SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 4/23/2020 Oilers 1173938 Gary Bettman says the NHL is leaning against games in 1173965 Flyers reflect on epic '87 Cup final with non-league cities 1173966 Inside the franchise-altering decision to pick Leon Draisaitl 1173939 NHL could complete season at regional sites, over Sam Bennett commissioner Gary Bettman says Panthers 1173967 Panthers president shares details of possible NHL restart. 1173940 Arizona Coyotes' Alex Goligoski has been mountain biking Neutral sites, limited or no fans during NHL season pause 1173968 What will NHL’s return look like? Panthers president 1173941 Report: Coyotes expressed interest in Arizona hub site for details NHL discussions NHL play 1173942 ‘Man, that was epic’: Reliving Mike Smith’s Game 6 brilliance in 1173969 Gary Bettman says the NHL is leaning against games in non-league cities Bruins 1173970 NHL could complete season at regional sites, 1173943 Bruins’ Jake DeBrusk eager to resume, but accepts that commissioner Gary Bettman says this is a time of sacrifice 1173971 Solving the mystery of Drew Doughty’s Secret Santa ‘gift’ 1173944 Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk anxious to resume play in a from Matthew Tkachuk friendly environment 1173972 CHEESEMAN TALKS TEAMS FOR LA FUND; LINKS TO 1173945 Hard feelings continue almost 10 years later as ex- MEMORABILIA, WAYS TO PARTICIPATE Canucks respond to Bruins chirps 1173973 APRIL 8, 2020 | DAY 41 | ANNIVERSARY, 1173946 Bruins' Jake DeBrusk hopeful for 75-80 game NHL regular QUOTES; MIKEY ANDERSON VIDEO, LINKS season, 1173947 This Day in Bruins History: Boston sweeps Canadiens with emphatic win 1173974 Dean Evason, staff have Wild ready to re-start season 1173948 Roberto Luongo had epic response to 2011 Bruins' when NHL decides its safe Game 7 Zoom chat 1173975 40 years ago today: A memorable Twins and North Stars 1173949 2011 Bruins' entertaining live stream reunion a reminder of doubleheader what made team so special 1173976 Wild coach Dean Evason on his future: ‘Hopefully we’ve 1173950 Simulating the 2020 NHL playoffs, Round 2: Bruins vs. done enough’ to stay Lightning 1173977 Wild notes: On Dean Evason’s future, finishing season, Kirill Kaprizov, more Buffalo Sabres 1173951 Eichel, Olofsson productive on power play, but Sabres MontrealCanadiens need more 1173978 Leading by example: MNA, ex-NHLer Ciccone on front line helping seniors Flames 1173979 The difficulty planning a reset is personified in the 1173952 happy with WHL Draft day haul Canadiens’ top young guns 1173980 Our Canadiens fantasy draft semi-finals / Les demi-finales de notre repêchage 1173953 Blackhawks may conclude rest of regular season in Minnesota this summer, per reports 1173954 Patrick Kane in a Blues sweater is a Blackhawks fan's 1173981 What, them worry? The Predators are confident prospect nightmare David Farrance will sign 1173955 Report: NHL focused on restarting season in league arenas, not neutral sites 1173956 What if the Blues had drafted Toews No. 1 1173982 Alain Nasreddine campaigns for Devils to remove interim overall in 2006? tag: ‘I learned a lot, I’m ready!’ 1173983 Devils interview Gerard Gallant for coach: Here are 4 others who should be candidates 1173957 Injuries always hurt: Somehow Blue Jackets weren’t 1173984 NJ Devils' Alain Nasreddine is confident he's ready to be a knocked out by multiple hits head coach: Here's why 1173985 NHL draft hypothetical would throw crazy twist into Stanley Stars Cup chase 1173958 How Julius Honka ensured the Stars would draft Miro Heiskanen 1173986 NHL draft hypothetical would throw crazy twist into Stanley Red Wings Cup chase 1173959 ' Jimmy Howard buys N95 masks for 1173987 Gary Bettman considering holding games at four NHL Detroit Medical Center rinks if play resumes 1173960 Big Sean to join Lions, Pistons, Tigers players for Boys 1173988 The 10 best Islanders moments of the last 20 years and Girls Club online fundraiser 1173961 Before Al the Octopus, the Detroit Red Wings had the Red Winger 1173989 James Dolan is coronavirus-free and already helping 1173962 Report: Plan to conclude NHL regular season in four cities others being discussed 1173990 NHL draft hypothetical would throw crazy twist into Stanley 1173963 Red Wings' Jimmy Howard donates $50,000 worth of N95 Cup chase masks to Detroit Medical Center 1173991 NHL won't use neutral sites to play games if season 1173964 Red Wings prospect Joe Veleno reflects on his first pro resumes, report says season, what comes next 1173992 MSG chairman James Dolan has recovered from COVID-19 Rangers Continued 1173993 Gary Bettman considering holding games at four NHL 1174020 Everyone wins as Gretzky, Ovechkin tie in The Great One rinks if play resumes vs. The Great 8 Showcase 1173994 Henrik Lundqvist may have played his last game in 1174021 Capitals gameday broadcast team hopeful about finishing for the Rangers season, even if without fans 1173995 Rangers notebook: Rewatching classic games gives the 1174022 NHL considering four-site restart of the season, according current rebuild context to Gary Bettman 1174023 The behind-the-scenes story of one hilarious Senators and blooper 1173996 'NOTHING IS PERFECT:' NHL wants general managers 1174024 Holtby, Dowd, Hathaway share crazy stories of their first to consider June draft, Daly says NHL games 1173997 NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly says he remains 1174025 Who will win The Great One vs. The Great Eight 'optimistic' league will play this summer Showcase? Oshie breaks it down 1173998 If this is it for Craig Anderson with the , 1174026 What is the Caps' best all-time Swedish lineup? then his No. 41 should be retired 1173999 Beer leaguers stickhandle to support those hit hardest by Websites coronavirus 1174033 The Athletic / LeBrun: The pros and cons of the NHL still holding the draft in June Flyers 1174034 The Athletic / NHL Draft depth: When should a draft class 1174000 A look at the latest buzz on 2019-20 NHL season and be labeled good – or bad? what it means for Flyers 1174035 The Athletic / Uncertainty clouds NHL’s future, so union 1174001 'From a punk little kid to a father' — knows puts players’ mental health in focus Philly can rely on 1174036 The Athletic / From carrots to carats, the evolution of Stanley Cup rings 1174037 The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: No, contracts won’t 1174002 NHL’s Gary Bettman: ‘We’re going to have to make expire mid-playoffs. But what if they did? adjustments’ to settle on restart plan 1174038 .ca / Gary Bettman explains why NHL rinks are 1174003 John Marino stacks up well compared to top rookie best for centralized games defensemen in Penguins history 1174039 Sportsnet.ca / : Maple Leafs 'could have 1174004 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins re-sign forward Chase won the Stanley Cup' in 1993 Berger 1174040 Sportsnet.ca / The best team in 1174005 Gary Bettman details one possible plan for the resumption history, Part II – Sportsnet of the NHL season 1174041 Sportsnet.ca / What if Alex Ovechkin had been eligible for 1174006 Penguins on pause: What's next for John Marino after the 2003 NHL Draft? superb rookie season? 1174042 Sportsnet.ca / Meet the NWHL franchise's 1174007 Penguins focus on fatherhood with their season on hold chairman, Ty Tumminia – Sportsnet 1174008 Yohe: Countdown of Mario Lemieux’s greatest moments 1174043 Sportsnet.ca / How ' positivity set '93 (66-51) Canadiens up for greatness 1174044 Sportsnet.ca / Flames were all in for 1989 Stanley Cup St Louis Blues Final rematch with Canadiens 1174009 Who is that mask man? Jordan Binnington 1174045 Sportsnet.ca / Senators' Craig Anderson not ready to 1174010 What if the Blues had drafted Jonathan Toews No. 1 make decision on future yet overall in 2006? 1174046 Sportsnet.ca / Breaking down four 2019-20 Stanley Cup contenders 1174047 Sportsnet.ca / Powerhouse 2010-11 Canucks were fuelled 1174011 Jeff and Penny Vinik nearing $2 million in COVID-19 relief by impressive depth efforts 1174048 TSN.CA / Marlies' Greg Moore talks AHL learning curve, 1174012 Lightning hit with sexual-assault lawsuit by former top prospects women’s hockey coach 1174049 USA TODAY / NHL looking at centralizing game sites 1174013 Simulating the 2020 NHL playoffs, Round 2: Bruins vs. when it's time to resume play Lightning 1174050 USA TODAY / Quarantine Diary: Lindsey Vonn talks 'Tub Time,' daily workouts with fiancé P.K. Subban Toronto Maple Leafs 1174014 Toronto’s new NWHL franchise is counting on women to Jets develop women’s hockey 1174027 Hawerchuk thankful for small victories 1174015 Simulating the 2020 NHL playoffs, Round 2: Bruins vs. 1174028 'Thank God I'm finished': Hawerchuk puts cancer Lightning treatments behind him Vancouver Canucks World Leagues News 1174029 Ben Kuzma: Loyalty a two-way contract street for 1174051 , Phil Mickelson, , Peyton Manning Canucks, Markstrom To Play For Coronavirus Relief 1174030 Patrick Johnston: Canucks, Whitecaps address ticket- 1174052 Coronavirus pandemic changes NFL Draft plans for refund options due to COVID-19 chaos McKivitz’s 1174031 Why a Jacob Markstrom deal will have to wait — even if 1174053 Will coronavirus wipe out the high school football season? both sides want it done 1174054 TV workers now jobless from coronavirus get creative in 1174032 Three cap allocation lessons the Canucks can learn from fight with Sinclair the 2011 team 1174055 James Dolan is coronavirus-free and already helping others Vegas Golden Knights 1174056 Why Won't MLB Teams Issue Refunds? 1174016 Golden Knights’ Game 7 loss to Sharks still stings a year 1174057 L.A. sports merchandise sale to help those impacted by later coronavirus 1174017 NHL now focused on games in league arenas, not neutral 1174058 South Dakota dirt track race will go on with 700 fans amid sites coronavirus pandemic 1174018 Golden Knights sign Nicolas Roy to extension 1174059 Day 42 without sports 😭: South sets a date for real 1174019 Golden Knights sign Nicolas Roy to 2-year extension , but MLB can only wait SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1173938 Anaheim Ducks “With all the reporting — and I love the people that cover our games because they’re passionate about it and they’re always thinking about it — don’t take anything that’s written as gospel because we are in the Gary Bettman says the NHL is leaning against games in non-league stage of talking about and thinking about everything, and no decisions cities have been made. If we know what the options are, if we know what the issues are and how to begin to address them, then when the time is right we can try to make the best decisions possible.”

By HELENE ELLIOTT APRIL 22, 20207:39 PM LA Times: LOADED: 04.23.2020

The NHL is leaning against staging regular-season or playoff games in non-league arenas when it gets clearance to resume operations following its COVID-19-related pause and its options now include bringing teams to compete in two or four NHL cities. Those sites would be chosen not necessarily on a division-related basis but as “anywhere that isn’t a hot spot and has what we need both in terms of the arena and having practice facilities,” Commissioner Gary Bettman said Wednesday.

Speaking to Sportsnet’s Ron MacLean in a video posted on Facebook, Bettman reiterated he remains hopeful the season can be completed, perhaps by going late into the summer and with a modified playoff format, and that next season could start late but would be played in its entirety. Asked the status of the NHL’s back-to-play plan, Bettman replied, “Which one of the plans?

“We’re modeling. We’re trying to see what our options will be under whatever scenario unfolds. ... The decision ultimately will be made by medical people and people who run governments at all different levels, so we’re not going to try to do anything that flies in the face of what we’re being told is appropriate.”

Those scenarios include possibly playing without fans in the building or using precautions to mitigate the spread of the virus. “I think there will be some social distancing for a while. I think there will be masks. There will be Purell,” Bettman said. “There will be lots of things but that’s something that ultimately the medical people and the government leaders will be the best able to tell us.”

He said it’s unlikely games will take place in neutral arenas in Grand Forks, N.D., or Manchester, N.H., a possibility that was floated the past few weeks. “We can’t play in a small college rink in the middle of a smaller community because if we’re going to be centralized we need the back-of-the-house [amenities] that NHL arenas provide, whether it’s multiple locker rooms, whether it’s the technology, the procedures, the boards and glass, the video replay, the broadcasting facilities,” Bettman said.

He also said the league, which paused play on March 12 after playing about 85% of its schedule, has no revenues coming in now. “And that poses an issue not just in terms of how our system works with players but the tens of thousands of people that work for clubs in all sports and how they’re impacted by the fact that sports has no revenue coming in,” he said.

Most of the NHL’s national TV revenues are attributable to the , he said, but is paid during the season. “That money is already in,” he said, “but we’ll owe it to [broadcast rights holders] if nothing else, in credits against next season.”

Bettman acknowledged that he and the general managers of the 31 clubs discussed holding the annual draft before the season ends but called that idea “a trial balloon” designed to spark discussion. It’s a complicated notion because some teams hold draft picks that were made on a conditional basis and will depend on the performance of the traded player or his new team. Until the season is finished, those conditions couldn’t be met.

Those are only a few of the potential hurdles to implementing that idea. Bettman, who said he maintains frequent contact with the league’s medical advisors, an infectious disease consultant and the NHL Players’ Assn., also noted it’s possible the league could reconfigure the draft lottery and how those slots are determined. “If whatever we do is fair and has integrity, it will work,” he said.

“We don’t live in a world of perfect anymore. We’re going to have to make adjustments. Ideally from our standpoint, and it would resolve a lot of issues, would be if we could complete the regular season, even if it’s on a centralized basis, and then go into the playoffs the way we normally play them. That would be ideal, but again, that’s one of the numerous models that we’re looking at and if we can’t do ideal, if we can’t do perfect, we’re going to have to figure out what’s next to perfect. ... 1173939 Anaheim Ducks

NHL could complete season at regional sites, commissioner Gary Bettman says

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | PUBLISHED: April 22, 2020 at 6:35 p.m. | UPDATED: April 22, 2020 at 6:50 p.m.

Bound and determined to complete the 2019-20 season and award the Stanley Cup, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Wednesday that games could be played with the doors closed to the public at as many as four regional league arenas with as many as three contests per day.

The NHL suspended play March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Ideally from our standpoint – and it would resolve a lot of issues – would be if we could complete the regular season, even if it’s on a centralized basis and then go into the (playoffs) the way we normally play them,” Bettman said in an interview with Sportsnet, a Canadian network. “That would be ideal. But that’s, again, one of the numerous models we’re looking at and if we can’t do ideal, if we can’t do perfect, we’re going to have to figure out what’s next to perfect.”

Bettman said the league decided against playing in non-NHL rinks at neutral sites. The University of North Dakota in Grand Forks was one possible location, but that was rejected in favor of playing in arenas geared to hosting NHL games.

“We can’t play in a small college rink in the middle of a smaller community because if we’re going to be centralized we need the back of the house that NHL arenas provide, whether it’s multiple locker rooms, whether it’s the technology, the procedures, the boards and glass, the video replay, the broadcasting facilities,” Bettman said.

The home arenas of the , Edmonton Oilers and Minnesota Wild were among the facilities discussed, according to a report on ESPN.com. Each site would likely host teams from one of the league’s four divisions, with the Pacific Division’s Ducks and Kings playing in Edmonton.

The Ducks had 11 games remaining when play was halted; the Kings had 12. It’s likely the teams would not play each of their final games, and a new schedule would be drawn up rather than simply picking up where the teams left off in order to complete the centralized scenario.

The Ducks, Kings, Oilers, Arizona Coyotes, , , Vancouver Canucks and Vegas Golden Knights comprise the Pacific Division. Neither the Ducks nor the Kings were in a playoff position when play was suspended.

“Maybe it’ll be two cities,” Bettman said. “It’s not something that we can predict right at this moment, but this is part of the contingencies. It doesn’t necessarily have to be by division, although the centralization may be by division.

“But the particular location could be anywhere that isn’t a hot spot (for the coronavirus) and has what we need both in terms of the arena and having practice facilities because if you bring in seven or eight clubs to a particular facility and you’re playing lots of games on a regular basis without travel there does need to be ice for practice.”

The NHL has asked players, staff and coaches to self-quarantine through April 30. It’s been reported that a training camp of up to three weeks would be held before play resumes, which would give the league a target date for the resumption of play in late May or early June at the earliest.

Two full months of playoffs could extend the season into August.

“This isn’t a race,” Bettman said. “The stakes are too important.”

Orange County Register: LOADED: 04.23.2020 1173940 Arizona Coyotes

Arizona Coyotes' Alex Goligoski has been mountain biking during NHL season pause

Jesse Morrison, Arizona Republic Published 4:59 p.m. MT April 22, 2020

With the NHL season suspended and team facilities closed to players due to the coronavirus pandemic, Arizona Coyotes defenseman Alex Goligoski has had to find alternative ways to stay in shape — just in case the season resumes.

Goligoski said he has been doing normal workouts such as yoga and Pilates but has also picked up mountain biking, something he has not done before, as a safe way to stay in shape while still social distancing.

"I got a mountain bike kind of when hockey shut down," Goligoski said. "Our head strength trainer and our co-strength trainer — JP and Curt Truhe — they go mountain biking quite a bit. So they got me on it. It's a great social-distancing way to exercise and get out of the house."

Goligoski said he has now been mountain biking six or seven times during the league suspension. which began March 12. He said it is a good way to keep his workouts "fresh, adding that doing the same workout over and over again can be "redundant."

Mountain biking is not the only way Goligoski has been, or is planning to, stay active during the pandemic. As an NHL player, the importance of skating cannot be overstated, and Goligoski said he has worked with the Coyotes to procure some special ice skate emulating roller blades.

"I just got back from (Gila River Arena)," Goligoski said. "Stan Wilson (Coyotes' head equipment manager) met me over there and he put some of these roller blade bottoms that you can rivet into the bottom of skates. I'm going to try the roller blades and I think that's the easiest way to replicate a skating motion."

Goligoski said he has been taking advantage of the down time by talking to family and friends more than he normally would with his busy schedule. He said Zoom has been great because he has been able to play games with some of his teammates and their significant others.

Goligoski said the halt of play as been an opportunity for him to work on some projects around his house such as painting his cabinets. He said his house is "looking great and has never been in better shape."

As for finishing the season, Goligoski said he is hopeful the NHL season resumes in some way or another. However, he said if there is no Stanley Cup he would not be too upset.

"If that's what happened and there's no Stanley Cup awarded, it's not like I would be completely devastated by it," Goligoski said. "It's just the nature of the beast that we're living in right now. It would be a weird scenario for sure but it's kind of where we are."

Goligoski said he believes a resumption of the season would be a "clean slate" for teams.

"The teams that were really hot ... I'm not sure they'd be able to just come back and feel the same way and the same thing for teams that weren't playing well," Goligoski said.

Goligoski said if the season were to resume he thinks it would be good to be fresh, but he also said the layoff could affect players negatively.

"It'd be great in that sense," Goligoski said. "It could go the other way too though. This extended period off. Guys could be dropping like flies too. If you take a month off at the end of the season and you start skating back up in the summer, you feel terrible out there. And it takes awhile but at the same time you're not going through hard practices and stuff.

"You're out there playing shinny hockey and screwing around. The coaches can definitely accelerate things so I'm sure they'd get us back to feeling good in no time but it'll be interesting."

Arizona Republic LOADED: 04.23.2020 1173941 Arizona Coyotes

Report: Coyotes expressed interest in Arizona hub site for NHL play

BY MATT LAYMAN APRIL 22, 2020 AT 12:41 PM

The Arizona Coyotes reportedly told the NHL it was interested in having its state serve as the host site for NHL games to resume the season, according to The Athletic’s Craig Morgan on Wednesday.

The team declined to comment on the matter.

The idea isn’t new within the sport or outside of it; similar hub site ideas have been tossed around for other cities to get the NHL back up and running, while has reportedly eyed Arizona as an isolated site for getting its season underway.

The NHL season paused on March 12, and since then, rampant speculation, reports and ideas have been floated on how to get players back on the ice. North Dakota and New Hampshire were among the proposed locations, although Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friemdan reported Tuesday that the idea of putting NHL teams in “neutral sites” looked like it wasn’t happening.

Instead, Friedman wrote, there’s an idea to have one NHL city for each division to serve as a neutral site, with multiple games per day being played at the arena to finish the regular season. If the Coyotes were to be part of this plan, then the teams from Vegas, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Anaheim, Los Angeles and San Jose would be the ones in question.

It’s not clear how playing multiple games per day in an NHL arena would affect teams’ abilities to get morning skates done. It’s typical for both the home and away teams to skate on the morning of a game, take a break for the afternoon and re-convene in the evening for the game.

In Arizona, a handful of ice rinks could be used for the purpose of practice time, including the Ice Den in Scottsdale, which the Coyotes have used for some practices and offseason skates. Locker room space, weight training facilities, health and medical rooms, hotels, media accommodations, fair scheduling and other considerations could all potentially be logistical hurdles to clear for this to happen.

There’s also the likelihood of other NHL cities throwing their hats into the ring as economically-beleaguered municipalities and teams could look to recoup some of the lost revenue that they’ve incurred from the coronavirus pandemic.

Arizona, as of Wednesday morning, had 5,459 reported coronavirus cases.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 04.23.2020 1173942 Arizona Coyotes roster and a structure that best suited the talent they possessed. Much credit goes to the staffs and all of the players for blocking out the relocation rumors, the ownership uncertainty and the arena uncertainty ‘Man, that was epic’: Reliving Mike Smith’s Game 6 brilliance in Chicago that dogged the team that season. Much credit goes to every member of that team for their on-ice contributions to the most successful season in Coyotes history, but when the diplomacy ends, everyone knows the biggest reason for that team’s success that season. Everyone knows why By Craig Morgan the Coyotes eliminated the Blackhawks.

“Tip did a really good job of keeping us on the same monotone path, but Every Monday and Thursday through the end of May, The Athletic when we’d get on the bus after those games, we’d giggle at each other,” Arizona is reliving the Coyotes’ 2012 playoff run to the Western said forward Ray Whitney, who led the team with 77 points that season. Conference final. You can also watch the games on Fox Sports Arizona “Fuck, they’d outshot us two to one and there we were, sneaking another during their “Classic Coyotes Night” programming series. More one out. information available here. “When we won those (games) we knew they didn’t know what to do Read the full collection of stories in our retrospective here. anymore. We knew they were pressing and we knew we had the best player in the series. Let’s be honest, there were a couple games we had Chicago’s famed Gold Coast is home to a cornucopia of nightlife, from no business winning. It was Mike Smith all the way.” upscale restaurants, taverns and shopping to the swankiest hotels in the city. Many of the city’s most famous bars can found in an area bounded This feeling was new to Smith, so it was understandable that he would by Rush Street, State Street and Chicago Avenue that is humorously want to soak in his first taste of postseason success with the guy who (and disparagingly) known as the Viagra Triangle. had taught him how to become an NHL goalie.

If you had been a barfly at a certain Irish pub in the area in the wee hours “I look up to Marty; still do to this day,” Smith said. “He was a big reason I of April 24, 2012, you might have witnessed a touching reunion between got through the rough patches I went through early in my career. He took Coyotes goalie Mike Smith and his mentor, one-time roommate and me under his wing, I lived at his house with his kids and wife and I got longtime friend, . accustomed to being an NHL player.

“I had no idea if he’d show,” Turco said. “It was a big game and I have “For me to have him there and share kind of my first real major been there. You never know how your body is going to feel so I just accomplishment at that level was obviously special.” texted him. When Smith, the Stars’ 2001 fifth-round pick, finally arrived in Dallas for “I was like, ‘Hey, man, I’m down on Rush Street.’ His hotel (the Ritz- the 2006-07 season, Marty and Kelly Turco became his billet family for Carlton Chicago) wasn’t far away so he came by for some rehydration two years. Turco bought a pair of luxury leather chairs that are still known (Guinness as Smith recalls). We caught up, we laughed, we reminisced. I as the “his and his” chairs. After games, he and Smith would settle in, just wanted to squeeze him and let him know how proud I was and how “crush some whiskey, tequila, wine or beer” and talk shop. honored I was to be there at that moment in his career. Watching it live, “Whether it was a good or bad game, we had a ritual of coming back and and as a goalie, I appreciated it all the more.” talking about it, watching the highlights of other games and other Turco had a seat in the corner of United Center, about 12 rows up, as the goalies,” Smith said. “I don’t know if you need to write about what we Coyotes faced the Blackhawks in Game 6 of their 2012 Western drank, but there was definitely some beverages consumed on those his Conference quarterfinal series on April 23 (an 8 p.m. start). For two of the and his chairs and they were leather, so we probably wore out some game’s three periods, Smith worked right in front of him. What Turco spots that are still there to this day.” witnessed that night was a performance that multiple observers have It was Turco who helped Smith perfect his puck-handling skills which led described in superlatives. to the most recent goalie goal until Nashville’s scored in “He tracked it as good as he ever has, the way he followed the puck,” January of this season. It was Turco who introduced Smith to his future Turco said. “We always said ‘Eyes, hands and shoulders, and then the wife, Canadian Olympic skier Brigitte Acton, at a charity golf tournament hips and feet will always follow.’ He was just on point. When you’ve got to in Turco’s hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, . make crazy acrobatic saves, he can do that and his puck handling skills “Played in the group behind her,” Smith said. “Hit into her all day, and hit are great, but he was locked in, too. The thing that stands out for me in on her, too.” that game is he didn’t panic and neither did the team. That speaks to his confidence and how it reverbs out to his teammates. It looked like his It was Turco who taught Smith to take his defensemen to dinner to say teammates thought things were under control because Mike was in thanks. And it was Turco who taught Smith how to move past mistakes. control and that’s the most powerful thing you can possess in sports.” “It was helpful to get inside another goalie’s brain who had been in the Smith stopped all 39 shots he faced for his first career postseason league for a while and had accomplished so much,” Smith said. “The kids , and the Coyotes posted the first playoff series victory in were in bed. That was our time.” franchise history in a 4-0 win whose margin belied its challenge. As they watched from a suite, GM Don Maloney, assistant GM , Tippett had coached Smith (and Turco) in Dallas so he had a sense of assistant coach Dave King and goalie coach shook their his raw ability. He also saw a body type and a level of athleticism that he heads in the same manner as they had for the five previous games of thought would work in Arizona. Using the techniques that Benoit Allaire that series. had taught him, Coyotes goalie coach Sean Burke had transformed 6- foot-3 Ilya Bryzgalov into an elite NHL . When Bryzgalov “I remember just saying, ‘Holy shit’ a lot,” Treliving said. “It was the best departed in free agency after the 2010-11 season (Phoenix sent goaltending performance I’ve ever seen live, on TV, read about or heard Bryzgalov’s negotiating rights to the Flyers a 2012 third-round draft pick), about. He was just unconscious. (The Blackhawks) were playing so well Tippett called Smith and gave him a sales pitch. and getting so many chances but you just were thinking, ‘I don’t think they’re getting a grain of rice by him tonight.’” “He said, ‘Burkie is going to be unbelievable for you,’” Smith said. “’I know you have all the tools to be a really good goalie in this league and Burke had seen that notion build throughout the series. we’re going to give you that opportunity here. You’re going to play a lot.’”

