development.

"You look at Moritz Seider, who is playing in the American Hockey League. He's ready for prime time. You look at Jared McIsaac. He's close to being ready for prime time. You look at Joe Veleno. He needs another year in the American League but he's going to be a solid pro player. You add at Zadina and going down the line and they're going to have some significant draft picks this summer."

McGuire said Zadina, who scored two goals against the Wild, is "still a one-dimensional player" and will likely be a 25-30 goal scorer.

"He had 44 goals in Halifax and you can usually translate those numbers, especially for a guy who can really hammer the puck," McGuire said. "It doesn't take him very long to get it off his stick. You're not taking that player for checking or to defend a lead or try to generate forecheck pressure. You're taking that player because he's a gunner on the power play and on five-on-five situations. He's not a complete player."

Detroit News LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172482 Detroit Red Wings ► Alex Pietrangelo, St. Louis: The defending Stanley Cup champions haven’t been totally healthy, but Pietrangelo — who is unsigned beyond July 1 — has played outstanding hockey and kept the champs focused.

NHL at the break: Ted Kulfan's contenders, surprises and ► Dougie Hamilton, Carolina: Because of a major leg injury, Hamilton’s disappointments season is done. But let’s give Hamilton credit for an outstanding half season with 14 goals and a plus-30 rating.

► Also considered: Seth Jones, Columbus; Roman Josi, Nashville. Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News Published 11:55 a.m. ET Jan. 23, 2020 | Updated 4:48 a.m. ET Jan. 24, 2020 Calder Trophy (best rookie)

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes, a Michigan product, appears to be chasing Colorado's Cale Makar in the race for NHL rookie Detroit — The NHL season has reached its All-Star break, which of the year. symbolizes the halfway point. ► Makar: This award is Makar’s to lose the remainder of the season. Never mind that most teams have played about eight to 10 games more Makar starred in a brief playoff appearance last spring, and has than half the schedule. continued to be spectacular with 37 points while playing more than 20 minutes per night. Edmonton Oilers forward Conor McDavid has bounced back from a knee injury to lead the NHL in scoring. ► Hughes: Hughes is likely Makar’s lone threat. The former Michigan star has 29 assists and 34 points and, like Makar, is quarterbacking the So what have we learned to this juncture? power play like a savvy veteran. That many questions remain to be answered in the next couple of ► Victor Olofsson, Buffalo: The Sabres’ rookie forward was enjoying an months. outstanding season with 16 goals and 35 points, but will have missed 4 Teams such as Washington, St. Louis, Boston and Tampa looks capable to 6 weeks with a lower-body injury. of winning the Stanley Cup — but also face nagging questions that could ► Also considered: Dominik Kubalik, Chicago; Martin Necas, Carolina. derail their expected runs. Jack Adams (coach of the year) There appears to be a growing number of sleepers that could be getting healthy, or hot, at just the right time — a group that includes Pittsburgh, ► Mike Sullivan, Pittsburgh: The fact the Penguins are firmly in the Columbus, Colorado and Dallas. playoff chase despite Crosby and Malkin having missed weeks, and numerous other injuries, this has been a masterful job by Sullivan in Some of the best stories have come from individual stars who continue to cobbling this roster into contention. dominate. ► John Tortorella, Columbus: What Tortorella has done with a roster that Connor McDavid (Edmonton) has returned from a scary-looking knee was decimated to free agency and with two untested goalies has been injury to star yet again, and veterans such as Patrick Kane (Chicago), remarkable. This is a scary team if it reaches the playoffs. Alex Ovechkin (Washington) and Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin continue to marvel. ► Dave Tippett, Edmonton: With pretty much the same personnel, the Oilers were a disaster last season. Tippett has instituted accountability Another exciting aspect of this season has been the spectacular play of and professionalism on a young roster that needed it. rookie defensemen Cale Makar (Colorado) and Quinn Hughes (Vancouver), each of whom is playing beyond his age. ► Also considered: Paul Maurice, Winnipeg; Craig Berube, St. Louis.

The tight races and lack of clear-cut favorites promise to make the St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington has collected 22 victories stretch run one of the best in recent memory. so far this season.

Here is a look at the NHL, heading into its All-Star break: Vezina Trophy (best goaltender)

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon has 30 goals and 72 ► Jordan Binnington, St. Louis: Binnington has showed last season’s points in the first half of the NHL season. magical run wasn’t a fluke. He has 22 wins, and has solidified what was a troublesome position. Hart Trophy (Most Valuable Player) ► Tristan Jarry, Pittsburgh: Matt Murray has been inconsistent, so Jarry ► Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado: The Avalanche have had some key has stepped into a larger role and has 16 victories, with a sparkling 2.16 injuries and the goaltending hasn’t always been outstanding. But goals-against average and NHL-best .929 save percentage. MacKinnon, with 30 goals and 72 points, has kept the Avalanche near atop the standings with an electrifying brand of hockey. ► Ben Bishop, Dallas: Bishop continues to produce solid season after solid season, leading the Stars into playoff position. His 16 victories and ► McDavid: If the Oilers get to the playoffs, there’s a good chance .927 save percentage highlight a strong season thus far. McDavid leaps to the top of this list and earns the Hart. McDavid has returned from a scary knee injury to lead the NHL in scoring and lift the ► Also considered: Darcy Kuemper, Arizona; Tuukka Rask, Boston. Oilers into playoff contention. Selke Trophy (best defensive forward) ► David Pastrnak, Boston: For almost two seasons now it seems Pastrnak simply scores a goal every night. Every team knows they have ► Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis: This award as sort of evolved into the to stop the Bruins’ top line, and no one can consistently do it. His 37 league’s best two-way forward, and O’Reilly has become one of the goals lead the NHL. NHL’s best the last two seasons. O’Reilly has been dominant at both ends of the ice and been a key leader on a powerful St. Louis team. ► Also considered: Artemi Panarin, N.Y. Rangers; Brad Marchand, Boston. ► Patrice Bergeron, Boston: Don’t underestimate Bergeron not making a second-half charge. A fifth Selke award would move Bergeron ahead of The Washington Capitals' John Carlson is the front-runner for the Norris Montreal Hall of Famer Bob Gainey for most all time. Trophy, awarded to the NHL's top defenseman. ► Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Ottawa: Two statistics stand out regarding the Norris Trophy (best defenseman) surprising Pageau. His 19 goals are a career high for a Senators’ team that desperately has needed the offense. Also, Pageau’s plus-13 rating ► John Carlson, Washington: At this point of the season there isn’t much on a poor defensive team is really eye-opening. of a race for the Norris. Carlson has been on a prolific scoring pace with 60 points, his defense hasn’t been affected, and he is a major reason the ► Also considered: Aleksander Barkov, Florida; Sean Couturier, Capitals have the NHL’s best record. Philadelphia.

Stanley Cup contenders ► St. Louis Blues: The defending champion looks primed and capable of ► Brenden Dillon, San Jose: The defenseman has played a lot of big winning it two years in a row. There aren’t many weaknesses in the games in San Jose and appears to be the best defenseman available in lineup, and the Blues play a playoff winning brand of tough, physical a suspect group of available players. hockey. Keep an eye on during the second half ... ► Washington Capitals: They’ve won 33 of 49 games thus far and have been machine-like in doing so. The goaltending has been a minor ► Pacific Division: Five teams are within one point of each other atop the concern, but otherwise, this lineup is deep, experienced, and talented. division. The race is sure to go to season’s final days, and it will be exciting. ► Tampa Bay Lightning: They didn’t look like contenders for much of the season, but the last month has been much different. Tampa could be ► The trade deadline (Feb. 24): There simply aren’t very many big getting hot at the right time. names likely to be available, and maybe not many trades to be made.

Surprise teams ► The Red Wings’ chase: Three seasons ago Colorado completed the 2016-17 season, with the NHL’s worst record, (22-56-4, 48 points) with a ► Edmonton Oilers: Former Red Wings general manager Ken Holland minus-112 goal differential (166 goals scored, 278 allowed). The Wings didn’t add many pieces last summer, but the professionalism and (12-35-4, 28 points; minus-90 goal differential) are challenging all those calmness Holland has brought to the organization has completely marks to be the worst salary cap era team. transformed the Oilers. Detroit News LOADED: 01.24.2020 ► Columbus Blue Jackets: Many analysts felt this was going to be one of the weakest teams in the NHL. Instead, the Blue Jackets look like a dangerous team on the verge of the playoffs.

► Vancouver Canucks: The Canucks appeared to be another year or two away from being contenders. But the young players have matured quicker than expected, and underrated acquisitions have starred.

Surprise players

► Jonathan Huberdeau, Florida: Playing in a non-traditional hockey market, Huberdeau hasn’t received the credit or notoriety he deserves. With 65 points, he’s enjoying a banner season for a rapidly improving team.

► David Perron, St. Louis: Perron has found a home in St. Louis with team-leading 21 goals and 49 points, including a staggering eight game- winning goals.

► Elvis Merzlikins, Columbus: Merzlikins has a .926 save percentage and stabilized a goaltending position that looked weak after the free- agent loss of Sergei Bobrovsky.

Disappointing teams

The Vegas Golden Knights' disappointing first half cost head coach Gerard Gallant his job.

► Vegas Golden Knights: Some big-name veterans haven’t produced as expected, the goaltending has been subpar most nights, and because expectations haven’t been met, coach Gerard Gallant surprisingly lost his job.

► Toronto Maple Leafs: Everything appeared to be in place for a long, successful playoff run, but they’re outside the playoff picture today. The team defense is simply too weak for this team to be championship- caliber.

► San Jose Sharks: The goaltending hasn’t been good enough, some veterans have gotten old, and there isn’t enough depth. The next few years could be rough.

Disappointing players

► Taylor Hall, Arizona: Hall started the season poorly in New Jersey, and has only marginally picked it up in Arizona (13 goals, 40 points). The pressure is on Hall to lead the Coyotes into the playoffs.

► Jamie Benn, Dallas: For a player with a $9.5 million salary cap hit through 2024-25, Benn has been a major disappointment with only 12 goals and 23 points.

► Brent Burns, San Jose: Signed through 2024-25 at an $8 million salary cap hit, Burns has a minus-23 rating and only 23 points. He’s no longer in Norris Trophy discussion.

Most likely traded

► Chris Kreider, New York Rangers: The Rangers are going to keep rebuilding, and Kreider will attract bountiful offers from teams like Boston and Tampa Bay, among others, for a big winger who can score.

► Tyler Toffoli, Los Angeles: He’s not a big name, but Toffoli will be an unrestricted free agent and he’s played a lot of playoff games in L.A. 1172483 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings send Filip Zadina, Givani Smith to Grand Rapids for weekend games

By Ansar Khan

Filip Zadina has been thriving with the Detroit Red Wings lately and will get an opportunity to keep that momentum going during the NHL All-Star break.

Zadina will play in two games for the , Friday and Saturday, against the at Van Andel Arena.

The Red Wings on Thursday assigned Zadina, Givani Smith, Dennis Cholowski and to the Griffins. All will be in the lineup for Grand Rapids this weekend.

The Red Wings surely will recall Zadina after the weekend, prior to their next game, Jan. 31 at the New York Rangers.

Zadina had his first career two-goal game in the NHL in Wednesday’s 4-2 loss at Minnesota, when he logged a career-high 20:51. The sixth overall draft pick in 2018 has eight goals and seven assists in 26 games this season for Detroit.

Smith, Cholowski and Pickard likely will return to Detroit after the weekend, too.

Smith has played well as a net-front presence, a player who is physical down low. He has two goals and an assist in 15 games with the Red Wings.

Cholowski, recalled on Wednesday, likely is needed to fill in for the injured Mike Green on the power play. Pickard will be needed to back-up Jimmy Howard because Jonathan Bernier (lower-body injury) probably won’t be ready coming out of the break.

Michigan Live LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172484 Detroit Red Wings

Moritz Seider gives Red Wings the biggest - and shortest - scare of the season

By Peter J. Wallner

GRAND RAPIDS - Moritz Seider crashed in a heap, lay motionless, had to be helped from the ice Wednesday and all breathing stopped in the Detroit Red Wings organization.

About five minutes later, he was back, just like that.

Giant exhale.

The prized defenseman with the Grand Rapids Griffins, enjoying a strong rookie season, created a big - albeit brief- scare when was checked hard by Iowa’s Colten Beck as he went into the corner in the early minutes of the second period in the Griffins’ eventual 4-3 shootout win.

He went down immediately and did not move as play momentarily continued around him. After the whistle, teammate Evgeny Svechnikov motioned for a trainer before Seider got to a knee. He rose and skated slowly, hunched over, and went straight to the locker room.

In replays, it appeared his left shoulder took the brunt of the hit. No penalty was called.

But doomsday didn't last long. He returned to the bench about five minutes later and handled his regular shifts the rest of the game.

“It was a hit. I feel into the boards but I’m alright,” he said before acknowledging his initial concern.

"I had a bad feeling when we went into the locker room but now it's fine. It hurts a little bit but nothing to worry about," he said. "It shouldn't be an issue for next game."

When pressed further, Seider added: "Now, it's fine. There's nothing to talk about anymore."

Griffins coach Ben Simon noted similarly.

"We're not concerned. He's a tough kid."

Seider has played in 34 games with the Griffins with two goals, 15 points - second among defensemen - and a minus-8 rating. He also captained Team Germany at the World Juniors, where he played well. Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill has been impressed with Seider, though he wouldn't commit to an imminent call up.

If he is recalled, it would be for no more than nine games to keep Seider's entry-level contract in place.

The positive reviews perked up the 18-year-old.

“If you know more, you’re very welcome to help me out and tell me a little bit,” he said with a smile. " I have my job to do here and I’m very dialed in and focused working hard every day in practice. And if the call comes, then it will come and if not, then if not. I’m very happy. I got a lot of work to do down here and, for now, I’m in a perfect spot."

Michigan Live LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172485 Edmonton Oilers

Oil Spills: Edmonton Oilers and their NHL trade possibilities in midst of fight for playoff spot

They're very much in the midst of a battle royale for a playoff spot this spring, but what could Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland reasonably acquire to bolster his NHL team if they're looking like contenders come the end of February?

CRAIG ELLINGSON Updated: January 23, 2020

With the NHL trade deadline a month away, the Edmonton Oilers are right in there fighting with many of their Pacific Division rivals for a playoff spot.

And if the Oilers continue to stay in the playoff conversation — and even look like contenders come Monday, Feb. 24 — could general manager Ken Holland try to make a deal that bolsters the lineup?

Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172486 Edmonton Oilers it would have been better if it had been broken. I got in the MRI machine and they said ‘Grade 2 sprain of my PCL.’ And it looked pretty good.”

Dr. Mark Lindsay, soft tissue specialist: “There was so much swelling that JONES: McDavid knee injury documentary bares harrowing journey of I don’t think they could see the degree of damage, so Connor was non-surgery route referred to a couple of other specialists for a second opinion.”

McDavid: “The doctor in Colorado Springs told me it was actually a full PCL tear on both sides of my meniscus. At that point, it was enough to Terry Jones have full reconstruction of the knee and full reconstruction of the PCL, which would have been over a year recovery and we don’t know how it

really would have recovered.” The facts revealed in the film, combined with the quote-unquote Brian: ”Basically, Connor told us that the doctor told us he needed 'highlights' from the people involved, will become a major part of the surgery and there was no question of that and the sooner the better, and Connor McDavid legend when the hour-long documentary is aired. by that he meant in the next few days. Your career is only so long. You At the end of Don Metz film, Whatever It Takes, he rolled the list like never know how long it’s going to be, and the opportunities to win the most films usually roll the credits. Stanley Cup are few and far between. And to Connor, it would also be letting his teammates down, too. Distraught would be the best word I It was the audited extent of Connor McDavid’s knee injury from a collision could use.” with a goalpost in the last game of the regular season in Calgary. It was the total tabulation of what No. 97 went through to be back to start this Kyle: “At first, we were thinking, ‘OK, this is an injury we can come back season with the Edmonton Oilers for what is looking to be his second from.’ Then, all of a sudden, there was the thought, ‘I’m never going to Hart Trophy-winning season. play again.’”

• fully torn posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) Oilers CEO Bob Nicholson: “He had to make a decision within 48 hours. Can you imagine what was going through Connor’s mind?’ • torn medial and lateral menisci Agent Jeff Jackson: “Connor was very emotional. It was very difficult for • fully torn popliteus muscle him to talk, and I could just imagine that he was devastated with the spot his career was in. It was very much going to be altered or come to an • complete tear of the posterior capsule end.” • tibial plateau fracture McDavid: “Jeff said ‘We’ll go get another opinion.’ He set that up, and • decided on non-surgical route with the help of Mr. Katz and the Oilers, we went to Los Angeles to meet with another doctor. He said the second doctor was right, but surgery is • pioneering multi-discipline rehab process risky. He said, ‘I don’t believe in surgery. I would try to rehab this.’ So • 179 days/1,000-plus hours to return to the lineup now what do you do? I had to make a decision at age 22 about how the rest of my life would play out, and I had to make it in 24 hours. Those are the facts revealed in the film that, combined with the quote- unquote ‘highlights’ from the people involved, will become a major part of Jackson: ”The doctor in Los Angeles said, ‘It’s bad. But I wouldn’t do the Connor McDavid legend when the hour-long documentary is aired surgery right now.’ That’s what Connor wanted to hear. He didn’t want to following the coverage of both the Friday and Saturday NHL All-Star hear that he had to miss a year and that he had to have surgery. Weekend events on Sportsnet. Dr. Lindsay: “I discussed with Jeff. If I’m going to do this, I told him, ‘I’m The documentary is perhaps the best work yet from Metz. going to have to actually live with him because it’s an emotional grind to go through.’ That’s what I emphasized to Connor. It’s a fulltime job. It’s Your correspondent had the opportunity to preview the film Thursday and seven days a week and 10 hours a day. So it came down to a plan of the quotes that emerge from the work and the words that go with the action. We were going to brace the knee and he was going to be in a above facts give you an idea of what you are about to watch. hyperbaric chamber for about 40 days.”

Here’s just a sample: JONES: Oilers star McDavid's off-season injury rehab the focus of upcoming Sportsnet show High-performance trainer Gary Roberts set the tone with this: “You know, I fear for Connor throughout his career so far. He’s going too fast.” McDavid injury not as bad as first looked, will still undergo MRI

Connor McDavid: “It was right on the post square and I just felt the pain 'Rehab starts immediately': Oilers' McDavid has a small ligament tear in right away. I thought I broke my leg into a couple of pieces. I had left knee flashbacks to the (Steven) Stamkos injury. Watching him go through something like that was pretty scary. I mean, this is all in a split second. McDavid escapes crash without grave injury But a lot goes through your mind.” McDavid appears to have survived possible calamity

Oilers head athletic therapist T.D. Forss: “I asked him on the ice if he Goalie Smith had good look at McDavid injury could move his knee and he said could move it slightly. I wasn’t concerned that it was dislocated. So I said ‘OK, Connor, we have a McDavid: “When Mark suggested that I was going to be in a hyperbaric couple options here. I’d like to get you up. If you don’t think you can get chamber every day, I was not very excited about that. You’re in a tube. I up, we’ll get the (emergency medical technicians) and get you out that remember a doctor had cleared me to flex my quad muscle. I’d be in way.’ Connor said ‘No, it’s painful but I think I can get up.’ ” there for two hours. I’d flex my quad muscle for 10 seconds over and over again just to save the muscle.” McDavid: “I was just worried, trying to get up, that my leg was just going to give way. I held it together until we got through the tunnel and then I Oilers GM Ken Holland: “Talking to Bob Nicholson in the process to was a mess. I think it took about 10 minutes just to get back to the become the general manager, we did talk about Connor’s injury, but it dressing room.” didn’t seem to be all that significant. I don’t want to throw Bob under the bus, but I wasn’t made aware of just how seriously he was injured.” Girlfriend Lauren Kyle: “When he called me, he said ‘I think I broke my leg.’ He was definitely emotional.” Nicholson: “When I talked to Ken, he asked that question. It wasn’t the first question he asked, but he certainly asked it fairly quickly through the Dad Brian McDavid: “He was very upset. He was in a lot of pain. As a process. I gave him information, but I certainly didn’t give him all the parent, it’s hard to hear when your child is in pain.” information.”

Mom Kelly McDavid: “It was awful.” Jackson: “There was a point where we went for an MRI where we got to McDavid: “I remember laying down in the X-ray room. They took a the point where we thought if the PCL fibers aren’t connecting, we might picture. Then the doctor looked at the picture and said ‘Nope, nothing is have to do the surgery now. Connor was very nervous that day. Lo and broken.’ I’m thinking, ‘I guess that’s a good thing,’ but in hindsight, maybe behold, that day you could see the fibers had started to cross and they said ‘It’s starting to heal.’ At that point with Connor, you could see the relief.”

Dr. Lindsay: “Once we got past the first six weeks, the fibers were attaching and then the bone fully healed.”

McDavid: “That’s when the workouts in the pool came in. I spent so many hours in that pool. I still had the brace on. Then I’d have the MRIs again.”

Dr. Lindsay: “They really didn’t want Connor to go back on the ice until September, but one day, I said, ‘I think you should go on the ice with your father. Just get back on the ice and don’t even think about it and just move.’”

McDavid: “It was something I’ll never forget. I didn’t know what it was going to feel like. I didn’t know if it was going to hurt. I had a big brace on so I knew it wasn’t going to give out. But I didn’t know what it was going to feel like.”

Dr. Lindsay: “I really think that was the tipping point in the whole summer. At that point, he wasn’t injured for a moment. He totally changed emotionally from that day. You could just see his face change. He started to smile. He started to laugh. That was a really big moment.”

McDavid: “I got out there and it felt great. I didn’t do any stopping or anything risky, but in my mind, it was ‘I’m getting ready for opening day.’”

Roberts: “There is nobody who has done what Connor has done to rehabilitate himself to come back from that serious of an injury.”

There are many other voices involved in the film, some poignant scenes and some remarkable special effects detailing the injured knee.

From the time McDavid first returned to the ice and began sessions with skating coach Tracy Wilson and began the training in the gym, McDavid was relentless.

When he returned to Edmonton and rejoined his teammates for training camp and the first game of the season, everything intensified. You’ve witnessed the incredible games and unforgettable goals. And now, with the release of Metz film, the story will no doubt take on a life of its own and be the focus of NHL All-Star Weekend in St. Louis.

Should McDavid continue to play at this level for the final 35 games of the season and the Oilers manage to miss the playoffs, it’ll be hard after watching this production to find somebody who will once again refuse to vote for him for the Hart Trophy.

But I suspect the film will have another effect.

McDavid has been difficult for fans to get to feel like they know. But so many of his characteristics were so visible in this film, it’ll be hard to feel like you don’t know him when you watch this. The film does a remarkable job of capturing the Connor McDavid the public seldom sees.

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172487 Edmonton Oilers “That’s when the realization was there that there was a compelling story here and just how serious the injury was.

“The story lines had so many different arcs that included the importance JONES: Oilers star McDavid's off-season injury rehab the focus of of acquiring many and varied opinions from several doctors, surgeons, upcoming Sportsnet show fitness and high-level training experts. There were also many other well- known and accomplished specialists consulted in the area of the time required to recover from such a devastating injury.”

Terry Jones Metz said the documentary deals with a decision McDavid faced about undergoing surgery and being out for 10 months or facing an

unbelievable rehab project in the off-season.” After Connor McDavid went into the goal post and had to be helped off The documentary, titled Whatever It Takes, will air Friday and Saturday the ice to the dressing room after exclaiming, “I think it’s broke,” McDavid immediately following the NHL All-Star events on Sportsnet, two or three and the Edmonton Oilers camp went into public denial mode. times the following week and a number of times beginning Feb. 5 on McDavid appeared on end-of-season exit day and assured everybody he NBC. was going to be fine with a little off-season physiotherapy. He said he’d “It was one of the hardest story telling and technically challenging be back for the start of training camp and able to play the first game of emotional film projects my production team and myself have ever done,” the season, no problem. said Metz. And he was. But behind the scenes it was a major problem. “This show is going to surprise a lot of fans and viewers because no one McDavid, to this point, enjoyed a Hart Trophy calibre season and goes knew the seriousness of the situation. It’s one of the most challenging into the NHL All-Star weekend as the league’s leading point-getter. projects I’ve ever taken on. In the end, this was a very special thing to be part of. Very special.” But after both Friday and Saturday event telecasts from St. Louis, Rogers Sportsnet will show a one-hour documentary by legendary Edmonton Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 01.24.2020 producer Don Metz illustrating that behind the public calm produced by the Oilers and their star, there was major concern that he’d suffered a significant and perhaps even career ending injury.

“On April 8, I got a call from Connor’s agent, Jeff Jackson, to get over to Connor’s house,” said Metz. “Jeff explained that Connor was returning from Vail, Co., where he was getting a second opinion from a noted surgeon.

“Connor had been accompanied by T.D. Forss from the Oilers medical staff on the private jet that had set up immediately,” said Metz of the Oilers owner.

“I also received a call from Bob Nicholson as well to give me the same message,” he said of the Oilers CEO.

“Nicholson told me to get over to Connor’s house and to be there when Connor arrives. I’m a close friend of the McDavid family as well as Jeff Jackson, and at the time I was also still vice-president and senior advisor for the Oilers entertainment group.”

It was obvious upon arrival, said Metz, all was not well.

“The feeling was that Connor may be upset and somewhat distraught with the news he’d received from the surgeon in Vail.

“The feeling was that it would be good to be there for support, in any way, in whatever he may need. As his parents and agent were all in Toronto, they felt best that I get there and meet his girlfriend, Lauren Kyle, who was also headed to his house for support.

“When I arrived at Connor’s house, it became obvious that this situation was quite serious and that it had all kind of potential variables with how it was all going to be dealt with.

“No one really knew how this was all going to play out and very few of us knew that this was a potentially career-ending trauma,” Metz continued.

“With great determination and discipline, and a trusted code of honour to keep a zero leak, zero access to any information surrounding this critical situation for Connor for and his future, not just as a hockey player but as a person, he had to face some very tough facts that needed some fairly urgent decisions at that time.”

It wasn’t like Metz showed up at McDavid’s house with a film crew and the idea of making another of his highly acclaimed documentaries.

“It was not until well into August and the beginning of September and the start of Oilers training camp that the idea of producing a documentary and telling the story of the sheer will and determination on Connor’s part to get back to the ice and resume his high-octane style of playing hockey, along with the what had been involved, was even discussed.

“There was a highly innovative, highly complicated, never-been-done- before rehab that involved over a dozen specialists and many others that needed to be brought together to bring Connor’s leg and mindset back to the level required to continue to play the way he plays. 1172488 Edmonton Oilers Big men who have talent can have an enormous impact, and no one can blame McLellan for keeping McDavid and Draisaitl together after their 2016-17 success. Keeping Maroon on the line was a continuation of the previous season. The trio’s minutes would likely have approached 2016- Lowetide: What do Connor McDavid’s best lines tell us about his optimal 17 levels, but Edmonton dealt Maroon to the New Jersey Devils near the linemates? deadline.

• 2017-18: Lucic-McDavid-Jesse Puljujarvi — 182 minutes together; 54.76 Corsi; 53.11 shot differential; 66.67 percent goal differential (8-4). By Allan Mitchell Jan 23, 2020 File that line under the heading “missed opportunity,” as in Year 2 of

Puljujarvi’s contract, he was playing on a line that won possession and In recent days, the Edmonton Oilers have struck upon a second line that goal-differential battles. We don’t know what happened with Puljujarvi, appears to have real promise. Leon Draisaitl is at centre with wingers but it was a line on which he could flourish in the NHL at 19. He didn’t Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Kailer Yamamoto. Three WHL phenoms, all earn it, but he was having success. What might have been. first-round picks, enjoying some success together. • 2017-18: Nugent-Hopkins–McDavid–Ty Rattie — 128 minutes together; If we project that trio as a successful unit, it’s necessary to revisit the top 50.19 Corsi; 47.95 shot differential; 65 percent goal differential (13-7). line, the one that features Connor McDavid. Without Draisaitl, what kind That is an important line to note because it’s just the second time of line should general manager Ken Holland construct for his captain? McDavid had two skill wingers as opposed to one skill winger paired with Should the Oilers pursue a skilled sniper? What about a winger to a big winger with some skill. The trio is somewhat similar to the line with retrieve pucks along the wall on the double? Pouliot and Eberle: an aggressive forechecker on one side and a finisher The big question surrounds having a policeman on McDavid’s line. on the other. The misstep was the Oilers might have aimed higher than Should there be a big winger who can protect McDavid, like Zack Rattie on the right wing. Kassian, Milan Lucic or ? • 2018-19: Draisaitl-McDavid-Kassian — 284 minutes; 51.27 Corsi; 49.51 In order to go forward, it helps to look back. Here are the most successful shot differential; 54.76 goal differential (23-19). lines in McDavid’s career since he debuted in fall 2015. All numbers are That line has been a mainstay for the past year-plus, and only recently at five-on-five and courtesy of Natural Stat Trick, and all lines listed have have we seen coach Dave Tippett move away from it. Draisaitl is a goal differential of more than 50 percent. tremendously skilled, and Kassian provides the muscle while also • 2015-16: Benoit Pouliot-McDavid-Jordan Eberle — 149 minutes providing some skill. The possession numbers don’t shine like the line together; 56.3 percent Corsi; 55.9 percent shot differential; 52.63 percent with Maroon and Draisaitl did in previous seasons, and the goal goal differential (10-9). differential in 2018-19 was pedestrian.

That line featured a bullet centre in McDavid along with an aggressive • 2018-19: Draisaitl-McDavid-Alex Chiasson — 247 minutes together; forechecker in Pouliot. His anticipation and ability to turn over pucks led 48.69 Corsi; 45.4 shot differential; 58.33 goal differential (14-10 goals). to all kinds of offence for the line off the rush. Eberle was a shooter, and A curious decision by two coaches (McLellan and Ken Hitchcock) to run the wingers were able to think about the game at McDavid’s level. It was two similar wingers (Kassian and Chiasson) as the main options for a successful line, albeit one of the few we’ll look at that didn’t include an McDavid and Draisaitl. A skill winger such as Eberle would have seemed . an obvious option, but Rattie and Yamamoto were found wanting and • 2015-16: Pouliot-McDavid-Nail Yakupov — 128 minutes together; 51.72 Chiarelli kept adding defencemen instead of offensive wingers. percent Corsi; 50.81 shot differential; 56.25 percent goal differential (9-7). • 2019-20: Draisaitl-McDavid-Kassian — 439 minutes together; 47.86 The raw and talented Yakupov replaced the more experienced Eberle Corsi; 46.17 shot differential; 52.83 goal differential (28-25). with similar results. I remember wondering why the Oilers were so quick Tippett went with what worked from the previous season, but in each of to move away from Pouliot and guessed at the time there was a desire to the three disciplines listed, the performance is off compared to the work secure a more physical winger. That decision had a major impact on done in 2018-19. Tippett has used with Kassian and has had McDavid’s linemates from his second year through his fifth. some (limited) success with Neal and Josh Archibald in just 55 recent • 2015-16: Maroon-McDavid-Eberle — 119 minutes together; 47.49 minutes. That line has outscored opponents 3-1 and has a Corsi percent Corsi; 49.64 percent shot differential; 69.23 percent goal percentage of 54, and it might behoove Tippett to keep the trio together. differential (9-4). Building the perfect beast That trio teamed up after the deadline deal that added Maroon and Should there be a big winger who can protect McDavid, like Kassian, became the McDavid template for the Peter Chiarelli era. The three were Lucic or Maroon? under 50 percent in possession but outscored opposition impressively. Sometimes, luck creates something that resembles chemistry. Pouliot wasn’t on the ice with McDavid in 2015 when the young centre was hurt against the Flyers. His teammates were Matt Hendricks (who • 2016-17: Lucic-McDavid-Eberle — 231 minutes together; 53.20 Corsi; was not a culprit, as he trailed the play, having replaced Anton Lander), 53.70 shot differential; 76.92 goal differential (10-3). Brandon Davidson and Oscar Klefbom, as it happened while Edmonton The line was peak Chiarelli: Lucic was brought in as the ultimate enforcer was killing a penalty. who could also play with skill. Eberle was a major part of the solution in His linemates in the Calgary game in April were Kassian, Draisaitl, the first two seasons, losing his grip on the best job in hockey (McDavid’s Klefbom and Adam Larsson. Hendricks and Kassian, considered shooter) to Draisaitl in the regular season and then getting traded the deterrents, were on the ice for the incidents. next summer. An enforcer on the wing wouldn’t have prevented either injury. • 2016-17: Maroon-McDavid-Draisaitl — 543 minutes together; 52.64 Corsi; 54.16 percent shot differential; 60.38 percent goal differential (32- What would it look like? 21). I go back to the two identifiable lines without a policeman: The line with I believe the success of that line cemented the idea of Edmonton having Pouliot and Eberle from the beginning of McDavid’s career and the one a big enforcer type riding shotgun with McDavid in the eyes of Chiarelli, with Nugent-Hopkins and Rattie. (The grouping of Pouliot, McDavid and Todd McLellan or both. A 60 percent goal differential is outstanding and Yakupov also applies.) added to Maroon’s success with McDavid. After the 2016 deadline, the die was cast. A big man on the wing was part of the fabric of all McDavid In almost five seasons, McDavid has had a tough physical winger on at lines. It’s a good bet the Oilers didn’t project Maroon playing over Lucic least one wing most of the time. Perhaps it’s time to give him some high- when the big contract was signed. skill options for those outrageous plays that involve high-speed chases.

• 2017-18: Maroon-McDavid-Draisaitl — 289 minutes together; 57.12 Edmonton has few options behind the trio who are running hot on the No. Corsi; 57.10 shot differential; 62.07 percent goal differential (18-11). 2 line (Nugent-Hopkins, Draisaitl and Yamamoto). In the short term, there are players worth considering:

Archibald is a fast train who can help in the two-way game and has scored twice in 70 five-on-five minutes with McDavid;

Joakim Nygard is a bullet who seems to be starting to find the range in the NHL. It’s a big ask, but putting Nygard and Archibald with McDavid would make for a constant worry for opponents in terms of speed.

Nygard and McDavid have played 51:30 together and outscored opponents 5-2, winning the Corsi five-on-five battle 52-48 and the shot differential 36-26. Archibald and McDavid have played 67:50 together and outscored opponents 3-1 while losing the battle in Corsi (47.86) and shot differential (40.98).

Tyler Benson is playing well on the farm and can retrieve pucks and send fabulous passes to skilled linemates. In the aftermath of Yamamoto’s success, he’s an option who doesn’t require anything but a plane ticket.

The summer

Holland is going to spend money this summer on solutions. Taylor Hall gets mentioned a lot. Mike Hoffman will be a free agent, and he might cash 40-plus passes from McDavid in a single season.

For the rest of this season, it’s likely we see a combination of Neal, Kassian, Archibald and Nygard, with Draisaitl jumping back in if that second unit struggles for a time. I’m also curious about Yamamoto. Without a policeman as a priority, and skill taking a front seat again, there are exciting possibilities.

If Holland is looking for optimal, perhaps the original combination, with Pouliot and Eberle, would be a more attractive template than one skill winger and an enforcer.

There’s no reason in the world to put a team-enforced limit on the best player in the game.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172489 Florida Panthers Mike Matheson: 1 Riley Stillman: 1

“I am not even a beer guy, I am a Scotch guy,” Yandle said. “Maybe your Panthers player poll: The guys in the room pick the best nickname, worst question should have been: ‘(Who’s the) best guy to grab a Scotch with?’ dressed and more That’s on you.

“No, it is a compliment to know your teammates think highly of you as a By George Richards Jan 23, 2020 person. I have a bunch of great teammates here. There is not one I would not want to grab a beer with. Or a Scotch.”

Acciari agreed with the decision. SUNRISE, Fla. — To expand on The Athletic’s annual NHL Player Poll, we decided to branch out and make a local version as well. “Yandle is a funny guy when he doesn’t try to be and is just so easy to talk to,” he said. “Just an awesome guy.” Who, you might be wondering, has the best nickname on the team? Most underrated player Noel Acciari was selected by his teammates. Although coach Joel Quenneville calls him “Ach,” in the dressing room he is known as Jonathan Huberdeau: 3 votes “Cookie.” It is based on his love of sweets — especially before games. Noel Acciari: 2 Before playing in his first preseason game with the Panthers, the legend Brett Connolly: 2 goes, Acciari noticed there were no cookies in the pregame spread. And, boy, he wasn’t happy about it. Aaron Ekblad: 2

“He was full-blown pissed there weren’t any cookies, which I get,” Keith MacKenzie Weegar: 2 Yandle told The Athletic last month. Sasha Barkov: 1 “If that’s part of your pregame ritual, you better have it. But, here he is, the new guy on the team, screaming ‘Where are the cookies?!’ It was Jayce Hawryluk: 1 great.” “I am having a good year with the points so I am sure that played into it,” Acciari got himself a new nickname, and now he is even getting some Huberdeau said. “Barky has been winning the ‘underrated’ thing for a goodies out of the deal. while, but now people are talking about him a lot more. Maybe it’s my turn. Nabisco sent him a shipment of Oreos which he then shared with his teammates. “I don’t mind it, I am just trying to work hard every day,” he continued. “I just want to keep doing what I am doing, continue to improve. I am not WE DID IT!@OREO SHOWING ACCIARI SOME LOVE! looking for recognition, but going to my first All-Star Game should be fun. PIC.TWITTER.COM/6F0IYAGUGV It is nice to get some reward.”

— JAMESON OLIVE (@JAMESONCOOP) JANUARY 16, 2020 Again, Acciari, a former Bruin, fell in line with the consensus.

“It is a nickname that is sticking,” Acciari said Monday. “Oreo was nice “I would say Huby because, coming from a different team, you hear a lot enough to send me a care package of assorted Oreos, and I brought it about Barkov and that line in general,” Acciari said. “But this year, I think onto the plane and shared it. The guys loved it.” Huby snuck up on a lot of people. People are finding out quickly that he is a legit high-end player.” So, regular or double stuffed? Connolly, another relatively new member of the Panthers, wasn’t “I like the traditional single, but I will dabble in all of them,” Acciari said. surprised to see his name come up. A total of 13 players were polled for this exercise, with almost every “I am not on social media and fly under the radar a little, so I have always question receiving full participation. kind of been considered underrated,” he said. “In Washington, you get Here is the 2019-20 Florida Panthers’ player poll: slotted before all of those big names, but here, I feel like I have a bigger role on this team with the expectations of what they brought me in here to Best nickname on the team do. I just want to do my job.”

Cookie (Noel Acciari): 7 votes As we hit the All-Star break, the still underrated Jonathan Huberdeau has 18 goals and 47 assists for the Panthers. (Jasen Vinlove / USA Today) Sweatsie (Aaron Ekblad): 2 Best dressed Stralmandoza (Anton Stralman): 2 Vincent Trocheck: 4 votes Daddy (Evgenii Dadonov): 1 Brian Boyle: 3 Barky (Sasha Barkov): 1 Sergei Bobrovsky: 1 “Oh, it is Cookie,” Yandle said. “And it’s not because I helped give (the nickname) to him, but it is how this thing has taken on a life of its own. Mike Hoffman: 1 The guy is getting cookie deals! He is going to be sponsored by Nabisco soon. He likes cookies, so it is an accurate nickname, as well. This one is Mark Pysyk: 1 going to stick. Guys in Boston who he played with in the past are now Keith Yandle: 1 calling him Cookie. This is a fun one.” “That was really nice of them to vote for me,” Trocheck said after hearing Best guy to grab a beer with the results, “but I think a lot of guys have stepped it up this year. Boyle Keith Yandle: 5 votes and Hoffman are definitely right there. Bobrovsky brings it.”

Mark Pysyk: 2 Worst dressed

Sasha Barkov: 1 Keith Yandle: 3 votes

Brian Boyle: 1 Aaron Ekblad: 1

Brett Connolly: 1 Jayce Hawryluk: 1

Evgenii Dadonov: 1 Jonathan Huberdeau: 1 Mike Matheson: 1 “I got voted off as team DJ this year in favor of Frank (Vatrano),” Trocheck said. “Pretty embarrassing. The guy is from Springfield. You Mark Pysyk: 1 can’t please everyone, I guess.”

Dominic Toninato: 1 “Yeah, we got this one right,” Huberdeau said. “We just changed our DJ, Vincent Trocheck: 1 so there you go. Troch is pretty rattled about it. That makes it funny.”

MacKenzie Weegar: 1 The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020

“I disagree on this one. I have to say it is Jayce,” Acciari said. “He just wears the same stuff every day.”

Trocheck went in another direction.

“Got to go with Pysyk,” he said. “I bet Yandle voted for himself. He doesn’t try all that hard.”

Interestingly, Trocheck, Yandle and Pysyk all received votes for both best- and worst-dressed Panther.

Most time in the weight room

Sergei Bobrovsky: 6 votes

Sasha Barkov: 4

Mike Matheson: 2

Keith Yandle: 1

“Bob goes nonstop in the gym,” Connolly said, “and it’s not just working out, it is the stretching he does. He is always learning something new, and it doesn’t stop when he goes home. I know guys who had played with him, and that’s the book on him. He works extremely hard. He is extremely dedicated to his group and being the best he can be.”

“He is very impressive,” Huberdeau said of Bobrovsky. “When we get to the arena, he has already been there for 45 minutes or an hour getting himself ready. He cares about the game, and that is how he does it. He doesn’t talk much but you know he is focused.”

Worst roommate on the road

Vincent Trocheck: 3 votes

Noel Acciari: 1

Sergei Bobrovsky: 1

Brian Boyle: 1

Chris Driedger: 1

Aaron Ekblad: 1

Jayce Hawryluk: 1

Mark Pysyk: 1

Colton Sceviour: 1

Frank Vatrano: 1

MacKenzie Weegar: 1

“Ouch. Tough one,” Yandle said on Trocheck’s behalf. “I would room with him. Not nice.”

Trocheck himself seemed confused by the three votes he received.

“I wonder why I won this one. I’m OK,” Trocheck said. “I would avoid Ekblad.”

Others brought more self-confidence to the proceedings.

“I didn’t get any votes because everyone wants to hang with me,” Connolly said.

Worst taste in music

Vincent Trocheck: 8 votes

Mike Matheson: 2

Josh Brown: 1

Denis Malgin: 1

Trocheck acknowledged his teammates’ distaste for his musical stylings. 1172490 Los Angeles Kings

CBA and salary cap expert Jeff Solomon keeps the Kings’ bottom line in the black

By JACK HARRIS STAFF WRITER JAN. 23, 2020 4:37 PM

Like remembering an old friend, Jeff Solomon broke into a reminiscent smile when asked about the first NHL collective bargaining agreement he ever read. Then the Kings’ executive vice president of hockey operations and legal affairs squeezed his fingers close together, leaving only an inch or two of space between his thumb and pointer.

“The first CBA I had was this thick,” he said, chuckling. “It was a little book, maybe 50 pages long. There wasn’t a lot of depth to it.”

Oh, how times have changed.

“In ‘95, it got a little heavier,” he said. “And then in ‘05, it got severely sophisticated.”

Now in his 14th season with the Kings and 34th around the NHL, Solomon is the team’s de facto CBA and salary cap expert. His background — first as an attorney in tax and estate planning, then as a player agent for 20 years — is unique among the franchise’s executives. And as the club embarks on the second rebuild of Solomon’s tenure in L.A., his insight could prove indispensable.

“We think we can count on ourselves to find the opportunities and find creative ways to try and use [the CBA rules] as best we can,” Solomon said. “As a lawyer, I was used to dissecting rules. It’s almost been a passion, to figure out how you apply and exploit them in the best way.”

Solomon, 61, admits that when he embarked upon a career representing players in the mid-1980s, he knew little about the sport’s business side. But, the University of San Diego law school graduate slowly learned, and steadily built a deep list of clientele as an agent, including former Kings players and Nelson Emerson.

Ahead of the 2006-07 season, Solomon was hired by the Kings. In the decade-and-a-half since, he helped them construct two Stanley Cup- winning teams (both of which used virtually all of its cap space) and navigate several complex contractual situations, from the terminations of Mike Richard’s and Slava Voynov’s contacts in 2015 to this season’s departure of Ilya Kovalchuk.

Solomon has also been instrumental in coordinating numerous contract negotiations — notably, he worked with Drew Doughty on the defenseman’s self-negotiated eight-year extension signed in the 2018 offseason — and qualifying offers for restricted free agents.

Speaking to NHL.com last summer, general manager Rob Blake described Solomon as “very methodical.” Solomon simply credits his lengthy background.

“Everybody brings their special area of expertise,” he said. “You get enough guys — just like how we put together the right team on the ice — you put the right team together in the front office. The idea is you focus on your area of expertise, and you grow from there.”

In this transitional season, the Kings aren’t flirting with the salary cap max. But for Solomon, every transaction, from minor league recalls to organizational depth signings, is considered in the bigger picture.

He looks at the Kings’ future like an ever-evolving puzzle, aiming to ensure that, when the organization’s next wave of core players arrive, there is room on the roster and in the budget to make them fit.

“That’s the part that gets you really excited,” he said. “You get to see these kids from the draft, the development team takes over, then they transition into minor league players who come up through the system. Then when they’re ready, when they get the promotion, you hope there’s a spot for them, that you get them in the lineup, that you start the transition.”

LA Times: LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172491 Los Angeles Kings reversing last season’s downward turn, in which he totaled 22 goals and 60 points in 81 games.

Kopitar spoke about the personal and collective struggles of last season. A fresh appreciation of Kings All-Star Anze Kopitar, the player Wayne “Last year was just bad,” Kopitar said to The Athletic after the Flyers Gretzky calls a ‘dream’ game. “I didn’t feel good. It was a hard year for everybody and it’s easy to start feeling sorry for yourself and getting frustrated too much. This year, it was a fresh start with (coach) Todd (McLellan) coming in and By Lisa Dillman Jan 23, 2020 everything.”

The Kings are three points behind the 71-point pace of last season, after 50 games. Until a disengaged-looking road trip before the break — which PHILADELPHIA — Dustin Brown has heard the question so often — and dropped them into last place in the Western Conference — the Kings had in every conceivable way, shape and form — since, oh, about 2006. But been looking much better and more organized than in the previous it’s the start of a fresh decade, so why not ask it again? season. How good is Anze Kopitar? Progress is coming but it is slow, at times. Recently, Doughty explained On this night, Brown just laughed and then gave his usual thoughtful his struggles with the process to The Athletic. Kopitar’s optimistic tone is assessment in the dressing room at Wells Fargo Center after Saturday’s important, especially coming from a captain, for this group as it tries to 4-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Kings were heading for the door, stay positive in the face of all the losses. scattering to various locations for the bye week. Kopitar will be making “Steps in the right direction where you kind of see the light now, you see his way to St. Louis for this weekend’s NHL’s All-Star festivities. where you’re going — so it’s encouraging,” Kopitar said. “I laugh at that question because people don’t know how good he is,” Last season, Jaret Anderson-Dolan moved in with Kopitar and his family Brown said. “He doesn’t get the points that a lot of guys get.” during his brief stint with the Kings before returning to his junior team in Bringing up Kopitar made Brown think about the comparisons between Spokane. Anderson-Dolan was 19, and Kopitar was reminded of when Kopitar and former Detroit Red Wing center Pavel Datsyuk, a three-time he made his NHL debut in 2006. Selke Trophy winner as the NHL’s top defensive forward. “It’s helpful because I’ve been in that situation, but I was also 19 years “He (Kopitar) doesn’t give up his defensive game for his offense,” Brown old and I was just happy to be in the NHL,” Kopitar said. “Myself, Brownie said. “If he played on a different team…” and Drew Doughty, we’ve essentially become champions and we’ve gone back to this, which is no fun at all. The unfinished thought implied Kopitar’s stat line would look drastically different “It’s a lot more satisfying now, being older, and trying to show the ropes now to the younger guy and how to progress and get better and get back “He grew up with us, how we played and it’s ingrained in him,” Brown to the team and caliber we want to be. At the end of the day, that (the said. “The one year, he had 92 points. And he did that with playing record) is what counts. But we’re taking steps in the right direction, so defense.” that’s what is encouraging.”

That was 2017-18, when Kopitar finished third in Hart Trophy voting — The break gave Kopitar a chance to take a brief vacation with his wife, behind winner Taylor Hall, then of the New Jersey Devils, and Nathan Ines, and their two children, daughter Neza and son Jakob, before MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche. Kopitar did win the Selke Trophy, heading to St. Louis. This will be Kopitar’s fifth All-Star Game — he calls for the second time. it a “great honor” and “pretty cool,” — but there is a meaningful difference this time. “I’m not taking anything away from those guys,” Brown said. “But they weren’t defensive studs like he is. If you put him on a different path, he’s “This year is going to be the first one that my kids are going to go with maybe (a) 100-point guy in some years.” us,” Kopitar said. “I’m sure that’s going to be a whole new experience for them and going to be a cool experience for me too. With his two goals against Detroit on Dec. 15, Kopitar passed Wayne Gretzky on the Kings’ all-time points list and moved into fourth place “Now I think they’re starting to realize what I actually do and how it’s behind Marcel Dionne, Luc Robitaille and Dave Taylor. Gretzky was an done. They’re way too young to understand the full thing, but the Kings, early fan of Kopitar’s ability and is even more so now. they know the team and they know a bunch of the guys. Seeing them grow in that regard, it’s very special. “He just plays the game properly,” Gretzky told The Athletic in an interview before Christmas. “He’s a teammate’s dream, a coach’s dream. “For me, I guess I’m somewhat young and I’ve got a few years in front of In a sense that it’s pretty easy to get through to a hockey club when your me so it’s just going to get better and better.” best player is the most committed, hard-working guy. It’s just the way he plays, and he plays the whole 200 feet. The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020

“As good as he is offensively, he is that good defensively.”

Brown, the longest-tenured Kings player, has not been on Kopitar’s line of late. Historically, however, he has been a consistent presence with Kopitar, playing alongside him for significant parts of their careers.

“I just know from playing with him. I like playing with him. He can do the thing in the corner with two guys (on him) and I get to sit there,” Brown said, smiling.

The Athletic released its 2020 player poll on Monday and Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers was the winner, again, as the league’s most underrated player.

You might say Kopitar was Barkov before Barkov.

At the All-Star break, Kopitar, the Kings’ captain, leads them in scoring and by a substantial margin, with 17 goals and 43 points in 50 games. Sixteen points behind Kopitar are Tyler Toffoli, Alex Iafallo and Drew Doughty.

The case for Kopitar to represent the Kings in the All-Star Game is about as open and shut as it gets. More noteworthy is that, at age 32, he is 1172492 Los Angeles Kings

LIZOTTE TO ONTARIO; PRIOR TO INJURY, HIS LINE WAS CLICKING

JON ROSEN JANUARY 23, 2020

The LA Kings assigned Blake Lizotte to AHL-Ontario on Wednesday, allowing the center to get games in during the bye week and All-Star break as he takes the next step in his rehabilitation from a lower-body injury sustained against Dallas on January 8. He skated Thursday morning with the Reign, who leave this afternoon for a Stockton-San Jose back-to-back road trip before returning to host the AHL All-Star Classic Sunday and Monday. The Kings’ next game is Wednesday, January 29 at Staples Center against Tampa Bay.

This is as expected. Todd McLellan shared while in Tampa last week that “we believe he’ll be ready to go when we start up again after the break” and noted that Lizotte had been rehabbing back in El Segundo. Joakim Ryan (lower-body), who is essentially healthy, did not get into games on the road trip but is expected to be available to the team upon the conclusion of the break.

Back to Lizotte, whose line was clicking at the time of his injury. Not necessarily Marcel Dionne, Dave Taylor and Charlie Simmer-clicking, but clicking about as well as a 2019-20 LA Kings line could click. Which meant that they were dominant in their direction of play and scoring chances, but not at all actual goal scoring. Via Money Puck, they rank third in the league with a 64.4 xGF% and third in xGA/60 out of any forward line with a minimum of 100 minutes together. In line with the team’s fourth-ranked raw 53.6% CF% and 31st-ranked 6.2% 5×5 Sh%, they’ve only combined for nine 5×5 goals and the Kings haven’t outscored their opponents with any of the three on the ice at five-on-five play. This translates to: Lizotte and Co. are emblematic of a Kings corps that is playing structurally sound, attacking hockey but are yet to be consistently rewarded. In case you hadn’t noticed!

The 5-foot-7, 172-pound, 22-year-old Lizotte, who owns a 60.1% CF% since December 1 and who has boosted the Kings to a 60.2% percentage over the 273 minutes he’s spent with Kempe, has four goals, 15 points and a plus-two rating in 45 games this season. Signed in April, 2019 to an entry-level contract after his sophomore season at St. Cloud State University, he is yet to play in an AHL game.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172493 Minnesota Wild

2020 NHL All-Star game schedule

JANUARY 23, 2020 — 7:02PM

NHL ALL-STAR GAME

Enterprise Center, St. Louis 7 p.m. Saturday (Ch. 11)

• Format: 3-on-3, 20-minute games, single-elimination (Metropolitan vs. Atlantic, 7:15 p.m.; Pacific vs. Central, 8:15; final, 9:15). Nine skaters, two goaltenders per team.

• Skills competition: 7 p.m. Friday (NBCSN). Events will include a women’s game (two 10-minute periods with running time) between American and Canadian All-Stars who are part of the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association — a group that is boycotting playing this season as it pushes for a sustainable professional league.

Star Tribune LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172494 Minnesota Wild Although he took a break in 2010, Staal’s stature continued to grow in the NHL.

He was named captain of the Hurricanes during 2009-10 and then went Five All-Star Games, five unique experiences for Wild forward Eric Staal on to captain one of the All-Star teams when the showcase stopped in Carolina in 2011. No two appearances the same for Wild's Eric Staal. The NHL used a fantasy draft to decide the rosters this year, and Staal had the first pick — tabbing such teammates as Cam Ward and Jeff Skinner and his brother Marc, a defenseman with the Rangers. By Sarah McLellan JANUARY 24, 2020 — 12:25AM His team fell short 11-10, with Staal scoring twice. But the weekend was

a highlight for Staal, who had Tanya and eldest son Parker with him. The venues have changed, but the spirit of the NHL All-Star Game has “A great memory in my memory bank because of the way the fans remained the same over Eric Staal’s 16-year career: a summit featuring showed up, and I think the weather was beautiful,” Staal said. “Just the hockey’s most talented players. energy and the crowd, it was pretty awesome for me to be part of that “Any time you get recognized like that, you feel a little bit like you’ve with them.” taken that step,” the Wild center said. “But you’re always trying to do Tampa 2018: Triumphant return better.” Staal may have taken a seven-year hiatus from the All-Star Game, but Staal’s appearance in Saturday’s game in St. Louis comes during a plenty happened during that time. season in which he cleared 1,200 games and 1,000 points on a probable path to the . He was traded by the Hurricanes, and his goal production started to wane. But the 35-year-old is still excited to attend his sixth All-Star Game because he’ll experience it with his wife, Tanya, and sons, Parker, Levi In 2015-16, which he split between Carolina and the New York Rangers, and Finley. he scored the fewest goals (13) since his rookie season (11).

“That’s something that we can share together,” Staal said. “That’s Still, the Wild was hopeful and signed Staal as a free agent. And the special.” team was rewarded for taking a chance on him.

Here’s a look back at his previous All-Star appearances: After a 28-goal debut, Staal’s encore was 42 in 2017-18 and he was appropriately acknowledged for his resurgence by returning to the All- Dallas 2007: First-timer Star Game in 2018 in Tampa, Fla. During his second season, Staal captured the Stanley Cup with the “That one meant a lot, for sure, from where I was at the couple years Carolina Hurricanes after leading the NHL in playoff scoring. prior,” Staal said. By Year 3, he was an All-Star — making his first appearance at the What also made this rendition meaningful was the fact Staal took in the midseason exhibition in Dallas. sights and sounds with his three sons. The oldest, Parker and Levi, were Staal scored in the game and, at just 22, he was already emerging as an even on the bench during the skills competition, jotting down the first, up-and-comer in the league — a reputation he wanted to maintain. second and third-place finishers.

“We were coming off a Stanley Cup championship, and then being And that’s why going back again this year won’t be stale for Staal, recognized as an elite All-Star, that meant a lot to me,” Staal said. “I was because he’ll again have the time to bond with his boys. excited and honored to be there but also wanted to keep proving myself “It’s transitioned and changed over the years with having kids and having and keep showing that I should be there and showing that I should be boys that are into hockey and getting to share experiences like this with among the All-Stars in the league.” them,” Staal said. “That’s what makes it different and fun, and not a lot of Atlanta 2008: Show stopper guys get to do that. So, it’s pretty special.”

Staal’s second invitation to the midseason game, ended up with his being Star Tribune LOADED: 01.24.2020 named the game’s most valuable player.

After scoring two goals and assisting on the game-winner in an 8-7 thriller for the Eastern Conference, Staal was gifted a Dodge Ram truck; he kept it and gave his car to his parents, who live in Thunder Bay.

“I had it for a lot of years,” he said. “It was fun. It was a fun truck. That weekend was a lot of fun. It was a pretty cool game.”

Montreal 2009: Three-peat

The reigning MVP was back and, although he handed off the title to the host Canadiens’ Alex Kovalev, Staal still made an impact in the game by scoring a goal.

Montreal also left an impression on him.

“It was really, really cold,” he said. “I remember just walking to a couple restaurants and feeling like my ears were going to fall off.”

A three-year run at the All-Star Game also mirrored what was going on in Staal’s career at the time with the Hurricanes.

He signed a seven-year contract extension before the season started, embedding himself as a reliable fixture with Carolina, and Staal would go on to reach the 40-goal plateau for the second time.

And that prowess came up clutch in the playoffs, where Staal buried 10 goals to lead the Hurricanes back to the Eastern Conference finals.

“[The team] kind of turned it on right toward the end of the year and got rolling,” he said.

Raleigh 2011: Captain Staal 1172495 Minnesota Wild

Wild’s Eric Staal making NHL All-Star Weekend a family affair

By DANE MIZUTANI | PUBLISHED: January 23, 2020 at 2:40 pm | UPDATED: January 23, 2020 at 2:42 PM

As much as Eric Staal feels honored to be representing the Wild at the NHL All-Star Weekend over the next few days in St. Louis, he is most excited about sharing the experience with his three sons.

This won’t be a new experience for Parker (who is 10), Levi (8) or Finley (5), Staal’s boys who are only a couple of years removed from taking in a similar experience at the 2018 All-Star Weekend.

Only this time, the Staal boys will be wily veterans while pacing the locker room in search of signatures from Dad’s peers.

“They were pretty shy last time,” Staal said with a smile. “They actually didn’t even know that getting autographs was a cool thing to do. Now I’m sure they will get into it a little bit more and might be a little more starstruck as far as asking for autographs goes. It’ll be fun to see them interact with a lot of the guys.”

For Staal, those little moments over the next couple of days will be more meaningful than Saturday night’s All-Star Game itself.

“For me to get invited to this event and have them come alongside is pretty special,” Staal said. “It makes it that much more fun.”

That said, Staal would be lying if he said he didn’t feel somewhat vindicated being selected to represent the Wild once again.

After pretty much everyone wrote the 35-year-old center off during his massive slump to start this season, Staal now leads the Wild with 38 points (17 goals, 21 assists), proving to be an ageless wonder for the umpteenth time in his illustrious, 15-year NHL career.

He hit the 1,000-point milestone last month, and was honored for that accomplishment with a brief pregame ceremony at the Xcel Energy Center alongside his family before Wednesday’s 4-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.

“That was pretty cool,” Staal said. “That was fun to have with my wife and my kids there.”

That moment served as a fitting precursor to All-Star Weekend, giving the Staal family a taste of what’s sure to be a special couple of days to follow.

“It’s going to be fun to enjoy it with my family,” Staal said. “They are excited, and this kind of got the ball rolling.”

As crazy as this weekend will be, Staal vowed to take a step back at some point, allowing himself to soak up his surroundings, if only for a moment.

“It makes me realize how fast time has gone by,” he said. “I’ve been there a couple of times without kids, before marriage and now a couple of times with kids. It was fun back then. It just adds to the experience having my kids there to share those moments with.”

He vividly remembers how much his sons enjoyed All-Star Weekend in 2018, and now with everyone a couple of years older, he’s sure they will appreciate it that much more.

“They had it all figured out by the end of it last time,” Staal said. “They just liked being right there near the action on the bench and seeing some of the guys they watch on TV and giving them a fist bump. All that little stuff that kids enjoy. I know they are looking forward to doing that again.”

As for who the Staal boys are most excited to see, Dad has no problem admitting he’s pretty low on the list.

“They like a lot of the regulars, like Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, Alex Ovechkin, Nikita Kucherov,” Staal said. “Those type of players. They like the goals. Like most kids.”

Pioneer Press LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172496 Montreal Canadiens “He’s been around a long time, so I think that says a lot about him,” Danault added. “He’s a good veteran. He’s a legend in his own way. He has a good attitude. He came in here positive, he knew we were struggling, but he was positive. He brought the boys together.” Stu Cowan: No matter the metrics, Danault has been huge plus for Habs It was four years ago that the Canadiens acquired Danault in a late "I can understand why some guys say (plus/minus) doesn’t matter really, February trade-deadline deal with the Chicago Blackhawks. It was one of but for me it matters," says centre who leads Canadiens at plus-16. the best trades GM Marc Bergevin has made, also acquiring a second- round pick at the 2018 NHL Draft from Chicago that was used to select

Russian defenceman Alexander Romanov, while sending Dale Weise STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: January 23, 2020 and Tomas Fleischmann to the Blackhawks.

“Danault is a young and gifted player who will be part of our core group of young forwards for many years to come,” Bergevin said in a statement People who are into hockey analytics think the plus/minus rating is a after making the trade. “I am very pleased to have him join our useless statistic. organization. As a member of the Blackhawks management group, I was instrumental in the selection of Phillip in the first round (26th overall) of Don’t tell that to the Canadiens’ Phillip Danault. the 2011 NHL Draft.” During a casual conversation with Danault before a morning skate last Bergevin was also able to sign Danault to a very reasonable three-year, Saturday in Brossard, I brought up plus/minus and mentioned that I US$9.25-million contract with an annual $3.083 million salary-cap hit that thought he was around plus-13. has one more season remaining. “I’m plus-16,” Danault quickly responded. Whether you think plus/minus is a useless stat or not, there’s no doubt Danault was correct, but that number dropped to plus-15 last Saturday Danault has been a huge plus with the Canadiens. night when he was minus-1 in a 5-4 shootout win over the Vegas Golden “I work hard every night,” the Victoriaville native said. “I give everything I Knights at the Bell Centre before the Canadiens started their bye week in have for my teammates and I. I’m proud of myself for that. From playing the schedule. that way I feel better, my teammates feel better about me, too, and I also Danault has the best plus/minus rating on the Canadiens, well ahead of help the team.” defencemen Shea Weber and Victor Mete, who are plus-7. Statistics Montreal Gazette LOADED: 01.24.2020 normally need to be taken with a grain — or more — of salt, but what makes Danault’s plus/minus figure even more impressive is the fact he plays against the other team’s top line every game.

“For me, it’s important,” Danault said about his plus/minus stat. “Sometimes you get scored on and it’s not your fault … it happens. But denying a goal is also important. I can understand why some guys say (plus/minus) doesn’t matter really, but for me it matters.”

To me, one of the most impressive records in NHL history is the plus-124 Bobby Orr registered with the Boston Bruins during the 1970-71 season. It’s one of the many reasons why I think he’s the greatest player in NHL history.

Through Wednesday’s games, Danault ranked fifth in the NHL among centremen in plus/minus.

Danault has become one of the best two-way centres in the NHL and finished seventh in voting last season for the Selke Trophy as the top defensive forward. This season, Danault ranks second on the Canadiens in scoring with 12-24-36 totals, seven points behind Tomas Tatar (17-26- 43), and has won 55.1 per cent of his faceoffs. He has also created chemistry with Ilya Kovalchuk, assisting on two of the Russian winger’s four goals in eight games since he joined the team.

Kovalchuk said he didn’t know much about Danault before joining the Canadiens.

“Because we didn’t play much against each other and I was in Russia, obviously, when he started playing in the league,” Kovalchuk said about Danault after scoring two goals in a 4-1 win in Philadelphia last Thursday, one of them on a beautiful setup from Danault. “He’s a great player, but he’s a great teammate. In the locker room, because he’s French- Canadian, he’s helping me a lot and telling me what to expect from you guys (in the media), especially. He’s great and, obviously, he’s a great hockey player.”

The feeling is mutual.

“It’s awesome,” Danault said about playing with Kovalchuk. “He always finds a way to score … finds empty areas in the O zone. He also works really hard, so it’s really good to have him.”

Danault didn’t know much about Kovalchuk before he arrived in Montreal.

“I only knew he could score,” Danault, 26, said about the 36-year-old Russian who was selected by the Atlanta Thrashers with the No. 1 overall pick at the 2001 NHL Draft. “When I was young, I used to play Xbox with him (as a player). That’s all I knew about him, to be honest. He’s a good player and he can make plays as well. He can pass the puck. He’s a good addition for us. 1172497 Montreal Canadiens Last season, the Canadiens finished fourth in 5-on-5 shot share and were the only team in the top-10 to miss the playoffs. They also finished fourth in expected goals percentage and the only other team in the top- The Canadiens are trending toward a very rare level of disparity between 10 in that metric to miss the playoffs was the Minnesota Wild, who came their process and results sixth.

This season, after games played Wednesday, the Canadiens are second in the NHL in shot share (53.73 percent) and sixth in expected goal share By Arpon Basu Jan 23, 2020 (52.85 percent). Unless those numbers disintegrate over the final 32 games or the Canadiens make a semi-miraculous run, they will become

the first team since those Devils to finish in the top-10 in both metrics and Every morning, I have an appointment with Sean Tierney on Twitter. miss the playoffs.

Tierney, who operates chartinghockey.ca (you can support his work There has been one team since the lockout to miss the playoffs after here) and is director of analytics for the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs, puts finishing top-10 in shot share two years in a row, the 2016-17 and 2017- out a wealth of information on Twitter (@chartinghockey) through easy to 18 Carolina Hurricanes, and they were 11th in expected goal share in understand visualizations on how every team is trending in a variety of 2016-17 and fourth in 2017-18, coming just short of meeting our metrics. somewhat arbitrary top-10 criteria.

