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SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 4/10/2020 1182440 From Andersson to Zegras, gauging the seasons and 1182472 Michael Arace | finally delivered in potential of Ducks prospects during Blue Jackets’ upset of Lightning 1182473 ‘It’s a ghost town’: How Arena District plans to stay afloat 1182441 Coyotes sign prospects Cam Crotty, David Tendeck to Stars entry-level deals 1182474 A deep dive into the 2015 NHL draft that became a 1182442 Q&A: How MLB, NBA and NHL might restart during cornerstone for the coronavirus 1182475 Welcome to the Benn Bowl: Drafting all-time Stars teams 1182443 Best takeout in the Valley? Here are our of the era recommendations, and we want yours, too Red Wings Bruins 1182476 A look back at the life of Al Kaline, the Detroit Tigers great, 1182444 Read our live chat with Bruins beat writer Kevin Paul who died on April 6, 2020, at age 85. Detroit Dupont 1182477 Red Wings need not worry: Alexis Lafreniere isn't only 1182445 Bruins breakdown: Charlie McAvoy elite player in NHL Draft 1182446 Top 10 Bruins not named Orr: No. 7 — is 1182478 If Red Wings draft second, decision could be Quinton the complete player Byfield or Tim Stuetzle 1182447 Members of Bruins organization send supplies, cards to Colby Cave's family Oilers 1182448 Hindsight 2020: Bruins should've gone with 1182479 Anton Slepyshev decides to stay in rather than in Game 7 vs. Blues return to Oilers 1182449 My Favorite Player: Hannu Toivonen 1182480 Connor McDavid's thoughts are with Colby Cave right now 1182450 There’s and then the rest: Bruins’ top 10 1182481 JONES: Oilers players step up with $100,000 COVID-19 seasons by right wings support 1182482 Marshall: Revisiting the vs. debate 1182451 Buffalo sports' greatest what-ifs: What if 1182483 Lowetide: Why Jack Quinn is a perfect 2020 draft fit for the became Sabres coach? Oilers 1182452 Prospect Mattias Samuelsson looks to bring physicality and NHL lineage to Buffalo 1182453 After nearly 100 years in business, Laux Sporting Goods 1182484 KINGS IN THE COMMUNITY faces a daunting challenge 1182485 A modest NHL playoff proposal (that still gives the Wild a 1182454 Q&A: Flames interim coach Geoff Ward on priorities ) during pause, his future and saluting COVID-19 front- liners 1182455 Hitmen Kastelic signs contract with NHL Senators 1182486 Predators GM on Pekka Rinne: 'I don't think it's over' 1182457 Carolina Hurricanes desperate to pick up where they left Devils off, anyway, anyhow, anywhere 1182487 Coronavirus update: No NFL games until Thanksgiving at 1182458 Hurricanes update: Player’s health, staying ready and Rod the earliest? Sobering prediction for pro and college s Brind’Amour’s home gym 1182488 How N.J.’s Alex Laferriere, Gus Bylin fared in NHL Central Scouting final rankings Blackhawks 1182459 Pat Stapleton, a one-time Blackhawks captain who was a Islanders top defenseman on 2 finalists, dies at 79 1182489 Catching up with Justin Johnson, the man who took down 1182460 Former Blackhawks captain Pat Stapleton dies of stroke at John Scott age 79 1182461 packed with 774,840 pounds of food destined for Chicago food pantries 1182490 ’s likely Rangers contract outcome after 1182462 products , Sam Colangelo success preparing for uncertain NHL Draft 1182491 My favorite player: 1182463 Pat Stapleton, former Blackhawks captain who held assists record, dies at age 79 1182464 More ideas on changing NHL postseason, points 1182492 Mark Borowiecki is 'thankful' he wasn't on the California 1182465 NHL 20 sim: Brandon Saad shows shades of Marian trip with the Senators Hossa in Game 2 win 1182493 Ottawa Senators sign prospect Mark Kastelic to 1182466 Pat Stapleton, former Blackhawks captain, dies at 79 due entry-level deal to complications from a stroke 1182494 Mark Borowiecki expects he'd be ready if the Senators do 1182467 2010 Hawks Rewind: 3 things we noticed in Blackhawks' get a chance to finish the Game 4 win over Sharks 1182468 Hawks Rewind: Blackhawks vs. Sharks in Game 4 of 2010 Western Conference Final 1182469 Steve Konroyd talks NHL career and what made some Blackhawks legends 1182470 Blackhawks season ticket-holder survey: Complaints aside, loyalty remains strong 1182471 The Chicago sportswriter’s guide to the best hot dogs, Italian beef and pizza Websites 1182495 Flyers’ Carter Hart misses ‘electric’ Wells Fargo Center, 1182527 The Athletic / LeBrun: NHL favours 2019-20 resumption says he would need a week or two to be ready to retu format that includes regular season games 1182496 Flyers flashback: Shootout win over Rangers in 2010 1182528 The Athletic / Bourne Notebook: Misremembering games, finale sent them on course for a near Stanley Cup mini-sticks vs. mini-hoops and more champion 1182529 The Athletic / NHL Mock Draft: Beat writers preview the 1182497 Home is where Hart is ... which is hard for the Flyers 2020 draft lottery goalie 1182530 The Athletic / Lucas Raymond and are 1182498 James van Riemsdyk erupts, a Scott Hartnell look-alike ’s next generation of hockey stars and Flyers crush Rangers in NHL 20 1182531 The Athletic / My Favorite Player: Wendel Clark 1182499 Dear Flyers fans, this is certainly not the April we were 1182532 .ca / Matthews talks chase for 50, life with expecting Andersen, ‘unfinished business’ 1182500 Flyers goalie Carter Hart must wait for playoff debut, but 1182533 Sportsnet.ca / NHL Power Rankings: 6 best cap-era teams he’s still preparing to not win a Stanley Cup 1182534 Sportsnet.ca / Oilers' Connor McDavid asks fans to keep Colby Cave 'in their thoughts' 1182501 Bryan Rust content if suspension of season costs him 1182535 Sportsnet.ca / Canucks' Toffoli loving time in , milestone for Penguins but future remains up in air 1182502 Penguins on pause: What's next in Sam Lafferty's feel- 1182536 Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' Timmins on how draft prep has good story? been impacted by COVID-19 1182503 Marshall: Revisiting the Mario Lemieux vs. Wayne Gretzky 1182537 Sportsnet.ca / Highlighting an unheralded player from debate ’s Eastern Conference teams 1182538 TSN.CA / feels Maple Leafs have ‘unfinished business’ 1182504 Sharks' adjusting well to new fatherhood 1182539 TSN.CA / Yost: A look at the best low-slot shooters in amid NHL hiatus hockey 1182540 USA TODAY / to record messages for St Louis Blues former teammate Colby Cave, who's in coma 1182505 Should hockey return, Berube would like to play regular- 1182541 USA TODAY / As ' Colby Cave remains season games before playoffs in coma, wife Emily writes: 'We need a miracle' 1182506 Media Views: Blues announcer Kelly glad he didn't know how sick he was Jets 1182507 LeGrand’s ‘old-timey’ feel and sports-themed sandwiches 1182525 ‘He’s an NHL guy now’: Moose coach weighs in on Jansen make it an STL staple Harkins, other Jets prospects World Leagues News 1182508 Lightning’s Anthony Cirelli uses time at home to learn to 1182542 Where the Major Sports Stand Amid the Coronavirus cook Pandemic 1182543 Angry California Anglers Disrupt Sport Fishing Meeting 1182544 In California: Don't even THINK of canceling fishing 1182509 Summit Series star, longtime Blackhawks Pat 1182545 First it was the NBA. Then the NCAA Tournament, MLB, Stapleton dies at 79 NHL, MLS, Kentucky Derby, Wimbledon and more. Here’s 1182510 NHLers reflect on league pause: ‘All of a sudden someone how turns the car off’ 1182546 UFC 249 canceled after ESPN and parent company 1182511 Auston Matthews would like to write a different ending to Disney intervene the Maple Leafs’ season 1182547 Belarus' Dynamo Brest uses mannequins to replace fans 1182512 The NHL should let everyone in the draft lottery, just like during coronavirus pandemic it’s 2005 again 1182548 ’s sanitation machines look like a winner 1182513 Leafs' Matthews misses game, but it's 'irrelevant when in coronavirus fight we're talking about human lives' 1182549 In Britain, Summer Sports Cancellations Just Hit Different 1182514 A Leafs-Lightning first-round playoff series would be all 1182550 This is how COVID-19 is affecting the world of sports about redemption 1182551 Formula One faces new reality amid coronavirus crisis 1182515 Mirtle: How will a flat NHL salary cap affect the Maple 1182552 COMMENTARY: Who will win in the faceoff between Leafs’ future? coronavirus and pro sports? 1182516 My Favorite Player: Wendel Clark 1182553 The stark contrasts between the NBA and NFL responses to the coronavirus pandemic 1182554 Premier League Clubs and Players Are at War. Both Are 1182526 Toffoli making right impression with Canucks to avoid free Losing. agency 1182555 Formula One Faces New Reality Amid Coronavirus Crisis: Todt 1182556 Foxtel Australian Pay-TV Slashes Jobs As Coronavirus 1182517 relives Kings’ Stanley Cup win in 2014 Halts Sports Seasons 1182518 Cosmopolitan drops $500K lawsuit against NHL star SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1182519 Bang for your buck: How each Golden Knight performed in relation to their salary Capitals 1182520 Alex Ovechkin among players contributing to CCM Hockey's donation of surgical masks 1182521 Capitals coach Todd Reirden is preparing to play Hurricanes in playoffs, if they occur 1182522 With NHL season paused, a ranking of Capitals' best wins of 2019-20: No. 2 1182523 John Carlson sees a centralized tournament as a 'longshot' for the NHL 1182524 The D.C. Sports Fan Survey: The big winners and surprising losers 1182440 Anaheim Ducks Even with the presence of defense standouts in sophomore Jack Rathbone (Vancouver) and junior Reilly Walsh (New Jersey), the 19- year-old Thrun managed to carve out a sizable role with the Crimson. He From Andersson to Zegras, gauging the seasons and potential of Ducks had three goals and 18 assists as he seized a top-four role with second prospects power-play unit time as a freshman. The Devils could be under pressure to get Walsh signed before he enters his senior season. If they do and Rathbone also turns pro, that could give Thrun the opportunity to be Harvard’s blue- ace for his sophomore season. The 2019 fourth- By Eric Stephens Apr 9, 2020 round pick has good size, uses his strong mobility to recover defensively and moves the puck well in transition.

We miss hockey. Players. Fans. Writers. Executives. Arena workers. Trevor Janicke, C, Notre Dame-Big Ten Scouts. All of us. It was a promising first college season for the Minnesota native, who And for the hockey players who were in the process of vying for followed the lead of his father, Curtis, a former Fighting Irish standout. championships or having tremendous individual success or just enjoying Janicke had a four-game -scoring streak from Oct. 26-Nov. 8 and the sheer nature of competition, to have a season end in the virtual snap had seven goals by the midpoint of the season. His offensive output of a finger is a tough thing to digest. slowed greatly after that, as he had one goal and two assists in his final 21 contests. His eight goals ranked fifth on the Irish. Several Ducks prospects within the organization were in that position — which, despite the harsh reality we’re living in right now, is reason for Jack Badini, F, Harvard-ECAC hope for the team’s future once games restart. Here is a look at how their Overshadowed by a few younger forwards on the Crimson, Badini didn’t 2019-20 seasons went. We are including only those whose leagues have improve his offensive numbers as a junior from his first two seasons but already announced they’ve stopped play regardless of how the fight that didn’t stop him and the Ducks from getting together on a two-year against the coronavirus pandemic progresses. The NHL and American entry-level contract. The 22-year-old Connecticut native finished with 24 Hockey League have thus far opted to put their seasons on indefinite goals and 51 points in 97 NCAA games. Badini is a good skater and pause but have kept the possibility of completing their schedules plays with some purpose. It is likely that he’ll have to pursue a checking and conducting a postseason later in the year. role at the pro level when it comes to further advancement. Therefore, AHL players were not part of this list. Blake McLaughlin, LW, Minnesota-Big Ten NCAA McLaughlin, 20, finished his second season with the Gophers and was Trevor Zegras, C, Boston University- the fourth-leading scorer for a balanced offensive club that was better in the second half of the season and wound up with a 16-14-7 record. As he predicted at the 2019 NHL Draft in Vancouver, the 19-year-old Minnesota could have much of its team back for 2021-22 and the Grand Zegras was one and done with the Terriers. He wasn’t the leading scorer Rapids, Minn., native could be one of the better performers for a club that for BU and he didn’t dominate the NCAA. But Zegras also was very good can challenge for a Big Ten title. Over his two seasons, McLaughlin has and his game appeared to really take off after an eye-opening been most effective as a setup man off the wing. He had three, four- performance at the World Junior Championships. The bigger the game game scoring streaks in 2019-20 and finished with 24 in 37 games. was, the more he made a decisive impact. In the Tournament, the New York native scored twice — including the game-tying goal with Jack Perbix, F, Minnesota-Big Ten 1.2 seconds left — and had a three-point effort in the championship The 2018 fourth-round pick played in all but two games for the Gophers game. He was among the top-scoring freshmen nationally and had nine in his freshman season and had two goals and five assists. It figures that multi-point efforts, including five three-point games. Currently the top Perbix will have to grind away in Minneapolis for some time, and gain a prospect in Anaheim’s system after signing an entry-level contract on larger role and have a chance at getting more offensive opportunities. His March 27, Zegras oozes imagination and creativity on the ice and year ended earlier than the team’s because he suffered a leg injury in the personality off it. Gophers’ 1-0 loss to Notre Dame in the opening contest of the Big Ten TSN tournament. But Minnesota coach Bob Motzko sees a lot of potential. “I’m sure he wanted to do a lot more. It’s there, and you can see it,” Motzko ✔ told the Bemidji Pioneer.

@TSN_Sports Minnesota Men’s Hockey

Silky pass reception from Trevor Zegras to set up Team USA’s 2nd goal ✔ #WorldJuniors @GopherHockey Embedded video Don't threaten Jack Perbix with a good rebound. #Gophers 545 Embedded video 2:52 PM - Dec 26, 2019 37 Twitter Ads info and privacy 10:03 PM - Nov 28, 2019 88 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy Jackson LaCombe, D, Minnesota-Big Ten See Minnesota Men’s Hockey's other Tweets Considered a bit of a project because he grew playing forward and switched to defense while at Shattuck-St. Mary’s, the 19-year-old Matt Berkovitz, D, Army-Atlantic Hockey LaCombe was seen as a bit of a reach as the 39th pick in last year’s A fifth-round pick in 2014, Berkovitz finished his junior season with the draft. But his first season at Minnesota was a productive one. LaCombe Black Knights after playing three years in the USHL. More of a defensive- led Golden Gophers defenders in goals (three), assists (10) and points minded rearguard, the 24-year-old native of Green Bay, Wis., had the (13) while playing in all 37 games. His point total was higher than that of biggest night of his college career on Valentine’s Day when he had three fellow freshman Ryan Johnson, who went eight spots ahead of him as assists in a 5-1 win over Mercyhurst. the final pick in the first round. The Gophers were about to play Penn State in the Big Ten tournament semifinals when the rest of their season Garrett Metcalf, G, Mercyhurst-Atlantic Hockey was canceled. His 89 points in 2018-19 set a Shattuck-St. Mary’s record for a defenseman, offering proof that he still has an offensive mindset The good news for the 24-year-old Salt Lake City native is that he got the despite moving to the back end. He’ll need more time to polish his overall bulk of the work in goal for the first time in his college career after game. transferring from -Lowell in the spring of 2017. The bad news is, the Lakers often were overmatched and Metcalf often was under Henry Thrun, D, Harvard-ECAC siege. He averaged 31.8 saves over his 28 contests and had a rough 4- 21-2 record. But that was accompanied by a respectable .908 save going to be lost for the year after only 10 games with the RoughRiders. percentage. The plan was for him to further develop more of an offensive element to complement his shutdown game. The goal now is to get into remission Junior and back on the ice. That will be an achievement in itself.

Benoit-Olivier Groulx, C, Moncton-QMJHL Europe

Groulx, 20, had a strong showing in the Ducks’ camp before heading Lukas Dostal, G, - back to junior and he continued to get things done everywhere on the ice. He isn’t the most talented player, but he still managed to up his point-per- Yes, the Ducks have John Gibson signed for seven more years. And game average from 2018-19 even though he was traded in midseason goalies can play at a high level for a long time. (Just ask Ryan Miller.) But from Halifax to Moncton, the best team in the “Q”. The son of AHL head it’s good to have a designated of the future in your coach Benoit Groulx, “Bo” totaled 78 points in 55 games while being one organization. Dostal earned that moniker 10 times over with his of the league’s top defensive forwards. The shutdown cost him a chance tremendous season in Finland’s top league. He won the Urpo Ylonen at a Memorial Cup title after falling short with Halifax last year. Even if his Award, which is given to Liiga’s top goalie. Winning a league-best 27 offense doesn’t translate as much to the NHL, Groulx’s two-way game is games while also posting a 1.78 goals-against average and .928 save so strong that he could see some time in Anaheim next year or in 2021- percentage is convincing evidence. The biggest knock is that he isn’t 22. very big (6-1, 158 pounds). But he’s 19 and very talented while also playing a composed game in net. Anaheim has had success throughout Brayden Tracey, LW, Victoria-WHL its history in finding quality netminders. Dostal is on that track.

Coming off a huge first junior season, in which he piled up 36 goals and The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020 81 points in 66 games and was the WHL’s top rookie, Tracey raised the excitement level for his development in 2019-20. It didn’t go quite as expected. For one, the 18-year-old no longer had high-scoring linemates Tristan Langan and Justin Almeida, who moved from Moose Jaw into the pro ranks. And he dealt with an upper-body injury after having some impressive moments during Anaheim’s rookie camp. There was a January to the Royals, and then the offensive numbers he put up weren’t to the level he had been producing. He’s still quite young (he won’t turn 19 until May 28) and still has a knack for finding the soft spots where he can get off his high-quality wrist shot.

The WHL

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@TheWHL

WHL Highlight of the Night

December 10, 2019 @AnaheimDucks prospect @brayden_tracey of @MJWARRIORS

#WHLHoN

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Axel Andersson, D, Moncton-QMJHL

Much of the focus on the trade of Ondrej Kase to Boston was on the added first-round pick that the Ducks will receive whenever the 2020 draft occurs and the recognizable name of veteran forward David Backes. But another key element is the 20-year-old Andersson, who helps fill a badly needed element in the organization. He is a right- handed shot and there aren’t many young prospects of that ilk for Anaheim. His path to the Bruins was blocked by the presence of Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo and Connor Clifton, but Andersson put up 24 points in 43 games with the Wildcats and had a plus-19 rating. He should start his AHL apprenticeship next season.

Mathew Hill, D, Barrie-OHL

The 18-year-old Hill was surprised when the Ducks grabbed him as a sixth-round selection last summer. He’ll head back to the Colts for 2020- 21, and should have a big role after moving up in their lineup this season. At 6-foot-3 and 203 pounds, Hill has good size and skates well for a big man while incorporating a physical element without going overboard. He isn’t ever going to be known for his offense, as other prospects have grabbed those prime spots on the Barrie blue line. Teams still need defensemen who can kill penalties and make an effective first pass. That’s what Hill can focus on.

Will Francis, D, Cedar Rapids-USHL

Francis recently spoke to The Athletic about his current battle with leukemia and his intention to beat it and return to the ice. His 2019-20 season was full of setbacks, as he tore cartilage in his left knee and was 1182441 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes sign prospects Cam Crotty, David Tendeck to entry-level deals

BY MATT LAYMAN APRIL 9, 2020 AT 9:41 AM

The Arizona Coyotes announced Thursday they’ve signed defenseman Cam Crotty to a three-year entry-level contract.

The signing comes just days after goaltender David Tendeck also inked a three-year ELC. Both were draft picks by the Coyotes who were unsigned until this week.

Crotty, 20, was a third-round (82nd overall) pick by the Coyotes in the 2017 draft. He has since played three seasons for Boston University, where current Coyotes forward Clayton Keller also played. Crotty was an alternate captain for the Terriers this season and played 30 games with nine points.

He is the second-youngest defenseman in the Coyotes pipeline with an entry-level contract, per CapFriendly, with Victor Soderstrom (19) being the only one younger.

Tendeck, also 20 years old, was drafted by the Coyotes in the sixth round (158th overall) in 2018. He had a .920 save percentage in 35 games with the WHL’s this year, and his 2.29 goals against average was fifth-lowest in the league.

With Antti Raanta and Darcy Kuemper in the fold at the NHL level, other Coyotes under contract include Adin Hill, Merrick Madsen and Ivan Prosvetov, but Madsen and Hill are both set to become restricted free agents this offseason.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182442 Arizona Coyotes general managers and players expect at least a two week re-training camp before resuming play. If the NHL goes directly to playoffs, either 16 or 24 of the 31 teams would likely be involved.

Q&A: How MLB, NBA and NHL might restart during coronavirus Q: Where would games be held?

A: The NHL would like to use home arenas but is also considering BY | APRIL 8, 2020 AT 8:47 PM UPDATED: hundreds of places to hold games at neutral sites, if need be. APRIL 8, 2020 AT 8:50 PM Q: Would fans be allowed?

A: It would take CDC and Public Health Canada clearance for large While the world wrestles with the coronavirus pandemic, the three gatherings for fans to be allowed. biggest U.S.-based sports leagues currently affected by the crisis are Q: What would be among the upsides in resuming play? trying to figure out if, how and where games can be safely played again this year. A: The playoffs could be the most competitive, with teams icing nearly complete rosters, given most players dealing with injuries will have had The NBA, NHL and Major League have some similar time to heal. NHL’s two key broadcast partners, NBC and constraints: Public and player health are the most pressing issues and SportsNet/CBC, have a huge hole to fill in their broadcast schedules with any decisions would have to come with widespread federal, state and the Summer Olympics being postponed. local support. But there are also individual challenges for each league, which have unique schedules and playing arrangements that could affect Q: How late could hockey be played? logistics. A: Potentially into September. NHL officials are focused on staging a full All three have discussed the possibility of essentially quarantining their 82-game 2020-21 season that could start as late as mid-November with players in cities for long periods to play games in a safe environment. the Stanley Cup awarded in late June. At least a month’s break would be required to allow for the draft and a free-agency period, and to provide Dr. Patrick Mularoni, who is the medical director of sports medicine at players a chance to rest. Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, says it’s possible, at least on paper. — John Wawrow reporting from Buffalo, New York, and Stephen Whyno from Washington. “You’d have to completely isolate the players, staff, coaches, medical staff and likely food-service workers until 14 days. They’d all have to be MLB willing to do that,” Mularoni said. “And the logistics of having that number of people not make a mistake is the difficulty there. But once you do that, Q: If safe, how would play resume and when? if they are all together and working together, once they’re together, you Games likely would start about three weeks after teams return to training. should be fine because essentially what you created is an oasis where Teams and players have looked at the end of the 1994-95 strike as a people who have proven that they do not have COVID can be.” possible model. Teams accepted the players’ unconditional offer to return A Q&A prepared by some of AP’s beat writers on where leagues are with to work on April 2, which was the original start of the season, and their plans: opening day was pushed to April 25.

NBA Q: Where would games be held?

Q: If safe, how would play resume and when? MLB’s first choice would be to play in regular-season ballparks. Uncertain whether that will be possible, teams and the players’ association have The NBA is looking at countless restart options, but a consistent theme discussed possibly basing all 30 teams in the Phoenix area, where they throughout them calls for a training camp of at least two weeks for teams would be sequestered for an indeterminate time. There would have to be to get back into some sort of shape. It would seem likely that agreement on economic and logistical issues, and medical and teams would be quarantined at that time. No decision has been made government approvals. about whether to resume some of the regular season or go right into the playoffs, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has said his league won’t Q: Would fans be allowed? decide anything definitively until at least May. At regular-season ballparks, the decision likely would be a city-to-city Q: Where would games be held? determination, made by local and state governments. At spring training ballparks in Arizona, there likely would not be any fans and games would The idea of having one or two sites for games has been discussed, with be played for television, streaming and radio audiences. Las Vegas and Los Angeles among them. The league has explored several possible sites, for preparation purposes, but has not entered into Q: How long of a season is needed for it to be considered legitimate? any concrete deals anyplace. A: There is no one answer, but the early consensus appears to be about Q: Would fans be allowed? 81, half the usual length. Teams played 103-111 games in the strike- interrupted 1981 season and 123-131 in 1918, shortened due to World Almost certainly not, at least not at first, unless social distancing War I. guidelines are lifted and public health officials say it is safe. Q: How would the season change? Q: Could they shorten the playoffs? A: Players and teams want to play as many games as possible, which Absolutely. The best-of-seven format could be abandoned for a best-of- would increase revenue. Look for more games per week and more five or possibly less, though the NBA seems adamant at this point that — doubleheaders. if the season is going to resume — it wants as legitimate a champion as possible. — Ronald Blum reporting from New York.

Q: What other precautions would the NBA take? AP Sports Writer David Brandt contributed to this report.

The ball itself could be a major issue. NBA players sweat, and sweat a Arizona Sports LOADED: 04.10.2020 lot. That sweat gets on the floor, gets on other players, but the one thing in the game that everyone is touching is the same ball.

— Tim Reynolds reporting from Miami.

NHL

Q: If safe, how would play resume and when?

A: The NHL could target a late June or early July resumption of the regular season or beginning of the playoffs. League officials, coaches, 1182443 Arizona Coyotes A POST SHARED BY TAQUITOS JALISCO (@TAQUITOSJALISCO) ON FEB 9, 2018 AT 12:22PM PST

A confession: I’m a Z-Café fan. Their breakfast burritos are some of the Best takeout in the Valley? Here are our recommendations, and we want best I’ve had; try the potato with bacon and get the hot salsa on the side. yours, too For pizza, the Bordows are fond of Nellos’ thin-crust pizza and, when it comes to pasta, Oreganos, which has restaurants all over the Valley. If I By Scott Bordow Apr 9, 2020 don’t get the big rig with chicken at least once a month, my life has no meaning.

When out-of-town writers ask me where to go eat, I often recommend Editor’s note: In an effort to support local businesses that are being Haji-Baba in Tempe. It gets 4 1/2 stars on Yelp, and the chicken threatened by the devastating effects of the coronavirus, The Athletic is shawarma sandwich is the best $5 I spend on food. Also in Tempe, Café publishing an ongoing series of stories to highlight our treasured Lalibela offers terrific Ethiopian fare. communities. #supportlocal VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM The first week of March was profitable for Z-Café in Mesa, a small, family-owned restaurant open for breakfast and lunch so highly thought OUR DINING ROOM MAY BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED, BUT WE ARE of by its customers that of the 226 Yelp reviews it has received since STILL OPEN FOR TAKE-OUT AND DELIVERY ORDERS EVERY DAY 2009, 177 were five-star. FROM 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM! THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE CONTINUED SUPPORT! #CAFELALIBELA #ETHIOPIANFOOD Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and on March 20, Arizona Gov. Doug #TAKEOUT #TEMPE #STAYSAFE #INTHISTOGETHER Ducey issued a stay-at-home order, mandating restaurants could offer #LOCALBUSINESS only takeout and delivery services. A POST SHARED BY CAFE LALIBELA (@CAFELALIBELA) ON APR 6, Z-Café was hit hard. Dan Ponce, who has owned the restaurant with his 2020 AT 9:13AM PDT wife, Samantha, since August 2006, said he’s lost approximately 50 percent of his business, including a thriving catering service. He’s had to If you’re on the west side and craving carne asada, you need to stop at furlough four of his nine employees and close two hours earlier each day. Ta Carbon, located at 43rd Avenue and Thomas. Its website says “our philosophy is to make you the best carne asada in the ,” (Current business hours are 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and while I don’t know if that’s true, I know it’s among the best I’ve had in Arizona. VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM Finally, for an upscale takeout experience, Richardson’s New Mexico CHECK OUT THIS CUSTOM CHICKEN CAESAR WRAP WITH Cuisine at 16th Street and Maryland is the way to go. It is offering TOMATOES AND CUCUMBER ADDED IN A SPINACH WRAP! OUR curbside service, and the Carne Adovada, priced under $20, is one of the HOMEMADE CAESAR DRESSING IS ONE OF A KIND AND HAS A five best single dishes I’ve had in my 51 years here in the Valley. SECRET INGREDIENT YOU CAN TASTE BUT WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO GUESS! Z-CAFE IS SO EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE WE HAVE BIG VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM PLANS COMING FOR THE 2020 NEW YEAR!! MAKE SURE YOU KEEP CHECKING IN ON OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE AND ALL YOUR RELLENOS! BRUNCH | LUNCH | DINNER CURBSIDE TOGO 602-265- FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE FOLLOWING US TOO! WE WILL BE 5886 BLOODY MARYS + MIMOSAS + 1/2 PRICED WINE + POSTING SOME HINTS VERY SOON. #ZCAFEMESA #YUMMY COCKTAILS HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE!! #PHOENIXBRUNCH #CAESARWRAP #AZ #NEWMEXICO #AZFOODIE #RELLENOS #REDORGREENCHILE

A POST SHARED BY Z-CAFE (@ZCAFEMESA) ON JAN 5, 2020 AT A POST SHARED BY RICHARDSON'S NEW MEX CUISINE 12:03PM PST (@RICHARDSONS_NMCUISINE) ON MAR 28, 2020 AT 9:28AM PDT

Ponce is not sure how much longer his restaurant can survive. Maybe Diamondbacks writer Zach Buchanan said he’s a fan of Thai-Long An, two to three months, he said. The one saving grace: loyal customers who located at 4447 N. 7th Avenue in Phoenix. His go-to choice there is the continue to frequent his restaurant even if they never step inside its stir-fry chicken noodles. doors. Coyotes writer Craig Morgan, who spends way too much time in “The only reason we’re still going is because a lot of our business is Glendale, recommended Opa Life, a Greek restaurant, and Ona takeout,” Ponce said. Hawaiian, a barbecue restaurant that also has a location in Scottsdale. When he’s at home, it’s Chou’s Kitchen, which has locations in Tempe Z-Café, at Alma School and Baseline roads, is one of hundreds of family- and Chandler (I highly recommend Chou’s as well), Rosati’s Pizza owned restaurants around the Valley trying to stay open through the (Valley-wide), Yuliano’s Mexican food in Gilbert and Sushi Brokers in coronavirus pandemic. Their survival is based, in part, on how much Scottsdale, Phoenix or Gilbert. revenue they can bring in through takeout. VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM The Athletic Arizona staff and readers have listed some of their favorite takeout joints in the Valley. We understand this is far from a complete list. #SUSHI CRAVING SATISFIED WITH MY GIRL @MEOWZERS22 Don’t get mad if your restaurant isn’t mentioned. In fact, you can help SO YUM. CUCUMBER WRAPPED VS RICE KEEPS IT MUCH make this a more comprehensive list. Please add your recommendations LOWER IN POINTS. #WEIGHTLOSSJOURNEY #WEIGHTWATCHERS in the comments section. Together, we can blanket the Valley and, we #WWAZ #WWFREESTYLE #WEIGHTLOSS hope, bring more business to our favorite spots. #WEIGHTLOSSTRANSFORMATION #WW #WWARIZONA #WWSISTERHOOD #MYFITNESSPAL #SKINNYTASTE #WWRECIPE Here we go: #WWRECIPES #BLUEPLAN

I live in the East Valley, so I’m more likely to frequent restaurants in the A POST SHARED BY HOLLI (@WEIGHTWATCHTHIS) ON MAR 6, Tempe-Mesa-Chandler-Gilbert corridor. 2020 AT 8:24PM PST

If you’re a fan of cheap but delicious Mexican food, find your way to the Gina Mizell, who covers the Suns, is a fan of Carlos O’Brien’s, a longtime drive-through at Taquitos Jalisco at Broadway and Alma School roads in Mexican food staple that has locations in Phoenix in Scottsdale. She also Mesa. The carne asada quesadilla and rolled tacos are my favorite, while went to Majerle’s in downtown Phoenix recently and received a my wife craves the diablo shrimp burrito. handwritten personalized thank-you note.

VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM Nice touch.

WHEN YOUR BELLY IS FULL OF DELICIOUS FOOD AND YOU CAN’T Arizona State football and basketball beat writer Doug Haller STOP SMILING, YOU CAN BET YOU JUST CAME FROM TAQUITOS recommended BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, Sal’s Pizza in Gilbert JALISCO. and a popular Valley location, Filiberto’s, for Mexican food. VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM

TODAY IS #THEGREATAMERICANTAKEOUT, A UNITED EFFORT TO SUPPORT THE RESTAURANTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY. JOIN US AGAIN AND PARTICIPATE BY ORDERING YOUR BJ’S FAVORITES AND OUR WORLD-FAMOUS PIZOOKIE® DESSERT –JUST $3 EVERY TUESDAY. BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR TAKE OUT AND DELIVERY OFFERS AS WELL. ORDER BY TAPPING THE #LINKINBIO.

A POST SHARED BY BJ'S RESTAURANT & BREWHOUSE (@BJSRESTAURANTS) ON MAR 31, 2020 AT 9:07AM PDT

Three other recommendations for the west side: JoJo’s Pizza on Pinnacle Peak Road, King Gyros on 43rd Avenue and Thunderbird — said to be the best Greek food in town — and Caramba Mexican Food, which has several Valley outlets and is now offering margaritas that you can purchase by the bottle.

On to reader recommendations. Again, if you have your favorite takeout place please list it in the comments section.

SMILE THAI CUISINE

TEMPE

PAD SEE EW

SUPER FRIENDLY AND AMAZING FOOD

— KEVIN VON HOLTEN (@KEV_VH) APRIL 6, 2020

I HAVE BEEN USING POSTINO'S WEEKLY WITH THEIR DATE NIGHT-IN DEAL. GREAT VALUE AND SUPER EASY, SOCIALLY DISTANT TAKE-OUT.

— STEVE PREIS (@SCOOTERV1951) APRIL 6, 2020

GOT OVERLY EXCITED. JALAPEÑO BUCKS, THEY ARE MEXICAN BBQ. GREAT HOT SAUCE IN RED AND GREEN WITH HOMEMADE CHIPS, BRISKET BEAN & CHEESE BURRITO IS SO GOOD WITH SOUR CREAM.

— HOPEFUL HOT ONES CONTESTANT (@KCSTORIES) APRIL 6, 2020

BIG BUDDA IN SURPRISE. LOVE THE LEMON CHICKEN.

— BOB BAUM (@BOBBAUM7) APRIL 6, 2020

TACOS CALAFIA EASILY HAS THE BEST TACOS IN THE PEORIA/ GLENDALE AREA AND ARE PRETTY MUCH NEXT TO THE MARINERS/PADRES P83 STADIUM.

WOULD LOVE TO SEE A PIECE ON SPRING TRAINING AND THE RESTAURANTS THAT BENEFIT FROM IT.

— CHRISTOPHER VIVEROS (@VIVEROS_SPORTS) APRIL 6, 2020

SIGN ME UP FOR A DIAVOLA PIZZA FROM POMO. THE SPICY OLIVE OIL GIVES IT AN EXTRA KICK.

— JOSH PEARLMAN (@JPEARLAZ) APRIL 6, 2020

RITO’S!!! AMAZING MEXICAN FOOD, THEY HAVE 3 LOCATIONS.

— G S (@GSTONE0922) APRIL 6, 2020

CRUNCHY BEEF TACOS AT CRUJIENTE!

— KRISTEN KEOGH-YURUS (@KRISTENKEOGH) APRIL 6, 2020

@DEFALCOSDELI – IL PURISTA AND STUFFED PEPPERS

— BRAD DENNY (@BDENNY29) APRIL 6, 2020

MIRACLE MILE DELI, THE TURKACADO SANDWICH

— GARRETT MAY (@GARRETTAMAY) APRIL 6, 2020

VENEZIA’S AND VALLE LUNA PIC.TWITTER.COM/J5H4KQXOZL

— JORDAN HAMM (@JORDYHAMM) APRIL 6, 2020

The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182444 Boston Bruins offer him a one-year deal at short money ($1.5M?) to make an attempt next year.

If you were GM, which player would be your No. 1 target to re-sign from Read our live chat with Bruins beat writer Kevin Paul Dupont the UFA and RFA pool?

Krug. Krug....and did I mention, Krug?

By Katie McInerney and Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff,Updated April 9, Do you think the Jacobs family response with TD Garden employees is 2020, 2:00 p.m. adequate when compared to other NHL and sports teams especially given the billions have amassed from the success of Delaware North?

Could another Stanley Cup be in the Bruins' future? I think it’s adequate, yes. In fact, at $1.5M, I believe it’s more than most teams ponied up. They took far too long to roll it out, and I know many The last we saw them, it seemed likely the Bruins could end up right back people were displeased with the attached contingency--that the money where they were last June: Playing for the Stanley Cup. only gets doled out if the final six games are canceled. Frankly, I’m fine with that. And at this point, I think it’s a fait accompli that those games The NHL playoffs were supposed to start this week. Instead, the TD never will be played, and the money will be paid. Garden ice sheet has been melted, and sports are at a standstill. Bigger issue in my mind: that $1.5M would have gone a long way in But we’ve still got plenty to talk about. And Bruins beat writer Kevin Paul retaining full-time staff that was pink-slipped the following week. Based Dupont joined us for a live chat to do just that. on wage estimates for that group, the fulltimers could have stayed on Here’s how it played out. The questions and answers appear as they did their jobs for two or three more months. So the event workers-- in the chat, unedited. concessionaires, ushers and the like--now will get their money. Meanwhile, fulltimers were furloughed or were told to hit the bricks. Dupont: Hi, everyone....thanks for signing on for today’s NHL/Bruins chat. Fire away with questions when you’re ready. Really great to have you Just not a conventional, smart, way of doing business, in my opinion. with us. It was handled in hamfisted fashion right out of the gate. Any guess as to why the Garden does not have SRO tickets? If they did Assuming the season is finished, who doesn’t return next season? it’s possible that we wouldn’t have the present very tight seating in the Garden. Thanks K. I suspect we won't see Jaro Halak return as 's backup. He has made $2.75M each of the past two seasons and has done a super I think it has a version of SRO ticket...upstairs on 9th floor. It’s part of the job. “Rafters” club package. Which means you also would be obligated to pay the annual Rafters club fee. Nothing’s cheap on Causeway. As for the But they have younger, cheaper candidates who can do that job for tight seating, I am under the belief some of those are currently being nearly $2M less, and that $2M will go a long way in keeping Torey Krug. removed and replaced with something more comfy. As note earlier, I have my doubts about Kevan Miller being able to What’s the latest you hear about a potential Stanley Cup playoff? continue. If so, I think it's short-term deal for about half of his current $2.5M annual payout. Sadly, there is no “latest”, John. The league has yet to cancel the remaining 15 pct of the regular-season schedule. I suspect they’ll make Joakim Nordstrom probably stays, but for only a tiny bump over his $1M. that move soon. And then they’ll wait on playoffs, and hope the virus clears, etc. Frankly, I think those odds are slim. One caveat in all this: it's possible, due to all the revenue likely lost due to the pandemic, that the salary cap won't project into the $84M range as Kevin, any insights into whether or not the NHL would adopt a similar was predicted just 6-8 weeks ago. In fact, it could be rolled back startup plan to the NBA? House the teams in one city or locale that has considerably. access to multiple rinks im thinking MA and Minnesota would be likely candidates. Thoughts? If so....no telling how the financial dynamics will sort out for ’20-'21.

It’s fun to play around with these theories, I guess. But have to say, the Why did Steen have such a rough year in the AHL? “neutral site” idea does nothing for me. Above all, I wonder if players will Granted, 23 points across 60 games didn't light up the AHL. But, look, consider the risk of going somewhere, playing a number of games, he's a first-year pro, transitioning to the North American game, and it's a possibly getting infected by the virus...and then returning home and big adjustment for many Europeans to move from the bigger Olympic- potentially exposing spouse and children to it. sized sheet of ice to our narrower rinks (trimmed 15 feet in width).

Hey Dupes - The top teams in the East were still moving up and down a I’ve seen worse. I don’t know if he’ll make it. He is small (5-9), which bit when the season paused...how would the Bruins have wanted it to doesn’t play to his favor. But I do know PJ Axelsson really liked what he settle out? Who would they have liked to play in the first round? How saw of him in Sweden and PJ has a good eye. Year 2 will be telling. And would’ve scared them? that said, he projects as bottom six forward if he makes it to the NHL. Columbus and Philly both were in the mix as the wildcards, iirc, one Important to calibrate expectations. month later. Of those two, I believe Philly would have been the bigger Do you think NHL would be a better game if they standardized the rink to concern. They needed six games to get by the CBJs last spring, and this Olympic size? iteration of the Jax is not as good as last year. That said, look at Tampa this time a year ago. The Bolts thought they would walk by the Jax in No. To be blunt. I know it has its advantages -- mainly, more room for Round 1...only to get swept in four. Crapshoot, right? playmaking. But that extra space (15 feet in width) often leads to less action and fewer hits. Compared to the game we love so much here in What are the chances the B’s keep Torey Krug? North America, it can feel like a decaf version.

I think Krug stays, albeit at a price approaching $8M a year. I know that Another significant drawback: the loss of high--priced loge seats, which figure is hard on the eyes for many B’s fans, but it’s the going rate for would have to be removed to accommodate that bigger sheet. Multiply where he fits into the comps - especially at age 28. I don’t see anyone that by 31 arenas--soon to be 32--for 41 games a year. Real money. The else bidding much higher, and I think they can structure the deal with a Lords of the Boards aren’t going to give it up. Nor will the players, who front-loaded payout that will satisfy him. Figure 7-8 years around share 50-50 in all hockey related revenue, per the CBA. $7.75M....with maybe a $25M lump sum up front. Why doesn’t Cassidy let the assistants talk to the press? Admittedly, What do you believe will become of Keven Miller? Bruce is refreshing in that he gives out information and seems to realize Wish I could be more optimistic, but he first broke the knee now over a he isn’t in charge of state secrets. But, Sacco and Dean have been head year ago, and he wasn’t close to getting back in the lineup when things coaches and Pandolfo played all those years in NJ so they all should be went dark on March 12. Great kid. Tough. Dedicated worker and great comfortable? teammate. I hope he can pull it together....and I suspect someone will I know, maddening, isn't it. Just another pet peeve of mine, not allowing these guys to talk, but it has become fairly standard practice around the league. Head coaches prefer to control the message, and there's no better way to control it than by allowing only the head coach to talk.

Cassidy is, by far, the best coach the Bruins ever have had in dealing with the media. was exceptional, too, but not as consistent. He blew hot and cold. Cassidy is calm, consistent, and provides thoughtful, developed answers--similar to how he coaches. I guess that comes down to DNA!

But that said, I think not allowing assistants to talk mostly hurts those coaches. If I were a GM looking to hire my next coach, I certainly would want to know how he handles the media portion of the gig. Well, there's no knowing that answer if the candidate has never been on the job, so to speak.

Too bad. As the head coach, at the very least I would allow at least one assistant each week to handle one media session. As the head coach, I would get a break...and the asst could build some bonafides into his resume.

Would be great if they kept Krug. Don’t see a replacement on the roster for him, so they need to make it work and deal with the roster fallout. They have enough redundancy at forward, that they should be able to figure out the economics.

Agreed on Krug. And agreed on redundancy up front, which was in part why the Bruins felt they could move on from Danton Heinen when they flipped him to the Ducks.

Krug is a unique offensive producer, and if he goes, it will come down to Charlie McAvoy and Matt Grzelcyk -- a couple of BU guys made good -- picking up some of the points that would leave town with him. I think a lot of their games. Maybe they’re ready to pick up that slack. But Krug is the known commodity, and I’d prefer he stays.

OK, folks, that was fun. Some great questions. And man, it was great to feel the game run through my fingers again. Thank you all, and I’ll look forward to doing it again soon. Make sure to look for a #fridgealert ahead of the next session.

Boston Globe LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182445 Boston Bruins have the same offensive instincts as Krug on the man-advantage, we’ll never know the full potential until he gets more reps there.

Still, with what McAvoy has provided the B’s this year at the age of 22, Bruins breakdown: Charlie McAvoy there’s little reason to adjust the lofty projections we all had for him.

Boston Herald LOADED: 04.10.2020 By STEVE CONROY | PUBLISHED: April 9, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. | UPDATED: April 9, 2020 at 9:43 a.m.

(First in a series of Bruin player-by-player analyses for the 2019-2020 season that will appear occasionally.)

The development of a young hockey player does not always follow a straight, rising line. That’s doubly true for defensemen.

Take, for instance, the season that Philadelphia’s Ivan Provorov battled through in 2018-19.

Taken No. 7 overall by the Flyers in the 2015 draft, Provorov exhibited tangible signs that he would develop into the lead dog the team expected him to be in his first two seasons. Then came Year Three, and the Provorov train just about came off the rails. In 82 games, he finished minus-16 with the fewest point totals of his young career, just 7-19-26, and was deep in the red in possession statistics.

But this season suggests that downturn was just a blip for Provorov. The young Russian got back on track — posting 13-23-36 totals, and plus-11 in 69 games — and was one of the reasons Philadelphia was again a threat to capture the before play was suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Bruins fans would have done well to consider the example of Provorov when evaluating Charlie McAvoy midway through this season.

McAvoy, mind you, was not having the obvious step-back year that Provorov labored through last season. Not even close. With McAvoy leading all Bruins in ice time at 23:10 per game, the Bruins would not have been the leaders for the Presidents’ Trophy had McAvoy been faltering in his own end. His possession stats are a little down from what they had been his first two seasons, but he’s still on the positive side of that ledger. He led the team in blocks (131) and was third in hits (131). He can make a good first pass and skate the puck out of danger.

No, McAvoy was doing as well defensively as you could have hoped for a 22-year-old player tasked with No. 1 D-man minutes.

But McAvoy’s offense, or lack thereof, was a legitimate concern. The Boston University product was projected to be an all-around defenseman when he was chosen in the first round and he still is. But as month after month passed and McAvoy was still looking for his first goal of the season, it was a head-scratcher. He did not score until Feb. 5 — an winner in Chicago. Until then, the young defenseman had contended that he was not letting it get to him mentally. And to his credit, he did not let the big fat zero in the his goal column infect his game at the other end of the ice.

But when he finally threw the the gorilla off his back, McAvoy conceded that it had become a burden.

“As much as you don’t want to say it, you think about it, with your confidence. You feel like you can contribute a set amount and sometimes when it’s not there, it takes a bit of a hit,” said McAvoy in the United Center visitors’ dressing room that night.

When he finally did score, McAvoy appeared noticeably relaxed, and more assertive in this offensive, less hesitant to jump into the play. He wound up with 5-27-32 totals in 67 games when play was suspended.

Though McAvoy going the first four months of the season without a goal had a fluke quality to it, that drought was not completely without cause. Almost from the time he was drafted, Bruins’ coaches and management have urged him to shoot the puck more, and that’s been slow in coming. He was averaging 3.28 total shot attempts per game, well behind some players in his 23-and-under age group like Ottawa’s Thomas Chabot (5.5), Columbus’ Zach Werenski (5.3) and Colorado’s Cale Makar (5.3).

To be fair, part of that issue is the fact that he’s not on the first power play, and he won’t be cracking it as long as Torey Krug is employed by the Bruins. Krug is one of the best PP quarterbacks in the league and there’s no need to mess with success. But while McAvoy doesn’t seem to 1182446 Boston Bruins Boston Herald LOADED: 04.10.2020

Top 10 Bruins not named Orr: No. 7 — Patrice Bergeron is the complete player

By STEVE CONROY | April 9, 2020 at 6:00 a.m.

The fourth in a series on the best Bruins of all-time not named .

When Patrice Bergeron arrived at the Bruins’ old practice facility in Wilmington in September 2003 as a peach-fuzzed 18-year-old the B’s had selected in the second round of the draft a couple of months earlier, those in charge quickly learned that they had gotten a steal selecting the Quebec City-area kid with the 45th overall pick.

But even after Bergeron defied the odds and made the team out of camp that year — a rarity in those days, especially for a player without a first- round pedigree — the team may not have known what it had in Bergeron. Back then, it looked like the B’s had a nice top-six forward for years to come.

Now, simply put, Bergeron — clocking in at No. 7 in the Top 10 Bruins of all-time (not named Bobby Orr) — is the template for the kind of hockey player the organization wants each young player to strive to be at the start of their professional careers.

It’s a big ask, but if you’re setting the organizational bar, you set it high. And with all the qualities Bergeron brings to the table — skill, intelligence, work ethic on and off the ice, toughness — you can’t get much higher.

“At times, you ask people to do things that they may not be capable of doing if you’re comparing him to what Patrice does. Sometimes, it’s unfair. He’s just wired a different way from what other people may be. But he is what we point to,” said GM , on the occasion of Bergeron’s 1,000th game last season. “And he’s made himself into this player. He was wise beyond his years when he first got here. But if you look at the shot he scored on tonight (his now patented one-timer), that’s something he’s built into his game. He finds an area of his game that he can improve upon, and he works at it. His day-to-day habits, his lifestyle have all set him up for success. That’s what we try and point to. It’s not necessarily his accomplishments, but it’s how he’s gotten there.”

At 34, Bergeron has built up a pretty good resume for his application. A Stanley Cup. Three Finals appearances. Four Selke Trophies (a record fifth is not out of the question). And if those strictly Bruin accomplishments aren’t enough to get him in, he’s also a two-time Olympic gold medalist, a gold medalist at the World Championships and another one at the World Junior Championships for Canada. It would be pretty hard to keep him out at this point.

While Bergeron’s calling card has been his two-way game, his offensive capabilities should not be overlooked. When he scored his 30th goal on March 5 in Florida, he became just the sixth Bruin to record 30 goals in six separate seasons. The quick one-timer from the bumper position, as Sweeney referred to, on the power-play was a tool he did not possess in his bag of tricks when he first started, but one he acquired well into his career.

Bergeron, of course, has shown up at the big moments. He scored a pair of goals in the B’s Game 7 victory in Vancouver in 2011 that ended a 39- year Cup drought in Boston, and his game-tying and overtime winner in Game 7 against Toronto in 2013 was as dramatic as it gets.

And toughness? What he played through during the 2013 Cup Final — torn rib cartilage, broken rib, separated shoulder and punctured lung — is the stuff of legend. After actually speaking to the press after the B’s heartbreaking loss in Game 6 at the Garden, he went straight to the hospital, where he spent three nights.

Bergeron might have a chance to add another Cup next to his name if the NHL is able to return from this shutdown due to the coronavirus outbreak. In fact, the B’s success in 2019-20 — they were well ahead of the pack for the Presidents Trophy at the time of the league’s suspension — provides hope that the championship window will remain open for the B’s even another year beyond this one.

Can Bergeron climb up a few spots on this list? He’s got the time and, in some ways, he still seems to be getting better. Don’t bet against it. 1182447 Boston Bruins

Members of Bruins organization send supplies, cards to Colby Cave's family

By Erin Walsh April 09, 2020 10:10 PM

Former Boston Bruins forward and current Edmonton Oiler Colby Cave was placed in a medically-induced coma Tuesday after suffering a brain bleed, and the hockey community has sent an outpouring of prayers and support to the Cave family after receiving the terrible news.

The Oilers released a statement Thursday saying the 25-year-old underwent surgery and will remain in a medically-induced coma to allow his brain to rest after all he's been through.

Get the latest news and analysis on all of your teams from NBC Sports Boston by downloading the My Teams App

Amid these developments, Cave's wife Emily and his family aren't able to see him due to the growing coronavirus concerns, but she did share an update via Instagram and it looks like the B's have been nothing but supportive.

From what it looks like, it seems that David Backes (former Bruin), Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara, , Connor Clifton, Charlie Coyle, Steve Kampfer, Adam McQuaid (former Bruin), Charlie McAvoy, Kevan Miller, John Moore, Chris Wagner, Brandon Carlo and their families have sent some supplies, gifts and cards to the Cave family after hearing the news.

Bruce Cassidy, and other members of the Bruins organization also sent their condolences to the Cave family and commented on the situation on Wednesday.

Cave was with the Bruins organization from 2015-19 until he was claimed off by the Oilers.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182448 Boston Bruins team that had worn them down physically over the course of the seven- game series.

We’ll never know, of course, if Backes would have made a difference Hindsight 2020: Bruins should've gone with David Backes in Game 7 vs. between winning and losing. Brad Marchand made an awful call hopping Blues off the ice at the end of the first period to set up an Alex Pietrangelo goal. Tuukka Rask was outplayed by Jordan Binnington, who stood on his head in the first period against the Bruins when it really mattered most. By Joe Haggerty April 09, 2020 12:30 PM For the balance of the entire series, Patrice Bergeron was outplayed by fellow two-way center Ryan O’Reilly, and that was the case again in the

decisive Game 7. Let’s preface this by saying that hasn’t made many easy All of these things might have been too much to overcome when it was “second guess” moves in three-plus seasons of constant success. all said and done based on the way the entire series played out. But The Bruins have made the playoffs in each of the four years that Cassidy Backes was also an important, confident and vocal leader in the Bruins has been the bench boss in Boston and players like Patrice Bergeron, dressing room who walked the walk and talked the talk, and players like Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak have posted the best numbers of that can rise to the occasion in Game 7-type scenarios when given the their NHL careers. The 161-66-34 record that Cassidy has compiled in opportunity. Boston really speaks for itself along with the head coach pushing the Instead, Backes never even got a chance in Game 7 to put the final Bruins to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final last year. touches on his legacy, and the Bruins lost Game 7 on home ice with a When it comes to questioning his moves, there aren’t many to choose whimper that won’t soon be forgotten by B’s fans. from. That’s the kind of coaching decision that will be second-guessed until the Get the latest news and analysis on all of your teams from NBC Sports end of time without ever knowing if it might have made a bit of difference. Boston by downloading the My Teams App Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.10.2020 But the one coaching move that this humble hockey writer never agreed with was the healthy scratch of veteran power forward David Backes for the final three games of the Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues.

Well, not so much the final three games. It’s more like the final game.

Scratching Backes for the final three games against his old Blues team effectively spelled the end of his career in Black and Gold. It preceded this season when it was truly clear that his NHL effectiveness was at a conclusion and the Bruins needed to move out a first round pick just to get Anaheim to pick up his contract.

Obviously, Game 5 wasn’t the big moment to quibble with and in Game 6 things worked out with Karson Kuhlman scoring a goal while playing in Backes’ place in a 5-1 win over the Blues in the penultimate game of the series.

Haggerty: What we'll miss if regular season is scrapped

Cassidy went with the safe move of sticking with Kuhlman after the Game 6 road win over St. Louis with Boston feeling like it had the momentum going into a winner-take-all Game 7 on the TD Garden ice. It was tough to argue staying with the same lineup that won just a couple of days prior in St. Louis, but the Bruins clearly needed something a little different than what we saw play out in Game 7.

Backes could have been that something different that the Bruins were looking for when looking at the complete picture.

So what’s the argument to go with an aging Backes who had clearly slowed down last season at 34 years old?

Backes showed throughout last spring’s playoff run that he was very effective entering back into the lineup after giving his skating legs a few days’ rest. He showed that in the first round series against Toronto when his entry into the lineup was an early turning point with his physicality, experience and attitude.

Backes did it again in the second round vs. the Blue Jackets after several healthy scratches when he posted points in three straight wins over Columbus. Backes went scoreless in the first four games of the Cup Final against the Blues and finished with less than 10 minutes of ice time in two of those games, but he hadn’t played in eight days when the B’s and Blues met for Game 7 in Boston.

Hindsight 2020: Backes' $30M deal a big misstep for Sweeney

Once again, Backes could have injected physicality and attitude in a hockey game where force of will was going to be a difference-maker. Certainly, there’s a very easy argument to make that a former All-Star, Olympian and captain of the Blues could have done something in a Game 7 to make a difference as opposed to a player in Kuhlman who had just 11 games of NHL experience headed into last spring’s playoffs.

Instead, Kuhlman was an absolute non-factor in Game 7 in a game where the Bruins collapsed over the final 40 minutes against a St. Louis 1182449 Boston Bruins at TD Garden, Toivonen had other plans for his sweater and set it aside for Stephen, who was still in the hospital.

The next day, when Stephen woke up from a nap, he was presented with My Favorite Player: Hannu Toivonen Toivonen’s No. 33 sweater.

Stephen’s now a healthy and happy 19-year-old and it’s been 14 years By Joe McDonald Apr 9, 2020 since his visit with Toivonen, who played another year for the Bruins, and another with the St. Louis Blues, before he was out of the league. He was still playing as recently as 2019 in the ECHL.

Editor’s note: This week, The Athletic‘s writers are offering essays on I’ve covered many pro athletes during my career whom I root for simply some of their favorite athletes. Read more of them here. because they’re nice people, work hard and understand their role. Hannu will always be one of my favorites for what he did for the Unsworth family, The sun was shining on a chilly afternoon on Dec. 24, 2005, when a and for mine. Porsche Cayenne pulled up to a house in Cumberland, R.I. There were other vehicles parked on the street, while inside, the Unsworth family The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020 celebrated Christmas Eve.

Bruins rookie goalie Hannu Toivonen emerged from the Porsche, carrying a few bags loaded with Bruins memorabilia. He stepped up to the front door and rang the bell. Stephen Unsworth, then a 5-year-old leukemia patient, answered the door.

Toivonen, who had met the Unsworth family a year earlier at a community event for the AHL’s , arrived unannounced after he had learned Stephen had been diagnosed with cancer two months earlier. Toivonen, then 21, drove from Boston to spend a few hours with Stephen and his family. Neither the Bruins nor the hospital where Stephen was being treated arranged the visit. Toivonen planned it himself.

He presented Stephen with an autographed game-used stick, an autographed Bruins sweater, a team-autographed program, a T-shirt and a hat. The family reciprocated by giving the Finnish player a T-shirt with a red ribbon silk-screened on the front next to the phrase “Team Unsworth.” On the back, in big bold letters, it read: “WE WILL SURVIVE.”

After a few hours, Toivonen said goodbye to Stephen, but before leaving, the player invited the family to a Bruins game once the young boy was healthy and strong enough to attend.

A day earlier, Dec. 23, 2005, my mother passed away after a six-month battle with pancreatic cancer. While my father, sister, brother and myself were making arrangements at the funeral home, my cell phone rang. It was Toivonen. He had wanted the Unsworths’ address to plan his visit the next day. In my grief, I informed Hannu of my mother’s passing. He apologized for calling and passed along his condolences.

Soon after his visit with Stephen, my doorbell rang. Hannu stood on my front step with flowers, a sympathy card and a bottle of wine. I invited him in and we sat for an hour and talked about my mother, Marjorie, and also discussed his visit with Stephen.

Toivonen had only been in North America for three seasons and was only 21. On Christmas Eve, he thought about others and helped two families who needed it.

His thoughtfulness didn’t end there.

Toivonen dealt with his own adversity that season. He played well and became the No. 1 goalie before a high-ankle sprain in January ended his season. Still, he wanted to keep his promise to Stephen.

In March, Stephen received the go-ahead from doctors to travel to Boston and attend a Bruins game. To prepare for his trek to Boston, he needed a blood transfusion a day prior in order to give him the strength to handle the long outing.

Since Toivonen was injured, he planned to sit with the Unsworths in a suite, and also asked teammates P.J. Axelsson and Ian Moran to be there. The players then were going to bring Stephen to the locker room after the game.

The morning of the game, Stephen had a setback and had a 102 temperature. He was quickly admitted to Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence. Toivonen was devastated by the news and gave the family an open invitation to a future game.

It didn’t end there.

On the final day of each regular season, the Bruins always perform the “Shirts Off Our Backs” event in which lucky fans have a chance to win a game-used sweater. In April 2006, while his teammates were on the ice 1182450 Boston Bruins Adjusted

57

There’s Cam Neely and then the rest: Bruins’ top 10 seasons by right 55 wings 107

The 23-year-old further opened his bag of tricks. His signature shot may By Fluto Shinzawa Apr 9, 2020 be his power-play one-timer from the left circle. It is just one of his go-to weapons. Pastrnak is just as deadly scoring one-on-one off the rush, going hard to the net and roofing in-tight backhands. Playing with Brad We may never know whether David Pastrnak will smash through the 50- Marchand and Patrice Bergeron has not hurt. Pastrnak has maximized goal threshold. It’s possible the only way Pastrnak approaches 60 goals his top-line opportunity. is through the power of imagination. The likelihood that Pastrnak will 4. Cam Neely: 1990-91 improve upon his 48-goal output, where he was stuck when the NHL season was paused, grows slimmer with each day of bad news. Real

But in terms of organizational history, even if Pastrnak officially 51 concludes his run at 70 games instead of 82, the No. 1 right wing has had a season for the ages. 40

In its record keeping of NHL history, Hockey Reference adjusts outputs 91 by factors such as roster size, schedule lengths and scoring Adjusted environments. Following adjustments, Pastrnak’s interrupted 48-47—95 season translates to 57 goals and 55 assists. For context, Pastrnak’s 46 adjusted 112-point total is higher than any of Cam Neely’s seasons. 35 It is partly through this statistical lens and partly through big-picture 107 interpretation that we present the top 10 seasons by right wings in team history. In 69 games, Neely made a boldfaced impression on just about every shift. He busted through the 50-goal barrier for the second straight 1. Cam Neely: 1989-90 season. In the playoffs, Neely punched in 16 goals before the Bruins’ run Real ended in the Eastern Conference final against Pittsburgh.

55 5. Terry O'Reilly: 1977-78

37 Real

92 29

Adjusted 61

46 90

31 Adjusted

77 26

Neely’s adjusted total may be lower than Pastrnak’s, but Neely defined 55 his position as the game’s premier power forward by being a productive 81 and fearsome presence (117 minutes). Neely was also a critical postseason piece. The Bruins fell to Edmonton in the Stanley Cup final, O’Reilly was never one of ’s more talented offensive but it was no fault of Neely’s. The right wing led the team in playoff producers. But the hardscrabble O’Reilly, perhaps better than anyone, scoring with 12 goals and 16 assists. carried out Cherry’s teamwide marching orders to impose will on opponents. Not only did O’Reilly lead his team in scoring, he also racked 2. Cam Neely: 1993-94 up a roster-high 211 penalty minutes — no easy chore on a squad that Real also included , Mike Milbury and .

50 6. Ken Hodge: 1970-71

24 Real

74 43

Adjusted 62

45 105

22 Adjusted

67 39

Neely was only 28 years old. But it was already the beginning of the end, 57 courtesy of the hit that wrecked the right wing’s knee. 96 The injury limited Neely to just 49 games. The reduced workload only accentuated the degree of the future Hall of Famer’s dominance. Only some fellows named Bobby Orr, and Johnny Bucyk scored more points than Hodge. You could argue that Hodge and his 3. David Pastrnak: 2019-20 1970-71 teammates were the best representation of the Big Bad Bruins, Real who won it all in 1970 and 1972. But in 1971, they had the misfortune of running into Ken Dryden in the playoffs. 48 7. Rick Middleton: 1983-84 47 Real 95 47 58 assists, Samsonov promptly earned the trust of coach because of his sturdiness, explosive skating and nose for the net, which 105 helped him win the Calder Trophy.

Adjusted The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020 37

46

83

By then, Middleton had earned his nickname of Nifty. The right-shot Middleton sliced and slalomed his way through some of the meanest men in NHL history. Middleton made sweet music with , his trusted linemate.

8. : 2010-11

Real

26

27

53

Adjusted

29

29

58

The Bruins moved out a good top-four defenseman in Dennis Wideman. But they received a No. 1 right wing in Horton from Florida along with Gregory Campbell, their critical fourth-line center. Horton found his home next to Milan Lucic and David Krejci. Aaron Rome’s head shot on Horton in Game 3 gave the Bruins the emotional boost they needed. Horton didn’t play again, but he set the tone prior to Game 7 by pouring melted TD Garden ice onto the enemy sheet.

9. : 2010-11

Real

14

34

48

Adjusted

15

36

51

The Wrecking Ball’s best days were in his past. That didn’t stop Recchi from leading in his own way. Recchi, playing next to Marchand and Bergeron, willed his way into the dirty areas. His teammates could not help but fall in line. Recchi retired after winning his third Cup, a mic drop if there ever was one. His influence remains today with Marchand and Bergeron continuing their relentless pursuit of the puck.

10. Sergei Samsonov: 1997-98

Real

22

25

47

Adjusted

25

29

54

Jason Allison, Dmitri Khristich and had more points than Samsonov. None of the veterans, however, was 19 years old like Samsonov. The 5-foot-8, 188-pound right wing entered the league when it still favored behemoths like Joe Thornton, his fellow member of the Class of 1997. But while Thornton notched just three goals and four 1182451 Buffalo Sabres eight years and $50 million, a staggering figure for an NHL coach at the time that buckled the Sabres' hopes and led to more money in the pockets of contemporaries such as Todd McLellan, Joel Quenneville, Buffalo sports' greatest what-ifs: What if Mike Babcock became Sabres Claude Julien and others. coach? "It was a hard decision. We went back and forth so many times trying to figure out the right thing to do," Babcock said the day the Leafs introduced him. "If you don't think is a star, you're mistaken. By Mike Harrington Published Fri, Apr 10, 2020 If you think Tim Murray and I didn't have a great relationship, that's wrong, too. In the end, I wanted to coach the Maple Leafs. This was the

best fit for my family. ... (The Sabres) have got lots of great things. In the This is 13th in a series looking at Buffalo sports' greatest what-ifs. Today: end, I couldn't make it go for my family and I wanted to be the coach of What if Mike Babcock became the Sabres' coach? the Maple Leafs. That's it."

In the spring of 2015, the Buffalo Sabres assumed they were on the way The Sabres turned to former Pittsburgh coach , who beat up. The tank was finally over. Even though the draft lottery had been lost Babcock in that '09 final but was fired in 2017 after a 78-point season that and Connor McDavid was not coming to town, was. General saw him run afoul of his players. Babcock was fired by the Leafs in Manager Tim Murray had acquired Evander Kane at the trade deadline November in the midst of his fifth season. He had three consecutive and pulled the trigger on deals for Robin Lehner and Ryan O'Reilly on the playoff runs and two 100-point seasons after the Leafs won the lottery day he took Eichel at No. 2 overall in the draft in Sunrise, Fla. and drafted Matthews first overall in Buffalo in 2016 but didn't win a series. But a month earlier came a monumental few days in franchise history. In May, Murray had gone big-game hunting for a leader to replace Ted Babcock would have played a much more structured game than Bylsma Nolan behind the bench. His target was clear to everyone: Detroit coach did and his players likely would have developed more. And that goes for Mike Babcock, a former Stanley Cup champion who had been a the entire lineup, and not just top-end players like Eichel and Sam mainstay for Team Canada during international play. Reinhart. You look at Toronto and Babcock made huge inroads with the likes of Nazem Kadri, Morgan Rielly and Zach Hyman. Matthews and Murray and Babcock had worked together with of Mitch Marner became stars too even though Babcock is notoriously Anaheim in the early 2000s as the team reached Game 7 of the Stanley tough on his top players. Cup final against New Jersey in 2003. Babcock then established his full credentials with the Red Wings, winning a Cup in 2008 and losing Game "The great what-if ultimately needs to be answered by establishing a 7 of the final to Pittsburgh in 2009. definitive organizational identity," former NHL goalie and NHL Network analyst said in a text to The News. "Are they going to be He was a big name. Murray wanted him. And Terry Pegula, basking in fast, skilled, hard to play against? Defensive or offensive? Tough? the glow of hiring Rex Ryan to coach the Bills four months earlier, was willing to make Babcock the highest-paid coach in NHL history. Babcock "Think Penguins, Avalanche, Blues, Leafs, Vegas, Bruins, Tampa. All of was making only about $2 million a year in Detroit and had heavily them fit one or two traits as a team. And add Carolina and Flyers as studied coaches' salaries in hockey and other sports. He quickly made disruptors." getting more money – both for himself and his colleagues – a priority and As Weekes implied, what kind of team the Sabres are is something the Sabres were willing to pay. they're still trying to figure out under Ralph Krueger. They never found The Sabres were initially believed to be headed for a six-year, $30 million much identity under Bylsma or Phil Housley. deal with Babcock. Then reports surfaced they were talking eight years, "Mike would have had them in a place where they were fighting to get in maybe even nine. Babcock visited Buffalo, toured KeyBank Center and the playoffs, if not actually in the playoffs, every year," Simmons said. Harborcenter, met with the Pegulas and Murray and was the club's only "That's what he does for teams. In the past three years, the Sabres have real candidate. always looked disorganized to me. I thought if Mike had been there, he Buffalo sports' greatest what-ifs: What if Sabres kept Daniel Briere, Chris would have organized that team and they would have structurally gotten Drury? better."

So what if Babcock had decided to cash in with the Sabres? Would they One outgrowth of that possibility: The Sabres would not have Rasmus still be holding the NHL's longest playoff drought nearly five years after Dahlin today because there's little chance they would have had a 62- he spurned them to head to Toronto? point season under Babcock like they did in 2017-18. The debut season of Housley and GM Jason Botterill was a disaster, with the team finishing The long-held belief is Babcock would have come to Buffalo had the 31st in the NHL. The lottery victory that landed them Dahlin was a Sabres won the lottery to get the chance to coach McDavid. But when consolation. Babcock started negotiating with the Sabres, the lottery had already taken place so he knew Eichel was his main piece. "No way they have Dahlin today if Mike Babcock had been the coach," Simmons said. "They wouldn't have been in a position to get him. He's a Babcock came to his interview alone. Without his wife, Maureen. It was a very good coach. He just wears on you over time. He's perfect for some telltale sign. guys who need 24-7 all-in all the time. Even the assistant coaches he wears down over time because he's so intense and so into it." "I have always been of the belief that he wanted to go to Buffalo and his wife did not," said veteran Toronto Sun columnist Steve Simmons, Babcock didn't come and three coaches later, the Sabres are still sharing a view widely held in the hockey world. "I believe she said, 'I wondering if they have the right guy. Weekes is a big believer the Sabres followed you to Detroit and all these places and it's time for me to have a are on the right path -- if Krueger can develop the rugged identity most say in where we live.' She fell in love with Yorkville (the ritzy people think the Sabres could have had under Babcock. neighborhood of downtown Toronto) and that's where they lived. "Jack has grown a ton and he is one of the top players in the league," "The Leafs had not won the (Auston) Matthews lottery yet. That was the Weekes said. "Dahlin can become a star. (Victor) Olofsson can be a 30- next year. I think Mike looked at the Sabres' roster and the Leafs' roster 30 guy. They are starting to get pieces. When I talked to Vegas owner and he said to himself that Buffalo was ahead in the rebuild so that's a Bill Foley and (former coach) Gerard Gallant backstage at the expansion better place for me. Being the ultimate pragmatic kind of coach, for him draft, the vision for the team was clear and is clear. They still play to that that was the decision." identity."

The Sabres, in fact, thought they had a deal. They were even working on Buffalo sports' greatest what-ifs: What if 'No Goal' was really no goal? scheduling the introductory news conference. And then everything changed. Buffalo News LOADED: 04.10.2020

Babcock took the Sabres' offer and went to Toronto, where former Detroit player was now the Leafs president and was preparing to hire former Tampa Bay and Ottawa coach Guy Boucher. In a quick about-face on May 14, 2015, Babcock signed with the Leafs for 1182452 Buffalo Sabres “That’s probably what he has to lean on when he’s going to play – retrieving pucks and winning battles and then what he does after he gets the puck,” said. “Don’t throw it away; you’ve got to Prospect Mattias Samuelsson looks to bring physicality and NHL lineage make the outlet pass and the breakout pass. That’s basically what he has to Buffalo to do. Again, move up into the rush. Any defenseman who plays in today’s hockey has to be up in the rush even if you don’t get the puck. You’ve got to be up there and close the gap. I think he the last four years of the program and also in college, that’s what they have leaned on him By Joe Yerdon Apr 9, 2020 to do, to be a good defenseman and start to start the attack from your own end.”

For Mattias Samuelsson, being born into a hockey family brings with it There is a perceived need for more physical play from defensemen certain expectations and a few assumptions. throughout the Sabres system and Samuelsson certainly fits that description. The value of having puck movers like Rasmus Dahlin, At 6-foot-4 and 223 pounds, the 20-year-old defenseman casts his own Lawrence Pilut, and Henri Jokiharju is high. When you factor in heads-up large physical shadow. Yet being the son of 14-year NHL veteran defenders like Jacob Bryson in Rochester, there’s a point where a defenseman Kjell Samuelsson also likely means having to deal with a counterpart could be necessary. That’s a role William Borgen has fulfilled figurative one as he begins his professional career. with the Americans and perhaps will with the Sabres in the near future. It’s that destiny Samuelsson seems headed towards after he signed his While a reference to his paternal lineage has quickly followed most entry-level contract to go pro on March 25. But when hockey starts up mentions of the Sabres prospect since he was drafted by the team with a again, don’t expect him to show up dropping the hammer on everyone second-round pick in 2018, the younger Samuelsson doesn’t really see it immediately. as anything but a positive. Born in 2000, a year after his father retired as a player, Samuelsson got to know his dad’s hockey career mostly SAMUELSSON: LET’S GET PHYSICAL through his roles as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia and PIC.TWITTER.COM/SCCOIDKWXD Adirondack Phantoms in the AHL. Now the director of player development for the Philadelphia Flyers, Kjell Samuelsson’s experience — KRIS BAKER (@SABRESPROSPECTS) DECEMBER 29, 2019 gives him the ability to help out his son in ways other than showing him “I think it’s just picking and choosing your spots (for hits),” Samuelsson how to angle off a defender or how best to throw a big hit. said. “You don’t want to run around like a chicken with your head cut off. “In youth hockey, it’s more like you talk to them and they’re still enjoying You’ve got to choose where you want to go and when is the right time. I it and they have a good time and everything. But then as soon as they think there still is physicality in the game today, but obviously you have to get (older), you shouldn’t interfere much because there is coaching,” Kjell pick and choose your spots and be smart with it and not go out position.” Samuelsson said. “I mean, you have three coaches on almost every Samuelsson says all the right things you’d expect of a young player team, and then you’re a parent and you’ve got to put your sentence in ready to start this pro career. He’s eager to come in and show what he there and I don’t think it works out very well. can do, but his expectations are humble and he wants to do whatever the “But anytime he wanted to talk, we talked about different things and it’s coaches ask of him. It’s that kind of attitude that allowed Kjell more talking about the attitude you have to have and the passion you Samuelsson to play for as long as he did and got him in three Stanley have to have. I always preach to (him and his brother): don’t do it Cup finals. If Samuelsson keeps his dad’s words in mind when he heads because I did it, it’s not going to work. You have to do it because you to Sabres camp, it could be the start of a long career. have a passion for it and you love hockey.” “Any professional hockey organization, they’re looking for consistency Mattias Samuelsson spent the past two years at Western Michigan in and then in a positive way,” Kjell Samuelsson said. “What you are good Kalamazoo, playing with his brother Lukas, a forward. Prior to that he at you’ve got to use and you’ve got to use it over and over and over was with the U.S. Team Development Program in Plymouth, again. And then it’s a different level you go to. You probably learned a Mich., where many elite American players get their start. Those years in little bit to become a pro in college, but it’s an even bigger thing to be a the program established Samuelsson as a classic brand of defenseman. pro and approach every day the same way and prepare you the same He’s big and physical and unlike what we see from many defensemen way and don’t go there and then just think it’s going to happen just these days. Had he been around at the time his father played in the because you show up. I’m in this business so that’s what we preach to 1990s, he would’ve fit in well in a NHL that fed off big hits and throwing a the prospects we have here and turning pro.” wall up at the blue line. Now his sort of play is more of an anomaly, but The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020 there are things that he can do well that show why the Sabres took him when they did.

“I think just you (take) what they give you and I move my feet and use my body to my advantage protecting the puck and stuff like that,” Samuelsson said. “I think I could open up a lot of lanes offensively and that’s when you don’t really expect the big man to jump up in the play. So when that happens, I think maybe I catch the ‘D’ a little off-hand and make some nice plays out of it. But yeah, I’m just trying to do my part in helping my team win hockey games.”

MATTIAS SAMUELSSON PICKED UP AN ASSIST FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT GAME IN WESTERN’S 5-2 WIN OVER CC. USED HIS STRENGTH TO SHRUG OFF HALLORAN AND CREATE THE 2-ON-1. PIC.TWITTER.COM/QM8LWXZ9HY

— KRIS BAKER (@SABRESPROSPECTS) JANUARY 18, 2020

VERY NICE PASS HERE FROM MATTIAS SAMUELSSON TO SET UP WMU’S FIRST GOAL. THEY LEAD MIAMI 2-1. PIC.TWITTER.COM/XB2IBP0YFT

— KRIS BAKER (@SABRESPROSPECTS) MARCH 7, 2020

While nice offensive plays are good, his game and his leadership (he was captain of the United States 2020 World Junior Championship team) stems from how he’s able to play in his own zone and, yes, throw the body. Making a good first pass can make his old man smile just the same. 1182453 Buffalo Sabres are racks of sneakers, a wall of ballcaps and jerseys of every sport ringing the ceiling of the store.

While customers can’t access the mall, O’Hara signs in every few days to After nearly 100 years in business, Laux Sporting Goods faces a check things out. The store means a lot because it’s the last one daunting challenge standing, the other five falling victim to nationwide chains and online markets.

By John Vogl Apr 9, 2020 “It’s just the nature of the beast with what’s happened, even before this pandemic,” O’Hara said.

Laux has an online presence, but it can’t ship orders at the moment. The Editor’s note: In an effort to support local businesses that are being warehouse has been off-limits since March 20 because mitts and cleats threatened by the devastating effects of the coronavirus, The Athletic is are not part of the supply chain. publishing an ongoing series of stories to highlight our treasured communities. #supportlocal “We can’t sell it because there’s nobody to ship it out because nobody can go into the warehouse,” O’Hara said. Michael O’Hara began stringing rackets for Laux Sporting Goods in 1975, taking care of customers at Eastern Hills Mall. As Laux grew to Though it’s the store that puts a face to the Laux name, it’s the six stores throughout the Buffalo area, O’Hara became general manager warehouse and screen-printing service that puts clothes on kids from of the retail division. The same people who got racket strings from him as Buffalo to Syracuse. The company has been working with schools since teenagers were now buying shoulder pads and sneakers for their kids. the 1930s or ’40s, O’Hara said.

O’Hara’s father-in-law, Jim Laux, served as president of the business “Schools are closed,” he said. “All the high school baseball seasons, from 1959 to 1998. Jim’s dad, Al, founded Laux Sporting Goods in 1921, track season, softball season — anything that’s a spring sport – we don’t selling baseball equipment from the back of a candy store on Broadway have it now. It’s a huge effect on our spring business.” in Buffalo. David Laux and the company’s bookkeeper filled out an application this In nearly 100 years of business, the Laux family has never seen anything week for the government’s new coronavirus relief package, but they’ll like this pandemic. Who has? have to wait to see if they’re accepted by the U.S. Small Business Administration. “We’re keeping our fingers crossed that this will end in – who knows? – another month maybe and we can start our business back up,” O’Hara “All the small companies are going to need to do that,” O’Hara said. “I said this week. see on the news they keep talking about all the restaurants that you have to order online and go pick it up, and hopefully it helps them out. But we Like countless small businesses across the world, Laux’s doors are can’t do that. There’s other companies out there besides restaurants and closed because of the coronavirus. The sporting goods store has one bars where we’re not allowed to be in there.” retail location remaining in Walden Galleria and has its corporate office and warehouse in Amherst. More than 30 people have been laid off Laux has gift cards available for sale on its website. They come in during one of Laux’s busier times of the year. denominations of $10, $20, $25, $50 and $100. O’Hara hopes folks who will someday need Laux’s sporting equipment can buy the cards now and In addition to sporting equipment, the company supplies uniforms to area get the goods later. schools and youth organizations. Little League baseball jerseys are waiting to be screen-printed in the shuttered warehouse while track and But he knows this is an uncertain monetary time for people everywhere. field outfits are awaiting delivery to homebound high school coaches. “It’s everyone and everyone that has a small business,” O’Hara said. “I’ve It’s likely none of the teams or coaches will use Laux this year. been thinking about how can they survive? How do you survive? It’s terrible. You hear all of the stories on TV, you know? You wonder when “It looks like baseball and Little League as we know it may be canceled this is over, will people have the funds to start buying again? this spring, so anybody that gets a uniform is not going to need one,” O’Hara said. “We preorder a lot of stuff, all the and softballs “That’s why what they’ve done with this $1,200 stimulus check, I think it’s that the boys and girls use. Any type of equipment like bats, that’s going a good thing. Hopefully, people will save that and use it when they can to sit. Everything right now is just sitting.” come back out, depending on what your income is. We’ll see.”