“He was frustrating them so much and you could see it grow to the point Tippett was so confident that the Smith-Burke marriage would work that where they were thinking, ‘We might lose this,’” he said. “Usually a goalie he told local media before the season, “Mike is going to make everybody can steal a game or two but then you figure him out. In this series, you forget about Bryzie really quick.” He was right. started to realize that they weren’t going to figure him out. He wasn’t going to let up, and when it turns to the point where you have a “I was a guy that was just kicking around after a good rookie year in psychological edge on the other team, that is huge. That happened in Dallas,” Smith said. “In Tampa, I just never could find it. I couldn’t grab it that series.” and be the guy. I’d play a few good games and then two bad ones. I owe a lot to a lot of people, goalie coaches I have worked with and Marty, but Much of the credit for the Coyotes’ success in the 2011-12 season goes as far as technically, Burkie was probably the biggest influence on my to Maloney, Treliving and ’s coaching staff for constructing a career. “In that Chicago series and that whole season, I was just standing on the After the game, Fox Sports Arizona was preparing to blow out this goal line. Burkie said, ‘I don’t want you playing anywhere above the historic moment in franchise history with multiple interviews but they crease. You’ll find where to stand. You’re big (6-5), you’re athletic and I never got the chance. want you to make guys beat you with good shots.’ To that point, I was athletic but I’d play two feet out, I’d be stacking the pads back door, I’d be “We go to a break after wrapping up highlights and before we got back, diving all over the place. I went from that to just standing in the blue paint the lights went out in the room,” play-by-play man Matt McConnell said. and I got so much confidence from him telling me to do that.” “The techs downstairs had started pulling cables and they knocked us off the air. I remember hearing (producer) Graham (Taylor)’s voice in my Burke also taught Smith to fight through periods of fatigue or dips in ear, saying, ‘Uh, guys, it looks like somebody is pulling all the cables. I confidence. think that’s going to do it tonight.’”

“There were some games where I’d say, ‘Don’t play me, I don’t feel like While Coyotes fans drank in the team’s unprecedented success, and myself, I’m not playing well’ and he’d be like, ‘Nope. You’re playing, while Blackhawks fans drank in stunned silence, the Coyotes waited for You’re fine,’” Smith said. “He’d say to me, ‘Smitty, it’s never as good as it Smith to complete his own hydration ritual to replace as many as 10 seems and it’s never as bad as it seems, and right now, it’s not as bad as pounds of fluid he had lost during the game. it seems.’ And then I’d go play well. That confidence in me really helped me get over the hump from being a mediocre goalie. I hadn’t had that “After every game, Smitty was hooked up to IV bags hanging from the mentor coach who had been through it before and had been through all ceiling by coat hangers in the second dressing room,” Whitney said. “It the situations I had and more.” was a wait we were quite comfortable with.”

Smith can’t recall many details of the Chicago series. He calls it a blur. The management and coaching staffs hydrated with a couple of beers back at the hotel, still in disbelief over what they had witnessed. “I can honestly say that at that point in my career, that was probably the first real time I felt like I was in the zone; probably the first time in my “To escape that game, wow, you wanted to take your ski mask off and whole life,” he said. “It didn’t matter what was going on around me. I was get the hell out of town as quick as you can,” Treliving said. “It felt like we just playing, so when you ask me to go back and remember what I was were leaving through the backdoor after we had stolen the cash register.” thinking, the biggest thing was that I wasn’t thinking. I was just in such a Under the cover of night, the principal thief wandered across Michigan zone that it didn’t matter if the fans were booing me. I was aware of it, but Avenue to meet his old buddy at a pub and share the best feeling of his talk to any goalie who has had that feeling or gone on a run. At points, professional career. you get so dialed in that when there’s so much going on around it doesn’t even come across your mind. It’s a special kind of feeling because it’s “I can’t remember everything I told Mike, but I definitely told him ‘Shut not like that all the time and it’s hard to get to the point.” your mouth!’” Turco said. “That’s just a saying my buddies and I have and it can mean a lot of things. Said there, and with the right tone, it Chicago fans will recall Raffi Torres’ hit on Marian Hossa as the most meant, ‘Man, that was epic!’” infamous part of that series, but Smith remembers Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw running him behind the net in Game 2 at Jobing.com The Athletic LOADED: 04.23.2020 Arena.

“I remember the next game in Chicago, somebody brought a no diving sign and held it up to the glass,” Smith said. “I had a good chuckle about that one. It was a bad hit. If it happened now I wouldn’t have finished the game. I would have had to go into protocol. I was seeing stars, to be honest. Everyone looks back at the hit and it looks like I dove but when you’re not expecting to get hit, you’re not bracing yourself to get hit so I was probably like a wet noodle more than anything. He got me right on the button, on the chin, so I was shaken up, but I didn’t want to come out.”

Game 6 evokes the same sort of inexact recall as the rest of the series does for Smith. He can’t remember a single save, but there were several brilliant ones, including a post-to-post stop on Brendan Morrison, a breakaway stop on Shaw, and a butt save on Niklas Hjalmarsson that earned him a pat on the waffle from Patrick Kane, who was lying inside the net with Smith after Hjalmarsson’s shot from the point trickled between the pads but stopped short of the goal line.

“(Assistant coach) John Anderson came down to the bench late in the second period and said, ‘Tip, do you realize we’re getting outshot 28-8?’” Tippett said. “I said, ‘I’m well aware of it, John.’

“We were under siege but we got that fluky goal at the end of the second period and another one early in the third and then they were chasing the game hard.”

Despite the lopsided totals in shots and scoring chances, the Coyotes escaped the second period with a 1-0 lead thanks to Smith and Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s power-play goal with 6:46 left in the period. It was the Coyotes’ sixth shot on goal in the game. If that weren’t frustrating enough for the home team, a point that color analyst and former Coyote Mike Johnson drove home during the broadcast, the Coyotes added a second goal early in the third period on a one-timer by Gilbert Brulé off a ridiculous, backhand saucer pass from behind the net from Kyle Chipchura.

“We used to call Chip ‘$900,000 Datsyuk’” Tippett said, chuckling. “He could really dangle when he wanted to.”

Antoine Vermette scored after Jimmy Hayes earned a four-minute and a game misconduct for boarding Michal Rozsival, and Chipchura scored with 5:04 left to send Blackhawks fans streaming toward the exits. 1173943

Bruins’ Jake DeBrusk eager to resume, but accepts that this is a time of sacrifice

By Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff, Updated April 22, 2020, 5:14 p.m.

Jake DeBrusk was at 19-16—35 through 65 games when the NHL halted play.

Jake DeBrusk wants to get back on the ice to resume the 2019-20 season, even if it means sacrificing part of next season.

“I think we’re already going to have to sacrifice a little bit of it,” the Bruins forward said on a video conference call with the media Wednesday. “Obviously, we want to play, and we obviously had a good season with a good group of guys, and we want to continue that. But it’s just a matter of safety at this point.”

When the NHL season was halted March 12 because of concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bruins had the best mark in the NHL through 70 games and seemed to be on their way to clinching home ice through the playoffs. One idea being floated for a possible resumption is playing on neutral sites in empty rinks.

Jake DeBrusk is ready for the game to return, but he also understands that things are on hold for now.

“It’s kind of mixed feeling for me, because we want to play, so you’re kind of willing to do anything to get back on the ice, to finish the season and finish the playoffs, however they start back,” said DeBrusk, 23.

"But we worked hard for those points. Where we are in the league positioning is what we wanted to do as a team. A big reason for that is home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.

“I feel like we’ve worked hard to get to this point, and there’s nothing better than playing in front of our fans at the Garden, so it comes with a little bit of a sacrifice if that’s the route we go, obviously.”

DeBrusk has been a topic of conversation when his teammates have participated in previous video calls. When Brad Marchand was asked last week which of his teammates would drive him crazy if forced to quarantine, he listed DeBrusk.

“The guys are always chirping me. I think that means they miss me,” said DeBrusk, who has been back in Edmonton since just before Easter.

DeBrusk has used the break to spend more time with his family, and assess his play on the ice.

“I’ve had to take a step back and understand what kind of a player I want to be in this league, the kind of player that I can be,” said DeBrusk, who had 19 goals and 16 assists in 65 games this season. "This year was a definite learning curve for myself. Things weren’t really in a sense.

“I definitely wanted to be better this year, but our team is really rolling. It would have been nice if I could have helped a little bit more.”

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Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk anxious to resume play in a friendly environment

By RICH THOMPSON | PUBLISHED: April 22, 2020 at 5:21 p.m. | UPDATED: April 22, 2020 at 5:23 p.m.

The Boston Bruins were on course to secure the Presidents Cup for the most points in the regular season and home ice throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Bruins were 44-14-12 with a league-best 100 points and 12 games remaining when the NHL closed shop on March 12 in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The Presidents Cup is no guarantee of success in the postseason. But it is a symbol of consistency and a reward for the fan base, especially in Boston where the Stanley Cup playoffs are a near-religious experience.

The NHL is exploring a of scenarios once they are allowed to resume the season and most involve safe neutral sites and no spectators.

“It will definitely be interesting, it is an unknown and obviously there are lots of ideas kind of being thrown around and I’ve heard that one,” said Bruins right wing Jake DeBrusk, during a Wednesday Zoom video conference from his family home in Edmonton, .

The idea of whitewashing the regular season and starting the playoffs in an ad-hoc manner doesn’t sit well with DeBrusk, even though he recognizes that player and fan safety are nonnegotiable concerns.

“It is kind of a mixed feeling for me because you want to play and it’s one of those things where you are willing to do anything in a sense to get back on the ice and finish the season and start the playoffs however they start it back up,” said DeBrusk.

“But we worked hard for those points and to be where we are. League positioning was what we wanted to do as a team and a big reason is home ice advantage throughout the playoffs.

“That kind of gets (lost) in a neutral site and everyone is playing from the same advantage so I don’t really know to be honest with you. We worked really hard to get to this point and there is nothing better than playing in front of our fans at the Garden.

“It comes with a little bit of a sacrifice if that’s the way we go. But it will definitely be different than anything I’ve been a part of.”

The Bruins had some favorable numbers in key areas before the shutdown, especially on special teams and at the back end.

The Bruins were second in power-play production with 57 goals and a 25.2% success rate. They were third on the penalty kill with an 84.2% success rate and were first in fewest goals allowed with 167.

DeBrusk was enjoying a statically good season before the stoppage. He had appeared in 65 games with 19 goals, seven on the power play, with 16 assists and 161 shots while averaging 16:03 minutes per game.

DeBrusk patrolled the left boards and behind the net on the Bruins 1-3-1 first unit power play and his contributions weren’t always reflected in the scoring summary.

The first unit consisted of Torey Krug and David Pastrnak on the points, center Patrice Bergeron on the bumper and Brad Marchand on the right boards

DeBrusk spent most the season on the second line centered by David Krejci but, just before the campaign cratered, he was placed in the right flank on the third unit with Charlie Coyle and Sean Kuraly.

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy never hesitates to mix up his lines, even the team’s formidable first unit of Bergeron, Marchand and Pastrnak, who skated a number of shifts with Krejci this season.

“Krejci was hurt at the beginning of the year and I played with Coyle to start the year off,” said DeBrusk. “Also, CC played on the right side with me and Krejci and I do feel like I can play with either guy.” 1173945 Boston Bruins

Hard feelings continue almost 10 years later as ex-Canucks respond to Bruins chirps

By Joe Haggerty April 22, 2020 9:44 PM

Clearly, there’s a couple of ways for NHL players to react getting chirped in a group setting such as the one set up when the Bruins 2011 Stanley Cup team live-streamed their re-watching of Game 7 vs. the Vancouver Canucks on Zoom.

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

There’s the playful, clever way that former Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo handled it on Tuesday night as the Bruins were joking about scoring on him after he’d talked some trash about ’ goaltending style earlier in the series.

This is precisely what my nightmares have looked like https://t.co/XsFQOQPwOW

— Strombone (@strombone1) April 22, 2020

There's no word from as the former Bruins players buried him on the live-stream for cheap-shotting players and for biting Patrice Bergeron, who confirmed he still has the bite marks on his fingers from the former Canucks rat after their Game 1 incident.

Haggerty: Bruins 2011 live-stream reunion shows what made that team special

Then there’s the way former Canucks handled it after the Bruins criticized him after seeing on the re-broadcast that the then- Canucks center was chirping at them on the ice.

The retired Kesler tweeted a GIF of Hulk Hogan with a mic drop as the ex-Canuck tried to chirp at Milan Lucic’s still-active NHL career in Calgary while injuries and declining performance ended Kesler’s after five goals and a minus-19 in 60 games for Anaheim in 2018-19. https://t.co/xP0DhpStHi pic.twitter.com/mDARBUvdjf

— Ryan Kesler (@Ryan_Kesler) April 22, 2020

Kesler had one point and a minus-6 in Vancouver's seven-game Cup Final loss to the Bruins and years later he had to watch as Brad Marchand mocked him and the rest of the Canucks when No. 63 raised an imaginary Stanley Cup in front of the Vancouver bench in a regular- season game in their building.

Needless to say, Kesler’s futile clap-back attempt comes from a pretty limp position.

Here’s the Twitter exchange that started the whole thing:

Lucic with a jab at Kesler pic.twitter.com/wTxyTOk3Pv

— The Morning Skate (@Morning_Skate) April 22, 2020

“Look at this [expletive] guy chirping,” said Lucic.

Michael Ryder then added “How much did you want to kill that guy? But you’ve got to watch what you say on this, you might get in trouble.”

DeBrusk still hopeful of 75-80 game regular season

Lucic shot right back, “Buddy, he’s not even in the league anymore. [Expletive] him.”

On Wednesday night, Lucic again fired back with some simple politeness, but he made sure to include a key visual. Plus, he’s already got the ultimate comeback that he's still drawing an NHL paycheck as a player.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.23.2020 1173946 Boston Bruins regular season games would give NHL players a proper tune-up ahead of the playoffs.

“I think as soon as we can play, that’s the best way to go at it,” said Bruins' Jake DeBrusk hopeful for 75-80 game NHL regular season, DeBrusk. “At the same time, we want to make sure we’re safe and ready playoffs to go. There are certain teams that are in playoff races that have more games played than [other] teams that are trying to catch them and vice- versa. I think we definitely need to figure out a way to even that out. By Joe Haggerty April 22, 2020 3:30 PM “Just even to kind of get some kind of game-feel going into the playoffs, you kind of need to prepare for the workload that the playoffs bring, especially if you go on a long run. To take a break like this with nobody Jake DeBrusk obviously isn’t sure what’s going to happen with the skating or working out at gyms, the best way to combat it is to play a remainder of the 2019-20 NHL regular season and postseason. couple of games. Maybe five games? If we play the season out to 75 or “My personal thought on it is that we want to play and we were having a 80 games and then go right into the playoffs it would kind of even things good season,” said DeBrusk, during a Wednesday Zoom conference call out for the teams fighting for those playoff spots, and make sure we’re with Bruins reporters. “We want to continue that, but it's a matter of safety looking out for all of our health and safety.” at this point. We're all in it together." The Bruins are sitting at 70 games played on the season, so playing a The NHL regular season has been on pause since the first week in five game tune-up ahead of the postseason would make a lot of sense March due to the viral outbreak with about a month left to be played and for an experienced, older team that’s going to need time to ramp up. there are still two months worth of Stanley Cup Playoffs still on the table Other teams like the Hurricanes and Islanders would need to play seven as well. The NHL is working through a number of different scenarios with more games to get up to 75 games played and teams like the Blues, an eye toward still playing a portion of the regular season before Jets, Oilers and Canadiens would need only four games played to get to readying for a postseason where the Stanley Cup could be awarded at that number. the end. So it might not be perfect for anyone, but all of it proves that the NHL is Get the latest news and analysis on all of your teams from NBC Sports exhausting every last avenue and possibility to put a bow on the 2019-20 Boston by downloading the My Teams App season if possible. Only time will tell if it’s all in vain or if one of these scenarios will allow the NHL to produce playoff hockey this summer for The latest, according to ESPN, is a plan for two to four NHL cities to host its fans. the games across North America with sites like North Carolina, Minnesota and Edmonton in the running along with an Atlantic Division SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.23.2020 location that’s yet to be determined. The sites would be chosen based on areas where the COVID-19 outbreak has been managed and where restrictions would allow the games to be played likely to empty arenas.

It would appear the idea of neutral-site locations like North Dakota and New Hampshire are out because they simply couldn’t host NHL events where there will need to be infrastructure for multiple teams, league officials and broadcasters.

It would take NHLPA approval, some kind of universal testing and NHL players willing to pick up and quarantine themselves while they are playing, and there has been no timetable for any of this to happen. Even the sunniest of scenarios for the Stanley Cup Playoffs would have them taking place in the summer rather than anytime over the next few weeks or months.

Haggerty: 2011 Bruins' team Zoom showed how special that team was

Florida Panthers President and CEO Matthew Caldwell said on Tuesday, per Fox Sports 640, that the NHL is moving toward possibly resuming the season in July with limited, or zero, fans in attendance for the games.

"The players right now are all quarantined. I know for the NHL, our players are quarantined through the end of April, and that will probably be extended into May,” said Caldwell. “But when we are able to come out of the quarantine period, players are going to need time to work out. I think all leagues are thinking about some training camp that we would do before the start of the season.

"So that's going to take us into the June time-frame. At least with the NHL, we're trying to target some times in July. When we feel that players are safe, and we have enough testing and we have enough ways to get back on the ice for us, it's probably going to be contained at playing at four or five neutral sites. So that's all being discussed right now. My guess is that we would start with limited fans or empty arenas. So just with the teams and the associated staffs.”

It remains to be seen if anybody would be at the arenas aside from essential staff to run and broadcast the games, but it’s easy to envision scenarios where teams play games against divisional opponents in the same arena over the course of each day Olympics-style with the regular season concluding in a few weeks.

Luongo's hilarious response to Bruins' Zoom reunion

When the NHL does resume, DeBrusk hopes that the schedule will allow for all NHL teams to get up to 75 or 80 games in a scenario that would accomplish a couple of goals: A) all teams would get a fair chance at a playoff spot with an equal number of games played and B) a handful of 1173947 Boston Bruins

This Day in Bruins History: Boston sweeps Canadiens with emphatic win

By Nick Goss April 22, 2020 12:28 PM

There's nothing better for the Boston Bruins than knocking the rival Canadiens out of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and that's exactly what happened on April 22, 2009.

The Bruins went into the Bell in Montreal and swept the Canadiens out of the first round with a convincing 4-1 win in Game 4. B's forward Michael Ryder led the way offensively with two goals and one assist, while -winning goalie Tim Thomas excelled in net with 26 saves on 27 shots.

The series victory was Boston's first in 10 years and snapped a five series losing streak that began in 1999. The win was extra sweet for the Bruins given the fact the Canadiens beat them in a first-round Game 7 the previous season. Unfortunately for the 2008-09 Bruins, their playoff run ended in the Eastern Conference semifinals with a heartbreaking Game 7 loss at home to the Carolina Hurricanes.

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

Another memorable Bruins playoff matchup from April 22 was Game 6 of the 2012 first-round series versus the Washington Capitals. The Bruins were facing elimination on the road and forced a Game 7 when Tyler Seguin scored the winning goal in . Washington beat Boston in overtime of Game 7 at TD Garden a few days later. All seven games in the series were decided by a single goal.

The Bruins are 6-7 all-time on April 22, although they've won the last four games on this date. Eleven of the 13 games Boston has played on April 22 have come on the road.

Here's a recap of other notable games the Bruins have played on April 22.

2014, First Round: 3-0 win at Red Wings

1999, Conference Qtrs: 2-0 win at Hurricanes

1996, Conference Qtrs: 6-2 loss at Panthers

1993, Division Semifinals: 4-3 loss at Sabres in OT

1988, Division Finals: 3-1 win vs. Canadiens

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Roberto Luongo had epic response to 2011 Bruins' Stanley Cup Game 7 Zoom chat

By Nick Goss April 22, 2020 10:05 AM

Roberto Luongo is one of the best Twitter follows among retired and active NHL players, and he didn't disappoint Wednesday.

Around 20 players from the Boston Bruins' 2011 Stanley Cup championship team got together on a Zoom video conference call Tuesday night to watch a replay of their Game 7 win over the Vancouver Canucks. It was a pretty remarkable sight, and there were plenty of jokes and chirps from the players involved.

Luongo, of course, was the Canucks' goalie during that Stanley Cup Final matchup, and it mostly was a series to forget for the veteran netminder. He gave up 20 goals and posted an .891 save percentage in the seven games. He also allowed three goals in Game 7 as Vancouver lost 4-0 to the B's on home ice.

Luongo, who is one of the funniest players on social media, couldn't help but react to the Bruins' watch party with the following tweet:

This is precisely what my nightmares have looked like https://t.co/XsFQOQPwOW

— Strombone (@strombone1) April 22, 2020

Classic Luongo right there.

The 2011 defeat was no doubt a low point in Luongo's career, but to his credit, he hasn't been afraid to have a little fun with the memory at his own expense.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.23.2020 1173949 Boston Bruins Another toast to a Stanley Cup title. pic.twitter.com/1n8ic7o3S3

— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) April 22, 2020

2011 Bruins' entertaining live stream reunion a reminder of what made “Let’s just cheers to the fact that we got our names on the Cup and that team so special we won together. This is a family that we will have for the rest of our lives,” said Lucic, leading all of his Bruins teammates in a toast as they watched video of their on-ice celebration after raising the Cup back in By Joe Haggerty April 22, 2020 8:10 AM 2011.

“I love you guys and cheers, boy.”

It didn’t turn out to be the entire 2011 Stanley Cup Boston Bruins team Lucic also led a toast to Thomas, who hasn’t been back to Boston as a that turned out for the "Locker Room Time Machine" live stream to watch celebrated Cup winner since his split with the team after the 2011-12 the Game 7 broadcast of the Stanley Cup Final between the B’s and the season, when the former Vezina winner and Conn Smythe winner Vancouver Canucks. skipped out on the team’s day celebrating the Cup at the White House.

Nathan Horton never made it onto the live stream on the Bruins YouTube Milan Lucic offers a toast to Tim Thomas. This is great stuff. channel as his former teammates joked that he was “on the moon” and "I haven't seen Timmy T in a long time. ... You were the MVP that season couldn’t get a WiFi signal. ... Tank, I appreciate what you did that year. ... I love you man. Cheers." Tomas Kaberle didn’t make it past the first 10 minutes of the first period pic.twitter.com/CUhn9AG1Tc before he dropped off the call after the conversation never really moved — Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) April 22, 2020 his way, and then his former teammates joked that he “was out delivering groceries” for the rest of the stream. Most of Thomas’ teammates haven’t seen him since the last time he played in the NHL, so it was pretty cool to see them enjoying each Get the latest news and analysis on all of your teams from NBC Sports other’s company during the Zoom call. Boston by downloading the My Teams App "I haven't seen Timmy T in a long time,” said Lucic. “You were the MVP Michael Ryder popped in late from Newfoundland -- just as he was that season… a .938 save percentage. What a historic season for a infamously late for so many team meetings during his playing days in goalie. Tank, I appreciate what you did that year. I love you man. Boston -- but arrived with a smile and the same happy-go-lucky attitude Cheers." he always had with the Black and Gold. The love, genuine affection, brotherly ribbing and the chemistry you Even if one or two guys were missing from the re-watch of Game 7 watched on the Bruins Zoom call Tuesday night is exactly why the Bruins broadcast on NESN on Tuesday night, all of the key players were there won the Cup that season. It was a fun, strong-willed hockey team with for the entire two-plus hours watching the game. Current NHL players on tons of talent, but tons of character up and down the lineup, too. other teams like Milan Lucic, Johnny Boychuk and Tyler Seguin logged on for the entire thing, Hall of Famer was there as well, and I was lucky enough to be there for every day of it while covering in elusive Conn Smythe-winning Tim Thomas also was watching the game person all 82 games they played that season plus the playoffs, but that cemented his legacy in Boston. everybody was able to get a peek behind the curtain on Tuesday night as to what made that team so special in the first place. Current core Bruins Zdeno Chara, Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci and were all watching, and retired Bruins like Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.23.2020 Chris Kelly, Andrew Ference, Shawn Thornton, Adam McQuaid, Daniel Paille, Gregory Campbell, Ryder, Shane Hnidy and Rich Peverley were on hand, as well.

The event was sponsored by Bud Light so some of the chirping was exactly the kind of brotherly ribbing that took place every day with the 2011 group -- and spurred on as the wine and beer kept on flowing throughout the stream.

Haggerty: How a Lake Placid trip sparked '11 Bruins' Cup run

Gregory Campbell was the unlikely MVP of the Zoom stream. He repeatedly roasted Brad Marchand for his hairline, his March&Mill Co. clothing line with Kevan Miller and pretty much anything else he could think of along the way.

Brad Marchand vs. Gregory Campbell in all its glory: pic.twitter.com/1EXUkVPGsw

— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) April 22, 2020

At one point Marchand shot back, calling Campbell “a muppet” and made fun of the Merlot Line center begging him for free March&Mill Co. clothes. It was all in good fun, but it also totally comical as the two forwards talked smack with each other on and off throughout the entirety of the two hour video stream.

Lucic talked trash about Canucks center Ryan Kesler (“He’s not in the league anymore…[expletive] him") and the Bruins collectively laughed about Lucic’s body check on goalie Ryan Miller destroying an entire franchise in the Buffalo Sabres.

"I wonder what must have happened for them to get so sensitive about it.. .. Hey, he shouldn't have been standing there,” said Lucic of the NHL moving in recent years to protect from taking hits.