And every morning, Tierney’s tweets suggest the Canadiens should be These two metrics have provided a decent measure of who should be much better than they actually are because they generate more 5-on-5 reaching the playoffs since the 2012 lockout. Of the 70 teams to finish in shot attempts than any other team in the league. the top-10 in 5-on-5 shot share, only 18 didn’t reach the playoffs, or 25.7 percent. Expected goal share has a marginally better track record in GOOD MORNING, FRIENDS.HTTPS://T.CO/XIPVNOSIGM IS predicting playoff teams, with 20 percent of the top-10 teams failing to UPDATED WITH A VARIETY OF TEAM, SKATER, AND GOALIE make it. CHARTS, AND AN EVER-EXPANDING LIST OF SUBSCRIBER CHARTS AND TOOLS. So what does this all mean? Are the Canadiens actually good and just unlucky? LET’S LOOK AT TEAMS: HTTPS://T.CO/Q5WLGFBUMI The generally accepted measure of luck is PDO, or the addition of a STL HAS CLEARLY DEFINED HOW THEY INTEND TO WIN HOCKEY team’s 5-on-5 shooting and save percentages which should add up to GAMES. PIC.TWITTER.COM/CZBQ0Z6Z60 1.000 more often than not. The Canadiens’ PDO sits at .992, seventh worst in the NHL. — SEAN TIERNEY (@CHARTINGHOCKEY) JANUARY 22, 2020 This should conjure up bad memories for Claude Julien, because the And if you think they do so while generating few legitimate scoring situation is very similar to the circumstances under which he left the chances and shooting from the outside, the expected goal numbers Boston Bruins on Feb. 7, 2017. On that date, the Bruins led the league in suggest that’s not necessarily the case. both 5-on-5 shot share and expected goal percentage. But they were last XG SHARE in PDO because they were last in team shooting percentage and third to last in save percentage at 5-on-5. So, Julien was fired. NYI (VERY SLIGHTLY) AND CBJ HAVE POSITIVE GOAL SHARES, NEGATIVE SHOT SHARES, BUT POSITIVE QUALITY SHARES. At the time, the disparity between the Bruins’ expected goals percentage THEY’RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE KINDS OF SHOTS MORE THAN and actual goals percentage was 10.81; they were scoring 45.31 percent THE COUNT. of the 5-on-5 goals in their games, 24th in the NHL. The current disparity for the Canadiens is not nearly as great – they’ve scored 50.48 percent BUF, FLA, AND STL ARE THE ONLY POOR XG SHARE, GOOD of the goals and were expected to score 52.85 percent – but it still RESULTS TEAMS LEFT. PIC.TWITTER.COM/6GRSXWXU4U speaks to the reality that this team does a lot of things right but still doesn’t get the results that process would suggest they deserve. — SEAN TIERNEY (@CHARTINGHOCKEY) JANUARY 22, 2020 This is why when Julien was asked back on Jan. 9, with the Canadiens Nor does the dark red blob directly in front of the net here, from Micah still in the fog of their second eight-game losing streak of the season, Blake McCurdy at hockeyviz.com, though they would probably be better what role luck plays in a team’s success, he didn’t shy away from the served if they got rid of the other red blobs at the points and moved them question. Instead, he embraced it. towards the slot. “A lot,” Julien said then. “I think, and I’ve said that before, whenever I’ve All of which leads Tierney to occasionally mention things like this. been on the right side of things and we’ve won, I’ve always attributed a MTL IS GOOD. PIC.TWITTER.COM/TDKVTT4PEZ little bit of luck to that. Sometimes you make your own luck, but there’s certain things…I mean, luck this year for us is we’re a banged up squad — SEAN TIERNEY (@CHARTINGHOCKEY) JANUARY 22, 2020 here. Before we were banged up, we were in the playoffs, just before In short, what these numbers suggest is that the Canadiens have a good Christmas. Guys dropped and dropped and dropped, so it has affected process, but are lacking results. When these numbers don’t result in us a little bit and I think that’s part of luck. I guess you have to deal with wins, most fans simply don’t want to hear it. But generally, if you are that and turn it into the best situation possible, which we haven’t done among the league leaders in shot share and expected goal share at 5- yet. on-5, you should make the playoffs. “When I was on the good side of luck, we were just fortunate to have it. The Canadiens are looking like they will finish in the top 10 in the league So when you don’t have it I don’t think there’s much you can do about it in both metrics without making the playoffs for a second season in a row. either. If your guys are working hard and getting chances and it’s not And that’s rare. going in, that’s when you need a little bit of luck. It’s OK to point the finger at your players, but if they’re doing everything they can to try and score The last team to do it was the New Jersey Devils in 2012-13 and 2013- and it’s not going in, sometimes it’s called bad luck. But some people are 14, and that comes with an important caveat in that the 2012-13 season going to tell you that you make your own luck, and sometimes that’s the was shortened by a lockout, so it’s possible the Devils’ numbers might case too.” have come back to earth, though it’s not very likely. Julien’s experience in Boston is not atypical for teams that are unable to The Devils finished that season second in shot share and first in translate strong underlying metrics into wins. Those Devils in 2012-13 expected goals percentage. The only other team since then to lead the and 2013-14 were coming off a Stanley Cup final appearance under league in expected goal share and miss the playoffs was the 2016-17 Peter DeBoer. But then they lost Zach Parise in 2012 and Ilya Kovalchuk Los Angeles Kings. in 2013 and Martin Brodeur kept getting older and becoming less effective. So, despite the system seemingly being sound, DeBoer was The following season, 2013-14, the Devils finished third in both metrics fired as Devils coach on Dec. 27, 2014 and, five months later, Lou and missed the playoffs again. No team has done it since. The Lamoriello was pushed out as general manager. Canadiens might this year. Two other teams came up quite often on these lists. The Los Angeles Kings finished in the top-5 in shot share and expected goal share in the same year and failed to make the playoffs twice (though not two years in a row). The Hurricanes were a top-10 team in shot share but missed the playoffs four times, and they were top-5 in expected goal share without a playoff appearance once since 2012.

Like the Devils, both the Kings and Hurricanes had a regime change not long after having seasons where the metrics and results did not line up. And if there is a team the Canadiens appear to be trying to emulate right now, it would have to be the Hurricanes. They even tried to steal their best player.

In 2017-18, the Hurricanes led the NHL in shot share and were fourth in expected goal share and missed the playoffs. They were 28th in shooting percentage and 30th in save percentage that year.

The 2018 offseason saw drastic changes in Raleigh after Tom Dundon bought the team in January of that year. GM Ron Francis was replaced by Don Waddell and Bill Peters was replaced as coach by Rod Brind’Amour. But the biggest change was when Waddell acquired Dougie Hamilton in a blockbuster trade with the Calgary Flames. That, coupled with the emergence of Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen as star players and a few other factors, resulted in the Hurricanes getting over that hump.

This season, in terms of percentages, the Hurricanes and Canadiens are almost perfectly aligned; they sit 22nd and 23rd in shooting percentage and 18th and 16th in save percentage, respectively. Carolina is first in shot share and fourth in expected goal share, the Canadiens are second and sixth. But Carolina has 61 points in 50 games and the Canadiens have 51 points in 50 games.

So, what gives?

This is a gross oversimplification, but the primary differences between the two teams are the star power up front in Aho, Teravainen and, more recently, Andrei Svechnikov, and the depth of Carolina’s blue line, though we’re about to find out just how good that depth is with the long-term injury to Hamilton. The Canadiens have to hope they can develop their own star talent up front, with two of the prime candidates to do so already playing in Montreal in Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Nick Suzuki, and another on the way in Cole Caufield.

Carolina’s blue line depth is also due in large part to the development of Jaccob Slavin, a fourth-round pick in 2012, and Brett Pesce, a third- round pick in 2013. With several promising young defencemen in the Canadiens’ system, their progression also becomes paramount.

But the question is, do the Canadiens need a significant jolt like the Hurricanes got in 2018 to get over the hump, or will patience in development and belief in the process be enough?

Because they don’t hand out trophies in June for the best process.

(All data courtesy of Natural Stat Trick)

The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172498 Nashville Predators Zone exits 17.9 18.5 16.5 14.2 For context, Johansen hasn’t had the luxury of consistent linemates, both in terms of time spent together and production. Calle Jarnkrok and Viktor Has Ryan Johansen’s season been as bad as it seems? Arvidsson have been Johansen’s most common wingers, and as a line, they have averaged 0.93 expected goals per 20 minutes at five-on-five. Last season, Johansen, Arvidsson and Filip Forsberg shared 528:52 of By Adam Vingan Jan 23, 2020 ice time and averaged 1.44 expected goals per 20 minutes.

Also, Johansen has seen a reduction in his offensive-zone starts at five- on-five; he has started 57.87 percent of his shifts in the opposing zone In celebration of his first goal and point since Jan. 4, Ryan Johansen compared to 65.69 percent last season, according to Natural Stat Trick. uncorked his trademark fist-pump last Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres. FORWARD COMBINATION TIME ON ICE EXPECTED GOALS PER 20 MINUTES It’s been a trying season for Johansen and the Predators. With few exceptions, their roster has underachieved, and it can be argued that Jarnkrok-Johansen-Arvidsson 169:37 0.93 Johansen has been the team’s most disappointing player. Forsberg-Johansen-Arvidsson 114:45 1.00 “I felt good tonight,” Johansen said after the Predators’ 2-1 win. “That’s all I’m going to focus on. It’s been what it’s been for me, and I know what Forsberg-Johansen-Jarnkrok 92:45 1.03 I’ve got to do to be on top of my game. I liked my game tonight, so I’m Hynes and former Predators coach Peter Laviolette have also relied on just going to try my best to continue to do that.” Johansen to handle challenging defensive assignments, and his impact At the All-Star break, Johansen, who has 10 goals and 27 points, is on on that end of the ice, though imperfect, has remained steady. When pace for 47 points, which would be his fewest in a full season since his Johansen has been on the ice at five-on-five this season, the Predators rookie year. Those numbers look worse because of Johansen’s $8 have allowed 1.1 expected goals against per 20 minutes, the same rate million salary. Of the 29 forwards in the NHL who have cap hits of at least as last season. (It was 0.96 three seasons ago and 1.0 two seasons that amount, his point total ranks 26th, according to CapFriendly. Two of ago.) the forwards behind him, Sidney Crosby and Jeff Skinner, have missed “He was playing against a top line, but he didn’t have to defend all night, significant time because of injury. (Matt Duchene is tied for 24th, but he and that’s something that you want with a guy like him,” Hynes said after has arguably been more visible than Johansen this season.) the Sabres game in which he matched Johansen against Jack Eichel. “If Part of Johansen’s appeal is his carefree attitude off the ice, but it’s led to he can play against another team’s top line and make those guys defend, questions throughout his career about his work ethic on it. In the four I think we’re going to be able to grow as a team, and that’s the role that years since Johansen joined the Predators, he’s shown flashes of we need (Johansen) to play.” dominance, so he’s capable of being a top center in the league if he can The foundation appears to be there for Johansen to bounce back when find a way to be more consistent. the schedule resumes. If the Predators are to go on a run and extend “When Ryan’s playing his best, he’s moving his feet and playing with their playoff streak to six years, he really has no choice. speed,” Predators coach John Hynes said. “I’ve seen pockets of it here, — Data provided by Sportlogiq unless otherwise noted where he’s had the puck coming up the middle of the ice and through the neutral zone with speed and then making good decisions. He should be a The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 very competitive player on the puck with his size and his skill to be able to be a hard player to play against offensively.

“I think he’s a smart player. I think he’s responsible defensively. I think that part of his game is good, but playing with a bit more pace, a bit more energy offensively, where he can use his size and skill to be a real factor. When he’s playing his best hockey and has played his best hockey, that’s the game he’s playing.”

There are signs of optimism in Johansen’s game this season. He is often criticized for not shooting enough, but in all situations, he is firing shots from the slot and putting them on net at higher rates than in his previous three full seasons with the Predators. As a result, Johansen is outperforming his expected-goal rate for the first time in that span. (Sportlogiq defines the slot as the area between the dots and below the tops of the circles.)

STATISTIC (PER 60 MINUTES) 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20

Slot attempts 5.8 4.6 5.1 5.9

Slot shots 3.3 3.1 3.3 3.5

Expected goals 0.74 0.68 0.65 0.68

Goals 0.54 0.61 0.54 0.72

Conversely, Johansen, who had a career-high 50 assists last season, is having less of an impact as a playmaker. He has touched the puck and had it on his stick less in the offensive zone at all strengths than in previous seasons. His effectiveness in transition has dipped as well.

STATISTIC (PER 60 MINUTES) 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20

Offensive zone possession 2:09 2:08 1:57 1:53

Offensive zone puck touches 85.3 85.2 80.2 77.7

Slot passes 6.0 5.4 5.6 5.0

Zone entries 13.2 9.9 9.6 9.3 1172499 New Jersey Devils

NHL rumors: Did Devils’ Travis Zajac turn down trade?

By Chris Ryan

Devils players will be at the center of plenty of trade rumors as the team appears poised to sell leading up to the NHL trade deadline on Feb 24.

The extent of the Devils’ desire to sell and reload will play out over the next month, but it appears Travis Zajac won’t be one of the players on the move, according to MSG play-by-play broadcaster Steve Cangialosi.

You’ll hear many rumors leading up to the Feb. 24 trade deadline, and I’ve learned that these situations are fluid, but this from my chat with Travis Zajac this morning: “I’ve thought about the situation a lot. This is where I want to be.” He has a full no trade clause.

— Steve Cangialosi (@CangyManMSG) January 18, 2020

In an additional report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Devils, at some point, gave Zajac the opportunity to move in a deal, but his agent, Kurt Overhardt, told Sportsnet Zajac opted to use his full no-trade clause to remain in New Jersey.

“We were presented with something, but Travis was not willing to waive at this time," Overhardt told Sportsnet. "We’ll see about the future after the season.”

The eight-year, $46 million contract Zajac signed in 2013 carried a full no-trade clause for the duration of the deal. Zajac’s contract runs through the end of the 2020-21 season.

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Friedman did not have any additional details on the nature of the trade, but he speculated it could have been to the New York Islanders. Lou Lamoriello, who drafted Zajac and signed him to that contract extension in New Jersey, is currently the general manager of the Islanders.

Zajac has spent his entire professional career in New Jersey after being drafted 20th overall in the first round of the 2004 NHL Draft. Zajac is on pace to appear in his 1,000th NHL game this season. If he did not miss any time, that game would be on Saturday, March 28, in a home game against the Flyers.

Star Ledger LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172500 New Jersey Devils

What Devils’ mindset will be coming out of bye week

By Chris Ryan

When the Devils return from their bye week and the NHL All-Star break for their first practice on Sunday, they’ll be preparing for their final 34 games of the 2019-20 season.

Given their spot in the standings, sitting at 41 points and second-to-last place in the Eastern Conference, the Devils’ season will likely end on April 4, barring a historic surge back into the playoff race.

Despite their position, the Devils aren’t prepared to throw in the towel with the calendar yet to turn to February.

“Winning games. That’s gotta to be our mindset. We know you know where we’re at," center Nico Hischier said. "Everybody knows we’re at and if we’re not going to start winning some games, it’s gonna be a long march.”

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The Devils entered their bye week with a three-game road losing streak, but they did finish on an 8-7-2 run, which was a considerable improvement from where they stood in October and November.

Interim coach Alain Nasreddine still has some key areas where he thinks the team can improve.

“Emphasis had gotta continue to be on our defensive game. I know we didn’t score (against Columbus before the bye), but I don’t know how many chances we had, but we had a lot," Nasreddine said. "So the offensive game, we’re going to find ways to score goals, but I think defensively, it’s going to be a main focus when we get back from the break. Limit, scoring chances and be a little better there.”

This season’s bye week is different from the past three seasons (where the bye week was first instituted) since the All-Star break is rolled into it. In past seasons, the Devils had five days off for their bye week, played another week or two, then got three more days off for the All-Star Game.

So an eight-day layoff in the middle of the season serves as an earned break, but the players don’t want to treat it as a full escape from hockey.

“It’s important to mentally step away for a few days and then you got to slowly build back into it. You can’t come back when our first practice is Sunday," captain Andy Greene said. "You just can’t be unplugged all the way till Sunday and expect to flip the switch and be ready to go. At least personally that’s the way I look at it. You take a few days here and enjoy family and get away, and then slowly build it up and start to get back into it as the week goes on.”

Even if the Devils aren’t playing for anything meaningful in the standings down the stretch, the players know there’s still plenty on the line for them personally. Interim GM Tom Fitzgerald and his staff will be evaluating everything leading up to the trade deadline and the offseason.

“We have to battle, we have to compete. You’re fighting for jobs, you’re fighting for ice time, you’re fighting for everything," Greene said. "You come in here every single day as a professional work as hard as you can and put the effort in and then go from there. Control what you can control and just be ready to, you know compete every night, every day.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172501 New Jersey Devils Assessing the forwards Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins, center, of Latvia, makes

a stop in front of New Jersey Devils forward Wayne Simmonds, right, as The state of the NJ Devils' roster: Who needs to prove themselves in the Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones moves in during the first period an second half? NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020.

Only Wayne Simmonds and Kevin Rooney are headed for unrestricted free agency this summer. Kyle Palmieri, who has a limited no-trade Abbey Mastracco, NHL writer Published 5:57 a.m. ET Jan. 23, 2020 | clause, has a ton of value, but if the team is trying to be competitive Updated 4:25 p.m. ET Jan. 23, 2020 again next season then it would make more sense to keep the top-line winger.

Simmonds has the most value of the pending-UFA group, but it might be The New Jersey Devils had a chance to go on a run and pick up enough the role players facing the most scrutiny. Rooney, John Hayden and points to at least make things interesting after the bye week and the All- maybe even bottom-six forwards like Pavel Zacha and Jesper Bratt need Star Break. Instead, they lost three straight on the road, including two to prove that they can execute within their roles. four-point Metropolitan Division games. Jesper Boqvist is still developing. He was sent to the American Hockey No one was ready to concede the season when the club fired coach John League to play during the break after a few inconsistent weeks. The 21- Hynes and traded star winger Taylor Hall in December. The same goes year-old Swede has never been shy about saying just how steep the for when they fired general manager Ray Shero a few weeks ago. But NHL learning curve is for him. the reality is that the Devils are looking at another high draft pick. Boqvist is playing in the AHL this week but his roster spot is probably not For lack of a better term, you have to trust the process and commit to in danger, especially since the trade deadline is right around the corner. building things the right way with the right funds. Managing partner Josh However, in order for this team to succeed next season and beyond the Harris said he wants the team to be competitive right away and the club Devils need Boqvist and Jack Hughes to take the next step in their does have some currency to work with in terms of draft picks and salary games. cap space, but the Devils need to figure out which route they want to take to be competitive again next season. Down in Binghamton, the same can be said for Michael McLeod. McLeod has shown improvements in his five NHL games this season but still has Do they go all in and spend up to the cap? Do they take a big step by no goals to show for it. He'll likely be back in the NHL after the trade adding quality pieces but stay away from big free agent contracts? Who deadline, along with Joey Anderson, Brett Seney and Nathan Bastian, stays and who goes? but it's McLeod, the Devils' first pick in the 2016 draft, that will be the The evaluation process has already started but it will kick into high gear focus of the group. after the team returns from the break. Here’s a look at some tough roster Assessing the goaltenders decisions and who might need big performances in the second half of the season. Jan 14, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New Jersey Devils goaltender Louis Domingue (70) is replaced by New Jersey Devils goaltender Cory Assessing the defensemen Schneider (35) during the second period against the Toronto Maple Leafs Jan 16, 2020; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington at Scotiabank Arena. Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates after scoring a goal The Cory Schneider decision looms large for New Jersey. The Devils against the New Jersey Devils in the first period at . were rumored to be mulling a buyout. But Ray Shero is gone and the If the defensemen were getting a letter grade for the last week before the Devils may have a new general manager who will make his own break it wouldn’t be good. Maple Leafs’ forward Auston Matthews and decisions. A buyout is never an ideal situation. Capitals’ forward each registered hat tricks and Blue Schneider's save percentage before his demotion to the AHL was .852 Jackets’ forward Cam Atkinson scored twice and assisted one goal in the and since returning it’s been the same. He's now back in the AHL for the last game before the break. break so he has a chance to continue to work through This illustrated the troubles the Devils have had all year when it comes to Mackenzie Blackwood has been stellar this season but he can’t play containing high-end forwards. This is a collective failure on the part of every game or even 80 percent of them. Louis Domingue has been good everyone on the ice but there is no denying the Devils are thin on the but he’s probably a stop-gap this season. blue line and have been for a while now. This particular team possesses puck movers yet they struggle to move the puck this season. This is the most pressing situation for the Devils moving forward.

Former general manager Ray Shero attempted to address this problem Abbey Mastracco is the Devils beat writer for NorthJersey.com. For in June by trading for P.K. Subban, but they were thin before him and unlimited access to all Devils analysis, news, trades and more, please they’re still thin with him. subscribe today and download our app.

So, will they trade Subban? It’s certainly possible, but they would Bergen Record LOADED: 01.24.2020 probably have to retain a lot of salary since he’s making $9 million a year and has two more years on his contract after this one. Despite the rumors, Subban never asked for a trade out of New Jersey but he’s been around long enough to know a former Norris Trophy winner has value and in a losing season he may not have a choice in whether or not he stays or goes.

But when it comes to Subban, the Devils can take their time. They can't afford to do the same with Sami Vatanen and Andy Greene.

Greene, the captain, is in the final year of his contract. He has given no indication that retirement is imminent. He’s still a respected voice in the locker room, which is necessary during a turbulent year, he’s in excellent shape and he’s a strong defender. However, he has a no-trade clause in his contract. Captain trades have happened but one with this captain seems unlikely.

Vatanen is New Jersey’s best defenseman and the Devils should try and lock him up before the Feb. 24 trade deadline. His 22 points lead all defensemen and for what it’s worth, the avid golfer is a fan of the courses in New Jersey. If the goal is to contend right away then bringing him back makes sense, but if not, then he’ll net the biggest return. 1172502 New Jersey Devils Andy Greene I don’t know. I feel like there are stats for everything now. I was watching

the (Manchester) City “All or Nothing” series, and at one point they had Devils player poll: What do you want to learn from the tracking data 64 consecutive passes, or touches. I think being able to show something revolution? like that would be pretty interesting. It’s a little bit different in hockey. I think that would be pretty interesting — not just the amount of possession, but what types of possession and which is the most dangerous. By Corey Masisak Jan 23, 2020 Pavel Zacha

I think we can already track where the scoring comes from and where Despite a number of false starts and changes in the plan along the way, guys shoot from, but the interesting thing would be to see where guys player tracking technology is coming to the NHL. have possession of the puck and how long they spend in certain areas in Tracking data has changed the way other sports are played. In the MLB, the O-zone. Like, where guys can keep the puck, where they make the the data-based revolution in recent years has affected where players plays. You can find out about some players that just know where to be in stand on the field, what types of pitches they throw and even the way the zone and have the puck more and it looks like they can read the hitters swing the bat. In the NBA, the 3-point line was introduced four game and have more time to make plays. I think learning where some of decades ago, but only recently have teams truly embraced the value of the great players like to go more than others would be good. the long-range shot. Damon Severson The data has led to new statistics and new ways to quantify which Completed passes could be a very cool stat. I feel like I’m a good passer players are the most valuable. Here are some possibilities for how the and I like to find guys in good positions and put it on their tape. So yeah, revolution could impact hockey: connected passes, which zones guys connect on the most — that would Passing — Real, actual passing stats for every player. The sport has be cool. been around for more than 100 years and the best stat we’ve got is … Blake Coleman assists. The best passers should have good puck possession numbers, but not necessarily. Tracking who completes the most passes, what the It would be interesting to see … one story I heard about (Wayne) Gretzky passing data is in each zone of the ice and who really sets up the most back in the day was that he would watch his shifts and draw with a pencil scoring chances matters, too. where he went on the ice. He could see where he went and where other people went and found that behind the net was the least utilized space, Goaltending — Analyzing goaltenders has been somewhere between so that kind of became his “office.” I think this will basically be a hard and voodoo. There should be new categories, like save percentage technological advancement of that method, so it will be interesting to see on rebounds, deflections, odd-man rushes, etc. Watch an MLB broadcast where the most open ice is and the least utilized parts of the ice. and you’ll see “catch probability,” which takes into account how far a player ran, the speed and launch angle of the batted ball and other Sami Vatanen factors to determine the percentage of a player’s chance to make that catch. Imagine that for goaltenders — what is the probability of stopping I guess it’s good for the betting. It could be good for people to help know a screened one-timer from Shea Weber on the power play? who to take on their fantasy teams. I think it’s good for the fans, and hopefully it brings more fans to the game when they can follow more than Defense — We should know where everyone is on the ice when goals they can follow right now. are scored or chances are created, and it will be easier to determine who is a strong defensive player and who might be at fault. Connor Carrick

Better puck possession data — Corsi was a landmark development for Maybe there will be some interesting skill things that come out of it. As a hockey analytics, but the data has relied on people sitting in a press box player, one thing I’d be interested in is, like, glide per stride: How much counting happenings on the ice. What is a shot attempt, or even a shot does one piece of steel touch the ice at top speeds? How much are the on goal, can vary from arena to arena. top guys gliding? If you have that data, you could give that to a skating coach, and they could spray paint on the ice and say, “Here is how far Positioning — This is a big-picture category that could come after the Erik Karlsson or Connor McDavid travels on the ice per stride.” We’ll see NHL has time to analyze the data and what it means. Will there be a shift what kind of information there is, and it has to be accurate. That’s the in how the game is actually played, whether it’s players trying to find biggest thing. openings in different places on the ice or how certain plays or players are defended? Is there a better way to operate a power play or a more Another would be, “What is the swing speed on a Shea Weber one- effective way to align in the neutral zone? timer?” Hockey can be a mix of art and science. And I get it for the fan base. When I’m at a baseball game, what’s the first thing I do after every There are plenty of other possibilities, and as many unanswered pitch? Check to see how fast it was. questions as a quizzical mind can create. Teams around the NHL have beefed up their analytics departments in part because the player tracking Will Butcher data is going to unleash a fire hose of new information, and clubs are I think it might change the game in a little different way. Whether that is going to need analysts who can sift through it all, figure out what is going to be good or bad, I have no idea. I think I am most interested to meaningful and what isn’t and how best to apply it to winning hockey see the data and what it is going to do for the game, more than anything. games. I don’t know if I’m going to like it or not. It is just going to be a lot. We still don’t know exactly when the data is going to become available to Sometimes it feels like the numbers don’t give us the whole picture. It will teams or to the public. In January 2019, the NHL said “next season.” In be interesting to see what happens. September, ESPN’s Greg Wyshinski reported that the NHL had changed John Hayden partners on the tech side (not the first time that’s happened), but the league planned to roll it out by the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. I think some of the data on how far we travel during a game could help a lot with recovery. The amount of stress that gets put on your body during The NHL has used the All-Star Game to experiment with tracking data, a game — that would be cool to see. That’s definitely the next thing in which should continue this weekend in St. Louis. With the Devils not line, like WHOOP bands and Apple watches. I think tracking any sort of likely to reach the playoffs this season, the players’ first experience with impact or speed or distance traveled and the impact on our bodies would the tracking technology should come at the start of next season. be cool to see going into a workout or a game. In conjunction with the release of The Athletic’s annual NHL player poll Kevin Rooney earlier this week, we conducted a different type of survey in the Devils’ locker room. We asked nearly every player a simple question: There are so many little things that go into a hockey game that I don’t think the average fan can see sometimes — great plays, bad plays. I What do you want to learn from the forthcoming player tracking data? think it will be cool to have the tracking data so fans can see just how fast Here is what they had to say: these guys are going and how fast the game is. I’ve been out of the lineup for a couple weeks, and when you watch from up top, it is pretty different. It looks like there is a lot more time and space than there really is. It would be cool for fans to see how fast guys are, how fast the shots are. Especially for guys killing penalties, we know how hard that puck is coming at you when you’re blocking shots. It will be good to showcase the guys who are really moving fast or shooting the puck really hard even more.

Kyle Palmieri

The actual speeds are something I’m interested in. You look at how fast the game is, and really the only time you truly see the speeds are in the fastest skater competition. You see how fast some guys are. I’d like to see the differences in top speed for certain guys. I think it’d be pretty amazing to be able to see your top speed and distance traveled over say a 5- or 10-game span and then be able to compare it to other spans and try to learn from that.

Jesper Bratt

It is going be fun for fans and maybe good for young players to see what kind of areas certain players try to stay in. Guys like (Alex) Ovechkin, where they go to score. It could be a good teaching thing for younger players and fans.

Travis Zajac

I hope it just doesn’t confuse the game more than it needs to with more statistics. I would like to know where I go on the ice the most, where I end up. I’d like to see if that’s also where the puck ends up. I’d like to know how to get around the puck more, so I think that would be attractive to guys to be able to see how they get the puck and where they get it.

Mackenzie Blackwood

Probably the coolest thing will be the speed on the shots. Like, people will be able to say, “Oh, that wasn’t that hard of a shot” or, “Wow he made a glove save on a shot that was really that hard?”

Jesper Boqvist

I don’t know. I feel like I’m still learning what we have now. I think I want to learn everything, so I guess that’s my answer.

Nico Hischier

I don’t know. That’s probably part of why we are doing it. I don’t think I’m going to change anything. I don’t really care about the stats now. It wouldn’t matter to me if I had 30 passes or three. I’m still just going to care about the two points and that’s pretty much it.

Miles Wood

The average speed of parts of the game — how fast players are skating, the speed of the shots and the overall speed of the game.

Mirco Mueller

I think it’s the different speeds and accelerations of the top players. Some guys get it done with a much slower pace. Being faster doesn’t always make you a better player. That seems like something you should be able to observe. Like Nick Backstrom is a crazy pass guy, but it’s not all about speed for him. It’s about using his head and having good timing.

Cory Schneider

It may not be from the tracking itself, but I do want to learn how teams are going to use it and how it is going to be applied. It’s never a bad thing to have more data, but sometimes if there is too much information, you might not be sure what to do with it or how to use it. It will be nice to see how fast guys are moving and how far they travel and how they accelerate, but what happens when a guy has all good numbers there but it isn’t producing? Or if he has bad tracking numbers across the board, but is scoring and producing, what does that mean? Sometimes teams use data to justify what they want to justify. Are teams going to use it against guys with contracts? Like, “You’ve scored a lot of goals, but you’re averaging two miles per hour less over the past two years.” What happens then? It will be interesting.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172503 New York Islanders Q: You’re a restricted free agent. How do you feel about the possibility you could be traded?

A: I’ve been traded twice now. The third time wouldn’t be anything that Ryan Strome on Islanders rock bottom, trade deadline, all things I’m not used to. I love it here, though. I really hope I stay. I feel like I’ve Rangers lived in New York for so long, it’s my second home. The coaching staff and the management here, I think I’ve found a little bit of a home. Whatever happens, happens. It’s a business, but I think you just take everything in stride as an athlete. By Steve Serby January 24, 2020 | 12:11am Q: You like playing in this market?

A: I love it. I just think people care. It’s not Canada where things are A conversation with one of most underrated running backs in NFL completely overblown. There’s not really much else to do in Edmonton, Ryan Strome, the Ontario native and fifth-overall pick in the 2011 NHL so hockey’s the main focus. New York, people definitely care about the Entry Draft, who bounced from the Islanders to the Oilers to the Rangers, team, but at the same time, there’s so much to do, so much going on that speaks with Steve Serby on the eve of the All-Star break. you can kind of escape a little bit. People love the Rangers, but you’re also not walking down the street signing autographs for people, if you Q: You’ve proven them wrong as a Ranger, but how did you feel about know what I mean. You’re able to hide as much as you want to. the naysayers who wondered if you were a bust? Q: Are you recognized at all? A: I think a lot of times, when you’re drafted high, you have huge expectations, but I’m coming up on 500 NHL games and I’m 26 years A: Once in a while, actually. Rangers fans are pretty knowledgeable. old, so … Obviously, you want to be a superstar, but everyone takes a Even living in my condo building, there’s some fans that come up or send different path to get there, and to be a good player, but my goal is to play me fan mail to my building. It’s pretty cool, but it’s not overwhelming, is as many NHL games as possible, and I think I’m well on my way there. what I guess I’m trying to say.

Q: Did the doubters motivate you? Q: Describe your on-ice mentality.

A: Yeah, absolutely. I think some of it’s warranted, some of it’s not A: I just try to be like a cerebral, smart player. I try to read the play. I don’t warranted. But I think a little bit of controversy and a little bit of adversity think I’m the biggest, strongest or fastest guy, so I kinda gotta use my is always good for people, and it seems to kinda fuel me a little bit. hockey sense and my smarts to maneuver my way around the ice.

Q: What’s the biggest adversity you’ve had to overcome? Q: Coach Quinn likes it when you play with a little bit of an edge.

A: When I was with the Islanders, my third year I got sent down to the A: I just think if I’m running into people, if I’m a little chippy … I’ve got a minors. I think that was pretty tough for me mentally. I’d been in the NHL decent amount of penalty minutes in my career, not that I’m a tough guy for like over 100 games or so, and it was definitely a blow to the ego, my or anything, but I think when I’m getting involved, and I’m mixing it up and confidence, and definitely kinda put things into perspective, and ever when I’m physically engaged, I think I’m at my best. since then, every time there’s an anthem before the game, I try to look Q: Describe Coach David Quinn. around and take in my surroundings and just remind myself that it’s a privilege to be here and just try to earn it every day because (finger A: Very intense, but for me, he’s been really good. I think he’s very fair. snap), just like that it can be taken away from you. He expects a lot out of his players and he demands hard work and effort, but the rest of it he’s very fair with. He’s really good for young players, at Q: What was the low point when you were sent down? the same time though he’s been great for me. He’s really let me play and A: Nothing too crazy, just one night I was sitting in a hotel room in I think let me grow into the next step of my development as a player. Bridgeport and I was going like, “Two weeks ago I was all comfortable in Q: Is it true you have a good wrist shot? my house on Long Island, and then it’s amazing how quick things can change.” Obviously your paycheck’s cut (to) about a tenth of it and your A: When I use it (smile). They get mad I don’t shoot enough. life’s kinda turned upside down and you’re living in a hotel room and you’re playing in the minors. I think sometimes guys take for granted how Why Rangers should strike now on Alex Georgiev trade special it is to play in the NHL and how many guys are coming to take Q: Why don’t you shoot enough? your job, and I think early on in my career, I maybe would have taken that a bit for granted, and I think that’s definitely something I learned from. A: Honestly, if you would ask my parents this, ever since I was young, I’ve passed way too much. I remember as like a 6- or 7-year-old, my Q: Was one trade harder than the other one? coach is getting mad at me for not shooting. I always would try to get the A: The second one (from the Oilers to the Rangers in November 2018) other guys a goal. Obviously, it’s not like that anymore, but I think as a was definitely harder. When I got traded from the Islanders, it was in the young kid I was always kinda the best player and stuff like that and I summer, which is a little bit easier. I was excited for a new start, but kinda wanted to show that I could do more than score and could set up when I got traded from Edmonton, I was really disappointed. I felt like I other guys, so I think that’s probably followed me a little bit in my career. was a big part of their locker room there and unfortunately just didn’t Q: Why do you like being on the power play? have a great start to the season. But for the first 24 hours, it felt like my heart kinda got ripped out of my chest until I got here, and I saw the A: It’s like an NBA doing isolation or a football guy running his route. The opportunity I was gonna get, and back in New York where I was familiar power play’s kind of my bread and butter, it’s an opportunity for an with, and a franchise that treats players unbelievably, so those feelings offensive guy to kinda have some fun and make some plays. went away pretty quick, but the initial shock was tough especially for now my wife (Sydney), she just got a job promotion in Edmonton, she had her Q: Penalty kill? own network of friends and I kinda felt bad for her too. A: Penalty kill is something that I never did in my whole career even in Q: Your dad cried as you left the team hotel to go to your first NHL junior hockey really until a couple of years ago. I think that’s just a growth game? in my maturity. It’s not an easy job, so any ice time you can get that the coaches trust you is a good thing. A: My dad walked me across the parking lot from the Long Island Marriott to the Coliseum (smile). I remember just seeing the tear in his eye. He’s Q: What makes Bread Man (Artemi Panarin) special or unique? a pretty blue-collar guy and we have a really good relationship, but we A: He is just so deceptive, he’s creative, he thinks hockey on a different don’t show that side too often. It was a crazy moment for our family, I level than everyone else on the ice. He’s one step ahead of everybody. think just years and years and years of hockey, hockey, hockey. I don’t He’s probably the most talented special player I’ve seen. He makes think my dad ever pictured walking me kind of across the parking lot like some plays on the ice where he’s not even looking to you and the puck that. It was really special for him. ends up right on your tape and not many guys can do that.

Ryan StromeAP Q: How about your adjustment to center? A: I was always a centerman growing up, but in pro hockey I’ve kinda A: Toronto hasn’t won any sports titles since 1993 I think it was, the Blue played the wing mostly. The last two, three years been able to get back Jays, and that was the year I was born. Seeing it (last) summer and how at center, it feels like I’m back home almost. crazy Toronto was, and how he just kinda I felt like was a great representation of Canadians, very quiet, humble, went about his Q: Does being paired with Panarin help? business, and everyone really, really kind of adopted him as like our role A: In my whole life, I’ve played with some really good players, but as a model, and it was great to see him lead our lone basketball team to a centerman, he’s definitely the best winger I’ve ever played with. title.

Q: Kaapo Kakko? Q: Boyhood idols?

A: He’s gonna be so special. Everybody wants the world for him right A: and Gary Roberts. now, especially the fans, but he’s 18 years old. For a kid that’s got so Q: What can you tell me about Sydney? much pressure and he’s so young, he’s taken it in stride. I think if you wait five years and see the finished product, it’s gonna be pretty special. A: I think we have very similar personalities. If we go to dinner with a couple, we’re usually almost in a comedy show going back and forth at Q: Jacob Trouba? each other. I think she takes care of me, she does everything around the A: Trouba’s got everything you’d want in a defenseman that’s on a house that I’m not able to do, and she keeps me in line. From the day we championship team, he’s big, he’s strong, he hits, he’s a team guy, not met, it seems like we’ve had absolutely everything in common, so we afraid to mix it up and get dirty. Definitely a guy that you want on your feed off each other real well. side, not the other side. Q: How did you propose?

Q: Mika Zibanejad? A: Just outside my house with our dog (Miller). I put a collar on the dog A: I think he’s really grown into a true leader. He’s a first-line talent. He’s that said, “Will you marry my dad?” and she read it, and that was it. got everything you want in a hockey player: he’s strong, he’s fast, he’s Q: You wanted to be a hockey player since you were how old? smart, he can score, he can pass. Very humble, very quiet the way he goes about his business. A great role model for our young guys and even A: I was skating around at 3 years old, 4 years old. When I was born, guys like myself. actually, my parents have a video and I was in the hospital, my parents have a hockey blanket on me and they’re singing the “Hockey Night in Q: You’re on a breakaway against any goalie in NHL history, who would Canada” theme song to me as a baby. I think it was always meant to be you want to face to test your skills? (smile).

A: Dominik Hasek, because he’s got such a unique style. I always Q: Biggest influence other than your parents? remember him as a kid kicking his legs in the air and spinning around on the ground, so I think he would definitely challenge you to kinda be A: I had a coach named Ken Strong, and he coached me for probably creative. Now all the goalies are so technical, so it’d be cool to face a guy nine years. I wouldn’t be anywhere without him. that was very unconventional. Q: Three dinner guests? Q: Your best hockey moment? A: Tiger Woods, Tom Brady, the Wolf of Wall Street guy, Jordan Belfort A: Scoring my first NHL goal was pretty cool. Also playing against my — someone that’s been through something that I’ll never experience in brother (Dylan) is real special when we get to do that. my life. Someone completely different than me. Just to see what they’re like. Q: The first time you played at the Garden? Q: Favorite movies? A: My first NHL point was at Madison Square Garden. First thing I remember is walking into the building, how sore my legs got walking up A: Wolf of Wall Street, Remember the Titans, Friday Night Lights. the long Zamboni ramp that the visiting team has to do. Q: Favorite actor? Q: What was the Islanders-Rangers rivalry like at the Garden? A: Leonardo DiCaprio. A: Honestly, it’s my favorite rivalry. Just the way the fans are so passionate. New York sports fans are so intense, but then you have Q: Favorite actress? people that literally live in the same neighborhood that hate each other’s A: Jennifer Aniston. teams is a pretty unique situation. That’s not too common in all of sports other than maybe Clippers-Lakers, Dodgers-Angels. Sometimes it Q: Favorite singer/entertainer? doesn’t really feel like there’s much of a home advantage. You score on A: Tim McGraw. the road and the whole crowd’s going crazy, like, “Wow, there’s a lot of road fans here.” Q: Favorite meal?

Q: Rangers fans? A: Either my wife or my wife’s mother makes the best homemade pasta. Every September we make our own tomato sauce with her whole family. A: Very passionate, very intense, but I think they’re very fair. The one Last year I think we made like over 1,100 jars of sauce. thing I’ve noticed that if you go out there and just give it your all, I think they really fall in love with players that do that. It’s not always the guys Q: What drives you? that get all the glory, it’s kinda the guys that just leave it out there every shift, and they appreciate the rough stuff, they appreciate sticking up for A: I would say mostly family, I think. I see how hard my family worked, your teammates … and I’d say very hungry for a championship. they worked 9-5 jobs, they’re tired, they’re sore … growing up, money wasn’t always easy, it wasn’t always roses for my parents to put me and Q: You’re a big Tiger Woods fan. What was your reaction when he won my brothers (Dylan and Matthew) through hockey to do what we do now the Masters last year? and just have literally the job we’ve always dreamed of is the best feeling in the world. A: I was going bananas. I was up at like 7:30 in the morning because the round started early ’cause it was a rain delay. I went to Starbucks and I Q: Career goals? got all the coffees and I had a couple of my golf buddies over and we watched the entire round. There’s not really many athletes that I quote- A: Other than winning a Stanley Cup, I think if I ever got to play 1,000 unquote obsess over, but he’s one of the guys that has such a unique games it would be pretty cool. upbringing and such a unique story that I’ve had a real enjoyment in Q: Could you imagine how this city would react to a championship investing in his life. To go there (Augusta) and if I ever got to play that Rangers team? course, it would be No. 1 on my bucket list in my whole life. A: No, I can’t. I was lucky enough to be on the ice last year when we did Q: You were a big Kawhi Leonard fan? the 25-year anniversary of the ’94 team. I had some chills and I was on the team for like 30 games. Even talking to (Chris) Kreider and a couple of those guys about their playoff runs, and the way MSG does the pregame intros, and the crowd … everything they’ve described about the playoffs in New York is on another level. To do that with this team, it would be unbelievable.

Q: The best thing about being a New York Ranger?

A: A fan base that loves the team, an organization that doesn’t cut any corners with treating its players well, and then you get to live in the best city in the world.

New York Post LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172504 New York Islanders

Isles' Mathew Barzal on his benching by coach Barry Trotz: 'I was in the wrong'

By Laura Albanese

ST. LOUIS — Heading into a weekend in which he’s being honored as the best player on the Islanders and one of the best in the NHL, Mathew Barzal — on a stage surrounded by fans, under big, bright lights — offered his mea culpa.

Barry Trotz was right to bench him in the third period of the Islanders’ 4-2 win over the Rangers on Tuesday night, he said during the NHL’s media day at the Stifel Theatre adjacent to the Enterprise Center.

“As a young guy, I know an example needs to be set,” he said. “I was in the wrong.”

It might be the one dark spot in what is an otherwise fun-filled event, but Barzal, in his first comments since the benching, underlined his desire to win and his trust in Trotz, who after Tuesday night’s game said his first- line center was putting individual performance over the team.

An offensive dynamo, Barzal has had a series of defensive lapses in the last few weeks. Trotz finally had enough on Tuesday when, with the Islanders up 3-0, one of Barzal’s lapses caused a turnover and nearly led to a goal.

The Islanders wound up taking a 4-0 lead, gave up two power-play goals after a bad penalty (Scott Mayfield received a double-minor for spearing) and desperately held on.

Barzal actually had a good offensive night that game, notching assists on two of the goals.

“I’m a competitor and I always want to be on the ice,” he said. “At the end of the day, Barry knows what’s best for the team. We were up 3-0 and we were stressing getting pucks in deep and I had a bit of a mental lapse and then turned the puck over and it almost resulted in a goal against. We’ve had games this year where defensive errors have cost us games and he wasn’t going to let that happen again.”

The message undoubtedly was a strong one — one that indicates no one gets special treatment, even the resident All-Star — but it also highlights how the Islanders as a whole have at times struggled to play a complete game.

After a brutal stretch of seven games in 11 days, they are off until Feb. 1. The trade deadline is Feb. 24, and the Islanders have 15 games in that month — a good enough barometer on if they’ll truly be contenders late in the season. They sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division, eight points behind the first-place Capitals.

With that on the horizon, Trotz has publicly stressed the need for unselfish play — something that came to a head after Tuesday night’s game, when he appeared uncharacteristically tense despite the victory.

“That was a good example, exactly,” Trotz said then when asked if Barzal was benched for not playing within the team framework. “One hundred percent.”

Barzal, for his part, said the incident is behind them. He doesn’t need to use it as extra motivation, he said, because he’s already plenty motivated.

“I was in the wrong for the play I made,” he said. “Barry’s got my best interests and the team’s best interests. He wants to win as bad as anyone and so do I. It’s over with now. We got the win and that’s really all that matters.”

And, perhaps as a further sign of his contrition, the 22-year-old tipped his cap to his 57-year-old coach.

“Barry is a smart guy,” Barzal said. “He’s been around a long time. He’s seen every kind of player, so I just try to listen to him and just try to get better as a player every day with him. We’re fortunate to have him.”

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Why February is an important month for the Islanders

By Andrew Gross

February has the strong potential to be a make-or-break month for the Islanders’ playoff aspirations.

The Islanders entered their extended All-Star break/bye week in-season vacation in third place in the Metropolitan Division after a 6-6-2 stretch since the NHL’s three-day holiday break in December. They don’t play again until Feb. 1 against the Canucks at Barclays Center.

The upcoming 29-day month brings 15 games — after the Islanders completed a stretch of seven games in 11 days and 14 in 26 days overall heading into the break — including a four-game road trip against Nashville, Vegas, Arizona and Colorado.

March is no easier, with 16 games in 31 days and another four-game road trip as the Islanders head to Western Canada. But a substandard February could leave the Islanders with the long odds of trying to play their way back into a playoff position in March.

The trade deadline is Feb. 24, at which time it will be known whether president and general manager Lou Lamoriello can address the team’s lack of scoring or if the Isles stand pat, as they did at last season’s trade deadline and, for the most part, during the offseason. Lamoriello did strongly pursue unrestricted free agent Artemi Panarin, but the elite playmaker opted for less money in accepting a seven-year, $81.5 million deal with the Rangers.

Coach Barry Trotz did acknowledge after last season — which ended with a second-round playoff sweep by the Hurricanes — the need for more scoring “pop” in the lineup.

The Islanders are 22nd in the NHL with 143 goals, an average of 2.9 per game, though their goal differential of plus-11 is a respectable 11th in the league. But the Islanders scored two or fewer goals in seven of their 11 games in January. They scored one goal or fewer four times.

“We can take care of our own game. This group has got good chemistry,” Trotz said. “They care. Some guys have let their game slip a little bit. We can’t afford to let too many people have their game slip. We’re missing some pieces that are big pieces for us.”

Top-pair defenseman Adam Pelech is out for the rest of the regular season after injuring his Achilles tendon on Jan. 2. Gritty fourth-line right wing Cal Clutterbuck is out indefinitely after Patrice Bergeron’s skate blade slashed his left wrist on Dec. 19 at Boston. Trotz said there is a possibility that Clutterbuck can resume skating on his own after this extended break.

The Islanders remain a chasm-like eight points behind the first-place Capitals and four points behind the second-place Penguins, who went into the break on a 7-3-0 run. They have a one-point lead on the fourth- place Blue Jackets, who have won six straight, and a two-point lead on the fifth-place Hurricanes, who hold the second and final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

“We’ve played a ton of games,” said top-line right wing Jordan Eberle, who has four of his seven goals this season in his last eight games. “It’s been a lot of hockey and, more than anything, the break gives you time to refresh your mind.”

The Islanders entered the break with a 4-2 win over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. Goalie made 41 saves in his second straight strong start after Semyon Varlamov started nine of the previous 11 games.

“We’ll probably do some of that splitting coming out of the break,” Trotz said. “The February schedule is not kind. So I think you’re going to see both goaltenders getting a big load.”

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172506 New York Islanders lineup. He’s already tied his career high with 19 goals this season, and he’s the sort of Energizer bunny-type Trotz would be happy to use on the penalty kill, as a matchup center or even in scoring situations.

Islanders trade board: What scouts and executives are saying about their Exec’s take: “There’s so much buzz around him and I get it, but you do options at the deadline have that worry in the back of your mind: He’s having a great year playing major minutes for a lousy team. Is he going to jump right into your lineup and have the same results playing more of a role? He’s not going to be cheap.” By Arthur Staple Jan 23, 2020 Projected cost: Depending on the bidding war, a second-rounder plus a

prospect should get this done — if there are first-round picks being The Islanders’ All-Star/CBA break has arrived. That means we’ve got bandied about that would make little sense for the Islanders (or anyone time and space to devote to the Trade Board, which last season around else, really). Would a second plus Bolduc get it done? Ottawa is deep on this time produced nearly two dozen viable options … and zero trades. the left side among its high-end youth, with Thomas Chabot and Erik Brannstrom. That might mean an extra pick or a different prospect, and Well, the Islanders are back in a pretty decent playoff position, despite a the Isles don’t have a lot to choose from there. mediocre run through December and January. They are a veteran team with a few long-term deals in their early stages. They have Lou Tyler Toffoli, forward, Kings: A consistent point-every-other-game scorer Lamoriello, a man not known for trying to stage a patient, slow build, and over his seven-plus seasons in L.A., he’s also got consistently strong they have Barry Trotz, who could be the first coach in 30 years to win metrics and can play a heavier style that the Islanders prefer. The Kings back-to-back Jack Adams awards. are rumored to be in some front-office flux — a league source indicated there could be a GM change coming at season’s end, so that may All that, plus insight from three league executives and two pro scouts, change the view on some of the vets. But the Kings are in sell mode, it leads us to believe the Islanders are looking to buy with the trade seems, and the Islanders need a productive winger to solidify their top deadline 32 days away. Of course, they were looking to buy last season nine. at the deadline and nothing happened, so this list is not some sort of cheat sheet — just players who may be available and fit what the Exec’s take: “I’ve heard there hasn’t been much talk there because the Islanders are likely seeking. cost is still pretty high, but it sure seems like they’re going to move him. Should pick up after the break.” Assets are still a problem for the Islanders. As one executive noted to The Athletic in discussing the Isles’ trade options: “It seems like they’re Projected cost: Much like with Pageau, surrendering a first for a rental trying to be aggressive, but outside of (Noah) Dobson, there’s no one in seems foolish for the Isles, given where they are and the state of their the system that really jumps out at you.” prospect pool. If one of the league heavyweights (St. Louis, Boston), or a team like the Avalanche, decides surrendering a late first is worth the Dobson isn’t going to be moved. Neither is Ilya Sorokin, who doesn’t risk, the Isles can’t really counter. have much trade value at this point with zero NHL games (along with zero NHL contracts). Oliver Wahlstrom, Simon Holmstrom and Bode Craig Smith, forward, Predators: A better player than some might give Wilde could turn out to be A-level prospects, but all three weren’t him credit for, the 30-year-old Smith has a shot for a sixth 2o-goal universally loved in their draft years and have hit some bumps in the season in nine with the Preds. He’s also a big guy who plays a heavy developmental road since they were drafted. game, and Trotz was in Nashville when Smith was coming up through the system. Not much for a speed game but neither are the Islanders. The real problem for the Islanders is the lack of attractive pieces from prior drafts. Michael Dal Colle, Josh Ho-Sang and Kieffer Bellows have Exec’s take: “A guy who could be sneaky good for someone at the all dropped in standing from their draft years, thinning the group of high deadline.” picks that most other teams would covet. Perhaps the most intriguing Projected cost: A second (and perhaps a third or fourth) likely gets this options in potential trades are recent mid-round picks, like defensemen done. That may even be too much depending on the bidders. But if the Robin Salo (46th overall, 2017) and Samuel Bolduc (57th, 2019) and Preds, who are still very much in the hunt for a playoff spot in the West, forward Ruslan Iskhakov (43rd, 2018). decide to trim some from around the edges of their core, Smith is It seems unlikely that Lamoriello would part with his 2020 first-round pick someone the Islanders could use. for two reasons: 1) There isn’t a player known on the market worth Conor Sheary, forward, Sabres: Not the style of player that Trotz loves — sacrificing that pick for, and 2) the Islanders are just three points from the he prefers size to speed — but the 27-year-old wing is a decent producer wrong side of the wild-card chase, so gambling a potential lottery pick is despite being scratched a few times for the fading Sabres this season. a huge risk. He could fit in anywhere in the Isles’ top nine, and his speed and shot So, armed with all that cheery news, here’s a list of 21 potential Islanders make him a cost-effective candidate worth a try alongside Mathew trade targets, aided by comments from league executives and scouts Barzal. who have seen the Islanders and Sound Tigers numerous times this Exec’s take: “You hear that Buffalo is going to be buying and I guess that season. makes sense if the GM (Jason Botterill) is out if they don’t make the Rentals (veterans on expiring contracts) playoffs. But that’s not realistic given where they are. If you’re looking to change some things up, moving Sheary makes sense.” Andy Greene, defenseman, Devils: It may seem strange to list a 37-year- old defenseman who’s currently a captain somewhere else at the top of Projected cost: A third-rounder sounds on target. He’s not a contributor this list. But if Greene, whom Lamoriello signed as an undrafted free there, so holding teams up for ransom doesn’t seem wise. agent in 2006, is willing to waive his no-trade clause after 914 games in Tyler Ennis, forward, Senators: Another smallish (5-foot-9) guy like Jersey, the Islanders make a lot of sense. He still plays 20 minutes a Sheary, but Ennis is a pro who’s been around the league and has a bit of night and could provide some depth and stability on the left side for an jam to his game as well as a scoring touch. He was a center in his early Isles D corps that is going with 5 1/2 men every night as Trotz tries to days in Buffalo, but now he’s a winger who can contribute on the power keep Dobson as sheltered as possible. play and isn’t shy about getting the puck or himself to the net. Scout’s take: “This one feels like a no-brainer to me. They need a D and Scout’s take: “When you look at the Islanders, the thing that maybe this is a guy Lou knows well, he’s a pro and he can fit into what they want they’re missing is just bodies — pro players who can fill a role, guys like to do.” (Valtteri) Filppula last year. They’re not going to shake up the room Projected cost: Hard to imagine there’s much of a market for a guy of his because they like what they have. Someone like (Ennis) checks a few age who also has a no-trade. If it’s more than a third-round pick, that boxes for them.” would seem to be too high. Projected cost: Ottawa is Ennis’ fourth team in four years, so a fourth- Jean-Gabriel Pageau, center, Senators: The 27-year-old would be the rounder sounds like a reasonable return. ideal No. 3 center for the Islanders, who could move Derick Brassard to Brenden Dillon, defenseman, Sharks: San Jose hasn’t been a seller for the wing and have a far deeper 12-man forward group with Pageau in the decades now, but they’re 11 points out at the break, which screams sell. Plus they have a block of unmovable contracts, so a pending UFA Island kid who might not hate a change of scenery and a right-shot veteran like Dillon will draw some interest. He’s a lefty (the Isles only scorer, something the Isles need. need on D) and a stay-at-home type, as well as one who can handle himself in the trenches. With him lining up on the left side with Nick Projected cost: Given San Jose’s need to start gathering assets with a lot Leddy and Devon Toews, Trotz gets back the even split of left/right and of veterans on the far end of their prime, the ask would certainly include a stay-at-home/offensive defensemen he prefers. first. With three more years of cost control, that’s not out of line. Labanc is probably the only player on this list for whom it would make sense to Scout’s take: “They’re playing with fire a bit in only having six D on the move a first. roster that they’re willing to use. You can’t stay healthy back there for very long, and they’ve already taken a big hit with (Adam) Pelech down. Players with term remaining They might need two D at the deadline.” Tomas Tatar, forward, Canadiens: He’s had a year-plus of strong play in Projected cost: There will be some competition here and Dillon is a Montreal, but it’s been a few years since he was a key contributor on a defenseman — D are prized deadline commodities. A second and a third good team. Would the offense-minded wing be able to adapt to Trotz’s or fourth might have to be the cost if Lamoriello sets his sights here. system? He’s also got another year at a $4.8 million cap hit, so there are considerations beyond the next few months that factor in. Ilya Kovalchuk, forward, Canadiens: , the Isles could have had Lamoriello’s old pal for the league minimum just a few weeks ago, when Projected cost: He’s not exactly a problem Montreal needs to get off its the Kings terminated Kovalchuk’s contract. But the 36-year-old wing books — they’d need a solid offer to move him. A second and an looks like a new man in Montreal, albeit with the pressure turned way intriguing prospect like Bolduc might do it, but that’s a big price for the down thanks to the Habs floating in lottery space. Could he help the Islanders to pay without being sure Tatar fits what they need. Islanders? Maybe. It would require a big buy-in defensively from Kyle Palmieri, forward, Devils: Currently hurt but perennially one of the someone who hasn’t always embraced life without the puck. best Devils since they scooped him up for a second and a third in 2015, Projected cost: Feels like a fourth is the right call, which would be a minor he might be the most attractive deadline chip for a Devils team that bit of trickery from Habs GM Marc Bergevin. needs to decide its new path soon. Palmieri was born on Long Island, though raised in Jersey, so it’s hard to imagine the Isles are on his eight- Melker Karlsson, forward, Sharks: One of the other salable assets on the team no-trade list. He’s a right-shot forward who is equally good on the sinking Sharks, the 29-year-old wing wouldn’t feel like a huge upgrade power play as at 5v5. from Tom Kuhnhackl, who fits a similar profile. If Cal Clutterbuck’s timeline is still unknown — Trotz indicated Clutterbuck might get back on Projected cost: Depending on the bidders, it could be similar to what the the ice by the end of the break, but who knows how long it would be from Ducks got for Palmieri five years ago — a 2 and a 3, maybe with a lower- there until he can play — Karlsson has a decent fourth-line pedigree and end prospect as well. He does still have another year at an eminently could play there. affordable $4.65 million cap hit, so a pair of second-rounders might be more accurate. Projected cost: A fourth-rounder most likely. Ondrej Kase, forward, Ducks: Still only 24 and with another year at a Trevor Lewis, forward, Kings: He comes with the right pedigree, having $2.6 million cap hit (and an RFA after that), Kase doesn’t seem like the played a nice supporting role in two Stanley Cup runs. At 33, he is what sort of player the floundering Ducks would move. But he reportedly hasn’t he is, a bottom-six wing with a strong motor and not much scoring skill. been a fit with Dallas Eakins and is on the block. Kase is the sort of That feels like a duplicate effort for the Islanders, but he would certainly young winger with real scoring potential (he had 20 in 2017-18) the fit in well. Islanders don’t have enough of.

Projected cost: Another rental in the fourth-rounder range. Projected cost: At least a second rounder.

Erik Gustafsson, defenseman, Hawks: Feels weird that a defenseman Brandon Saad, forward, Hawks: Hard to believe he’s only 27 after all of coming off a 60-point season could be on the block; the Hawks’ recent his years in the league. He’s been coveted in a lot of front offices before, surge might also put this one on the back burner until the summer, when and if the Hawks feel like they have a realistic shot at the playoffs, he’s the Isles wouldn’t have much need with Pelech healthy. But his name likely not going anywhere. But a youngish scoring winger with some has been out there and he could help from the left side. decent wheels? Barzal says yes to that.

Projected cost: This one is tricky, given his eye-popping numbers. A Projected cost: The Hawks don’t have much coming on D. Would a second, perhaps? second plus Wilde get this done? Depends on how Chicago views Wilde, of course. Saad has another year at a $6 million AAV, which could be Chris Kreider, forward, Rangers: He has to be on the list because he’ll be prohibitive for the Isles with contracts coming for Barzal, Ryan Pulock the top rental target if the Rangers commit to moving him and he’d be a and Devon Toews. perfect fit for the Isles, who would love to have his unique combination of speed/size/skill. The idea of the Rangers moving their best deadline chip Alec Martinez, defenseman, Kings: He’s 32 and just coming back from to the Island for more futures is a little shaky, however. missing six weeks due to a skate cut, but he’s another sturdy, veteran D the Isles could use. He can also play the left and right sides, which helps Projected cost: Might be the only player on anyone’s trade board who’s going forward as he has another year at a $4 million cap hit. It’d be a big more likely than not to command a first rounder back — maybe even a bit play that would throw the 2020-21 D corps into flux, but Martinez could more than that. Far too rich for the Isles, especially with no hope of thrive in the Isles’ system. signing him long term. Projected cost: The Kings have plenty of futures already, so this deal Pending RFAs might require a forward off the Isles roster — something that doesn’t Andreas Athanasiou, forward, Red Wings: Detroit would have players all really sound feasible given the team needs. Would a second, Dal Colle over this board if it had much of anything worth selling. Athanasiou is and a prospect make this one happen? Is Dal Colle still enough of a draw having a lousy season along with everyone else on the Wings, but he’s to push a deal over the top? still only 25 and has some amazing attributes. Midseason moves for Nick Bonino, center, Predators: He’s an ideal No. 3 center, even at 31. pending RFAs aren’t simple, but he would provide a real spark for the He’s got a ring with the 2016 Penguins and amazingly is tied for second Islanders. on the Preds this season with 14 goals. He would provide both a nice fit Projected cost: Difficult to gauge unless Steve Yzerman is simply ready with the defense-first Isles and some scoring touch, especially in the to get some assets back for whatever he can move out. A second at the postseason. And a year left at an affordable $4.1 million cap hit wouldn’t very least, and more likely a second plus a prospect for someone the likely mess with the Isles’ internal contract situations this coming Isles would be intent on signing after a deal. offseason.

Kevin Labanc, forward, Sharks: A rare case of a talented young player Projected cost: Wouldn’t be terribly high, even for someone with term left. who bet on himself and saw it backfire. Labanc avoided the RFA frenzy A second-rounder and a third or fourth likely does it, but the Predators last summer and signed a one-year, $1 million deal; now he’s stuck on a may want to keep a reliable guy like Bonino around to smooth John team loaded with bad deals and not much help on the way. He’s a Staten Hynes’ transition into his first full year next fall. Travis Zajac, forward, Devils: Zajac is a Lamoriello favorite even if his best years are behind him. He’d be an intriguing option as a No. 3 center but the year he has left at a decently sized $5.75 million cap hit means if he’s an option before Feb. 24, there’d have to be some salary retained to make it even remotely worthwhile. Zajac did have 19 goals last season, and the intangibles Lamoriello and Trotz speak of are evident with him.

Scout’s take: “Again, you look at guys who fit what the Isles want to do and guys that Lou feels comfortable with. Zajac fills both spots there. Also not going to rock the boat on a new team, especially one with Lou in charge.”

Projected cost: Zajac would have to waive his no-trade clause to approve a deal, so the market can’t be extensive. It would require a third-rounder at most, provided the Devils keep some of the cap hit.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172507 New York Rangers A: I’ve been traded twice now. The third time wouldn’t be anything that I’m not used to. I love it here, though. I really hope I stay. I feel like I’ve lived in New York for so long, it’s my second home. The coaching staff and the management here, I think I’ve found a little bit of a home. Ryan Strome on Islanders rock bottom, trade deadline, all things Whatever happens, happens. It’s a business, but I think you just take Rangers everything in stride as an athlete.

Q: You like playing in this market?

By Steve Serby January 24, 2020 | 12:11am A: I love it. I just think people care. It’s not Canada where things are completely overblown. There’s not really much else to do in Edmonton,

so hockey’s the main focus. New York, people definitely care about the Ryan Strome, the Ontario native and fifth-overall pick in the 2011 NHL team, but at the same time, there’s so much to do, so much going on that Entry Draft, who bounced from the Islanders to the Oilers to the Rangers, you can kind of escape a little bit. People love the Rangers, but you’re speaks with Steve Serby on the eve of the All-Star break. also not walking down the street signing autographs for people, if you know what I mean. You’re able to hide as much as you want to. Q: You’ve proven them wrong as a Ranger, but how did you feel about the naysayers who wondered if you were a bust? Q: Are you recognized at all?

A: I think a lot of times, when you’re drafted high, you have huge A: Once in a while, actually. Rangers fans are pretty knowledgeable. expectations, but I’m coming up on 500 NHL games and I’m 26 years Even living in my condo building, there’s some fans that come up or send old, so … Obviously, you want to be a superstar, but everyone takes a me fan mail to my building. It’s pretty cool, but it’s not overwhelming, is different path to get there, and to be a good player, but my goal is to play what I guess I’m trying to say. as many NHL games as possible, and I think I’m well on my way there. Q: Describe your on-ice mentality. Q: Did the doubters motivate you? A: I just try to be like a cerebral, smart player. I try to read the play. I don’t A: Yeah, absolutely. I think some of it’s warranted, some of it’s not think I’m the biggest, strongest or fastest guy, so I kinda gotta use my warranted. But I think a little bit of controversy and a little bit of adversity hockey sense and my smarts to maneuver my way around the ice. is always good for people, and it seems to kinda fuel me a little bit. Q: Coach Quinn likes it when you play with a little bit of an edge. Q: What’s the biggest adversity you’ve had to overcome? A: I just think if I’m running into people, if I’m a little chippy … I’ve got a A: When I was with the Islanders, my third year I got sent down to the decent amount of penalty minutes in my career, not that I’m a tough guy minors. I think that was pretty tough for me mentally. I’d been in the NHL or anything, but I think when I’m getting involved, and I’m mixing it up and for like over 100 games or so, and it was definitely a blow to the ego, my when I’m physically engaged, I think I’m at my best. confidence, and definitely kinda put things into perspective, and ever Q: Describe Coach David Quinn. since then, every time there’s an anthem before the game, I try to look around and take in my surroundings and just remind myself that it’s a A: Very intense, but for me, he’s been really good. I think he’s very fair. privilege to be here and just try to earn it every day because (finger He expects a lot out of his players and he demands hard work and effort, snap), just like that it can be taken away from you. but the rest of it he’s very fair with. He’s really good for young players, at the same time though he’s been great for me. He’s really let me play and Q: What was the low point when you were sent down? I think let me grow into the next step of my development as a player. A: Nothing too crazy, just one night I was sitting in a hotel room in Q: Is it true you have a good wrist shot? Bridgeport and I was going like, “Two weeks ago I was all comfortable in my house on Long Island, and then it’s amazing how quick things can A: When I use it (smile). They get mad I don’t shoot enough. change.” Obviously your paycheck’s cut (to) about a tenth of it and your life’s kinda turned upside down and you’re living in a hotel room and Q: Why don’t you shoot enough? you’re playing in the minors. I think sometimes guys take for granted how A: Honestly, if you would ask my parents this, ever since I was young, special it is to play in the NHL and how many guys are coming to take I’ve passed way too much. I remember as like a 6- or 7-year-old, my your job, and I think early on in my career, I maybe would have taken that coach is getting mad at me for not shooting. I always would try to get the a bit for granted, and I think that’s definitely something I learned from. other guys a goal. Obviously, it’s not like that anymore, but I think as a Q: Was one trade harder than the other one? young kid I was always kinda the best player and stuff like that and I kinda wanted to show that I could do more than score and could set up A: The second one (from the Oilers to the Rangers in November 2018) other guys, so I think that’s probably followed me a little bit in my career. was definitely harder. When I got traded from the Islanders, it was in the summer, which is a little bit easier. I was excited for a new start, but Q: Why do you like being on the power play? when I got traded from Edmonton, I was really disappointed. I felt like I A: It’s like an NBA doing isolation or a football guy running his route. The was a big part of their locker room there and unfortunately just didn’t power play’s kind of my bread and butter, it’s an opportunity for an have a great start to the season. But for the first 24 hours, it felt like my offensive guy to kinda have some fun and make some plays. heart kinda got ripped out of my chest until I got here, and I saw the opportunity I was gonna get, and back in New York where I was familiar Q: Penalty kill? with, and a franchise that treats players unbelievably, so those feelings went away pretty quick, but the initial shock was tough especially for now A: Penalty kill is something that I never did in my whole career even in my wife (Sydney), she just got a job promotion in Edmonton, she had her junior hockey really until a couple of years ago. I think that’s just a growth own network of friends and I kinda felt bad for her too. in my maturity. It’s not an easy job, so any ice time you can get that the coaches trust you is a good thing. Q: Your dad cried as you left the team hotel to go to your first NHL game? Q: What makes Bread Man (Artemi Panarin) special or unique?