That includes the workers. The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020

“All of our employees are on unemployment now, and that was very difficult for a lot of them to get on and it still is,” said O’Hara, referencing the overloaded system that has included claims by more than 10 million Americans. “We will hire all of our employees back. Our goal is to bring every single one of them back.”

They all feel like family, which makes sense because Laux remains a family-owned business. David Laux, who is the grandson of Al, son of Jim and brother-in-law to O’Hara, has been president since succeeding his father in 1998. Sisters and in-laws work as buyers and sellers.

“It’s been a very difficult situation for us, yes,” O’Hara said. “We’re hanging in there.”

While the spring and summer sports may get canceled, O’Hara is hoping football season comes as planned.

“We do a lot of retail business in that,” he said. “I take care of so many kids out of Buffalo for fittings with helmets and shoulder pads. With over 30 years at Galleria mall, we have a great rapport. I talk to them by name.

“So hopefully, that is going to come back to us. That’s a nice little push before the holiday season gets here.”

The retail side is where Laux shows its personal touch. The Walden Galleria location sells everything from Josh Allen and Jack Eichel jerseys to Yankees dog leashes to Bills license plates to Sabres blankets. There 1182454 Calgary Flames are there some things that we can put in our game? We’re looking at what good teams in Europe are doing. I know that when I came back from Europe the last time (after coaching to a title in Q&A: Flames interim coach Geoff Ward on priorities during pause, his Germany in 2015), I brought a few things back with me that worked really future and saluting COVID-19 front-liners well in the NHL, so we’re going to take a look at what’s going on with trends over there that could help us.

“And we’re taking a look at where we’re at as a team ourselves, looking Wes Gilbertson at games this year and being really, really objective in saying, ‘These are the things that we do well as a team and these are the areas we can be

better in.’ And then we’re taking a look, as well, at our prospects. During The Saddledome remains silent. the season, as coaches up here, we don’t get an awful lot of time to really take a look in-depth at what our prospects are doing in the minors. But since Flames interim head coach Geoff Ward and his family moved But now we have an opportunity to watch some of their games and get a from the southwest suburbs into Calgary’s downtown core just a week gauge of where they’re at along their development curve and what they ago, the 57-year-old bench boss has been enjoying the roar of the crowd. can offer to us down the road and how close some of them are to being NHL-ready. So there are a lot of things that we can do in this time off, Every night, folks in Ward’s new neighbourhood cause a racket to show and we want to make sure that we’re maximizing the time in order to their appreciation for medical professionals and others leading the fight make us better.” against COVID-19. Q: With some time to reflect on the season so far and watch more video, “It’s really neat,” Ward said. “I knew they were doing it in B.C., but it have you learned anything about your group? wasn’t happening in the suburbs. But the first night we were here, at about 7 p.m., people come out on their balconies and they have pots and Ward: “Obviously, we had a lot of different things happen throughout the pans and they’re cheering and they’re yelling. It’s nice to see that. For the season. Before the stoppage, we talked a lot about being battle-tested, health-care workers and all of the people on the front lines who are doing and I think our group has gone through a lot of different things that has everything they can to make our world right — the people who are putting given us that experience. We feel like that has revealed an awful lot of themselves in danger — it’s great to see everybody recognizing that and character. It’s helped, I think, to give us a little more skin as a team, it’s been fun to be a part of that. which is important. And it’s really helped us to understand that if you just focus on things you can control, you set yourself up to be more “That’s one of the highlights, for sure.” successful more quickly. Teams that win understand that, but you need With the NHL on pause due to the coronavirus health crisis, Ward is to get the experience necessary in order to understand that. Because certainly missing the sounds of the C of Red. you can’t buy experience. You have to gain it. So for us, if there was one lesson we probably learned again and again and again over the season, The Flames had a dozen dates remaining on their regular-season slate. it was that when we focus on things we can control, we usually do pretty They were sitting third in the Pacific Division, perhaps trending toward a well in those situations. long-awaited spring showdown with the arch-rival Edmonton Oilers. “After the coaching change, we really had three goals that we wanted to Calgary’s interim head coach — Ward was elevated to the top job in late accomplish. No. 1, we wanted to improve our goal scoring. From the time November after the saga — is currently self-isolating with his of the coaching change to the time of the stoppage, our goals-for per wife, two sons and two daughters. game was 10thin the NHL, almost up a full goal from where it was before. We had struggled to score at the beginning of the year, we weren’t His past experience as a teacher is coming in handy as he tries to help scoring at the clip that we had scored at last year, and we just felt like the younger kids — one in Grade 7, another in Grade 8 — with their that was one area we wanted to focus an awful lot on. So we felt like we online schooling. made a lot of strides in that area. Secondly, we wanted to improve our His new routine includes morning workouts, plenty of prep for whenever defensive numbers a little bit, especially the high scoring-area chances. the Flames return to the ice and then board-games, card-games or TV From after the coaching change happened to the time of the stoppage, I time with his family in the evenings. think we gave up 131 goals, which I think was 12th in the NHL. If you get rid of the two eight-goal games that we had at home, I think we could And of course, at 7 p.m., the Wards are out on their balcony to salute the have been seventh or eighth. So we felt like we made some real good front-liners, although the coach insisted he hasn’t been clanking any of strides in terms of our defensive game. And then the third thing was we the kitchenware just yet. wanted to improve our power play and get it into the same sort of area of “We’re just clapping and yelling so far,” Ward said. “But I have some the NHL rankings as where our penalty kill was. Our penalty kill was creative kids, so they might get to an opportunity where they get a little good all year. has done a great job with it. But I really felt bit louder.” like Ray Edwards and Marty Gelinas did a great job with our power play after the coaching change. Our power play was third in the NHL from the Q: Hard to believe it’s been more than a month since the Flames’ most time of the coaching change to the stoppage, at 25.2%. So those guys recent game. What have you been up to since the action was paused? really did a great job.

Ward: “The biggest thing for us as a coaching staff right now is this gives “So the things that we had laid out, in terms of where we wanted to get us an opportunity to do some other things to stay ready, and that’s really better, we saw great strides in those areas. And we just felt like moving where we put our focus. I mean … we talk about it all the time — we into the last few weeks of the season before the stoppage, we were really just want to worry about things we can control. Obviously, right now trending in the right direction. We felt like we were on a real good upward we can’t control what’s going on in the world, but we can control what trend. So we were really looking forward to the last three weeks of the we’re doing within our team in order to try to get better. regular season, to getting an opportunity to fight hard to get back to the playoffs and then, of course, change the ending from the one we had last “So we have an awful lot going on right now as a coaching staff. We’ve year in the first round.” had time to prepare for our last 12 opponents, moving down the stretch towards the playoffs. We’ve taken a look at the scenario where there may Q: St. Louis Blues coach Craig Berube showed the best way to get rid of not be any more regular season and now there is just playoffs and what the ‘interim’ tag on a job title, leading his team to a Stanley Cup last that may look like. So we’ve been able to focus on potentially what the spring. Are you thinking about your own future and job status? first-round opponent could look like for us and done some work there. We’ve looked at potentially what a training camp would look like when we Ward: “To be honest, I don’t think about it at all. It’s not in my control. do start up again. What are we going to do to prepare ourselves the best There’s that theme again. Obviously, the body of work is something now we possibly can to get back to the season? That’s been another focus for that is in the books until the season resumes. Based on that body of work us. And we’ve gone on the guideline that with resuming the season and or an extended body of work if the season does come back, then the playing it out and then starting next season, there may be just a short management team and the ownership group will make a decision on window of time of what you would term to be an off-season. So we’ve what they want to do, coaching-wise. That’s outside of my control. I’m started a lot of things that we would normally do in the July and August just worried about things that I can control, and that’s doing the things months, in terms of taking a look at what teams are doing around the that we feel as a staff and as a team that we need to do to be ready to league that help them be successful and are those things in our game or move forward successfully when the season does resume.” Q: Did general manager hit the nail on the head earlier this week when he talked about just being really excited to see what this group could accomplish in the 2020 ?

Ward: “Oh, for sure. I mean … that’s the ultimate challenge. When you take a look at players in this league, they all want to be remembered as being a winner at the most important time of the year. Guys take an awful lot of pride in being known as a winner and being a player who can play at the top level of his game when it counts the most.

“For us, moving towards that as a young group and trying to gain playoff experience and understanding exactly what it takes to win a championship, all of these things are measuring sticks for us. So it’s extremely important, and we were extremely excited about the fact that we’d put ourselves in a position to get back to the playoffs again. Obviously, the last 12 games would have determined a lot. But at the point of the stoppage, we were in a playoff position, and credit goes to the guys for how they embraced that and how hard they’d played. We really felt like we were trending in the right direction. We were starting to see things that had us thinking we were going to play our best hockey of the year at the most important time of the year, and it would have been fun to see exactly where this will go. But we’re hopeful that we still get that opportunity.”

Q: Many of the Flames’ players have now returned to their off-season homes, but you’ve been trying to catch up with them once a week. What’s your message during those phone calls?

Ward: “I just want to make sure, first of all, that they’re doing alright and their families are doing alright. And if there’s anything we can do to help them, we want to make sure they know that. It’s good to hear their voices again, just cut up for a few minutes and talk about things we’re doing or what we’re watching on Netflix or what they’re doing to fill their days. And from the hockey side of things, the message is basically just do what you need to do in order to stay in the best shape you can, under the belief that we’re going to come back to work. Because if we want to be as prepared as we need to be in order to be successful when we do resume work, then we need to make sure we’re in shape. We need to make sure that mentally, our minds are in the right place to come back and pick up. That’s something that we need to believe — we need to believe we’re going back to work, because we need to be ready as coaches and our players need to be physically prepared as much as they possibly can be so that if and when the season does get back going, that we are in a position that we can be effective and we can be good.

“So those are some of the things that we talk about on those calls. But first and foremost, I just want to make sure they’re alright. And I just enjoy so much talking to the guys. It’s nice to have a few laughs, which normally we do a lot at the rink when we’re there together.”

Q: OK, one more … You mentioned during an interview on Sportsnet 960 The Fan that you’re the worst Scrabble player in your family. Can that possibly be true?

Ward: “Oh, yeah … I lose every night. I don’t know if that says something about the intelligence of everybody else in my family or about my intelligence, but I lose every night. The other night, at one point, I had five Es on my pad. I don’t know what you can spell with five Es, but I was struggling. I think I need that app on my phone with Scrabble words, start maybe cheating a little bit.”

Calgary Herald: LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182455 Calgary Flames

Hitmen captain Kastelic signs contract with NHL Senators

Mark Kastelic

After filling the net for the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen, Mark Kastelic has scored an NHL contract.

Kastelic, who climbed to third on the Hitmen franchise goal charts, scribbled his signature Thursday on a three-year, entry-level deal with the Ottawa Senators, the club that selected him in the fifth round of the draft last summer.

“We are very excited for Mark as today signifies the start of his pro career,” said Hitmen general manager Jeff Chynoweth in a statement. “As a two-year captain, he set the gold standard for the Hitmen both on and off the ice leading by example. His game took great strides during his five years in Calgary, and he is very deserving of this opportunity with the Senators. We wish him nothing but success as he prepares to take the next step in his career but also know he has left a valuable lasting legacy on our dressing room.”

Kastelic, 21, officially graduated from the junior ranks when the remainder of this season — including playoffs and the Memorial Cup tournament — was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The right-handed from Phoenix, Ariz., spent five winters with the Hitmen, totalling 126 goals and 235 points in 321 regular-season games. Only Brad Moran and Pavel Brendl have tickled more twine on behalf of the local WHL squad.

“The entire organization is extremely proud of Mark for signing his first professional contract with the Senators,” said Hitmen head coach Steve Hamilton. “Mark has grown and developed with our organization, and we are very excited to watch him take on the challenge of professional hockey. He has earned his contract through tireless efforts and leadership, on and off the ice.”

Kastelic notched 38 goals and 30 assists in 58 outings during the truncated 2019-20 campaign.

Calgary Herald: LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182456 Calgary Flames are there some things that we can put in our game? We’re looking at what good teams in Europe are doing. I know that when I came back from Europe the last time (after coaching Adler Mannheim to a title in Q&A: Flames interim coach Geoff Ward on priorities during pause, his Germany in 2015), I brought a few things back with me that worked really future and saluting COVID-19 front-liners well in the NHL, so we’re going to take a look at what’s going on with trends over there that could help us.

“And we’re taking a look at where we’re at as a team ourselves, looking Wes Gilbertson at games this year and being really, really objective in saying, ‘These are the things that we do well as a team and these are the areas we can be

better in.’ And then we’re taking a look, as well, at our prospects. During The Saddledome remains silent. the season, as coaches up here, we don’t get an awful lot of time to really take a look in-depth at what our prospects are doing in the minors. But since Flames interim head coach Geoff Ward and his family moved But now we have an opportunity to watch some of their games and get a from the southwest suburbs into Calgary’s downtown core just a week gauge of where they’re at along their development curve and what they ago, the 57-year-old bench boss has been enjoying the roar of the crowd. can offer to us down the road and how close some of them are to being NHL-ready. So there are a lot of things that we can do in this time off, Every night, folks in Ward’s new neighbourhood cause a racket to show and we want to make sure that we’re maximizing the time in order to their appreciation for medical professionals and others leading the fight make us better.” against COVID-19. Q: With some time to reflect on the season so far and watch more video, “It’s really neat,” Ward said. “I knew they were doing it in B.C., but it have you learned anything about your group? wasn’t happening in the suburbs. But the first night we were here, at about 7 p.m., people come out on their balconies and they have pots and Ward: “Obviously, we had a lot of different things happen throughout the pans and they’re cheering and they’re yelling. It’s nice to see that. For the season. Before the stoppage, we talked a lot about being battle-tested, health-care workers and all of the people on the front lines who are doing and I think our group has gone through a lot of different things that has everything they can to make our world right — the people who are putting given us that experience. We feel like that has revealed an awful lot of themselves in danger — it’s great to see everybody recognizing that and character. It’s helped, I think, to give us a little more skin as a team, it’s been fun to be a part of that. which is important. And it’s really helped us to understand that if you just focus on things you can control, you set yourself up to be more “That’s one of the highlights, for sure.” successful more quickly. Teams that win understand that, but you need With the NHL on pause due to the coronavirus health crisis, Ward is to get the experience necessary in order to understand that. Because certainly missing the sounds of the C of Red. you can’t buy experience. You have to gain it. So for us, if there was one lesson we probably learned again and again and again over the season, The Flames had a dozen dates remaining on their regular-season slate. it was that when we focus on things we can control, we usually do pretty They were sitting third in the Pacific Division, perhaps trending toward a well in those situations. long-awaited spring showdown with the arch-rival Edmonton Oilers. “After the coaching change, we really had three goals that we wanted to Calgary’s interim head coach — Ward was elevated to the top job in late accomplish. No. 1, we wanted to improve our goal scoring. From the time November after the Bill Peters saga — is currently self-isolating with his of the coaching change to the time of the stoppage, our goals-for per wife, two sons and two daughters. game was 10th in the NHL, almost up a full goal from where it was before. We had struggled to score at the beginning of the year, we His past experience as a teacher is coming in handy as he tries to help weren’t scoring at the clip that we had scored at last year, and we just felt the younger kids — one in Grade 7, another in Grade 8 — with their like that was one area we wanted to focus an awful lot on. So we felt like online schooling. we made a lot of strides in that area. Secondly, we wanted to improve His new routine includes morning workouts, plenty of prep for whenever our defensive numbers a little bit, especially the high scoring-area the Flames return to the ice and then board-games, card-games or TV chances. From after the coaching change happened to the time of the time with his family in the evenings. stoppage, I think we gave up 131 goals, which I think was 12th in the NHL. If you get rid of the two eight-goal games that we had at home, I And of course, at 7 p.m., the Wards are out on their balcony to salute the think we could have been seventh or eighth. So we felt like we made front-liners, although the coach insisted he hasn’t been clanking any of some real good strides in terms of our defensive game. And then the the kitchenware just yet. third thing was we wanted to improve our power play and get it into the “We’re just clapping and yelling so far,” Ward said. “But I have some same sort of area of the NHL rankings as where our penalty kill was. Our creative kids, so they might get to an opportunity where they get a little penalty kill was good all year. Ryan Huska has done a great job with it. bit louder.” But I really felt like Ray Edwards and Marty Gelinas did a great job with our power play after the coaching change. Our power play was third in Q: Hard to believe it’s been more than a month since the Flames’ most the NHL from the time of the coaching change to the stoppage, at 25.2%. recent game. What have you been up to since the action was paused? So those guys really did a great job.

Ward: “The biggest thing for us as a coaching staff right now is this gives “So the things that we had laid out, in terms of where we wanted to get us an opportunity to do some other things to stay ready, and that’s really better, we saw great strides in those areas. And we just felt like moving where we put our focus. I mean … we talk about it all the time — we into the last few weeks of the season before the stoppage, we were really just want to worry about things we can control. Obviously, right now trending in the right direction. We felt like we were on a real good upward we can’t control what’s going on in the world, but we can control what trend. So we were really looking forward to the last three weeks of the we’re doing within our team in order to try to get better. regular season, to getting an opportunity to fight hard to get back to the playoffs and then, of course, change the ending from the one we had last “So we have an awful lot going on right now as a coaching staff. We’ve year in the first round.” had time to prepare for our last 12 opponents, moving down the stretch towards the playoffs. We’ve taken a look at the scenario where there may Q: St. Louis Blues coach Craig Berube showed the best way to get rid of not be any more regular season and now there is just playoffs and what the ‘interim’ tag on a job title, leading his team to a Stanley Cup last that may look like. So we’ve been able to focus on potentially what the spring. Are you thinking about your own future and job status? first-round opponent could look like for us and done some work there. We’ve looked at potentially what a training camp would look like when we Ward: “To be honest, I don’t think about it at all. It’s not in my control. do start up again. What are we going to do to prepare ourselves the best There’s that theme again. Obviously, the body of work is something now we possibly can to get back to the season? That’s been another focus for that is in the books until the season resumes. Based on that body of work us. And we’ve gone on the guideline that with resuming the season and or an extended body of work if the season does come back, then the playing it out and then starting next season, there may be just a short management team and the ownership group will make a decision on window of time of what you would term to be an off-season. So we’ve what they want to do, coaching-wise. That’s outside of my control. I’m started a lot of things that we would normally do in the July and August just worried about things that I can control, and that’s doing the things months, in terms of taking a look at what teams are doing around the that we feel as a staff and as a team that we need to do to be ready to league that help them be successful and are those things in our game or move forward successfully when the season does resume.” Q: Did general manager Brad Treliving hit the nail on the head earlier this week when he talked about just being really excited to see what this group could accomplish in the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs?

Ward: “Oh, for sure. I mean … that’s the ultimate challenge. When you take a look at players in this league, they all want to be remembered as being a winner at the most important time of the year. Guys take an awful lot of pride in being known as a winner and being a player who can play at the top level of his game when it counts the most.

“For us, moving towards that as a young group and trying to gain playoff experience and understanding exactly what it takes to win a championship, all of these things are measuring sticks for us. So it’s extremely important, and we were extremely excited about the fact that we’d put ourselves in a position to get back to the playoffs again. Obviously, the last 12 games would have determined a lot. But at the point of the stoppage, we were in a playoff position, and credit goes to the guys for how they embraced that and how hard they’d played. We really felt like we were trending in the right direction. We were starting to see things that had us thinking we were going to play our best hockey of the year at the most important time of the year, and it would have been fun to see exactly where this will go. But we’re hopeful that we still get that opportunity.”

Q: Many of the Flames’ players have now returned to their off-season homes, but you’ve been trying to catch up with them once a week. What’s your message during those phone calls?

Ward: “I just want to make sure, first of all, that they’re doing alright and their families are doing alright. And if there’s anything we can do to help them, we want to make sure they know that. It’s good to hear their voices again, just cut up for a few minutes and talk about things we’re doing or what we’re watching on Netflix or what they’re doing to fill their days. And from the hockey side of things, the message is basically just do what you need to do in order to stay in the best shape you can, under the belief that we’re going to come back to work. Because if we want to be as prepared as we need to be in order to be successful when we do resume work, then we need to make sure we’re in shape. We need to make sure that mentally, our minds are in the right place to come back and pick up. That’s something that we need to believe — we need to believe we’re going back to work, because we need to be ready as coaches and our players need to be physically prepared as much as they possibly can be so that if and when the season does get back going, that we are in a position that we can be effective and we can be good.

“So those are some of the things that we talk about on those calls. But first and foremost, I just want to make sure they’re alright. And I just enjoy so much talking to the guys. It’s nice to have a few laughs, which normally we do a lot at the rink when we’re there together.”

Q: OK, one more … You mentioned during an interview on Sportsnet 960 The Fan that you’re the worst Scrabble player in your family. Can that possibly be true?

Ward: “Oh, yeah … I lose every night. I don’t know if that says something about the intelligence of everybody else in my family or about my intelligence, but I lose every night. The other night, at one point, I had five Es on my pad. I don’t know what you can spell with five Es, but I was struggling. I think I need that app on my phone with Scrabble words, start maybe cheating a little bit.”

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182457 Carolina Hurricanes

Carolina Hurricanes desperate to pick up where they left off, anyway, anyhow, anywhere

BY LUKE DECOCK APRIL 09, 2020 04:00 PM

It wasn’t just that the Carolina Hurricanes were on a three-game winning streak when the NHL was forced to “pause” its season because of the coronavirus. It was that, nearing the end of the regular season, they had finally started to recapture the identity that brought them so much success a year ago.

It had been a long and elusive quest, but as February rounded into March, the Hurricanes were rounding into form. Finally. They won both games of a road-road back-to-back against the and Pittsburgh Penguins, rolled over the and were in New Jersey to play the Devils when everything shut down — in part, amid fears Hurricanes employees had been exposed to COVID-19 in Detroit.

The Hurricanes had 14 games to go, and almost a month later, they’re desperate to find a way to play any or all of them, or at the very least get their chance to post back-to-back playoff seasons for the first time in 18 years. At the time the NHL shut down on March 11, the 38-25-5 Hurricanes were in the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, both by total points (81) and points percentage (.596) -- the latter to be used if the NHL can’t finish the regular season, since teams had played varying numbers of games.

“For me the importance is to finish the season, in some form or fashion,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “And if they can’t fit in regular- season games, there has to be, for me, I’d like to see a conclusion, someone is awarded the winner. We’ve put in 68 games, three-quarters of the season plus, we need to finish this year out, just to have some sort of closure before we move on.”

And to do that, Hurricanes general manager said they’re willing to play along with even the NHL’s most outlandish proposals, one of which commissioner Gary Bettman has acknowledged has included sequestering teams at neutral sites in out-of-the-way places like Grand Forks, N.D., Saskatoon, , and Manchester, N.H., to try to finish out the regular season and/or playoffs.

It’s ludicrous, of course. The NHL isn’t the only pro league desperately searching for a “coronavirus loophole,” with baseball proposing a similar plan to start its season in Arizona. All it would take is one positive test to shut the whole thing down, and once the logistics come into focus, it requires so many more people than just teams and players and officials to be impossible.

But at this point, given the stakes, the Hurricanes are willing to entertain just about any notion that keeps the season alive.

“If you look around what’s going on around our country there’s probably some cities you don’t think you can play in,” Waddell said. “It’s all obvious, too, some of those cities. If you’re going to play regular-season games it might make sense to come up with some neutral-site places. Obviously you’re bringing 31 teams back you’re going to have multiple sites you have to go to.

“But I think this goes into the bigger picture that (Bettman) keeps talking about, playing regular-season games, and if it means going to certain cities that don’t have shutdowns anymore, states, cities, states, counties, then that makes sense for the league as a whole. We’d be in favor of that also.”

If and when the season does resume in some form, the Hurricanes should have Dougie Hamilton and James Reimer available, Waddell said Thursday, even if Brett Pesce is still rehabbing his shoulder after surgery. Both Hamilton and Reimer would be skating by now, Waddell said, if they could.

It just adds more fuel to a fire the Hurricanes would like to reignite, any way they can.

“Things were looking positive and obviously we had to pause it all, but I liked where our team was for sure,” Brind’Amour said.

News Observer LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182458 Carolina Hurricanes I’ve been doing to stay busy on that front. … It’s tough. I heard someone say something on one of these conversations ‘I’m bored,’ it’s a luxury to be that right now. We’re trying to just be safe and do what we can here. Hurricanes update: Player’s health, staying ready and Rod Brind’Amour’s My message to all the players is just try to make sure you stay in shape home gym — use this time to get better at something. Family time, our guys during the year it’s one of the things they don’t get — utilize this. We’re in the same boat as everyone.”

By Sara Civian Apr 9, 2020 Rod maintaining ‘the bod’

Brind’Amour: “I’m big on routines, so I’m lucky I have a little gym in my house here, every day that’s how I start my day. Sometimes I got my little Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour and GM and President Don guy in school and I’ll help my wife because she loses her mind trying to Waddell formally “met” with the media via Zoom on Thursday for the first homeschool him. Trying to keep my pulse on the coaching thing.” time since the NHL season was suspended. They answered our questions about what they’re up to, the plan for the rest of the season Waddell, when asked a different question: “OK, first let me comment on and player recovery timetables. Rod’s weight room. It makes PNC Arena’s weight room look very tiny. We all know how Rod trains.” Dougie Hamilton would’ve been ready to go for the playoffs on Earth2 Loose pucks In bittersweet news of the day: If the playoffs resumed as normal, Dougie Hamilton would’ve been cleared. Waddell: “We have a task force we’ve put in place to talk about options (for the season returning). One is we come back with no fans. How are Waddell: “His rehab has gone very well, he’s done everything he’s we going to deal with that? The second is we come back and can only needed to do. He’s been cleared. He has not taken the ice yet — we have (X) amount of fans, we’ve talked at length and have plans for all talked about it last week and he said he didn’t want to rush on the ice types of situations. Anything that gets thrown our way we’ll be able to because he knows we’re not going to be playing for the next few months. handle — that’s the nice thing about controlling your building, we control We’ll address that in the next few weeks, but 100 percent he’ll be back. If (PNC Arena) so we’re going to do it not only the way the league and we were playing today we would’ve sped up that on-ice performance. government needs to do it but the way we need to do it.” He’ll be ready to play when we drop the puck.” Brett Pesce is going through rehab, a six-month healing process. As Waddell told The Athletic a few weeks ago that Hamilton would be previously reported, he won’t be back for this season. But Pesce is expected to return as early as April. projected to be ready to go for next season. At least he will be back whenever the puck drops. Like Hamilton, James Reimer hasn’t skated yet but Waddell feels he’s Thoughts on season returning “100 percent.” The Hurricanes expect him to be ready to go.

Waddell: “Like everybody has probably heard, the commissioner has Brind’Amour said he and other NHL coaches have been jumping on made it very clear that if at all possible we’d like to play some regular- Zoom several times a week. “I’m actually reaching out to a bunch of other season games for multiple reasons — playoff positioning, draft coaches. We go on a little Zoom meeting ourselves three times a week. positioning. We don’t know how that would look and we don’t have a It’s actually been pretty good for me, just hearing how other coaches are timetable. I think we’re all living in a world right now where nobody can dealing with this, but also really talking hockey, diving in. Different topic predict what’s gonna happen, not only in a month from now but even, every day that we meet. That’s been interesting.” maybe, longer than that. I think there’s a lot of hope that we’d be able to Speaking of which — Brind’Amour, and Craig Berube are finish the regular season before we get into a playoff situation.” meeting the media on Zoom on Friday. Anything you want me to ask? Brind’Amour: “I’d be happy just to start the playoffs as long as we’re The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020 included (laughing). But for me, the importance is finish the season in some form or fashion. I’d like to see a conclusion in some way. We put in 68 games, three-quarters of the season, plus. We need to finish this year so we can have some form of closure and move on. That’s my opinion. However we’re able to do that, if we are able to do that it’s a positive sign in the bigger picture. I’d like to see some sort of finish to the year whether we would play regular-season games or not. I’d like to see somebody win the Stanley Cup this year.”

On communicating with the team and staff

Brind’Amour: “(Keeping players in shape) was probably our main concern. It has come down to an individual basis based on where players are at and what they have available to them. I think we have the best strength coach in the world right now in Billy B. (Bill Burniston). We were really treating this as our offseason and how players would go about that — he’s in direct communication with our guys daily, he sends workouts to them and he knows their situations. Some guys don’t have access to much where they’re at and he figures out a way to send them a workout, whether it’s going for a run, pushups, whatever. The guys that stuck around here, he actually brought stuff to them so they can stay in the best condition that they can. But it’s definitely tough for that, it’s become individualized workouts for guys.”

Waddell: “We have several conference calls going, including one with the amateur staff, because there’s going to be a draft. We’ve engaged our coaches with our pro scouts, we’re treating this as our offseason and doing what we do normally in that. There are updates sent to the players (via TeamWorks), it’s pretty much open communication. There have been players leaving town that we’ve talked to before they left town. We talk to (everyone) on an as-needed basis.”

Brind’Amour: “The main message we’ve left to all the guys is ‘Stay safe’, make sure you’re doing your part, take care of your families. Stay home and try your best to stay in shape.’ For me, it’s about trying to find different avenues to the game and be better, there are certain little things 1182459

Pat Stapleton, a one-time Blackhawks captain who was a top defenseman on 2 Stanley Cup finalists, dies at 79

By STAFF CHICAGO TRIBUNE | APR 09, 2020 | 6:52 PM

Pat Stapleton, a three-time All-Star with the Blackhawks who was a top defenseman on two Stanley Cup finalists, died Wednesday night. He was 79.

The Hawks announced the news Thursday, saying he died of complications from a stroke.

Known as “Whitey” for his shock of bright blond hair, Stapleton played two seasons with the Bruins before joining the Hawks in 1965. He was the captain of the 1969-70 team and played eight seasons in Chicago, totaling 41 goals and 286 assists in 545 games.

Stapleton’s Hawks teams made the playoffs seven times, including the Cup Final in 1971 and ’73. The native of Sarnia, , was No. 44 on the Tribune’s rankings of the 100 most important people in Blackhawks history in 2017, when the NHL celebrated its centennial season.

“The Chicago Blackhawks organization would like to express their deepest sympathy to the family, friends and former teammates of Pat Stapleton,” the team said in a statement. "As a former team captain and valued member of the Blackhawks Alumni Association, Stapleton’s contributions to the organization will forever be remembered by the entire Blackhawks community.”

Pat Stapleton, the veteran of 545 games from 1965-73, passed away Wednesday night at the age of 79. https://t.co/ei6fJs9yzb

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) April 9, 2020

Stapleton left for the Chicago Cougars of the WHA in 1973 and played five seasons in the rival league, adding two All-Star appearances. His son, Mike, played parts of five seasons with the Blackhawks from 1986- 92.

Stapleton is survived by his wife, Jackie; sons Tom, Mike and Chris; daughter Susan; and 13 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by daughters Mary and Maureen.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182460 Chicago Blackhawks

Former Blackhawks captain Pat Stapleton dies of stroke at age 79

Stapleton played eight seasons for the Blackhawks, then two more for the WHA’s Chicago Cougars, from 1965 to 1975.

By Ben Pope Apr 9, 2020, 6:58pm CDT

Pat Stapleton — a stalwart of the Blackhawks’ defense for eight seasons between 1965 and 1973 and a team captain for one — died Wednesday night from complications from a stroke, the Hawks announced Thursday. Stapleton was 79.

“The Chicago Blackhawks organization would like to express their deepest sympathy to the family, friends and former teammates of Pat Stapleton,” the team said in a statement.

“As a former team captain and valued member of the Blackhawks Alumni Association, Stapleton’s contributions to the organization will forever be remembered by the entire Blackhawks community.”

Stapleton joined the Hawks for the 1965-66 season at age 25, after several years bouncing around between the Bruins and several minor- league teams. He immediately became a productive playmaking defenseman, recording at least 30 assists in each of his first seven seasons with the team and breaking out for a career-high 10 goals in his final season.

He served as captain during the 1969-70 season, then helped propel the Hawks to the Stanley Cup Final (despite eventual losses to the Canadiens) in both 1971 and 1973, tallying a combined 34 points in 34 games during those two playoff runs.

The Ontario native then joined the upstart World Hockey Association’s Chicago Cougars, which played home games in the International Amphitheatre on the South Side. He continued his productive ways with the Cougars in 1973-74 and 1974-75, then played three more seasons with the WHA’s short-lived Indianapolis and Cincinnati franchises before retiring in 1978.

Stapleton finished his career with 337 points in 635 NHL games and 239 points in 372 WHA games.

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182461 Chicago Blackhawks

United Center packed with 774,840 pounds of food destined for Chicago food pantries

By Ben Pope Apr 9, 2020, 1:52pm CDT

Almost 26,00 boxes containing 774,840 pounds of food currently fill the United Center’s floor. Courtesy of United Center

Instead of an ice rink or basketball court, the floor of the United Center is currently packed from end to end with nearly 26,000 boxes of food.

As of Thursday, a whopping 774,840 pounds of rice, beans, pasta, tuna, tomato sauce, peanut butter, canned vegetables and other non- perishable items filled every inch of the normal playing surface.

The result is a stunning photo exemplifying the 21,000-seat arena’s abrupt transformation from sporting venue — in a coronavirus-free alternate reality, it would have been prepped for the scheduled Bulls-Nets game on Saturday — to pandemic logistics hub.

Boxes of rice, beans, pasta, peanut butter now occupy the space where basketball and hockey players would be on the floor at the United Center. Courtesy of United Center

The food has been relocated to free up space in the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s main warehouse, according to GCFD senior manager Greg Trotter.

“They’ve been piling up in our warehouse, and they are going into our network, but we’re trying to store some, too,” Trotter said. “We have a feeling that things are going to become significantly worse, in terms of food insecurity, in the weeks to come.”

Roughly two-thirds of the GCFD’s network of food pantries remain open, but they have shifted to a ‘grab-and-go’ format where food-insecure families simply pick up prepackaged boxes or bags, instead of the pre- pandemic method of shopping for the specific kinds of food they wanted.

That’s not the only effect that social distancing guidelines have had on the food depository, either. In the warehouse — located in Archer Heights on the southwest side of the city — volunteers who pack such bags and boxes must now be spaced out more, meaning there’s less room to store food.

And that’s where the United Center comes in.

The first loads of boxes were moved onto the United Center floor in late March. Courtesy of Greater Chicago Food Depository

Trotter said that while the number of coronavirus cases in Chicago may level off in the coming weeks, the depository expects the economic impact of the pandemic — and, specifically, the number of Chicagoans in need of food — to last far longer.

“There’s still going to be a long tail on this crisis,” he said. “People who have been laid off or their income has taken a hit, they’re going to have to get their lives back. This is not something that’s going to be resolved anytime soon.”

“Our neighbors are going to need our help for a long time. We’re bracing for that reality.”

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182462 Chicago Blackhawks for Brisson and Colangelo especially, the uncertainty this spring is disconcerting.

After the 2004-05 lockout, the NHL held its draft in Ottawa with no fans Chicago Steel products Brendan Brisson, Sam Colangelo preparing for and only the best prospects in attendance. Such an alternative is uncertain NHL Draft presumably on the table again this year.

Even if the two Steel stars are stuck at their homes that day, however, By Ben Pope Apr 9, 2020, 7:30am CDT they’re planning to make the most of the momentous occasion.

‘‘We want it to happen on the right date in , but there’s a much bigger issue going on in the world,’’ Colangelo said. ‘‘It’ll all take care of Chicago Steel star Brendan Brisson is a likely first- or second-round pick itself once this coronavirus starts to slow down.’’ in the upcoming NHL draft. Courtesy of Chicago Steel ‘‘I’ve been looking forward to this moment pretty much my whole life,’’ The NHL released its final player rankings for the 2020 draft Wednesday, Brisson said. ‘‘Having a normal draft in Montreal would be ideal. But if I’m and the announcement came as good news for Brendan Brisson and with my family when I hear my name get called, it’s still going to be just Sam Colangelo. as special.’’

The top stars from the Chicago Steel — a juggernaut U.S. Hockey Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 04.10.2020 League team that plays its home games at Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva — received bumps from their midseason rankings, with Colangelo inching up from 33rd to 31st among North American skaters and Brisson leaping from 31st to 20th.

Brisson and Colangelo already were projected as second- or third-round selections, but the latest news might bump Brisson into the late first round.

But the news comes with a grain of salt: No one knows when, where or in what way the draft — initially scheduled for June 26-27 in Montreal — will take place.

‘‘It’s obviously a little bit different than what I probably expected growing up,’’ Colangelo said. ‘‘I’ve worked hard to get myself in this position, and I wish I knew when it would be and what the format would be. But it’s something that’s out of my control.’’

The coronavirus pandemic and ensuing sports-world shutdown already has claimed the players’ anticipated playoff run with the Steel, who had dominated the USHL with a 41-7-1 record.

Brisson, a 5-11 center and self-described ‘‘agile playmaker’’ who is committed to Michigan next season, had 24 goals and 35 assists in 45 games.

He’s the son of , a prolific NHL agent who represents Blackhawks stars and , among others. He frequently would attend Hawks games this season and get advice from the franchise cornerstones afterward, he said.

‘‘I’ve been surrounded by all these players,’’ Brisson said. ‘‘Their habits, you feed off them without even knowing that you’re looking up to them. I’ve seen what it takes firsthand, but I still have to put in the work and the drive.’’

He put in plenty of work this season, improving defensively and away from the puck. He found that actually allowed him to generate more offense.

‘‘[I worked on] staying low in the D-zone, finishing my checks, having good stick detail, so causing a lot of turnovers and breaking the puck out,’’ he said. ‘‘I could skate up with it through the middle and dish it out to my linemates.’’

Colangelo, a 6-2 wing committed to Northeastern next season, had 28 goals and 30 assists in 44 games. He has a pro-ready frame and a hard, accurate shot but needed to improve his skating.

Power forward Sam Colangelo ranked second on the Steel with 28 goals this season. Courtesy of Chicago Steel

‘‘I’m a player who likes to play with the puck on my stick, and just getting into spots to get the puck back quicker is something I worked on a lot,’’ Colangelo said. ‘‘My first three steps are something else, too. Just getting more explosive.’’

Steel products Sean Farrell (62nd among North American skaters) and Luke Reid (83rd) also are likely to be chosen in the draft, and defenseman Owen Power — although he’s headed to Michigan next season — is a possible top-10 pick in 2021.

Steel president Dan Lehv said the team ‘‘takes an incredible amount of pride’’ in developing a sizable number of draft selections each year. But 1182463 Chicago Blackhawks

Pat Stapleton, former Blackhawks captain who held assists record, dies at age 79

John Dietz

Former Blackhawks team captain Pat Stapleton passed away Wednesday at the age of 79 due to complications from a stroke.

Stapleton played 545 games for the Hawks from 1965-73, scoring 41 goals and dishing out 286 assists. His 50 assists in 1968-69 were a record for a defenseman, but that mark was broken the next season by Bobby Orr, who racked up 87 for the Boston Bruins.

"As a former team captain and valued member of the Blackhawks Alumni Association, Stapleton's contributions to the organization will forever be remembered by the entire Blackhawks community," the Hawks said in a statement.

Stapleton was a key component of Hawks teams that reached the Stanley Cup Final in 1971 and '73. In '73, he scored a career-high 10 goals and then produced a league-best 15 assists during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Stapleton starred for Team Canada during the 1972 Summit Series. Canada defeated the in an eight-game series.

Pat's son, Mike, also played parts of five seasons with the Hawks from 1986-92.

Pat is survived by his wife, Jackie, sons Tom, Mike and Chris, daughter Susan and 13 grandchildren.

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182464 Chicago Blackhawks

More ideas on changing NHL postseason, points

John Dietz

Second in a series

With COVID-19 putting all sports on hiatus, we thought it would be a good time to update and revisit our One Change in the NHL series that ran 15 months ago.

Today's topics revolve around the playoffs and the standings.

• Joel Quenneville said he would add four teams to the postseason -- two in each conference.

The former Blackhawks coach would create a play-in round in which the No. 7 seed faces the No. 10 seed, and the No. 8 seed faces the No. 9 seed. He wasn't quite sure if it should be a one-game, winner-take-all scenario or a three-game series.

But he did say it would add quite a bit of excitement to the end of the regular season.

Dietz's thoughts: Hey, why not? Imagine Minnesota at Vancouver, then Winnipeg at Nashville on national television one night. Then Florida at Carolina, and Columbus at NY Islanders the next.

Those would be this season's play-in games (based on points percentage), and they'd be must-see TV.

• Nick Schmaltz of the Arizona Coyotes and Brandon Saad of the Hawks would seed the playoffs 1 through 8, rather than the way they're done now where the top overall seed plays the second wild-card team and the second- and third-place divisional teams automatically face each other in the first round.

"When I first came into the league, that's how it was. You seed 1 through 8," Saad said. "I like that where you're seeing someone new every time rather than seeing these powerhouses playing in the first round and then you see a good team go home.

"I know you're going to have to face them eventually, but being a traditionalist, I kind of like that old system."

Dietz's thoughts: Yes, yes, yes.

Basing seeding on points percentage, you would then have the following matchups in the West if the season could resume:

• (1) St. Louis vs. (8) Calgary

• (2) Vegas vs. (7) Nashville

• (3) Colorado vs. Vancouver (6)

• (4) Dallas vs. (5) Edmonton

A bit crazy that they are all cross-division matchups, but so be it. Think about the potential series in the following rounds. St. Louis vs. Dallas? Or Vegas vs. Colorado? Nashville vs. Colorado?

Yes, please.

• Former Hawks forward Marcus Kruger wanted to see teams receive 3 points for a regulation win, 2 for an overtime or shootout win, 1 for an overtime or shootout loss and zero for a regulation loss.

"If you can put up three wins in a row with 3 points, that's huge," Kruger said. "Right now it feels like both teams are so afraid. That point is huge. ... If you have a good overtime or shootout team, you might be a little more careful (at the end of regulation)."

Dietz's thoughts: Many pundits would love to see the league adopt this point system. I'm not really for it, however. Let's adjust overtime a bit and kill the shootout. Reintroduce ties. I'll get into all of this a bit more in a few days, so I'll leave it at that for now.

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182465 Chicago Blackhawks - Chicago: 0-1

- St. Louis 0-0

NHL 20 sim: Brandon Saad shows shades of Marian Hossa in Game 2 After five combined penalties in Game 1, the referees swallowed their win whistles and let the boys play. With just one power play in two games, there is no doubt would like to see his team get a few more chances on the man advantage. On the other hand, the Hawks By Matthew Rooney April 09, 2020 11:33 PM showed how important staying out of the box is for their defense and for their goaltender, especially against a power play unit as potent as the Blues’.

Game 2: Blackhawks at Blues (April 10) Notable Blackhawks performances:

Result: Blackhawks win 6-2 (Series tied 1-1) - Kirby Dach (Goal)

Three Stars: - Drake Caggiula (Goal)

1st Star: Brandon Saad (2 G, 1 A, 4 SOG, +3) - Alex Nylander (Goal)

2nd Star: Olli Maatta (3 A, +2, 1 SOG, 1 H) After strong finishes to the regular season, Dach and Nylander were held in check in Game 1. That changed in a big way in Game 2. Both picked 3rd Star: Jonathan Toews (1 G, 1 A, +3, 8-14 FO) up their first career playoff goals; Nylander netting the eventual game- Brandon Saad showed shades of his 2014-15 self that was often winner and Dach icing the game with a greasy goal in front of the net. compared to a young Marian Hossa. He netted two goals, got the primary Caggiula played his role well too, being a pest in front of the net, which assist to tie the game in the 2nd, and was a force at both ends recording led to his tally. The Hawks checked all the boxes they needed to pick up four shots and a +3 rating. Olli Maatta provided some unexpected a win in Game 2. Now the series swings back to the Madhouse on offense, chipping in with three assists including the primary helper on the Madison where the home crowd will undoubtedly be rocking. Blackhawks eventual game-winner. The Captain stepped up when needed as well. fans will experience their first home playoff game since April 2017. Toews got the Hawks on the board to tie things in the second, and Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.10.2020 Chicago never looked back from there.

Scoring Summary:

First Period

- 6:59 Alexander Steen (O. Sundqvist, J. Kyrou) 1-0

Second Period

- 1:19 Jonathan Toews (B. Saad, A. DeBrincat) 1-1

- 1:46 Brandon Saad (J. Toews, A. Boqvist) 2-1

- 5:04 Alex Nylander (O. Maatta, C. Murphy) 3-1

- 7:01 Drake Caggiula (O. Maatta) 4-1

- 15:03 Kirby Dach (Unassisted) 5-1

- 16:52 Vince Dunn (J. Faulk, S. Blais) 5-2

- 17:32 Brandon Saad (O. Maatta, A. DeBrincat) 6-2

Third Period

- No Scoring

Box Score:

Shots on Goal:

- Chicago: 24

- St. Louis: 22

The Blackhawks found a nice combination of depth contributions and stars stepping up. Established veterans like Toews and Saad did the heavy lifting early, then the depth and youth put the game to bed with a strong finish to the second period. With the first line through the fourth line all chipping in, the Hawks might be tough to beat if they are able to keep up that formula.

Goalies:

- Corey Crawford: 20/22 (.909 SV%)

- Jordan Binnington: 18/24 (.750 SV%)

Corey Crawford looked like the consistent, two-time Cup winner the Hawks need in net to win a series over St. Louis. After surrendering an early goal, Crawford was lights out despite an early push from the home team to try and put away the Hawks quickly. Once Crawford settled down, so did the visitors. While Binnington clearly didn’t have his best night, he was also a victim of some bad luck surrendering a pair of goals due to some unfortunate bounces. Much like Crawford in Game 1, Binnington didn’t get too much help in front of him.

Power Play: 1182466 Chicago Blackhawks

Pat Stapleton, former Blackhawks captain, dies at 79 due to complications from a stroke

By Charlie Roumeliotis April 09, 2020 5:10 PM

Pat Stapleton, who served as the Blackhawks' captain during the 1969- 70 season, died Wednesday night due to complications from a stroke. He was 79.

"The Chicago Blackhawks organization would like to express their deepest sympathy to the family, friends and former teammates of Pat Stapleton who passed away last night at the age of 79 due to complications from a stroke," the Blackhawks said Thursday in a statement. "As a former team captain and valued member of the Blackhawks Alumni Association, Stapleton’s contributions to the organization will forever be remembered by the entire Blackhawks community.”

Stapleton spent eight of his 10 NHL seasons in Chicago, where he racked up 327 points (41 goals, 286 assists) in 545 regular-season games and 49 points (10 goals, 39 assists) in 65 postseason contests from 1965-73. His best season came in 1968-69 when he became the second defenseman in league history to record 50 assists in a single season.

Stapleton was a three-time second-team NHL All-Star and finished inside the Top 4 in Norris Trophy voting three times as a member of the Blackhawks. His son, Mike, also played five seasons in Chicago from 1986-92.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182467 Chicago Blackhawks

2010 Hawks Rewind: 3 things we noticed in Blackhawks' Game 4 win over Sharks

By Charlie Roumeliotis April 09, 2020 6:00 PM

In honor of the 10-year anniversary of the 2010 Stanley Cup team, NBC Sports Chicago is re-airing each of the Blackhawks' 16 postseason wins from the run that ended a 49-year championship drought. You can join the conversation using #HawksRewind on social media.

After taking a 3-0 series lead, the Blackhawks had an opportunity to clinch a berth to the Stanley Cup Final at home in Game 4. And that's exactly what they did, beating the San Jose Sharks 4-2 to complete the sweep in the Western Conference Final. Here are three things we noticed in the win:

1. Dustin Byfuglien for the win

Byfuglien was really good in the Vancouver series. He was great against San Jose.

To cap off the Western Conference Final, Byfuglien scored the go-ahead goal with 5:55 left in regulation to put the Blackhawks in front 3-2. It was his fifth straight game with a goal, and third game-winner (all against San Jose).

Big Buff put a stamp on his work in Game 4 and it was a treat to watch.

2. A defensive clinic

The Blackhawks were a high-powered offense in 2010, but Game 4 was all about the defense.

The Blackhawks allowed a postseason-low 18 shots on goal and four high-danger chances in 60 minutes, according to Natural Stat Trick. faced only three shots in the third period. It was a defensive masterpiece in an elimination game.

3. The tightest series of them all

The Blackhawks were better than the Nashville Predators in the first round. They were better than the Vancouver Canucks in the second round. And while they may have swept the Sharks, this was as even a series as you could find in the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

In fact, the Sharks led in shot attempts (269-247), shots on goal (136- 127), scoring chances (116-94) and high-danger chances (43-25), according to Natural Stat Trick. All four games could've gone either way, but the Blackhawks delivered in the clutchest ways, particularly on special teams, and it's why they didn't lose.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182468 Chicago Blackhawks

Hawks Rewind: Blackhawks vs. Sharks in Game 4 of 2010 Western Conference Final

By Scott King April 09, 2020 10:54 AM

Watch the 2010 Blackhawks take on the San Jose Sharks in Game 4 of the 2010 Western Conference Final on NBC Sports Chicago at 7 p.m on Thursday.

Spoiler alert! — Do we need those after 10 years? — Up 3-0 in the 2010 Western Conference Final against the Sharks, the Blackhawks had a chance to complete the sweep on home ice at the United Center and reach the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1992.

The Hawks would score four unanswered goals to do just that.

After trailing 2-0, Brent Seabrook got things going with a goal at 13:15 of the second period.

Dave Bolland tied it 2-2 with his fifth postseason marker at 18:38 of the second. Then, Dustin Byfuglien continued his postseason dominance scoring a power-play goal with seven seconds left on the man advantage off a Patrick Kane pass to give Chicago a 3-2 lead at 14:05 of the third period. It was his third go-ahead-goal of the Western Conference Final.

Kris Versteeg scored an empty-net goal with 42 seconds remaining in regulation for the 4-2 final score and the Blackhawks clinched a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in front of roaring fans at the UC.

Antti Niemi only had to make 16 saves in the contest.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182469 Chicago Blackhawks "What he couldn't handle, though, was and the way he just yanked goalies around. And the other two guys end up in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Belfour and Hasek."

Steve Konroyd talks NHL career and what made some Blackhawks Steve was traded to the on Jan. 24 of 1992 for forward legends and would miss out on the Hawks' trip to the Stanley Cup Final later that year, where they were swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

By Scott King April 07, 2020 9:20 PM Konroyd would go on to play for the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators before finishing his career where it all started, in Calgary.

He was playing for the in the AHL during the 1994-95 Blackhawks television analyst and color commentator Steve Konroyd is season when he got a call from the Flames asking him to return. They even keeled, well-prepared and sensible. were expected to make a deep playoff run and needed some defensive depth. "Don't get too high, don't get too low. That's the way I played. That's the way I am away from the rink, too," the former Blackhawks defenseman Steve played in one final regular season game with them before Calgary recently said over the phone. lost in the Conference Quarterfinals to the San Jose Sharks in a big upset. Without injuries on D or anyone needing a break in the seven- "I mean, I played the game, and I realize that the game's about game series, he never saw the ice again as a player. mistakes," Konroyd added. "And I'm certainly going to point out mistakes. But I might tell you why I think it happened." He finished his NHL career with 236 points (41 goals, 195 assists) and a +/- rating of +24 in 895 games. As an even-keeled player, he went where the game took him, which often meant playing with an edge and dropping the gloves. "My wife's father passed away from cancer. He was only 65. So she was shaken up, her family was shaken up. So I said, 'Listen, I'm just gonna HockeyFights.com lists 24 NHL scraps for Steve. take a year off from hockey. We'll live in Chicago,'" Konroyd said. "Seems like I had a lot more. But it's funny how in the exhibition season, He had heard throughout his career that he should think about a future in that's when you're trying to prove yourself, and that's when other guys broadcasting because he spoke well in interviews. Towards the end of are proving themselves. And I don't think they count those," he said. "But that year, Steve began doing color commentary on the radio for Chicago I can remember getting into a lot of scraps in the preseason. I think every Wolves games. team needs it." He finished the season with the Wolves and then got hired to do radio for Selected at No. 39 overall by the Calgary Flames in the second round of the , who were moving to Phoenix at the time. Steve was the 1980 NHL Draft, the Scarborough, Ontario native was traded from the the first radio color commentator for the Phoenix Coyotes, now the Flames to the New York Islanders during the 1985-86 season. Arizona Coyotes. He was brought to Chicago from New York in a trade on Nov. 25, 1988 After a year in Arizona, he wanted to get on TV. He got a color gig with that sent , now GM, and Gary Nylund the San Jose Sharks and worked there for three years through the 1999- to the Islanders, and Steve and Bob Bassen to the Blackhawks. 2000 season. Konroyd spent the next four years doing TV color for the In the midst of the 1988-89 season, Konroyd walked into a Blackhawks' Columbus Blue Jackets so his daughter could go to high school in the locker room filled with potential Hall of Fame talent. Chicago area while Steve commuted back and forth from Ohio.

Jeremy Roenick had just been called up as a teenager, Ed Belfour was Then it was time to reach out to the Hawks. getting a look in net before taking it over two seasons later, Steve Larmer "I did four years with the Columbus Blue Jackets and then the lockout of and Denis Savard were still near their prime, and defenseman Doug '04-'05, I was looking for work, and I came calling to the Blackhawks, and Wilson was still scoring like a top-6 forward in his 12th season with the lo and behold, I became the pre and postgame guy for the Chicago Hawks. , a Selke-winning center who’d eventually become a Blackhawks in ’05-'06," Steve said. Blackhawks analyst, was on the team as well. Now working alongside current Blackhawks pre and postgame host Pat "When I got traded to the Blackhawks, we were in the middle of a little bit Boyle, often with other Hawks alumni such as , Jamal of a losing streak, and it continued for a little while after," Konroyd said. Mayers and Adam Burish, Steve has seen a lot of change in the 15 "So you're trying to learn your teammates, you're trying to make friends. seasons he's been a Blackhawks analyst. And I was fortunate that my wife was from Chicago. So when I got traded here, she was the happiest person on the planet." "I've gone through a lot of hosts, but the one constant has been me since '05-'06." Steve earned the trust of head coach Mike Keenan, which wasn't an easy task, and was used as a top-4 defenseman for most of his time with the was hired to do Blackhawks color for TV after the 2005-06 Hawks, usually with Keith Brown as his defensive partner. season. Steve began filling in for him, working with play-by-play announcer when Eddie had other obligations. The 1988-89 Blackhawks snuck into the playoffs and made it all the way to the Conference finals, losing to the Flames, who had drafted Steve. "I ended up doing between 15 and 20 games a year on WGN and NBC Sports, well, back then it was Comcast, when Eddie had his conflicts," Larmer wowed Konroyd to the point where he thinks he should be Konroyd said. "So that's how I kind of got into doing that. Of course, inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. having done color before, it was it was an easy transition for me." "With Larmer, not only did he have a great career and the unbelievable Today, Steve continues to do both the pregame and postgame shows, numbers, he would have shattered the Iron Man (record) for consecutive and color for NBC Sports Chicago. He notes that doing color games played had it not been for, I think it was who ended commentary is tougher with today's game. up scratching him for a few games and then eventually trading him to New York," Steve said. "But aside from all those things, he won a Stanley "[What] just seems to get worse and worse every year is they've tried to Cup with the New York Rangers, and he was a very big part of that speed up the game, which I think is great, but there's literally no time to Stanley Cup-winning team in New York." talk," he said. "And you don't want to talk a lot during the play because you might be talking over a goal... Konroyd also recalled being impressed by a certain Hawks goalie in one of his first couple training camps with Chicago as competition ramped up, "So I think the biggest thing as a color guy is know when to step in and but it's not who you think. when to step out, and when to let the game breathe. Pat Foley is the best. Whether it's his call of the game or his timing, his inflection, "I remember [at] the beginning of the year were Dominik Hasek, Eddie everything is spot on. But he lets the game breathe. And I have to know Belfour and Jimmy Waite (currently the Blackhawks goaltending coach). when to jump in and then when to let the game breathe, also." Of those three guys, I thought Jimmy Waite was going to have the best career. I thought, 'This guy is unbelievable.' And he was. In practice, you Steve can dive deeper into his opinion and worry less about timing on the couldn't beat him. pregame and postgame shows. "I really enjoy that because you've got a little more opportunity to delve into some subjects that might require more than a 15 or 20 second soundbite," He said. "So we can look at the penalty kill, and we can talk about the goalies if they're struggling, and we can talk about the forecheck or the up-ice pressure or whatever it is. And we can also support it with some video, too.

"So believe it or not, it's a little easier in the pre and postgame show because you've got a little more time to talk about it. Whereas, you know, in-game they want to limit those games to two hours and 25 minutes, and they do a pretty good job of that. You got to get in and out, and make your point. And it's got to be to the point."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182470 Chicago Blackhawks Returning (renewing or likely to renew)

Of the 42 people interviewed, 23 said they were renewing their plans or were leaning in that direction. The reasons varied. Blackhawks season ticket-holder survey: Complaints aside, loyalty remains strong Some are frustrated by the organization, while others felt that the Blackhawks’ tough times were inevitable considering the success they had previously. Whether it’s because of optimism about the team or an By Scott Powers Apr 9, 2020 emotional attachment, they are keeping their tickets.

John Hartzmark, 34, season-ticket holder since 2019

Kevin Carew had his heart set on becoming a season ticket holder in the “I may not like some of the decisions of (Stan) Bowman, and the early 2000s. It didn’t matter the sport. coaching style of (Jeremy) Colliton and company, but I will always be a fan, no matter what. I feel that the team is the best they can be, given Blackhawks tickets were easy and cheap enough to obtain back then as some of the missteps that have happened in trades, and I feel that they the franchise went through a rough patch and had plenty of seats to fill. are going to be competitive.” Carew paid about $1,100 a year for two 300-level tickets and was ecstatic. Kristy Gaynor, 35, STH since 2019

“I just wanted to have season tickets to something and decided that “Honestly, I think they’d made some questionable trades over the past hockey was going to become my passion,” the 41-year-old Carew said. few years. For instance, I think trading (Artemi) Panarin was the stupidest thing they’ve ever done and I will always be mad about that one since he Since then, everything has changed. The Blackhawks won three Stanley was and still is one of the top 10 players in the league. I hate how they’ve Cups. He added two more tickets to his package. Prices went up. He mismanaged the salary cap and prevented us from keeping elite players now pays about $15,000 per season. He’s even become a Rockford like Panarin. On the other hand, we’ve also found a lot of talent through IceHogs season ticket holder. scouting – (Kirby) Dach, (Adam) Boqvist, (Dominik) Kubalik. I love the team, love the players we still have, and I think we’ve still got a lot of Carew views himself as a positive-leaning person. The Blackhawks’ talent in our organization. I just wish we could get back into the playoffs recent struggles haven’t impeded his fandom or deterred him from because with all that talent, we should still have a shot. Missing playoffs renewing. He’s already decided to re-up for next season. for three straight seasons is unacceptable.” “Absolutely,” Carew said. “The games are a ton of fun. I think the Hawks When the season was suspended, the Blackhawks were in last place in do a tremendous job with their in-game atmosphere. … I always keep a the Central Division. (Matt Marton / USA Today) positive energy. I truly believe the current Hawks leadership wants to win the Stanley Cup every year.” Erin B., 31, STH since 2008

There’s that, and Carew’s wallet isn’t hurting. He attends some games. “I’d really like a wholesale change upfront – John (McDonough), Jay He sells some tickets to family and friends. He puts some on the (Blunk), Stan (Bowman), etc., but I won’t hold my breath. I’m aware I secondary market. have zero say over hockey decisions, so most issues I’ve had and brought forth to the organization have revolved around their treatment of “I was never much interested in making a profit, just getting the tickets to fans, their representation of women and ways they can be more someone else who would enjoy going to a game,” Carew said. inclusive. As frustrating as the team and front office may be sometimes, I Elsewhere in the 300 level, Matt Dilger has been a full season ticket love hockey. Full stop. If I’m not priced out and the games are still holder the last three seasons and a partial one for four years prior. entertaining, I’ll be there. I also can’t understate how incredible it has been to experience all the playoff runs and excitement with my dad. “I love the Blackhawks and going to games, my father was a season We’re still excited to go to games and share that time together, and ticket holder at the old (Chicago) Stadium and I loved going to games nothing can replace that.” with him,” the 28-year-old Dilger said. Dave Brashler, 46, season ticket holder since 2005 Dilger is more financially tied to the tickets. He’s tried to sell them on the secondary market in recent years and has often lost money. “I still love the Hawks and enjoy going. I understand that they are not going to contend for the Stanley Cup every year. Since 2009 I have felt “The tickets are basically impossible to sell on the secondary market the organization is one of the best in sports. From Rocky down, I think it these days,” Dilger said. “You’re lucky to get even 80 percent of the is run very well. Of course, that does not always mean winning and purchase price. … But realistically I could go to as many games and making the best decisions, but I put it into perspective with what they spend half the money I spend now because the secondary market is so have accomplished and that hockey, and professional sports in general, cheap now.” is very competitive and no team can sustain continued excellence forever. This may change if they continue to struggle over the next few Unlike Carew, Dilger won’t be renewing his tickets. He’s upset with years, in the end, they need to produce or at least continue to make good everyone from chairman on down. decisions from a managerial level.” “I’ll never turn on Rocky as he really has done so much for this fan base, Jory Katlin, 65, STH since 2008 but (his recent) comments were so out of touch with what the entire fan base wants,” Dilger said. “My feelings about the organization are not “In the current NHL salary cap world that now exists, the Hawks’ good. Stan (Bowman) and John (McDonough) have got to go. ‘One Goal’ transition was inevitable. Bowman is aggressive and has tried hard to is a complete sham these days, and I’m completely sick of watching keep the Hawks a playoff team, and as a result, some moves, signing these two ruin the end of the core’s prime. Panarin, and some moves, trading (Nick) Leddy and others, has certainly had mixed results. I believe Colliton, if given time and a healthy team, will “I love this team and I will continue to watch every game, but I will not be develop into a good coach. It seems a bit off the radar, but the early a part of helping McDonough continue to brag about a sellout streak that retirement of (Marian) Hossa has also had a significant effect on the isn’t real anymore. The building has empty seats every night now as Hawks that was a major, unforeseen blow to the team.” people just burn the money now because it’s so hard to sell the tickets and the Blues’ game (late this season) where you could hear ‘Let’s go Jim Bertler, 50, STH since 2008 Blues’ chants on TV is complete proof of that action.” “Our feeling was it was worth one more year. The young guys — Dach, While no one is happy the Blackhawks haven’t been in the playoffs since Boqvist, Strome, Kubalik, DeBrincat — are exciting. Plus, Kane, Toews 2017 and haven’t won a series since 2015, some people are more and Keith are still amazing and worth watching night in and night out. understanding than others. Recently, 42 Blackhawks season ticket How many times in your life do you get to watch three future Hall of holders — who had a total of 110 tickets everywhere from the 100-300 Famers? Lastly, I love live sports. I know you have better information, TV levels — agreed to be interviewed by The Athletic about where they angles, replays, etc. when you are at home, but nothing beats the stood with the organization, whether they planned to renew their tickets, experience of being there.” their experience on the secondary market and more. Rick Carlson, 36, STH since 2008 “Just speaking for me, my memories over the past decade-plus have led Exchange to StubHub, I just didn’t care. The point for my dad and I was me to have a strange mortal connection to the seat. Not only did my never to treat the season tickets as a money-making operation. We just friends and I grow through our 20s-30s watching one of the best hoped, best-case scenario, we’d be able to break even overall, which we Blackhawks eras of all time from those seats, but we watched the are definitely not, so I wasn’t overly motivated to sell, sell, sell. … The (season ticket holders) around us grow too. We watched their kids grow amount of work and effort it takes to manage the tickets on a game-by- from those seats. We witnessed some incredible moments in that game basis is more effort than I’m willing to put in, honestly.” building, and while I’m absolutely not one of those people that hang onto pointless sports nostalgia, I have to admit that it’d be hard to let these Unsure seats go.” Twelve people said they were unsure whether they’d renew. The Grant Miller, 30, STH since 2018 organization, money and the COVID-19 pandemic are all factors.

“We already let our ticket rep know that we wanted to renew. Renewing Eric Wendt, 28, STH since 2019 was a bit easier for next season because the organization refunded our “I was on the fence before COVID-19 hit. I’m hitting a phase where I’d remaining games for this season and let us apply that refund directly to like to start saving up to buy a house in a few years and this expense is our deposit for next season. That was a good move by them with the quite frivolous. In addition to the seats, there is parking, food, and drink at economic uncertainties that lie ahead. We would have renewed the the game. I try and keep it cheap while I’m there as it became more of a tickets regardless if they were Detroit bad or on their way directly to mundane thing, but those games are often at dinner time and I have to another Stanley Cup Final. This team may be frustrating at times since buy some food after I get out of work. After the virus, I’m really curious to they started their fall, but they are equally as fun to watch inside and see where this all takes us. Do I get a refund for games canceled? Will outside of the rink. We plan to go along on this ride for as long as we can there be 82 games next season? If not, how much would it cost? My with the team. Plus, ticket prices didn’t increase for us so I can’t complain confidence in the team is also tied to the decision. I bought the tickets there.” this year with the expectation that they weren’t going to be that good. I Keith Mellen, 58, STH since 2006 don’t want to get sucked into pouring thousands of dollars into a project that isn’t successful year after year, though.” “Would never give them up unless forced to. I had season tickets with my business partner from ’89-’96 and it took me until ’06 to get them back. I Wayne Weinke III, 36, STH since 2007 don’t plan on doing that again! There is nothing like a live hockey game “I’m the most on the fence this year than I was last year. It really ticks me even when we were going with just 3,000 of our closest friends in ’06.” off seeing what tickets are selling for on the secondary market, and the Not returning (not renewing or unlikely to renew) Blackhawks just act like there is nothing they can do about it. They are correct about the secondary market, they can do something about their Seven people said they were not renewing their tickets or were unlikely direct market. With prices and demand dropping three straight years to. online, I feel that it is wrong for the Hawks not to drop prices either.”

Phil Shook, 49, STH since 2008 Many Blackhawks fans aren’t happy with the team’s lack of playoff success in recent years. (Matt Marton / USA Today) “The price has more than doubled in slightly more than 10 years and is now getting harder to justify, particularly with the current state of the Terri Stuckmann, 59, STH since 2019 global economy. It might be easier to write the check if you were confident in the moves the team was making but right now, it feels like “Honestly, right now we don’t know. I was on the waiting list for season we are in for another few years of mediocre or inconsistent play at best. tickets for about eight years. When I received the email stating that we At the end of the day, it will end up being a lot cheaper for me to buy five- could get season tickets last year I jumped at the chance. But I thought to-seven games from friends or on the secondary market and not be that I would be able to sell more tickets (than) I did and at least get the saddled with the expense of buying every game. It’s been a hell of a run face value. We weren’t trying to make any money, just wanted to get a and we got to see three Stanley Cup championships so I can’t complain fair price for the tickets we sold, which unfortunately didn’t happen. … I about the past decade.” still love the Blackhawks organization and everything they currently do for the fans and the community. I may not agree with every decision they Andy Prindable, 40, STH since 2003 make but it will never stop me from being a Blackhawks fan.”

“I am leaning, pretty much decided at this point, on not renewing for next Chuck LaMantia, 60, STH since 1980 year. I was already leaning that way before the coronavirus hit, but now that this thing is here, there is no way I can afford to park $45,000 with “Not so sure. But they have earned points with me with their handling of the Hawks and then wait until September to recoup $25,000 from my the COVID-19 situation. Paying staffers and delaying season ticket- clients. It’s all hands on deck with this economy and I think client holder payment for next year indefinitely is pretty cool. Unlike my entertaining is going to be very, very tough for the next year. I’m so mad I Chicago Bears season tickets … all the money was due last week!” have $15,000 tied up with the Cubs already. I bought into some W Club Problems with the secondary market tickets last year. Sports are going to be in a very tough spot for the next few years, so when this virus hit, I pretty much made up my mind. The A majority of the season ticket holders said they utilize the secondary Hawks had sent an email in early March saying, here’s our renewal market. Most of them do so when they can’t use their tickets. The fans plans, you have to sign up by April 3. Then last week, they sent an email who had tickets when the Blackhawks were winning consistently could saying, due to the virus we don’t expect anyone to commit by April 3. easily turn a profit. Now, it’s a different story. We’ll be back when we know more. I do consider that gesture to be very, Craig Tomczak, 43, STH since 2009 very smart by the Hawks. They know they are going to lose a ton of business-people clients to the economy.” “When the Hawks were making the playoffs and either winning the Stanley Cup or advancing deep into the playoffs, we were making a Kevin Makey, 40, STH since 2008 substantial profit on the secondary market when we used this avenue. “No. Easy to get below-face value tickets anywhere in the UC. Now, I Over the past two seasons, many of the people that would purchase can choose the games I want to go vs have to go to. … In speaking with tickets in the past from us, no longer have the want to attend games. We friends who have season tickets across the NHL, the Blackhawks do have turned more and more to the secondary market to help sell games more for their (season ticket holders) than any other team, first-class we can’t attend, and we have taken an overall loss the past two organization and ticket department. Cost increases have been tough and seasons.” the ability of tickets makes it less appealing to commit the money Eric Johnson, 36, STH since 2005 upfront.” “When I use the secondary market, I have had good luck with that up Robert Bykowski, 38, STH since 2019 until three years ago when they started to miss the playoffs. Right now “One thing I didn’t know/expect going into this is how much work goes my seats face value are $85 each seat. Past three seasons I have been into managing the tickets if you’re not planning on using all of them. It’s a able to sell them for between $25-40, so not even getting half money lot of tracking and listing and monitoring and all of that. So much that for back when I cannot go to a game.” various games I didn’t even bother shifting the listing from Ticket Michael Alper, 42, STH since 2003 “I previously did a lot. During the Cup years, I could resell an average game — a weeknight against Arizona, Columbus or Florida — for maybe double face, which was around $60-ish at the time. So I could sell a $60 ticket and get $120. Sell one game, and it paid for two games. Now the market is dried up. I have friends and family who share with me. For the couple of games I try to sell outside of that group, it’s face value. The resale market is now a buyer’s market, with prices well below our face values. For the game in February vs. the New York Rangers, I had family in town and needed two more seats. The people on either side of me, who I am both friendly with, were using their tickets, so I went to the online market. Even with the fees, I paid $150 for the pair, less than the $160 face.”

Tiffany Kiefer, 36, STH since 2009

“I’ve only sold my tickets through the NHL ticket exchange. I’ve tried listing on StubHub a little but never actually sold them. They take so much of the selling price meaning you have to mark up your prices to a level people aren’t willing to pay just to break even. There were times I was trying to sell tickets on the exchange for games I could not attend for as low as $40 a seat and people were still not buying tickets. It really annoyed me when they still tried to cling to and announce ‘sell-out’ crowds when the arena was probably 3/4 full every game. The tickets were ‘sold’ but nobody was attending the games. The people who lost out are those who purchased full-price season tickets and were unable to resell unused tickets. I wasn’t even trying to sell my tickets for inflated prices. Most of the time I posted them at their face value of $80 or less and usually had to lower the price and take a loss to sell them.”

The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182471 Chicago Blackhawks Damenzo’s (2324 W. Taylor St.): This “sandwich” is stuffed with so much meat they serve it in an aluminum pan. — Mayberry

Jay’s Beef (4418 N Narragansett Ave., Harwood Heights): This was the The Chicago sportswriter’s guide to the best hot dogs, Italian beef and local go-to beef place for my family growing up. Lots of beef, juicy, big pizza sandwiches, they did it right. My late father was very particular about his food – we’d have to go to one place to get fried chicken, another to get mashed potatoes — and Jay’s made the cut. — Scott Powers By Adam Jahns Apr 9, 2020 Al’s Beef (1079 W. Taylor St.): I don’t know if I’m right about this, but the fries at this location are different. They claim to all be fresh cut, but I’ve never enjoyed the fries at any other location like I do at this one. Either Editor’s note: In an effort to support local businesses that are being way, I get the cheese fries and a big beef dipped with provolone and hot threatened by the devastating effects of the coronavirus, The Athletic is peppers. — Sharma publishing an ongoing series of stories to highlight our treasured communities. #supportlocal Johnnie’s (7500 W. North Ave., Elmwood Park): Johnnie’s has been around for about 50 years for a reason. Part of the experience is waiting In Chicagoland, there are sports debates and there are food debates. outside in line. Just make sure you have cash. No credit. — Pompei And the latter can be more intense. Lulu’s (1000 S. Leavitt St): One of my go-to stops near the United Center Folks stand by their favorites as much as their favorite teams, especially after a morning skate. Old-school, no-nonsense joint with a top-notch when it comes to the best hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches and pizza beef. Take extra napkins. — Lazerus (deep or thin). Portillo’s (everywhere): Keeping it simple. I’ll add an order of fries with So here are The Athletic Chicago’s favorite places to grab one of the cheese as a dip for the beef. I didn’t have Portillo’s until I was 16. It was Chicago staples. eye-opening and I felt like I wasted 10 good years of not having it. — Fishbain They’re in no particular order. Just order, enjoy and debate! Monti’s (4757 N. Talman Ave.): I’ll admit it. I’m not a beef connoisseur, Hot dogs I’ve had the chain ones and they’re fine, but I promise when this is all over, I’ll try the famous ones on this list, too. Until then, I’m going rogue 35th Street Red Hots (500 W. 35th St.): A block from the Sox, they’ve got and voting for a Philly cheesesteak from Monti’s. — Greenberg an irresistible hot dog and hand-cut fry combo for just four bucks. Cash only. — Darnell Mayberry Lawrence’s Fish & Shrimp (2120 S. Canal St.): I’ve had Al’s, and there was some Italian beef at Minnie Miñoso’s Hall of Fame candidacy Mustard’s Last Stand (1613 Central St., Evanston): No trip to Ryan banquet, but this Chicago delicacy is largely off my radar. They put free Stadium or Welsh-Ryan Arena is complete without a stop at Mustard’s, hot dogs in the back of the press box at every White Sox game. I’m on the southwest corner of the football stadium. — Mark Lazerus missing a lot about baseball right now, but not hot dogs. Superdawg (6363 N. Milwaukee Ave.): It starts with the dog itself being If I’m coming back from a game at Guaranteed Rate late at night, and my bigger than other popular joints. They’ve also been pandemic-friendly for wife and I want to make a wildly irresponsible decision, it starts with a years with their famous drive-up service. Superdawg’s fries also are an pound of coconut shrimp from Lawrence’s. They gave my GrubHub order underappreciated part of their mix. Getting an extra order of fries is often away to some rando last time and even though I’ll probably never order necessary because they’re so good. If you’re in the mood for a dog that’s online from them again, I know I’ll be back. — Fegan charred off the grill, Dear Franks in Niles (5699 W. Touhy) is my pick to click. Their cheese fries are a must, too. It’s also full of Chicago sports Pizza memorabilia. — Adam Jahns Salerno’s (1201 W. Grand Ave.): Since my first bite of Salerno’s as a 5- Portillo’s (everywhere): These are the hot dogs I was raised on, and yes, year-old sitting at the bar with my Uncle Leo, I have been hooked. The I put ketchup on them and nothing else, and I don’t care what you think original thick crust is a pizza heavy enough to do chest presses with. The about it!!! Add a side of cheese fries, please. — Lauren Comitor only problem is I can’t stop eating it. — Pompei

Gene and Jude’s (2720 River Rd., River Grove): Gene and Jude’s has The Art of Pizza (3033 N. Ashland): For deep dish I’m a Lou’s or been clinically proven to prevent hangovers. — Dan Pompei Pequod’s guy, but I used to go here nearly every other day for a period of time during my early 20s. It was $5 for two slices (I’d get thin pepperoni) Dear Franks (843 Waukegan Rd., Deerfield): Um, I don’t really like hot and a drink. Uh, prices have slightly increased since! I was there so often dogs. I never have. I dunno, it’s like a mental block. Don’t hate me. My that the owner would give me a free meal once every few weeks. Before daughter is the only one in our house who eats them and I’d like to give a we moved to Evanston, I introduced it to my kids, who still claim it’s their shout-out to the closest hot-dog joint to my house, Dear Franks. — Jon favorite pizza around. — Sharma Greenberg The Art of Pizza, Part 2: So, I’m not really a deep dish elitist. I love Lou’s. Red Hot Ranch (2072 N. Western Ave.): If I’m being honest, I’m a taco I love Pequod’s. Giordano’s is solid. Maybe that changes how you view guy over hot dogs. I love them, but don’t notice much of a difference in my choice, but man, when I lived in Lakeview, there was nothing like A of hot dogs outside of being grilled or boiled. I mostly just dig this place P (that’s what my roommates and I called it). Fantastic, buttery crust. because it’s so tiny and like many of the great hot dog places in Chicago, Generous slices with a good balance of sauce and toppings. And I don’t you’d almost certainly miss it if you didn’t already know it existed. I only know if there’s data to back this, but I always saw Chicago cops eating at discovered it because I was in the mood for a dog and it’s across from A of P, which should verify how good the pizza is. — Fishbain one of my favorite taco places, Las Asadas, and next to a very underrated pizza place, John’s. — Sahadev Sharma Phil’s Pizza D’Oro (5800 N. Milwaukee Ave.): There are too many great options to choose from in Chicago. I can run off a mom-and-pop list that Sox Park: This might lack creativity, but the dogs with onions at Sox includes Al’s, Sano’s, Papa Joe’s, Dino’s, Trio’s and Perry’s. I feel like I games are my favorite in the city. Oftentimes I won’t get hot dogs at other go through a rotation. Sometimes I pick a random brochure from the pile. places because I assume it won’t live up to what I can get at the ballpark, But Phil’s has been a go-to for years for my family. It’s reliable. Thin so maybe that has limited my Chicago dog knowledge. For any North crust. Tavern cut. Sausage and Onion. — Jahns Shore readers, the old Stash’s was my spot. — Kevin Fishbain Italian Fiesta Pizzeria (1400 E. 47th St.): Some call it tavern style. I call Italian beef this thin crust undeniable goodness. — Mayberry Roma’s (4237 N. Cicero Ave.): Dipped once and with hot peppers, this Pequod’s Pizza (2207 N. Clybourn Ave.): The pizza is good, but beef was a favorite of mine as a Northwest Side kid. I once rolled one out Pequod’s definitely differentiates itself with its crust. It’s crispy and quite of its wrapping and it fell onto the floor. I immediately went back for tasty. There’s a reason why they’re often in the discussion for best deep- another. Ask for some cheese for extra deliciousness. Staying in the dish pizza in Chicago. — Powers “sandwich” genre, if you’re in the mood for a gyro, the best can be found at Papa Chris’ on Touhy Ave. in Chicago. Ask for Nick. — Jahns Barnaby’s (960 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook): Since this is supposed to be a Chicago-style list, I can’t go with ones I love like Piece or Luigi’s on Clark or Jimmy’s on N. Lincoln, I suppose. So I’ll go with Barnaby’s. It’s Chicago tavern-style with a corn-meal crust. For deep dish, I order Malnati’s. — Greenberg

Tortorice’s (2101 W. Irving Park Rd.): I’ll turn 33 next month, possibly while loitering outside of a locked MLB spring training facility with a cloth mask over my face. None of you have the freedom to leave your homes and find me and beat me up. It’s time to admit I’m not much of a pizza connoisseur. I grew up in Kenwood, with a Giordano’s that was close enough to deliver to my home, and you know what? I liked it. It was always a treat. You’re all a bunch of meanies about them.