The whole thing was highly entertaining while everybody got an inside look at exactly what made the chemistry so special with the Bruins in 2010-11, and how much they loved each other beyond the chirps and bickering. 1173950 Boston Bruins “We have to learn from this and focus on the next game,” Bergeron said. “We can’t get too high, or too low. We’ve been in these situations in the past and we have the experience to respond.”

Simulating the 2020 NHL playoffs, Round 2: Bruins vs. Lightning Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy didn’t like the result, but he was pleased with the energy level. It’s these types of games that the Bruins want to draw their opponents into because not many teams can sustain this type By Joe McDonald, Joe Smith and Dom Luszczyszyn Apr 22, 2020 of physicality. However, Tampa does have the size and the speed to compete in this type of series, so buckle up because it’s only going to get

more intense as it progresses. The NHL isn’t back yet, but we’re going to pretend it is. Over the last – Joe McDonald month, we’ve run a simulation of how the NHL’s regular season might have played out if the league hadn’t been suspended on March 12. Now, Game 2 the standings have been set and we’re carrying that forward through the playoffs. This time around, one of our beat writers from each team will be No changes for the Lightning. For the Bruins, Joakim Nordstrom slots in in charge of every lineup decision, the narrative for every playoff game for Par Lindholm. and they’ll get to decide what “happened” in each game. Join us as we Boston evens the series at one apiece. make our way through the simulated postseason to crown a virtual Stanley Cup . As expected, the Bruins simplified their game, especially in the defensive end and goalie Tuukka Rask was outstanding as Boston evened the This is basically the Stanley Cup final right here, unfortunately, played series at one game apiece with an impressive 2-1 overtime victory. At a two rounds early due to the league’s playoff format. The Boston Bruins time when the Bruins needed their best players to be their best players, and the Tampa Bay Lightning are the league’s two best teams and one of Patrice Bergeron scored both goals, while Brad Marchand chipped in them will be going home after a second-round duel. with a pair of assists. Rask stifled the Lightning’s offensive onslaught with Both teams needed seven games to get through the first round and it’s a 35-save performance. unlikely this series will be a short one either, not with two experienced Tampa had a golden opportunity late in the third period with a pair of teams hungry to win hockey’s ultimate prize. This year, no two teams power-play opportunities, but Boston’s penalty-killing unit came up huge. look more destined to lift the Cup by season’s end. A look at the talent The Bruins’ Joakim Nordstrom, who was a healthy scratch in Game 1, available on either side shows exactly why. combined for three blocked shots, including an all-out dive when the For 29 other teams, the top lines on each side are the stuff of nightmares Lightning’s Steven Stamkos had a wide-open net on a one-timer from the with three top 15 players on either side, headlined by the top two right left circle. Nordstrom was favoring his left leg as he skated to the bench. wingers in the league in David Pastrnak and Nikita Kucherov. In terms of Bruce Cassidy was able to roll four lines – a recipe for success for the power versus power, no matchup comes close to offering the talent Bruins. Time and again the coach didn’t hesitate to put the fourth line out available in this series. against the Lightning’s top two lines in different scenarios. “That was It’s the rest of the lineup though that separates both teams from the rest more our style of game, compared to Game 1,” Cassidy said. “We of the league. It’s not just star-power propelling Boston and Tampa Bay, received contributions throughout the lineup and Tuukka was there’s depth here too. Both have very strong second lines and an outstanding. We’ll need more of the same as this series progresses and enviable defence-corps, headlined by two elite studs in Charlie McAvoy we’re bracing for a seven-game series.” and Victor Hedman. The Lightning are arguably a bit deeper at both – Joe McDonald positions, which is why my model fancies them a bit more, but the Bruins hold the trump card in between the pipes with likely Vezina candidate “I thought I had it.” Tuukka Rask. Andrei Vasilevskiy, last year’s winner, might find his way onto the ballot too, but much of his value seems to be due to the team in Lightning Steven Stamkos usually cashes in from his “office,” the front of him being so strong. left circle. Especially when he has an open net. So that’s why Stamkos was stunned when the Bruins Joakim Nordström came out of nowhere to In any sense, this looks to be a fairly even, high-powered matchup, one block his potential game-winner late in the third period. that could ultimately decide who wins it all a couple of rounds later. For now, it’s advantage Tampa Bay as the Lightning are the pre-series The Bruins won this one in a thrilling OT performance to even the series favourites, winning the series 57 percent of the time. at 1-1. Tampa Bay knew the league’s top team would bounce back, and they were led by the usual suspects. But the Lightning had a lot to like Game 1 about this one, peppering Tuukka Rask with 36 shots while holding the powerful Bruins attack to just two goals. As the series moves to Tampa, The Lightning take Game 1 on the road. they know that each team’s depth could be the difference. It can’t just be This one didn’t take long to get out of hand. the top two lines carrying the team. “They can roll four lines, but so can we,” coach Jon Cooper said. It became clear early on that both teams remembered the bad blood that brewed in their last regular-season meeting up at TD Garden. Three – Joe Smith minutes in, a fight between Anthony Cirelli and Brad Marchand led to the Game 3 first of many line brawls of the night. No changes for either side ahead of Game 3. Pat Maroon (once again) fought Zdeno Chara. Tampa Bay takes a 2-1 series lead with a 3-1 victory. Mikhail Sergachev dropped his gloves with Charlie Coyle. This time, it was Andrei Vasilevskiy’s turn. The actual game was action-packed too, with both teams trading power- play goals in the first. Blake Coleman scored his biggest goal with the One game after Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask stole the show, it was Lightning, a wrist shot from the left circle with three minutes to go for the the Lightning’s Vezina Trophy winner who delivered his best performance go-ahead goal. Nikita Kucherov added an empty netter to seal the game of the playoffs. He made 30 saves, including a how-did-he-do-that with a 3-1 scoreline. sprawling stop on a 2-on-1 versus Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak. They don’t call him “The Big Cat” for nothing. But most of the talk postgame was about the scrums and bouts, and whether they’d carry over into Game 2. The Lightning went the other way on the play and Anthony Cirelli cashed in for the momentum-swinging goal midway through the second period. “If that’s what they want,” Sergachev said. “We’ll be ready.” Tampa Bay took the lead and never looked back. This was the way the – Joe Smith Lightning wanted to play, dictating the pace and swarming the Bruins with a four-line attack. Both Pat Maroon and Cedric Paquette scored as It was quiet in the Bruins’ locker room after this loss. In typical fashion, the fourth line stepped up. “They set the tone,” captain Steven Stamkos alternate captain Patrice Bergeron stood at his locker, waiting for the said. “Just like they did in Sweden.” media. – Joe Smith It’s not too often the Bruins’ top line is unable to finish a near-perfect Well, almost. play, but Vasilevskiy read it flawlessly and stunned Pastrnak with an outstanding save. As the Lightning responded at the other end, the suffered an upper-body injury in Game 4 and is out for Tampa goalie wasn’t too pleased with the Bruins’ Brad Marchand taking Game 5. John Moore takes his place on a pairing with Jeremy Lauzon a few liberties with his stick after Vasilevskiy’s save. While the Lightning which likely won’t see much ice tonight. Coach Bruce Cassidy should ride celebrated their goal, the always-calm Vasilevskiy was screaming at his top four to big minutes and also lean on his top line to get the team Boston’s bench because of Marchand’s antics. If Marchand thought he out of this hole – just like in the first round. was able to get under the goalie’s skin, it seemed to have the opposite Jon Cooper will probably match that, finding more minutes for the big effect, as a motivated Vasilevskiy stifled the Bruins for the remainder of three on defense: Victor Hedman, Mikhail Sergachev and Ryan the game. McDonagh.

After the loss, Marchand described it as “playoff hockey” and predicted Boston cuts the series lead to 3-2. he would score in Game 4. This series has all the elements of a Hollywood script. And, once again, – Joe McDonald Brad Marchand is playing the villain.

Game 4 His power-play goal in the second period proved crucial as the Bruins Knowing this is a chance to bury the Bruins on home ice, Tampa Bay will stave off elimination with a 2-1 over the Lightning at TD Garden. Tampa likely lean on their top six a little more tonight. The Bruins will stick with still leads the best-of-seven series 3-2. Marchand, who was fined $5,000 the status quo before bringing out the big guns. for his hit on the Lightning’s Brayden Point in Game 4, said the Bruins would respond in Game 5 and he answered the bell with his backdoor The Lightning take a 3-1 series lead, putting the Bruins on the ropes. tap-in on a nifty feed from David Pastrnak. Not only did Marchand score on the power play, but he also drew the roughing penalty on Pat Maroon But they didn’t leave this one unscathed. that set up the eventual game-winner.

Brayden Point was the star in a Game 4 win at Amalie Arena. He had two Both goalies were solid, but in the end, it was Rask who finished with a goals and an assist while going 8-for-12 in the dot in a 4-2 win. But Point 21-save performance en route to the victory. didn’t finish the game after taking an apparent slew foot from Brad Marchand midway through the third period. The result left Point down on Boston relied more on its top two lines and top four D-men in this game. the ice, holding his left knee. But he was able to get off the ice with the It didn’t help that Matt Grzelcyk was out with an upper-body injury. help of a couple of teammates. That ticked off Tampa Bay, with Barclay Goodrow jumping in to defend Point and pummeling Marchand, before “In order to force a Game 7, we’re going to need everybody to contribute taking his share of punches from a few Bruins in a massive scrum. There in Game 6,” Cassidy said. “Discipline will be a key factor and we have to was no penalty on the Marchand hit, but you can bet the NHL stay out of the box against a potent Tampa offense.” Department of Player Safety will review it. A Bruins team source told The Athletic that the players spent the off-night Coach Jon Cooper didn’t have an update on Point postgame other than watching Game 7 of the 2011 Eastern Conference final between the to say the injury looked worse than it actually was, with the team hopeful Bruins and the Lightning. Boston won that game 1-0 to advance to the the No. 1 center could play in Game 5. “I’ve always said, (Marchand) is a Stanley Cup final before beating the Canucks. player you don’t like playing, but you’d love to have him on your team,” “It served as motivation,” the team source said. “Hopefully it carries over Cooper said. “But that was a dangerous play.” into Game 6.”

It should make for some more bad blood in Boston for Game 5. – Joe McDonald

– Joe Smith Of course, it was him.

Immediately following the loss, Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy and You had to figure when Bruins star Brad Marchand skated a suspension Marchand said they hadn’t seen the replay yet, but didn’t think it was a for his Game 4 hit on Brayden Point (instead, drawing a fine), that he suspendable offense. might come back to bite (not lick this time) the Lightning. And Marchand’s Because there was no penalty on the ice, it wouldn’t be a surprise if power-play goal was the difference-maker as Boston stave off Marchand is fined for the hit on Point, especially if the Tampa forward elimination. The Lightning still feel good about where they’re at, believing isn’t able to play Game 5. Either way, the Bruins, one of the better puck they can close it out in Game 6 at home. The fact Point looked good after possession teams in the league, need to do a better job in the faceoff his lower-body injury was encouraging. They’ll no doubt lean on Victor circle. Hedman and Sergachev, both of whom logged more than 26 minutes in Game 5. “We knew this would be a long series,” Hedman said, who is Now that the series shifts back to Boston, Cassidy can create the one of two current Lightning players who were on the team for 2011 matchup he wants. It’ll be interesting to see if the Bruins coach decides Eastern Conference Final Game 7 (Steven Stamkos the other). They to go with backup Jaroslav Halak in Game 5 since the Lightning have hope that’s just ancient history and they won’t have to go back for won consecutive games against Rask. However, Rask is one of the another one. reasons the Bruins won the Presidents’ Trophy during the regular season, and also beat the Hurricanes in the first round, so maybe the net – Joe Smith remains his with the team one loss away from elimination. Game 6

Speaking of the first round, the Bruins staved off elimination and erased No changes for either side. Grzelcyk remains out. a 3-1 series deficit to win, so they’re confident they can do it again. If Marchand is out for disciplinary reasons, it will be a huge challenge for As if it would end any other way, this one is going to seven. Boston. On the off-day, Cassidy indicated that Marchand would be a game-time – Joe McDonald decision due to an upper-body injury. He was on the receiving end of a clean hit, but was in obvious discomfort, favoring his right shoulder late in Game 5 Game 5.

The NHL department of player safety has fined Brad Marchand $5,000 – He was in the lineup for Game 6 but wasn’t at his best. This time it was the maximum allowed under the CBA – for his Game 4 slew foot on veteran David Krejci who led the way for the Bruins with a pair of goals Brayden Point. and one assist en route to a 3-1 victory. Jake DeBrusk added the empty- After flipping a weighted coin to decide Marchand’s punishment (literally, net goal. we gave him a 20 percent chance of being suspended and a 60 percent The Lightning did a solid job shutting down Boston’s top line with chance of being fined), it was determined that Marchand would not be favorable matchups, so Krejci, like he’s done so many times during his barred from an elimination game. Point, the victim of the slew foot, won’t career, took control of the game. It helped that Cassidy tweaked his lines miss any time either which likely played into the decision. That means late in the game and moved Charlie Coyle up to play on Krejci’s right both clubs will be icing their best lineup for a pivotal matchup. side. Coyle was a beast down low in the offensive zone and controlled the play for much of the third period. He assisted on both of Krejci’s training camp and ready to compete once again for the Stanley Cup. This goals. veteran core isn’t done yet.”

With a chance to close out the series on home ice, Tampa fed off its fans In true Bergeron fashion, he was quick to congratulate the Lightning on at Amalie Arena and gained an early 1-0 lead when Hedman jumped into the victory, especially captain Steven Stamkos. “He deserves a Stanley the play and blasted a shot past Rask from the slot. It was the only one Cup,” Bergeron said. the Bruins netminder allowed and he finished with another strong performance (28 saves). When asked what he thought about Brady and Gronk sporting Lightning sweaters, a pissed off Marchand said, “Fuck them.” From the beginning of this series, both teams expected it to go the distance and now we’ll have a Game 7 back in Boston. – Joe McDonald

– Joe McDonald After the simulation was complete, McDonald informed Cassidy of the results. The affable Bruins coach was, shall we say, not impressed — Here we go. and predicted general manager Don Sweeney would feel the same:

The Lightning haven’t done anything easy this postseason, including “Mac … Sweens needs to see you tomorrow morning, 9 o’clock in his losing the first two at home in the first-round series against Toronto. And office.” it certainly isn’t surprising that this one is going to Game 7. But watching a 3-1 series lead disintegrate like this, and staring at a win or go home The Athletic LOADED: 04.23.2020 game in TD Garden has to make Lightning fans queasy.

Brayden Point appeared to be favoring his lower-body injury, so Anthony Cirelli saw his ice time jump over 20 minutes.

Coach Jon Cooper broke up the big three midway through, putting Cirelli between Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat. It looks like this could be another defining moment for their core, knowing a chance at the Cup rests on slaying the top team in the league on home ice.

– Joe Smith

Game 7

Grzelcyk is back for Game 7, a big boost to Boston’s defensive depth. The Bruins will likely stick with the ice-time allocation that’s been working for them in this comeback bid, while the Lightning are going all out and emptying the tank tonight. This is the season. Don’t be surprised if Hedman plays half the game here.

Tampa Bay survives Boston’s onslaught, wins Game 7 thriller to advance to the conference final.

Steven Stamkos is the vocal leader for the Lightning, the conscience of the room.

Yet his veteran teammates haven’t recalled him making a pregame speech quite like this. The captain, who returned from core surgery in the middle of the first round, impressed on the group how this is the most talented team he’s ever played on. The closest. And that it’d be a damn shame if their redemption story ended here, in TD Garden, where he had one of the worst memories of his career.

“We’ve got a lot of chapters left to write, boys,” Stamkos told them. “This isn’t where it (bleeping) ends.”

What happened next will live in Lightning lore. Both goalies were terrific, making their share of 10-bell saves, much like Dwayne Roloson and Tim Thomas did in the 2011 Game 7 showdown here. The scoreline was the same too: 1-0. Stamkos and Brad Marchand fought, with referee Tim Peel taking an inadvertent elbow to the face during the ensuing melee. (He left the game with an upper-body injury.) The Lightning bench later said they got fired up when the Jumbotron showed new Bucs (and former Pats legends) Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski in the stands chugging a beer and showing off their Stamkos and Victor Hedman jerseys. Gronk held up a sign, “Stanley Cup then Super Bowl.”

This one was close the entire way. Rask robbed Nikita Kucherov on a breakaway. Vasilevskiy somehow got a skate on Patrice Bergeron’s re- direction late in the third. It took two overtimes. But it ended when Mikhail Sergachev, trailing on a rush, took a feed from Brayden Point and went shelf on a one-timer. TD Garden was stunned silent. But in the hallway outside the visitor’s room, you heard loud applause. A roar. And on the dry erase board in the room, there was a brief message written in black sharpie. “8.” The number of wins needed to hoist the elusive Cup. The only end to their book.

– Joe Smith

A once-promising season implodes on the Bruins and it didn’t help that it ended on home ice. When the media was allowed in the locker room after the loss, Patrice Bergeron was the only player at his stall. He remained in his full equipment with only his helmet and gloves hanging up. He was in disbelief. “This one is going to hurt for a while, but I believe in this team. We have a strong group and I know they will be ready for 1173951 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo News LOADED: 04.23.2020

Eichel, Olofsson productive on power play, but Sabres need more

By Travis Yost Published Wed, Apr 22, 2020|Updated Wed, Apr 22, 2020

Travis Yost has been involved in the world of hockey analytics for a decade and is part of TSN's Hockey Analytics team. Prior to joining TSN, Yost was a contributor at the Ottawa Citizen, the Sporting News and NHL Numbers, and he has been a consultant for an NHL franchise. He will be contributing breakdowns on the Buffalo Sabres for The Buffalo News this season. Follow Yost on Twitter: @travisyost.

If you were looking for a bright spot from the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres, the sophomore season put together by Victor Olofsson is probably near the top of the list.

Save for Jack Eichel and perhaps Sam Reinhart, most Sabres forwards did not meet expectations on the offensive end. Jeff Skinner’s regression was the most significant, but even his scoring rates were impeded by the performance of his teammates.

Ultimately, this year’s Sabres – following an offseason in which they aggressively targeted secondary scoring depth – looked very similar to teams of yesteryear. With Eichel’s line on the ice, they were effective offensively. When he was not, they struggled.

That’s what makes Olofsson’s emergence interesting. Most of his scoring outburst is tied to playing such significant time with the likes of Eichel – about 85% of his even-strength ice time and 98% of his power play time came with the Sabres' captain. That is a significant advantage Olofsson has over his peers that must be taken into consideration.

But what also must be taken into consideration is Olofsson’s sheer productivity. The Swede had 20 goals in 54 games, and was a uniquely valuable asset for a Sabres power play that finished 20th in the league despite having no credible second unit.

Olofsson and Eichel combined for 51% – 51%! – of Buffalo’s power play goals this season.

Olofsson was opportunistic, but that type of production gets to the heart of what Buffalo (and every other NHL franchise) is trying to do – find players whose skill sets can complement one another. Buffalo doesn’t need Olofsson to be the distributor and playmaker on the first power play unit, because Eichel up front and Rasmus Dahlin on the blue line are more than capable. What they need is a credible scoring threat on the opposing side of Eichel.

This is where it gets fascinating. If you look at shooting maps – we can use Evolving Hockey’s for this exercise, but there are plenty out there – you can see that the distribution of shots and goals from Olofsson on the power play perfectly opposes that of Eichel. Now imagine both firing from their respective circles on the same shift:

For as much that goes on in any given power play shift, it is remarkable how the goals tended to cluster in and around the circles for both shooters. Eight of Eichel’s nine goals came from the left circle, like this one against Montreal. And seven of Olofsson’s 10 goals came from the right circle, like this one against Dallas.

For some of the more credible power play units in the league, this observation is commonplace. Look at shooting maps with the Washington Capitals over the years and you’ll see a similar trend – the primary shooting weapon being Alexander Ovechkin in the left circle, but secondary shooting options in the low slot and opposing circle between T.J. Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom, and even a credible relief valve from John Carlson on the blue line.

What we know about Buffalo’s first power play unit is quite similar to what we know about the first line at even strength – it’s effective, primarily because of Eichel, and secondarily because there are a couple of credible offensive players the organization can put around him.

But until the Sabres find ways to create a dependable middle-six and half-productive second power play unit, the theme of these articles will stay the same. And to that end, the approaching Buffalo offseason – whenever it comes to fruition – will be another critical one for the organization. 1173952 Calgary Flames of him all year long and our scouts had really good reports on him all year long.”

Player:Dayton Arneson Calgary Hitmen happy with WHL Draft day haul Selected:Fourth round, 78th overall

Hometown:Victoria, B.C. Daniel Austin Team:West Van Warriors Bantam Prep

Position:Left defence The Calgary Hitmen are happy with their picks. What Thompson says:“He’s an elite skater. He has a whole bunch of skill Nothing about the 2020 WHL Draft could be called normal, of course. and obviously didn’t play a whole bunch of hockey this year but he’s a The scouting process was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and guy we think has a huge upside to his game. We’re excited.” the draft itself took place completely online. Player:Hunter Sawka In normal times, you don’t really know how a team did in the draft until a couple years after the fact. Based on all the information they have, Selected:Fifth round, 95th overall though, the Hitmen are happy. Hometown:Cochrane, Alberta “We’re feeling very confident. We’re happy with all our picks,” said Hitmen director of player personnel Dallas Thompson. “Now, the hard Team:Edge School Bantam Prep work starts for these kids and we’ll see in three years how well we did.” Position:Right-wing

The Hitmen selected 10 players in Wednesday’s draft, which was moved What Thompson says:“Skilled, played on a very good Edge team and forward from May 7 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a list that’s has a well-rounded game. Skates well. He’s a bull, he’s a solid (guy) who highlighted by No. 12 overall pick Oliver Tulk, a centre out of Gibsons, competes. He’s tough to knock off the puck.” B.C. who played last year at the Delta Hockey Academy. Player:David Adaszynski Scouting on Tulk suggested he’s got elite hands. He picked up 27 goals and 42 assists in just 30 games last year, so he’s productive, too. Selected:Sixth round, 112th overall

The Hitmen selected another centre, AJ Lacroix, with their second-round Hometown:Burnaby, B.C. pick, 34th overall, suggesting they may be strong down the middle in a Team:Burnaby Winter Club couple years. Position:Centre They also chose three local Calgarians, including third-round pick Carter Yakemchuk, fifth-rounder Hunter Sawka and Dax Hughes-Williams, one What Thompson says:“Another guy who has a lot of skill and led his of three sixth-round selections. team in scoring. Skates very well and is quick and has a lot of dynamics to his game with his skills.” Here’s what Thompson had to say about each of the Hitmen’s picks: Player:Dax Hughes-Williams Player: Oliver Tulk Selected:Sixth round, 121st overall Selected: First round, 12th overall Hometown:Calgary Hometown: Gibsons, B.C. Team:Calgary Bisons Team: Delta Hockey Academy Bantam Prep Green Position:Left defence Position: Centre What Thompson says:“Smaller guy right now but we think will grow a What Thompson says: “He plays a two-way game but he’s a highly- little bit. Is skilled, takes some chances here and there but we like that he skilled player and skates very well. He’s got a good head for the game takes chances at the right time.” and plays hard every game. I never saw him take one game off this year … He’s got a great set of hands and he can do a little bit of both, he can STORY CONTINUES BELOW distribute and make plays or he can score.” This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Player:A.J. Lacroix Article content continued Selected:Second round, 34th overall Player:Xander Schulte Hometown:West Vancouver, B.C. Selected:Sixth round, 131st overall Team:West Van Warriors Bantam Prep Hometown:Stony Plain, Alberta Position:Centre Team:PAC Saints BAAA What Thompson says:“Bigger guy, skates very well. Hard guy to play against. He’s got skill, he can do a little bit of everything …We didn’t think Position:Right-wing AJ would be there when we picked in the second round, but we were What Thompson says: “Good bloodline, his dad played pro, played in looking to pick two forwards and managed to do that.” Spokane in the . He’s a solid, solid boy and Player: Carter Yakemchuk plays centre, also. He competes. For where we got him, we’re really happy.” Selected:Third round, 65th overall Player:Alex Garrett Hometown:Calgary Selected:Seventh round, 144th overall Team:Calgary NWCAA Flames BAAA Hometown:, Position:Right defence Team:Saskatoon Generals BAA What Thompson says: “We like that he lets the game come to him. He has a little bit of offence, we think he skates really well and he played on Position:Goalie a really good team this year and to us, he was one of the leaders on the team and one of our scouts in Calgary, Ross MacLean, spoke very highly What Thompson says:“Very technical. He’s a guy who challenges the shooters. As I said, very technical. He’s not a guy who slides around. He’s very solid on his skates and moves very well side-to-side.”

Player:Ethan Alsip

Selected:Eighth round, 166 overall

Hometown:Winnipeg

Team:Winnipeg Warriors B1AAA

Position:Left defence

What Thompson says:“Potential to grow. My scout in Winnipeg really liked his game all year. He’s a leader on his team, played on a very good team and was one of the best defencemen on his team in a very good league.”

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Blackhawks may conclude rest of regular season in Minnesota this summer, per reports

The NHL is reportedly now considering resuming the postponed regular season with each division playing all its games in one city.

By Ben Pope Apr 22, 2020, 3:19pm CDT

The Blackhawks may play more hockey in the 2019-20 NHL season after all, but it likely won’t be in Chicago.

A new blueprint for concluding the paused regular season and conducting the Stanley Cup Playoffs is gaining steam, and early indications are that it would send the Hawks and the rest of the Central Division to Minnesota for the summer.

Multiple reports by Sportsnet and ESPN on Tuesday and Wednesday indicate that the NHL hopes to select one arena per division to host all of that division’s games. The Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota — home of the Wild — is the frontrunner for the Central.

Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, is reportedly the frontrunner to host the Oilers and the rest of the Pacific Division, and PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C., is the frontrunner to host the Hurricanes and the rest of the . A potential host for the Atlantic Division — oddly organized with Tampa Bay, Florida, Buffalo, Boston, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Detroit — has yet to be determined.

Florida Panthers president Matthew Caldwell was the first NHL representative to talk publicly about the possible new format, telling reporters on a Wednesday conference call that the league is targeting a June training camp and a July regular season resumption.

“When we feel that players are safe, and we have enough testing and we have enough ways to get back on the ice, for us it’s probably going to be contained at playing at four or five neutral sites,” Caldwell added. “So that’s all being discussed right now. My guess is that we would start with limited fans or empty arenas, so just with the teams and the associated staffs.”