A: My dad walked me across the parking lot from the Long Island Marriott A: He is just so deceptive, he’s creative, he thinks hockey on a different to the Coliseum (smile). I remember just seeing the tear in his eye. He’s level than everyone else on the ice. He’s one step ahead of everybody. a pretty blue-collar guy and we have a really good relationship, but we He’s probably the most talented special player I’ve seen. He makes don’t show that side too often. It was a crazy moment for our family, I some plays on the ice where he’s not even looking to you and the puck think just years and years and years of hockey, hockey, hockey. I don’t ends up right on your tape and not many guys can do that. think my dad ever pictured walking me kind of across the parking lot like Q: How about your adjustment to center? that. It was really special for him. A: I was always a centerman growing up, but in pro hockey I’ve kinda Ryan StromeAP played the wing mostly. The last two, three years been able to get back Q: You’re a restricted free agent. How do you feel about the possibility at center, it feels like I’m back home almost. you could be traded? Q: Does being paired with Panarin help? A: In my whole life, I’ve played with some really good players, but as a Q: Boyhood idols? centerman, he’s definitely the best winger I’ve ever played with. A: Mats Sundin and Gary Roberts. Q: Kaapo Kakko? Q: What can you tell me about Sydney? A: He’s gonna be so special. Everybody wants the world for him right now, especially the fans, but he’s 18 years old. For a kid that’s got so A: I think we have very similar personalities. If we go to dinner with a much pressure and he’s so young, he’s taken it in stride. I think if you couple, we’re usually almost in a comedy show going back and forth at wait five years and see the finished product, it’s gonna be pretty special. each other. I think she takes care of me, she does everything around the house that I’m not able to do, and she keeps me in line. From the day we Q: Jacob Trouba? met, it seems like we’ve had absolutely everything in common, so we feed off each other real well. A: Trouba’s got everything you’d want in a defenseman that’s on a championship team, he’s big, he’s strong, he hits, he’s a team guy, not Q: How did you propose? afraid to mix it up and get dirty. Definitely a guy that you want on your side, not the other side. A: Just outside my house with our dog (Miller). I put a collar on the dog that said, “Will you marry my dad?” and she read it, and that was it. Q: Mika Zibanejad? Q: You wanted to be a hockey player since you were how old? A: I think he’s really grown into a true leader. He’s a first-line talent. He’s got everything you want in a hockey player: he’s strong, he’s fast, he’s A: I was skating around at 3 years old, 4 years old. When I was born, smart, he can score, he can pass. Very humble, very quiet the way he actually, my parents have a video and I was in the hospital, my parents goes about his business. A great role model for our young guys and even have a hockey blanket on me and they’re singing the “Hockey Night in guys like myself. Canada” theme song to me as a baby. I think it was always meant to be (smile). Q: You’re on a breakaway against any goalie in NHL history, who would you want to face to test your skills? Q: Biggest influence other than your parents?

A: Dominik Hasek, because he’s got such a unique style. I always A: I had a coach named Ken Strong, and he coached me for probably remember him as a kid kicking his legs in the air and spinning around on nine years. I wouldn’t be anywhere without him. the ground, so I think he would definitely challenge you to kinda be Q: Three dinner guests? creative. Now all the goalies are so technical, so it’d be cool to face a guy that was very unconventional. A: Tiger Woods, Tom Brady, the Wolf of Wall Street guy, Jordan Belfort — someone that’s been through something that I’ll never experience in Q: Your best hockey moment? my life. Someone completely different than me. Just to see what they’re A: Scoring my first NHL goal was pretty cool. Also playing against my like. brother (Dylan) is real special when we get to do that. Q: Favorite movies?

Q: The first time you played at the Garden? A: Wolf of Wall Street, Remember the Titans, Friday Night Lights.

A: My first NHL point was at Madison Square Garden. First thing I Q: Favorite actor? remember is walking into the building, how sore my legs got walking up the long Zamboni ramp that the visiting team has to do. A: Leonardo DiCaprio.

Q: What was the Islanders-Rangers rivalry like at the Garden? Q: Favorite actress?

A: Honestly, it’s my favorite rivalry. Just the way the fans are so A: Jennifer Aniston. passionate. New York sports fans are so intense, but then you have Q: Favorite singer/entertainer? people that literally live in the same neighborhood that hate each other’s teams is a pretty unique situation. That’s not too common in all of sports A: Tim McGraw. other than maybe Clippers-Lakers, Dodgers-Angels. Sometimes it doesn’t really feel like there’s much of a home advantage. You score on Q: Favorite meal? the road and the whole crowd’s going crazy, like, “Wow, there’s a lot of A: Either my wife or my wife’s mother makes the best homemade pasta. road fans here.” Every September we make our own tomato sauce with her whole family. Q: Rangers fans? Last year I think we made like over 1,100 jars of sauce.

A: Very passionate, very intense, but I think they’re very fair. The one Q: What drives you? thing I’ve noticed that if you go out there and just give it your all, I think A: I would say mostly family, I think. I see how hard my family worked, they really fall in love with players that do that. It’s not always the guys they worked 9-5 jobs, they’re tired, they’re sore … growing up, money that get all the glory, it’s kinda the guys that just leave it out there every wasn’t always easy, it wasn’t always roses for my parents to put me and shift, and they appreciate the rough stuff, they appreciate sticking up for my brothers (Dylan and Matthew) through hockey to do what we do now your teammates … and I’d say very hungry for a championship. and just have literally the job we’ve always dreamed of is the best feeling Q: You’re a big Tiger Woods fan. What was your reaction when he won in the world. the Masters last year? Q: Career goals? A: I was going bananas. I was up at like 7:30 in the morning because the A: Other than winning a Stanley Cup, I think if I ever got to play 1,000 round started early ’cause it was a rain delay. I went to Starbucks and I games it would be pretty cool. got all the coffees and I had a couple of my golf buddies over and we watched the entire round. There’s not really many athletes that I quote- Q: Could you imagine how this city would react to a championship unquote obsess over, but he’s one of the guys that has such a unique Rangers team? upbringing and such a unique story that I’ve had a real enjoyment in investing in his life. To go there (Augusta) and if I ever got to play that A: No, I can’t. I was lucky enough to be on the ice last year when we did course, it would be No. 1 on my bucket list in my whole life. the 25-year anniversary of the ’94 team. I had some chills and I was on the team for like 30 games. Even talking to (Chris) Kreider and a couple Q: You were a big Kawhi Leonard fan? of those guys about their playoff runs, and the way MSG does the pregame intros, and the crowd … everything they’ve described about the A: Toronto hasn’t won any sports titles since 1993 I think it was, the Blue playoffs in New York is on another level. To do that with this team, it Jays, and that was the year I was born. Seeing it (last) summer and how would be unbelievable. crazy Toronto was, and how he just kinda I felt like was a great representation of Canadians, very quiet, humble, went about his Q: The best thing about being a New York Ranger? business, and everyone really, really kind of adopted him as like our role model, and it was great to see him lead our lone basketball team to a title. A: A fan base that loves the team, an organization that doesn’t cut any corners with treating its players well, and then you get to live in the best city in the world.

New York Post LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172508 New York Rangers Over that span, 31 forwards, including 17 wingers, have played at least 500 games with at least 150 goals while averaging .3 GPG. (Thanks to the hockey-reference.com play index.)

Why Rangers should strike now on Alex Georgiev trade Kreider is one of them.

3. Plus-minus is a largely overlooked stat these days, popularly supplanted by numbers that are likely more predictive of future By Larry Brooks January 23, 2020 | 12:25PM performance.

But Marc Staal has been on the ice for a total of 13 goals against in 458:42 of five-on-five play (per NaturalStatTrick.com) in going plus-one Regarding the Rangers, one point better entering the All-Star break than primarily playing with Tony DeAngelo against top-six matches. last season but two points further out of a playoff spot, as if that is the measure of progress: Artemi Panarin, by the way, has been on for a staggering 56 of the 103 goals the Rangers have scored at five-on-five, a plus-30 in the process. 1. There is probably as good a chance that the team will continue to carry three goaltenders through the Feb. 24 trade deadline as there is that Alex And then there is Micheal Haley, who has been on for one Rangers five- Georgiev will be dealt. on-five goal in 120:00 in going minus-seven. There are two forwards in the NHL who have played at least 120:00 and have been on for only one And while it is sensible not to rush to judgment simply to avoid an goal. Carolina’s Brian Gibbons is the other. unwieldy situation, let’s not kid ourselves, this might represent the height of interest in Georgiev, who has turned in some excellent performances New York Post LOADED: 01.24.2020 but has not exactly established himself as an untouchable over the last six weeks.

If so, if general manager Jeff Gorton can stoke a bidding war for the 23- year-old pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights, if the Blueshirts could get a no-doubt top-nine winger with potential top-six upside, this would be the time to strike.

The situation has not been ideal since Igor Shesterkin’s Jan. 6 recall, but it never is for a backup. And since Dec. 12, Georgiev has gone 4-5 with a .882 save pct. and 3.78 GAA average. Henrik Lundqvist over that same period? The Swede has gone 2-3-1 with a .894 save pct. and 3.25 GAA.

There is zero evidence that Lundqvist will ask to be moved. There is no indication that he would agree to waive his no-move clause if a Cup contender comes calling. There is no chance that management would approach him with that request absent legitimate interest from a third party.

Perhaps the dynamics could change, but that seems quite unlikely. Absent further notice, then, expect Lundqvist to be here through at least the end of the season, if not through the remainder of his contract that expires after next year.

And if the Rangers expect Lundqvist to be a functioning goaltender and partner for, presumably, Shesterkin, then the mushroom act where they open the closet door and water him every once in a while isn’t going to work. Lundqvist has played one game since Jan. 2.

The reluctance to part with Georgiev is understandable. But the Rangers have had a line of succession in mind for years and there has been nothing in Shesterkin’s first four months of North American pro hockey to suggest that the original plan should be scuttled. He is 24, he is lightning quick, technically superior, supremely confident and in command.

The Canadiens did not move Carey Price because Jaro Halak carried the team to the 2010 conference finals after taking out both Alex Ovechkin’s Caps and Sidney Crosby’s Penguins. Rather, the Habs stuck to their plan and the-then 25-year-old Halak was traded within a month of those two staggering upsets.

If, as likely, the remainder of this season becomes more about 2020-21 and beyond than 2019-20, wouldn’t it be best to ride Shesterkin with Lundqvist as his backup rather than to continue auditioning the two young goalies?

There is no reason for Gorton to be stampeded into making a choice before its time, that is true, but, again, this could well be the only time the Rangers have leverage in trade talks as it applies to Georgiev. The last thing they need is to be sitting at the draft table in Montreal and fielding offers of late second-rounders and/or thirds for No. 40.

2. Replacement All-Star Chris Kreider will be five months from hitting the open market when the season resumes with a home-and-home against the Red Wings that begins at the Garden on Jan. 31. Thus, leverage would seem to be on the other skate when the Blueshirts finally engage the winger in contract talks.

Kreider’s goal on Tuesday against the Islanders was his 10th in the last 16 games, 15th on the season and 150th of his career. Since Kreider first joined the NHL in 2012-13 (following his 2012 playoff debut), he has recorded .3 goals per game. 1172509 New York Rangers

Listen to Episode 8 of ‘Up In The Blue Seats’: All-Star Break, Farrah Fawcett feat. Tom Laidlaw

By Jake Brown January 23, 2020 | 6:45am

The Rangers might be headed into the All-Star break, but Ron Duguay takes no breaks. It’s a brand new episode of the “Up In The Blue Seats” podcast with the New York Post. Ron opens the show talking about the Rangers’ loss to the Islanders Tuesday, the All-Star break ahead and his experience playing in one. Ron is not a big fan of the All-Star Game itself because it has become hard to watch.

Post Rangers beat writer Brett Cyrgalis then makes his debut on the pod. He talks about the important stretch ahead, whether the Blueshirts are in a playoff race, the most improved player and whether he enjoys the All- Star Game. Spoiler alert: He does not.

In “Ron Remembers,” Duguay tells an incredible story of a night with Farrah Fawcett. It involves a backstage appearance, marijuana and the late actress’ mom. This is an absolute must-listen. Doogie and possibly the most popular actress on the planet at the time ended up dating for a few months, but then he was traded to Detroit and the romance would end.

Tom Laidlaw, Ron’s teammate with the Rangers in the 1980s, then joins the show. He talks about his time in New York, the Islanders-Rangers rivalry, going on the show “Survivor” and what it entailed, and he tells stories about Ron on and off the ice. The former Ranger was the first Canadian and hockey player on the hit TV show. Laidlaw has made his motto “True Grit Life” and has embodied that on and off the ice.

New York Post LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172510 New York Rangers

As trade rumors swirl, Chris Kreider stays focused on helping Rangers improve

By Laura Albanese

ST. LOUIS — Chris Kreider’s future is tied intrinsically to the Rangers’.

Not just because that’s the name he will wear on the front of his jersey as the team’s lone representative at this weekend’s All-Star Game, but because in a contract year, and with trade rumors swirling, their continued success might mean a little more time with the only NHL team he’s ever known. So he’s doing what he believes is best: Absolutely not thinking about it.

“You might not believe it but there’s no challenge,” he said about balancing his uncertain contract situation and the Rangers’ uncertain season. “I’m just worried about winning a lot of hockey games. Winning solves a lot of problems. It’s the old adage and probably a little cliché, but we’re taking it one game at a time.”

The Rangers (23-21-4, 50 points) have until the Feb. 24 trade deadline to decide whether to keep Kreider or trade their most marketable talent. Given that they’re 11 points out of the last playoff spot, Kreider, who was drafted in 2009, seems likely to be departing.

When he was asked about it during Thursday’s media day — which he was, over and over — his answer remained the same: “It’s not something I’ve thought about.”

He also said, “I’m a Ranger until I’m not a Ranger anymore.”

Either way, this weekend will be quite the milestone. It’s the 28-year-old’s first All-Star Game and the chance to live a lifelong dream. He was told he was going only after Tuesday night’s game, he said, as a replacement for Artemi Panarin, who has an upper-body injury.

“It’s an incredible experience . . . a dream come true in a lot of ways,” Kreider said. “It’s an honor to be here and represent the New York Rangers.”

Possibly for one of the final times in his career.

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Rangers' wild-card chase conundrum: All-in or fold their hand?

By Colin Stephenson

If the Rangers’ season were a two-part television episode, then they entered the NHL All-Star break/bye week on a cliffhanger.

The Rangers’ stated goal is to make the playoffs. They believe that’s not some pie-in-the-sky vision but one they actually can achieve. But at the All-Star break, they are 11 points out of the second wild-card spot and currently on a two-game losing streak (both in regulation).

Artemi Panarin, their leading scorer and most dynamic player, sat out the last game and will miss the All-Star Game with an upper-body injury. Coach David Quinn said the Rangers don’t think Panarin’s injury will be a long-term thing, but what if it is?

If Panarin, who has 26 goals and 42 assists, isn’t healed after the nine days the Rangers have off between games, then they can forget about the playoffs. But even if the 28-year-old winger is back to 100% when the Rangers return to action against the Detroit Red Wings next Friday, the idea of the Blueshirts making the playoffs remains a long shot — and it’s getting longer by the day.

Coming up on two years since their letter to the fans announced they were heading into a rebuilding phase, Rangers management — team president John Davidson, general manager Jeff Gorton and the rest of their front-office team — has a month before the Feb. 24 trade deadline to decide if the team is in or out of the race.

If they believe they’re still in, they could hold on to some of their most attractive assets, perhaps even keeping left wing Chris Kreider — who replaced Panarin as the Rangers’ All-Star Game representative — for the rest of the season and letting him leave as an unrestricted free agent this summer. If they decide they are out, they likely will sell off assets at the deadline for the third straight year.

So which will it be?

The Rangers have two games in hand on the Hurricanes, meaning if they win both of those, they will cut the gap to seven points. The problem with having games in hand, though, is that you have to play that many more games over the remainder of the season than your competition does.

When the Rangers return to action, they will do so with a back-to-back against the Red Wings (home Friday, away Saturday). They will have 15 games in February, 15 in March and three in the first four days of April. That’s 34 games in the season’s final 65 days (including five sets of back-to-backs). That’s a lot.

If this were a two-part television drama, the second part would feature the Rangers escaping from the cliff and, through some combination of heroic performances by the actors and a little bit of luck, ultimately achieving the goal and delivering a happy ending.

There are plenty of obstacles in the way, though, beginning with the three-goalie situation the Blueshirts were in when we saw them last.

They called up Igor Shesterkin from AHL Hartford on Jan. 6, and though they sent him back to Hartford after Tuesday’s 4-2 loss to the Islanders, it’s almost a certainty that they’ll call him up again next week. And why not? He’s played well in his three appearances, going 2-1-0 with a 2.68 goals-against average and .929 save percentage.

But franchise icon Henrik Lundqvist is not going anywhere (unless he agrees to waive his no-move clause to be traded to a Stanley Cup contender, which seems highly unlikely).

Alexandar Georgiev has played well enough (12-10-1, 3.11 GAA, .910 save percentage) that the Rangers won’t trade him away just to relieve the awkwardness of the three-goalie situation.

Word is they want a surefire top-nine forward, and not just a draft pick or minor-league prospect. If they don’t get that, then Georgiev is staying, and they’ll deal with the problem in the summer.

Stay tuned. 1172512 New York Rangers In other instances, Panarin can work his magic and find Strome and get into position for his center to send him back the puck. The pivot earned a helper on eight of Panarin’s tallies. They’ve also assisted on nine goals together. Weighing Ryan Strome’s value to the Rangers both on the ice and as a trade asset But there are minuses to consider as well, including discipline. Strome is tied for the team’s third highest number of minor penalties with 30 and he doesn’t draw enough to make up for what he’s taken; his minus-13 differential is tied for the second worst in the league. And in his own By Shayna Goldman Jan 23, 2020 zone, for someone the coaches trust as a two-way forward, the Rangers allow more against when he’s on relative to his teammates — especially when he’s on without his play-driving winger. Ryan Strome has exceeded expectations in New York since joining the Rangers after coming over from Edmonton in a change of scenery trade Strome has clearly been effective offensively for the Rangers and involving Ryan Spooner. After tallying just two points in 18 games with stepped up when needed in all situations, but sometimes he’s leaned on the Oilers last year, Strome scored 33 points in 63 games after the deal. more than his play has warranted. This season, he’s in the midst of a career year with 43 points in 48 So where does that leave his future in New York? games, seven points shy of his career best scoring year in 2014-15. That depends on fit, both in the lineup and financially, as well as how the The question now is, what’s next? team anticipates him to project long-term. The dilemma surrounding Strome stems from where he fits with the Strome will be 27 by the time his next contract starts. According to aging Rangers rebuild, with the context of his expiring contract in mind. What curves, including the work of EvolvingWild, Cam Lawrence, and Eric can be expected of Strome down the line, where will he fit in the lineup, Tulsky, players trend down in their late 20s. Lawrence and EvolvingWild and can it be a financial fit for both the team and player? both found that players are generally in their prime in their early-to-mid Let’s break it down. twenties, before beginning to drop in their late 20s and more steeply into their 30s. Tulsky found players retain approximately 90 percent of their After the joining the Rangers, Strome most often slotted in the middle six, scoring through 29, but take a sharp decline from there. where he tallied 18 goals and 15 assists. While he was productive, the concern was repeatability and what he could offer away from the puck. The length and cost of his next contract have to be considered with that in mind. That’s particularly important for a rebuilding team, as they may Strome scored 18 goals despite not shooting frequently, with just 140 all not be bonafide contenders early in his next contract. They’ll have to situation attempts and 80 shots on goal. He also shot at a sky high 22.5 project whether this is Strome’s peak or if there’s more to come. Some percent, which was high above his average and almost double his career do peak later than the average player, like Derick Brassard and Josh best (11.4 percent) to that point. Typically, what goes up eventually Bailey. comes down, and vice versa, so there was reason to be skeptical that he could repeat that performance and not regress — especially when Whether or not the Rangers can invest with that in mind may depend on factoring in his individual expected goal total of 11.74, which accounts for what his ask is for his next deal. shot quality and the likelihood of a shot becoming a goal. The Rangers may not have too many contracts signed past 2021, but Plus, there were some play-driving concerns. While there’s only so much the few they do have are significant. And those long-term deals could to draw from the rebuilding Rangers’ play below the surface, the fact was become even more costly depending on what happens next with Chris that with Strome on the ice, the team shot slightly less and conceded Kreider and later on, Zibanejad. more shots and chances against. Strome’s current contract (his third) is a two-year deal that carries a cap There were questions whether the Rangers missed their opportunity to hit of $3.1 million. Comparables include those who were signed to similar sell high after buying low the previous November for future assets that deals, a list which includes Tomas Hertl, Ryan Spooner, J.T. Miller, would aid their rebuild this offseason — even more so after selling low on Boone Jenner, Kevin Hayes, Mika Zibanejad, and Brayden Schenn. Vlad Namestnikov in October. The production from these players varied and influenced what they Going into the season, Strome seemed destined for the wing because signed for next. the Rangers appeared to have their center depth worked out between We can project Strome scoring at a 73-point pace for this season and Mika Zibanejad, Filip Chytil, Brett Howden, and Lias Andersson. Then find comparable options with ranging values. Chytil didn’t make the team. And late in October, Zibanejad was injured and missed much of November. With Zibanejad out, Strome stepped up A few names from our last list re-appear, and we end up with a range and became Artemi Panarin’s de facto center — and he’s remained there between $3.75 million, a slight raise to Strome’s current cap hit, to more since. They’ve played 458 5-on-5 minutes together, which is 69.9 percent than double what he’s currently earning. of Strome’s ice time. If he’s on the lower to middle end of these deals, especially if there isn’t a Strome is second on the team in points with 43, tied for fourth in goals very lengthy term attached, there could be a future for him in New York. with 12, and third in scoring rate with 2.75 points per 60 in all situations. While he’s a second-line center now, the rebuilding Rangers need to find He still isn’t a very frequent shooter, but is shooting and scoring at a out if Filip Chytil is their second-line or potentially top-line center of the much more sustainable 15 percent clip. Plus, based on the quality of his future. If he is, that slots Strome on the wing or down the middle of the shots, his individual xG is already almost what it was last year (10.95, third line because they can’t be putting up roadblocks for a young, skilled just 1.5 off his actual totals). Unlike last year, though, he also has an elite player who should be a key part of their future. While shifting Strome to playmaker in Panarin as his most frequent linemate. the third line could be a fit, it wouldn’t be cost-effective for the team to sign him for almost $6 million a season on average to be their third-line he plus to Strome’s game this year, along with his scoring and how he’s center. Clauses could also be a dealbreaker, as the Rangers may have elevated his play, is that the Rangers generate a higher volume of shots learned not to include no trade and movement language after being and quality chances when he’s on the ice. While he’s been effective burned in years past. without his trusted winger, the Rangers offense has been much better when they’re on the ice together. The other considerations have to be the other moving pieces in New York and their center depth. Panarin’s speed and creativity make plays happen. He excels at transitioning the puck and drawing players to him. Because of his If Kreider extends with the Rangers, there may not be the cap space — strength on the puck, he’s able to maintain it in tight situations and find a even less if Kreider and restricted free agent Tony DeAngelo are re- seam to thread to his teammates — and this year, that’s often Strome on signed. If any defenders are traded, which they can afford to do because the receiving end. The duo has combined for numerous high quality of their defensive prospect pipeline and lack of forward prospects to chances, some that have come off of royal road passes from Panarin. In replace whoever gets traded (especially down the middle in the near all situations, he’s assisted on eight of Strome’s goals. future), it could open up more space for their forwards in need of new contracts. However, it still doesn’t give them the latitude to sign a player for too significant of a contract unless they’re a gamebreaker like Panarin or Zibanejad.

The Rangers are still rebuilding, which means a decision on Strome, along with other players on expiring contracts, may come sooner than season’s end. If the playoffs don’t appear in reach, some could be on the move. It wouldn’t be the first time the Rangers moved a center to get younger, as they did with both Brassard and Derek Stepan, in addition to moving Kevin Hayes before he hit unrestricted free agency for the first time in his career.

On pace for a career year and clicking with Panarin, Strome isn’t just rebounding like last year, he’s showing that he is a solid offensive contributor. But do the Rangers have the flexibility in the lineup and cap space for him to continue that in New York, with the future weighing heavily on every decision this rebuilding team makes?

Data via Evolving-Hockey.com and NaturalStatTrick. This story relies on shot-based metrics; here are primers (part 1, part 2) on these numbers.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172513 NHL

KeyArena developer’s CEO dismisses report that Amazon is front-runner for naming rights deal

Geoff Baker

Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke on Thursday dismissed a report that said Amazon is the leader among three finalist companies vying for naming rights at a rebuilt KeyArena, calling it “speculation.”

Sports Business Daily and the Puget Sound Business Journal, citing unnamed sources, said KeyArena project developer OVG and the team are seeking annual rights of roughly $14 million over an unspecified period of time and want a deal by June 1. The outlet did not mention which other two companies are involved, but the story quotes sources saying that, like Amazon, this would be those other companies’ first such sports deal.

“We don’t comment on speculation,” Leiweke said. “But like everything we’re doing with this arena, we’re taking our time to do it right and think about things differently. Discussions with partners are ongoing, and no announcement is imminent.”

Leiweke added that the team is contemplating a couple additional partnerships before turning its focus to the naming-rights situation.

“We’re not even close yet,” he said.

NHL Seattle deferred all public comment to OVG and Leiweke. Amazon did not respond to a request for a comment for this story.

Team sources have indicated one deal being considered ahead of naming rights would be an official technology partner. All arena sponsorships are being negotiated by the same five-member team that includes Leiweke, three additional OVG members and NHL Seattle CEO Tod Leiweke.

Tim Leiweke said only one deal will be done at a time by that group, and the plan is to keep naming rights for the end.

The team, which begins play in October 2021, now plans to release its name and color scheme in March — ruling out a prior February possibility — after delays attributable mainly to extra diligence being done to confirm the name has no trademark issues. Progress is said to have been made on that front to where further delays are not anticipated.

Amazon has long been rumored a top candidate for the arena’s naming rights, given its size, stature within the community and the fact one of its top executives, Amazon Web Services CEO Andy Jassy, is part of the hockey team’s minority ownership group. But it remains to be seen whether Amazon is comfortable taking on a large sports portfolio, something it appeared reluctant to do previously.

In November, the Seahawks signed a five-year contract with Amazon to make use of the company’s data gathering and analysis, automated video analysis and media-asset management. The Seahawks also moved a large portion of their IT systems from Microsoft Azure to Amazon Web Services.

The $14 million annual rights fee cited by the Sports Business Daily story would rank as an outlier — more than double the $6 million estimated as being paid annually over a 10-year naming-rights package from 2016 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. T-Mobile also reportedly is paying $3.5 million annually over 25 years as part of a December 2018 deal for the naming rights at the Mariners’ home ballpark, while CenturyLink in 2017 agreed to pay an average of $10.84 million over 15 seasons from 2019 through 2033 for rights to the Seahawks’ stadium.

Last week, Alaska Airlines agreed to purchase naming rights to the new glass atrium entrance to the arena, being added as part of a $930 million rebuild expected to finish in summer 2021. Terms of that deal were not disclosed, but the “Alaska Airlines Atrium’’ is expected to cost far less than the overall arena naming-rights package will.

Seattle Times LOADED: 01.24.2020

1172514 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers’ Sean Couturier on pace to win Selke Trophy; Lehigh Valley Winter Classic to benefit special needs players

by Sam Carchidi

If the midseason votes are the same in April, center Sean Couturier will become the first Flyers player to win the Selke Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s best defensive forward, since Dave Poulin in 1987.

In the Professional Hockey Writers Association’s vote, which was released Thursday, Couturier finished first, followed by Boston’s Patrice Bergeron and St. Louis’ Ryan O’Reilly.

A year ago, six of the eight midseason award winners were also victors at the end of the season.

Couturier has 43 points (13 goals, 30 assists) and is plus-15, and he is fifth in the NHL in faceoff percentage, having won 58.33% of his draws.

Bergeron has 41 points (21 goals, 20 assists) and is plus-15, and O’Reilly has 43 points (9 goals, 34 assists) and is plus-1. Bergeron (58.32%, sixth in NHL) and O’Reilly (56.93%, eighth) are also among the leaders in faceoff percentage.

Bergeron has won the Selke four times, and O’Reilly won it last year.

The seventh annual Lehigh Valley Winter Classic, a charity hockey tournament to aid local players with special needs, will be held Saturday at the Bethlehem Municipal Ice Rink.

The all-day, outdoor festival will run from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and include nine hockey games, 11 silent auctions, merchandise and food for sale, raffle baskets, music, and appearances by former NHL members.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the local Special Hockey of the Lehigh Valley Polar Bears team, which provides special needs players the opportunity to play hockey. The money raised goes toward ice time, tournament fees, equipment costs, USA Hockey fees, operational expenses, and an awards banquet.

Bill Clement, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Flyers, and Kerry Fraser, who worked more NHL games than any other referee in history, will be returning as ambassadors. They will bring along former NHL player Todd Fedoruk, who spent years in the league, including five seasons with the Flyers.

Flyers broadcaster , who won two Stanley Cups when he was a player with the team, will be one of the ambassadors of the Lehigh Valley Winter Classic, which benefits special needs hockey players.

Flyers broadcaster Bill Clement, who won two Stanley Cups when he was a player with the team, will be one of the ambassadors of the Lehigh Valley Winter Classic, which benefits special needs hockey players.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172515 Philadelphia Flyers rounder to Toronto. That enabled him to draft the player he wanted, Konecny, with the 24th overall pick in the first round. (Hextall selected defenseman Ivan Provorov at No. 7 overall in the same draft.)

Flyers All-Star Travis Konecny: Getting under opponents’ skin now Konecny had a modest 11-goal, 28-point season as a rookie in 2016-17, surpassed by his scoring making the team when he was just 19. That was followed by consecutive years of 24 goals, including a career-high 49 points last season.

In the past, his defensive play didn’t match his electric offense. He has by Sam Carchidi made marked improvement, however, on the defensive side this season.

“I know I was definitely trying to find that two-way game, a reliable game,” said the player known as TK. “I think this summer I really took it upon Travis Konecny, the Flyers’ kinetic right winger, says reaching the NHL myself to come back this year and play the right way.” and, now, becoming a first-time NHL All-Star, have been a family thing. Lately, he has been on a line with van Riemsdyk (known as JVR) and “The main credit goes to my parents, my brother, and my grandparents center Claude Giroux (known as G), forming the Alphabet Soup Line. for all being there for me,” he said the other day. “It sounds like a cliche, Konecny and van Riemsdyk have quickly developed chemistry. but the rides to practice and all the dedication they put in, you probably don’t realize how hard it is until you have your own kids. But I’m definitely “We kind of complement each other because JVR is a guy who loves to thankful for that.” be around the net and I’m a guy who loves to have control of the puck in the zone,” Konecny said, “… so it kind of works out.” Konecny, 22, who leads the Flyers with 17 goals and is tied with Sean Couturier for most points (43) on the team, will play for the Metropolitan Division in the three-on-three All-Star tournament Saturday in St. Louis. The speedy winger is having a career season and is on pace for 28 goals Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 01.24.2020 and 71 points, which would both be personal bests.

“You always want to take the next step,” he said. “You want to evolve and become a better pro. I did want to take another step and become a bigger part of the team, trying to get out of that rookie mold that you’re stuck in for a few years. That’s kind of been my focus, just trying to be a reliable guy and leader.”

Konecny is known as one of the team’s most annoying chirpers and instigators as he tries to get under opponents’ skin, and his expletive- filled rant in which he called Pittsburgh star Evgeni Malkin a “f—ing nerd” in the Stadium Series game last season became a video that went viral.

He said he has tried to be a bit quieter on the ice this season.

That hasn’t always happened, but just the fact he is focusing more on his play is significant.

Maybe it’s a sign of maturity. Maybe it’s because he realizes he is more valuable on the ice than in the penalty box. Maybe the big contract he signed during training camp (six years, $33 million) has made him realize just how important he is to the team.

Pressure alleviated

The contract, which carries an annual $5.5 million cap hit, has removed some pressure that he felt, Konecny acknowledged. He is playing with more poise and more confidence.

“I think it definitely takes a little bit of weight off your chest and off your mind,” he said. “Maybe you’re not gripping the stick as much … and not worried about proving yourself. It’s hard to say. I’m just trying to play the right way and do the little things and help my team win. It’s paying off.”

When you sign a big contract, left winger James van Riemsdyk said, “you feel more set and comfortable in your skin. He’s taken in a bigger role this year and done a really good job.”

In addition to his increased offensive production, Konecny has also earned coach Alain Vigneault’s trust defensively, playing late in games when the Flyers hold a one-goal lead.

Konecny, a native of London, Ontario, has “always had that confident swagger,” van Riemsdyk said. “He has some experience now.”

And, now, the fourth-year pro is recognized as one of the NHL’s best players.

Special feeling

Making his first All-Star appearance, Konecny said, is pretty special.

"It’s definitely something I never thought of. I was more or less worried about making the NHL someday. Trying to get yourself on the roster and earning a spot and staying there. After that, you’re kind of where you want to be and it’s what you’ve dreamed of. I never really thought about the All-Star Game until I was selected.”

Ron Hextall, then the Flyers’ general manager, moved up five spots in the 2015 draft by trading a first-round pick (29th overall) and a second- 1172516 Philadelphia Flyers Best stick handler: "G" (Claude Giroux) Most dangerous on a breakaway: I would say Hayesie [Kevin Hayes].

Travis Konecny, shown here dancing around Arizona's Phil Kessel (rear) Flyers Travis Konecny and Brian Elliott pick their most skilled teammates and Jason Demers, will play in his first All-Star Game on Saturday.

Things to know by Ed Barkowitz The Flyers might be idle for the next week, but we won’t be. Got plenty of stories planned, plus others that were recently published.

It’s All-Star weekend, a time for the players to decompress and for the Gritty in hot water, accused of punching a kid. coaches, at least Alain Vigneault, to sip on some martinis while savoring Mike Sielski on Brian Elliott proving to be Mr. Reliable. the improvements made and the adjustments to come. Jake Voracek pledged to score a goal for a disabled teen ... and kept his The Flyers have 12 more points than they did at this same point a year promise. ago mainly because their team defense is 12th in the league. It was 29th a year ago. TSN.ca posted its midseason top-50 NHL players, and there are no Flyers. But there are two Rangers. The NHL will announce Thursday which skills competition Travis Konecny will participate in on Friday in St. Louis. The contests he could From the archives: Wayne Simmonds wins All-Star Game MVP. compete in include fastest skater, shooting accuracy, hardest shot, and a target shooting test that is new this year. Ten players will stand on a Hey, what am I doing here? platform 30 feet up and behind the goal, and try to hit targets on the ice. Former Flyers enforcer and current St. Louis Blues coach Craig Berube Sounds like H-O-R-S-E, but on ice skates. on his first All-Star nod: “I just didn’t have the ability to do that [as a If there was a contest for annoying the opposition, Konecny would be player]," he told NHL.com. among the favorites. NBC would be wise to mic him up. Berube, who stopped by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association Claude Giroux has been to six All-Star Games. He said his first one, in banquet Monday, led the Blues to last year’s miraculous championship 2011 in Raleigh alongside Danny Briere, and the following year in Ottawa run and will coach the Central Division on Saturday thanks to his team’s near his hometown stood out as special memories. “I’ve got all the occupying first in the standings. jerseys and sticks,” Giroux said. “Those are all pretty special to me.” “For me, I was just trying to survive every year and grind out another Konecny started the season with two goals and an assist in the win over year," said Berube, who racked up the equivalent of 56 hours in penalty Chicago in the Czech Republic. He’s already set a career high with 26 minutes during his 17-year career. "That’s the way I looked at it. Year to assists, and his 43 points at the break put him on pace for 71. His career year, you know?” best is 49. That brief training-camp holdout is a distant memory. Rick Tocchet, another former Flyer, will coach the Pacific Division “He’s been playing well this year, and I think he’s going to enjoy it,” because Vegas fired Gerard Gallant. Washington’s Todd Reirden and Giroux said of Konecny and All-Star weekend. “He’s bringing his family, Boston’s Bruce Cassidy will lead the Metro and Atlantic Divisions, and the NHL does a good job making sure players are taken care of at respectively. those events.” Odds check

The skills competition will be at 8 p.m. Friday on NBCSN. The All-Star Parx’s and DraftKings’ Flyers odds are 40-1 to win the Stanley Cup and Game, which is more like a 3-on-3 forest fire for 20 minutes at a time, will 21-1 to win the Eastern Conference. FanDuel has them at 36-1 for the be Saturday (8 p.m., NBC). Konecny should flourish in the wide-open Cup and 19-1 for the East. format. If the playoffs started today ... Just to have a little fun, we sampled a few Flyers for their opinions on which teammates were the best at certain skills. Konecny was well The Flyers (60 points) would be on the outside, falling one point short of represented. But so was Phil Myers. Here’s a quick roundup of what we a playoff spot. They are behind Carolina, which just lost its best player. found. The Hurricanes, it should be noted, are 2-0-1 without Dougie Hamilton. Maybe they’re not just going to fold like a lawn chair. Brian Elliott, goaltender Here are the current matchups in the East: Hardest shot: Everybody’s got a pretty good one. I’ll say Ivan Provorov. Washington (71 points) vs. Carolina (61) Most dangerous on a breakaway: Sean Couturier Boston (70) vs. Columbus (62) Best at target shooting: Travis Konecny Pittsburgh (67) vs. N.Y. Islanders (63) Best stick handler: Claude Giroux. He’s pretty smooth. Tampa Bay (62) vs. Florida (61) Sean Couturier, center Here are the current matchups in the West: Hardest shot: Phil Myers has a really heavy shot. St. Louis (68) vs. Vegas (57) Most dangerous on a breakaway: Claude Giroux. Vancouver (58) vs. Arizona (57) Best stick handler: Travis Konecny. Colorado (62) vs. Dallas (58) James van Riemsdyk, left wing Edmonton (57) vs. Calgary (57) Hardest shot: Phil Myers » Standings | Flyers stats, schedule Best stick handler: Claude Giroux (answered instantly) Important dates Most dangerous on a breakaway: Travis Konecny Tomorrow: All-Star skills competition, at St. Louis, 8 p.m. (NBCSN) Fastest skater: Phil Myers Saturday: All-Star Game, at St. Louis, 8 p.m. (NBC) Travis Konecny, right wing Friday, Jan. 31: Flyers at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. (NBCSP) Hardest shot: “Myzzie” (Phil Myers) Saturday, Feb. 1: Colorado at Flyers, 7 p.m. (NBCSP+) Fastest skater: “Cube” (Nic Aube-Kubel) Monday, Feb. 3: Flyers at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSP+) Thursday, Feb. 6: New Jersey at Flyers, 7 p.m. (NBCSP)

Monday, Feb. 24: Trade deadline, 3 p.m.

From the mailbag

Scott Layou, who certainly outkicked his coverage if his Twitter profile is to be believed, asks an important question:

Q: So if/when Nolan Patrick comes back, should there be a concern for both he and fans for long-term injury repercussions? Whatever these migraines are, were they brought on by physical contact or did they just manifest neurologically? Hoping he recovers and has a long career.

A: Patrick has chosen to keep details of his condition private, which I think we can all respect. He still is around the team often; in fact, he was skating at the Flyers’ practice facility this week. But he hasn’t spoken publicly in six weeks. Back then, he expressed optimism of playing at some point this season.

Obviously, each day that goes by diminishes that optimism. Personally, I am super-sensitive when it comes to head injuries, having watched Eric Lindros, Keith Primeau and numerous NFL players deal with the effects of head injuries. But for every Jim McMahon who struggles so badly in retirement, there is Ron Jaworski, who seems to be just fine. No quarterback took more punishment than Jaworski, especially on the concrete turf of Veterans Stadium.

Sometimes the answer is that we just don’t know.

Patrick said in December that the migraine symptoms he was dealing with were different from the concussion issues he had previously, though he declined to specify.

“Just trying to put together more good days in a row than bad,” he said then.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172517 Philadelphia Flyers

Gritty was accused of punching a kid, and it broke the internet

by Stephanie Farr

Gritty was accused of punching a kid, and it broke the internet

Gritty has thrown entire sheet cakes at people, punched a ref, and assaulted Santa with a holiday wreath, but when The Inquirer broke the news Wednesday that a dad from Delaware actually reported Gritty to Philadelphia police for allegedly punching his son in the back during a photo op in November, it almost broke the internet.

But then, social media began rolling with the punches.

It took mere hours for the memes of Gritty mug shots and hashtags like #FreeGritty — which was trending on Twitter Wednesday — to appear. The news even made The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

From Philly celebrities to out-of-town Gritizens, here’s how the internet responded to the assault allegation against the most popular mascot on social media.

This is so Philly

As notable moments in Philadelphia history go, this ranks right up there with the signing of the Declaration of Independence and Eagles fans climbing greased poles.

We realize our city’s reputation vacillates between being a great place to visit (thanks, Nat Geo!) to being slightly unhinged (thanks, Eagles fans!). Honestly, that’s the way we like.

The fact that one of our most beloved sons is a fictional character currently under investigation for allegedly assaulting a sports fan is, indeed, very on brand for Philly.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172518 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers mascot Gritty under investigation after youth claims he slugged him

Derik Hamilton - Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Flyers mascot Gritty is under investigation for allegedly assaulting a 13-year-old boy during a photo shoot, police said.

Greenwell said that as Brandon walked away, Gritty ran out of his chair and “punched my son as hard as he could."

Greenwell, who told the newspaper that he only wanted an apology and something special for his son, filed a complaint with police Dec. 21. A police spokesperson said Tuesday that the investigation is “active and ongoing.”

Officials at , the company that owns the Flyers, said it conducted an investigation but couldn't verify whether the alleged assault happened.

“We took Mr. Greenwell’s allegations seriously and conducted a thorough investigation that found nothing to support this claim,” a Flyers spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

Delaware County Times LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172519 Philadelphia Flyers regard to the playoff picture. So we want to make sure we're doing a good job and putting forth a strong effort before we have this hiatus here.

"We've got a job to do, then we have some time to recoup and recover Flyers' rivalry renewal with Penguins gets a 10-day interlude before the stretch run."

As a sendoff and as a return, though, they get a pair of renewals of a rivalry that for a time not that many years ago was one of the most By Rob Parent [email protected] @ReluctantSE entertaining in the league.

"I think it's different," said Giroux, whose personal rivalry with Crosby has helped fuel the fun between the teams. "When I came into the league, VOORHEES, N.J. — What once was a sweetly entertaining rivalry has the first five or six years I think it was at the highest peak possible. But been more of a chronically bitter experience for the Flyers, who get to these are rivalry teams and they just need one game for the rivalry to get host a full complement of Pittsburgh Penguins Tuesday night at Wells back up to where it was." Fargo Center. "All it takes to get going again are games when teams are fighting and The game marks the last bit of work for the Flyers before they get to jockeying for position; I think it brings out that emotion and stuff within the enjoy an extended, in-season vacation. They won't take the ice together game," van Riemsdyk added. "Obviously we're fighting to make a playoff at all for another nine days, when they rejoin for an afternoon practice spot and they're fighting to climb in the division. So we both have a lot to Jan. 30 at the Skate Zone. play for now." That's followed the next night by a game at PPG Paints Arena in

Pittsburgh. Delaware County Times LOADED: 01.24.2020 Nothing like a home-and-home series with a close rival like the Penguins, complete with a 10-day break between what should be two warring games.

"Really impressive," Jake Voracek said Monday in summarizing the Penguins. "They've been playing really good hockey and against Boston to come back from three like that, it's really impressive."

The Penguins did that Sunday against the Bruins, winning 4-3 after falling into a three-goal hole in the first period at home.

Then again, the Flyers came from three down at home exactly one week earlier to beat the Bruins, 6-5 in a shootout. Against mostly top NHL competition, they've won four of their last six games.

All the Penguins have done, however, is win six of their last seven games, remaining impressively consistent despite injuries this season to Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Jake Guentzel and most notably to Sidney Crosby.

No longer a kid at 32 but certainly playing like one, all Crosby has done since returning to action last Tuesday after a two-month injury absence is score three goals and chalk up eight points in four games.

"They've been playing pretty well lately and Crosby's back, so they're pretty healthy," Claude Giroux said of the Pens. "For us it's important that we play our best game at home here. They play a good team game, they go north and south a lot. They have a lot of skill but they play a pretty simple game. So for us we really need to focus on being responsible defensively and the offense will take care of itself."

Actually, it's been a move back to center by Giroux and a move up two lines by James van Riemsdyk to No. 1 left wing that has helped take care of the offense. JVR has developed dynamic chemistry with fellow top-line winger Travis Konecny, and Giroux looked sharp with them in a win over the Kings Saturday with a couple of assists.

"We kind of complement each other because he's a guy that loves to be around the net and I'm a guy that loves to have control of the puck in the zone," Konecny said of van Riemsdyk. "I'm usually skating around with it. So it kind of works that way where you just naturally fill in spots around the ice where guys need to be at. It works that way with me and him."

Continuing that bond could give the Flyers a needed offensive edge against the Penguins. Any edge is welcome.

The Penguins dominated the Flyers two seasons ago, sweeping four regular-season games and winning a six-game playoff series between the teams.

The Flyers got a measure of revenge last season, winning three of four from Pittsburgh but feeling hollow in falling short of the playoffs. Not so for the Penguins, who have been in the postseason for the past 13 years, including a pair of Cups they won in 2016 and '17.

But the Flyers are approaching the next two games as opportunities in the moment.

"Certainly going into the break you always want to enjoy them a little more by going out on a winning note," van Riemsdyk said. "Obviously, we know what's at stake here in the standings and where we're at, in 1172520 Philadelphia Flyers defensemen who actually have to play defense. Unfortunately Hamilton won’t be among the finalists at the end of the season because he’s out indefinitely after a broken fibula.

A trophy-by-trophy look at PHWA's midseason awards, which had Sean SELKE TROPHY to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects Couturier win a Selke of the game.

PHWA RESULTS

Dave Isaac, NHL writer 1. Sean Couturier, Philadelphia Flyers

Published 11:39 a.m. ET Jan. 23, 2020 2. Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins

3. Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis Blues

Sean Couturier finished runner-up to Anze Kopitar two years ago for the ISAAC’S BALLOT Selke Trophy. The PHWA's midseason awards had him winning it for the first half of this season. 1. Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers

Travis Konecny is heading to St. Louis to represent the Flyers for All-Star 2. Sean Couturier, Philadelphia Flyers weekend and is co-leading the team in points. The player with whom he 3. Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins shares that title, Sean Couturier, was passed over and has yet to be an All-Star in his nine seasons. This is why I keep my Twitter DMs closed. Want to yell at me? You’ve got to do it the old fashioned way and email me. Even though this award is He did get a different recognition on Thursday, though. supposed to celebrate the defensive side of the game, there’s an The Professional Hockey Writers Association polled its members and inherent requirement for offense. If it were truly for defense, Couturier after 117 voters compiled ballots, Couturier came out the winner for the would have won it already. At the time I submitted my ballot (Jan. 16), Selke Trophy in midseason award voting. Members will submit ballots at Couturier’s offensive numbers were not on pace with what he’s done the the conclusion of the regular season for the real awards in June in Las last couple of seasons. Even with points in the last two games, he’s set Vegas. to be six shy of the career-high 76 he’s posted the last two years. It was a close call between Barkov and Couturier, two horses for their teams It’s certainly a promising sign for the 27-year-old Couturier, who was a that never seem to get the proper recognition outside of their markets. runner-up to Los Angeles’ Anze Kopitar two seasons ago and finished sixth last year, when St. Louis’ Ryan O’Reilly won. CALDER TROPHY to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition. Here’s a look at the results of the PHWA voting and this reporter’s ballot, which will be explained along the way. PHWA RESULTS

HART TROPHY to the player adjudged to be most valuable to his team. 1. Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche

PHWA RESULTS 2. Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks

1. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers 3. Victor Olofsson, Buffalo Sabres

2. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche ISAAC’S BALLOT

3. David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins 1. Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche

ISAAC’S BALLOT 2. Victor Olofsson, Buffalo Sabres

1. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers 3. Dominik Kubalik, Chicago Blackhawks

2. Darcy Kuemper, Arizona Coyotes Makar is magic for the Avalanche. He has quickly become one of the most exciting defensemen in the league, let alone rookies. Hughes was 3. Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers certainly worthy of being up there, too. Vancouver uses him a ton and he puts up points back on the blue line, but Kubalik has been really It’s impossible to ignore that McDavid is the league’s best offensive impressive. To put up 21 goals at the All-Star break for a rookie is a player. He and teammate Leon Draisaitl drive the bus for the Oilers and standout performance and he’s played more with Jonathan Toews than there are plenty of passengers there, but McDavid is the leader there and the play-making Patrick Kane, who can help almost anyone fill the net. Edmonton wouldn’t sniff a playoff spot without him. Same thought process for Kuemper and the Coyotes, who have a playoff spot despite LADY BYNG TROPHY to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best not scoring or allowing very many goals. As for Panarin, I typically find it type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high hard to have a Hart Trophy finalist in there if said player’s team isn’t in standard of playing ability. playoff contention, but he’s made the Rangers relevant and is fifth in the league in points. PHWA RESULTS

NORRIS TROPHY to the defenseman who demonstrates the greatest 1. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche all-round ability in the position. 2. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs PHWA RESULTS 3. Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis Blues 1. John Carlson, Washington Capitals ISAAC’S BALLOT 2. Roman Josi, Nashville Predators 1. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs 3. Dougie Hamilton, Carolina Hurricanes 2. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche ISAAC’S BALLOT 3. Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis Blues 1. John Carlson, Washington Capitals Have to assume nearly everyone’s ballot had these three names in some 2. Dougie Hamilton, Carolina Hurricanes order because it’s essentially a formula: most points with the fewest penalty minutes. All three of these guys are over 40 points with fewer 3. Roman Josi, Nashville Predators than 10 PIMs. Only other players who are in that class are William Nylander, Brayden Point and Teuvo Teravainen. Carlson leads all defensemen in points by a country mile, which is what separates him from the pack here. All three put up offensive numbers VEZINA TROPHY to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his while playing significant penalty kill numbers and are on the right side of position. most of the “puck-possession analytics” which are rarely kind to PHWA RESULTS 3. Shea Weber, Montreal Canadiens

1. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets This one is sort of hard to quantify and I struggled with putting a ballot together. In retrospect, I wish I had asked some players for their insight 2. Ben Bishop, Dallas Stars on it but despite not matching any names with the PHWA results, I still 3. Darcy Kuemper, Arizona Coyotes think those are three of the tougher defensemen to play against in the league. ISAAC’S BALLOT COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD to the player who 1. Darcy Kuemper, Arizona Coyotes returned to a previous high level of performance that was interrupted by subpar play, long-term injury or major illness. 2. Tristan Jarry, Pittsburgh Penguins PHWA RESULTS 3. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets 1. William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs Couldn’t have Kuemper any lower considering I had him as my Hart favorite. Jarry and Kuemper have the best save percentage in the league 2. Anthony Duclair, Ottawa Senators (.929) and are the top two for goals-against as well. Hellebuyck is a little down in the pack but has been the only reason the Jets haven’t fallen 3. Max Pacioretty, Vegas Golden Knights completely out of playoff relevancy (they’re three points shy of the last ISAAC’S BALLOT spot in the West). 1. Patrik Laine, Winnipeg Jets JACK ADAMS AWARD to the coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success. 2. Shea Weber, Montreal Canadiens

PHWA RESULTS 3. Ryan Strome, New York Rangers

1. Mike Sullivan, Pittsburgh Penguins Probably should have had Duclair in there. He’s definitely found a home in Ottawa after bouncing around the league. Laine’s overall game has 2. John Tortorella, Columbus Blue Jackets been much better this season and Strome is a bit like Duclair in finding 3. Craig Berube, St. Louis Blues the right fit finally. Remember when everyone thought Montreal lost the Weber-for-P.K.Subban trade? Not looking that way anymore. ISAAC’S BALLOT

1. Mike Sullivan, Pittsburgh Penguins Courier-Post LOADED: 01.24.2020 2. Rick Tocchet, Arizona Coyotes

3. John Tortorella, Columbus Blue Jackets

If Columbus makes the playoffs, Tortorella’s got my No. 1 vote in a couple months. To get that roster into the postseason with all their attrition would be his best performance since winning a Cup with the Lightning in 2004. Sullivan’s Penguins missed both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin at times but are an absolute force in the Metro. Tocchet has his team in a playoff spot despite not having a single player among the top 80 scorers in the league.

JIM GREGORY GM OF THE YEAR AWARD to the General Manager adjusted to have contributed most to his team's success.

PHWA RESULTS

1. Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche

2. John Chayka, Arizona Coyotes

3. Doug Armstrong, St. Louis Blues

ISAAC’S BALLOT

1. John Chayka, Arizona Coyotes

2. Brian MacLellan, Washington Capitals

3. Jim Nill, Dallas Stars

Yeah, I screwed up there. Sakic absolutely should have been No. 1. He developed a top team that still has a boat load of money open against the salary cap and this summer he won’t have to worry about retaining key players for top dollar. Chayka deserves to be in the conversation just for convincing Arizona ownership to spend money.

ROD LANGWAY AWARD to the defenseman who best excels in the defensive aspect of the game.

PHWA RESULTS

1. Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes

2. Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning

3. Roman Josi, Nashville Predators

ISAAC’S BALLOT

1. Alex Edler, Vancouver Canucks

2. Seth Jones, Columbus Blue Jackets 1172521 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers think they’re ‘in a great spot’ as sprint to the finish about to begin

Dave Isaac, NHL writer

Published 3:35 p.m. ET Jan. 22, 2020 | Updated 5:25 p.m. ET Jan. 22, 2020

PHILADELPHIA — Last year this time the Flyers were hanging by a thread, 13 points out of a playoff spot at the All-Star break and Wayne Simmonds’ days in orange and black were clearly numbered.

Off he went to Nashville in the waning minutes of the trade deadline and that was essentially all the Flyers had to “sell.” If they do anything this year, they figure to be “buyers” because Chuck Fletcher’s club has shown him something ahead of the Feb. 24 deadline this year and he’d be willing to reward then with the bottom-six center they need if he can get the right deal.

“You can look and certainly that's an area we're certainly looking at and see what we can find out there but, you know, our guys have battled hard and I give them a lot of credit,” Fletcher said last week.

“You're always looking to see if you can improve your team. You're always on the phone talking to teams and those type of players, there's not a lot of them readily available. For our situation, I don't know if it makes sense to pay a massive price for rental right now. I don't think that that is the right move for this group but if we can add a forward that can help our team, sure.”

“I would say that we’re about on track to what I expected as far as bringing the team together,” head coach Alain Vigneault added. “Wasn’t quite sure exactly what we have as far as a group, where the young players were. I like their progression. I think the veteran players are buying in and know what it takes to play winning hockey.”

The goal for this season was to not just make the playoffs, but to make noise…to win a round for the first time since 2012.

There’s so much time left it’s impossible to predict whom the Flyers would play, let alone if they even get in. As of the All-Star break, they’re only knocking on the door and not actually in the current picture.

Over the last six seasons, the last playoff spot in the East was had with an average of 96 points and the Flyers are on pace for 98, which is what it took last year for the Columbus Blue Jackets to squeak in. If they played .500 hockey the rest of the way, assume they go 16-8-8, they’d finish with 100.

“I think the team’s in a great spot. We’re all looking forward to this break but it’s gonna be great to come back fresh,” All-Star representative Travis Konecny said. “I think everyone’s kind of at the point in the season where every game is a playoff game now and that’s how we’re approaching it.”

Vigneault mentioned Tuesday’s game feeling like a playoff game also, and next up will be Game 2 of the series because the Flyers face the Pittsburgh Penguins again Jan. 31 in Pittsburgh to complete the home- and-home.

In their final 32 games, the Flyers will play divisional opponents 14 times. That leaves a lot of potential movement in the standings with two and a half months to go in the season. Players sometimes refer to them as “four-point games” because of the opportunity to stash two points for themselves while keeping two points from an opponent they’re battling with in the standings.

“I think we’re in a great position,” Vigneault said. “We’re right where we want to be. We said coming in here that we’re gonna get into the playoffs and have an opportunity to challenge to play for the Stanley Cup. We’re right where we want to be. It’s gonna be tough. It’s gonna be fun. It’s gonna be an opportunity for our leadership group and our young players who are all getting better to go out and prove that we’re a good team.”

Courier-Post LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172522 Philadelphia Flyers Physically, you’ve seen him in the press box. He’s got some work to do. But he’s worked really hard in the offseason to put on weight, to learn to eat (right), develop and everything. So yeah, he’s a really exciting player for us. Top 20 Flyers prospects: Assistant GM Brent Flahr weighs in on the defensemen and goalies Samuel Ersson — No. 7

Ersson hasn’t put up shiny numbers in the SHL, as he did in the second- tier Swedish league, but the other goalie on his team (Joacim Eriksson), By Charlie O'Connor who is an SHL veteran, is putting up even worse numbers. Is this just a case of Ersson facing a lot of high-danger chances? Jan 23, 2020 Yeah, I think so. Brady (Robinson, the Flyers goaltender development

coach) has been over there, and (Ersson) has some things to work on, The Philadelphia Flyers have officially entered their bye week. And here but Brady’s been really happy with him (and) his performance. It’s going at The Athletic Philadelphia, we remain in the midst of a special week of to take some time, but he’s a real competitor. I think he’s gonna get our own: Flyers Prospect Week. there. He’ll be interesting to see, whenever we do decide to bring him over here. I think (for) any young goalie in that league, there’s going to be On Tuesday, we released our latest ranking of the top 20 prospects in adjustments, especially when you’re on one of the lesser teams. But he’s the organization. On Wednesday, we published the first part of a playing, and he’ll get more and more of a role as he (goes) here. conversation with assistant general manager Brent Flahr about the progression of the club’s forward prospects. Today’s installment features You kind of answered this to a degree when we discussed Olle Lycksell, the rest of that conversation, as Flahr answers questions about the but with Ersson, are you guys comfortable keeping him over there for a defensemen and goaltenders who made the list. We hope you learn a bit few more years? Obviously, the SHL is a really good league. It’s not a more about where each player stands at the midpoint of the 2019-20 development league, though, so the Flyers aren’t watching him on a daily season. basis necessarily. But are you comfortable keeping him over there for a bit, especially with all of the young goalie prospects already here? Answers have been edited for clarity. I think so. I think he’s on a good path. I think there’s steps you’ve got to Cam York — No. 2-ranked prospect make before coming over as a younger guy. (Ersson is 20.) I think (he can) work on his game there, and then transfer over to this rink, on this With York, he’s battled injury this year, and his Michigan team hasn’t side (of the Atlantic Ocean). But to do what he’s done at a young age, it’s been especially great. But even with those extenuating circumstances, good already. He’s on a good path there. I know he’s happy with his he’s producing. I’ve watched a couple of games, and it seems like he’s goaltending coach there, and now Brady’s in contact. So we’ll do our part impressing on a nightly basis. What’s your view of his freshman season to try to keep it going in the right direction. But for now, I think we’re so far? happy with what he’s doing, and where he is. Well, the games I’ve been at, he’s been terrific. I know he’s been injured, Mark Friedman — No. 9 (tie) and he (was) playing on one leg one night I was there, but just with the puck — his ability to retrieve (and) move pucks, it’s so efficient. That just Two years ago at development camp, former Flyers GM said translates automatically. He’s a smart defender, (and) obviously he’s got that the biggest thing that Friedman needed to work on was learning how the power-play ability. to be a pro. And it wasn’t that he was a bad kid. It was just that, basically, he needed to better adjust to the demands of pro hockey. I know you (Michigan is) offensively challenged up front, but his attitude’s great. I haven’t been here for Friedman’s entire development process. But what’s know he’s been frustrated, just with the injuries, but hopefully he’s over your view of where he stands now in that regard? that for the most part. For him, it’s just — I know (he’s) a first-round pick and you’re anxious to get these guys going. But we’ve got to make the Yeah, I had heard that as well. But I think since I’ve been here, that side right decisions, just to make sure he’s physically ready. I know he’s got to of it, he’s been been really good as far as professionalism, as far as put some weight on and get stronger. But he’s blessed with elite skating training. He’s here a lot, he’s in great shape. You can see (it) in his ability and lots of tools. We’ve just got to make sure we’re doing the right skating and everything now. Last year, when I got here, I saw he had to thing with his development. learn to manage the game, for a defenseman.

Do you think it’s possible he could be a one-and-done and turn pro after I think, what (Phantoms coach Scott Gordon) has done for him, and what this season? he’s done for himself, is (find) an identity. He always thought, “If I’m not putting up points and if I’m not running the power play, I’m not getting to Again, I don’t even like to talk about that for those kids and put pressure the NHL.” Well, you can play in the NHL — you’ve just got to make sure on them. All those kids think they’re ready for the NHL. If you asked them you make the first pass, (have) good retrievals, defend and you’ll get at (the U.S. national) development team and at the combine last year, your points. (With) the way he shoots the puck, that stuff will come. they’re all one-and-dones. But the league’s hard. I think you’ve got to be Realistically, he’s not going to be quarterbacking the first power play for mindful of where they’re at physically and where they need to get to the Flyers. But he can still have a very important role, and be a good before you rush them into the American (Hockey) League — it’s a hard player. But I think if you saw his game from when I first got here at league, too, if you’re young and a physically undeveloped player. Christmas (in 2018) to now, it’s night and day. We’ll make those decisions, again, after (the season), but I do think In fairness to the kid, he’s hung in there, because he’s deserved a call-up there’s merits for both sides of it for him. I think mentally, he’s ready. I for a long time; it’s just — knock on wood — our injuries have been all up think skill set-wise, he’s ready. But whether (he’s) physically ready? I front, with the exception of (Samuel Morin). But he’s bided his time, he’s don’t know. I don’t have that answer for you. a pro and he did everything we asked him to do down there. So yeah, it Yegor Zamula — No. 4 was kind of ironic that Gordo had that talk to him, I think a week ago (just a few days before the Flyers called him Friedman up), just to stick with it. Nobody wants to see a 19-year-old deal with back issues, but And now he’s getting his opportunity, and he’s played very well, I think, considering how impressive Zamula has been this year in the WHL and for a couple games. at the world juniors, despite not despite not playing at 100 percent, what does that say about his upside, if you can get the the back issue Felix Sandström (No. 12 — tie) and Kirill Ustimenko (No. 16) resolved? Sandström was impressive — at least to us in the media — during Yeah, at training camp, he was great. I thought he deserved a longer training camp and had the good rookie game as well. But his numbers in stay, but we just had too many guys here. (Then) he (began) his season the ECHL haven’t been great so far. Has it been tough for him to adjust and was terrific; all of the reports from our development (staff) and scouts to the North American game? that have seen him have been been great. And to see that on the world Yeah, it was an adjustment period, for sure. Obviously, it’s a different stage there, with the best players in the world, and he was a standout. I rink, different level, different style of play. As Brady said, he had to learn think it’s awesome. how to come out of his technique (because) he’s so structured. Everything kind of comes from the outside here, there’s traffic, there’s side-to-side plays and stuff. So I think it’s been an adjustment. But one Wyatt Kalynuk — No. 18 thing with him, he’s such a competitive kid. He’s a battler. He’s finding his way, he’s been a lot better lately, (he’s) more confident. He had some Fletcher mentioned in his press conference last week that Kalynuk could tough games, not only personally, but the team — they were a little potentially get signed at the end of the season, even though he could, in overmatched (on) certain nights. theory, go back for his senior year. He’s a little older as a prospect. So is he the kind of guy who — not talking skill-wise, just talking physically — But him and Ustimenko have both been good lately, and Usti’s obviously could potentially hold up in the NHL as soon as next season? a little more raw, but really athletic and competitive. And I know (Reading has) been really surprised, (after being) nervous at first when they saw Yeah, I think that’s the reason he went back (to Wisconsin) for another him in camp, and then he’s played really well. He’s actually put up better year. I think he thought he needed another year to physically develop, numbers (than Sandström) ironically, but at the same time, he’s got some which I agree. He’s in a real good spot there at Wisconsin — it’s a great rawness to him. He’s got some work to do. program. Tony (Granato)’s a great guy. (Kalynuk has) a good relationship with the coaching staff there. What’s interesting about Sandström struggling a bit is that he had said a couple times that he thought his game and his style would translate He’s a little older (22), but at the same time, he’s not the biggest body, so better in North America, compared to the way the game is played in I think to get that extra strength is really important for him to come in and Sweden and Europe. Was it surprising to you guys that maybe it hasn’t challenge for a spot on the big team here. It’ll be interesting to see how played out quite that way? they do down the stretch and what his thoughts are. But obviously, he’s a guy that’s more than capable of turning pro, and we’ll figure that out Yeah, again, there’s certain guys that come over here and just right when the time comes. away, it happens. Other guys, it takes some time to figure it out. Part of it is, he had some (lower-body) injuries at the start, too, so getting a little He played on some not-so-great Wisconsin teams. This year, they’re a time off, I think that’s really helped it just subside. It was lingering for a lot more gifted offensively, as they added some some real talent up front while. But he’s feeling good now, he’s feeling healthy, and that makes a (Cole Caufield, Alex Turcotte) as well having K’Andre Miller on the big difference, just in his movements. backend. Has he changed his game at all to accommodate the Badgers being a more skilled team this year? Talking about both Sandström and Ustimenko — because of how their seasons have progressed, do you envision a scenario in which they get I don’t know, I think he’s kind of played the same way. But, you know, he playing time at Lehigh Valley before the end of the season? likes to go — what he does best is he skates and gets the puck going. He’s a tremendous skater and gets up ice in a hurry, and moves the puck Possibly, yeah. We have call-ups, and obviously they’ll get some games. and gets it into the offensive guys’ hands. So yeah, I think he’s just When we saw them both come over, we knew they’d benefit from playing played the same way. He’s played with lots of confidence, lot of big and battling each other down there, rather than one guy is backing up minutes. I think defensively, he’s got some things to learn still, like any and not playing in the (AHL). So I think it’s healthy that they’re playing — college guy. When he gets to the pro level — the NHL level — you’re it’s a healthy situation there. I think ideally, maybe one or, depending on gonna have to pick your spots a little bit. There, you can get away with it, how they finish the season, maybe both them are in the American you can recover, when you’re blessed to skate like that. League next year, or maybe you split them back and forth. We’ll figure that out. This is for our goalie gurus down there, to tell me what to do. But Wyatte Wylie — No. 20 there’s certainly a path, and when they get their opportunities, hopefully Wylie took a run at camp at trying to get an entry-level contract, because they make the most of it. he was old enough and could have turned pro. You guys chose not to go Linus Högberg — No. 15 that route. What did you see out of him at camp that made you decide that he was best off getting another year in juniors? Last summer when we talked about Högberg, you had mentioned that you felt he needed to get stronger and adjust to a bigger role in the SHL We went back and forth on it, with what we had, (and knowing) he was before you guys would be confident that he wouldn’t struggle in the North kind of a late bloomer anyway when we drafted him (fifth round in 2018). American pro game. Has he taken strides in that area this year? We just thought, regardless of our decision, we thought playing his overage year, playing big minutes again, and have an extra year of junior I think so. Their team’s obviously struggled, but he’s played big minutes to feel good about himself and manage his game would be the best thing there, he’s been fine. I actually haven’t seen him in person. I’ve seen him for him. I think it (has been). I think he’s performed. on video, but I’m going there in two weeks to see him. So I can probably answer that better after. But when he’s on his game, there’s never a ton One thing with him: He comes to play every night. He’s a competitive kid. of flash — he’s just an efficient player that can defend, move the puck I think he’s putting up pretty good offensive numbers, which I don’t even and skate. So physically, his development had to come. But again, he’s know if that’s (how he was projected). But I think that’s healthy — getting been on a good program there. Hopefully, he’s ready to go (pro in North confident with the puck and timing under pressure — and to do those America), so we’ll see where he’s at, at the end of the year. things, which young players have to do. I think he’s doing everything we’ve asked him to do. I’ll be out there again (at Everett) the next couple Mason Millman — No. 17 weeks here, probably right after the trade deadline, to see him and spend some time with him, and make some of those decisions. But he’s one of Both you and GM Chuck Fletcher noted after the draft that a big reason those kids that has always been an overachiever the last few years. you targeted Millman was because you guys were higher on his skating Interesting story. ability than what seemed to be the consensus. Has that ability become more obvious this year?