Give me a Chicago chain and I probably like it: Lou Malnati’s, Gino’s East, who cares. It’s melted mozzarella and sauce. I love Pequod’s but no one would respect such a recommendation. Pete’s Pizza is near me and they’re solid but a little pricey. I’m recommending Tortorice’s because they seem a bit more under the radar, but really, they’re across the street from my in-laws’ house and they email me discount coupons all the time. So, to me, they’re good. — Fegan

D’Agostino’s (752 N. Ogden Ave. and several other locations): It’s not everyone’s favorite because of the sweet sauce, but that’s why I love this tavern-cut thin crust. Add in the fact that Dags has the best ranch to dip it in and I could eat this pizza several times a week. — Comitor

Cafe Luigi (2548 N. Clark St.): A decent approximation of New York-style pizza, which makes it better than literally every tavern-style pizzeria in the greater Chicagoland area (FIGHT ME, CHICAGO). For deep-dish pizza (which I love; HUG ME, CHICAGO), I’m a Lou’s guy all the way. — Lazerus

The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182472 Columbus Blue Jackets , who called the Jackets-Lightning series for the NBC Sports Network, remembers the setup for Game 1: One of the greatest regular-season teams in history versus … who? The Columbus Blue Michael Arace | Sergei Bobrovsky finally delivered in playoffs during Blue Jackets. Jackets’ upset of Lightning "But the Blue Jackets did have those story lines about being all in it to win it with the trades, the great identity of their team and is the goalie going to deliver or not," Forslund said. "Those were the three things that Michael Arace The Columbus Dispatch Apr 8, 2020 at 6:16 AM jumped out."

The goalie delivered. The series turned on the diving glove save Bobrovsky made on 27 seconds into the second period The road to the Blue Jackets’ historic upset of the Tampa Bay Lightning of Game 1. At that point, the Lightning had a 3-0 lead through 20 was opened 17 months before the two teams met in the first round of the minutes. The Jackets would go on to outscore the Lightning 19-7 over 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs. the last 220 minutes of a stunning, four-game sweep. It began on Oct. 19, 2017, when a red-hot Lightning team came to Bobrovsky found a measure of playoff redemption in what was the most Columbus to play a red-hot Jackets team. This Lightning team would go remarkable first-round upset in 102 years of playoff hockey. His playoff on to post the best record in the Eastern Conference. These Jackets demons were gone, at least until Tuukka Rask showed up in the second were coming off a 108-point season, the best in their history, and round. goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky had his second Vezina Trophy in hand. Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 04.10.2020 On that night, in front of a packed house in Nationwide Arena, Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy made 43 saves in a 2-0 win — and made his first claim to be the best goalie in Russia, if not the world.

"He had a good game, and I will congratulate him, and I will see him next time," Bob said afterward of Vasilevskiy.

Bobrovsky, as a talent and a personality, is one of the most important figures in the Jackets’ 20-year history. He was beloved by the fans, for good reason. His relationship with the team, which lasted seven years, was … interesting. The ultimate divorce was drawn out and acrimonious.

Then-general manager Scott Howson stole Bobrovsky in a trade from Philadelphia at the 2012 draft. In the strike-shortened season that followed, Bobrovsky led a ferocious charge that brought the Jackets within one point of their second-ever playoff appearance. He won his first Vezina that year, 2013.

Bobrovsky’s regular-season numbers in Columbus were sterling: He had a 213-130-27 record with a .921 save percentage, a 2.41 goals-against average and 33 . So many hugs!

Yet, his resume had a black hole in the middle of it: His playoff numbers were brutal.

He was outplayed by Pittsburgh’s Marc-Andre Fleury in 2014, by the Penguins’ 22-year-old in 2017, by Washington’s in 2018. It was a thing.

As good as Bobrovksy was in that Capitals series — and he was, at times, Gumby — there were key moments when, as coach is wont to say, "we need a save there." Like, in the second overtime of Game 3, when Bobrovsky mishandled an easy shot. He left the puck at the top of his crease and, a couple of bad bounces later, tapped in the game-winner.

Instead of the Jackets taking a 3-0 lead in the series, everything changed. The Caps won four games in a row and took dead aim at the Stanley Cup.

"I can’t control things around me," Bobrovsky said after he gave up five goals in last game of that series. "The only thing I can control (is) myself, you know? And after this season, I completely disagree if anybody will say that I need a psychologist, you know?"

At that point, these were his career playoff numbers: Five wins, 14 losses, an .891 save percentage and a 3.49 GAA.

Statistically speaking, when he pulled on his mask to face the Lightning one year ago this week, he was one of the worst playoff goaltenders of the 21st century. His relationship with Jackets management had rotted, his relationship with his teammates was strained and he was on his way out the door, to free agency.

And he was up against a team that had accrued 128 points and a goalie, Vasilevskiy, who owned him.

From that night in October 2017 through the end of the 2018-19 regular season, the Lightning was 5-0-1 against the Jackets. There were a few gleeful romps in there, including an 8-2 frolic in Tampa and a 4-0 breeze, also in Tampa. In the latter game, Bobrovsky was pulled and he was so angry he left the bench (and was suspended and fined for the breach of protocol). 1182473 Columbus Blue Jackets “Do I have any cash, and how much equity does my house have?” R-Bar owner Mike Darr said. “That’s really what (your first thought) is.” (Tom Reed / The Athletic)

‘It’s a ghost town’: How Arena District plans to stay afloat Several owners told The Athletic that during the two previous NHL work stoppages (2004-05 and 2012-13), NRI covered 50 percent of their rent.

By Tom Reed and Aaron Portzline Apr 9, 2020 Back then, they still had lunch crowds from the nearby office buildings. They drew weekend crowds, too. They still had other events, plus an ever-increasing number of downtown residents. Darr hosted “virtual game” parties, movie nights, etc., to keep the R-Bar pumping. Editor’s note: In an effort to support local businesses that are being threatened by the devastating effects of the coronavirus, The Athletic is These days, only a few restaurants are doing carryout and delivery to publishing an ongoing series of stories to highlight our treasured stay afloat, serving mostly people who live in the district. communities. #supportlocal “It’s a ghost town,” said Joe Thomas, owner of Whistle & Keg. COLUMBUS, Ohio — The red-brick boulevard that runs along Nationwide Arena is eerily quiet on a warm April afternoon. The Arena District was unique in the sporting world when it started taking shape in the late 1990s. It’s a neighborhood of bars and restaurants and No whir of machinery by arena workers applying signage to mark the other business, intermixed with residences and anchored by an 18,000- start of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the Blue Jackets. No chatter on the seat arena, all owned and operated by a single developer. (NRI is a patio of Boston’s Restaurant & Sports Bar, where patrons gather for subsidiary of Nationwide Insurance.) lunch or pregame drinks. No hum of anticipation around Huntington Park, which was scheduled to host the Clippers’ season opener Thursday. More than 1,000 people live in the Arena District today, and many of the city’s prominent companies have moved their corporate offices there. Except for the occasional passing car or jogger, the most obvious sign of life in the Arena District hangs outside the Sunny Street Cafe: “We Are Officials from Pittsburgh, Milwaukee and other cities have visited Open: Curbside Pickup Or Delivery.” Columbus and toured Nationwide Arena and the Arena District before attempting similar projects in their cities. The neighborhood was built to draw big crowds, so the desolate imagery reminds Tim Emery, who owns and operates Boston’s and lives in the Ellis takes enormous pride in what he and his company have created. district, of a scene from “The Twilight Zone.” And with that pride comes pressure.

“You can go out here at noon on a weekday,” Emery said, “and stand in “We want to make sure they survive, that they get through this and come the middle of Nationwide Boulevard, take a picture, and not have a car or out the other side,” Ellis said. “(This virus) is all over the country and all a person in the picture.” over the world, but we’re doing what we can to help here.”

The Arena District has seen tough times in the past. But this is different. Two owners told The Athletic that rent is their biggest fixed business This is worse. expense.

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered lives all over the planet, but it “The abatement of rents is the difference between making it or going out arrived at the worst possible time for the 15 bars and restaurants in the of business,” Thomas said. “They stepped up early and did the right Arena District. thing. We are forever grateful for that.”

March and April are typically the busiest and most profitable months. The Buca di Beppo was shut for two weeks after the NHL season stopped. Arnold Classic brings 200,000-plus visitors to Columbus. The Blue But last Thursday it opened up for pickup and delivery, thanks in part to Jackets usually sell out late-season games and have standing-room-only having the rent covered. crowds in the playoffs. “It’s kept our lights on,” said Derek Lilly, assistant general manager. The NCAA men’s basketball tournament packs bars, while concerts and “We’ve brought some employees back; that’s always good. Clippers games attract several thousand per event. “We have people who want to work here, so I’m happy we could get them “These two months are usually what push us through the summer during a job and keep them busy. As long as people know we’re open, they still the slow months,” said Mike Darr, who owns the R-Bar along with his want their pasta and chicken parmigiana.” wife, Natalie. Ellis noted that it’ll be 23 years next month since NRI went before On March 12, the NHL hit “pause” on its season with 10 games Columbus City Council with its pitch to build an entire neighborhood on remaining on the Blue Jackets’ schedule. Within days, Gov. Mike the northwest side of downtown, replacing the old Ohio Penitentiary that DeWine closed schools, bars and restaurants, etc., in the hopes of had been left for ruins. stopping the virus’s spread. The arena itself has been through its share of drama, with multiple lease The Arena District’s schedule that week: Blue Jackets vs. Penguins on reworkings and ultimately a sale of the building to Franklin County. But Thursday, the Zac Brown Band on Friday, Blue Jackets vs. Nashville on there’s no doubting what the district has meant to downtown and the city. Saturday, the Ohio high school state hockey championships and Ohio It’s hosted the NHL All-Star Game, the NHL Draft, the NCAA women’s State vs. Michigan in college hockey on Sunday. basketball Final Four and early rounds of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Some were canceled, the rest were postponed. And there’s no telling when the world may crank back into action and get back to normal. A recent report in Columbus Business First referred to the Arena District as the “Billion Dollar Belt,” noting that it is driving $1 billion in new “Do I have any cash, and how much equity does my house have?” Darr investments on top of the $1.2 billion that had already been invested said. “That’s really what (your first thought) is. How much do I have in the since 1998. bank and how much (space) do I have on the credit cards, and how much do you have to live off until you can figure something out?” It generates an estimated $68 million in annual taxes.

The math became significantly easier just a few days later. “Ironically, we had more momentum going now than we ever had right as this (virus) hit,” Ellis said. On March 17, Nationwide Realty Investors Ltd. (NRI) president Brian Ellis sent a letter to bar and restaurant owners informing them that they would The worst-case scenario, had NRI not stepped forward to relieve rent, is not be responsible for paying rent during the pandemic. that the Arena District would be a shell of itself — empty bars, empty buildings — by the time the world returned to normal and the NHL “We have restaurants that were hurt by two different lockouts, and hurt returned to play. pretty significantly,” Ellis told The Athletic. “But the big difference is obvious: They weren’t closed. Two spaces are already sitting empty. Gordon Biersch’s parent company filed for bankruptcy and closed last month. The Three-Legged Mare, also “These restaurants are shut down.” owned by Darr, was closed months ago. Ellis said the owners won’t have to pay rent until the virus subsides and the businesses are back opened and flourishing. He said he wasn’t sure how much money NRI is losing per month by taking this step.

“I don’t honestly have a total,” Ellis said. “I haven’t calculated it. But it wasn’t like we had an option. It wasn’t like if it was too much we’d do something different. We really felt it was necessary.

“We’re in this for the long term. We’re not going to be shortsighted. However long this takes, it would still fall in the category of being shortsighted if we weren’t trying to preserve those small businesses that support our residents, our visitors, our tenants, our office workers …

“It’s a tough and competitive business to begin with without these huge obstacles in front of them.”

Emery and his wife, Carla, have owned Boston’s since 2008. They have two kids who both work at the restaurant.

It’s been a good run. But it all could have ended if the situation were handled differently.

“I think a lot of places down here would find it really difficult to maintain without having that help,” Emery said.

“I know they take a lot of interest in their restaurant partners down here. They want people to succeed. They will do what they need to do to make sure you’re operating a good establishment, and they want to make sure you’re successful.”

The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182474 Dallas Stars it’s a different story. Now he’s got to change some of his game. Some do, some don’t.

“Roope was one of those guys. His skating was so good that he just had A deep dive into the 2015 NHL draft that became a cornerstone for the to rely on that one skill. So then there’s question marks that go with that. Dallas Stars What are the other parts of the game that he needs to work on? Will they develop? Won’t they develop? Can they develop?”

By Matthew DeFranks Takko: “You see elements in their game that they can, and then you kind of try to project his physical growth, what’s left in it. Has hockey sense as a skill, skating a skill, better league, but he’s skinny. So that’s the way we all look at it. How much growth potential physically is there?” Fourteen months ago — before Roope Hintz became a top-six staple for the Stars and opened the hockey world’s eyes in the playoffs last year, McDonnell: “It’s sort of a bad thing, but it came down to one play in and before Denis Gurianov led the Stars with 20 goals this season — the particular [for Gurianov]. I can’t remember if it was in the November 2015 draft class for Dallas was viewed a bit differently. tournament or the February tournament when he saw him. He got ticked off at somebody and he took a run at them. He just drilled the guy. His Hintz was still riding the shuttle to and from Cedar Park, having spent competitiveness in that one play that I saw, and I go ‘Wow, this guy, he is three stints with AHL affiliate Texas in 2018-19. He toiled in the bottom a fierce competitor, does not like to lose.’ Something happened, I can’t six with limited minutes and second-unit power play time (at the net-front remember what it was prior to the play. But he snapped a little bit and he and as the bumper). But then he had 17 points in the last two months of just took it upon himself that he’s going to look after this situation. It was the regular season and was arguably the team’s best forward in the sort of good to see.” postseason. The draft Gurianov was amid his best season in North America, finishing up a 20- goal campaign for Texas. But he’d yet to score an NHL goal with his stick SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 26: Denis Gurianov poses after being selected (his first career goal was a deflection off his knee) and lagged behind 12th overall by the Dallas Stars in the first round of the 2015 NHL draft at other 2015 first-round picks. Then he poured in 20 goals this season to BB&T Center on June 26, 2015, in Sunrise, Fla. lead Dallas, frequently showcasing his breakneck speed in open ice. The 2015 draft was held in Sunrise, Fla., which meant many teams set Now, the 2015 draft — with Gurianov at No. 12 and Hintz at No. 49 — is up shop on Fort Lauderdale Beach, about 30 minutes east of the BB&T a cornerstone for the Stars franchise. Center in South Florida. The Stars set up at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, where they welcomed Gurianov to a meeting with Stars With the emergence of Gurianov and Hintz as building blocks for the scouts and management the day before the draft. Stars future, The Dallas Morning News conducted interviews about the 2015 draft and the process leading up to selecting the breakout forwards. Nill: “We do that with most of the guys that we think are going to be our pick that day. You’re meeting sometime that week with all the players you The scouting think you have a chance at getting. It’s your last chance to sit down with Gurianov played in Russia’s MHL (their junior hockey league) in 2014-15, them, see where they’re at. In the end, you’re just gathering information. the season before he was drafted. He had 15 goals and 10 assists in 23 You want to see where they’re at, what their plans are for next year. games for Ladia Togliatti. Hintz played for Ilves in Finland’s Liiga (their Really, it’s just a chance to see them eye to eye, talk to them, talk to their professional hockey league) in 2014-15, with five goals and 12 assists in families, talk to their agents. Most of the work has been done. By then, 42 games. you’ve narrowed it down. You’ve got a pretty good idea who’s going to be there during that pick.” Joe McDonnell, Stars director of amateur scouting: “Just the thing you see at the end of the rainbow. You hope that’s what they’re going to be Mark Gandler, Gurianov’s agent: “We spent quite a bit of time the day like when you see them at 18, but you don’t know. This is not an exact before with Jim and the entire Dallas Stars scouting organization and science, scouting these players. It’s something you hope you see these management. So that was a lot of fun. Both parents were there. Les kids grow into and what both of these kids are right now is exactly what Jackson was making fun of my shirt. I’ll never forget it. It was kind of red we saw when they were 18. That’s great, great for them. It’s a nice thing squares. The draft was in Florida. This was the kind of thing you wear at to see that they have grown into it. You never know at the time what their a resort, OK? So he was making fun, talking like playing chess on my mindset is. Do they want to be good, they don’t want to be good? Both of body. Not only him, there were others making fun of me, which is always these kids wanted to be good.” fine. I like that.”

Kari Takko, Stars director of European scouting: “I saw [Gurianov] McDonnell: “It was all positive. It just reaffirmed everything for me. I probably April or March. I saw Roope a lot when he was underage. Pretty thought ‘This is our guy and we’re going to be taking him, I’m sure.’ Then much the same thing. Powerful skaters, both of them. Denny was more the way the draft fell, there he was and we took him.” of an up and down , and Roope was more finesse at that point. In Gandler: “No, it’s not standard at all. I’ve had usually the day before their draft year, that’s the way they were playing. Denny played a North meeting, if the GM wants to have another conversation, ask a few more American style of hockey, with the heavy NHL [style] already as a 17- questions with the chief scout, the two of them would usually say ‘Why year-old. don’t you bring the player? We’ll have another chat,’ because they’re “Roope was just trying to learn to compete. He had everything else. He really focusing on him and they would like to break the tie or something. went to the battles, but he really didn’t dig in. It started the same way in “So this was unusual and unusual in that Jim invited his parents. So it the AHL, but he learned it. He figured it out. And one reason, I think, was was pretty crowded. But it was a lot of fun. Probably spent at least a half that he started to gain weight. He was a tall, skinny kid and you probably an hour, if not more. When Denis was selected, of course, we kind of felt don’t have that confidence in the battle level because you don’t have like family already.” muscle to do it yet. I think that was a big step for him. I figured it out, but he gained the muscles needed to do that part of the game, too.” Nill: “I think the reason we brought Denis’ [parents] was just because of the language barrier, just get to meet them, get to know them more. The When Hintz was drafted, Takko estimated that Hintz measured 6-2 or 6-3 players from North America, you usually have a chance to meet their and 83 kilograms, or 183 pounds. He is now listed at 6-3 and 220 parents, the scouts might have met them at games or somewhere along pounds. the way. With the Russians, less opportunity to meet them.” McDonnell: “Kari Takko pointed him out. We went and checked him out McDonnell: “It wasn’t common. I think it was more because he was a and watched him. Just his skating, his speed, his size. There was no one Russian player. Just with the Russian mentality at that time. We weren’t particular moment. It was just one thing that he did: his skating was just sure if kids wanted to come over, if they were going to stay in the KHL, so elite that you just couldn’t miss it.” what they were going to do, all that kind of stuff. So it was just a Jim Nill, Stars general manager: “It’s like a guy that’s 6-foot-4, 200 reassurance type of meeting.” pounds at 17 years of age doesn’t have to worry when he goes into the Gandler: “There’s nothing you’re going to learn about hockey the day corners because nobody can handle him. But when he gets to the NHL, before the draft. I think that you’re hoping, as a team, to learn about the person and his family upbringing, that type of stuff. I think they definitely have taken him a lot earlier than where he went. You get lucky achieved that. I think Denis is an exceptionally good person and so are sometimes, and sometimes that happens.” his folks.” Nill: “People get to see the player that turns up the next year. It’s not very Gurianov: “I don’t remember what hotel [I stayed in], but it was near the many of them, but every once in a while, there’s an 18-year-old that beach. We went with the guys on the beach. We swam in the ocean. I comes in and plays, and everybody compares players to those guys and remember it was summer and the water was warm. In Russia, when you it’s not fair. Most players, they’re not really becoming themselves until go in the water, it’s like ‘Oh, it’s going to be nice, cool water.’ There, it they’re 23, 24, 25. I keep preaching patience to everybody, and that’s was like warm. I was like ‘Okay, I’ll take it.’ It was nice.” what it is.”

One day later, on Friday, June 26, the Stars selected Gurianov in the first Gandler: “I think that Denis will prove to be the right choice.” round with the 12th overall pick. Here’s how the draft played out in front of Dallas: McDonnell: “If the draft is on Saturday, I look at it on Sunday. I start right away. Like everybody, like a fan, I second-guess everything. I think what Pick Player Team if we did this, what if we did that? What if we do that? You just look back. Especially now, I haven’t been to a hockey game in [a while], it’s crazy. 1. Connor McDavid Edmonton So I get on the computer and I watch game film from guys that are up for 2. Jack Eichel Buffalo the draft this year. Then I look at our draft from previous years. You try to second-guess it. You know what, I look back at it and there’s nothing I 3. Dylan Strome Arizona would have done differently.”

4. Mitch Marner Toronto The day after the Stars selected Gurianov, they selected Hintz in the second round at pick No. 49. Among 18 second-round forwards selected 5. Noah Hanifin Carolina in 2015, Hintz ranks third behind Carolina’s Sebastian Aho and Arizona’s 6. Pavel Zacha New Jersey Christian Fischer with 28 goals.

7. Ivan Provorov Philadelphia Hintz said he was not nervous about the draft.

8. Zach Werenski Columbus Hintz: “Think the most important thing was the chance to get drafted. Of course it’s good the lower it is, the better. I think I had the same amount 9. Timo Meier San Jose of conversation with many teams, so I didn’t know at all which one it’s going to be.” 10. Mikko Rantanen Colorado Takko: “This is done as a group, and I think at the end of the day, we all 11. Lawson Crouse Florida thought he was going to be a late first or early second. The only thing he Gurianov: “I talked with a lot of teams, almost everybody, so I didn’t was missing was the physical growth, and is that physical growth going know. I was just sitting and waiting, so I didn’t think about who’s going to to add to his physical battle level. Those were the two things. He had pick me. They didn’t say ‘Oh, we’re going to pick you 100%. I was just everything else.” waiting. Hintz: “I wasn’t there [in Florida]. I was somewhere in Europe, I think, but “I don’t know. I didn’t think about that, where I’m going to go. I wanted to I don’t remember where. I wasn’t there when it happened. But I got the be a first-rounder. I was hoping, but didn’t think about it like that.” call right away from Kari Takko.”

Gandler: “We thought that he could go anywhere between 10 and 30. As Takko: “If I recall right, he was in Spain or somewhere south, if I recall I recall, we did not have any clear indication from any team that he’s their right. I’m not 100% sure.” first-round choice, or least from their body language. But we knew that he The development and emergence was going to be between 10 and 30. We knew, to the extent that you can know before the draft, anything. Then you just have to let the draft FILE - Forward Denis Gurianov works against goalie Jake Oettinger on happen. We thought that was the right team. That team was being rebuilt the first day of Stars development camp at the Dr Pepper StarCenter on at the time.” Saturday, July 8, 2017, in Frisco.

Nill: “It kind of became a little less clear right around Rantanen. Every For the Stars, the 2015 draft class is a tutorial in patience. Both Gurianov year, there’s a group of five or 10. There was a group of seven or eight in and Hintz did not break out until they were 22 years old. Both played in that draft that our guys were very comfortable with, and then after that, their home countries after they were drafted, and received seasoning now every player after that had something that was a concern.” with Texas in the AHL.

Gurianov: “That was the most important day of my life, the biggest day. Gurianov had two years left on his contract with Lada Togliatti in Russia, So I’m glad that Dallas picked me up. Now I’m playing here, so dream and spent the 2015-16 in the KHL. He played in 47 games, scoring four come true. I’m happy. My family was there. It was nice to share with them goals and adding an assist. Gurianov arrived in North America in 2016- this moment.” 17 after he was able to get out of the final year of his Russian contract via a transfer fee. As Gurianov took four years to mature into an offensively dynamic player in the NHL, players drafted closely behind him opened careers with Gandler: “I told him the earlier he gets out, the quicker he’ll adapt: the impressive totals. , drafted at No. 16 by the Islanders, has language, the culture, everything. I thought that it would take him a 207 points in 234 games, including an 85-point season as a rookie. Kyle couple of years to get to the . He was always Connor, drafted at No. 17 by the Jets, has 201 points in 249 games, very fast and he was skilled and had the ability to go to the net. It was a including a 38-goal season this year in Winnipeg. no brainer that he was going to play. But when you’re in the minors, it’s painfully slow. It’s really slow for the player, for the parents. If I compare When NHL play was suspended March 12, Gurianov had 33 points in 86 Denis to all the other minor leaguers — pretty much all of them start out games. As Barzal and Connor piled up goals and assists, the Stars in the minors — he was the most patient guy, which was very surprising received criticism for drafting Gurianov over them. for his age.” Nill: “Those things are always going to happen and continue to do so. But Takko: “It’s too bad after the draft, Denny kind of lost the first year of I think Denis now has shown that he’s in the same category as those development when he stayed in Russia. He hardly played that year. Then players. Because of different maturing levels, or because of different he came over and it’s kind of starting all over again. So it took a little circumstances, that’s the way it is. It’s easy to sit back and second- longer for him, but I think he figured it out and it’s way tougher for those guess. That’s like saying ‘Why didn’t somebody draft in the guys in Russia to come over. You don’t speak any language. You are first round?’ That’s the draft.” totally moving to a different world. McDonnell: “I think we took a lot of heat because we didn’t pick [Barzal]. “Maybe Denis has been over there twice or once to play at the Junior Our Western guy wasn’t keen on him, that high. I wasn’t keen on him, I National teams, but that culture shock must have been huge for him. You only saw him maybe three times. So we passed on him. It’s something couldn’t communicate with your coaches, your teammates. That first year where you’ve just got to make decisions when you’re sitting at the draft table. To tell you the truth, Mat Barzal, if everyone was smart, they would must have been a lonely year for him. Hard to imagine what he went through.”

Gandler: “He made a big effort. He tried to speak English with me right away as soon as he was placed in a family in the summer to prepare for the season.”

McDonnell: “We like Denis. We love what he brought to the table. With most of these players, it’s a process that takes time to develop. He took more time than maybe people expected him to. But he’s starting to show the things we saw when he was an 18-year-old.”

In 2017-18, Gurianov endured a trying playoff run by Texas to the Final, but was a healthy scratch in the postseason. In 2018-19, he responded with 48 points in 57 games in the AHL before leading the Stars in goals this season.

Gandler: “I think pride is understated. I am so thrilled that it happened for him, that he established himself as an NHL player. And now he can just take his time and polish his other qualities and continue to develop and improve and become twice as valuable. I kind of see him as a 40-goal scorer. I don’t know when it’s going to happen. Maybe a couple more years.”

Hintz, meanwhile, spent two more seasons in Finland playing against men in 2015-17 before crossing the Atlantic and accumulating 35 points in 70 games in the AHL in 2017-18. He yo-yoed to and from the AHL last season, and his 19 goals this season are tied with Jamie Benn for second-most on the team this year.

Nill: “I go back to my experiences with , Datsuyk, these guys, Nick Lidstrom, these guys didn’t show up until they were 22, 23, 24 in the league. Denis Gurianov and Roope Hintz, that’s the path they’re on. That’s just the system. It’s just the way it is.”

Takko: “Patience paid off. You have to be patient with these kids. We have been, and now it’s starting to pay off.”

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182475 Dallas Stars Pick 4: 2014-15 Jamie Benn ($5.25M)

Saad: My eyes lit up to still see Jamie Benn available, so this was an easy pick. To me, this is arguably the greatest single season of the salary Welcome to the Benn Bowl: Drafting all-time Stars teams of the salary cap era in a Stars uniform. It’s easy to let the last few years cloud Benn’s cap era 2014-15 season, which feels like an eternity ago, but he was a dominant force, capable of taking the game over offensively at any time.

By Sean Shapiro and Saad Yousuf Apr 9, 2020 Pick 5: 2013-14 ($5.75M)

Sean: Now that we have the top defensive pairing down, I’m starting to build down the middle, and essentially it’s a choice of which version of Sometimes you see an idea and have to steal it. Tyler Seguin here. A lot has been made about Seguin’s growth into an all-around player and a bona fide No. 1 center in recent years, and while That’s what happened after reading about the Sedin Cup that our it’s a nice narrative, Seguin’s best season in Dallas was his first back in colleagues at The Athletic Vancouver conducted. 2013-14. He was still just 22 but hadn’t endured an Achilles injury yet and We don’t have twins to name a trophy after, but we can still steal the idea scored a career-high 84 points. and try to draft the best possible Dallas Stars teams of the salary-cap Pick 6: 2018-19 Esa Lindell ($2.2M) era. Saad: I wanted to get a defenseman here, and Lindell was my favorite Here are the rules. Sean and Saad will each draft a 23-man, cap- option remaining. This is just from last season, and I think Miro’s compliant roster from Stars players who have played for Dallas since the outstanding rookie season overshadows Lindell’s campaign a little. He 2005-06 season. We’ll pick a player specific to the year, and that player played 82 games and was an absolute workhorse in a season in which will have both their on-ice impact of that year as well their cap hit. Once a the team was gutted by injuries to defensemen. He was also playing on player is selected from one year, they are completely unavailable. the last year before his big new deal, so a bargain as well. For example, once Jamie Benn is selected from, oh say, 2014-15, no one Pick 7: 2009-10 Brad Richards ($7.8M) else can select a different version of Benn. Both rosters have to be above the cap floor ($60.2 million) and below the ceiling ($81.5) from the 2019- Sean: The franchise record for assists in a season (67) since the 20 season. Entry-level contracts are also counted at their full annual franchise moved from Minnesota to Dallas? This is an easy pick. value if bonuses were hit. Also, if a player made below $700,000, they will be bumped up to the minimum salary for 2019-20. Pick 8: 2018-19 Ben Bishop ($4.91M)

Once the teams are drafted, we’ll bring in our colleague Dom Alphabet Saad: Chalk this up to my recency bias covering the team, but it was too Soup – last name also known as Luszcyzsyzn — who will simulate a intriguing for me to pair up Bishop’s Vezina-esque season last year with season for us and determine which team gets home ice in a playoff Khudobin’s this year to give me stout play in the crease. Maybe using series. The two teams will then go head-to-head in that series. two of my top four selections on goaltenders is a bit rich, but to me, it’s like purchasing a fantastic insurance policy for however my draft falls the Those are the rules. Now we need a name for this competition and a rest of the way. draft. It also hamstrings Sean’s goalie pairing. We don’t have twins, but both Benn brothers played for the Stars, and there is a good chance both will be taken in this draft. So we are calling Pick 9: 2005-06 ($4.25M) this the Benn Bowl, and we’ll play the fictional seven-game series in the Sean: It’s fitting, I guess, that Modano fell to No. 9 in this draft. It’s also Cotton Bowl, because it’s more fun for the storyline — plus it’s the somewhat understandable since pre-lockout and post-lockout Modano location of the Stars’ biggest home win of the salary cap era. were two very different players. The 2005-06 version of Modano was The commissioner had deemed the draft lottery will be done via Saad really the last look at No. 9 as a superstar before he started to go into a picking odds or evens, and a random number being generated to career decline. Seventy-seven points in 78 games isn’t bad. determine first selection. Saad went with evens; he chose poorly, as the Pick 10: 2017-18 John Klingberg ($4.25M) random number was 85. Saad: I’ve already seen what the Lindell-Klingberg defensive pairing Sean is on the clock… looks like, and the key here is that this is pairing Lindell with 2017-18 Pick 1: 2019-20 Miro Heiskanen ($3.39M) Klingberg, not 2019-20 Klingberg. This Klingberg is strong on defense, creates for others on offense (59 assists, 67 points) and will quarterback Sean: Just like the Stars won the draft lottery to draft Miro Heiskanen, I my power play. My primary defensive pairing is intact. am using my random luck to take the Finnish defenseman. I came into this draft hoping to build my team around my top defensive pairing and Pick 11: 2005-06 Jason Arnott ($2.93M) depth at center, since there are more options available to build down the Sean: My center depth is now ridiculous. I’m going to have a chance to middle then there are on defense. Plus, it keeps a window open for me to play a 76-point Jason Arnott as a third-line center. I don’t care whom achieve the other goal I set out when setting up this draft. Saad drafts at forward, good luck trying to match up with three scoring I also think my pick made Saad panic. lines.

Pick 2: 2019-20 Anton Khudobin ($4.25M) Pick 12: 2007-08 Jere Lehtinen ($3.9M)

Saad: I really had my heart set on one player for my first pick, but when Saad: A 34-year-old Lehtinen seems a bit old, but this season was one of he went off the board at No. 1, I asked myself two questions: Do I take the last ones where Lehtinen was still efficient when he was on the ice, the best forward here? And who is the best bargain? I really wanted to and he comes at an affordable price. I don’t know how much it’ll count for take Art Ross Jamie Benn but just crossed my fingers (literally) as I typed in this particular exercise, given the simulation of on-ice talent, but if I’m out Anton Khudobin, a bargain selection, given he’s the “backup” goalie just putting together a hypothetical team, give me the veteran who is as well as somebody that can win me a game on any given night, playing at maybe his highest level, has been to two considering he’s statistically the best goalie in the NHL in the 2019-20 and has a championship to show for and lead with. season. Pick 13: 2006-07 Philippe Boucher ($2.5M)

Pick 3: 2005-06 ($4M) Sean: It’s time to start working on defense again, as Heiskanen and Sean: This was my dream pairing coming into this project: the greatest Zubov can’t play 60 minutes a night. I like my defense moving the puck defenseman in franchise history paired with the next greatest and joining the offense, which is exactly what Boucher did in 2006-07, defenseman in franchise history. Zubov’s prime came before the lockout, which was by far the best season of his NHL career. but as a 35-year-old in 2005-06, Zubov had 71 points, averaged more Pick 14: 2007-08 Brenden Morrow ($2.2M) than 26 minutes per game and finished third in Norris Trophy voting. This pick was a steal. Saad: In his 15-year NHL career, Morrow was never better than the Sean: Speaking of cheap against the cap and sticking with the idea of 2007-08 season. His 32 goals and career-high 42 assists led to a career- puck-moving defenders, I’m taking a young Trevor Daley – still on his high 74 points. He played a full 82 games and was in his second season entry-level contract – for my third pairing. He doesn’t need to play more as the Stars captain. Just an overall stud this season and a huge than 13 or 14 minutes a game. offensive asset. Pick 26: 2015-16 ($7.5M) Pick 15: 2011-12 Loui Eriksson ($4.25M) Saad: Alright, this is the area in the draft where I looked closely at my Sean: The question here was whether to pick Eriksson from 2010-11 or cap number and was suddenly concerned if I would even reach the floor. 2011-12. Both were good offensively and both would be fine filling top- I was so concerned with staying under the max, I went too far the other line left wing duties. In the end, the slightly older Eriksson was slightly side. There were a couple of other guys I was considering here, but I better at driving play in my view. needed the right mix of pricey and productive, so Spezza in 2015-16 fits the bill. In his five seasons in Dallas, he scored 17, 15, eight, eight and… Pick 16: 2014-15 ($1.9M) 33 goals in single seasons. This is the 33-goal, 30-assist campaign. His Saad: Eakin’s 2014-15 season sometimes gets lost in the shuffle – in my best season combined with Benn’s 2014-15 season is the offensive opinion, because of Benn’s spectacular season and Jason Spezza’s big firepower I like to see. signing – but he had his best season as a Dallas Star this year. Eakin Pick 27: 17-18 Stephen Johns ($725K) was durable, capable of scoring to the tune of 19 goals and creating, evident by 21 assists. Sean: Same strategy that applied to picking Daley with my last selection: a young mobile defenseman who will be physical, shoot the puck and Pick 17: 2015-16 Alex Goligoski ($4.6M) make a difference in limited minutes. If we ever get into overtime, I also Sean: Remember the commitment to puck-moving defensemen? We are don’t have any problem trusting Daley and Johns to play more. now completing a top-four with a quadrant of defensemen who like the Pick 28: 2015-16 Jason Demers ($3.65) puck on their stick and aren’t afraid to make plays. Will there be some turnovers and mistakes? Sure, but the rewards are going to be bountiful. Saad: I’m not hot about this pick, but to follow up on the Spezza selection above, I’m trying to get some money tied up and fill my still-incomplete Pick 18: 2019-20 Jason Dickinson ($1.5M) defensive pairings. Demers accomplishes both those things. Hoping to Saad: Again, I dug into the bargain bin here for somebody who has get better talent at defensemen later, though, so he can sit as a healthy flexibility to play different positions and can help stabilize lines that scratch. feature a variety of skillsets among linemates. Honestly, Dickinson might Pick 29: 18-19 Radek Faksa ($2.2M) be sitting as a healthy scratch most days because of the pool of talent we’re selecting from, but he’s proven this season to be a top-six forward Sean: I’m not sure whether this was more designed around building my in the NHL so I feel comfortable putting him out there to center any sort fourth line or continuing to limit Saad’s center options. Either way, Faksa of talent. can kill penalties and match up against the Spezza line on Team Saad to unlock things for my lineup even more. Pick 19: 2007-08 ($6.25M) Pick 30: 2011-12 ($3.5M) Sean: Ribeiro led the NHL with a 25.2 percent shooting percentage during the 2007-08 season, when he scored 27 goals. Numbers like that Saad: Ryder’s only complete season in Dallas was somewhat of an aren’t sustainable long-term – he regressed to 13.5 percent the next outlier for this stage of his career. Sure, he started his NHL career with season – but I get to bottle up one year of a player, and I’m taking that 63, 55 and 58 points, respectively, but really tapered off for the remainder type of efficiency for a second-line winger. of his career with a couple of hiccups. This 35-goal, 62-point season was the biggest hiccup of them all. It’s surrounded by seasons in which he Pick 20: 2009-10 Stephane Robidas ($1.5M) scored 33, 41, 35, 35 and 19 points, but I’ll take him for the 2011-12 Saad: Robidas was a solid player, and 2009-10 was his best season in season he had. the NHL. He played all 82 games and set career highs across the board Pick 31: 2008-09 Steve Ott ($1.42M) in goals, assists and points. I’d hope to be shuffling my pairings throughout the game, and this version of Robidas can slide in with Sean: Continuing to work on that one checking line, and I need someone different players and be effective. to sit in the box for five minutes after Antoine Roussel eventually crosses a line in this series. Pick 21: 2018-19 Alexander Radulov ($6.25M) Pick 32: 2015-16 Patrick Sharp ($5.9M) Sean: He’s chaotic and crazy; he’ll fit perfectly on this team. Plus, the playoff series is taking place in the Cotton Bowl. Saad: The Blackhawks legend signed with the Stars for a quick two- season stint. While the second season was forgettable, he scored 20 Pick 22: 2013-14 Antoine Roussel ($700K) goals in 2015-16 to finish with 55 points for a very solid season. Nothing Saad: This was a combination of price tag and talent. I remember like his Chicago days at his best, but it was the last good season he had. watching a young Roussel this season from afar and thinking he had Pick 33: 2013-14 Valeri Nichushkin ($2.12M) potential to keep climbing and develop into something bigger. While that didn’t quite unfold, his 2013-14 season is worthy given the production for Sean: Remember, this is rookie year Valeri Nichushkin. Thirty-four points the cost. as an 18-year-old and before the hips went bad.

Pick 23: 16-17 Patrick Eaves ($1M) Pick 34: 2008-09 ($850,00)

Sean: I’ve been spending a lot of money on big-name players early. This Saad: His career has taken off recently, but he was a good player in is where I need to start looking at smart bargains to fill out the lineup after Dallas, where he started his NHL career. He had 35 points in 2008-2009; spending on my top four defenders and top-eight forwards. Eaves at a mix in the fact I’m basically getting him for free, and I’ll take it. I feel good cool $1 million against the cap for a 32-goal season is what my team about five of the six defensemen I’ve taken so far. He’s the fifth. needs. Pick 35: 2012-13 Jaromir Jagr ($4.5M) Pick 24: 2006-07 Darryl Sydor ($2.12) Sean: He’s older and slower and 40 years old. He also had 26 points in Saad: Obviously, the heyday for Sydor came around the turn of the 34 games with Dallas before getting traded to the Boston Bruins. Plus, century in the late 90s and early 2000s, but those can’t be selected for this pick allows me to grant Faksa’s wish of playing on the same team as this draft. At this point though, I need to fill out my defensive pairings, and his hero. thankfully, Sydor came back to Dallas for just one year in 2006-07 and posted one of his last decent seasons to make him eligible for my squad. Pick 36: 2019-2020 Denis Gurianov ($1.64M)

Pick 25: 2007-08 Trevor Daley ($787,500) Saad: I honestly can’t believe Gurianov was still on the board here. I think we just both forgot about him (and Roope Hintz). A nod to . I kid, I kid. But he comes off the board here and despite his late-round selection, rest assured he will get significant minutes for my Saad: As soon as I lost the right to draft first, I knew Miro was going to be squad and provide a scoring threat with that electric speed. taken, and Sean built a very legit defensive roster. The offense has threats as well to create opportunities all over the ice, at the end of the Pick 37: 19-20 Roope Hintz ($925,000) day, but the puck still has to find the net. Tell me where you’ve heard Sean: I really can’t believe I missed Hintz and Gurianov this long. I’m this, before but the (Saad) Stars are going to rely heavily on Bishop and ashamed, really. Once Saad took Gurianov, I knew I had to pounce on Khudobin. Hintz; frankly, had I been smarter, I would have drafted him earlier. Saad: I feel like for what I lack among my defensemen compared to Pick 38: 2018-19 Mats Zuccarello($6M) Sean, I make up with my guys in the crease. And for my forwards, I believe I have the single most dominant player available in this window Saad: I don’t know how injuries are factoring into all of this, but if they as well as lines throughout that provide a different way of attack. play a big role, I’m screwing myself here. If not though, this is a move to pair his skating and offensive ability with Gurianov, and his salary helps Sean: I have to give Saad credit for perhaps the sneakiest pick of the ensure I can get to the cap floor. Durability is Zuccarello’s biggest knock, entire draft with Mats Zuccarello. For that reason he’s got the entire but there was no denying his ability when he was on the ice for the Stars nation of Norway on his side and all of the Stars fans who wish he would last season. have re-signed in Dallas. Then again, maybe he then turned off those fans by putting Mats on a line with ….. Pick 39: 2016-17 Adam Cracknell ($700,000) Tomorrow we’ll simulate a season and a playoff series and see which Sean: I was originally going to go with eight defensemen because that’s team is better in a best-of-seven showdown. just the Dallas Stars way of doing things, but then I remember this was my team, and I don’t have to live by those rules. So I’m taking ideal 14th The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020 forward Adam Cracknell, who will keep things light and provide nice conversation with media members in the press box.

Pick 40: 2014-15 Vern Fiddler ($1.2M)

Saad: Another overshadowing of the 2014-15 season was Fiddler’s most productive year in a Stars uniform and one of the best seasons of his hockey career. A depth forward here that might be a fourth-liner or healthy scratch.

Pick 41: 18-19 Taylor Fedun ($700,00)

Sean: I need a seventh defenseman, and Taylor Fedun is the perfect seventh defenseman who also makes league minimum against the salary cap.

Pick 42: 2005-06 Jussi Jokinen ($700,000)

Saad: Not even going to lie, I thought I picked him a while ago, around where I selected Dickinson. As I was looking for my extra skater, he almost fell off my board, but I’m glad I caught myself. The rookie season Jokinen had at 22 years old was fantastic. He had 17 goals and 38 assists for 55 points in what ended up being the third-highest scoring season of his NHL career. He’s a scoring threat and a facilitator for the others.

Pick 43: 2006-07 Marty Turco ($6M)

Sean: Since Saad jumped the gun on goalies, I was able to save my final two picks for the men in the crease. I knew going in that there were four goalies worth taking in this format, so I was pretty confident I’d come out alright in goal no matter who Saad took. First off is Turco from 2006-07 – a bit pricey at $6 million against the cap, but spending close to $10 million on goalies is something the Stars would do.

Pick 44: 2013-14 Jordie Benn ($700,000)

Saad: I needed one more defenseman, and Jordie gives me an option to shuffle on my third pairing. I don’t hate it. Plus, this is the Benn Bowl.

Pick 45: 2011-12 Kari Lehtonen ($3.55M)

Sean: You’d think Turco would be the clear-cut starter, but you probably don’t remember how good Kari Lehtonen was during the 2011-12 season. Playing behind a not-very-good team, Lehtonen had .922 save percentage and could have been in the Vezina running had Dallas made the playoffs. I’m not sure who my starter is yet, but I like them handling the workload.

Pick 46: 2019-20 Joe Pavelski ($7M)

Saad: Eh, I’ve got money to spend, it’s my last pick and Pavelski showed flashes of why the Stars signed him to the big contract. Plus, while I think some of Pavelski’s dip in production can be linked to Father Time, I personally feel most of it is because of the system he’s in right now, and that is not the system I’ll be playing with my squad.

Let’s take a look at the final rosters, with commentary from each GM:

Sean: I really like my team. We’re going to move the puck out of the back and dominate down the middle of the ice. It’s an older team, sure, but this is one season. I don’t have to worry about the future. 1182476 Detroit Red Wings Ernie Harwell The voice of the summer for much of the Great Lakes region thanks to

WJR's radio signal, Harwell described Tigers baseball for generations of A look back at the life of Al Kaline, the Detroit Tigers great, who died on fans. For 42 seasons, Harwell's southern drawl never felt out of place April 6, 2020, at age 85. Detroit Free Press coming out of downtown Detroit. He brought smiles to faces, regardless of how the Tigers fared that day.

Gordie Howe Kirkland Crawford, Detroit Free Press Published 6:00 a.m. ET April 9, 2020 | Updated 9:09 a.m. ET April 9, 2020 If your nickname is that of the sport you dominated, you probably belong in this discussion. Mr. Hockey emerged as the game's top star and played 25 seasons for the Red Wings, leading the NHL in scoring six times, goals four times and was a six-time Hart Trophy winner. He was This break in sports has given us a chance to delve into some of the the engine for four Stanley Cup championship teams. greatest sports debates of all time. Carol Hutchins We are trying to settle one of them, but we need your help. One of the most accomplished college softball coaches ever, "Hutch" If someone were to create a Mount Rushmore of Michigan sports, which grew up in Lansing and starred at Michigan State. She has been the four faces would make the sculpture? head coach at Michigan since 1985, where she has led the Wolverines to [ Want more Michigan sports coverage? Download our free app on 21 Big Ten titles and the 2005 national championship. Her 1,616 total iPhone and Android!] wins, including a season at Ferris State, are No. 1 all-time.

The top requirement: the person needed to be intrinsically linked to the Mike Ilitch state of Michigan. Not simply just born here, with apologies to Derek He might also belong on the American Pizza Mount Rushmore. After Jeter or Serena Williams. But the person needed to have made a major building the Little Caesars empire, the Detroit native bought the Red impact in sports while connected to the Great Lake State. Wings in 1982, turning the "Dead Things" into Stanley Cup champs four A disclaimer: We decided to present 20 names. We readily admit we times over. He bought the Tigers 10 years later, and helped bankroll the probably left off some deserving athletes, coaches and contributors. If we most successful run of baseball in the city in 100 years. would have included your favorite person, it would have went over 20 Tom Izzo names. We apologize that the number 20 is so limiting. Iron Mountain's own has been at Michigan State for all but six months Readers can vote for any four people once per day. We'll have this poll since 1983. In his 25 seasons since he replaced Jud Heathcote, Izzo has up and running until noon Sunday. one national championship, eight Final Fours, 10 Big Ten Check back with us Sunday for the results. championships, 22 consecutive NCAA tournaments (and counting) and a spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Who would you put on the Michigan Sports Mount Rushmore? If you can't see the poll, first refresh, then try this link. He may be Magic to the world, but in the state of Michigan, he's Earvin. Here's a brief look at the contenders: And it was just two short seasons in college, but Lansing's favorite son helped make Michigan State an iconic basketball program, leading the Detroit Tigers manager Sparky Anderson peers from the dugout during a Spartans to the 1979 national title, sparking a rivalry with Larry Bird that game with the Minnesota Twins on Aug. 20, 1995, in Detroit. carried over into, and then carried, the NBA. Sparky Anderson Al Kaline George Lee Anderson had a nondescript baseball playing career but is a The nickname says it all. Mr. Tiger is one of the great players in baseball Hall of Fame manager after he was the first to win a World Series in both history. An 18-time All-Star, a 10-time Gold Glove winner and a member leagues. He was the maestro of the 1984 World Series champions and is of the 3,000-hit club, Kaline set a high standard for any right fielder in the the winningest manager in team history with 1,331 victories. world to follow. His stately presence and gentile manner was a part of the Mateen Cleaves organization for six decades.

A two-sport star at Flint Northern, Cleaves became the leader of the "Flintstones" at Michigan State under the tutelage of Tom Izzo. The 6- "Terrible Ted" was far from that. He helped make the Red Wings the foot-2 point guard was a three-time All-American and two-time Big Ten model franchise of the 1950s, winning four Stanley Cups. An eight-time player of the Year in East Lansing, helping lead MSU to a pair of Final NHL first-teamer, he, and formed the Production Fours and the 2000 national championship. Line, perhaps the most prolific in hockey history. He also helped organize Ty Cobb the NHL Players' Association.

The first superstar in Detroit sports history, Cobb is one of the standard Joe Louis bearers of baseball. His lifetime batting average of .366 and 12 AL Before he was the "Brown Bomber," Louis and his family moved from batting titles are records that may never be touched. The leader of three rural Alabama to Detroit before he was a teenager. From there, he pennant winners, the Georgia Peach was a member of the inaugural developed into perhaps the greatest heavyweight boxing champion ever. Baseball Hall of Fame class in 1936. Louis' win over Max Schmeling in 1938 is his most celebrated, but just Duffy Daugherty one of 25 straight title defenses over almost 12 years.

He had a tough act to follow, filling in for Biggie Munn beginning in 1954. Barry Sanders But for 19 seasons, Daugherty was the face of Michigan State football, Regarded as one of the best running backs in NFL history, the Lions retiring as the school's all-time winningest coach. He is credited for being were treated to 10 seasons of unimaginable moves that still amaze. He one of the first coaches to field an integrated team and won consecutive was a Pro Bowler every season, led the NFL in rushing four times and national titles in 1965-66. was the NFL co-MVP in 1997, when he ran for 2,053 yards, 2,000 of Joe Dumars of the Detroit Pistons. which came in the final 14 games of the season.

When he was drafted by the Pistons in 1985, he helped elevate the team Bo Schembechler from playoff contender to title threat. The 1989 NBA Finals MVP was the There are many reasons why Michigan football is an iconic brand, but Bo second star for the back-to-back Bad Boys. Then he parlayed his Hall of is chief among them. From 1969 to 1989, Schembechler led the Fame playing career into a job in the front office and built the "Goin' to Wolverines to 13 Big Ten championships and helped make the rivalry Work" Pistons into champions in 2004. with Ohio State among the most popular in all of sports. His U-M teams finished in the top 10 a whooping 16 times.

Joe Schmidt

The best player on the last Lions championship team, he made 10 Pro Bowls in his 13 seasons in the middle of the Detroit defense. He was the leader of the 1953 and 1957 NFL title teams, and his play in the 1950s boosted him to the All-Decade and 100th anniversary teams.

Isiah Thomas

The greatest of all the Pistons, Thomas and his Bad Boys bridged the gap between the Magic/Bird 80s and the Jordan 90s. He vanquished all three all-timers for a pair of NBA championships, and was a 12-time All- Star, named All-NBA five times and was the 1990 NBA Finals MVP.

Charles Woodson

There were three Heisman Trophy winners from Michigan to choose from, but we went with the only player to win it playing mostly defense. Woodson was a two-time All-American and was the most outstanding player in the country as a defensive back/wide receiver/punt returner for national champion Michigan in 1997.

Steve Yzerman

Yzerman is one of the few on the this list who can add to his resume. One of the best forwards in NHL history, "The Captain" became the face of the dynastic Red Wings, winning three Stanley Cups under his leadership. And now he's leading the Wings as the team general manager faced with completing a rebuild.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182477 Detroit Red Wings ►Tim Stutzle: The other forward in the class of Lafreniere and Byfield is 18-year-old German center Stutzle, who impressed scouts as this season progressed.

Red Wings need not worry: Alexis Lafreniere isn't only elite player in NHL At 6-foot-1 and 187 pounds, Stutzle’s offensive game blossomed while Draft playing in Germany’s pro league against older, experienced players.

Scouts also love intangibles such as Stutzle’s determination and attitude.

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News Published 4:03 p.m. ET April 9, 2020 “Playing with men and training with men all the time helped me out a lot,” Stutzle said. “They want to make me better and I’m so thankful for my teammates (in Germany). They helped me out and I learned a lot from the veterans. It was a great season for me.” Detroit – If not Alexis Lafreniere, who? Stutzle had 34 points (seven goals) in 41 games for Mannheim and was Lafreniere is considered the consensus No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft the league’s rookie of the year. Stutzle played left wing and center but is (whenever that draft takes place). expected to evolve into primarily a center in the NHL. That goes for the Red Wings, or whichever team gets to pick first. “I hate to lose and I want to win every game and I want to be a Alexis Lafreniere difference-maker,” Stutzle said. “I’m humble and a hard worker so I want to get better every day, too. There are a lot of good players in the draft But who are the best options after Lafreniere? and I’m just honored to be part of it.”

Three players appear to be distancing themselves from the pack, with Jamie Drysdale each bringing different skill sets. ►Jamie Drysdale: The way Quinn Hughes (Michigan/Vancouver) and Forwards Quinton Byfield (Sudbury) and Tim Stutzle (Germany), and Cale Makar (Colorado) stepped in and starred the last two seasons, defenseman Jamie Drysdale (Erie), are the three best players on most every team is looking for the next offensive y dominant defenseman. mock drafts, and Wednesday were highlighted by NHL Central Scouting. Drysdale (5-foot-11, 175-pounds) is the highest-rated defenseman, a While Lafreniere was ranked the No. 1 North American skater by the small, speedy defenseman who can the rush and dominate with NHL’s scouting arm, Byfield was No. 2 and Drysdale third. Stutzle, the puck on his stick. meanwhile, was the top-ranked European skater. “Jamie Drysdale is the type of player that every team is looking for,” “It’s important that everyone knows the best is still ahead for all of these Gregory said. “Very smart, puck-moving defenseman who can beat you four prospects,” said Dan Marr, Central Scouting director. with his vision, beat you with his hockey sense, and use his great quickness and thinking to defend and strip the puck and turn it around. The Red Wings are assured of picking no worse than No. 4 overall, and they can use help at every position. “Before you know it, it’s going the other way and he finds the open man on the attack. That makes him too tough to pass up if he’s available Taking Lafreniere out of the equation, what do the other three players when you’re picking.” offer? Drysdale had 47 points (nine goals) in 49 games for Erie (OHL) while Quinton Byfield driving the offense. He attempts to pattern his game after rushing ►Quinton Byfield: The player Byfield draws comparison to almost defensemen such as Makar, Hughes and Toronto’s Morgan Rielly. exclusively is Pittsburgh’s . Both are big, rangy centers “The way (Rielly) can play both ends of the ice and make an impact, and who have great hands and can deftly get around defenders. be trusted in all zones, that’s definitely a player that I like to watch and During a teleconference Wednesday, Byfield admitted he’s watched a lot just kind of add to my game,” Drysdale said. “The things that stand out of Malkin and admires the way Malkin plays. with them are skating and just how they think the game, how they have confidence with the puck. “That’s just an honor to be compared to that guy – he’s a future Hall of Famer,” said Byfield, who has been the No. 2 prospect in this class most “Those are thing that I try to use as much as I can in my game and things of the season. “I’m definitely watching as many Penguins games as that will lead to success at the next level.” possible just to see what he does on the ice and how he plays. Detroit News LOADED: 04.10.2020 “He’s a big, 200-foot (full-ice) center and the amazing offensive ability he has, and how he plays, is just unbelievable. I definitely watch him quite a bit and try to mold my game after him.”

Byfield is listed at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, but has the build to comfortably put on more weight. Malkin is a natural comparison because of the way both can handle the puck but also overpower defenders if needed.

If there’s a concern with Byfield, it’s that some scouts are mildly worried about Byfield’s foot speed, although it’s not a universal concern.

“A player with his size and strength, and there’s more size and strength to come,” said David Gregory, Central Scouting senior manager. “But to be able to have soft hands and the vision, and making plays, when players try to eliminate him he can beat you with power or beat you with hands and hockey sense.

“That makes him very tough to contain and a really attractive prospect.”

Byfield had 82 points (32 goals, 50 assists) in 45 games with Sudbury in the OHL.

“It was definitely a big year for me,” Byfield said. “I’d describe myself as a big, two-way forward that tries to play a 200-foot game.”

Tim Stutzle 1182478 Detroit Red Wings Stuetzle said Germany is still allowing players to skate and practice alone with one-on-one instruction during this coronavirus pandemic.

“One of my parents’ friends has his own gym and he is a personal coach, If Red Wings draft second, decision could be Quinton Byfield or Tim so I am allowed to practice there with him and do my workout stuff,” he Stuetzle said.

Byfield, who collects and owns 30-40 bow ties, is spending time working out in his basement while listening to rap music and watching shows like By Ansar Khan Money Heist and Animal Kingdom.

Stuetzle doesn’t watch much Netflix, preferring to play Fortnite with friends. He said he likes hip-hop music, American, not German. If the Detroit Red Wings win the NHL Draft Lottery, whenever that may be, there isn’t likely to be any suspense about who they select first Michigan Live LOADED: 04.10.2020 overall.

General manager , in all likelihood, will take high-scoring, highly skilled left wing Alexis Lafreniere from Rimouski of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

If the Red Wings wind up with the second pick, however, they probably will have a decision to make. Do they take big center Quinton Byfield of Sudbury (OHL) or flashy winger Tim Stuetzle of Mannheim (Germany)?

Either one would complete for a roster spot in training camp at age 18 for a talent-thin team desperate for offense.

The 6-4, 215-pound Byfield tallied 32 goals and 82 points in 45 OHL games this past season.

“A player with his size and strength, and I think there’s more size and strength to come, but to able to have soft hands and vision and make plays and when players try to eliminate him, he can beat you with power or he can beat you with hands and hockey sense,” David Gregory of NHL Central Scouting said. “It makes him very tough to contain and a very attractive prospect.”

Byfield described himself as a two-way forward who plays a 200-foot game.

“Definitely more of an offensive upside there,” Byfield said. “I think the strongest part of my game is definitely my skating for a big guy. I try to use that to my advantage and find my teammates in the offensive zone and set them up.”

Byfield has drawn comparisons to Evgeni Malkin of Pittsburgh.

“It’s just an honor to be compared to that guy,” Byfield said. “He’s a soon- to-be Hall of Famer. I definitely watch as much Pittsburgh games as possible just to see what he does on the ice and how he plays. He’s a big, 200-foot center and just the amazing offensive ability he has. How he plays is just unbelievable.”

Stuetzle had seven goals and 34 points in 41 games for Mannheim, the same club defenseman Moritz Seider, Detroit’s top pick in 2019, played for. Stuetzle said playing in the men’s league should help him transition to North America next season.

“Playing with men and training with men all the time was a big part of my life and they helped me out a lot, they wanted to make me better and I’m so thankful for my teammates,” Stuetzle said. “I could learn a lot from the veterans. It was just a great season for me.”

Stuetzle added: “I hate to lose, and I want to win every game and I want to be the difference-maker. I’m humble and a hard worker so I want to get better every day.”

Stuetzle’s favorite player is Connor McDavid, whose Edmonton teammate Leon Draisaitl, a German native, is a close second.

“It’s just awesome to see how (McDavid) skates and how he has the puck skills,” Stuetzle said. “For sure as a German guy, I need to go with Leon, too. He’s doing great and definitely a guy I look up to.”

Stuetzle, not surprising for a European, was big on soccer.

“I played soccer so then I had to decide,” Stuetzle said. “I think I was pretty good in soccer. It was a tough decision for sure, but I think it was the right decision to stay in hockey.”

If Byfield weren’t playing hockey, basketball would be his sport

“I always play around with my buddies, we always go to L.A. Fitness and play basketball,” Byfield said. “Just pick-up games, which is a lot of fun. I think I’d be OK at basketball.” 1182479 Edmonton Oilers

Anton Slepyshev decides to stay in Russia rather than return to Oilers

Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal

We can forget the From Russia With Love storyline with Anton Slepyshev.

The former Edmonton Oilers winger has decided to stay in , signing a two-year contract with CSKA rather than give it another shot with his old NHL club. The two sides had been talking since December about a return, with Oilers general manager Ken Holland offering a contract, likely for one year in the $1.2 million to $1.3 million range. Holland thought he could be a bottom-six forward on next season’s team, something Slepyshev thought as well when the two talked in Russia, but the 25-year-old who had 45 points in 54 games for CSKA this season, has decided to stay home.

The opportunity for a bigger responsibility with the KHL team than here, plus much better tax implications, likely had a bearing on Slepyshev staying in Moscow. Over there it’s a 13 percent tax rate, much lower than it would be here, plus there is escrow to factor in for NHL players. The NHL and NHLPA withhold a percentage of player salaries, during the season as a mechanism to ensure teams and players achieve a 50-50 split of hockey-related revenue. That percentage could go way up next season if there’s an NHL revenue shortfall because of COVID-19 and there are no more games.

“I’ve talked multiple times with Dan (Milstein) over the last three or four months…and I told him I couldn’t negotiate against the KHL because they have their own salary structure and we have a cap,” said Holland, who is good friends with Milstein, the agent who lived near Holland in Detroit. “I told Dan I would sign Slepyshev to a one or two-year deal and I thought it was better for one year because he could come over and be an unrestricted NHL free-agent after that.”

“But he got a good offer to stay in Russia and we move on.”

Lots of Russian free-agents are filtering over from the KHL—the Toronto Maple Leafs just signed Alexander Barabanov to a deal for less than $1 million—but Slepyshev is a better player. And, the tax situation may be more important to his well-being than being a big fish in a smaller pond.

Slepyshev told the KHL website he wanted to build off this past season in Moscow and wanted to work on being indispensable for the CSKA team over the next two years. He said his family agreed with his decision to stay there rather than come back.

“I met with Slep at a coffee shop in Russia just before Christmas and talking to him he thought he could play on a third line, and I felt for sure he could be a bottom-six forward,” said Holland. “I think he had a point in 20 straight games over there and the team obviously wanted to keep him. I feel very comfortable with the offer I made that it was fair based on where he was going to play in the NHL.”

Holland could have offered more and Slepyshev, who played 102 Oilers games before going back to Russia in 2018, may have come back. But that would probably have been in the $2.5 mil a year range. No way was Holland paying the forward that; it didn’t make sense when his best Oilers’ season was six goals.

“At the end of the day I’ll find a bottom-six forward. I’m sure there will be some interest either through trade or free agency. We found Josh Archibald. We found Riley Sheahan. The Oilers found Alex Chiasson before I got here,” said Holland. “We’re paying Chiasson $2.15 million a year but he got 22 goals to get that contract.”

“I watched Slepyshev play in Russia and he works hard and I felt he could be a bottom-six player who could move up (lineup with injuries),” said Holland, who wasn’t going to give him more than Archibald’s $1.5 million a year on his new deal, in the ball-park, but not that much.

“He didn’t want to come over for the opportunity. But I would think he’s making significantly more money there when you factor in the tax rate and the escrow (for NHLers),” said Holland.

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182480 Edmonton Oilers

Connor McDavid's thoughts are with Colby Cave right now

Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal

Connor McDavid’s daily worry about COVID-19 has been shoved aside with his concern for Edmonton Oilers’ teammate Colby Cave who remains in a medically-induced coma at a Toronto hospital after surgery to remove a colloid cyst that was putting pressure on his brain.

“This is devastating news,” said the Oilers captain, shocked as everybody was, to hear Cave had been taken to hospital in Ontario earlier this week with a brain bleed, then had to undergo emergency surgery.

“Colby is such a strong guy — a good Saskatchewan boy. He’s as tough as they come, and if anyone is going to get through this it’s going be Colby Cave,” said McDavid, on a video conference call Thursday afternoon.

“All the fans out there, everyone just needs to keep Colby, his wife Emily, and the entire family in their thoughts and prayers. Just sending out good vibes for them,” he said.

“It’s all we can do, we’re all stuck inside. We can just think and pray that he comes out of this, and pray that the family can get through it a well. I can’t imagine how hard it is on them as well.

“Colby is a guy who is so well-liked in our dressing room. I’m sure he’s been well-liked I any room he’s been in, he’s such a good guy. There’s no real way to express how I’m feeling about it. It’s devastating. You just pray that he wakes up and the family is OK.”

The Oilers released a statement from the Cave family Thursday morning, saying he remained in the medically-induced coma to “give his brain time to heal and rest from all he’s been through.”

“We would like to thank the Oilers organization, the entire hockey community, all of his friends and family, everyone for showing us their love and support. We would like to send a big thank-you to Colby’s critical care team, the neurosurgeons, the nurses at Sunnybrook Hospital. We appreciate all you are doing for our Colby.”

The Cave family hasn’t been able to be in Colby’s hospital room because of the risk of infection with COVID-19. Cave’s anguished wife Emily also talked of her husband on her Instagram account Wednesday night.

“Please wake up. Please wake up. It’s all I can keep asking, ‘he’s going to wake up right?’ We need a miracle,” Emily wrote. “Colby’s parents and myself, got to see him through a window and talk to him with a walkie talkie last night. We are no longer allowed to be in the hospital because of Covid-19 rules. We have no idea when we will be allowed to see him again. The nurse has tied his wedding band to his ankle. I am dreaming of being able to touch you, hear your voice, squeeze your hand (3 times), and kiss you again. I love you so much, and my heart is shattered into a million pieces without my best friend.”

The 25-year-old forward played 11 games for the Oilers this season with several recalls from their AHL in Bakersfield. Last season he played 33 games after the Oilers claimed him off waivers from Boston Bruins.

The centre/winger played junior hockey in Swift Current for former Oilers forward . One of his young teammates was Boston winger Jake DeBrusk.

“He was our captain there and he really looked after me,” said DeBrusk.

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182481 Edmonton Oilers

JONES: Oilers players step up with $100,000 COVID-19 support

Terry Jones

It was telegraphed here a few days ago but Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid announced it officially in a Thursday afternoon video conference call.

The Oilers, as a collective group of players, are contributing $100,000 to the Oilers Entertainment Group to assist with COVID-19 support in the community with the exact details on how these funds will be allocated yet to be determined.

“There are so many people affected — so many groups in the community affected. We want to be able to assist and help as many people as possible. The money we hope will go a long way toward helping people,” said McDavid.

“We felt it was important to pledge our support to the community during this difficult time. This is a small gesture but we hope it can help those who are struggling.

“It’s something that had been in the works for some time with a lot of back and forth. We wanted to do something right away but it’s gone a little bit slower than we anticipated.

“We were just trying to figure out the way to go about it with the logistics and how they were going to do that. That was the slower part.

“I think it’s important that the Oilers are contributing to the community. and Oil Country is suffering both through the economic times and obviously through COVID-19 so it’s definitely good for us to step up and help as many people as we can and affect as many people as we can.”

While several individual players such as Jonathan Toews, , and Carey Price have donated $100,000 each, this is a team donation. The Oilers joined the Winnipeg Jets in donating $100,000 as a team and the Tampa Bay Lightning Players pledged 500,000 meals toward an organization titled ‘Feeding Tampa Bay.’

Individual players within the teams have made their own personal donations including Oilers Darnell Nurse and William Lagesson who have made theirs known.

“There’s lots of different stuff going on,” said McDavid who is heavily involved with the JumpStart program.

“It’s important that we’re all doing our part and giving back,” he said.

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182482 Edmonton Oilers This is a category that Gretzky dominates regardless of how you look at it. The sheer volume of assists he boasted throughout his career is simply unprecedented. If you adjust these assists per era, Gretzky still sits atop the pile. Using Hockey-Reference’s era-adjusted assist Marshall: Revisiting the Mario Lemieux vs. Wayne Gretzky debate information, Gretzky’s total still sits at 1,171 career-assists for a 1.15 assist per game average. Lemieux’s total adjusts to 915 assists putting

him at an even 1.00 assists per game. By Jesse Marshall Apr 9, 2020 Now, this discussion wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t wade into the waters surrounding the quality of teammates. When you look back at the early career of these two greats, the cast of characters surrounding them Wayne Gretzky is widely recognized as the greatest player in hockey couldn’t have been more different. Remember our “what-if” buckets history. Fans in Pittsburgh and those who watched Mario Lemieux play above? This is one of the most crucial buckets in any argument about regularly argue that Lemieux should wear that crown, and would except Lemieux and Gretzky pitted head-to-head. for a couple of factors out of his control. The argument will rage as long as hockey exists. For instance, take a moment to consider the Penguins’ runner-up in points totals for Lemieux over the first few years of his career: OK, that’s probably a stretch, but you get the idea. Two of the greatest players to ever step foot on the ice just so happened to overlap their 1984-85: Lemieux – 100, Warren Young – 72, – 67 careers by several years, giving us the fruit of these Greatest of All Time 1985-86: Lemieux – 141, Mike Bullard – 83, Moe Mantha – 67 arguments. Those of us old enough to remember watching Lemieux and Gretzky play can feel blessed to experience it; it’s almost as if it 1986-87: Lemieux – 107, – 71, Randy Cunneyworth – 63 emboldens the passion of the argument. Those who didn’t live through it do what the rest of the hockey world does: adjust stats for the era and 1987-88: Lemieux – 168, Dan Quinn – 79, Randy Cunneyworth – 64 live in an unforgiving world of “what-if’s.” 1988-89: Lemieux – 199, Rob Brown – 115, Paul Coffey – 113 These big “what-if’s” pretty much boil down to two primary buckets: It wasn’t until five years into Lemieux’s career, his first foray into the NHL Gretzky had his health, and Lemieux did not. Lemieux’s health issues postseason, that he found a premier player in the conversation with him during his prime years skew the results in favor of Gretzky. as far as points scored is concerned in Paul Coffey, a player that Gretzky had the benefit of playing with for years. We often think of Jaromir Jagr Gretzky had a significantly better team than Lemieux for a critical portion as an electric and formidable teammate for Lemieux, but he didn’t arrive of his career and posted better numbers as a result. on the scene until Lemieux was well into his career.

These arguments are circular and have no end. You can lose yourself in Let’s compare this cast of characters with the group that Gretzky entered a mass of era-adjusted statistics, teammate-based data and point totals, the league with for a sample of the varying environments for these two as well as projections of what Lemieux’s stat totals would look like if he’d players. played injury-free from ages 24 to 27, typically the best years of a player’s career. 1984-85: Gretzky – 137, Blair MacDonald – 94, Stan Weir – 61

Are we going to get into some of that today? Absolutely. It wouldn’t be 1985-86: Gretzky – 164, Jarri Kurri – 75, – 63 fun if we didn’t. But beyond that, I wanted to do a standard comparison of 1986-87: Gretzky – 212, – 105, Paul Coffey – 89 playing styles. There are a lot of areas where these players have striking similarities and areas where one seems to hold an advantage over the 1987-88: Gretzky – 196, Mark Messier – 106, Glenn Anderson – 104 other. Is there anything we can glean from the success of these stars? With the game on pause, now is as good of a time as ever to sink our 1988-89: Gretzky – 183, Jarri Kurri – 108, Mark Messier – 107 teeth into the careers of these two players for some old-fashioned The Oilers were prepared to maximize any return they were going to get performance analysis. If nothing else, we can use this time of social for Gretzky, surrounding him with talented players from the onset of his distancing to argue about retired players in the comments section. career. There are a lot of Hall of Famers on this list, and that speaks 1. The passing volumes to the differences in the environments of these two players. This doesn’t change the fact that Gretzky had over 1,900 career assists. You Generational talents know how to parse the game and enhance the don’t accidentally register over one assist per game. Someone had to capability of their teammates. It’s almost as if they have a remote control make those passes, and Gretzky executed them at a higher level than they can use to pause or slow the game, laying the puck cross-ice on a just about anyone could have. teammate’s stick as if they were operating in the Matrix. Ultimately, the question of what might’ve happened if these roles were Gretzky and Lemieux were no different. Although their approach to reversed and it was Lemieux with the fruitful linemates is one of the ever- distributing the puck was rooted in a different focus, their ability to enduring questions that will be a part of this discussion as long as it manipulate time and space was impressive in both accounts. Gretzky continues to happen. racked up some major assist numbers throughout his career, finishing with an astonishing 1,963 assists over his 20-year NHL career, a mark 2. The goal scoring that likely will stand for a long, long time — if it can be broken at all at this Both of these players could make goaltenders lose their minds in their point. Gretzky rounds out at 1.32 assist’s per game, unadjusted for era. own way. Lemieux was no slouch in this arena, either. He finished his career with 1,033 assists, putting him at 1.12 assists per game — a respectable total For Gretzky, it was pure finesse. His shot had accuracy and velocity to it, in his own right. and there wasn’t an area of the ice he wasn’t eager to use it. Gretzky was not afraid to tee the puck up from range with a slap shot. More often Gretzky seemed to do his best work in transition. His vision and soft than not, due to the power and placement, he put it in the back of the net. hands enabled him to operate at a high level of speed in conjunction with One element of his game that doesn’t get discussed frequently enough is his teammates and send crisp passes across the ice or through his use of the backhand. Gretzky was not afraid to put the puck on his defenders in comprised situations. For Lemieux, his best work seemed to offside and fool goaltenders with a sneaky release. come when he took the opportunity to draw attention to himself and slow the game down. As lanes presented themselves, Lemieux pounced, The critical piece to Gretzky’s goal-scoring was his penchant for knowing working the puck through the bodies of distracted defensemen and onto where the critical pre-goal areas would be and when to get to them. the stick of teammates. Watching him work behind the play and make himself available for a scoring opportunity is to understand his place atop the hockey scoring In the montage below, you get a good gauge of the approach both of throne. Gretzky was a technician in every sense of the word, and almost these players took to distributing the puck and the individual skills they everything he did came at high-speed. When it came to thinking about exhibited. Pay close attention to the subtle way that Gretzky opens his the game, you could tell he was doing it steps ahead of others. body up to lay a cross-ice pass and the opportunities Lemieux takes to slow things down and control the play. For Lemieux, his physical prowess played a significantly greater role in his ability to score goals. Lemieux could rush to the net with players draped on his back like a blanket. A master of the individual dangle, Lemieux’s ability to play through hooks, holds and slashes was a hallmark of his game, but it took a toll on him physically. Lemieux’s size and wide skating base made him a difficult player to knock off of the puck. From a skating perspective, he was a solid as a rock and fast on top of that.

From a technical perspective, Lemieux possessed some of the same, subtle techniques to move goaltenders that Gretzky did, and was even slightly more willing to put the puck on net. Lemieux averaged 3.67 shots per game over his career to Gretzky’s 3.45 per game. For Lemieux, much of his success came in subtle hand movements or deceptive pre- shot motions designed to shake goaltenders down. When that didn’t work, he could shift between speeds quickly enough to find time and space for himself.

Consider the variety of goals scored in the below montage and how each player utilized a wide variety of tools to put the puck in the net.

3. The era-adjusted data

This piece wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t sink our teeth into some numbers that attempted to adjust for era. The late 70s and early 80s were not a good time for goaltenders around the National Hockey League. We’re talking about a period of the game where the league-wide goals-against average was 3.80. Make no bones about it, Gretzky made good on that, using his skills to rack up points in a variety of ways like he was an all you can eat buffet. Lemieux did as well, though toward the twilight of that era.

So, to stoke the fires of hockey debate, it’s worth it to dive into an era- adjusted points-per-game discussion and break this down on a level playing field to see what the numbers tell say. There are a few ways to do this, but I’ve chosen the one that is the most fun and manual. This comes courtesy of The Athletic’s own Jonathan Willis.

The approach here is to adjust each season as if there were an average of six goals scored per game while holding player production rates the same. I decided to stick with the six-goal approach Jonathan used, tracking player point rates in this NHL-wide scoring model. This levels the playing field for the players as far as scoring rate adjustment is concerned. I did not add in games for Lemieux given his injury history. This is based on the career games played numbers for both individuals.

Willis’ Era-Adjusted Points-Per-Game

Lemieux: 1.67

Gretzky: 1.61

Bobby Orr: 1.34

Mike Bossy: 1.19

Jean Beliveau: 1.16

Just for fun, I threw in a few other all-time greats on the list as well to see how they stack up to Lemieux and Gretzky. After Bobby Orr, the dropoff is stark. Lemieux does slightly leap over Gretzky in this exercise, giving a lot of fodder to those that believe if our “what-if” buckets were filled with possibilities, it might be Lemieux as king of the hill in the hockey world.

On the flip side, this doesn’t magically erase the fact that Gretzky has a 1,000 career points cushion on Lemieux. Fun era-adjustments don’t erase all those points and the years of dominance he exhibited on the ice. The Oilers surrounded him with a strong supporting cast and a few sheriffs to patrol the ice if anyone dared to mess with him. That isn’t Gretzky’s fault; you just play the hand you’re dealt. He played it masterfully and was the clear-cut best player on the ice for a long time.

But all these scenarios about possibilities are what make the discussion fun. It’s often been said that Gretzky was the owner of the best career while Lemieux was the owner of the most talent. Either way, taking a trip down memory lane to get lost in the overwhelming amount of highlight tape from these two all-time greats is a fantastic way to spend time during the NHL’s pause.

The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182483 Edmonton Oilers Pronman’s words about improved skating and Quinn’s growth spurt, I think it’s fair to say we’re dealing with a completely different trajectory than a year ago.

Lowetide: Why Jack Quinn is a perfect 2020 draft fit for the Oilers Volume shooter

Edmonton’s current group of prospects didn’t deliver anything close to 3.87 shots per game in their CHL draft seasons: By Allan Mitchell Apr 9, 2020 Raphael Lavoie: 3.32 (QMJHL, ’18-19)

Ryan McLeod: 2.43 (OHL, ’17-18) In selecting defenceman Philip Broberg with the No. 8 overall selection at the 2019 draft, Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland signalled Kirill Maksimov: 2.42 (OHL, ’16-17) to fans that drafting for need didn’t apply to his draft board. Edmonton, The WHL didn’t track shots on goal during the draft seasons of Kailer flush with impressive defenders up and down the prospect pipeline, Yamamoto and Tyler Benson. In Yamamoto’s draft-plus-one campaign found itself badly in need of a scoring forward. Many were available. he averaged 2.78 shots per game. Benson’s final junior season (age 19, Holland took the fleet defenceman. not comparable in any real way to Quinn’s ’19-20) he averaged 4.0 shots In the second round, Holland found a first-round talent in Raphael Lavoie, per game. one of the older (and best) forwards in the draft. Only Lavoie is in the same area code as Quinn in draft seasons and The past informs the future but there are limits. Lavoie was an older prospect (as is Quinn). I don’t think there’s any doubt Quinn would go to the front of the line among prospect wingers in Central Scouting released its final list for the 2020 draft on Wednesday, the system. with four of the top 10 North American skaters and two of the top 10 European slots being held by defencemen. Value on the skill lines

I think it’s a good bet we’ll see Edmonton take a forward unless a top- Yamamoto is going to be extreme value in 2020-21 for Edmonton. In flight defenceman like Jake Sanderson falls to them. summer 2021, he’ll be looking for a new deal. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will be looking for an extension next summer as well, so the top two lines are There are four forwards from the OHL ranked inside Central Scouting’s going to be more expensive even if the Nuge signs for similar money. top 10, one of them dynamic scorer Jack Quinn. He is ranked No. 7 overall, and the Oilers are scheduled to pick in the early 20s (depending Edmonton’s current hopes on the wing at the AHL level — Benson, on how the NHL slots the draft), so the idea of Quinn being available Maksimov — are something less than mortal locks to emerge as when Edmonton selects might seem impossible. However, he was No. productive players on an NHL skill line. It’s true we could have said that 19 on Bob McKenzie’s TSN midseason list of consensus rankings and about Yamamoto a year ago, but this organization has a real need here: that puts the Oilers in the conversation. First-shot scorer.

The player What does it all mean?

Corey Pronman’s midseason look at the 2020 draft described Quinn as a If Quinn had been born a week earlier, NHL teams could have drafted sniper with skill and IQ, and suggested his skating had improved to him in 2019. He grew several inches and his foot speed has gone from a “arguably above average” this season. Scott Wheeler interviewed Ottawa concern to a strength. I imagine there are massive gaps between Oilers 67’s staff and others about Quinn. Wheeler’s article leaves the reader scouts first viewings in 2019 and final reports in 2020. impressed with Quinn’s natural skill and work ethic. The age issue (he’s almost one year older than Byfield) is going to hurt Combined, the Pronman and Wheeler pieces give me the idea we’re his final draft number but that could be an advantage for Edmonton. If watching the emergence of an impact talent in real time. If Quinn goes teams at the top of the draft fade Quinn because of age, the Oilers might inside the top 10 in 2020, remember the words of Pronman and Wheeler. have a gem still on the board when the time comes to pick.