If it comes to fruition, the Hawks would end up spending a lot more time in Minnesota than they expected to this season. They lost, 3-2 in overtime, there on February 4; they had one more scheduled trip on March 19 canceled by the pandemic.

But they also had 11 other games canceled by the pandemic, and only three of those were against divisional opponents. So the resumed regular season schedule would evidently need to change greatly, and a lot of questions remain about how that could be done evenly.

The playoff format — and the number of teams included — also remains unclear. The Hawks had largely fallen out of the eight-teams-per- conference race by mid-March, but an expanded playoff field could theoretically put them back in the mix.

Meanwhile, a previously discussed plan that would’ve staged the entire NHL season in one neutral location, with reported options including North Dakota or New Hampshire, has reportedly now been ruled out.

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Patrick Kane in a Blues sweater is a Blackhawks fan's nightmare

By Slavko Bekovic April 22, 2020 4:26 PM

We are now 42 days into the NHL pausing the season, and we’ve officially hit a quarantine low.

In late March, the NHL did a redo of the 2006 NHL Draft, having the St. Louis Blues select Jonathan Toews first overall, and now we have graphic designers doing crazy NHL jersey swaps.

Shield your eyes, Blackhawks fans. If you don’t want to see Patrick Kane wearing 88 for the Blues, scroll no further…

Patrick Kane x @StLouisBlues #AbsurdNHLSwaps pic.twitter.com/V5SLk6hzAi

— Chris Ramirez (@CRamirezCalif) April 22, 2020

BURN IT WITH FIRE!

Props to Chris, because that is a very well done jersey swap. However, this would be like photoshopping Ryan Kesler or Alex Burrows in a Blackhawks sweater. Or photoshopping Toews or Duncan Keith in a Red Wings or Canucks sweater.

Thankfully, for both Blackhawks and Blues fans, this is not a reality. Kane is essentially public enemy no. 1 in St. Louis, getting mercilessly booed during this year’s all-star festivities.

So maybe next time you get the urge to Photoshop a Blackhawks legend in a rival sweater, just don’t?

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.23.2020 1173955 Chicago Blackhawks

Report: NHL focused on restarting season in league arenas, not neutral sites

By Charlie Roumeliotis April 22, 2020 1:35 PM

At the beginning of April, the NHL was reportedly exploring the idea of playing at lesser-populated neutral sites — such as North Dakota — if hockey were to kick back up again. But that no longer appears to be the case.

ESPN's Emily Kaplan and Greg Wyshynski confirmed Wednesday that the league has shifted its attention to restarting the 2019-20 season at NHL arenas, and would likely include one central location per division. Sportsnet's was the first to mention Carolina (Metropolitan), Edmonton (Pacific) and Minnesota (Central) as three potential destinations for its respective divisions; a leading candidate for the Atlantic remains unclear.

Although the neutral site idea was creative, infrastructure would've presented a major challenge for the league and everyone involved — players, team staff, media, broadcasting crews, etc.

The NHL, which put its season on pause March 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, remains committed to completing the 2019-20 campaign in some capacity and awarding the Stanley Cup. And that could happen late in the summer.

"The players right now are all quarantined," Florida Panthers president and CEO Matthew Caldwell said on a Re-Open Florida Task Force conference call Tuesday. "I know for the NHL, our players are quarantined through the end of April, and that will probably be extended into May. But when we are able to come out of the quarantine period, players are going to need time to work out. I think all leagues are thinking about some training camp that we would do before the start of the season.

"So that's going to take us into the June timeframe. At least with the NHL, we're trying to target some time in July. When we feel that players are safe, and we have enough testing and we have enough ways to get back on the ice for us, it's probably going to be contained at playing at four or five neutral sites. So that's all being discussed right now. My guess is that we would start with limited fans or empty arenas. So just with the teams and the associated staffs."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.23.2020 1173956 Chicago Blackhawks season but make a full recovery, returning the following season and netting 10 goals and 39 points in 79 games.

However, two things had happened back in 2008 that would have a direct What if the Blues had drafted Jonathan Toews No. 1 overall in 2006? impact on his future with the organization: Doug Armstrong was hired as the GM-in-waiting in May, and the club selected Alex Pietrangelo with the No. 4 overall pick in June. Armstrong would be watching vigilantly from By Jeremy Rutherford and Mark Lazerus Apr 22, 2020 behind the scenes, while Pietrangelo would be laying the foundation to be a true No. 1 defenseman.

In 2011, with Pietrangelo en route to a 43-point rookie season, Armstrong Editor’s note: “What if” is an occasional series at The Athletic exploring executed a blockbuster deal, sending Johnson, Jay McClement and a what might have happened if things had gone differently at significant first-round pick to for Chris Stewart, Kevin Shattenkirk and a points in sports history. second-round pick. Johnson was just 21 years old and had played only T.J. Oshie was the guest on our “We Went Blues” podcast this week with 203 games in the NHL, but Armstrong had seen enough. co-host Barret Jackman and myself. That deal worked out OK for the Blues, but had they taken Toews, they Fans will remember that the current Washington Capitals forward was wouldn’t have even entertained the idea of trading the No 1 overall pick. once a popular player with the St. Louis Blues, taken in the first round of After going back to North Dakota for a year, Toews put up 24 goals and the 2005 NHL draft. But before that, Oshie played with Jonathan Toews 54 points in 64 as a rookie with Chicago in 2007-08. At age 20, going into for two years at the University of North Dakota. his second season, he was named the Blackhawks’ captain and responded with 34 goals and 69 points in 82 games. And in his third The summer after Oshie’s draft year, the Blues had the No. 1 overall pick year, the Hawks won their first of three Stanley Cups in a six-year span. in 2006, and Toews was going to be one of the top picks. Over the years, Oshie and I have had a few conversations in which he told me that he It’s impossible to know how Toews would have performed with the Blues’ pushed for the Blues to take Toews, but we know what happened. They personnel, which at the time included players such as Brad Boyes, Paul took defenseman Erik Johnson No. 1 overall, Jordan Staal went No. 2 to Kariya, Keith Tkachuk, Lee Stempniak, Andy McDonald, David Backes Pittsburgh and Toews went No. 3 to Chicago. Two of those three have and David Perron. But one thing is for sure: The search for a true No. 1 since been traded and the other, Toews, will one day have a statue in center and a leader would have been over. Some might argue that Chicago and his No. 19 retired in the United Center rafters. Johnson could have developed into a force if not for the golf cart injury, but even before the incident, those around the organization were noticing So during this week’s podcast, I asked Oshie what he recalled about that passion didn’t drip from the defenseman the way it did with “Captain pumping Toews’ tires to the Blues. Serious” in Chicago.

“Yeah, I did,” he said. “I don’t know how much input a freshman in But let’s take a deeper dive into how not having Toews affected the college can give pro scouts, but I had mentioned to them just kind of the Blues’ other moves, the signings and trades they made to compensate type of player he was. He was 17 (years old) as a freshman in college. I and the draft picks they didn’t have as a result. There are probably more think he only went to high school for three years. He was very mature at points to be made, but here’s the list I came up with off the top of my a young age and someone that I knew would be very good in the NHL head. and be in the NHL for a long time. So we had imagined and we had hoped that the Blues were going to draft him. Back then, (Johnson) being • Shortly after David Backes arrived in St. Louis in 2006-07, former coach the size he was, and the talent that he had … I’ve talked to scouts from Andy Murray turned the right winger into a center. Backes proved to be back then and they were like, ‘No matter what you do at the time, I think capable in the middle, but how much better would Backes have been on anyone that had the No. 1 overall was probably going to take E.J. the wing?

“But looking back, to pick up (Toews) and have that No. 1 center and • In the 2007 draft, one year after taking Johnson, the Blues had three future leader, future captain, it definitely would have changed the course picks in the first round. They took Lars Eller No. 13 overall, Ian Cole No. of history. My first year (in St. Louis), which would have been (Toews’ 18 and David Perron No. 26. If they had taken Toews in 2006, would they second year in Chicago), E.J. had the (golf cart) accident, so he missed have taken a defenseman at No. 13 instead of Eller? Shattenkirk went the year. You never know what would have happened if that didn’t No. 14 to Colorado, so he would have been a possibility. happen. But (Toews’) career and his resume, I think, speaks for itself.” • When the Blues traded Johnson to the Avalanche, they got Shattenkirk In the time I’ve been covering the Blues (since 2005), it’s the biggest and Stewart in the deal, and both were good players. Shattenkirk played “What if …” question I can think of. What if Toews were a Blue all these behind Pietrangelo and produced more offense than Johnson probably years? How would the rivalry have been different? To lay it all out, I’ve would have, with 59 goals and 258 points in 425 games; and Stewart had summarized why the Blues took Johnson and the aftermath of their 63 goals and 115 points in 211 games. But remember, the Blues also decision, and I’ve solicited the help of colleague Mark Lazerus of The sent a first-round pick (No. 11 overall in 2011) to Colorado, and the Blues Athletic Chicago to give us his thoughts on the Blackhawks. At the end, got the Avalanche’s second-round pick (No. 32 overall). The Avs drafted we had some fun back-and-forth banter before reaching a conclusion. defenseman Duncan Siemens, who played just 20 games in the NHL; the Blues took forward Ty Rattie, who played 99 games. Let’s say the Blues — Jeremy Rutherford had kept the No. 11 pick, and because they took Rattie, let’s say they still take a forward. The list of forwards from No. 11-32 in that draft included The Blues’ perspective Sven Baertschi, J.T. Miller, Joel Armia, Philip Danault, Vladislav The Blues’ reward for suffering through a last-place finish in 2005-06 was Namestnikov and Rickard Rakell. the first No. 1 overall pick in franchise history. Newly hired team • If the Blues don’t Johnson, do they take defenseman Colton president John Davidson wanted to rebuild from the blue line out, and Parayko with a third-round pick in 2012? They probably still would have what better way to do that than with a strapping, 6-foot-4, 222-pound because Parayko was a late-bloomer and his potential as a No. 1 defenseman? defenseman wasn’t clear at the time. But with Pietrangelo and Johnson It’s been said for many years that it takes longer for players to develop on still early in their careers, that would have led to a logjam on the right the back end, and perhaps the best illustration is that since the NHL side. began awarding the Calder Trophy in 1933, only nine defensemen had • With Toews in St. Louis, would there have been a need to sign center won the Rookie of the Year Award before Johnson’s draft year: Barret Paul Stastny to a four-year, $28 million deal in 2014? It worked out fine, Jackman, , Brian Leetch, , Ray Bourque, Denis but could that money have been spent elsewhere? Not having to spend Potvin, , Jacques Laperriere and . on the positions that Shattenkirk and Stewart played make that Johnson, who played two seasons for the U.S. National Development somewhat of a moot point, but it’s still food for thought. team and one at the University of Minnesota, was no different. He looked • Would luring Jori Lehtera to the NHL from the KHL have been as much the part with the Blues and showed glimpses with 33 points in his rookie of a priority? If not, then the Blues never would have overpaid him with a year. His second season would be so important to his growth, but he four-year, $14.1 million contract extension in 2016. They eventually had never got on the ice, tearing his right ACL in a golf cart accident at a to move the bad contract, trading Lehtera and two first-round picks to team-bonding trip just before training camp. He’d miss the entire 2008-09 Philadelphia, which the Flyers used on Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee. Hell, does Hossa even sign in Chicago after two near-misses with the The Blues got a good player in Brayden Schenn, but would not have had Red Wings and Penguins if Toews isn’t there? Does Campbell a year to give up multiple first- for Schenn. earlier? Do they win three Cups? Two? One? None?

• Finally, we must mention what the Blues got for Shattenkirk and Stewart The mind reels trying to envision the ripple effect of putting any other when they traded them to Washington and Buffalo, respectively. player in Toews’ place. Shattenkirk yielded prospect Zach Sanford and a first-round pick, which was one of the picks the Blues sent to Philadelphia (Frost). Stewart was “For me, it’s the wrong question,” said Stan Bowman, then a member of involved in the package with Jaroslav Halak that brought in goalie Ryan Tallon’s staff. “Because the question has an underlying supposition that Miller and Steve Ott. So essentially, what the Blues got in return for the there is one guy, and only one guy. That’s the wrong question to have. players involved in the Johnson trade were Miller for a couple of months, There isn’t one guy. These are all good players. It’s not like those guys Ott for three seasons, Sanford and the pick that helped acquire Schenn are slouches. They won Stanley Cups, too.” and dispose of Lehtera. That’s fair. Toews isn’t the best player on the Blackhawks. He probably That’s it from the Blues’ side. So let’s read what Lazerus has to say… isn’t even the best player in the 2006 draft. But as Bowman and Tallon both put it, he was the right guy for the Blackhawks. Anyone else, and The Blackhawks perspective history — and the United Center rafters — would look a lot different.

Looking back on the Blackhawks’ decade of dominance, who was the How it all played out … most irreplaceable player? Lazerus: First of all, kudos to JR for coming up with possibly the single- Patrick Kane was the most productive and the most talented, but there most gut-wrenching what-if scenario for Chicagoans. The thought of were plenty of other players who could put the puck in the net. Duncan Jonathan Toews — maybe the most universally admired and loved Keith was the MVP, the engine that made everything go, but Brent Chicago athlete in decades — playing for the team and the city Seabrook, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Brian Campbell were no slouches on Chicagoans hate the most? That’s some elite-level trolling right there. the back end. Marian Hossa’s extraordinary value has been obvious in Truly. Bravo. *chef’s kiss* his absence, as the Blackhawks have crumbled without his two-way dominance, but he was never the star attraction. The question, though: Is Toews enough to put those terrific Blues teams of the mid-2010s over the top? I picked the Blues to win the Cup in both But take away Jonathan Toews as the No. 1 center — the guy who could 2013 and 2014 in my preseason picks in the Sun-Times, because I don’t take advantage of favorable matchups when Kane’s line drew the most learn lessons. Only the Ducks and the Blackhawks (by two measly attention, who could shut down opponents’ top lines, who could kill points) had more regular-season standings points than the Blues from penalties, win critical faceoffs, be instrumental on the power play — and 2013-2016. With Toews up top and in the room, do they claw together a the whole house of cards collapses. The other centers in 2010 were few more series victories and win a Cup or two long before the “Gloria” Dave Bolland, John Madden and (a winger by trade). In era? Does Toews help them hold on to a 2-0 series lead in 2014? Does 2013, it was Michal Handzus, Andrew Shaw and Bolland. In 2015, it was Jonathan Toews become the most hated man in Chicago? Or does the an aging Brad Richards, a rental Antoine Vermette and Marcus Kruger. butterfly effect swing the other way, and those Blues teams aren’t even all that good in the first place as the roster construction veers in other For the last 13 seasons, Toews has been the only No. 1 center the directions? The possibilities are endless. Blackhawks have had. And you don’t win Stanley Cups without a No. 1 center. Rutherford: Dang it, you picked up on the trolling. Well, with Blues fans watching the club go 4-0 against the Hawks this season, but not having So what if the Blues had indeed taken Toews No. 1 overall in the 2006 anything to rub their nose in lately, I figured we’d write a story about draft? Aside from breaking Blackhawks general manager ’s stealing your captain. heart — Tallon insists that Toews was his man no matter what, while other GMs scoff, noting that Johnson was the consensus No. 1 that year. But seriously, you hit the nail on the head with your top takeaway in this Jarmo Kekalainen, then the architect of the Blues’ draft, said he read an scenario. Does Toews take those Blues teams that were close to another anonymous survey of the league’s GMs and that 29 of them said they’d level and help them win a Cup? It’s and oranges when you put take Johnson. Was Tallon the lone holdout? Perhaps. somebody on a different roster with different coaches, etc., but you have to believe he does — he’s obviously that good. And the thought of Toews Regardless, the Penguins almost certainly would have taken Johnson at being hated in Chicago, only you would put that in people’s heads, ha. No. 2 — Ray Shero took a blue-liner in the second and third rounds after taking Staal and needed a No. 1 defenseman after drafting Marc-Andre Lazerus: Well, that’s how drastic a what-if this is. This is on Fleury, Evgeni Malkin and in the previous three drafts — the Red Sox, Sidney Crosby on the Flyers, Tom Brady on the Bills. which would have left the Blackhawks with a most intriguing decision. Do There’s no way of knowing the difference Toews would have made on they take Staal, the imposing and polished two-way center, who had put that Blues team. But being around the guy and his teammates for the up 68 points in 68 games in the OHL? Do they take Phil Kessel, the past eight seasons — particularly during all those Cups runs — you see supremely talented winger who had fallen from the top of draft boards that intangible impact he has. I always go back to that 2015 run, when because he was deemed too unpredictable by GMs and scouts? Or do the Blackhawks were exhausted, miserable, dealing with tragedy and they take Nicklas Backstrom, the gifted skater and playmaker who was controversy off the ice. They had no business winning the Stanley Cup something of a wild card coming over from Sweden? that year. But Toews basically won the conference final against the Ducks by himself. And his killer instinct, his defiance, his borderline Any of them would have made an impact. Backstrom has 112 more arrogance in his self-belief permeated every corner of that room. He is as career points than Toews; he’s a superior offensive weapon. Kessel has advertised. All the stuff that makes fans in other cities roll their eyes? 26 more career goals than Toews; Kane called him the most naturally Particularly over the last five years, as the Blackhawks have crashed gifted player he’d ever played with while skating on a line with him at the hard? I feel like an old Han Solo in “The Force Awakens,” telling the next 2014 Olympics in Sochi. Staal scored 29 goals as a rookie while Toews generation of cynics: “It’s true. All of it.” was still at North Dakota. Oh, it helps that he’s a great offensive player, a great defensive player, a But could any of them have been a captain at age 20? Could they have great faceoff man and a great penalty-killer. That part, too. handled being the face of a resurgent franchise in a massive media market? Could they have won the Conn Smythe just six weeks after their And for any doubters out there, look what happened when Ryan O’Reilly 22nd birthday? Could they have spent three months as a de facto coach showed up in St. Louis. No. 1 centers kinda matter. during the lockout, springboarding the Blackhawks to a 21-0-3 run to open another Stanley Cup season? Could they have stood up in the Rutherford: As we wrap up here, I was just thinking about that name, middle of the locker room during the third intermission of Game 7 against O’Reilly. Would Blues fans have loved to have Toews the last decade- Detroit after the Blackhawks had a series victory taken away from them plus? The honest ones will answer yes. The other ones value principles by the officials and growled, “We’ll just fucking beat them 3-1,” a defiant higher than championships. But you know what? For all the different moment that defined a team and an era? Could they have willed an ways it might have played out if the team had drafted him, one thing’s exhausted team to a third championship in six years in 2015? Could they pretty certain: They never would have traded for O’Reilly. And while it have been the driving force behind an unflappable mindset that led to took a few extra years to break the Stanley Cup drought, the storybook unprecedented success? 2018-19 season would have never happened. So can we agree that everything happens for a reason, and the rivalry is better off with what unfolded in reality?

Lazerus: Absolutely. Both teams and cities have made out rather well in the long run. But your pizza’s still awful. And always will be. There’s no what-if scenario that would make provel cheese not disgusting.

Rutherford: You can keep your captain. I’ll keep my cheese.

The Athletic LOADED: 04.23.2020 1173957 Columbus Blue Jackets Here’s a look at this year’s Blue Jackets. This chart shows each player’s projected GSVA (pGSVA), how that averages out across an 82-game season, how many games a player missed, how many were due to injury Injuries always hurt: Somehow Blue Jackets weren’t knocked out by and the total resulting GSVA loss per player. At the bottom, we see the multiple hits totals, as well as the percentage of the team GSVA, lost due to injury. (click chart to enlarge)

What do we see? First, a shout out to Jenner, Gustav Nyquist and Pierre- By Alison Lukan Apr 22, 2020 Luc Dubois who managed to play all of the 2019-20 season to date and didn’t suffer an injury (Dubois has yet to miss a game in his NHL career).

But other than that, we see the biggest impact came from the loss of At points during this season, if you were a Blue Jackets fan, you didn’t offensive talent like Oliver Bjorkstrand, Cam Atkinson and Josh know whether to laugh or cry. The team was surpassing most Anderson. Murray and Jones’ injuries hurt, too. As we said, we didn’t expectations, but they also seemed to be losing players from the lineup factor in a long injury to goaltender Joonas Korpisalo or a nine-game at a furious pace. At present, the team officially states 419 games have absence for his partner, Elvis Merzlikins, and still, all in all, the Blue been lost to injury. The team played 10 percent of its season with 10-plus Jackets lost 18.39 percent of their expected talent due to injury this year. starters out of its lineup and averaged six starters out per game. But wait. There have only been 70 games played. Can we project what a But for those who’ve followed this team for years, something felt similar. full 82-game season might have felt like in terms of injury lost? We can. Was this like the 2014-15 season when every postgame news (click chart to enlarge) conference had then-coach Todd Richards talking about a skater who left Here’s what a full season looks like using projected GSVA. We adjusted the game and every team practice included another release announcing Jones, Kukan, Texier and Bjorkstrand’s totals to anticipate that they were another player placed on injured reserve? Like this year, absences were likely to be out the remainder of the regular season. We also added five measured in weeks and months; Four players (Boone Jenner, Brandon games to Murray’s total as he has been managing his back injury and Dubinsky, Ryan Murray and ) were already on the injured surely would have wanted to be healthy for a postseason. reserve before the puck dropped on opening night. The impact jumps a bit to 23.5 percent, over a fifth, and almost a quarter, But, there were some things that seem different. of a roster’s talent lost to injury. That 2014-15 team still holds the franchise record for man-games lost So, is this one of the biggest impacts a Blue Jackets team has felt? What (508). They finished with a 42-35-5 record (.543 points percentage), did that 2014-15 season look like? earned 89 points and placed 22nd out of 30 teams putting them out of the playoffs. As for this year’s group, when the NHL season hit pause, Here it is. (click chart to enlarge) the Blue Jackets had a 33-22-15 record (.521 points percentage) and were holding onto a wild-card spot with 12 games to play. They also We don’t account for a rough season for goaler Sergei Bobrovsky, but would have likely finished with at least 479 man-games lost (accounting this Blue Jackets team, while it lost more man-games, the overall for injuries to Seth Jones, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Josh Anderson, Alexandre percentage of talent loss was lower than either of our scenarios for this Texier and Dean Kukan). Not as many as that 2014-15 squad, but close, team’s losses (19.90 percent). yet still in a better overall position as a team. So this has been a significant accomplishment by the Blue Jackets What, if anything, is different between these two rosters that one is right overcoming a severe depletion of talent as the roster was originally in the thick of the hunt for a playoff spot and one was not? designed. It feels like what this team was doing as far as their record and place in the standings was remarkable in the face of an anticipated talent There are plenty of questions we could ask: What did the league look like loss of almost 25 percent. Is it remarkable outside the Ohio borders? as a whole, coaching methodologies, scheduling, and on and on, but what decided to look at, at least today, is did either of these two Blue Another team that has faced a similar narrative this season is the Jackets’ teams suffer more in terms of the overall talent they lost due to Pittsburgh Penguins. They’ve been besieged by long-lasting injuries to injury? key players, including Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. How much talent did their roster lose if we put their opening night roster through our Quite often, we choose to look to man-games lost to try to measure the exercise? (click chart to enlarge) effect of injuries. But that doesn’t equate for who was out any given lineup for any given point in time. It also doesn’t necessarily translate We went ahead and adjusted for an 82-game season here and extended season to season. But we now have a better way to try to answer this the injuries for Nick Bjugstad, Jake Guentzel, Dominik Simon and question: The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn’s Game Score Value Added Zachary Aston-Reese through the regular season’s end. The Penguin’s (GSVA) data from the past decade of play. GSVA quantifies a player’s total talent loss is at 23.66 percent, right about where the Blue Jackets “value” so by pulling data from both the 2014-15 and current Blue wound end up. (For what it’s worth, the 70-game scenario for Pittsburgh Jackets’ season, we can measure how much “value” was lost by each had them losing 20.82 percent of their value. The advantage of having team and what was the overall percentage of talent lost to injury. players like Crosby and Malkin back and healthy helps cover for other injuries. Before we dig in, a few notes: In summary I’ve tracked Blue Jackets’ players game absences for seven seasons. For my purposes, illness is considered a man game lost. Suspensions All in all, it’s fair to say that Columbus faced one of the organization’s are not. toughest years in terms of overcoming injury. Even though it didn’t look like it would hit a new franchise record in terms of man-games lost, it was Also, GSVA only calculates when a player has played a minimum of 12 a season in which they found an impressive way to deal with the loss of games in one season. Players with fewer games played are not included value when a player would get hurt. here … It’s hard to think of teams that have dealt with bigger challenges, but the With one exception! Ryan Murray played 12 games in 2014-15. We Penguins also faced a similar challenge in compensating for the value chose to approximate his GSVA for that year by averaging the season their team missed when a player was injured. And while we didn’t touch before and the season after. on the multitudes of variations each team’s roster took through their seasons, it’s important to acknowledge the incredible performances by Our first pass analysis contemplated only skaters who were on the Pittsburgh’s and Columbus’ depth to keep both teams rolling along. opening night roster or players acquired via trade for opening night players (we wanted to look at the original design for each team). Again, the reasons why Columbus fought its way into the playoff discussion this season are likely many: coaching, team structure, that Goalies were not included, but any significant injuries will be noted feeling of “belief” that so many players mention time and time again … below. but to put it all together and overcome a loss almost 24 percent of your For players involved in a trade, only their injuries with Columbus were roster’s value is definitely a feat worth noticing. considered. The Athletic LOADED: 04.23.2020 Now let’s see what we find out. 1173958 league and picked first overall. Instead, they ended up with the seventh- overall pick, which was eventually traded to the New York Rangers.

Juicy. But not as juicy as the what-if that happened for the Stars and How Julius Honka ensured the Stars would draft Miro Heiskanen Detroit Red Wings, who unwittingly got screwed when Smith couldn’t handle Honka’s blast.