Yeah, he can skate. Their team (OHL’s ), they’re a run- The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 and-gun team, and it’s interesting — someone said he had (a bunch of points) in his last 10 games, but his game’s a little concerning. They’re just go-go-go, and that’s fine for a young player. He’s having fun, getting points. But he’s going to have to dial it in a little bit, learn to be a little more responsible in certain (aspects), but his skating, it’s very good. He’s got a very good skill set. But you see him off the ice, and he’s got a long ways to go physically. For where we took him (fourth round), we think there’s upside there, and we’re trying to spend some time working with him.

So you guys would view him as more of a long-term-project type of defenseman?

Well, for sure. He’s going to need both years of juniors (and) time in the American League, realistically. Again, he’s a guy who’s going to have to make some strides physically, which every young guy is going to have to do, but there’s certainly some tools offensively with his skating and puck- moving ability that’s certainly attractive. 1172523 Pittsburgh Penguins anymore. So I lost a lot of weight to keep up with that. Then every other rule after that, flipping (the puck) out of the zone (out of the rink), that was one of my tactics. Just throwing it up in the stands, get a whistle and get a change. Then you get a penalty for it. ” Ex-Penguins defenseman Hal Gill finds a home in Nashville Gill adjusted and adapted enough to last another nine years in the league.

SETH RORABAUGH “Really, the game changed,” he said. “They opened up the offensive zone to create more offense. Every time they created more offense … Thursday, January 23, 2020 7:01 p.m. everything was designed to get me out. It was a lot of adapting and changing. I was pretty lucky that I had (general managers) that believed in what I was doing and signed me to contracts and coaches that let me NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Hal Gill always will stand out. play.”

At 6-foot-7, how can he not? He played for the Penguins for parts of two seasons, each of which ended in a Stanley Cup Final against the Detroit Red Wings. But in his second career, he is something of a fish out of water. One of the fiercest battles within those series was his savage head-to- After all, the native of Concord, Mass., and Providence graduate still has head confrontation with Red Wings net-front presence Tomas a slight New England accent, and he’s broadcasting hockey in the Holmstrom. Southeast. There were more crosschecks, slashes, facewashes and, probably, The former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman, who had a bruising 16- expletives in those interactions between Gill and Holmstrom than most year career as a physical presence, is three years into his vocation as a NHL games seen today. radio color commentator for the Nashville Predators. “Holmstrom was a guy that it was an all-out war every time that he got to “After I retired, I went through, kind of — I don’t want to call it soul the net,” Gill said. “I loved that the (referees) would let that go. Those are searching — but figuring out what you want to do,” Gill, who retired the fun things where no one is getting (hurt). It’s not the high-speed following the 2013-14 season, said. “Nothing compares to playing collisions. Bruises, bumps, you had a ton of them. Maybe a couple of hockey. You can coach. You can do broadcasting. It’s nothing like broken bones here or there. But it wasn’t the collisions where you’re playing hockey.” getting concussions. I love that part of the game. I still think it’s there. The Predators were one of six teams Gill played for including the When you’re trying to get to the net and someone is cross checking you, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal giving you the business, I still think that’s there. You just don’t see it as Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers. Despite only 55 games over two much because it’s not the battle from the corner all the way. It starts a seasons with the Predators toward the end of his career, he found a little bit closer to the net.” connection. After losing to the Red Wings in 2008, the Penguins claimed the ’09 Gill wanted to remain in the sport. After a brief stop with the Florida Stanley Cup title partly because of the pairing of Gill and Rob Scuderi, an Panthers in a player development role, he cold-called the Predators. assistant coach with the Predators. They were a shutdown defensive pairing that relied on guile and positioning. “I called the Nashville (Predators) and said, ‘Hey, is there anything open I could do with the team?’ And radio was open. Kind of fell into it that With so much emphasis on skating by defensemen in the modern NHL, way.,” Gill said. “Did some broadcasting in Boston with NESN. Got my could a pairing like Gill and Scuderi function in 2020? feet wet a little bit. Decided to roll with it. Moved my family down here, “No one wants to do it, but I think there’s a space for it,” said Gill, whom and this is my third year.” some Penguins fans lovingly referred to as the U.S.S. Gill. “There’s a Finding that next chapter was a bit of a challenge. Gill considered time and a place. I look at St. Louis, who had success down the stretch working in the financial sector like former Penguins forward Craig Adams, (of last season) when games started to gear up. They played a lot like who is a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch, before rejoining the that. They had defensemen who could move the puck, but there’s a lot of Predators. big stay-at-home defensemen that take care of the front of the net. That’s what made them hard to beat. There’s a place for that. It’s not sexy, it’s “I talked to Pittsburgh about player development,” the 44-year-old Gill not pretty.” said. “There was a lot of guys working at that time, so they were kind of full. You kind of go through that process. I talk to Adams still. He’s a There certainly seems to be a place for Gill behind a microphone. He still worker. He’s not going to sit and relax. That’s not his type. He needed to has an affable nature and a rapier wit. get out there and tackle the business world. I wanted to be around He admits his second career still is a work in progress. hockey so I came back.” “Interviewing guys, I find it difficult,” Gill said. “I’m getting better. It’s Gill, who lumbered around the ice at 243 pounds at times during his something that I’m constantly trying to get better at is sitting down and career, observes a different — faster — game than when he broke into talking to a guy and asking him a question. You know the answer. You the NHL in 1997. know what he’s supposed to say. You want to get his thoughts on it, but Still, he insists the sport’s base essence hasn’t been altered much. you kind of know what he wants to say. So you end up leading him, then you don’t want to lead him too much. It’s a delicate balance. I’ve got a lot “It’s funny because I always say it’s changed so much,” Gill said during a of respect for guys that can just sit there and talk to players. The next Dec. 27 interview with the Tribune-Review when the Penguins played in question, the next question, the next question. That’s tough. I think I’m Nashville. “But at the core root of it, you still have to play defense. getting better. Everyone talks about offensive defensemen. You have to be a puck- moving guy. You have to be in the rush. You have to do this. Eventually, “Then I want to paint a good picture on the ice of what’s going on. I don’t you have to play (defense). The game has changed. It’s not as physical want to bury guys, I don’t want to make guys look stupid for making a in the corners, but it still gets physical at the net. You can see the guys mistake. Mistakes happen and I’m aware of that. … It’s easy to just say, that come in, they need to learn the real game eventually. This time of ‘That guy made a mistake and he blew the play.’ But I think it’s a lot more year, everything is a little different. Once it gets to the playoffs, then fun to say what caused him to make that mistake. What was the pressure hockey goes back to what I saw it as and what I played.” and explain the play that happened. It’s a game that if no one made a mistake, it would be 0-0 and it would boring. That’s the fun part for me is Gill enjoyed a prolonged NHL career despite rule changes designed to that balance in trying to find out how I can call a game and make it fun.” speed up the game. The most dramatic of those came after the NHL’s lockout of 2004-05.

“I always laugh because every rule that was put in was really designed to Tribune Review LOADED: 01.24.2020 get me out of the game, my type of player, a defensive defenseman,” Gill said. “When the hooking and holding went away, I had to lose 20 pounds to get faster. I couldn’t just grab a guy and pin him on the boards 1172524 Pittsburgh Penguins

Taking stock of Penguins’ health, goaltending and trade mentality at break

TIM BENZ

Thursday, January 23, 2020 7:12 a.m.

A break for the Pittsburgh Penguins means a break for our hockey beat writer Seth Rorabaugh.

But not before we get one more podcast out of him prior to the All Star game. While the rest of hockey returns on Monday, the Penguins don’t come back until Jan. 31.

And they skated away on a bad note, with a listless 3-0 loss in Philadelphia Tuesday night.

Seth and I discuss what went wrong there and where they look to be better coming back against the Flyers again when their schedule resumes a week from Friday.

One hope is that the injured Penguins who have been out for a while may return that night or shortly thereafter. Seth gives us status updates on Justin Schultz, Brian Dumoulin, Dominik Kahun and Nick Bjugstad.

The goaltending has been solid of late. We forecast how Mike Sullivan may deploy Matt Murray and Tristan Jarry after the break.

Then there’s the difficulty of the schedule immediately. The quality of competition is dense. And a lot of it is occurring in the Eastern Conference and in the Metro Division.

Finally, we try to determine if — or when — Jim Rutherford may make a trade before the deadline.

Tribune Review LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172525 Pittsburgh Penguins

Tim Benz: Penguins better come back sharp from break. And fast.

TIM BENZ

Thursday, January 23, 2020 6:17 a.m.

That didn’t go as hoped.

Aside from the obvious goal of grabbing two points against the Philadelphia Flyers in their last game before a 10-day break, the Penguins had some other items on their agenda.

“We want to put a full game together,” captain Sidney Crosby said after Sunday’s exciting 4-3 comeback win against the Boston Bruins.

“Make sure we finish on a good note going into the break.”

So much for that.

Their 3-0 losing “effort” in Philly Wednesday night was so futile, head coach Mike Sullivan said he couldn’t find anything good to focus on after the defeat.

“There wasn’t anything,” Sullivan said. “For me, there was a lack of execution, a lack of attention to detail, no sense of urgency, no cooperative play.

“There’s nothing positive I can draw from this game. It’s disappointing.”

I might disagree with that. On one front.

Tristan Jarry was OK, stopping 27-of-29 shots.

So along with Matt Murray’s recent spike in play, Sullivan can feel happy about his goaltending going into this extended mid-winter lull.

Aside from that, though, the coach’s assessment was on point.

There were lots of positive talking angles for his club that disappeared between the end of his team’s victory over Boston Sunday and the snooze-fest of a loss against the Flyers Tuesday.

Tenacity. Edge. Forecheck. Speed. Finish. Grit below the goal line.

Those things better return immediately after the break ends. Because the Penguins have a brutal stretch of games as a welcome back to action.

They get a rematch with the Flyers at PPG Paints Arena Jan. 31 to resume play. Then it’s:

• At Washington Sunday, Feb. 2 — The Capitals have the highest point total in the NHL with 71.

• At Tampa Thursday, Feb. 6 — The Lightning have 62 points, are in second place in the Atlantic Division, and have won eight of 10.

• At Florida Saturday, Feb. 8 — The Panthers are currently in a playoff spot and have won six games in a row going into the All-Star break. They’ve also beaten the Penguins twice already this season.

• Home against Tampa Feb. 11 — Oh, also, the Lightning have a +38 goal differential. That’s the best mark in hockey.

So the Pens won’t have any time to ease back into action.

They’ll hopefully get Justin Schultz and Dominik Kahun back by then. That will help. Brian Dumoulin may be on the mend soon, too.

But the Pens will have to chew on that result from Philadelphia for the next week and a half.

“It just seemed like (the Flyers) wanted it more,” Crosby said after the loss. “It’s never a good feeling when you finish the game and that’s the feeling you have. To have to sit on this one a bit, it’s not great. We’ll be motivated when we come back.”

They better be.

Tribune Review LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172526 Pittsburgh Penguins “Being able to play every night in the American League, that really helped me grow. It helped me work on the things that I needed to develop,” he said.

Tristan Jarry, in St. Louis for his first NHL All-Star game, reflects on his And after three years of shuffling from Pittsburgh to Wilkes- rapid ascension Barre/Scranton and back, Jarry showed this season that he belongs in the NHL from now on.

“It’s funny. Me and Joseph [Blandisi] were actually counting our MATT VENSEL transactions the other day,” he said. “It was funny to go through that and just see how many transactions you had and how many uncertainties, I Pittsburgh Post-Gazette guess, you’ve had over the years. It’s funny that we’re able to joke about JAN 24, 2020 1:42 AM that, as many as we’ve had.”

Uncertainty awaits Jarry after the All-Star festivities here in St. Louis.

ST. LOUIS — As Tristan Jarry, a white NHL All-Star jersey pulled over In the short term, he must hold off Murray, whom he considers one of his his dress shirt, climbed onto his podium inside the palatial Stifel Theatre best friends, to be the guy between the pipes for the Penguins during the on Thursday and glanced out at the rows of reporters waiting to pepper playoffs. All-Stars with questions, the young goalie acknowledged that, yeah, this Beyond this season, both Jarry and Murray are restricted free agents. all happened pretty fast. Jarry said Thursday that the Penguins haven’t approached him about a “It’s exciting. It’s not something I really thought of at the beginning of the new deal. It seems unlikely that both young goalies are back in season. But I’m glad to be here,” Jarry said. “It will be an exciting Pittsburgh next season. weekend.” But Jarry didn’t appear to be worried about any of that Thursday. Instead, Four months ago, Jarry even didn’t know where he’d be playing this he said he is embracing the advice given to him by Sidney Crosby, season. It could have been Pittsburgh, where he was competing with Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang before he headed to the first All-Star Casey DeSmith for the backup gig. It could have been another year in game of his NHL career. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. It could have been a fresh start with a new “[They told me to] just to enjoy it,” Jarry said. “You don’t know when it’s organization after a preseason trade. going to come or how often it’s going to come. Just enjoy it as much as The Penguins, who had been open to dealing Jarry, kept him around to you can.” start the season. He played sparingly at first but made the most of the action he did get. When Matt Murray’s play slipped, Jarry did a double pad stack through the door. Post Gazette LOADED: 01.24.2020 Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry

Since the start of December, Jarry is 11-4-1 with a .929 save percentage. During that stingy stretch, he set a franchise record for the longest shutout streak. Two weeks ago, he was added to the All-Star game as an injury replacement.

Thus, there he was Thursday, under the bright lights at All-Star media day.

“I guess [all this will set in] once the time comes to go on the ice. That will be the biggest thing,” Jarry said. “Just having my parents here and being able to share that with them and having my whole family to be able to watch, I think that’s an unforgettable moment, something we’ll cherish as a family together.”

Jarry will strap on his pads Friday for the skills competition at Enterprise Center and on Saturday will play in the All-Star game at the home of the St. Louis Blues. He had to be on his toes Thursday, too, up on the stage at Stifel Theatre.

In a 16-minute span, he was asked close to 40 questions from local and national reporters. They ranged from his relationships with Marc-Andre Fleury and Matt Murray to how he stayed busy on long bus trips during junior hockey. Much of the conversation, though, centered on his rapid ascension this season.

“I think Pittsburgh’s done an amazing job with me in my development, letting me know where my career was at and the I was on,” the 24-year-old said. “The big thing was just trusting them and trusting that they knew what they were doing. Just coming up from junior, I’ve always had to wait a little bit.”

Jarry had to take a backseat to Murray when he arrived in Wilkes- Barre/Scranton in 2015-16. He watched Murray get promoted to Pittsburgh and quickly win two Cups. Jarry made his NHL debut in 2017 but played in just 29 games at the NHL level over three years before starting this season as Murray’s backup.

Penguins center Sidney Crosby takes a big hit from Bruins defenseman John Moore, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, at the PPG Paints Arena Uptown.

His practice habits and in-game focus improved during his time in the American Hockey League. He turned a corner last season, when he posted a .915 save percentage while playing 47 games for Wilkes- Barre/Scranton. 1172527 Pittsburgh Penguins Jarry is a full year younger and will be cheaper, which could prove to be the difference in who’s playing goal for the Penguins next season and beyond. But there’s a ton of hockey to be played between now and then. We also don’t know what Murray will ask for in contract negotiations. Joe Starkey: Penguins almost can't go wrong with goalie choice Nothing less than what his comparable contemporaries — John Gibson, Connor Hellebuyck, etc. — are making, I would imagine, and that is more

than $6 million per year. JOE STARKEY That’s about what Washington’s makes, too, and his Pittsburgh Post-Gazette situation speaks to how volatile the goalie position can be. He finally broke through two years ago and won a Cup, seemingly setting himself JAN 23, 2020 10:35 PM up for one more big contract. But that was before Ilya Samsonov, a first- round pick from 2015, arrived this season and became the Russian

version of Jarry, with a .927 save percentage in 19 games (Samsonov “Goaltending is 75 percent of your hockey team, unless you don’t have it. hails from Evgeni Malkin’s hometown of Magnitogorsk). Then it’s 100 percent.” — Harry Neale, legendary broadcaster, retired So the Capitals also have two good homegrown goalies, and big choices coach. to make. The Penguins have it, all right, in spades. They are the exception. As It’s not a bad place to be. when they won Stanley Cups in 2016 and ’17, they have two No. 1 goalies. Both homegrown, which is even more unusual.

Lots of teams can’t find one dependable goalie. People lose jobs chasing Post Gazette LOADED: 01.24.2020 the position. Ask Ray Shero about that. The New Jersey Devils just fired him. He couldn’t find a goalie. Ask the Philadelphia Flyers about chasing goalies (although they might finally have one in Carter Hart).

The Penguins face a different kind of problem, one most teams would welcome: a goalie “controversy” with no bad choice. They’ll need to pick from their two starters for the playoffs this year and for the seasons beyond. They might choose as early as this summer, when Tristan Jarry and Matt Murray can be restricted free agents.

Penguins center Sidney Crosby takes a big hit from Bruins defenseman John Moore, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, at the PPG Paints Arena Uptown.

In the meantime, the Penguins own an enormous competitive advantage over most teams: They have a good goalie every night.

They probably can’t go wrong in tabbing their future guy, either, just like they couldn’t go wrong when they had to choose between Murray and Marc-Andre Fleury two years ago, although there really wasn’t much of a choice. Murray was much younger and much cheaper and had just won two Stanley Cups (with a giant assist from Fleury in 2017).

But even if the Penguins had stunningly traded Murray and kept Fleury, they probably wouldn’t regret the decision, given how well Fleury has performed since he left.

In some places, a goalie controversy might split the locker room. Not here. Not in Sidney Crosby’s room. Not with Mike Sullivan and Jim Rutherford at the top of the organizational depth chart.

Sullivan is a straight shooter with a deft touch for choosing the right guy at the right time. Rutherford is an old goalie himself, so he knows the psychology of the position. He also knows that development can take time, as in Jarry’s case.

It’s still fair to ask, by the way, if Jarry is the real deal. His NHL resume basically consists of two good months. He has seen his numbers dip in January (3-4 record, .907 save percentage) and has yet to experience the crucible of playoff hockey.

And yet, everything I see tells me Jarry remains a rising star. Everyone I talk to who knows the position tells me the same.

Penguins center Sidney Crosby congratulates goaltender Matt Murray after beating the Bruins, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, at the PPG Paints Arena Uptown.

Speaking of which, and speaking of old goalies, I chatted with ex- Penguins Ken Wregget and Frank Pietrangelo on Thursday. Both believe Jarry has lasting power. They love his puck-handling ability — “He reminds me of Tommy (Barrasso) in that respect,” Wregget said — his athleticism, his positioning and his demeanor.

They also appreciate the benefits of a good, old-fashioned goalie competition.

“Murray is trying to prove himself, too,” Pietrangelo said. “He has been through a lot, replacing Fleury, who was a legendary figure, almost as legendary as Frank Pietrangelo (laughs). No, he’s a tough kid. I think the competition helps both of them, and you need two goalies in the playoffs.” 1172528 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins' Mike Sullivan honored by PHWA in midseason vote

Staff Report

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE

JAN 23, 2020 3:05 PM

Mike Sullivan is getting some recognition for the Penguins’ perseverance in 2019-20.

The coach earned top honors Thursday in a Professional Hockey Writers Association midseason vote for the Jack Adams award, which goes to the NHL’s coach of the year at season’s end. Columbus’ John Tortorella was second, and St. Louis’ Craig Berube was third.

Sullivan has been considered a top candidate for the award most of the season as the Penguins have stayed toward the top of the standings despite some costly injuries.

No other Penguins appeared in the top three of voting for any other award. The full list of players, coaches and executives honored is below.

Post Gazette LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172529 Pittsburgh Penguins every day to open the store, so Papa picked up the boys at 6:30 a.m., took them to McDonald’s and ordered hotcakes. Then Papa and the boys spent the rest of the day at Jarry’s Market. Papa, a retired heavy-duty mechanic, never missed a day at the family store. He oversaw as Tristan Tristan Jarry’s market: How a grocer’s son shocked the Penguins and and Dawson collected shopping carts and fought over who got to ring in earned a trip to the NHL All-Star Game customers at the checkout counter.

“We did that every morning we weren’t at school,” Tristan said, with a laugh. Stephen J. Nesbitt Ray Jarry with his grandsons, Tristan and Dawson. (Courtesy of Michelle Jan 23, 2020 Jarry)

But young Tristan had another reason why he wanted — no, needed — This is how an NHL goaltender helping out at his family’s grocery store in to learn French. His dream was to be a goalie for the Montreal the offseason came to be chasing a crow with a pool skimmer one day a Canadiens. (All these years later, Tristan is fluent in French, but he plays couple of summers ago — trying, for once, to allow something into his against the Canadiens.) net. By the time Tristan was 7, he had made up his mind. While most teams Well, it’s more than that. It’s a story about heartache, hard work, waiting in that age group rotated the goalie spot through their roster, giving your turn, and Tristan Jarry’s first All-Star Game. But we’ll start with someone new the community set of goalie gear every game, Tristan Tristan chasing a crow, because why would we start anywhere else? asked his youth team’s head coach, Clint Fortems, if he could play every other game in goal. The only problem with that plan: Tristan was also the The crow had flown through the front doors at Jarry’s Market, the family team’s best scorer. He loved to boom slapshots. He regularly blasted the store in a shopping center three blocks from the Fraser River south of puck from center ice and scored. Vancouver, and it was making an unholy racket as it tried and failed to find the exit. As shop owners Dave and Don Jarry — Tristan’s father and “Boy, could he rip it,” Fortems said. uncle, twin brothers who run the store together — attempted to shoo the And in net, he added, Tristan was “almost unbeatable.” frightened bird outside, Tristan raced to his parents’ house and looked for a net. He found a pool skimmer. Fortems drove the Zamboni at a rink in North Delta. He’d rent ice time for his sons and their friends to play shinny whenever he could. Often it was Back at the store, his mother, Michelle, ran through the aisles waving her at 6 a.m. The boys would play for hours, for as long as time allowed, then arms. The bird flew higher and squawked louder. But it was no match for Fortems would make breakfast and send them off to school. On those the netminder. Tristan cornered the crow, captured it in the pool skimmer, mornings, Tristan always was first on the ice. His parents would drop him then released it in the parking lot. His family calls it the greatest catch of off at the rink on the way to work. He’d sneak in a back door before the his career. building opened. When Fortems arrived, Tristan would already be “He was like a dog and a bone,” his dad, Dave, recalled recently. shooting slapshots and smiling ear to ear.

As Dave told stories on the other end of the phone line, cash registers “I just loved being on the ice,” Tristan said. “It was tough because my beeped in the background. It was a busy morning at Jarry’s Market. Dave parents were always working. So my dad just dropped me off at 5 in the and Michelle had just returned from Las Vegas, where they had watched morning.” their 24-year-old son defeat the Golden Knights. Before the game, Dave added: “(Fortems) didn’t really know what he was saying when he Tristan had bumped into his parents at the team hotel. He had news for told Tristan, ‘If you want to come in the middle of the night, you can them. They’d need to find a way to get to St. Louis, too. Tristan had just skate.’ been selected for the All-Star Game. “Well, Tristan did.” “We were thrilled to death,” Dave said. “It’s still hard to believe. It’s hard to believe he’s playing in the NHL. It’s hard to believe the success he’s Before long, Tristan was a full-time goalie destined for greatness. But having this year. Because, to us, Tristan is just Tristan. But when he sets one day, when he was 9, Tristan asked Fortems for another favor. His his mind to something, boy, he’s incredible.” Papa was coming to watch him play, and Tristan wanted to score a goal for him. He hadn’t played as a forward in three years, but that didn’t stop Jarry’s Market is a true family business. Dave and Don have owned the him. Tristan scored all four of his team’s goals that day. It’s a game his store for 35 years. Michelle runs the meat department. And Tristan’s only father hasn’t forgotten. sibling, younger brother Dawson, also works there. But walk — or fly — through the front doors of this grocery store and you’ll find no evidence “It was the only time my dad ever saw him play,” Dave said, choking up that an NHL All-Star is a part-timer there, stocking shelves and slightly. unpacking produce and power-washing the storefront when he’s back home in North Delta, B.C. Ray Jarry died suddenly on the way to the market eight days before Tristan’s 10th birthday. Papa saw Tristan play only once, but Tristan still The market is decorated with black-and-white photos of the extended takes his grandfather’s memory with him to every game. Today, there’s Jarry family over the years. There are the twins sitting on Santa Claus’ an image of Papa on the back of Tristan’s goalie mask, and an knees. There are Tristan and Dawson as toddlers dressed up on inscription: Forever in our hearts. Halloween. There are no hockey photos, no mention of Pittsburgh or the Penguins, no sign screaming Tristan’s All-Star stats: 16-8-1, 2.16 goals- Tristan has put an image of his Papa on the back of his helmet since against average, .929 save percentage and one surprising ascension to junior hockey. (Courtesy of Michelle Jarry) the Penguins’ No. 1 goalie spot. Angelo Maggio, who runs Magic Goalie Development in Langley, B.C., “Everyone says, ‘Why don’t you put up pictures of Tristan now that he remembers that when Tristan started training with him, the 7-year-old plays in the NHL?’” Dave said. “We have a real problem with that. We wasn’t sure which hand to catch with. Tristan is ambidextrous. As a kid, don’t want it to seem like we’re rubbing it in people’s faces. We just can’t he wrote with either hand, was equally strong kicking a soccer ball with do it.” his right and left legs, threw left-handed in baseball and shot right- handed in hockey. Twin brothers Dave and Don Jarry have owned the store together for 35 years. (Courtesy of Michelle Jarry) As a goalie, Tristan eventually decided, he’d catch with his left hand.

When Tristan was 5, he asked to be enrolled in an elementary school “Then you’re going to have to learn to shoot left-handed,” Maggio told that had a French-immersion program. Neither of his parents spoke him. French. But Tristan’s paternal grandparents did. They were from “No problem,” Tristan replied. Montreal. Tristan the skater. Tristan the goalie. (Courtesy of Michelle Jarry) Tristan wanted to keep his family’s French-Canadian roots alive. He and Dawson were especially close with their grandfather, Ray Jarry, whom He started shooting 500 pucks per day in his parents’ garage to perfect they called Papa. Their parents would leave home around 4:30 a.m. his form from the left side. And that practice continues to pay dividends 17 years later. Tristan has uncanny confidence with the puck on his stick, last year he played only twice for them, while DeSmith spent the entire even in the NHL. When Tristan played for the Edmonton Oil Kings in season in Pittsburgh. junior hockey, teams stopped dumping the puck in because Tristan would bolt from the net and fire the puck back to center ice, and the Oil “I’ve trusted my coaches,” Tristan said. “I’ve trusted their plan, both in Kings offense would be off to the races again. Tristan can still tell you juniors and now in pro hockey. You have to be patient. You can’t rush it how many assists he had in Edmonton — eight. — even if you want to. You want to be there right away. But they know the best projection. They’ve dealt with this before.” “You were able to do a lot of things back there because he moved the puck as well as most defensemen,” said Steve Hamilton, a former Oil Last season, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton missed the playoffs for the first time Kings head coach now with the Calgary Hitmen. “It was a jewel that not a in 16 years, but it wasn’t on account of Tristan regressing. He had a 2.66 lot of teams have.” goals-against average and a .915 save percentage in 47 games.

Tristan didn’t score in junior hockey. He tried for an empty net one night “He was so consistent,” Sam Lafferty, Tristan’s teammate in Wilkes- in Saskatoon and hit the post. Tristan got his first goalie goal last season, Barre/Scranton and Pittsburgh, said. “We relied on him every night. He with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He stopped a shot from center ice and saw kept us in the playoff hunt all the way into the final weekend. I knew he an opening. Flinging the puck over a crowd of skaters, Tristan watched it was a great goaltender. … It’s been awesome to see him take another bounce into the back of the net for the first goalie goal in the franchise’s big step this year.” history. Tristan landed on the Penguins’ roster on opening night this season Twelve goalies in NHL history have scored a goal. The Nashville largely because of the salary cap. The Penguins were cutting it close. Predators’ Pekka Rinne did it two weeks ago. No Penguins goalie has DeSmith’s contract would count $1.25 million against their cap, while ever done it. Tristan’s would carry just a $675,000 cap hit. So, general manager Jim Rutherford placed DeSmith on waivers, which he cleared, and Tristan Maybe one day Tristan will give it a shot. took the backup job.

“Eh,” he said, with a grin. “We’ll see.” No one anticipated he’d steal starts from Murray anytime soon. And to Murray’s credit, he has taken Tristan’s All-Star surge in stride. Tristan and the Oil Kings won the in 2014. (Andy Devlin/Edmonton Oil Kings) “I’m happy for him,” Murray said of Tristan last week. “He’s a great guy. He works hard, and he’s having an incredible season.” He went on, “He’s At every stop, Tristan has waited for his turn. just a great athlete. Always has been. From the time I first saw him, I Before Matt Murray and Casey DeSmith, there was Laurent Brossoit. always thought he’d have a chance to be a really good goalie at this When the Oil Kings drafted Tristan at 16, Brossoit, now the Winnipeg level. He has all the tools.” Jets’ backup, was Edmonton’s 18-year-old starting goalie. The boys had Tristan and Murray have played almost equal minutes so far this season. trained together at Maggio’s private facility for years. Brossoit was a (Charles LeClaire / USA Today) superior athlete, Maggio said, but Tristan had an impeccable ability to read shots off the blade. Maggio had taken Tristan to hockey camps in After Penguins practice wrapped up last Wednesday, Tristan unlaced his Anchorage, Alaska, over the years and saw him stone college and pro skates in the dressing room, and his father stood in the hallway, by the players, including then-NHLer Scott Gomez. stick rack.

“Amazing to watch,” Maggio said. “He was just born with something Dave was in town for the Penguins’ dads’ trip and had tacked on a special.” couple more days to visit. He had never seen a game at PPG Paints Arena, and Michelle, who came too, had never been to Pittsburgh. While The Oil Kings had two future NHL goalies on their roster — “It was an the players and the dads traveled to Boston and Detroit, Michelle stayed exceptional tandem,” Hamilton said — but that meant limited exposure back in Cranberry with Tristan’s girlfriend, Hannah, and his 3-year-old for Tristan until Brossoit left Edmonton. Tristan played 14 games in 2011- English Mastiff, Diesel. 12, and 28 in 2012-13, though the 1.61 goals-against average was enough for the Penguins to pick him in the second round, 44th overall, “It’s great,” Tristan said. “They don’t get the chance to come down much.” that summer. He broke into a big smile. His parents have only seen a handful of his Tristan was quiet, with an understated sense of humor, and teammates NHL games in person, and they probably prefer it that way. Dave said he took to calling him “Smiley.” Two of them, Kristiāns Pelšs and Martin and Michelle are “the most nervous parents out there.” They can’t sit still Gernát, said Tristan’s name reminded them of the cartoon characters during games. They sweat through penalty kills and shootouts. When Tom and Jerry. So, Tristan started designing his mask with a Tom and Tristan was in the Memorial Cup, Dave would drive around running Jerry theme. errands rather than watch on TV.

But before the 2013-14 season, Pelšs drowned in a river in Riga, Latvia. “We don’t normally wear his jersey (to games),” Dave said, “because The Oil Kings brought Pelšs’s No. 26 jersey with them to every game that when they start yelling a goalie’s name in the crowd, it hurts. To this day, season and hung it in an empty dressing-room stall. Tristan led it’s really hard on me and Michelle. We’re the same nervous parents we Edmonton to a 50-9-2-1 regular season, a Western Hockey League title were when he played goal at 6 or 7 years old. Tristan treats it like a job, and a berth in the Memorial Cup. In the semifinals, Edmonton outlasted which is great. But for us, no matter how well you do, you’re either a goat Val-d’Or in triple overtime. Tristan made 47 saves that night, and two or a hero.” days later he stopped 32 shots as the Oil Kings knocked off Guelph for their first Memorial Cup championship since 1966. The Oil Kings skated They try not to text Tristan on game days, and they never ask about around the ice holding Pelšs’s jersey high. hockey. It’s a family rule. After a win, Dave will text, “Great game. Love ya,” and Tristan will reply, “Love ya Pops!” And that’s it. To this day, Tristan’s mask is painted with two memorials — a tribute to his grandfather, and a Tom and Jerry theme for his friend. So, when Dave and Michelle saw their son in the hotel lobby in Las Vegas earlier this month, they weren’t going to ask about morning skate The way Tristan plays goalie, it can give the appearance that he’s not or whether he’d start that night. They definitely weren’t going to mention thinking — in a good way. He doesn’t overanalyze. He’s doesn’t dwell on the All-Star Game. Tristan had said he wasn’t sure he’d played enough a soft goal or a bad bounce. He moves on. The puck comes and goes, games to be considered. But he had gotten a heads-up that morning, so and Tristan remains calm in the crease. “He has an unflappable he let his parents in on the secret: He had been selected to the All-Star personality in the net,” Hamilton said. Game as an injury replacement for Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Joonas Korpisalo. But waiting for your turn isn’t easy. “I don’t want to say it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but it’s my first,” After leaving Edmonton in 2015, Tristan spent two seasons at Wilkes- Tristan said. “It’s very special. It’s exciting and surprising at the same Barre/Scranton, playing only one game for the Penguins but receiving time.” two Stanley Cup rings. When Marc-Andre Fleury went to Las Vegas, Tristan and DeSmith, who is four years older, battled to be Murray’s The Jarry family — Dawson, Tristan, Michelle and Dave. (Courtesy of backup. Tristan appeared in 26 games for the Penguins in 2017-18, but Michelle Jarry) On Monday, five days before his first All-Star Game, Tristan was the first player on the ice for Penguins practice. A young boy in a red No. 30 Oil Kings jersey, with JARRY on the back, sat in the stands. Tristan’s parents and his girlfriend stood against a wall at one end of the rink and chatted. Tristan picked up a puck at center ice and ripped it at the net. It flew top shelf.

He still has that shot.

Dave and Michelle flew back to Vancouver on Monday night, and by Tuesday morning they were back at Jarry’s Market. Dave apologized to his twin brother for being gone for so long. And then they got back to work — but only for two days. Tristan is flying his family down to St. Louis for All-Star weekend. It’ll be the first time in years that they all will watch one of his games together.

Jarry’s Market will have regular hours on All-Star Saturday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., but forgive them if service is slow. Their staff is running a little shorthanded.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172530 San Jose Sharks The Sharks also announced that John Tortora, co-president of the Sharks Sports & Entertainment with Jonathan Becher since 2017, will be leaving the organization “to pursue other opportunities.” Becher will become sole president of the organization, effective immediately, and Sharks owner gives GM Doug Wilson his backing also serve as an alternate governor for the franchise with the NHL.

Before he became co-president of SSE, Tortora was the organization’s executive vice president and general counsel from 2011 to 2013 and its By CURTIS PASHELKA | [email protected] | Bay chief operating officer of the Sharks from 2013 to 2017. As co-president, Area News Group Tortora was specifically responsible for overseeing the company’s venue PUBLISHED: January 23, 2020 at 9:35 am | UPDATED: January 23, operations and its financial, human resources and legal functions. 2020 at 2:54 PM During Tortora’s time with the team, the Sharks extended their lease for SAP Center with the city of San Jose until at least 2025, played an outdoor game at Levi’s Stadium in 2015 before more than 70,000 SAN JOSE — Sharks owner Hasso Plattner is again giving general spectators, brought the team’s AHL affiliate to San Jose and hosted the manager Doug Wilson his backing, saying in a news release Thursday NHL All-Star Game last year. he is supportive of Wilson’s plan to return the struggling team back to the NHL playoffs next season. A challenge for the Sharks organization going forward, though, is attendance, which has gradually declined over the last three-plus The Sharks have fallen well short of expectations this year, as they sit in seasons. 13th place in the Western Conference and have next-to-no chance of making the postseason. With a 21-25-4 record, the Sharks are 11 points In 2016-17, the season after the Sharks reached the Cup final, average out of a playoff spot with just 32 games to go. attendance was 17,508, or 99.7 percent of SAP Center’s seating capacity of 17,562. Attendance averaged 17,366 in 2017-18 and 17,266 last “I am supportive of Doug’s plan to get our team back on track,” said season, but has dipped to 16,471 through 25 games this season, with Plattner, the Sharks’ majority owner since 2010. just five games listed as sellouts.

Plattner also stood behind Wilson the last time the Sharks missed the As co-president, Becher was responsible for SSE’s areas of sales, playoffs in 2014-15. Then, following a busy 2015 offseason in which marketing and revenue and also oversaw the organization’s fan Wilson hired a new coach in Pete DeBoer, spent money in free agency engagement strategies. Prior to joining SSE, Becher spent a decade at and traded for goalie Martin Jones, the Sharks returned to the playoffs SAP in a variety of senior roles, including chief marketing officer and the following year and advanced to their first Stanley Cup Final in 2016. chief digital officer.

Clearly, Plattner believes the team, under Wilson’s guidance, can enjoy a “Over the last two years at the Sharks and his previous decade at SAP, I similar type of turnaround for next season, although the team may face have seen first-hand that Jonathan delivers an outstanding end-to-end greater challenges now than five years ago. experience to customers,” Plattner said. “With his combination of technology and sports background, I am confident he is the right person “While we are all very disappointed in the team’s performance thus far to lead the organization through our next evolution.” this season, Doug has a long history of leading our team to success,” Plattner said. “The last time we failed to meet our winning standards in the 2014-15 season, we were able to quickly rebound and re-establish a winning culture for the next several years.” San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 01.24.2020

Wilson has been the Sharks’ general manager since May 2003, taking over the job two months after Dean Lombardi was fired. Since Wilson’s hire, the Sharks have made the playoffs in 14 of 15 seasons, reaching the conference finals five times but never winning the Stanley Cup.

This season after the Sharks started the year with a 15-16-2 record, Wilson fired DeBoer on Dec. 11 and named Bob Boughner interim coach.

It was hoped the change would spark the team back into the playoff picture. But the Sharks are 6-9-2 with Boughner, as they lost all three games of their road trip last week through Arizona, Colorado and Vancouver to all but seal their fate as a team that will miss the postseason.

It is believed that Boughner will coach the Sharks the rest of the regular season. The Sharks’ first game back after their bye week is Monday at home against the Anaheim Ducks.

Wilson and the Sharks are expected to be sellers before the NHL’s Feb. 24 trade deadline. Candidates to be traded include forward Melker Karlsson, goalie Aaron Dell and defenseman Brenden Dillon, who are all slated to become unrestricted free agents this summer.

Before the 2015 NHL trade deadline, the Sharks dealt three depth skaters but kept their core intact. It appears that will be the case again this year, as Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Logan Couture and Evander Kane all have at least five years remaining on their respective contracts after this season.

The salary cap hit on the Sharks for those five players will be $41.5 million for the next five seasons, perhaps limiting the team’s flexibility in terms of how much talent they can add for next year. For the 2020-21 season, the NHL’s salary cap is not expected to rise much above its current upper limit of $81.5 million.

The Sharks also do not have their first round draft pick for this year, as Wilson traded it to the Ottawa Senators as part of the package that brought Erik Karlsson to San Jose. A pick in the overall top five this year may have netted a player that could help the Sharks as soon as next season. 1172531 San Jose Sharks

Doug Wilson's job is safe despite Sharks' disappointing season, owner says

By Josh Schrock

January 23, 2020 10:13 AM

This season hasn't gone as the Sharks had planned.

After starting out 15-16-2, the Sharks elected to fire head coach Peter DeBoer, much to the shock of players and staff. They promoted Bob Boughner to interim head coach. While the change appeared to initially spark the Sharks, their play has since tapered off since as they enter the All-Star break at 21-25-4 after three straight blowout losses.

With the losses mounting, some have wondered if general manager Doug Wilson's job could be in jeopardy. That is not the case.

"While we are all very disappointed in the team's performance thus far this season, Doug has a long history of leading our team to success," majority owner Hasso Plattner said in a statement Thursday while announcing changes to the Sharks' business operations. "The last time we failed to meet our winning standards in the 2014-15 season, we were able to quickly rebound and re-establish a winning culture for the next several years. I am supportive of Doug's plan to get our team back on track."

The Sharks have to exit the All-Star break on fire if they want to make a run at a postseason berth. If they limp out of the gate, it will be time for them to focus on the future and how to quickly rebuild the team for a playoff return next season.

Whatever happens, the ship still is Wilson's to guide.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172532 San Jose Sharks removed from his title. But if it goes the other way, San Jose might have to make its second coaching change in a span of six months.

Balancing act Sharks storylines, developments to watch through remainder of season At what point does the current season become about the future? That might be the most important question facing the Sharks throughout the remainder of the 2019-20 campaign. They've dug themselves a By Brian Witt considerable hole, and while they still can dig themselves out of it, they need to be prudent in how they go about determining which players to January 22, 2020 6:17 PM give opportunities to.

The Sharks' ideal scenario, obviously, is making it back to the playoffs. Heading into the All-Star break last season, the St. Louis Blues were a But if San Jose encounters any sort of extended losing streak, that .500 team (22-22-5). In the 33 regular-season games that followed, they should probably signal Boughner and Wilson that it's time to see what the caught fire and carried that momentum to the first Stanley Cup in Sharks have in their system. Instead of giving ice time to known franchise history. quantities, San Jose would be better off finding out which of its prospects are the real deal, and which aren't. This season, the Sharks enter the All-Star break four games below .500 with 32 games left to claw their way back into playoff positioning and Maxim Letunov, Joachim Blichfeld, Alexander True, Jayden hopefully do the same. As the Blues proved, it's not out of the realm of Halbgewachs, Noah Gregor, Sasha Chmelevski, Dylan Gambrell, Lean possibility, but if we're being realistic, it remains a longshot. Bergmann and Danil Yurtaikin are all 23 years old or younger. Some of them already have made their NHL debuts, while others still are awaiting Whether the Sharks qualify for the postseason for the 20th time in the their opportunity. If and when the decision is made to focus on the future, last 22 years or end up in dead last, there are a few potential the Sharks should throw as many of their fringe prospects against the developments to keep an eye on throughout the remainder of the season wall as they're comfortable with, and see who sticks. that will have an impact on the team both in the present and well into the future. If San Jose does enter a rebuilding phase, chances are you'll be seeing plenty of those guys moving forward. Even if the playoffs are out of the question, these three storylines will be front and center for San Jose:

For the Sharks to have any shot of making it back to the postseason, Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.24.2020 they'll need to emerge from the All-Star break the same way the Blues did: by putting together a lengthy winning streak. St. Louis won 10 in a row coming out of the break last season, and San Jose might require something similar. But if the Sharks don't catch fire coming out of the break, it will be time to face facts before long.

If and when the playoffs become obviously out of reach, it will be time for general manager Doug Wilson to make some magic happen. The season can't be a complete loss, and he'll surely work the phones in an effort to expedite a partial rebuild. Considering the Sharks don't have their first- round draft pick as a result of signing Erik Karlsson to a contract extension, they need to recoup assets wherever they can get them.

Defenseman Brenden Dillon is the obvious name to keep an eye on, and the most likely San Jose player to be traded for two reasons. First, his physical style comes in higher demand the closer you get to the postseason. Second, he actually would bring back a decent-sized haul. Other players like Melker Karlsson certainly could be had, but the question will be if it is worth San Jose's while to do so, since he won't bring back anywhere near as large of a return as Dillon would.

As soon as it becomes obvious the current season is headed nowhere, the Sharks need to shift their focus to the future.

It hasn't been the easiest season to be an NHL head coach. Seven bench bosses already have been fired, including former Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer.

DeBoer, of course, has since been re-hired by the rival Vegas Golden Knights. His former top assistant, Bob Boughner, was promoted to Sharks interim head coach upon DeBoer's dismissal from San Jose. And, frankly, the coaching change appeared to provide the Sharks with the jolt they needed -- initially, at least -- as the team was far more competitive following the switch.

But three blowout losses leading into the All-Star break have sapped all of that momentum out of the Sharks, and Boughner hasn't shied away from calling out his players for unsatisfactory performances in those contests. While he definitely has the respect of the locker room, if San Jose continues its lackluster play coming out of the break, it might lead to questions as to whether or not Boughner is the right fit for the organization moving forward.

The other side of the lots-of-coaches-have-been-fired coin is that many of those established coaches now are unemployed -- but are unlikely to be for long. Most, if not all, will be hired to fill head coaching vacancies in the offseason, and Wilson wouldn't be doing his due diligence if he didn't consider all potential options. A strong finish for the Sharks this season likely would be a boon to Boughner's chances of having the interim tag 1172533 San Jose Sharks partial no-trade clauses, which all of the above players have, does seem to be a big error in judgment).

• Then there’s the Karlsson deal, which stands as probably the riskiest The Sharks’ first half was miserable, but their issues may run deeper move Wilson has ever made as general manager, making a player with a than just one poor season fairly significant injury history the highest-paid blueliner in the league. While Karlsson hasn’t been awful, and it’s still too early to call this deal a mistake, the two-time Norris Trophy winner does seem to be a half-step slower than he was earlier in his career when he would routinely By Kevin Kurz dominate. One of the best defensemen in the NHL this season, he is not, Jan 23, 2020 and that should be worrying. Some point soon, but not quite yet, it will be fair to render judgment on the Karlsson trade and subsequent extension. Wilson took a swing for the fences in the original deal to acquire Karlsson, which was gutsy, and might have even paid off had the Unfamiliar territory. defenseman remained healthy last season. But the extension does have That’s the only way to concisely convey what the Sharks are going the potential to be a disaster. Karlsson was supposed to keep this team through at the moment, as they are well on their way to missing the in the mix for a Stanley Cup for at least the first few seasons of the deal, playoffs for just the second time in the past 16 seasons. Even that one but instead, the Sharks look at least a couple of years away from season they missed, in 2014-15, they were in a playoff spot as late as becoming competitive again. Feb. 21 before a loss to the Kings outdoors at Levi’s Stadium bumped In a press release on Thursday morning announcing a change to the them out to stay. team’s business operations department — as Jonathan Becher will take Now, the Sharks enter the 2020 NHL All-Star break at 21-25-4 for 46 over as sole team president while John Tortora will be moving on — points, 11 points out of the playoffs and in 13th place in the Western team owner Hasso Plattner used the opportunity to show his support for Conference. Barring a miracle, there will be no hockey at SAP Center Wilson. after the first week of April. “While we are all very disappointed in the team’s performance thus far The Sharks have changed head coaches, rotated many of their young this season, Doug has a long history of leading our team to success,” prospects in and out of the lineup, and seen Aaron Dell overtake Martin Plattner said in the statement. “The last time we failed to meet our Jones for the No. 1 spot in net, but nothing has resulted in them winning winning standards in the 2014-15 season, we were able to quickly consistently other than a brief stretch in November. They are just two rebound and re-establish a winning culture for the next several years. I regulation losses away from matching their total from the entire 2018-19 am supportive of Doug’s plan to get our team back on track.” season — with 32 games left to play. In other words, don’t expect Wilson to go anywhere despite what The most worrying part of all this for Sharks fans is that it doesn’t look happens the rest of the way, even though it would appear that the like there will be an easy path for this to get quickly fixed. There will be longtime GM has plenty of work to do to get this team back to no top-5 pick in 2020 draft to build around as the Sharks dealt that away respectability. in the Erik Karlsson deal, they have many expensive contracts for aging If the Sharks do finish among the NHL’s worst clubs, they will have to players that include full or partial no-trade clauses, while the state of the painfully sit on their hands and watch as the Ottawa Senators draft a farm system looks below average at best, and barren of high-end NHL player who could conceivably be someone to build a franchise around. potential at worst. Recently, colleague Scott Wheeler ranked the Sharks Can you imagine the optics if that first-round pick ends up being current with the 25th-best system among the 31 NHL teams. consensus No. 1 overall Alexis Lafrenière, who’s currently averaging It’s difficult, of course, to be a top team, or even a playoff team, every more than two points per game in the QMJHL? single season. Doug Wilson’s ability to field a strong roster consistently is Meanwhile, the state of the current system doesn’t offer much hope for entirely commendable. But in some ways, this dispiriting campaign feels immediate internal help, either. The Sharks’ top prospect, Ryan Merkley, a bit like the franchise is finally paying the price for making some long- is having a fine season, with 49 points in 40 games this season, third term bets that kept them so competitive for so long, but that haven’t quite among OHL blueliners. But he also plays the position that the team taken them to the top. needs the least bit of help — a right-shot, offensive defenseman. It’s also Consider: curious that Merkley was left off of Canada’s roster for the recent World Junior Championships, despite his current coach in London, Dale Hunter, • To help make up for some fruitless drafts earlier in the 2010s, future serving in the same role for Canada. high-round picks were traded away for immediate help to fill in some holes. Jones cost the Sharks a first-round pick in 2016 and Sean Kuraly, And what about the AHL Barracuda? Like the Sharks, they are having a who has established himself as a solid depth player in Boston. Roman brutal season, currently sitting in last place in the Pacific Division at 14- Polak and Nick Spaling contributed to the 2016 playoff run, at the 21-3, and fresh off a 5-0 thumping from Bakersfield on Wednesday night. expense of second-round picks in 2017 and 2018. Evander Kane cost The Barracuda’s 31 points are a full seven points behind the next closest the Sharks their 2019 first-round pick, while the Sharks’ 2019 second- club, San Diego. round pick (and a 2020 third rounder) went to Detroit last February in the Individually, no one on their roster really stands out, and there just may Gus Nyquist deal. All of those players helped to varying degrees, or in not be players there that are going to turn into the kind of game-breaking Kane’s case, are still helping. This isn’t to say that any of those deals talents that the Sharks desperately need — particularly up front. were bad, either. But the organization seems to be feeling the effects of those trades now, as evidenced by the lack of contributions from Role players? Maybe. True top-end difference makers? Probably not, underneath this season, and the underwhelming state of the prospect and that’s what the Sharks will need sooner than later. group as a whole. Perhaps now that the Sharks are just about out of playoff contention, • Long-term contracts were handed out to players that the Sharks simply some of those Barracuda players get a longer look, or, in the case of couldn’t afford to let walk if they wanted to avoid taking a step someone like the highly regarded Sasha Chmelevski, a first look in the backwards. Jones’ six-year extension seemed reasonable at the time, as NHL. Maybe one or two of them are showcased before the Feb. 24 trade he was coming off of two solid seasons with the Sharks, particularly in deadline, much like Nikolay Goldobin was in 2017 for a few games the playoffs. Brent Burns won the Norris Trophy in 2017 just a few before he was shipped to Vancouver for Jannik Hansen. There is certain months after the ink on his eight-year, $64 million deal was dry. Kane to be some player movement in the coming weeks, and it should contributed 30 goals last season, the first of his seven-year, $49 million probably involve more than just pending free agents Brenden Dillon, contract. Marc-Edouard Vlasic was known as arguably the best defensive Melker Karlsson and Tim Heed. defenseman in the NHL when he signed his eight-year, $56 million extension in the 2017 offseason. Logan Couture was viewed as the Wilson has taken some big chances over the years, and one reason he’s team’s next captain as well as one of the league’s best playoff had a generally successful tenure is that more often than not, they’ve performers when his eight-year, $64 million contract that kicked in this paid off. season was signed in the summer of 2018. These were all players that But when they don’t, there are consequences. And they can be ugly. Wilson had to find a way to keep (although his handing out of full or

The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172534 St Louis Blues “We took that bus ride over to Saskatchewan and Manitoba,” said Islanders 22-year-old center Mathew Barzal, who played for Seattle in the WHL and then went straight to the NHL, “and that’s about 25, 26 hours, sometimes straight through on the way back. I think that’s difficult, It can be a tough road to stardom for some NHL players but it was fun. That’s where you bond with your buddies and you enjoy it. We actually had a Nintendo DS and we played Mario Kart and that got

really competitive. That was really fun, to play on teams. Tom Timmermann “We’d get the odd gas station run if we had good night and we got a win. Pick up some M&Ms and Skittles on the way.”

They’re NHL superstars now, flying from game to game on chartered ’s, the venerable Canadian doughnut shop, was another jets, staying in five-star hotels, with their meals coming out of their three- frequent stop on those bus rides. digit per diem. “I think it’s important for you to go through those sort of things as a kid,” But there was a time when even the best of them were like every other said Columbus defenseman Seth Jones, who played for Portland in the young hockey player, not only putting on their pants one leg at a time but WHL. “My first bus rides were at the U.S. development program when I riding the same buses on a seemingly infinite trip across some part of was 15. You’re in high school, you go to school, you go to practice, you North America, sometimes spending more than 24 hours straight on a get on a bus, you’re playing the next night somewhere. You’re on the bus crowded bus, stopping for food at gas stations. for 12 hours and the fact that you have to be constantly ready to go through all that, it really turns you into a true pro, I think.” And those are times that years later they still hold dear. Pacioretty looks back at those times with fondness. And wonder. “Awesome times,” said Montreal defenseman Shea Weber, who last played juniors in 2005 and will be playing in his seventh All-Star Game “I look back at those being good times,” he said, “but in 2020, I look back this weekend at Enterprise Center. “I wouldn’t trade those in for anything. as ‘How did my parents let me do that?’ I don’t know. I moved so far I think you ask any guys here, the junior memories they have (are away from home, I didn’t have anyone there. I don’t know now that I have special). For me personally, I keep in touch with a lot of those old kids that I’d be willing to let my kids do that. But everything worked out teammates. Obviously we were fortunate enough to win together. They the right way and we’re thankful. We got to where we are now.” always say winning helps form those relationships but I think that we grew so close. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 01.24.2020 “A lot of guys are around the same age, you spend so much time around each other and growing. You spend so much time away from your family, that becomes your extended family and you grow together with them, like brothers or stepbrothers. It’s a pretty unique situation.”

Everyone has a bus story, but the wildest and most onerous tales of extreme travel belong to players from Western Canada, who would routinely traverse prairie land and mountains, like modern-day pioneers, to get from one game to the next. The was child’s play compared to the Western Hockey League, with teams ranging from Winnipeg to Oregon.

“Our furthest trip was eight hours to Sault (St. Marie),” said Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, a graduate of the OHL. “Those guys are going 30 hours. We always say we got off easy. Those guys would go for two weeks at a time.”

“Going from Brandon, Manitoba, to Kelowna, probably,” said Weber, thinking of his longest trip. “It was almost a full day, I think like 20- something hours. Wake up, go back to sleep. There was no real cellphones back then either. I think all the kids now are just playing games on their cellphones. I don’t even remember what we did back then. I guess we had to talk to each other. My Junior B season the year before that, all we got was gas station food. Just get whatever you could for five bucks and keep going.”

“Or McDonald’s or something,” said Blues coach Craig Berube. “We didn’t have too much money.”

Tight budgets mattered in other ways too.

“I was playing in Sioux City, Iowa,” said Vegas forward Max Pacioretty, “and our road trip was to Indiana to play in the USHL (the top American junior league). We got there, we stayed in the hotel. They didn’t want to keep the rooms after the morning skate so we parked I think at an Old Country Buffet. We had our pregame meal there and then a nap on the bus in the parking lot and then played the game.”

Most of the bus rides were designed so much of it happened overnight, giving the players a chance to sleep and wipe out eight hours of it that way. Which worked in theory.

“I was a rookie so I had to share a seat with a guy,” Pacioretty said. “Pretty impossible to sleep in those circumstances. I think we found a way to sleep for 30 minutes or so but probably played cards and hung out with the guys.”

Blues center Ryan O’Reilly recalls sleeping under the seats.

Kids today, not surprisingly, have it easier. Buses are better and phones give you a lot more entertainment options. 1172535 St Louis Blues late. The bulk of the improvements were in place before the Blues championship run, including the big screens above center ice that inspired the team to host massive watch parties during the playoffs, a success that will return this season. BenFred: How an All-Star effort landed St. Louis another NHL marquee event “It looks completely different,” Capitals All-Star T.J. Oshie said here Thursday.

The former Blues forward would not be back in town if it didn’t. Ben Frederickson “Zero,” Zimmerman said when asked what the percent chance was this weekend happens without the renovations. “Zero.”

When a new sign flickers on for the first time during a Blues game, he Doubters dismissed the Blues’ chances to host All-Star festivities so soon spots it. after the 2017 Winter Classic at Busch Stadium.

When one elevator runs slower than another, he remembers it. They underestimated the drive of Zimmerman and his team.

When he sees a lost thread on an Enterprise Center staircase, as he did A short movie narrated by John Goodman turned heads during the All- after a recent interview, he stops to grab the nearly invisible scribble of Star application process. black fabric. “We caught them by surprise,” Zimmerman said. “And then, it was just a “I don’t want to overstate this,” Chris Zimmerman said. “But, it’s my matter of staying on them. Part of my pitch to the commissioner was, ‘I baby.” need your help. If we get this building to where we can get it, we need you to come here soon.’” Welcome to St. Louis, National Hockey League. NHL boss delivered, joining the list of Enterprise Center You picked the perfect time to bring your All-Star Weekend to the wins since the SEC Tournament was salvaged. The first two rounds of Heartland of Hockey. the men’s NCAA Tournament are here in March. The 2020 U.S. Olympic We’ve caught lightning in a bottle. A freshly renovated bottle. This is not Team Trials arrive in June. The Missouri Valley Conference men’s the arena you remember. basketball tournament has signed a contract extension through 2025. By the end of this month, the St. Louis Sports Commission will submit a The Blues are not the first defending Stanley Cup champions to host the series of bids to host a variety of upcoming NCAA men’s and women’s All-Star Game since Edmonton in 1989 simply because they snapped basketball events, gymnastics and wrestling championships, and the their championship curse. That was just a pleasant and perhaps Frozen Four men’s ice hockey championship. prophetic coincidence. No, the reason the who’s who of the sport has gathered here is because the Blues, their city and their state combined Wouldn’t that last one be something? forces to pull the Enterprise Center out of the dust. “St. Louis deserves it,” Zimmerman said. And don’t forget to credit Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari Those elevators are inching up his to-do list. A 5G network is desired. As with a hockey assist. I’m serious. legalized sports betting gains traction, Zimmerman wants Enterprise “There’s no question,” Zimmerman said. “I will always start there.” Center poised to meet the demand.

Zimmerman heard it secondhand. The executive who stops to pick up trash from the staircase is determined to keep climbing. Let’s get it from someone who was there.

“All’s well that ends well,” St. Louis Sports Commission president Frank Viverito said. “But I still have this vision of him (Calipari) making St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 01.24.2020 telephone calls from shower stalls in the locker room.”

Coach Cal’s critique of the Enterprise Center— it was still called the Scottrade Center back then— after his 2013-14 Wildcats beat Wichita State in a second-round NCAA Tournament game increased the urgency to make improvements before the Southeastern Conference men’s basketball tournament arrived in 2018.

Calipari was annoyed by outdated locker rooms and a lack of cell phone and Internet service. His conference heard his concerns. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey joined a growing list of powerful people who were becoming hesitant to host events in St. Louis.

Viverito and his commission colleagues sell the city. They compete to land events they know we will support, whether it’s Simone Biles defying gravity at a P&G gymnastics championship, or Tiger Woods drawing record crowds at a PGA Championship. Word is out that St. Louis shows up. That helps. An arena that doesn’t stack up? That hurts. Calipari’s words hurt because they rang true.

Zimmerman heard the Coach Cal story not long after Blues president Tom Stillman hired him as president and CEO of business operations in 2014. He decided to become the spearhead of a team that tackled renovations. Mission accomplished. This All-Star Weekend represents an important milestone of the three-year, $150 million renovation process that weathered a storm of local and state politics that got nastier than any wintry mix.

“Quite the rigorous battle,” said Zimmerman. “We said we were going to do this. We said we would deliver, and help grow tax revenue and all of the other benefits that come with this.”

Long gone are the purple seats that were better suited for Barney on Ice than Blues hockey. All-Stars will encounter modern dressing rooms. New and improved gathering areas for fans invite them to come early and stay 1172536 St Louis Blues Believe it or not, Berenson — long-time coach at the University of Michigan — is playing in another alumni game over the weekend involving the Detroit Red Wings.

Alumni shine bright on this All-Star Weekend night “Hockey is a lifetime sport, I’m here to say that,” Berenson said. “And you can play at a certain level and feel good about.”

Berenson came out on a line with Garry Unger — a player he was once Jim Thomas traded for. Unger, known for his flowing blond hair, was the only player on the ice without a helmet Thursday. The hair was still pretty long, it’s

just gray these days. Red Berenson brought his skates, but he couldn’t promise six goals. “We had to get new hair blowers in the locker room for Unger,” Berenson “No. If I get one, I’ll be happy,” he said. quipped.

More than a half-century ago, Berenson electrified St. Louis with a six- The Blues alumni squad included two now-retired members of the Blues’ goal night against the Philadelphia Flyers. That was Nov. 7, 1968. To this 2018-19 Stanley Cup squad — Chris Thorburn and Chris Butler. Butler day, Bob Plager claims that he picked up a “third assist” on five of those played in 13 regular-season games for the Blues last season; Thorburn goals. In the entire history of the NHL, only one player has scored more played in one game. It was Thorburn’s first time back in St. Louis since — Joe Malone scored seven in a game for the Bulldogs in 1920. the team’s Stanley Cup ring banquet just before the start of the regular season. Berenson brought his skates because he participated in the Blues/NHL Alumni Game on Thursday at Centenne Community Ice Center. At age As for that Janssen-Bissonette “fight,” Janssen had mentioned on the 80. radio (KFNS, 590) earlier Thursday that their might be a tussle between he and Bissonnette during the game. So there was a little bit of staging, “I skated every day when I was coaching but the last two years since I but it was WWE-style entertainment at its finest. retired — I play a little bit with the Red Wings alumni and the Michigan alumni,” Berenson said. “If they want me to play a little bit, I can play.” “I was 0-for-5 against him (in fights) starting in juniors,” Janssen said. “I didn’t know who he was and he beat me up in juniors. Ever since then Yeah, he can still play a little bit. Apparently, the hands never leave you if I’ve been losing fights to him. I knew this was my time to get back at you’re a world-class hockey player. Berenson redirected a pass from Jeff him.” Brown into the net for the Blues alumni team in the first half Thursday. (Wink. Wink.) The teams played two 25-minute halves, with the Blues alumni squad defeating the NHL alumni squad 10-6. The local alumni chapter pulled “Unfortunately I got him the Gordie Howe hat trick,” Janssen said, out all the stops for this one. Blues P.A. man Tom Calhoun was on duty referring to a game with a goal, assist and fight. Thursday. And the national anthem was sung by none other than Charles But it was Ray Whitney, a late addition to the Blues’ alumni team — Glenn. although he never played for the Blues — who got an actual hat trick. Actor Jon Hamm, quickly becoming one of St. Louis’ leading ambassadors of hockey, was on hand. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 01.24.2020 But it was the Red Baron who stole the show.

Many in the overflow crowd of 3,000-plus at Centene weren’t born when Berenson led the expansion St. Louis Blues to the Stanley Cup Final in their first three years of existence. He was voted the Western Conference player of the year each of those three seasons by The Sporting News.

Not unlike today, the Gateway City had Blues fever in those earliest days. Kids played street hockey all over the place back then. Saturday night hockey at The Arena was the place to be. The Blues had captured the sports imaginations of the town.

“It was just one of those things,” Berenson said. “It was being in the right place at the right time with the right people. The right coach, the right players. The fans just embraced us. We loved it here. It was unlike any other NHL situation at that time.”

Berenson was part of the Blues’ team that got swept by Bobby Orr’s Bruins in the 1970 Cup Final — and mocked by some of the Boston players in the process. So, yes, he was delighted to see the Blues top the Bruins in seven games for the Cup 49 years later.

“I absolutely loved it,” Berenson said. “Are you kidding? I was up in Bemidji, Minnesota, at an old hockey friend’s house. I watched every game in the playoffs. And I liked the way they played. They played well every night, and if they made a mistake (Jordan) Binnington was great. But I just thought: This is St. Louis’ time. And finally. Good for them.”

And good for Berenson. Once a Blue always a Blue. Along with Glenn’s rendition of the anthem and Cam Janssen’s second-half fight with Paul Bissonnette, Berenson’s goal drew the largest applause of the night.

“It’s not just about scoring goals, but it feels good to help the team,” Berenson said. “And I think it makes the young guys feel inspired, too.”

Or maybe a little jealous.

“Well, I don’t know,” Berenson said. “They all appreciate each other.”

As for the crowd reaction to his goal, Berenson said: “I think they’re historic fans here. They care about the team — the players that used to be as well as the players that are now. So I think there were a lot of people here that know more about the team than maybe we do.” 1172537 St Louis Blues

Stanley Cup to visit Missouri Capitol

Kurt Erickson

JEFFERSON CITY — The Stanley Cup will make a visit to Missouri’s Capitol Monday.

Two days after its latest appearance in St. Louis at the NHL All-Star game, the trophy won last year by the Blues will be on display in the first floor rotunda from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The 34.5-pound Cup normally resides in Toronto, but players from the Blues have been taking it to their hometowns since they beat Boston in June for their first championship.

In St. Louis, it’s been to the Muny, Charlie Gitto’s restaurant and it has ridden atop the Clydesdale-led Budweiser wagon.

The Cup currently is at the All-Star Game Fan Fair in Union Station, which runs through Sunday.

Philip Pritchard, who has served as a keeper of the Cup since 1988, told the Post-Dispatch in June that the 127-year-old silver chalice has been “mountain climbing in the Bavarian mountains in Germany. We’ve had caviar out of it in Moscow. Been lobster fishing in Eastern Canada. Been to sauna parties in Northern Finland.”

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St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington shares pre-game rituals, advice in visit to middle school

Blythe Bernhard

ST. LOUIS — Jordan Binnington never missed a day of school growing up in Ontario, Canada.

Even in snowstorms when there would be five or six kids in school, Binnington was always among them.

The St. Louis Blues All-Star goalie encouraged students at Long Middle School to stay focused and work hard in a visit Thursday ahead of the NHL All-Star Game in St. Louis.

During a question-and-answer period with the students, Binnington also said his favorite movie is the 1977 hockey comedy “Slap Shot.” He said his pregame ritual involves juggling and skipping to stay loose.

“Being a goalie takes a lot of focus,” Binnington said. “I just put my head down and work and work.”

When asked how the game has changed since he was a kid, Binnington said, “The sticks are a lot better and their shots are a lot harder.”

Seventh grader Dachelle Miller, 12, got a signed souvenir hockey stick from Binnington for successfully answering a trivia question.

“I was nervous,” she said. “I never met a hockey player before.”

Software company SAP, a partner of the NHL, donated $50,000 to St. Louis Public Schools at the event to fund science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, programs. The money will go toward software, laptops and online programming in the STEM fields, said Valentina Bumbu, who oversees STEM curriculum in secondary schools for the district.

Binnington discussed how he and his goalie coach use science and technology to improve his performance and study the competition.

When Binnington was in middle school, a favorite science teacher made diagrams in class to analyze the best angles for scoring goals.