The numbers The past informs the future. Lavoie was a little more than a week from being eligible for the 2018 draft and Quinn has the same role in this The four OHL forwards who are in the final top 10 from Central Scouting year’s pool. are substantial offensive talents. Quinn is an outlier for a couple of reasons: The other three are centres — Quinn is a winger — and they Chances are some team grabs Quinn early. are ahead of Quinn in points per game: Quinn improved a great deal this season and he’s still developing. He Quinn trails them all by a solid margin. Where Quinn shines is the area scored 52 goals in the world’s best junior league as a first-time draft- Edmonton needs: scoring goals. Quinn delivered 52 goals in 62 games, eligible player. Looking at the Oilers needs, it’s difficult to imagine a finishing second to winger Nick Robertson during better fit. the 2019-20 OHL season. Perhaps Holland trades up to get him. Year over year The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020 There’s a sense Quinn came out of nowhere, but that can’t be true. This is his second season with the Ottawa 67’s. He came out of nowhere because the performance spiked in a big way. Red Line Report, an astute observer of the draft, ranked Quinn No. 59 last summer among potential 2020 picks. Here are the year over year boxcars (including all game states):

2018-19: 61 games, 12-20-32 (.524 points per game)

2019-20: 62 games, 52-37-89 (1.44 points per game)

That’s an amazing step forward and tells us just how much progress Quinn made in a single season. Although the overall numbers are usually a better indicator of future production, I like to look at even strength numbers:

2018-19: 61 games, 7-16-23 (.377 points per game)

2019-20: 62 games, 34-19-53 (.855 points per game)

We should expect improvement from developing players in junior leagues, but this looks like a different player. Taking into account 1182484 Los Angeles Kings For a shameless plug, the have a similar program in place with activities designed to keep young ones educated and entertained, at least briefly, during these times,

KINGS IN THE COMMUNITY LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 04.10.2020

ZACH DOOLEYAPRIL 9, 2020

Good Afternoon, Insiders!

As we enter day……well it’s a Thursday, let’s look into some ways that the Kings are partnering throughout the community. First of all, and most perhaps most importantly, a $5,000 donation to the Kings Care Foundation can get you a pair of Jon Rosen game-worn Track Pants, which if you think about it are a bargain at any price. And how about that Easton logo on the pants, reminding me that I miss my orange Synergy Si-Core stick from youth hockey. A juggernaut #1 in the power rankings of best hockey sticks ever made.

If you’re looking for less Insider-used clothing and more practical ways to help, here are some additional partnerships the Kings have announced over the last few days with regards to community outreach.

How To Help

Be like and donate blood! The voice of the LA Kings was a recent donor and you can be too. The Kings have partnered with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) for a blood drive that will net you a pair of LA Kings tickets to a “mutually agreed upon regular-season LA Kings game”, which is the language we use when we have no idea when regular-season LA Kings games will be next played. Those who donate either blood or platelets are eligible for the ticket offer – Call 323-361- 2441 or sign up online here to make a donation appointment.

View this post on Instagram

With the season paused, took the opportunity to put on a @lakings bandana and donate blood at @childrensla! Hope you can join me in giving back by setting up your appointment at www.chladonateblood.org … it makes a HUGE difference, especially in times of great need like now.

A post shared by Alex Faust (@faust_alex) on Apr 7, 2020 at 1:26pm PDT

The Kings also outlined four additional ways to help the local community, through volunteering, donating or fostering. Read more here via LA Kings dot com.

Green Challenge

Another opportunity to win a pair of tickets to a to be scheduled sometime in the future LA Kings game is by taking the LA Kings Green Challenge. The Kings partnered with Grades of Green to create a an initiative that challenges and encourages families to stay active, think green and have fun while staying at home during the pandemic.

More on the Green Challenge is available HERE.

While this is a great initiative, it doesn’t sound like one where I’d be setting myself up for success. I think I’m eliminated off the bat for not having children, and I wouldn’t quite consider myself to be an artist, although the painting of fruit that I created in the first grade, that was showcased in the Latham Circle Mall art show might say otherwise. For those less artistically challenged, I’ll throw in two tickets to a Reign game for the best art project that someone sends me from this initiative!

LA Kings Learn At Home

Finally, for those looking for some hockey-themed activities for their children, introducing the LA Kings Learn At Home program.

Included are coloring sheets, word searches, crossword puzzles, and additional programming with a focus on education. I took the liberty of providing a bonus 16th word in the word search component below.

If someone would like to ship me a printer so I can participate here at home that would be great. All the resources for the Kings Learn At Home program are available HERE. 1182485 Minnesota Wild teams more on the fringes would get once chance, win or go home. All it would take is four days to decide it.

This is a strange plan, but it kind of works based on how the standings A modest NHL playoff proposal (that still gives the Wild a shot) are right now. And remember: Nothing about any of what we are dealing with is normal right now, so we might as well try to make the best of a bad situation.

By Michael Rand APRIL 9, 2020 — 2:52PM Star Tribune LOADED: 04.10.2020

Earlier this week, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman acknowledged the possibility that the league might not be able to finish its regular season — instead skipping ahead straight to the playoffs if and when play can resume in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

“The best thing and the easiest thing would be if at some point we could complete the regular season and then go into the playoffs as we normally do,” Bettman told NBCSN. “We understand that may not be possible. And that’s why we’re considering every conceivable alternative to deal with whatever the eventuality is.”

Those alternatives also could include playing the entire postseason at a single neutral site — including my hometown of Grand Forks, N.D., which would be the most surreal thing imaginable.

Nobody knows what will ultimately happen, but it would hardly be surprising to see some combination of a ahead to the playoffs and a neutral site come to fruition, especially the deeper we get into spring.

If so, the easiest thing to do would just be to cut off the standings at the top eight in each conference as they stand now, and say those are the playoff teams.

But would that be the most fair? Some teams have played easier schedules than others. Some have played more games than others. And many are separated by the thinnest of margins.

The Wild, for instance, would miss the postseason by just one point even though it was one of the hottest teams in the league before the shutdown.

Well, if everything apparently on the table — and all we have is time to come up with ideas — here’s my idea for how the NHL could structure its postseason to make things more fair without simply leaving worthy teams out in the cold, assuming the regular season does not resume in a meaningful way:

*The top two teams in each division at the time play was suspended in March are in, and they are seeded accordingly. They don’t have to do anything else. That’s four teams per conference — all of whom had at least a 93% chance of making the playoffs when play was halted (and many who were up above 99%): Boston, Tampa Bay, Washington and Philadelphia in the East; St. Louis, Colorado, Vegas and Edmonton in the West.

*To determine the other four spots in each conference, there’s a four-day tournament at the agreed-upon neutral site location.

First night: Third- and fourth-place teams from the two Eastern Conference divisions play each other: Toronto vs. Florida and Pittsburgh vs. Carolina. Winners of those games are in and get the No. 3 seed in their division.

Second night: Same thing, except with the Western Conference: Dallas vs. Winnipeg; Vancouver vs. Calgary. Now we have six teams in the playoffs from each conference.

Third night: The losers from the 3/4 games in the Eastern Conference play the teams with the next two highest point totals in the East (the Islanders and Blue Jackets). The winners of those games get the wild card spots. Losers are out.

Fourth night: Same thing, except in the West — with the two highest other teams being the Wild and Nashville. That would round out the field of eight in both conferences in just four nights, and it would give every team right now with at least a 33% chance of making the postseason (per Hockey Reference) a shot at getting in.

Teams that were elite (top two each division) would get in automatically. Teams that were more likely to make the playoffs (3 and 4 in each division) would have two chances to make it — once against each other for the No. 3 seed and once, if they lost, for the wild card spot. And the 1182486 Nashville Predators Saros had stopped 100 consecutive shots. Rinne said all the right things, as would be expected. He's happy for

Saros. He understands he's getting older. He understands Saros has Predators GM David Poile on Pekka Rinne: 'I don't think it's over' earned the playing time.

"I totally understand," Rinne said in February. "I'm sure they have some kind of game plan, but at this time of year, we're fighting for our lives Paul Skrbina, Nashville Tennessean Published 5:01 a.m. CT April 9, here. It's playoff time for us. I'm just trying to be a good teammate, trying 2020 to work on my game.

"At the same time, I love watching Juuse do well. Anything that helps the team." David Poile perks up when he hears the name. Rinne has helped the team plenty throughout his 14-year career. His He sits a bit more upright in his chair behind his desk in his office at biggest highlight, aside from that 2017 Cup run, occurred earlier this Bridgestone Arena in early March, before this season was suspended season when he scored his first career goal in early January against the indefinitely because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Blackhawks, which had always been a goal of his. The only general manager the Predators ever have known nudges his Rinne, though, has been hesitant to talk about the "R" word. He knows glasses up the bridge of his nose. He leans in a little closer. retirement is inevitable. He knows his time on the ice is finite. To say Poile is partial to Pekka Rinne, the goalie he drafted in the eight "I don't want to go that far, talking about retirement, " Rinne said in round — 258th overall, for crying out loud — the man who is, without February. "But yeah, it's clear. I have one more year on my contract. I argument, the "face of the franchise for so many years," would be an haven't thought beyond that. But you're right, it's happening. At this point understatement. you have to put your priorities right and straight and find a way to still Rinne's numbers speak for themselves. He's played more games, more have an impact – if it's outside the ice, on the ice, whatever it is. ... When minutes, has more victories, more shutouts, more playoff wins — more it's my turn, play better and be able to find my game." everything than any goalie who's suited up for the franchise. Poile thinks so highly of Rinne that he became the first -- and for a long Mr. Predator time, only -- player in Predators history to be granted a no-movement clause in his contract. He's started every playoff game — all 89 of them — since 2010. His play on the ice made the contract worth it in Poile's eyes. Rinne also is nearing the end of his storied career, one that has seen him win a Vezina Trophy. One that has seen him help the Predators to their Not that the Predators were interested in moving him. But he was the only Stanley Cup Final appearance. One that has seen him named an rare "untouchable" for Poile, a man who has made more trades than any All-Star three times. general manager in the history of the NHL.

"We know time catches up to all of us, especially in an athlete’s life," His demeanor off the ice -- where Rinne also has been the face of the Poile says. "He’s been playing very well. He’s had that odd game that franchise -- has been a bonus. hasn’t been so good. I’m predicting if we make the playoffs this year that The admiration, though, is a two-way street. Rinne has expressed his Pekka’s going to win some big games down the stretch. So I don’t think gratitude toward Poile for taking a chance on him all those years ago. He it’s over." said Poile has had a "huge, huge impact" on his career. The playoffs — heck, everything — is in limbo right now, in what could be "I always felt I've had David’s support," Rinne told the Tennessean last Rinne's second-to-last season. season. "As a player that’s a huge thing. I’ve been pretty fortunate, really Either way, clearly the clock is ticking on Rinne's career. Clearly, Juuse fortunate to be here all my career. Saros is the Predators' starter and Rinne the backup. "Over the years I feel like we have a really good relationship. He’s the Juuse is loose GM, I’m a player. But I’ve known him for so long, it is a really good relationship. I have the utmost respect toward him." Saros was 6-2-0 with a .948 save percentage and two shutouts in his nine appearances before the pause. The feeling is mutual, no matter what happens between now and when Rinne retires. Rinne was on pace for his worst season, statistically, with a 3.17 goals- against average. An .895 save percentage. He'll start fewer games this Tennessean LOADED: 04.10.2020 year than he ever has in a full season in which he didn't miss significant time with injury.

"There’s a transition," Poile says. "He knew. We knew."

Truth can hurt

Admitting it has been difficult. New Predators coach John Hynes said earlier this season there was no transition going on, despite Saros starting way more games than normal.

"We talked about it before extending him, how this would be a good ending if he only played two years," Poile continues. "You don’t want to say he can’t play more than that. However it turns out. Yes, we clearly have these talks.

"When it happens I’m sure that it’s hardest on him. It’s probably hard on our fans. They think the world of Pekka and think he’s going to be that brick wall every night and he’s going to make the difference every night, because for 10 or 12 years he’s been the difference every night."

Before the pause, though, Saros had been making the difference most nights.

He had two consecutive shutouts before that streak ended at 181 minutes, 7 seconds. That's the second-longest such streak in franchise history behind Dan Ellis, who went 233:39 without allowing a goal. 1182487

Coronavirus update: No NFL games until Thanksgiving at the earliest? Sobering prediction for pro and college sports

By Mike Rosenstein

During his conference call on Saturday with the commissioners of the professional sports leagues in North America, President expressed his hope and desire for the 2020 NFL regular season to start on time. He also wants fans in the stands by August, if possible, with the NBA, NHL and MLB seasons on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic.

What one in California said this week doesn’t give hope that will change any time soon. Dr. Jeffrey Smith is a Santa Clara County (Calif.) executive officer. The prediction he gave the is sobering, to say the least.

Smith on Tuesday told that county’s Board of Supervisors that he did not expect there would be “any sports games until at least Thanksgiving, and we’d be lucky to have them by Thanksgiving. This is not something that’s going to be easy to do.”

The NFL canceled its annual meeting last month because of the coronavirus. The league also pulled the plug on fans attending the NFL Draft in two weeks. The draft will be conducted remotely, with teams not allowed to use their training facilities for war rooms.

The league’s offseason workout program remains on hold and the release of the 2020 regular-season schedule has been delayed until May 9.

MLB is considering a plan to resume play as early as May in Arizona.

The NBA is considering a similar plan for Las Vegas.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman admits the 2019-20 hockey season may be over.

Star Ledger LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182488 New Jersey Devils

How N.J.’s Alex Laferriere, Gus Bylin fared in NHL Central Scouting final rankings

By Randy Miller

The stock is climbing for the two 18-year-old North Jersey natives who are 2020 NHL Draft prospects.

Right winger Alex Laferriere of Chatham and goaltender Gus Bylin of Monclair both jumped in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings from their midterm spots.

Coming off a standout season for the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers, Laferriere was ranked 61st among North American skaters, up from No. 68 in the midseason rankings.

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Bylin, who played for a Connecticut prep school this season, climbed two spots in the North American goalie rankings, jumping from 20th to 18th.

A mock draft by draftsite.com had Laferriere going to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the fourth round, 108th overall, and Bylin being undrafted.

Bylin was the starting goaltender this season for South Kent (Conn.) School after previously playing close to home for Monclair High and the New Jersey Colonials.

The 6-foot-3, 185 pounder had a 2.81 goals-against average and five shutouts in 38 games this season for South Kent, which has had 16 alums picked in past NHL Drafts, including forward Joel Farabee by the Flyers 14th overall in 2018.

A Harvard recruit, Laferriere led Des Moines with 45 points in 42 games. His 19 goals tied for first and his 26 assists led. Also, the 6-foot, 183 pounder tied for 17th in the USHL scoring race.

“Alex has been a leading force for our offense this year," Des Moines GM Tom Mannino said. “His hard work and determination continues to pay off, most recently representing Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge.”

Before joining Des Moises in 2018-19, Laferriere played for Chatham High, the New Jersey Colonials and the New Jersey Avalanche.

Star Ledger LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182489 New York Islanders Sound Tigers. Johnson, at 32, was the oldest guy in the room most nights, very accustomed to his role as big brother.

“Whether helping guys slow down a bit off the ice, speeding up a bit on Catching up with Justin Johnson, the man who took down John Scott the ice, recognizing how they can stick and get to the next level, that’s a whole other education and I got to be part of that for some guys,” Johnson said. “I feel like I got a chance to help people and it wasn’t always with my fists. I did more for guys not fighting than fighting. By Arthur Staple Apr 9, 2020 Fighting got me credibility, I’d stick up for people and do things some people wouldn’t. But I got to affect guys because they knew I cared about them. I wasn’t their coach, their dad, their agent. Maybe they felt they It was the last game of a forgettable Islanders season, a win in Buffalo were competing with some of their younger teammates for ice time, for a that did nothing for the Islanders but alter the ping-pong ball call-up, and I don’t think many guys felt that with me. combinations at the draft lottery. “I couldn’t tell them how to be a world-class hockey player. But maybe I But April 13, 2014 will always mean something to Justin Johnson. It was could help them get through the tribulations of trying to be one. I got to his night. His punch. A guy who never thought he’d even make the see Hickey, Scotty Mayfield, Alec Martinez, — the list goes American League had fought his way, literally and metaphorically, on and on of guys I got to play with who played in the NHL and still do.” through outposts in the ECHL and AHL to make it to the NHL thanks to a loyal GM and a team playing out the string. Mayfield was in his first full pro season and ended up sharing a house with Johnson and another recent college grad, Riley Wetmore. Johnson was a month shy of his 33rd birthday when he got the call. Two NHL games. One fight. And he took down John Scott. “JJ’s a big teddy bear,” Mayfield said. “No doubt the toughest guy I ever played with, but he was like the team Dad. We had a great routine in our “You win a game at that time of the year, sitting where we were, and it house: If we didn’t have a game, we’d watch ‘Jeopardy!’ together and doesn’t do anything for you,” Thomas Hickey said. “For us, back then, you’d get a point for calling out the right answer. Most times me and what JJ did was more than a win — it was something to feel good about. Wets had to pool our points to keep up with JJ. He still won. He loved to Everyone felt great to feel that happy for him, and some of those guys wrestle, too. I’m not a small guy but he’s a tough SOB. It was a fun year.” knew him for 48 hours. That tells you all you need to know about the guy.” Johnson loved that season, too. He and Gallant became fast friends, sitting at the back of the bus and thinking about which NHL heavyweights Scott, after taking a Johnson left hook to the jaw, just laughs in the video they’d fight and how they’d approach each one. Somehow it doesn’t clip. In his Players Tribune piece after he retired in 2016, Scott said he sound strange — even six years ago, the AHL could be a free-for-all of lost only one fight cleanly: “Congratulations, Justin Johnson. You caught fisticuffs, and Gallant (255 penalty minutes) and Johnson (195) fit right in. me with the left hook. What can I say? Good job.” There were 13 AHLers with more PIMs than Johnson that season.

Maybe it was luck. Johnson and Scott had crossed paths in college, At the NHL level, the Islanders were a mess in 2013-14. GM Garth Johnson at the University of Alaska and Scott at Michigan Tech, but Snow’s major move in the first month of the season — sending Matt there’s no fighting in college hockey. So perhaps Scott didn’t know that Moulson, a first- and second-round picks to the Sabres for Thomas Johnson, despite what looks like a one-foot height and reach difference, Vanek — backfired badly. The Isles muddled along, then sunk when could deliver with the left hand like that. suffered a season-ending knee injury at the Olympics in February. But that isn’t it. “People want to say you’re lucky,” Johnson said. “I don’t think I was lucky. I was ready.” The remainder of that season for Snow and Jack Capuano was finding out which of their prospects and young players could be part of the Isles The lesson, really, is in how a 32-year-old black man from Alaska with going forward. The lineups for the games over the final two weeks of nothing much beyond modest hockey skills, a willingness to fight and a 2013-14 featured names that held some promise once upon a time: John warm, protective personality ends up knocking down the biggest, baddest Persson, Johan Sundstrom, Kevin Czuczman. Also some familiar names fighter in the NHL. That’s the beauty of Johnson’s story. just getting started: , Brock Nelson, Ryan Strome. It was 2010. Johnson was 29 and he had five years logged already in the And, for Game 79, Gallant. ECHL, bouncing from his hometown Alaska Aces to to Idaho, Utah, Cincinnati and back to Alaska. He was in Detroit, coaching a youth team “For me,” Johnson said, “I recognized it was coming to an end and he from Anchorage at a tournament and getting ready to settle into life as a was ascending in terms of one of those guys, pound for pound, just a former pro player, coaching kids and searching for the next act of his raw, fearless, huge-hearted, do-anything kind of guy. It’s easy to love career. Brett Gallant. I more saw it for him than myself. When he had that first game (against Ottawa), I drove down to Long Island so I could be there. “I had the coaching thing all set up, I figured that was where it was And he fought Matt Kassian, one of the toughest guys around. I was headed. And I get a call from (Kings assistant GM) Ron Hextall asking jumping out of my seat there! So, so excited for him.” me to come to training camp with (AHL) Manchester,” Johnson said. “I didn’t even call him back right away, I didn’t know what to do. I called Little did Johnson know he’d be making a similar drive down from Brent Thompson, my coach with Alaska (in 2009-10), and said, ‘What do Bridgeport a few days later after getting a call from Snow. I do here? Is this legit?’ “The one thing looking at my time with the Islanders, it was a land of “He was like, ‘This is the first I’m hearing of it, let me check it out.’ So he opportunity for a lot of guys,” Capuano said. “Moulson, (Matt) Martin, calls back and says, ‘Yeah, they want you there right away.’ And God Hickey, (PA) Parenteau. We always rewarded guys that worked hard. bless Brent Thompson. He’s one of those people in my life — there’s so Justin was no different. Spent a ton of time in minor hockey, in the Coast, many of them in hockey — that I just think, ‘None of this happens without worked his way up to Manchester, then he came to Bridgeport. Close to him.'” 200 penalty minutes. The homework I had on him — was a total team guy, would do anything for his teammates, just a character guy, a great Johnson spent parts of three seasons in Manchester, keeping the flies off guy. Those are the kind of guys we wanted to have on the Island. We the Kings’ young prospects. One of them was Hickey. weren’t the most talented team, but we worked. “JJ would just get everyone fired up,” Hickey said. “He wasn’t a crazy, “And it’s great that Garth gave a guy like JJ a chance — a good role rah-rah type of guy, but he would give everyone a nickname before the model for the kids in Bridgeport because he worked. Every single day in game, nothing to poke fun but just to get everyone feeling involved. It practice, he worked. We gave him a chance, but he earned that chance. was great. Everyone loved playing with him because you could tell it There’s not too many GMs who would’ve done what Garth did, but he meant so much to him to be there.” rewarded guys who did what he asked them to do.” Johnson landed in the Islanders organization for that 2013-14 season, Johnson got the call on Friday and headed to Newark for Islanders- with Thompson coaching in Bridgeport. Johnson joined Brett Gallant as Devils, Game 81. Snow pulled him into an empty room. the two heavies on that Sound Tigers team; Gallant was only 24 but making a name for himself as a willing fighter in his third season with the “He told me, ‘Just go play tonight, take it all in,'” Johnson said. “He had juvenile emotions — maybe I’m not good enough to be friends with my tremendous respect for Mr. (Lou) Lamoriello; the Devils had Marty friends because they made the team — things like that. Brodeur, Patrik Elias, Jaromir Jagr. Garth wanted no silliness that night. But in Buffalo, ‘Do what you do.'” “There’s the awkwardness at times of being a black hockey player. I think I was treated differently, but in a good way. I had the best of both worlds. Johnson wasn’t a natural fighter. He studied, he learned. YouTube was a The part of town I was from is very diverse, and then just how I evolved big help once he got to the AHL and took mixed martial arts classes in and matured and all the people I’ve been around … Hockey brought Alaska in the summer. Going into that season finale in Buffalo, he knew these guys into my life and I’m better for it. To send them a text now and there was only one opponent he wanted. get one back from guys who are in the NHL, the AHL, that makes me happy. It started in warmups. Johnson did his usual two laps without a helmet, which he thought was embarrassing, but Matt Carkner insisted — “He “When you get to do something and be appreciated for it, man, there isn’t basically took the buckets off mine and Brett’s heads,” Johnson said. anything better in life. And I had that. Having that time in hockey, with the Then he sat down near the red line to stretch, barely a foot away from Islanders, it set me up for the rest of my life.” Scott. The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020 “I apologized right off the bat for not having my helmet on, because I thought that was a little much for a guy in his second game,” Johnson said. “So I said, ‘No disrespect, but we gotta fight tonight.’ He goes, ‘My coach () likes you too much for me to beat you up.'”

Ted Nolan’s son, Jordan, was a teammate of Johnson’s in Manchester in the years prior. The Kings didn’t want their young prospect fighting in the AHL, so Johnson would step in for him. “Ted was so good to me. He’d invite me to dinner with him and Jordan when he was in town,” Johnson said. “I have a ton of respect for him. He’d even told me that day not to fight Scott. He didn’t think it would be good for me.”

Johnson felt like he had an advantage from years of fighting taller opponents. When bigger guys scrapped, they tended not to bend their knees much, just using their reach to keep shorter guys like Johnson at bay. Johnson’s technique was to get in tight, keep his center of gravity low and just wail away in close to negate the reach advantage.

But the warmup conversation with Scott wasn’t going the way Johnson wanted. “He says, ‘Why don’t you fight (Zenon) Konopka?” Johnson said. “Well, I said, that’s not what people really want to see. ‘Oh yeah?’ he goes. ‘We’ll see.’ Last thing I said was, ‘Yeah, we will see.’ And I just nodded. When I got back to the locker room, Brett was sitting next to me. I was really aware of the opportunity and I knew how fortunate I was to be there, I think he could see I was … ready. He just tapped me on the knee and said, ‘You OK?'”

The Sabres iced the puck on the first shift and Capuano sent his fourth line out: Johnson and Gallant with Mike Halmo, another feisty rookie pro, in the middle. Scott was on the bench still. “I think Brett told Halmo to lose the draw,” Johnson said.

The puck came out of the zone and Konopka hopped the boards first. Scott had a leg over, waiting for his man to come off. “Konopka came out first and I was right by the bench,” Johnson said. “I just shook my head and yelled, ‘Scott!’ Just like that. ‘Scott!’ It must have sounded crazy.”

Scott came on and they dropped the gloves. Scott threw the first few punches as Johnson tried to get inside leverage. Johnson got off a couple of lefts that didn’t connect, they wrestled a bit and then Johnson caught Scott flush. The camera didn’t catch the Islanders’ reaction from the bench, but the cut to Capuano shows the hint of a smile on the coach’s face.

“Guys try to make their mark when they come up the best way they know how,” Capuano said. “If they’re a goal scorer, a goalie, whatever. Justin made his mark with the physical side. Good on Scott for fighting him when he probably didn’t have to. And Justin showed why he was able to play pro hockey for a long time.”

As he skated to the penalty box, Travis Hamonic skated over to yell in Johnson’s ear. “He goes, ‘You’re a legend!'” Johnson said with a laugh. “I looked over at the bench, guys were high-fiving — you’d have thought it was a junior B game in Saskatchewan. And I’m sitting there thinking, ‘Did that just happen?'”

Johnson flew back to Long Island — he asked the attendant on the charter to wrap up his meal, drawing some good-natured ribbing from his Islander teammates — and headed into the offseason. He played one more year with his hometown Aces and then eight games with the AHL in 2015-16. And that was it.

“That was the culmination,” Johnson said of his night in Buffalo. “I was lucky it got to see the light of day. I can say it worked out. Whatever that life’s dedication or commitment, I got to see the highest peak of it. Growing up, you get cut, don’t make teams, you go through all the 1182490 New York Rangers It would give management more time in which to assess Strome’s value and to ruminate over the wisdom of signing him to a long-term deal. In the alternative, he would likely become a prime rental property heading into next year’s deadline. Ryan Strome’s likely Rangers contract outcome after Artemi Panarin success The friendly and loquacious chap from just outside Toronto has always had the talent. That’s why he was drafted fifth overall by the Islanders in the 2011 entry draft, one slot ahead of where the Senators selected Zibanejad, one slot after the Devils tabbed Adam Larsson. By Larry BrooksApril 9, 2020 | 3:12pm | Updated That draft was the most center-centric one that I can find, with Ryan

Nugent-Hopkins going first overall and four straight from fifth through Part 19 in a series analyzing the Rangers. eighth in Strome, Zibanejad, (Winnipeg) and (Philadelphia). J.T. Miller was drafted 15th overall as a center This is where you must begin with a Ryan Strome overview: He was by the Rangers. Philip Danault (Chicago) and Vlad Namestnikov (Tampa acquired from Edmonton on Nov. 16, 2018, in a one-for-one trade for Bay) came later in the first round. Ryan Spooner. It was the most center-centric draft, but you’d probably take the crop of It was a bait-and-switch deal, that’s what it pretty much turned out to be, pivots selected in the 2003 super draft. That was the year of , when general manager Jeff Gorton was more than able to make amends , , , Mike Richards and . for perhaps the most incomprehensible decision of his tenure in granting You couldn’t go wrong with 2005, either, when , Gilbert Spooner a two-year, $8 million contract following the 2017-18 season Brule, Anze Kopitar, Martin Hanzal and Andrew Cogliano were selected. instead of not qualifying the barely interested forward. That is history, of course. So is the magnitude of Spooner for Strome. Strome has recorded 92 points (36-56) in 133 games with the Blueshirts while emerging this season as Artemi Panarin’s pivot-in-crime. Spooner, New York Post LOADED: 04.10.2020 meanwhile, well, he put up three points (2-1) in 25 games for the Oilers before being sent to the Canucks, where he registered four points (0-4) in 11 games at the end of 2018-19. This year, Spooner was in the KHL, playing for Dinamo Minsk, where well-placed sources report that he met Rochelle, Rochelle after her long journey from Milan.

Peter Chiarelli already paid with his job as the Oilers’ GM, and the Strome Saga might have had something to do with it. Edmonton acquired Strome from the Islanders in exchange for in June 2017. Strome recorded 36 points (14-22) in 100 games for the Oilers and had been demoted to the fourth line immediately preceding his trade to the Rangers. Meanwhile, Eberle has recorded 136 points (60-76) in 217 games for the Islanders and plays on the first line with Mat Barzal.

But back to Broadway, where Panarin and Strome fit the way Panarin and Pierre-Luc Dubois fit in Columbus and Panarin and Artem Anisimov fit in Chicago. That is not to Strome’s detriment, even as the argument against granting the pending restricted free agent an expensive long-term deal tends to focus on the fact that the centerman’s numbers (18-41-59) were inflated because of the identity of the hockey superhero on his left. Well, thank you for the news flash.

Fact is, not everyone has it in his game, or even his makeup, to complement a star, especially one as savvy as Panarin. Strome has proven that he can think the game with Panarin. Not everyone can. He has proven that he is not intimidated by playing with No. 10.

The formation of such a strong partnership allowed David Quinn to split Panarin and so that the Rangers could come at you with two formidable units rather than one power line. That became their team strength.

There are things for Strome, who turns 27 in July, to clean up. There are a few too many shifts where he takes what were described as “walkabouts” when applied to the great Australian tennis champion Evonne Goolagong Cawley. His penchant for taking careless penalties got him benched a few times, even as late as March 1 against the Flyers. His 17 minors at five-on-five were tied for the fifth-most among NHL forwards (per Naturalstattrick.com). What’s worse is that No. 16 somehow managed to draw only three penalties, himself.

The Rangers are going to have to balance Strome’s strengths and weaknesses against the club’s situation in the middle when approaching his restricted free agency this summer. Unless management acquires a no-questions-asked top-six center in a trade in which Tony DeAngelo would presumably be the prime piece going the other way, I’d expect the Blueshirts to keep Strome on a one-year deal, preferably without having to go through an unhelpful arbitration hearing.

Yes, that would put Strome in the position of being one year away from unrestricted free agency, but it would maintain the Panarin equation. The Russian Rockette was on for 700:48 of the Canadian’s 947:22 at full strength, or 74 percent of the time. The pair produced positive possession and shot-share numbers while posting a goals-for percentage of 62.75 percent, on for 48 Rangers goals and 25 for the opposition. 1182491 New York Rangers compensation. So while an arbitrator decided whether the Rangers would send Edmonton young tough guy Troy Mallette or other youngsters Steven Rice and Louie DeBrusk, Graves modestly spoke of them, especially Mallette, as “great players.” Seriously. My favorite player: Adam Graves It turned out to be Mallette. I must admit, and I wasn’t alone, but I wondered if Smith wasn’t giving up too much for a kid who had scored seven goals the season before. Not to mention the $2.45 million to be By Rick Carpiniello Apr 9, 2020 spread out over five seasons. Soon it became an absolute heist.

Graves also had more than an inkling that his idol Messier was following The idea, an editor suggested to me, is for our writers here at The him from Edmonton, where they won a Cup together in 1990. So Athletic to do a story on our favorite player – either a favorite as a fan incensed over the signing was Oilers GM that he told Smith growing up, or a favorite that each of us has covered. he “just cost yourself Mark Messier.” Of course, he hadn’t. Graves even kept Messier’s No. 11 warm on opening night in Boston. The trade for By the time that sentence was finished, I already knew my answer. Messier was announced the next morning in Montreal, and Graves switched to ’ No. 9, Nicholls having been sent to I have covered better players – , Mark Messier, for heaven’s Edmonton (with Rice and DeBrusk) in the trade. That No. 9 would sake, Wayne Gretzky. I have closer relationships, probably, with Leetch, eventually go to the rafters, not just for the 52 goals that Cup year, or for and with , who I’ve known for 40-plus years and is now a the 280 he’d score as a Ranger, or for the five Steven McDonald Extra fellow media member. Effort awards or four Players’ Player awards he won, but also for the kind I thought, too, for a split second, that a favorite player would have to not of person he was, what he did for the team and for the community. He only be the type of player that I wish I could have been, but also the type was the recipient of the King Clancy Memorial award for leadership and of person that you could only hope and strive to be. humanitarian contributions to his community, the NHL foundation award for core values of hockey and enriching the lives of people in the So there is only one, and a lot of close seconds. community, and the Bill Masteron award for perseverance and Adam Graves is the best person I have ever met. The nicest, most dedication. giving, selfless human being I’ve come across, and that includes family Leetch called Graves the “foundation” and the “heart and soul” of the (apologies to grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles, but it’s true). championship team. Messier called him “my lieutenant.” If Graves hadn’t As I think about that, I also think that Graves might have trouble with played most of his career with Messier, he would certainly have been a social distancing. That was never something in his vocabulary. Rather captain himself, and a fine one (he wore the “C” at least a few times in he’d glad-hand anybody who got near him, handshakes, hugs, Messier’s absence). autographs, photos, selfies, conversations – sparing his time with others I so clearly remember in the shipwreck of a season that was ’92-93, as often and for as long as he could, and never in the look away/get when Messier’s disagreements with coach were boiling away mode so many other athletes employ even when they’re willing to over and the Rangers were getting pummeled 11-6 in a January game in stop and sign. Buffalo, Graves standing on the bench and reading the riot act to his has suggested that Graves had met every Rangers fan teammates, Messier included. Neilson was fired two games later. once, and that most, he joked, had had sleepovers at Graves’ house. Graves was the type of player I wanted (or wished) to be – a tough, One of Graves’ favorite memories of the whole Stanley Cup year – no, honest, hard-working, responsible character guy. When I played ice it’s not his huge goal in Game 7 of the ’94 Stanley Cup final or his scoring hockey, I was a goalie. In street hockey I was a left winger always a franchise record 52 goals that season – was his Metro North train ride scrounging around the net for rebounds and tips and screens, always from Westchester into the city for the parade. As word spread that working the walls (when there were walls) for loose pucks. Graves and his wife, Violet, were in the train, hundreds of passengers wearing Rangers garb piled into that one car, sang songs and chanted But I always liked the tough guys, too – not that I was one; I wasn’t – and “Let’s Go Rangers” for the nearly one-hour ride. That’s his moment. Graves was one of the toughest. The son of a Toronto cop, he loved the rough stuff (such a dual personality, he could fight any heavyweight and Even in the post-Cup euphoria, Graves was the Ranger who dedicated trade punches with the best of them and yet be so kind and respectful). the championship to Ceil Seidel, a long-time season-ticket holder and Fan Club member who had been murdered in her apartment building Graves protected Messier to the nth degree – and also Leetch, or any shortly before the Cup was raised. But that was – and still is – Graves. other teammate, like a combination bouncer/body guard/watch dog. He It’s who he is, what he’s about. was once tossed from a game against St. Louis on the first shift of a game when Blues ruffian Basil McRae tussled with Messier – and that “You can’t really put it into words,” Brian Leetch said. “So many little may have been a tactic on the part of McRae. Why not? (I recently saw things pile up that define a person’s character or personality. That’s even McRae and asked him about it. He just laughed and said “That was the more so for Adam because of how many little things he does on a old me”). consistent basis, out of the genuineness of his person, of his character. He does that because he listens and he cares and he sees an area Graves loved the rough stuff, still does. He laughs about the fans not where he can help. There’s lots of people who listen and might be able to exactly covering their eyes or going to the concession stands during the talk and give advice, but he’s actually someone who does something fights. Even during a recent NYPD-FDNY game at the Garden – which about it and goes out and makes a difference by his actions, as well as often gets bombastic, he’d enjoy when it got cantankerous. In fact, before being a friend and being there for support. one of the games, I went up to sit in my regular press box seat and Graves came up and joined me. Soon fans started sitting in the box. We “It was a special thing to watch. You shake your head because it’s not didn’t realize they sell those seats during non-Rangers events. A woman easy. I know his dad and mom gave him that foundation, and he had to came right up to Graves and said, “You’re in my seat.” She had no idea have that personality to carry that out. And he’s still doing it to this day.” who he was. But he characteristically apologized and moved elsewhere.

Before we get into more examples of the type of human being we’re Both of those traits – the tough body and mind, the soft soul – came from talking about here, let’s not forget the player. My favorite player. When I Graves’ parents, his dad Henry and his mother Lynda, in North York, was a kid, for a short time I was a Rangers fan. My favorite was Vic Ontario, just outside of Toronto. The Graves had three children, Adam Hadfield, a left winger, a captain, a tough guy, and until Graves, the only and his two older sisters, and they adopted a fourth, a younger brother, 50-goal scorer in Rangers history. That’s who I wanted to be. Alas, my Mark. Oh, and they took in more than 40 foster children from the time fandom waned as other interests took over in my teen years, and alas Adam was in kindergarten. Lynda Graves’ parents had done the same, Hadfield was traded for, essentially, I thought, a bag of pucks in Nick running an emergency home for foster children. Beverley. So I lost interest. These were kids who were abandoned, put into care, or taken away from But Hadfield was the prototype. their parents because of abuse. Each one was treated as a brother or a Then late in the summer of 1991, Rangers GM signed a sister and Adam would introduce them as such. Prior to Graves’ number young guy that he had scouted for Detroit, a free agent from Edmonton retirement ceremony, I asked Lynda how it was having maybe 10 kids in named Adam Graves. These were the days when free agency came with the house at once. She laughed that it was more than 10, because all of the kids’ friends, in the driveway or on the backyard rink, shooting pucks at Henry, heck, even at Lynda in goal sometimes.

That spells the story of Graves’ roots.

“I don’t think it hurt, because it teaches them to share, and the understanding,” Lynda said. “My kids were involved in all the foster kids we had. It was kind of a thing where, before we took them in, it was not a vote but we’d talk about it, what the kid was like. We had input from (our) kids, too. It has to be a united thing to work with these kids, and they were treated like my own kids. There was no difference in rules or chores or whatever. They were foster brothers and sisters, but they were basically brothers and sisters.

“All children that you get, it would be the same as your kids in a loving, well-adjusted home.”

Imagine … if you can.

The product of that loving was Graves.

In some NHL city, outside of some hotel, a kid came up to Graves and asked for two autographs, one for himself, one for his brother. Graves asked “Where’s your brother?” The kid told him he was in a local hospital. Graves signed and personalized a photo for the kid … then visited the brother at the hospital. On a game day.

I remember a dad showing up at a practice and meeting Graves, introducing him to his son, who “scored three goals last night.” Graves shook the kid’s hand and said, “but more important, how are your grades?”

A kid named Nick Springer who lost his arms and legs to a freak virus got Graves’ attention, and they became great friends. The kid would go on to be a world-class Paralympic athlete.

Graves would run an annual Christmas-time Toys for Tots benefit at Cronies, a pub in New York. He – and teammates he’d recruit – would trade autographs for new toys for underprivileged kids. The session would be scheduled from 2-4 p.m. and the lines would go around several blocks. And there past 7 p.m. would be Graves, still signing and talking to every single person until the last toy was collected. Graves wanted zero publicity for his hundreds of charitable acts – except when publicity would get people to turn out for the toy drive, or for a Garden of Dreams event, or some other worthy cause.

This is why he’s my favorite. The most humble and caring human I know, one with the platform a wildly-popular athlete has, but also one willing to use it to make the world a better place.

He does it, Messier said, “because that’s who he is.”

On the night his jersey went to the Garden rafters, Graves emerged between lines of New York policemen and firefighters. Included in the ceremony were many kids from Garden of Dreams.

And as the jersey was being raised, Graves had tears in his eyes. His son, Logan, then age nine, became worried. Graves hugged his son and said, “It’s OK. I’m crying because I’m happy.”

That’s why he’s my favorite.

The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020

1182492 Ottawa Senators “That made it home even more for me that these people are exposing themselves, and in turn, potentially exposing people they love in the name of the greater good and helping those people who need that medical help. It really is amazing to see. They deserve all our support, Mark Borowiecki is 'thankful' he wasn't on the California trip with the thoughts and love. It’s perspective for someone like me. Senators “I think a back-to-back is hard by playing two games in a row. There’s people pulling long hours at a hospital exposing themselves to something that we don’t know a lot about. These are the people who are the true Bruce Garrioch warriors and actually making the sacrifice by working hard.”

This has been a different few months for Borowiecki. An unrestricted free Mark Borowiecki is self-isolating at his home near Almonte, spending agent on July 1, there was no shortage of talk about his future with the time with his wife Tara and newborn son Miles, and the biggest concern club at the deadline, but he stayed put, his wife gave birth not long before for the Ottawa Senators alternate captain isn’t when or even if he’ll return that and he suffered an ankle injury that would have sidelined him for the to the Canadian Tire Centre. balance of the season.

Hindsight is 20/20, but with Miles being only eight weeks old and seven “Trying to step back and have some perspective has helped me mature people in the club’s travelling party coming down with COVID-19, and definitely view things differently,” Borowiecki said. “It has been a very Borowiecki noted on a video conference Thursday afternoon with eventful season for me — good and bad. It’s taught me patience, belief in reporters he’s relieved he wasn’t on that road trip through California myself and the importance of family. Becoming a father has really March 6-12 because he was sidelined with an ankle injury when the changed my priorities and perspectives. league went on pause. “My decisions in life, and how I handle myself in what I do and what I say, “It’s a little serendipity for sure,” Borowiecki said from his home. “You’re they don’t just directly affect me now or me and Tara, we have Miles to bummed out being injured, but looking back in hindsight I’m very thankful care for, and everything we do in life and how we try to live our lives it’s and fortunate. At that given time, it seemed like L.A. and California was about helping Miles going forward and setting a good example for Miles the epicentre for things in North America. I had that in the back of my going forward. We’ve really enjoyed that and we feel very fulfilled and mind, actually not being on the trip, and then coming back having a very thankful.” number of the guys be exposed and fall ill. Ottawa Sun LOADED: 04.10.2020 “I was very, very thankful to be here at home. My No. 1 priority in my life is the health and well-being of Tara and Miles, and that trumps everything for me so I’m very, very thankful.”

Borowiecki was concerned for the five teammates, staff member and TSN 1200 broadcaster Gord Wilson, who were all stricken by the virus after being aboard the club’s Air Canada Jetz charter.

“What a strange situation. It’s nothing new to hear that, but it’s just something I never thought I’d have to think about or worry about,” said Borowiecki. “Tara and I have had this discussion numerous times to try to digest everything and make sense of it. It’s nothing in your wildest imagination you would imagine happening.

“Luckily, I’m in a field and profession where it’s a lot of young, healthy men who are kind of in peak physical condition and it seems like that’s not the most at-risk group, but, again, there’s more news and information out there that young people are getting sick so, at the time, I wasn’t as concerned knowing these guys are in great shape, but it’s still alarming.

“This situation, this virus, it’s all so new and there’s not a lot known about it. When it’s people you care about like family and they get sick with anything, you’re going to be concerned so thankfully it seems like everybody’s on the mend, if not fully healthy, so thank God for that.”

All he wants is for everybody to stay safe and healthy.

Hockey has taken a backseat as the threat of the novel coronavirus pandemic has spread throughout the world. Borowiecki, 30, an Ottawa native, is just hopeful everybody is doing their part to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

“The message has to be consistent and clear: We all have to make sacrifices here,” Borowiecki said. “It’s our civic responsibility and civic duty to make sure we’re looking out, especially for the most vulnerable members of our community, the people who are immunosuppressed, the elderly, people who are very susceptible to this virus.

“At the end of the day, for a lot of us, we’re very fortunate and it’s not a hard sacrifice. We stay inside, we’re responsible, we’re empathetic and we’re compassionate and understand that there’s people out there who are depending on us being safe and responsible and self-isolating. Let’s all band here together, let’s suck it up a bit and do what’s best for our community.”

No, Borowiecki doesn’t have family in the health field, but a friend from his days at Clarkson University is at a hospital in Philadelphia.

“We do have friends who are nurses and I have a very close friend of mine, one of my roommates from Clarkson, is doing residency in Philadelphia as a doctor,” Borowiecki said. “He sent me a picture the other day with his protective equipment and it was strange to see. 1182493 Ottawa Senators

Ottawa Senators sign prospect forward Mark Kastelic to entry-level deal

Bruce Garrioch

Mark Kastelic cashed in on his junior success Thursday.

The Ottawa Senators rewarded their fifth-round pick in the 2019 draft from the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL with a three-year entry-level deal. The 21-year-old Kastelic, a Phoenix native, produced 38 goals and 68 points before the Canadian Hockey League cancelled the balance of its season last month.

“Since being drafted just last June, Mark has worked hard to earn this contract,” said Ottawa general manager Pierre Dorion in a statement after the signing. “We were pleased to see how he progressed in his overage season in Calgary, where he served as Hitmen captain for two consecutive seasons, and where he was on track to post his most productive major junior season. He’s a solid two-way centre who shows strong attention to detail in his play.”

Kastelic finished his junior career with 126 goals for the Calgary franchise, which places him third all-time, and also amassed 402 penalty minutes.

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182494 Ottawa Senators

Mark Borowiecki expects he'd be ready if the Senators do get a chance to finish the season

Bruce Garrioch

If the Ottawa Senators do get to play the final 11 games of the season, Mark Borowiecki is certain he’d be ready for action.

Sidelined with an ankle injury before the league went on pause, Borowiecki told reporters in a video conference Thursday afternoon he has been working out at home and is confident he’d be ready to play if the season resumed, but he hasn’t skated.

“I’m feeling really good,” said Borowiecki. “Given the circumstances, it’s a bit tough to tell on-ice wise. I have a pair skates at home that I haven’t yet put on. I’ve been training very hard. I’ve got a pretty sweet setup at home and I’m pretty fortunate because that’s where I train in the summers. Everything was in storage and I hadn’t really been anticipating an early start like this.

“I’ve been able to push it pretty hard and it’s responding well. I’ve been feeling better and better every day. I’ve been running, I’ve been active, jumping on it. No issues, no ill-effects, so I would imagine I’m very far along, if not completely healthy.”

An unrestricted free agent, Borowiecki was asked if he had given any thought to the fact he may have suited up for his final game in the club’s uniform. (It should be noted general manager Pierre Dorion has stated he intends to sign the rugged blueliner to a deal that will make him a “Senator for life”.)

“That’s an interesting question. To be honest, I haven’t given it a whole lot of thought, just ’cause it wasn’t something that I was prepared for. I had come to terms with the injury a little bit, but there’s so much up in the air for me this summer and that’s taken a bit of a backseat given the circumstances,” said Borowiecki.

“A question like that, and having to think about that, invokes a lot of emotion in me, given everything I’ve had with this organization. You guys have watched me literally bleed for this team and to not be part of this team would be a difficult change for sure, but we don’t know what the future holds so we’ll take it as it comes when all is said and done.”

Borowiecki said hockey shouldn’t be at the forefront at the moment.

“I can see a scenario where we do get started. There’s a lot at stake for us as a league, as players and as professionals,” said Borowiecki. “The bigger thing for me is is a game, it’s a sport, and I understand that sport happening is a return to a sense of normalcy and it can be good for people in a time of coping and getting over this.

“What’s even more important are tangible health results, where people are healthy and safe. That’s my priority right now. As a players union and as a league, we really have to plan for anything going forward. If you do get the green light you want to be ready to hit the ground running. But, at the same time, you don’t want to sound tone-deaf. We’re a group of extremely privileged, fortunate people who aren’t going through much hardship right now.

“Are we losing revenue? Sure. Are we going to take a hit for it financially? Sure, but we’re still in a much better position than 99 per cent of the population and we need to be cognizant of that. The sanctity of the game and playoff tradition mean nothing when people in our communities are losing their livelihoods, losing jobs, struggling to make ends meet financially and local businesses are floundering.

“All that stuff should take priority right now. That’s my focus. Hockey is still going to be here after this pandemic and we have a passionate people in our union and our league who are going to do what’s right to get this going when the time is right.”

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182495 Philadelphia Flyers Hart, shown stopping a shot from Columbus' Kevin Stenlund on Feb. 18, came into the season prepared for the grind of what originally would've been an 82-game schedule.

Flyers’ Carter Hart misses ‘electric’ Wells Fargo Center, says he would As for his first full season in the league, Hart said he learned that need a week or two to be ready to return maintenance days -- such as occasionally missing a practice after a game -- were important and “keeping yourself healthy off the ice. ... and doing all the little things to make sure you’re ready every night to perform and decreasing your chances of injury.” by Sam Carchidi, The Flyers have held numerous group chats and many teammates have

played video games against each other during the break. “We have a Carter Hart’s first full NHL season has gone well, but he knows a goalie’s really tight group here,” Hart said. reputation is built on the way he plays in the Stanley Cup playoffs, which Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 04.10.2020 may or may not be held because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Gary Bettman, the NHL commissioner, acknowledged earlier this week that the regular season, suspended March 12, may not resume. He sounded hopeful, however, that some sort of playoff format will he held in the summer.

That would work for Hart.

“I was definitely excited to hopefully play a playoff game this year,” the Flyers’ goalie said in a conference call Thursday. “It’s every kid’s dream to play in the Stanley Cup playoffs. I mean, hopefully we get that chance still coming up.”

Hart, 21, is back home in the Edmonton area, trying to stay in shape by lifting weights, riding an exercise bike down his basement, performing exercises sent by Flyers strength coach Chis Osmond, and doing yoga twice a week with an instructor. He has not been on the ice during the break.

“It sucks that we’re not playing hockey right now, but there are bigger things going on in the world," Hart said, adding he missed playing in the “electric" Wells Fargo Center.

“Everybody’s in the same boat and we all have to try to do our part. I know all the medical workers, hospital workers, and essential-service workers are all doing a great job stepping up for us. We have to do our job and stay inside and just try to stay healthy so we can all resume to our normal, everyday lives.”

Hart said he would need a week or two to “get back in sync and feel the puck” before he was ready to play.

“You don’t want to rush it right away,” he said. “When you have an extended break like this, with the uncertainty of how long it’s going to be, often comes the risk of injury when you come back. I think it’s important that whenever and if we come back that we get the proper time to get back into hockey shape.”

Carter Hart deflects a New York Rangers shot away on Dec. 23, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center. Hart, in his first full season, has been spectacular at home.

Carter Hart deflects a New York Rangers shot away on Dec. 23, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center. Hart, in his first full season, has been spectacular at home.

When the season was stopped, Hart was 24-13-3 with a 2.42 goals- against average and .914 save percentage. At home, he was spectacular (20-3-2 record, 1,63 GAA, .943 save percentage), but he struggled mightily on the road, where he was 4-10-1 with a 3.81 GAA and an .857 save percentage.

If the regular season is over and the NHL doesn’t change its playoff format, the Flyers would have the home-ice advantage in a first-round series against Pittsburgh.

Hart said he has heard a “ton of rumors” on how the playoffs would be formatted if the season returns. “As professional athletes, we have to make sure we find a way to stay ready now, so when that time does come, we’re prepared no matter what kind of format it is.”

The Flyers (41-21-7) were on a 17-5-1 run when play was halted.

“We put ourselves in a good position down the stretch,” Hart said. “It definitely sucks that we didn’t get to finish it out. ... Hopefully we get that chance down the line when everything gets back to normal.”

Hart, shown stopping a shot from Columbus' Kevin Stenlund on Feb. 18, came into the season prepared for the grind of what originally would've been an 82-game schedule. 1182496 Philadelphia Flyers Heading into the third period, the Flyers had outshot the Blueshirts, 30- 13, but were trailing, 1-0.

Frenzied fans Flyers flashback: Shootout win over Rangers in 2010 finale sent them on With 13 minutes, 6 seconds left in regulation, Carle sent the anxious course for a near Stanley Cup championship crowd into a frenzy, scoring a power-play goal to knot the score at 1-1. After Lundqvist denied Briere, Carter kept the rebound alive and Carle scored on a backhander. by Sam Carchidi, “We were peppering him the whole game and we knew if we stuck with it, something good was going to happen,” Carle, a defenseman whose team outshot the Rangers, 47-25, said at the time. “I was fortunate that it Rewind the video. Back to April 11, 2010. Back to a regular-season finale bounced right on my tape and I was able to bury it.” -- the New York Rangers facing the Flyers at a percolating building then known as the Wachovia Center -- that would send the winner to the “I remember Lundqvist saying it was one of the toughest games he’s had playoffs and the loser to the course. to play in, with the mental aspect and because we were all over them,” Briere said. “We were in their zone constantly, so he didn’t have a In short, it was one of the most important regular-season games in the chance to get a breather during the game.” Flyers’ history, and they emerged with a tense 2-1 shootout victory, a win that nearly propelled Team Resilient to an improbable Stanley Cup After Carle’s goal, the Flyers, coached by , had three championship, a win that goalie called the greatest of his quality chances that Lundqvist turned aside – including a Gagne shot that career. the goalie deflected off the crossbar.

“I’ve had a lot of time to think about it, and I think it’s the No. 1 moment The Rangers were on their heels late in regulation and in the overtime, for me,” Boucher, 43, an NHL analyst for NBC, said from his Haddonfield content to take their chances in a shootout, where they figured Lundqvist home Tuesday. “From a one-game standpoint, that’s the one. If you won would give them a decided edge. a Stanley Cup, I’m sure that would be the pinnacle of a career, but I never had that opportunity.” Rangers 'playing for the shootout’

Boucher’s career also included a modern NHL record scoreless streak of “Looking back, I think they were playing for the shootout,” Briere said. 332 minutes, 1 second, which he posted with the Phoenix Coyotes in “They knew they had one of the best shootout goalies in the history of the 2003-04. NHL, and we were not doing well in shootouts ourselves.”

“The game where I broke the streak was great,” Boucher said. In the first shot of the shootout, Briere gave the Flyers the lead by “That was a personal accomplishment in the middle of a season. This beating Lundqvist on the forehand from in close. was a team accomplishment where two teams are playing one another The Flyers' Danny Briere goes flying after scoring the first goal in the and the winner is going into the playoffs. It’s not like if the Rangers lost shootout on Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. they were still going into the playoffs. It meant everything. In a way, it was as close as you can get to a Stanley Cup Final during the regular RONALD CORTES season.” The Flyers' Danny Briere goes flying after scoring the first goal in the Boucher, though admitting he was “scared” before making his game- shootout on Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. winning save, outdueled the great Henrik Lundqvist in the shootout that early evening. Two months and 14 playoff victories after that showdown, “It’s funny because in most of my shootouts, whenever I would come in, I the Flyers came oh, so close to forcing a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup would have three moves ready, and then depending on what the goalie Final against Chicago. would give me, I would adjust on my way toward the net,” Briere said.

But to even reach the playoffs, the Flyers had to overcome a 1-0 third- “In that instance, because of how big the moment was, I knew what my period deficit against Lundqvist and the Rangers in Game 82 of the move was going to be and I knew Lundqvist well enough that I knew I regular season. Saturday marks the 10th anniversary of that emotional didn’t have to change my move. I knew exactly what I wanted to do; it matchup. was just a matter of executing.”

High stakes The standing-room-only crowd stood as Briere skated toward Lundqvist.

The stakes were high for both the teams – the then-underachieving “I remember telling myself when I jumped on the ice, ‘Don’t think about Flyers, who had faded badly down the stretch, and the surging Rangers, the moment. Just focus on the net.’ I remember zoning out," Briere said. who were 7-1-1 in their last nine games before that regular-season finale. "I don’t even remember what the crowd was doing. I don’t know if the crowd was cheering as I was coming down or if it was quiet. I was able to “With the team and the players that we had, I didn’t even want to think completely block everything out and all I could see was the net. My move about missing the playoffs,” Danny Briere, a star center on that team, and the net. That’s all I was thinking about.” recalled earlier this week. “I know we struggled down the stretch that year and almost lost our spot, but when you think about the players we Briere came in and faked the shot to freeze Lundqvist, made a quick had” -- including Simon Gagne, Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Scott move to the left then came back to the right and lifted the puck over the Hartnell, , , Kimmo Timonen, Braydon goalie’s pad. Coburn, Matt Carle, and rookie James van Riemsdyk – “it would have “I knew Lundqvist would go into a butterfly and as I came back to my been inexcusable to not make the playoffs. strong side, he would have his pad down toward the post and all I “I never let my brain go down that path of not making the playoffs needed to do was put it over his pad," Briere said. because it would have been terrifying to think about that,” he added. Briere, who can analyze a game with the best of them, said his move Game 82 that season would be decided by defense, Rangers coach “sounds easy when you explain it that way, but for everything to go John Tortorella hoped, mindful that his team couldn’t match the Flyers’ perfectly well and for the puck to sit flat and make the move at the right offensive firepower. time so he can’t poke-check you [is difficult]. And you can’t go too fast and can’t be too far away from the net. A lot of it is timing. You have to The Rangers got an early first-period goal from Jody Shelley, of have your timing perfectly right.” all people, and then went into a defensive shell. They allowed the Flyers lots of shots, but most were from the perimeter. Added Briere: “I knew I didn’t have to go too high with the shot, so I didn’t have to risk shooting the puck over the net. I just had to get it over the “After Jody Shelley’s goal, I felt they sat back and played Torts’ style,” height of his pad laying on the ice.” recalled Briere, 42, vice president of operations for the Maine Mariners, an ECHL team owned by the Flyers’ parent company, Comcast Boucher stopped Erik Christensen on New York’s first shootout attempt, Spectacor. “They played tight defensively and gave us the outside shot. and Lundqvist then denied Richards. The Rangers tied it as P.A. And when you have a goalie like Lundqvist, you’re bound to win some of Parenteau lifted a shot over Boucher. those games.” Giroux’s surprise

Up stepped Giroux, who usually tried to deke a goalie in these situations. He remembered a pregame discussion he had with Flyers goalie coach Jeff Reese about Lundqvist’s shootout tendencies. This time, he surprised Lundqvist by whipping a shot between his legs.

Claude Giroux scores a shootout goal with a shot that went through the legs of Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist.

That meant the Flyers would win the shootout and climb into the playoffs if Boucher could stop .

“The strategy for a goaltender in a shootout is patience and matching the speed of the shooter,” Boucher said. “The hard part in that situation is to remain calm because you realize how big a moment this is.

"I was nervous. I’m not going to lie to you. I was scared. You’re in your own building, which is great energy, but at the same time, you want to be able to deliver. You have time to think about that. Before the shootout, you go back to the bench, and the nerves ramp up.”

Boucher said on his first shootout save, “I felt I did a good job of being patient and matching the speed of Christensen. It was a solid save, and on the goal I gave up to Parenteau, he lost the puck, but I was backing in too quick And even though it went off my paddle and up and over me and was an unfortunate break, I didn’t do a real good job on that one – and I don’t think I did a real good job on Jokinen’s, either.”

Didn’t do a good job on one of the most memorable and critical regular- season saves in the Flyers history?

“He was coming in from all the way down the other end of the ice and I was not calm or patient,” Boucher said. “I feel like I backed in way too much. If you see where I made that save, I’m almost on the goal line and inside my net. Had he gone forehand-backhand and gotten it up over my glove, I think it’s an easy goal.

"Fortunately for me, I think he had in his mind the whole time that he was going to go five-hole and I was able to make the pad save.”

Boucher paused.

“As far as being patient and staying calm, I don’t think I had it on that play, but I was fortunate that I don’t think Jokinen made the greatest of moves and it turned out to be a save that I made," he said.

Boucher also made, in his mind, the most memorable victory celebration of his 13-year NHL career.

For that, he can thank Lundqvist.

Victory dance

“We lost in Game 81 in New York, 4-3, and we could have clinched" a playoff spot with a win, Boucher said. “And I remember I’m sitting on the bench [after he was pulled late in the game] for an extra attacker, and when the horn goes off, Lundqvist always does this thing where he takes his stick and hits his post and then he gives like a fist-pump with his blocker. That’s his signature celebration. It’s a pretty cool celebration. It’s consistent and he always does it in big moments.

"And I remember standing on the bench and I was like, that son of a ….. And I said to myself, ‘I swear if we win Game 82, I’m doing his celebration because I was so mad and I was seething on the train ride back to Philly.”

After stopping Jokinen and giving the Flyers a playoff berth for the 34th time in 42 seasons, Boucher did his “Lundqvist.” Sort of.

“The problem was, I slipped when I went to get up” after making the save, Boucher said with a laugh. “I had to regain my footing and I gave the fist-pump.”

He also added a little extra to Lundqvist’s celebration.

“I don’t know if he gets the right leg up high like I did when we did it,” Boucher said. “I think Danny [Briere] was the first to celebrate with me. I probably squeezed him so hard. I was so fired up to get it done. It was such a big moment for me.”

And for his teammates, who used that win as a springboard for a remarkable playoff run that fell just short of the franchise’s first Stanley Cup since 1975.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182497 Philadelphia Flyers But another important self-maintenance program has to do with mental toughness, the art of patience. Pretty tough for a young goalie to do in these circumstances.

Home is where Hart is ... which is hard for the Flyers goalie "For sure, I was definitely excited to play a playoff game, hopefully this year," Hart said. "It’s every kid’s dream to play in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Hopefully we can get that chance still coming up, depending on the circumstances here. By Rob Parent "We put ourselves in a good position there down the stretch. It definitely

sucks that we didn’t get to finish it out. It sucks that we are not playing It's not easy for Flyers goalie Carter Hart to stand by and not do much at right now in the playoffs. Hopefully we get that chance here down the line a time he was supposed to be playing in his first career Stanley Cup once everything is back to normal." playoff round. But considering the coronavirus circumstances, Hart says, Delaware County Times LOADED: 04.10.2020 "...we have to do our part here and stay inside."

The Flyers had been on absolute roll since early January, and there were no real signs of any slowdown. They had won nine of 10 games and were within a point of the front-running .

There wasn't much doubt in anyone's mind who were aware of what they were in the process of doing: The Flyers not only were on a course for the NHL playoffs, they were joining the conversation of front-running Stanley Cup contenders.

They flew to Tampa on the night of March 11, ready to exhibit their newfound powers at one of the most difficult places in the league to play.

They never got the chance.

Since the NHL called a halt to all games due to the coronavirus March 12, there simply has been too much to worry about for most people to pay much attention to life without hockey.

That certainly isn't true, of course, if you're a hockey player.

Especially so if you're a rising young star who was fully expecting during this second week of April to be paying attention to the first round of NHL playoffs in his career.

"It sucks that we’re not playing hockey right now," Flyers goalie Carter Hart said during a Thursday conference call. "There’s bigger things going on right now in the world. Everybody’s in the same boat. We all have to try and do our part. I know everybody that’s working on the front line, all the medical workers, hospital workers, essential service workers; they are all doing great jobs stepping up for us. We have to do our part here and stay inside. Just try to stay healthy and beat this thing, so that we can all resume our normal, everyday lives."

Although there is actual optimism to be found in the otherwise gloomy, frightening numbers played out in vivid red on the TV screens right now, the obvious truth is that a greater sense of "normal" is still quite a ways away.

There wasn't much of an optimistic outlook by Gary Bettman Tuesday when in an interview with NBC Sports he pointed a couple of weeks down the road, but only in saying he may or may not "know more by the end of April."

Bettman went on to say the league was "Viewing all of our options," and would not extrapolate on what he really meant by that.

Jumping right into the playoffs? Playing a shortened version of the end of the regular season?

"Nothing’s been ruled in, nothing’s been ruled out," Bettman said.

You can tell he's had experience at this league shutdown thing.

"You hear a ton of rumors out there, but you can’t really know what’s true and what’s not," Hart said. "I think when the time comes or the decision comes, (we) professional athletes have to make sure we find a way to stay ready now. When that time does come, we’re prepared, no matter what the format is."

For his part, Hart is back at his Sherwood Park, Alberta home, hitting his set of free weights and likely taking out his frustrations on a bike and a speed bag. The club's strength coach is sending out home programs for all the players, too.

"I have that all to stay in shape," Hart said. "Actually, my yoga instructor is still doing one-on-one so I am getting to see her two times a week. There’s no ice anywhere so I can’t really skate ... we just have to maintain our fitness levels." 1182498 Philadelphia Flyers

James van Riemsdyk erupts, a Scott Hartnell look-alike and Flyers crush Rangers in NHL 20

By Jordan Hall April 09, 2020 7:30 PM

The Flyers had one more trip to on tap.

The game was originally scheduled for April 1 and would have given the Flyers an opportunity to complete a four-game regular-season series sweep of the Rangers.

However, because of the coronavirus outbreak, which has suspended the 2019-20 NHL season, the Flyers remain 3-0-0 against New York.

So, we decided to give the Flyers their shot at a sweep on NHL 20 Thursday night as NBC Sports Philadelphia aired a simulation with the amazing trio of Jim Jackson, and Taryn Hatcher on the call.

The Flyers jumped all over the chance by racing out to a monstrous lead and holding on to beat the Rangers, 6-4. James van Riemsdyk was a force with four points (two goals, two assists), while Nicolas Aube-Kubel (one goal, one assist), Claude Giroux (two assists), Ivan Provorov (two assists) and Travis Sanheim (two assists) had multi-point efforts.

By the way, how about Jackson's setup? Outstanding.

Leading the way, van Riemsdyk scored a second-period goal and a first- period power play tally. He was in his office for both of them.

After his second marker, van Riemsdyk had the look of "another goal, not a big deal."

After van Riemsdyk's first-period goal, Giroux came in from the top rope on his celebration. Provorov, a little nervous.

During the third period, Tyler Pitlick punctuated the blowout by making it 6-1. His rebound goal was so powerful, it ripped through the net.

In the first period, Carter Hart weathered the storm as the Rangers were all over him.

The Flyers had a chance to strike first thanks to the 21-year-old goalie. Jakub Voracek did the honors for the orange and black by slinging home a rebound past Henrik Lundqvist.

The sequence all started off a nice play by Justin Braun. Voracek was all smiles and then did some visualizing on the bench.

There was a bold and daring Flyers fan at MSG. Let's hope he got home safely. He enjoyed his New York trip.

As the MSG public address announcer was announcing van Riemsdyk's first-period goal, the Flyers scored again with Scott Laughton ballooning the lead to 3-0.

We’re missing real hockey, but this simulated Laughton goal is pretty good, too. pic.twitter.com/U5zPikdVGA

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) April 9, 2020

After the Rangers responded, the Flyers answered right back courtesy of Aube-Kubel.

Is it just me or does Aube-Kubel look like a clean-cut Scott Hartnell in NHL 20?

Anyway, the Flyers led 4-1 at first intermission and 5-1 at second intermission.

Ryan Strome scored two of New York's goals and Artemi Panarin added one, but the Flyers stayed in control throughout.

Let's consider that a sweep.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182499 Philadelphia Flyers A Flyers fan who was really looking forward to covering the first playoff series of her career, but will wait because the safety of others is most definitely more important right now.

Dear Flyers fans, this is certainly not the April we were expecting Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.10.2020

By Brooke Destra April 09, 2020 12:25 PM

Dear Flyers fans,

Hi, me again — you might remember me from that bandwagon letter from what seems like forever ago. I’m back, but this time, this letter is for the fans that have been waiting years for a team like this. Trust me, so have I.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs would have started Wednesday night, and like many following the All-Star break back in January — everyone started buzzing about the Flyers. They started winning games … games that would have been deemed a loss before they even started in the past — and doing so dominantly. They were winning against teams they needed to win against … and even tackled the pesky trap games.

It wasn’t easy all of the time. Some nights the puck luck just wasn't on their side — but every single night became a battle. Every two points mattered. As they climbed the standings in the league and Metropolitan Division, this team was never content with where it was — always wanting to improve. Even following impressive outings, the leaders of the locker room wouldn’t focus on their successes, but rather what they still wanted to improve on for the next matchup.

This was a fire in the Flyers that fans have not seen in years. I’ve used the term “cautious optimism” so much in the past — because that’s exactly what it was. In previous seasons, there would be sparks that gave a small sense of hope, only for that hope to be crushed some way or another. That never happened this year — well, that is, until play stopped.

For the first time in a long time, it wasn’t keeping our fingers crossed to sneak into the playoffs. We were ready to watch Philadelphia make some noise and take down everyone in its track to the Final. They always say, “All you have to do is make the playoffs and then it’s anybody’s game.”

This season, it wasn’t anybody’s game — it was the Flyers’ game. You might’ve called me crazy if this was being said back in October, but many now would agree. Things felt different.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t upset thinking about how the Wells Fargo Center would’ve been jam-packed with orange and black this week.

Playoff T-shirts being used as rally towels.

“Crosby sucks” chants so loud the walls would shake. (If they played the Penguins, of course.)

Witnessing Carter Hart’s first playoff game in front of a home crowd.

Seeing whatever chaos Gritty would’ve been doing.

Walking into work and seeing fans that had been tailgating for hours before the Wells Fargo Center would even open the doors.

Willingly spending $50 on concessions to help calm the nerves.

That first goal and celly that would’ve ignited a run for the ages.

Even the sticky floors walking to and from your seats during intermission.

We’ve been waiting for it … but now we’ll just have to wait a little bit longer.

The only positive — and probably the biggest one — is that this team wasn’t structured for one run and done. The years of drafting and building up the prospect pool, creating a strong locker room with veterans respected by all, bringing in a coach with years of playoff experience and trusting the process were all done for this reason. This is a deep team, every way you look at it, and it'll only get better in the next few seasons.

So whenever hockey does return, whether it be late in the summer or the start of next season, get ready. My gut says they’ll be back stronger than ever before and won’t rest until the Stanley Cup has a route down Broad Street.

Sincerely, 1182500 Philadelphia Flyers “We put ourselves in a good position there down the stretch,” Hart said. “It sucks that we didn’t get to finish it out and sucks that we’re not playing right now in the playoffs. Hopefully we get that chance here down the line once everything gets back to normal. People’s safety and people’s health Flyers goalie Carter Hart must wait for playoff debut, but he’s still are a little bit more important right now.” preparing Courier-Post LOADED: 04.10.2020

Dave Isaac, NHL Writer Published 4:00 p.m. ET April 9, 2020

Flyers goalie Carter Hart had a .914 save percentage and 2.42 goals against average when the NHL paused its season on March 12.

Even in Sherwood Park, Alberta, a suburb just east of Edmonton, the hockey hot stove doesn’t stop for a lockdown.

Flyers sophomore goalie Carter Hart goes out of his way not to read much in the media and even the 21-year-old has heard the ideas that are on the table if the NHL can resume its schedule after pausing March 12 for the COVID-19 coronavirus. There is talk of playing at neutral sites and also chatter of potentially foregoing the rest of the regular season and heading straight to the playoffs.

“You hear a ton of rumors out there but you can’t really know what’s true and what’s not,” Hart said on a conference call with reporters Thursday. “I think when the time comes and a decision comes, us as professional athletes have to make sure that we find a way that we stay ready now and if and when that time does come, we’re prepared no matter what kind of format it is.”

Preparation has been a big part of Hart’s lifestyle since well before he made his pro debut last season.

The mental side is something he has put a lot of time and resources into and ever since he missed time last season with an injury, he’s paid more attention to how his body works and how he can keep it fresh not only to perform now, but throughout what he hopes is a long career.

He has a stationary bike in his basement, some free weights and resistance bands that he’s been training with, hoping he and the Flyers get to resume their season. When the league paused, they were one point out of first place in the Metropolitan Division.

“Chris Osmond, our strength coach, is sending us all programs to do so I have that all to stay in shape,” Hart said. “My yoga instructor is still doing 1-on-1s so I still get to see her two times a week. There’s no ice anywhere so we can’t really skate. We just have to maintain our fitness levels off the ice.”

And, of course, maintain sanity.

Hockey players are creatures of habit and having no idea how long this pause will be or if it even resumes in time to award the Stanley Cup in 2020 is a foreign concept. Last year the Flyers missed the playoffs by 16 points so there was never much of a chance that Hart saw the NHL’s second season then.

This year, however, he had a .914 save percentage and 2.42 goals against average, one of the biggest reasons why the Flyers had been contending for first place. They had 13 regular season games left and the playoff should have begun on Wednesday.

“For sure I was definitely excited to play in a playoff game this year,” Hart said. “It’s every kid’s dream to play in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Hopefully we get that chance still coming up, depending on circumstances here.”

“We’re fine with anything they put forth,” Flyers general manager and team president said last week. “To me, the more hockey the better. Whatever it ends up being, it ends up being. I’m not particularly wed to anything. There’s a lot of ideas out there and creative solutions and it’s a good way to pass the time right now. Until things change and we have more information, it’s gonna be hard to know what’s going to happen.”

Hart, like others around the league, figures two weeks should be roughly enough time to get back in game shape if things are able to resume at some point this summer.

Meantime, he’s passing the time playing teammates in video games like Call of Duty and NBA 2K20, hoping he gets that playoff chance before the 2020-21 season. 1182501 Pittsburgh Penguins According to research by Penguins historian and former pre- and postgame network radio host Bob Grove, only 37 players in the 52- season history of the franchise have hit the 30-goal mark.

Bryan Rust content if suspension of season costs him milestone for If Rust is bothered that the coronavirus might ultimately prevent him from Penguins becoming No. 38, he isn’t letting on.

“If (the NHL eventually) plays (more) regular-season games, maybe I will get there,” he said. “And if we go right into the playoffs, that’s too bad, but CHRIS ADAMSKI | Thursday, April 9, 2020 6:27 p.m. I am still pretty happy with my season.”

Tribune Review LOADED: 04.10.2020 Despite missing the first 11 games of the season because of a hand injury, Bryan Rust blew past his career high for points Jan. 14. During the Pittsburgh Penguins’ next game three days later, he established a personal best for goals.

Each occurred before the All-Star break, and Rust kept scoring at a pace not seen from the speedy, versatile forward since he broke into the NHL in late 2014.

By the time of his March 3 hat trick, Rust was well on his way to a 30- goal season. At that point, Rust was just three goals short of 30 with 17 games remaining in the season.

Little did anyone know that a week later the Penguins would play their final game in month or more, and it could have been the final game of their season. The NHL suspended play March 12 out of concerns for the coronavirus pandemic.

Almost a month later and on a day that was supposed to be the eve of the opening of the Stanley Cup playoffs, Rust found himself at his house staring into his phone during a video conference call. A reporter asked whether he feels any extra frustration related to the seemingly lost chance to forever have the “30-goal guy” label affixed to his bio.

“I try not to think about it,” Rust said. “I think for me personally, it’s been a really good year, and I’ve been taking it in stride one day at a time and I haven’t given that any thought. Just trying to see where this whole covid thing goes and the temporary stoppage of play, and if we get back to the season.”

#Penguins’ Bryan Rust now has a team-leading 22 goals and 45 points (second on the team). That’s a long way from the meager seven points he accounted for through Dec. 9 of last year. https://t.co/GfkJxvoUnH

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) February 6, 2020

While no decisions have been made about the remainder of the NHL season, it seems increasingly unlikely teams will play their full allotment of 82 games. If the season resumes, it could jump immediately into the Stanley Cup playoffs. Another scenario floated includes a handful of regular-season games before the intensity of the postseason starts.

In the pantheon of misfortune associated with a pandemic, Rust’s missed milestone ranks low. Still, for a player known more for his skating than his hands, for his clutch scoring than his eye-popping numbers and for his penalty-killing more than power-play prowess, Rust was on the verge of joining some pretty select company.

Only 17 players (a tad bit more than, on average, one for every other NHL team) had reached 30 this season. As recently as two seasons ago, 32 players hit the 30-goal mark (almost exactly one per team, on average). In 2017-18, it was just 26; the year before that, 28.

Although a scoring renaissance led to 45 players reaching 30 goals last season, as recently as 2014-15 that number was sliced by two-thirds (15). (Last season’s crop of 30-goal men, incidentally, was the most since the 2005-06 post-lockout campaign in which an emphasis on power plays ballooned scoring.)

TRICKY TRICKY! BRYAN RUST SCORES HIS THIRD!

The Penguins take the 7-3 lead with 2:50 left in the game. pic.twitter.com/E2szQggcfO

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 4, 2020

As an illustration of how rare 30-goal seasons are, only six individuals have accomplished it for the Penguins in the 18 seasons since Jaromir Jagr was traded in 2001: Sidney Crosby (nine times), Evgeni Malkin (six times), James Neal, Chris Kunitz, and Jake Guentzel. 1182502 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins on pause: What's next in Sam Lafferty's feel-good story?

Mike DeFabo

The NHL has “paused” its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is unclear if it will resume. So, with one eye still on the future, the Post- Gazette’s Matt Vensel and Mike DeFabo are looking back at what each Penguins player did in 2019-20. We started with the captain, No. 87, and will count down by jersey number.

Sam Lafferty helped write the feel-good story of the 2019-20 Penguins season.

Growing up in Hollidaysburg, a small community about five miles from Altoona and less than two hours from Pittsburgh, Lafferty fell in love with the Penguins during the 2000-01 run to the Eastern Conference final. His first stick had “LEMIEUX” written on the side. His favorite player, naturally, was Sidney Crosby.

On Oct. 8, the local kid made his NHL debut with the hometown team, when the Penguins 4-1 lost to the Winnipeg Jets.

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan was complimentary of Lafferty early this year, saying emphatically that he “belongs” in the NHL. The right-handed forward tallied five points in his first four NHL games and was part of a core group of call-ups that helped the Penguins weather injuries to some of their biggest names and best players.

Like any rookie, Lafferty went through his growing pains. While he spent the majority of the season in the NHL, Lafferty split time between Pittsburgh and the club’s AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. In the weeks before the NHL paused its season, playing time was becoming harder to come by as the Penguins got healthier and added reinforcements via the trade market.

Lafferty, who turned 25 in March, will need to continue to evolve as his career continues to establish himself as a regular. But, as this season showed, he has several promising characteristics. At the top of the list is Lafferty’s speed. It’s probably one of his best attributes and fits seamlessly with the style of hockey the Penguins want to play. Now only time will tell if the kid who grew up watching the Penguins compete in the Eastern Conference final might also get to play in the postseason himself.

DEFINING MOMENT: When Lafferty stepped onto the ice for the first time on Oct. 8, dozens of fans from Hollidaysburg and Altoona made the trek to see the local kid make his debut. Coaches who won state championships and national titles with him. Trainers who put him through grueling workouts. Skating instructors who led him onto the ice for the first time. Neighbors. “Second dads.” Family friends. Even Lafferty’s dentist, who fixed a couple missing Chiclets, was there.

STAT THAT STANDS OUT: After putting up five points in his first four games, Lafferty recorded just eight in his next 46 games.

IF THE SEASON RESUMES: The Penguins are getting healthier. Jake Guentzel, Nick Bjugstad and Dominik Simon all might be ready to return by the time the season resumes. The club also bolstered its forward depth with the two-for-one trade that sent Dominik Kahun to Buffalo in exchange for Conor Sheary and Evan Rodrigues. The new-found health and depth might make it a challenge for the rookie to earn his spot on the postseason roster.

LONG-TERM OUTLOOK: Lafferty is set to become a restricted free agent this offseason. Resigning the right-handed forward likely wouldn’t break the bank. Plus, he’s probably motivated to stick around and make some more memories in Pittsburgh. But given the number of salary cap decisions the Penguins have to make this offseason, nothing is a given.