By Sean Shapiro Apr 22, 2020 Honka’s goal moved the Stars up to 24th in the standings, as the Red Wings dropped to 25th. With that movement, the Stars ended up with Heiskanen while the Red Wings dropped to the ninth draft slot. Nothing against Michael Rasmussen, whom Detroit selected, but a rebuild in The most important play in Dallas Stars history happened on June 19, Detroit looks a lot better with Heiskanen or Elias Petterson in the fold. 1999 in Buffalo’s Marine Midland Arena. I asked our Red Wings beat writer, Max Bultman, for what might have When went to the net and scored in double overtime of Game been if Detroit had that choice. 6, the Stars won the Stanley Cup. It doesn’t get any bigger than that. “Things might look a whole lot different for the Red Wings had they But since the most important play in franchise history has been written ended up with the third overall pick back in 2017 and used it to take Elias about ad nauseam — though I’m sure our friends at The Athletic Buffalo Pettersson. Most importantly, they would no longer still be looking for could find something new on it — it’s probably time we look at the next another top center to pair with Dylan Larkin. In fact, with those two most important play: the one that will help deliver the Stars their next title, already NHLers and Joe Veleno in Grand Rapids, they’re probably just whenever that happens. about set down the middle going forward. Having Pettersson would mean Other plays could have been worthy of this title. Brenden Morrow’s they likely wouldn’t have had as bad of seasons as they did last year or quadruple-overtime game-winner was iconic, but it was just a precursor in 2019-20, so perhaps they lose out on Moritz Seider and whatever pick to a loss in the Western Conference Finals. Alexander Radulov’s game- they land in this year’s lottery, instead taking later picks in each draft. winning goal in the Winter Classic in front of 85,630 in the Cotton Bowl Still, Pettersson’s the player you dream of getting picking at the top of the will go down as one of the keynote moments in franchise history, but it draft. There’d be a lot more optimism around Detroit if that break had was just a regulation goal in a regular-season game when you boil it gone their way, and the organization might even be ready to turn the down. corner as soon as next year, considering Pettersson might be the chip they need to sell free agents on joining the fold.” For this-could-lead-to-an-eventual-Stanley-Cup importance, we have to go back to April 4, 2017. Yes, the Stars missed the playoffs that season. Reality ended positively for the Stars, who ended up with their franchise That’s part of the story. defenseman and a cornerstone who is going to help define hockey in Dallas for the next decade. The 2016-17 season was one of the most disappointing in franchise history. Fresh off the best record in the Western Conference and the Honka and Heiskanen co-existed in Dallas for one season, with the 19- second round of the playoffs the Stars fell apart, both physically and year-old wunderkind reaching the all-star game and setting the stage for mentally, in Lindy Ruff’s final season. It was a hard fall after near-glory in a long-term future with the Stars. Honka was effectively shelved and 2016, and the hard reset by the franchise afterward is something fans became a healthy scratch from January on. When it was time to re-sign bemoaned. as a restricted free agent last summer, he opted to return to Finland.

But on that April night against the Arizona Coyotes, Julius Honka did this. Honka’s career in Dallas: 87 games, two goals.

Because of that, this happened. But Honka beat the Coyotes in overtime on April 4, 2017 so the Stars could someday, maybe, make a Cup run. And because of that, this happened. The Athletic LOADED: 04.23.2020 If the Stars win a Stanley Cup in the next decade, it’ll likely be because of that draft pick, which was spent on Miro Heiskanen.

So how did an overtime goal sequence starring Julius Honka with cameos by Jason Spezza and Gemel Smith alter the future of the Stars franchise?

This game was played with less than a week remaining in the regular season between two teams without any chance of reaching the playoffs. It was a seemingly meaningless game that turned exciting when the Coyotes rallied from a 2-0 deficit and forced overtime in the third period on a goal by Anthony Duclair.

In overtime, Honka delivered a glimpse of what everyone hoped he would be in Dallas. For a glorious sequence in overtime, the defenseman danced and dashed around the Coyotes. He was a one-man wrecking crew before finally blasting a bomb past Mike Smith’s for his first career NHL goal.

It was a goal that left many, myself included, looking forward to what Honka would bring to the table during the 2017-18 season. He was primed for big things, right?

Three years later, Honka is wallowing away in Finland, unsigned and unused by the Stars as they hope that some team is willing to offer at least a third-round pick for his rights. His time in Dallas defined more by press box chicken fingers than overtime game-winning goals.

But that game-winning goal changed everything for three NHL teams.

Twenty-five days after Honka’s goal, the NHL held the draft lottery where the team that finished 27th ended up getting the first overall pick. The team that finished 18th got the second overall pick and the team that finished 24th got the third overall pick.

The New Jersey Devils finished 27th with 70 points that season. The Coyotes also had 70 points but ranked 28th-best on the tiebreaker. Had they won that game in overtime, they would have ranked 27th in the 1173959 Detroit Red Wings “I haven’t given it any thought,” Howard said. “Right now all I am focused on is helping my wife with the kiddos and doing our part of self- quarantining and keeping everyone safe.”

Detroit Red Wings' Jimmy Howard buys N95 masks for Detroit Medical Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.23.2020 Center

Helene St. James, Detroit Free PressPublished 12:10 p.m. ET April 22, 2020 | Updated 2:02 p.m. ET April 22, 2020

Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard knows something about needing a mask in order to work.

Through his Jimmy Howard Foundation, he has donated $50,000 worth of N95 masks to the Detroit Medical Center to help protect healthcare workers and patients on the front lines dealing with COVID-19.

“I felt like it was my duty,” Howard told the Free Press. “Through my foundation, we were able to come up with the funds. The biggest thing actually was finding the masks. They’re in such high demand, but we were able to come across a supplier and we were able to purchase them.

“With me playing behind a mask for so many years, it was fitting to come up with the idea of donating masks.”

Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard protects the net during the first period against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Detroit.

The Wings have been self-quarantining since the NHL shut down March 12 because of the pandemic, but have found ways to help out during the pandemic.

Earlier this month, Wings teammate Dylan Larkin and his dad, Kevin, paired up to ensure 50,000 vinyl powder-free and nitrile gloves were distributed to the Detroit Medical Center and St Joseph Mercy Medical Group.

On World Health Day (April 7), Justin Abdelkader provided a day’s worth of meals for the day and night shift workers at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital in Pontiac.

“I was inspired by my teammates,” Howard said. “Dylan doing what he did with donating gloves, and also Justin with the meals.”

Flashback: Before Al the Octopus, Detroit had the Red Winger

Otherwise Howard has kept busy helping his wife, Rachel, take care of their children – sons James, 8 and Henry, 5, and Louis, born in early March; and daughter Olivia, who turns two in May. They split home- schooling duties (sort of) for the older boys.

“I’ve got the outdoors activity, but they’ve been put on hold since it’s so cold out,” Howard said, laughing.. “I help out with Henry’s side of it, the kindergarten stuff - you know, the easy stuff.”

Howard has relied on a stationary bike and kettle bells for conditioning, but “it’s very minimal,” he said. “You try to do your best.”

More on Wings: 's first year: What we liked, didn't like

The NHL is still hoping to hold the 2020 playoffs, but a resumption of the season is moot for the Wings – they were eliminated from playoff contention Feb. 21, and secured a last-place finish March 10.

“I don’t think any of us really thought we’d be shut down for this long, but the safety and welfare of everyone is what matters the most,” Howard said. “If that means us contenting to delay the season, I think everyone is OK with that.

“For us, even though we’re in last place, I think the guys still want to go out there and continue to play out the season. But it’s up in the air. I have no idea how this is going to play out and I don’t think anyone that is making those decisions right now really has any idea.”

Howard, 36, likely has played his last game in the NHL. The 11-season veteran and two-time All-Star is in the last year of his contract. He endured a rough 2019-20, going 2-23-2 with a 4.20 goals-against average and .882 save percentage. He was pulled from his last two starts, and has not won a game since Oct. 29. 1173960 Detroit Red Wings

Big Sean to join Lions, Pistons, Tigers players for Boys and Girls Club online fundraiser

Brian McCollum, Detroit Free PressPublished 10:25 a.m. ET April 22, 2020 | Updated 10:26 a.m. ET April 22, 2020

Big Sean will stage a 16-bar rap challenge and a variety of Detroit sports stars will host games during an online fundraiser Thursday for Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan (BGCSM).

The Virtual Club Takeover — also featuring rapper Ludacris, actor Hill Harper and Detroit-born NFL great Jerome Bettis — will run 3 p.m.-5 p.m. Thursday. Registration for the private fundraiser is $250, though the event will also feature hundreds of young club members who have been participating in BGCSM's daily Virtual Club events during the coronavirus pandemic.

Other big names tapped to appear include the Detroit Lions' Trey Flowers and Da'Shawn Hand, the Pistons' Christian Wood and Langston Galloway, the Tigers' Niko Goodrum and Travis Demeritte, and Red Wings' Madison Bowey and Brendan Perlini.

Several local radio personalities and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist are also aboard.

Big Sean and his foundation are longtime Boys & Girls Club advocates: Last summer, the rapper unveiled a $100,000 studio and music education facility at the Dick & Sandy Dauch Boys & Girls Club on Detroit's west side.

Sponsors for Thursday's event include Amerisure, Sean Anderson Foundation, iHeartRadio, Comcast and Coca-Cola Foundation.

BGCSM, which estimates it is facing a $2 million shortfall because of the pandemic shutdown, is still accepting additional sponsorships for the Virtual Club Takeover.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.23.2020 1173961 Detroit Red Wings

Before Al the Octopus, the Detroit Red Wings had the Red Winger

Helene St. James, Detroit Free PressPublished 6:00 a.m. ET April 22, 2020 | Updated 11:19 a.m. ET April 22, 2020

Before there was Al the Octopus, there was The Red Winger.

In this edition of "Detroit Red Wings revisited," a series designed to distract while the hockey world is shut down because of COVID-19, we look back at an old mascot.

Shortly after purchasing the franchise in 1982, green-lighted a mascot as part of his plan to get fans interested in the team again. The Red Winger debuted on the night of the season opener, Oct. 6, 1982.

That night also marked the start of a promotion that showed just how badly the Wings needed to bring fans to : Nancy Gerbasi won a drawing of ticket stubs between the second and third periods and the prize was a bright red 1982 Pontiac Firebird.

A few fans booed at the end of the night after the Wings lost to the St. Louis Blues, 2-1, but Ilitch’s acquisition of the team after 50 years of Norris family ownership rallied fans.

[ How Michael Rasmussen can make the Red Wings next season ]

The Red Winger was red and white and supposed to look like a bird (it resembled the San Diego chicken). Jim Wilczak was the man beneath the feathers, happily signing autographs and throwing pucks to children. Wilczak was the skating bulldog at Ferris State University.

“I don’t make any salary yet,” he said on opening night. “We’ll see how I do in the first game and talk contract after that.”

More on Wings:

Steve Yzerman's first year: What we liked, didn't like

The Red Winger slipped and fell to the ice during his first appearance. In January 1985, someone stole the costume from its storage space in a dressing room off the east end of the Joe just before a game against the Winnipeg Jets (the Wings lost, 8-5).

The Red Winger lasted through the 1986-87 season. As seating capacity at the Joe expanded, it made it harder for Wilczak to get around, and by then, the Wings had started winning, too. Wilczak kept the jersey, but the costume was thrown out (it was hot in there!). pic.twitter.com/A7UmOPRGr9

— Hockey Fight History (@HistoryOfFights) April 22, 2020

The Wings were without a mascot until the 1995 playoffs, when a large purple octopus dressed in a red Wings sweater debuted (too impractical to be worn by a person, the octopus was raised to the rafters as the Wings skated onto the ice). It was named Al after Al Sobotka, the long- time buildings operations manager and Zamboni driver who would gain fame as an octopus twirler during the late 1990s.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.23.2020 1173962 Detroit Red Wings

Report: Plan to conclude NHL regular season in four cities being discussed

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit NewsPublished 2:22 p.m. ET April 22, 2020 | Updated 7:46 p.m. ET April 22, 2020

Detroit – Maybe, just maybe, there might be some Red Wings hockey to watch this summer.

According to a report from Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in and Sportsnet, the NHL is discussing a potential July return in four centralized cities – one in each of the four divisions – with an aim to conclude the regular season.

The NHL paused its season March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Red Wings had 11 games left on their schedule, with most teams in that range, as well.

Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed some details Wednesday night to Ron MacLean on Sportsnet.

Bettman said as many as three games could be played at each venue, per day, but adding nothing has been decided or finalized.

"Ideally from our standpoint -- and it would resolve a lot of issues -- would be if we could complete the regular season, even if it's on a centralized basis, and then go into the (Stanley Cup Playoffs) the way we normally play them," Bettman told Sportsnet. "That would be ideal. But that's, again, one of the numerous models we're looking at, and if we can't do ideal, if we can't do perfect, we're going to have to figure out what's next to perfect."

The cities - there could be as many as four centralized locations- would be areas where COVID-19 has been relatively controlled, and any restrictions in those cities would allow hockey to be played.

Edmonton, Raleigh, N.C., and St. Paul, Minn., are three cities that reportedly would fit the criteria. None of the three, though, are in the Wings’ Atlantic Division.

"Maybe it'll be two cities," Bettman said. "It's not something that we can predict right at this moment. But this is part of the contingencies. It doesn't necessarily have to be by division, although the centralization may be by division.

"But the particular location could be anywhere that isn't a hot spot and has what we need both in terms of the arena and having practice facilities, because if you bring in seven or eight clubs to a particular facility and you're playing lots of games on a regular basis without travel, there does need to be ice for practice."

Bettman said a training camp of approximately three weeks would be held before the regular season would be resumed.

Fans aren’t likely to attend the games.

There is no potential time-frame for how long this regular-season conclusion would take.

This blueprint has replaced the idea of a neutral-site pod location, an idea the NHL felt didn’t work because of logistical problems, including accommodating many teams.

Also, any proposed plan, such as this one, would have to be agreed to with the NHL Players Association.

Detroit News LOADED: 04.23.2020 1173963 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings' Jimmy Howard donates $50,000 worth of N95 masks to Detroit Medical Center

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit NewsPublished 10:04 a.m. ET April 22, 2020 | Updated 11:38 a.m. ET April 22, 2020

Detroit – Jimmy Howard is donating $50,000 worth of N95 masks to the Detroit Medical Center.

The Red Wings goaltender is purchasing the masks to protect healthcare workers who are fighting the battle against COVID-19.

“These healthcare workers are fighting the battle of their lives, on behalf of all of us,” said Howard. "They are heroes, and we’ve all got to do what we can to support them and thank them for their tireless work right now and in the weeks to come.”

The Jimmy Howard Foundation has helped Metro Detroit families since 2005.

Earlier this month, Wings forward Dylan Larkin and his father Kevin collected 50,000 vinyl powder-free and nitrile gloves, half going to to the Detroit Medical Center and the other half to St. Joseph Mercy Health System.

Detroit News LOADED: 04.23.2020 1173964 Detroit Red Wings For Veleno, all the pieces are there for a player who should one day be an important part of the Red Wings’ NHL lineup. All the more so as his 200-foot abilities continue to round out, which will continue to raise his floor as a player who can be used in any situation. He was already killing Red Wings prospect Joe Veleno reflects on his first pro season, what penalties back in junior hockey, and thanks to an aggressive approach in comes next that role, he tied for the QMJHL lead in shorthanded goals last season, with seven.

That versatility will only help Veleno as he rises, and it’s driven by what By Max Bultman Apr 22, 2020 17 should be a carrying trait for Veleno in his skating. As this year went along, he was already seeing the impact that skill could have even against older, more developed players. There’s a hill near Joe Veleno’s house in Montreal he’s been visiting fairly regularly lately. “Every game I was moving my feet, I was putting guys on their heels, and forcing them to back up,” he said. “It allowed me to create space and The Red Wings have given Veleno a workout program to keep him active more time with the puck, so I think I was a lot more effective by doing and in shape during this great unknown, and of course the 2018 first- those things.” round pick has followed it. But he also likes to do a little bit extra, which has often meant going for runs, usually at that hill. But the natural question from here is the one that’s been arguably most complicated, for someone in his circumstances, by the current hockey “I’ve kind of improvised a little more than what they’ve given us,” he said situation. by phone this week. “But what they’ve given us is pretty much what our workouts look like in season, and a bit of the offseason. So it’s kind of Veleno wants to be a Red Wing sooner rather than later, and ideally for mixed.” him that means next year. But without the end of the regular season or postseason, as of now, he’s losing valuable high-leverage reps. It means If that doesn’t sum up the current situation, nothing will. A player being fewer opportunities to show the team’s brass how hard he can play and back with his family, doing a self-directed workout program as the how consistently he can do it — something he knows he’ll have to show weather warms up, has big offseason energy. to have any shot at earning a spot.

And yet, technically, it’s not the offseason. So when Veleno talks about And it means more time working out, or just working on the finer wanting to take this time to add strength, he has to do so mindfully. elements of his craft, whether it be his puck skills, his shot, or anything else. “I don’t want to go too crazy just in case the season does come back,” he said. “It’s kind of hard to tell. It’s kind of like an in-between thing.” “I’ve still got a long way to go,” he said. “I’ve gotta be stronger, I’ve gotta get physically stronger, and I think when I do that, I think a lot of good That’s the line all players have to walk right now, in a situation that has things happen from that. I’ll be a lot stronger on the ice, I’ll be able to win no great comparisons from which to draw. more battles, and just be better at every aspect. I’m going to continue to If the season were still going, Veleno might well be gearing up for a work hard off the ice, get strong in the gym — I think that’s the main playoff game right now. Both he and the Griffins had seemed to hit their goal.” stride in the weeks before the season ground to a halt, and the That’s a good place to start for a player who, at still just 20 years old, postseason would have been a great test for his progress. appears to be on the path to reaching his NHL dreams, whenever that What this break has allowed for, though, is some time to reflect on his chance may come. first professional season this year in Grand Rapids. In the meantime, he’ll just have to settle for the path to that hill by his “Just looking back on it, the first half of the season obviously was an house. adjustment, and I definitely thought that I could have probably played a The Athletic LOADED: 04.23.2020 lot better in terms of production and all that stuff,” he said. “Second half of the season, it was pretty much like a brand-new season for me. Every year when I’m going into the second half, I kind of erase everything I’ve done in the first half.”

For Veleno, that halfway line is easy enough to draw. He was a captain and a key contributor on the Canadian world junior team that won gold, registering a point per game through the tournament. And when he came back, it seemed to carry over.

“I just thought I gained a lot of confidence and started playing to my abilities and using my strengths a lot more on the ice,” he said. “I thought my second half was definitely a lot better. Not just my production, but I think just creating a lot more on the ice, even though I wasn’t putting up as many points. But just creating stuff on the ice, creating offense, wasn’t much luck on my side most of the time, but I think just having those opportunities and grade-A scoring chances and creating a lot more, I thought I did that more consistently in the second half.”

He’s right, too, that his production doesn’t really tell the story. Of his 23 points in 54 games this year, his 25 post-world junior games accounted for 11, essentially a clean half.

But Veleno’s reflections on his season mirror the ones shared by Detroit’s director of player development Shawn Horcoff back in March, and also follow logically considering his situation.

Veleno, then 19, entered the AHL a year earlier than most Canadian junior prospects are allowed, due to his exceptional status in . This was his first time playing in a league that much more closely mirrors the challenges of the NHL style, against men, and so it makes sense that he points to confidence as a difference from the first half to the second. He referenced how his comfort level grew as the season progressed, too, letting him play with more swagger without fixating on X’s and O’s. 1173965 Edmonton Oilers “It was very intense,” added Brown. “Even though it was the playoffs, there was still a possibility of fighting back then. So I was always on the edge, knowing I’d have to be ready. It was always very intense. Everyone was nervous before the games.” Flyers reflect on epic '87 Cup final with Edmonton Oilers The Flyers lost the opening game 4-2, with Wayne Gretzky, , and doing the scoring. It was a small taste of what the Flyers would have to overcome. Robert Tychkowski “We were a resilient group, and a lot of that came from our own internal

battles with our coach,” said Poulin, chuckling at the tense atmosphere The sports world is abuzz with the release of Michael Jordan’s 10-part typically favoured by . Netflix documentary, the Last Dance, but closer to home, Edmonton “That was by design on his part. Mike knew he had a young group. He Oilers fans are enjoying their own trip down Dynasty Lane. was a young guy himself. His goal was to prepare us for whatever Their own seven-part series — each game of the epic 1987 Stanley Cup happened. We were down in every single one of those games, not just 1- final against Philadelphia — debuted Tuesday on SportsNet’s NHL 0, but 2-0 or 3-0, but it didn’t matter. We would fight back.” Classics, providing an opportunity to relive what’s generally regarded as And they did. one of the best Cup finals ever played. “They probably let up a little bit because they were up 3-1 in the series,” While the high drama and happy ending make for perfect comfort viewing added Brown. “That’s only natural. But we fought back to even it up. It in Edmonton, just talking about it pulls away a scab in Philadelphia that, was a great series. after 33 years, still hasn’t healed. “I’m so glad to have been part of it because it was one of the most In part one of a two-part retrospective on Edmonton’s third intense series there ever was. But it would have been nice to beat them.” championship, we look back through the eyes of valiant, but vanquished, Flyers. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 04.23.2020 “You can argue that that 1987 Oilers team was the best team that ever was, and we took them to the brink, took them to seven games, almost beat them,” said former Flyer , who would win a Cup with Edmonton in 1990.

“It still hurts, even now, to think you were that close and didn’t beat them. In the end they were a better team because they had a lot more skill than we did, but it’s still a kick in the gut because we were really close.”

Dave Poulin, Philadelphia’s captain at the time, must still have nightmares about the Oilers organization. He went to three in six years, two with the Flyers and one with Boston, and lost all three times to Edmonton.

“The thing that stands out for me in ’87 was the pure magnitude of it,” Poulin, now an analyst at TSN, said of taking on six future Hall of Famers in their prime, and one of the best supporting casts in league history.

“Two of the greatest players of all time playing the same position on the same team and making it work, and being surrounded by Hall of Famers in other positions? We lost to one of the greatest teams ever put together.

“But I would have loved, both personally and team-wise, to be healthy.”

The Flyers were running on fumes when the final started. While Edmonton steamrolled through the first three rounds in 14 games (4-1, 4- 1 and a sweep), the Flyers went six with the Rangers, seven with the Islanders and six with Montreal (including their infamous pre-game brawl), before going the distance with the Oilers.

On top of that, they were without leading scorer (a six-foot- three, 225-pound centre who scored 58 goals), while Poulin, third in Flyer scoring, had three broken ribs.

“(Kerr) was worth four or five goals a series,” added Brown. “I really wish he was healthy because he might have been the difference. In a series that close, that might have tipped it our way. But we didn’t have him.”

They still put up a fight for the ages, coming from behind in all of their wins, and from 3-1 down in the series to force Game 7.

“We couldn’t match their skill level,” said Brown. “I mean, we had some skill, but not even close to what the Oilers had. We were tough to beat, though.”

The series was a perfect mix of toughness and finesse. In addition to the star power, the Oilers had Marty McSorley, Kevin McClelland, Steve Smith and rookie . The Flyers countered with Brown, , and a young .

“That series may have melded intensity and skill more than any other series did,” added Poulin. “Both teams had skill, but they still had a significant physical element to them and it was incredibly physical. It was probably the best mix.” 1173966 Edmonton Oilers That’s when president of hockey operations saw something that made him a little uneasy.

Sitting at the Oilers table, Lowe looked over at the team next to his – the Inside the franchise-altering decision to pick Leon Draisaitl over Sam Flames. Bennett “All I remember is and Brad Treliving high-fiving one another after we chose Draisaitl,” Lowe said. “I’m thinking, ‘Oh shit. Did we miss something?’ By Daniel Nugent-Bowman Apr 22, 2020 14 “We were – mostly because of Yak (Nail Yakupov) – a bit gun shy selecting.”

Mistakes made by the Oilers on draft day were common and the criticism NHL Central Scouting had Bennett listed as the best North American that followed was appropriate for a team that went more than a decade player, the de facto No. 1 pick ahead of the draft, whereas Draisaitl was without a playoff appearance. fourth.

The team’s inability to find NHL talent in later rounds was arguably their But Draisaitl was an Oiler now and was going to be a huge part of their biggest issue, but they had some first-round misses, too (see Yakupov, plans – both in the near and long term. Nail). TSN’s draft panel immediately began speculating that Draisaitl’s With the third overall selection in 2014, Oilers brass and scouts had a selection meant the Oilers would move Sam Gagner – their first-round crucial decision on their hands; they weighed their options before picking pick, sixth overall, from 2007. He was dealt two days later. someone they hoped would be their next star forward. In an interview with TSN’s James Duthie after welcoming Draisaitl to the Suffice it to say, they made the right call. Oilers, MacTavish supported Howson’s view about Draisaitl’s size.

As The Athletic documents some of the defining moments for various “We all know how difficult big centres are to obtain. You’re gonna have to teams, the Oilers’ selection of Leon Draisaitl from the WHL’s Prince draft big centres to get them. They’re very hard to come by,” MacTavish Albert Raiders ranks right up there in recent club history. told Duthie. “Leon definitely fits that bill for us.”

Draisaitl was the NHL’s only 50-goal, 100-point player a year ago and MacTavish joked that he wanted Draisaitl to be the next Anze Kopitar as had a 13-point advantage in the Art Ross Trophy race this season before soon as the following season. The reality is Draisaitl struggled out of the play was paused on March 12. He’s The Athletic’s Hart Trophy winner, gate as an Oiler. too. He had two goals and nine points in 37 games as a rookie, a season in “We got a No. 1 pick at third (overall),” Scott Howson said, then-Oilers which he played for three coaches – Eakins, MacTavish and Todd senior vice-president of hockey operations. Nelson.

In hindsight, taking Draisaitl over ’ Sam Bennett – He was mercifully returned to junior in the second half of that season and the consensus next choice who went to the rival Flames – is crystal clear played as a man possessed. Traded to the Kelowna Rockets, Draisaitl and requires no debate. won a WHL championship and was named playoff MVP. The five months with the Rockets rebooted his career. At the time, however, there was plenty of doubt – and even a tad of internal second-guessing just moments after Draisaitl’s name was called. The determination Draisaitl showed in Kelowna has been one of his calling cards as an NHLer. That trait’s been a pleasant surprise. Those fears were clearly for naught. “He’s driven to be one of the best players in the league. We’ve seen “You’d always hoped that he was gonna be an elite player. He’s certainly that,” Howson said. “Everybody would have said Bennett had that going surpassed everybody’s expectations,” Howson said. “He’s a top player in into that draft because that’s how he played. He laid everything on the the league.” table. He was this competitive guy, leader on his team. The top four players for the 2014 NHL draft were set in stone as the big “Leon was a little more subtle. He has that inner drive that’s really day in Philadelphia neared. propelled him, with his skill set, to be a top player in the league. You In addition to Draisaitl and Bennett, Barrie Colts Aaron didn’t know that at the time.” Ekblad and centre Sam Reinhart rounded out the quartet. Draisaitl had 51 points in 72 games in 2015-16 and has been on an The Oilers invited each player to Edmonton for pre-draft interviews. upward trajectory ever since. He’s now one of the most prolific scorers in The Panthers, who won the draft lottery with the second-best odds, the NHL. seemed likely to take Ekblad (and did). Ekblad had seemed destined to He’s transferred many of the skills over to the NHL that allowed him to be the top pick from the time he entered the OHL a year early as an excel in his draft year with the Raiders. Howson notes Draisaitl’s physical exceptional-status player. strength, his ability to make plays on his backhand and forehand and his That left Edmonton to zero in on the three CHL forwards. vision as pluses.