“The closer you come (to the goal), the tougher it is to score,” he said.

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Jon Hamm, Jenna Fischer, Brett Hull and Wayne Gretzky are NHL All- Star Game honorary captains

Kevin C. Johnson

Jon Hamm, Jenna Fischer, Brett Hull and Wayne Gretzky are honorary captains for the 2020 Honda NHL All-Star Game, taking place Saturday night at Enterprise Center (airing on NBC at 7 p.m.) The rundown is St. Louis native Hamm (Metro), fellow native Fischer (Atlantic), former St. Louis Blues player Hull (Central) and Gretzky (Pacific). Both Hull and Gretzky are acclaimed former Blues players who also played for several other teams.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172540 St Louis Blues she’s a saint. She understands the business, understands that I need my rest.”

Even so . . . Contract status a distraction? Not for Pietrangelo, who's in the midst of a “I know guys don’t like to use it as an excuse, but I think he was going career year through a lot of things at the start of last year,” defenseman Jay Bouwmeester said. “One kid is a new situation, but three is a whole other can of worms that not many people have to deal with. Jim Thomas “So I’m sure he’d never admit it, but your life changes a little. I think now, everything’s kind of in place for him and he’s feeling confident. And it just allows you to come and play hockey.” The Captain is in the midst of a career year. It’s as plain as the “C” on his jersey. The “can of worms” — Evelyn, Oliver and Theodore — are now 18 months old. And into everything. “I was saying the other day, his offensive game’s been taken to another level — as we all know,” goalie Jake Allen said. “He’s playing with “They’re busy. They’ve got a lot going on,” Pietrangelo said. instincts, confidence, and he’s not holding back. He’s making the most of his opportunities. He’s doing it in a smart way though; he’s not putting And maybe that’s helped Pietrangelo’s game, because he can’t take himself out of position.” work home with him. The triplets won’t allow it. As soon as he walks in the door, “they’re all over Dad,” Pietrangelo said. That, in a nutshell, is Alex Pietrangelo’s season to date as the Blues hit their bye/All-Star break. With 13 goals and 27 assists, he’s on course for Pietrangelo was strong down the stretch during the ’18-19 regular his first 60-point season. At plus-12 through 49 games, his career-high season, and then posted 19 points in 26 playoff games. He scored the mark of plus-20, set during the 2013-14 season, is within range. game-winning goal in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against Boston and then as team captain, became the first player in more than a half- Pietrangelo, who will be appearing in his second NHL All-Star Game on century of Blues hockey to hoist the Cup. Saturday at Enterprise Center, gives much credit to coach Craig Berube for his revival. It was all the more meaningful because his wife is from St. Louis and he has plenty of in-laws here. “Since ‘Chief’ came in, him and I really, we see the game well,” Pietrangelo said. “The system fits me well. I think offensively, we’re “My brother-in-law, my in-laws, my nieces and my nephews, we shared a probably more skilled than we’ve ever been, which allows me to make lot together with the Stanley Cup and parade and all that last year,” he some more plays. said.

“I think we’re deeper than we’ve ever been. All those things help really Combine all that with his career achievements this season — he passed any player in the system.” Hall of Famer Al MacInnis for most career assists and most career game- winning goals for a Blues defenseman — and Pietrangelo has a chance Interesting thought, about this being the most skilled Blues team since to be a legacy player in St. Louis. You know, the kind that has a statue Pietrangelo played the first of his 10 full seasons here in 2010-11. with their name on it at the corner of 14th & Clark. Especially when you consider that perennial 30-goal scorer Vladimir Tarasenko has missed the last 39 games — and counting — since his But will Pietrangelo be around to see it? There is, after all, that matter of shoulder injury and subsequent surgery in late October. impending free agency after this season. Pietrangelo has been steadfast in his refusal to discuss the subject, and last week’s interview with the The numbers back up Pietrangelo’s claim. The Blues are averaging 3.22 Post-Dispatch was no different. goals a game; they haven’t averaged three goals per game over a full NHL season since the 2002-03 club (3.08). As one of five Blues players Will you back next season? — and that’s a league high — with 40 points or more, Pietrangelo has “I don’t have an answer for you. I don’t know,” Pietrangelo replied, polite played a big role in making that happen. but firm. “I always say maybe for a defenseman it’s mid-to-late 20’s when you Is there anything going on negotiation-wise? really start finding your game,” said Pietrangelo, who turned 30 Saturday. “I think last year, when Chief came in (as interim head coach), it kind of “I can’t say,” he replied. rejuvenated me and gave me an opportunity to play my game. It kind of took off from there.” Wouldn’t it be cool to finish your career in St. Louis?

Pietrangelo is particularly grateful that Berube continues to give him a “There’s a lot that goes into it,” he said. prominent role on the power play. End of discussion.

“For me, I’m better when I feel the puck and I can make plays,” There’s no doubt Pietrangelo would be highly-coveted if available on the Pietrangelo said. “Having an opportunity to play on the power play open market next July 1. He is respected in the Blues locker room and certainly helps. . . . Obviously Chief allowing me to take that and kind of that seems to be the case around the league as well. Look no further run with it has been important for me. I’ve taken a lot of pride in that than defenseman and fellow Central Division all-star Roman Josi of the because I know we've got other guys that can do it, too.” rival Nashville Predators.

Right now, Pietrangelo is tied for the league lead in power play points by “He’s so calm back there with the puck,” Josi said. “He makes a great a defenseman with 20 (five goals, 15 assists) and is tied for eighth overall first pass. He’s got great offensive abilities. He’s really smart. It seems in power play scoring among all players. like he’s always in control of the game. I love watching him play.”

When Berube replaced Mike Yeo after a 2-0 loss to the Los Angeles If Pietrangelo’s contract status is a distraction, it certainly isn’t showing. Kings on Nov. 19, 2018, Pietrangelo had only three goals, four assists The uptick offensively hasn’t come at the expense of defense. And he and was minus-5. doesn’t take his leadership duties lightly in this, his fourth season as There were a lot fans and some media who thought it was time to trade team captain. Pietrangelo, or at the very least, strip him of his “C” and let somebody “He’s a guy that can do things that nobody else can as far as our defense else take a turn at being captain. That all seems like a long time ago. goes,” Bouwmeester said. “Especially offensively. When he’s on — and Maybe there was another factor at work early in the ’18-19 season, the he’s been on — it’s fun to watch. Because he can really kind of control fact that Pietrangelo’s wife Jayne had given birth to triplets less than two the game back there.” months before camp started. Pietrangelo’s answer is always the same on As for Pietrangelo’s leadership style, Bouwmeester said, “More than that subject: His wife is a saint. anything, I’d say he’s just a guy who wants the responsibility. He wants to “I wouldn’t get up in the middle of the night, even when they were be a guy who’s out there in the important situations. Right now, I guess babies,” Pietrangelo said. “My wife would do it. That’s why I always say you could say he’s thriving on it.” Yes, he is.

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NHL All-Star Game weekend activities in St. Louis include concerts, fan fest

BY DEAN CRIDDLE

JANUARY 23, 2020 02:05 PM

ST. LOUIS

At last, National Hockey League All-Star weekend in St. Louis is here.

For the first time since 1988, the best professional hockey players in the world will showcase their talent on Saturday at the 2020 NHL All-Star Game at the Enterprise Center in downtown St. Louis.

But fans who don’t have a ticket for the game, shouldn’t dismay. All-Star weekend, which began Thursday and runs through Sunday, will provide a chance for the die-hard fan to the casual observer a chance to experience what the all-star game is all about.

From a fair at Union Station to free concerts to a 5K run, downtown St. Louis will be a hockey fans paradise during the next four days.

Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172542 St Louis Blues it a little bit, but the fact that when you’re always $20, 30, 40 million in the red, you don’t have a lot of extra space for much. I think on a number of fronts, we recognized that our mission had to be broader.”

‘He’s changed the culture’: Bond between Blues’ Chris Zimmerman, NHL He began by changing the thinking of his staff. has led to St. Louis hosting big events “The initial thing you heard was, ‘This isn’t how we’ve done this before,'” Zimmerman said. “I think people learned pretty quickly that that was not a very good response with me. I believed that we should have incredibly By Jeremy Rutherford ambitious goals, and if we want to be the best hockey team in the world, then the rest of the organization should believe that it can be world- Jan 23, 2020 class.”

In March 2015, Zimmerman hired Steve Chapman, who had spent the Beginning a busy week leading up to the All-Star Game, Blues CEO of previous 11 years as the president of the Gwinnett Gladiators of the Business Operations Chris Zimmerman went to dinner Monday night with ECHL. Blues radio voice Chris Kerber had worked with Chapman at the NHL Chief Content Officer Steve Mayer at Anthonino’s. minor-league level and set up the interview, after which Chapman was named “group vice president of brand community and partnership “There’s one other (team in the league) where we go out, but everybody development.” else, it’s a rarity,” Mayer said. “It’s great because Chris wants to not only talk about the event, but it’s also, ‘Hey, how’s your family?’ It’s become “I’ve told Z this, that was probably the most embarrassing title I’ve ever personal, which is nice. We’ve been together and done a lot.” had in my life,” Chapman said, laughing. “But I was in the NHL and it was an opportunity and not only that, but it was a great opportunity.” By 7:54 a.m. Tuesday, Mayer already had a text message from Zimmerman. Zimmerman had always found it interesting when somebody accepts a position with a smaller role than they’re leaving, but for good reason. “He says, ‘Thanks for dinner!’ and then boom, boom, boom!” Mayer said, reading from his phone. “‘He says, ‘Hey, you said this last night, let’s put “When I met Chappy, I knew he was someone who would take charge that in motion.’ He wants me to know that there’s over 3,000 participants and help motivate people because he had run entire organizations, so I in the (All-Star) 5K. He says we’ve got over 100 people signed up for the certainly valued that,” he said. “He was selling hockey in Gwinnett Willie O’Ree documentary. And then he says, ‘I’d like to have our (human County, and when you’re in a small professional sports franchise, you resources) assistant take Polaroids of your event team. We want to put have to be entrepreneurial, you have to know how to maximize pictures of your NHL team up on our wall because you’re part of the big resources. That’s the kind of person I wanted on my team, helping us event this month.'” build our business.”

Mayer pauses, refocuses his eyes and replies, “You know what that Chapman moved to St. Louis and remembers an early conversation he means to us? I’ve never heard of that. These people that work all of our had with a human resources assistant. events, we go from the Winter Classic right into All-Star. From this, we go “I said, ‘Our morale is the worst that I have ever seen,'” he recalled. “I right into the Stadium Series. We just don’t stop. They’re away from their mean, I don’t think I’d ever seen anything as bad as that. But I’ll tell you families, they never go home, and so when they get to a place where what, if you ask any coach, there’s an old axiom that is absolutely true. they’re met with a smile, the tiny little things, you just don’t get how much There’s a third of the people that believe you, they’re 100 percent in, they it’s appreciated on our end. That’s what this organization is all about.” are drinking the Kool-Aid the moment you get there. Then on the After arriving at the rink, Mayer is then asked by Zimmerman to speak to opposite end of that spectrum, there’s a third of the people who are like, the entire organization. He finds himself peering over department ‘Whatever, we’ve heard this before.’ directors and their employees, more than 100 of them, from building “And then there’s most important of the three, the middle, because operations to finance to sales, marketing, branding and beyond. One they’re kind of sitting on the fence. Because of all the battles they’ve would assume that as the league’s foreman on countless major events, been through, it’s like, ‘Which way are they going to go?’ You’ve got to Mayer has been in such a setting many times, but he concedes it has get those people to buy in because if those people buy in, then you’ve been “not that much.” got everybody moving this way. Then that group that was so negative, “You can see that everybody is really engaged,” he said. “You look over either they run off or they go, ‘The train is leaving and I should get on this that room and you realize every single person has some role in making thing.'” the St. Louis Blues tick. They’ve been given some assignment to just do Quickly, many of them began jumping onto the train. something that makes a difference in this weekend. They know what they have to do and they’re really good at what they do. And so you look “That was really the time where we felt like Z, he’s a different guy in around and say, ‘In order for the Blues to be a successful organization, terms of, he breaks the norm and he’s not afraid to do something that is everybody in that room has to contribute, and that’s kind of amazing to changing,” said Nick Wierciak, vice president of ticketing. “He doesn’t do me. anything radically just to do it. He does it to see if it can be improved and if it can help things. I agree wholeheartedly (that morale was down), but “Our relationship with this front office is really unique. Like any team, you there was a plan of action on how to do things and how to do it right. I engage with the presidents and the owners, but here, we feel like we think to a certain degree, some people were like, ‘It’s great, go ahead were part of the Blues, and in some ways, the Blues feel like they’re part and do it,’ but nobody thought it could get done how well it did.” of the NHL. It’s a very different relationship.” Zimmerman wasn’t just dreaming big inside the office. It didn’t used to be that way, neither the Blues’ rock-solid relationship with the NHL nor the high level of morale among office employees. The two In November 2015, on the job in St. Louis a little more than a year, he started taking shape in summer 2015, when owner Tom Stillman hired attended the NHL’s Board of Governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. Zimmerman, who challenged the organization’s longstanding mindset It was at that gathering where he met Mayer, who didn’t start his new that there were too many obstacles in the way of making it a marketable position as the NHL’s executive producer of content for a couple more franchise. months, but was asked by commissioner Gary Bettman to attend anyway. The team was still in search of its first Stanley Cup, hadn’t sniffed the conference finals since 2001, and was playing in an aged Scottrade “He said, ‘You’ll be a fly on the wall,’ but the second day, Gary gets in Center and a dilapidated practice facility. The new CEO, whose career front of the room and says, ‘In case you’re wondering who the guy in the included stops at Nike, Easton and the Vancouver Canucks, would have back of the room is, that’s our new hire,'” Mayer said. “I remember Chris to approach the off-ice rebuild one project at a time, and it wouldn’t Zimmerman was the first person to come over to me while the meeting happen overnight. was going on and say, ‘Hey, I’d love to grab a cup of coffee after the meeting.’ I told him, ‘Oh, I would love that.’ So he was the first person “I think historically, this organization, the business side, was all about that I actually sat down with before I even started, and he had all these survival,” Zimmerman said. “It never had the resources, the bandwidth, to grand plans.” really think about much more than trying to sell a bunch of tickets and get sponsors. That was kind of the business plan. That’s probably simplifying No. 1 on Zimmerman’s list was the Winter Classic, and while it didn’t take in a bunch of money, but we couldn’t carry … I mean basically we’re long to sell himself to Mayer, who was put in charge of the NHL’s major rebuilding the building.” events in 2016, he would have to sell the Blues and St. Louis to the league. Along with Stillman, they’d already developed relationships with That was happening while the Rams were leaving St. Louis for Los the Cardinals and offered to play at Busch Stadium. At the time, though, Angeles, which the Blues waited out before making a three-phase the outdoor games were being awarded to Chicago, New York and proposal estimated at $140 million. Boston. “There was a lot of uncertainty because there wasn’t a rational reason “A little of it is being a bit relentless,” Zimmerman said. “I’ve been pretty why people were going to support us,” Zimmerman said. “Some people relentless on the league, maybe because my last several jobs before were like, ‘Well, the Rams didn’t use the money, so you could be in great this, I had a long history with the league and I felt like I’ve got to get shit shape.’ I’m like, ‘Are you kidding me? People feel completely burned and done. I’m old now, so I didn’t have a lot of interest in going and doing bitter and suddenly the Blues are now, for the first time in their history, other things. I was invested so much here that I was excited to see what asking for public money?'” we could become.” It didn’t help that the Blues’ interactions with local officials over the years “Chris wants big events because he knows the value of them and how it were extremely limited. brings notoriety to the Blues,” Mayer said. “He was aggressive, but “Nobody spent time with the mayor, nobody spent time with the county there’s a difference between being aggressive and relentless and being executive,” Zimmerman said. “Again, it was the view, ‘This is what we almost annoying. He does it in such a respectful manner and he’s always have to get by to tomorrow.'” giving you new information, where you feel like every time you talk, it’s not just repeating something over and over. They’re giving you updates After a lengthy battle with the Board of Aldermen, the Blues gained and they’re giving you new information as to why an event in St. Louis approval by one vote, but then spent the next nine months in court would be special.” making sure the city would follow through on the financing. Both the city and the state will contribute about $65 million apiece, and now after the But as the Blues were vying to host an outdoor game in 2017, St. Louis completion of the third phase last summer, the benefit is being felt well wasn’t that far removed from the unrest in Ferguson, Mo., in August beyond the Blues. 2014. Beyond TV ratings, the organization had to overcome the negative reputation the city had acquired globally. The building was able to continue hosting college conference basketball tournaments and attract other national events, according to St. Louis “St. Louis has taken a few black eyes here nationally with some very Sports Commission President Frank Viverito. unfortunate things that have happened, and there’s no escaping that,” Chapman said. “But that doesn’t define St. Louis, it doesn’t. When I was “It was because of Chris’ persistence,” said Viverito, “and not just his moving here, it was right after Ferguson, and a friend literally asked, persistence, but his strong belief that it was critical to the future of the ‘Chap, you’re moving your family there?’ I was like, ‘Dude, it’s not what building and to St. Louis’ ability to attract really important business to our you think it is.’ region that we could continue to do if we had a first-class facility. He literally worked every day for four years to make it happen.” “Once you get here and you start meeting people and you get into the community, that is when you realize what is so great about St. Louis. Simultaneously, Zimmerman had set his sights on a new practice facility Every neighborhood has its own little identity. It’s like a quilt, you put in Creve Coeur, Mo., but those efforts, too, were met with resistance. But together all these little neighborhoods and it makes St. Louis. So we had eventually the Blues, in conjunction with Patrick Quinn of the St. Louis to take control of the narrative a little bit better. It was about showcasing Legacy Ice Foundation, worked out a deal with the city of Maryland the city, showcasing for what’s good about it.” Heights, Mo., to help fund the $78 million complex. The Centene Community Ice Center, which opened in September, has four sheets of There couldn’t have been a better display in January 2017 than the ice, which are being used for amateur hockey in addition to being the week-long Winter Classic festivities, which were capped with a 4-1 new practice home of the Blues. victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. “It’s a massive thing,” Zimmerman said. “It goes back to my statement “I definitely think that was a point in time, a bit of a marker, that we could about the Blues themselves were not very engaged in youth hockey. pull off an event — the event — as well as any other market,” When we said we’re going to expose more kids, we had to work on Zimmerman said. facilities. We’re not just selling tickets here, we’re actually playing a role But Zimmerman’s plans weren’t even half complete. that’s making a difference in people’s lives. (But) it’s clear that this leads to more hockey players, which leads to more fans. If you think about The Blues were already implementing many youth hockey initiatives and what are some of the key things that are really going to define the next would continue to grow them; Scottrade Center needed major decade and more for hockey in St. Louis, it’s this facility.” renovations and eventually new naming rights; also necessary was a practice facility to replace the crumbling St. Louis Outlet Mall; and just The Blues cut the ribbon on the new Centene Community Ice Center in maybe the team could lure another league event like the All-Star Game September. (Scott Rovak / St. Louis Blues) to town. The improvements to Scottrade Center, which became Enterprise Center The Blues had dubbed St. Louis the “Heartland of Hockey” while going under a 15-year naming rights deal in 2018, got Zimmerman thinking the after the 2018 World Junior Championships, and though the city finished Blues might be able to put themselves in position to host their first All- runner-up to Buffalo, there were many young children picking up sticks Star Game since 1988. thanks, in part, to a $2 million commitment by the team. “Chris came to us and said, ‘Hey, you’ve got to see the renovations … “We were trying to deepen the connection for people to understand who this is a new building,'” Mayer said. “We were like, ‘Wow, this is great.’ we were, what we cared about, that we’re authentic in our interest,” That’s when it started to click that, ‘Yeah, there are new buildings in Zimmerman said. “The alumni were doing a lot, but the Blues were really Detroit, Edmonton and Vegas, but we consider this to be a new arena.” doing almost nothing. Quite honestly, we were fortunate that from Bernie The Blues also had the success of the Winter Classic in their back (Federko) and all these guys involved, that they created this boom in pocket. youth hockey. But the Blues didn’t have any mindset or money to invest, so it was recognizing, if you will, the longevity of this brand. We have to “We had the street cred,” Chapman said. “You form friendships and succeed on the ice, but we have to have a deeper connection throughout relationships when you do events like this. We knew a lot of the all the key entities.” operations people, a lot of the special-events people, and they knew that we deliver on what we tell them we’re going to deliver on.” Meanwhile, Zimmerman realized the Blues would also need to invest in Scottrade Center, which opened in 1995. During the Winter Classic, the league had gained confidence, too, in the St. Louis Sports Commission. “I hadn’t thought about the building at all before I took the job,” he said. “So now I’m walking into (Stillman’s) office and I said, ‘Tom, I’m starting “I view Frank Viverito and his team as the secret weapon,” Zimmerman to get a sense of what’s going on with this building. I’m pretty sure before said. we know it, we’re going to have to spend easily $50 million.’ I had no idea. I thought that was a big number. The ownership group was putting “When Chris says, ‘Get to know the Sports Commission, they’re going to help you execute X, Y and Z,’ they actually execute W, X, Y and Z,” Mayer said.

The Blues were announced as the host for the 2020 All-Star Game on Jan. 2, 2019, when they were in last place in the standings. Of course, their run to the Stanley Cup ended six months later, but the way the organization handled all of the responsibility of hosting the Cup final was further proof it was worthy of another major event.

“These are the league’s events, but we make it very clear to them that we want to make it our event, too,” Chapman said. “In the proper way, through the proper channels, we say, ‘We want to add this, we want to add that, we want to do this, we can we help here. Like I said, it’s their event, but we do the most to get ourselves involved, to get the community involved, get youth hockey involved, and do all these different things.”

Mayer appreciates that.

“Listen, our team is awesome,” he said. “They come in, they change the environment, and if you leave them alone, they’ll do it all on their own. But we don’t like to do that, we actually don’t. We like to say, ‘Hey, you know your market better than anybody, you know what your fans want, you know how to make an event in your city bigger, so what else can we do?’ Bruce (Affleck) wanted to do an alumni game, and we said yeah because we trust the Blues to pull off an event that’s going to feel like it’s part of the whole weekend.

“That’s unusual, that doesn’t happen everywhere, I’m telling you right now. Chris has made a significant difference; he’s changed the culture. These guys at the top of the class in terms of the way that they work with you. We’ve done a Winter Classic, a Stanley Cup final and now we’re doing an All-Star Game in the space of just a few years. Yes, other teams have interest, but those teams aren’t working hand-in-hand. Here, it’s different. They go above and beyond, and we return the favor because we know it will be a way better event.”

Zimmerman, whose team is likely to be the visitor at the 2021 Winter Classic in Minnesota, is proud to hear those words from an old friend.

“It means a lot that he’s acknowledging it,” he said. “But fundamentally, the Blues are a combination of all the people here behind the scenes that make this thing come to life. In any business, the more people can see beyond where they’re contributing, it’s going to be more motivating. We’re going to build it out so that this isn’t the Z and Chappy show. We need to keep giving the next level of leaders both the confidence and understanding that this is their chance now to step forward.”

“But Z is the catalyst, make no doubt about it,” said Chapman, whose title has been upgraded to executive vice president, chief revenue officer. “This organization had been through a lot, different owners, different struggles, and a lot of, ‘Well, we can’t really do that here’ stuff. But it’s an organization filled with people who care, who are passionate and have talent, and I’ll be honest with you, I just think they needed to be inspired. I think they needed to hear, ‘Hey we’re going to be the best. We’re going to have to work to get there, but we’re going to be the best.'”

The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172543 St Louis Blues It’s a highly encouraging trend. One last high-level view before we dig into player trends. PDO is a

mashup stat that looks at team-level shooting percentage and save Blues’ analytics trending upward … who’s leading the surge? percentage. At the team level, all teams will regress toward average shooting (about 8 percent at 5v5) and save percentage (about 92 percent at 5v5). Though it seems as though a team might be able to “do things” that lead to higher than average results in shots and saves, historical By Sean Tierney data shows that teams can control only their process (how many shots Jan 23, 2020 they get and allow, the quality of those shots, etc.) and not the actual end result of these opportunities. That’s why, ultimately, a team is best to concern itself with good habits (limit shots against, get great quality chances for) and trust that the results will come. Here at the All-Star break, the Blues are in a vastly different spot than last season. In this way, PDO is essentially a measure of “puck luck.” When a team is getting above-average shooting or save percentage metrics, we expect Atop the Western Conference with a 30-11-8 record and 68 standings those marks to regress over time. The Blues have certainly benefited points, the Blues have roared through their first 49 games as successfully from strong saves work (remember, the rates of quality against were a as could be hoped. problem heading into January, which asked a lot of Binnington and Allen Still, results aren’t everything. Over the course of the first half, I’ve noted to carry the load). that the Blues were employing a “dull” style to excellent effect, producing More interesting is the increase the Blues have enjoyed in team-level below-average rates of quality chances but squeezing opponents to shooting, which has been locked into a streak of above-average results below-average rates, too. Thanks to good shooting and tremendous since December. Again, as counter-intuitive as it may sound, the data goaltending, this combination was working. over time shows that teams cannot control “outcome” stats, only process. As the team moves into the season’s back half, it’s time to revisit team- So, there is reason to expect some deflation of team performance once wide trends to see how the Blues are working as a group and to forecast team-level shooting regresses. But as long as the team continues to how the team can be expected to perform as they ramp up for a Stanley create good rates of quality and continues their torrid pace of limiting Cup defense. quality against, the Blues should continue to have success after the break. So let’s dig in. Let’s dig a little deeper to check in on player-level trends under the hood Under coach Craig Berube, the Blues have emphasized a heavy of the Blues’ underlying stats resurgence. forechecking, defense-first, counterattacking style that is reflected in the data. The team has plotted as a “dull” team, creating and allowing below- In December, I wrote about captain Alex Pietrangelo’s push into the average rates of shots and quality and combining that with great Norris conversation. And as a great captain should, Pietrangelo has been goaltending from both starter Jordan Binnington and resurgent backup key in leading the Blues analytics resurgence. Here’s a look at his Jake Allen. This hard-nosed, grinding style of play helped to cover the individual results over time this season: fact that the Blues regularly gave up more quality chances than they His (green) line shows the Blues’ share of quality chances when he’s on generated for themselves. the ice, game by game. The thick black line running horizontally shows Over time, however, Berube and his Blues have straightened that out: 50 percent — if a player is below it, they are on-ice for more quality chances against than for. If above, the player is on-ice for more quality The Blues had a bumpy run, relatively speaking, into mid-November, chances for than against. Over time, players that stay above the 50 playing the defense-first strategy they preferred but still giving up the percent break-even line can be expected to see positive goal lion’s share of quality chances on a nightly basis. However, as the differentials. Ultimately, that translates to good results, like wins. The season has worn on, the team has righted this trend. The group has dotted gray line represents the player’s average expected goals-for been on an upward trajectory in expected goal share (xGF% or xGoals percentage (xGF%) for the season. For Pietrangelo, he’s around 52 Percentage) since the beginning of December and hasn’t been below 50 percent. percent since Dec. 15. Early on, Pietrangelo (like the majority of the team) was mired below Berube’s Blues have managed to steer this improvement in underlying break-even. But the Blues’ captain found his way by late October and, stats in an interesting way: from mid-November on, has been a positive xGF% player. Remarkably, Here, we’re looking solely at the rate of quality chances the Blues create Pietrangelo went through a stretch of 70 percent xGF% before cooling off for themselves. An average NHL team creates about 2 expected goals a little heading into the break. The captain has been nothing short of per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 play. The Blues plotted well below this figure incredible in leading the Blues’ resurgence in underlying statistical until mid-November and have hung around average from late November performance. on, aside from an incredible offensive push in early January. And he’s not alone.

Even though the group has dropped back to average after that excellent This is the same chart, but for Tyler Bozak instead. I’ve highlighted his run of quality offense, the defense-first Blues can be successful by last 10 games because his line in pink is a little tricky to see. Bozak has producing an average rate of quality as long as their emphasis on limiting been productive in controlling the on-ice share of quality chances all chances against remains strong. season and, heading into the break, the veteran center is on a tear of In that regard: +60 xGF%. Bozak provides quality depth down the middle for the Blues’ excellent group of centers, and his strong push from late December on This plot is very interesting in the context of the Blues’ reputation for has helped power the team’s recent run of success. staunch defensive play. The team began the season allowing a well above average rate of quality chances against and then struggled Speaking of center depth, Blues star Ryan O’Reilly has found his stride through November and early December to thwart the problem. There as well. His average expected goal share this season is a little below 50 were stretches of four or five games in which the team looked like the percent, which speaks to his December struggles in controlling the flow defensive powerhouse they can be, but the data revealed a team of quality chances. Since that tough stretch, the Blues center has found struggling to lock in their strong defensive process, relying instead on his usual stride. O’Reilly has been above 60 percent in xGF% throughout Binnington and Allen to deal with high rates of quality chances against. January and has been instrumental in leading the team’s charge in underlying stats. By mid-December, the Blues were back in business, limiting opponents to only average rates of quality against. And as January as worn on, the Youngster Robert Thomas also continues his run of incredible play. His group has trended in a very encouraging direction, dropping the expected 56 xGF% for the season is one of the top marks around the NHL. From rate of goals against to league-best totals. Now only the Bruins and mid-December on, Thomas has been a force, easily leading his Lightning are doing as well as the Blues at shutting down quality linemates to a positive share of quality chances. As the Blues power into opportunities against. the season’s second half, look for the 20-year-old’s role to continue to grow. Despite a below break-even expected goals percentage on the season, defenseman Robert Bortuzzo has rounded into reliable, bottom-pair form since mid-December. After a dip at the turn of 2020, Bortuzzo’s contributions to controlling the flow of quality chances have really improved. For a bottom-pair defender, this is competent enough work and allows the Blues to mix in youngsters as injuries require.

Again, the Blues seem to be at their best when they get reliable contributions from their depth players. After a horrid start to his season, Mackenzie MacEachern has found his game since mid-December. His full-season xGF% metric is still below break-even, but the bottom-six forward has been a positive contributor over the past six weeks, allowing Berube to confidently roll all of his lines.

A final key contributor to the Blues’ hot run is David Perron, who was mired in a long stretch of poor play before the end of December. Perron, a versatile offensive contributor who is usually reliable in terms of managing shot quality, didn’t really hit his stride until the end of December (a recurring theme for the Blues as a whole, despite their strong win-loss results). With Perron back to his usual, responsible play in the new year, he’s doing his part to help push the team’s underlying stats to better match with the great standings results they have achieved so far.

One final note of interest is Brayden Schenn. On the year, his shot quality management is exactly break-even. For a high-quality offensive producer, coaches can usually live with trading chances at an even rate, counting on elite finishers to outscore their opponents. Worrisome, though, is Schenn’s decline in shot quality share as the rest of his teammates have ticked up in a positive direction. It’s worth monitoring after the break.

There’s no question the Blues have enjoyed tremendous results so far this year. From an underlying stats perspective, the concern early in the season was that this team was overperforming, relying heavily on outstanding goaltending to carry them. Fortunately, Berube’s group has found last season’s form again, grinding opponents down to few quality opportunities and creating enough quality for themselves. Led by strong contributions from Pietrangelo, Bortuzzo, Perron, O’Reilly, Thomas and even MacEachern, this group looks a lot like last year’s group as we head into the unofficial second half of the year.

Let’s hope the final results look a lot like last year’s, too.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172544 Tampa Bay Lightning the skills competition) will get seven shots. There are rules for bouncing pucks and deflections that have different points associated.

You don’t know how a new competition is going to go until it happens. How to add fun to the NHL All-Star skills competition The passing accuracy event didn’t sound nearly as boring as it is live, but this sounds fun. I’d happily substitute this for shooting at targets in the net.

By Diana C. Nearhos

Published Yesterday Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 01.24.2020 Updated Yesterday

The NHL teased us. The league tweeted a video that interspersed past All-Stars skills competition footage with video of team dogs, including the Lightning’s Bolt, running across rinks and through arena concourses.

The tweet asked: “Who has your vote for Fastest Pup?"

Alas, team dogs are not going to race this weekend in St. Louis. The tweet was just to promote the NHL All-Stars Skills competition (8 p.m. Friday, NBCSN).

But it got us thinking. That would be a much-loved addition to the all-star festivities. Here are some other ideas:

We are all still talking about Nikita Kucherov’s no-shot goal from the 2018 NHL All-Star Weekend in Tampa. He skated in on Washington’s Braden Holtby with the puck on his stick and faked going to the backhand, letting the puck slide past his stick and between the goalie’s legs.

That was during the actual game, but what if it were an actual part of the skills competition?

There’s already a shootout-style save competition for goalies. It can get a little boring when the shooters aren’t doing a whole lot, so make it a two- part competition.

While the goalies are judged on their save streaks (though, I’d vote for number of saves), the skaters are judged on their shots. Pick a player from each all-star team to judge shots 1-10, like in figure skating, and let them have at it. We might see players pick up the puck and fire it out the air. A spin-o-rama is always fun.

Pick a shot and match it. H-O-R-S-E is a backyard basketball game, but let’s apply it to hockey. Embrace the creativity of the game’s goal scorers. Maybe it’s a tough-angle wide shot. Maybe they come in hot on the move and add a cross-over. Maybe someone tries the lacrosse goal. The first skater picks the shot and the next one has to match it. Classic H-O-R-S-E rules, on ice.

Get the defensemen involved. Defense really isn’t a part of the all-star game, in this sport or any other, so let’s give them a highlight.

Asked if he had any ideas for defensemen, the Lightning’s Victor Hedman did not have much, offering up something with a poke check. We couldn’t think of a great way to make that into a competition. Similar to the save streak competition, this one would pit defensemen in a two- on-one and they’d need to prevent the goal.

Granted, this is probably the least likely of our ideas. A large part of defending two-on-ones is laying out and blocking shots. Blocking shots carries a higher chance of injury than just about anything else in the all- star game (there isn’t much hitting). So this one might not actually be very popular. But we tried.

What about that team pup race? The NHL could do just about anything with the dogs and it would be a hit.

Which dog fetches the most pucks? Which player can wrest the most gear from his team dog trying to run away with it? Which dog obeys its human amongst the distractions of a full arena? Anything you do with dogs will have a cute factor and be a hit with fans.

This one is not our idea, but the league’s newest event, which definitely fits into the nature of this list, so we’re sharing it.

Players will be on an elevated platform in the stands, about 30 feet from the ice, shooting at targets of varied point values. It’s a bit like Top Golf for hockey.

Each player (eight NHL all-stars and one from each the American and Canadian women’s all-star teams competing in a three-on-three during 1172545 Tampa Bay Lightning Like Kuznetsov, Point has made one all-star appearance but it came after Victor Hedman couldn’t play in 2018 due to a knee injury. Point is one of the league’s best centers, but he plays with Stamkos, Kucherov, Hedman and Vasilevskiy. Even Kevin Shattenkirk said Point didn’t Five players who could be NHL all-stars if it weren’t for their flashier always stand out playing against the Lightning because of his flashier teammates teammates. Point has 30-plus goals in each of his full NHL seasons, but he’s more efficient than awe inspiring. It’d sure be fun to see him in the

fastest skater, though. By Diana C. Nearhos

Published Yesterday Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 01.24.2020

Every all-star roster brings with it a conversation of who got snubbed. Last year for the Lightning it was Brayden Point. This year, it was Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy (though Vasilevskiy eventually got in as a replacement).

And the Lightning didn’t even have it the worst.

Bruins forwards Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron are having incredible seasons, though no one outside of Boston wants to hear that about Marchand. Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar is the rookie of the year frontrunner but isn’t in the all-star game (the deck is stacked against defensemen to begin with). At the time rosters were announced Dallas’ Ben Bishop was one of the most efficient goalies in the league.

But the conversation goes deeper than just the snubs. There are some players who are good enough to be all-stars, but never get a chance because their superstar teammates get more attention.

Jake Guentzel was supposed to be the Penguins’ representative before he got hurt and goalie Matt Murray was named his replacement. Guentzel was having a great year, on pace for his second 40-goal season and maybe 90 points. But would he even have gotten a look if perennial stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin weren’t hurt?

Alex Ovechkin decided to skip the All-Star Game for the second year in a row, after eight all-star appearances in 14 seasons. That opened the door for T.J. Oshie’s first all-star game. It was an indirect path through the “last man in” vote, but he likely wouldn’t have been on that ballot if Ovechkin were going.

Here are five players who get buried behind flashy teammates:

Anthony Cirelli, Lightning

Cirelli has two elements working against him: he doesn’t play an all-star style and he’s on a team with a whole lot of star power. Cirelli is not a flashy player; he has 12 goals and 33 points through 47 games. But he is one of the players who “drives the bus,” as the Lightning like to say. Cirelli is the team’s top defensive forward and often lines up against other team’s top lines. His style is not what all-star games are built around, but it is what teams are built around.

Torey Krug, Bruins

Again, with the style and superstars. Krug is a defenseman. (Defense is not a part of the all-star game. There were only a total of eight blue liners picked for the original rosters across four divisions.) Krug has 32 points this season, on pace for a career year. He’s on a team with three of the league’s best forwards in David Pastrnak (an all-star this year), Bergeron and Marchand. He also plays with Zdeno Chara, who is an unlikely all- star as a defensive defenseman but maintains his popularity at age 42.

Evgeny Kuznetsov, Capitals

Kuznetsov was an all-star in 2016, but that was only as a replacement for Ovechkin, who was injured at the time. For years, Ovechkin and Niklas Backstrom got all the attention. Defenseman John Carlson is having a historic season with 60 points through 49 games, so he was an obvious nod this year. Meanwhile, Kuznetsov and his 70 to 80-point seasons has been passed over.

William Nylander, Maple Leafs

Talk about star power; Toronto has Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and John Tavares. Then there’s Morgan Reilly, a top defenseman, and goalie Fredrick Andersen led the league in wins when the all-star rosters were announced this year. Nylander is second on the team in goals and third in points, but that’s not enough in a scenario where Marner needs to be voted “last man in.”

Brayden Point, Lightning 1172546 Tampa Bay Lightning the skills competition) will get seven shots. There are rules for bouncing pucks and deflections that have different points associated.

You don’t know how a new competition is going to go until it happens. How to add fun to the NHL All-Star skills competition The passing accuracy event didn’t sound nearly as boring as it is live, but this sounds fun. I’d happily substitute this for shooting at targets in the net.

By Diana C. Nearhos

Published Yesterday Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 01.24.2020 Updated Yesterday

The NHL teased us. The league tweeted a video that interspersed past All-Stars skills competition footage with video of team dogs, including the Lightning’s Bolt, running across rinks and through arena concourses.

The tweet asked: “Who has your vote for Fastest Pup?"

Alas, team dogs are not going to race this weekend in St. Louis. The tweet was just to promote the NHL All-Stars Skills competition (8 p.m. Friday, NBCSN).

But it got us thinking. That would be a much-loved addition to the all-star festivities. Here are some other ideas:

We are all still talking about Nikita Kucherov’s no-shot goal from the 2018 NHL All-Star Weekend in Tampa. He skated in on Washington’s Braden Holtby with the puck on his stick and faked going to the backhand, letting the puck slide past his stick and between the goalie’s legs.

That was during the actual game, but what if it were an actual part of the skills competition?

There’s already a shootout-style save competition for goalies. It can get a little boring when the shooters aren’t doing a whole lot, so make it a two- part competition.

While the goalies are judged on their save streaks (though, I’d vote for number of saves), the skaters are judged on their shots. Pick a player from each all-star team to judge shots 1-10, like in figure skating, and let them have at it. We might see players pick up the puck and fire it out the air. A spin-o-rama is always fun.

Pick a shot and match it. H-O-R-S-E is a backyard basketball game, but let’s apply it to hockey. Embrace the creativity of the game’s goal scorers. Maybe it’s a tough-angle wide shot. Maybe they come in hot on the move and add a cross-over. Maybe someone tries the lacrosse goal. The first skater picks the shot and the next one has to match it. Classic H-O-R-S-E rules, on ice.

Get the defensemen involved. Defense really isn’t a part of the all-star game, in this sport or any other, so let’s give them a highlight.

Asked if he had any ideas for defensemen, the Lightning’s Victor Hedman did not have much, offering up something with a poke check. We couldn’t think of a great way to make that into a competition. Similar to the save streak competition, this one would pit defensemen in a two- on-one and they’d need to prevent the goal.

Granted, this is probably the least likely of our ideas. A large part of defending two-on-ones is laying out and blocking shots. Blocking shots carries a higher chance of injury than just about anything else in the all- star game (there isn’t much hitting). So this one might not actually be very popular. But we tried.

What about that team pup race? The NHL could do just about anything with the dogs and it would be a hit.

Which dog fetches the most pucks? Which player can wrest the most gear from his team dog trying to run away with it? Which dog obeys its human amongst the distractions of a full arena? Anything you do with dogs will have a cute factor and be a hit with fans.

This one is not our idea, but the league’s newest event, which definitely fits into the nature of this list, so we’re sharing it.

Players will be on an elevated platform in the stands, about 30 feet from the ice, shooting at targets of varied point values. It’s a bit like Top Golf for hockey.

Each player (eight NHL all-stars and one from each the American and Canadian women’s all-star teams competing in a three-on-three during 1172547 Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Star LOADED: 01.24.2020

Marlies should be stronger from their experiences with the Maple Leafs

By Kevin McGran Sports Reporter

Thu., Jan. 23, 2020

Adam Brooks, Timothy Liljegren and Mason Marchment — some highly regarded prospects who’ve had their first taste of NHL action — have returned to the AHL’s . But they can’t wait to get back to the Maple Leafs.

“To see how good every player is, how much they compete on an everyday basis and then get that first game out of the way, it just gets you hungry for more,” said Liljegren, who played his first game with the Leafs last weekend.

“I’ll just say I’m proud of the work I’ve done,” said Brooks, who played seven games before the Leafs’ bye week, taking the opening faceoff in his hometown of Winnipeg. “It was just a moment that everything kind of came into fruition for everybody that helped me along the way. (There is) still a lot of work to be done to be a regular obviously. In the seven games I played, you just see the speed and the skill level of those guys, how they’re able to execute on an everyday level. So that’s something that you have to work to put into your game.”

Brooks and Liljegren were returned to the Marlies on Jan. 18, when the bye week began. Marchment got into three games before being returned to the Marlies on Jan. 14, when Andreas Johnsson returned for an ankle injury.

“It was a dream come true,” said Marchment, who made his NHL debut at age 24. “It’s been a long journey for me. So you know, I’ve always wanted to be there and I got to be there. And now it’s time to get back.”

Whether any or all get recalled when the Leafs resume playing on Monday in Nashville will depend greatly on the level of the team’s health. If Jake Muzzin returns from a slightly fractured foot injury, then Liljegren probably won’t be needed. And if Trevor Moore is ready to return to active duty after a concussion, Brooks and Marchment probably will remain with the Marlies.

It appears the Marlies could use them as they wrap up an eight-game road trip with a pair of games this weekend in Cleveland.

After getting off to such a hot start — mostly under Sheldon Keefe — the Marlies have struggled lately under new coach Greg Moore. But the new coach is hoping for a boost with the return of Brooks and Liljegren.

“The consistency of showing up to the rink every day and competing, battling, to be better yourself, to push the guy next to you, it’s good for them to see that at that level,” Moore said. “It’s a serious intensity. For them to bring that back here and then keep building that for themselves and push the guys next to them, that’s really important.”

The Marlies are 21-16-4 — fifth in the North Division and outside a playoff spot — after a 17-4-3 start to the season. They’ve won just four times (4-12-1) in their last 17 games.

“The team has been struggling a little bit here as of late but, if you look around at the dressing room at the experience we have and the skill, I think if we show up and we work hard every day there’s not a lot of teams that will be able to compete with us if we just execute to the level we’re capable of,” Brooks said.

The Marlies have been hurt by the continued call-ups and by their own injuries. Defenceman Kevin Gravel is ill. Defenceman Ben Harpur has a concussion. Forward Egor Korshkov has a lower leg laceration.

“There’s definitely a lot of moving parts right now,” Brooks said. “There’s a lot of injuries up there (with the Leafs) and there are injuries here as well and that’s just part of the game.

“But as Sheldon (Keefe) said up there, elite teams find a way to battle through that … We’ve been an elite team. That’s something we want to be this year as well. So we’ve got to find our way through this rough patch and, you know, with the leadership and everyone we have around here, I think that won’t be a problem.” 1172548 Toronto Maple Leafs week, when Raptors president Masai Ujiri was asked about the prospect of defending that championship when many are rating them as distant underdogs, Ujiri was unequivocal about his intention.

The final 33 games of the NHL season could be a referendum on the “We’re going to die trying,” he told reporters this week. “I know those Maple Leafs roster guys, and they’re going to die trying.”

Ujiri knows his guys because they’ve gutted out 16 playoff wins and raised a banner. The Maple Leafs are about to get to know their guys — By Dave Feschuk Sports Columnist or get to know them better, at least — and it’ll be an important moment in the arc of the Shanaplan. The 33 regular-season games that remain, and Thu., Jan. 23, 2020 whatever lies beyond, amount to a referendum on the roster. Do the Leafs have the kinds of guys who’ll die trying, in Ujiri’s metaphorical sense? It’s a question that needs to be answered. Because as Ujiri will It’s probably a good thing most Maple Leafs vacated the GTA during their tell you, you can build a club on skills and speed and specimens, to a ongoing bye week and all-star break. If they’d stayed, they might not point. But his team won, and keeps winning, on big doses of steeliness, have enjoyed the tone of the public discourse around their season. too, and smarts.

The “outside noise,” as the players have come to call it, has the Maple We know the Leafs are gifted at possessing the puck. But as Muzzin was Leafs in a heap of trouble of their own making. And in some ways they explaining to a few reporters earlier this year, teams that contend for are. In a matter of a couple of weeks, after they lost five of six games Cups are the ones unafraid to own the moment and embrace the leading into their eight-day respite from the grind, they went from being interminable grind of playing 82 games and a possible 28 in four rounds relatively firmly ensconced in third place in the Atlantic Division to a much of the post-season. more precarious lot in life — four points back of the third-place Florida Panthers and three points out of the final wild-card slot. “The teams that are beat up the most and emotionally drained and physically drained are the ones that win,” Muzzin, the only Cup winner on That’s nothing that can’t be easily made up in the remaining 33 games, Toronto’s roster, said. “It’s a tough, tough battle, but that’s what it takes but it’s a rough stretch, for sure. The playoff odds at MoneyPuck.com to win. have Toronto as a 63 per cent shot to make the playoffs. Which is to say: The season is getting uncomfortably close to coming down to a coin flip. The billion-dollar question, in an analytics-obsessed sports universe, is Envision a future where Frederik Andersen doesn’t rediscover his form how can you tell if your squad qualifies? Starting Monday, the Maple while attending his first all-star game in St. Louis this weekend, and Leafs get a little closer to finding out. there’s always a chance it falls off a cliff. “I think we have a group here that can go a long ways,” Muzzin said. “I But that’s unlikely, truly, and for a bunch of reasons. For one, after don’t think you can tell until it happens, when it comes crunch time and plodding along at a 78-point pace under , the Leafs are you see guys perform better than they ever have — and that’s what we playing at a 110-point pace under Sheldon Keefe. They’ve weathered need.” their share of injuries as they’ve upped their game, including the one that will keep out with a broken foot for another month-plus once play resumes in Nashville on Monday night. Toronto Star LOADED: 01.24.2020 But it’s expected they will get Jake Muzzin back into the lineup Monday, with the team’s best defensive defenceman slated to play for the Marlies in Cleveland this weekend to sharpen his game after missing 10 games with a broken foot of his own.

The outlook isn’t all rosy. Auston Matthews is sitting out the on-ice portion of all-star activities to rest a wrist injury that’s been nagging him for three weeks. And maybe that’s concerning considering No. 34’s considerable history of injury. But when a guy who makes his living unfurling the greatest wrist shot in the league has still managed to score 18 goals in his most recent 19 games — hey, if that’s Matthews with a bum wrist, have mercy on the rest of the league when he returns to full health.

Do they need to cash in a depth forward or two for help on the blue line? It’s been an obvious need for ages. Should they shore up their goaltending depth, too? It would be beyond risky to leave that bit of business unattended. Whatever general manager Kyle Dubas does, it’ll seem significant, and it’ll make news. But barring a trade-deadline breakup of the franchise’s core, it’ll amount to nibbling around the edges, an 11th-hour tweak for the playoff push.

The ultimate question won’t be: What did he do to improve the team? It’ll be: What kind of team has he built? And until this team actually wins something — and its first playoff series since 2004 would be a decent start — nobody can really say they know. You don’t need to go far around town to find an experienced observer who’ll poke holes in Dubas’s creation, lament its lack of defensive acumen or its shortage of traditional grit or the Colorado residency of ’s unpredictability. There are those who believe a team that devotes 50 per cent of its salary cap to four players, as the Leafs do to Matthews, John Tavares, Mitch Marner and William Nylander, is too top-heavy to win.

But as Jason Spezza, the 36-year-old veteran, was saying earlier this season, hockey’s a sport where alternative visions aren’t embraced until they’re proven in the fray.

“Everybody’s going to say, ‘You have to win this way,’ until it’s done a different way,” Spezza said. “And then that becomes the only way.”

The skeptics will be skeptics. A year ago at this time, few saw the Toronto Raptors winning a championship come June. And earlier this 1172549 Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs defenceman Jake Muzzin will join Marlies for a conditioning stint

By Mark Zwolinski Sports Reporter

Thu., Jan. 23, 2020

The Maple Leafs loaned veteran defenceman Jake Muzzin to the Marlies on a conditioning stint, the club announced Thursday morning.

Muzzin, who last played in the American Hockey League with Manchester in 2013, is expected to play in a pair of games with the Leafs’ AHL affiliate this weekend and is likely to rejoin the Leafs on Monday in Nashville, their first game after the all-star break.

The 30-year-old defenceman suffered a broken foot after blocking a shot during a game in late December. He has not played since. The Leafs have been without Muzzin and fellow defenceman Morgan Rielly for two weeks now. Reilly went down with a fractured foot Jan. 12.

Leafs forwards Auston Matthews and Ilya Mikheyev are dealing with wrist injuries. Matthews was ruled out of this weekend’s all-star festivities.

Muzzin has played in 38 games this season, with three goals and 13 points.

Toronto Star LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172550 Toronto Maple Leafs That was the same financial formula that led the Blues and Bruins, who don’t have anyone making more than $7.5-million, to the Stanley Cup final last year.

There's plenty of All-Star talent on Canadian teams these days The Oilers, who have missed the playoffs in three of McDavid’s four seasons, have known this for years. With McDavid and Draisaitl earning a combined $21-million — that’s 25% of the cap — the team has been unable to afford wingers who can fill the back of the net on a regular Michael Traikos basis. January 23, 2020 12:55 PM EST Those problems are now being experienced in Toronto and Winnipeg.

When the Leafs invested more than $40-million into the Big 4 of ST. LOUIS – In 2015-16, the Toronto Maple Leafs sent Leo Komarov as Matthews, Tavares, Marner and Nylander, it meant that there was only their lone representative to the All-Star Game. about $41-million left to fill out the rest of the roster. As a result, the team is paying its back-up goalie $700,000. It was more of a formality than a reflection of his play. And when injuries hit the blue line, Toronto had to reach deep into its At the time, Komarov had 16 goals and 31 points in 48 games. He would minor-league system rather than looking around the league for more finish the season with just 19 goals and 36 points for a Leafs team that expensive help. ended up dead-last in the standings and then drafted Auston Matthews with the No. 1 overall pick. The same issues have plagued the Jets this season following last summer’s re-signing of Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor to contracts that Four years later, Matthews is heading to the All-Star Game (though he totalled nearly $14-million annually. That’s slightly more than what won’t play because of a nagging wrist injury) after scoring 34 goals and Winnipeg has budgeted for its defence. 57 points in 49 games. Three other Toronto players — Mitch Marner, who is also an All-Star, William Nylander and John Tavares — have also The Canucks don’t have this problem … yet. surpassed Komarov’s point total with a little less than half the season still Elias Pettersson, who is ranked 15th in scoring with 51 points, is still on to play. the second year of a three-year entry-level contract that comes in under In other words, there’s a lot more talent in Toronto these days. $1-million. Hughes, who has two more years remaining on an entry-level contract, is also being paid less than $1-million. You could say the same for the rest of the country, where 13 of the top- 30 scorers are playing for Canadian teams. That’s allowed Vancouver to weather some previous financial mistakes, such as paying Loui Eriksson a team-high $6-million or tying up a There are two Art Ross Trophy and Hart Trophy candidates (Connor combined $6-million in bottom-six forwards’ Antoine Roussel and Jay McDavid and Leon Draisaitl) in Edmonton, a Vezina Trophy candidate Beagle. But it also means that Vancouver’s window of opportunity could (Connor Hellebuyck) in Winnipeg, a Calder Trophy candidate (Quinn be shrinking. Hughes) in Vancouver and a Rocket Richard Trophy and Lady Byng Trophy candidate (Matthews) in Toronto. They have to win now. If not, they might be looking at a future where they have a team of all-stars and not much else to show for it. Canadian teams make up 23% of the NHL. But at this Saturday’s All-Star Game, where 15 of the 45 players are showing off their skills north of the border, they will have 33% representation. Toronto Sun LOADED: 01.24.2020 The Flames and Canucks have three representatives each. The Oilers, Leafs and Jets have two each. Even the lowly Senators have two after Brady Tkachuk replaced Matthews.

So it wasn’t exactly surprising that Edmonton, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg were all recognized when the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association voted on its mid-season awards, with McDavid winning the Hart, Hellebuyck winning the Vezina, and Hughes and Matthews finishing second in voting for the Calder and the Lady Byng, respectively.

What is surprising is that the top-end talent hasn’t exactly translated to team success.

The Canucks are atop of the constantly changing Pacific Division, with the Oilers and Flames technically tied for the final two wild card spots in the West. But four of the other Canadians teams are currently on the outside looking in of the playoffs.

How is this possible? How is Toronto, which has three of the top-30 scorers in the league and goalie who was good enough to be an All-Star, ranked below Columbus, Carolina and Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference standings? How is Winnipeg, which has four players amongst the top-30 in scoring and a goalie who was finished first in mid- season Vezina Trophy voting, just two points up on a mediocre Minnesota Wild team that has a game in hand?

Well, the answer lies in the previous paragraphs.

Top-end talent costs top-end money. Five of the top-nine cap hits are being paid in Canadian dollars. In the salary cap world, too much of that talent can cause an imbalance that may lead to many individual awards but not much else.

The Islanders don’t have a player ranked amongst the top-40 in scoring, while the Blue Jackets don’t have anyone amongst the top-60. New York also doesn’t have anyone earning more than $7-million, while Columbus doesn’t even have anyone being paid $6-million. 1172551 Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs send Muzzin to Marlies on conditioning loan

Terry Koshan

January 23, 2020 9:54 AM EST

Jake Muzzin is taking another step toward returning to the Maple Leafs lineup.

The Leafs announced on Thursday that Muzzin, who suffered a broken right foot in a game against the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 27, has been assigned to the Toronto Marlies on a conditioning loan.

The goal for Muzzin, the Leafs’ most physical defenceman and one whose presence on the ice and in the room has been missed, has been to return to the Leafs lineup on Monday in Nashville against the Predators. The Marlies play a pair of games in Cleveland on Friday and Saturday against the Monsters.

In the 10 games Muzzin has missed, the Leafs have gone 4-3-3.

Muzzin has not played in the American Hockey League since the 2012- 13 season, when he played for Manchester, the Los Angeles Kings’ affiliate.

The Muzzin news comes a day after the Leafs announced centre Auston Matthews will not participate in any on-ice events at the NHL all-star weekend as he receives acute treatment for an ongoing wrist condition. Matthews is listed as day to day.

Forward Trevor Moore, coming back from a concussion, was loaned to the Marlies on a conditioning stint last week.

The Leafs, who still have defenceman Morgan Rielly (foot) and winger Ilya Mikheyev (wrist) recovering from injuries, will face an uphill battle once their bye week and the all-star break ends.

Thanks to a streak that saw them win once in their final six games before the break — and watching as the teams around them in the standings continued to win — the Leafs will find themselves in a playoff hole once the schedule resumes on Monday.

The Leafs, with 57 points, are four behind the Florida Panthers for third place in the Atlantic Division, and are four points behind the Carolina Hurricanes for the second wildcard in the Eastern Conference.

Between the Leafs and the second wildcard are the Philadelphia Flyers, who have 60 points.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172552 Toronto Maple Leafs Andersen, you see, might be European, but he would never be caught wearing some of the things Matthews does. The Leafs netminder is many things, but flashy is not one of them.

When Auston met Freddy: Matthews and Andersen are BFFs with the In that sense – in fact, in many ways, according to those who know them Maple Leafs and now All-Stars in St. Louis well – they are completely different.

At 22, Matthews is the second-youngest player on the Leafs, ahead of only recent call-up Rasmus Sandin. Andersen, meanwhile, is 30 years By James Mirtle old, the third oldest player after only Jason Spezza and Jake Muzzin.

Jan 23, 2020 Matthews is from Scottsdale, Arizona; Andersen hails from a small farming city in central Denmark. Matthews is one of the top snipers in the

game, a flashy offensive dynamo who is on pace to break the Leafs all- This story was originally intended to be a simple one, about two hockey time goals record this season; Andersen is the typical calm, collected players becoming fast friends and building a strong bond, as two of the goaltender, whose quiet demeanour off the ice matches with his role in most important members of the Maple Leafs. the crease.

But when I began to ask Auston Matthews and Frederik Andersen about So, it’s an unusual duo. And Matthews admits that, in all his years of their unique relationship, I started to get something altogether different. hockey, he’s never bonded with a goaltender quite like this.

They were using my questions as a way to chirp one another, moving “I don’t really know how this came about,” Matthews said, when asked their personal jabs from the living room of their condos into our interviews how their friendship started. “We’ve got a bit of an age gap. I’ve gotten in the dressing room. along with goalies well, but they’ve always been kind of, like, you know, a little bit weird. Off the beaten path. It started with an innocuous question about golf, a few weeks ago on a road trip. Andersen has clearly become obsessed with the sport, as he “I think we just meshed well. Myself, him and Morgan (Rielly) spent a lot makes analogies and references to it all the time. of time together our first couple years. We don’t have wives, girlfriends, or anything so we have lots of dinners, lots of time spent together.” But Matthews — who grew up in Arizona, home to plenty of golf courses — is not particularly impressed with the big Dane’s new infatuation. It’s not hard to see their friendship on a game day. Beginning in 2016-17, their first season together — Matthews’ rookie year and Andersen’s first “Yeah, well, he loves golf. He loves talking about golf. And he’s not — I season after a summer trade to Toronto — the two began a ritual. Before don’t want to say he’s a bad golfer, but he’s not like the best golfer I’ve every game, during the warm-up, they meet at the same faceoff dot and ever seen,” Matthews said, chuckling. “But he loves the game. He was stretch and chitchat. going and getting fitted for clubs the other day, like in the middle of December, so I mean he loves the game. Loves talking about it. Loves On the ice or off, their conversations are rarely about hockey, Matthews watching it. He’s a big Tiger fan. But yeah, his game could use some said. But the warm-up meeting is a time for the pair to connect before work. they go to work, as they rarely see one another throughout the course of a game given their different roles. “He’s a good athlete. He’s good at two-touch (soccer) and everything. He’s OK at basketball. I mean he’s good at golf. He’s not terrible. But for If you search any photo service online for “Matthews and Andersen,” a guy that spends a lot of time dedicated to the game and watching it and you’ll find many, many photos of the pair during this quiet time. studying it you’d think he’d be a little bit better. But I like going out there Their teammates all know how close the pair are. When I asked Andreas and playing with him.” Johnsson for some insight into Andersen, as a person, he immediately Matthews paused before delivering the punchline. directed me to the other end of the dressing room. “Ask Matty,” he said.

“He hits the ball like a mile in the air. You can’t play by airports because “It’s a fun crew,” said Tyson Barrie, who has been spending a lot of time he might hit planes.” with Matthews and Andersen of late. “Good sense of humour with those two. I mean, Freddy’s quiet, but he appreciates a good joke. Auston’s a Other teammates confirmed this is, in fact, Andersen’s issue with his new little more talkative, but I think they have good banter. It’s fun to be a part favourite sport. of. Sometimes.”

“Oh, yeah — yeah. It goes high!” said Michael Hutchinson, one of “They’re definitely really tight,” Zach Hyman said. “They’ve both been Andersen’s frequent golf partners. “And it goes far. It’s one of those single, for the most part, since we’ve been here. That definitely goes into things, when you see him tee off, just the sound, it’s quite amazing the it. If you’re going to go out and, you know, whatever. Most of our guys power he gets behind it. He doesn’t even tee off that high. are in relationships. Freddy and Auston came in (to the Leafs organization) the same year. We all came in the same year so we all kind “He can crush the ball. Like, it’s unbelievable.” of became close.” Told of Matthews’ thoughts on his golf game, Andersen had some related Hyman explained that, in an NHL dressing room, age isn’t really what issues he wanted to discuss. determines who aligns with who. A lot of it has to do with circumstance, “Yeah, that joke’s been said a few times,” he said about the airplane such as the newer players in a dressing room forming friendships with comment. “Definitely can clear some trees if I need to! I’m trying to work other newcomers in the beginning when they don’t know anyone. a stinger into my arsenal, too. Trying to shape some shots. But it’s not That, he said, explains why a 19-year-old Matthews formed a fast going too smooth yet. But that’s the fun part of it. Keep getting better. friendship with a 27-year-old Andersen. “Auston, he plays a heavy slice. Like Bubba Watson would be jealous I “It’s kind of like when you come into the NHL, you’re the same age as think. He does play well. I’ll be the first to admit it. He definitely beats me everyone else who does,” Hyman explained. “Like I’m older than Willy, most of the time. He plays low handicap for sure. It works for him, I’ll give Mitch, but we all came in the same year so it doesn’t feel like I’m older him that. But yeah he definitely has a nice cut, especially on his driver.” than them in a sense because we all came into the league at the same And another thing… time.

“His fashion choices are fun sometimes. Sometimes they’re a little bit — I “So you take different paths. It’s almost like when you go into college, dunno,” Andersen said of Matthews, who appeared in GQ and Sharp you can be three years older, but you’re still a college freshman, right? Magazine the past couple years. “You guys have probably seen when he You kind of grow up together in a sense.” walks in with that little purse. I think Willy has one, too. That’s something For Matthews and Andersen, that growth has stretched out well beyond I never thought we’d see in hockey. Guys walking in with a little man the hockey season. Their families have gotten to know one another, and purse.” they spend a lot of time together in the summers, during frequent trips to California, where Andersen still has roots after beginning his career with the Ducks in Anaheim. Their latest trip together, this weekend to St. Louis for the All-Star Game, is merely just a continuation of that relationship. With Mitch Marner as their chaperone.

Matthews won’t be participating on the ice, but they’ll still be together, enjoying the company.

“It’ll be cool,” Andersen said. “Mitch being voted in, too, is really cool. Glad with all the hard work that he’s been putting in that he’s getting recognized, too. I think he’s flown under the radar a little bit here with Johnny and Matty going the last couple years. Mitch has been deserving of it and being recognized. I think the three of us will have a great time. Obviously we’re really tight off the ice after three, four years now together.”

After getting in their various digs — about Andersen’s golf game threatening planes and Matthews’ man purse pushing fashion boundaries — the two players eventually acknowledged what their friendship had meant over the last few years.

There’s a deep admiration there, between the Leafs young goal scoring star and their No. 1 goaltender, despite their many differences. They believe their relationship has made them stronger, as people and players.

And they know it’s something that will last the rest of their lives, regardless of where hockey takes them.

“We’ve gotten closer and closer over the years,” Matthews said. “We live in the same building (in downtown Toronto) now so I see a lot of him. He’s just awesome to hang out with. He’s pretty quiet in general, but when you get to know him, he’s a funny character.

“When you look at him, he’s always calm, cool and collected. I think that’s how he plays. That’s how he conducts himself in all areas of his life. He’s pretty relaxed. He never really gets rattled — by anything.”

“We’re pretty different personalities, in a lot of ways,” Andersen added. “He’s more energetic, and I’m more laid back. But he’s a fun guy to be around. And a really good friend. Over the last four years, I’ve had a fun time being around him and spending time both at the rink and outside. That’s been something with our families getting closer and getting to know each other well.

“You don’t have to be from the same place to be comfortable with each other. It’s not really anything I’ve thought about. But sometimes opposites attract a little bit. We enjoy our company.”

The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172553 Toronto Maple Leafs done. Early on in his pro career, I have had two worries about Liljegren’s game. The first is his North-South skating (he’s good laterally) which I still believe to be a concern. The second was about how quick he played in the offensive zone. From the blue line in, Liljegren was waiting too long to Wheeler’s 2020 NHL prospect pool rankings: No. 21 Toronto Maple make decisions with the puck, which would create sequences where he Leafs was left to make the simple pass or throw the puck towards the net (often for it to get blocked). He has the hands and the feet to be more

aggressive and with increased opportunity in an offensive role this By Scott Wheeler season, he has done that, making him more than just a solid defensive option who can stretch the ice with impressive three-zone outlet passes. Jan 23, 2020 He has been excellent at the AHL level and his NHL test is now around the corner.