Post Gazette LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182503 Pittsburgh Penguins This is a category that Gretzky dominates regardless of how you look at it. The sheer volume of assists he boasted throughout his career is simply unprecedented. If you adjust these assists per era, Gretzky still sits atop the pile. Using Hockey-Reference’s era-adjusted assist Marshall: Revisiting the Mario Lemieux vs. Wayne Gretzky debate information, Gretzky’s total still sits at 1,171 career-assists for a 1.15 assist per game average. Lemieux’s total adjusts to 915 assists putting

him at an even 1.00 assists per game. By Jesse Marshall Apr 9, 2020 Now, this discussion wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t wade into the waters surrounding the quality of teammates. When you look back at the early career of these two greats, the cast of characters surrounding them Wayne Gretzky is widely recognized as the greatest player in hockey couldn’t have been more different. Remember our “what-if” buckets history. Fans in Pittsburgh and those who watched Mario Lemieux play above? This is one of the most crucial buckets in any argument about regularly argue that Lemieux should wear that crown, and would except Lemieux and Gretzky pitted head-to-head. for a couple of factors out of his control. The argument will rage as long as hockey exists. For instance, take a moment to consider the Penguins’ runner-up in points totals for Lemieux over the first few years of his career: OK, that’s probably a stretch, but you get the idea. Two of the greatest players to ever step foot on the ice just so happened to overlap their 1984-85: Lemieux – 100, Warren Young – 72, Doug Shedden – 67 careers by several years, giving us the fruit of these Greatest of All Time 1985-86: Lemieux – 141, Mike Bullard – 83, Moe Mantha – 67 arguments. Those of us old enough to remember watching Lemieux and Gretzky play can feel blessed to experience it; it’s almost as if it 1986-87: Lemieux – 107, Dan Quinn – 71, Randy Cunneyworth – 63 emboldens the passion of the argument. Those who didn’t live through it do what the rest of the hockey world does: adjust stats for the era and 1987-88: Lemieux – 168, Dan Quinn – 79, Randy Cunneyworth – 64 live in an unforgiving world of “what-if’s.” 1988-89: Lemieux – 199, Rob Brown – 115, Paul Coffey – 113 These big “what-if’s” pretty much boil down to two primary buckets: It wasn’t until five years into Lemieux’s career, his first foray into the NHL Gretzky had his health, and Lemieux did not. Lemieux’s health issues postseason, that he found a premier player in the conversation with him during his prime years skew the results in favor of Gretzky. as far as points scored is concerned in Paul Coffey, a player that Gretzky had the benefit of playing with for years. We often think of Jaromir Jagr Gretzky had a significantly better team than Lemieux for a critical portion as an electric and formidable teammate for Lemieux, but he didn’t arrive of his career and posted better numbers as a result. on the scene until Lemieux was well into his career.

These arguments are circular and have no end. You can lose yourself in Let’s compare this cast of characters with the group that Gretzky entered a mass of era-adjusted statistics, teammate-based data and point totals, the league with for a sample of the varying environments for these two as well as projections of what Lemieux’s stat totals would look like if he’d players. played injury-free from ages 24 to 27, typically the best years of a player’s career. 1984-85: Gretzky – 137, Blair MacDonald – 94, Stan Weir – 61

Are we going to get into some of that today? Absolutely. It wouldn’t be 1985-86: Gretzky – 164, Jarri Kurri – 75, Mark Messier – 63 fun if we didn’t. But beyond that, I wanted to do a standard comparison of 1986-87: Gretzky – 212, Glenn Anderson – 105, Paul Coffey – 89 playing styles. There are a lot of areas where these players have striking similarities and areas where one seems to hold an advantage over the 1987-88: Gretzky – 196, Mark Messier – 106, Glenn Anderson – 104 other. Is there anything we can glean from the success of these stars? With the game on pause, now is as good of a time as ever to sink our 1988-89: Gretzky – 183, Jarri Kurri – 108, Mark Messier – 107 teeth into the careers of these two players for some old-fashioned The Oilers were prepared to maximize any return they were going to get performance analysis. If nothing else, we can use this time of social for Gretzky, surrounding him with talented players from the onset of his distancing to argue about retired players in the comments section. career. There are a lot of Hall of Famers on this list, and that speaks 1. The passing volumes to the differences in the environments of these two players. This doesn’t change the fact that Gretzky had over 1,900 career assists. You Generational talents know how to parse the game and enhance the don’t accidentally register over one assist per game. Someone had to capability of their teammates. It’s almost as if they have a remote control make those passes, and Gretzky executed them at a higher level than they can use to pause or slow the game, laying the puck cross-ice on a just about anyone could have. teammate’s stick as if they were operating in the Matrix. Ultimately, the question of what might’ve happened if these roles were Gretzky and Lemieux were no different. Although their approach to reversed and it was Lemieux with the fruitful linemates is one of the ever- distributing the puck was rooted in a different focus, their ability to enduring questions that will be a part of this discussion as long as it manipulate time and space was impressive in both accounts. Gretzky continues to happen. racked up some major assist numbers throughout his career, finishing with an astonishing 1,963 assists over his 20-year NHL career, a mark 2. The goal scoring that likely will stand for a long, long time — if it can be broken at all at this Both of these players could make goaltenders lose their minds in their point. Gretzky rounds out at 1.32 assist’s per game, unadjusted for era. own way. Lemieux was no slouch in this arena, either. He finished his career with 1,033 assists, putting him at 1.12 assists per game — a respectable total For Gretzky, it was pure finesse. His shot had accuracy and velocity to it, in his own right. and there wasn’t an area of the ice he wasn’t eager to use it. Gretzky was not afraid to tee the puck up from range with a slap shot. More often Gretzky seemed to do his best work in transition. His vision and soft than not, due to the power and placement, he put it in the back of the net. hands enabled him to operate at a high level of speed in conjunction with One element of his game that doesn’t get discussed frequently enough is his teammates and send crisp passes across the ice or through his use of the backhand. Gretzky was not afraid to put the puck on his defenders in comprised situations. For Lemieux, his best work seemed to offside and fool goaltenders with a sneaky release. come when he took the opportunity to draw attention to himself and slow the game down. As lanes presented themselves, Lemieux pounced, The critical piece to Gretzky’s goal-scoring was his penchant for knowing working the puck through the bodies of distracted defensemen and onto where the critical pre-goal areas would be and when to get to them. the stick of teammates. Watching him work behind the play and make himself available for a scoring opportunity is to understand his place atop the hockey scoring In the montage below, you get a good gauge of the approach both of throne. Gretzky was a technician in every sense of the word, and almost these players took to distributing the puck and the individual skills they everything he did came at high-speed. When it came to thinking about exhibited. Pay close attention to the subtle way that Gretzky opens his the game, you could tell he was doing it steps ahead of others. body up to lay a cross-ice pass and the opportunities Lemieux takes to slow things down and control the play. For Lemieux, his physical prowess played a significantly greater role in his ability to score goals. Lemieux could rush to the net with players draped on his back like a blanket. A master of the individual dangle, Lemieux’s ability to play through hooks, holds and slashes was a hallmark of his game, but it took a toll on him physically. Lemieux’s size and wide skating base made him a difficult player to knock off of the puck. From a skating perspective, he was a solid as a rock and fast on top of that.

From a technical perspective, Lemieux possessed some of the same, subtle techniques to move goaltenders that Gretzky did, and was even slightly more willing to put the puck on net. Lemieux averaged 3.67 shots per game over his career to Gretzky’s 3.45 per game. For Lemieux, much of his success came in subtle hand movements or deceptive pre- shot motions designed to shake goaltenders down. When that didn’t work, he could shift between speeds quickly enough to find time and space for himself.

Consider the variety of goals scored in the below montage and how each player utilized a wide variety of tools to put the puck in the net.

3. The era-adjusted data

This piece wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t sink our teeth into some numbers that attempted to adjust for era. The late 70s and early 80s were not a good time for goaltenders around the National Hockey League. We’re talking about a period of the game where the league-wide goals-against average was 3.80. Make no bones about it, Gretzky made good on that, using his skills to rack up points in a variety of ways like he was an all you can eat buffet. Lemieux did as well, though toward the twilight of that era.

So, to stoke the fires of hockey debate, it’s worth it to dive into an era- adjusted points-per-game discussion and break this down on a level playing field to see what the numbers tell say. There are a few ways to do this, but I’ve chosen the one that is the most fun and manual. This comes courtesy of The Athletic’s own Jonathan Willis.

The approach here is to adjust each season as if there were an average of six goals scored per game while holding player production rates the same. I decided to stick with the six-goal approach Jonathan used, tracking player point rates in this NHL-wide scoring model. This levels the playing field for the players as far as scoring rate adjustment is concerned. I did not add in games for Lemieux given his injury history. This is based on the career games played numbers for both individuals.

Willis’ Era-Adjusted Points-Per-Game

Lemieux: 1.67

Gretzky: 1.61

Bobby Orr: 1.34

Mike Bossy: 1.19

Jean Beliveau: 1.16

Just for fun, I threw in a few other all-time greats on the list as well to see how they stack up to Lemieux and Gretzky. After Bobby Orr, the dropoff is stark. Lemieux does slightly leap over Gretzky in this exercise, giving a lot of fodder to those that believe if our “what-if” buckets were filled with possibilities, it might be Lemieux as king of the hill in the hockey world.

On the flip side, this doesn’t magically erase the fact that Gretzky has a 1,000 career points cushion on Lemieux. Fun era-adjustments don’t erase all those points and the years of dominance he exhibited on the ice. The Oilers surrounded him with a strong supporting cast and a few sheriffs to patrol the ice if anyone dared to mess with him. That isn’t Gretzky’s fault; you just play the hand you’re dealt. He played it masterfully and was the clear-cut best player on the ice for a long time.

But all these scenarios about possibilities are what make the discussion fun. It’s often been said that Gretzky was the owner of the best career while Lemieux was the owner of the most talent. Either way, taking a trip down memory lane to get lost in the overwhelming amount of highlight tape from these two all-time greats is a fantastic way to spend time during the NHL’s pause.

The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182504 San Jose Sharks

Sharks' Erik Karlsson adjusting well to new fatherhood amid NHL hiatus

By Brodie Brazil April 09, 2020 9:25 AM

The last six months have been hectic for Sharks star Erik Karlsson.

It's not just the uphill hockey season, and thumb surgery, and the suspension of all sports in general. But it's also becoming a dad, and getting really good at … diapers.

“I can’t say that I’m a pro at it,” Karlsson joked. “Although I do change the diapers at night in the complete dark, and that can be a little tricky at times.”

Erik missed the first Sharks game of the season to be with his wife, Melinda, for the birth of their daughter, Harlow Rain. Now that hockey sits idle, the defenseman is substituting line changes with teammates for diaper changes with his daughter.

“I’m a little bit more of a risk-taker,” Karlsson said about his strategy. “I do believe if the diaper is full and she’s done, then she’s done.”

He also reaffirmed what every parent quickly learns: "No. 1s" are much easier to handle than "No. 2s."

“It depends what type of No. 2, too,” Karlsson said. “Some are easier than others.”

Fatherhood of six months already has made Karlsson realize he’s changed.

“My patience, especially is a lot better, and the uncertainty of things,” Karlsson shared. “Not being able to plan as much ahead as you could before.”

Fortunately, Karlsson's left thumb has recovered well since the injury and required surgery in mid-February. Meaning he’s not limited in dad duties this summer.

“That’s been great. It was one of the things I didn’t really worry about to begin with, and I’m definitely not worried about it right now,” Karlsson explained. “If the season would have been on, I probably could have played a couple weeks ago.”

This means the Norris Trophy winner should have no problem defending 2-on-1s next season, just like he’s defending “twos” and “ones” this summer.

“At first, it made you gag sometimes," Karlsson said, "and now it doesn’t even faze me really.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182505 St Louis Blues could maybe face in the playoffs ... maybe dissect them a little bit more than normal.”

But for the most part, a coach who is all business has no business to Should hockey return, Berube would like to play regular-season games conduct. The Chief has become the Chef. Instead of a morning skate, before playoffs there are morning shootarounds on a mini-basketball court. Team meetings now consist of Berube trying to help the kids with schoolwork.

There’s a Brady Bunch feel to Berube in self-quarantine. He has three Jim Thomas children from a previous relationship; his girlfriend Dominique Pino has two children from a previous relationship. Three boys, two girls — ages

11 through 20. When and if NHL hockey returns this season, Craig Berube would rather Berube tries to help with the digital school materials sent to the children not just jump into the playoffs. every day, but it’s like trying to prevent an empty-net goal — usually a “Coming back from this long of a break, it’s important to get a couple losing proposition. games in,” Berube said. “You know, preparing. But if we can’t, we can’t. “They get mad at me,” Berube said. “I don’t know stuff. . . . They kinda It’s out of my control. All I can do is what’s best for the league.” know what they need to do, but that stuff’s all new to me to be honest When the NHL entered its coronavirus pandemic “pause” on March 12, with you. It’s a lot different than how I was taught, what I learned in the Blues had 11 regular-season games remaining. Earlier this week, school.” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman broached the possibility of scrubbing On the basketball court, Berube says his jump shot is “brutal.” the regular season and going straight to postseason play. He also talked openly about the possibility of summer hockey. But he shines in the kitchen and at the grill.

August hockey anyone? “I like cooking; I like barbecuing,” Berube said. “I’m the breakfast guy. I make breakfast a lot for the kids and everybody.” “I think it’s important to play if we can,” Berube said. “And if it has to go into the summer a little bit then it has to go into the summer. I know And that means eggs. Lots of eggs, cooked any way you want. handing out the Stanley Cup’s important and finishing the season’s important.” “We eat a lot of eggs, I’m not gonna lie to you,” he said.

But with the coronavirus continuing to take a toll in the United States and In the evening, Berube puts steaks on the grill, or cooks ribs and chicken throughout the world, Berube realizes there are bigger issues at play. in his smoker. Dominique provides a change of pace on the menu.

“Knock on wood that we can get this fixed up, clear it up, and get back to “She’s Italian, so she makes a lot of Italian dinners at night, which are life,” Berube said. good,” Berube said. “So everybody’s getting fed here. We do a lot of eating in this house, I’ll tell you that.” With hockey in a holding pattern, Berube has returned to his permanent residence in Bucks County, Pa., about 40 miles north of Philadelphia. After dinner, Berube does something unheard of for him. He watches When reached by the Post-Dispatch earlier this week, he was out on a television. Lately, he’s been binge-watching the Ozarks crime drama bicycle ride — a far cry from what he’d be doing in normal times, namely series on Netflix. coaching the Blues in the first round of their Stanley Cup defense. “It’s a pretty good story, man,” he said. “It’s really good actually.” “It’s tough,” Berube said. “That routine of going to the rink every day and Berube says he’s never been to the Ozarks but has talked to his staff being part of a team, players and coaches, and being around everybody. about going there for a couple of days of golf, with some work mixed in. That’s a special thing. It’s something that I enjoy very much, and you (Those conversations, Berube notes, predate his getting hooked on the miss it for sure. Just that daily conversation and laughter and all that with show.) the guys.” Of course, none of this sounds anything like the Berube known to Blues As the NHL’s shutdown enters its fifth week, Berube has maintained fans. But don’t be confused. Even with the extra family time, he’s out of steady communication with his players. his element. This is not what makes him happy. “I’ll try to text the players every other week, every guy,” Berube said. “I do miss work,” he said. “Like everybody. It’s not just myself, people like “They like texts. I will talk to the captain, Petro (Alex Pietrangelo), every work. They like their jobs and it keeps them going. There’s a routine once in a while and see what’s going on, and what he’s hearing. every day. And that routine’s been disrupted for everybody, and that’s “Just want to talk about their workouts and things like that. Our strength where you have an issue, right? You just don’t have a routine anymore. coach sends work to these guys every other week. New ones. Just want “You gotta be mentally tough through it all. There’s nothing you can do to make sure guys are doing something and staying in shape the best about it. I probably complain too much about it on a daily basis and I they can. And making sure they’re healthy and their families are healthy.” shouldn’t. That’s just me. I get my frustration out that way.” In terms of injuries, Berube would have the full squad at his disposal So he’s getting on Dominique’s nerves, then? (other than ) if hockey returned tomorrow. “I’m sure I do,” he said, laughing. “I think I get on the kids’ nerves, too.” “We’re all good right now, so that’s a good thing,” he said. “Vladi (Tarasenko) is healed up and ready to go, and everybody’s ready to go.” St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 04.10.2020 Tarasenko was expected to return from left shoulder surgery sometime during a four-game road trip March 17-24. That would’ve been a bit of a rush job considering the original five-month timetable on his return.

Now 5 ½ months removed from surgery, that’s no longer the case.

In addition, Oskar Sundqvist suffered an undisclosed upper-body injury March 11 in Anaheim, the Blues’ final game before the suspension of play. But he’d also be available for duty now if hockey was being played.

“Yeah, he’s good,” Berube said.

Berube has had more frequent communication with his coaching staff. But again, there’s not a whole lot to do at this point.

“No draft stuff for us. Doug (Armstrong) handles all that with his scouting staff,” Berube said. “Work-wise, we will look at some opponents that we 1182506 St Louis Blues “I had about 30% less energy than normal,” he recalled. “I was a little fatigued. At the time I thought I just had a bad cold, a bug. Like everybody, we sometimes work with a bad cold or a sinus infection or a touch of the flu. We have to do that in our business. It’s not like I can call Media Views: Blues announcer Kelly glad he didn't know how sick he a co-worker and say, ‘Hey can you fill in for me tonight?’ I have a very was unique job. We all do — our producer, our camera people, everybody. That’s the impetus for going to work sometimes when you’re sick.

“I wasn’t heroic in any way doing that game.” Dan Caesar St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 04.10.2020

John Kelly was in a bleak situation — worse than he even knew. And he’s thankful he didn’t find out how sick he really was until after the fact.

Kelly, the longtime Blues television play-by-play broadcaster for Fox Sports Midwest, said this week that he is almost fully recovered after being infected with COVID-19, a victim of the worldwide pandemic that has hit more than 1.5 million people and claimed more than 88,000 lives. To complicate matters, he also had double pneumonia.

“I feel very good,” he said. “I have been past it for a couple weeks.”

Kelly, 59, called the Blues’ last game before the NHL joined the global virus-fueled shutdown of almost all sports. That was on March 11, in Anaheim, Calif. He returned with the team to St. Louis the next day. Then the following day, a Friday, his health had declined to the point he headed to an urgent care facility. The diagnosis: “A virus that would pass,” Kelly said.

But his condition continued to deteriorate and he returned to the urgent care clinic that Monday.

“They did a chest X-ray and discovered my pneumonia and tested me for coronavirus,” Kelly said. “They gave me a breathing treatment there and sent me home with an inhaler and some antibiotics. That was the low point.”

He also was tested for coronavirus, but it took 11 days before he received word that he had tested positive.

“By the time I got the results I would say I was 85-90 percent (recovered),” Kelly said. “In a way, I’m really glad I didn’t get the results in a day or two because I think it would have really scared me based on the fact I had pneumonia. I watch TV like everybody, and you see people who develop pneumonia and coronavirus and next thing you know they’re in the hospital on a ventilator. That’s not the way you want to go.”

“So when they called me that Friday, I was pretty well shocked.”

Road to recovery

Kelly was well enough this week to drive to Lawrence, Kansas, to help his daughter move back from her dormitory.

“I’m going on some neighborhood walks, things like that, to build up my endurance,” he said. “I don’t think I could run a 5-mile race now, but I feel really good. I’d say 95%.”

It’s quite a vault from where he was a few weeks ago.

“I was in bed for 20 hours a day for four or five days,” he said. “Thankfully I never had breathing problems, some people develop that and have to go to a hospital. I never got close to that stage, I was very fortunate.

“Thankfully the meds they gave me worked and I got better in a four-or- five day period.”

This was not his first bout with pneumonia, something he said he had about a dozen years ago in the offseason. But that illness was not coupled with coronavirus.

“This one was worse, it’s just not fun,” he said. “You have no energy, no appetite. Even water doesn’t taste really good. But I’m not going to complain, I’m fortunate this one turned out really well. Some people don’t have the same luck.”

A unique job

Almost all of those who appear on the air and work behind the scenes on Fox Sports Midwest’s Blues and Cardinals telecasts are independent contractors who are paid by the game, as detailed in this space last week. There are no sick days for them — if they don’t work they don’t get paid. But Kelly said that wasn’t the reason he decided to call the Blues’ final contest before the shutdown even though he was dragging a bit. 1182507 St Louis Blues Perry, who typically wears a Cardinals hat with some gray hair curling out from underneath it, recalled the day.

“The one guy you brought from Winnipeg, just a great guy,” he said of LeGrand’s ‘old-timey’ feel and sports-themed sandwiches make it an STL Wiebe. “I’ve never met anybody from Winnipeg, and just to talk to him staple about how he grew up playing hockey. He was telling me a story about how he would drive 200 miles a week just to play hockey as a kid. And he was giving us some perspective on the playoffs, which is exactly what we wanted to know. It gives us depth and an understanding that we didn’t By Jeremy Rutherford Apr 9, 2020 have.”

The first key to building a successful business is hiring happy people, Editor’s note: In an effort to support local businesses that are being LeGrand says. threatened by the devastating effects of the coronavirus, The Athletic is “You should see how many people come in here just to see Roger — publishing an ongoing series of stories to highlight our treasured they really do,” LeGrand said. “You want to have people here that are communities. #supportlocal interested in their job and enjoy their job. If anybody isn’t enjoying what As I leave Enterprise Center after a Blues practice, there’s a road in they’re doing, they’re not a pleasure to be around. The last thing I want is downtown St. Louis that splits into southbound Interstate 55 and for somebody to walk in here and be treated like they’re getting their westbound Interstate 44. One goes to my house, and the other goes to license plates renewed.” LeGrand’s Market. I’ll admit there have been a few occasions when I’ve Instead, they’re getting a lunch plate, and after the welcome greeting, it’s been headed home, then flipped on my blinker and taken a detour by my time to choose one of their 40-plus sandwiches. There used to be more favorite sandwich shop. than 50, but they ran out of space on the paper menu. And what do I usually order? Well, they call it “That’s a Winner,” named, Wiebe went with the “Warner’s Club,” named after former Rams of course, after legendary broadcaster Jack Buck, who used to wrap up quarterback Kurt Warner. It’s turkey, pastrami, bacon, Gruyere and every Cardinals victory with that famous phrase. It has ham, turkey and cheddar cheese, sauerkraut and spicy mustard. salami, along with cheddar and Swiss cheese, although I usually replace the Swiss with pepper jack. “I love the fact that they name their sandwiches after the athletes,” Wiebe said “They had a great mixture of old-time legends and more current I’ve been stopping by this mom-and-pop market as long as I can players. The fact that they honor their athletes in so many ways is just a remember, but not just because of the spread. A trip to the 86-year-old great reminder of what a great sports town St. Louis is in general.” business means seeing Jim LeGrand (who bought it from the original owner in 1987), his wife Joyce and his son Jimmy, along with Joe The first sandwich named after a St. Louis athlete or team was the Scanlon and Roger Perry behind the deli counter. They’re always smiling “McGwire Special,” after ex-Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire, of course, and friendly, so it’s a nice place to set up my laptop and write a story or during his home run chase with the Cubs’ Sammy Sosa in 1998. hold a live Q&A for The Athletic. I remember one time I was there for four or five hours, and when I finally started packing up my bag, Jim walked “It was excitement, man!” LeGrand said. “Every age group, from the 10- by and said, “Leaving so soon?” year-olds to the 90-year-olds, were excited about baseball. And everybody had a “poor boy” (sandwich), but who had a McGwire?” It’s the ambiance that brings you there, and whether you’re just stopping in or staying a while, it’s what keeps you coming back to the store at The idea belonged to Scanlon. 4414 Donovan Ave. in South City. “I had to call them something, and I was really into sports,” he said. “Back “We give little smokies to all the kids that come into the store,” said Jim in the day, when I used to get a lunch break, I would start combining LeGrand, 58, who went from bag boy to butcher to owner. “I have given things and when something caught my interest, I would say, ‘This is little smokies to kids 40 years ago that are now bringing their grandkids going to be a sandwich.’ I just thought it was a good thing to tie in in, and I’m giving them smokies. Isn’t that wild? Three generations of everyone’s love of the Cardinals, Blues and Rams at the time. It took off smokies I’ve been giving way.” like wildfire, and I just kept coming up with more.”

The quarantine has taken all of us out of our regular routines, and Now there are many others, such as the “Stan the Man,” “La Russa’s understandably so, but it got me thinking about my favorite place in town triple-play cheese,” the “Edmonds” and the “St. Louis Blues Special.” that I’ve been missing, and how everybody is doing there. Like a lot of One time, former Cardinals outfielder Jim Edmonds actually came into places, LeGrand’s is open, but allowing only five people into the store at the store and sampled his sandwich. a time. They’re still making their popular sandwiches, but there’s no line “He was like, ‘Thank you for making this for me!'” LeGrand said. of patrons that usually stretches out the door. The store also makes it own sauces for sandwiches, such as the “Sosa “This feeling is uncomfortable, very uncomfortable,” LeGrand said. “Now Sauce,” which is horseradish-based. They used to tell people to eat the they just pull up with their trunk open and we stick it in there. There’s no McGwire Special and then “chase it” with the Sosa Sauce. catering in the world right now, and our sandwiches, we’re down to 100 sandwiches a day now, compared to 400, but at least we’re still able to “I started making the sauces honestly out of inspiration from the movie do something.” ‘Good Burger,'” Scanlon said. “The guy made this fancy sandwich sauce for the burgers and everybody loved it.” So this week I called up a few of my sports-writing buddies who I took to LeGrand’s during both the Stanley Cup playoffs and the NHL All-Star LeGrand’s also has plenty of side dishes, including lobster bisque soup, Game. I also dialed up Phil Pritchard, the “Keeper of the Cup,” who I which ’ Ken Campbell and I sampled when we went delivered sandwiches to one day last summer when he was in town back to the store during All-Star weekend in January. watching over a season-ticket-holder event with the Stanley Cup. “The bisque was top-notch, and I had a chicken sandwich that was It was last May when Winnipeg Jets writer Ken Wiebe for The Athletic spectacular,” Campbell said this week. “I really liked that old-timey aspect and others tagged along with me to LeGrand’s for their first experience. of the place, you know. It seemed to have a real retro feel to it, like a They had no idea what to expect, and before the three ever saw a menu, place where people know who you are and they say, ‘Hi’ and talk to you they heard Perry from behind the counter: “Jeremy, how about those about the Blues. You got a real flavor for the city, and when you leave, Blues? What do you think tonight? You think they got it?” you kind of feel like you know it a little bit better.”

“The thing that stood out right away is the personal experience,” Wiebe Pritchard, another out-of-towner, has had good food from all around the said. “I know it’s your community, but they make you feel comfortable. globe, and he put LeGrand’s on that list last summer. He was at Stifel You tell them that you’ve got sportswriters with you, you could tell right Theatre in downtown St. Louis and couldn’t let the Cup go unwatched, so away they are passionate about the Blues and passionate about hockey lunch was delivered. He had the St. Louis Blues Special. and passionate about their hometown. But they want to know about the impressions that others have about their teams and get a little ‘inside “We spend so much time on the road, and last summer in St. Louis was scoop’ on the visiting team as well, which I thought was great.” no exception,” Pritchard said. “It was perfect timing because we were starving, and the sandwich was unbelievable. And hey, anyone can go to a chain restaurant. I don’t want to do that. I want to go where the locals go. So it was extra special when you know it’s a St. Louis thing and specially made.”

But with people staying quarantined, things are different these days.

“This is such a solid area, where the neighborhood really supports us,” LeGrand said. “The lunch counter has just gone crazy. From doctors to ditch-diggers, that’s every workingman’s pit stop around town; everybody’s in here at lunch time. I really do miss that. I miss seeing all of those people. It’s kind of like a scab on a knee that won’t go away, when you see all those empty chairs out there.”

LeGrand said he added more seating recently because of the flood of students that pours into the store after school. But now all of those chairs are flipped up on top of the tables.

“It’s really cool to see these kids come in — six or eight of them — and talk like they’re among themselves,” he said. “Of course everybody in the world can hear them. Hopefully their teacher doesn’t come at the same time one day. But it’s just cool to see that. It’s a neat neighborhood thing.”

And you can’t go to LeGrand’s without seeing people embrace friends whom they had no idea they would run into.

“That happens all the time. All the time,” LeGrand said. “I don’t even know what you’d call that. It’s an accidental meeting place for a million different people.”

Perry won’t be happy again until they return.

“It’ll be great when things get back to normal and we get our great customers back in here,” he said. “I was thinking on the way to work this morning about two guys who come in and get their Legend Clubs. I hope they’re doing well. There is a level of concern. They’re approaching 60, and I’m worried about them. I’m trying not to let that get me down.”

Perry is also trying not to let the fact that the Blues may not get a chance to defend the Stanley Cup get him down.

“Being a sports junkie, I would take any sort of hockey banter now — good or bad,” he said. “There are a lot of questions we want to ask about how the NHL is going to get us back in the playoffs again. It’s a missed opportunity. If they cancel the NHL season, that’s just another blow that we’re going to have to stand. But we’re resilient. Blues fans are resilient.”

Well, we can’t ask the NHL about their plans, but we can ask Pritchard, who if hockey returns, will be the one handing the Cup to the winner. Wednesday marked what would have been the first day of the playoffs.

“Day 1,” Pritchard said. “Yeah it’s unique, preserving hockey history. Right now there’s no history happening, which is strange because it’s usually happening at some level around the world, whether it’s world championships or the Olympics or the Stanley Cup playoffs or the , and right now there’s nothing.

“It’s a different world out there, but I know as much as we’d all like to see hockey come back, it’s more important that we all come back safe first, then go from there. Hopefully we do get a chance to have a champion. I don’t know where the end is, but from my family and myself, hopefully the end is everyone is safe and sound.”

And if that happens, and hockey returns, I’d love to take my sports- writing friends back to LeGrand’s. The decades-old business just feels like home to me.

“Yeah, we’re definitely a dinosaur,” LeGrand said. “But dinosaurs can exist.”

The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182508 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning’s Anthony Cirelli uses time at home to learn to cook

The 22-year-old has figured out chicken parm, but the teriyaki “didn’t turn out too good at all.”

Diana C. Nearhos

TAMPA — Anthony Cirelli is using the NHL’s pause to work on a new skill. No, it’s not a hockey skill — these 29 days are the longest he has ever gone without skating.

The Lightning center is cooking more. Cirelli had already been developing his cooking skills during the season, but now has a lot more time to devote to the task.

Any parents sending their child off to live on their own for the first time worries about what they will eat. Maria and Rocco Cirelli sent their son to Tampa with a copy of The Taste of Home Cookbook, published by the magazine Taste of Home. Maria also sends frozen batches of her red sauce.

Before the coronavirus pandemic forced everyone to stay at home, 22- year-old Cirelli mixed in eating out with cooking. Bavaro’s and Bella’s Italian Café, plus a couple of sushi spots, were his go-tos.

“It sucks (not to be able to visit those restaurants),” Cirelli said Thursday on a video conference call. “But I’m learning some cooking skills, which I think will help me out later in life.”

Before he gained all this extra time to cook, Cirelli had figured out salmon with roasted broccoli, spaghetti and meatballs, as well as chicken parmesan. He says that last one is still his best dish. The salmon got good reviews from teammates, back when they could still joke in the locker room.

Now, Cirelli is ordering his groceries online and tackling a recipe a day from the cookbook.

“I tried making some teriyaki chicken and it didn’t turn out the way I wanted to,” he said. “It wasn’t that good at all. So I’m going to have to try to redo that one and get it right.”

He has the time to do so.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182509 Toronto Maple Leafs He added 27 goals and 212 assists in 372 WHA games with Chicago, Indianapolis and Cincinnati.

Stapleton was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 as a Summit Series star, longtime Blackhawks defenceman Pat Stapleton member of the 1972 Summit Series team, and was elected as an dies at 79 inaugural inductee into the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame in 2010.

Globe And Mail LOADED: 04.10.2020

Pat Stapleton, a long-time NHL defenceman who famously kept an air of mystery over whether he possessed the puck from the goal that won the 1972 Summit Series, has died. He was 79.

The Strathroy Rockets, a Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League team that Stapleton was involved with, said on their website the former Chicago Blackhawks blueliner died Wednesday night. A cause of death was not provided.

“We are saddened to hear of the passing of Pat ‘Whitey’ Stapleton,” the ’s , who play in the city of Stapleton’s birthplace, posted on Twitter. “Along with his many hockey accomplishments Pat served as honorary captain when the Sting hosted the OHL all-star and (CHL Canada/Russia Series) games.

“A local hockey icon and fantastic human being, he will be missed by many.”

Stapleton was on Canada’s Summit Series team in 1972 and is alleged to have claimed the puck from ’s series-winning goal over the Soviet Union in Game 8.

Stapleton was usually coy when asked whether or not he indeed had what would be one of the most famed souvenirs in hockey history.

“They say I have it. We’ll keep that one going for a while,” Stapleton told the Toronto Sun in 2012. “I’m not sure if people think it’s a different colour or has a hole in it. It’s a puck.”

The dependable defenceman represented Canada again at the 1974 Summit Series, serving as team captain. That series was won by the Soviet Union.

“ sends its condolences to the friends and family of Pat Stapleton. Few loved the game quite like Whitey, who was so proud to wear the Maple Leaf in the 1972 Summit Series and again in 1974 as captain. His infectious personality will be missed,” said Tom Renney, CEO of Hockey Canada.

Born July 4, 1940, Stapleton began his NHL career with the Boston Bruins in 1961–62. Initially signed by the Chicago, Stapleton was claimed by Boston in the 1961 intraleague draft.

After splitting time between the Bruins and minor-league teams, Stapleton eventually ended up in Chicago, where his career took off. He played eight seasons with the Blackhawks from 1956-66 to 1972-73, helping the team to Stanley Cup final appearances in 1971 and 1973.

He was named a second-team all-star in 1966, 1971 and 1972, and served as Chicago’s captain for the 1969-70 season.

“The Blackhawks express our deepest sympathies to the family, friends and teammates of Pat Stapleton, who passed away last night. As a former team captain and member of the Blackhawks Alumni Association, Stapleton’s contributions to the organization will forever be remembered,” the Blackhawks said in a statement.

Stapleton signed a five-year deal to become a player/coach with the Chicago Cougars of the World Hockey Association in 1973. He won the Dennis A. Murphy Trophy as the WHA’s top defenceman in 1973–74.

After the Cougars folded following the 1974–75 campaign, Stapleton was claimed by the Indianapolis Racers, where he played for two seasons. He suited up for one final season with the Cincinnati Stingers before retiring in 1978.

Stapleton returned to Indianapolis the following year as head coach, taking on a team that included future NHL legends Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier. His time coaching the eventual Hall of Famers was short- lived, as the Racers folded 25 games into the season.

Stapleton played 635 NHL games with Boston and Chicago, compiling 43 goals and 294 assists with 353 penalty minutes. 1182510 Toronto Maple Leafs “It’s scary.” Devils defenceman P.K. Subban said he was prepared for the schedule

to be halted even though it was tough to swallow. NHLers reflect on league pause: ‘All of a sudden someone turns the car “It was pretty sudden and abrupt,” he said. “It didn’t really catch off’ everybody off guard, but that’s when it started to set in how serious it was.

JOSHUA CLIPPERTON “Just weird to see the world kind of stop.”

Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was on the phone with his agent the night before their game in Dallas. Josh Morrissey figures he has more close friends on the Edmonton Oilers than any other rival NHL team. “It creeped into my mind that it’s a crazy time,” he said. “Unbelievable and crazy.” It led to some unusual heat-of-the-moment conversations for the Winnipeg defenceman the night of March 11, after news broke during the Canucks forward J.T. Miller said Vancouver’s players made the most of Jets’ game at Rogers Place that the NBA was suspending its season in the down time prior to their flight home after learning the club’s game in the wake of Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert’s positive test for COVID-19. Arizona was called off.

In the heat of a playoff race, uncertainty was in the air. “Played some golf,” he said. “We went to local course for a couple hours, played a couple holes and got back to the bus.” One thing, however, seemed crystal clear. Back to that Wednesday night before the pause, Morrissey said the Jets “We saw the writing on the wall,” Morrissey recalled this week of the on- knew they were sitting out of the playoff picture in the Western ice conversations between whistles. “That was probably our last game.” Conference, and those two points up for grabs in Edmonton could be crucial with so many unknowns. At least in the short- and medium-term, they were right. “You start thinking about different scenarios,” he said. “You never know The NHL, along with most sports in North America, paused its schedule what’s going to happen going forward if you don’t get to play any more less than 24 hours later amid the widening novel coronavirus outbreak. regular-season games and they’re trying to determine the playoffs. Thursday marks four weeks since the league shuttered operations, and it “It was a really weird feeling.” remains anyone’s guess when society – which has ground to a halt in an era of mass job losses, self-isolation and social distancing – will return to Winnipeg pulled off a 4-2 victory to move into the first wild- some semblance of normal and games are allowed to resume. card spot, although the Jets sit below the cut line when it comes to points percentage, which could wind up as the determining factor if no more Oilers blueliner Darnell Nurse said there was chatter before the meeting regular-season games are played. with Winnipeg about the NBA, but it still didn’t seem real until he learned of basketball’s unprecedented decision to suspend play. “You’re thinking about the health and safety of your family, your friends, your loved ones ... just the craziness going on,” Morrissey said. “Basically “We share arenas and travel to the same cities, stay in the same hotels,” from the start of the second period until probably another three, four he said. “It’s hard for them to shut down and us to justify being out there days, things were always up in the air.” on the ice and putting our fans in the same environment. It was a tough day, tough night. You’re so invested at that point. You’re playing every Unfortunately, not much has changed. other day. You’re on autopilot. Globe And Mail LOADED: 04.10.2020 “Then all of a sudden someone turns the car off.”

Nurse added that while the pause remains disappointing, it quickly became clear the situation was so much bigger than hockey.

“This virus, it gives a really big reality check as a player, as a human being, as a person,” he said. “You’re worried about not just yourself, but your family and keeping everyone safe.”

Carolina Hurricanes centre was at dinner with teammates that now-infamous Wednesday ahead of their game in New Jersey the following night when the NBA pulled the plug.

“I’m like, ‘There’s no way we’re gonna stop playing,“’ Staal remembers saying. “Next thing you know [a basketball player] has it and that’s it.”

The Pittsburgh Penguins were supposed to battle the Blue Jackets in Columbus without fans that Thursday after officials in Ohio banned large gatherings.

“Your first impression is, ‘This is pretty serious and we’ve got to take this serious right away,“’ Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. “That kind of hit me.”

That game, and 188 more scheduled through the end of the regular season, didn’t go ahead. The Stanley Cup playoffs, which were supposed to start Wednesday, are on indefinite hold as well.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly, who was preparing to take on Nashville at the time of the pause, said his view of the pandemic that’s now killed thousands and infected many more worldwide has changed with time.

“You try to just put your finger on what’s happening, and then you get told to go home. It became pretty real that morning,” he said. “You go out for groceries, and you realize that you have to get to the grocery store early enough in the morning so you can actually pick something. It becomes that much more real then, too. 1182511 Toronto Maple Leafs Andersen, for the record, was not planning on strapping on the pads to absorb the brunt of No. 34’s practice session.

“I wouldn’t do that to him. He’s not a street hockey goalie,” Matthews Auston Matthews would like to write a different ending to the Maple said. “He likes to play out.” Leafs’ season With the NBA moving forward with a plan to television tournament of H- O-R-S-E with some of its players, maybe the NHL could do worse than livestream a street-hockey shootout among pals. If there’s going to be By Dave Feschuk eyeballs on professional hockey any time soon, there’s a running hypothesis that it’ll be a made-for-TV product played in a mostly empty

rink, a prospect Matthews doesn’t appear to relish. Good Friday will make it a month since the Maple Leafs last played a “It would feel kind of weird, to be honest,” he said. “I think fans are such a game. In this moment of global crisis, it’s a memory of simpler times huge part of the game, not only inside the arena but, when you’ve got the when smaller concerns seemed bigger. playoffs going on, you’ve got Maple Leaf Square and everybody out One storyline from that night was the stuff of post-season hope. A 2-1 there. The atmosphere just shifts to completely another level. I was win over the Tampa Bay Lightning was a small but still compelling bit of thinking about that. It would definitely be strange to be playing in an evidence that Toronto’s mercurial NHL team, for all its inconsistencies, empty arena with no crowds, and no noise and atmosphere.” had the upside to beat anyone in a best-of-seven series — maybe even That the noise around the Leafs wasn’t always of the jubilant variety this the Lightning, then the odds-on favourite to meet the Leafs in the season has been a point of reflection for the club’s leadership during this postseason’s first round. time of pause. Matthews said the Leafs showed both “a lot of growth and Another storyline: Auston Matthews, who scored the third-period winner, room for growth.” He said they too often lacked a “killer mentality,” the boosted his season’s total to 47 goals, one back of league co-leaders kind that would see them dominate games from the get-go, no matter the Alex Ovechkin and David Pastrnak in what was shaping up to be a opponent. And he pointed to himself, among others, as the only plausible compelling race for the Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL’s top goal source of a remedy. scorer. “It should be taken upon the leaders to set that example. But I think that’s Not only was Matthews looking like a shoo-in to become just the fourth all stuff that can be fixed,” he said. “You’re going to go through tough player in franchise history to score 50 goals in a season. He still had 12 times. I think we had our fair share of adversity throughout the season. I games remaining to threaten the franchise single-season record of 54 set think in the end, in the long run, that kind of stuff builds teams, builds by Rick Vaive back in 1982. If he’d stuck to his pace of 0.67 goals a character, leadership and all that.” game and stayed in the lineup, the simple math had him surpassing A month ago, that was the central theme in Leafland: Could the looming Vaive with a tidy 55. possibility of a fourth consecutive first-round playoff exit finally bring this All of which, Matthews was saying on Thursday, seems considerably less team together? A month later, with Matthews stuck on 47 goals and the significant than it did a month ago, when the hockey world was only Maple Leafs going on 16 years without a post-season-series win, it’s beginning to fathom the seriousness of the coming chaos. impossible to say how long they’ll have to remain apart until the quest can resume. “When you think about those kinds of achievements and accomplishments, being really close to scoring 50 goals, stuff like that, I “(Winning in the playoffs has) obviously been a goal since our first year,” think it all kind of becomes irrelevant when you’re talking about human Matthews said. “It’s no secret. Three years, the same result. Of course lives and what’s been going on around the world,” Matthews said on a you’d love to get to that point again and change the whole narrative. We conference call from his Phoenix-area home. “Everybody would love to were working our way to get to that point. But for now we’ve got 12 be playing hockey right now and be able to live their normal life. But this regular-season games (to go), and obviously there’s a lot of unknown thing, it’s bigger than sports. It’s bigger than a lot of things.” about when it does resume, what the situation’s going to be. Until that happens, it’s tough to kind of think about those kinds of hypotheticals.” From the eye of the NHL storm to riding out an epidemiological monsoon in relative isolation, Matthews at least has a teammate along for the ride. Toronto Star LOADED: 04.10.2020 Around the time NHL teams gave the OK for players to travel outside their franchise’s city, Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen, already growing bored with self-isolating in his downtown Toronto condominium, made the decision to join Matthews in the Arizona desert.

They’re different in a lot of ways. Andersen is 30, Matthews 22. Matthews acknowledges a weakness for reality-TV dating shows like “Love Island” and “Love is Blind;” Andersen prefers “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

“Freddie will only watch a couple of episodes (of “Love is Blind”) before he leaves the room and goes somewhere else,” Matthews said. “It’s pretty awful. But I’m in deep now. So I can’t really turn back.”

Exactly when our collective attention will be turned back to actual hockey is anyone’s guess. So Matthews said he’s proceeding “as if it’s the off- season.”

“Trying to stay as active as possible while obviously respecting the social distancing rules that are applied,” he said.

But Matthews said he’s spending time “staying ready.” That may or may not include “binging on the Toronto Maple Leafs,” as head coach Sheldon Keefe claimed to be doing earlier this week — a revelation that didn’t surprise Matthews, who lauded Keefe’s work ethic as “amazing.” Matthews, for his part, said he’s watching his share of video clips with an eye toward shoring up weaknesses. And if the usual summertime gym routine isn’t in the cards, he said he owns a set of free weights and is in the habit of keeping his wrist shot sharp, albeit on pavement with roller blades.

“I was getting ready to head out there and kind of just mess around and have some fun,” he said. 1182512 Toronto Maple Leafs had none of either got three balls in the lottery, and other teams got either two balls or one depending on the results.

“Nobody was particularly thrilled,” Bettman said at the time. “But The NHL should let everyone in the draft lottery, just like it’s 2005 again everyone understood that on balance it was probably the fairest way to approach it.”

The lottery became a dramatic, must-see TV event. The Penguins, after By Damien Cox having only a 6.3 per cent chance to win, captured the first pick. That on its own may have saved the Pittsburgh franchise, which was in severe

duress at the time. Let’s consider a couple of key questions about the 2020 NHL draft. Anaheim won the No. 2 selection, Carolina got the third pick and With the rest of the 2019-20 season in serious jeopardy, when might the Minnesota was at No. 4. It was also a “snake draft.” The Pens picked 2020 draft take place? It was scheduled for June 26-27 in Montreal, but first, but then selected last in the second round. The Lightning picked last was postponed in late March. in the first round, then owned the first pick in the second round (ultimately traded to Anaheim). And if the 2019-20 season isn’t completed, which without a treatment or vaccine for COVID-19 is looking more and more like a possibility, how Pittsburgh had the first pick in the third round, and used it very well to can you possibly conduct the 2020 draft? select defenceman Kris Letang. (The Maple Leafs, fifth overall in 2003- 04, benefitted slightly from the process by getting the 21st selection. Everybody’s guessing as to what the future may hold. But there’s a herd They made a brilliant pick, Finnish goalie prospect Tuukka Rask. We all of draft-eligible players out there who are going to need answers in the know what happened after that.) relatively near future, along with 31 NHL clubs looking to add new talent to their depth charts. If the current NHL season can’t be completed, the 2005 draft process should be used as the prototype for 2020. Aside from being fair to all 31 Let’s look at the likeliest scenario. teams, it would create all kinds of talking points and widespread interest at a time when sports fans in general are dying for their fix, and pro Sometime in May or early June, Gary Bettman and Co. are going to teams are going to be searching for creative ways to attract customers realize finishing the 2019-20 season is a fantasy given historic sporting again. events like the Summer Olympics and Wimbledon are already history. These ideas of holding some sort of NHL competition in a single location These are unprecedented times, but the NHL has a sensible precedent like Grand Forks, N.D., are fun to kick around, but just one positive test of from which to work. You could even argue the NHL should use this kind an asymptomatic player would quickly bring the entire exercise of system every year. The philosophy of artificially rewarding the worst screeching to a halt. needs to come to an end.

Once the regular season and Stanley Cup playoffs are officially Toronto Star LOADED: 04.10.2020 cancelled, the NHL can then start planning the 2020-21 season with increased confidence. You could start as late as February or even March 2021. The runway becomes much longer.

But you’d still need to sort out the 2020 draft. Elite prospects like Alexis Lafrenière are going to be playing next season, so there has to be a process to award the rights of eligible players to NHL clubs.

But in what order would the teams draft?

The Detroit Red Wings, with 71 games played and only 39 points accumulated, would want the season to be treated as if it were complete, giving them the most balls in the regular lottery process. If you believe that being dreadful should be rewarded with a high draft pick — I don’t — then you would probably side with the Wings.

The rest of the league presents a much more difficult picture. There are six teams packed tightly with between 62 and 68 points, with a different number of games played. Then there are 10 teams with between 71 and 80 points. They’ve played between 69 and 71 games. Then another five teams, including the Maple Leafs, have between 81 and 83 points.

Quite clearly, finishing the schedule could have created a lot of movement in those groups. A team could move up or down four or five slots. The difference between the fifth pick and the 10th is massive. Simply going with the incomplete standings would be unfair and arbitrary.

For a more logical solution, look back to the 2005 draft.

After the entire 2004-05 season was obliterated by a labour shutdown that ultimately resulted in the modern salary cap system, the NHL had to decide on an equitable way to conduct the 2005 draft, with young Rimouski centre Sidney Crosby as the grand prize.

In the 2003-04 campaign, the Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals had been the three worst teams. The Capitals had intentionally gutted their roster to enhance their draft position in the 2004 draft, won the lottery and selected Alex Ovechkin. Before 2005, only the teams with the five worst records were in the lottery.

It made no sense to go with the same order again. Instead, the NHL came up with a rather clever plan. All 30 teams — even the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning — were eligible for the draft lottery, instead of just non-playoff teams. The lottery weightings were then based on the number of playoff appearances in the previous three seasons and the number of first overall picks in the previous four drafts. Teams that 1182513 Toronto Maple Leafs MATTHEWS: I don’t really know how to answer that. For a big part of the season, starts for us were a bit of an issue … trying to have more of a killer mentality and a killer instinct to start games no matter who we’re playing, making sure we’re all ready. That should be taken upon the Leafs' Matthews misses game, but it's 'irrelevant when we're talking leaders to set that example. I think all of that showed a bit of an immature about human lives' side of us, but I think that’s all stuff that can be fixed. It’s more of a mentality than anything.

♦ It’s looking like the NHL draft will have to be done either online or Terry Koshan remotely or at a hotel if distancing rules get relaxed. As a No. 1 pick (in 2016), do you feel for guys like Alexis Lafreniere or Quinton Byfield who won’t get to hear their names called the way that you did? Auston Matthews can’t say why reality dating shows appeal to him, finds it “cool and humbling” to be in the same conversation with superstar Alex MATTHEWS: Hearing your name called and going up there, getting your Ovechkin, and isn’t surprised that Sheldon Keefe doesn’t have a Netflix jersey, it’s all extremely surreal. It’s an experience that you dream of as a account. kid and if that’s not the case, it’s going to be tough. In the long run, they’re going to be great players in this league, and hopefully they’ll have Matthews, who was on track for a 50-goal season with the Maple Leafs more memories and experiences to cherish. when the COVID-19 pandemic caused the National Hockey League to go on pause on March 12, joined the media on a conference call on ♦ Have you envisioned what it might be like playing in an empty rink, Thursday from his home in Arizona and touched on a variety of issues. because there’s a high probability of that happening if we are to squeeze in the playoffs? While the conversation was light-hearted at times, the 22-year-old Matthews didn’t waver from the fact that what he is paid millions of MATTHEWS: It would feel kind of weird. Fans are such a huge part of dollars to do — put the puck in the net and help lead the Leafs to wins — the game and not only inside the arena, but when we’ve got the playoffs diminishes greatly in the wake of what’s happening on a global scale. going on and we’ve got Maple Leaf Square and everybody out there, the atmosphere shifts to another level. It would definitely be pretty strange to “Anybody would love to be playing hockey and be able to live a normal be playing in an empty arena with no crowds and no noise or life, but this thing is bigger than sports, bigger than a lot of things,” atmosphere. Matthews said. “The most important thing is being safe and trying to stay as healthy as possible. ♦ Keefe said he is binging on the Leafs and that he doesn’t have a Netflix account. Does it surprise you that he hasn’t shut his brain off? And what “It’s frustrating and disappointing to have this season go on pause, but — other than an apparently relentless work ethic — stood out to you when you think about being really close to scoring 50 goals, it all about his first few months on the job? becomes irrelevant when we’re talking about human lives and what kinds of things are going on around the world.” MATTHEWS: No, that’s not really too surprising. Since he has taken over, his work ethic and his commitment to the players and the team — Matthews had 47 goals, one less than NHL leaders Ovechkin and David not just on a hockey level but on a personal level — has been amazing. I Pastrnak, when the NHL put a halt on the 2020-21 schedule. The Leafs think he has been great. Everybody has been really receptive to him and were in third place in the Atlantic Division with 81 points, three up on the I think he has been extremely receptive to us. That’s all you can really , and had 12 games remaining. ask for. The fact that he has continued to watch film and find different ways for the team to be better, areas of weaknesses and strengths, that’s Among the topics Matthews — who has Leafs teammate Frederik just a commitment to be the best coach he can be. Andersen as a house guest during the pause — discussed with reporters on Thursday (some questions and answers have been edited for length): ♦ Has your mind wandered to idea that the end of the pause might not happen in (or before) September and we’re looking at a lot longer than ♦ Keefe was saying recently he wants his players to come back as better the next several months? versions of themselves. How do you address that and what facilities do you have at home for keeping in shape? MATTHEWS: You never know what the case is or what’s going to happen. It’s just important that everybody is really practising social MATTHEWS: It’s tough to have all the resources you would have if we distancing and staying healthy. When the time comes, we can get back were all training in the summer. I’ve been watching some video, watching on the ice again and health officials and everybody declares it’s a go. clips, trying to stay as active as possible while respecting social There are a lot of hypotheticals, so it’s tough to really pinpoint what the distancing. I’ve been shooting pucks and stick-handling. I have free situation is going to be. weights and I have a sport court being built. I have rollerblades. I’m trying to do everything I can to stay in shape and try to not lose that focus. ♦ On a lighter note, it has been noted that you are a great devotee to various dating shows on TV — Love is Blind, Love Island. Have you been ♦ Assuming the NHL finishes the regular season, how much would it able to turn Freddie on to those and what is the appeal of watching these mean to you to (possibly) score more goals than Ovechkin? shows? MATTHEWS: It’s pretty cool and humbling to be in the same MATTHEWS: The first one I watched was Love is Blind. It was just on conversation as a guy like him. He has been a generational player and Netflix and it was just right there so I clicked it and started watching it. I has made a big impact beyond the game and led the way for lots of just binge-watched it. I don’t really know what the appeal is. Freddie will players. Hopefully, we get back to playing hockey and can compete only watch a couple of episodes (of Love Island) before he leaves the again. There is unfinished business considering we have 12 games left to room and goes somewhere else. It’s pretty awful but I’m in deep now so I play and there is close races for spots in the playoffs. But like I said, this can’t really turn back. is bigger than sport. ♦ I’m wondering if you caught any of the old NHL games that have been ♦ If the season doesn’t resume, how will you wrap this season up if we go broadcast (during the pause), and what you thought about the right to 2020-21? goaltending equipment of the 1970s and 1980s, and the hooking and MATTHEWS: That’s a scenario that we would all not like to see happen. holding of the 1990s? If that’s the case, there were lots of ups and downs, lots of growth and MATTHEWS: With all of the speed and skill and the talent, the young room for growth. We had our fair share of adversity. That kind of stuff talent that’s in the league now, I feel like this is the most exciting hockey builds character and leadership and all that, but hopefully, hypothetically that has been played, but it’s pretty cool to watch old games. I’m a big speaking, (going right into next season) doesn’t happen. equipment guy so to see the guys using their wooden sticks and the ♦ Brendan Shanahan was saying recently that on the upside you guys goaltending gear … Even the way they goaltended back then compared responded from having your backs up against the wall quite regularly, to now, it’s pretty cool to see how far it’s all come together. Where the including your last game where you beat the Lightning. On the downside, game is at, it’s extremely exciting to be a part of and playing right now. he was wondering why this team had a tendency to put its back against ♦ You said you’ve been working on your shot. Is Freddie in net for those the wall so often. Thoughts on that? practice sessions and is there a bit of a competitive rivalry going on? MATTHEWS: No, he’s not going in the net. I wouldn’t do that to him. He’s not a street hockey goalie. He likes to play out.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182514 Toronto Maple Leafs weeks of the season. Looking at the standings, a lot probably would have.

There were only four points separating the four teams in the West A Leafs-Lightning first-round playoff series would be all about redemption (Nashville, Vancouver, Minnesota and Arizona) battling for the final wild card spot, while only three points separated the Blue Jackets, Islanders, Rangers and Panthers for the final East wild card spot.

Michael Traikos “I think it’s not really fair,” Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who’s team is three points out of a playoff spot, said earlier this week. “Lots of games

and we’re right in the mix. We have the opportunity to be in there. And if How would the Toronto Maple Leafs have measured up against the they just cut it off, I don’t think it’s fair. Tampa Bay Lightning? Expect that sentiment to grow, unless the NHL is willing to expand its That was the question heading into their March 10 matchup at playoffs from 16 to 24 teams. Scotiabank Arena that Toronto won 2-1. It ended up being the final game COULD TOREY KRUG BE A HAB? either team would play before the NHL paused the season indefinitely two days later because of the coronavirus. There’s a chance defenceman Tory Krug has played his last game with the Bruins. Even the 28-year-old conceded as much in a conference call No one knows if the regular season will resume this year, if there will be earlier this week, noting he might have priced himself out of Boston. time to conduct the playoffs or what a post-season might even look like. Based on the current standings, Toronto would have played Tampa Bay “From a business perspective, I can’t put any assumptions on it,” said in a first-round series that would have begun this week and would have Krug, “but I can only guess that things are going to look a little different been all about offence — and exorcising demons. from a salary-cap perspective next year, and team structures are going to be affected by that, as well.” It would have pitted Auston Matthews, John Tavares and Mitch Marner against Nikita Kucherov, and Brayden Point; Morgan If Krug ends up as an unrestricted free agent, there won’t be a shortage Rielly against ; Frederik Andersen against Andrei of teams interested in a defenceman who had nine goals and 49 points in Vasilevskiy. 61 games this year.

For the Lightning, it would have been about redeeming itself after getting Among them could be the Montreal Canadiens, who will be looking to swept by the eighth-seeded Blue Jackets in the opening round of last bolster their back end and contend while 34-year-old is still year’s playoffs. productive and Jeff Petry is still under contract (his deal expires in 2021). With $4.5-million in available cap space, Montreal could make it work For the Leafs, there was even more on the line. This season hasn’t been financially. easy for Toronto. The team, which has struggled to find consistency, fired its head coach in November and was clinging to third place in the Atlantic The only question is would Habs fans be on board cheering for someone Division, the Florida Panthers only three points back with a game in who spent the past eight years playing for the — gulp! — Bruins? hand, when the season was put on hold. TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT Toronto, which was in the first year of paying Matthews and Marner a combined $22.5-million, desperately needed to make the playoffs. But Since every team has played at least 68 games, TSN’s Frank Seravelli after failing to get over the first-round hump in the previous three suggested using that number as a cut-off for who makes the playoffs. Of seasons, the Leafs also needed to win a best-of-seven series and show course, all it would do is cause more complaints. Under this scenario, that its top-heavy salary structure could make them a Stanley Cup Florida would be in and Toronto would be out in the East, while contender. Vancouver and Minnesota would replace Calgary and Nashville as playoff teams in the West … After spending seven seasons in Columbus, “That’s obviously been a goal since our first year,” Matthews said in a Bobrovsky said changing teams played a major role in why he struggled conference call on Thursday. “It’s no secret: Three years and kind of the so much this season. “It wasn’t an easy season for me,” he said. “New same result. Of course you’d like to get to that point again and change team, new coach, new surroundings. Everything new” … Boston had the that whole narrative.” best record in the NHL this season. But with Krug and goalie Jaroslav Halak heading to free agency, as well as Zdeno Chara having celebrated Part of that narrative involved back-to-back Game 7 losses to the Bruins. his 43rd birthday last month, don’t be surprised if the Bruins’ window is With the standings the way they are today, Boston would finish first in the closing faster than expected … Two weeks into the hiatus, NHLers were division, meaning that Toronto would have to wait until the second round already ordering Peloton bikes and other gym equipment to stay in for a rematch. shape. With rinks closed, how long before some start installing fake ice in “I don’t think we were thinking too far ahead,” said Matthews. “We were their basements or garages? … Personally, I like the idea of holding the in a race of our own with Florida. It was kind of neck-and-neck before the NHL playoffs in a central location, if only because it adds a Survivor-type pause. But I don’t think we let our minds drift too far obviously into the ending to each round. Once out, you’re essentially voted off the island — unknown. or booted out of whatever hotel in North Dakota. Maybe the NHL can even hire Jeff Probst to host. “I think when you look at heading into the playoffs and who you maybe play, it doesn’t really matter, the whole revenge thing. If we were to play Toronto Sun LOADED: 04.10.2020 Tampa Bay in the first round, obviously our focus is on them and no one else until whatever happens there. You try not to let your mind drift too far.

“For now, we’ve got 12 regular season games (remaining) and obviously there are a lot of unknowns when (the season) does resume, what the situation will be.”

‘NOT REALLY FAIR’ TO START THE PLAYOFFS RIGHT AWAY

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the NHL is ready to get back on the ice when given the “green light” — even if that date is in July or August. But for the first time since the league was paused on March 12, he admitted that completing the regular season “may not be possible.”

If so, what does that mean for the bubble teams?

Not every team has played the same number of games. And with a dozen or so games remaining, a lot could have changed in the final 1182515 Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman like Calle Rosen or Martin Marincin, now the Leafs are cap compliant.

With $1.4-million in space to go wild with in free agency, potentially on Mirtle: How will a flat NHL salary cap affect the Maple Leafs’ future? depth at centre or on the blue line.

We’ve made these changes with the idea of keeping the Leafs current core in place as much as possible, as there’s every indication that’s what By James Mirtle Apr 9, 2020 Dubas intends at this point. I do wonder if a flat-cap environment will require some more outside-the-box thinking, however.

Perhaps with so many teams unable to bid aggressively in free agency it Increasingly, it’s becoming clear that the fallout from the coronavirus would make sense to shed payroll to be able to get in on the bargain shutdown will have a long, lasting impact on the NHL. buying? More and more, the talk is of the revenue shortfall reaching as high as 30 But where do you cut further on this lineup, without hitting bone? percent this season and a salary cap that stays almost flat for the next two or three years to compensate for that. In an ideal world, the cap figure the NHL and NHLPA settle on for next season comes in a little higher than the current figure. Pierre LeBrun Assuming there aren’t games played between now and whenever 2020- suggested $82.5 million in his story earlier this week, and I think that’s a 21 begins, the damage could be upwards of $1-billion — nearly half of reasonable compromise, even if it means slightly higher escrow for which has already been paid out to players. In that environment, raising players for the next few years. the cap doesn’t make much sense. An extra million might allow the Leafs to spend up to $3 million on a The ramifications of a $81.5 million salary cap being in place for multiple defenceman in free agency, giving them some options other than the years are significant, especially for contending teams that have kids. (Chris Tanev maybe?) committed a lot to salaries well into the future. The Maple Leafs obviously fit into that group, with $55 million already allocated in 2022-23, three It’s difficult to imagine a more thorough overhaul under these confines, seasons from now. however, unless management wants to move multiple contracts up front to try and address how thin they are on the blue line. The trouble with In the near term, the cap not rising will make GM Kyle Dubas’ job that that, as we saw this season when the Leafs ran into injuries, is a lack of much more challenging. scoring depth can be incredibly difficult to overcome. How challenging? Let’s take a closer look. I know it’s a debate that’s been beaten to death in Toronto the past few Here is the Leafs cap-committed 2020-21 roster after signing KHLer years, but it’s hard not to look at this situation and circle back to the Alexander Barabanov on Tuesday. This is before any free agents, UFA decision to allocate so much cap space to the Big Four up front. There’s or RFA, are accounted for, using CapFriendly’s wonderful Armchair GM obviously no way the Leafs front office could have known that this level of tool. I’ve also left off any Marlies or prospects who might make the roster, global health and economic crisis would happen during the first year of as we’ll get to them later. the Matthews and Marner contracts, but it will mean there’s not the cap relief that was expected in the years to come. That’s 10 forwards, four defencemen and both goalies accounted for, at a cap hit of $76.4 million. If the cap remains entirely flat next year, the We always evaluated those contracts and that decision to spend big up Leafs will then have just $5.1 million left to add, at minimum, two front under the assumption that the cap would continue to rise, potentially forwards and two defencemen to get to a minimum roster of 18 skaters hitting the $90-million plateau in the final years of those deals. (Paying and two goalies. your four highest-paid players 44-ish percent of the cap is a significant improvement over 50 percent, as multiple teams have won Cups in that That’s problematic given their RFAs of note include Ilya Mikheyev, Travis range in the NHL’s cap era.) Dermott, Frederik Gauthier and Denis Malgin. That kind of cap growth now appears highly unlikely — and the flattening In terms of UFAs, the Leafs will have little choice but to let Tyson Barrie out will likely mean lower contracts for young stars elsewhere around the and Cody Ceci walk after one season. It’s expected that Jason Spezza league as well. will re-sign for the league minimum again, so that fills one depth role cheaply. But bringing back — even though he’s expressed The bottom line is the Leafs are going to have to continue to get really interest in returning — feels unlikely. creative to improve this roster. And they’ll have to hope that the young players and free agents they have coming on cheap deals can counteract If we assume the Leafs can squeeze Mikheyev and Dermott in on low- any cap-related subtractions that are sure to come. cost, one-year contracts — they are, after all, restricted free agents and the team has some leverage — and we add Spezza and Timothy “It’s going to be finding players around the edges of the entry-level Liljegren to the roster, Toronto’s 20-player roster breaks down like so. system and near the minimum that can come in and continue to move us (Goat and Malgin were not given qualifying offers in this scenario.) along and help us to get to the next level of our development as a team,” Dubas said in a conversation with Jonas Siegel earlier this week, after That lineup, if the salary cap stays flat next season, would be $450,000 the Barabanov signing was official. over the ceiling — without any extra players on the roster. Looking back, that strategy was a bit of a mixed bag this season. Something, in other words, would have to give. Mikheyev was one obvious success story, along with Holl and Spezza, but other areas where management went low cost like backup goalie What’s not factored in here? Well, rookie Nick Robertson could (Michael Hutchinson) and forward depth (Nic Petan, Pontus Aberg, absolutely make the team, after an incredible 55 goals in 46 games Dmytro Timashov, Kenny Agostino, etc) didn’t exactly pay off. performance in his draft-plus-one season in the OHL. There’s an $850,000 contract to pencil into the top-nine forward group, potentially If this team is going to keep all of its stars, the Leafs are going to need replacing someone on the left side. more hits in the bargain department — from the draft, the development system and in free agency — in order to take the next step. The obvious player to cut, in that scenario, would probably be Andreas Johnsson, who didn’t live up to his $3.4 million cap hit in large part due to The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020 injuries this season. The Leafs aren’t going to be able to afford the luxury of multiple $3.5 million depth forwards in a flat-cap environment, so either Johnsson, Kerfoot or Kapanen would seem to have to go. Perhaps even more than one.

Especially in light of adding Barabanov and, plausibly, Robertson, who both shoot left and are dirt cheap for what they might be able to provide.

If you swap out Johnsson — who gets traded elsewhere for futures or cheap depth options — and plug in Robertson, plus a seventh 1182516 Toronto Maple Leafs You hated everything about the sport. And a very primal part of you just wanted to take the whole NHL and stuff it into a wood-chipper.

And then the wood-chipper showed up, and his name was Wendel Clark, My Favorite Player: Wendel Clark and everything changed.

OK, not everything – the team was still mostly bad and still generally incompetent and Ballard was still Voldemort without the charm. But now By Sean McIndoe Apr 9, 2020 there was this 19-year-old farm boy from Saskatchewan barreling around the ice and just straight-up destroying dudes.

Clark made an impact immediately. He made the team without any The Athletic is asking us to write about our all-time favorite players, and seasoning in the minors, of course, because every Leafs draft pick did I’m going to save you the suspense: I chose Wendel Clark. back then. He had two goals in his third game, one of three multi-goal That may not be a surprise to you if you’ve been reading my stuff since games in October. He threw big hits. He fought. He was fun to watch in a the very early days over a decade ago when I did a gushing 17-part way we hadn’t seen in years. tribute to him. Or if you’ve read me more recently and noticed that I keep But for a lot of us, the turning point came on Feb. 1, 1986. The Leafs finding ways to link to the All Heart video for the 10,000th time. Or if you were hosting Chicago on “.” The Hawks had a live near The Athletic’s Toronto headquarters and have seen me guy named Behn Wilson who was absolutely as mean as they came, marching outside holding a sign reading “Wendel Was Robbed” and quite possibly the most intimidating player in the league at the time. We loudly demanding to speak to the manager. Or if you’ve ever met my two knew Wendel was tough because he’d already fought crusty lovely children, Wendel and Also Wendel. middleweights like Ric Nattress and Randy Ladouceur. But was he Behn OK, that last one isn’t true. (My wife vetoed it.) But you get the point. Wilson tough? Wendel Clark was my first favorite player as a kid, arriving in Toronto not Midway through the second, we found out: long after I was old enough to enter life as a real sports fan. And in 35 years since, nobody’s really come close to knocking him off the throne. And all across Canada, an awful lot of those kids and their parents and grandparents who’d become used to being embarrassed to be Leafs fans If you’re a Leafs fan, you get it. Wendel might be your favorite player too. for so many years suddenly side-eyed each other from the couch and And even if he isn’t, you understand why he could be. To this day, if you went: Whoa. go to a Leafs game in Toronto and watch the various hype-up videos that play on the scoreboard before the game, the biggest cheer still comes For two seasons, Clark was a wrecking ball. He set a Leafs rookie record when Wendel shows up. Leafs fans know. with 34 goals, then topped it with 37 the next year, most of them with a patented wrist shot that took forever to load up but was unstoppable once But if you’re a fan of some other team, you might be confused by this he got it away. The Leafs made the playoffs both years and even won a decades-long cult of Wendel Worship. It’s not like the guy made the Hall round each time. And Clark led the way, racking up nearly 500 PIM, of Fame, or was even a serious candidate. He never scored 50 goals or throwing countless monster hits, and fighting anyone who wanted to go, won a major award. He’s a modern-day Maple Leafs icon, so we know he and a few guys who didn’t. There were other guys in the late-80s NHL didn’t win the Cup. He wasn’t especially fast or good in the defensive who could hit, like Scott Stevens, and other guys who could fight, like zone or much of a playmaker and he always seemed to be hurt. We’re . But Probert could be a technician, and Stevens was the talking about a team that’s been around for over a century and has master of lying in wait and then crushing a guy who didn’t even know he produced more Hall of Famers than any other franchise – how does this was there. That wasn’t Clark’s style. Every hit looked like a car crash, guy show up near the top of every list of most beloved Maple Leafs? Is it and every fight looked like the Wilson bout, just a stream of button- just because he punched a lot of people? mashing haymakers right up until the other guy dropped. Wendel didn’t No. Well, yes, the punching is part of it. But there’s a lot more to it than have an off switch. He was a buzzsaw. that, and to understand, you have to know the history. That’s why it couldn’t last. Clark was generously listed at 5-foot-11 and Toronto won the very first NHL championship in 1918 and a dozen more maybe 180 pounds in a league where size was still everything, and by in the half-century to come. The last of those came in 1967. Two years his third year he was already breaking down; he wouldn’t play even 40 later, a power struggle erupted over control of the team. In the early games in a season again until 1990-91. And here’s where the legend 1970s, that struggle was won decisively by Harold Ballard. gets a little sketchy because the forgotten part of the story is that a lot of Leafs fans turned on him back then. You couldn’t count on a guy who That was the end of the Maple Leafs as a Stanley Cup contender, was hurt all the time. Why couldn’t he just tough it out and play? Wendel although fans didn’t realize it quite yet. There were still star players, like at home, Wendy on the road. This is why Toronto can’t have nice things. Darryl Sittler and Borje Salming and Lanny McDonald, and occasional competence behind the bench in Roger Neilson. But there weren’t many But while that part of the story gets skipped over in most tellings, it ends wins, at least when it mattered. The Leafs hovered around .500 for most up being important, because it sets the stage for the second chapter, of the 1970s, but only won a single seven-game playoff round that when Clark reemerged in the Pat Burns era. Gone was the fresh-faced decade. Then things got worse. A lot worse. kid with the mullet, replaced by a grizzled veteran with a beard and bald spot and now, the captaincy. He wasn’t trying to fight everyone in the By the mid-80s, the Maple Leafs had become a joke. Neilson was fired, league anymore, although he knew when to defend his house. twice. Sittler and McDonald were run out of town by shortsighted management. Prospects were rushed, wasted then discarded. The team He played the best hockey of his career for those early Burns teams, was consistently awful. The Habs stayed good, the Oilers emerged as a including a career-high 46 goals in just 64 games in 1993-94. The timing dynasty, and the Flames and Canucks made trips to the final. Meanwhile, was perfect. Ballard was gone, had arrived to remake the the Maple Leafs were a national embarrassment. team, and for the first time in a generation the Leafs actually looked like they might matter. Doug Gilmour had taken over as the heart of the team, And through it all, it became apparent that Ballard didn’t care. He was but Clark was still the soul. Between those two seasons, the Leafs played interested in the bottom line and his own ego and that was about it. And in four Game 7s, and Clark had multiple goals in three of them – Justin he made it very clear that he was never going to sell the team for as long Williams might be Mr. Game 7 for his winner-take-all heroics, but Clark is as he lived. just one goal behind him on the all-time list, tied with Wayne Gretzky – not to mention a hat trick in the Game 6 that should have sent the Leafs If you’re a sports fan, it’s one thing to lose. It’s another thing entirely to to the final. He still holds the Leafs franchise record for postseason goals. lose hope. And that’s especially true when you cheer for a team that used to win. One that’s supposed to matter. One that your parents and And yet even during those playoff runs, when Clark was playing the role grandparents used to tell you stories about, and now you’re left to sit of the older, wiser veteran, the buzzsaw was still there. It didn’t come out there with them on Saturday night and cringe together about how often. But in those moments when things went bad and a dose of old- pointless it all feels. school justice was needed, you knew without a second of doubt who would arrive. By 1985, the Leafs had finished dead last in the entire league and every Toronto fan was miserable. You hated the team. You hated the league. Look, I know a lot of this might not make sense to fans who are young or new to the sport. I’m well aware that a big chunk of Clark’s highlight reel doesn’t hold up well in today’s world. Bruce Bell was never the same player after Clark crushed him. Some of his most famous scraps are so one-sided they look more like assault than fair fights. Some of his biggest hits would be massive suspensions today. It’s impossible to watch some of those KOs and wonder how many concussions or other injuries he caused or made worse.

It was a different time, and maybe that shouldn’t matter. I’ve wrestled with this question before. I’m still not sure what the right answer should be. If you’re watching all of this for the first time today, with modern eyes, I’d understand if you didn’t get it.

But back then, we did. When a fan base has been kicked in the ribs long enough, by the scoreboard and the hockey gods and their own cartoonishly evil owner, they either quit or they find something to latch onto. Clark arrived right when Maple Leafs fans needed him the most. He didn’t save the franchise or anything like that, and in the end he couldn’t deliver a Stanley Cup. But he made hockey fun again. He made the Leafs matter. He gave you something to feel on a Saturday night other than embarrassment.

Fans don’t forget that. I won’t. And I know that a big part of Leafs nation is right there with me.

What the hell, let’s end this by making it 10,001:

The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182517 Vegas Golden Knights

Alec Martinez relives Kings’ Stanley Cup win in 2014

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal April 9, 2020 - 7:48 PM

Alec Martinez took time out of his self-quarantine to relive the highlight of his career.

The Golden Knights defenseman appeared on the NBC Sports Network program “Hockey Happy Hour” via video chat Thursday to rewatch Game 5 of the 2014 Stanley Cup Final. Martinez’s Los Angeles Kings won the Cup after he scored in double overtime to defeat the New York Rangers.

“I remember not being able to breathe,” said Martinez, who was traded from the Kings to the Knights on Feb. 19. “You’re pinned up against the glass (by your celebrating teammates). Everyone’s yelling and screaming.”

The @LAKings relive the 2014 Stanley Cup Final tonight at 6p ET on @NHLonNBCSports! #HockeyHappyHour pic.twitter.com/ZSCyLayITE

— NHL (@NHL) April 9, 2020

The Kings entered Game 5 with a chance to win a championship after an arduous slog through the playoffs. Los Angeles finished with the sixth- most points in the Western Conference, but they outlasted the San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks in seven games apiece to reach the Stanley Cup Final.

Martinez scored another overtime winner in Game 7 of the Western Conference Final to defeat Chicago.

“We played physically, and we could just grind some teams down,” he said.

The Stanley Cup Final wasn’t much easier. The Kings won the first three games, but needed overtime in Game 1 and double overtime in Game 2. The Rangers then won Game 4 in New York to stave off elimination. That meant Game 5 was a chance for the Kings to clinch the Cup on home ice, but Martinez said he and his teammates left that unsaid.

“There weren’t any dummies in that locker room,” Martinez said. “We knew what was at hand.”

The Rangers led 2-1 after two periods before Marian Gaborik tied the game with 12:04 left in the third. The teams played to a stalemate the rest of regulation and a full overtime period before Martinez etched his name in Kings’ lore.

The defenseman jumped into a 3-on-2 with less than six minutes remaining in double overtime. Forward shot from the right circle, and the rebound bounced to an uncovered Martinez in the slot with 5:17 left.

Alec Martinez scores Stanley Cup winning goal in overtime (2014) pic.twitter.com/zQFm7F562z

— Retro Sports Moments (@HistroyInSports) July 16, 2015

One quick shot later, the Kings were Stanley Cup champions for the second time in three years. Martinez’s celebration — namely, his use of “jazz hands” — and the goal became iconic. And those memories remain, even though the defenseman is now wearing a different sweater.

“Even a blind squirrel finds a nut, boys, every once in a while,” Martinez told former teammates Trevor Lewis and Jarret Stoll on the show.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182518 Vegas Golden Knights

Cosmopolitan drops $500K lawsuit against NHL star Evander Kane

By Mick Akers Las Vegas Review-Journal

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas has dropped its lawsuit against NHL star Evander Kane over what it claimed were unpaid casino markers.

District Court records show the case against the San Jose Sharks forward was dismissed April 2. The casino had alleged that Kane failed to pay back $500,000 in gambling markers extended to him in April 2019.

The court documents stated that Kane, who is a Canadian citizen, took out eight credits of varying amounts between $20,000 and $100,000 on or about April 15, 2019. That date would have fallen between games 3 and 4 of the Stanley Cup first-round playoff series between the Sharks and the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Cosmopolitan was also seeking repayment of legal fees associated with the lawsuit.

Lawrence Semenza, an attorney representing The Cosmopolitan, confirmed the case has been dropped and can’t be brought up in court again. He declined to comment on whether it was settled out of court or any other stipulations of the dismissal.

Kane, who signed a seven-year deal with the Sharks in 2018 worth $49 million, is notorious for an ongoing feud with Knights bruiser Ryan Reaves.

Coincidentally, Reaves and Kane got into a brawl in Game 3 of the 2019 playoff series, the night before The Cosmopolitan claimed it issued the casino markers to Kane. The rivalry has made Kane public enemy No. 1 for Knights fans.

Representatives of the Sharks and The Cosmopolitan weren’t immediately available for comment.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182519 Vegas Golden Knights 71 3.4

3.93 Bang for your buck: How each Golden Knight performed in relation to their salary 1.88

2.05

By Jesse Granger Apr 9, 2020 Chandler Stephenson

$1.05 M

With the NHL’s hard salary cap ceiling, finding value in contracts is what 65 separates the league’s elite from the rest of the pack. 1.08 Most teams have highly-talented players at the top of their lineup, accounting for large portions of the salary cap. Then there are a few 1.36 replacement-level players making $1 million or less, to fill out the roster. 0.01 Wins and losses are usually decided by what’s in between. 1.35 To build a winner, general managers must find players who can outperform the expected production from their salary, while avoiding players drastically underperforming. Because of that, it’s important to not just grade players on their performance, but on their performance in $9.5 M relation to how much cap space they’re taking up. 65

To examine how much bang for their buck the Golden Knights are getting 2.97 out of each player, I enlisted the help of The Athletic’s hockey analytics expert, Dom Luszczyszyn. It would be easy to simply divide a player’s 3.75 cap hit by the amount of points they’ve racked up this season, but that doesn’t take anything but offense into account. Luszczyszyn’s model for 2.66 game score value added (GSVA) combines all the basic score stats, 1.09 along with advanced analytics, into one number to measure a player’s value. Reilly Smith

As Luszczyszyn has said himself, the number isn’t perfect. Creating a $5 M single number to represent the value of a hockey player is nearly 71 impossible. But his model does a fantastic job, and the results over the past few seasons have shown it works in not only determining a player’s 1.95 value but also projecting their production moving forward. 2.25 For reference, elite players like Connor McDavid or Nathan MacKinnon garner a GSVA score of around 3.0, while elite defensemen usually 1.25 grade out at around 2.5. Top line players are expected to finish around 1 2.25, while top defenders hover between 2.0 and 1.7. A top-six player is expected to be around 1.0, while top-four defensemen are in the 0.4 range. If a player is well below average, the numbers can go below zero. $5.9 M The main thing to remember is three is a great GSVA score, two is good, one is average, and zero or below is bad. 63

With those numbers in mind, Luszczyszyn also calculated how much 1.92 GSVA a player should be contributing based on how much salary he 2.5 makes. That is represented in the charts below as “xWin” or expected wins. Mark Stone is the highest-paid player on the Golden Knights at 1.53 $9.5 million per year. At that salary, he’s expected to contribute 2.66 GSVA over a full season. After 65 games this season he’s at a fantastic 0.97 2.97, on pace for 3.75 per 82 games. That gives him a positive difference Nicolas Roy of 1.09. $720,000 The most important number to focus on for the purposes of this article is “difference” on the far right of each chart below (you may have to scroll 28 right to see it). The higher a player’s difference is, the more valuable he has in relation to his cap hit. Players like Nicolas Roy and William Carrier, 0.3 who are making significantly less money, are able to earn a higher 0.88 difference with much lower output. -0.08 The more players you have playing above their xWin, obviously the better off you are. 0.96

This year the Golden Knights finished with seven forwards playing above Jonathan Marchessault their xWin and five playing below it. For the purposes of this piece, I left $5 M out players like Brandon Pirri and Keegan Kolesar, who didn’t play enough games to compare. 66

On defense, the numbers are even better, with six defenders playing 1.62 above their xWin and only one (Nic Hague) below it. 2.01 Forwards 1.25 Max Pacioretty 0.76 $7 M William Carrier $725,000 shots on goal this season. The next closest Golden Knight is Jonathan Marchessault with 235. 71 But what sets Pacioretty apart this season is his impact in other aspects 0.06 of the game. He led the team in points (66) thanks to his elite playmaking 0.07 ability with the puck. The 31-year-old winger tied his career high for assists with 11 games still unplayed this season, showcasing improved -0.08 vision and instincts in the offensive zone. Because of that, and a ferocious forecheck, Pacioretty led the entire NHL in shot share and 0.15 expected goal share while on the ice. Tomas Nosek Pacioretty’s $7 million cap hit may have seemed high before the season, $1 M but based on his play it was a steal for the Golden Knights. According to Luszczyszyn’s model, a $7 million-player is expected to contribute 1.88 67 xWins, but Pacioretty more than doubled that.