“We went back and forth quite a bit, right up to the morning of the draft, Draisaitl’s stamina in junior was a concern, Howson said, but that’s been about the order they should be in,” Howson said. rectified. (Of note: his 1:03 average shift length is the longest in the NHL.) And an area of potential weakness is no longer so. Their final decision couldn’t be registered until the Sabres made theirs. But the Oilers ultimately landed on a first choice beforehand. “His skating’s really good in the NHL. I’m not sure you could have said at the time that he was gonna be an above-average skater in the NHL – It was GM Craig MacTavish who made the call; Draisaitl was the and he is,” Howson said. “That goes back to his drive.” preferred player over the two Sams. It’s not that Draisaitl’s faster now, Lowe said. It’s that he’s craftier. The Sabres – the NHL’s worst team that season – opted for Reinhart on the draft floor, clearing the way for the Oilers to select Draisaitl over Lowe compares Draisaitl to a race car driver drafting. Once the driver Bennett. loses his opponent, he generates his power, Lowe explained. Sounds a little like Ricky Bobby doing a slingshot. Howson, director of amateur scouting Stu MacGregor, coach Dallas Eakins, owner and Katz’s son Harrison joined MacTavish on “He uses his big body to shield the other person off and then he gets his the stage as the GM called out Draisaitl’s name. speed up,” Lowe said. “There’s no way, unless a person tried to hook him or something, that they can catch him. “Leon was the biggest player,” Howson said. “That was one of the differentiating facts given that their skill sets were fairly similar. It was “That’s the difference that’s happened in his game since he first came in hard to distinguish between the two.” from what you see now. That’s just confidence and smarts.” Thanks to consecutive 100-point seasons, Draisaitl has many points as games played (422) in his career. He’s the highest point-getter in his draft class.

Bennett, by comparison, hasn’t come close to the same production. In 364 games, he has 128 points – 14th among 2014 picks.

“Bennett seemed to be a scrappier kind of guy,” Lowe said. “It was all about getting a big centreman that we could slot in there for a long time.”

It’s worth noting, the Oilers haven’t been foolproof in the – draft edition. They let now-public enemy No. 1 Matthew Tkachuk slip two spots to the Flames two years later, so they could take Jesse Puljujarvi fourth overall.

But choosing Draisaitl over Bennett has been a major victory for the Oilers. It was a franchise-altering move – even if they didn’t quite know it at the time.

“I don’t know if I envisioned him having 100 points. I certainly envisioned him being a top-six forward, a top centre, which is really valuable. I thought he would get there,” Howson said. “But to say he was gonna become a top-10 player in the league, I don’t think you could have predicted that with any type of sureness at the time.

“He just burst past everything.”

The Athletic LOADED: 04.23.2020 1173967 Florida Panthers

Panthers president shares details of possible NHL restart. Neutral sites, limited or no fans

BY JORDAN MCPHERSON

The appears to have an idea of how it could finish its season that has been on hold for the past six weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Florida Panthers president Matt Caldwell said on a re-open Florida task force conference call Wednesday that the NHL is looking at restarting the season in July.

“The goal,” Caldwell said, “is to finish this season in some way, shape or form.”

Caldwell said the plan, which isn’t finalized yet, calls for games that would be played at four or five neutral sites with limited or no fans. He also said the NHL and NBA have been working together to formulate plans to restart their respective seasons because their schedules follow similar timelines.

The NHL first put its season on pause on March 12 and initially targeted a mid-May return. NHL players are currently quarantined until the end of April, although Caldwell said he anticipates that being extended into May.

Caldwell said a mini training camp would likely take place once the quarantine is lifted.

“Once we feel it’s a safe time to start bringing them back to practice facilities and bring them back to the ice, we’re going to constantly monitor them and work on getting them back,” Caldwell said. “When we start playing, if we resume the season this summer, I think there will be an empty or limited arena format.”

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said earlier this month that the league is “viewing all our options.”

“We want to be ready to go as soon as we get a green light,” Bettman said on NBC Sports Network, “and the green light may not be crystal clear because there may still be some places in the country you can’t play and other places where you can.

“We’re looking at all options. Nothing has been ruled in, nothing has been ruled out. It’s largely going to be determined what we do by how much time there is, because we have next season to focus on as well, and the health of the country, and by the country, I mean both Canada and the U.S., obviously.”

What remains uncertain, even if this plan goes into effect, is whether the NHL will continue the season where it stopped or jump straight into the postseason.

The Panthers went into the unexpected break on a two-game winning streak and three points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for third place in the Atlantic Division and in fifth place in the Eastern Conference’s battle for two wild-card spots. They had 13 regular-season games remaining when the season stopped.

“It sounds like it’s a little more optimistic in the last couple of days than it’s been at any point in the process here,” Panthers coach Joel Quenneville said on a video conference call last week. “Now we’re in a situation where, hey, we would love to play and I think that the enthusiasm we’ve seen in the last little while — hopefully that’s going to happen and in the meantime I think there’s a little bit more excitement right now where I think we’re talking hockey. I’m thinking, Hey, it could happen and hopefully soon.”

Miami Herald LOADED: 04.23.2020 1173968 Florida Panthers would likely run into September, which is the time NHL teams are typically gearing up for training camp.

Where the games could be played remains a question. What will NHL’s return look like? Panthers president details NHL The belief is if the NHL resumes this summer, NHL teams will be brought discussions to four or five cities to quarantine and play very possibly without fans in the stands. A league source told The Athletic’s Michael Russo that about two-thirds of NHL cities have been eliminated from contention, but By George Richards Apr 22, 2020 41 Minnesota is one of the NHL markets still in deep consideration to host several NHL games.

The league hopes to resume the regular season, but if the timing and SUNRISE, Fla. — It is still unknown when sports will return or when fans circumstances don’t allow for that, there’s a good chance the playoffs will be allowed inside the buildings to root on their favorite teams. But would be expanded to allow bubble teams who didn’t play as many when they do happen, expect things to be much different than they were games as some teams ahead of them in the standings, to continue on. before the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down last month. “Safety is first and foremost,” Caldwell said. “We want to make sure all of Florida Panthers president Matt Caldwell spoke on a teleconference our players are safe. We are in constant contact with our players and our Wednesday as part of the Re-Open Florida Task Force and laid out coaching staff. some of the changes that could become part of a “new normalcy” when sports (and their fans) return. “Once we feel it is a safe time to start bringing them back to the training facilities and get back on the ice, we are going to constantly monitor them Face masks and body-temperature checks at the front gates could well and work on getting them back. Then when we start playing, resume the be the norm at arenas and stadiums moving forward, at least for a while. season this summer, I think it will be in a limited-arena format.” The thought of a sold-out arena may also be a long way off, as Caldwell The Athletic LOADED: 04.23.2020 said venues may have to reduce capacity by offering fewer tickets for sale.

The two major indoor arenas in — the Heat’s AmericanAirlines Arena and the Panthers’ BB&T Center — both hold close to 20,000 for their respective sports.

“When fans do show up, we may have to limit how many tickets we sell to a game,” Caldwell said on the call set up by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“People will have to wear face masks. We will try to spread people out when they go get food, set up lines to use as much as possible.”

Caldwell added that the Panthers are looking at making the BB&T Center a completely cash-free arena next season.

Fans would likely have to pay for concessions and merchandise with credit cards or through an app on their phone. Many already do.

“We want to limit touchpoints as much as possible,” he said.

Caldwell also confirmed that both the NHL and NBA would like to resume their 2019-20 seasons later this summer, perhaps in July.

The two leagues suspended their seasons in March and have not allowed their players to practice or visit team facilities since.

“Obviously, live sports are a big part of all of our lives and things are at a complete standstill,” Caldwell said. “We are talking to all the leagues, all the teams are talking collectively. We have a weekly call with the NHL commissioner who has been informing us on the best practices, ideas and scenarios across all leagues. … The goal of both (the NHL and NBA) is to finish this season in some way, shape or form. There are a lot of different ways to do that. The latest thing being discussed — and, again, this is not finalized and no final decision has been made — but the direction both leagues are going in that I’m hearing is resuming play sometime this summer.”

The NHL has instructed its players, coaches and staff to self-quarantine through the end of the month. Caldwell said that order is likely to be extended into May.

With players and coaches not allowed to visit team training facilities except for medical reasons, a training camp will be needed before games restart.

“That is going to take us well into a June timeframe,” Caldwell said. “So, I think at least for the NHL, we’re trying to target sometime in July. And when we feel that players are safe and we have enough testing and we can get back on the ice, it will probably be contained to playing at four or five neutral sites. That’s all being discussed right now.”

On Tuesday, The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported that the NHL is looking at holding a virtual draft in June around the originally scheduled date of June 26-27. The draft was supposed to take place in Montreal.

By starting games in July, the NHL postseason — even if it were shortened, perhaps, with best-of-five series instead of best-of-seven — 1173969 Los Angeles Kings “We don’t live in a world of perfect anymore. We’re going to have to make adjustments. Ideally from our standpoint, and it would resolve a lot of issues, would be if we could complete the regular season, even if it’s on a centralized basis, and then go into the playoffs the way we normally Gary Bettman says the NHL is leaning against games in non-league play them. That would be ideal, but again, that’s one of the numerous cities models that we’re looking at and if we can’t do ideal, if we can’t do perfect, we’re going to have to figure out what’s next to perfect. ...

“With all the reporting — and I love the people that cover our games By HELENE ELLIOTTSPORTS COLUMNIST because they’re passionate about it and they’re always thinking about it — don’t take anything that’s written as gospel because we are in the stage of talking about and thinking about everything, and no decisions The NHL is leaning against staging regular-season or playoff games in have been made. If we know what the options are, if we know what the non-league arenas when it gets clearance to resume operations following issues are and how to begin to address them, then when the time is right its COVID-19-related pause and its options now include bringing teams we can try to make the best decisions possible.” to compete in two or four NHL cities. Those sites would be chosen not necessarily on a division-related basis but as “anywhere that isn’t a hot LA Times: LOADED: 04.23.2020 spot and has what we need both in terms of the arena and having practice facilities,” Commissioner Gary Bettman said Wednesday.

Speaking to Sportsnet’s Ron MacLean in a video posted on Facebook, Bettman reiterated he remains hopeful the season can be completed, perhaps by going late into the summer and with a modified playoff format, and that next season could start late but would be played in its entirety. Asked the status of the NHL’s back-to-play plan, Bettman replied, “Which one of the plans?

“We’re modeling. We’re trying to see what our options will be under whatever scenario unfolds. ... The decision ultimately will be made by medical people and people who run governments at all different levels, so we’re not going to try to do anything that flies in the face of what we’re being told is appropriate.”

Those scenarios include possibly playing without fans in the building or using precautions to mitigate the spread of the virus. “I think there will be some social distancing for a while. I think there will be masks. There will be Purell,” Bettman said. “There will be lots of things but that’s something that ultimately the medical people and the government leaders will be the best able to tell us.”

He said it’s unlikely games will take place in neutral arenas in Grand Forks, N.D., or Manchester, N.H., a possibility that was floated the past few weeks. “We can’t play in a small college rink in the middle of a smaller community because if we’re going to be centralized we need the back-of-the-house [amenities] that NHL arenas provide, whether it’s multiple locker rooms, whether it’s the technology, the procedures, the boards and glass, the video replay, the broadcasting facilities,” Bettman said.

He also said the league, which paused play on March 12 after playing about 85% of its schedule, has no revenues coming in now. “And that poses an issue not just in terms of how our system works with players but the tens of thousands of people that work for clubs in all sports and how they’re impacted by the fact that sports has no revenue coming in,” he said.

Most of the NHL’s national TV revenues are attributable to the Stanley Cup playoffs, he said, but is paid during the season. “That money is already in,” he said, “but we’ll owe it to [broadcast rights holders] if nothing else, in credits against next season.”

Bettman acknowledged that he and the general managers of the 31 clubs discussed holding the annual draft before the season ends but called that idea “a trial balloon” designed to spark discussion. It’s a complicated notion because some teams hold draft picks that were made on a conditional basis and will depend on the performance of the traded player or his new team. Until the season is finished, those conditions couldn’t be met.

Those are only a few of the potential hurdles to implementing that idea. Bettman, who said he maintains frequent contact with the league’s medical advisors, an infectious disease consultant and the NHL Players’ Assn., also noted it’s possible the league could reconfigure the draft lottery and how those slots are determined. “If whatever we do is fair and has integrity, it will work,” he said.

APTOPIX Virus Outbreak Pelicans Kings Postponed Basketball

SPORTS

The resumption of NBA season might rely on protocols not yet available 1173970 Los Angeles Kings

NHL could complete season at regional sites, commissioner Gary Bettman says

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | [email protected] | Orange County Register

Bound and determined to complete the 2019-20 season and award the Stanley Cup, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Wednesday that games could be played with the doors closed to the public at as many as four regional league arenas with as many as three contests per day.

The NHL suspended play March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Ideally from our standpoint – and it would resolve a lot of issues – would be if we could complete the regular season, even if it’s on a centralized basis and then go into the (playoffs) the way we normally play them,” Bettman said in an interview with Sportsnet, a Canadian network. “That would be ideal. But that’s, again, one of the numerous models we’re looking at and if we can’t do ideal, if we can’t do perfect, we’re going to have to figure out what’s next to perfect.”

Bettman said the league decided against playing in non-NHL rinks at neutral sites. The University of North Dakota in Grand Forks was one possible location, but that was rejected in favor of playing in arenas geared to hosting NHL games.

“We can’t play in a small college rink in the middle of a smaller community because if we’re going to be centralized we need the back of the house that NHL arenas provide, whether it’s multiple locker rooms, whether it’s the technology, the procedures, the boards and glass, the video replay, the broadcasting facilities,” Bettman said.

The home arenas of the Carolina Hurricanes, Edmonton Oilers and Minnesota Wild were among the facilities discussed, according to a report on ESPN.com. Each site would likely host teams from one of the league’s four divisions, with the Pacific Division’s Ducks and Kings playing in Edmonton.

The Ducks had 11 games remaining when play was halted; the Kings had 12. It’s likely the teams would not play each of their final games, and a new schedule would be drawn up rather than simply picking up where the teams left off in order to complete the centralized scenario.

The Ducks, Kings, Oilers, Arizona Coyotes, Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks and Vegas Golden Knights comprise the Pacific Division. Neither the Ducks nor the Kings were in a playoff position when play was suspended.

“Maybe it’ll be two cities,” Bettman said. “It’s not something that we can predict right at this moment, but this is part of the contingencies. It doesn’t necessarily have to be by division, although the centralization may be by division.

Ducks owners to continue to pay part-time employees through June 30

“But the particular location could be anywhere that isn’t a hot spot (for the coronavirus) and has what we need both in terms of the arena and having practice facilities because if you bring in seven or eight clubs to a particular facility and you’re playing lots of games on a regular basis without travel there does need to be ice for practice.”

The NHL has asked players, staff and coaches to self-quarantine through April 30. It’s been reported that a training camp of up to three weeks would be held before play resumes, which would give the league a target date for the resumption of play in late May or early June at the earliest.

Two full months of playoffs could extend the season into August.

“This isn’t a race,” Bettman said. “The stakes are too important.”

Orange County Register: LOADED: 04.23.2020 1173971 Los Angeles Kings “I’ve always been a dancer. I like to dance,” Hutton said. “We had this Dice and Ice night in Vancouver, but I didn’t realize how big the crowd was going to be.

Solving the mystery of Drew Doughty’s Secret Santa ‘gift’ from Matthew “When they told us it was going to be a lip-sync battle, I thought, ‘Piece of Tkachuk cake, no problem.’ Then when I got up on stage, I’m like, ‘Ah geez, I should have finished my glass of wine before I got up here.’ A little nerve- wracking. But once the song started going — I didn’t really have a routine — I just started freestyling and it took off.” By Lisa Dillman Apr 22, 2020 1 Hutton was surprised by how much the video spread. Soon after the lip-

sync battle, the Canucks were playing the San Jose Sharks, and Could we handle the truth? Or better yet, could Drew Doughty? defenseman Brent Burns complimented Hutton.

After months of silence, Kings defenseman Ben Hutton revealed on our “It was overtime, so I got lined up besides Burns and he said, ‘Hey kid, I “Point Breakaway” podcast that he was the clever mastermind behind saw your lip(-sync) dancing battle. That was awesome,'” Hutton recalled. one of the best Secret Santa gifts in recent memory. “I mean, I’m still a rookie, young in the league, and Burns says that to me. It was one of those things that stuck in my mind.” Doughty received a stick from a certain longtime nemesis in Calgary. The “Point Breakaway” episode had plenty more from Hutton in an all- “I might be ruining it, saying this because he (Doughty) still doesn’t know round great guest appearance. You’ll have to listen to get the full effect of it’s me,” Hutton said Tuesday to podcast co-hosts Josh Cooper and the Willie Desjardins story from their days in Vancouver. It’s worth your Shane O’Brien. “If he listens to this, he’ll know that for Secret Santa I time. ended up getting him a Matthew Tkachuk stick. The Athletic LOADED: 04.23.2020 “It was signed by him and everything. I wrote a little message on it. He (Doughty) was going around the locker room trying to figure out who it was. None of the boys were snitching on me. So that was pretty good.”

The obvious question: What did he write on the stick?

Hutton wouldn’t say. But he did admit that Tkachuk was a willing accomplice.

“I got our trainers to do it,” Hutton said. “We were flying to Calgary (in early December) when we were doing it (the Secret Santa gift exchange), so it just clicked in my head. I asked our trainers, and once they told Chucky who it was for, he was all for it.”

(By the way, the team trainers pretty much are the powers behind the throne and essentially know all.)

The Doughty vs. Tkachuk feud was one of the more intriguing storylines in 2019-20. In fact, The Athletic even convened a roundtable to discuss how the old-school rivalry was good for the game.

Good on Tkachuk for going along with the prank.

That was one of the “Point Breakaway” highlights from Hutton, who was speaking from his offseason home in Prescott, Ontario, which is about an hour or so away from Ottawa.

The effervescent Hutton, who signed as a free agent with the Kings on Sept. 17, was a good fit in the room. He had 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in 65 games, averaged 18:16 in time on ice and was in the lineup for the final seven games before the season’s pause — all Kings wins.

“We’re hot right now,” he said. “The Kings are hot.”

The defense corps developed a special bond, Hutton said, on and off the ice.

“It really didn’t matter who was in the lineup that chosen night,” he said. “We knew all six of us were going to go out there and give it our all.

“The last seven games — which was a couple of months ago — we were clicking pretty good, just going out there and playing Kings hockey and doing our thing.

“Throughout the season, there were some games where we outshot teams by a large amount and we were on the losing end, but finally these last seven games and even before that I thought we were playing pretty good hockey. We were just finally getting our bounces and scoring some goals, which was nice.”

Hutton, who turned 27 on Monday, is quarantining with his girlfriend — “trying to find excuses to stay busy” — roller-blading, watching Netflix and crushing yard work.

It was inevitable that Cooper would ask Hutton about a memorable star turn as a rookie in 2015-16 with the Vancouver Canucks: a rousing rendition of the Danish pop group Aqua’s “Barbie Girl’ in a lip sync battle for a team fundraiser. 1173972 Los Angeles Kings Kelly Cheeseman, on working with the city to transfer funding to those in greatest need of assistance:

We’re working directly with the Mayor’s Fund. They have a particular CHEESEMAN TALKS TEAMS FOR LA FUND; LINKS TO 501(c)(3) they’ve set up with these four buckets of need. They operate MEMORABILIA, WAYS TO PARTICIPATE like a normal 501(c)(3) with a mission. As we talk to them and we talked to the mayor earlier, we said, ‘what are the needs of the city,’ and we talked about the mission of that the city’s funds are going to be and what they were setting up. They’ll be managing that and working with us, but JON ROSENAPRIL 22, 20200 COMMENTSCOMMUNITYKINGS they’ll go directly to the four areas of need that. Their fund really worked OPERATIONS with our mission from Kings Care and AEG and what was meaningful for us, so it was an opportunity that we looked at and how we can support the city in the most meaningful way. The LA Kings and other Los Angeles-area teams are using an online marketplace of new, recent and vintage paraphernalia to raise money Cheeseman, on the KingsCare Foundation’s efforts during this time: that will be allocated to fluidly respond to civic challenges arising during There’s two sides of it. The first has been really supporting our core the COVID-19 pandemic. partnerships. You’ve seen the blood drives with CHLA. There’s been a All of these proceeds will be transferred to the Mayor’s Fund for Los huge blood shortage, and what we don’t want is CHLA getting backed Angeles, which will apportion them towards programs benefiting into a corner where they’ve got to go out and buy blood. So they’ve been childcare and meals for the neediest; relief and counseling for front line our partner for many decades now, and we’ve supported that in addition healthcare workers; critical healthcare equipment; and services for our to supporting the YMCA’s initiatives – emergency childcare, care for the homeless population. Earlier, the COVID-19 branch of the Mayor’s fund elderly, all the programs that they’re currently running, which are helped finance the Angeleno Card, which provided a debit card stimulus incredible, as are the ways they’ve converted their facilities. The to low-income households most endangered by health crises and the Cube and their at-home learning support and some of the virus’ economic fallout. things that they’re building out, and you’ve also seen our support of at- home learning courses. In addition to that, you’ve seen Bailey doing Juan Ocampo/NHLI surprise Zoom call-ins to kids’ classrooms. Those are all things that I think we typically do during the year or during the summer, but we’re “Especially the organizations with AEG – the Kings and the Galaxy – trying to find creative ways to not lose those right now. Jen (Vice we’ve always had a strong connection to the community and we want to President, Community Relations and Team Services, Jennifer Pope) and help out in any meaningful way we can,” LA Kings Chief Operating her team have an incredible heart, and no matter the financial situation, Officer Kelly Cheeseman said. “When we get into these situations, you they’re going to find a creative way to move forward. not only have to take care of your staff and your team and your people first, but you also want to figure out how take care of the fans and the LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 04.23.2020 community that you represent. You don’t want to lose sight of that, and this opportunity was the most creative way we could come up with to really take significant action.”

There were conversations between local sports teams and Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti during the third week of March, shortly after major professional sports leagues and events had either been canceled or postponed the remainder of their seasons. Garcetti brought up the concept of the teams bonding together to raise capital in the extraordinary circumstances.

“At that point, a lot of the teams and even our own foundations are at risk in this situation because we’re not having games and we don’t have the message to raise funds,” Cheeseman said. “So, I went back and I talked to my team and I was like, ‘what creative actions could we take here?’”

The team had trailers and warehouses stocked with inventoried merchandise of past years and had already been brainstorming creative ways to get it into the hands of their fans. “It’s a significant amount of merchandise, and it has a lot of meaningful value to us.”

“Let’s throw this sale, but also incentivize direct donations back to the shelters,’” Cheeseman proposed. “You hear Eric talking about 300,000 clothing units between t-shirts, sweatshirts, fleeces, hats going to local shelters. Whether it’s for the homeless or children’s shelters or emergency childcare, that’s extremely meaningful. We also have some really good merchandise with nostalgic value to L.A. sports fans, and we’ll blow it out at really discounted prices. All that money goes towards the community.”

Because Southern Californians took quickly to quarantining and sheltering-in-place policies, the region has helped to flatten the coronavirus curve and reduce the strain on intensive care units and healthcare workers. The country’s most populous county and second most populous city is far from emerging from some difficult and dark days, though current data continues to indicate the worst-case scenarios such as Staples Center doubling as a temporary hospital or shelter won’t be needed – a hypothetical the city and county proposed to owners and proprietors of local sports facilities in the early days of the pandemic’s spread across North America.