3. Jeremy Bracco, RW, 22 (Toronto Marlies) Welcome to Scott Wheeler’s 2020 rankings of every NHL organization’s prospects. You can find the complete ranking and more information on Bracco is a lot of things but he’s also not a lot of things, which has the criteria here, as we count down daily from No. 31 to No. 1. The contributed to a polarizing conversation around him as a player, a series, which includes evaluations and commentary from coaches and conversation I believe often does a poor job of truly identifying the gray staff on more than 500 prospects, runs from Jan. 13 to Feb. 11. area. He is one of the better passers outside the NHL and certainly within the entire Leafs organization. He is a dynamic power-play specialist who I have spoken throughout the countdown about several teams whose can break teams down through traffic. He is an excellent skater on his prospects are more talented than they have demonstrated, working to inside and outside edges, which coupled with excellent hands to allow drive down their ranking relative to where it may have been if the same him to hang onto the puck, draw attention and open up those project were conducted at the start of the season. aforementioned passing lanes. He is the kind of player who makes his But what happens when most of a team’s prospects take the steps you’d linemates better and creates more dangerous opportunities for them than hope for, rather than the ones you expect? What happens when a they’re capable of creating on their own. He is, despite reduced number of a team’s prospects exceed expectations, instead of production, having another good year at the AHL level as a go-to plateauing? Well, they rank a little higher than you might have expected. offensive creator whose 5.9 shooting percentage suggests he’s owed a These Leafs fit that mold. A few months ago, if you’d told me that few more goals. But he isn’t an athlete and that contributes to mediocre Rasmus Sandin wouldn’t be a part of the Leafs’ prospect pool and they pace and a weak shot (though it is accurate). And he isn’t big, which can still wouldn’t be a bottom-10 group, I probably wouldn’t have believed limit his ability to play on the inside (some players can make a perimeter you. style work though). And while he does a good job of tracking the play and staying above the puck, he isn’t a standout defensive player. Maybe most But here we are. When I put together my first tentative team rankings for importantly, he isn’t a member of an organization that lacks depth at right this project a couple of months ago, the Leafs landed a few spots higher wing and needs some offensive flair. Plus he isn’t ever going to play the than here, in the mid-teens. However, that was before the loss of their left wing, given that whole heel-to-heel thing (pictured below). When top prospect to the big club, a move that would normally thrust a Bracco opens up, he always leads with his right foot, using it to guide his mediocre pool even lower than where the Leafs landed, they’re the 11th direction as his left pushes. This means that when driving into the team to appear on this list. offensive zone, he opens up his hips to push down the right-wing wall. That’s driven in large part by the leaps forward taken by several of their The only time you’ll see him use it on the left wall is if he has circled the top prospects, including some who’ve thrust themselves into entirely new net and he’s tracking back towards the blue line. echelons. Could he contribute at the NHL level and improve the Leafs’ power play? 1. Nick Robertson, LW, 18 () I do not doubt that he could. But unless the Leafs run into injury trouble or trade , he’s at a bit of an impasse. Since the beginning of the summer, Robertson has transformed from an injury-prone, diminutive winger with many pro qualities (a heavy curl and 4. Mikhail Abramov, C/RW, 18 (Victoriaville Tigres) drag release, superb edge work and excellent hands chief among them) I had two concerns about Abramov in his draft year. The first was about and middle six upside, to a star-level prospect with first-line potential. his size and strength on the puck — and the challenges that will pose in Most of you probably know by now that I’m a huge fan of his game and the translation of his obvious skill level to the next level. The second was that I believed he was a potential steal at 53rd overall before that about his shot or, more specifically, his willingness to use it. The former meteoric rise began at the world junior summer showcase and the worry remains but the latter has undergone a huge transition. This Traverse City prospect tournament. But then it actually happened (which season, on another weak Victoriaville team, Abramov has continued to even with all the talent in the world isn’t always the case). Robertson has establish himself as a dominant individual threat, rather than a dangerous an overwhelming shot, a never-stop-moving mentality, a physical snarl combination threat. By that, I mean that he has learned to rely less on his and a net-driven approach to the game, all of which help him use those linemates and more on himself, his puck skill, his ability to hang onto the aforementioned puck skills to make NHL-level plays. If he has a puck and avoid contact even against bigger players, and yes, that shot. weakness, it might be his playmaking, where he can sometimes drop his In doing so, he has made good on the belief that I had in him in my final head as he tries to beat defenders 1-on-1, even when there’s a simpler draft ranking (I kid, I kid!). All jokes aside, though, he has made good on play to a teammate available. Furthermore, his reckless abandon, the plunge the Leafs took on him 115th overall. He has almost twice as coupled with his size, could make him forever prone to injury and on the many points as his nearest teammate. That’s crazy. If he can get defensive side of the puck, he has been known to get hemmed into his stronger, there might be a real player there. own zone. He’s a blue-chip prospect though — and maybe the biggest piece of the now-contending Petes’ puzzle. 5. Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, C/RW, 19 (Peterborough Petes)

“He got off to a great start. He came back with a ton of confidence. Nick, I don’t know what SDA will be at the pro level. Nobody knows what SDA in the first time he has been exposed to the Leafs in that setting, made a will be. SDA doesn’t even know what SDA will be. He is, without positive impression. He certainly has a high, high level of skill and has question, one of hockey’s weirdest prospects. The good news is that the ability to be a top player in this league,” Petes’ general manager Mike after a rough season a year ago, Der-Arguchintsev has looked more like Oke said. “He wants to play in key situations and … his play has dictated the dominant playmaking wizard he’s capable of being, hanging onto the that that’s exactly where he’s being utilized. We’re going to count on puck that extra split second to delay and create through traffic. Does he him.” still need to shoot more? Yes. Is he still probably too small to fully reach his potential? Yes. Does he try to do too much? Yes. Will he need to be 2. Timothy Liljegren, RHD, 20 (Toronto Marlies) sheltered defensively? Yes. Is his straightaway speed mediocre? Yes. Is Despite his recent bouncing between the NHL and the AHL, Liljegren his surge in production linked to better linemates and age? Yes. And yet was included in the ranking because he has yet to establish himself as … I can’t rule him out as a potentially-dynamic pass-first winger who can an NHL player. Still, if you were looking for Liljegren to take steps forward make things happen on the power play. in any one area of his game this season, it would have been to become a 6. Nick Abruzzese, C/LW, 20 (Harvard University) more decisive, aggressive player with the puck. After developing his defensive game in each of the two prior years, that’s exactly what he has Abruzzese was a tough player to project heading into his freshman year time in college, I felt like there was real NHL upside to his game. But he because he was already 20 and though he’d torn up the USHL, a four- turns 23 this summer and the clock is ticking. year college career would mean that he was 24 before he turned pro. And rarely do players coming out of college at that age go on to forge 11. Filip Kral, LHD, 20 (Spokane Chiefs) solid NHL careers. As a result, Abruzzese couldn’t falter as most I’ve got mixed emotions on Kral. When he moves his feet, he’s excellent. freshmen do. He couldn’t spend a year or two figuring out the college He can move the puck, he does a good job getting to holes in the game. If he wanted to leave school, earn a contract, and turn pro before offensive zone as a shooter and he has learned to defend the rush well graduating, he had to look more like a sophomore or a junior (more his despite lacking physical element. But I’ve also seen him play some ugly age!) right out of the gate. And not only has he done that but he has games where he gets caught standing around, he doesn’t track backside probably exceeded it. He was dominant in his college debut and that pressure well and he doesn’t look dynamic enough to translate the continued right into his ECAC rookie of the week nod. He’s been so power-play role he plays in junior to the pro level. His upside is probably good, right from the beginning, that he’s Harvard’s Hobey Baker nominee limited to a No. 4-6 as a result. He’s going to have to prove himself in the and the NCAA’s most productive (1.24 points per game) freshman. He AHL first, too — and I’d sooner bet on a tweener development curve than has done it while making a seamless transition to left wing (not his on an everyday NHLer. natural position). Suddenly, four years may be three years and he looks a lot more interesting. 12. Mike Koster, LHD, 18 (Tri-City Storm)

7. Joseph Woll, G, 21 (Toronto Marlies) After a tough start to the season, Koster has looked more like himself of late, playing a fast, heads-up, attacking game that creates shots on goal, A glance at Woll’s numbers would suggest his rookie season hasn’t gone finds his teammates in motion and pushes the tempo. When Koster does as planned. Mix in a broken finger sustained in training camp and there’s that — and he doesn’t have to defend as much — he’s a fascinating an ugly storm brewing there. But all of the qualities that make Woll so player. But there are legitimate concerns as to whether he’s dynamic interesting — his keen understanding of the game and willingness to enough (despite plus-level skating and passing) to cover for the fact that study it, his size and athleticism, his poise in the net — are still there. he’s 5-foot-9. He has struggled to handle tougher defensive assignments Sometimes it just takes time. The Leafs believe in him, they’re willing to in a more prominent role this year, so it’s going to be a work-in-progress work with him, he’s got all the tools and the off-ice habits to put it as he transitions to college next year, but there are enough tools to make together. I wouldn’t worry just yet. him a worthwhile follow.

8. Mikko Kokkonen, LHD, 18 (Jukurit) 13. Ian Scott, G, 20 (TBD)

If Robertson, Liljegren, Abramov and Abruzzese have all gone one I don’t have a lot to say/add about Scott, other than that I’ve been told direction, Kokkonen has gone the other. After a concussion ruined his that hip impingement sucks and that it’s a particularly scary injury for summer, his season went off the rails and spilled into a disappointing goalies. It’s a sad story because he was riding high after a brilliant final fourth-place finish at the world juniors. It’s easy to like Kokkonen’s game. season in junior and now he has to start over. His inclusion here is on the He plays a modern, puck-possession style that might look a little too safe merits of where he left things off (he’d be a few spots higher if healthy, but drives results, includes some calculated aggression and is at its best I’m sure). Here’s hoping he can get back to feeling like himself in the net when he’s making simple, smart plays. More and more, those are the next year. defensemen teams covet. But there are concerns about his skating and his ability to make plays. Give him two or three years to sort out the 14. Jesper Lindgren, RHD, 22 (Toronto Marlies) kinks, put a tougher summer and fall behind him and get back on track as After working to find his groove — and role — early on this season, the beyond-his-years defense the has always been. Patience will be key. Lindgren has been good in his first full year in North America. Though It has been nice to see him be a little more aggressive since returning he’s a little on the smaller end, his stride is smooth, his outlet passes are from the world juniors. flat and crisp, he sees the ice well, he has turned his defensive game from a weakness into a strength and he can handle the puck well enough He went end-to-end (from behind his own net to a shot on goal at the across the offensive zone blue line to make the odd play and chip-in other) here: offensively. The question has always been whether he can be more than 9. Mac Hollowell, RHD, 21 (Toronto Marlies/Newfoundland Growlers) a good player in the SHL, or a good player in Liiga, or a good player in the AHL. I do think, with the progression of his defensive game, that he’d It has been weird to watch Hollowell over the last year and a half make a fine injury recall. I don’t think he’s an everyday NHLer, though. because he has looked like three different players, depending on the He has been one of the Marlies’ more consistent defenders for the last team and league he’s playing in. With the Greyhounds, he looked like a little while. rover, using his elite (I hate that word but I mean it) skating ability to join the rush, activate offensively and make things happen. With the 15. Vladislav Kara, C/RW/LW, 21 (AK Bars Kazan) Growlers, that has played well in spurts but not with the same shift-to- Kara is a player who for a long time looked like he was just going to be a shift consistency. And with the Marlies, he looks hesitant to make good, two-way, mid-level pro player. He has always impressed off the mistakes. He’s not going to be an NHL player if he plays passively, puck, with standout instincts, an ability to win battles with his stick or his though. Because then the size will crop up as an issue and his unique body and a strong North-South stride. Together, those qualities helped advantage over most players will be neutralized. I really do think he has him play 41 games in the KHL last season and 11 the year before that. the talent to be a dominant AHL defenseman and potentially an NHL This year, though, after showing some playmaking skill at the second-tier option someday. But he needs to play with the same confidence we saw VHL level, he has also begun to show a little more pop in the KHL. In develop in junior, because even as the speed and physicality picks up, doing so, I have begun to consider the merits of him as a potential fourth- he’s got a unique skill set. line NHL player somewhere down the road. And while those odds remain 10. Joey Duszak, RHD, 22 (Toronto Marlies/Newfoundland Growlers) long, he has willed himself onto a list like this.

Duszak has been dealt a bad hand in his time with the Marlies thus far, in 16. Aaron Luchuk, C, 22 (Toronto Marlies/Newfoundland Growlers) my opinion. When the Leafs extended him an entry-level contract rather After a so-so rookie season in pro hockey with the Senators organization than an AHL deal, knowing the latter wasn’t going to get it done after he last year, Luchuk, the OHL’s scoring champion in 2018, hit reset with the closed out his collegiate career as he did, I expected he’d be eased into Leafs (or, specifically, the Growlers), quickly becoming a dominant ECHL a prominent role with the Marlies. I didn’t expect, though, that he’d spend player. As with Duszak, I believe there’s room for him to have that kind of as much time with the Growlers as he has (even as the Leafs impact at the AHL level, in the right role, too. Whether that opportunity transitioned to more of a tiered system), or that it would take him this long comes is a different question. And what that makes him relative to the to take on a leading role with the Marlies. He looks too good for the NHL is another question altogether. I do wonder about his NHL upside ECHL level, especially offensively given how dynamic he is. So while the not only because of his size but also because of his pace. I think he Marlies by and large do an excellent job with all of their projects, there’s might be a AAAA player in a couple of years but this is the last year of his something about the handling of Duszak that doesn’t quite feel right. I do rookie deal and his future with the Leafs remains murky. think he’s talented enough to be an impact guy in the AHL right now and that he’d be making waves if he were on a different AHL team. But to 17. Eemeli Rasanen, RHD, 20 (Jokerit) accomplish that, he needs to be given a chance to excel in the AHL, rather than play a limited role. When I saw Duszak play live for the first He’s massive, he’s got decent skill and he’s 20. For that, he gets a late mention here because there’s still time for him to turn things around and get a once-promising trajectory back on the rails. I firmly believe the Marlies ought to get work him back into their program though.

And hey, he can rip it:

18. Kalle Loponen, RHD, 18 ()

Can being unspectacular while consistently making the right choices take you to the NHL? Not often, but Loponen plans on testing those odds. I know he hopes to return to Liiga as a full-time option next year, so it will be interesting to see how his game translates at that level. I’ve been impressed by his play in the OHL. He’s solid.

The Tiers

Each of my prospect pool rankings will be broken down into team-specific tiers in order to give you a better sense of the talent proximity from one player to the next (a gap which is sometimes minute and in other cases quite pronounced).

While some of the player tiers for preceding teams have existed in more concrete, definitive terms, the Leafs’ version has a fluidity to it that is kind of unique. Part of that is driven by players working their ways in and out of specific tiers. Kokkonen has fallen out of the second group (though I think he’s good enough to move back in), while Abruzzese has moved up into it. The same is true for Scott who by no fault of his own has been forced down the list due to injury. Really, it is the play of Robertson, who has risen to a new echelon and challenged Liljegren as the top prospect in the process, that props the Leafs up to No. 21.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172554 Toronto Maple Leafs Mitch Marner (five years remaining, $10.893-million cap hit) William Nylander (four years remaining, $6.962-million cap hit)

The other three horsemen of the Leafs o-pocalypse. (The ‘O’ is for Maple Leafs trade tiers: Who’s tradable? Who’s untouchable? Who could offence.) There could be a scenario where one of the Big Four forwards realistically move ahead of the deadline? gets moved in the next couple years, but this isn’t it. They’re all having strong seasons – aside from injuries derailing Tavares and Marner for seven and 11 games, respectively – and they are the biggest reason the By James Mirtle Leafs are the highest scoring team in the NHL, by far, since promoting Keefe to HC. The chemistry between Matthews and Marner, and Tavares Jan 23, 2020 and Nylander, has been terrific to watch since those pairings were put together for the first sustained stretch last month. There’s no need to galaxy brain this: You don’t break up this group right now because it’s I was in the midst of pulling together a slightly different take on this when simply not the problem. Eric Koreen released his Raptors trade tiers and absolutely crushed it. Morgan Rielly (two years remaining, $5-million cap hit) Imitation is something something flattery, Eric. So we humble hockey folks are borrowing your methods and adding our own dash of madness. Rielly has drawn more criticism this season from the fan base than I’ve ever seen; some of that is justified and some isn’t. He has been playing The Maple Leafs are not going to be sellers this year. I know some fans through a significant core injury all year — it has to be an abdominal, are calling for that in the darker corners of the ‘net — given the team is hernia or lower back issue — that makes it difficult to properly evaluate sitting (narrowly) outside a playoff spot and three key members of the D his play. While I wouldn’t argue he’s completely untouchable beyond this core are pending UFAs — but, let’s be honest, it’s not going to happen. season given how crowded left defence could get if Muzzin is re-signed, the fact Rielly is out with a broken foot until at least mid-March means he The Leafs core is entering its prime. This contention window, with their is part of this leadership core for the near future. young stars under contract, is finite. And this team has, for all its Jekyll and Hyde-ness, won a crap-ton of games since the coaching change in Rasmus Sandin (three years remaining of entry-level deal; two if he plays mid-November. another NHL game this season)

Toronto is tied for the fourth best record in the NHL since Sheldon Keefe It’s awfully early, but this is looking like a very strong pick for the went behind the bench. They’ve gone 16-7-3 (a .673 points percentage organization, and it’s hard to imagine a future where Sandin isn’t a key or 110-point full-season pace) after 26 games, a record good enough that part of the Leafs blue line. Still only 19, his unusual poise as a rookie will if it is extrapolated over the remaining 33 games of the season and be a godsend when they need to rely on him to play big minutes while added to their existing total would give them 101 points. playing on a bargain-basement ELC.

That’s enough to guarantee they’ll make the playoffs — and maybe even 2. Could move in only extreme circumstances challenge for home-ice advantage in Round 1, something that’s escaped the franchise for 16 years. Frederik Andersen (one year remaining, $5-million cap hit)

They’ve done this while missing their top two defencemen, at various A month ago, there’s no way he’s here. But you combine Andersen’s points, and with two goaltenders who have, at times, played like a bunch recent struggles with the fact next season is the last year of his deal and of cats taped together. all of a sudden there’s a little sliver of doubt about his future with the organization. He’s been too good of a goalie for too long to give up on (No offence to Frederik VezinAndersen. But we are retiring that nickname after a tough stretch that’s only, what, 15 games long, but navigating that for the time being.) next contract is going to be incredibly complex. Even if you’re ready to move on, the question is: to what? So this isn’t a team that should be pulling things apart and putting assets on the front lawn for a yard sale. The Leafs have problems, but they’re Jake Muzzin (UFA when $4-million deal expires this summer) not that far away. They absolutely should be squeezing the melons at the Feb. 24 trade deadline to see if there’s something that can improve their Muzzin, similarly, has been banged up a lot this year. But you can argue roster, at all three positions. he has been their most dependable defender. And it makes sense the organization is trying to get him re-signed before he can test free agency They’ll need to think about the present and future when they make deals, in July. Muzzin is 31 next month. He wears two big knee braces every and while that’s more difficult, it’s not impossible. The Jake Muzzin deal game under his gear and he had a significant back issue early in his last season was the perfect example of a near-deadline experience that career. Going long on an extension carries some red flags, especially helped them for more than a couple of months. That’s what they’ll be with all the lefties on this blueline, but he’s not a player you can lose looking for again, 12 months later. without feeling it. Ask the Kings.

What follows is my attempt to categorize the players currently on the Tyson Barrie (UFA when $2.75-million deal expires this summer) roster in terms of their suitability for trade bait. It’s a mix of analysis, guesswork and informed speculation, based on what’s out there a month Under Babcock, Barrie wanted out. Now? He’s made close friendships in advance of the deadline. with several members of the Leafs core and is thriving on the ice. He’ll never be a defensive stalwart, but since Keefe took over, he’s seventh The groups below are ranked by the likelihood of each scenario playing among NHL defencemen in points per game, with 20 in 26 games. out. Within each group, the players are ranked by their salary cap hit for Logging 21 minutes a game, he’s also posting really strong underlying their current contract. metrics like expected goals. I know other teams are intrigued by the possibility of adding him, but the Leafs are thin on RD and it doesn’t I’ll get into cap ramifications as necessary, although the full extent of the make a lot of sense to move Barrie given what he brings and what he Leafs financial situation is probably worthy of its own post in the near costs under the cap. future. Zach Hyman (one year remaining, $2.25-million cap hit) 1. Not going anywhere I was tempted to put Hyman under the locks. And it’s hard to envision a Auston Matthews (four years remaining, $11.634-million cap hit) trade that makes sense. But he does only have the one year left on his A 22-year-old, 6-foot-3, 220-pound centre who is on pace for nearly 60 deal and given the Leafs impending cap crunch, you wonder how they’ll goals and is locked in until 2024. Half the people in the building are re-sign him. But he strikes me as the type of local product who may well wearing his jersey every night – you’re firing everyone in the front office take a big discount to stay and be a part of this group. In any event, he before this guy gets traded. Matthews might be only two seasons from brings an element they need and remains a bargain at his current cap hit passing Wendel Clark for goals as a Leaf at this rate, which would put through 2021. him eighth all-time. Hard to believe. (three years remaining, $2-million cap hit) John Tavares (five years remaining, $11-million cap hit) He just re-signed and he plays RD. Another player who feels like part of The Leafs’ fourth-liners haven’t played much under Keefe, and it’s hard the solution, not the problem. to imagine them bringing in a big haul in a trade, but they could add value to a larger proposition. Moore, in particular, has offensive upside that Pierre Engvall (RFA when entry-level deal expires this summer) hasn’t been fully tapped so far in the NHL. Gauthier, meanwhile, has a lot The Leafs are going to have to open the Engvault to pay him after his of fans around the league, if the Leafs decide they prefer Adam Brooks play this season. there.

Ilya Mikheyev (RFA when entry-level deal expires this summer) Jeremy Bracco (RFA when entry-level deal expires this summer)

Mikheyev is potentially out for the season, which makes a trade all but He wants out and the Leafs have tried to oblige. Bracco’s three goals in impossible. Best case scenario he’s back for the playoffs and the Leafs 40 AHL games have hurt his value this season, however, after a big year can get an extension done in the offseason. Feels like a player you want last season with the Marlies. He’s 23 in March so the clock is certainly to keep around, even if you have to move others to fit in his next deal. ticking.

Travis Dermott (RFA when entry-level deal expires this summer) Assorted other draft picks

This one will be interesting to watch. He hasn’t exactly flourished after The Leafs have a second, third, two fourths, three sixths and three missing the start of the season due to offseason shoulder surgery. seventh round picks at the draft in Montreal in June. In 2021 and 2022, Dermott’s still only 23 but it remains really unclear what his ceiling is at they have their full complement of picks, assuming Carolina ends up with this point. A cheap bridge deal and more opportunity next season feels their first-rounder this year. Some of those selections could definitely like the likely outcome. factor in as sweeteners if there’s a defenceman or backup goaltender in play before the deadline. Jason Spezza (UFA when $700,000 deal expires) 5. Most likely to be dealt, for various reasons Spezza has a full no-trade clause and makes the league minimum. He’s provided useful veteran minutes at a position where the Leafs are thin Cody Ceci (UFA when $4.5-million deal expires) and is loved by his younger teammates. I can’t envision a scenario where Ceci hasn’t been a disaster. In fact, taking on one year of his deal instead moving him makes any sense, but … I guess he’s technically not a lock of five more of Nikita Zaitsev looks downright brilliant. But he probably to stay? maxes out as a third-pair type and he doesn’t seem to be a great fit in Nick Robertson (in junior; three years remaining of entry-level deal) Keefe’s possession-focused style. The Leafs may well need to clear cap space to make a trade before the deadline; Ceci’s $4.5-million feels like The Leafs’ 2019 late second-rounder has 31 goals in 28 OHL games and the easiest to lose — assuming the deal they’re making is for a represents the future. Kyle Dubas is going to have to punch a hole for defenceman who can assume his 20 minutes a game. him on LW here in the years to come. 6. Other miscellaneous trade chips 2022 first-round pick David Clarkson’s zombie contract The Leafs traded their 2019 pick for Muzzin then their 2020 pick to get rid of . They can’t deal their 2021 pick because the Marleau Might be fun to punt around one more time, for good old times? No, no, deal is contingent on if the 2020 pick is in the top 10 or not, which is still they’re stuck with this beauty, as a reminder of bleaker times. Getting out possible, if unlikely. It’s hard to imagine the franchise wants to of LTIR would be useful for the Leafs, but with this contract and Nathan perpetually be picking in the 50s and beyond to open drafts, so I have to Horton’s, that’ll prove all but impossible. (Both deals expire this season, imagine they hold onto their remaining high picks. at least.) The Clarkson deal was part of one of those trades where, the first time it happened, I’ll never forget where I was: Walking around 3. Could move if the Leafs decide they are big buyers Boston in the frigid cold, during the Sloan Analytics Conference, where Dubas, then AGM, was speaking the next day. It wasn’t a bad weekend Alexander Kerfoot (three years remaining, $3.5-million cap hit) for the franchise. Only acquired last July, Kerfoot hasn’t been a natural fit as the Leafs 3C Other prospects so far. The difficulty in trading him is they don’t have a ton of other options to fill that role, but his salary would free up enough room to Yegor Korshkov is probably the Leafs’ next best prospect, after Sandin, maneuver in an upgrade on the back end. Kerfoot could also potentially Robertson and Liljegren. The big Russian might be intriguing enough for be part of a deal that involved bringing in another centre, if there was a some organization to bite on, too, given his combination of size and skill. multiplayer deal afoot. He’s going to be 24 this summer, so he’s moving out of “prospect” age, too. The Leafs have some other interesting depth prospects like Mikko Andreas Johnsson (three years remaining, $3.4-million cap hit) Kokkonen and Semyon Der-Arguchintsev in the system, but it’s hard to Kasperi Kapanen (two years remaining, $3.2-million cap hit) envision them moving the needle significantly in any kind of trade package. What makes these two most expendable isn’t their play; they’ve been fine. It’s the emergence of Mikheyev and Engvall, among others, on the Michael Hutchinson (one year remaining, $700,000) wings, combined with Johnsson and Kapanen’s trade value around the I suppose it’s possible that if the Leafs acquire a goaltender, Hutchinson league. Other teams are particularly interested in Kapanen, and it’s goes the other way. More likely, however, there’s more value in keeping highly likely the Leafs could pry a top-four D out of a non-rival him around as a veteran No. 3 option in case of injury. organization at some point if they decided that was the right way to go. If not before the deadline, then this could be a swap they pursue in the Martin Marincin (one year remaining, $700,000) offseason, when their cap situation gets tight again. Let’s be honest: He’s never leaving. Timothy Liljegren (two years remaining of entry-level deal)

Liljegren’s offensive explosion in the AHL this year has turned a lot of heads. He’s incredibly young still, despite the fact he’s a 2017 pick, and The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 putting up nearly a point a game from the back end at age 20 bodes well for his potential. The Leafs could have two big holes at RD next season if Barrie and Ceci both go, and Liljegren is cost controlled for a while, but in the right circumstance it could make sense to move him.

4. Could move if the Leafs decide they are small buyers

Trevor Moore (one year remaining, $775,000)

Dmytro Timashov (RFA when entry-level deal expires this summer)

The Goat (RFA when $675,000 deal expires this summer) 1172555 Vegas Golden Knights you want signed, but as soon as we get on the plane on the way home, I still better be their favorite player.’ ”

Golden Knights’ Max Pacioretty soaks in All-Star Game atmosphere LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 01.24.2020

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal

January 23, 2020 - 8:44 PM

Updated January 23, 2020 - 8:44 PM

ST. LOUIS — Max Pacioretty wasn’t sure how to interpret the accolade he received Thursday.

In a midseason poll conducted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, the Golden Knights’ left wing finished third in the voting for Comeback Player of the Year, which goes to the player “who has returned to a previous high level of performance that was interrupted by subpar play, long-term injury or major illness.”

Pacioretty didn’t know whether he should be flattered by the honor or take it as a backhanded compliment.

“What comes to the top of my mind is I definitely had two rough years in a row, but I don’t want to look at this as a comeback,” Pacioretty said Thursday during the NHL All-Star Game media day. “I think last year I did at times play some great hockey, and there were some unfortunate situations with injuries and whatnot. But I am happy with my year and the way things are going. I have a lot of work still to go, but I don’t want to really label that as a comeback.”

Toronto forward William Nylander, who struggled last season after a prolonged contract dispute, topped the voting, and Ottawa’s Anthony Duclair finished second.

Pacioretty’s inclusion ultimately speaks to the standard he’s set for himself during his 12-year NHL career.

He reached the 30-goal mark five times in six seasons with Montreal, a streak that was interrupted by the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season when he had 15 goals in 44 games (that’s a 28-goal pace over an 82- game season).

However, Pacioretty slumped to 17 goals and 20 assists in 64 games during his final season with the Canadiens and missed the final month of the season with a knee injury that kept him off the ice for most of that summer, too.

After he was traded to the Knights in September 2018, Pacioretty posted 22 goals and 40 points in 66 games.

Solid numbers to be sure, but below his career average.

“I always am hard on myself, and I always want to be better,” Pacioretty said. “So, each and every year, whether I had a good year or a bad year, I want to try to improve on the last.”

Through 52 games this season, Pacioretty, 31, leads the Knights with 21 goals and 47 points. He is on pace for a career high in points and earned his first trip to the All-Star Game when he was named the replacement for Anaheim’s Jakob Silfverberg.

“As soon as I got to the hotel, he was the first person I saw,” Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber said. “Obviously a guy who puts up numbers every year and never been here. I’m sure it’s a special time for him and his family.”

Pacioretty is not scheduled to participate in any of the individual events at Friday’s NHL All-Star Skills event at Enterprise Center and instead will be one of the players taking breakaways during the goaltenders’ Save Streak competition.

That has allowed Pacioretty to enjoy the festivities with his family, including oldest sons Enzo, 6, and Max, 4.

“I’m kind of star-struck still, seeing a lot of the players that I’m here with,” Pacioretty said. “But (it’s) also really cool to experience it with my kids. They’re excited, and they’re star-struck, and it’s kind of rubbed off on me.

“They asked me, ‘Where’s (Connor) McDavid? Where’s (Jack) Eichel?’ I said, ‘There’s one rule: You can do whatever you want and get whatever 1172556 Vegas Golden Knights

Blues’ David Perron praises ex-Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal

January 23, 2020 - 6:38 PM

Updated January 23, 2020 - 6:56 PM

ST. LOUIS — It’s been a season and a half since David Perron was coached by Gerard Gallant with the Golden Knights.

But when the St. Louis Blues forward heard the news last week that his former team fired its coach, Perron was “blown away.”

“We were sitting in a team meeting, and right before the meeting someone came in the room and said, ‘Hey, Vegas fired Gerard Gallant,’ and I kind of shrugged it off. I thought they were joking,” Perron said Thursday during the NHL All-Star Game media day.

“After the meeting, I was weird, and the guys could kind of tell, even though he’s not my coach anymore. I felt for him a lot. I felt for (assistant coach) Mike Kelly, and I have a ton of respect for them.”

Perron was a key figure for the Knights during their inaugural season, helping the expansion team reach the Stanley Cup Final.

He posted career highs in points (66) and assists (50) in 70 games, but signed a four-year, $16 million contract with the Blues as a free agent in 2018.

Perron’s agent, Allan Walsh, said at the time that the Knights did not make a new contract offer during free agency after the two sides discussed a deal that February. Then-general manager George McPhee said the team made offers to all of its unrestricted free agents that summer.

Last season, Perron notched 23 goals and 46 points in 57 games with St. Louis and added 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 26 postseason games as the Blues won their first Stanley Cup.

“He’s one of the first coaches who gave me a role that I was able to show this year again where the more you give me, hopefully the more I’m going to give back,” Perron said of Gallant. “Even though I know I’m not always the greatest defensive player for certain situations, (Gallant) would put me out there with a minute left to extend the lead or close out games. I took a lot of pride in doing that with him because he trusted me a lot.”

Perron, 31, is thriving in his third stint with St. Louis, which drafted him in the first round in 2007. He leads the team with 49 points (21 goals, 28 assists) in 49 games and was voted into his first All-Star Game by fans.

“Obviously over the years I’ve come and left (St. Louis) for different reasons, and they’ve always supported me,” Perron said. “Even on other teams I was getting a lot of messages from them. They mean a lot to me.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172557 Vegas Golden Knights The favorite genres in the dressing room fluctuate from hip hop and electronic dance music to classic rock and country. So it’s no surprise that after Theodore the results are pretty mixed.

Golden Knights player poll: Fastest skater, best ping pong player, worst Who has the worst taste in music? taste in music and more Cody Eakin: 5

Nate Schmidt: 1 By Jesse Granger Brayden McNabb: 1 Jan 23, 2020 Deryk Engelland: 1

Shea Theodore: 1 On Monday The Athletic released its annual NHL Players Poll, where Pierre-Edouard Bellemare: 1 nearly 400 players answered a variety of questions anonymously. It’s the second year of the poll, and it’s been wildly popular among readers, so One thing learned through this polling is there’s a lot of pressure to play we decided to recreate the poll locally. good music in an NHL dressing room. Every time a player connects his phone to the Bluetooth, the entire room immediately transforms into 20 I now present, the first-annual Golden Knights anonymous players poll. Simon Cowell’s. I polled 11 Vegas players. Like the league-wide poll, some of them chose “There’s a lot of pressure,” Theodore said. “If you put something on that not to answer certain questions. So this is far from scientific, but still fun the guys don’t like, they let you know.” to see what the players think of their own teammates. No player’s taste in music is more controversial than that of Eakin. While Most of the questions weren’t serious, but more designed to show the he ran away with the poll for worst taste, two players voted Eakin both personality of the players behind the scenes. The players love competing best and worst, and two others who voted him to have the worst taste in little games outside of the rink, so I also wanted to find out who’s the said he has hits and misses. king of those. Players wouldn’t get into specifics but said Eakin’s taste in music is off Without further adieu: the beaten path. That expectedly leads to some players loving it and Who spends the most time in the weight room? others hating it.

Ryan Reaves: 3 “He plays a lot of weird music,” one player said on Eakin. “He’s got some really good and some really bad.” Max Pacioretty: 3 Also showing up in this poll are the two Alberta boys: Engelland and Deryk Engelland: 1 McNabb. The two grew up around the Calgary Stampede and rodeos in Alberta, so their taste in country music doesn’t exactly gel with some Paul Stastny: 1 other players on the team. Even Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, who doesn’t Tomas Nosek: 1 even play on the team anymore, drew some ire for his taste in music.

Nick Holden: 1 “He was always playing French music, and I couldn’t stand it,” one player said with a laugh. “I’d vote for Reaves, but he only works on biceps, so I have to go with Patches,” one player said with a laugh. Who is the best at ping pong?

It was that vote that tied this poll at three votes apiece. And while it’s no Jonathan Marchessault: 4 surprise the Golden Knights biggest, bruising player spends the most Ryan Reaves: 3 time in the weight room, a few other players made surprise appearances. William Karlsson: 1 Pacioretty is one of the strongest players on the team, so he’s not much of a surprise, but veterans Engelland and Stastny are clearly dedicated to Nate Schmidt: 1 keeping their bodies in the best shape possible as they enter their mid- thirties. That’s certainly the trend we saw, as five of the six players voted Mark Stone: 1 to spend the most time in the weight room are over the age of 30. Malcolm Subban: 1 The Golden Knights have one of the best, newest weight rooms in the Outside of hockey, there may be nothing the Golden Knights take more entire league. The expansive gym sits on the second floor of City seriously than ping pong. National Arena and is constantly in use after practice. I know this, because the thunderous sounds of weights hitting the floor can be heard Early in the inaugural season owner Bill Foley purchased a ping pong through the ceiling from the press conference below. table for the players at the practice facility, and the competition became heated enough for the players to create their own standings/leaderboard Who has the best taste in music? to hang on the wall next to it. Shea Theodore: 5 These results are sure to cause some uproar, especially considering Cody Eakin: 2 Reaves claimed he had just beaten Marchessault in a highly-anticipated match just before this poll was done. Still, Marchessault was voted the Malcolm Subban: 1 best table tennis player for his long-reign at the top of the leaderboard.

William Karlsson: 1 Two players who I polled simultaneously actually argued who was better between Marchessault and Reaves. The only thing that’s certain is those Ryan Reaves: 1 two are the undisputed kings of the ping pong table. My next task: Nate Schmidt: 1 convince them to play a winner-take-all match with me present to report its results. If you’ve read the story on how DJ Shea Theodore gets the Golden Knights pumped for every game, you already knew the answer to this Who is the best at sewer ball? question. It was this line of questioning that actually led to that story. William Karlsson: 4 Theodore does a fantastic job, by most counts, of finding good pregame Nate Schmidt: 1 mixes for the players to listen to in the dressing room as they prepare for puck drop. And while Theodore’s mixes are pretty wide-ranging, it’s William Carrier: 1 impossible to please everyone’s taste in music. Malcolm Subban: 1 Sewer ball is the nickname NHL players have given the act of volleying a Alex Tuch: 1 soccer ball around in a circle to warm up prior to hockey games. They call it sewer ball because it’s usually played in the bowels of the arena, in Chandler Stephenson: 1 whichever open space or hallway the players can find outside the Jonathan Marchessault: 1 dressing room. Nick Holden: 1 Players form a circle and attempt to keep the soccer ball from hitting the concrete floor as long as possible using their feet, knees and heads. Almost every NHL team has a player or two who you know not to drop the gloves with. In Vegas it’s obviously Reaves and Engelland. This question received the least amount of votes because some players simply don’t participate in sewer ball, so they had no idea who to vote for. But every NHL room also has a guy or two who the players think, “Man I But of the players who do play, there’s a pretty solid consensus: William would not want to fight that guy. He seems crazy.” Karlsson is the best soccer player on the team. That guy in Vegas is Tomas Nosek. It’s no surprise, considering Karlsson grew up playing soccer in Sweden. “He can probably snap,” one player said. “We’ve seen him snap a couple Growing up Karlsson was very good and likely could have pursued a times and he can bury someone.” career in that sport if he had chosen it over hockey. But even this vote wasn’t unanimous. According to hockeyfights.com, Nosek has never dropped the gloves in the NHL, but he did fight Grayson Downing in the AHL in 2017. “I’d have to say Will Carrier,” one player said. “I just like his game. He never gives up on a ball.” Nosek is extremely quiet, usually keeping to himself. But Golden Knights players know that if someone pushes him over the edge, they’re going to Who is the fastest skater on the team? find out he’s not to be messed with. Alex Tuch: 4 No other player received more than one vote, but one player was very William Carrier: 3 confident in his selection of Stephenson, saying “That’s easy. I’ve boxed with Chandler before and I know he can fight.” Chandler Stephenson: 1 That’s it. I did have one more poll question for the players, which was William Karlsson: 1 “Which player do you believe could switch positions the easiest,” but Jon Nate Schmidt: 1 Merrill messed that up by lining up as a forward on Jan. 3, and scoring a goal. Max Pacioretty: 1

If there’s one question I entered this project expecting to be a unanimous vote, it was this one. I mean, these guys are on the ice with each other The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 every single day. They have to know who really is the fastest amongst them, right?

Apparently not, as the voting was pretty split. The two players who received the majority of the votes were youngsters Tuch and Carrier. It’s impressive that Tuch, who is the second-heaviest player on the roster, is also listed as the fastest skater.

“It’s either Chandler Stephenson or Will Carrier. Do they have to be carrying a puck, because that changes things,” one player joked, poking fun of Carrier’s lack of hands.

There’s only one way to settle it. We need a race.

Who spends the most time watching game film?

Malcolm Subban: 2

Tomas Nosek: 2

Paul Stastny: 1

Nate Schmidt: 1

Nic Hague: 1

Jonathan Marchessault: 1

The coaches: 1

This question stumped the players, with most saying they aren’t really sure because the video room at City National Arena is tucked away in a corner, and they honestly don’t see who spends the most time in there.

Goalie coach Dave Prior spends a lot of time watching video with his netminders, and because Subban has played only 61 NHL games compared to Marc-Andre Fleury’s 834, Subban predictably spends the most time in the film room.

“I’m honestly not sure, but it has to be one of the younger players for sure, so I’ll go with Nic Hague,” one player said.

This question probably got the least-decisive answers of the bunch, so don’t read too much into the results.

Who isn’t really a fighter, but you think would be sneaky good if they did?

Tomas Nosek: 4

Mark Stone: 1 1172558 Washington Capitals ⦁ Carolina Hurricanes (61 points): The Hurricanes knocked the Capitals out of the playoffs with a seven-game first-round victory last April, and if the season ended Friday, they would draw a rematch in the first round. If that’s not enough to cause Washington fans to sweat, what is? Capitals' division chock full of playoff contenders at All-Star break Carolina just lost their top defenseman Dougie Hamilton to what appears to be a long-term leg injury. On the flip side, one-time Capital Justin Williams returned to Carolina this month after stepping away from hockey By Adam Zielonka - The Washington Times before the season began. Thursday, January 23, 2020 The Hurricanes are the only team listed here whose season series with the Capitals is already over. Their aggressive forecheck gave the Capitals problems in their earlier matchups, but Washington beat them Does anything odd about the Washington Capitals‘ season thus far jump twice this month to split the series 2-2. out at you? ⦁ Philadelphia Flyers (60 points): They’re not getting the attention of the Think about it for a moment. After all the Alex Ovechkin hat tricks, the teams ahead of them in the Metro, but the Flyers are lurking in the shootout wins and the prime time tilts with the Boston Bruins, you come Eastern Conference wild-card race. And for what it’s worth, the Capitals to realize: The Capitals have yet to play their archrival Pittsburgh have yet to beat them in regulation this season, with two tries left to Penguins. come.

That will change Feb. 2 when the Penguins come to town; All four of their Goaltending has always been Philadelphia’s downfall in the past, but that regular-season matchups are coming up in February and March. The bad doesn’t look to be a problem this year with the tandem of Carter Hart and news for Washington: The Penguins are among the hottest teams in the Brian Elliott working well of late (when Hart has been healthy). NHL at the All-Star break. If they can avoid the cold streaks that plagued them in the first half of the There’s even worse news: It’s not just the Penguins. The Columbus Blue schedule and sustain themselves as a solid all-around team, the Flyers Jackets have won six in a row. Barry Trotz’s New York Islanders are still could join the playoff race mayhem in the final weeks of the season. a threat. In fact, the Metropolitan Division is home to six viable playoff contenders, making it the top-heaviest division in hockey.

The Capitals have 11 divisional games left to play, so there’s plenty at Washington Times LOADED: 01.24.2020 stake. Even though they lead the NHL standings at the break (33-11-5, 71 points), in position to win another President’s Trophy, there’s no guarantee they finish first or even second in their own division.

With that in mind, it’s a good time to look at the five teams nipping at the Capitals‘ tails and how they stack up with the playoff race fast approaching.

⦁ Pittsburgh Penguins (67 points): After an uneven start to the season, the Penguins righted the ship. Even as Sidney Crosby sat out for two months due to a sports hernia, they’ve gone 17-5-1 since the calendar turned to December and certain power rankings around the internet place Pittsburgh at No. 1 or 2.

After games at home on Feb. 2 and Feb. 23, the Capitals will make the trip to Pittsburgh on March 7 and March 22. Those games should tell a well-rounded story of how each club is performing down the home stretch and what holes might be exposed. For instance, it should be no surprise if the likes of Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust score at will against Washington’s subpar blue line.

⦁ New York Islanders (63 points): New York raced out to a 4-1 lead after two periods in the Capitals‘ final game before their bye week. It looked like a show of force by the Islanders — until their vaunted defense fell apart in the third period and the Capitals scored five unanswered goals to pull off the comeback win.

No, the Islanders are not the hottest team on this list. They might actually be the coldest. Back in the fall, they earned a standings point in 17 straight games to keep pace with the Capitals in the Metro. But in January, if you don’t count an 8-2 drubbing of Detroit, the worst team in the NHL, the Islanders averaged 2.1 goals per game.

Still, a first- or second-round playoff matchup between the Capitals and their old coach would be entertaining, to say the least. Their last regular- season meeting is Feb. 10 in Washington.

⦁ Columbus Blue Jackets (62 points): What’s going on here? The Blue Jackets weren’t supposed to be contenders after leading scorer Artemi Panarin and starting goalie Sergei Bobrovsky departed in free agency. Yet Columbus is making things work without any household names.

Take the goaltending. The Jackets didn’t sign a replacement for Bobrovsky in free agency, instead relying on who was already in their organization. Joonas Korpisalo was having a fine season before his recent knee injury. His replacement, Elvis Merzlikins, has come out of nowhere to win nine of his last 11 starts, including three shutouts.

Come the postseason, it’s hard to say how threatening a team like Columbus can be, but with a seasoned coach like John Tortorella the Jackets will never be an easy out. 1172559 Winnipeg Jets Speaking of Maurice, would Cheveldayoff actually consider axing his coach, just as seven other clubs (including a handful ahead of the Jets in the overall standings) have done this season? He shouldn’t. Not yet, anyway. Jets' season facing difficult prognosis While Maurice may have his faults, and while calls for such a move may be growing in volume, there is no evidence this tight-knit group has quit on him or tuned him out. In fact, as someone who is around the team and By: Mike McIntyre in the room on a daily basis, I’d suggest the opposite is true. Posted: 01/23/2020 4:55 PM That's not to say Maurice is absolved of blame. It's clear this group is struggling to play the style of game he wants with the skills they have. It's on him to adjust on the fly, to find a better way to exploit the talents of the Where do the Winnipeg Jets go from here? existing roster and hide the flaws.

If we’re talking literally, the answer is all over the map. Players have Maurice appears to be as frustrated as his captain, and he's been scattered for warmer pastures, taking full advantage of an eight-day sending out not-so-subtle signals lately, with plenty of references to doing break in the schedule I suspect is needed just as much for the mind right their best despite repeatedly coming up short. now as the body. "You want to walk off the bench, you’re pissed that you lost the game but If we’re talking figuratively, the answer is less clear. And pressure — both you want to have a little bit of a pride in the way your hockey team external and internal — is mounting on the team’s brain trust to chart played. I thought the last two games, yeah we made mistakes, we got their next course in an attempt to save a season threatening to swirl outmanned in a couple areas, but they played their asses off the last two down the drain. nights, they really did," Maurice said following the 4-3 loss to the Blue Jackets. Just listen to the somewhat ominous message sent from PO’d captain Blake Wheeler following Winnipeg’s fourth-consecutive defeat and 13th Translation: I’m getting pretty much everything I can out of this in their past 18 outings Wednesday night in Columbus, which caused the overwhelmed group. Where’s the freakin’ help? team to fall to 25-22-4, tied for ninth in the jam-packed Western Conference and three points out of a wild-card spot with 31 regular- Would a new bench boss make a difference? I’m not convinced. This season games remaining. isn’t about the "try" level, but rather a roster full of holes that’s now getting regularly exposed. The formula is quite simple, the line between "I think it’s time to figure things out. We’ve got eight days to decide what success and failure quite thin. type of push we want to make and what type of team we want to have going forward," said Wheeler. If their five main offensive players — Wheeler, Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers — are kept in check, they have Translation: throw us a frickin’ bone here. almost no hope of winning.

Does general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff attempt to stop the bleeding If Connor Hellebuyck doesn’t stand on his head, they have almost no by swinging a big trade or two? He should. He owes it to the core players hope of winning. on this club such as Wheeler, not to mention a loyal but increasingly frustrated fan base that is right to wonder just what the heck is going on And if they continue to lose the special-teams battle — an inconsistent here. power play and a porous penalty kill are a dangerous combination — they have almost no hope of winning. The Jets are supposed to be in "win-now" mode, not simply content with two playoff appearances followed by a return to mediocrity, but the To put it another way, there is simply not enough depth right now, made immediate future doesn’t look very bright, considering how poor their worse by a rash of injuries — Bryan Little, Adam Lowry, Tucker Poolman overall play has been. and Nathan Beaulieu, among others.

A November to remember, fuelled by lights-out goaltending and a softer I’m not sure an eight-day hockey hiatus can fix what ails this squad. schedule was, essentially, a mirage and masked all kinds of flaws with "We’ll send an email out to them every day to make sure they have no this roster, tricking many of us into thinking this team was a contender. fun on their break," Maurice joked when asked how this freefall is going In fact, they are mere pretenders, albeit pretenders who work their tails to impact everyone over the next week. off most nights, which is why, from where I sit, this is on the GM more "No, I need them to rest, and then come back and we’ve got Boston, St. than anyone. No, Cheveldayoff couldn’t have anticipated the Dustin Louis, Nashville, St. Louis, so you probably need to get some rest." Byfuglien mess adding to an already depleted blue line, but he can’t allow that to become an excuse for a lost season. Translation: things may actually get worse before they get better around here. And yet, here we are. The good news, for folks out there who feel I’m kicking the Jets when "I think this group has given everything. I don’t know if before the season they’re down, I’m taking a short breather, too. When we all reconvene a I anticipated the type of fight that this team has showed. To be as week from now at Bell MTS Place, it's going to be fascinating to see competitive as we’ve been, I’m pretty proud of that," Wheeler said which direction this club takes. Wednesday night. One thing is becoming increasingly clear: the status quo simply won't do. Translation: SOS... our best effort still isn’t nearly good enough. Something's gotta give. To date, roster additions have consisted of a few waiver-wire pickups in

Nick Shore, Luca Sbisa and Carl Dahlstrom, and a handful of callups from the Manitoba Moose, such as Logan Shaw and Jansen Harkins. Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 01.24.2020 Although it may be worth exploring further changes to the mix — hello Seth Griffith, Andrei Chibisov and JC Lipon — I'm not sure any of those additions would move the needle. And even if they were to come up, it's hard to believe they'd be given much of a shot.

After all, what to make of the decision this week to bring up Kristian Vesalainen, only to park the young Finn in the press box on consecutive nights? That, despite the fact coach Paul Maurice flat-out said he would play one of the two games. The Jets were completely overmatched in Carolina, then rolled out the exact same lineup 24 hours later in Columbus.

Why? Doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result is, it has been, the definition of insanity. 1172560 Winnipeg Jets COACH IT UP Rightly or wrongly, there will be plenty of heat on Jets head coach Paul

Maurice coming out of the break. His team has regressed over the last Five things that must happen for Jets to make playoffs two seasons and is in danger of missing the playoffs entirely this year. He has 31 games left to turn this around — we think — or his future with the organization will have to be in question. He doesn’t have a contract for next season and it would seem odd for the Jets to hand him a multi- Ted Wyman year extension after two years of going backward. Still, there’s a lot of January 23, 2020 12:26 PM CST faith in Maurice, who has 20-plus years of experience, and he’s got a chance to make this right. He’d best use this break to come up with a plan to get more out of what he’s got in this lineup. If he can get Bryan Little and Adam Lowry back from injuries, and maybe even Byfuglien or It has become ugly for the Winnipeg Jets, less than two years after they some kind of higher-end defenceman through trade, it could make a big made it to the Western Conference final and were expected to be Stanley difference. Cup contenders for seasons to come. CHEVY IN GEAR It has been a steady fall, starting with a 2018-19 season that ended in a first-round playoff defeat and continuing until this week, when the Jets One way or another, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff needs to do entered the all-star break on a soul-crushing four-game losing streak. something to help this team, either immediately, or in the future. He’s been hamstrung by the Byfuglien situation, which he won’t talk about, No doubt, they played better in the last two games than they did in the and that seemingly has prevented him from making any kind of move to two before that, but all resulted in losses that left the Jets on the outside shore up a lacking defence corps. Would it make a huge difference if he of the playoff picture looking in with 31 games left in the season. could trade one of his top-six forwards for a quality defenceman? Maybe. So, what are they going to have to do to turn all this around? Is it even But the three weeks after the all-star break should tell if the Jets want to possible with the current configuration of the team? be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. There’s certainly a chance they’ll fall further out of the playoff race and they’ll be looking to move Of course it is, but it’s going to take over-achievement of the like we saw pieces for draft picks instead of loading up. Either way, Chevy’s got his throughout November and early December. work cut out.

When they return from their break on Jan. 31, the Jets will be three points out of a playoff spot and will open with games against Boston (second overall), St. Louis (third overall), Nashville and St. Louis again. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 01.24.2020

That’s almost unfair. However, the good news is the Jets are only three points behind the Vegas Golden Knights and Arizona Coyotes, who occupy the final two playoff spots in the Western Conference.

So, we’re saying there’s a chance.

With all that in mind, here are five things that must happen for the Jets to make the post-season.

IN HELLE THEY TRUST

As Connor Hellebuyck goes, so go the Jets. He was brilliant for much of the first half but faltered over the last month as the team’s overall defensive play waned. Hellebuyck can only do so much — it appears he literally has to be the best goaltender in the NHL for the Jets to win consistently — but this team is only going to make the playoffs if he is otherworldly. Hellebuyck has shown he can do it before — he was voted the mid-season Vezina winner by the Professional Hockey Writers Association — and if he gets hot again, it will bring confidence and success to a Jets team that sorely needs it.

STABILIZE THE D

It has been mostly one big tire fire on defence for the Jets so far this season. It started in the off-season when Jacob Trouba was traded, Tyler Myers and Ben Chiarot left through free agency and Dustin Byfuglien decided he didn’t want to play, and it has continued three months into the season, with no pairings even truly established on the blue-line. No. 1 defenceman Josh Morrissey has played with four different players on his right side and every defender has had to adjust to someone new on most nights. Nothing has worked so far, which is why head coach Paul Maurice continues to mix it up, but getting some semblance of continuity would surely help get the Jets into a better position. It wouldn’t hurt if Byfuglien decided to come back for the stretch run — and that remains a possibility — but no one knows how welcome or effective he would be, nor what kind of shape he’ll be in.

POWER ON FRONT LINES

It’s supposed to be about balanced scoring in the NHL, but with the Jets it’s pretty much all about the top six when it comes to offence. Lately, the scoring has dried up a bit for Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Patrik Laine, Blake Wheeler and Nikolaj Ehlers and that’s a big part of why the Jets have been outscored 20-7 in the last four games, all losses. There’s all- star talent there and the Jets need it to carry them, whether that’s optimal or not. The Jets would prefer to not have to outscore teams in wide-open games, but they do have the ability to do it on occasion, and getting all of those aforementioned players going on the scoresheet would make a world of difference. 1172561 Winnipeg Jets Their defence is simply not up to par, they’re not getting enough scoring, even from their high-end talent, and the goaltenders can only do so much.

Jets hope to use break to figure out what type of team they want to be Even when they play their best — as they suggest they did in losses to down the stretch Carolina and Columbus this week — they come out on the losing end.

“You walk off the bench, you’re pissed that you lost the game, but you want to have a little bit of a pride in the way your hockey team played,” Ted Wyman Maurice said after the loss to the Blue Jackets. “I thought the last two games, yeah we made mistakes, we got out-manned in a couple areas, January 23, 2020 12:12 PM CST but they played their asses off the last two nights, they really did.”

Playing their asses off is just part of the equation. There can be no bad It was hard not to notice the similarities between the Columbus Blue games by the goaltenders, no defensive lapses that lead to odd-man Jackets and Winnipeg Jets as the two met at Nationwide Arena on rushes, no tentative plays on scoring chances, no long stretches of poor Wednesday night. penalty killing and no droughts on the power play.

Both were solid playoff teams the last two seasons and seemed like If it sounds almost like perfection is required, that might just be the case. franchises on the rise, only to have a mass exodus of important players Or, at least, close to it. last summer. A stronger effort the last two games is a good sign, but it didn’t add up to The Jets, of course, lost defencemen Jacob Trouba (trade), Tyler Myers, any points and, at this juncture of the season, that’s all that matters. Ben Chiarot (free agency) and Dustin Byfuglien (suspension) and As Wheeler said Wednesday, it’s time for the Jets to use this break to tenacious winger Brandon Tanev and it has contributed to a steep drop- figure things out. off in the standings. “We’ve got eight days to decide what type of push we want to make and The Blue Jackets had it even worse. what type of team we want to have going forward,” Wheeler said. They lost leading-scorer Artemi Panarin and elite goaltender Sergei So much hangs in the balance of that decision and the immediate Bobrovsky, along with high-scoring forward Matt Duchene and fellow execution after the break. trade-deadline acquisition Ryan Dzingel.

And yet, there the Blue Jackets were, beating the Jets 4-3 for their sixth consecutive win as they continue to climb up the Eastern Conference Winnipeg Sun LOADED 01.24.2020 standings.

Coach John Tortorella is working magic with the Blue Jackets and has them on the way to a playoff spot despite all the upheaval in the off- season.

The Jets, meanwhile, enter the all-star break having lost four straight games, six of the last seven and 13 of the last 20. They’ve fallen to ninth place in the Western Conference and seem fortunate to be only three points out of a playoff spot with a 25-22-4 record.

You can’t help but wonder what Tortorella has been able to do that Paul Maurice and his coaching staff haven’t with the Jets.

To be fair, the Jets did get decimated at one position. Their defence corps looks nothing like it did a year ago when they were a top team and seems to change in composition on a nightly basis.

That can’t be easy to overcome.

Still, it’s the hand that has been dealt to Maurice and defensive assistant Charlie Huddy. Coaches have to play bad cards all the time and they are not the types to lean on excuses.

They expect to get the job done no matter what and it’s not unreasonable for fans to have that expectation as well.

It’s hard to imagine anyone’s expectations are all that high at the moment.

Though the Jets are close to the playoff line, they are going to need a far better than .500 record over the final 31 games to get into the post- season.

If they win 18 games, they’ll get to 90 points and will have a shot of getting in. The Colorado Avalanche made it in with 90 points last season, but that would likely be the bare minimum and it may not be enough.

Realistically, the Jets need to be aiming for 20 wins in 31 games.

Right now, with the team having just lost four straight games and having only three wins in January, it doesn’t seem likely.

They’re going to have to go from being one of the worst teams in the league in January, to one of the best the rest of the way.

Hey, it worked for the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues last year, but the Jets seem to have deeper problems. 1172562 Winnipeg Jets

Jets' Hellebuyck voted NHL's best goalie in mid-season awards

Ted Wyman

January 23, 2020 11:40 AM CST

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Despite a recent slide that has hurt his overall numbers, Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck was voted as the NHL mid-season “Vezina” winner by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

A total of 117 writers from all of the NHL’s markets participated in the vote.

Hellebuyck, who will represent the Central Division at the NHL all-star game in St. Louis this weekend, is fourth in the league in wins with 21.

His .917 save percentage is 20th among all goalies and 14th among goalies who would be considered regulars.

His goals against average has slipped to 2.74, which is 27th best among all goalies and 21st among regulars.

It should be noted that no goalie in the league has faced more shots than Hellebuyck, nor made more saves. He’s also near the top in high-danger chances faced.

For the first two months of the season, Hellebuyck was the league’s best goalie and his play had the Jets in a playoff spot, however the team’s defensive woes seem to have caught up to them and the goaltending has suffered.

Winnipeg Sun LOADED 01.24.2020 1172563 Winnipeg Jets No emphasis added — it’s clear as day in the tape. And consider LeAnne Poolman’s attitude about her son’s unlikely dream.

A registered nurse, LeAnne spoke to The Athletic for this one-on-one in Jets’ moms trip a reminder that NHL results are impacted by much more 2018. than worthiness “Whether it be hockey or music or academics – whatever your God-given talents might be, if you can figure out what your passion is, go for it,” she said at the time. By Murat Ates “Make sure you’ve done everything – work as hard as you can to try to Jan 23, 2020 fulfill that. Once you’ve given your all, that’s all you can do. Give it your all and once you have, you’ll be satisfied. If it works, it works. If it doesn’t,

well then you’ve given your best. I think that is my husband’s philosophy COLUMBUS — Hockey is often built upon narratives about teams with the boys and we’ve adopted that.” bonding together, trying harder and winning because they wanted it Yet if hockey was about worthiness, Poolman would never have collided more. awkwardly with Nashville’s Yakov Trenin on Jan. 12, thus eliminating the I have to be honest: these narratives so rarely make sense to me. Two chances of LeAnne seeing him play on this road trip. teams get paid to play hockey during every NHL game. Eighteen skaters If hockey were truly about worthiness, lifelong hockey mom Lynda and one goalie per team have unique individual life stories with myriad Pritchard would never have lost her son Mike to cancer and wouldn’t be events, actions and choices made with consequences. And the winning made to watch her youngest son Al, Winnipeg’s massage therapist, fight team walks away happy because they put the puck in the net more often his own battle with the disease. than the losing team did. “It’s one of those things where you’ve kind of cheated death twice so you If hockey were a morality play where outcomes were dictated by live every day to the fullest,” Al told Ken Wiebe earlier this season. “You worthiness, the moms of the Winnipeg Jets would have watched a 3-0 don’t get a second chance at life and you never know when your last day road trip and not three straight losses which brought the team’s total is going to be. losing streak to four games and its record since Dec. 17 to 5-11-2 — the second-worst record in the NHL. Yes, that’s how bad the last month has “It’s been a battle, but I didn’t win it alone. You stay strong because been. everyone battles around you.”

The team’s inability to control the game at 5-on-5, the frequency with An emotional Lynda says that the team effort involved in Al’s battle — which it gets exposed defensively off the rush, lost coverage when and his successful, ongoing recovery — was the difference-maker. switches aren’t made in man-to-man coverage and Seth Jones drives the net all alone in Columbus, the penalty kill, the recent decline in “He would never have handled it — nor us, either — without the family goaltending quality, the fact that such a top group of scorers is a bottom- that the Jets have been. It is absolutely beyond words. We would have third scoring team … These are major on-ice issues. They are not never gotten through it without you,” she said. character flaws. Moral worthiness has its own place and its own role in the world. It may But Murat. You’re arguing with yourself. No one said anything about the impact many, many things but it does not determine who wins a hockey losing streak being about morals. game.

To that I say: You’re wrong! Now I’m arguing with myself. And I’ve read This awful stretch of Jets hockey does not get easier after the All-Star my mentions on Twitter — the idea has begun to percolate that the Jets break. don’t care or have quit on the season. The team’s first four games out of the break are against Boston, St. I don’t believe any of that. When Blake Wheeler said losing is “beyond Louis, Nashville and St. Louis again. The Jets are still searching for new frustrating,” and Paul Maurice said that the Jets busted their ass in solutions to their very old problems and even if they find better answers Columbus to finish off the moms’ road trip, I believed them. My sense of (and better health) over the break, Winnipeg could very easily continue the room on this road trip continued to be that the team is pulling on the their slide against those teams. same rope and that the anger and frustration from losing have not pulled In the meantime, after watching the Jets get outscored 20-7 in four the team apart. straight losses, I’ll steal a line that always stung when my mom said it to I spent an hour half-watching, half-listening to the team’s surprisingly me: competitive and highly entertaining soccer warmup on Tuesday in “I’m not mad. I’m just disappointed.” Carolina. Believe me: the losses aren’t piling up because these guys don’t like each other. The losses aren’t piling up because they don’t want I wonder if any of the Jets moms felt that way on this trip. it enough. Of course not — because they are moms. Loving, caring moms. And The losses are piling up because the team is outmatched. that’s why they deserved better results.

And let me tell you what: if hockey were about winning because worthy humans as opposed to winning because good hockey players, Winnipeg’s moms would have changed the plot all on their own. The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020

Laurent Brossoit, who was in net for the Jets’ 4-3 loss to Columbus on Wednesday night, says that no one deserves to have a piece of his success more than his mom, Tania.

“If there’s anyone I’d like to come out and see what our lifestyle is like, day to day, it would definitely be her. She’s my biggest supporter right from the get-go, both financially and in terms of watching and keeping track of stats and this and that. She’s always been right there,” he said.

Yet if hockey were about worthiness, Oliver Bjorkstrand would never have bullied Dmitry Kulikov off the puck and then fired a top corner beauty over Brossoit’s left shoulder for the game-winning goal.

The first time I asked Tucker Poolman about his mom, LeAnne, who supported his dreams of playing in the NHL back when Poolman drove himself from NAHL camp to NAHL camp in an attempt to catch on somewhere, anywhere, in Tier II U.S. hockey, he looked me square in the eye, softened his tone and said, “She’s an angel.” 1172564 Vancouver Canucks connected to this much-improved team. Markstrom has been covered off in this space this week and even if his all-star berth is the result of an undisclosed injury to Marc-Andre Fleury of the Vegas Golden Knights, his appearance in the showcase registers as a huge positive for the goalie. Ed Willes: Rubbing elbows with game's greats means something to Canucks All-Stars Hughes and Pettersson, meanwhile, represent something different. For Pettersson, it’s an affirmation that he’s taking up a place inside the game’s velvet ropes. Last year he was the shiny new thing, the runaway leader among rookies in goals and points. ED WILLES He would slump over the final two months of the season but he looks to January 23, 2020 6:02 PM PST have taken another step this season. Pettersson is currently 15th in scoring and the best player on a first-place team. There figures to be a lot more All-Star Games in his future. As part of its continuing and generally futile attempt to make All-Star Weekend interesting, the NHL fiddled around with something called the The same is true of Hughes but this weekend should also serve as a YoungStars game some years back. coming-out party for the young defenceman. We’ll spare you the usual complaint about Vancouver’s isolated place in the hockey universe and The format lasted from 2002 to 2009 and, if it’s remembered today, it’s the difficulty for any Canuck to be recognized beyond the B.C.-Alberta remembered mostly for the awkward format it introduced to the hockey border. world. But Hughes is a star-in-the-making who’s involved in a tight race for the Who, for example, can ever forget the very first game when Roberto Calder with Colorado’s Cale Makar. Exposure to the national media won’t Luongo, then with the New York Islanders, outduelled the immortal Don hurt his rookie of the year cause even if he doesn’t see things that way. Blackburn in a 13-7 win for Team Melrose over Team Fox (don’t ask)? “I’m just worried about the day to day,” Hughes says. “I haven’t Or the next year when NHL icon Brian Sutherby carried off MVP honours processed it yet but as it gets closer it will start to sink in. I think I’ve done in his team’s 8-6 win. Or the next year when Colorado goalie Philippe a good job of staying in the moment this year.” Sauve — at least I think he was a goalie and played for the Avs that season — took home the hardware. Like we said, 20 going on 32.

But there’s at least one person who remembers the YoungStars game Brock Boeser, as it happens, went through a similar experience to more fondly — a player who regards it as a significant rite of passage in Hughes two years ago when he was the only Canuck at the All-Star his development as a pro. Back in 2008, Canucks’ defenceman Alex Game in Tampa. Then in his rookie season, Boeser would emerge as the Edler suited up for the West and while he’s a little foggy on the details of star of the weekend, winning the shooting accuracy competition, before the game — the East won 7-6 but his team covered — he remembers he was named the game’s MVP after scoring twice and adding an assists what he saw and felt that weekend. in the three-on-three tournament.

Nick Lidstrom, one of his heroes, was there. So was Daniel Alfredsson He was the first rookie to win the MVP since some slug named Mario along with any number of players Edler admired and respected. Four Lemieux in ’85. years earlier the Canucks’ blueliner had been playing in Sweden’s third “I’m not going to lie,” Boeser says. “There was a lot of nerves going in. division where he was as far from an NHL All-Star Game as the Earth is You look around at some of the names and faces and it’s hard not be from Pluto. intimidated. But there he was in Atlanta and the thought occurred to him: ‘Maybe, just “But I relaxed as I got into it and I had a lot of fun. I’ve got nothing but maybe I belong here.’ positive things to say about the whole experience.” “You look around and you see who you’re with when you’re a rookie, it’s After this weekend, his three teammates will you the same thing. special,” Edler says. “It can only give you confidence and show what kind of player you can be in this league.”

He’s asked if he’s relayed that message to his three teammates who’ll be Vancouver Province: LOADED: 01.24.2020 attending the NHL’s annual fun fest in St. Louis this weekend.

“I haven’t talked about it a lot but I think they know. I had a lot of nerves going into it and they will, too. It’s more about enjoying the whole experience and taking everything in. It should be a positive experience. It was for me.”

The Canucks are sending three players to NHL All-Star Weekend and if the significance of that development escapes you, congratulations. The therapy you’ve taken to erase the last four seasons from your memory bank is working.

But, aside from its symbolism for the organization, the All-Star appearance represents a significant honour for rookie Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson and Jacob Markstrom. All three are at different stages of their career and all three have taken a different route to St. Louis but they’re here now. And even if some of the gimmickry around this event is cringeworthy, it means something to all three.

“For sure there’ll be some nerves, but if you want to belong you have to act like you belong,” said Hughes. “You have to go in there and enjoy the experience.”

Hughes’s driver’s licence reveals he’s 20. He just acts like he’s 32.

“It was such a cool experience,” says Pettersson, who becomes a grizzled veteran of two NHL All-Star Games this weekend. “People you’ve seen growing up, people you’ve seen on TV and now you’re in the same room. But I wasn’t there to be a fan-boy. I was just appreciating the experience.”

As mentioned, each of the three Canucks are at different stages of their careers and their individual stories are part of the larger narrative 1172565 Vancouver Canucks

Division-leading Canucks now the odds-on favourite to win the Pacific

HARRISON MOONEY

January 23, 2020 3:53 PM PST

The Vancouver Canucks are suddenly the odds-on favourite to win the Pacific, according to the BCLC.

Just three months after being labelled a longshot to make the playoffs, let alone finish atop their division, the Vancouver Canucks are suddenly the odds-on favourite to win the Pacific.

The Canucks head into NHL All-Star Weekend with a division-leading 58 points, one more than the cluster of clubs nipping at their heels — Edmonton, Calgary, Arizona and Vegas, all tied at 57. Meanwhile, the trio of California teams that once dominated the division have fallen off precipitously, and no longer look like playoff threats at all.