-0.05 No, your eyes are not deceiving you. Chandler Stephenson was the Golden Knights' second most valuable player this season in relation to -0.06 his cap hit. That's because Stephenson not only exceeded all 0 expectations in terms of his $1.05 million AAV, but also because Vegas gave up only a fifth-round pick to get him from Washington. Stephenson -0.06 fit right into the Golden Knights' lineup and scored more goals in only 41 games than he had in an entire season with the Capitals. His smooth skating, defensive responsibility and uncanny finishing around the net $6.5 M made him the biggest surprise of the season.

71 When paired with Pacioretty and Stone, Stephenson was part of analytically the best line in hockey. The trio led all forward lines with at 1.3 least 150 minutes together in expected goals percentage (69.3) and 1.5 expected goals per 60 minutes (4.09), and finished second in goals per 60 minutes (5.42). 1.72 Shockingly, the Golden Knights next most valuable contract amongst the -0.22 forwards was Stone, who is Vegas’ highest-paid player at $9.5 million AAV. Despite that lofty number, Stone still managed to outplay his Cody Glass contract by a considerable margin.

$863,333 No player on the team impacts the game in all three zones more than 39 Stone, who is an effective scorer, great defender, and a nightmare for opposing teams in the neutral zone with his ability to read and disrupt -0.22 plays as they develop up the ice. Those factors led to Stone’s game score (GSVA) being higher than players like Jack Eichel and Mika -0.46 Zibanejad despite having fewer points.

-0.04 Reilly Smith also outplayed his contract this season, setting a new -0.42 career-high for goals (27) despite not finishing the season. The 28-year- old winger was incredibly efficient with his scoring chances this season, Ryan Reaves finishing second on the team in goals (only five behind Pacioretty) despite taking only 169 shots on goal. Smith still has two years remaining $2.775 M on his current contract, which is good for Vegas considering how 71 consistent he’s been in his three years with the Golden Knights.

-0.36 Right behind Smith in terms of contract value was William Karlsson, who outperformed his $5.9 million salary by 0.97 xWins. To put it simply, -0.42 Karlsson is being paid like an average top-six player (1.53 GSVA), but is playing closer to a top-tier first-line player (2.5 GSVA). That may surprise 0.56 you considering Karlsson’s scoring struggles this season, but his impact -0.98 in every other phase of the game is more than enough to compensate for the occasional goal drought. Alex Tuch When he’s scoring, Karlsson is elite. The problem is that doesn’t happen $4.75 M regularly enough to consider him an elite player. But at $5.9 million AAV 42 for the next six years, Karlsson’s contract could provide tremendous value for Vegas. 0.08 The first real surprise on the list comes at No. 5, where rookie Nic Roy 0.16 played well above his entry-level contract. This needs to be taken with a grain of salt, considering Roy played only 28 games, but in a small 1.17 sample size Roy was impressive and showed more offense than -1.01 expected.

Max Pacioretty leads the way not only in overall play (3.93 GSVA/82), but Bouncing back and forth from the NHL to the AHL all season, Roy he’s also outperforming his contract more than any player on the team. managed to tally five goals and five assists for Vegas. More importantly As stated above, anything above 3.0 GSVA is considered an elite-level for a fourth-line player, he drove possession of the puck in the offensive forward, and Pacioretty was on pace to finish nearly a full point above zone, leading to a team-high 60.15 Corsi percentage. that. Roy is a restricted free agent this summer with no arbitration rights, It’s not much of a surprise that Pacioretty leads Vegas with 32 goals this meaning he’ll likely get only a slight bump in salary from his current season. He has one of the best shots in the NHL with a lightning-quick $720,000. If he can continue the progression he showed this season, he release, and a wrist shot that Robin Lehner said is harder than some could be a full-time NHL player next year and provide even more value at players’ slap shots. With a shot like that, Pacioretty always has the green a low cap hit. light to shoot, and that shows up in the stats as he took a whopping 307 Marchessault and William Carrier both produced in accordance with their 49 cap hit, albeit on different scales. According to the analytics, Marchessault slightly over-performed (0.76 GSVA more than expected). 0.61 Meanwhile, Carrier’s $725,000 cap hit is expected to produce minus- 1.02 0.07, and he just cleared it at 0.08. -0.06 Now to the players who underperformed, starting with Paul Stastny. The oldest forward on the roster showed his age a bit this season, finishing 1.08 with a GSVA of only 1.72. That’s not a terrible season by any stretch, but Nate Schmidt it’s slightly below what you should expect from a player with a $6.5 million cap hit. $5.95 M

Stastny actually put the puck in the net at a good rate this season. His 17 59 goals were his second-highest total in the last six years, and his three game-winning goals were tied with Stone and Marchessault for third on 1.33 the team. But Stastny’s game is usually far more geared toward 1.85 playmaking. His hockey sense and vision on the ice set him apart, and this season the assists weren’t where he’d like them to be at only 21. 1.28 That total would’ve been the lowest in his entire career, aside from the shortened season in 2012-13. 0.57

There are plenty of outside factors to Stastny’s lack of setups. A lot of it Deryk Engelland was players simply not finishing dangerous chances he helped create, $700,000 but he also played significant time on the third line, in an attempt to inject some offense into the bottom-six. Still, Stastny’s slight dip in production, 49 coupled with his age, make him one of the more likely top-six players to be moved if Vegas needs to open up cap space this summer. He has -0.11 one year remaining on his deal. -0.18

The bottom three forwards in terms of value were Cody Glass, Ryan -0.26 Reaves and Alex Tuch. Glass and Tuch are both in this position for two reasons: Injuries and lack of offense during the rare stretches they were 0.08 healthy. When Tuch signed his seven-year extension worth $4.75 million AAV, it looked like a great value for the Golden Knights. That still may be Brayden McNabb the case down the road, but this was a season to forget for one of Vegas’ $2.5 M best young players. 71 As for Reaves, he’s at the bottom of this list simply because as an unrestricted free agent in 2018, Reaves had another offer on the table for 0.28 three years and George McPhee opted to pay Reaves the total of that contract over two years (for future cap flexibility) hence Reaves’ inflated 0.32 $2.775 million salary. 0.27

Reaves played his role well this season, leading the league with 316 hits 0.05 and falling only one goal short of a career high with seven. However, Reaves’ on-ice goal share is amongst the worst on the team (44.64 Nicolas Hague percent) and most other metrics aren’t kind to him either. $791,667 He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer. If Vegas can sign him to 38 a much lower AAV, he could still be a valuable player moving forward. Having Reaves on the roster isn’t a problem, but paying him $2.775 -0.13 million when the team is pressed tightly against the cap, could be. -0.28 Defensemen -0.23 Shea Theodore -0.05 $5.2 M The Golden Knights haven’t invested as much money on the blue line as 71 they have up front. No single defenseman makes $6 million per year, and the $22.85 million total is among the lowest in the NHL. Because of that, 3.21 Vegas was banking on their blueliners outperforming their contracts, and 3.71 they did.

1.06 Shea Theodore leads the way with one of the best seasons by any defenseman in the NHL. The 24-year-old was spectacular both 2.65 offensively and defensively, and finished with a whopping 3.71 GSVA per Nick Holden 82 games. That score rivals the league’s most elite defenseman, and Theodore’s stats compare favorably with Norris Trophy favorites John $2.2 M Carlson and .

61 How good was Theodore? He’s the second-highest-paid defensive player at $5.2 million, but he still managed to more than triple his expected 1.07 GSVA production.

1.44 Vegas’ highest-paid defender — Nate Schmidt — used a strong second 0.18 half of the season to finish on the positive side of GSVA value. After missing 12 games with a serious knee injury early in the season, Schmidt 1.26 took some time to get back to his usual self. His edge work wasn’t clean, and he was consistently getting beat to loose pucks in the corner. Jon Merrill Because of that, when we did this exercise at the midway point he was $1.375 M actually the worst value on the team at minus-0.66 GSVA. But Schmidt eventually worked his way back onto the positive side (0.57 GSVA) and played well down the stretch as Vegas’ best shutdown defender. Not only did he play well in his own end against opposing top lines every night, but he pitched in 31 points as well.

Two other players who also outperformed their contracts this season are Nick Holden and Jon Merrill. Holden’s advanced metrics are off the chart, partially due to him playing a majority of the season with Theodore. Of 197 defensemen with at least 500 minutes of ice time, Holden ranks second in shots against (25.85) and scoring chances against (20.51) per 60 minutes.

All of that for only a $2.2 million cap hit is already great value for Vegas. That gets even better when you consider Holden just signed a two-year extension at only $1.7 million AAV. While he’ll never be a top-pairing center, Holden is providing Vegas with a steady option at great value.

Merrill also provided Vegas with tremendous value this season. His salary is only $1.375 million, which actually projects to a negative value on the team at minus-0.06 GSVA. However, Merrill ended up with a positive GSVA of 1.02, drastically outperforming that expectation. Add to that the intangibles Merrill brings like a willingness to play forward (he suited up at wing twice and scored in one of those games) and being one of the most well-liked guys in the dressing room who’s willing to sit when his number isn’t called, and he’s a great value.

Merrill will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and, considering Vegas already has six NHL defensemen locked up and more young prospects fighting for spots, he may be heading elsewhere.

Finally, Deryk Engelland and Brayden McNabb ended up just slightly over their projection, and rookie Nic Hague fell just short. The three are all stay-at-home defensemen and combined to score only four goals, so the stats aren’t always the kindest to them. It’s important to note that McNabb played top-pairing minutes every night, facing the toughest competition on a shift-by-shift basis, while Engelland and Hague played mostly on the third pairing.

In conclusion, Vegas had a lot more players outperforming their salary than they did underperforming. Totaled, the Golden Knights exceeded their expected GSVA by 9.93, which is considerable.

Getting monster seasons from star players like Pacioretty, Stone, Smith and Karlsson, combined with unexpected production from role players like Stephenson, Roy and Carrier, is the recipe for a long playoff run. The bad news is that for now, they’re just hoping they eventually get a chance to do it.

The good news is Vegas appears to be set up well moving forward. Most of the underperforming contracts are set to expire this summer or shortly after, and most of the over-performing players are either locked up long term or won't receive a massive bump in pay due to restricted free agency.

The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182520 Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin among players contributing to CCM Hockey's donation of surgical masks

By J.J. Regan April 09, 2020 2:15 PM

With surgical masks in short supply because of the coronavirus pandemic, different companies are stepping up to provide masks to the people who need them the most, the healthcare workers. CCM Hockey is among those companies and announced on Wednesday that they will be donating 500,000 surgical masks to healthcare workers.

Several NHL stars are contributing to the donation including Alex Ovechkin.

“By teaming up with our roster of CCM athletes, we will be able to play a role in the collaborative effort to get past this crisis,” CCM CEO Rick Blackshaw said in a statement on their website. “We focused on the best use of our network and our resources to have the quickest impact. Sourcing greatly needed equipment through our established supply chain partners in Asia is the most efficient way for us to support and keep our real heroes safe."

Ovechkin is listed among the players who contributed to the CCM donation.

The other players listed are Mat Barzal, Patrice Bergeron, Brock Boeser, Dani Cameranesi, Brandon Carlo, Thomas Chabot, , Sidney Crosby, Melodie Daoust, Alex Debrincat, Brianna Decker, , Matt Dumba, Marc-Andre Fleury, , Jake Gardiner, Miro Heiskanen, Filip Hronek, Jonathan Huberdeau, , Nathan Mackinnon, Charlie McAvoy, Connor McDavid, Artemi Panarin, Carey Price, , and John Tavares.

“The CCM Pros are men and women of action," Blackshaw said. "It troubles them to feel helpless as they witness the devastating effects of this pandemic. At the core of this great sport, hockey is about courage, commitment to a higher goal, as well as to one another. It is exactly these player qualities and beliefs that will allow us to emerge stronger from this challenge.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182521 Washington Capitals

Capitals coach Todd Reirden is preparing to play Hurricanes in playoffs, if they occur

By Caroline Brandt April 09, 2020 12:07 PM

As hockey fans and players alike mourn what would have been the beginning of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Wednesday, Capitals head coach Todd Reirden has been preparing his players for what could be a jump right into the postseason when play resumes.

Checking in with players virtually, working with strength and conditioning coach Mark Nemish to curate at-home workouts and meeting with the coaching staff, Reirden has been prepping to play the Carolina Hurricanes. A rematch of last year's first-round series is currently how the matchups would fall if the NHL were to go right to the playoffs upon return.

“Obviously it’s a team that we’re familiar with from last year," Reirden said on The Sports Junkies on Thursday. "Obviously, it would be a good one for us to go against if that was the case. We feel we owe them one after last year.”

The defending champion Capitals were knocked out of the playoffs by the Hurricanes last season, which came down to a decisive Game 7. This season, the Hurricanes took the first two games, outscoring the Capitals 9-6 until Reirden put Ilya Samsonov in net, who got the Caps the last two wins.

“That's a team that we do know we did better as the year went on against them," Reirden said. "Finding a different way of making some systematic adjustments, a little bit of our style of play and more of the intricacies of looking at the power play, penalty kill, special teams, late-game situations against them with the way things that they want to do.”

But preparing for the playoffs without players being able to get some ice time poses a huge problem.

"That’s the one thing that you just can not simulate, the fact that these guys have not been on the ice and the chance of ramping it up right to playoff speed I think will be very difficult on their bodies and hard on some of the muscles that you’re not able to train by not being on the ice," Reirden said. "There’s some you can simulate but there’s nothing like getting out on the ice.”

While coronavirus has forced the world to take things one day at a time, Reirden says he, along with many others, just wants hockey back.

“To me, the big thing is I just want to play hockey again because that means that our world is in a better place than it was a month ago.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182522 Washington Capitals Lost in the shuffle was an incredible save by Holtby during overtime. About 30 seconds before Eller’s game winner, Kane looked like he would score his fourth of the game. Holtby had other ideas.

With NHL season paused, a ranking of Capitals' best wins of 2019-20: #HoltBeast in OT >>>>> pic.twitter.com/2UDIuvvCpC No. 2 — Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 6, 2020

WHY IT WAS SIGNIFICANT By Mark Zaner April 09, 2020 11:36 AM It was just the latest comeback for the Cardiac Caps. It was their 14th comeback win of the season. That tied them with the Blues for most in the NHL. It was their sixth multi-goal comeback of the season, which was While we wait for the NHL to hopefully resume its season, NBC Sports most in the league. It was only the seventh time in NHL history that a Washington is looking back at the 20 best wins of the Capitals' season so team scored twice in the final minute of regulation to win a game and it far. Mark Zaner, producer for Caps Faceoff Live and Caps Overtime Live, was the first time in 14 seasons it had occurred. I think that qualifies as a has watched every game. His rankings continue with No. 2, a 5-4 historic afternoon at . overtime win over the San Jose Sharks on Jan. 5 that featured a comeback of historic proportions for Washington. WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT

You can re-watch the game tonight on NBC Sports Washington at 8pm. I hate to end on a down note, but a lot of discussion postgame was about this move from Kuznetsov. Keep in mind this was at the end of the WHAT HAPPENED second period and the Capitals were down a goal.

After a scoreless first period, the Sharks did most of the scoring in the Ugh. pic.twitter.com/GCrxSwmegD second. Actually, Evander Kane did most of the scoring. The San Jose winger scored three goals on Braden Holtby in a ten-minute span, two of — NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) January 5, 2020 which came on the power play. Nic Dowd’s goal sandwiched in the You could put ketchup, mustard and relish on that hot dog. It was bad middle was the only early bright spot for the Capitals. enough that he attempted the move at all. Even worse when you The Washington comeback started late in the period. Jakub Vrana’s solid consider Washington was down a goal and just needed the puck to go on forecheck kept the puck in the offensive end. T.J. Oshie rewarded him net. Assistant coach Blaine Forsythe was notably livid on the bench after with a perfect pass and Vrana tapped home his 17th of the season. that play. Sharks led 3-2 at intermission. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.10.2020 You give Jakub Vrana that much open net, he's going to take advantage. pic.twitter.com/hnEFEiCfnd

— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) January 5, 2020

The scored stayed that way until the final minute of regulation. scored on an empty net and appeared to put the game away for San Jose. Fans started filing to the exits. and started promoting postgame coverage. The Caps were well on their way to a disappointing loss to a Sharks team that was in sixth place in the Pacific Division

Then the Sharks gave Washington some life. After the ensuing faceoff, with Holtby still on the bench, San Jose had two opportunities to clear the puck. They failed both times. The second failed clear bounced right to Vrana in front of the net and he beat Martin Jones with a quick wrister. The deficit was back down to one.

Jakub Vrana finds the back of the net to give the Caps some late life pic.twitter.com/R7c6uNTtzq

— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) January 5, 2020

Washington wasn’t done. Still playing 6-on-5, Nicklas Backstrom and dug the puck out of the corner. Kuznetsov fed Oshie in the slot and Oshie unleashed a one-timer past Jones with 14 seconds remaining.

We've got a little OT action in our nation's capital this afternoon courtesy of T.J. Oshie pic.twitter.com/xdzQ3isAJ8

— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) January 5, 2020

The Capitals completed their remarkable comeback in overtime. Holtby started the rush with a long pass to John Carlson. Carlson found Lars Eller and Eller went high on Jones for the game winner. An absolute fleecing of two points by Washington. Eller would say after the game that this was the biggest win of the Capitals season.

Oh, what a day… What a lovely day! pic.twitter.com/zxsvYltH8S

— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) January 5, 2020

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

At this point in the season, fans were used to seeing the Caps score 6- on-5 goals late in games. But two 6-on-5 goals? Unheard of. It was the first time in franchise history that the Caps won a game when trailing by two goals in the final minute of regulation. It was the fourth and fifth time this season the Capitals scored 6-on-5. 1182523 Washington Capitals

John Carlson sees a centralized tournament as a 'longshot' for the NHL

By J.J. Regan April 09, 2020 6:00 AM

It has been almost a month since the NHL season was paused. As the calendar has turned from March to April, that has people getting antsy for a possible return. Though NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman cautioned that the league was still weeks away from making any decisions about returning to action, different scenarios are beginning to be discussed. Not everyone, however, believes all of those proposals are realistic.

One proposal, as reported by , is a centralized tournament in North Dakota, similar to the MLB's plan of gathering all the teams in Arizona to play the season. The basic idea is that the teams would gather into one location where they can be isolated. Travel would not be necessary as the teams would be playing in empty arenas.

The idea of a centralized tournament seems to be gaining some traction as the league would not need to wait until the coronavirus pandemic ends. Instead, it would be a way for the league to get back into action earlier by playing in empty arenas and mitigating the risk of the spread of the virus to players and personnel as much as possible.

Not everyone, however, is sold.

“I think it seems like a longshot, but I think that any option is a good option at this point with all the uncertainty going around," John Carlson said Wednesday on a video conference when asked about a centralized tournament. "I think it would be cool. We’ve all been away from each other for a while now and it would be nice to have the abbreviated training camp and maybe play as many games as we need to at something like that. That would kick start everyone back into gear and get ready for the rest of the season and the playoffs.”

Carlson shared he was of the opinion that having at least an abbreviated finish to the regular season would be beneficial, but he understands that may not be possible. In fact, it doesn't sound as if he expects that even to be a realistic scenario.

As various reports of proposals for the NHL MLB and even the NBA potentially playing in Las Vegas, Carlson is trying not to get his hopes up and is keeping both feet planted firmly in the real world.

"I'm just worried about playing at this point," Carlson said. "I don't want to be too optimistic of coming back so quickly and being able to finish the regular season and all that. All I'm thinking about right now is trying to keep myself in the best shape that I can with the circumstances and whatever the rest of the season holds, I'll worry about that when I lace the skates up again."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182524 Washington Capitals Cousins’ situation meant rolling chatter from 2015, his first year as a starting quarterback until he signed a massive free-agent deal with Minnesota in 2018. We can debate whether the good-not-great Cousins was worth all the fuss. Still, future historians will have plenty to consider The Ultimate D.C. Sports Fan Survey: The big winners and surprising with Washington’s often confusing approach that included an losers unprecedented two franchise tag designations.

Harper signing with NL East rival Philadelphia in 2019, generated a 400- foot home run’s amount of consternation among the local fan base. By By Ben Standig, Brittany Ghiroli, Fred Katz Apr 9, 2020 the end of the year, though, Nats’ nation found the ultimate joy in Mudville.

It’s a great time to be a Washington D.C. sports fan right now. On the This topic no longer generates steady discussion, but it’s not forgotten. one hand, you have the defending World Series Champion Nationals, the Of the 2,012 people to answer, 57.6 percent said Washington should WNBA champion Mystics and a Capitals team that hoisted the Stanley change its nickname. Cup less than two years ago in 2018. The Wizards are far from Our survey most definitely is not scientific. Regardless, the results are championship level right now, but their fans can at least see Bradley Beal interesting relative to the trend over the past decade. do work. D.C. United has to replace both Luciano Acosta and Wayne Rooney, but the club still has a strong fanbase, and has pledged to A 2014 poll for ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” found that 71 percent of improve still-new . And, there’s always the Redskins, who have respondents favored keeping the name. The ESPN article stated that the finally made big, structural changes in their front office and coaching number dropped from 88 percent when the pollsters asked the questions staff. 22 years before.

(Don’t worry, college sports fans, your survey is coming.) The Public Policy Polling annual NFL poll in 2016 showed that from 410 fans, 64 percent stated Washington should not change its nickname. But are these long-suffering fan bases the same? Do the same people who cheer on the Caps care about the fate of FedEx Field? Which teams That same year a Washington Post Poll of Native Americans said nine in really matter? Which storylines are important to you, the fans? More than 10 are not offended by the Redskins name. However, a University of 2,000 of you took the time to fill out our “21 Questions” survey last week, California at Berkeley poll from February showed nearly half of Native with topics ranging from the worst owners, the Redskins’ name, the state Americans found the Redskins nickname offensive. Dozens of protestors of local media, and the most overrated and underrated athletes in the held a rally in Minnesota outside U.S. Bank Stadium before the district. Redskins-Vikings regular-season game in October.

Our group of insiders — Tarik El-Bashir, Britt Ghiroli, Fred Katz, Ben At some point, the Redskins’ nickname topic regains traction, though Standig — tallied the results, which were surprising in some spots, there’s been no sign of budging from owner Daniel Snyder. We’ll see funny in others and, in at least one case, a little concerning. Below is Part how future polls shape the debate. 1 of a fascinating three-part temperature-taking of D.C. sports fandom. They’re grouped by subject, with the emphasis this week on the The results — 72.03 percent of 2,002 respondents said no — speak Nationals and Redskins… more about the Snyder’s past than the future with Rivera. Washington reached the playoffs only four times this century and has finished with at D.C. loves a winner, so it should come as no surprise that the Capitals least 10 wins twice. Last season’s 3-13 record marked the organization’s and Nationals blew away their closest Big Four competition, the Redskins worst since 1994 and led to a coaching change and the ouster of and Wizards. The Caps have the area’s biggest star in Alex Ovechkin, longtime team president Bruce Allen. No matter the switches, Snyder have been to the playoffs in 11 of the past 12 years, and memories of remains. hoisting the Stanley Cup remain fresh. A year after the Caps’ breakthrough, Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and the Nats overcame The latest plan makes Rivera the lead voice and direction-setter among years of postseason heartbreak and claimed the MLB championship. The the day-to-day voices. That’s a new role for the former NFL linebacker big takeaway: new Redskins’ Coach Ron Rivera has a lot of work to do to and two-time NFL Coach of the Year with Carolina. Rivera is overseeing win back what had been the area’s most loyal fan base. The big his first offseason in this capacity. With the new approach comes hope, takeaway, Part 2: the Wizards rank closer to United and the Mystics than or at least it should if not for the two decades run of ugh looming above the other Big Four teams. all.

The Nationals edged out the shared home of the Caps and Wizards for Whether nostalgia for the days at RFK Stadium swayed voters or not, the best place to watch a live game in town. Perhaps the summer folks want the Redskins back in the District. At least the nearly 75 baseball weather played a factor here, too. , with a seating percent of those in our survey do, versus a smaller faction loving Virginia. capacity of more than 41,000, has helped revitalize a fast-growing Navy It looks like most are crabby about staying in Maryland. Yard. Home to MLB’s All-Star Game in 2018, the stadium — which Still, more than 200 participants added they prefer the Redskins remain opened in 2008 — hosted its first World Series games in the city since in the current Landover, Md. site despite the frequent criticism of 1933 this past fall. Audi Field, the home of D.C. United, had a strong FedExField. Of course, not all the stay-put rationale involves the current showing and the Mystics nearly topped the Redskins. We’ll get more into digs, as many mentioned concern about paying for a new pad. FedEx Field later on. “Stay put. We don’t (sic) want to pay for anything else,” said one voter, The results here aren’t exactly a shock. echoing the voice of many. Two of the three D.C. teams who have won championships, the Capitals “Anywhere as long as it’s not paid for by public funds,” said another and Mystics, belong to Leonsis. The other, the Nationals, is Lerner’s. The respondent. Others offered different locations not often considered math comes darn close, reflecting the city’s distribution of titles. The unless recent congressional action reclassified Nebraska, Kansas, Texas Redskins, meanwhile, haven’t won a playoff game since 2005. and the city of St. Louis as part of the DMV. The fascinating part of Leonsis’s case is the way his teams have Other reasons for a D.C. site included access to Metro and the notion diverged. Ask a Capitals or Mystics fan how they feel about him following that a “Washington” team should be based in — wait for it — a 2018 Stanley Cup and 2019 WNBA title, and they might speak in a Washington. Fair enough. different tone than a diehard of the Wizards, who have fallen to the bottom part of the NBA after a good-but-not-great run in the middle of the How do you choose between Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer? It’s decade. But two out of three ain’t bad, and it’s made Leonsis popular tough, but nearly all of the voters picked one of the Nats two aces to lead enough to top this list. the staff in wins with Strasburg prevailing with nearly half the votes. Lefty Patrick Corbin was a distant third with 131 votes and 15 people opted for Two talk-radio and website staples disappeared late in the previous the unexpected in picking the unknown fifth starter. (Hey, stranger things decade, but not before the masses discussed, discussed, and discussed have happened in baseball.) the contract status for Kirk Cousins and Bryce Harper. At least with the ex-Nats’ contract talks involved one future date. We thought this would be closer, but nearly 70 percent of you thought the Nationals got the right guy in signing Strasburg to a long-term deal. Rendon took home 588 of the 1914 votes cast, with a handful of people opting to not choose between the two and select both. Ah, but that was always a pipe dream, it seemed, given that the Nats said there were limits to their payroll, even after winning a Series.

Phew. When we do (finally) get back to normal, the COVID-19 outbreak won’t make most of you wary about taking in a game at Nats Park or sitting in the stands at Audi Field. That’s good news. Still, 37 percent of you admitted to at least some hesitation about mass gatherings, whether it’s safety, financial reasons, or just a change of heart. None of us know what the future will hold, but the new normal will almost certainly require new behaviors from fans.

The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182525 Winnipeg Jets wants a lot of shots and he wants to get out of the net and make some plays. For him, he handled it very well. When we lost Eric Comrie off waivers, there was some pressure on (Berdin’s) shoulders and he responded really well. I’m not surprised but you have to put a guy in the ‘He’s an NHL guy now’: Moose coach weighs in on Jansen Harkins, other fire to see how he’s going to react. It was more about controlling his Jets prospects energy level, because he’s got a lot. It was also about managing his game with the puck. He wants to play every single puck and we had to

find a balance between when and when he should not – and that’s By Ken Wiebe Apr 9, 2020 something he got better at as the season went on. But we don’t want to take it away from him. He’s got a special set of skills that make him different. We just want him to improve and do it right.

Pascal Vincent has no idea if the AHL season will be completed. You were really happy with Logan Stanley’s progression last season. How would you assess how he played in 2019-20? Since the head coach of the Moose has no impact on decisions of that magnitude, he prefers to direct his energy elsewhere while the Last year (2018-19), I had no expectations and we just wanted to play campaign is on pause. him as much as we could. He surprised us in so many ways. He’s a very mature person and he understands the pressure of being a first-round But during a break in his schedule earlier this week, Vincent was pick. He knows that he has a good stick and that the foundation of his available for a phone interview with The Athletic to discuss a number of game has to be defence first. Before some injuries hit (in 2018-19), he Winnipeg Jets prospects, including Jansen Harkins. was dominant physically and he was a presence on the ice. He was The same Harkins who got off to a blazing start with the Moose and was playing against the top lines and he was stopping them from getting on among the AHL scoring leaders before recording an assist in his NHL the scoresheet. This year, the expectations got a little bit higher and debut against the Minnesota Wild on Dec. 21. sadly, he got injured too often and it’s not related to his conditioning. The injuries just happened. It’s unfortunate, but it happened. It was an up- Other than a paper transaction that allowed Harkins to attend the AHL and-down season for him and I think he’d be the first one to say it. All-Star Classic in Ontario, Calif., the versatile forward has positioned himself for full-time graduation — no matter when the season resumes. To me, when we talk about Logan Stanley, it’s a project that’s going to take some time. He’s a bigger-bodied guy and he’s getting used to “To me, he’s an NHL guy now,” said Vincent. “I don’t think we’ll see him (growing into) his body. He’s going to have to work really hard in the gym again in the AHL.” in order to get to a point where he can skate in the NHL. He can do it Nobody skyrocketed further up the Jets prospect rankings this season right now, but our goal is not to get him called up and sent down because than Harkins, a second-round selection in 2015. he can’t sustain the speed. So he’s going to have a really good summer of training on his conditioning and foot speed. He can make plays under In a matter of months, Harkins has gone from a decent prospect to a guy pressure and he’s deceptive for the other teams. He has a really good who could be on the radar for when the 2021 expansion draft is shot and there’s a lot of really good things about him. It’s just about held. tweaking and working on a few specific things. By doing that, I truly believe he’s going to reach his goal and our goal is that he becomes a Harkins may have been a healthy scratch once the Jets got closer to full regular with the Winnipeg Jets. health in March, but he also spent time on a line with and Nikolaj Ehlers. Prior to the pause, you had 2016 first-round pick Kristian Vesalainen playing on a line with 2018 second-rounder David Gustafsson. What did He became a viable option with a bright future, thanks to his hockey you see from the two of them together? sense and skill set, and Harkins was praised frequently by Jets head coach . (Vesalainen) said to me this year that he wasn’t used to any board play. That’s not what they do (in Finland). There are no rimmed pucks. The Instead of wondering when — or if — he was going to make the NHL, puck goes inside the dot and you play with speed. It’s a puck control kind now Harkins has become a poster boy for the power of perseverance. of game and there is more time and space on the ice. Plus, it’s a different “It’s a great lesson to all of us,” said Vincent. “Nobody could have kind of forecheck, so he had to go through a different kind of adjustment. predicted before the season that Jansen Harkins would end up with the It’s something we worked on before and after practices and he Jets. Not that he isn’t a good player, but the curve of him improving was understands that’s something he needs to work on. steady year after year. It was not at the point where you could say, ‘OK, When (Gustafsson) came back (from an upper-body injury sustained at he’s going to play in the NHL this year.’ He might get called up, but is he the world juniors), they showed good chemistry. They understand each going to not only play there but stay there? other and how they move on the ice. (Gustafsson) is such a smart player, “When we push a player up to the Jets, our goal is that he’s not going to the type of player that all coaches would like because he’s so sound on come back. When there’s a real opening, we hope that he’s going to not both sides of the ice. He knows where to go and he knows how to defend only stay there but help the team win some hockey games.” and he’s really strong one-on-one at protecting the puck. He’s a young player, but he’s extremely strong and he wins faceoffs. Once he got Harkins was able to do just that, thanks in part to his studious nature and some more confidence with the puck, (Gustafsson) started making more ability to process the game at a high level. plays and doing things we haven’t seen with the Jets.

“He’s a guy that studies the game so much, so that when he got called Defenceman Leon Gawanke is a guy who has been a bit under the radar up, he was confident because we play the same systems and use the in terms of prospects. How would you describe his season? same hockey language,” said Vincent. “There are no adjustments, other than the speed of execution and he’s worked at that. He spent a lot of It was an interesting season for him. He’s a smart guy. His hockey sense time investing in himself, working on his body, getting faster and getting and his reads are good. His reads with his stick. The picture in front of – stronger. if you take it frame by frame – every time you take a stride, it changes. There are nine guys in front of you that are moving and he’s really good “When you become a dominant player in the AHL, there’s a really good at reading those frame by frame pictures in front of him. The way he chance you can make an impact in the NHL.” scans the ice, he’s really good. And his ability to make hard, clean passes on the tape, at the right time is pretty good. For me, this year was How did the other top Jets prospects fare with the Moose this season? a real eye opener with regard to where he’s at physically. He’s a young Here’s a condensed version of the remainder of my conversation with player who could have played major junior as an overage, where he Vincent. would have had a lot of ice time. For this year, he had to understand what it takes to play at this level. Goalie Mikhail Berdin is one of the most interesting prospects in the organization. How did he handle the busier workload this season? Early on this season, he was in a rotation with Jonny Kovacevic and Luke Green, so to manage that part of the game — just to get into the lineup, He loved it. If you ask (Berdin), he wants to play every single game and it’s not like in junior, I don’t just get into the lineup because I’m here. He he wants to be the guy when the game is on the line. When we play too worked hard in practices and kept a good attitude and he got better and well and he doesn’t get too many shots, he is getting bored in the net. He better at it. He kept improving. At the end of the year, he was running our top power play. We had a meeting late in the season about how we were going to help him improve his game and sustain it. He had some issues with the back-to-backs. When he played two games in two days or three games in five nights, his first game was really good — and it was consistent in the ratings that we had. But in the second or third game, it was not as good. He was not changing his lifestyle, his eating habits were good and his training was good, but it was a matter of pushing him in practices, so that his body gets used to playing in back-to-back games. It’s not so much the speed of it, but how much endurance or cardio you need to build before the season starts. That’s the biggest thing that he needs to work on. The skills are there and the mind is right. He’s going to become more efficient in his one-on-one battles. His mechanics of defending is right, it’s just that sometimes he got beat because the other player is way stronger than he was. That’s typical of a first-year player. So by getting stronger in his legs and lower body, he’s going to find a way to be more effective in those one-on-one battles.

C.J. Suess went from missing almost all of last season after undergoing shoulder surgery in December to getting his first NHL call-up. How would you describe his development?

The right word is steady. I don’t like to compare players, but how I feel towards C.J. Suess is how I felt toward Bryan Little when I was with the Jets (as an assistant coach). You just know what to expect every night. You know he’s going to bring his best and you know the effort is going to be there every single night. You know he’s low maintenance and he’s going to get the job done. He understands what he is, what he does. He can play, he can play wing and for him to come back the way that he did after missing almost a full year – the guy needed to spend a lot of time in the gym. And he did. Hats off. He’s done an amazing job and he’s created quite a reputation for himself as being a guy you can rely on. He’s a very good leader and he leads by example most of all.

The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182526 Vancouver Canucks In a season split between Los Angeles and Vancouver, Toffoli has 24 goals and 44 points in 68 games, which places him seventh in club scoring.

Toffoli making right impression with Canucks to avoid free agency So, what’s all this worth? Miller’s contract might be a good starting comparable.

He has three more seasons at an annual US$5.25 million salary-cap hit Ben Kuzma that now looks like a bargain — despite the conditional first-round pick to be surrendered in the Lightning swap — because he is playing like a high

draft selection. Tyler Toffoli has made an impact with 10 points in 10 Canuck games. Toffoli has three 20-goal seasons and a 30-goal campaign, and is going 'He’s super predictable. It’s when you start playing the other way that you to get a good bump on his expiring $4.6-million cap hit. But how high? start hoping a lot and that’s not good. You know the puck is getting in Two years ago, Jason Zucker signed a five-year, $27.5-million extension deep and he is going to be in the right spot. That’s easy to play with' with the Minnesota Wild after amassing 33 goals and 64 points. He has Voices of real reason are hard to find in any NHL locker room. also had four 20-goal seasons and the consistency got him money, term and a $5.5-million cap hit. That should resonate with Toffoli and the Some players talk without saying anything while others are politically Canucks on some level because the trade-off for salary is always term. correct. And there are those who stare at a microphone like it’s the barrel of a gun and cough up a few clichés before making quick exits. Toffoli turns 28 on April 24 and has turned the competitive corner after a rough season start in Los Angeles. It’s why taking the true competitive pulse of the Vancouver Canucks — everything from on-ice performance, off-ice intangibles and why The 2014 Stanley Cup winner was scratched Oct. 30 in a 5-3 home-ice unrestricted free agent winger Tyler Toffoli deserves a good contract to loss to the Canucks, and with just 13 points in the first 30 games, he was avoid testing the open market — falls on those who have a performance demoted to the fourth line. However, he rebounded with 21 points in his pedigree and are wired to tell it like it is. next 28 games to prove his mettle.

In the past, that was Mikael Samuelsson. “Definitely a tough time personally,” recalled Toffoli. “I stayed with my game and got through it, and since then my game has been the best it’s He won a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008, had a 30-goal been in a long time.” season with the Canucks in 2009-10, and his critical edges were sharp when asked to address team shortcomings. Toffoli has made a seamless transition to a city he loves and has been reunited with former Kings linemate . Today, that guy is J.T. Miller. “I don’t want to talk for him, but I think he has liked his time here,” said He has been on the gut-wrenching side of two Eastern Conference the Canucks winger. Game 7 home-ice losses, with the New York Rangers in 2015 and Tampa Bay Lightning in 2018. Deemed expendable last June, he is the If that’s not enough, Toffoli was also a Canucks killer. league’s best trade acquisition in the past year, leads the Canucks with a Three games after being recalled by the Kings in November of 2013, career-best 72 points (27-45), and ranks 17th in league scoring. Toffoli had two goals and an assist in a 5-1 win over the Canucks. He Miller is also second overall in face-off efficiency (59.2 per cent) and the would amass 13 career goals and 21 points against Vancouver in 28 first to give any teammate verbal assurance or an acid-tongue lashing for games. indifferent play. Cut from an old-school cloth, he has brought an “I always enjoyed coming into the city,” he said. “And I’ve always had my admirable level of effort and leadership without wearing a letter. shot. It was never one of those things where I had the hardest shot, but I Who better to ask about a new Toffoli deal? was able to get it off in tight spaces and that obviously helped.”

It’s not just meshing with a talented new linemate that excites Miller. It’s So did understanding both ends of the rink. how Toffoli plays in the hard areas, how quickly he can take a puck in his Toffoli will hustle hard in retreat to angle players off pucks and that’s a skates and find the top of the net with a flick of his wrist. It’s how hard he rare trait for an offensively gifted, hot-shot junior, who had a pair of 50- is on himself to be defensively responsible, and how driven he is to be a goal OHL seasons and was named top AHL rookie. difference-maker. “That was one of the main things when I was trying to make the Kings,” “He’s super predictable,” said Miller. “It’s when you start playing the other Toffoli said of his two-way game. “To be able to play for Darryl Sutter and way that you start hoping a lot and that’s not good. You know the puck is Dean Lombardi, the most important thing was to make plays on the wall getting in deep and (Toffoli) is going to be in the right spot. That’s easy to so you’re not stuck in your zone. play with. And he’s bigger than people realize. “And when you are, you’ve got to take care of it. That’s how I got in the “He’s a solid dude and good around the net.” league and one of the things I take pride in. You need to do it to stay in That’s quite the compliment for a player who has played just 10 games the league.” after being acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in a Feb. 17 trade. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.10.2020 Toffoli has responded with 10 points (6-4), and a snapshot of his present and future worth was on display two days before the season was placed on pause March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a 5-4 shootout win over the New York Islanders at , Toffoli scored with a quick release off an pass and also set up on a power-play effort.

“Winning is fun. It’s contagious and we’ve got to do more of it,” said Toffoli. “We’ve been playing playoff hockey ever since I got here.”

His quick snap release startled goalie .

“You’ve got to get (the puck) up because he slides across with big legs,” added Toffoli. “And with the things that (Pettersson) and (Miller) do, you’ve got to be ready at all times. They’re good at holding onto pucks and making plays in tight spaces, and if anything, I can do a better job of shooting the puck quicker.” 1182527 Websites for teams in a little more comfortable position, I would like that, too, if I was Tampa or Boston.”

In other words, if the season jumped right to the playoffs, at least The Athletic / LeBrun: NHL favours 2019-20 resumption format that everyone was playing under duress right from the outset, not just the includes regular season games bubble teams.

And in the end, that’s the tough part in all of this whether you’re a coach, GM, owner or player: your team’s place in the standings will probably By Pierre LeBrun Apr 9, 2020 influence your desire on playing regular season games or not.

“We’re still too early in this process to speculate and make concrete assertions, and we are trying to keep an open mind to all options,” Before anyone gets too attached to any of the varied scenarios and NHLPA executive Mathieu Schneider said Thursday. “We are now formats being bandied about in the event the NHL does find a way to working together with the league to come up with viable solutions to resume the 2019-20 season, understand a rather important fact: the NHL address a wide array of issues we will be dealing with. The health and would much rather play some regular season games before heading to safety of our players, families and fans are No. 1 on our list in any the playoffs, if time permits. scenario we would consider.” “We understand that with what will obviously be a lengthy break between All things being equal, it would appear the majority on both sides are in games, players are going to want to have an ability to re-acclimatize favour of playing some regular season games. themselves to NHL competition before having to play games that could end their seasons quickly,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Here’s another potential wrinkle: another source suggested to me Athletic via email Thursday. Thursday that what is beginning to be brought up in his conversations is whether there’s time for any exhibition games to help players ramp things “I’m sure our managers feel the same way. We get it and we will certainly up. That’s a whole other debate. But you understand after four months off go to great lengths to accommodate those concerns.” the ice why some players might desire that. And while I know it’s a confusing time for hockey fans with all the The idea of sprinkling in some exhibition games instead of maximizing different ideas being thrown out there, that’s really the only thing to retain the number of regular season games might make more sense, the as far as where the NHL decision-makers are right now while the sports source said, a blend of both, especially if the season doesn’t begin until world remains frozen by COVID-19. mid-July or so. Well, that and the fact the NHL and NHL Players’ Association want to Again, who knows if there’s actually hockey again this season (I’m not play a full season next year, even if delayed. convinced there will be). Or for that matter if next season can start on So if we have hockey in July-August (and maybe September), some time. regular season games would be part of it if possible. We are still in the early stages of understanding the impact of this In fact, according to a few team sources, NHL commissioner Gary COVID-19 nightmare. Bettman also reiterated to governors on Monday’s conference call that But for now, the clear mandate from the NHL is on hopefully resuming the league’s preference, above all the other scenarios and formats being the season and playing games before the playoffs. discussed, is to play regular season games before the playoffs if time allows. The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020 And if 82 games isn’t possible, then 78, 76 and 74 games would all be options.

Why is it important to play regular season games?

Many players, some of whom have been quoted in media video calls over the past few weeks, are in favour of playing some regular season games in order to be able to ramp up their game shape before the playoffs, easing concerns of injuries;

It would help even out games played among bubble teams and democratically decide the 16-team playoff field in a more normal fashion rather than decide between points percentage or rolled back games played in the current frozen standings;

It would line up the draft lottery more normally without the league having to make any hotly debated decisions;

There are also some teams whose regional TV deals have financial implications and/or thresholds in which a few more regular season games could be impactful that way.

Now, there’s also a downside to playing regular season games:

Players on clear, non-playoff teams coming back after a four-month layoff, playing six or so games, then shutting it down again? That’s far from ideal. I mean, where’s the motivation at that point? In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if some of those teams with nothing to play for keep some of their top players from returning. Of course, those players would have to be on board with that. But why risk injury? The focus for those teams would to be to be ready and healthy for next season. (Although as someone pointed out to me, the motivation for those players is that it’s their job to play).

Not ideal for players on some bubble teams, either. One NHL player who requested anonymity made an excellent point to me Thursday: “For bubble teams those small amount of (regular season) games would essentially be do-or-die, it’d be hard to just jump right back into a playoff race, all momentum you had before the break is moot. It would be easy 1182528 Websites My interests have never been in question – I’m a sports guy – but lord have they become obvious during all this playtime. That brings me to some conclusions, which I’d like to get your takes on.

The Athletic / Bourne Notebook: Misremembering games, mini-sticks vs. Below are the top three children’s sports items for adults, ranked (with mini-hoops and more notes on those that missed the cut). And I expect your votes in the comments, with an important caveat – these votes aren’t just for parents. Even those without kids have been to someone’s house and seen/played with most of these things. So without further ado: By Justin Bourne Apr 9, 2020 First place: Fisher-Price basketball hoop

Second place: Mini-sticks set I had an interesting experience a couple weeks back on the radio show of Andrew Walker and Satiar Shah (that being The Program on Sportsnet Third place: Hard plastic T-ball set 650), where I was asked to recall the first NHL game I ever remember going to. I italicize “remember,” cause my dad played in the NHL, and I’m The hoop is the winner over the mini-sticks net for a couple reasons. One sure I was at one at like, 100 hours old or whatever. is that it doesn’t require you to be on your knees, which for someone like me (37 with knees of peanut brittle), is a huge factor at play. The hoop is The truth is, the first game I really remember was after my dad retired also better for solo play (which is important, because kids are terrible at from the Kings. The family retired to Kelowna, B.C., so when the Kings sports), as there’s increased mobility and degree of difficulty. My one came to Vancouver the following year, we drove from Kelowna to complaint is that the rim shape today is wide against the backboard. I’m Vancouver to take in the game. Needless to say, having a dad just almost certain it wasn’t that way when I was a kid, BUT we did just removed from the NHL came with some unique access, which is likely discuss the failed memory of children, so maybe it wasn’t? why my memories are so strong. RIM SHAPE IS GENEROUS. FG% IS INSANE SO FAR Or at least I thought they were. PIC.TWITTER.COM/EUWO8SZOMM

Before the game, my brother and I were allowed into the Kings room, — JUSTIN BOURNE (@JTBOURNE) MAY 30, 2018 where I was given quite a privilege. Mini-sticks are a true joy, but again, I think you need your opponent to be What happens henceforth is my memory of it all: I remember talking to a certain age. My kid is still too young to provide enough of a challenge and getting to tape his stick before the game. I was for it to be fun, but I should note that I’m the single best mini-sticks player meticulous with it, it probably took 20 minutes, and was undoubtedly in the world, so he may never get there. But I will acknowledge that a awful. I remember an amazingly exciting game and Robitaille scoring a great mini-sticks game is better than any game on the basketball hoop hat trick with the stick I taped (possibly winning the game in overtime). I could ever be. It just requires better circumstances in terms of space, the remember meeting Wayne Gretzky after and being given his stick from opponent, the right ball, etc. A mini-sticks game is more of an event than the game. simply “playing.”

It was the greatest kid-watching-hockey experience of my life. The T-ball set is also a delight for the obvious dinger-smacking glory.

Thing is, I’m not exactly certain what parts of it all happened. The other contenders are almost universally less fun than they present to be. The plastic golf club set that’s been around for decades? Almost After that radio show, their producer looked up the game to figure out exclusively a decoration. I’ve never seen any person maintain play with when it was. After much deduction, we dialled in the answer: It was them for more than 90 seconds. They’re great in theory, not practice. indeed in 1989 (April 2 to be precise), the year after my dad retired … but Bowling sets have a terrible effort-to-fun ratio. Way too much setup. Robitaille never scored a hat trick and the game didn’t go to overtime. He Those velcro catch-pads (“sticky-catch” at my house) are decent enough, had two goals and an assist, which is good, but not as I distinctly recall it. but aren’t any good till the kid is old enough to peel the balls off the And upon immediate reflection, there’s no chance he used the stick I velcro easily, which happens roughly about the same time you can just taped as I taped it, obviously. I had just never stopped to even consider get a glove and start playing catch. any of this, because really, why would I? (I definitely have a Gretzky stick, though I’m not even certain I acquired it that night. I kinda doubt it We’re in strange times here people, so I brought you a strange topic. I was that night now, actually.) have a feeling in the midst of the hockey section we’ll get lots of mini- sticks votes, but I know most hockey people are sports people too. So The point is, that to me – a then-7-year-old – the experience had become what say you? The best kids sports things for adults are …? so much bigger in my mind than it really was. And while that particular variety of experience is uncommon, I don’t think it’s uncommon to Finally, I just wanted to note that four days ago my wife gave birth to a experience the phenomena of the swollen childhood memory. It’s beautiful baby girl, Molly Annabelle. It was a strange time to welcome an probably why so many of us remember things as having been so much addition to the family, for sure, but it was also a ray of sunshine in the better than they currently are. When our memories are on-the-whole midst of a dark time. positive, they tend to become inflated. .@JTBOURNE AND I MADE ANOTHER CUTE LITTLE NUGGET… SAY I’m not breaking down any ground here, but it was fascinating to see just HI TO MOLLY PIC.TWITTER.COM/KPV6KNSLYM how distinct and clear my memory was of a flatly incorrect version of events. — BRIANNA BOURNE (@BRIANNA_BOURNE) APRIL 9, 2020

The lesson for me is one the players should really take away more than I’ll keep this to the very narrow sense of hockey, our shared topic here: anything else. It’s so easy to slough off kids who just want some I’m grateful that she’s coming into the world at the time she is. I know that attention, maybe an autograph. It can even be hard to believe, as one of the women’s professional level is going through turmoil, but they’re those players, that kids see them the way that they do. But those little making the tough decisions they are for girls like Molly who’ll get the extra things – like the effort Robitaille would’ve made to humour me that chance to play, and if she likes it and happens to be good enough, will day – go miles and create lifetime memories. Players should prioritize have a fair avenue of pursuit to make a living at it the way I’ve been able being like Luc Robitaille. (It should be a lesson for teams and PR people to. too, even if from a cynical angle. Putting those players in positions to give kids those memories creates lifetime fans, like I am of Luc Robitaille, as I know there’s always reason to worry, and believe me, I have my you may have guessed.) worries. But I do feel like she’s come along at a time that by the time she grows up, she’ll have every opportunity to achieve great things, whether Like many parents, I find myself in isolation with a 3-and-a-half year old she gives a damn about hockey or not. and looking for ways to pass chunks of time, and that means a lot of time just … playing. Playing with every piece of junk we’ve bought or been The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020 given for 3.5 years, and assessing what’s worthwhile and what’s a waste of time. (Of course, a big portion of the answers is some combination of your imagination crossed with your interests.) 1182529 Websites 5. Anaheim Ducks: Marco Rossi, C, Ottawa-OHL Eric Stephens: Since my good friend and teammate, Dillman, snapped

up the consensus best defenseman in the draft – a young RHD power- The Athletic / NHL Mock Draft: Beat writers preview the 2020 draft lottery play performer that fills a critical need within the Anaheim organization – it makes sense to grab the top scorer in all of Canadian major junior hockey, especially with Lafreniere, Byfield and Stutzle off the board. You can never be too deep at center and Rossi, who had 120 points in 56 By Corey Pronman Apr 9, 2020 games for the Ottawa 67s, offers dynamic puckhandling, playmaking and vision; while also possessing an accurate NHL-level shot that can beat goalies. Just imagine Rossi and the imaginative Trevor Zegras as The NHL Draft lottery was supposed to be held on April 9, and while that linemates or possibly slotted as Anaheim’s top two centers. Rossi’s small is no longer the case, that won’t stop the staff at The Athletic from looking size doesn’t scare me, especially when you need more pure talent. ahead to the draft. We are awarding the top three picks to the clubs with the best chances to get them, and having the beat writer for each team Pronman’s take: I concur with a lot of the points Stephens made. I would make a pick for their respective club. add that, while Rossi has great skill, like Zegras albeit not as much, Rossi’s game has a bit more bite and is more well-rounded, giving the We based the lottery teams on points percentage at the time of the Ducks two great options down the middle who can play different roles. pause and the standard rules for the draft lottery, with the caveat that what is a “lottery team” this year is still up in the air as the NHL mulls 6. New Jersey Devils: Alexander Holtz, RW, Djurgarden-SHL potential significant changes in these unique times. Corey Masisak: The Devils need more impact talent at nearly every 1. Detroit Red Wings: Alexis Lafreniere, LW, Rimouski-QMJHL position. Drysdale would have been tempting, and it’s hard to imagine any team other than the Senators having a better read on Rossi Max Bultman: Not too much suspense here. The Red Wings need help at considering New Jersey has four prospects on the Ottawa 67s. But every position on the ice, so they’ll take the consensus No. 1 player in taking those two off the board makes this a little easier. It comes down to the draft and be on their way. Adding a talent of Lafreniere’s caliber is a Holtz or his world juniors teammate Lucas Raymond. That’s a tough call massive building block for the Red Wings’ rebuild, which is far from over, (I said easier, not easy). I’m going with Holtz because he profiles as more but gets one of the hardest-to-attain pieces in a potential star. of a goal scorer and is a little bit bigger. He seems like a natural fit next to Jack Hughes or in the very near future. Pronman’s take: I applaud Bultman for his courage and his analysis is on point. Lafreniere provides one of the hardest pieces to acquire in a Pronman’s take: I like the logic that Masisak went with of taking a goal- rebuild: a projected young star. But this rebuild is not near the end as scorer to go with the play driving first-overall picks. Hughes had a lot of Detroit needs a lot of great players before this starts to turn around. He success with , and Holtz’s shot is arguably as good. Given would slot right into the top half of its lineup right away. Holtz’s success already versus men, it’s very possible he only needs one or two years before he’s ready to make the Devils. 2. Ottawa Senators: Quinton Byfield, C, Sudbury-OHL 7. Buffalo Sabres: Lucas Raymond, LW, Frolunda-SHL Hailey Salvian: Byfield has the potential to become a No.1 center in the NHL and adding him to the fold could help the Senators truly become a Joe Yerdon: It’s probably easy to say the Sabres will default to taking contender. They have a number of center prospects, but nobody with the Swedes at this point, but there aren’t a lot of players that can do what without-a-doubt skill to be a top-line centerman. He’d look pretty good Raymond does. He finds teammates with ease, he’s able to find areas in with Brady Tkachuk. the offensive zone left unguarded, and he uses that time to create chances and score goals. Holtz would’ve been an ideal fit as a winger Pronman’s take: A No. 1 center is arguably the hardest thing to find and with size and a shot to match, but size can go both ways. Small and Byfield has all the potential to become that. He is exactly what Ottawa skilled works well with players that have Raymond’s ability. Buffalo needs needs to complement everything else it has acquired during its rebuild offense in the system in the worst way and he can provide it. and becomes a foundational part of its rebuild. Byfield should contend for a roster spot out of camp. Pronman’s take: Buffalo has a lot of very good young players in the organization, and Raymond would be yet another addition to a potentially 3. Ottawa Senators: Tim Stutzle, LW, Mannheim-DEL elite young core group of players. He will need time to develop speed Salvian: I was really tempted to go off the cuff here and select Jamie and strength before he gets to the NHL. It remains to be seen when all Drysdale third overall. The Senators really need more depth on right these young pieces in Buffalo will move the organization forward, but it’s defense, but GM Pierre Dorion has said the team would select the best a lot of talent, especially when you add a player like Raymond with his players on the board rather than drafting by position, and Stutzle would elite skill and hockey sense. probably be that player in the third slot. The Senators have lacked high- 8. Montreal Canadiens: Cole Perfetti, LW, Saginaw-OHL end skill, and Stutzle would bring that to the table at forward. Marc Antoine Godin: Le Canadien d’Athlétique Montréal est fier de Pronman’s take: Stutzle excelled versus men this season and at the sélectionner – we are proud to select – Cole Perfetti. Unlike Paul Simon, world juniors. Within the industry he is solidifying his position in the top it won’t take Perfetti four days to hitchhike from Saginaw. I think that three. He can play center or wing, so it gives Ottawa options on how it within a year or two, he will provide more of the finishing ability this team wants to use him, and like Byfield, he could contend for a roster spot out has been lacking for years. Yes, he’s another undersized forward – and of camp, giving Ottawa one of the most exciting draft classes by any we can expect some pushback from the fanbase – but this pick, in a way, team in recent memory. doubles down on the Cole Caufield selection last year. Between the two 4. Los Angeles Kings: Jamie Drysdale, D, Erie-OHL Coles, chances are at least one will become an impact player who can put pucks in the net. Perfetti was once considered one of the better goal Lisa Dillman: Much like the Senators, the Kings could use some high-end scorers in this class; his significant increase in assists this season is a talent on right defense in support of Drew Doughty. They’ve done an testament to his playmaking ability. Montreal is all in on players who excellent job of restocking the pipeline up front, so it’s time to turn process the game fast and that’s what Perfetti does, even if he’s not attention to this particular area. You’ll remember last year that necessarily the best skater. defenseman Bowen Byram was my mock draft pick for the Kings on several occasions, so the choice to go with the top-rated defenseman Pronman’s take: Adding Perfetti is bringing in an exceptionally skilled and shouldn’t come as a surprise. intelligent player and one of the best passers in junior who had full- season 40-goal paces the past two seasons. I understand if some Habs Pronman’s take: After the top three, the draft starts to open up and a fans are hesitant to pick a small winger at this pick given their depth wide range of players become reasonable. Drysdale is in that group, and chart, especially since he’s not all that quick, but the talent is too much as the consensus top defenseman (although Jake Sanderson was value at No. 8 to pass up. beginning to challenge that assertion late into the season), he should go early to an organization such as L.A., which needs a top young 9. Chicago Blackhawks: Anton Lundell, C, HIFK-Liiga defenseman. Drysdale might only need one more year of junior and then Scott Powers: Lundell is one of the more NHL-ready players in this draft. he could contend for a roster spot, where he would be an upper half of He may not make the jump next season, but he certainly fits in the time the lineup player for a while. frame if the Blackhawks are looking to add another high-end, responsible Sanderson, Ville Heinola and Dylan Samberg all become quality NHL forward to play around Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane in the near players. future. If you add Lundell to Kane, Toews, Kirby Dach, Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Strome, Dominik Kubalik and Brandon Saad, the Blackhawks have 13. New York Rangers: Dylan Holloway, C, Wisconsin-Big 10 to like how their top nine would be shaping up in the short- and long- Rick Carpinello: The Rangers have stocked up on goalies and term. Lundell’s skating is a bit of a concern, but what he’s done in Liiga at defensemen, and are still in need of forwards (even with recent first- his age is undeniably impressive. Only Jesse Puljujarvi was a better rounders Kaapo Kakko, Filip Chytil and Vitali Kravtsov) in the system. possession player this past season in Finland. Lundell plays the type of Holloway, a 6-foot01, 203-pound center, would be a pick for the future, two-way game the Blackhawks can use more of in their lineup. having just completed his freshman year at Wisconsin, where he was Pronman’s take: I hate to do this to my longtime friend, but I am not a big teammates with 2018 Rangers first-rounder K’Andre Miller (who turned fan of going after Lundell at No. 9. He’s a good player, but the upside is pro last month). A lefty shot with good hands and compete level, per not that of a top-line caliber player. Powers is right about his NHL Central Scouting, Holloway was 8-9-17 in 35 games this season. projectability given what he’s shown versus men already, but I think you Pronman’s take: After using a top 10 pick on Lias Andersson as a highly can get more talent at this spot. I am aware that my opinion is not the competitive player with skill that hasn’t worked out, Holloway would be a opinion of a good chunk of the industry, although the more NHL scouts similar kind of bet – although he’s a far superior skater to Andersson with I’ve talked to in the second half, the more pessimistic I get Lundell is more size and a lot of skill too. The Rangers have had a lot of high picks going to be a top 10 pick. recently, but center is a spot the organization could use more depth at, 10. New Jersey Devils: Yaroslav Askarov, G, SKA St. Petersburg-VHL especially if Andersson is on the trade block.

Masisak: This is all about the board. I’m sure the Devils will hope that 14. Florida Panthers: Braden Schneider, D, Brandon-WHL one of the other top-nine guys slips to them at this spot to pair with Holtz. George Richards: The Panthers have added defensive depth throughout If not, Askarov has been one of the best players in this draft class for two their system through trades and signing college free agents. Since taking years. Mackenzie Blackwood has established himself as the No. 1 guy Aaron Ekblad first overall in 2014, Florida has not taken a D-man in the this season, but few goalies can match Askarov’s upside. It feels like first round. Brandon’s Braden Schneider, a solid two-way defenseman taking one of the defensemen would be a reach here, so maybe a trade with a little offensive touch, would add more depth. In the past three back is an option. If not, take the best player available and figure it out seasons with the Wheat Kings, he has played in at least 58 games, so he later. Having three picks in the top 17 mitigates some of the risk of taking has been durable as well as productive. a goaltender this high. Pronman’s take: I agree with Richards that, if there was a position Florida Pronman’s take: I like Blackwood, but I’m not convinced he’s a no-doubt, needs to add to in their organization, it’s a top young defenseman after long-term, top-10 goalie in the NHL to justify not taking Askarov. If you going heavy after forwards and goaltender Spencer Knight in recent think Askarov is a projected high-end talent at the position, as Masisak drafts. Schneider would be fine value at this slot, as a great two-way says, you have to get him if he’s available at this slot. I did think that way defenseman all season and a first team All-Star in the WHL this week. about Askarov in January, but the last few months of his season didn’t inspire as much confidence, so I continue to evaluate where I stand on 15. Columbus Blue Jackets: Connor Zary, C, Kamloops-WHL him. Aaron Portzline: The Jackets have a sure-fire top-six center in Pierre-Luc 11. Minnesota Wild: Jack Quinn, RW, Ottawa-OHL Dubois, and they expect Alexandre Texier to move to the middle when he’s no longer wet behind the ears. So this is very much a “best player Michael Russo: The Wild suddenly have a number of forwards coming available” pick, not a need pick. They’d love to be able to take a down the pipeline like Kirill Kaprizov, Alex Khovanov, Adam Beckman defenseman at this spot – the pipeline is pretty thin – but the two they’d and Matt Boldy. They are probably weakest up the middle and on the consider at this spot (Drysdale, Schneider) are already off the board. blue line when it comes to prospects, and there are some intriguing Zary has tons of skill and an impressive motor; Kekalainen values the names still on the board. But it drives me crazy how historically the Wild latter almost as much as the former. After years of patching center ice pass over goal scorers in the first round, and Quinn is a pure one at the together, a depth chart of Dubois – Texier – Zary (in some order) by 2022 junior level. The 5-foot-11¾ right wing (he’s 6-foot on a good day) is quite appealing. finished second in the OHL with 52 goals. The Ottawa 67 is just the 10th Canadian Hockey Leaguer in the past 20 years to hit the 50-goal mark Pronman’s take: I really like Zary’s game and think he would be fine during his NHL draft year. Some others: Sidney Crosby, Kane, Steven value at No. 15. He’s got the potential to become a top two line center, Stamkos, John Tavares, Jeff Skinner, Anthony Mantha and DeBrincat. and I think he’s talented enough to pass Texier on the depth chart if he Enough said. gets a little quicker and hits his high side.

Pronman’s take: Quinn was on fire in the second half of the season. I The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020 wouldn’t be surprised if he’s gone before No. 11 based on discussions I’m having with teams. Given how much Minnesota needs goal-scoring in its organization, this seems like an appropriate fit as Russo has mentioned. I don’t view Quinn as an elite sniper, but someone who scored a lot through his skill and sense – traits that scouts think will translate to the higher levels.

12. Winnipeg Jets: Jake Sanderson, D, USNTDP-USHL

Murat Ates: There are highly touted centers like Connor Zary and Dawson Mercer still on the board, and Winnipeg’s prospect pool is puddle deep up front. So why choose Jake Sanderson, a 17-year-old defenceman committed to UND this fall? He’s a great skater (like his dad Geoff, a 1,104 game NHLer), gaps well, and knows when to break up a play with his stick and when to lay the body. His wheels and intelligence make him a great player in transition, and his coaches rave about his leadership and work ethic. Put this all together, add a stand-out performance at USA Hockey’s BioSteel All-American Game, and the 6- foot-2 USNDTP D-man has become one of the 2020 draft’s fastest rising commodities.

Pronman’s take: Sanderson came on very well in the second half, emerging as the likely second defenseman off the board, and it is not a lock he will even be available at the No. 12 spot for Winnipeg. That would be back-to-back defenseman picks in the top round for the Jets, helping create depth at a position the organization lacks with hope that 1182530 Websites Gardena in northern Italy to train with Frolunda’s under-20 head coach, Pierre Johnsson.

Johnsson runs a camp there and Raymond asked if he could help out – The Athletic / Lucas Raymond and Alexander Holtz are Sweden’s next and if his coach could set up some private ice time for them before he generation of hockey stars flew to the United States. The camp was slotted during a pause from training with Frolunda’s pro club during what should have been his only two weeks off during the summer. But Raymond didn’t want to stop training. By Scott Wheeler Apr 9, 2020 Between Johnsson’s camp and their one-on-one skills work, Raymond

spent his week in Italy doing four to five sessions a day on the ice. It’s early August and two 17-year-olds have just wrapped up one of their “I wanted to prepare for (the summer showcase) to be as prepared as I first real tests in the biggest year of their lives when they emerge from could,” Raymond said. their dressing room inside USA Hockey Arena. According to Johnsson, that’s just Raymond. He’s the one who gets his For some time now, Lucas Raymond and Alexander Holtz have been the teammates going in practice because he’s so good that if they’re playing brightest hopes of Swedish hockey’s next generation. against him they all want to beat him and if they’re playing with him they It’s been a long week. The pair were asked to play leading roles despite know “we’ve got to win because we have Lucas, or else.” being the youngest players on Team Sweden’s roster at the annual “I’ve had both Rasmus (Dahlin) and Lucas and they both have something World Junior Summer Showcase, a tournament normally exclusive to the special as people. Lucas is really competitive. He always wants to win top 18- and 19-year-old players in the world. and that’s really what stands out in him,” Johnsson said. Asked about his linemate, Holtz looks over his shoulder and smirks. Just as he had done with Dahlin and his parents before the defenceman “He’s not bad. He’s more like a passer and I’m more like a shooter.” Holtz was selected first overall in the 2018 draft, Frolunda general manager says. “He can get me the puck.” Fredrik Sjostrom sat down with Raymond and his family before the release of rankings for the 2020 class, to make sure everyone Raymond, the more reserved of the two, is more willing to give his understood the process. counterpart some love. “You’re trying to get him to understand what it’s going to be like. He’s a “He’s great. When he gets an opportunity he will put it in the net nine out good kid and he just wants to focus on hockey. Obviously, with today’s of 10 times. If you can get the puck to him he can create. He’s an media and social media, it’s not quite like when I got drafted. It’s a amazing shooter. He gets open and I try to find him. It makes my job different ballgame,” Sjostrom said, who was the 11th overall pick in the easy,” Raymond says. 2001 NHL draft.

“It comes naturally, us playing together. We don’t think about the other or “It will be an intense season. He has to try to not think about hockey and his status. We don’t fight each other. He’s a funny guy, he likes to joke. just be a normal 17-year-old, but he’s going to get thrown into this crazy We have fun together.” (life).”

Over the next year, the pair will navigate life under an even brighter Sjostrom believes he is well-equipped to handle it all, though. spotlight than the one they already know. Both are on their way to having their names called early at the 2020 NHL Draft. Success at the game’s “With these kinds of players, everything revolves around hockey whether highest level will likely follow. you like it or not. He is an exceptional talent. He’s very special. I don’t think we’ve had a forward like him for years,” Sjostrom said. For now, they’re the young faces of their sport in one of the world’s top hockey-playing countries. “He has been paying the price this summer and we’re really happy with his progress.” Raymond was born in Gothenburg, home of the Frolunda hockey club, Sweden’s top hockey factory. It’s Raymond’s work ethic, as much as his skill, that those around him say has turned him into a budding star. Johnsson knows Raymond as the But he wasn’t born into the sport. His dad, Jean, was raised in France funny, joyful kid he shares a lot of laughs with. To others, though, he and moved to Sweden at 15. In his 20s, Jean met Raymond’s mother, recognizes how Raymond can be seen as quiet and serious. Cecilia, who now works as a personal trainer and nutrition coach. That maturity brings him to places like Val Gardena, where he can hone Raymond took up the sport because of his older brother Hugo, who is his craft in solitude. Together, Johnsson and Raymond spent the week now a forward for Goteborgs IK, the local third-tier pro team. working to improve his shot. Johnsson knows better than anyone how dynamic Raymond is, but thinks he can be even better. When a 6-year-old Hugo began playing with Frolunda, a 3-year-old Raymond asked if he could jump on the ice with the team. He quickly “He has a good shot but he could shoot more. I think he’s going to be a realized he could keep up with kids twice his age. sniper with some sick skills in the neutral zone bring up the puck. He’s obviously a huge threat on the PP. But he’s an overall good player with In the years that followed, not only did he play up three age groups with sick moves. Holding the puck and setting up guys, he’s amazing,” his big brother but he became the team’s best player. Always the Johnsson said. smallest player on his team, Raymond learned to play differently than his peers did. Knowing he couldn’t rely on his size (he has always been a After Val Gardena and Plymouth, Raymond knew he wasn’t going to get little small even for his age), other skills blossomed. a break. He’d mapped out what came next in his head.

Raymond has never been the biggest kid on the ice. These days, the Frolunda’s training camp. Exhibition games. The Champions Hockey right-shot winger is listed at 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds. (Tommy Holl / League tournament. His first full season in the SHL. The world juniors. Frolunda HC) SHL playoffs. Under-18 worlds. The scouting combine. And then the draft. Raymond was one of two young players selected by Frolunda’s professional parent club to fast track to the country’s highest levels. The His plan for each of those checkmarks was the same as it has always other was Rasmus Dahlin. been.

He made his debut in SuperElit, Sweden’s top under-20 junior league, “I think you have to compensate for not being the biggest guy with when he was 15-years old. skating and smartness,” Raymond said. “I always have to be a step ahead of the play.” A year later, in 2018-2019, Raymond led Frolunda’s SuperElit team with 1.3 points per game – and earned a 10-game call-up to the SHL, the Like Raymond, Holtz started playing hockey because his big brother did. country’s top professional level. Everything else about their entry into the sport was different, though. By the time he arrived in Plymouth to audition for Team Sweden’s under- Holtz was born into a hockey family. His dad, Magnus, coached the local 20 team last August, Raymond had already made a pitstop in Val team. But he wasn’t born in the city that developed names like Dahlin, right now, right here in terms of practice and development?'” Eriksson Karlsson or Alfredsson. said.

Holtz was born in Boo, a small town on the island of Varmdo, just outside Eriksson felt Holtz could handle what was to come, believing he wasn’t of that has never produced an NHL player … yet. the type of kid to look too far ahead.

He played his minor hockey in nearby Nacka for U16 and U18 programs “The players that handle it the best, like Elias Pettersson or Rasmus that feed into a local pro team in the country’s third professional tier. Dahlin, they somehow have the talent to handle the pressure. But there are so many prospects at the same time that don’t handle the situation By 15, he’d outgrown Nacka and was recruited to play for Djurgårdens IF that have been drafted in the first round or were big-time talents. Those in Stockholm – the team that developed top Swedish NHLers like Niklas guys don’t develop the way they should have. Alexander has shown Kronwall and Mika Zibanejad. maturity so young, he listens to our advice and he excels,” Eriksson said. There, he grabbed attention for different reasons than Raymond. “I think he’s on a very, very good path.”

Holtz was always the big, broad one with the boyish innocence and the By the time Holtz and Raymond were reunited as roommates in Trinec wide smile that comes with it. If Raymond’s confidence was the quiet for the world juniors, their two seasons had begun to play out in different kind, Holtz’s swagger was louder. ways.

Due to his size and strength, Holtz’s game became one of power and Holtz never really ran into that adversity Bemstrom wondered about. pop. Before the season began he added nearly 10 pounds to his 6-foot frame, bulked up and made the team. He insists the added weight didn’t slow In his first season with Djurgårdens, Holtz scored 70 goals in 52 games him down, either. while playing across four different levels. A year later, in 2018-2019, Holtz did the same after racking up another 30 goals in 38 games with “I felt confident right away,” Holtz said of the adjustment to the pro level. Djurgårdens’ under-20 team. “My 200-foot game has been so much better this year. I want to focus on my shot but my stickhandling and my passing ability have been so much By then, they’d also become frequent linemates on the international better this year also.” stage. In November 2018, when Raymond put up seven points in six games at under-17 worlds, Holtz captained the team and did him one It did prove challenging for Raymond to make – and stick – with better with eight points of his own en route to a bronze medal. Frolunda, though.

The following April, when the Swedes defeated Team Canada in the U18 Before the season began, Sjostrom said Frolunda planned on using World semis and Team Russia in the finals, it was Holtz and Raymond Raymond in a prominent role on one of the team’s top lines and power- who led the way to Sweden’s first gold medal at the event with a play units. combined 15 points across seven games. While playing as underagers “It makes no sense to put him on a fourth line with his skill. That’s not his on the team’s top line, Holtz assisted Raymond’s first two goals of the game. We know what his game is,” Sjostrom said at the time. gold medal game before Raymond capped off the hat trick in overtime to secure the championship. But once the season began, things went a different direction. After playing limited minutes early on, Raymond bounced in and out of the top When Holtz arrived in Plymouth, he oozed confidence. He compares team’s lineup for most of the year, spending time as a healthy scratch himself to , Steven Stamkos and Leon Draisaitl, and nine games down with the junior team. though he said was always his favourite player. He says he hopes to challenge for first overall in the draft to follow in Sundin’s Meanwhile, after what Djurgardens assistant coach Mikael Hakanson footsteps. called an excellent offseason of training, Holtz got off to a strong start.

Asked about the draft and the pressure that come with the year ahead, “He started really well. He got to play with our best players,” Hakanson he laughed and answered quickly. said. “There were a couple of games where he made a big impact on me.” “I think it’s going to be a fun year,” Holtz said. “I’m really excited. I think the attention is great. I like to be in the spotlight so I have nothing to be So when they landed in the Czech Republic and they were placed once mad about. I think it’s fun to get so many eyes on me.” more on a line together with Rangers second-round pick Karl Henriksson, their usual Team Sweden centre, the tournament meant something Though he knows it can look like scoring comes easy to him, Holtz is different for both players. quick to insist his ascension is one of hard work. When Dahlin played for Sweden at the world juniors, he had Elias Stars aren’t just given their skill, they cultivate it, according to Holtz. He Pettersson and Alex Nylander to insulate him. This year, Sweden lacked said he learned that from his dad, who now works for a computer firepower up front and Holtz and Raymond knew they had to play big company, and his mom, Camilla, who owns a dinnerware retail store. roles.

“I have always been a little bit ahead of my age group because I like to But there was more pressure on Raymond than on Holtz. Holtz looked – work, I like to compete, I always shoot pucks at home and train for and acted – comfortable from the start, picking up five points in seven myself. I think it’s because of that. I don’t even know how much practice I games en route to a bronze medal victory over the rival Finns. have put into my shot but it’s a lot,” Holtz said. They both performed, though, and Swedish head coach Tomas Monten Jörgen Bemström, Djurgårdens’ under-20 head coach, has seen that first wasn’t surprised by their strong underage showings. hand. He was quick to point to the way Holtz worked on everything from his shot to his interval sprinting. Raymond and Holtz could mark 2020 as just the sixth time two Swedes have been taken inside the top 10 of the same NHL draft class. (Tommy “My expectations for Alex are great. He sits on too many good tools to Holl / Frolunda HC) fail. Good skating, passing, shooting. He competes at all times. He will be an NHL player. Much lies on himself to cope with the press,” Bemström Monten compared Raymond to Zibanejad, Mitch Marner and Rickard said. “Alex is a talent but one of his greatest talents is that he is training Rakell. hard and always wants to win at whatever he sets his mind to.” “Good things come from his stick. But I think still he’s really competitive. Still, Holtz’s tone differs from his counterpart’s. While Raymond said he He’s not afraid of sticking his head into situations,” Monten said. had to earn his spot on the SHL team, Holtz believed he was going to make his. Asked to evaluate Holtz’s self-proclaimed comparisons to Stamkos, Ovechkin and Sundin, Monten didn’t flinch there, either. Those expectations mirrored that of Djurgardens general manager Joakim Eriksson. It wasn’t going to be easy, though. “The comparison is fair,” Monten said. “He wants to shoot the puck, he wants to be the last guy on the puck.” “The challenge for a player like Alexander, who will go top five in the draft, is that so early in life they get so much advice. That’s the most Whenever they struggled, or questions arose about breaking them up, challenging thing for the players to sort out: ‘What do I need to focus on Monten deflected those too. “They’re still creating, they’re still playing good, we know we have the Hakanson thinks there are little things that Holtz can work on, including chemistry,” Monten said. his puck control and his one-timer, but his message to his youngest forward Holtz was simple. “It’s a lot of hype and they’ve never played on this kind of level before. It’s a different game when you get to the world juniors. It’s fast. They’re “Just be a little better every day,” Hakanson said. “He had eyes on him at creative players that your opponent has to keep an eye on and they have all times. But he’s street smart. He can take advantage of any situation. to work hard to shut them down. One day they score and the other day He’s a tough guy mentally. He always listens and he wants to learn and they create.” he understands that it’s going to take a little more time but that he’s going to be really good. He’s going to play in the NHL for many years so his Throughout the world juniors, Monten said he paid particularly close preparation has to be great. And it is.” attention to his two youngest players. While Holtz said he doesn’t spend much time thinking about the draft, he “We went through it with Dahlin. We talk to them and ask if they feel that admitted he can’t stop thinking about the NHL. they need extra help or need some extra time off. They’ve been really good at it,” Monten said. Asked how he’ll make that jump, Holtz answered plainly.

“They’re really competitive. They want to score more than we want. “My scoring ability and my shot,” he said. Those two are two players that can do that for us and they’re put in those situations so I think they feel some pressure. But it’s something you learn Asked the same question, Raymond answered differently. from.” “I just want to create,” Raymond said. “That’s what I do. I create.”

When the year was over and the outbreak of COVID-19 had cancelled But no matter where they go next, or how they go about doing it, Sweden their seasons, their journeys both led to the same, predictable location: will be watching. the top of the 2020 draft. “Dahlin brought a wave here to Swedish hockey and the next one is And though Holtz said he didn’t spend any time checking the rankings, Lucas and Alexander,” Johnsson said. “We can’t wait to see what they do Raymond admitted he did. with it.”

After averaging just 9:48 in ice time, Raymond finished the season with The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020 13 points across 39 games with Frolunda in the SHL and CHL.

Holtz, after a brief dip in his play following the world juniors, finished where he started, according to Hakanson. He wrapped up his season with 19 points across 45 games in all competitions at the pro level and averaged 12:53 in ice time.