Much of the Kings inventory available includes stock from previous years – All-Star Game merchandise, paraphernalia with heritage logos and depicting former players’ names and likenesses. “You’ll see some players that have left the team – we don’t want their memorabilia to go to waste, we want it to have value and help people,” Cheeseman said. hourly event staff 1173973 Los Angeles Kings We’ve been waiting about four months for Jarret Stoll to take that shot. [grins] We’ve used him a lot in the shootouts. Then those guys have struggled a little bit to score in the last little bit, and it’s awesome to see him score. APRIL 8, 2020 | DAY 41 | VANCOUVER ANNIVERSARY, QUOTES; MIKEY ANDERSON VIDEO, LINKS , on why Vancouver lost the series:

My opinion is that you can’t give away two games, like we did, at home to start the series. That’s what we did so good last year. Even though we ZACH DOOLEYAPRIL 22, 20200 didn’t play great, we were good enough to be in games and win games. COMMENTSCOACHINGCOMMUNITYVIDEO Playing the way we did in the first two, we didn’t play poorly, but in our first game we took way too many penalties. In the second game, our

power play was losing us the game. If you give away two games, it’s INSIDERS. A fine early afternoon to you. News, notes, links and deep tough to win four out of five. thoughts from LAKI and ORI are below. Lots more to come later today MORE ON WEBBY. I hope you learned a little bit more about former and throughout the week about the Teams For LA fund to benefit the Kings coach Tom Webster’s impact on the coaching and scouting Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles. community. If you haven’t read my story from last week, it’s right here. AND BOB MILLER, GET ON MY BACK, BECAUSE I’M GOING TO BE There’s one more quote from Paul Maurice I wanted to use but didn’t CARRYING YOU OUT OF THIS BOOTH. We’re deep in the spring, work in. where virtually every day is an anniversary of Kings Playoff Series Of “What I watched Tom Webster do was love all parts of the game. He Yore. Yesterday it was Detroit, Game 5. Tomorrow will be Detroit, Game loved to play, he had a great time playing, and then he was a head 6. Tonight marks eight years since Trevor Lewis forechecked Dan coach, and he loved that, and he became an assistant coach, a nd he Hamhuis off the puck, freeing it loose for Jarret Stoll’s two-on-one with loved that. That’s not easy to do, that transition to go from a head coach Dwight King. There was also a Brad Richardson game-tying, third period to being an assistant coach and then sliding into player development and goal off a tremendous advancement low into the zone by Drew Doughty, scouting. Those were almost his strongest suits in the end, because he one of many unsung contributions by players like King, Colin Fraser and loved working with a player individually, and he loved trying to help a Jordan Nolan that meshed so well with world class talent and a dressing player. That’s where I thought all things came together for him. We had a room bursting with team leaders and important voices. Richardson wasn’t fairly young team (in Hartford/Carolina) in the NHL, and then when he only part of the storied 2003 draft class, a pool out of which he’s played went in and he worked with the other teams in player development, that’s the second-most games out of anyone drafted later than the second where he really, I thought, found a great balance – a love of the game, round. He was also the 10th selection of the 2001 OHL priority selection, and a love of people.” the same draft in which went third to Sault Ste. Marie and Mike Richards fourth to Kitchener. He played three of his four OHL And now its time for the comedy stylings of Reign Insider, Zach Dooley! seasons under GM Michael Futa, who joined the Kings as a co-Director of Amateur Scouting in 2006 but was also an advocate for his former Good Afternoon, Insiders! player when the team traded a second round draft pick for him in the In between flying through Ozark on Netflix and preparing for a key off- summer of 2008, eight days before they traded for Stoll and Matt Greene. season for my Madden 20 franchise, let’s catch up on what some of the That first round series should be in the mix for Closest 4-1 Series In LA Kings have been up to in the media over the past week or so. League History. Los Angeles’ game-winning goals were scored at 16:46 31 Thoughts of the third period, 8:30 of the third period, 6:30 of the third period and 4:27 of overtime. Of the entire series, they led for just under 49 minutes, Kings Head Coach Todd McLellan was a key focus on the most recent Vancouver led for nearly 70, and the series was tied for some edition of Elliotte Friedman’s 31 Thoughts. We’ve heard some of what excruciating 186 minutes. The Kings were out-attempted at five-on-five McLellan had to say, talking about the hard work and growth of his team play 130-113 in that series, though they held a slight advantage in over the season, as well as praise and characteristics of some of his scoring chances and expected goals. Jonathan Quick was at his Conn players, and how he is pretty off the grid when it comes to social media. Smythe best throughout the series and made an incredible save on a Daniel Sedin breakaway to set the stage for the Game 5 comeback, but What I found interesting was his thoughts on the different mindsets Roberto Luongo and Corey Schneider were nearly matching him shot for between players and coaches. McLellan said he still wakes up at 5:30, shot. You were right to scream at the top of your lungs when Stoll’s puck despite not having a practice to go to…a very coach answer. His sons, hit twine. the players, chirp him and he says they don’t wake up until 8:30 or 9…a very player (without kids!) answer. The mindset comparison is also Some post-game recollections: interesting, when it comes to how a coach comes to a game thinking about the “we” whereas a player comes to the game thinking about the Jarret Stoll, on his goal: “me”, the micro/macro comparison. I was seeing a little bit of room up there, and short-side, maybe that’s McLellan said he is still preparing as if the Kings might resume play this something that they’re not expecting. I was definitely shooting all the season and while he’s held discussions as to the seasons of players with way. Lewie did a great job on the turnover, just forcing their D-man. I was coaches and management, they have not held a version of exit meetings just at the right place at the right time and had a nice little transition 2-on- with players, as that could signify an ending. 1. Those Anderson Boys Are At It Again Dustin Brown, on winning three road games in the series: Mikey and Joey Anderson joined Jac Collinsworth of NBC Sports for an I’ve said this for the last couple years. This team, we’re definitely episode of “Distanced Training” this week. The Andersons, stationed designed better for the playoff hockey, than we are for the regular back at home in Minnesota, talked about how they’re keeping with season. I think, when you have a goalie like Quicker, it always gives you training and keeping hockey in their daily routine the best they can, as a chance on the road. He made some key saves tonight, a couple well as Mikey’s NHL debut, their graduation from bunk beds and more. breakaway saves for us. I think we did a pretty good job of limiting their grade-A scoring chances, other than a couple chances. We’ve shown The gem of the interview was how the brothers ruined their sister’s that we’ve been able to battle. We’ve been in 2-1 games all season, and graduation party by getting into a brawl over a game of “Sting Pong”. it was more of the same. When Mikey eliminated Joey during the game, allegedly “too hard”, chaos ensued and the brothers wound up wrestling on the ground, with Jonathan Quick, on stopping Daniel Sedin’s breakaway: Mikey clocking Joey on the side of the head, drawing blood with a mean I had to make a few stops there, because Scheids seemed like he kept right hook. kicking them (out). He played great in these last three games. I didn’t Full Interview available here: know if he was going to give one up tonight. He was on it all night. It took a great play by Dewey to push it into overtime. It was huge. It was a Inside The Play huge, huge game.

Darryl Sutter, on Jarret Stoll’s overtime goal: Though I wouldn’t mind seeing a virtual edition of this series, the Kings thankfully had a couple of Inside The Play videos pre-recorded with Gabriel Vilardi / Martin Frk, as well as with defenseman Matt Roy, with the latter just released yesterday.

Roy’s is especially interesting, because it focuses on a series of plays, not just one, and in a series of different situations. Fox talks with Roy about his one-on-one defending in space, defending and body positioning in front of the net, open ice hitting and a one-timer goal from the left point. Pretty fitting for the jack of all trades Roy, who seems to get universal praise for his abilities in all situations, while not necessarily standing out in either direction in one area.

Drew Doughty mentioned Roy as his breakout defenseman this season on his conference call with media last week, while Roy’s play drew praise from Todd McLellan as well in the afore-linked 31 Thoughts piece. It was exciting to see Roy bring his two-way game to the Kings this season in the same way that he did in 2018-19 with the Reign, where he was the team’s most consistent defenseman. Good on ya, Partner.

As for the host, , he’s got a special going if you’re in need of some quaran-wine.

Unusual times call for unusual measures-1st time buyers BONUS-Patiné is offering increased allocation limits-100 three packs of 2014 Soberanes and Sun Chase Vineyard have been made available-FREE SHIPPING for Orders of 6 bottles or more-Go to https://t.co/Xsmw1v6E2d STAY SAFE! pic.twitter.com/LVxf2164RP

— Jim Fox (@JimFox19) April 21, 2020

Cereal Killer

Kings goaltender Cal Petersen took over the NHL’s Twitter account last week for a Q&A with fans from across the league. The Kings provided a handy Top-5 of Petersen’s takeover,with the most glaring inclusion being Cal’s approach to eating cereal.

For a true visual, Petersen’s teammate and in-season roommate Matt Luff took a shot at recreating……and I’m still pretty baffled.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 04.23.2020 1173974 Minnesota Wild The 55-year-old has remained in Minnesota, reading books by Wayne Gretzky and Mick Jagger (’s in the hopper) and staying physically active.

Dean Evason, staff have Wild ready to re-start season when NHL He’s excited he can golf now that courses have reopened, and he’s also decides its safe working out at home where he’s set up a stationary bike in a bathroom. Evason rides that in the morning, also has a road bike and cranks on a heater when he practices yoga.

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune APRIL 22, 2020 — 10:56PM “I tried to stay in the same type of routine that I had before this all hit,” said Evason, who’s sporting a beard for the first time in his coaching

career. Wild interim coach Dean Evason has heard mixed messages on a His wife, Genevieve, isn’t able to stay with him since she’s a flight potential return for the NHL. attendant based out of Montreal still working during the pandemic, and “One day they say, ‘Yeah, possibly everything’s going to get back,’ ” Evason said he’s proud of her even though the situation is unsettling. Evason said, “and then the next day, ‘No.’ ” “She’s never wavered,” he explained. “She’s never said, ‘You know, I But if the action does eventually restart with the Wild still in the mix, don’t want to do it.’ She just goes about her business [and] stays as safe Evason is convinced he and the coaching staff will be prepared to lead a as you possibly can. But there’s no question it’s scary. team that was on the brink of a playoff spot when the league shut down “You see the news and how it’s affected people. There’s certainly last month amid the coronavirus pandemic. concern, but she’s doing her part.” “If they tell us tomorrow that we’re going to play or start in a week or so, Although he acknowledged he could go to Montreal, Evason said he’s we’re ready,” Evason said Wednesday during a video conference call. “I staying put until the season hopefully is back in motion. think that’s what’s positive for us as a coaching staff, and I’m sure all the staffs have done the same thing. But we’re very confident that we’re When and if that occurs is still a mystery, but Evason is ready should it ready to go as soon as they let us know.” become reality.

Evason and his staff have remained in touch during this hiatus, chatting “We’re just going to wait and see what happens and be as prepared as once a week, and on Monday the group assembled a plan for a 10-day we possibly can when that happens,” he said, “and hopefully it does.” training camp — this after the coaches initially outlined a shorter scheme early in the pause when the hope was games would resume quickly. Star Tribune LOADED: 04.23.2020

After using video to emphasize systems play in each zone for three days, Evason then anticipates reinforcing those concepts with up-tempo practices before moving on to intense scrimmages that simulate games.

“You’re gonna have to have a day off in between and then more tweaking as far as our systems and what have you going forward kind of after that fifth, sixth day,” Evason said. “We think we’ve got a pretty good thought process together, but obviously things can change depending on when we get back.”

Promoted from an assistant after Bruce Boudreau was fired on Feb. 14, Evason implemented an aggressive style and the Wild responded by going 8-4 to sit a point out of a playoff position with 13 games to go. The cohesiveness of the group would be a focus of Evason’s if the Wild gets a chance to continue playing — one of many unknowns since it remains unclear if the NHL will finish out the regular season, fast-forward to a traditional playoff or adopt a different format.

Either way, a fast start seems critical.

“The quicker your group comes back together, the better off you’re going to be to have success,” said Evason, likening the remaining games to a tournament.

And while playing without fans in attendance would be different, Evason believes players would adapt.

“Once the game’s played, where the puck’s dropped, the players play the game,” Evason said, “regardless of what’s happening.”

Getting the Wild back on the ice would also give Evason more time to make a case to stay behind the bench.

In the aftermath of the NHL pausing its season on March 12, General Manager Bill Guerin said Evason’s status will remain unchanged for the time being and the two talk every few days.

Evason hopes he has already proved himself but wants an opportunity to show as much as he can.

“We liked where our group was as a group,” he said. “We really played as a team.”

As he waits for clarity, Evason has watched videos of prospects and stayed in touch with players. He hasn’t had any exit-meeting type conversations, but he let them know they could reach out to him and some have.

“Certainly want to keep the communication open with the group,” he said. 1173975 Minnesota Wild

40 years ago today: A memorable Twins and North Stars doubleheader

By Jerry Zgoda APRIL 22, 2020 — 11:11AM

Despite starting their season 5-7 after a long West Coast road trip, the Twins returned to Metropolitan Stadium 40 years ago Wednesday the hottest team in baseball – and not because they thumped former teammates Rod Carew, Danny Ford and the California Angels 8-1.

They were that hottest team because of a home opener played in a furnace wind on a 90-degree day that remains a club record for home openers played outdoors.

It was part of a memorable day-night doubleheader for Minnesota sports fans, many of whom headed home and watched live from Montreal. They watched the young North Stars’ Game 5 loss that night in a second- round playoff series they’d win five days later on Al MacAdam’s late goal in Game 7 over the four-time defending Stanley Cup champion Canadiens.

A University of Minnesota freshman too tempted by the unusual weather forecast, I skipped class and joined 36,267 like-minded others out in Bloomington on a Tuesday afternoon.

One day after Manhattan office worker Rosie Ruiz “won” the women’s Boston Marathon, many Twins fans went shirtless and some unhappily went thirsty because of too few vendors roaming the grandstands.

My theory for playing hooky: When’s it going to be 90 degrees again in April for a Twins home opener, the second-to-last at Met Stadium?

Answer: Never, not even after the team moved into Target Field 30 years later.

When public-address announcer Bob Casey asked fans to stand and sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch, second-deck fans chanted “We want beer!”

Twins pitcher Geoff Zahn threw a six-hit complete game that day and Roy Smalley’s two-run, first-inning homer stood as the winner while pasty Minnesotans freed from winter sunburned.

“It was the most pleasant 90 degrees I’ve ever been in,” Twins first baseman Mike Cubbage told reporters after a game played in a 25-mile an hour breeze. “With the wind, it was just gorgeous.”

Star Tribune LOADED: 04.23.2020 1173976 Minnesota Wild

Wild coach Dean Evason on his future: ‘Hopefully we’ve done enough’ to stay

By DANE MIZUTANI | [email protected] | Pioneer Press

When he’s not doing hot yoga, playing golf or reading as a way to pass the time during the coronavirus pandemic, Wild interim coach Dean Evason is trying his best not to go down a certain rabbit hole regarding his future.

He knows nothing good can come from that.

As far as Evason is concerned, he has done everything he can to convince general manager Bill Guerin that he’s the right guy for the job.

He put together an 8-4-0 record in his 12 games as coach since the firing of Bruce Boudreau on Feb. 14, found a way to unlock another dimension in budding superstar Kevin Fiala’s game, and most importantly, had the Wild well on their way to chasing down the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

“Our staff, I think, we feel like we’ve done some good things,” Evason said. “Hopefully we’ve done enough to show that we can do the job and do the job going forward.”

In the meantime, Evason knows there isn’t time for a pity party.

Instead, he’s been devising and revising a plan so that the Wild are ready to go if the 2019-20 season resumes at some point.

“We put together a 10-day training camp because obviously things are going to be a lot different if and when we come back,” said Evason, who has stayed in regular communication with members of his coaching staff. “We are trying to get ahead of it a little bit.”

In theory, that 10-day training camp would feature some conditioning at the start to get the players back into game shape, and then move on to different facets of the game plan. That would be followed by a couple of “really intense” scrimmages mimicking the feel of a real game. They can be a little more flexible after that.

“You’re going to have to have a day off in between and then more tweaking as far as our systems, and then keep going forward,” Evason said. “We think we’ve got a pretty good thought process put together.”

That said, Evason is the first person to admit he has no idea when that 10-day training camp will get off the ground.

“It’s a good question, and I don’t have an answer,” he said. “I don’t think anybody does right now.”

Evason trusts that his players are doing whatever it takes to stay in shape, though he recognized it’s impossible to do that without skating at an actual rink. That’s the biggest reason something like the 10-day training camp would be helpful.

“If there was something like that, like we’ve prepared for, we’ve got to really ease into that as far as their conditioning,” the coach said. “We have to be very mindful of injuries and situations where too much excessive skating could beat the body up.”

No doubt the sea of unknowns is the toughest part for Evason right now. He has no idea when the season will resume, no idea what that would even entail, and no idea where he stands in the hiring process.

“I can’t control any of that,” Evason said. “I’ve talked a lot here since we took over that we just control what we can control. We did what we did. Hopefully we get another opportunity to continue to prove that we can get the job done going forward.”

Pioneer Press LOADED: 04.23.2020 1173977 Minnesota Wild clear by watching his fun banter with youngsters like Luke Kunin and Jordan Greenway and so many others that players enjoy him as a coach.

And obviously, there’s Kevin Fiala, the Wild’s talented up-and-comer who Wild notes: On Dean Evason’s future, finishing season, Kirill Kaprizov, flourished with increased ice time during Evason’s three-plus weeks as more coach.

Remember, Evason coached Fiala at the start of his career on the Milwaukee Admirals, as well. By Michael Russo Apr 22, 2020 36 Evason said beyond just Fiala, he loved the buy-in factor from each player and felt the team was heading in the right direction at the time of interruption. In a lot of ways, you’ve got to feel for Dean Evason. “We thought that we were playing really well,” he said. “We felt we played After a long playing career, Evason coached at many levels for more with a lot of excitement, a lot of energy, a lot of speed and we were than 20 years with the aspirations of one day reaching the pinnacle and playing the game the right way.” becoming an NHL head coach. While that’s true, there’s no doubt the Wild are going to want a coach that Now, because of the pandemic that has interrupted all sports, Evason will continue to deploy Fiala in a way that will get the best out of him. doesn’t know if his 12-game tryout behind the Wild’s bench will be enough to shed the interim tag on a full-time basis should this season not “That’s a nice added bonus, and Kevin’s a very important player to us,” resume this summer. Guerin said of Evason’s relationship and mutual respect with Fiala. “But there’s 20 other guys, too, that we need to focus on. It’s Dean’s ability to “As a staff, I think we feel like we’ve done some good things,” Evason communicate to every individual and to the group as a whole. The fact said during an insightful, nearly half-hour Zoom call with reporters that he does have a history with Kevin is great. It’s just an added bonus.” Wednesday. “Obviously we wanted to have more of a big picture. When you get into a position like this, you want to have an opportunity to show There’s only so much a coach can do during a quarantine before the well as much as you possibly can. Hopefully we’ve done enough to show that runs dry. we can do the job and do the job going forward. Evason said he and his coaching staff have watched video of prospects “As a coaching staff, we feel good about what we did in the short term. … and created multiple scenarios for different-length mini-training camps. Hopefully we get another opportunity to continue to prove that we can get the job done going forward.” If the season resumes, commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly have said teams will have an appropriate amount #MNWILD INTERIM COACH DEAN EVASON HAS HIS PLAYOFF of time to get back into playing shape and tune up for a resumption of BEARD GOING AND DOING A ZOOM CALL WITH LOCAL play. REPORTERS. EVASON COACHES 12 GAMES, WON 8 OF HIS LAST 11 PIC.TWITTER.COM/AKCMAMXO9F “Monday morning, we put together a 10-day training camp because obviously things are going to be a lot different if and when we come — MICHAEL RUSSO (@RUSSOHOCKEY) APRIL 22, 2020 back,” Evason said. “So we’re just trying to get ahead of it, trying to prepare, get our videos together, get our practice plans together, get our Evason went 8-4 behind the bench, winning eight of his final 11 games thought process and then obviously it could shift because of what and and helping pull the Wild within a point of a playoff spot before the league where we’re going to be. We’re trying to get ahead of it a little bit. was suspended March 12 mere hours before the Wild were set to take on the Vegas Golden Knights. “But there’s only so much you can do of that.”

The belief is if the NHL resumes this summer, NHL teams will be brought Evason, 55, noted that a truncated training camp could almost be like to four or five cities to quarantine and play very possibly without fans in back when he played when training camp was actually used to get into the stands. According to a league source, about two-thirds of NHL cities shape. In today’s NHL, players are usually skating for several weeks have been eliminated from contention, but Minnesota is one of the NHL ahead of camp and are expected to arrive in tip-top, game-ready shape. markets still in deep consideration to host several NHL games. That obviously won’t be the case when North American-based NHLers The league hopes to resume the regular season, but if the timing and are largely living in stay-at-home order states and provinces and most ice circumstances don’t allow for that, there’s a good chance the playoffs rinks are closed. In fact, there hasn’t been ice at Xcel Energy Center and would be expanded to allow bubble teams like the Wild, who didn’t play TRIA Rink since mid-March. as many games as some teams ahead of them in the standings, to continue on. From a personal point of view, Evason has tried to get into day-to-day routines during Minnesota’s near monthlong stay-at-home order. As of now, general manager Bill Guerin has made clear that Evason will coach the Wild if this season continues. He has grown a mean-looking beard, something he hasn’t had since his playing days. The former Hartford Whaler kidded he has taken a lot of Guerin has yet to embark on any sort of coaching search or interview ribbing that “the weren’t in the playoffs very long to process for next season and beyond, Guerin has told The Athletic, (ever) really see a beard.” including as recently as Tuesday. Unfortunately for Evason, he hasn’t seen his wife, Genevieve, for awhile. Besides Evason, some potential candidates could include veteran NHL coaches Gerard Gallant and Peter Laviolette, current AHL coaches like They’ve long had a long-distance relationship. She is a flight attendant Iowa’s Tim Army, college coaches like Scott Sandelin, Mike Hastings and based in Montreal and is still working, “which is wonderful … scary, but Tony Granato and former Islanders coach Doug Weight, who is one of wonderful,” Evason said. “She’s doing her part with essential services, Guerin’s closest friends. flying people that need to get different places. … Proud of her for doing it. She’s never wavered, she’s never said, ‘You know, I don’t want to do it.’ But Guerin says Evason has elevated himself into legitimate coaching She just goes about her business, stays as safe as you possibly can. But candidate territory. there’s no question it’s scary. You see the news and how it’s affected people. There’s certainly concern, but she’s doing her part.” “He’s got great communication skills with me and more importantly with the players,” Guerin told The Athletic on Tuesday. “He can relate to them A workout fanatic, Evason has ridden his road bike, but he has also more on a player-for-player level because he played for so long. He’s turned some rooms in his apartment into a hot yoga studio. Evason very organized. I just like Dean’s fire, I like his intensity, too. But he’s also bought a heater and threw it into a smaller bathroom with his stationary not a hothead. He’s got a good, calm demeanor behind the bench. So bike. Each morning, he goes in for a sweat. He also has a membership to far, it’s been really good.” a national yoga studio chain, so he follows those online exercises.

One thing Evason has going for him is his relationship with all the Wild Evason is also a scratch golfer, so he has started to take advantage of players. Prior to taking over for Bruce Boudreau on an interim basis in the golf courses opening last week in Minnesota. February, Evason was an assistant with the Wild for two seasons. It’s “The biggest thing that I’ve probably done that I haven’t done in years is start reading again,” he said. “I used to read a ton when I was a player, but when you become a coach, and even in the summer, it’s difficult to really get down to reading a novel. I’m a nonfiction guy. I just finished Gretzky’s book and Mick Jagger’s book and then I’m on an English book on English hooligans now.

“I’ve almost finished that, and then I’m going on to Joe Torre’s book next.”

But Evason’s biggest hope is that he gets to continue what he started, guide the Wild into the postseason and really further his chance of becoming the next full-time coach of the Wild.

“If they tell us tomorrow that we’re going to play or start in a week or so, we’re ready,” Evason said. “I think that’s what’s positive for us as a coaching staff and I’m sure all the staffs have done the same thing. But we’re very confident that we’re ready to go as soon as they let us know.”

Guerin has had very preliminary discussions with the agent of defenseman Carson Soucy.

The Wild want Soucy to be part of their future for a long time, but as of now, it’s not known if he’ll become a restricted or unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Soucy has played 62 NHL games in his career, including the playoffs. Soucy is 25, and in the NHL, if you’re 25 or older with at least three professional seasons and have yet to play 80 NHL games and your contract is expiring, your status automatically changes to a Group 6 unrestricted free agent.

As of now, Soucy is 18 games short. But the Wild are waiting to see what happens with the rest of the season. Theoretically, as unlikely as this may be, if the regular-season resumes and the Wild play their final 13 games, make the playoffs and have a round last at least five games, Soucy, if he were to play in all of those games, would be a restricted free agent. That would put his next contract in a more reasonable marketplace than if he were free this offseason to negotiate with 30 other NHL teams.

Soucy injured his wrist Feb. 21 but would be ready to return if the NHL resumes.

In 55 games, Soucy ranks fourth among NHL rookie defensemen with seven goals, tied for ninth with 14 points, tied for fourth with a plus-16 and first with a .115 shooting percentage.

Galchenyuk, Kaprizov updates

If this season is canceled, Alex Galchenyuk would become an unrestricted free agent.

Guerin liked Galchenyuk’s game and work ethic since his arrival in the trade and has indicated that he would consider re-signing the versatile forward who scored big goals in San Jose and Anaheim on the final road trip of the season while skating as a center.

The fact that Galchenyuk speaks Russian fluently would not be a reason to re-sign him, however. Guerin has said that he does not plan to sign a Russian-speaking player if the sole reason is to help prospect Kirill Kaprizov in his transition to North America.

Besides the fact that the Wild’s roster is ultra-tight heading into next season, Guerin says that Kaprizov has assured him that he doesn’t need a Russian player as a teammate in order to adjust early in his career.

As The Athletic reported April 10, Guerin and Kaprizov text back and forth often and the Wild are expected to sign him as early as May 1. …

Evason will be Thursday’s guest on Michael Russo’s Straight From The Source podcast. Also, on Monday at 7 p.m., please join Russo, The Athletic’s Chad Graff and Fox Sports North’s Anthony LaPanta on The Athletic for a live discussion with fans during FSN’s re-airing of Game 7 of the 2014 Western Conference quarterfinals. To re-live the thrilling game from the words of Wild players, coaches and trainers, here’s the link to Tuesday’s oral history.

The Athletic LOADED: 04.23.2020 1173978 MontrealCanadiens a different floor at Nazaire-Piché. But he said there were staffing issues last Sunday as well — no attendants, and only three volunteers and one nurse responsible for dispensing medication. Two of the volunteers working with him were a husband and wife, an accountant and engineer, Leading by example: MNA, ex-NHLer Ciccone on front line helping respectively. seniors “I was the one with eight hours’ experience under my sleeve, telling them what to do,” Ciccone said.

Author of the article:Herb Zurkowsky • On Tuesday, there was finally a full staff working alongside Ciccone after the McGill University Health Centre dispatched a dozen workers — all

fellow volunteers. After 374 NHL games and 1,469 penalty minutes — many the result of Ciccone said there hasn’t been a shortage of personal protective fights — spread over an 11-year career, former defenceman Enrico equipment at the facility and he goes through 100 pairs of gloves during Ciccone thought his hands were tough and battle-scarred. a typical shift. But then the Liberal MNA for Marquette — a first-time politician who won Although Nazaire-Piché had reported only one death as of April 11, the West Island riding in 2018 — started volunteering at the CHSLD Ciccone said another resident died on Tuesday, but he wasn’t advised Nazaire-Piché in Lachine, constantly washing his hands throughout his whether it was from COVID-19. eight-hour shift. “It’s very complicated and takes a lot of time to go through the dressing “I have rugged hands, but let me tell you, now they’ve very sensitive,” and undressing process,” he said. “We’re dressed like robots. They don’t Ciccone, 50, said with a laugh on Wednesday. see our face or expression. They can’t see our mouth. Some are hard of Since last Friday, Ciccone has been volunteering at the long-term health- hearing. The first few nights were tough. I was very sad and angry.” care facility, working every other day, often being exposed to COVID-19 “The sentiment I did something good in society, changed things, made patients. He has washed floors, changed diapers and served meals. He’s things better. It’s what drives me,” he said. “Trying to find solutions — also a good listener, when necessary, because some of the CHSLD’s that’s what keeps me alive. When I go home, sometimes I’m happy. residents with cognitive disorders have no idea he played for seven NHL Sometimes not.” teams — including three games for the Canadiens at the end of his career — or is their representative in the National Assembly. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 04.23.2020 “You saw the way I played. I never put myself first,” Ciccone said. “That’s how I react. That’s what I do. The need to take care of somebody, sometimes it can get heavy because you take everything personally. You want to save the world. That’s the way I am. It makes me happy.