It’s all very weird and unexpected, and PlayNow.com’s preseason divisional odds bear this out. In October, a bet on Vancouver to win the Pacific paid out at a staggering 40/1 — identical to the club’s odds of winning the Stanley Cup at that time and just as believable.

Forty-nine games later, however, the same bet now pays out at 3/1, and the adjusted odds don’t seem unreasonable at all. The Canucks are the second-highest scoring team in the Western Conference. They’re getting all-star calibre goaltending from Jacob Markstrom. Their best skaters, already all-stars themselves, are visibly improving on a daily basis. Suddenly it seems as though the sky is the limit for a team predicted to occupy the NHL’s basement mere moments ago; a division title would be the Canucks’ first since the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season.

Vancouver even has the fourth-best odds to win the Western Conference after St. Louis, Colorado and Dallas, and the best odds to land Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, at 2/1. That’s not sports-related or anything but you can wager on it at PlayNow.com, too, and it’s just another sign of how quickly things can change around here. Had you asked me last fall if Vancouver could soon have a Pacific Division title and a couple of royal residents, I’d have said don’t bet on it.

Granted, I’d still say that, but only because neither outcome is unlikely enough for a big payoff, and who saw that coming?

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172566 Vancouver Canucks

Patrick Johnston: GM Benning hasn't ruled out possibility of Tryamkin rejoining Canucks

PATRICK JOHNSTON

January 23, 2020 3:43 PM PST

The big Russian defenceman is under contract with the KHL's Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg through the end of the 2019-20 season.

Jim Benning would love to have defenceman Nikita Tryamkin back on his roster.

The question for the Vancouver Canucks’ general manager is: how?

There’s likely to be one if not two open spots on the Canucks’ roster next summer. Oscar Fantenberg will be out of a contract and then there’s the Troy Stecher/Chris Tanev dilemma — it’s unlikely the Canucks will be able to retain both right-shot blue-liners.

The left-shooting Tryamkin can play both sides of the ice. One presumes that Fantenberg’s spot would be taken by Olli Juolevi, who is enjoying a solid season with the Utica Comets, even if observers believe he still needs to improve his gap control.

On the right side, there could be an opening either for Brogan Rafferty, who has a one-way deal next season — meaning that if the Canucks were to reassign him to the AHL next fall, he’d get paid the same as if he were in the NHL — or, were he to sign, Tryamkin.

As things stand, there appears to be strong interest from Tryamkin’s camp in returning to the NHL.

The Canucks retain Nikita Tryamkin’s NHL rights as he wrap up a season in the KHL, and his agent says his client looks at the current state of the club “positively.” Gerry Kahrmann / PNG files

“We feel Nikita can play for any club in the NHL,” Tryamkin’s agent Todd Diamond said via text message. “Vancouver has his exclusive NHL rights, he is familiar with the city, ownership, management and staff, and we will engage in talks after Nikita’s KHL season.

“The team and coaching staff is much different from when Nikita was last in Vancouver and we view that very positively.”

The big Russian defenceman is under contract with the KHL’s Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg through the end of the 2019-20 season.

“Obviously he’s on our reserve list,” Benning said Thursday morning. “Our pro scouts continue to watch and keep tabs on him. When his season is over and his contract is up, I’ll speak with Todd.”

“Nikita is a guy we know can play in the league. He’s a good skater for his size and he can make a good first pass.”

Benning and his pro scouts held meetings last week in Vancouver, taking stock of the players they may want to add to their roster, should the opportunity arise.

The team’s stock of looming free agents was also part of the discussion.

“We have some decisions to make from now until the end of the year,” he said.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172567 Vancouver Canucks 2. Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks 3. Victor Olofsson, Buffalo Sabres

Lady Byng Trophy — to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best NHL hockey writers rate Quinn Hughes as second-best rookie at type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high midseason standard of playing ability

1. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche PATRICK JOHNSTON 2. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs January 23, 2020 4:30 PM PST 3. Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis Blues

Vezina Trophy — to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his The Professional Hockey Writers' Association collected votes from position members over the past week. 1. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets The Professional Hockey Writers’ Association has collected the votes 2. Ben Bishop, Dallas Stars and halfway through his rookie year, the consensus from 117 voters is that Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks’ super rookie, is the league’s 3. Darcy Kuemper, Arizona Coyotes second-best freshman. Jack Adams Award — to the coach adjudged to have contributed the The Colorado Avalanche’s Cale Makar was rated as the best rookie so most to his team’s success far, with the Buffalo Sabres’ Victor Olofsson rated third. 1. Mike Sullivan, Pittsburgh Penguins “We’re proud of the work our members put in throughout the entire season, crunching numbers, following trends and speaking to sources to 2. John Tortorella, Columbus Blue Jackets gather the best ballot possible,” PHWA president Frank Seravalli said in 3. Craig Berube, St. Louis Blues a media release. “The Midseason Awards are the latest example of that, beginning an independent evaluation process in January that won’t Jim Gregory GM of the Year Award — to the general manager adjusted conclude until early April when the real ballots are returned.” to have contributed most to his team’s success

Last year, six of the eight PHWA midseason awards winners proved to 1. Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche be winners of the official end-of-season NHL awards. The Hart Trophy, Norris Trophy, Calder Trophy, Lady Byng Trophy and Selke Trophy are 2. John Chayka, Arizona Coyotes all handed out based on PHWA voting, while the Vezina Trophy is 3. Doug Armstrong, St. Louis Blues handed out by the league’s 31 general managers and the Jim Gregory Award is voted on by a panel of 41, which includes the league’s general Rod Langway Award — to the defenceman who best excels in the managers plus a handful of league executives and members of the defensive aspect of the game media. 1. Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes The midseason voting also includes a pair of unofficial awards: the Rod Langway Award and the Comeback Player of the Year. 2. Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning

At the end of the season, on top of voting for the Hart, Norris, Calder, 3. Roman Josi, Nashville Predators Lady Byng and Selke trophies, PHWA members vote on the Masterton Comeback Player of the Year Award — to the player who returned to a Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy, as well as determining the annual NHL previous high level of performance that was interrupted by subpar play, All-Star and All-Rookie teams. long-term injury or major illness

The PHWA engaged in midseason awards voting from its founding in 1. William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs 1962 through 1968. The practice was revived in 2018. The PHWA has more than 300 dues-paying members in all 32 NHL markets, including 2. Anthony Duclair, Ottawa Senators Seattle, and also around the globe. 3. Max Pacioretty, Vegas Golden Knights Full voting results

Hart Trophy — to the player adjudged to be most valuable to his team Vancouver Province: LOADED: 01.24.2020

1. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

2. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

3. David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins

Norris Trophy — to the defenceman who demonstrates the greatest all- around ability in the position

1. John Carlson, Washington Capitals

2. Roman Josi, Nashville Predators

3. Dougie Hamilton, Carolina Hurricanes

Selke Trophy — to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game

1. Sean Couturier, Philadelphia Flyers

2. Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins

3. Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis Blues

Calder Trophy — to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition

1. Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche 1172568 Vancouver Canucks “Probably a slight positional reach,” said one league source of Montreal’s decision. “My guess is majority would have taken Tkachuk.”

Kotkaniemi wasn’t seen as a top-five option for most of the year heading ‘That was a home run’: The inside story of how Quinn Hughes fell to the into the draft, but his stock skyrocketed from February onward. Canucks at seventh overall in 2018 “Finland was at the Five Nations tournament in Plymouth in February (2018) and I think that was sort of a coming out for Kotkaniemi to really get exposed to North America,” said Holland. Harman Dayal It’s believed the Canadiens felt locked in on Kotkaniemi after he Jan 23, 2020 impressed at this tournament. The Pori, Finland native lined up on the wing for Assat in the SM-Liiga, but it was international tournaments like

the Five Nations where he proved that he could excel playing the middle. Jim Benning seemed to know it right away. While the buzz leading up to the draft suggested Filip Zadina was a He had just stepped off the stage at the American Airlines Centre in serious contender, the Canadiens tried using him as a smokescreen Dallas at the 2018 NHL Draft and returned to his table. more than anything. Zadina himself said in the weeks leading up to the draft that he felt that Montreal wasn’t looking for a winger. The Canucks general manager leaned back in his seat and gave a huge thumbs-up: “That was a home run,” he said with a big grin. It ultimately came down to positional need — the Canadiens had their eyes on a centre and were, in fact, more likely to take Barrett Hayton To his right, scouting director Judd Brackett leaned over, smiling. “You (they seriously considered him according to a league source) than they can take a deep breath there,” he said. were either of Zadina or Tkachuk. Montreal’s picks from the 2018 and 2019 drafts say all you need to know about the organization’s preference They were talking, of course, about Quinn Hughes. And they could finally in picking for need. exhale because they’d just watched their future No. 1 defenceman don a Canucks jersey. Including Kotkaniemi, the Canadiens selected seven centres at the 2018 draft alone. With the emergence of Philip Danault and the trade for Max “We had told the agent and family that if Quinn was there at seven, he Domi, left defence has become their biggest positional need since and wasn’t getting past us,” Benning told The Athletic. sure enough, in last summer’s draft they called the names of five left-shot The mystery that remains, however, is why Hughes was still available for blueliners. Vancouver at seventh overall in the first place. How did six teams end up In the end, Montreal reaching for Kotkaniemi wasn’t out of the blue, but it passing on a top-pairing defenceman in a league where such blueliners was the first sign that more surprises could be on the way. are almost impossible to acquire outside of the draft? “When Kotkaniemi went third, now you’re saying, ‘OK, that’s the first It’s a valid question to ask as Hughes emerges as a bona fide top-pairing move where the draft goes a little differently than maybe everybody had defenceman and All-Star at just 20 years old. expected,'” said Holland. If we break things down pick by pick, we can begin to reveal some of the Senators, Pick No. 4: The power forward answers. Sitting next at fourth overall, the Ottawa Senators had the option to keep Sabres and Hurricanes, Picks Nos. 1 and 2: The no-brainers or transfer their selection to the Colorado Avalanche (they owed At the top, you had the Buffalo Sabres who had won the draft lottery and Colorado a first-round pick in either 2018 or 2019 as a condition of the selected Rasmus Dahlin first overall. That one was a no-brainer. Matt Duchene trade). Ottawa announced on April 28 that they were going to keep the pick and it was due in large part to their belief that Tkachuk “People thought even a year in advance of the draft that Dahlin was a might be available. generational defenceman,” said Oilers GM Ken Holland, who was leading the Detroit Red Wings at the time. “We had the option to keep the pick or to transfer to Colorado but for us as an organization, we just felt that players of Brady’s calibre, those Dahlin’s lived up to the hype, eclipsing 40 points as an 18-year-old rookie power forwards are very difficult to find,” Senators GM Pierre Dorion told last year, and while he’s endured a bumpier sophomore season, there’s The Athletic. “When you get a chance to draft one, you can’t pass up on no reason to think he won’t be a superstar in the league. that opportunity.

Following the Sabres, Carolina had an almost equally unanimous second “We had an idea obviously that Rasmus (Dahlin) would go first and after overall candidate in Andrei Svechnikov, who potted 40 goals in 44 games the lottery, we knew we’d be picking fourth and most likely Brady would in the OHL during his draft year. He too has delivered on sky-high be in that group of players we would be looking at. We were fortunate expectations, on pace for a 70-point season in his sophomore campaign. enough to spend time with him before the draft and we really liked his The real intrigue began after the Dahlin and Svechnikov picks. high character, the genes, and we knew that he’d be someone who’d fit in and be part of our core moving forward.” There were two high-end wingers in Brady Tkachuk and Filip Zadina, both projected to land in the top five. Unique to this draft, in particular, Tkachuk was one of the most divisive players projected to go in the top was the cluster of defencemen who were projected to go high. 10. Many scouts were enamoured by his physical tools, but detractors pointed out that he had just eight goals and 31 points in 40 games in the “Very unusual,” Holland said of how many quality defencemen were NCAA as one of the oldest draft-eligible forwards. available in the class. “It’s not every year that you have five, six, seven defencemen that most people think are going to go in the top-10 or 12 “We had a chance to see Brady a lot as a scouting staff group,” said and all had great résumés. Evan Bouchard had 80-plus points with the Dorion. “I personally had the chance to see him about 9 or 10 times. London Knights, you had Quinn Hughes who was the top underage at What impressed us about him was his drive, his ability to score dirty the U18s, Noah Dobson played an important role on a junior team going goals as well as his ability to score goals outside of the slot. to the Memorial Cup, Adam Boqvist was a highly, highly touted player “We know he didn’t score a lot at Boston University, but he still scored a and I think he won best defenceman at the Ivan Hlinka. lot at international tournaments and he was someone who wasn’t afraid “It was a starry group, lots of potential top-four defencemen at the top of to carry his team.” the draft, which is unusual.” I’m not sure how seriously Ottawa considered Hughes or other prospects Canadiens, Pick No. 3: Desperate for a centre with their selection, but Tkachuk has turned out to be a very valuable player in his own right. The son of Keith and brother of Matthew, Tkachuk If there’s one thing the draft class lacked, it was a projected first-line had 22 goals in just 71 games as a rookie last year and has evolved into centre. This posed a dilemma for the Montreal Canadiens, who were a two-way, play-driving force. picking third overall and had no legitimate top-six pivots at the time. They went against the grain and ended up taking playmaking centre Jesperi Coyotes, Pick No. 5: Going off the board Kotkaniemi anyway. It wasn’t a huge surprise that Hughes wasn’t one of the first four players “His ceiling was kind of always as a second-line centre,” said the scout. selected, and the truth is that most on the outside still expected that he “That’s what shocked a lot of people because you don’t typically figure a would be snapped up by either Arizona or Detroit, who picked fifth and guy that early is described as a second-line centre, you figure you’re sixth, respectively. swinging for a franchise player.”

But then the Coyotes shook the hockey world and took centre Barrett Hayton’s developed well since being drafted and the scout compared him Hayton. to Bo Horvat both in terms of on-ice ability and his character off the ice.

“I know Hayton was a bit of a surprise and he was 100 percent (GM) “Bo’s a guy too who in his draft year didn’t have flashy numbers,” said the John Chayka’s guy,” said one league source. scout. “And they have that same kind of mindset where they’re both captain material. With Barrett, it’s kind of the same trajectory. I think the The Hayton pick was a game-changer because if it wasn’t for him the two are very, very apt comparables.” Coyotes were going to take Hughes. Red Wings, Pick No. 6: The guy who wasn’t supposed to be there Tim Bernhardt, Arizona’s director of amateur scouting at the time, told The Athletic that the Coyotes went into the draft with Hughes, Tkachuk With the Coyotes taking Hayton, the Red Wings were left to choose and Hayton as their three targets for the fifth overall pick. Kotkaniemi and between taking Zadina and their pick of the crop when it came to the Noah Dobson were in the tier below, though not seriously considered for second tier of defencemen after Dahlin. Seeing Zadina fall came as a the selection and Zadina was even below them. surprise to Detroit, who’d originally gone in thinking they were going to take a defender. Hughes, Tkachuk and Hayton each spent half a day with Arizona staff and had off-ice evaluations. There was internal back-and-forth over “We did our ranking, our final list and my expectations coming in were Tkachuk and Hayton’s spot on Arizona’s draft board and the league that we were going to take a defenceman,” said Holland. “We didn’t source told me he believes that Chayka was prepared to override his expect Zadina to be on the board when we picked and we were excited scouts’ list and take Hayton over Tkachuk in the event both were to get him in Detroit. He had a great year in Quebec, rookie of the year available to Arizona. (in the QMJHL), fourth or fifth or sixth in scoring, seven goals in seven games at the World Junior Championships. We were going for a guy that Of course, that debate didn’t matter in the end, because Tkachuk was we thought could be a scorer in the top six.” already taken by Ottawa. At that point, it was Hayton versus Hughes. Taking Zadina at sixth overall was seen as a slam dunk at the time given According to Bernhardt, the Coyotes had no on-ice concerns with his outstanding junior resume. In hindsight, it’s clear that both Montreal Hughes — they loved his hockey IQ, recognized his elite skating ability and Arizona were much lower on Zadina than the consensus, as most and identified that he was a smart defender with his stick in spite of his people on the outside thought he deserved to go third or fourth. size. Where Hayton gained an edge over Hughes is in some of Arizona’s off-ice testing, but more importantly because of the premium the As for the defence options, Holland said that the Red Wings were organization placed on centres after Chayka realized how coveted a targeting one of Dobson, Boqvist, Bouchard and Hughes, but wouldn’t commodity they were on the trade market. confirm which one of the four. That said, what we do know is that Hughes wasn’t their top choice for a defenceman, meaning the Red Wings Combine how highly Arizona valued centres with the Coyotes’ need for wouldn’t have taken Hughes even if Zadina was already off the board. In high-end pivots and the strength of their backend and you begin to fact, Quinn was on a Detroit radio station in November and said that his understand the thought process that led to Hayton’s selection over agent, Pat Brisson, informed him a couple of days before the draft that Hughes. the Red Wings weren’t taking him.

Perhaps the most surprising part about this is that while the pick was a Most of the chatter at the time suggested that Detroit was likely taking massive shock to most of the hockey world, it was something that other either Bouchard or Dobson — Helene St. James of the Detroit Free GMs suspected was coming to some extent. Press reported that they planned on selecting Bouchard before Zadina “As you get closer to the draft, you start to hear rumours,” said Holland. fell to them. The Czech winger had a tough draft-plus-one season but “Sometimes the rumours are true and sometimes they’re false. Hayton at has rebounded well with 11 points in 22 games for the Red Wings this pick five? I’d heard rumours the week of (the draft) that he could go season. That might not sound like a whole lot in a vacuum, but it’s pretty before us in Detroit.” solid production for a player who just turned 20 years old a few months ago. When asked if he saw the possibility of Hayton getting picked ahead of the Canucks, Benning responded with an emphatic yes. When it comes to Hughes, it’s clear that some of the prospects the Red Wings already had in the pipeline influenced their decision to pass on the Part of this belief was influenced by how high the Canucks themselves offensive defenceman. were on Hayton. “Decisions that an organization has made in the past (influence your “We had Hayton really high too,” said Benning. “And Arizona’s built a real picks),” Holland said when asked about Hughes specifically. “As an good defence, so there was a possibility that they could draft a forward.” example, you can’t take a defenceman with a first-round pick nine years in a row. You’re building a hockey team and you’ve got to spread it I’m not sure exactly how high Hayton was on Vancouver’s board, but around. from my understanding, he was below Hughes. Still, it’s not hard to imagine an alternate scenario that would have seen Hayton as a Canuck “Some of the decisions that we had made in the past in Detroit in the two had Arizona picked Hughes instead. or three previous drafts and who we thought were prospects affected it. You’re always looking for the best player. It’s easy to say you’re going to The Coyotes really wanted to trade down to justify picking Hayton, but take the best player, but when you look at the guide in the record book, once it became clear that both the Canucks and the Blackhawks (who the history tells you it’s not an exact science.” were picking eighth) were high on him, they realized they couldn’t move down and be guaranteed to get their guy. Detroit took Zadina because they figured he was the best player available at the time. It wasn’t a positional-need-based decision “I don’t think I was the only one that was kind of surprised that he went so (remember that they originally thought they’d end up with a defenceman early,” said one amateur scout for an Eastern Conference team. “But the before Zadina fell). But if we look at the archetype of prospects that the one thing that I think is evident, one thing that Arizona’s appreciative of is Red Wings had stocked up on, it’s clear why Hughes wasn’t one of their that this kid is a gamer. preferred defencemen to target anyway. “He’s a kid that if you interview, he lives and breathes hockey so I think At the time, Detroit had undersized defence prospects like Filip Hronek that’s what probably impressed a lot of teams in that respect. I think what (6-feet, 170 pounds), Dennis Cholowski (6-feet, 197 pounds), Vili set him apart in his draft year was that he was probably the Soo’s most Saarijärvi (5-foot-10, 183 pounds), and Joe Hicketts (5-foot-8, 181 consistent forward in the playoffs that year.” pounds). Cholowski and Hronek are key building blocks of the Red Junior production isn’t everything and Hayton was in a more diminished Wings’ future defence corps and you can understand with this pool of role on a stacked Greyhounds team, but the pick definitely raised blueliners why Detroit was reluctant to take a risk in potentially targeting eyebrows as the Peterborough native had just 60 points in 63 games in another diminutive defenceman. his draft year. You can see the rationale at the time for preferring Bouchard or Dobson “I went to watch the University of Michigan play in the playoffs, I think it over Hughes if you believed they all had similar upside. was against Jordan Greenway and Brady Tkachuk at (Boston University),” said Holland. “I watched Quinn Hughes play against some “We watched Quinn Hughes very closely,” said Holland. “We thought he big power forwards and man, he would use his skating and his had a chance to be a really good player. But you never know how good competitiveness to get body position and he sort of neutralized the size until they get into the NHL.” factor.”

One part of Hughes’ game that was hard to project at the time? How well Hughes’ ability to use his skating, smarts and active stick to overcome his high panic threshold and bold attitude would translate to the fastest, size concerns on the defensive side of the ledger has been on full strongest and most skilled league in the world. display, with the rookie already tasked with shutting down the “He seems to have that ‘It’ factor, that swagger, that self-confidence that opposition’s best players. His advanced maturity in this area in addition he’s comfortable in the moment,” said Holland. “He feels he belongs at to his elite transition and offensive skills make it easy to already envision the NHL level in a big role and he’s not starry-eyed. That you don’t know, him as a bona fide number one defenceman for at least the next decade. you hope that (all the players you draft) they’re all going to have that “We haven’t had any luck in the draft lottery in moving up,” said Benning. attitude. Some take longer than others. Some just go beyond your “But I think we’ve been a little bit lucky when the draft actually unfolds to expectations.” get a player that we really like or really want.”

At the end of the day, however, it doesn’t matter which defenceman they That statement rang true with Elias Pettersson. It rang true again with had on the top of their list anyway because Zadina was obviously Quinn Hughes — and the result is two franchise cornerstones who are someone they had ranked higher than all of the backs aside from Dahlin. set to spearhead the Canucks for the next decade.

Canucks, Pick No. 7: The franchise defenceman

That, of course, left the Canucks at seventh overall with Hughes, whom The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 they’d highly coveted even before the draft year he spent at the University of Michigan.

“He played on the US National development team so that’s a team, they go to all the tournaments, so we had lots of viewings on him,” said Benning. “We knew him as an underage player too. We watched him play a lot then and in his draft year we’d seen him play a lot. We felt like he was this style of player for our team to be able to get out of our zone fast, to use his speed and skill to jump up in the play and his hockey sense to run a power play.

“We just felt like at seven, if he was to ever fall to us he was gonna be a real good fit.”

It’s believed that Hughes was third on the Canucks’ draft board, although they weren’t the only team to have him in their top three. One source confirmed to The Athletic that an Eastern Conference team had him as high as second overall, ahead of Svechnikov on their list.

The Canucks have never been shy about prioritizing speed and skill — it was only the year prior when they had Cale Makar and Elias Pettersson sitting first and second respectively on their draft board, with consensus top-two pick Nolan Patrick believed to be outside their top five.

Drafting Hughes was the perfect intersection of both best player available and the Canucks’ biggest positional need. Vancouver was so enamoured by Hughes that they explored options for moving up to take him earlier on the morning of the draft, before realizing there was a chance that he might just get to them anyway.

“We looked into trading up to try to get him,” said Benning. “As the draft started to fall, we got the feeling that teams might be taking forwards ahead of us so at the end of the day we just sat in the seven-hole and we ended up getting him there, so we were grateful for that.

“We talked to the teams that were above us and when we thought, ‘Well, there’s a chance that he could fall to us,’ we would have had to give up another asset to move up a couple spots so we took the risk and stood pat.”

Benning had a feeling that Hughes could drop, but that doesn’t mean he was anywhere close to knowing it for sure.

“We knew that if teams wanted a defenceman that Quinn could go (before us),” said Benning. “That’s why when he was there I was so happy because from the picks ahead of us to where we picked it felt like forever,” Benning said with a hearty chuckle.

All told, I think most of the teams picking ahead of the Canucks were guilty of picking for positional needs or organizational desires as opposed to simply taking the most talented player (with the exception of Detroit, who thought Zadina was the BPA).

It doesn’t sound like the teams that passed Hughes over had many concerns about him, aside from his stature. I’m not sure how that coloured the perception of his defensive game for Montreal and Ottawa, but I do know that both Arizona and Detroit had no concerns with his own zone play. 1172569 Websites my life. I just didn’t realize how hard you had to work to really be amongst the best.

6. In 1999, a critic with CNN suggested your voice was a cross between The Athletic / 20 Questions with Hometown Hockey host Tara Slone: On Shirley Manson (Garbage) and Dolores O’Riordan (The Cranberries): haunted studios, Joydrop, and a strange horror movie fate Who do you think you sound like?

I don’t know. I feel like the Shirley Manson comparison was made a lot, just because it was easy for people. We were out at the same time as By Sean Fitz-Gerald Garbage — or we came out a little bit after them. Sometimes, it’s hard for critics, and particularly critics in the rock world, to make their own Jan 23, 2020 comparisons. I don’t know who I sound like.

7. What did your father mean when he said your song “Sometimes Tara Slone, the literal rockstar who went on to host a Canadian hockey Wanna Die” should have “been a huge hit in the U.S.,” but was the roadshow, apologized for being late. She was only three minutes behind “victim of bad timing?” schedule, walking into the west-end Toronto coffee shop a day before That song was doing very well in Canada. It was starting to pick up she was to flee the snow and the cold with her family. traction in the when 9/11 hit. At that time, everything that Along with her husband and their 10-year-old daughter, Slone was had the word “death,” or anything surrounding darkness, flying, or falling, converting the NHL’s all-star break into a week-long vacation to Mexico. was taken off the radio immediately. She had been trying to pack for the trip, which was proving to be more 8. What is the best song ever written about hockey? difficult than anticipated. Oh my goodness. Best song ever written about hockey? We were just “I was grateful for the break,” she said with a smile. “Trust me.” talking about Kathleen Edwards’ ‘Hockey Skates,’ and that stands out to Slone has been on the move for most of her life. She was born in me as a real song’s song. Montreal, but has lived in a Canadian tourism brochure’s worth of cities. 9. You wore a Canadiens jacket in high school: Who was your favourite Her work has taken her even further afield, with a résumé from film, player? stage, song and television that has intersected at various points over the last 25 years. Mats Naslund, No. 26. I liked his style. He was fast and small, kind of more like today’s player, I guess. She is in her sixth season with Rogers Hometown Hockey, which she co- hosts with Ron MacLean from cities and towns across Canada almost 10. You were 19 when they won their last Stanley Cup in 1993: How old every weekend through the season. She is also the lead singer of will you be when they win their next? Joydrop, the Juno-nominated alternative rock band that filled Canadian airwaves two decades ago. (She was also among the finalists of a CBS (closes eyes, tilts head toward ceiling) Oh god. How old will I be? I don’t reality series to find a lead singer for the Australian band INXS.) know, man. I’m just going to say for sure in my 50s.

Slone studied opera. She acted on stage and worked on the television 11. What has Hometown Hockey shown you about how Canadians relate series “La Femme Nikita.” She was an early-morning television host in to hockey in the 21st century? Calgary. And now she was sitting in a trendy coffee shop with bare That’s a giant question. The one thing I probably didn’t realize before was concrete floors to chat about it. the sense of community that hockey creates. At the risk of offending Before taking advantage of the NHL’s mid-winter break, Slone fielded 20 church-goers, I feel like hockey rinks serve the same purpose, in a way. Questions from The Athletic, talking about hockey, haunted studios and They are places to convene and to socialize and to find like-minded the strange fate of her character in a horror film. individuals. And when people need a hand, I think that the hockey communities in this country don’t ever hesitate. 1. I am inside a converted farmhouse near Boston and I am recording my debut album with Joydrop: Why does my bassist report seeing the 12. Among other things, you have been a barista, a bartender, a rock curtains blowing, even though all the windows are closed? star, a corporate spokesperson, an actor, a morning TV host and a travelling hockey host: What is one job you would still love to try? (Slone laughs) ‘Cause it was hella haunted. It was haunted. There’s no doubt in my mind. I definitely believe in ghosts and spirits and If I was a bit younger, I would think about looking into sports, or high- otherworldly things. We all felt it at various times. I was so freaked out at performance psychology, because I find that very interesting. And I also times that I would keep my TV on the white noise channel. I was really like linguistics, because I think words and etymology is interesting, too. scared. That being said, it was a magical place, and an extraordinary 13. It is April 3, 2014, and Saturday Night Live alum Chris Kattan is on recording studio. So, he saw the curtains blowing, but I saw a pool ball Breakfast Television in Calgary to promote his visit to a local comedy move on its own. club: What happens next? 2. Like, across the table? (rolls eyes) Oh my god. It was just an absolute trainwreck. I haven’t Yup. Just moved. No word of a lie. It was vibe-y. (laughs) watched that one in a while. My recollection was just that he was … quite combative. Just had to sit there and get through it. 3. Where did the ghost come from? 14. About three minutes in, he says, “Everything I’m saying this morning The rumour was that it was a female spirit who was actually protecting doesn’t make sense.” the house. They knew of some supernatural activity. I think Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow recorded there at some point, and tried to summon (laughs) No. It didn’t. He was a mess. It was sad. Hard in the moment to her and did seances and stuff like that. get through it. And then just sad.

4. How close were we to knowing you as an opera singer, instead of a 15. Which is more stressful: A challenging interview, or performing live on rocker? stage?

(laughs) Not that close. It was my path through high school into A challenging interview. I guess the superficial answer is that I probably university. But I quickly learned being a big fish in a small pond in high feel more at home being on stage, singing. But also, it’s rare that you’re school does not equal being a big fish in a big pond in university, which just doing one performance for one person. I think the kind of singular calls the best of the best and requires a lot more work. focus of an interview, and steering that properly, is the difference.

5. You once said you also went home and listened to Slayer and smoked 16. What is the most meaningful fan reaction you have ever gotten to a and drank … live performance?

(smiles) Well, that too. I didn’t fit in. But I think it was more that I didn’t Live performance? Tears and genuine connection. We had a lot of have the discipline. My desire to party kind of took priority at that time in letters, or people would come and approach us, having listened to the records. People said, “you saved my life when I was going through a hard time.”

“Beautiful,” which I didn’t write — our drummer wrote it — that song was about being OK with who you are, as you are. That song was very important to a lot of people. A lot of gratitude, which of course we reciprocate, because it’s just mind-blowing.

17. Describe how your character, Lois, meets her demise in “Night of the Demons 3.”

(laughs) Oh my god. Lois. (laughs again) Lois is attacked by a zombie cat. A friend who turned into a zombie cat scratched, which makes her into a demon. And then Lois had a puppet on her hand, which was a snake. And the snake became real and bit her. Oh my god, it was so ridiculous. (smiles)

18. What advantage might your operatic training give you when you are working in horror?

In horror? I think, probably that you can do multiple takes of blood- curdling screams when necessary. (laughs) Strong vocal training. Yup.

19. How often has the Hometown Hockey crew visited a karaoke bar out on the road?

Ohh. It’s been a while. But I would say at least once a season. We haven’t done it this season yet. Not enough. Not enough at all. I have a few back-pocket songs that tend to go over well. Not to brag, but you know, you know where your strengths are. My first is “Rock and Roll,” by Led Zeppelin, or “Black Dog.” Sometimes, if I’m in Alberta, I’ll pull out “Redneck Woman,” by Gretchen Wilson. And “Turn Me Loose,” by Loverboy, always works pretty well.

20. Complete the following sentence: “By the time I’m done …”

Oh boy. It sounds so lame, but I really would like to have made an impact, or made a difference. And I would like to die — or leave this industry — knowing that I stood up for what’s right, and the things that I believe in.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172570 Websites to do it?” (To go with context like quality of teammate, competition, zone start and all the rest, of course.)

Last word, Evolving Hockey: (I don’t have much to add to this, nice The Athletic / Bourne: Some analytics-based hockey thoughts, with the response!) last word from the twins from Evolving Hockey On listing sampling errors on hockey stats

Question via CornerSolution: In most statistical disciplines, it is nearly By Justin Bourne unheard of to report statistics without some measure of sampling variability (e.g., standard errors, confidence intervals, p-values for Jan 23, 2020 hypothesis tests, etc.).

In sports analytics (not just hockey), it is exceptionally rare to see any such measures reported. It seems to me that this is a glaring deficiency: On Monday the gentlemen who run the excellent hockey stats site people see that Player A has a higher value of Stat X than Player B, and Evolving Hockey.com took on a monumental task: they agreed to do an then want to conclude that Player A must be better at X than Player B, Ask Me Anything on Reddit. For those unfamiliar with those, they’re when in fact the difference could be due entirely to sampling variability, exactly as they sound – commenters ask questions about … well, you and in fact Players A and B could be statistically indistinguishable from can guess, and over a couple hours (sometimes longer) the AMA guest each other. responds in kind. As was the case here, the results can be super interesting and can touch on a wide variety of worthwhile issues. Why do you think there has been essentially no up-take on reporting measures of sampling variability in the analytics community? Have you While reading through their AMA, I found myself wanting to go deeper on thought about including such measures with your stats? a couple things (which is hard for AMA guests when there’s a billion questions to get to). In some cases I felt I had – I hope – more to add to Evolving Hockey: (….) … To be fair, we could likely do a better job of their points, coming from my different perspective. Partially I wanted reminding people that these errors do exist, and the models are them to elaborate on certain stat-related avenues. Mostly I just thought estimates and not a perfect precise indication of value. However, a lot of that between their most interesting AMA answers, my own thoughts, and the time the questions fans, journalists, teams, etc. ask are not very well some elaboration, there was a piece to be assembled I hoped readers answered with extremely nebulous purely statistical language. At the end would find informative and interesting. of the day, we feel you have to make a decision, and it’s cumbersome to remind everyone there are error bars after every answer you give. So what we’ll do today is start with the pertinent part of a question asked of them from their AMA and their answers. I’ll weigh in after that, then Bourne: I hate to cut off the top of the twins answer there, but I want to we’ll get a follow up from them where they had more to add (which ended emphasize an important point that I think they make really well here. The up being everywhere but the first topic). So a big thank you to Luke and phrase “extremely nebulous purely statistical language” matters, as does Josh for taking the time to provide additional commentary to their original “we feel you have to make a decision.” points (you canfollow them on Twitter here). As I mentioned, Josh and Luke created Evolving Hockey (which I highly recommend) and they’re The first one, on using more commonly understood language, is contributors at Hockey Graphs. They do good work. important because you can have the most useful, valuable statistical information in the world of hockey, but if you can’t communicate what it (Note: some questions and answers have been cribbed to grab what I’ve means to people, you’ve still got nothing. So while “we feel you have to perceived as the most pertinent talking points. Ellipses will be used make a decision” may imply imperfect representations of data, it allows where words have been left out. For the full context, please, check out the data to land with a meaningful effect, rather than not at all. their AMA here.) We’re all just trying to better understand hockey and what’s important – On how we evaluate defensive play fans and those within the game alike. Speaking plainly, and rounding some numbers, and oversimplifying at times may not be ideal, but they at Question via MapleHawk: (…) What are the best analytics tools to use to least allow you to convey the message to people interested in hearing it. measure the defensive impact of a forward and a defenseman? As things sit internally in the NHL, teams leave major advantages on the Evolving Hockey: (…) In our opinion, it is incredibly difficult to measure table because analytics departments basically need translators – which is skater defense with the eye … You’re trying to look for something, but often less on them, and more on the coaches – but still, they need the best defensive play is an absence of anything. Think of what you translators to effectively make their points to staffs. Communication, often remember about watching Mikko Koivu… Probably very little lol. But all of via simple clarity, is key. our models say he’s one of the best defensive forwards of the past Last word, Evolving Hockey: Exactly. Obviously there is a time and place decade-plus. I guess that’s a little bit of a tangent, but I think a very for nuance and complexity, but in communication we feel it’s important to robust stint-level regression model is our best tool right now (available in simplify things. Now, maybe to our detriment, this simplification has lead the public). to quite a few “interesting” responses to some of our opinions lately (P. Bourne: I grabbed this question, and we’re leading with it, because I think Kane vs. Bonino, Ovechkin, etc.) Often, these are opinions that we both it’s the most important thing hockey fans without a statistical bent can believe to be true and challenge a convention that is outdated (that take away from our time here together today. Defensive play is the defense doesn’t matter, for instance). I’ll just say, you really can’t please absence of anything. There are very busy players who go very fast and everyone, so it’s important to figure out who your audience is, or the do an awful lot who … don’t actually get much accomplished in terms of majority of it is anyway, and attempt to speak to them. For a small portion pushing the puck back to the right side of the ice. And conversely, there of the general fan/journalist population, error bounds and confidence are quiet players who don’t get much attention who do a dynamite job intervals matter quite a bit, for a much larger portion they make little making the little plays to get the puck moving the right way (because sense and are overlooked. The truth is somewhere right in the middle everything has to revolve around Toronto, I’ll note that Justin Holl has there. historically fit that mold). On the value of passing data The reality of hockey is that even the best defensemen, even those who Question via FreshLemonaid: Is passing data the next step for advanced do a good job “creating the absence of anything” in their own end, will stats? have to defend like, 45 percent of the time. And in those moments, you hope that those defenders are also able to clear out the front of the net, I could see it being extremely useful for evaluation of players, especially be physical and do all those little things that we can visibly see as good defensemen. defending. But even for the D-men who aren’t good at those things, you’d still prefer a guy who’s only “OK” at the visible defending stuff 45 percent Evolving Hockey: I think it could be, but I am skeptical that we will ever of the time, over a guy who’s visibly good at those things, but doing it have access to that data in the public. Corey Sznajder does amazing more like 55 percent of the time they’re on the ice. work manually tracking a great deal of NHL games (support him on Patreon!) … unfortunately, it’s almost impossible for one person to track When considering “How well does Player X defend,” an important every single game in an NHL season. All of our models require a signpost to get you to the correct destination is “How often do they have complete NHL season to really be reliable (since we’re looking at the Question via Coatsyy: If you had one criticism of analytics, what would it population average most of the time). be?

Anyway, yeah, passing data would be awesome to have, but I guess I’m Evolving Hockey: My biggest pet peeve is probably people relying too not holding my breath for the NHL to provide that to the public for free. much on WOWY (without/with you) metrics to tell them if one player is being dragged down/propping up another player. When you only look at Bourne: I’m in the minority here, but I don’t expect passing data (passes two players in a WOWY context, you’re completely ignoring the 8 other completed or received for example) to reveal as much as others seem to skaters on the ice (3 teammates and, to a lesser extent, 5 opponents … expect. I expect there to be fun tidbits – mostly guys who can’t catch a combined for each team they play against). So, it is possible for a player damn pass could be exposed – but mostly I think what we’ll find is that to play with 3 other really bad teammates when they are away from the the things we kinda already knew, we’ll just know … better. (Which has teammate in question (if that makes sense). You’re just missing a lot of value!) information and it’s hard to say if the conclusions you are drawing are Good passers and pass receivers will, I suspect, already have shown up “real”, I guess. as players who are good at zone exits and entries. It’ll be the guys who Another thing would be “binning” shot locations or scoring chances. First do get a lot of assists or points in general that show up. The guys who of all, any shot on goal is a scoring chance – so calling one shot a get power play minutes and a lot of TOI, they’ll show up. The teams know scoring chance and saying another shot is not a scoring chance is who can pass and who can’t, and that’s reflected in how they’re used. incorrect imo. Goal probability (xG) is continuous (ranging from 0% to There will be the odd revelation, but I certainly don’t expect a revolution. 100% in theory) – it is not discrete. When you break things down to “slot (As I write this, it feels like something someone will show me in a few shots” or whatever, you’re not really handling the game how it should be years to demonstrate how wrong I was. C’est la vie.) handled.

Last word, Evolving Hockey: I mostly agree with your comments here. Bourne: The last point really resonated with me. I think there are things The other thing to remember is the sheer amount of passes that occur in that go into the probability of a shot being an “expected goal” that we any given game. How many of these will be “valuable” or lead to events don’t measure (velocity, mostly), but the idea that binning probably does that result in a high-danger chance, shot, goal, etc. I do think we’ll be some harm makes sense to me. (I recently did some work with able to include some passes in an xG model that will have value – for SportLogiq’s “inner slot” numbers and William Nylander, which admittedly instance, how many times have you watched a goalie out of position feels a bit like an arbitrarily defined diamond.) Why bother defining areas because of a good cross-crease pass? This information will absolutely be and separating them when the results of the shots from those places can worthwhile. The other thing to keep in mind with passing is the teammate speak for themselves? component. What if a skater is a great passer but doesn’t have teammates who can benefit from this? The reverse is also true here. Last word, Evolving Hockey: Exactly. It can be beneficial to simplify There are some interesting and possibly subjective decisions that things in certain situations (say a team is trying to improve shot passing data will require any modeler to address and those could prove generation from a specific area on the ice), but overall we feel as both fruitful and problematic. mentioned that every shot should be considered a scoring chance. And in that case, you might as well go with some kind of probability for that Statistical models don’t do “why,” and that’s fine chance instead of a binary definition.

Question via sandman730: Why is your model so low on Kane? Non-shot scoring attempts

Evolving Hockey: Honestly, it’s very difficult to answer the “why” Question via c0unt3rparts: How do your models account for a great questions with the data we have. We are fairly confident in our ability to scoring opportunity that didn’t generate a shot attempt? For example, a 2 measure and divvy out credit for the things that have happened while on 0 and the guy with the puck passes it cross crease to the other guy for skaters are on the ice, but it’s very difficult to answer “why” a skater looks the easy open net goal, but he somehow fans on the shot. the way they look. Evolving Hockey: Unfortunately, that data is not tracked/available, so we Short and dumb answer – quite a few shots happen very close the cannot incorporate it into a model. But even if we had access to data like Blackhawks’ net when Kane is on the ice, and when accounting for that, it would be incredibly difficult to make use of it (just running through Kane’s teammates, opponents, deployment, score state, etc. he is things in my head). This would most likely require a completely different responsible for a lot of those (relative to the league average). xG model – something that would estimate the probability of a “play” Bourne: A frustration I have with people who don’t respect statistical becoming a goal … Right now, a shot is required to be generated for a analysis in sports is the exasperation that comes with comments like “Oh “play” to be considered a scoring chance. what, you can just sort a spreadsheet and tell me who’s the best player This also gets a little philosophical … If a shot is not generated, was it hey?” or “Why don’t you bring a computer on the bench to coach” or really a scoring chance? Should the players on the ice be given credit if whatever. One thing I learned during my time with the Leafs/Marlies the play did not result in some type of shot directed towards the net? I organization is how most answers only lead to more questions, and think, in theory, it would be possible to add this to some type of “passing knowing which ones to pursue is what really matters. There’s rarely a value” type stat, but we don’t even have passing data so that is hard to “why something is happening” endpoint. really say.

A D-man has outlier results, so you look at who he’s played with. That Bourne: This is likely where internal data would likely differ. Subjective leads to wanting to know how other players have performed with his though they may be, I do believe chances that don’t generate shot partner. Which leads to wanting to know where all of those pairs started attempts are real and valid and common enough to add value. I have their shifts. Which leads to wanting to know who they played against. absolutely no idea how to implement the recording of them leaguewide, Which leads to … I could go on until I wore out these keys. unfortunately.

Point is, for all this data, the why is never going to just be sitting there. When I tracked events for the Marlies, one of the points of marking The why is still going to be disagreed upon, which will lead to lineup and scoring chances was that the coaching staff wanted to go back and roster changes, system tweaks and different deployment. Coaches (and watch them to figure out where we went wrong. So, if we broke down and fans) are basically detectives trying to determine the sources of their a guy fanned on a breakaway shot or something, we still broke down, organizational crimes (for the purpose of fixing them) and statistical and I still tagged it as a chance against. Over the course of the season, models are just magnifying glasses they’re free to use. that increased our scoring chance for/against sample size enough that I Last word, Evolving Hockey: I’m also of the opinion that answering the believe it helped us better understand who most caused and created “why” is almost always easier with input from coaches/scouts/etc. For us, chances for us. we’ve spent countless hours working with the data, building models, Last word, Evolving Hockey: This is a good reminder that there are testing and setting up everything. While we try to watch a lot of hockey, numerous uses or needs within an organization. If an odd-man rush or we’re not the individuals evaluating a team’s system is set up or how a breakaway did no result in a shot, obviously that should be a point of coach is utilizing a player. concern for a team or organization assuming it becomes a trend. For us, Issues with certain stats we stick to what we have and what we can evaluate. There are numerous reasons shots “should” occur that do not, but currently we just don’t have enough data to say why they didn’t or who caused that to happen.

How do we use advanced stats actionably?

Question via DrHampants: (…) 2) If I’m an NHL coach or GM, how do I use your results to make my team better this year? Do I try to trade Patrick Kane for Nick Bonino? Do I drop Ovechkin to the fourth line? Do I give Lucic more minutes than Gaudreau? Basically, if you were hired by an NHL team, what recommendations would you be giving based on your model, assuming you’d get fired if your team is unsuccessful?

Evolving Hockey: (…) 2.) There is a bit of nuance here, but I would say it’s very hard with the current data we have to turn that into actionable information from a player level. That’s not to say it’s impossible, it’s just very hard. However, given the amount of data we do have, I think we can pretty clearly identify which players are good and which are bad, we just don’t have a good basis in the data for why that may be all the time. Ovechkin, Bonino, Kane … these are all questions that require different approaches, but I think you know that it’s insane to say Ovechkin shouldn’t be given every chance he can to score or that Lucic should be playing more than Gaudreau. We can evaluate players within a given season while also keeping in mind that in-season performance isn’t always indicative of true-talent.

Bourne: It’s great to consider the whole “actionable” part of this question, because really, most people aren’t really looking for a story of what’s happened, they want to know what’s coming. And teams want to know how to change so that what’s coming is more favourable.

This is where each question would need its own unique set of questions asked and answered. This is where catch-all stats may be less valuable, and team needs are likely looking for more specific things out of specific players. And this is where having people who understand both hockey and the numbers can be so valuable. (It’s why I’m a big believer in Tyler Dellow with a Devils – I think he understands the cross-section of the two as well as anyone I’ve met.)

Last word, Evolving Hockey: Again, it depends what one is trying to accomplish. We’re in the public where player evaluation is more or less king. Fans, journalists, even analysts generally want to know who is and isn’t good, who they should trade for, draft, send down/call up, whether their favorite player is actually good. All of these things revolve around robust evaluation metrics. This is also crucial for any organization as well – frankly, good player evaluation can save or lose you millions of dollars and help or hurt a team drastically. However, a well-rounded organization that uses data-driven methods would ideally have numerous analysts that focus on various subjects.

On player tracking data

Evolving Hockey: As a general comment regarding player tracking data, I don’t think people really understand not only how difficult it will be to deal with all of the data in general, but also all of the subjective decisions that will need to be made in order to make that data useful. The true benefit of player tracking data, in my eyes, will be in the form of actionable information for players – i.e. methods that coaches/teams can use to help players improve more effectively compared to the data we currently have.

Bourne: I think I’ll leave that one more or less untouched, I just wanted to include because I think it’s a worthwhile note.

Last word, Evolving Hockey: We kept this one brief as it wasn’t directly asked, but it’s important to keep the data in mind. We’re talking about a major increase in complexity with player tracking data that only a handful of teams will likely have the ability currently to deal with adequately. Additionally, we can’t tell you the number of people who seem to think that player tracking will just “solve” all of the issues most seem to think the current models/metric/etc. have. While there are admittedly some issues with the data we do have, those are mostly in the form of my second point above (the actionable part). Obviously player tracking has the ability to give us a ton of new and useful information, but it also poses a ridiculous number of new questions and issues that analysts and modelers will need to address, all while keeping in mind that sheer amount of data player tracking will produce.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172571 Websites shutdown minutes against tough competition too. His absence has been felt considerably as the team is 4-5-2 since losing him with a minus-two goal differential, earning just 47.3 percent of the goals share at 5-on-5.

The Athletic / 16 Stats: The loss of Dougie Hamilton, playoff roller 2. Some might suggest that’s the Islanders finally getting what they coasters and Elvis deserve numbers-wise, but that’s not entirely true. Since Pelech went down the team is actually ninth in expected goals at 52.9 percent, very close to the 52.5 percent they enjoyed during their 17-game point streak. That was the Islanders at their best and the team has been able to get By Dom Luszczyszyn back to that level of late in terms of controlling play – only this time they Jan 23, 2020 don’t have goaltending lopsidedly on their side, nor the benefit of winning tight contests, two hallmarks of the team’s success since Barry Trotz came around.

It was shaping up to be a career year for Dougie Hamilton. Without those two things going for them, the team’s lack of offense has been exposed and that goes all the way back to the streak ending. The The Hurricanes defenseman was as sterling as ever at 5-on-5 while on Islanders are just 13-12-3 since (despite having the sixth-best save pace for a career-high 24 goals and 70 points while averaging a career- percentage during that time span) scoring just 2.62 goals-per-60, the high 23:17 per night. That heavy usage was a result of him earning big 24th-best mark in the league. minutes on both special teams units, playing key shorthanded minutes for the first time in his career and landing a spot on the top power play for Starting a season 16-3-2 gives a team a lot of leeway to work out mid- the second time in his career. It’s no coincidence Carolina jumped from season kinks, but what once seemed like a lock now might turn into a bit 20th to top 10 on the power play as a result. of a grind. With one of the toughest upcoming schedules, a turnaround won’t be easy and though the team’s recent play has been inspiring, It was all enough to put Hamilton in his first-ever All-Star Game while they’ll need to find the source of last year’s magic to stave off a receiving plenty of Norris trophy buzz. Just two weeks ago in this very competitive East. Without Pelech, that job gets harder. space, I had him as my top choice for best defenseman as his stellar all- around game tipped the scales over the dynamic offence provided by 3. On December 8, the Blue Jackets were in the league’s bottom five with John Carlson. That’s likely not a consensus opinion, but there’s simply no an 11-14-4 record, a 74-point pace and 11 points back of the fifth-place doubt he was in the conversation. He was simply that good this season. team in the Metro division. They had a seven percent chance at making the playoffs. Really, Hamilton has been that good for a while now, the only difference is this year he finally earned the trust of his coaching staff to showcase Flash forward a month-and-a-half, and the Blue Jackets are now at a his talents in big minutes. He passed that test with flying colors and it’s cool 61 percent having gone 16-2-4 since, the league’s best record on difficult casting much doubt on his overall game. He’s one of the league’s the back of a stunning plus-29 goal differential, allowing just 1.72 goals best defensemen, full stop. against per game. The next best team, Tampa Bay, allowed 2.38 and only two others are within one goal of Columbus. That all made last Thursday’s news all the more heart-breaking as Hamilton awkwardly crashed to the ice, breaking his fibula – an injury The turnaround is beyond stunning, hinging on unexpectedly elite that likely sidelines him for a majority of the season. No injury is ever goaltending. Prior to that day, the Blue Jackets were 24th in save “fair,” but this one really stings given the season he was having. percentage and 27th in goals saved above expected. Given the talent between the pipes, that wasn’t a surprise. The play since has been, with After years of doubts regarding his ability and questions of his character, the team saving nearly an entire goal above expected on the back of a Hamilton was finally able to silence his critics with all world play that .946 save percentage. The next best team is at .920 and league average proved his immense value. Now, that value will be shown not by his play, is below .900. That’s insane. but by his absence. It’s been enough to make the team a threat and put them back in the According to GSVA (Game Score Value Added, a way to measure a hunt. Whether it lasts long enough to put them in the playoffs is another player’s worth), Hamilton is projected to be worth 3.44 wins, the third- question. highest mark in the league behind only Roman Josi and Victor Hedman. It’s close too (and for those keeping track at home, the combined value of 4. Columbus’ insane goalie run started with Joonas Korpisalo finding his Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin is one fewer win). That’s a very tough rhythm, but once he went down at the end of December, it was time for piece to replace and meant Carolina’s playoff chances took a dramatic hit the Elvis show. Elvis Merzlikins has been the story here for the last with his loss, going from 82 to 68 percent after the extent of his injury month, and I’ll let Blue Jackets’ analyst Alison Lukan tell part of it here was revealed. (hey, it’s a bye week for everyone):

That’s 14 percentage points (though a small fraction of that is due to the Few people saw this coming. Merzlikins was 0-4-4 through his first eight team’s overtime loss to Anaheim that night) and turns Carolina from a starts in which he gave up 34 goals including a whopping seven against safe playoff bet into a team that’s now in the thick of the playoff race. in his NHL debut in Pittsburgh. But since taking over the Blue Jackets’ net Dec. 31, he has put on an astonishingly strong performance. He’s 9- 16 Stats 2-0 in his last 11 starts — a span that includes shutouts against Vegas, 1. Carolina isn’t the only team that’s lost an important defender in the Boston, and New Jersey. He has a .951 save percentage in that time. Eastern Conference playoff race. On January 2, the Islanders lost The statline is even more impressive when you look at what Merzlikins defensive stalwart Adam Pelech for the remainder of the season while has faced from opponents. The notoriously stingy Blue Jackets’ defense the Maple Leafs lost the dynamic Morgan Rielly for eight weeks on has let up a bit and Merzlikins has faced the 13th-most difficult workload January 13. Neither bring as much value individually as Hamilton does, (2.61 xGA/60) of all goaltenders going back to Dec. 31. He’s faced 30- but both were crucial pieces manning their respective team’s top pair. plus shots in nine of his games, and 60-plus attempts in six. Overall, Rielly isn’t very strong defensively, but he more than makes up for it with Merzlikins has been so good he’s erased the impact of those early losses his puck-moving ability and offensive prowess. Under new coach and currently has the 11th best GSAx in the league (3.93, all situations) Sheldon Keefe, he and Tyson Barrie formed a pair that out-scored teams and leads the league with 11.1 since Korpisalo went down. Only one 20-14 while earning 54 percent of the expected goals share. The loss of other goalie, James Reimer at plus-7.3, has earned even half of that. It’s Rielly, projected to be worth 2.30 wins, dropped the Leafs’ playoff a really small sample size we’re dealing with, but even if Merzlikins chances by five percentage points last week. With Jake Muzzin also regresses a little bit, the offense is starting to get healthy in front of him, sidelined for a little bit longer, the team’s defensive group will be tested and he’s proven the Blue Jackets likely have a pretty deadly goaltending and the recent skid has pushed the team outside the playoff bubble. tandem in place…all for the bargain price of $2,024,125 this year, (that’s a lot less than $10M for those keeping track at home). Pelech isn’t exactly a household name, but he’s a legitimate top-pairing defender thanks to his defensive acumen, one that’s worth just over one 5. One more Columbus note. While goaltending regression is to be win. With him on the ice, the Islanders have allowed 2.10 expected goals expected, the Blue Jackets might be fine with better health and getting against per 60 and 1.79 goals against per 60 over the past two seasons, Oliver Bjorkstrand back on January 19 is a big one. He scored two goals the best and second-best marks on the team, respectively. That’s in in his return and followed that up with another two-goal performance Wednesday night to give him 16 on the season, putting him on a 35-goal them doing so in a peculiar way. At 5-on-5 the team has the seventh-best full season pace. That’s despite earning just two points in all of October – goal percentage, out-scoring teams 113-95, but that plus-18 weirdly has he has 25 points in 26 games since. a lot more to do with their bottom six than their top six.

Two seasons ago I wrote that Bjorkstrand looked primed for a breakout If you were to average out all of Washington’s top six players, they would and that moment has finally arrived, though it’s almost entirely due to an be on the ice for 3.21 goals-per-60 and 3.02 goals against per 60, a 51.6 increase in usage. Before this season Bjorkstrand’s career 5-on-5 points- percent goal percentage. Not bad, but not exactly on par with what other per-60 was 2.04. This year it’s 2.06, only now he’s averaging 14.2 elite teams can muster. For the bottom six though, it’s 2.93 for and 1.81 minutes at 5-on-5 (plus extra power-play time), rather than 11 or 12 against, a 61.9 percent goals percentage. minutes. It pays to give opportunities to players that show a knack for efficient production and Bjorkstrand is making due on it this season. It’s so strange that the relationship between ice-time and goals percentage among the forwards has a correlation of minus-0.79, a very It’s not just his production either though. Bjorkstrand leads all Blue strong negative relationship that no other team can rival. Obviously that Jackets with a 57 percent expected goals rate, and is earning a near 60 won’t last – unless you really believe the team can continue earning 70 percent of the goals in the process. He’s been the team’s best play percent of the goals with Travis Boyd or Nic Dowd on the ice – otherwise driver, and coupled with his production, arguably their best forward. He those bottom sixers would be treated as top six players. leads the team in average Game Score at 1.03, a top 30 mark among forwards. The question for Washington going forward is whether the top six can elevate their games to make up for the bottom six likely coming back 6. Last week Flyers’ beat writer Charlie O’Connor noted just how down to earth. Based on Alex Ovechkin’s eight-goal outburst last week consistently inconsistent the Flyers have been this season. The scientific where the team outscored opponents 6-1 at 5-on-5 with him on the ice, term for this is PRCE, or Playoff Roller Coaster of Emotions, and the way I’m leaning toward yes they can. I measure it is a team’s raw change in daily playoff probabilities. Teams on the playoff bubble will naturally have a bumpier ride than teams that 10. Alexandar Georgiev Watch is in full swing after the Rangers called are very likely or unlikely to make it (and live up to expectations). up goalie of the future Igor Shesterkin. While it’s unlikely Georgiev commands a lot as the goaltending market is usually very soft, it’s worth Philadelphia has been in and around the bubble for most of the season, digging into whether he’d be a goalie worth trading for. Short answer: but they actually land in second place at 340 percent thanks in part to Yes. some brief moments near the top. Winnipeg is in first at 350 percent. Here’s the rest of the top five. On the surface, his .910 save percentage isn’t much to write home about. It’s a little above average, but that’s not something worth getting overly 1. Winnipeg: 358 percent exciting about. In context to playing behind the woeful Rangers defense though, he looks much better, especially if you expand the sample. 2. Philadelphia: 345 percent Over the last three seasons, only seven goalies have saved 0.2 goals 3. Edmonton: 336 percent above expected per game or more. Georgiev is one of them, joining John 4. Minnesota: 335 percent Gibson, Ryan Miller, Ben Bishop, Antti Raanta, Darcy Kuemper and Jordan Binnington. It’s that last name that’s most intriguing as Georgiev’s 5. Vancouver: 330 percent numbers are nearly identical to Binnington’s over the same amount of games. Montreal and Calgary are also in the top 10, while Toronto isn’t far behind. It’s been a wild ride up north this season, eh? Goalies are fickle and Georgiev can very well turn into a pumpkin (especially given Madison Square Garden has a reputation for making For those wondering which team is in last, that would be Detroit, whose shots appear closer than they actually are), but given his career to date, playoff odds have cumulatively changed by a grand total of 12 percent all he’s a solid bet. As far as goalies go anyways. season. 11. Last week Vegas stunned the hockey world by firing Gerard Gallant, 7. The Lightning are near the bottom of that list too at just 51 percent, the only coach it has ever known. The team’s record wasn’t the strongest having started the season at 98 percent, and never wavering lower than this season, so it’s somewhat understandable through that lens given the 91 percent, despite what some with goldfish-like memories may have team’s preseason expectations, but the underlying process still dictated thought earlier in the season. If ever there was a better example for the there was a strong team lying underneath. reason a good model should use strong priors, it was the Lightning, a team that earned 128 points last season, but had a shaky start to the If results were the root of the issue, it’s hard seeing the logic then of the 2019-20 campaign. With a lot of runway left and the knowledge of who team replacing Gallant with Pete DeBoer, fresh off the unemployment still played for the team, there should’ve been very little doubt about the line himself for failing to meet expectations in San Jose. That might be an team finding its way back toward the top. understatement given how low the Sharks have fallen this season. More alarming is that the team wasn’t unlucky to be in that position like Vegas, They’re now on pace for 106 points and own the league’s best goal they were just plain bad with a horrid expected goals rate. differential at plus-38, thanks to a nine-game winning streak that started on December 23. They’re 12-2-0 since that point, scoring more than Vegas has only played three games under DeBoer so it’s very hard to twice as many goals as they’ve allowed, with a plus-29 goal differential. judge, but even those early results aren’t promising. The team is 1-1-1 Their underlying numbers have been just as stunning as the team has a and while the first game against a lowly Ottawa team was fine, the next 60.5 percent expected goals rate in that time span. two were anything but. Under Gallant, Vegas was a team that out- chanced teams routinely only twice finishing a game with an expected 8. At the time of signing, I was vocal in my distaste for the Lightning goals rate under 40 percent (and just three times in 2018-19). In three signing Alex Killorn to a seven-year deal. The thought process was that it games under DeBoer, they’ve already matched that, earning a 39 didn’t seem prudent to give term to depth players. Killorn was decent, but percent share against Montreal and topping that with a 33 percent share he wasn’t exactly what most would consider a core player. He’s changing against the Bruins. By expected goals, they were the second and third that belief this year playing 18:11 per night and on track to best his worst games of the season for Vegas and it was the first time since career-high 47 points from two seasons ago. He’s already at 39 in 46 March 2018 that Vegas had two such games in a row. Never make games and is one of six Lightning forwards with an average Game Score conclusions off just three games, but that’s not the best sign to kick off at one or better. the DeBoer era. While Killorn’s $4.45 million deal is looking like great value these days, 12. The Oilers are streaking in 2020 and they can thank the call-up of it’s always wise to check if a player’s sudden improvement is real, or Kailer Yamamoto for that. The 21-year-old has lit a fire under the team, simply good fortune. At 5-on-5, Killorn is scoring on 18.8 percent of his scoring six points in eight games since being recalled as the Oilers have shots, nearly twice as good as his next best season of 10.5 percent five cruised to a 6-1-1 record. What Edmonton has been missing for most of seasons ago. His personal shot rate is at its lowest in three seasons, his the Connor McDavid era is winger depth, often forcing Leon Draisaitl up individual expected goals is the lowest of his career and more than half of to a top-heavy first line. With Yamamoto surging, the Oilers look to have his assists are secondary. Color me skeptical. a legit top six in the fold as he’s looked great next to Draisaitl and Ryan 9. The Capitals are once again atop the league, winning with ease and Nugent-Hopkins, while McDavid plus Literally Any Two Random Guys is while we should be used to Washington defying numbers, this year has almost always going to be an elite top line. The trio have out-scored teams 7-1 in 90 minutes together, sporting a solid 50.7 percent expected goals rate.

In previous stints, Yamamoto’s ability to drive play was evident, but he struggled to create his own chances and put numbers on the board. Not anymore, and the Oilers might have added a solid weapon to their forward arsenal as a result, giving it just a bit more legitimacy outside McDavid, Draisaitl and Nugent-Hopkins.

13. At the start of the season, there was a slight reason to be concerned with the Blues. Their record was (and still is) great, but their underlying numbers lagged behind, paling in comparison to the stellar numbers exhibited in last season’s excellent second half. Those troubles seem to be behind them now as the team is fifth in expected goals over its last 15 games at 54 percent. The Blues are 10-3-2 in that span.

14. If you’re interested in how players and teams are trending over different intervals in the season, there’s no better Twitter account to follow than Sean Tierney’s @ChartingHockey. Every day there’s a new thread with new charts, and one tweet definitely caught my eye earlier this week.

One big reason the Sabres have struggled this season is that Rasmus Dahlin didn’t take the next step many expected him to after a very strong rookie season, especially not in the early going. Dahlin developing into an elite defender is the key to Buffalo’s future as a playoff team and his inability to drive play was hampering that. As Tierney succinctly notes, Dahlin’s back. Over the last month, Dahlin is rocking a 58.5 percent expected goals percentage and the Sabres are scoring 60.7 percent of the goals with him on the ice. In Dahlin’s previous 29 games he was dead last on the Sabres with a 40 percent expected goals rate.

15. Offensive players usually get all the hype, so I wanted to shed some light on a defensive star this year: Minnesota’s Jonas Brodin. Based on RAPM (a fancy play-driving metric that uses regression to determine which players are responsible), Brodin has saved the Wild 69 shot attempts (1st), four expected goals (1st) and just over two actual goals (13th) above average. He’s one of just two defensemen to rank in the top 15 in all three categories, with the other being Boston’s Brandon Carlo. If there were to be an award for best defensive defenseman this year, those two would arguably be the most worthy.

It would be Brodin’s to lose though as he’s head and shoulders above the rest of the field in the chances his team surrenders while he’s on the ice. The Wild have the league’s second-lowest expected goals against per 60 behind only Boston and Brodin is a big part of that.

16. At the all-star break, here are the forwards and defenders leading the league in Game Score Value Added. (Sidenote, I realized I had a position related glitch that undercounted forward’s on-ice goals for and over- counted their on-ice expected goals for which has since been corrected).

The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172572 Websites season and likely the Oilers’ most NHL-ready centre prospect, who was out because of a lower-body injury. They lost the first game 3-0, an outing in which the coaches felt the players deserved a better fate. The following night, they squeezed out a 3-2 victory. “That was a game we The Athletic / I was an AHL coach for a day: Here’s what I learned felt like we played 25 good minutes,” Woodcroft says. To make matters worse, 2017 first-round pick Kailer Yamamoto sustained an injury in the

second contest, which will keep him out of the lineup for a few games. By Daniel Nugent-Bowman So, there’s lots to digest on Tuesday morning as I sit down at an open Jan 23, 2020 table in the middle of the room. Rodrigue, Manson and Houle, dressed in matching navy blue Condors shorts, T-shirts and ball caps, spin their chairs around from their desks along the far side wall as Woodcroft takes the floor. Kim, sitting under a giant flatscreen TV, guides the nearly hour- BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The first thing I learn about being an AHL coach long presentation from below. is that trying to improve players and turn them into big-leaguers takes long hours — and early hours. Condors head coach Jim Woodcroft with Daniel Nugent-Bowman (EJ Medellin/) The home arena of the Bakersfield Condors is no more than a couple hundred metres from my hotel, making for an easy early morning As Woodcroft instructs the 34-year-old Kim to run the tape, the early clips commute as I start my new temporary job. It’s late November and I’m highlight the Condors forwards. acting as an assistant coach for the Condors, the top minor-league affiliate of the Oilers. Jay Woodcroft, the team’s bench boss, has agreed It’s Houle who keeps tabs on this group, as well as faceoffs, offensive to let me join his staff to shed some light on how minor-league coaches zone work and the power play. He’s the veteran of the Bakersfield staff. prepare and work with players to get them to the next level. Houle, 44, has been a Condors coach since 2014, when he moved from He’s asked me to show up around 7 a.m., and I notice it’s two minutes Blainville-Boisbriand in the Quebec league. He took the head job with the past when I arrive at Korn Row, the back entrance to the rink named after Condors, then in the ECHL, for a year and joined Gerry Fleming’s staff as the famous metal band that calls the Southern California city home. an assistant when the Oilers made Bakersfield the site of its top minor- league affiliate in 2015. Once inside the building, I head for Woodcroft’s office, wondering if I’m the first lieutenant of his crew to get there. I meet Woodcroft at the He spent three seasons working with the defencemen, but that changed corridor and, after a warm welcome, he takes me into the larger coaches’ when Woodcroft — a former Oilers assistant coach — was put in charge room lined with Condors colours, depth charts and notes, and a note on of the Condors in April 2018 and decided to retain him. the whiteboard that reads: “Earn the jersey.” The room is shared by Woodcroft wanted to keep Houle on because of his analytical approach assistants Jean-Francois Houle and Dave Manson, goalie coach Sylvain to coaching, experience in the community, knowledge of the AHL’s Rodrigue and video coordinator Sam Kim. Pacific Division and track record behind the bench. Houle served as an Not only am I not the first one here, but those four men have clearly been assistant at his NCAA alma mater, Clarkson University, from 2003 to waiting for me to show up so they can get started. They’ve been at the 2010 before running his own bench in major junior. Having someone who rink since well before 6 a.m. and are eager to break down video clips understands both collegiate and CHL players appealed to Woodcroft prepared by Kim from the past weekend’s road games against Colorado. since most AHL players come from one of those two circuits.