“It’s all about the big picture,” Hakanson said of Holtz. “By the end of the season, he was ready and engaged in battles and protecting the puck. He can be even stronger on the puck then he already is too. When he has time to handle the puck, he’s going to score. He’s up there.”

In Frolunda, though the season didn’t play out like Raymond or the team intended, Sjostrom says he is partially to blame for that.

“I don’t think he ever showed any frustration. He has been working all along and motivated. I think he has handled the process exceptionally well. Being that age, it’s definitely not easy. For next season, we’ve made sure we have more room and he’s going to have a much bigger role on the team. I think he’s mentally and physically ready for that,” Sjostrom said.

“My belief (in Raymond) has absolutely not changed. His ceiling is super high. I mean, the skills that he has, the vision, I think he can be a real special player.”

Sjostrom insists, too, that Frolunda has never had a single issue with Raymond off the ice. In fact, both Sjostrom and Raymond joked that living at home and having a mother who is a nutritional coach means that he’s always prepared.

Together, Raymond and Holtz hope to lead Swedish hockey’s next era.

They both admit to watching their fair share of Pettersson and William Nylander highlights. Holtz met Nylander once, he’ll excitedly tell you.

“There are so many Swedish stars. They’re so fantastic,” Holtz said. “It’s really exciting to watch Nylander and Pettersson and Dahlin and think that might be me.”

Both Frolunda and Djurgardens hope their two young stars will return for one more season before jumping to North America.

Sjostrom believes the added time off due to the season’s cancellation may be perfect for Raymond.

“We’ve talked about him using this time to really take advantage. This time of the year there’s normally playoffs, combines, development camp, three or four trips to North America and he gets to focus on training instead,” Sjostrom said.

“The skill he has with the puck, we know that. It’s learning how to protect the puck and be stronger on pucks and that’s not just about gaining pounds. It’s more about technique and learning to play against bigger players and get to the net to use those skills. He just turned 18 and it takes time to develop into a man. It’s not something you can rush.” 1182531 Websites You hated everything about the sport. And a very primal part of you just wanted to take the whole NHL and stuff it into a wood-chipper.

And then the wood-chipper showed up, and his name was Wendel Clark, The Athletic / My Favorite Player: Wendel Clark and everything changed.

OK, not everything – the team was still mostly bad and still generally incompetent and Ballard was still Voldemort without the charm. But now By Sean McIndoe Apr 9, 2020 there was this 19-year-old farm boy from Saskatchewan barreling around the ice and just straight-up destroying dudes.

Clark made an impact immediately. He made the team without any The Athletic is asking us to write about our all-time favorite players, and seasoning in the minors, of course, because every Leafs draft pick did I’m going to save you the suspense: I chose Wendel Clark. back then. He had two goals in his third game, one of three multi-goal That may not be a surprise to you if you’ve been reading my stuff since games in October. He threw big hits. He fought. He was fun to watch in a the very early days over a decade ago when I did a gushing 17-part way we hadn’t seen in years. tribute to him. Or if you’ve read me more recently and noticed that I keep But for a lot of us, the turning point came on Feb. 1, 1986. The Leafs finding ways to link to the All Heart video for the 10,000th time. Or if you were hosting Chicago on “Hockey Night in Canada.” The Hawks had a live near The Athletic’s Toronto headquarters and have seen me guy named Behn Wilson who was absolutely as mean as they came, marching outside holding a sign reading “Wendel Was Robbed” and quite possibly the most intimidating player in the league at the time. We loudly demanding to speak to the manager. Or if you’ve ever met my two knew Wendel was tough because he’d already fought crusty lovely children, Wendel and Also Wendel. middleweights like Ric Nattress and Randy Ladouceur. But was he Behn OK, that last one isn’t true. (My wife vetoed it.) But you get the point. Wilson tough? Wendel Clark was my first favorite player as a kid, arriving in Toronto not Midway through the second, we found out: long after I was old enough to enter life as a real sports fan. And in 35 years since, nobody’s really come close to knocking him off the throne. And all across Canada, an awful lot of those kids and their parents and grandparents who’d become used to being embarrassed to be Leafs fans If you’re a Leafs fan, you get it. Wendel might be your favorite player too. for so many years suddenly side-eyed each other from the couch and And even if he isn’t, you understand why he could be. To this day, if you went: Whoa. go to a Leafs game in Toronto and watch the various hype-up videos that play on the scoreboard before the game, the biggest cheer still comes For two seasons, Clark was a wrecking ball. He set a Leafs rookie record when Wendel shows up. Leafs fans know. with 34 goals, then topped it with 37 the next year, most of them with a patented wrist shot that took forever to load up but was unstoppable once But if you’re a fan of some other team, you might be confused by this he got it away. The Leafs made the playoffs both years and even won a decades-long cult of Wendel Worship. It’s not like the guy made the Hall round each time. And Clark led the way, racking up nearly 500 PIM, of Fame, or was even a serious candidate. He never scored 50 goals or throwing countless monster hits, and fighting anyone who wanted to go, won a major award. He’s a modern-day Maple Leafs icon, so we know he and a few guys who didn’t. There were other guys in the late-80s NHL didn’t win the Cup. He wasn’t especially fast or good in the defensive who could hit, like Scott Stevens, and other guys who could fight, like zone or much of a playmaker and he always seemed to be hurt. We’re Bob Probert. But Probert could be a technician, and Stevens was the talking about a team that’s been around for over a century and has master of lying in wait and then crushing a guy who didn’t even know he produced more Hall of Famers than any other franchise – how does this was there. That wasn’t Clark’s style. Every hit looked like a car crash, guy show up near the top of every list of most beloved Maple Leafs? Is it and every fight looked like the Wilson bout, just a stream of button- just because he punched a lot of people? mashing haymakers right up until the other guy dropped. Wendel didn’t No. Well, yes, the punching is part of it. But there’s a lot more to it than have an off switch. He was a buzzsaw. that, and to understand, you have to know the history. That’s why it couldn’t last. Clark was generously listed at 5-foot-11 and Toronto won the very first NHL championship in 1918 and a dozen more maybe 180 pounds in a league where size was still everything, and by in the half-century to come. The last of those came in 1967. Two years his third year he was already breaking down; he wouldn’t play even 40 later, a power struggle erupted over control of the team. In the early games in a season again until 1990-91. And here’s where the legend 1970s, that struggle was won decisively by Harold Ballard. gets a little sketchy because the forgotten part of the story is that a lot of Leafs fans turned on him back then. You couldn’t count on a guy who That was the end of the Maple Leafs as a Stanley Cup contender, was hurt all the time. Why couldn’t he just tough it out and play? Wendel although fans didn’t realize it quite yet. There were still star players, like at home, Wendy on the road. This is why Toronto can’t have nice things. Darryl Sittler and Borje Salming and Lanny McDonald, and occasional competence behind the bench in Roger Neilson. But there weren’t many But while that part of the story gets skipped over in most tellings, it ends wins, at least when it mattered. The Leafs hovered around .500 for most up being important, because it sets the stage for the second chapter, of the 1970s, but only won a single seven-game playoff round that when Clark reemerged in the Pat Burns era. Gone was the fresh-faced decade. Then things got worse. A lot worse. kid with the mullet, replaced by a grizzled veteran with a beard and bald spot and now, the captaincy. He wasn’t trying to fight everyone in the By the mid-80s, the Maple Leafs had become a joke. Neilson was fired, league anymore, although he knew when to defend his house. twice. Sittler and McDonald were run out of town by shortsighted management. Prospects were rushed, wasted then discarded. The team He played the best hockey of his career for those early Burns teams, was consistently awful. The Habs stayed good, the Oilers emerged as a including a career-high 46 goals in just 64 games in 1993-94. The timing dynasty, and the Flames and Canucks made trips to the final. Meanwhile, was perfect. Ballard was gone, Cliff Fletcher had arrived to remake the the Maple Leafs were a national embarrassment. team, and for the first time in a generation the Leafs actually looked like they might matter. Doug Gilmour had taken over as the heart of the team, And through it all, it became apparent that Ballard didn’t care. He was but Clark was still the soul. Between those two seasons, the Leafs played interested in the bottom line and his own ego and that was about it. And in four Game 7s, and Clark had multiple goals in three of them – Justin he made it very clear that he was never going to sell the team for as long Williams might be Mr. Game 7 for his winner-take-all heroics, but Clark is as he lived. just one goal behind him on the all-time list, tied with Wayne Gretzky – not to mention a hat trick in the Game 6 that should have sent the Leafs If you’re a sports fan, it’s one thing to lose. It’s another thing entirely to to the final. He still holds the Leafs franchise record for postseason goals. lose hope. And that’s especially true when you cheer for a team that used to win. One that’s supposed to matter. One that your parents and And yet even during those playoff runs, when Clark was playing the role grandparents used to tell you stories about, and now you’re left to sit of the older, wiser veteran, the buzzsaw was still there. It didn’t come out there with them on Saturday night and cringe together about how often. But in those moments when things went bad and a dose of old- pointless it all feels. school justice was needed, you knew without a second of doubt who would arrive. By 1985, the Leafs had finished dead last in the entire league and every Toronto fan was miserable. You hated the team. You hated the league. Look, I know a lot of this might not make sense to fans who are young or new to the sport. I’m well aware that a big chunk of Clark’s highlight reel doesn’t hold up well in today’s world. Bruce Bell was never the same player after Clark crushed him. Some of his most famous scraps are so one-sided they look more like assault than fair fights. Some of his biggest hits would be massive suspensions today. It’s impossible to watch some of those KOs and wonder how many concussions or other injuries he caused or made worse.

It was a different time, and maybe that shouldn’t matter. I’ve wrestled with this question before. I’m still not sure what the right answer should be. If you’re watching all of this for the first time today, with modern eyes, I’d understand if you didn’t get it.

But back then, we did. When a fan base has been kicked in the ribs long enough, by the scoreboard and the hockey gods and their own cartoonishly evil owner, they either quit or they find something to latch onto. Clark arrived right when Maple Leafs fans needed him the most. He didn’t save the franchise or anything like that, and in the end he couldn’t deliver a Stanley Cup. But he made hockey fun again. He made the Leafs matter. He gave you something to feel on a Saturday night other than embarrassment.

Fans don’t forget that. I won’t. And I know that a big part of Leafs nation is right there with me.

What the hell, let’s end this by making it 10,001:

The Athletic LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182532 Websites “Making sure that we’re all ready,” the alternate captain said. “And I think that should be taken upon the leaders to set that example.”

"There's no excuses. We should come back as better versions of Sportsnet.ca / Matthews talks chase for 50, life with Andersen, ourselves." —Sheldon Keefe ‘unfinished business’ — luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) April 7, 2020

The superstar nails it when he describes his individual 2019-20 as a Luke Fox | April 9, 2020, 5:08 PM season of “growth — and room for growth,” one that began with a (since settled) off-season legal spat that sprung from a night of regrettable behaviour and was spiked with on-ice adversity throughout.

Just because Auston Matthews invited a world-class goaltender into his “It’s not just going to be all an uphill slope. You’re going to go through quarantine bubble, and just because the sniper extraordinaire has been tough times, and I think we had our fair share of adversity throughout the honing his already-elite shot between Love Island binge-a-thons and season,” Matthews said. “In the long run that kind of stuff builds teams, Justin Bieber Instagram Lives, does not mean he’s asked Frederik builds character and leadership and all that.” Andersen to serve as his personal Shooter Tutor. No matter what had been going on outside the boards, Matthews had “No. He’s not going in net,” Matthews chuckled over the phone Thursday been thriving within those confines. Beyond simply the number of lamps from Arizona. “I wouldn’t do that to him. He’s not a street hockey goalie. he set alight, he’d added a wicked one-timer and an improved knack for He likes to play out anyways.” tipping pucks to an arsenal built upon a deadly quick pull-and-snap wrister. All of our realities have been turned upside down and inside… well, end of sentence. His defensive game had never been better. He was winning faceoffs (54.9 per cent), stealing pucks (78, tied for first among forwards), getting This is just Matthews’. ice time (20:58) and driving possession (54.2 per cent Corsi) at the best In a flash, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ stud centre has gone from pumping rates of his career, all while seeing tougher matchups. pucks past goalies at a mind-bending rate and a much-salivated-over Sign up for NHL newsletters Round 1 playoff showdown with the Tampa Bay Lightning to hibernating at his Arizona home, where he’s training like summertime, gorging on Get the best of our NHL coverage and exclusives delivered directly to relationship-based reality television and overseeing the construction of a your inbox! backyard sports court. But best of all, for the first time since his Calder-claiming rookie Depending on one’s mood, it might feel like yesterday or 34 months ago campaign, Matthews was healthy and “extremely dialed in” to play all 82. that Matthews (47 goals) was jostling with Alex Ovechkin and David Pastrnak (48 each) in a thrilling Rocket Richard Trophy race destined to Suddenly, the world might not be ready for 82 — and Matthews might not spill into the final weekend of the NHL season. The league might well reach 50. have crowned the most prolific shooter since Steven Stamkos hung If and when Matthews’ remarkable season resumes and the killer instinct goalies for 60 in 2011-12. is called upon, it’s unlikely the NHL will allow fans into the buildings. “There’s obviously unfinished business, considering we’ve got 12 games That’s a strange scenario to envision for a big-stage performer who left to play, and then there’s close races for spots in the playoffs. There’s thrives through the noise. pretty much unfinished business everywhere,” said Matthews, careful to put sport in perspective. “It’d feel kinda weird, to be honest. I think fans are such a huge part of the game, and not only inside the arena,” Matthews said. “It’s obviously frustrating and disappointing to see the season go on pause. When you think about all those kinds of achievements and “We’ve got the playoffs going on and we got Maple Leaf Square and accomplishments, being really close to scoring 50 goals and stuff like everybody out there, the atmosphere just shifts to a completely different that, I think it all kind of becomes irrelevant when you’re talking about level.” human lives and what’s been going on around the world.” Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 04.10.2020 Matthews — co-leading the NHL with 35 even-strength goals — was all but guaranteed to become the first Leaf since Rick Vaive in 1983-84 to hit 50. The 22-year-old’s 55-goal pace gave him a fantastic shot of supplanting Vaive’s 54 in 1981-82 as the greatest goal-scoring campaign in franchise history.

“Obviously, your mind wanders thinking about that. Everybody would love to be playing hockey right now and doing their own thing,” Matthews said. “That’s what everybody misses… Everybody wants to go out there and compete and do what they love the most.

“But this thing is bigger than sports. It’s bigger than a lot of things. And I think the most important thing is to be safe and try to stay as healthy as possible.”

To that end, Matthews and Andersen — a billet/buddy he rescued from downtown Toronto condo quarantine — have been working out and treating the unplanned break like the off-season. Matthews is lifting weights, snapping pucks, practising his stickhandling and messing around on Rollerblades.

“He’s an extremely close friend of mine. Our relationship has just grown and grown over the years,” Matthews says of Andersen. “I really enjoy spending time with him.” (Even if Andersen has less patience for the forward’s Netflix choices.)

When Matthews is not burning through Love Is Blind, he’s poring over game video and thinking about how a “killer instinct” right from puck drop might’ve prevented the Leafs from their severe bouts of inconsistency this season. 1182533 Websites 4. Vancouver Canucks The locked-out 2004-05 season snuffed out a four-year run of qualifying

for the playoffs in Vancouver, but it also acted as a starting point for Sportsnet.ca / NHL Power Rankings: 6 best cap-era teams to not win a another solid run from 2007 to 2015, in which the Canucks made the Stanley Cup dance seven times and won six series.

A stellar core, led by the Sedin twins up front and in the crease, was the winningest outfit in hockey in 2011 and 2012. Over two Luke Fox | April 9, 2020, 8:34 AM wonderful/horrible seasons, Vancouver amassed 105 regular-season victories, captured back-to-back Presidents’ trophies, and watched it all

end in Game 7 misery as the city burned. The primary focus of the NHL these days is plotting a course around While Father Time and inevitable decline broke up the band, the these moving goalposts that will allow the league to crown a 2020 Canucks of the early 2010s will go down as one of the most dominant Stanley Cup champion. Somehow, some way, some time. compositions of hockey players to come up just a wee bit short. For our The nonexistent 2004-05 campaign — a blank line in the history books money, the 2010-11 Canucks were the best single roster not to go all the due to a labour dispute and a lockout — remains a sore point. It deprived way in this era. some team we’ll never know of a champagne shower and a parade. 3. New York Rangers Since 2005-06 and the dawn of hockey’s salary-cap era, fans have seen Recency bias has us framing the Rangers as a group in reset, but from their share of mini dynasties in Chicago and Los Angeles and Pittsburgh. 2006 through 2017 New York qualified for the playoffs in 11 of 12 There have also been a number of frequent contenders that did find a seasons, winning 11 series in the process. way to lift that silver jewel once in recent times but came agonizingly close to making it a trend (St. Louis, Boston, Washington, Anaheim, Backstopped by future first-ballot Hall of Famer Henrik Lundqvist, the Detroit). 2012 to 2015 Blueshirts averaged a third-round appearance four years running. And then there is a third group of powers that stands out over the past 15 years: the best teams not to win a Cup in the salary-cap era. The 2014 edition lost the final to the Los Angeles Kings, and the 2015 outfit snagged the Presidents’ Trophy with a 53-22-7 record before Here’s a look back at the most competitive organizations since 2005 who succumbing to the young, electric Lightning in a seven-game Eastern have consistently been in the mix but have (so far) had their cap-era Cup Conference Final. dreams dashed. While King Henrik, 38, has just one more season on his contract, a new 6. Ottawa Senators wave of Rangers led by Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad and Igor While the current Senators are embracing the rebuild like a favourite Shesterkin has given hope New York might be able to party like Messier teddy bear, Ottawa has frequently been able to claim status as Last in the not-so-distant future. Canadian Club Standing since the 2004 lockout. 2. Tampa Bay Lightning Before all the stars scattered, the Sens came excruciatingly close — one On a recent Zoom call with reporters, Blackhawks captain Jonathan overtime goal away — from eliminating the eventual champion Penguins Toews said it was during the 2015 Cup Final that he first saw where the in the thrilling, seven-game 2017 Eastern Conference Final. sport was headed — and it was a blue streak in the blueprint of the In all, they’ve played in 15 post-season rounds in the cap era and came Lightning. within three wins of glory in 2007. Those Sens dropped just three games Fast to grasp the fast, Jon Cooper’s brand of Tampa Bay hockey (aided total as they eliminated Pittsburgh, New Jersey and Buffalo before by former GM Steve Yzerman’s brand of cap management, with a running headfirst into the juggernaut Ducks. secondary assist to no state tax) has made the sport soar through the “To have a team where you know you have a chance to win, it just makes South. you that much more focused as a player,” Jason Spezza reflected last The Lightning were the last team to hoist the chalice before the salary week on Hockey Central at Noon. “It still kind of haunts me to this day. cap and have long been pegged by critics as a smart bet to lift the next “It was a five-game series, but the games were a lot closer. We had two one. 5-on-3s in Games 1 and 2 and didn’t capitalize, and it ended up haunting Since 2011, the Bolts have reached the Eastern Conference Final four us to lose both games [by scores of 3-2 and 1-0, respectively] in times, thrice losing in Game 7 to the eventual Cup champs (Boston, Anaheim to start. Still to this day I think about how we could’ve 2011; Pittsburgh, 2016; Washington, 2018). In ’15, underdog Tampa had approached things maybe a little differently. Those are the things as a the savvy Blackhawks on the ropes, leading the final 2-1, before Chicago player that you never forget.” battled back with three straight, narrow-margin victories. 5. Nashville Predators That pain was matched by the shock of 2018-19, when the record- This 20-year-old franchise loves to hang a good banner but has so far breaking, Presidents’ Trophy–winning favourite posted a silly 62-16-4 been denied the proudest one. regular-season record only to get swept by the Blue Jackets in Round 1.

Incredibly consistent and committed to icing a contender in the cap era, Cooper believes that disappointment has steeled his group, preparing Nashville has missed the dance but thrice in the past 15 post-seasons them well for another contending run in 2020 — if COVID-19 permits. after missing out in its first five years as an expansion team. 1. San Jose Sharks From 2016 to 2018, the Preds won at least one playoff round three If disappointment had a colour, it would be teal. springs in a row, captured the organization’s first Presidents’ Trophy (2018) and posted a 14-8 record in the 2017 post-season, coming up two Think about all the greatness and all those playoff beards wheeling painful games shy of hockey’s ultimate prize. around the Silicon Valley ice over the past decade and a half.

Nashville’s 2-0 loss to Pittsburgh in that infamous, decisive Game 6 was Since the 2004-05 lockout, Jumbo Joe and the Sharks have qualified for fraught with controversy. Referee Kevin Pollock’s premature whistle on a the playoffs an incredible 13 out of 14 times. That bar-setting run of loose puck in Matt Murray’s crease prevented a Nashville scoring consistency features eight 100-point regular seasons, 14 post-season opportunity that almost certainly would have resulted in a goal. Later, series victories, four trips to the Western Conference Final, one Patric Hornqvist’s Cup-winning goal was made good with just 95 seconds Presidents’ Trophy (2009), and one trip to the Stanley Cup Final (2016). left in regulation despite Nashville’s challenge of goaltender interference. ( added an empty-netter.) No wonder Doug Wilson is the second-longest-tenured GM in the league.

At the time of the 2020 pause, the up-and-down Predators had won three In the spirit of twisting the knife, nine times in the cap era the Sharks straight and rallied into another playoff position, based on points have been eliminated in a Game 6 or Game 7. On seven occasions, percentage. they’ve been eliminated by an eventual Cup finalist — four times by the champion, as was the case last spring in a nail-biter versus the St. Louis Blues.

“All you gotta do is get in” has become a popular axiom when speaking of Cup chances. Just don’t say that to Sharks fans.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182534 Websites A young man who always remembered people’s names, and took time to catch up when he arrived back in the Oilers dressing room. It’s a fading art, that relationship between player and newsperson, where you kibitz about all things not hockey. Like his Dad’s cattle farm, and how being Sportsnet.ca / Oilers' Connor McDavid asks fans to keep Colby Cave 'in gone for hockey annually relieved him of some of the dirty work. their thoughts' “You got kids?” he’d ask.

Richard Deitsch and Donnovan Bennett host a podcast about how Mark Spector | April 9, 2020, 7:38 PM COVID-19 is impacting sports around the world. They talk to experts, athletes and personalities, offering a window into the lives of people we

normally root for in entirely different ways. EDMONTON — It’s what a 23-year-old Connor McDavid unwittingly “When we had to tell him to go down to the American League, he was signed up for, when his immense hockey skills led to him being captain of disappointed but he was never down. He took it like a pro, went down an NHL team. there, played hard, and we called him back up a few times,” Ken Holland But that doesn’t mean it’s easy, when they ask you to articulate your told me on Tuesday. feelings on young Colby Cave, McDavid’s teammate who lies in a coma It’s cliché, and it’s the kind of thing that hockey people say to you when at a Toronto hospital. we really don’t have much else: Maybe the kind of player Cave is will “This is devastating news,” said McDavid, as eloquently as could be help him to beat this thing. Maybe, somewhere inside the soul of this expected. “Colby is such a strong guy — a good Saskatchewan boy. young, fit player who never quit on an NHL career — despite playing the He’s as tough as they come, and if anyone is going to get through this it’s vast majority of his pro games in the AHL thus far — that same attitude going be Colby Cave.” wins this battle too.

What a time this is. “They’re all good kids,” an NHL executive once said, when personalities were getting in the way of talent assessment. And it’s true. As , we can get our heads around missing our National Hockey League playoffs, given the circumstances. It stings when you’ve But this one, he’s a really, really good kid. supported an Oilers club that has missed the playoffs 12 of the past 13 You can’t work this hard for your dream and have it end like this, can seasons, and now they’re good and there are no playoffs. But fans get it. you? Social distancing saves lives, while watching a playoff game on a sunny spring deck only enhances our existence. “It’s devastating,” McDavid repeated. “Colby is a guy who is so well liked in our dressing room. I’m sure he’s been well liked in any room he’s been Then suddenly, in the midst of it all, notice comes from the local team in, he’s such a good guy. There’s no real way to express how I’m feeling that one of its players — Cave, a fringe guy who has come up and down about it. It’s devastating. from the minors over the past couple of seasons — is sick. Real sick. “You just pray that he wakes up, that the family is OK.” “Edmonton Oilers player Colby Cave has been placed in a medically induced coma and admitted to the Critical Care Unit at Sunnybrook Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 04.10.2020 Hospital after suffering a brain bleed over night. We ask that you keep Colby and his wife Emily in your thoughts and prayers during this time.”

The press release landed with a thud on Tuesday.

If hockey is not going to give us any games, then it shouldn’t be allowed to lay news like this on us either.

He’d had headaches early in the week, but if Cave was like anyone else in these weird times, the last place a guy would want to go is a hospital. Hockey people deal with pain in their own way anyhow, and though I won’t say I am a close friend of this player, I have gotten to know the young man relatively well over the past few years. He’d likely not be one to rush to emergency, at a time when it was needed by so many others.

In a time when the NHL is stocked with the sons of dentists and accountants who can afford the skyrocketing costs of academy schools and spring hockey, Cave was that rare son of a rancher, a Boxing Day baby who skated off of Al and Jennifer’s farm near Battleford, Sask., to become the MVP for two straight years in Swift Current, and the captain of the Western League team for one season.

The news was furthered on Wednesday: Doctors remove a colloid cyst that was causing pressure on his brain. He would remain in a medically induced coma, cruel isolation at a time when it is difficult even for his wife Emily to remain at his bedside.

On Instagram, Emily has asked that we “Please pray for my husband and best friend.”

“All the fans out there, everyone just needs to keep Colby, his wife Emily, and the entire family in their thoughts and prayers,” McDavid said. “Just sending out good vibes for them. It’s all we can do, we’re all stuck inside. We can just think and pray that he comes out of this, and pray that the family can get through it as well. I can’t imagine how hard it is on them.”

It is heartbreaking to read Emily’s Instagram posts, and really, it shouldn’t matter how good a husband or respectful a person this happens to. It shouldn’t happen to anyone at age 25, let alone a polite, respectful and handsome young man who has dutifully gone up and down from Bakersfield to Edmonton and back to Bakersfield again, without complaint. 1182535 Websites Toffoli didn’t take a shift off for the Canucks. He is one of those players with a reputation for offence whose game seems far more complete when you watch him every day instead of three or four times per season.

Sportsnet.ca / Canucks' Toffoli loving time in Vancouver, but future Toffoli was second behind linemate J.T. Miller in scoring over his 10 remains up in air games with the club. But Toffoli was excellent defensively, too. He played physically, and was among the veteran Canucks elevating his game during the playoff push as an example for younger teammates who have not been to the Stanley Cup tournament. Iain MacIntyre | April 9, 2020, 4:54 PM When Toffoli talks about finding the best “fit” in trying to decide his next

contract, it’s hard to imagine there are many better available than the one VANCOUVER – Let’s be clear: Tyler Toffoli has loved his time in offered by the Canucks: an up-and-coming team in a beautiful city that Vancouver. So has his dog, Dodger. thinks enough of Toffoli to play him with Miller and Elias Pettersson on the top line. But Toffoli has no idea yet if they’ll be around the Canucks next season because he’s still focused solely on this one. In the Canucks’ last game — a 5-4 shootout win over the New York Islanders that feels about three years ago — Toffoli had a goal and an The 27-year-old winger should be one of the top unrestricted free agents assist over 21:38 of ice time. He hasn’t played more in one game since available July 1 or whenever this pandemic-interrupted National Hockey Oct. 20, 2016. League season is declared over. Canucks general manager Jim Benning made it clear when he acquired Toffoli from the Los Angeles Kings on “For me, personally, coming to Van and the first time being traded, it was Feb. 17 — in exchange for prospect and a second-round exciting,” Toffoli said. “We had a really good team. I joined a really good draft pick — that he wants to re-sign and retain the native of group of guys and they all treated me extremely nice and brought me into Scarborough, Ont. the group right away. Just the talent, and the fact that everybody just wanted to win.” And that was before Toffoli scored six goals and 10 points in 10 games for the Canucks before the novel coronavirus halted the season on He said the transition to Vancouver, aided by close friend and teammate March 12. Tanner Pearson, was easier than he expected. Even Dodger liked it, Toffoli said. The NHL suspension and the unknown impact of lost revenue on next year’s salary cap shrouds free agency like a fog. Neither managers nor “I’ve talked to Ty a bit – nothing hockey-related,” Pearson said players have any idea what next year’s cap economy will look like, and Wednesday. “I know they stayed in Vancouver a bit longer after us, and re-signing anyone to a significant contract is about impossible until there then they actually drove to California. I haven’t talked to him about is clarity. persuading him (to re-sign). I don’t want to talk for him, but I think he liked his time here.” But Toffoli knows this: it’s been a good time playing for the Canucks. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 04.10.2020 “I had a lot of fun,” Toffoli told Sportsnet this week from his home in the Manhattan-Hermosa Beach area of Los Angeles.

“The guys treated me awesome, the fans were great, the coaching staff … everything was awesome. When that time comes that I’ve got to start thinking about all this — and honestly, I haven’t really thought about any of it — we’ll go from there.

“The only conversation that we’ve really had is to see where this season is going to go. That’s not my decision, where the cap’s going to go. Like I said, nobody could have ever imagined this happening and this scenario.”

Toffoli and his wife, Cat, were comfortable enough in Vancouver that they remained for a couple of weeks after the shutdown before deciding to make a cannonball run in their car home to Southern California.

Before they left, Cat posted a video from their downtown apartment of the 7 p.m. cheer for healthcare workers. She panned the camera to end on Tyler, holding the couple’s toy Yorkie. As if on cue, Dodger barked, making Tyler jump. It has been viewed on Twitter only a couple of hundred thousand times.

“She’ll bark but, it’s kind of funny that when we were in Vancouver, she wasn’t really barking that much,” Toffoli said of the dog, which Cat brought to their marriage two years ago. “Whenever she sees birds and stuff, she’ll go crazy every once in a while. I should have known there was that possibility that she was going to yell. She caught me a little off guard, and my wife usually catches all those things.

“Honestly, we felt that everybody was going to get a little laugh out of it, and I feel like everybody did. I was OK.

The amazing nightly cheer @ 7 pm in #Vancouver for all of the healthcare workers Wait for it.. @tytoff16 pic.twitter.com/QWEFsMPFJ0

— Cat (Belanger) Toffoli (@catbtoffoli) March 24, 2020

“We were really enjoying our time (in Vancouver), actually. But having no idea what was going to happen, we decided to come back home. Coming back to our house, we have a lot more room and there’s some workout equipment here that has come in pretty clutch. We enjoyed the drive. Obviously, not many cars on the road, not much traffic. We drove it in one day. My wife started, drove the first hour and a half, and then I took over until there were about four hours left. We put in a shift.” 1182536 Websites Timmins estimated that he’s spent upwards of six hours a day pouring over the footage and that his scouts have been doing the same for reports they’re filing through their Rinknet technology system, and he explained why that’s an acceptable method at this stage of the game. Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' Timmins on how draft prep has been impacted by COVID-19 “We’re able to do that because we have the bulk of our live coverage done,” Timmins said. “If you went blind and never (had) seen a player live and expect to get a good projection, that would be very difficult to do if you just went on video.” Eric Engels | April 9, 2020, 4:30 PM That’s one hurdle we’d expect most (if not all) teams have successfully

jumped over. MONTREAL— Under normal circumstances, Trevor Timmins and his Another hurdle circumvented, as Timmins explained, is that interviews staff of Montreal Canadiens scouts would be just hours away from that have always happened face-to-face with prospects and their knowing where they’d be slotted in the first round of a draft that was coaches have been converted to FaceTime and phone meetings. scheduled to take place in their backyard this June. Other hurdles are unavoidable. They’d take that key piece of information away from the NHL Draft Lottery and plug it into their draft board, and they’d continue to add It seems obvious enough that various leagues having their playoffs various other pieces as they watched the CHL, NCAA, and European cancelled eliminates an opportunity for every team to evaluate draft leagues dive into their respective playoffs. Then all parties would be prospects and unsigned players under the most pressure-packed preparing themselves to attend the World Under-18 Championship that circumstances and at a time when they might learn most about those was scheduled from April 16-26 in Plymouth, Mich., And from there it players. And the World U-18 tournament is a key part of year-long would be onto the NHL Combine in early June, which would be followed evaluations being buttoned up but, with it being canceled, teams are now by a private combine the Canadiens hold every year for players not going to have to finalize their opinions based on the last impression they invited or in attendance at the NHL’s event. got at the U-18 Five Nations Tournament that was held in the Czech Republic in February. Under normal circumstances, we’d be with Timmins and Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin in Toronto on this day, having a And it’s not just that the U-18s represented a chance for the scouts to conversation with either one of them about all those things. shore up their opinions; it’s also that, because they were scheduled to take place in Michigan, several general managers were getting an But these are anything but normal circumstances. The COVID-19 opportunity to be in attendance for games they might have a harder time pandemic has taken many lives and upended most (if not all) of them. getting to if they were being held elsewhere. And the working world has not only been profoundly affected by social distancing measures universally adopted; it will continue to be so for an “They’re not going to be able to see those players live and maybe to indefinite period. have the same voice that they might have in scouting meetings,” Timmins said. So, even though Timmins touched on a variety of subjects over the duration of a 50-minute conference call he participated in from his home “What it also hurts is that we won’t be able to see some of these in Ontario on Thursday–from how he feels about prospects currently in prospects—and mostly the top prospects—play within their own age Montreal’s system to how he sees the top-10 of the 2020 draft shaping group… (For) example, guys like, in Sweden, (Alexander) Holtz and up–we thought it was imperative to immediately focus on how he and his (Lucas) Raymond who play in the SHL. Although we did see them in the staff members are approaching their task without assurances there will world juniors, that’s Under-20. It’s not Under-18. And another example is be a combine of any kind, with amateur-level (and some pro-level) (Tim) Stutzle; we saw him at the world junior Under-20 but we haven’t playoffs being outright cancelled, and with the bulk of their operations been able to see him play with his own age group this year…It’s a more that would generally be carried out in person now having to be done difficult projection when you see young players having to play with and electronically. against men than it is within their own age group.

And this is particularly pertinent because the Canadiens are now two “And another aspect, too, by not having the Under-18 Championship in seasons into a reset of their roster and they’ve made the draft the highest Plymouth specifically, is that we won’t get a chance to see a lot of these priority of business in order to successfully achieve that reset. European players play on the North American ice surface.”

Armed with 14 picks this year—and after having collected several assets Timmins wouldn’t put a weight on those factors in how the final draft over the last two summers that have them ranked by consensus as decisions get made, but he did say it was a considerable part of the having one of the deepest prospect pools in hockey—the Canadiens evaluation process. have an opportunity they can’t afford to squander if they wish to soon break the cycle of repeated Stanley Cup Playoff misses. The combines are huge parts of it as well.

One of the first things the Canadiens assistant GM said Thursday was “I’m still hoping that maybe we will have time to have some sort of a that, even though the pandemic has altered everyone’s process, nothing combine, whether it’s a team combine or NHL combine to be able to get has gotten in the way of him and his scouts conducting the vital business some information. Maybe that’s out of the question,” Timmins said. “If it is that needs to be done before any draft. out of the question and we’re not able to get any info from an NHL or our own team combines, then I’ve heard that the NHL will be reaching out to “We have a structured process that we apply at every draft year, and this try to secure medical information from as many prospects that would hasn’t changed for us,” Timmins said. “I have our staff adhering to the usually be at the NHL combine and making that available to each NHL process, which works towards developing our organizational draft board. club’s medical staff. So we would have some information, (but) obviously With no draft date in sight, obviously there’s no end-point for us to work not near what we’d have by holding our own or having NHL towards. So what I’ve done (is) I’ve kept our amateur scouting staff very combines…there’d be more risk. You wouldn’t have complete information busy—somewhat like a university professor—with assignments which on medical history or growth potential or fitness testing and things like have due dates. And the assignments come in an orderly fashion working that. It does hurt.” towards developing our area lists and ultimately towards developing our organizational draft board, which my target date (to complete) is Perhaps the biggest challenge for all teams is going to be wrapping their approximately mid-May—the same (date) as we would usually work heads around how the draft will unfold if it’s done in a virtual setting. towards. “Having the draft on the draft floor with all 31 teams present and the staff “Luckily we have an online video database that all my scouts have and the GM, it allows for a lot of communication during the draft—a lot of access to, and we have a game library of almost every game that a draft deals thrown out there, a lot of deals falling through or getting made,” prospect or player anywhere throughout the world has played, and it’s Timmins said. “There’s a lot of talking on the draft floor, and I think that already broken down these games into shifts, goals, assists, breakout would impede that.” passes etc., along with some analytics. So there’s a lot of work, a lot of Without wanting to speculate on how the NHL Draft would unfold, information available to our scouts online.” Timmins added that he and other NHL-types will keep a keen eye on the NFL Draft scheduled for later this month. “They can’t even get their staff together in a war room at their facility, so that will all be taking place from their homes,” said Timmins. “So that’s going to be interesting to see how that unfolds.”

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182537 Websites per cent of his attempted plays in the defensive zone, which is in the top one per cent of all forwards.

Engvall’s turnover rate in the defensive zone is just eight per cent, which Sportsnet.ca / Highlighting an unheralded player from Canada’s Eastern is the second-lowest rate of any forward in the entire NHL after teammate Conference teams Ilya Mikheyev — and Engvall’s maintaining that while making controlled plays with the puck more often than not, since he chooses to exit the zone with a dump out attempt just 5.2 per cent of the time. That rate is also the lowest in the league. Andrew Berkshire | April 8, 2020, 11:51 AM When Engvall is forced to dump the puck out, though, he boasts a 92.9

per cent success rate at getting the puck into the neutral zone, which is, Last week, sparked by a question for the analytics mailbag, we looked as you may have guessed, the top mark in the league. into some unheralded local fan favourites on Canadian teams in the When the Leafs need to move the puck in the defensive zone, Engvall is Western Conference. In that article, we looked at what makes Andrew a man to trust and fans have noticed. Mangiapane, Kailer Yamamoto, Andrew Copp, and Josh Leivo stick out for fans despite rarely getting national spotlight. Anthony Duclair, Ottawa Senators

Moving on to the Eastern Conference, we’re going to look at three more Duclair has received his share of press this season, but it’s a little bit forwards who deserve a bit more recognition. tough in Ottawa to find someone on the roster who the fans are attached to that everyone doesn’t already know something about. Everyone knows The young rookie, who was the main asset in the return for Max about Thomas Chabot, for example. Pacioretty when he was traded to Vegas, has been a relatively consistent bright spot for a Canadiens team that has desperately needed positive Senators fans are more focused on prospects and the future than the stories as they stare down a third straight season of missing the playoffs. current team, which makes total sense when you see what stage of a rebuild they’re currently in. Suzuki’s 41 points in 71 games before the league was suspended was the highest point total for a Canadiens rookie since Michael Ryder scored Duclair was the talk of the league for a short time earlier in the season 63 back in the 2003-04 season — and he was 23 at the time, while when he was scoring at the same pace as Auston Matthews, but he has Suzuki turned just 20 right before the season began. To find a Canadiens slowed down considerably since then, and was closer to a 30-goal pace rookie closer to Suzuki’s age who also produced this well, you have to go after being on pace for over 40 at one point. all the way back to 1994-95 with scoring 45 points at age 21. Nevertheless, Duclair has been full value for the goals he has scored, In fact, looking at that name beside Suzuki’s, I think I know why he has and the underlying numbers suggest this is who he is when he’s given a captured the hearts of Canadiens fans so quickly. Suzuki has a very chance. similar frame and playing style to Koivu, as well as a similar blend of offensive and defensive smarts. Duclair is in the top five per cent of all forwards in inner slot shots on net per 20 minutes, and the top two per cent in shots on net from the slot Suzuki doesn’t have the speed that Koivu did — especially before a overall. He’s also incredibly accurate within the slot, where 73.5 per cent collision with Jeff Shantz started a runaway train of injuries that kept of his shot attempts hit the net, which is within the top one per cent of all Koivu from being truly appreciated league-wide for his talent — but there forwards. are a lot of similarities when you dig into it. More than being just a good shot, Duclair is also within the top five per Despite his skating not being among the league’s elite, Suzuki has been cent of all forwards in controlled entries, and he’s an underrated a strong transition player as a rookie, completing 19.5 plays that move playmaker with fringe first-line level slot passing and rush passing. the puck up the ice per 20 minutes, which is within the top five per cent of all forwards. He’s in the top 20 per cent of all forwards at both blue lines, Without the puck Duclair leaves a bit to be desired, but as a scoring where he creates tons of controlled zone exits and entries and that has winger there aren’t many teams who wouldn’t love to have him. allowed him to force his way up the lineup, and from the wing to the Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 04.10.2020 centre position.

Without the puck, Suzuki is among the top 10 per cent of all forwards in blocked passes, and in the top two per cent in loose puck recoveries overall. Those are key metrics to quantify a player’s positioning and hockey smarts, which he has in spades.

Koivu is probably a lofty goal for Suzuki to emulate, but the similarities are hard to ignore.

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.

Pierre Engvall, Toronto Maple Leafs

If you ever venture into Leafs Twitter you probably see a lot of Pierre Engvall mentions. Fifteen points in 48 games doesn’t look that impressive, but Engvall brings a surprisingly well-rounded game to Toronto’s bottom-six forwards.

As a shooter Engvall isn’t brilliant, but he is within the top 20 per cent of all forwards in both inner slot shots and slot shots overall. He also controls the puck a lot, with offensive zone possession time in the top 20 per cent of all forwards as well.

Where Engvall truly stands out, though, is how he moves the puck forward. He’s in the top 10 per cent of all forwards in successful transition plays per 20 minutes, with a specific strength of getting the puck out of the defensive zone.

Engvall is in the top three per cent of all forwards in controlled exits, and he’s downright clinical with the puck in his own zone, succeeding on 75.2 1182538 Websites that shows a commitment to being the best coach that he can be and obviously help the team as much as possible."

To be a more improved team whenever the NHL does resume, TSN.CA / Auston Matthews feels Toronto Maple Leafs have ‘unfinished Matthews says the Leafs can start by looking within. business’ "I think for us, just trying to have more of a killer mentality in the way we start games [would be big]," he said. "No matter who we're playing, making sure that we're all ready. That should be taken upon the leaders Kristen Shilton to set that example. There are points when things weren't going well where we really didn't start [the way we should]. That showed a bit of an

amateur side and that's all stuff that can really be fixed; it's more of a It’s been four weeks now since the National Hockey League hit pause on mentality than anything. We had our fair share of adversity, but in the the regular season in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, and long run, that kind of stuff builds character and leadership." Toronto forward Auston Matthews still can’t shake the feeling there’s Come on down more left for the 2019-20 Leafs to accomplish. In the immediate aftermath of the NHL’s pause, the Leafs were told to "There's obviously unfinished business, considering we've got 12 [regular stay put in Toronto for a period of self-isolation until more clarity from the season] games left to play [on the schedule], and then there were true league emerged. races for spots in the playoffs," he said during a conference call with reporters on Thursday. "There’s unfinished business everywhere. But this Eventually, players were permitted to leave town, and Matthews is bigger than sport and there's nothing that we can really do about it. But immediately returned to Arizona. Andersen didn’t have another place to obviously your mind wanders. Everybody would love to be playing escape to, so Matthews made him an enticing offer. hockey right now, but that's not the case." "When we got word that we were good to go home if we wanted to, I Matthews has been waiting out the NHL pause in Phoenix with teammate went home and then he was stuck in Toronto for a couple of weeks," Frederik Andersen, filling his days with workouts, video, and some good Matthews explained. "I was talking to him and invited him to come down bad TV. He touched on those topics and more in the media session, here and get out. He was crammed in a condo downtown. [So far] including how he feels about being so close to the 50-goal milestone staying together has been good. He's an extremely close friend of mine, when the season stalled out. so our relationship, it's just grown over the years and he's a big part of our team and I really enjoy spending time with him." Chasing Ovi Matthews said part of his regime during the down time has been working Matthews amassed 47 goalsthrough the 70 games Toronto was able to on his shot, but he hasn’t yet asked Andersen to step between the pipes play so far, putting him one behind Alexander Ovechkin and David in practice. Pastrnak (tied with 48 apiece) for the NHL lead. "No, I wouldn't do that to him," Matthews laughed. "He’s not a street Matthews is already well past his previous career-high of 40 goals and hockey goalie. He likes to play out anyway." would revel in the chance to catch a veteran like Ovechkin for a scoring title. But given the uncertainty surrounding when the NHL can resume, The two friends also have differing opinions on what qualifies as good TV he’s appreciative just to be keeping such good company. - or, in some cases, good bad TV.

"It's pretty cool and humbling to be in the same conversation as a guy "The first [series] I watched was Love is Blind," Matthews said. "I like [Ovechkin]," Matthews said. "Being in a scoring race with a guy like think I watched it like two or three times, because I wanted all my friends him, he's been a generational player and he's made a big impact beyond to watch it. I wanted Freddie to watch it. And then another friend of mine the game and led the way for lots of players and lots of guys. It's was watching this Love Island show and turned me on to that. Freddie humbling, and hopefully we can get back to playing hockey and can is not really a big fan of that one, he'll only watch a couple episodes compete again, that's what everyone wants to do." before he leaves the room and goes somewhere else. I really don't know what the appeal is. It's pretty awful, but I'm just in deep now, so I can't That’s not to say Matthews hasn’t experienced a range of emotions tied really turn back." to the stoppage, and its impact on his season in particular. There’s just a greater perspective he’s determined to keep on the whole matter. Playoff mode

"It's obviously frustrating and disappointing to see the season go on There’s no guarantee of what the NHL will look like when it gears up pause," he admitted. "But when you think about those kinds of again, but Matthews is staying prepared as if there will be plenty on the achievements and accomplishments, being close to scoring 50 goals and line for Toronto when the time comes. stuff like that, it all kind of becomes irrelevant when you're talking about human lives and what's been going on around the world. I would love to "When you're at the point of the season we were at, you're extremely be playing hockey right now and to be able to live normal life. But there dialled in with 12 games to go," Matthews said. "And you're just kind of in are things bigger than sports. [Eventually] I’m looking forward to getting that mental space where it's hockey every single day and so it's back on the ice and hopefully accomplishing some of those goals." obviously tough that's not the case anymore. And you don't really have a picture of when it will all resume again, so trying stay ready and work Keeping up with Keefe on the things that you can."

When Leafs’ head coach Sheldon Keefe spoke with reporters on To that end, Matthews has been biding his time with a number of Tuesday, he admitted to binge-watching a lot of his team’s tape activities he hopes will be beneficial in a return to action. during this pause - and not much else. "I've been watching some video, watching clips, and trying to stay as That dedication to bettering the team comes as no surprise to Matthews, active as possible while obviously respecting the social distancing and who has enjoyed a strong relationship with Keefe since he stepped the rules that apply," he said. "Been taking advantage of it like the off- behind the bench in November. season. I've been shooting pucks and stickhandling. I’ve got free weights, I’ve got a sports court being built right now [at my house], I've got "Since he's taken over, his work ethic and his commitment to the players rollerblades. Trying to do everything I can to stay in shape and try to not and the team, not just on a hockey level but on a personal level, it's been lose that focus." amazing," he said. "I think he's been great. Everybody's been really receptive to him and I think he's been extremely receptive to us as well. Should the NHL bypass its remaining regular-season dates and go That's all you can really ask for." directly into a playoff based on where teams were at the time of the pause (Toronto was sitting third in the Atlantic Division and set to face Keefe said he’s been in touch with players from afar and was the Tampa Bay Lightning in a potential first-round series), Matthews encouraging them to use the unexpected time off productively. said the goal would be for the Leafs to lay their playoff demons to rest "I think he kind of pinpointed the fact that he's been looking to use this after being bounced from the postseason in round one each of the past moment and find different ways for the team to be better, areas of three years. weaknesses and strengths and stuff like that," Matthews said. "I think "I think that's obviously been a goal since our first year [to win a series]," he said. "It’s no secret we've had three years of the same result. You'd love to get to that point again and change the whole narrative. We've been working our way to get to that point, but for now we've got 12 regular-season games and obviously there's a lot of unknown about when it does resume what the situation is going to be. I guess until that happens, it's tough to talk about the hypotheticals. You don't really know what to expect."

Virtual reality

Given the COVID-19 pandemic, the NHL could follow the NFL’s lead and hold a virtual draft later this spring, robbing draftees of a chance to receive their new team’s jersey in person.

As the first-overall pick by Toronto in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Matthews knows how unique it is to be a top draft choice, and would feel for others denied that full experience.

"[it’s] incredible, and obviously for guys that will be the first couple picks, hearing your name called and going up there and getting your jersey, it's all extremely surreal," he said. "It’s an experience you dream about as a kid. If that's not the case, it's going be tough, but I think in the long run, they're going to be good players in this league and hopefully they'll have more memories and experiences to cherish and [won’t] worry about it too much."

TSN.CA LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182539 Websites capable playmaking talent around players like this could pay dividends in the future.

The burden to find those pieces falls on the shoulders of Marc Bergevin TSN.CA / Yost: A look at the best low-slot shooters in hockey and Pierre Dorion, who will no doubt be busy this summer as they continue to shape their rosters.

TSN.CA LOADED: 04.10.2020 Travis Yost

For years, Montreal winger has been renowned for two things – an ability to generate a high volume of shots and an ability to generate those shots from dangerous scoring areas.

Those two skills alone have made him, despite his diminutive frame, one of the more productive and reliable scoring forwards in all of hockey.

Gallagher isn’t the first forward to make a living in the low slot, and he won’t be the last.

Not every player in the league is blessed with ’s, ’s or Auston Matthews’ level of speed and accuracy with wrist shots and slapshots. But every forward has some degree of scoring expectation on him, and being productive without being able to pick corner after corner from anywhere on the ice can be a challenge.

That said, Gallagher merely has a different skill. It is comparably difficult to pierce the interior of the defence so frequently, and getting shots out of scrambles or off rebound opportunities is always a challenge.

Think of the lower-body strength required to fight off defenders in every one of these scrums, and think about the mental challenge of knowing that the type of offensive game you are playing – one that sees you fighting in front of the net every shift – increases the wear and tear on your body and comes with an increased risk of injury.

But if you want to score more – save for the elite snipers of the world – you simply have to cut down the distance from which you are shooting. The relationship between shot distance and scoring rates is significant, and any logistic regression will show you that:

If you were looking for a valuable shooting distance, 15 feet and in probably applies. At 15 and in (all other variables left “unknown” for the time being), you see intersection with league average shooting percentage around 8 per cent. The closer you get to the net, the better the chance of you scoring

That brings us to this year’s leaderboard. Gallagher, who has held a spot on the “15-and-in” Mount Rushmore for years now, was dethroned by a Canadian rival – Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk.

Gallagher ended up playing 12 fewer games than Tkachuk, which explains most of the gap, but on a per-game basis their production from in close is almost identical. That’s good news for Ottawa fans, considering Gallagher’s track record.

Also of note? The other Tkachuk (Calgary’s Matthew) is also quite good at this, as are the top-six forwards in Toronto and Vegas:

It’s interesting that you can draw a line between individuals who are elite at driving to the front of the net and high-end teams who have ease generating scoring chances from in close.

There is little doubt that players like Gallagher and Tkachuk (or both Tkachuk brothers for that matter) have a unique skill at pressing into the low slot. But there is something to be said for players who can get the pucks to teammates in front of the net, too.

Look what happens when a Maple Leafs forward – regardless of their competency – gets to play with a dynamic playmaker like Matthews. Or look at what happens when you have players like Paul Stastny and Max Pacioretty getting to work in spots with a similarly dynamic Mark Stone.

Every team is looking for great individual talent, but it is always worth remembering that complementary skill sets in a team sport like hockey can yield similar results, too.

Which leaves us with something quite scary to think about: What happens if Montreal and Ottawa find even more capable centres to create passing and shooting lanes for players like Gallagher and Tkachuk?

Gallagher has been driving his line for quite some time, and Tkachuk entered the league on a team in the middle of a complete rebuild. More 1182540 Websites

USA TODAY / Boston Bruins to record messages for former teammate Colby Cave, who's in coma

Mike Brehm

The Boston Bruins are doing their part to help out former teammate Colby Cave, who's in a medically induced coma.

Cave, 25, who played for the Bruins organization from 2014-19 and is now with the Edmonton Oilers, is in a Toronto hospital after having surgery to remove a colloid cyst that was causing pressure on his brain.

Because Cave's wife, Emily, can't go into the room with him, members of the Bruins organization will record messages for her to play to her husband over a communication system.

“Hopefully that helps,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy told the Athletic. “Anything we can do. Every little bit helps and if we can chip in with some encouraging words, then that’s what we’re going to do.”

Emily had posted a heart-rending message on Instagram Wednesday about her husband's condition.

"Please wake up," she wrote. "Please wake up. It’s all I can keep asking, “he’s going to wake up right?” We need a miracle."

The center had played in 23 games for the Bruins and 44 with the Oilers after he was picked up on waivers in January 2019.

Cassidy also coached him with the American Hockey League Providence (Rhode Island) Bruins.

"I think he enjoyed his time in Providence and Boston," Cassidy told the Athletic. "His wife got to know all the girls and he was very tight with the players here. They formed a good bond. Colby’s a likable guy; he’s hard not to like.”

USA TODAY LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182541 Websites

USA TODAY / As Edmonton Oilers' Colby Cave remains in coma, wife Emily writes: 'We need a miracle'

Chris Bumbaca

Colby Cave's condition remained dire Wednesday, according to his wife.

"Please wake up. Please wake up," Emily Cave wrote on Instagram. "It’s all I can keep asking, 'he’s going to wake up right?'"

Doctors at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto placed the 25-year-old Edmonton Oilers center in a medically induced coma Tuesday to stop a brain bleed.

The team posted on Twitter that doctors removed a colloid cyst that was causing pressure on Cave’s brain Tuesday.

Hospital precautions due to the coronavirus pandemic mean the family cannot be in the same room as Cave.

"We need a miracle," Emily Cave added. "Colby’s parents and myself, got to see him through a window and talk to him with a walkie talkie last night. We are no longer allowed to be in the hospital because Covid-19 rules. We have no idea when we will be allowed to see him again."

Cave has appeared in 67 NHL games between the Oilers and Boston Bruins during his career. This season, he scored one goal in 11 games for the Oilers. He also played in 44 games in the American Hockey League. Edmonton claimed him off waivers in January 2019.

USA TODAY LOADED: 04.10.2020

1182542 World Leagues News All of the European leagues were shut down, with the exception of Belarus.

The German Bundesliga was on track to be the first major league to Where the Major Sports Stand Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic return. Players in the top two divisions returned to practice and the league’s chief executive said he hoped to be playing by sometime in May. By Victor Mather and Joe Ward International Soccer April 9, 2020 The major event of the summer, Euro 2020, scheduled at multiple sites beginning in June, was postponed by a year. As a result, the women’s event, set for England in 2021, was pushed to 2022. Nearly every sporting event, major and minor, has been canceled, moved or postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. The question now, The men’s World Cup is to be played next in 2022. Qualifying events in to which no one really knows the answer, is when games will come back. some parts of the world have already been postponed.

* The N.C.A.A. canceled its winter and spring sports, including its Hockey basketball tournaments, and suspended all athletic operations. It is not clear how fall sports, including football, will be affected.By The New York The N.H.L. suspended its season on May 12 with each team having Times played about 70 games of the 82-game regular season.

Some more specifics: The world championship, scheduled for May in Switzerland, was canceled. Olympics Tennis The Summer Games were postponed for a year, until July 23, 2021. The Paralympics were also pushed forward, to Aug. 24, 2021. The French Open was moved from its usual May date to Sept. 20. Wimbledon, scheduled to start in late June, was canceled for the first Baseball time since World War II. The United States Open, scheduled for Aug. 31 to Sept. 13, was still on, although organizers said they were considering canceled the start of its season after a handful of all options. spring training games had been played. There is no return date set. Golf The league said it had considered a plan to start the season in May with all teams playing in Arizona, among other ideas. The PGA Tour halted its events after the first round of the Player’s Championship on March 15. The British Open in July was canceled, and The South Korean league may be the first significant one to return; it is the other three majors were rescheduled: The P.G.A. will begin on Aug. planning exhibition games beginning April 21. 6, the United States Open on Sept. 17 and the Masters on Nov. 12. Latest Updates: Coronavirus Outbreak in the U.S. The L.P.G.A., which had planned several early tournaments in Asia, As millions more Americans lose their jobs, more federal aid is uncertain. where the pandemic began, canceled its events beginning in February.

Positive coronavirus tests rise with age, White House data shows. The Ryder Cup is still set for September in Wisconsin. A few minor league tours in the United States were proceeding. OPEC and Russia reach a deal to cut oil production amid lower demand. Auto Racing Football NASCAR held its last race on March 8. The IndyCar series did not start The N.F.L. has benefited from the calendar. With the first regular-season at all, and the Indianapolis 500 has been moved from its traditional game scheduled for Sept. 10, hopes are high that the season can still be Memorial Day weekend date to August. The Formula One season also held. did not start, and races have been postponed or canceled on a rolling basis. The league’s draft, April 23 to 25, will be a TV event with no spectators. U.F.C. The Canadian Football League postponed its season from its scheduled June 11 start. After canceling three cards, the Ultimate Fighting Championship pushed to have a card of 12 fights on April 18, shifting its U.F.C. 249 event from Basketball Brooklyn to a tribal casino near Fresno, Calif. But its bouts were The N.B.A. suspended its season on March 11 with teams having played postponed following a request from its broadcast partner, ESPN, and between 63 and 67 games of the 82-game season. There is no date set ESPN’s parent company, Disney. for a resumption. Dana White, the U.F.C. president, said that he hoped to have fights The W.N.B.A. season, scheduled to start on May 15, was also regularly and that some future bouts might take place on an unidentified postponed. The W.N.B.A. draft, however, is on as planned for April 17. private island.

N.C.A.A. Running

The N.C.A.A. halted its sports on March 12, meaning winter sports did The Boston Marathon was postponed to Sept. 14. and the London not finish and spring sports barely got started. Marathon to Oct. 4 from their original April dates.

This included the men’s and women’s Division I basketball tournaments, Horse Racing which are the biggest source of income for the organization. The Kentucky Derby was postponed from its classic first Saturday in May The organization awarded an extra year of eligibility to spring sports date to the first Saturday in September. The Preakness, normally held athletes, who missed out on their seasons. two weeks later, was postponed. The Belmont, normally the third leg of the Triple Crown, is still scheduled for June 6. College football is still scheduled for the fall. Cycling Club Soccer The professional cycling tour halted its season on March 24. The Tour de halted its season on March 12 after each team had France, beginning June 27, was still on the schedule. played two games.

The Champions League was halted on March 13 with 12 teams remaining. New York Times LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182543 World Leagues News About 1 million licensed anglers regularly fish California’s waterways through the year, making it one of the most active U.S. fishing states.

“I’m passionate about fishing myself,” Newsom said. Angry California Anglers Disrupt Sport Fishing Meeting

LOADED: 04.10.2020 Thursday, April 9, 2020

Staff Report

By Associated Press

A teleconference with California regulators to discuss a potential limited ban on freshwater sportfishing amid the coronavirus pandemic was abruptly canceled Thursday after it descended into chaos, with some of those who called in branding officials as “fascists” and shouting “make fishing great again.”

The Fish and Game Commission meeting was aimed at deciding whether to give emergency powers to Charlton Bonham, the governor's appointee overseeing the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Sacramento Bee reported.

If the powers are granted, Bonham could limit fishing in some California rivers, streams and lakes at the request of local officials concerned that visiting recreational fishing enthusiasts might spread the virus.

But the meeting was overwhelmed by more than 500 participants on the call, many of whom mistakenly believed commissioners might cancel the entire fishing season statewide. Earlier this week, a group of conservative politicians, sheriffs and media outlets told social media followers that the administration of Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, was planning to do that, the newspaper said.

The intent of the state’s proposed order was much more limited, however.

Newsom addressed the controversy during his daily coronavirus briefing.

“We’re not ending the season,” the governor said. “We just want to delay it a little bit and work with the counties to address the surge of interest and the need to keep everybody protected.”

State officials and participants urged everyone on the teleconference line to mute themselves amid background noise and beeping as dozens called in, the Bee reported. One of those who didn’t mute shouted, “I have a right to speak!”

“You cancel, we’re just coming back,” another said.

The commission halted the meeting because members of the five- member board couldn’t get on the call to form a quorum, the majority of members needed to hold votes.

State officials said they were trying to determine how to reschedule the meeting next week with a system that would allow them effectively moderate public comments.

“We also want to make it crystal clear that today’s proposed decision was not about banning fishing statewide or locally,” Bonham and Commission President Eric Sklar said in a statement after the meeting. “We are not contemplating statewide closure."

Bonham told the Bee on Monday that only the rural eastern counties of Inyo and Mono have urged fisheries regulators to postpone their upcoming spring trout seasons to prevent thousands of anglers from arriving and spreading the virus to residents.

The conservative media site the “California Globe” later posted a story that omitted sections of the Bee's reporting and Bonham’s remarks that he was not advocating a statewide recreational fishing closure.

“CA Department Of Fish And Wildlife Commissioner Wants To Close Sportfishing Season Due To COVID-19,” the Globe’s headline read.

The Globe's story was shared on Facebook by state Assemblyman James Gallager, a Republican and U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, also a Republican.

Newsom said the state is working with county health directors to ensure they have enough resources. 1182544 World Leagues News In a statement released after the meeting, California Fish and Game Commission President Eric Sklar and California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham made clear there are no plans to In California: Don't even THINK of canceling fishing shut down fishing statewide or locally.

"The decision is to help prepare us to work with counties and tribes to make those decisions based on their requests. We are working on a Arlene Martinez tailored and surgical approach based on local needs and knowledge," the statement read in part. USA TODAY It said they understood many members of the public and media had been

unable to join the call, and they were looking for a remedy before the call A meeting to talk sportfishing in California had to be canceled after is rescheduled to next week. people couldn't participate and it got out of hand. Mining the moon, end-of-the-world resources and that simulation A meeting to talk fishing's fate in a time of coronavirus erupts into chaos. U.S. businesses can mine the moon, Mars and other outer space PLUS: Gov. Gavin Newsom sends ventilators out of state to the dismay territories, the Trump administration announced in the middle of a of locals who uh, sort of need them? And stick around for stories that pandemic. And I'm reminded again of Gil Scott-Heron's: "Whitey on the show us what can happen if we wait for the miracle. Moon." It's Arlene Martínez finding you top news for Thursday. A syllabus for the end of the world: What to listen to, read and watch and But first, benefits for unemployed Californians will rise by $600 weekly to make sense of what's going on. starting Sunday. You may have seen that simulation that made running, walking and In California brings you stories and information from newsrooms across cycling look awfully dangerous. Turns out, it was faaar from proven the USA TODAY Network and beyond to keep you safe and informed. research. An actual expert says it's probably OK to exercise outside if Subscribe today for free delivery right to your inbox. you "apply common sense."

Let's start with some quick headlines: At home, but not in home

Hundreds of educators in San Francisco pledge to donate part of their Ventura County nurse Angie Mireles spent each of her three shifts last federal stimulus checks to undocumented immigrants who don't qualify week caring for the same patient who tested positive for COVID-19. She for any part of the $2 trillion package. As of Thursday, the effort had wore an N95 mask and other protective gear but still worries about how received over $100,000 in pledges. the disease is spread.

Travelers can't travel, but at least one vacation rental company continues So this week, she moved into an 18-foot RV in her driveway, hoping to to deny refunds. TurnKey maintains it can't just consider the needs of create enough space to protect her husband and her two children. guests, but the homeowners as well. “It’s a very hard situation to be in," she said. "We’re trying to take care of The nonprofit Environmental Working Group released an analysis the community, but we can't even take care of the loved ones in our Thursday identifying 2,501 industrial facilities likely releasing a lightly home.” regulated class of toxic chemicals into the environment in Puerto Rico There are many like Mireles, in driveways, RVs and other ways to and every state — including about 100 in California. distance as best as they can for as long as they need to. Golden State Warriors guard surprised an intensive care Don't give up before the miracle happens nurse and her fellow staffers with a FaceTime appearance in which the two-time NBA MVP shared how inspired he was by her dedication as a The Storytellers Project is a series of live events hosted by USA TODAY front-line healthcare worker. Network newsrooms across the country, including in Ventura County and the Coachella Valley. My pay is being cut, can I apply for unemployment? Should I take money out of my 401(k)? Our coronavirus questions, answered. The idea is that through our shared experiences, we realize we're more similar than not. The stories are inspiring, and showcase perseverance, It's hard enough to get public records. Now, public agencies in nearly family bonds, life-changing decisions, love and new beginnings. three dozen states are using the coronavirus to make it harder. Each Thursday, I'm featuring a playlist of some of the thousands of 'So now what do our hospitals do?' people who have bravely shared a personal story on one of our stages. Gov. Gavin Newsom's generosity in giving 500 respirators to the national stockpile is riling some officials in California who say they are waiting on their own requests for the critical equipment. USA TODAY LOADED: 04.10.2020 Riverside County Supervisor Kevin Jeffries took to Facebook to express his displeasure: "Riverside County is still waiting to receive an order of 1,000 ventilators from the state! So now what do our hospitals do?"

Riverside County health officials project they will run out of ventilators by April 26.

Newsom sought to assuage such concerns. "We have a firm commitment from those states to send them back to the state of California," he said.

Related: The MacGyvering ways some hospitals and companies are responding to meet America's ventilator shortage.

'Make fishing great again'

A teleconference with California regulators to discuss a potential limited ban on freshwater sportfishing amid the coronavirus pandemic was abruptly canceled Thursday after it descended into chaos, with some of those who called in branding officials as “fascists” and shouting “make fishing great again.”

Some of the confusion apparently stemmed from misinformation that the fishing season could be canceled. 1182545 World Leagues News Monday, April 6

UFC 249 is still on schedule for April 18, with Tony Ferguson fighting Justin Gaethje for an interim lightweight title in the main event. First it was the NBA. Then the NCAA Tournament, MLB, NHL, MLS, Kentucky Derby, Wimbledon and more. Here’s how sports are affected Although UFC President Dana White hasn't announced a venue for his by the coronavirus. promotion's biggest pay-per-view show of the spring, he remains determined to hold an event in less than two weeks amid the coronavirus pandemic.

By CHICAGO TRIBUNE STAFF The mixed martial arts promotion announced the change to UFC 249's CHICAGO TRIBUNE main event bout Monday. Gaethje replaces lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, who is apparently unable to leave Russia amid the APR 09, 2020 | 8:17 PM pandemic.

"The fight is signed and is 100% ON LIVE on ESPN somewhere on EARTH!!!!" White tweeted Monday. How will the sports world handle concerns about the coronavirus? We’re tracking the latest cancellations, postponements and alterations in sports White has remained steadfast in his plan for the UFC to fight on while for players and fans. virtually all high-level sports competition has stopped.

NBA suspended its season on March 11 White reportedly is attempting to secure a venue on the West Coast for the show, likely on tribal lands. Most U.S. states have restrictions in place NCAA Tournament was canceled on March 12 that would make it impossible to stage a show even without an audience. MLB suspended operations on March 12 and then pushed back opening The British Open won’t be played this year for the first time since 1945 as day to mid-May at the earliest on March 16 golf officials announced a reconfigured major championship schedule. NHL paused its season on March 12 and postponed its draft on March 25 The Masters was rescheduled for Nov. 12-15. That would follow the PGA MLS shut down on March 12 and is targeting a May 10 start date Championship on Aug. 6-9 at Harding Park in San Francisco and the U.S. Open on Sept. 17-20 at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, N.Y. The Masters was postponed on March 13, and a new major championship schedule was announced April 6 The British Open, originally scheduled for July 16-19 at Royal St. George’s in England, will be pushed back until July 15-18, 2021, leaving Kentucky Derby was moved to September on March 17 the 150th Open for St. Andrews in 2022.

WNBA draft will still be held April 17 but will be a virtual event. The start The PGA Championship would be followed by the PGA Tour’s season- of season was postponed April 3. ending run of the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C., and the three FedEx Cup playoff events: the Northern Trust outside Boston, the Thursday, April 9 BMW Championship at Olympia Fields and the in UFC 249 was canceled Thursday after ESPN and parent company Atlanta, which would end on Labor Day. All four of those tournaments Disney stopped UFC President Dana White’s plan to keep fighting amid were pushed back one week. the coronavirus pandemic. The Ryder Cup remains scheduled for Sept. 25-27 at Whistling Straits in After defiantly vowing for weeks to maintain a regular schedule of fights Wisconsin. while the rest of the sports world halted, White announced the decision to Friday, April 3 cease competition on ESPN, the UFC's broadcast partner. The WNBA has postponed the start of its season because of the UFC 249 was scheduled for April 18 on ESPN Plus pay-per-view, and coronavirus pandemic, with no indication when play would begin. White planned to follow it with weekly fight cards from Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino on tribal land in California's Central Valley. The league was scheduled to open training camps April 26 and the regular season was set to begin May 15. The WNBA will still hold a White said he "got a call from the highest level you can go at Disney and “virtual” draft April 17. the highest level of ESPN" asking him to cancel the shows. The UFC moved to ESPN in 2019 with a reported $1.5 billion deal. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement Friday the league will “use this time to conduct scenario-planning regarding new White's frustration with the decision was obvious after he had repeatedly start dates and innovative formats.” vowed to fight on amid mixed public opinion. The UFC boss still remained upbeat, vowing to be "the first sport back" after the pandemic The U.S. Women's Open in Houston is moving from the end of spring to eases. the middle of December.

Tuesday, April 7 The USGA said Friday the rapid developments of COVID-19 has led the Women's Open at Champions Golf Club to be postponed. Instead of For the first time since halting play four weeks ago, NHL Commissioner being held June 4-7, the new date is Dec. 10-13. Gary Bettman raised the possibility Tuesday of not completing the regular season in order to squeeze in time to award the Stanley Cup. That would be the latest a major championship is played, and the first time an official LPGA Tour event was held entirely in December since Bettman also acknowledged during an interview with NBCSN the league won the LPGA Tour Championship in 2010. is considering having games played at neutral sites in the event not all teams will be allowed into their home rinks. Premier League season suspended indefinitely

Bettman, however, stressed these are among myriad options being The Premier League was suspended indefinitely Friday following a considered with nothing determined because it will take at least two more meeting of the 20 soccer clubs where a series of financial measures weeks to gain a clearer picture on how the coronavirus pandemic is were discussed amid the coronavirus pandemic. affecting the league’s 31 markets. The English league had given a tentative return date of April 30 but that "We're looking at all options. Nothing's been ruled in. Nothing's been was pushed back with a statement saying the “2019-20 season will only ruled out," Bettman said during the interview broadcast on the league's return when it is safe and appropriate to do so” and only with the full U.S. broadcast partner. support of government and medical guidance.

"The best thing and the easiest thing would be if at some point we could Teams still have nine or 10 games left to play, with Liverpool — the complete the regular season and then go into the playoffs as we normally leader by 25 points — still needing two more wins to clinch its first title do," he said. "We understand that may not be possible. And that's why since 1990. we're considering every conceivable alternative to deal with whatever the eventuality is." UEFA, in a letter signed by the European Clubs’ Association and the European Leagues, has urged members not to abandon their competitions. Halting leagues without approval from UEFA could see challenges facing the union, and a reorganization process will now be teams blocked from qualifying for the Champions League and Europa progressed with input from World Rugby,” USA Rugby said in a League as they are determined based on final positions in domestic statement Monday. standings. The measure will protect and support the men's and women's national Thursday, April 2 sevens and 15s programs, the body said.

MLS extends training moratorium through April 24 Thursday, March 26

Major League Soccer has extended its training moratorium through April NCAA slashes distribution by $375 million 24 because of the coronavirus outbreak. Canceling March Madness because of the coronavirus pandemic will Team facilities are closed to players and staff — except for players cost the NCAA about $375 million that it would have distributed to 350 requiring treatment that cannot be administered at their homes. schools across the nation. Some will be able to absorb the losses better than others. Players are expected to remain in market with their teams during the moratorium to avoid the spread of the virus. The league will consider The NCAA announced Thursday it will distribute $225 million to its individual requests for players to travel to another city by car. Division I member schools in June, nearly two-thirds less than the $600 million scheduled to be handed out in installments from April to June. MLS teams were two games into the season when it was suspended on March 12. A Philadelphia Union player with mild symptoms recently Schools that compete in the wealthiest conferences, with billion-dollar tested positive for the virus. television contracts fueled by major college football, might not notice much of a difference in the short term. Schools competing in mid-major Wednesday, April 1 conferences are preparing to make sacrifices.

AP Source: MLS cutting pay of top executives, some staff The NCAA pulled in more than $1 billion in revenue last year, including Major League Soccer plans to cut the pay of some executives and front $867.5 million from the television and marketing rights for the Division I office personnel while the season is on hold because of the coronavirus men’s basketball tournament. But March Madness was canceled March pandemic, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated 19, a week before the first round was scheduled to begin. Press on Wednesday. Indianapolis 500 rescheduled to Aug. 23

MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Deputy Commissioners Mark Abbott The 104th Indianapolis 500, which was originally set for May 24, has and Gary Stevenson will take 20% cuts in salary starting April 16, the been rescheduled for Aug. 23 due to concerns surrounding the person said on the condition of anonymity because the reductions were coronavirus pandemic, Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced. not announced publicly. “The Month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is my favorite Other cuts would range from 20% to 10% for managerial staff. Lower time of year, and like our fans, I am disappointed that we have had to salaried employees, like entry-level hires, would see no reduction in pay. reschedule the Indianapolis 500,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner The cuts were first reported by Yahoo Sports. Roger Penske said in a statement. “However, the health and safety of MLS does not plan to furlough or layoff staff at this time, although a hiring our event participants and spectators is our top priority, and we believe freeze is in place. The league employs some 300 people at its New York that postponing the event is the responsible decision with the conditions headquarters. and restrictions we are facing."

The MLS move comes after the NBA cut the salaries of some 100 top Prior to race day, on-track action will start with practice sessions on Aug. executives by 20% while the season is on hold. The NHL is cutting 12-13. That will be followed by more than a week of events, including salaries for league employees 25% starting next month. NASCAR qualifications on Aug. 15-16. A full NBC broadcast schedule will be officers will have a 25% reduction in salary, while all other employees will released at a later date. have their salaries reduced by 20%. Month of May Update from @IMS and @IndyCar:

Wimbledon was canceled on Wednesday because of the coronavirus The Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge has been rescheduled for pandemic, the first time since World War II that the oldest Grand Slam Sunday, Aug. 23 and the GMR Grand Prix will move to Saturday, July 4. tennis tournament won't be played. WNBA draft to be held virtually The All England Club announced after an emergency meeting that the event it refers to simply as The Championships is being scrapped for The WNBA draft will be a virtual event this year. 2020. The league announced Thursday that its draft will still be held April 17 as Wimbledon was scheduled to be played on the club's grass courts on the originally scheduled, but without players, fans or media in attendance outskirts of London from June 29 to July 12. due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Instead, the next edition of the tournament will be June 28 to July 11, “The WNBA draft is a time to celebrate the exceptional athletes whose 2021. hard work and dreams are realized with their selections in the draft,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. “Safeguarding the health The tournament was first held in 1877 and has been contested every and well-being of our prospects, players, employees, and everyone year since, with the exception of two stretches: from 1915-18 because of connected to our game as well as the general public is paramount." World War I, and from 1940-45 because of World War II. Logistics of the draft are still being worked out with ESPN although Monday, March 30 Engelbert confirmed she would announce the picks that night on the USA Rugby has decided to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy because its league’s broadcast partner’s network. The New York Liberty have the No. financial woes have been exacerbated by the coronavirus shutdown. 1 pick.

In financial strife since 2018, USA Rugby's recent attempt to restructure Wednesday, March 25 was set back this month when it had to suspend all activities indefinitely The NHL on Wednesday postponed three June events, including the in the face of the pandemic. draft, making them the latest of hockey’s dominoes to fall as the The loss of spring and summer membership dues, and sponsorship coronavirus pandemic puts a hold on sporting events. pullback, has "resulted in significant loss of revenue," and the sport's The league cited “ongoing uncertainty resulting from the coronavirus” as national board and congress agreed on Sunday that filing for Chapter 11 reason for calling off the draft, which had been set for June 26 and 27 in combined with more approved loans from World Rugby were "the best Montreal. The timing and location of the draft and its lottery, as well as platform to swiftly and efficiently address challenges and deliver a other details, will be announced once those events are finalized, the NHL foundation for future stability." statement said. “The current suspension of sanctioned rugby activities caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the existing financial The scouting combine, originally set for June 1-6 in Buffalo, New York, The shutdown has no end in sight, though UEFA and European soccer and the annual awards gala, scheduled for June 10 in Las Vegas, were leaders said last week they hope to complete the club season by June also postponed. New dates haven’t been set, but the statement added 30. “the league looks forward to returning to Las Vegas in the future.” The 2020 European Championship for national teams was postponed for Tuesday, March 24 one year to clear space in the fixture calendar for clubs to win titles in domestic leagues and cups, and UEFA's competitions. A minor league player for the has tested positive for the coronavirus, prompting the team to close down its training complex in UEFA said the Europa League final, due on May 27 in Gdansk, Poland, Fort Myers, Florida. and the Women’s Champions League final, scheduled for May 24 in Vienna, Austria, were also postponed. The Red Sox made the announcement Tuesday, a day after the positive diagnosis. The team didn't identify the player, but said he was doing well. Saturday, March 21

Earlier this month, the said two of their minor Health concerns and travel bans closing international borders stemming leaguers had the virus. Those were the first two players affiliated with a from the new coronavirus pandemic left the International Ice Hockey big league organization known to test positive. Federation with no choice but to cancel the men’s world hockey championships. Major League Baseball has postponed opening day until at least mid- May because of the virus outbreak. The decision to cancel the 16-team tournament to be held in Switzerland in May was formally announced Saturday, and essentially wipes out the The Red Sox said their affected player was most recently at the spring IIHF’s entire spring calendar of world championship of events. training site on March 15. Boston said based on the timing of his test, it believed he most likely got the virus after leaving Fort Myers. The governing body previously canceled the women’s world hockey championships set to be held in Canada and the men’s Under-18 The NHL is extending its recommendation for players and staff to self- championship to be played in Michigan next month. isolate and stay away from team facilities during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Thursday, March 19

Deputy commissioner Bill Daly on Tuesday confirmed the NHL has asked The number of known coronavirus cases within the NBA doubled to 14 that players and staff extend their self-quarantine 10 days beyond the on Thursday, when Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics pleaded with original March 27 timeline to April 6 — further pushing back the earliest people to take social distancing more seriously and the league ordered team facilities can reopen. all teams to shutter their training facilities indefinitely.

The league over the past two days has held conference calls with its Smart revealed that he tested positive and the Los Angeles Lakers said Board of Governors and general managers to inform them about and two of their players tested positive as well, bringing the number of players take questions regarding the current situation. Daly told The Associated who have acquired the virus to 10. The Philadelphia 76ers said three Press by email the calls provided updates on various issues. members of their organization tested positive and the Denver Nuggets said someone within their franchise was positive as well. There is still no clarity on when the NHL might resume its season, though the CDC’s recommendation of no gatherings of 50 or more people until The 76ers and Nuggets did not say if the affected people were players, mid-May is expected to factor into timing. The league and Players’ coaches or other staff. Association told players they could go home and self-isolate until the end of March. The league wants its teams to keep distance as well. Earlier Thursday, the NBA sent a memo to teams telling them to close their training and The NBA has been acutely affected by the coronavirus pandemic. NBA practice facilities to all players and staff — plus recommending that commissioner Adam Silver’s March 11 decision to suspend the season players “take aggressive measures to avoid contact with others and was a landmark moment that started a ripple affect in sports. He stopped remain home as much as possible, leaving only for essential activities.” games when Jazz center Rudy Gobert became one of the first prominent athletes to publicly announce he contracted the virus. MLS pushes season back to May 10

In the days since, NBA teams and athletes helped league employees in Major League Soccer is targeting a May 10 return to play and will need, including the Bulls paying United Center employees through the consider pushing back its championship game by a month into remainder of the season and Zach LaVine providing 12,500 meals in December. Seattle. After announcing a 30-day suspension last week because of the new But in a time when many have chipped in, 76ers owner Josh Harris took coronavirus, the league said Thursday it will follow last weekend's different measures. He pledged to pay hourly employees through the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to remainder of the season but asked salaried workers to take a 20% not hold events involving more than 50 people for eight weeks. paycut. "MLS remains focused on playing the entire 2020 season and is After Harris’ decision was roundly criticized on social media and from evaluating all options, including pushing back the end of the season and within the 76ers organization, he reversed course and committed to playing MLS Cup in December, as the league did prior to the 2019 paying his staff. Public responses from 76ers center Joel Embiid and co- season," the league said in a statement. owner Michael Rubin likely played a part in the decision. The MLS championship game had been scheduled for Nov 7.

76ers ownership is planning to change course, pulling back on salary Wednesday, March 18 reductions for staff, league source tells ESPN. An Ottawa Senators player has tested positive for the new coronavirus, “After listening to our staff and players, it’s clear that was the wrong the first known case in the NHL. decision. We have reversed it and will be paying these employees their full salary,” Harris told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski in a statement. The team announced late Tuesday that an unidentified player had tested positive for COVID-19. The Senators said the player has mild symptoms, Monday, March 23 is in isolation and that they were notifying anyone who had close contact Champions League final postponed with him.

UEFA formally postponed the Champions League final on Monday — an Ottawa players, coaches and others have been advised to remain inevitable move with European soccer in total shutdown and four Round isolated, monitor their health and seek advice from team medical staff. It of 16 games yet to be completed. was not immediately clear if any others around the team had been tested, and the NHL is not mandating that. The final was scheduled for May 30 in Istanbul before the spreading coronavirus pandemic forced the four remaining second-leg games on Coronavirus hits Spanish La Liga soccer teams March 17-18 to be delayed indefinitely.

UEFA said no decision has yet been made on finding a new date. Spanish soccer team Alaves said Wednesday that 15 people in its club It follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's have become infected with the coronavirus: three players, seven recommendation that events of 50 people or more not be held for eight members of the coaching staff and five other employees. weeks. That would last until the Sunday before the PGA Championship.

The club had already reported that two members of its staff were San Francisco now is among six counties in the Bay Area where infected. residents are ordered to venture outside only when necessary for the next three weeks. Rival teams Valencia and Espanyol said earlier this week that their clubs have also been hit by the virus. There was no indication when the PGA Championship would be played, or if it would remain in San Francisco. Tuesday, March 17 Shortly after the PGA Championship announcement, the PGA Tour said Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch and other NASCAR drivers have signed it was canceling an additional four tournaments on its schedule — the on to race in an exhibition esports series while their cars are kept off the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the tracks amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the AT&T NASCAR and iRacing announced the formation of the eNASCAR iRacing Byron Nelson in Dallas. Pro Invitational Series on Tuesday night, trying to give fans alternative The French Open tennis tournament was postponed for about four viewing with the NASCAR season on hold until at least May 3. months because of the coronavirus pandemic, shifting from May to The multi-week series will start Sunday with a virtual competition at September. Homestead-Miami Speedway. Remaining races and broadcast details Main-draw matches for the clay-court tournament at Roland Garros in are expected to be announced at a later date. Paris were scheduled to begin on May 24.

Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell will also This is the first instance of a Grand Slam tournament being affected by be among those competing. A one-off simulation event was held last the virus that has spread around the world. The next major tennis weekend after a race at Atlanta Motor Speedway was postponed. Josh championship currently on the calendar is Wimbledon, which is slated to Williams, spotter for Ryan Blaney, won that race, which also featured start in late June in England. Earnhardt and Hamlin. The BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, a combined men's “Until we have cars back on track, the entire NASCAR community has and women's event considered the sport's fifth major, was the first aligned to provide our passionate fans with a unique, fun and competitive significant change to the tennis calendar when its postponement was experience on race day,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’S vice president announced March 8 because of COVID-19. of racing development. “Our longtime partners at iRacing offer an incredible product and we are excited to see how many of our best Last week, the men’s and women’s professional tennis tours began drivers will stack up in the virtual domain of competitive racing.” announcing cancellations of various tournaments in response to the viral outbreak. ACC, SEC cancel spring competitions The Kentucky Derby is being postponed from May to September The Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference canceled because of growing concern about the coronavirus pandemic. all spring athletic competitions Tuesday due to the coronavirus, joining the Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12 in putting an end to their sports seasons. Churchill Downs will postpone the Derby from May 2 to Sept. 5, marking the first time in 75 years that the race won’t be run on the first Saturday in The ACC last week suspended all its athletic activities indefinitely, not May. long after it canceled its men’s basketball tournament. It took the next step Tuesday and shut everything down, putting an end to any possibility The last time the Derby wasn’t held on the first Saturday in May was in of schools holding spring football practice. 1945, when the federal government issued a ban on horse racing because of World War II. The ban was lifted on May 8, and the Derby A few hours later, the SEC became the last of the Power Five was held on June 9. The only other year the Derby wasn’t held in May conferences to cancel all spring sports competitions, including spring was in 1901, when it was raced on April 29. football games and football pro scouting days. The SEC's suspension of athletic-related activities, including individual and team practices, remains The Derby is the latest major sporting event to be postponed or canceled in place through at least April 15. because of the coronavirus outbreak, joining the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments and the Masters golf tournament. In the Big Ten, all competitions are canceled and all organized team Professional basketball, baseball and hockey leagues also have activities have been suspended until April 6 and will be re-evaluated at suspended their seasons. that time. Monday, March 16 2nd Yankees player tests positive for COVID-19 The UFC has postponed its next three scheduled events through April A second New York Yankees minor leaguer has tested positive for the 11, finally giving up on President Dana White’s plan to keep fighting amid new coronavirus. the coronavirus pandemic.

The player, while in self-quarantine, reported fatigue and an elevated The UFC will not hold its show scheduled for Saturday, which was initially temperature to medical personnel with the Yankees, according to the slated to be held in a full arena in London. The UFC also won't hold team. The player was tested Sunday and returned to self-quarantine after shows scheduled for March 28 and April 11. the positive result. “It's just impossible,” White said on ESPN, the UFC's broadcast partner. “We can also report that within the past 48 hours his symptoms have “We can't do it.” dissipated,” the team said. White insists he will hold UFC 249 on April 18, although he doesn’t have New York had announced a first positive test on Sunday, and general a venue for it. Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is manager Brian Cashman said the player had been isolated and the scheduled to fight Tony Ferguson in the promotion’s biggest pay-per- Florida Department of Health notified. view show of the spring.

The two Yankees minor leaguers are the only baseball players known to NASCAR has suspended its season until May as part of the CDC’s have tested positive. recommendation to postpone gatherings for the next eight weeks First the Masters, now the PGA Championship. because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The PGA Championship is being postponed, a person involved in the The decision came after at least two Monday conference calls between discussions told The Associated Press. It was scheduled for May 14-17 the sanctioning body and its team owners. It affects seven total races — at Harding Park in San Francisco. The person spoke to the AP on Atlanta and Homestead had already been postponed. condition of anonymity Tuesday because the decision has not been The series plans to return to the track at Martinsville Speedway in announced. Virginia on May 9. “We intend to hold all 36 races this season, with future rescheduling soon Any change to the 162-game schedule would necessitate bargaining to be determined as we continue to monitor this situation closely with over an array of issues, including when and how much players get paid public health officials and medical experts,” NASCAR said. "What is and how much major league service they are credited for. Service time important now transcends the world of sports and our focus is on determines eligibility for free agency and salary arbitration. everyone’s safety and well-being as we navigate this challenging time together.” The NFL will proceed with its draft but without public events next month in Las Vegas. It's not yet clear, however, if the draft itself will be held in NASCAR first said it would run last weekend and this coming weekend the city. without spectators, but reversed course Friday and postponed the races at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday the draft will take place April 23-25 as scheduled, but under a modified format still being developed. NASCAR had not addressed anything beyond Homestead until Monday’s The draft will be televised regardless of its venue or format. announcement. “In consideration of current information related to COVID-19 and Sports in Britain virtually ground to a halt on Monday as the government guidance from medical experts such as the CDC, and in coordination ramped up its efforts to tackle the coronavirus by advising against mass with public authorities in Nevada and the city of Las Vegas, the NFL will gatherings in the country. modify its plans” the league said in a statement.

The iconic Grand National Steeplechase, the Oxford vs. Cambridge The NFL says it is exploring “innovative options" for how the process will university boat race, all levels of and rugby league, and the be handled and will provide that information as it becomes available. lower levels in soccer were among the remaining events or competitions to be canceled or suspended amid the pandemic. “This decision reflects our foremost priority: the health and safety of all fans and citizens,” Goodell said. “While this outcome is disappointing Elite soccer, such as the widely watched English Premier League, had both to the NFL and to the Las Vegas community, we look forward to already been suspended last week after individuals at clubs tested partnering with the Raiders, the city of Las Vegas and the Las Vegas positive for the virus. Convention and Visitors Authority for a future NFL draft as well as evaluating opportunities for other major NFL events in Las Vegas in the But Monday marked a significant shift in the government’s position, with future, including the Super Bowl.” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson advising the public to take extra steps in the face of the virus. Britain has had 1,543 confirmed cases and Sunday, March 15 53 virus-related deaths. Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns has announced he’ll The NHL is pushing back the possibility of resuming its season by donate $100,000 to the Mayo Clinic for testing for the COVID-19 virus. several weeks, if not a month or more. The Minnesota-based medical system said it expects the money from The league and NHL Players' Association told players Monday they can Towns will help increase capacity for COVID-19 from 200 tests per day to go home — even out of North America — and must self-isolate through more than 1,000 per day in the coming weeks. March 27 while the season is on hold amid the coronavirus pandemic. But the NHL also cautioned that it will not be able to even provide The Mayo Clinic has been working for the past month on developing its guidance on the potential reopening of team practices for another 45 own test for the virus to supplement other existing avenues. days, which could push any potential return to play into May. Hornets owner and the team’s players have partnered to The new directives come on the heels of the CDC's recommendation establish a fund to provide financial assistance to the organization’s part- against gatherings of 50 or more people in the U.S. for the next eight time employees adversely affected by the loss of games and events due weeks. The NHL said “depending on world developments," consideration to the coronavirus pandemic. will be given to reopening facilities after the self-quarantine period ends Payments from the fund will assist more than 500 part-time staff. in late March but practices for the 31 teams would not happen late April — at the earliest. The fund will impact employees who serve in various capacities during games and events, including ushers, ticket takers, box office attendants, Major League Baseball pushed back opening day until mid-May at the entertainers, public safety officers, retail staff, guest services personnel, earliest on Monday because of the new coronavirus after the federal technical operations and others. government recommended restricting events of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks. The part-time staff for the Hornets will be compensated through the end of the scheduled NBA season on April 13. There also will be assistance Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred made the announcement following for part-time employees working Spectrum Center concerts and a conference call with executives of the 30 teams. Greensboro Swarm part-time staff through the end of March.

“The clubs remain committed to playing as many games as possible A minor leaguer for the New York Yankees has tested positive for the when the season begins,” the commissioner's office said in a statement. coronavirus, becoming the first known player affiliated with Major League The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Sunday Baseball to contract COVID-19. that gatherings of 50 people or more be canceled or postponed across The team said Sunday the unidentified player had spent his entire time at the country for the next eight weeks. the minor-league complex and hadn’t been over at the main stadium and MLB called off the rest of the spring training schedule on Thursday and facilities used by the major leaguers. said opening day, which had been scheduled for March 26, was Yankees player representative Zack Britton recently said the team had postponed for at least two weeks. Teams and players agree that two to voted to remain together in Tampa and continue voluntary workouts. In four weeks of additional spring training will be needed before the regular the wake of the virus outbreak, Major League Baseball and the union had season begins. given players the option to stay at the site of their spring camp, return to The Major League Baseball Players Association sent an email to agents their offseason homes or go to the club's home city. on Monday saying that for players who went home or to their team's MLB is expected to update teams on its policy Monday. regular-season city it would pay $1,100 allowances through April 9 to players on 40-man rosters as of March 13. That amount also would go to Saturday, March 14 players with minor league contracts at big league spring training who The Baseball Hall of Fame said it will close to the public beginning were on 40-man rosters at the end of last season. Sunday at 5 p.m. The union also is negotiating with MLB over resetting the dates for The Cooperstown, New York, shrine will provide updated information players with opt-out clauses in their deals. The sides also are likely to regarding this closure on each subsequent Sunday. agree on a roster freeze. Bulls, Blackhawks will pay United Center workers This year marked the earliest opening day other than for international games. As it stood, Game 7 of the World Series would have been Oct. 28, and teams and players could push the postseason into November. The United Center ownership and the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks say However, teams may speak with prospects by telephone or video they will pay day-of-game employees through the end of their scheduled conference for interviews. seasons. Teams can conduct three such interviews with an individual draft-eligible The NBA and NHL seasons have been suspended because of the player per week. The conversations may last no longer than an hour. The coronavirus pandemic. Each team has seven home games left. NFL stated in the memo that any personnel who violated the restrictions would be subject to league discipline. In a statement attributed to Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, the teams say their employees “are family, and The league said it also was working to disseminate medical information we will navigate this unprecedented situation together.” on prospects to the teams.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is closing temporarily because of the Several NFL teams, including the Bears, announced Thursday they coronavirus pandemic. would pull their coaches and scouts from traveling as a precautionary measure amid coronavirus concerns. The museum in Canton, Ohio says it will be closed to the public from Monday through March 27. The Hall says it “will continue to closely Some teams were still conducting in-person business before the monitor the situation and maintain ongoing communication with state and restrictions were announced. A Southern Illinois University official said local health officials.” eight teams attended their pro day Thursday. And NFL Network reported the Dolphins hosted Utah State quarterback Jordan Love for a visit The XFL says an unidentified player with the Seattle Dragons has tested Friday. positive for coronavirus. Before the NFL shut down pre-draft visits, the #Dolphins are having The fledgling football league says the player reported his symptoms to another big-time prospect in: Utah St QB Jordan Love. Miami moved team medical staff on Tuesday and has been in quarantine ever since. quickly to secure his visit. He was tested for COVID-19 and received the result Friday. The memo apparently did not address any changes or restrictions to the The league says the player participated in the Dragons’ March 7 game free agency negotiating period, which starts Monday. Teams may begin against the Roughnecks in Houston and a Feb. 29 game against the signing free agents Wednesday, when the new league year is also set to BattleHawks in St. Louis. He was asymptomatic at the time. begin.

The league says it’s alerting players, staff, vendors and partners NASCAR announced the postponement of its next two races in Atlanta associated with the Dragons, Roughnecks and BattleHawks and is and Miami. monitoring the situation closely. “We believe this decision is in the best interest of the safety and well- Late Thursday, the XFL canceled the remainder of its season, which had being of our fans, competitors, officials and everyone associated with our five weeks left. sport,” NASCAR said in a statement. “We will continue to monitor this The men’s curling world championships in Scotland have been canceled, dynamic situation as we assess future race events.” along with the mixed and senior events in Canada, because of the Meanwhile, IndyCar has canceled its next four races. COVID-19 pandemic. Augusta National announced next month’s Masters golf tournament is The said that with hundreds of athletes and postponed. staff needing to travel to each tournament, “it is no longer possible to run these international events.” “Considering the latest information and expert analysis, we have decided at this time to postpone the Masters Tournament, the Augusta National The WCF says it acted on the advice of the Scottish government in Women’s Amateur and the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals,” Fred canceling the men’s tournament, which had been scheduled for Glasgow Ridley, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, said in a statement. from March 28 to April 5. Premier League and Champions League suspend play “We believe that in the current unprecedented situation this is the only responsible course of action to take,” said Billy Garrett, Director of Sport The Premier League and the Champions League were both suspended and Events at Glasgow Life. Friday as the chaos stemming from the coronavirus outbreak continues to impact soccer. The mixed doubles and seniors events were to take place in Kelowna, , from April 18-25. Matches in England will be stopped until at least April 3 after five Premier League clubs said some players or staff were in self-isolation. Arsenal The women’s world championships in Prince George, British Columbia, manager Mikel Arteta has tested positive for the virus, as has Chelsea were canceled on Thursday. winger Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says his country still intends to host UEFA said it was stopping next week's games in all competitions, the Olympic Games in Tokyo as planned. including the two remaining Champions League matches which had not Abe says there were no discussions about postponing or canceling the been already called off — Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea and Barcelona vs. games during talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested Napoli, both scheduled for Wednesday. this week that Japan should consider postponing the Olympics because Games involving Juventus and Real Madrid had already been postponed of the spread of the coronavirus. because those clubs quarantined their players.

Abe says Japan is continuing to “coordinate well” with the International The Bahrain and Vietnam Grand Prix races were postponed, the third Olympic Committee, adding: "We have to overcome the spread of the and fourth races of the Formula One season to be called off. infection and want to hold the Olympics and Paralympics as planned.” Bahrain was scheduled for next week — at an empty track — and the The Olympic Games are scheduled to take place from July 24-Aug. 9, inaugural Vietnamese GP in Hanoi on April 5. and the Paralympics Aug. 25-Sept. 6. Thursday, March 12 Abe says the virus outbreak has not reached a point in Japan that requires him to declare a national emergency like the United States and The PGA Tour decided Thursday night to scrap the rest of The Players parts of Europe. Championship and shut down its other tournaments for the next three weeks. Friday, March 13 Commissioner Jay Monahan had said earlier Thursday there would be no The NFL prohibited in-person, pre-draft visits between teams and fans at the TPC Sawgrass for the final three rounds, or at the next three prospects, starting Saturday, according to a league memo sent to all 32 tournaments on the PGA Tour schedule. teams. The tour changed its mind late Thursday. Draft-eligible players are not permitted to travel to a club facility or other location to meet with team personnel, and team personnel may not travel NFL teams are curtailing or completely stopping scouting operations as a to college campuses or any other location for such a meeting. safeguard against the spread of the new coronavirus. The Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins, Tampa was pushed back from April 2 to April 26 and player salaries were Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers and New York reduced by 11.1% because the games were lost due to a strike. Jets are among those that have ordered their scouts and assistant coaches to return home in what typically is a busy time for evaluating After a 32-day spring training lockout in 1990 caused opening day to be college players. The NFL draft is scheduled for April 23-25 in Las Vegas. delayed a week until April 9, the season was extended by three days to allow each team a full 162-game schedule. Many teams have told employees to work remotely. Baseball's first strike lasted from April 1-13 in 1972, and the season The University of Michigan, Penn State, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M are started April 15. Teams played 153-156 games. among schools that called off or suspended pro days on Thursday. Other schools still plan to hold theirs — or make decisions pending This year marked the earliest opening day other than for international developments. games. As it stood, Game 7 of the World Series would've been Oct. 28.

NFL teams also are either limiting or eliminating facility visits by draft Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz confirmed that he has tested positive prospects. So are player agents. for the coronavirus, publicly saying that he is personally dealing with the pandemic that has temporarily shut down the NBA and other major “As an agent, it's my strong recommendation that my players don't travel sports leagues. for any team visits,” Mike McCartney tweeted. “With 12 or more games played, an All-Star game and Combine for most, teams have enough Mitchell is one of two NBA players to have tested positive: The other is information to make an informed draft decision.” his Jazz teammate Rudy Gobert, who was the first NBA player to test positive but has not publicly confirmed his diagnosis. Gobert’s test result As an agent, it's my strong recommendation that my players don't travel was the one that prompted the NBA to indefinitely suspend the season. for any team visits. With 12 or more games played, an All-Star game and Combine for most, teams have enough information to make an informed Mitchell's positive test was not known until early Thursday, the first full draft decision. day of the NBA's hiatus. Jazz players, staff and some beat writers covering the team were tested Wednesday night in Oklahoma City, NFL teams can bring in to their facilities for visits up to 30 players where Utah was to play the Thunder in a game that was called off heading to the draft, though there are some exceptions for players from moments before tip-off once word about Gobert's positive test was local schools. received.

Also Thursday, Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league's main Also Thursday, the Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, annual meetings have been canceled. They were scheduled for March and Toronto Raptors — teams that have all recently played against 29-April 1 in Palm Beach, Florida, and were to include owners voting on Gobert, Mitchell and the Jazz — all said that they were having some potential rules changes. players and staff self-quarantine for as many as 14 days. The Cleveland Cavaliers, another team that has recently faced Utah, said they are not Instead, those major decisions will be made at the May 19-20 spring mandating quarantines yet but would if any of their players exhibit meetings in Marina del Rey, California. troubling symptoms.

But the NFL's business season will begin next Wednesday — as of now. “Thanks to everyone who has been reaching out since hearing the news That means the start of free agency and official trading. Of course, visits about my positive test," Mitchell wrote in an Instagram post. “We are all by free agents to team facilities figure to be limited if not nonexistent. learning more about the seriousness of this situation and hopefully There’s also the matter of players’ union members voting on a new labor people can continue to educate themselves and realize that they need to agreement that the owners approved last month. Some 2,500 members behave responsibly both for their own health and for the well being of of the NFL Players Association face a deadline of 10:59 p.m. CT on those around them." Saturday. The NHL is following the NBA’s lead and suspending its season.

There has been little talk of postponing or canceling the draft, though NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the pause of the season staging it in Las Vegas seems a long shot. The NFL says it is monitoring amid concerns about the new coronavirus. The NBA announced the situation. Holding the draft without fans as a televised event in a Wednesday night it was suspending play, after a player tested positive studio or conference hall could be an option. for COVID-19.

NCAA cancels men’s and women’s Division I basketball tournaments Several NBA and NHL teams share arenas. amid coronavirus fears. The NHL has not said any player has tested positive for COVID-19. The The annual March Madness event was scheduled to tip off with First Four league is halting play with 189 games left in the regular season, sparking games Tuesday and Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio, and run through the uncertainty about how many more, if any, could be played before the Final Four in Atlanta on April 4 and 6. playoffs.

Major League Baseball delayed the start of its season by at least two Bettman said the NHL has tried to follow mandates of health experts and weeks because of the coronavirus outbreak and suspended the rest of its local authorities without taking premature or unnecessary measures." spring training schedule. Bettman’s statement said the NBA’s news made it “no longer appropriate Opening day had been scheduled for March 26. The decision announced to try to continue to play games at this time.” by Commissioner Rob Manfred left open whether each team would still Several college basketball conference tournaments have been canceled play 162 games. moments before tipoff, putting the NCAA Tournament at risk.

The announcement came while some spring training games in Florida The Big Ten, Big 12, Big East and the SEC tournaments announced they were still in progress. MLB followed the NBA, NHL, MLS and college were off, and other conferences were expected to follow suit. basketball tournaments in altering schedules because of the pandemic. As several other big conferences around the country canceled their The minor league baseball season, which was to start April 9, also will be postseason tournaments, the Big East resumed on schedule at New delayed along with qualifying in Arizona for this year's Olympic baseball York’s Madison Square Garden. It started its second-round game tournament and for next year's World Baseball Classic. between top-seeded Creighton and St. John’s at Madison Square “MLB and the clubs have been preparing a variety of contingency plans Garden and not until halftime was the tournament called off with St. regarding the 2020 regular season schedule,” the commissioner's office John’s leading 38-35. said in a statement. “MLB will announce the effects on the schedule at an The men’s NCAA Tournament is one of the most popular events on the appropriate time and will remain flexible as events warrant, with the hope American sports calendar. March Madness draws hundreds of thousands of resuming normal operations as soon as possible.” of fans to arenas from coast to coast.

MLB had not had a mass postponement of openers since 1995, when the The PGA Tour plans to keep playing, just without anyone watching from season was shortened from 162 games to 144 following a 7 1/2-month outside the ropes. players’ strike that also wiped out the 1994 World Series. Opening day Commissioner Jay Monahan said that fans will not be allowed at the final Standing in front of the ruined Temple of Hera in Ancient Olympia, a three days of The Players Championship or three other tournaments — Greek actress playing the part of a pagan priestess used a concave one in Florida, two in Texas — leading up to the Masters. mirror to focus the sun's rays on a silver torch, causing fire to spurt forth.

Even as other leagues were canceling tournaments and events for a International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach noted the month or more, Monahan leaned on golf not being a contact sport and “difficult circumstances” created by the virus outbreak, but stressed the being played outdoors across sprawling acreage as a reason not to shut IOC's commitment to the success of the Tokyo Games. down entirely. Greek actress Xanthi Georgiou, playing the role of the High Priestess, “Our players are making their way over 400 acres,” Monahan said. lights up the torch during the flame lighting ceremony at the closed “Because of the nature of that ... and over the course of a round our Ancient Olympia site, birthplace of the ancient Olympics in southern players generally do socially distance themselves, we felt like by taking Greece, on March 12, 2020. this step to address the problem with our fans, we're in a position where we can continue to operate the events as of right now. “Nineteen weeks before the opening ceremony, we are strengthened in this commitment by the many authorities and sports organisations around “We’re comfortable having our players continue to play at this time.” the world which are taking so many significant measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus,” Bach said. Major League Soccer is shutting down for 30 days because of the coronavirus. The IOC has stressed that the July 24-Aug. 9 games will go ahead as planned — even as sports events in various countries are being curtailed “Our clubs were united today in the decision to temporarily suspend our or held without spectators — and urged all athletes to continue to season — based on the advice and guidance from the Centers for prepare for the Olympics. Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health Agency of Canada and other public health authorities," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a But fears of the coronavirus forced Greek officials to ban members of the statement Thursday. public from attending the ceremony and severely curtail the number of invited officials and journalists. Normally, several thousand people from The U.S. Soccer Federation canceled exhibitions in March and April for many countries gather on the earthen banks of Olympia's ancient its men's and women's national teams but says for now the under-23 stadium to watch the ceremony. men's team will remain in Mexico for Olympic qualifying. Wednesday, March 11 The men had been scheduled to play the Netherlands in Eindhoven on March 26 and Wales four days later in Cardiff, preparation for the NBA suspending its season after player test positive for coronavirus scheduled start of World Cup qualifying in September. The NBA has suspended its season “until further notice" after a Utah The women had been slated to face Australia at Sandy, Utah, on April 10 Jazz player tested positive for the coronavirus, a move that came only and Brazil four days later at San Jose, California, as they get ready for hours after the majority of the league’s owners were leaning toward the Olympics this summer. playing games without fans in arenas.

The under-23 men's team is in Guadalajara for the Olympic qualifying Now there will be no games at all, at least for the time being. A person tournament of North and Central America and the Caribbean. The U.S. is with knowledge of the situation said the Jazz player who tested positive to meet Haiti in an exhibition on March 13, then plays Costa Rica on was center Rudy Gobert. March 20, the Dominican Republic three days later and Mexico on March 26. The top two teams in each group advance to the semifinals on March “The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight’s 30. The semifinal winners represent CONCACAF at the16-nation men's schedule of games until further notice,” the league said in a statement Olympic tournament. sent shortly after 8:30 p.m. CT. “The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus The next scheduled match for the men's national team is against pandemic.” Honduras in Houston on June 4 in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Nations League. The test result, the NBA said, was reported shortly before the scheduled tip-off time for the Utah at Oklahoma City game on Wednesday night was Northwestern has canceled the women’s basketball team’s NCAA called off. Players were on the floor for warmups and tip-off was Selection Monday watch party at Welsh-Ryan Arena on March 16. moments away when they were told to return to their locker rooms. About 30 minutes later, fans were told the game was postponed “due to The Wildcats, who won the Big Ten regular-season title, are ranked No. unforeseen circumstances." 12 in the most recent AP poll. They are looking to play in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015. Oklahoma City Thunder players leave the court after their game against the Utah Jazz was postponed. “The proliferation of COVID-19 around the world is a situation evolving rapidly and constantly,” the team posted in its link to information about “It's a very serious time right now," Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra the party. “Northwestern University is taking action and offering guidance said. “I think the league moved appropriately and prudently and we'll all to keep our community as safe as possible as this unfolds.” just have to monitor the situation and see where it goes from here."

Real Madrid’s soccer and basketball teams were put in quarantine on The Jazz released a statement saying a player — they did not identify after one of the club’s basketball players tested positive for the Gobert — tested negative earlier Wednesday for flu, strep throat and an coronavirus. upper respiratory infection. That player's symptoms diminished as the day went along, but the decision was made to test for COVID-19 anyway. The Spanish club said that its soccer team was affected because it That test came back with a preliminary positive result. shares training facilities with the basketball team. “The individual is currently in the care of health officials in Oklahoma The decision by the club came moments before the Spanish league said City," the Jazz said, adding that updates would come as appropriate. the next two rounds of the top two soccer divisions will be suspended because of outbreak. The league said in a statement that it had taken the It has been a worldwide issue for several weeks. And now, it has hit the decision after becoming aware of “the quarantine established in Real NBA. Madrid and the possible cases in players from other clubs,” without mentioning those suspected cases. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said he was stunned when the news came down, adding that “this is much bigger than basketball." No player from a Spanish soccer team has been reported to have the virus. “This is a global pandemic where people’s lives are at stake," Cuban said. “I’m a lot more worried about my kids, and my mom is 82 years old, Italian club Juventus said Wednesday that defender Daniele Rugani and and talking to her, and telling her to stay in the house, than I am about “those who have had contact with him” are being isolated after he tested when we play our next game." positive for the virus. Charlotte Hornets coach James Borrego, speaking before his team's The flame for the Tokyo Olympics was lit at the birthplace of the ancient game at Miami, said “these are scary times.” games in a pared-down ceremony because of the coronavirus. Rapidly evolving times, as well. Around 7 p.m., a person with knowledge There are eight first- and second-round sites for the men's tournament, of the situation told AP that owners — who met by teleconference scheduled to be played March 19-22. Locations include Cleveland; Wednesday — were largely in support of a plan to play games in empty Spokane, Washington; Albany, New York; Sacramento, California; and arenas on a short-term basis. Omaha, Nebraska. The four regional sites for the second weekend of the tournament are Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Houston and New York. The About an hour later, the Thunder-Jazz game was halted before tip-off. Final Four is scheduled to be held in at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in And about 90 minutes after that, the season was called off, effective Atlanta, with the semifinals on April 4 and the championship game April when the last whistle was to blow Wednesday night. 6.

That came even earlier than planned: The last game of the night's six- The women’s tournament first- and second-round games begin March 21 game slate, New Orleans at Sacramento, was called off as well because and will be played at 16 sites, mostly on or close the campuses of the top one of the referees assigned to work that Pelicans-Kings game, Courtney seeded teams. The regionals will be played in Dallas, Greenville, South Kirkland, worked a Utah game on Monday. Carolina; Portland, Oregon; and Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Final Four will “The game was canceled out of an abundance of caution," the NBA said. be held in New Orleans on April 3 and 5.

The Golden 1 Center center empties out after the Pelicans-Kings game Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said he will be issuing an order regarding “mass was postponed. gatherings” due to the coronavirus that will affect NCAA Tournament games in Cleveland and Dayton. There are 259 games, roughly 21% of the schedule, left to play this season — and no one knows if, or when, things will resume. DeWine says the order will include banning spectators from games and that he’ll be asking people to make “informed decisions.” Also shut down: The G League, the NBA's minor league where teams have somewhere between six and nine games left on their 50-game During a news conference Wednesday, DeWine said he will issue an schedules. order in the next 24 to 36 hours. Dayton will host the NCAA’s First Four next week at Dayton Arena, and first- and second-round games will be NCAA President Mark Emmert says NCAA Division I basketball held in Cleveland’s Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. tournament games will not be open to the general public because of concerns about the spread of coronavirus. “The order will be that there cannot be spectators there," DeWine said. "There certainly will be people — there will be TV people, there can be Emmert said in a statement that he made the decision to conduct both radio people there, there can be sports writers, certainly can be the the men’s and women’s tournaments, which begin next week, with only media there. But we’re not going to have the large crowd.” essential staff and limited family in attendance. The decision comes after the NCAA’s COVID-19 advisory panel of medical experts recommended DeWine applauded the Mid-American Conference for closing its against playing sporting events open to the general public. tournament games to the general public this week.

Later Wednesday, the Big Ten announced its men’s basketball The World Figure Skating Championships set for next week in Montreal tournament, which began with two games Wednesday evening, will be have been canceled due to public health concerns. played without fans starting Thursday. The event was scheduled to bring nearly 200 skaters from more than 50 Attendance at the rest of the games “will be limited to student-athletes, countries to Montreal. It is the premier competition of the skating season coaches, event staff, essential team and conference staff, TV network in non-Olympic years. partners, credentialed media and immediate family members of the On Saturday, the Women’s World Hockey Championships in Nova Scotia participating teams,” the conference said in a statement. were called off.

The Big Ten said that it will refund all tickets, including to Wednesday’s Professional sports games will continue as usual in Chicago, at least for session, and that fans should direct refund inquiries to the original point the time being. of purchase. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she spoke Wednesday with “all the major sports Big Ten announces no fans for Big Ten Tournament starting Thursday. teams” in Chicago. With opening day games coming up for the Cubs and Emmert said the NCAA also was looking into moving the men’s Final White Sox, Lightfoot said she’s talking to team officials, but they’re “not Four from Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium to a smaller arena. there yet” on restricting access, even as soccer games in Italy are being held in empty stadiums because of the virus. The 68-team field for the men's tournament is scheduled to be announced Sunday and the 64-team women's tournament field is to be “We’re mindful of the fact that the Fire (home opener) is on March 21st, unveiled Monday. Games begin Tuesday and Wednesday on the men's and that opening day for the two sports teams, obviously the Blackhawks side in Dayton, Ohio, where earlier Wednesday the governor said he and the Bulls are playing,” Lightfoot said. “This is something that we are would issue an order to restrict spectator access to indoor sporting in conversation with them about. And we’re looking, and as the situation events. evolves we will be continuing those discussions on an ongoing basis. But we’re not there yet.” The Mid-American Conference on Tuesday announced it was closing its men's and women's basketball tournament games at Cleveland’s Rocket San Francisco is banning all large gatherings of more than 1,000 people Mortgage FieldHouse, home of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers and for the next two weeks and the Golden State Warriors intend to play at scheduled site of the men's NCAA games, to the general public. The least one home game without fans. women's tournament started Wednesday. Mayor London Breed announced the ban Wednesday. She says she The Big West Conference announced a similar move, not allowing the understands the order "is disruptive, but it is an important step to support general public into its basketball tournament games to be played this public health." She says the Warriors are in support of the efforts, and the week at the Center in Anaheim, California. team announced it would host the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night with no fans, making it the first NBA game set to be played in an empty arena. Conference college basketball tournaments are in full swing across the country this week. The Atlantic Coast Conference is in Day 2 of its five- The Warriors’ next home game after that is March 25 against Atlanta. day men's tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina, and the Pac-12 Golden State also said all events through March 21 would be canceled or played the first game of its tournament in Las Vegas on Wednesday. postponed. The G League Santa Cruz Warriors were set to host the Later Wednesday, the Southeastern Conference was to begin its men's Austin Spurs on Saturday, but that will be moved to Santa Cruz. tournament in Nahsville, Tennessee; the Big East was set to start at Meanwhile, the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics have Madison Square Garden in New York; and the Big Ten was also canceled an exhibition game they’d scheduled against one another on scheduled to tip off in Indianapolis. There were no plans to restrict fan March 24. access to those events. The Mariners will move home games from Seattle through the end of March Madness hits another level next week with the start of the NCAA March after the state of Washington’s decision to ban large group events Tournament to crown a national champion, one of the most popular in response to the coronavirus outbreak. events on the American sports calendar. Seattle had been scheduled to open the season at Safeco Field with a “I hope it doesn’t turn into us missing games or pushing scheduled four-game series against Texas from March 26-29, then host Minnesota games back,” Orioles first baseman Chris Davis said. in a three-game series from March 30 through April 1. Flipping home and road dates is easier to do at the start of the season, The Mariners say they are working with the commissioner's office on when there are many series between teams who face each other later in alternative plans. the year.

Statement from the on Governor Jay Inslee's community The Rangers are scheduled to open Globe Life Field, their new strategies to combat the spread of COVID19. retractable roof ballpark, against the Angels on March 31. Texas general manager Jon Daniels said Monday there hadn’t been any discussion with Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday announced a ban on all MLB or the Mariners about swapping home dates for that opening series large gatherings in the three counties of the Seattle metro area through between AL West rivals, but said the new ballpark would be ready if it is at least the end of March. needed.

That decision also applies to home games for the MLS Seattle Sounders, Exhibition games against St. Louis are scheduled at the new stadium on XFL Seattle Dragons and a pair of junior hockey teams in the area. March 23 and 24.

“We’re working through the alternatives right now,” Mariners owner John Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos said Tuesday he is “a little bit” Stanton said at the team’s spring training complex in Peoria, Ariz. “We concerned about traveling to face the Mariners. think the alternatives include playing in Seattle in an empty stadium, playing in the home park of our opponents — in this case the Rangers "I know the season starts in Seattle, and we know how Seattle is right and the Twins — or playing at a neutral park in Peoria.” now," Chirinos said.

Stanton said he hoped to have an answer on where the team will play the Tuesday, March 10 first two series by Friday. He said it’s unlikely the Mariners would play in Seattle in front of an empty stadium. Mid-American, Big West conferences limit fans

MLB could shift the Rangers-Mariners four-game series to Texas. The On Tuesday, the Mid-American Conference said it was implementing a Rangers are set to open a retractable-roof stadium this year, and general restricted attendance policy at its men’s and women’s basketball manager Jon Daniels said this week the park would be ready if need be. tournaments in Cleveland this week. That announcement came on the heels of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recommending that all indoor sporting “Everything’s being discussed, all potential contingency plans,“ Daniels events in the state be played without spectators on site. said at Rangers camp in Surprise, Ariz. The Northern Illinois men’s team faces Miami (Ohio) in Thursday’s MAC The restrictions do not include Spokane, where NCAA Tournament Tournament quarterfinals. games are scheduled to take place next week. The men’s first and second rounds are being played at the Spokane Arena, while early The Big West said its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments in rounds of the women’s tournament could end up being played on Southern California will be played without spectators. Most of those campus at Gonzaga. game will be played at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recommended that fans be kept away from all told a congressional committee that he would recommend the NBA not indoor sporting events. allow fans at games in response to the coronavirus. ATHLETICS: For indoor events, we are asking for no events with That answer by Dr. Anthony Fauci came hours before NBA owners are spectators other than the athletes, parents, and others essential to the scheduled to meet to discuss the next steps in responding to the growing game. concern about the virus. The state is home to the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and the NHL’s Fauci was responding to a question from Rep. Glenn Grothman, a Columbus Blue Jackets, among others, and NHL deputy commissioner Wisconsin Republican, during a meeting of the House Oversight Bill Daly said the league will review the situation. The state is also Committee. Grothman asked, “Is the NBA underreacting or is the Ivy hosting a number of high school and collegiate tournaments this month League overreacting?” He was referencing how the recently and the first games of the NCAA men’s tournament — the First Four — canceled its basketball tournaments, instead of having them played are scheduled for next week in Dayton. without fans in attendance or keeping the status quo. The Ivy League is canceling its men’s and women’s basketball “We would recommend that there not be large crowds,” Fauci said. “If tournaments. that means not having any people in the audience when the NBA plays, The four-team tournaments were scheduled to be played Friday through so be it. But as a public health official, anything that has crowds is Sunday at Lavietes Pavilion in Cambridge. The Ivy League says it will something that would give a risk to spread.” award its automatic NCAA Tournament bids to regular-season The College Basketball Invitational — the third NCAA basketball champions Princeton women and Yale men. tournament — has been canceled “due to the uncertainty about the The Ivy League has decided to cancel the League's upcoming Basketball coronavirus and the impact it is having on college campuses across the Tournaments and implement highly-restrictive, in-venue spectator country.” limitations for all other upcoming campus athletics events.

If Major League Baseball can’t play in front of fans at a team’s home The league also announced it will limit spectators at all other sporting ballpark because of the virus outbreak, the sport’s first preference likely events for the rest of the spring season. would be to switch games to the visiting team’s stadium if possible, a person familiar with the deliberations told The Associated Press. Monday, March 9

MLB starts its season on March 26. Among the games on opening day is NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS close locker rooms Texas at Seattle — the Seattle area has been hit hard by the virus, with The NBA, NHL, MLB and MLS closed access to locker rooms and 24 deaths. clubhouses to all nonessential personnel — including media — in MLB anticipates government officials will decide whether it is safe to play response to the coronavirus crisis. in front of fans in each city. If changes to the schedule are necessary, They said they made the decision "after consultation with infectious MLB would make determinations at the point when a ballpark has been disease and public health experts." The NBA, in a call with teams earlier ruled out. Monday, stressed that the move is not to ban reporters but to ensure the Washington Gov. Jay Inslee plans to ban gatherings and events of more safety of players and staff in those areas. than 250 people in virtually the entire Seattle area, a person familiar with The statement, in part, read: "Given the issues that can be associated the decision told the AP on Tuesday night. with close contact in pre- and post-game settings, all team locker rooms Inslee scheduled a news conference for late Wednesday morning. The and clubhouses will be open only to players and essential employees of Mariners and MLB had no immediate comment. teams and team facilities until further notice. Media access will be maintained in designated locations outside of the locker room and clubhouse setting."

The NBA held a call with team medical staffs later Monday night and scheduled a Wednesday call between league officials and team owners to discuss next steps. The NBA told teams last week to prepare for the possibility of playing games in empty arenas, something the game’s biggest star — Lakers forward LeBron James — insists he does not want to see.

It could happen in at least one NHL arena. Late Monday, California’s Santa Clara County announced a ban of all large gatherings of at least 1,000 people for the rest of the month. The policy would affect three Sharks home games, and the Sharks said in a statement they are reviewing their options. The team could play the games without fans, find a neutral site or play the games on the road.

Tennis tournament postponed in California

The BNP Paribas Open, the near-major tennis tournament set to begin this week in the California desert, won’t be played as scheduled after a case of coronavirus was confirmed in the Coachella Valley.

It’s the largest U.S. sporting event to be called off over concerns about the spread of the disease.

March 6

The won’t send its studio show team to Indianapolis next week for the conference men’s basketball tournament.

BTN sources on Friday confirmed the decision to have network mainstay Dave Revsine and others do their tournament pregame, halftime and postgame programs, as well “The B1G Show,” from BTN’s Chicago headquarters.

The network intends to have a full contingent of announcers, analysts, crew and staff at Bankers Life Fieldhouse for the games beginning Wednesday, March 11.

Studio personnel are considered nonessential to on-site tournament coverage. One source said the network was acting out of “an abundance of caution.”

March 4

Chicago State canceled its men’s basketball road trip to Seattle and Utah Valley and said its women’s team would not host two Western Athletic Conference games against those same schools.

The cancellations are believed to be the first in a major sport in the United States due to the virus.

“While disappointed that the situation has evolved as it has, I fully respect the right of any member institution to determine what it believes to (be) in the best interest of its student-athletes,” WAC Commissioner Jeff Hurd said in a statement. “From a conference standpoint, the necessary adjustments will be made according to NCAA policy in order to bracket the conference tournament scheduled for March 11-14 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.”

Chicago State said in a statement it was making the move with the “health and well-being of the campus community in mind.”

CHICAGO TRIBUNE LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182546 World Leagues News Although White’s plan to keep his fighters employed was ultimately thwarted, he vowed to minimize the economic disruption of the pandemic for UFC fighters and employees. White and former owners Lorenzo and UFC 249 canceled after ESPN and parent company Disney intervene Frank Fertitta sold the UFC to Endeavor for an estimated $4bn in 2016.

“All of my fighters that are under contract with me, I want them to feel safe,” White said. “Take time with your families and enjoy this time. Don’t Thu 9 Apr 2020 18.38 EDT Last modified on Thu 9 Apr 2020 20.07 EDT worry about the financial part of this. You’re going to get the fights on your contract, and I’m going to make things right with the people who Dana White were willing to step up and fight next weekend. I’m going to take care of as many people as I possibly can.”

UFC 249 was canceled Thursday after ESPN and parent company White also addressed the UFC’s employees: “Nobody is getting laid off at Disney stopped UFC president Dana White’s plan to keep fighting amid the UFC. Everybody is good.” the coronavirus pandemic. The UFC held a full fight card in an empty arena in Brazil last month in After defiantly vowing for weeks to maintain a regular schedule of fights the early days of global reaction to the pandemic, but canceled its while the rest of the sports world halted, White confirmed the decision to ensuing three shows after attempting to hold two of the cards in an empty cease competition in a text to the Associated Press. arena owned by the UFC in Las Vegas. The Nevada State Athletic Commission’s temporary ban on combat sports stopped that plan. The UFC’s defiance of the coronavirus outbreak is reckless and irresponsible

“I was ready to go on Saturday, but Disney and ESPN asked me to step LOADED: 04.10.2020 down,” White wrote. “I love and respect my partnership with them so I postponed the event.”

UFC 249 was scheduled for 18 April on ESPN Plus pay-per-view, and White planned to follow it with regular fight cards from Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino on tribal land in California’s Central Valley.

In an interview on ESPN, White said he “got a call from the highest level you can go at Disney and the highest level of ESPN” asking him to cancel the shows. The UFC moved to ESPN in 2019 with a reported $1.5bn deal.

While the UFC won’t have fights in the upcoming weeks, White said he is still pursuing his plan to build an octagon and everything else necessary to telecast small fight shows on an unidentified private island. White had planned to use the so-called “Fight Island” in upcoming months for non- American fighters who couldn’t get into the US.

“Fight Island infrastructure is being built and will be up and running ASAP,” White told the AP.

White’s frustration with Disney’s decision was obvious after he had repeatedly vowed to fight on amid mixed public opinion. He has described the past month of preparation for UFC 249 as the most challenging part of his fight promotion career, which began as the UFC’s president in 2001.

The UFC boss still remained upbeat, vowing to be “the first sport back” after the pandemic eases.

White announced the cancellation shortly after US senator Dianne Feinstein issued a statement urging the mixed martial arts promotion to reconsider its plan. A few hours earlier, former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas dropped out of her co-main event bout at UFC 249 after two deaths in her family related to the pandemic.

The UFC planned to stage the fights in an empty arena owned by the Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Tachi Yokut Tribe. White never publicly disclosed the location of the upcoming fight cards until he announced their cancellation, likely to avoid the scrutiny that arrived shortly after the location was reported in MMA media over the weekend.

“Tachi Palace has had our back this whole time, has stood their ground and was willing to do this fight,” White told ESPN.

White also vowed to pay back that loyalty with an upcoming show: “I’m going to bring them a big fight, and I appreciate them standing with me in this thing.”

Tribal land isn’t subject to the state government’s shelter-in-place order, and Tachi Palace has a long history of hosting combat sports events in Lemoore, California, about 40 miles south of Fresno.

“This event would involve dozens of individuals flying to California and driving to a casino for a purpose no one can honestly claim is essential,” Feinstein wrote. “At best this event ties up medical resources and sends a message that shelter-in-place orders can be flouted. At worst, participants and support staff could carry the virus back to their home communities and increase its spread.” 1182547 World Leagues News

Belarus' Dynamo Brest uses mannequins to replace fans during coronavirus pandemic

Staff Report

Belarussian side FC Dynamo Brest are filling their stands with mannequins sporting cut-out portraits of fans to boost match-day atmospheres while supporters stay home due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The club found a creative solution to the lack of in-stadium support by inviting fans from around the world to buy virtual tickets online. In return, the fans' photos were pasted onto the top half of a fashion dummy sitting inside the stadium, and the fans themselves receive a matchday magazine sent to their home address.

The money raised will be donated toward fighting the pandemic.

Dynamo Brest tested the idea during their 2-0 home victory over Shakhtyor Soligorsk on Wednesday. Stands around the Regional Sport Complex Brestsky were filled with the faces of supporters from countries including Russia, Britain, the United Arab Emirates and Iran sporting a range of overseas club shirts.

Belarus is the only professional league in Europe still playing, as its president, Alexander Lukashenko, has shown little regard for the pandemic or the need for lockdowns to prevent it spreading. However, many local supporters have stopped attending matches in fear of becoming infected.

Belarus has 1,486 confirmed coronavirus cases and 16 deaths, according to the country's health ministry.

The pandemic has decimated the world football calendar, with all of Europe's major leagues on hold. Football in England, Spain, France and Germany has been postponed indefinitely, while Serie A is suspended until at least April 13.

LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182548 World Leagues News

Syracuse Crunch’s sanitation machines look like a winner in coronavirus fight

Updated Apr 09, 2020; Posted Apr 09, 2020

By Lindsay Kramer | [email protected]

Syracuse, N.Y. -- The same machines that disinfect hockey locker rooms and gear can apparently be used to sanitize masks worn by medical professionals fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

Last week, the Syracuse Crunch loaned two Sani Sport sanitation machines to Upstate. One machine is run in the locker room to cleanse the air. The other houses dirty gear, zapping germs.

Dr. Robert Corona, chief executive officer of Upstate University Hospital, thought the machines might be effective in killing the coronavirus germs on protective gear. Corona said a few days of testing would be required to test that theory.

Thursday afternon, Corona texted a message that Upstate has decided to use the machines for decontamination purposes. He was not immediately available for a follow-up interview.

The implications of this finding would be enormous in the fight against the disease. Protective masks are in short supply and normally must be discarded after one exposure. Corona said his hospital normally goes through hundreds in a day and the ability to clean and re-use them would mitigate the supply issue.

Also, sports teams across the country use these machines. Since all sports have been halted now, those teams would be free to loan them to local hospitals if needed.

syracuse.com LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182549 World Leagues News In Britain, soccer sets the rhythm not of one season but of the week: Tuesday and Wednesday evenings in spring are Champions League nights; there is a twinge of excitement when the clock hits three on a In Britain, Summer Sports Cancellations Just Hit Different Saturday, even if your team is not playing; Monday actually starts at 6:30 p.m. on a Sunday, when the final game of the weekend draws to a close.

Soccer is sport as soap opera and friend, as identity and addiction, and By Rory Smith its absence is tangible: Something that was there is not here. Not just in terms of numbers — for 40 weeks of the year, millions reliably turn up in April 9, 2020 person to watch soccer of varying quality — but in terms of engagement. The absence of Wimbledon and the Open is, for now, hypothetical.

The British summer is a confounding, elusive thing. Some years, it is long The season was suspended, indefinitely, on March 13; the leagues and and warm and hazy, with endless months of blue skies and hosepipe clubs remain determined to finish it, at some point, but when that will be bans, spent drinking in beer gardens and making sincere promises that, remains entirely unclear. It is different, of course, to be deprived of next year, we won’t need to bother going abroad. something that was underway and to lose something that was yet to start, but our interaction with soccer is different to our interaction with, Some years, it is as though it does not come at all. It is spring one day, say, Wimbledon. fall the next, the only apparent difference a distinct change in the nature of the rain. Often, summer seems to be condensed into a single week in That will change. Perhaps we will feel it immediately, in yawning days not May, and perhaps, with luck, a brief, tantalizing reprise on the first filled; perhaps it will be a little later, when we realize something has been weekend of August. missed. That is the truest characteristic of the British summer, whenever it comes, however long it lasts: you notice it most when it is not there at But the British feeling of summer — the point at which people start all. wearing shorts, regardless of the actual weather, and stockpiling Pimms, regardless of the taste — is different. It runs on a fixed schedule: High summer arrives late in June and runs, uninterrupted, through to August. New York Times LOADED: 04.10.2020 Its rhythm, its introduction, crescendo and conclusion, are set not by the temperature: That is far too unreliable. Instead, cultural landmarks denote the shift in seasons. The British summer, most years, is bookended by two festivals: Glastonbury, in June, and Edinburgh, in August. But it is defined, ultimately, by sport.

The dates for this year’s British summer, then, could be known a year ago: Wimbledon was due to start the day after Glastonbury, on June 29. It would conclude on July 12, the same day as the British Open, Europe’s only men’s golf major, was scheduled to get underway. A week later, the final round at Royal St. George’s, in Kent, would have coincided with the British installment of Formula One’s world championship, at Silverstone, in Northamptonshire.

Over the last few weeks, all but one have fallen by the wayside. Glastonbury was canceled on March 18. Wimbledon — and the Edinburgh festival — went on April 1. The Open was struck from the schedule on April 6.

For now, the British Grand Prix remains in place, but a decision on its fate is due at the end of the month. Formula One has already canceled nine races this season. Much of the cricket season, that other great fixture of summer, may go the same way: The Hundred, a much-derided new format, is likely to be postponed; the County Championship, a stalwart since 1890, could yet be canceled.

Each announcement, in an ordinary news cycle, would have generated substantial shock. As the organizers of both Wimbledon and the Open mentioned in their respective statements, only World War II has ever stopped both from being played. In this news cycle, though, their cancellations passed with little more than a shrug from the populace here.

That is, of course, in part because minds are on the much more pressing concern of the soaring death tolls of the coronavirus pandemic; in part it is because, locked down and scared, few would have assumed those landmarks of summer were going to happen anyway. The shock of each new day, same as the old day, pounds the senses so that it seems even to distort time. Every day lasts a week, more. The day after Wimbledon had been canceled, the news felt like ancient history.

But the lack of sentiment is rooted, too, in the nature of stand-alone sporting events. Golf, tennis and motor sport all have significant, devoted followings for whom these are the highlights of the year, and to much of the public they are as much cultural occasions — like Glastonbury, like Edinburgh — as sporting ones. For most, those events are not consumed live, but remotely, from the comfort of a living room and are only engaged with in the moment.

The disappearance of those summer milestones contrasted with the disruption to soccer is instructive as to the role they play in the British national consciousness. For many, soccer is part of the background noise of daily life. It is not something to savor, to look forward to. It is, in normal times, just there. 1182550 World Leagues News The industry is trying to capitalize on the spike in media consumption by finding new ways to engage consumers. In the absence of live games, this means deepening the pool of content available to fans. For example, This is how COVID-19 is affecting the world of sports sports broadcasters such as ESPN and Fox Sports are showing classic games, archived content, documentaries, esports and niche competitions in a bid to keep consumers watching. Individual leagues are doing the same. The NFL is making every game since 2009 available for streaming 09 Apr 2020 on its direct-to-consumer channel Game Pass, a strategy which led to a Stefan Hall 500-fold increase in daily sign-ups for the service.

Mark Tatum, Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer of the NBA described the league’s strategy to the World Economic Forum: The COVID-19 pandemic has upended all areas of life - and sports is no “We’ve launched an NBA 2K competition [an esports form of the game] exception. with players streaming from their homes. We’ve expedited production to bring forward the release of a Michael Jordan documentary. We’re Social distancing measures, brought in to limit the spread of coronavirus, hosting live quarantine parties on social media with current and former have had a significant effect on sporting fixtures. players, and we’re showing classic games every night – all things to Every aspect of sport has been affected, from the athletes themselves to continue to engage our fans during this time.” media coverage. Another approach is to increase flexibility of payment options for The coronavirus pandemic has sent shockwaves around the world, consumers seeking sports content. The NBA and Turner Sports have leading to a public health emergency that has killed thousands and removed the paywall for their joint streaming subscription service, plunged the global economy into what the International Monetary Fund League Pass. Major League Baseball is doing the same, offering its warns could be the sharpest downturn since the Great Depression. archive of games for free on MLB.TV and YouTube. The Premier League is probably wishing that its streaming channel, planned for 2022, was Not surprisingly, COVID-19 has also upended the sporting calendar, with already available. professional leagues everywhere suspending their activities to limit the spread of the virus. Even the Summer Olympics, typically one the world’s Discussions are taking place between sports bodies and TV network most-watched sporting broadcasts, has been pushed back a year. partners to find mutual solutions to “force majeure” clauses that work for both sides. These include leagues paying broadcasters compensation, The global value of the sports industry was estimated to be $471bn in granting them additional rights and extending agreements. The issues 2018 – an increase of 45% since 2011 – and before coronavirus stopped are replicated further down the value chain: in the Premier League, play, the only trajectory seemed to be upwards. Now, every part of the commercial agreements at the club level are likely to need tweaking too. sporting value chain has been affected, from athletes, teams and Some sports associations are already affected by shortfalls: collegiate leagues, to the media that broadcast and cover games. men’s basketball teams have announced a more than 50% drop in income, and Premier League clubs are bracing themselves for $60-150m To begin, the basics. In the simplest terms, there are three main income in lost revenues. streams for sports leagues: broadcasting (sales of media rights), commercial (sponsorship and advertising partnerships) and match day According to Tatum, “Our broadcasting partners are really understanding revenue (ticketing and hospitality). and we’re working with them on different forms of content. It’s not just the NBA, it’s all live sports – millions of fans around the world are looking for Professional sports leagues are analogous to entertainment companies, content. We’re working closely with our broadcasting, digital and where each team in a league is like a different channel. The teams have marketing partners to find ways to engage at this time.” their own identities, employees and fan bases, but the overall ‘programming schedule’ (the rules of the game and the fixture list) are set The TV revenue imperative is why many leagues are developing by the leagues. This comparison may not please the purists, but the contingency plans for games without live audiences. The western reality in both sports and entertainment is that the more eyeballs on the leagues will be looking to Asia, the region first affected by the crisis, to product, the more valuable it is. see how it responded. Japan’s baseball teams played in empty stadiums for weeks. China’s professional basketball league delayed the start of its The major sports are all reliant on broadcasting income, as demonstrated season, while Korea’s cancelled their entirely. Options also include by revenue data from the biggest leagues over the last five years. The playing matches in areas less affected by COVID-19 and moving training global value of sports media rights is around $50bn – but 60% of that is facilities – and even isolating entire teams and their management staff to accounted for by just 10 sports leagues. a single area, as the MLB and NRL are rumoured to be doing. There is Each sport monetizes differently, but the general principle is that the precedent for physical moves like this: MLB teams have previously organizing body distributes its total income between its participating temporarily relocated operations in the wake of hurricane damage in the clubs. This is usually structured as minimum guaranteed payment with US. performance- and/or competition-related bonuses on top. Individual clubs Looking to the long-term, the basic operating model of sports leagues are of course able to generate their own income, by competing in other should remain unchanged. The leagues will still organise the same way – tournaments, signing their own sponsorship agreements or developing via a competitive season of pre-defined length, with every team playing their own direct-to-consumer (D2C) media subscriptions. But each other. However, the coronavirus pandemic underlines how fundamentally, the financial success of any individual club relies on its dependent this model is on TV broadcasting and live audiences. involvement in an overarching league. Here are three transformational trends we should expect to see in the The collective power of these leagues to sell media rights is incredible. sports industry: The NBA’s current TV deal is worth $24 billion over nine years. The English Premier League agreed a new contract with broadcasters last The increase in media consumption caused by coronavirus does not year equivalent to $12 billion over three years. Major League Baseball align with traditional broadcast television, which structures its main has a seven-year media arrangement worth over $5 billion. programming around an evening prime time window. This is likely to accelerate adoption of D2C services to distribute sports content. These Some have questioned the sustainability of these deals, considering the services are more appealing now because they have no fixed schedule acceleration in “cord-cutting” as media consumption increasingly moves and large libraries of content to keep people occupied. Consumers will online. But they underline the importance of sports rights as a “linchpin” sample more of these services – and many will stick with them once the holding many traditional television bundles together. pandemic subsides – accelerating the existing decline in cable television. Anything longer than a temporary shutdown would see the leagues This in turn will reduce broadcasters’ advertising income and their power unable to meet their commitments to broadcasters, limiting their ability to to purchase sports rights. For the sports industry, the likely knock-on distribute income back to the clubs. The impact on the industry would be effect is that leagues will increasingly look to their in-house services to dramatic: no games mean no TV deals and no matchday income; no sell content, as well as potentially making more, smaller deals with other income means no clubs. digital players. Amazon has shown proof of concept: subscribers to its With all this in mind, what strategies is the industry adopting in response Prime Video service in the UK increased by 35% in the Q4 of 2019, to the disruption? coinciding with its first ever live streaming of Premier League games. The reliance of sports leagues on broadcasters, and of broadcasters on advertising revenue is laid bare by the coronavirus crises. It underscores the imperative to explore more diverse income streams. These could include live monetization models, such as gamified viewership (e.g. live payments for digital items, new camera angles, fan commentary and statistical analysis) and gambling.

The absence of “real” sport presents an opportunity for virtual technologies to grow. Already, sports leagues across the world are using esports to maintain interest and a sense of competition during shutdowns. Esports have grown massively in recent years and present a new way to engage fans and bring in revenue. Furthermore, immersive technologies could enable fans to experience games live, without having to be physically present – an idea that once may have been counterintuitive but now seems logical.

In these difficult times, the ability of sports to bring people together is missed more than ever. The industry itself may be in new territory, but with the right strategies can emerge from the crisis stronger and more popular than ever. As Tatum puts it: “Ours is a global game: a quarter of NBA players were born outside of the United States; we have offices in different countries and cities around the world. This pandemic may change the protocols we have to live by, but not our focus on expanding basketball around the world.”

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Formula One faces new reality amid coronavirus crisis

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"I'm sure that a lot of teams, suppliers, manufacturers, they may have to review their programmes," Todt told Motorsport on Thursday.

"They may be constrained to stop.

"I don't want to be too confident, but I hope a few team owners or team sponsors will keep the motivation. That's why we must make sure we don't discourage them, because they may say OK, after all of that, what is the purpose? Do I still like it? Do I still need it?"

Also speaking to French sports daily L'Equipe on Thursday, Todt said the FIA would not rush the resumption of the season.

"We will not put anyone in danger to resume a championship," he added.

"We will only resume when we have guarantees that the contamination risk is zero."

Motorsport's philosophy will have to change, too, he said.

"We will have to restart from scratch and do things differently."

Teams have agreed to lower the 2021 budget cap from $175 million to $150m and L'Equipe reported that the FIA would be pushing to further lower it down to $125m or $100m.

"We will have to be determined because some are against the proposals that are essential to the survival of the sport."

LOADED: 04.10.2020 1182552 World Leagues News “It would be interesting to see how people respond,” O’Reilly said. “Would fans be like, ‘Oh my God, I finally have something to watch.’ Or

would other people say, ‘Wow, this guy doesn’t care about the world and COMMENTARY: Who will win in the faceoff between coronavirus and pro this horrible virus.’ It could totally backlash on them.” sports? Major League Baseball, meanwhile, is considering an even bolder play: playing televised games in empty Arizona stadiums normally used for spring training. BY MIKE SMYTH GLOBAL NEWS Could a made-for-TV “baseball biodome” actually work? Posted April 9, 2020 10:00 am McManamon is dubious. Updated April 9, 2020 10:14 am “You would have to test all the players, you would have to do that regularly,” she said. “You’re putting your personnel at risk. Those folks A grounds crew worker cuts the infield in front of empty seats at T-Mobile would need to be tested too. You would have the decontamination of Park in Seattle, March 26, 2020, around the time when the first pitch facilities. would have been thrown in the Mariners' Opening Day baseball game “All at a time of a pandemic when even people presenting symptoms against the visiting Texas Rangers. can’t get tested.” From a “baseball biodome” to pay-per-view fight cards beamed from a The threat to baseball’s image makes the venture a risky proposition, secret “Fight Island,” the pandemic-stricken world of professional sports O’Reilly said. is seeking a way out of the global darkness. On the other hand, the sport has been experiencing a drop in fan Ever since COVID-19 started its race around the world, major sports interest. Could this be the opportunity to reverse those fortunes? leagues and events have experienced an unprecedented shutdown. “Baseball is a sport that’s been on the decline in terms of its number Iconic events like the Olympic Games, The Masters golf tournament and and viewers. They must be looking at the opportunity to get back in front the Boston Marathon have been postponed. The world’s major sports of former fans and potentially get new fans.” leagues — from the National Basketball Association to the National Hockey League to Premier League soccer — have all gone into hibernation Global News LOADED: 04.10.2020 The result has been a devastating economic and business impact.

“The cancellations are the biggest hits,” said Norm O’Reilly, director of the International Institute for Sport Business at the University of Guelph.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW “You’re talking about numbers in the hundreds of millions — if not billions — of dollars as the postponements turn into cancellations,” O’Reilly told me.

“The big question is: When will live events return?”

Enter Dana White, head of the UFC fighting league and one of the world’s great sports impresarios, with a bold and controversial plan.

“As of April 18, the UFC is back up and running,” White told TMZ. “We’re going to be pumping out fights every week.”

How can he do that with the world on pandemic lockdown and many countries imposing international travel restrictions? By staging his televised fight cards in an empty arena, with no fans to catch or transmit the virus — that’s how.

White says he would test all his fighters, referees, officials and TV production crews for the COVID-19 virus. He even has a plan to get around those pesky border bans.

“I have a private island that I have secured,” he said.

“I won’t be able to get all of the international fighters into the U.S., so I am going to start flying them into the private island and do the international fights from there.”

STORY CONTINUES BELOW Can White’s secret “Fight Island” save his UFC franchise? And will other professional sports follow his lead?

“Potentially,” said Aileen McManamon, a Vancouver-based sports consultant.

“But is it the right thing to do? Think about these fighters. If they’re injured, does that private island have the appropriate facilities to take care of whatever injury they might suffer, especially if it’s life- threatening?”

O’Reilly also flags a serious ethical issue, noting the UFC events would be using scarce COVID-19 testing resources.

“If something goes ethically over the line, it’s a risk to your brand,” he said. “But the UFC has lived on that edge. Maybe their brand could handle it better than other sports.”

But sports-starved fans are looking for a fix. 1182553 World Leagues News season starting on schedule and having a full regular season and full set of playoffs,” beginning with training camps in July and a sold-out Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6. A month before the NFL’s planned schedule The stark contrasts between the NBA and NFL responses to the release, Pash openly conceded that no contingency plans have been coronavirus pandemic discussed for alternatives to a full season with fans. This falls in line with President Donald Trump’s wishes.

At the same time, the NFL’s chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills, was Ben Rohrbach warning against even “[beginning] to think about reopening a team sport” in public comments on the league’s website. Likewise, California Gov. Apr 9, 2020, 12:00 AM Gavin Newsom rebuffed calls for NFL business as usual in September, announcing within hours of Trump’s call with Goodell and other commissioners, “I’m not anticipating that happening in this state.” The least surprising sports development during the coronavirus pandemic has been the stark differences between how the NBA and NFL What next for the two sports leagues? have approached a global crisis with players, personnel and the public. The NFL better start making those contingency plans. Leadership from NFL executives have insisted they plan to start the 2020 season on time the league is beyond lacking. Goodell has left his advisers to be the face and in full with no contingency, levied a gag order against employees of the most popular sport in the country during a national crisis. He even discussing otherwise and issued no public-facing communication from delegated to three executives the internal calls with a subcommittee of commissioner Roger Goodell. Meanwhile, NBA commissioner Adam general managers who ultimately recommended postponing the draft, Silver has conducted multiple interviews, openly conceding the pandemic according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, and then ignored their could have scheduling ramifications beyond this season. advice while outlawing dissenting opinions in a memo. One NFL GM openly admitted to Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson that the league is The divide is not dissimilar to a national debate between politicians who waiting to see how the NBA handles the next few months. have downplayed the threat of the virus and those who have warned the public of the short- and longterm ramifications of failing to take every Yes, the NFL has the luxury of not being in the midst of its season right necessary precautionary measure. I will let you decide which side will be now, but it took three days after the NBA suspended its season for the best prepared to emerge from this. NFL to cancel travel for team personnel, free agents and draft prospects, and only then once teams began making that call for themselves. The NBA was naturally the first of the major American sports leagues to Meanwhile, NBA players were already issuing public-service shut its doors in the wake of Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert’s positive announcements about the dangers of spreading the virus. One is COVID-19 test on March 11, immediately announcing a hiatus lasting “at proactive, the other reactive. We have known which league was which least 30 days.” Silver appeared on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” the following long before a global pandemic made it painfully clear. night, acknowledging that the 2019-20 season could be lost entirely. A week later, the NBA commissioner appeared on ESPN’s “The Jump” with The NFL did not change its draft plans until March 22, and it was another a clearer understanding of the pandemic, accepting criticism of player three days before the league ordered teams to shut down their facilities. access to early testing, outlining conditions for the season’s potential That was around the same time NBA superstar Stephen Curry return and discussing creative scenarios to make it happen. interviewed leading expert Dr. Anthony Fauci about the COVID-19 pandemic on Instagram Live, helping to raise awareness about the threat As the self-imposed 30-day mark neared, Silver appeared on a live of the disease to young people and answering several vital questions. broadcast on the league’s Twitter feed to announce the extension of the league’s suspension until at least May. He confirmed reports that the Given all that has happened to this date, which league do you trust more NBA is considering all possibilities, including a shortened season and a to best respond to the obstacles ahead during the nation’s fight against return to a single site without fans, and outlining potential drop-dead the coronavirus? And which do you think will be better prepared for the dates for this season before it negatively impacts the 2020-21 campaign. resumption of play and all the risks that come with it once the curve is flattened? If you have paid any attention to the tenures of commissioners The NBA has not been without its failings. The league remained on Silver and Goodell, the answer should be obvious. It’s the NBA. schedule until Gobert’s positive test, even as a San Francisco ordinance required the Golden State Warriors to plan for games without fans. The widespread testing of asymptomatic players as states struggled to obtain Yahoo Sports LOADED: 04.10.2020 kits for the ailing infected was a bad look, and it took public pressure for the Philadelphia 76ers to reverse course on slashing salaries.

Whatever critique you might have of the NBA’s approach to the pandemic, the league has clearly communicated with its employees and fans every step of the way in a manner that has better informed everyone paying attention about the seriousness of the virus and its potential to spread asymptomatically.

On the flip side, we have yet to hear word one from Roger Goodell, outside of a brief statement on New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton’s coronavirus diagnosis and several leaked internal memos, including one that threatened teams with disciplinary action should anyone publicly criticize the league’s plan to conduct the draft as scheduled on April 23- 25, albeit virtually. (They proceeded to criticize it anonymously.)

The WNBA has also announced plans to conduct its April 17 draft virtually, although there are far fewer moving parts involved in a single- day, three-round operation with a more clearly defined list of prospects. Clear communication and a less authoritarian leadership also tends to lend itself to fewer vocal critics.

Beyond the optics of conducting free agency and announcing multimillion dollar deals as millions of Americans file for unemployment, the NFL has suppressed internal opinion and led fans to believe longterm coronavirus consequences need not be considered. Where the NBA would like to finish its season in some form by Labor Day, as most everyone would, the NFL is acting as if its Sept. 10 start date is set in stone.

Most striking was NFL executive vice president Jeff Pash’s declaration on a conference call last week that the league plans on “playing a full 1182554 World Leagues News unpaid. A few days later, Liverpool made the same announcement, before being forced to backtrack.

Tottenham’s move was greeted with derision and anger — not just from Premier League Clubs and Players Are at War. Both Are Losing. fans, but from players, too. It was the moment a commercial negotiation suddenly morphed into something far larger and far more damaging to all sides: a conversation, in essence, about soccer’s role and responsibilities By Rory Smith and Tariq Panja in public life.

April 9, 2020 A group of athletes, led by the Liverpool captain, Jordan Henderson, had already been discussing setting up a charitable fund to help the National

Health Service. Others, including the Manchester United striker Marcus LONDON — By Saturday afternoon, after three weeks of impasse, after Rashford, had started private initiatives to help provide meals to hearing their morals questioned by politicians and witnessing their clubs underprivileged children. start to line up for government bailouts, the players of the Premier But now, through some trick of the light, what they gave back to society League decided to take matters into their own hands. became firmly enmeshed with what they were prepared to give back to The captains of the league’s 20 clubs, as well as many of its managers their clubs. and several executives, dialed into a videoconference meeting with the Many of the players felt that Tottenham’s decision was an attempt to aim of establishing a collective position on a subject that has threatened back them into a corner, forcing them to take a pay cut or risk appearing to turn the English public against English soccer at a time of national greedy, aloof and out of touch during the pandemic. To some extent, it crisis. worked: Two days later, the country’s health secretary, Matt Hancock, Somehow, as the country’s death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has urged players to “play their part” by taking a pay cut. started to mount, the issue of whether the stars of the Premier League — Julian Knight, a Conservative Party lawmaker, linked players’ pay to the richest domestic soccer tournament on the planet and one of Britain’s health care workers, saying that “the first thing Premier League proudest cultural exports — should take a pay cut has moved front and footballers can do is make a contribution, take a pay cut, and play their center. part,” given the “sacrifices” being made by front-line workers in the health How soccer — which was placed on indefinite hiatus in England on service. March 13 — has found itself cast as one of the villains of the crisis The players, though, did not see the link between those two things quite speaks volumes not only about the political reality of the game in so clearly. They wanted to help, but wondered if doing so with a pay cut England but also of the singular role it plays in the national psyche. — rather than direct donations — might simply save money for their team Now, clubs accustomed to the unyielding loyalty of fans have managed owners, rather than benefiting the health service. Their salaries are to alienate even their most ardent followers. Players, more accustomed taxed, after all; any cut would lead to a reduction of income for the to being seen as heroes, have been accused not only of failing to help treasury, and ultimately, the N.H.S. their teams stanch losses, but of the much more serious offense of not That situation was complicated by the role of the players’ union, led by its offering financial support to Britain’s overworked health service. longstanding chief executive, Gordon Taylor, who is thought to be the In the space of three weeks, a discussion that started with the question of highest-paid trade union leader in the world. The union works not just for how the richest domestic soccer league in the world will ride out the Premier League players; it also represents the interests of the hundreds economic impact of the shutdown has led to its stars starting their own of professionals farther down soccer’s pyramid. initiative — independent of their clubs — to funnel part of their salaries Its concern, in negotiations, was that any agreement with the Premier straight to the National Health Service. League might later be copied for use in the lower leagues, where salaries It did not start out like this. Talks over what role the players might have in are markedly lower. Its priority was to protect members who could not alleviating the virus’s financial impact on the clubs that pay their salaries afford to take a pay cut, or who had already received missives from clubs began in the middle of March, just a few days after the postponement of commanding them to accept a reduced salary. the Premier League season. Indeed, Taylor — who has said he will not take a cut in his annual wage At first, the process was relatively straightforward, essentially a of 2 million pounds ($2.5 million) — initially refused even to countenance discussion between employers, concerned about a sudden cash-flow the idea of players’ accepting a cut, rather than a deferral. The position, crisis, and their best-paid employees. put to him by the clubs, particularly those in the lower tiers, was stark: There would be either no cut now or no salaries at all when teams start to Officials from the Premier League’s London headquarters, acting on go under. behalf of the clubs, and representatives from the players’ union, the Professional Footballers Association, gathered in a virtual meeting room, By Friday, the battle lines had been drawn. When the parties regrouped joined by executives from the League Managers Association, an umbrella for another call, there was little hope of resolution. The Premier League group for coaches, and the English Football League, the governing body had commanded its clubs not to act unilaterally. A collective solution had for the three lower-tier professional leagues. to be found to help stem losses that could amount to $1 billion and that had required the league to forward millions in emergency funding to clubs All involved thought those talks had progressed positively enough. coping with a cash-flow crisis.

The Premier League initially suggested that all of its players take a 15 The union by then had doubled down on its position: Any pay cut, it said percent salary cut for the rest of the year; it claimed its clubs needed to in a statement after yet another round of talks, would be detrimental to save 280 million pounds, or $347 million, in order to make up for lost the health system. Yet again, the fate of the health service was portrayed revenue. The union said it would be able to make a decision only if it saw as a central plank in discussions over soccer players’ salaries. each team’s financial forecast. Unsurprisingly, the two sides failed to find any common ground, and so They cycled through various suggestions — a 25 percent cut and a 15 the players decided to circumvent the formal discussions, arranging a percent deferral, suggested by the league; no cuts, but a series of meeting of their own. A few days later, they reached their conclusion: deferrals, proposed by the union. Then they focused on a combination of The players on Wednesday revealed an initiative called Players cuts and deferrals that amounted to a figure of 30 percent, for a year, that Together, releasing a statement that declared a goal of quickly “granting could be reduced depending on how much of their losses the clubs could funds to the front line” of the health service. claw back. The players must hope that move will not only help in the way it was That seemed to form the outline of an eventual agreement. But on March intended, but also put an end to the public backlash, and to the easy 31, Tottenham Hotspur followed Newcastle United’s lead and placed depiction of them as feckless and greedy. But that cannot, at a stroke, most of its non-playing staff on furlough, effectively asking the British solve the problems caused by three weeks of rancor. government, in accordance with public welfare laws, to pay 80 percent of their salaries for the next three months. The remainder would simply go The players still feel let down by their clubs and unfairly exposed by their employers. The Premier League, and its constituent clubs, must still find a way to cut costs in the face of a looming financial calamity. The players’ union has been made to seem, at least in public, scarcely relevant.

Most of all, though, the worry will be that the damage, to some extent, is done. Hancock tweeted on Wednesday night that the players were, in his view, now “playing their part.” Whether the rest of the country remembers it that way remains to be seen. After three weeks of war, it is possible everyone has come out losing.

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Formula One Faces New Reality Amid Coronavirus Crisis: Todt

By Reuters

April 9, 2020

PARIS — Formula one is facing a new reality and must make deeper cost cuts to ensure the sport emerges intact from the coronavirus crisis, FIA president Jean Todt said.

Nine Formula One Grand Prix races have been cancelled or postponed since the start of the season in Melbourne last month and the next race on schedule is the French GP on June 28.

"I'm sure that a lot of teams, suppliers, manufacturers, they may have to review their programmes," Todt told Motorsport on Thursday.

"They may be constrained to stop.

"I don't want to be too confident, but I hope a few team owners or team sponsors will keep the motivation. That's why we must make sure we don't discourage them, because they may say OK, after all of that, what is the purpose? Do I still like it? Do I still need it?"

Also speaking to French sports daily L'Equipe on Thursday, Todt said the FIA would not rush the resumption of the season.

"We will not put anyone in danger to resume a championship," the Frenchman explained.

"We will only resume when we have guarantees that the contamination risk is zero."

Motorsport's philosophy will have to change, too, Todt added.

"We will have to restart from scratch and do things differently," he said.

Teams have agreed to lower the 2021 budget cap from $175 million to $150 million and L'Equipe reported that the FIA would be pushing to further lower it down to $125 or $100 million.

"We will have to be determined because some are against the proposals that are essential to the survival of the sport," said Todt.

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Foxtel Australian Pay-TV Slashes Jobs As Coronavirus Halts Sports Seasons

By Patrick Frater

Australia’s pay-TV leader Foxtel has made 200 staff redundant, as it struggles to cope with the impact of coronavirus and the changing media landscape. It has also put 140 additional staff, mostly in its Fox Sports division, on leave until June.

The company, 65% owned by News Corp. and 35% owned by phone company Telstra, operates a mixture of movie and sports channels. But it has been live sports that allowed it to charge premium prices and retain subscribers in recent years when customers have cut the cord or turned to streaming services, such as Netflix and local player Stan, for cheaper film and TV content.

The coronavirus outbreak has caused the cancellation of most sporting events in Australia and abroad, thus eliminating Foxtel’s competitive advantage. It has made several recent attempts to make its content packages more attractive, including slashing monthly prices, and offering its 10 movie channels for free to its sports subscribers until the end of June. Foxtel launched its own OTT service Kayo, but this too is understood to have been hit with redundancies.

“The actions we have had to take this week make it one of the toughest in Foxtel’s history,” said CEO Patrick Delaney, in a letter to staff. Before the redundancies, Foxtel had a headcount of 2,800.

“Restructuring and changing the way the company works is not an easy thing to do at any time. But with the impact of COVID-19, the only option is to act now to ensure we ride out the current situation and remain strong to compete with local and global media companies.

“The government’s COVID-19 restrictions are seeing major challenges for us, including the broadcast and streaming of live sport. And looking ahead, the economic outlook for Australia is deteriorating and our continued transformation will become even more important.”

“We need to be prepared for a scenario in sport where season starts are delayed further. It is clear all codes are struggling with significant financial challenges and we should anticipate that the future shape of sport in Australia will be very different.”

Sports leagues around the world are struggling with questions not only of when to resume play, but how to complete seasons and cup competitions that were halted by lockdowns and other social distancing measures introduced to combat the virus. Current seasons could be abandoned, shortened or league positions frozen as they were at the time of the halt. New seasons may have to be delayed.

The Australian Football League is reported to be looking at 12 different scenarios for how to finish the current, unfinished season of Australian Rules Football. Australia’s National Rugby League is examining the possibility of restarting its season with games played in stadia that are sealed off from the public.

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