The coaches’ emphasis is correcting individual and team mistakes — “One of my strengths is to be able to relate to players because wherever and reinforcing the positives — for long-term gains. they’ve been, I’ve been before,” Houle says.

“It’s either learning or confirming,” Woodcroft says. “We’re trying to But Woodcroft felt Houle, a former minor-pro two-way centre as a establish April, May and June habits. We’re investing in the roots of our Canadiens prospect, was miscast working with blueliners and wanted season now.” him in a more natural role.

It takes the work of a devoted coaching staff to make that happen. “It made sense to move him to the part of the bench where he felt most comfortable, which is where he played,” Woodcroft says. Condors players were given Monday off after Friday and Saturday contests in Loveland, Colo. Some of them enjoyed the warm fall weather Houle is the optimist of the group. You can hear it when he pipes in when by driving 200 kilometres south to Manhattan Beach, a picturesque spot Woodcroft asks for the film to be temporarily halted. in Los Angeles County. One of the first clips features winger Tyler Benson, arguably the top The coaches enjoyed no such trip. They were hunkered down in the forward prospect in the organization. Benson had an excellent season in bowels of the arena poring through game film to ensure no teachable 2018-19 as a rookie and made the league’s second all-star team after moments were missed. scoring at nearly a point-per-game rate (66 points in 68 games). The coaching staff is perhaps even more impressed with him this season. Next comes bringing the new coach, me, up to speed and explaining the appropriate manner to convey individual, group and team messages to The video shows Benson dogged on the puck, getting a shot off from a the players. scoring area and then retrieving the rebound.

Because when you’re an AHL coach, how you approach and instruct “Great shift,” Houle says. players matters. And it takes time to get it right. “When our game’s on point, that’s the type of shift we have in the “We’re a team within a team,” Woodcroft says. “It’s not like it’s sunshine offensive zone where we’re shooting and getting it back,” Woodcroft says and rainbows every day. When things aren’t going well, we talk and next. “That’s a very good example of what a Condors shift is.” debate. It’s paramount for Houle to show Benson a sequence like this, which he’ll “But when we talk out of that coaches’ room, we are united and clear on do before practice later today. This reminds Benson of the progress he’s our message to our players. Our players know that this coaching staff’s making. there for them. We’re here to maximize their potential.” “He had a great season last year, but you have to stay on him this year,” The Condors won their division last year but are slogging through a Houle says. middling season right now. Their goaltender, Shane Starrett, a second- “It helps a lot,” Benson tells me later that day. “It’s always good to talk it team all-star, has been shelved because of a groin injury. The Oilers through with someone else.” have required Caleb Jones’s and William Lagesson’s services at times, removing the important young defencemen from Bakersfield’s lineup. Benson’s progress is the template for Ryan McLeod, a freshman centre. They haven’t iced the same lines and pairings consecutive times through Like Benson, McLeod is an Oilers second-round pick, only two years their first 15 games. later. The Oilers will need depth pivots behind their superstars in the years to come and see potential in the 20-year-old. Bakersfield went 1-1 in Colorado without Starrett, Jones (up with the Oilers) and Cooper Marody — the team’s second-leading scorer last It’s the Condors coaches’ job to make him hungrier and more assertive shaping some of the organization’s most important prospects — and the around opponents’ nets. The next two clips are perfect teaching ones closest to being Oilers. illustrations for Houle to deliver later. Jones and Ethan Bear had already played a year in Bakersfield. “This is where the coaching comes in,” Woodcroft says. “We’re trying to Lagesson was on the way after developing in Sweden. Dmitri Samorukov ingrain those types of habits in our players so that they become second was drafted in 2017. (Evan Bouchard would be drafted 10th overall that nature.” June.)

The first example for improvement comes when McLeod doesn’t stop in Woodcroft wanted someone who was a high NHL draft pick to relate to front of the Colorado goal on a rush. That prevents him from being in a these up-and-comers; Manson was chosen 11th in 1985. He wanted scoring spot and then leaves him out of position and behind the play someone who’d played the position and had a good NHL career; Manson when the Eagles tear back down the ice. suited up in 1,103 games as a blueliner, including 219 with the Oilers. He wanted someone who’d worked with young defencemen; Manson “We’re showing that the cause and effect of the small things add up,” returned to his hometown of Prince Albert, Sask., upon retiring in 2002 Woodcroft says. “It’s a learning opportunity for a young player.” and spent parts of the next 16 seasons coaching rearguards for the WHL The next clip sees McLeod take the puck to the net on his backhand. The Raiders (with whom he helped current Winnipeg Jet Josh Morrissey) and coaches love his drive to the net on this one. However, instead of making the AAA Mintos (with whom he guided his son, Josh, now with the NHL a power move and pulling the puck to his forehand for a Grade A scoring Ducks). chance — à la Connor McDavid — McLeod tries a backhanded pass to Manson fit the bill in every way. Joseph Gambardella that misses to end the threat. “I don’t know where we’d be if we didn’t have Dave Manson on staff,” “Even though 5 (Gambardella) is open, I would rather 29 (McLeod) drive Woodcroft says, using words like “principled” and “patient” to describe the net with his leg and go from his backhand to his forehand,” Houle him. “He’s that good of a coach. says. “I’ve not been around somebody who carries the same presence … He’s “A play like that is the difference between a 10-goal-scorer and a 25- special.” goal-scorer,” Manson says. “He’s like a dad,” Samorukov says of the 52-year-old. “He’s always trying “You’re right,” Houle responds. to help.”

“We believe, as a coaching staff, that you can teach offence,” Woodcroft Manson is simply called “Manse” around the rink now. But when he was adds. a tough-as-nails defenceman, he was nicknamed “Charlie” after the From left: Jay Woodcroft, Jean-Francois Houle, Sam Kim, Sylvain infamous murderer Charles Manson because he was physical, fearless Rodrigue and Dave Manson (Submitted by the Bakersfield Condors) and quick to mete out punishment with his stick or his hands.

McLeod is a strong skater — NHL level, Woodcroft notes — quick and His ability to “teach confidence in confrontation,” as Woodcroft puts it, is powerful. That much is evident in both examples. He’s getting to the net; another checkmark in Manson’s favour. he just needs to make a tweak to be in the right position or finish the job. “In today’s game, there’s not a prevalence of fighting, but there are still Houle had talked to McLeod about those plays when he came to the physical confrontations that arise,” Woodcroft says. bench and will address them with him after the video session. Bouchard, who needs to improve his physicality around the blue paint, is “Coming from junior, they don’t really say much to you when you’re one one of the young players taking note. of the better players on the team. You can kinda get away with it,” “It’s a big part of the game today,” Bouchard says. “Most of the goals — McLeod tells me after practice. “Coming in here, little details in your or a lot of them, at least — are scored from in front of the net. As long as game can make you successful — or make you not. I’m trying to do the you can take off that with boxouts and stick lifts and things like that, a lot details right and get better at them every game. I keep that in my head, less goals are gonna go in.” the things they keep telling me.” During a game in 1991, Manson permanently damaged his larynx when In the latter case, it’s being more selfish with the puck on his stick. he was punched in the throat by Sergio Momesso. Despite two surgeries “My first instinct is to look for a pass. That’s always been in my blood,” he and an implant, Manson’s voice is nothing more than a raspy whisper. says. “Once I start shooting it, it’ll open up more lanes for me to pass or You have to listen carefully when he speaks, but it’s worth it. shoot. They say I need to shoot a lot more and I think so, too.” Having already helped graduate Bear and, at least temporarily, Jones to Woodcroft likens the video sessions and player development to the NHL, Manson’s next projects are players like Lagesson (who’s seen gardening. You can’t just pull weeds; you have to tend to the flowers, too, NHL time), Bouchard, and Samorukov. (Rookie Joel Persson will he says. participate in his first practice after being reassigned by the Oilers.)

So, when a clip soon pops up of McLeod creating havoc around the net “It’s the most important time now to (be) working with Dave Manson and before a Josh Currie power-play goal, I ask Houle if he’ll show the rookie grow my game,” Samorukov says. forward that one, too. In the coaches’ room, back-to-back clips of Samorukov pop up on the “Always,” Houle says. “It’s four positives to one negative.” screen with him quarterbacking a second power-play unit against the Eagles. You can also bet that once a player corrects a past error, he’s lauded. Showing video of a corrected mistake is one of the more “validating” Samorukov is almost at the top of the right faceoff circle in both examples moments to Houle. and has the puck on his stick. It’s a great position to be in, especially on a power play. Both times the rookie makes the incorrect read. First, he A week after Houle shows McLeod two clips of times when he should tries to force a pass down low even though the defender has his stick in have stopped or been more aggressive around the net, the centreman the lane; a shot would have been more ideal. Next time, the exact puts the lessons to good use. In a road game in San Jose, he jets from opposite is true — the defender leaves the pass option open and fronts the right-wing boards to the goal once he realizes Bouchard is about to Samorukov and a shot is sent toward the net. shoot the puck. He’s in the crease at the right time to slam home a rebound and tie the score in a game the Condors ultimately end up “Look where the D-man’s stick is. It’s a subtle thing, but it’s a cue,” winning. Woodcroft says, after I ask for clarification.

The video and discussion eventually shift to the defence, a position There are far worse mistakes a young defenceman can make. But fine- overseen by Manson. He also spearheads breakouts, regroups and the tuning areas like these are critical for reaching the next level, particularly penalty kill. because Samorukov proved his offensive chops in junior with OHL Guelph. When Woodcroft was putting together his staff a year and a half ago, he had a long list of requirements for the person he’d hire to work with “We’re just reminding guys,” Manson says. “Mistakes are gonna happen. Bakersfield’s blueliners. After all, the person in this position would be That’s hockey. Players aren’t robots.” Lagesson is next. A puck is dumped into the corner of the Bakersfield Rodrigue was a goalie himself, strapping on the pads in the QMJHL — zone to the right of goaltender Stuart Skinner. Lagesson, a left shot, goes mostly for the Chicoutimi Sagueneens — before playing pro in France back to retrieve it. He only glances over his left shoulder to look for the until he retired in 2001. It was during this time that his son, Olivier, an forecheck. Oilers goaltending prospect and 2020 Canadian world junior team member, was born. Rodrigue eventually got into helping the next wave of He reverses the puck up ice to a teammate, but an Eagles attacker netminders in 2003-04 with his former junior team and went on to work emerges quicker than expected, leading to a few chaotic seconds in the for pro clubs in Germany, Switzerland, France and Sweden. He worked Condors zone. with goalies like Rob Zepp, David Aebischer and Cristobal Huet before The coaches mention the turnover, Manson makes a note to chat with joining the Oilers permanently in 2015. Lagesson, and Woodcroft asks for Kim to move on. That’s when I The Oilers asked him to move down to Bakersfield on a full-time basis interject. before the start of last season.

The direction for McLeod from earlier is more obvious. Even “That was a great decision,” Woodcroft says. “He’s not getting airlifted in Samorukov’s miscalculations aren’t too hard to spot. I’m not sure what a couple days a month to work with important prospects.” Lagesson could have done differently. As a former high school physical education teacher, Rodrigue believes in “What’s the play for him there?” visual communication and positive messaging. The prime example is the “Who do you see that’s open for us?” Woodcroft retorts. brief presentation he provides to the players before each game where he notes the tendencies and weaknesses of the opposing team’s goalie. “I guess Benson,” I say, not entirely sure. Woodcroft has him give a two-minute breakdown of 10-15 clips to the Woodcroft nods. Benson, the left winger, is there to provide an outlet if Condors skaters right before they hit the ice. Lagesson had rimmed the puck around the boards. “When they can hear it from a goaltender’s perspective, I think it’s benefit “It’s hard,” Houle says. for our shooters,” Woodcroft says. “I think it helps grow him as a complete coach.” “They’re coming fast,” Woodcroft adds. “It’s a split-second decision.” Rodrigue’s primary concern, though, is how his goaltenders manage in “It seems like a process of elimination. And he probably can’t see their net. Kim clips every play involving the goalies and Rodrigue always Benson,” I say. addresses the important ones with the stopper in question the next day Houle responds: “He’s looking on one side now, doing a shoulder check. they see each other — never right after a game. But he didn’t do the other side.” With the video session over, the assistant coaches organize their clips “Manse, how would you answer DNB right there?” Woodcroft asks. and make notes on their laptops as the players arrive. Houle and Manson Everyone quiets down to listen. will speak to certain Condors individually before practice, after which Houle will run a power-play meeting before Woodcroft speaks to the “First, it starts when he only looks one way. So, he took a picture and entire team. only got half of it,” Manson says. “He could get a better down screen from his partner and that would buy him another half a second. But the play is But “Sly” — as he’s known in these parts — has other ideas. The 46- definitely to the weak side.” year-old is the first coach with his Condors tracksuit on, skates tied and stick in hand and as he exits the room in search of his goalies. “We give these guys tools,” Woodcroft says. “We put tools in their tool case. In this case, he just picked the wrong tool.” He requires his goaltenders to be ready at least 20 minutes before practice begins, so they can be on the ice to get some extra work. That makes more sense to me. As it does to Lagesson when Manson Sometimes Rodrigue asks a skater or two to help with some drills. Not shows him the clip later that day. today.

“When you’re out there playing games, it’s hard to see all the situations, Although Starrett is not yet healthy enough to play, he’s one of three to read all the situations,” Lagesson says. “These are small details in the goalies on the ice ahead of the 10:30 a.m. practice. I watch on from game. It’s good to see those small details and then correct them.” behind the bench as Rodrigue instructs Starrett, Skinner and Dylan Wells to work on their post play off shots from a sharp angle and the high slot. As with McLeod, the coaches will show Samorukov and Lagesson an example of them fixing a past misdeed at the next opportunity. “If the guy shoots from above the dot or below the dot, it’s totally different for the goalie,” he says. “We’re not allowed to give up free, juicy A few weeks after my visit to Bakersfield, Samorukov will prove that he’s rebounds in the slot.” getting better at making the right reads inside the offensive blue line. In a 2-1 home win against Grand Rapids on Dec. 12, he exhibits poise and Rodrigue is a stickler for proper technique — “It’s gonna save your life,” neatly gets a shot through; it’s tipped by winger Anthony Peluso for the he says — because it’ll increase the chances of an off or tired night eventually winner. In a game on Nov. 29, he darts around a San Jose resulting in three goals against rather than five. forward, skating up to the faceoff dot before wiring in his first pro goal. McLeod is the player providing havoc in front. It’s especially important on a team like the Condors.

As for Lagesson, the coaches will soon notice improved shoulder checks. “We are not a team that’s going to give up 35, 40, 45 shots from the In the same game against San Jose, he looks carefully before getting to outside,” he says. “When we give up a shot, usually it’s a good shot. But a dump-in and then uses his feet to evade the forecheck and lead the we keep our scoring chances and shots against pretty low because our rush. A night later against Ontario, Lagesson’s screening tells him an structure’s pretty strong.” attacker is quickly in pursuit, so he rims the puck out of danger and safely Puckhandling is another point of emphasis on this day. absorbs the contact. Before practice ends, Rodrigue has them work on their puck retrievals “The players have improved, but it’s a work in progress,” Woodcroft says along the boards and making a short pass to another goaltender, acting a few weeks later. “It’s not something that magically overnight, you get a as a defenceman. good sleep and then it fixes itself. You have to work at it. That’s one of the most important things of coaching at this level.” He later calls Skinner into the coaches’ office for some one-on-one video time to nail home the point. A group video session doesn’t really lend itself to critiquing a goaltender’s play. The few clips involving Skinner highlight ways he can help the Condors goaltender Stuart Skinner, left, reviews video with Bakersfield breakout, an area led by Manson and Rodrigue since the defencemen assistant coach Sylvain Rodrigue (Daniel Nugent-Bowman/For The and goaltender are the first to touch the puck. Athletic)

Rodrigue has been with the organization since 2013-14, first with the “It helps the team out when you have a goalie back there who can make Oilers as a goaltending consultant where his main assignment was some nice plays or easy, simple plays,” Skinner says. spending one week a month helping goalies in the minors. Where or how a puck is left or passed by a goaltender to his defenceman they’ve been breaking down some video of the Heat ahead of the can make a huge difference, right down to the spot it’s placed behind the upcoming game. net, depending on which way the teammate shoots. “We don’t keep bankers’ hours around here,” Manson says, first making “From a goalie perspective, we’re trying to help them with the quickest sure the room is quiet so everyone hears. and cleanest breakout as possible,” Rodrigue says. They all laugh at his quip. After two days away from the rink, there’s noticeable excitement from the players as they emerge from the dressing room before practice begins. I start to defend myself, but quickly trail off. I can’t help but laugh a little at The Condors players walk past Images plastered on each of the two my own expense, too. walls leading to the rink; one shows them celebrating an extra-time There’s always something a minor-pro coach can do to make one of his victory last season and the other depicts the handshake line when they players better. And that means never turning down an opportunity to knocked off Colorado in the first round. identify those areas and address them effectively.

The defencemen hit the ice first. They each grab a puck and head toward “Coaching at the American Hockey League level is a continuous the far-end goal. They’re chatting away as they blast shots on the vacant dialogue,” Woodcroft says. “It’s about identifying areas of individuals’ net and circle around to get the blood flowing. The forwards follow. games that need to improve. Sometimes that’s on a macro level; Moments before Woodcroft steps onto the ice, he addresses the two key sometimes it’s on a micro level, meaning it’s one specific habit or play themes for today’s practice. The 43-year-old second-year head coach is that you keep seeing over and over. the last person to walk through the open bench door. His skates hit the “We like to say we have high expectations — but positive eyes.” frozen sheet at 10:30 sharp.

Unlike Oilers coach Dave Tippett, whose voice is seldom heard from the stands, Woodcroft likes to bark out his instructions. He wants things done The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2020 properly and won’t hesitate to stop a drill to rectify an issue.

“We don’t want fluff,” he says. “We’re not there to do drills because the calendar says we have to be here at 10:30. We’re out there to work on our game.”

The two key points of emphasis on the agenda are 3-on-3 battles around the net — the “trenches,” as Woodcroft calls the area — and a back- pressure drill. The latter involves the defenceman stepping up in the neutral zone, so he hits the oncoming (opposing) forward when he dumps the puck into the Condors zone. Once that happens, the defenceman’s backchecking teammate (a forward) should skate below the goal line and into the corner to retrieve the dump-in.

Of course, there’s plenty of room for individual teachable moments, too.

Bouchard, who wasn’t featured prominently in the video clips earlier, stops by to talk with Manson after several breakout and power-play reps. The two chat before the next drill begins.

McLeod works on his penalty kill under Houle’s watchful eye. The next Condors game is against the rival and their power play is red hot.

The coaches want to do a better job controlling the middle of the ice.

“Hearing what they have to say about my game and things I can fix, it helps me a ton and helps me develop better,” McLeod says.

Practice wraps up with a shootout. It ends in style as Bouchard pulls a Nikita Kucherov-esque move where he leaves the puck behind while deking and it slides five-hole on Wells. The non-goalies erupt. Bouchard grins and nods when I ask if that was intentional.

With the on-ice session over, Woodcroft brings a group of forwards into his office. He lectures them for a few minutes but ends by giving them the floor.

“That’s what I saw. But now, you tell me: What did you see?”

It’s the staff’s philosophy to let the players have their say because, as Manson notes, “Sometimes they’re right.”

“We don’t want them wandering without a compass,” Woodcroft says. “But we want to be creative, innovative and modern in how we get our message across.”

The Condors have one more practice day before a 10:30 a.m. home game against the Heat.

The plan is to work on special teams, especially the penalty kill, and have lines painted on the ice from the outside of the faceoff dots to the top of the point to encourage the Condors to control the middle.

With most of the player-specific video work out of the way, Woodcroft suggests I arrive later the next day; he doesn’t expect his staff will be getting down to business quite as early.

Shortly after 8 a.m. on Wednesday, I check out of my hotel and walk over to the rink. I’m barely two steps into the coaches’ office when the roasting begins. My new colleagues, it turns out, arrived at the usual time and 1172573 Websites he’s now owed a steak dinner — and Matthews spoke at length about the all-stars that influenced him on the way up.

His childhood affinity for Patrick Kane is well-known, but he also went Sportsnet.ca / Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews works through nagging through a period where he emulated everything Alex Ovechkin did. pain in scoring binge “I’d start taping my stick like him, I went yellow laces and kept my tongues out on my skates and stuff like that,” said Matthews. “I think that’s just what you do as a kid when you’re kind of idolizing different Chris Johnston | @reporterchris players.

January 23, 2020, 10:21 PM “Playing against him now, it’s pretty fun. It’s surreal.”

That’s the kind of role Matthews now fills for young kids across the continent and beyond. ST. LOUIS — Auston Matthews just ripped through one of the hottest scoring stretches of his career while receiving regular treatment on an In a perfect world, he’d be on the ice at Enterprise Center with the aching right wrist. league’s other stars doing what he loves best. But given what he’s already accomplished at something less than 100 per cent and how In fact, the NHLer with more goals than any other since Dec. 1 — he’s critical the stretch drive will be, something had to be sacrificed. got 18, ahead of Kyle Connor and Dominik Kubalik at 15 — revealed during Thursday’s NHL all-star media day that he’s felt noticeably less “In the grand scheme of things, the important games are the ones that comfortable with the puck on his stick for the last three weeks or so. are [left in the] regular season,” said Matthews. “Just getting those extra couple days to kind of rest and heal and move on for these last 30-plus “It’s just nagging every time you’re stick-handling, shooting, stuff like games, I think was really important.” that,” said Matthews. “I think when you get in a game situation, obviously there’s so much adrenaline and so much stuff kind of running through your mind and everything, you kind of forget about it, I guess. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.24.2020 “And you can kind of manage it and play through it.”

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The Toronto Maple Leafs centre mixed in some much-needed rest during the team’s bye week and made the decision to stay off the ice for this weekend’s all-star festivities to put himself in the best position possible for a strong finish.

That would be a prudent approach for any player, but it’s a no-brainer for a guy logging more than 20 minutes per night on a team facing a battle to qualify for the playoffs down the stretch.

Matthews has dressed for all 49 Leafs games so far and finds himself on pace for 57 goals and 95 points — both of which would be career highs. The stretch where he’s nursed the wrist injury included a hat-trick performance against New Jersey on Jan. 14 and it’s believed there was some concern behind the scenes earlier in the month that he might have to sit out some games.

However, with treatment, he’s managed to avoid that course of action despite seeing increased ice time under new head coach Sheldon Keefe.

“It’s just been something I’m trying to manage with the medical team,” said Matthews. “Just making sure obviously every game that rehab, treatment, stuff like that, just doing everything I can to help it feel as best it can throughout this whole process.

“Obviously guys are always playing through stuff — some more serious than others — but you’re kind of at a point in the season where every game matters and you want to be out there with your teammates every night.”

Matthews will be back on the ice with the Leafs for practice in Nashville on Sunday afternoon and fully intends to be in the lineup when they face the Predators the following night: “I mean that’s my plan. That’s my goal.”

That will kick off a 33-game sprint to the finish that will start with Toronto four points back of Florida for the final guaranteed playoff spot in the Atlantic Division.

Matthews chose to spend his bye week at home in Scottsdale, Ariz. — “getting out of the snowy weather that’s been going on in Toronto the last couple weeks” — and chose to return to the cold driving sleet by then travelling to St. Louis despite not taking part in the skills competition or all-star game.

It was a sign of respect that guarantees he’ll face no punishment from the league, yes, but it’s also indicative of how much Matthews values this event. He was in great spirits at Stifel Theatre on Thursday night and considers it a serious honour that he’s been selected to the all-star game in each of his four NHL seasons.

His decision to step back allowed good friend and native St. Louisian Brady Tkachuk to get an invite — Brady’s father, Keith, told Matthews 1172574 Websites What is Lou Lamoriello plotting? 12. Columbus Blue Jackets

If John Tortorella can guide this free-agency-ravaged, injury-plagued Sportsnet.ca / NHL Power Rankings: Pressing Questions Edition roster back to the dance, will this be his greatest coaching performance?

13. Philadelphia Flyers Luke Fox | @lukefoxjukebox With Carter Hart sidelined, can a 34-year-old Brian Elliott backstop the January 23, 2020, 8:23 AM Flyers into a playoff spot? (On another note, Gritty is totally going to make my 2019 prediction come true, isn’t he?)

14. Edmonton Oilers The playoff races are as tight as any in memory. Have the Oilers truly become a two-line threat? The trade deadline is nigh. Sign up for NHL newsletters And once the NHL’s all-star break concludes, it’ll be high time to trade tan lines for storylines. Get the best of our NHL coverage and exclusives delivered directly to your inbox! In our NHL Power Rankings: Pressing Questions Edition, we look at the greatest mystery yet to be solved for each club. 15. Winnipeg Jets

Per tradition, all teams are ranked in descending order according to So… Dustin Byfuglien or nah? current standard of excellence. 16. Toronto Maple Leafs Our write-ups pose a critical question for each club that will get answered With no Morgan Rielly, is the Leafs’ defence deep enough to stay afloat? once everyone returns from Turks and/or Caicos and the stretch run through the trade deadline and toward the post-season picks up. 17. Arizona Coyotes

1. Tampa Bay Lightning Can a team that hardly scores find a way to squeak into the playoffs?

With three games in hand and Andrei Vasilevskiy back in Vezina form, 18. Vegas Golden Knights can the Lightning make up eight points and catch Boston for the Atlantic Division crown? Will Vegas’s surprise coaching change really make a difference, or does the Golden Knights’ fate boil down to how many saves Marc-Andre 2. Washington Capitals Fleury can make?

Do we dare doubt that Alexander Ovechkin — with two games in hand 19. Calgary Flames and trailing by only three goals — will surpass David Pastrnak and claim a ninth Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy? (ALSO: what if Ovechkin’s What has happened to Johnny Gaudreau… and can he fix it in time to one-game suspension for skipping the All-Star Game becomes the save my fantasy team? difference?) 20. Nashville Predators

3. St. Louis Blues If win-now Nashville can’t rally and whiffs on the post-season for the first How will the Blues — excellent thus far — respond to being the favoured time in six years, how deep and how fast does David Poile cut into the team to beat as opposed to the scrappy, feel-good story they were last roster he built? spring? 21. Chicago Blackhawks

4. Pittsburgh Penguins Are we witnessing a Jonathan Toews renaissance? (And how beautiful Which goaltender does Mike Sullivan call upon when the chips are would that be for everyone not drawing the Blackhawks as a wild card?) down? (And how healthy will Jake Guentzel be come playoff time?) 22. New York Rangers

5. Boston Bruins How big of a return can Jeff Gorton reap for Chris Kreider and Alexandar Can Jaroslav Halak, who’s lost as many games as he’s won, hold the fort Georgiev? in Tuukka Rask’s absence and allow Boston to secure the top seed? 23. Montreal Canadiens

6. Colorado Avalanche Does Marc Bergevin maximize an opportunity to become one of the No team has more cap space as the trade deadline nears than the NHL’s most compelling deadline sellers and increase the franchise’s Avalanche. So, how aggressively will Joe Sakic, now overseeing a legit chances of winning Alexis Lafreniere in the lottery? contender, be buying? 24. Buffalo Sabres

7. Vancouver Canucks How thin is Jason Botterill’s patience wearing?

If the Canucks indeed hang on and make the playoffs, will Jim Benning 25. Minnesota Wild get his due credit? After months of wait-and-see, when are we going to find out what Bill 8. Carolina Hurricanes Guerin’s vision is for this franchise?

In a season where building on last year’s momentum is realistic, how 26. San Jose Sharks aggressively do Tom Dundon’s Hurricanes approach the market now that Norris candidate Dougie Hamilton is injured long term? Staring in the face of a lost season, how deep does Doug Wilson cut?

9. Dallas Stars 27. Anaheim Ducks

Can the Stars — who curiously rank 29th in goals scored — finally get an Can Bob Murray’s pitch to take on other teams’ cap space result in offensive push from some underwhelming veterans to match their strong tangible gains? defensive play? 28. Los Angeles Kings 10. Florida Panthers How great of a return can Rob Blake reap from his rental pieces when Now that Joel Quenneville has the Cats running, could the dream of an the whole world knows he’s gotta sell? all-Florida playoff series jolt hockey interest in Sunrise? 29. Ottawa Senators 11. New York Islanders Do the Senators re-sign Jean-Gabriel Pageau because it’s true that young players need grooming from solid pros, or do they deal him because it’s true that Pageau could be a fine addition to many a contender?

30. New Jersey Devils

Who is calling the shots… and what kind of shots are they going to call now?

31. Detroit Red Wings

Absolutely, the persistent losing is in the best interest of Steve Yzerman’s lottery odds, but will the ugliness of 2019-20 have a lingering negative effect on the core players and the dwindling fan base that pays to see them lose?

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.24.2020 1172575 Websites looked at as one of the better players in the league for having one of the better years. I’m happy for him. He’s worked hard to get it and it’s a bonus to do it in his hometown.”

Sportsnet.ca / Matthew Tkachuk is an all-star veteran, with pictures to It’s not unfathomable Tkachuk could continue to steal the spotlight all prove it weekend, as he has the bulk of the last two weeks. His targeted blasts on Zack Kassian and subsequent refusal to fight the Oilers tough guy still has the hockey world talking.

Eric Francis | @EricFrancis After the two principles exchanged post-game barbs in the media, the nation has engaged in a heated debate over the nature of Tkachuk’s hits, January 23, 2020, 2:01 PM and whether Tkachuk owes Kassian a dance. They meet again Jan. 29.

Drew Doughty said last year Tkachuk is the most hated man in hockey, CALGARY – The last thing Matthew Tkachuk will be at this weekend’s putting him in territory rivalling superstar Brad Marchand. NHL All-Star Game is star-struck. Everyone has an opinion on one of the few characters in the game today. Although it’s the first time he’s been asked to play alongside the NHL’s All the while he has paced the Flames with 15 goals and a team-high 38 very best, this, by no means, is his first all-star appearance. points, while continuing to draw more penalties than any NHLer since he The 22-year-old Flames winger has crates of photo evidence to prove it. joined the league.

As sons of five-time all-star Keith Tkachuk, Matthew and younger brother So angered by Tkachuk’s latest antics, Oilers star Leon Draisaitl said last Brady relished the opportunity to tag along several times for the game’s week he’d “probably get off the ice,” if Tkachuk was on the same trio as mid-season celebration. his during the all-star game’s three-on-three tourney.

Revelling as rink rats who knew where the gum, tape and other treasures We’ll see, as both are on the Pacific division all-star squad that also were in every NHL dressing room, they spent all-star weekends loading includes Flames teammates Mark Giordano and David Rittich, as well as up on autographs and photo ops with a who’s who of the hockey world. Oilers star Connor McDavid.

Never far behind them was mom, Chantal, the family’s official None of it will faze Tkachuk, whose brother knows better than anyone photographer, who doggedly chronicled the kids’ encounters with that all the noise won’t affect Matthew this weekend. everyone from , Shea Weber and Chris Pronger to the “I just know from personal experience, always being around him, that he Staal brothers Shane Doan and Sidney Crosby. doesn’t let stuff bother him,” said Brady, 20. “My wife is crazy when it comes to those things – she makes us take “Sometimes, there’s a lot of negativity towards somebody, so to block pictures,” chuckled Keith. that out and still play your game, it’s pretty impressive.” “I don’t know what we did with all the pictures from his bedroom, but he The whole Tkachuk clan will be at this weekend’s events, which will has so many. The last all-star game I played in was Montreal (in 2009) include a good portion of the 40 friends and family members who and he got to take pictures with (Jarome) Iginla and (Jonathan) Toews traveled to Ottawa to see the two brothers face off against one another and (Patrick) Kane and guys he plays against now. last Saturday. “So, it’s weird when you look at it. He was a little boy looking for Keith said Chantal is playing “Julie McCoy” as cruise director this week, autographs. Now he’s out there pissing them off.” organizing who when and where their visitors will be staying. And doing it better than most. But come Friday and Saturday you can bet she’ll return to her role behind Back to his ability to agitate in a moment. the camera, collecting more all-star memories for the collection.

The photographic history of the family’s all-star trips was long featured on the bedroom walls of both Tkachuk boys, until a relatively recent move to Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.24.2020 a new house in the St. Louis suburbs relegated them to several of Chantal’s impeccably kept scrapbooks.

Everyone in the Tkachuk household has long agreed that growing up in an environment where the boys are comfortable mingling with the game’s elite has had a tremendous impact on their meteoric rise to the NHL.

It’s no coincidence both boys went straight from being high, first-round picks, to being everyday NHLers months later.

Matthew was named an all-star earlier this month, and Brady will now join him, replacing an injured Auston Matthews.

“(Matthew’s) very mature beyond his years and that environment of being there will give him a leg up of not being nervous,” said Keith.

“Whether he does some of the events or just being in the locker room with superstars, he’ll be fine. He’ll adjust pretty quickly.

“I think it showed the way they came into the league, the environment they were always put in. They’re not timid, yet they’re respectful in those instances.”

As wide-eyed as Matthew Tkachuk looks in the all-star pictures in which he ranges from age one to 12, it’s easy to imagine how much it means to him and the family that his first such game is in St. Louis – the place they all call home.

“I’m pumped for him – that’s the rink he grew up going to and skating at, sitting on the bench, watching practice,” said Keith, who played nine seasons with the Blues, with whom he now scouts.

“I think he’s more pumped for us. But for me, he gets to go play with guys he normally doesn’t get to play with in a great environment. You’re 1172576 Websites As the cameras and recording devices swarmed during Thursday’s media day, he explained how he’s learning to discipline his sleeping and eating habits to prepare his body for the rigours of an 82-game grind (Quinn leads all freshmen in ice time, averaging 21:36). Quinn spoke of Sportsnet.ca / Quinn Hughes is winning over peers at his first all-star his admiration for fellow American Patrick Kane, his favourite to watch, weekend and wisely steered clear of throwing fuel on the Battle of Alberta.

“All I can say is I know Matthew off the ice and the family, and they’re some my favourite people and best friends,” Quinn said. I love Matthew, Luke Fox | @lukefoxjukebox and I got a lot of respect for how good he is as a player and I’ll leave it at January 23, 2020, 10:11 PM that.”

Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon worked with the Hughes brothers over the summer when Jack and Quinn flew out to Halifax to learn from ST. LOUIS – Quinn Hughes arrived in St. Louis Thursday as the supertrainer Andy O’Brien. youngest player at the NHL’s all-star weekend, was named runner-up in the PHWA’s mid-season Calder Trophy vote, and is a significant reason “He was quiet. Very nice person. As a player, unreal,” MacKinnon says. the resurgent Vancouver Canucks sit atop the Pacific Division at the 50- “Him and Jack for both. They look like twins out there. They look like the game mark. same player. Both amazing, and they’re gonna have unreal careers.”

Yet younger brother Jack Hughes will still correct a questioner who Quinn’s smoothness and evasiveness struck MacKinnon, who plays suggests Quinn may be exceeding his own hype. nightly with that other Calder Trophy–hunting defenceman, Cale Makar.

“I don’t think that’s true. I mean, people in Vancouver praised him before “I think they’re different, but amazing in their own way,” MacKinnon the season. We were kinda like, this is trouble. Like, a lot of explains. “I don’t know Quinn a ton, but he maybe slows the game down expectations,” Jack Hughes said recently. a little bit and Cale kind of speeds it up. He’s always on the attack.”

“We knew what he was gonna be. He knew what he was gonna be. So, While the early returns on Quinn Hughes is lending credence to the it’s not surprising to us. Maybe for you guys, but not for us — and Norris-sized hoopla that accompanied him to Vancouver, an actual Norris definitely to the Vancouver media, it’s no surprise.” winner gave his assessment of the poised phenom.

There is a quiet confidence about hockey’s “now” generation, the flood of Chris Pronger, who now works for the Panthers’ front office, watched under-25-year-olds taking over all-star weekend in Missouri and dazzling Quinn closely when the Canucks rolled through Florida earlier this month their teams to contention. and was happy to give his scouting report.

So, when Quinn, at 20, can sit in his all-star sweater under the bright “Tremendous skater, transitions with the puck, offensively dynamic and lights, head high, nerves nonexistent, and say how nothing much has creates so much out there. I think, as everybody knows, he’s just gotta surprised him jumping from the University of Michigan to an NHL playoff work on his defensive game and work on that side of it [while] still playing hunt, you believe him. to his strengths,” Pronger said.

“His confidence,” says Canucks teammate and fellow all-star Jacob “The knock on Quinn is gonna be: Can he handle the size, whether it be Markstrom, marvelling at what has most impressed him about the in the playoffs or late in seasons when it gets a little tougher?” defenceman. Well, he certainly doesn’t come off as the kind of player who will shirk Stream all 82 Canucks games this season with Sportsnet NOW. Get over from the moment. 500 NHL games, blackout-free, including Hockey Night in Canada, all outdoor games, the All-Star Game, 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs and more. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.24.2020 “He doesn’t get stressed up. You guys see him off the ice. He’s not a very crazy person. He is so calm. But his confidence is huge with the puck. Small, tight situations, playing against star players —nothing changes for him. He’s just playing his game and having fun doing it.”

Hughes, who will go toe-to-toe with Connor McDavid in Friday’s fastest skater contest and let his 3-on-3 wheels loose for the Pacific is Saturday’s tournament, says his first all-star experience improved instantly when Toronto’s Auston Matthews (wrist) was replaced by good friend and fellow ’99 baby Brady Tkachuk.

Hughes lived with Brady and dad Keith for two years when the young players were in the U.S. national program together.

“It made my weekend 10 times better,” Quinn says. “I’m excited to hang out with Matthew. I’ve known him a long time, and then with Brady coming I get to hang out with him too, so it’s really exciting.”

Did Jack consider making a flight from Newark to St. Louis to hang with Quinn and the Tkachuk boys?

“Oh, God, no,” Jack laughs. “No, I’m gonna take my nine-day break and just chill.”

Jack does say he’s proud of his big brother, and the two talk constantly, even more this season than in others. A simple “congrats” is all Quinn needed to hear from Jack.

“We don’t make too big a deal out of these things,” Quinn shrugs. “We’re going through this together. We’ve always been really tight.

“I definitely had goals in my mind, but I wasn’t really sure what I could and couldn’t do. I’m grateful, and it’s been a great year so far.

They say act like you’ve been there before, but few pull it off like the Canucks’ power-play quarterback. 1172577 Websites the bone he’ll just get harder and harder to take off the puck — just like Datsyuk.

Honourable mention: Clayton Keller, Nico Hischier, Cale Makar, Patrik Sportsnet.ca / From 18 to 42: Identifying the best NHL player at every Laine age 22: AUSTON MATTHEWS

Some players may have better all-around games, but Matthews is an Rory Boylen | @RoryBoylen improved player in that department. What really sets him apart and makes him the best at his age, though, is that he’s already become one January 23, 2020, 11:49 AM of the top snipers in the game. Since joining the league four years ago only one player has more goals than Matthews’ 145 — and that’s Alex

Ovechkin, the best sniper in NHL history. In fact, no player has more The NHL is more and more turning into a young man’s league as the even-strength goals than Matthews over this time and he’s already only pace picks up, skill development becomes more emphasized at lower six goals shy of matching his career-best this season. levels, and the cap and contract structures favour having entry-level Honourable mention: Mitch Marner, Matthew Tkachuk, Sebastian Aho, players, or those just coming off their first deals. Mathew Barzal And in putting together a list of players that highlights the best at each 23: CONNOR MCDAVID age, this fact is made more clear. However you look at it, McDavid is one of the two best players in the As we start this year’s all-star break, we decided to go through and world today, so of course he tops players his own age. McDavid missed identify the best current player in the NHL at every age. We’re not doing nearly half a season as a rookie and still has more points than any other it by birth year or draft year, but by how old a player is today. We’re not player since he joined the league. His. 1.33 points per game average doing this to celebrate a career and past accomplishments, or to project over his career is well ahead of No. 2 Nikita Kucherov. He is driving the what a player will develop into. This is about who the best player of every Oilers towards the playoffs right now too, and is unlike any other player group is right now. There were some tough calls along the way. with his combination of speed, maneuverability and hands. Stream over 500 NHL games blackout-free, including the Flames, Oilers, Honourable mention: Mikko Rantanen, Jack Eichel, David Pastrnak, Leafs and Canucks. Plus Hockey Night in Canada, Rogers Hometown Brayden Point Hockey, Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey and more. 24: NATHAN MACKINNON 18: JACK HUGHES If there’s a third member who’s going to wiggle his way into the world’s There are currently only two 18-year-olds in the NHL — the top two picks best player debate, it’s Colorado’s MacKinnon. Robbed of one Hart from last summer’s draft. Neither Hughes nor Kaapo Kakko is blowing Trophy two years ago, he’s again making a strong case more than the doors off the league and Kakko even got benched recently. So we’re halfway through 2019-20. He carried the Avalanche while his two giving the edge to No. 1 overall Hughes, who has six goals and 17 points linemates were out injured earlier this season. in 40 games with the Devils. And he’s remarkably consistent; you know that MacKinnon will bring it 19: ANDREI SVECHNIKOV every night. Over the past three seasons, MacKinnon’s longest point In his draft year, Svechnikov was firmly behind Rasmus Dahlin on every drought is just three games — and that’s only happened three times. The list, but there was reason to believe that gap should have been closer last time MacKinnon went more than three regular-season games in a than it seemed. Svechnikov dominated major junior, but missed a chunk row without getting on the scoresheet was mid-February of 2017, when of his draft season to injury. he went scoreless in four straight.

Now, after a 20-goal rookie campaign, he has 19 in 50 games to go with 25: SETH JONES 45 points. He’s a beast and a focal point of Carolina’s emerging offence. Don’t sleep on Jones, who I’m convinced will one day win a Norris. In the Oh ya, and he made history this season by becoming the first player to here and now, he’s still elite and a lynchpin of Columbus’s lineup. Jones score ‘The Michigan Goal’ (aka lacrosse-style) in the NHL. Then he did it averages over 20 minutes of even-strength time a night and is a first-unit a second time. contributor on both the PP and PK. He’s big and physical, so a throwback Honourable mentions: Rasmus Dahlin in some ways, but he’s not slow or apt to get burned by faster players. Jones also has a heavy shot, though his goal totals have fallen a couple 20: MIRO HEISKANEN years in a row now. If he were on a big hockey market team he’d get more credit than he currently does. Yes, Quinn Hughes has more points as a rookie than Heiskanen does as a sophomore, but Heiskanen is playing the more important role right now. Honourable mention: Sean Monahan, Morgan Rielly, Filip Forsberg, When he’s on the ice, Dallas has a higher goals for and expected goals Andrei Vasilevskiy for percentage at 5-on-5 than the Canucks do with Hughes. And where Hughes is getting 64.77 per cent of his starts in the offensive zone, 26: NIKITA KUCHEROV Heiskanen gets just 48.81 per cent of his starts in that zone. Heiskanen We’re really getting into the meat of this thing now, with a wide variety of is second among all Dallas defenders in average even strength, power players to choose from and some tough calls to make. A slow start to this play and shorthanded ice time per game, where Hughes almost never season for both the Lightning and Kucherov (and by “slow” we mean 11 sees PK time. points in 12 games) would have given pause to pick another player here This is to take nothing away from Hughes’ fantastic season. It may well if last year’s scoring champion didn’t pick up the pace again. But now, turn out that he’s the better defenceman in the long run but, at least for both he and his team are rolling — Tampa has won 12 of its past 14 now, he’s being sheltered a lot more than Heiskanen who, it should be games and Kucherov has 17 points over that time. Only two players have noted, had one of the best first quarters of this season of any blueliner in posted 100 points the past two years in a row: Kucherov and McDavid. the league. Honourable mention: Dougie Hamilton, Johnny Gaudreau, Jonathan Honourable mention: Quinn Hughes Huberdeau, Mark Scheifele, John Gibson

21: ELIAS PETTERSSON 27: MARK STONE

The Canucks get on the board here, and there’s no arguing this one. No winger has won the Selke Trophy since Jere Lehtinen in 2002-03 and Pettersson set scoring records for a player his age in Sweden before last year Stone became the first at his position to be named a finalist for it coming over and then he almost immediately became an upper-echelon since Jay Pandolfo in 2006-07. So we know the base defensive game is scorer. Since he joined the league last season, Pettersson’s 0.97 points there. But he can also generate offence and is tracking towards a career per game mark ranks 27th in the league and, remember, he slowed down year in that regard right now. Bringing him to Vegas transformed his line the stretch last season as the reality of the NHL grind caught up to him. into one of the league’s best — dangerous on offence and elite on The Alien reminds many of Pavel Datsyuk and as he puts more meat on defence. Stone is the key part of the trio. Honourable mention: Sean Couturier, John Klingberg, Evgeny would take for Ovechkin to break Wayne Gretzky’s goal record, and how Kuznetsov, Tyler Seguin, Brendan Gallagher attainable that is. What more needs to be said?

28: ARTEMI PANARIN Honourable mention: Patrice Bergeron, Shea Weber, Brent Burns

He didn’t need Patrick Kane after all. Remember when Panarin put up 35: RYAN SUTER back-to-back 70-plus point campaigns in his first couple of seasons, then was traded to Columbus and there was a legit debate on whether or not You can always count on Suter having a massive workload and he’s yet he could keep it up without his Blackhawks linemate? Well, those first again top 10 in average ice time this season. Age may be beginning to two years in Chicago still stand as the lowest-scoring seasons of his NHL slow him down some, but he’s still reliable and is quietly putting up some career. quality offence with 35 points in 50 games this season. It’s unlikely he’ll win a Norris anymore, but he should go down as one of the top defensive Panarin is one of those special players who just makes those he plays defencemen of his time. with better. He’s a creator with elite vision and a shot that can get him to 30 goals more often than not. And now on a rebuilding Rangers team Honourable mention: Joe Pavelski, Zach Parise, Marc-Andre Fleury he’s living up to his $11.6 million UFA price tag with 26 goals and 68 Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it points in 47 games that have led to Hart Trophy whispers. 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, Honourable mention: Vladimir Tarasenko, Taylor Hall, Ryan O’Reilly they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover Canada’s most beloved game. 29: VICTOR HEDMAN 36: MARK GIORDANO In a recent player poll conducted by The Athletic, Tampa’s big blueliner was voted the best defensive defenceman by his peers. He’s got every The defending Norris winner has gotten better with age and though his attribute you want and one of the league’s true superpower rosters leans point totals have fallen back this year, his shot and scoring chance stats on him for every situation. He’s been dependable in an understated way are still among the best on the Flames. for some time and will be in the running for the Norris again this year. Honourable mention: Duncan Keith Hedman’s quietly third in defencemen scoring with 41 points in 46 games. 37: PEKKA RINNE

Honourable mention: Ryan Ellis, John Tavares, Roman Josi, Steven Henrik Lundqvist was our goalie of the last decade, but Rinne is having Stamkos the better finish. To be honest, neither of the 37-year-old netminders is having all that great of a season, but Rinne is still 15th in goals saved 30: JOHN CARLSON above average and has the second-best high danger save percentage on There are a few solid 30-year-old defencemen in the league, but with the the season. season Carlson is having right now he’s the best one. Excellent in Honourable mention: Henrik Lundqvist transition with elite offensive instincts, Carlson is making a charge at being the first defenceman since 1991-92 Brian Leetch to score 100 38: JUSTIN WILLIAMS points in a season. Now, he’d need to score 40 points in his last 33 There are only three players this age in the league right now: Williams, games to do it, so that finish is still a long shot. But over the past two Ron Hainsey and Craig Anderson. Williams just returned to the Carolina seasons Carlson averaged 0.85 points per game, and if he were to score Hurricanes three days ago and he’s had a two-goal game plus a shootout at that pace the rest of this season he’d end up with 88 points, which winner. They wanted him back because he makes a difference on the would be the most for any defenceman since 1993-94 Sergei Zubov. biggest stage. You know Williams is going to score in a Game 7 this Honourable mention: Alex Pietrangelo, Drew Doughty, P.K. Subban, spring. Frederik Andersen 39: RYAN MILLER 31: BRAD MARCHAND The Anaheim backup is the only 39-year-old currently in the NHL and the The premier , Marchand scores like a superstar, too, so we’re giving oldest goalie. If he’d ever agree to a trade, there would be more than a him the edge over another bonafide star here. The thing about Marchand few teams interested in him as an insurance backup. is he can put together a 100-point year and make enemies everywhere. 40: JOE THORNTON Now, can he take a dumb penalty from time to time? Sure. But he’s also a league leader in penalties drawn, and he more often puts the Bruins on No longer a top-six player, Thornton still has positive on-ice shot an advantage. This may be a tough pill to swallow for some non-Bruins differentials. And though the Sharks get outscored when he’s out there, fans, but we need to start getting used to the idea of Marchand being on that is a team-wide issue with roots in subpar goaltending. Thornton is a Hall of Fame track. still top five on his team in primary assists per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 time, and his beard is as grizzled as ever. Honourable mention: Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews Honourable mention: Patrick Marleau 32: SIDNEY CROSBY 42: ZDENO CHARA Nothing’s changed about his status alongside McDavid. Another injury- interrupted season means Crosby won’t get to 1,000 games played until Still going at 42, Chara is moving forward with recurring one-year deals next year, but in the meantime, he’s still putting up his usual scoring until it’s time to hang them up. He’s not at his peak anymore, but Chara is rates. In 22 games, Crosby averages more primary assists per 60 still a physical specimen and averages 21 minutes a night with a big minutes of 5-on-5 play than any other NHLer. It’s Crosby. His play does penalty-killing role. His strength and reach aren’t going anywhere and the talking. those are the attributes that give attacking players fits. Between Chara, Thornton and Marleau, who will be the last 1970s-born player to suit up Honourable mentions: Claude Giroux, Nicklas Backstrom, Anze Kopitar in the NHL? 33: EVGENI MALKIN

He can take over just about whenever he wants to. When Crosby missed Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.24.2020 26 games this season, Malkin racked up 38 points. This year, Malkin has helped elevate Bryan Rust to a better than point-per-game player, who has already eclipsed his career highs. That’s the Malkin effect.

Honourable mention: Blake Wheeler, Alexander Radulov, Ben Bishop

34: ALEX OVECHKIN

The best goal scorer in the history of the game — and he could win another Rocket Richard this season. We’ve recently revisited what it 1172578 Websites “We need to continue building a platform like we had in that NHL All-Star weekend. I’ve been skating like that my whole life, and it just took an amazing platform to be able to showcase that,” Coyne Schofield told Sporsnet earlier this month, reflecting on last year’s success. “We just Sportsnet.ca / What to watch for in Elite Women's 3-on-3 game at All- have to continue to build that platform so we can showcase our talent Star weekend and our craft and our skill that we work tirelessly on every single day.”

Rosters & Rulebook

Emily Sadler | @EmmySadler The following rosters were selected by the NHL, with hockey legends Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Cammi Granato, and Hayley January 23, 2020, 2:42 PM Wickenheiser consulting:

American All-Stars: When Kendall Coyne Schofield hit the ice in San Jose last year to kick off Forwards: Alex Carpenter, Kendall Coyne Schofield, , the NHL All-Star Skills Competition with a remarkable, 14.346-second lap , Hilary Knight, Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson, Annie around the rink, she made history as the first woman to ever compete at Pankowski the event. Defence: Kacey Bellamy, Lee Stecklein In doing so, she also ensured that she wouldn’t be the last. Goaltender: Alex Cavallini This year in St. Louis, Coyne Schofield will hit the ice once again — along with 19 of her Olympic-calibre PWHPA peers — for the Elite Head coach: Cammi Granato Women’s 3-on-3 game on Friday night. Canadian All-Stars: “I think it’ll be very competitive,” said Cassie Campbell-Pascall, who will jump into the broadcast booth to provide colour commentary with Jim Forwards: Meghan Agosta, Melodie Daoust, Rebecca Johnston, Sarah Hughson calling the action. Nurse, Marie-Philip Poulin, Natalie Spooner, Blayre Turnbull

The Team Canada legend also had a hand in crafting the rosters for the Defence: Renata Fast, Laura Fortino game. “I think we’re going to see a great display of skill … It’s going to be Goaltender: Ann-Renee Desbiens fun.” Head coach: Jayna Hefford Fitting, considering the 20-minute game is scheduled smack dab in the middle of the action during the NHL All-Star Skills Competition, which How it works: begins at 8 p.m. ET. The women will hit the ice midway through Friday night, with puck drop for the women’s game set for 9:30 p.m. ET. (Tune Two teams of 10 — seven forwards, two defenders and a goaltender — in on Sportsnet and CBC.) will face off for two 10-minute periods with a running clock. Teams will switch ends between periods. “It’s going to be an absolutely great game,” said NHL senior director of player safety Patrick Burke, who runs the skills competition alongside All penalties will result in a penalty shot awarded to the player fouled. NHL chief content officer Steve Mayer. Elite Women’s 3-on-3: By the numbers

“You look at the talent on both teams, you couldn’t ask for better rosters, 1: This is the first NHL All-Star weekend event dedicated solely to the you couldn’t ask for better advocates for the game of hockey. Hopefully, women’s game. there’ll be a large number of new fans tuning into the skills competition to watch this, and hopefully, we’ll be able to expose a whole group of NHL 4: Number of female officials on the ice to officiate the game. Referees fans to women’s hockey and just continue to grow the game.” Kelly Cooke and Katie Guay and linesmen Kendall Hanley and Kirsten Welsh — all four took part in the NHL Exposure Combine last off-season Burke credits Coyne Schofield’s success on last year’s stage as a major — will officiate the game. contributing factor to this year’s event — with executive vice-president of NHL club business affairs Susan Cohig once again leading the 6: Number of events in the All-Star Skills competition, including the 3-on- collaborative initiative between the NHL and PWHPA. 3 game. The other events are Fastest Skater, Save Streak, Accuracy Shooting, Hardest Shot, and — this one’s new, too — NHL Shooting “It opens the door to things like this year,” said Burke. “Susan Cohig’s Stars. organized the 3-on-3 Elite Women’s game this year — that wouldn’t happen if Kendall doesn’t nail it last year.” 7: Number of Olympic medals combined won by head coaches Hefford and Granato (five gold, two silver). Burke believes the shift in conversation around inclusivity and diversity in hockey — and making it a priority, especially over the past five years — 20: Number of Olympic hockey players involved in the game — 22, had led to more initiatives we’re about to see this weekend. actually, if you count former Olympians, with all-time great Hefford and Granato behind the benches. “I think you’re seeing that with the on-ice example of these women coming in and participating,” said Burke. 21: Number of world championships medals earned by Hefford and Granato over the course of their legendary careers (eight gold, 13 silver). “I’m not sure that 10 years ago, there would’ve been automatic permission that Kendall Coyne Schofield gets to skate, or 10 years ago 39: The combined number of Olympic medals won between the 20 that we would’ve been able to put a 3-on-3 women’s game right in the women lacing up the skates this weekend. middle of one of our major events,” he continued. “And that wasn’t done reluctantly — that wasn’t done, ‘Oh, do we think we can do this?’ That 109: The combined number of world championship medals won among was thanks to Susan Cohig and then Gary Bettman supporting Susan in all 20 players. her work, that was a ‘Yeah, let’s do this — this’ll be great!’ $100,000: Amount of money the NHL foundation will donate to girls “And I’m not sure that 10 years ago, that would’ve been the same hockey organizations on behalf of the American and Canadian all-stars. response.”

In addition to being an incredibly entertaining game of hockey, the Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.24.2020 creation of the Elite Women’s game serves as another step in the right direction for women’s hockey at a time when more than 200 of the game’s best athletes are holding out in hopes of the establishment of a long-term, sustainable professional women’s hockey league. As Coyne Schofield proved last year with her fastest lap, the level of talent in the women’s game has never been the issue — it’s just a matter of giving these athletes a bigger stage. 1172579 Websites But before we look at three guys who could, one last thing to note: Benning surrendered a conditional first-round pick in June to acquire winger J.T. Miller from the Tampa Bay Lightning. If the Canucks make the playoffs this season, they’re giving the Lightning that pick. So, it’s Sportsnet.ca / 3 trade deadline moves the Canucks should explore extremely unlikely Benning will offer his second-rounder to make a deal happen before Feb. 24.

Brenden Dillon, D, San Jose Sharks Iain MacIntyre | @imacSportsnet The Canucks’ six-man blue line is better than it was last season, but the January 23, 2020, 11:20 AM third pairing could still be upgraded. Dillon looks like a great fit. He’s mobile and can make a pass but also plays with a fierceness that Vancouver lacks. The 29-year-old has logged 10 rounds of playoff VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Canucks have no salary cap space, few hockey the last four seasons and, as a local kid who grew up watching assets they’re willing to trade and a lineup general manager Jim Benning the Canucks, he might re-sign with Vancouver before his contract expires trusts and wants to reward. So, does that mean the Canucks are going to on July 1. sit out next month’s National Hockey League trade deadline? Of course, the Canucks could also keep their assets and try signing Not necessarily. But don’t expect any blockbusters from Benning, and if Dillon on July 1 anyway. Sharks GM Doug Wilson is in a tricky spot. His the team makes a move it will be as a buyer, not a seller, for the first time team has been one of the NHL’s biggest disappointments this season, in years. but Wilson has a pile of veteran players on huge contracts with trade restrictions. He can’t afford to just fire-sale players like Dillon for futures, The Canucks are the surprise leaders in the Pacific Division, albeit with a and Benning is unlikely to give up a key piece from his lineup to help the herd of teams stampeding behind them. They won 11 of 14 games Sharks now. before this week’s schedule break, and the last five probably constitute the Canucks’ best five-game segment this season. Tyler Toffoli, RW, Los Angeles Kings

They have a good thing going and Benning, understandably, is wary of For months, Toffoli’s name has been linked to the Canucks in trade jeopardizing that, telling Sportsnet this week: "We have a group of guys conjecture. The 27-year-old with size and skill would deepen the that likes playing with one another and playing hard for one another. I Canucks’ attack and there would be an instant fit with Horvat and Tanner want to make sure if we do do something, we don’t wreck the chemistry Pearson, Toffoli’s old "70s Line" teammate in L.A., on Vancouver’s in the group that we have right now. I really like the chemistry in this second line. group." But Toffoli isn’t likely to come cheaply. His $4.6 million salary would have That means potential unrestricted free agents Jacob Markstrom and to be squeezed under the Canucks’ salary cap and, for all the excited Chris Tanev, the Canucks’ starting goalie and shutdown speculation, the winger has 12 goals and 27 points in 49 games this defenceman/mentor, aren’t going anywhere despite their uncertain status season after scoring just 13 times all of last year. Does the hype exceed beyond this season. the player? For context, consider that Jake Virtanen has scored 14 goals and 28 points for the Canucks, and Pearson 14 and 37. It also means Benning isn’t going to sacrifice his stash of assets or disrupt the NHL lineup to make a deal. Remember, no matter how the Chris Kreider, LW, New York Rangers Canucks finish this season, they’re a team on the rise. All-Star Game participants Elias Pettersson, 21, and Quinn Hughes, 20, are only in their Kreider is at the top of everyone’s list of trade rentals. The 28-year-old second and first seasons, respectively. Brock Boeser, 22, is in his third scored 28 goals last year and is on pace to get at least that many again year. Captain Bo Horvat is 24. this season. What would help the Canucks as much as his ability to finish and play in the top-six is Kreider’s 77 games of playoff experience and Swedish world-junior sensation Nils Hoglander could be on the team next the physical heft he brings to the lineup (and against opposing year, Russian first-round pick Vasily Podkolzin the season after. defencemen). Prospects like Kole Lind and Brogan Rafferty are having excellent seasons in the American League. But with so many teams in the playoff race and nearly all of them looking for another winger who can score and provide playoff experience, the It’s too soon in the Canucks’ evolution for Benning to go all-in at the bidding on Kreider looks especially susceptible to turning stupid. If you’re deadline. the Canucks, do you want Kreider badly enough to give the Rangers a package of assets that includes, say, Hoglander and that second-rounder Patience is not only a virtue, but a vital development necessity with so you need to hang on to? Most Canucks fans would scream, “Noooo!” much young talent.

Veteran checking forward Brandon Sutter returned from the injured list last week, and physical winger Micheal Ferland could return soon after Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.24.2020 the all-star break.

"The way I look at it, outside the first month of the year, we haven’t played with Sutter and Ferland all year," Benning said. "Adding two top- nine forwards to our group, it’s going to help us. I’d like to see what our full group looks like for a couple of weeks, three weeks, before the deadline, and then we’ll be able to make a better assessment about what we need to make our team better.

"There’s still a lot of the season left to be played. We’re happy with where we’re at right now, but we want to keep improving and getting better and then let the chips fall where they may. It would be nice to make the playoffs."

After four straight years as a draft-lottery team and without a playoff series victory since the 2011 Stanley Cup Final, making the playoffs in April would be far better than "nice." And there are players out there on the market who could help them do it.

Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover Canada’s most beloved game. 1172580 Websites start looking at the standings and individual points, we really believe we can do this together.”

The Blue Jackets are 24th in the NHL in goals per game. They have one TSN.CA / Why 'Torts' deserves the Jack Adams Award at Midseason of the youngest rosters in the NHL on the ice on a nightly basis.

Tortorella gave credit to Kekalainen, the NHL’s only European-born GM, for his eye for talent in filling out the organization with the proper depth Frank Seravalli for call-ups.

“We go at it just as every coach and general manager does. I think he’s one of the brightest hockey guys in terms of what he sees in players,” ST. LOUIS — John Tortorella’s protege, Mike Sullivan, won the Jack Tortorella said. “He fills me in on what he thinks they can become. I trust Adams Award at the Midseason on Thursday, as voted by the him, I really do. The way he looks at players and what he sees in them is Professional Hockey Writers Association. dead-on.” But make no mistake: This season is Torts’ best coaching job, which is Tortorella said that depth and the youthful shot in the arm provided by why he earned this reporter’s first-place vote. players summoned from AHL Lake Erie has been an important reminder The Columbus Blue Jackets entered the All-Star break in the Eastern and “an eye-opener” to him. Conference’s first wild card spot, winners of six in a row. “I hope I don’t offend anyone when I say this, but sometimes when a After waving goodbye to $81.5 million star Artemi Panarin, $70 million player has some stature in the league and has a spot on the team, backstop Sergei Bobrovsky and rentals Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel, entitlement comes into play,” Tortorella said. “They forget the hunger of the Blue Jackets appeared destined to be cannon fodder. it. We get guys that get called up and they’re dying to stay. They have the hunger and they think of the team aspect of it.” They don’t have a scorer inside the Top 60. They lost starting goalie Joonas Korpisalo and were forced to turn to rookie Elvis Merzlikins. And Now that the hungry Blue Jackets have tasted success, Tortorella is Cam Atkinson, Zach Werenski, Josh Anderson, Alex Texier, Brandon preaching humility ahead of the second half. Dubinsky, Ryan Murray and Oliver Bjorkstrand have each missed at least “The bottom could fall out at any time,” said Tortorella, ever the realist. 10 games due to injury in the first half. “So we’re going to take it one day at a time here.” Yet, the Blue Jackets sit ahead of popular playoff picks Toronto, Carolina and Philadelphia at the unofficial midway point. TSN.CA LOADED: 01.24.2020 “He’s done an excellent job,” Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen said of Tortorella on Wednesday. “You know, it’s about the team - but the coach takes a [bleep] when things are going bad, so it’s only right that he gets the praise when it’s time for that.”

With low external expectations heading into the season, Tortorella told the Ray & Dregs Podcast this week that he sent a letter to his players before training camp to set the tone. They also spoke of changing their style of play to be defence-oriented.

“We talked about it right at camp - we’ve got to be a team as best we can,” Tortorella said. “We have a concentration of being above the puck, playing as strict and concentrated as we can play for our goalies to be able to get their feet wet in the National Hockey League.”

That’s paid off. Columbus is tied for third in the NHL in save percentage (.917) at the break. Tortorella admitted that “there was a little bit of nervousness” when Korpisalo went down and the athletic rookie Merzlikins took over. But he’s looked more than comfortable. Merzlikins has three shutouts during this six-game winning streak and has a save percentage of .951 since starting the season 0-4-4.

Tortorella said this season has been a learning experience.

“You think you’ve seen it all. You think you have all the answers,” Tortorella said. “You need to listen. This league is crazy. You never know what’s going to happen. It just sets me back, it puts me in my place.”

To be sure, the NHL’s most fiery coach, who was fined $25,000 on Jan. 2 for post-game criticism of the officials - and given a warning that an additional $25,000 will be collected for a similar outburst within a calendar year - has not mellowed at all.

But Tortorella, 61 and now in his fifth season in Columbus, says he has found ways to cope. He wakes up every day at 5:30 a.m. and tends to his dogs and horses in central Ohio before heading to the rink.

“I’m out there shoveling horses— at 6 a.m.,” Tortorella revealed. “I find it therapeutic. I have an hour and 45 minutes before I go to work, I get all my thinking done. No one’s out there bothering me. It’s fantastic.”

Tortorella calls himself a “guidance counselor” as an NHL coach and says the success is ultimately determined by the players.

Columbus developed a “bunker mentality” in part because of their coach.

“We set our own expectations,” Kekalainen said. “That is to make the playoffs, that’s how you get a chance to compete for the Stanley Cup.

“We don’t have superstars. No one was going to replace Panarin, he’s one of the best players in the league. But if we stick to our process, don’t 1172581 Websites

TSN.CA / William Nylander voted PHWA’s best Comeback Player at Midseason

Frank Seravalli

ST. LOUIS — Rewind the tape to last April, the day the Toronto Maple Leafs cleaned out their lockers, and listen to William Nylander explain his lost season.

Regrets? He had a few, unable to recover from missing the first two months of the season when he took his high-profile contract dispute to the last possible minute.

“I wish I would have been here from the beginning,” Nylander said on April 25.

Those regrets fuelled a summer of trade speculation with his $45 million contract - and more importantly, a summer that set Nylander up for success.

He changed his jersey number. He changed the way he prepared. He’s now changed his perception around the NHL - as one of Sheldon Keefe’s most reliable forwards in a season riddled with injuries.

Nylander, 23, has 16 more points and 15 more goals in 49 games at the All-Star break than he had in 54 total games last season for the Leafs.

For all of that, Nylander was voted the Comeback Player of the Year in the Professional Hockey Writers Association’s Midseason Awards, which were released on Thursday.

To do it in such a high-profile setting in Toronto is what helped Nylander edge out other Comeback candidates in a season full of them, including Connor McDavid overcoming a serious knee injury, James Neal’s renaissance in Edmonton and Anthony Duclair finding a home in Ottawa.

“We are very proud of William for being able to put last season in the rear-view mirror and use it to be able to properly motivate his off-season work and performance,” Leafs GM Kyle Dubas said via email on Thursday.

“William came into the season in excellent condition and determined to find his best on the ice. The way he prepared himself in the off-season has fuelled his performance in the first half of the season.”

Nylander’s 22 goals have matched his career-high and he’s on pace to set a new career best in points. He is also playing two and a half more minutes per night than last season and well above his career average ice time.

“This is what we paid for,” Dubas said on Dec. 2, nearly one year to the day since Nylander signed his deal.

In the past, Nylander was perceived as a perimeter player, but not anymore. He has scored the second-most inner-slot goals in the NHL this season as Keefe has moved him to the net-front spot on the power play.

That’s been the key to his comeback season.

“This year he's really gotten to that area. He’s been a menace around the net,” Mitch Marner said last weekend. “He’s not missing his opportunities when he gets around there, which is huge for him and our team.”

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