“My security and health (are secondary). What can I do? I want to be able to sleep at night. People call me crazy, but it makes me happy. What can I say?”

Ciccone made it clear he’s not volunteering at the CHSLD for political gain and he doesn’t want this to be about him. Indeed, he declined to have his photo taken in front of the residence. He said he just wants to help his riding constituents and hopes his act of leadership will be followed by others.

Monsef Derraji, the Liberal MNA for Nelligan, has been volunteering at Résidence Herron in Dorval, where 31 deaths have been reported since March 13. But Derraji has worked for pharmaceutical companies and is completing his PhD in public health.

Ciccone, on the other hand, went in cold but felt the need to act more than a week ago after being advised by Lynne McVey, the president and CEO for the CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’île-de-Montréal, of the staff shortages.

Former NHL player Enrico Ciccone answers questions after being introduced as the Liberal candidate in the Marquette riding during a news conference in Lachine on Aug. 16, 2018. JOHN MAHONEY/Montreal Gazette

During his first shift last Friday morning, 14 of the 18 patients on the floor to which he’d been assigned had tested positive for COVID-19. All but four of the patients are confined to their beds. Of the three attendants and two volunteers, including Ciccone, assigned to that area, two were forced to leave early in their shifts after their test results came back positive.

“The game changed,” Ciccone said. “I had to clean patients, change their diapers. It was a crash course 101 on how to attend to a sick person. It was very tough, but you have to do it. You have no choice. It’s either that or you leave, and I wasn’t going to leave people who needed attending, especially these people.

“They need to be fed, washed and cleaned. If you don’t care for them and leave them alone, they (might) die within 48-72 hours; that’s what I was told. You’re there to keep them alive, make their life better. It’s a big, big responsibility and it’s very tough on the staff.

“My heart goes out to them. They’re angels.”

Since that initial shift, Ciccone has worked from 3:30 to 11:30 p.m., giving him time during the day to serve his riding’s needs. He’s also working on 1173979 MontrealCanadiens As Suzuki spoke on that conference call Tuesday, it was difficult not to get a sense of déjà vu.

At around this time last year, I went to lunch with Kotkaniemi and his The difficulty planning a reset is personified in the Canadiens’ top young parents. He, like Suzuki, was coming off an unexpectedly good rookie guns season in the NHL, a season he was expected to spend playing back home in Finland, or perhaps in Laval, but definitely not in Montreal. Like Suzuki, Kotkaniemi had forced his way onto the team with a strong training camp. Like Suzuki, he learned more and more every day. And By Arpon Basu Apr 22, 2020 20 like Suzuki, by the end of that rookie season, he was being told by Claude Julien that he had hit a wall.

Think back to the beginning of the Canadiens training camp. “It was a long stretch, longest of the season, so I hit a bit of hard times. But I thought I was playing well enough to produce. Sometimes that just In fact, think back further than that, to rookie camp. doesn’t happen. I didn’t feel like I was hitting a wall at all. Didn’t feel like I was not there, but Nick Suzuki was, and he and Ryan Poehling were the was tired or playing differently. Just a little bit of bad puck luck maybe.” centres of attention. They represented the future of the Canadiens, a future that could be fast approaching as each of them prepared to Flip the calendar back one year and that quote could easily be attributed attempt a jump to the NHL. to Kotkaniemi, who relayed the same information in a slightly different way during our lunch. Poehling’s NHL debut a few months earlier created a final dose of excitement at the end of an unexpectedly exciting season, with the “I wasn’t tired at any point,” he said at the time. “I just lost my confidence Canadiens falling just short of completing an improbable playoff chase. a little bit.” Right around that time, Suzuki was embarking on a playoff run for the Like Kotkaniemi, Suzuki was having a historic rookie season when the ages with the Storm, putting up 42 points in 24 games to lead his NHL suspended play last month. For Kotkaniemi, he was the second- team to the league championship and a berth in the . most productive 18-year-old rookie in Canadiens franchise history, falling At that rookie camp, it was hard not to get the impression Poehling had a five points short of ’s output in 1974-75. better chance of starting the season in Montreal than Suzuki, but it was Suzuki, with 41 points in 71 games, was on his way to making some still possible both or neither of them would make it. Seeing as they history as well. With 11 games remaining, he had already put up the 23rd represented the future, that also meant they represented the unknown. most points for a rookie in team history and, though he was supposedly When a team is trying to build a contender, these are the players you get busy hitting a wall with an eight-game pointless streak snapped in the excited about, the players you don’t know about. The excitement comes Canadiens’ final game, had a legitimate chance to move up that list. Had from wondering how high these players can climb. Their ceiling is still Suzuki put up nine points in his final 11 games, he would have been only years away. They are, in many ways, still on the floor. the seventh Canadiens rookie to have a 50-point season and the first What was known at the time – or at least believed to be known – was since Michael Ryder in 2003-04. that Kotkaniemi represented the present, and that was made plain by his Suzuki was asked if he was aware of the historical significance of his absence at that rookie camp. He had already, barely 19 at the time and season, and he wasn’t. younger than both Poehling and Suzuki, completed his NHL rookie season. Just before rookie camp opening, Kotkaniemi took them both out “That’s really cool to hear, especially with the talent this franchise has to dinner along with Josh Brook, another player with hopes of cracking had for all those years,” Suzuki said after he was informed of his place in the Canadiens lineup out of camp. the Canadiens’ record books. “There’s been a ton of great players that have played for the Habs and to be mentioned or be around those guys Of everyone at that dinner table that night, the only one who had the is really cool. They have other categories that they’re high in, so I’d season that he expected to have was Suzuki. probably want to get up there too.” “I felt like I could definitely earn my way onto the team,” Suzuki said on Though he didn’t clarify that last remark, it was pretty clearly a reference Tuesday during a conference call organized by the Canadiens. “I didn’t to the Stanley Cup. Suzuki takes that seriously, mentioning it as one of really know where I fit in exactly, but I thought I was good enough to play his primary goals as a player. in the NHL and if I was given an opportunity to do that, I would make the most of it.” “I told every NHL team when I was doing my combine interviews that I want to be known as a winner,” he said. “I think I’ve been a winner Suzuki spoke about his rookie season throughout the call and how, all everywhere I’ve went, and I want to show that attribute through my play.” things considered, it was a successful transition into the NHL. He spoke of how he learned from Nate Thompson and Phillip Danault on the details That is a nice goal to have, and if the Canadiens ever reach the point of two-way play as a centreman, how he tried to absorb the wisdom he where they are considered legitimate contenders for the Stanley Cup, it is was surrounded by in the Canadiens dressing room and learn every day clear that players like Suzuki will need to be at the centre of it. As will and how he felt he did a good job of that. Kotkaniemi, Poehling and perhaps even Brook, the entirety of that dinner table before rookie camp back in September. They were all perfectly reasonable takeaways from his season because Suzuki exceeded everyone’s expectations, if not necessarily his own, But every player has his own path to becoming that kind of a contributor because his expectations of himself are very high. to a championship team. And sometimes, that path can veer off course. There’s nothing to say Suzuki will necessarily be one of those players “I thought I did a great job of just learning each day as the season wore who will need a compass at some point. But there’s nothing to say he on,” Suzuki said. won’t, either. But again, think back to rookie camp, and the player you would have This is what is so tricky for the Canadiens as they attempt to build a expected to be on a conference call organized by the Canadiens under Stanley Cup contender while also hoping to compete for the playoffs these circumstances would have probably been Kotkaniemi. Except he every year, because the plan is for more and more young players to didn’t finish the season with the Canadiens. Neither did Poehling. So they make their transition to the NHL every year, and it is the completion of weren’t on the call. that transition that will determine how competitive the Canadiens will be What this demonstrates is how difficult it is to make plans for players in any given year. when you are going about a reset in the way the Canadiens are doing Except there is absolutely no way of knowing how long that transition will now, by keeping veterans around and slowly integrating young players take to be completed. around them. There are more coming, and the Canadiens’ ability to compete for a playoff spot will hinge on the ability of those young players The Athletic LOADED: 04.23.2020 to meet expectations.

What the last calendar year has shown is you cannot plan on that, at least not in a concrete way. Because young players are inherently unpredictable. 1173980 MontrealCanadiens Team Godin is cute. It has some great players, sure. But tell me how he is supposed to withstand wave after wave of offence coming at him from my forward group. Unless Marc Antoine plans on playing the - pairing 45 minutes a game, his defence Our Canadiens fantasy draft semi-finals / Les demi-finales de notre has no chance to keep up with the relentless pressure my forwards will repêchage apply. With all due respect to Roman Hamrlik and Sheldon Souray, they will get buried by the line, with Mats Naslund and Mark

Recchi skating literal circles around Souray until he falls over from By The Athletic Montreal Apr 22, 2020 14 dizziness.

Also, what are the chances Marc Antoine’s centres will even survive the series? We all love Saku Koivu’s courage and clutch play, but we also After unveiling the four teams our staff at The Athletic Montreal picked in know his history with injuries. I don’t like his chances of surviving a a Canadiens fantasy draft, we are turning to you, our faithful subscribers primary matchup against and Butch Bouchard, or, on to determine a winner. Below, you will find our semi-final matchups, occasion, and . Defensively, Koivu would chosen by random draw, of Team Dumont vs. Team Gordon and Team have to go up against Jean Béliveau, for God’s sakes. Are we playing Basu vs. Team Godin. with a mercy rule?

Each general manager gets to make a case for his team, you can peruse Meanwhile, Pierre Turgeon would most definitely be traded for a washed the roster again (or Click here to go over the stats and the draft rationale) up power forward and a middling, stay at home defenceman before the and then make your pick. Simple as that! series was over, with Team Godin throwing in a young centre who would go on to play more than 1,000 games in the NHL for good measure. Let’s get into it, starting with Team Basu vs Team Godin. In a worst-case scenario, we would just play in such a way that would Après avoir dévoilé les quatre équipes bâties dans le cadre d’un ensure every game gets to overtime and laugh as Team Godin fails over repêchage des joueurs du Canadien par le personnel d’Athlétique and over again to score on . Montréal, nous nous tournons vers vous, nos fidèles abonnés, pour déterminer un gagnant. Vous trouverez ci-dessous nos affrontements en Équipe Godin est mignonne. Elle compte sur quelques excellents demi-finale, déterminés par tirage au sort. Équipe Dumont croisera le fer joueurs. Par contre, expliquez-moi comment elle résistera à toutes les avec Équipe Gordon tandis qu’Équipe Basu affrontera Équipe Godin. vagues d'attaque de la part de mes joueurs d’avant. À moins que Marc Antoine n’ait l’intention d’utiliser le duo de Larry Robinson et Mathieu Chaque directeur général a fait un plaidoyer en faveur de son équipe. Schneider 45 minutes par match, sa défense n'a aucune chance de Vous pouvez analyser les formations (ou cliquer ici pour consulter les rivaliser avec la pression incessante de mes attaquants. Avec tout le statistiques ainsi que le processus du repêchage) pour ensuite faire votre respect que je dois à Roman Hamrlik et Sheldon Souray, ils seront choix. C’est aussi simple que cela! martelés par le trio de Bobby Smith, alors que Mats Naslund et Mark Allons-y, en commençant avec la série opposant Équipe Basu à Équipe Recchi s’amuseront à tourner autour de Souray jusqu'à ce qu'il tombe, Godin. trop étourdit.

Team/Équipe Basu De plus, quelles sont les chances que les joueurs de centre de Marc Antoine survivent à cette série? Nous aimons tous le courage et les Forwards/Attaquants performances dans les grands moments de Saku Koivu, mais nous Dickie Moore connaissons aussi son historique de blessures. Je n'aime pas ses chances de survivre à un affrontement contre Serge Savard et Butch Jean Béliveau Bouchard, ou, à l'occasion, contre Craig Ludwig et Chris Chelios. Sur le plan défensif, Koivu devra se frotter à Jean Béliveau pour l'amour de Alex Kovalev Dieu! Est-ce que nous avons une règle de pitié?

Mats Naslund Pendant ce temps, Pierre Turgeon sera fort probablement échangé Bobby Smith contre un attaquant de puissance fini et un défenseur défensif ordinaire avant la fin de la série. Équipe Godin ajoutera même dans la transaction Mark Recchi un jeune joueur de centre qui disputera plus de 1000 matchs dans la LNH. Dans le pire des cas, nous pourrions jouer de manière à ce que chaque Pierre Larouche match se termine en prolongation et nous marrer en regardant Équipe Mario Tremblay Godin se buter encore et encore à Patrick Roy.

Claude Lemieux Team/Équipe Godin

Kirk Muller Forwards/Attaquants

Claude Provost

Defence/Défenseurs Saku Koivu

Serge Savard Yvan Cournoyer

Butch Bouchard Toe Blake

Craig Ludwig Pierre Turgeon

Chris Chelios Bernard Geoffrion

Vladimir Malakhov Tomas Tatar

Petr Svoboda Phillip Danault

Goal/Gardiens Brendan Gallagher

Patrick Roy

Rogie Vachon Denis Savard

Basu Mark Napier Defence/Défenseurs Larry Robinson John Ferguson

Mathieu Schneider

Roman Hamrlik Defence/Défenseurs

Sheldon Souray Andrei Markov

Rod Langway P.K. Subban

Terry Harper Eric Desjardins

Goal/Gardiens

Carey Price Lyle Odelein

Bill Durnan Tom Johnson

Godin Goal/Gardiens

The basic principle of a snake draft is that no one should be unduly advantaged or disadvantaged by when they pick, but in this case, with the Canadiens’ Holy Trinity so clearly defined, the fact I couldn’t draft the Jaroslav Halak Rocket or Béliveau or Lafleur put me in a bad spot. I still think I did a Dumont pretty good job. In fact, I built a team I would like to watch; with talent, heart, speed, talent on the blue line and lots of depth (my fourth line is may have scored a few points in his day, but better than Dumont’s third line). Basically, I built my team on balance. and have seven, count them, SEVEN Selke trophies between them. Meanwhile, Sean has zero, count them, zero Selke I have the best points per game of the four teams. I have six players who trophies to stop two of the four highest-scoring Canadiens forwards of all had 35-goal seasons with the Canadiens. I have by far the best time. goaltending tandem. And having Rod Langway on a third defence pairing is better than what I see from my colleagues. Also, no one on my team ever released an embarrassing disco album, something that should severely devalue Lafleur’s impact on the game. I’d like to add that I also have twice as many players who played in the You can’t stretch properly in disco pants. 90s or later than Gordon. I have five who are still active while Basu has none. So fine, my team won fewer Stanley Cups and individual awards, Defensively, our mobility will ensure we skate circles around any of but I’m still convinced I have better players. They just haven’t passed Sean’s players that accidentally leaves the defensive zone with the puck, through the hero-making Dream Machine of the Past as much as the something that would only happen once or twice in the game. others. To top it all off, we’re bigger and stronger. Oh, and we have Lyle Odelein, En principe, un repêchage en serpentin ne devrait avantager personne Sean doesn’t. par rapport à un autre mais, dans ce cas-ci, la Sainte Trinité du CH étant Not to mention Ken “My save Percentage is the highest in team history” si clairement déterminée, le fait de ne pouvoir repêcher ni le Rocket, ni Dryden will be there in case the forwards get exhausted from scoring too Béliveau ni Lafleur m’a placé en fâcheuse position. Je crois quand même often. m’être assez bien tiré d’affaire. En fait, j’ai construit une équipe comme j’aimerais la voir jouer : avec du talent, du cœur, de la vitesse, du coffre à It’s a shame this series would only last four games, but Sean can be la ligne bleue, et beaucoup de profondeur (mon quatrième trio est happy that at the very least he lost four games in a row to a much better meilleur que le troisième trio de Dumont). Bref, je suis parvenu à créer team. quelque chose de très équilibré. Guy Lafleur a peut-être amassé quelques points à son époque, mais Bob J’ai la meilleure moyenne de points par match parmi les quatre Gainey et Guy Carbonneau ont gagné à deux sept, je dis bien SEPT formations. J’ai six marqueurs de 35 buts avec le Canadien. J’ai de loin trophées Selke. Sean, pour sa part, compte aucun, je dis bien aucun le meilleur duo de gardiens de but. Et d’avoir Rod Langway sur une lauréat du trophée Selke pour museler deux des quatre attaquants les troisième paire en défense, c’est supérieur à ce que je vois au sein des plus productifs de l’histoire du Canadien. autres équipes. De plus, aucun membre de mon équipe n'a lancé un album disco. Cela Je constate par ailleurs que j’ai deux fois plus de joueurs qui ont joué devrait réduire considérablement l’impact de Lafleur dans cet dans les années 90 ou plus tard que Gordon. J’en ai cinq qui sont encore affrontement. On ne peut pas s'étirer correctement dans un pantalon actifs alors que Basu n’en compte aucun. Alors on peut très bien dire que disco. mon club a gagné moins de Coupes Stanley, ou récolté moins d’honneurs individuels, mais je demeure convaincu que j’ai de meilleurs Sur le plan défensif, notre mobilité nous permettra de battre de vitesse joueurs. Ils ne sont simplement pas passés dans l’embellissante machine n’importe quel joueur de l’équipe de Sean qui quitterait accidentellement à nostalgie autant que les autres. sa zone défensive en contrôle du disque, une chose qui ne devrait se produire qu'une ou deux fois par match. Team/Équipe Dumont Pour couronner le tout, nous sommes plus grands et plus forts. Oh, et Forwards/Attaquants nous avons Lyle Odelein, ce qui n’est pas le cas de Sean.

Elmer Lach Sans oublier que Ken « mon taux d’arrêts est le plus élevé de l'histoire de l'équipe » Dryden sera là au cas où nos attaquants seraient épuisés Henri Richard après avoir marqué trop de buts. Maurice Richard C'est dommage que cette série ne durera que quatre matchs, mais Sean Bob Gainey pourra se consoler en se disant qu’il a été balayé par une bien meilleure équipe que la sienne. Guy Carbonneau Team/Équipe Gordon Peter Mahovlich Forwards/Attaquants Réjean Houle Tomas Plekanec Bobby Rousseau Guy Lafleur Shayne Corson bien cela nous obligera à les malmener avec notre avantage numérique, qui est incroyable. Stéphane Richer The Athletic LOADED: 04.23.2020

Ralph Backstrom

Pierre Mondou

Mike McPhee

Doug Risebrough

Doug Jarvis

Defence/Défenseurs

Guy Lapointe

Doug Harvey

Jacques Laperrière

Jean-Claude Tremblay

Gaston Gingras

Jeff Petry

Goal/Gardiens

Jacques Plante

Jose Theodore

Gordon

Not going to lie, I like this match-up. Marc’s got a heavy, nasty team but Team Gordon has the edge in skill and speed, and I like my blue line depth and goaltending.

Job one is keeping the Richard brothers and Lach off the board, which is certainly a problem. The temptation here is to throw a little size at them in the form of the Damphousse line, or sandpaper with Risebrough’s, but you don’t want to give the Rocket something to get riled up about. We go strength against strength. Lemaire can handle Henri, Shutt can go about his business and as usual Lafleur will force everyone else to chase him around. Sometimes offence is the best defence, especially when you have Plante back there and can deploy Lapointe-Harvey and Laperrière- Tremblay interchangeably.

Beyond that, I’m going to try and keep the Risebrough group away from Nilan-Ferguson-Keane, because you don’t want to indulge their appetite for shenanigans. We’re going to lean on our superior middle-six scoring depth to attack in waves and use our mobile defencemen to swarm in as fourth attackers, moving Dryden around laterally and forcing the bigger, defensive-minded guys on Team Dumont to play at our pace.

And if they slap down the intimidation card? Well, that will force us to kill them with our power play. Which is ridiculous.

Honnêtement, j'aime cet affrontement. Marc a une équipe imposante et belliqueuse, mais Équipe Gordon a l'avantage en matière d’habiletés et de vitesse. De plus, j'aime mes gardiens et la profondeur de ma ligne bleue.

D’abord, il faudra empêcher les frères Richard ainsi que Lach de s’inscrire sur la feuille de pointage, ce qui sera un gros défi. La est de contrer cette unité avec un trio imposant physiquement comme celui de Damphousse ou un trio dérangeant comme celui de Risebrough, mais tu ne veux pas donner une raison au Rocket de se mettre en colère. Nous allons donc envoyer notre premier trio dans la mêlée. Lemaire peut s'occuper d'Henri, Shutt pourra faire ses petites affaires et Lafleur va forcer tout le monde à lui courir après, comme d'habitude. Parfois, l'attaque est la meilleure défense, surtout quand on compte sur Plante devant le filet et qu'on peut déployer les duos Lapointe-Harvey et Laperrière-Tremblay de façon interchangeable.

Au-delà de cela, je vais m’assurer que l’unité de Risebrough ne soit pas confrontée au trio Nilan-Ferguson-Keane. Tu ne veux pas te laisser entraîner dans leur jeu. Grâce à la supériorité offensive de nos deuxième et troisième trios, nous allons attaquer par vagues, en plus de demander à nos défenseurs mobiles d’agir comme quatrième attaquant. Cela forcera Dryden à se déplacer latéralement et les gros joueurs défensifs de Dumont à suivre notre rythme. S'ils jouent la carte de l'intimidation, eh 1173981 Nashville Predators these young players on your team. That’s really the only way you can make it work and really the only way you can stay competitive and keep your ‘window’ open for an extended period of time.”

What, them worry? The Predators are confident prospect David Farrance The Predators will retain Farrance’s rights until Aug. 15, 2021. Kealty will sign expressed confidence in the Predators’ ability to eventually sign Farrance, bringing up Fabbro, who left Boston University after his junior year and joined the team last March, as an example.

By Adam Vingan Apr 22, 2020 7 “You saw that there was some talk (about) Fabbro before (he signed) where people weren’t quite sure what (he was going to do),” Kealty said.

“We always trusted in our relationship there. As far as David Farrance In an April 9 tweet, Boston University defenseman and Predators goes, it’s the same way. We know we have a really good relationship prospect David Farrance announced his decision to return for his senior with him. Our development guys have really worked hard over the years season. with him and have a great rapport (with him).

A NOTE FROM DAVID FARRANCE#GOBU “We probably would’ve liked it if he came out and turned pro, but we PIC.TWITTER.COM/PXSQSN9KWN certainly respect the decision, and we’re confident that we’re still going to get the player.” — BU MEN'S HOCKEY (@TERRIERHOCKEY) APRIL 9, 2020 The Athletic LOADED: 04.23.2020 It prompted concern among Predators fans who remember the team being rejected by the last highly touted college prospect to go back to school for his final year of eligibility.

“As far as our confidence in (Farrance signing) with us, we obviously had a situation there a few years back with Jimmy Vesey where things didn’t work out,” Predators assistant general manager and director of scouting Jeff Kealty said Monday. “But we really like to believe that that was more of an exception than the way things are normally going to go.

“Did we think that it would’ve been a good time for (Farrance) to come out and turn pro? Yeah, we did. But we always respect the player’s wishes and what they want to do, not just hockey-wise, but in terms of their life, too.”

In 2016, Vesey, whom the Predators drafted four years earlier, chose to enter free agency upon graduating from Harvard, as was his right under the collective bargaining agreement. The Predators were blindsided, claiming they received assurances from Vesey that he would sign with them. (Vesey picked the New York Rangers.)

The front office is not worried about Farrance doing the same. A third- round pick in 2017, Farrance blossomed into a premier offensive-minded defenseman in his junior season with the Terriers. His nine power-play goals, 14 total goals and 43 points led Division I defensemen.

Last month, Farrance was among 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, and he was named an All-American on April 11.

“I think probably the biggest (reason behind the) jump in his play is just that he really got himself in the best shape that he’s ever been in,” Kealty said. “I think that also there’s just a confidence thing. He had two years under his belt. His first year was an adjustment for him. Second year, he grew from there, and this year, he really knew what to expect. He’s a dominant offensive player at that level the way he can skate and transport the puck.”

Colleague Scott Wheeler, who ranked Farrance as the Predators’ second-best prospect in January, said he is “not the most complete player in the world, but he’s got some excellent offensive tools.”

“He can run a power play,” Wheeler said. “I like the way he sees the ice in the offensive zone, and he has added some necessary strength over the years, which has helped add some power to his skating and shot from the point. He’s not going to be a player who eats tough minutes, but I think he’ll be able to play a regular shift at even strength, help drive offense and contribute on the second power play.”

Farrance would have had an opportunity to challenge for a roster spot next season had he decided to go pro. The Predators’ depth chart on defense will have openings with veterans Dan Hamhuis, Yannick Weber and Korbinian Holzer set to become free agents. The team has five defensemen on its active roster who are under contract next season.

There is a need for contributors on entry-level or league-minimum contracts. Farrance’s former college teammate, Dante Fabbro, is the only entry-level player who has spent the entire season on the Predators’ roster.

“We talk about it all the time,” Kealty said. “It’s just the nature of the league and the business of hockey these days. You need to have young players that are coming onto your team. We put a lot of time and emphasis on it. … You have to be able to draft and develop and put 1173982 New Jersey Devils

Alain Nasreddine campaigns for Devils to remove interim tag: ‘I learned a lot, I’m ready!’

By Randy Miller

Devils interim coach Alain Nasreddine relied on hard work throughout his 15-year career as a journeyman defenseman who sprinkled in 74 NHL games along with 775 in the AHL, 124 in the IHL and 93 in Germany.

The 44-year-old Montreal native was the same way during his 9 1/2 seasons as an AHL and NHL assistant coach, all of them serving one man, John Hynes.

That was the motto again last December when Nasreddine finally was elevated into a dream job as an NHL head coach when his apprenticeship ended with Hynes’ firing.

Although overwhelmed initially, Nasreddine kept working to improve while coaching with the dreaded interim tag next to his title, and the young Devils somehow got better, even after selling off 2018 Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall and other vets.

And now, six weeks into the NHL season being paused due to the coronavirus pandemic, Nasreddine is hoping for a June or July return while knowing highly qualified Gerard Gallant and others have interviewed for his job.

His reaction?

Nasreddine did a little gentle campaigning to keep his job Wednesday during a media conference call.

“The players or I'll be the first one to tell you I wasn't always perfect, but the one thing is I always put in the time to prepare and try to make the best decisions I can make and I really grew,” Nasreddine said. “Three months felt like a year, but I got experience …10 years’ worth. And I felt really comfortable in the end.

“I know it’s only 40 or 50 games, but I felt like I learned a lot. I’m ready.”

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The Devils were 9-13-4 with 22 points in 26 games under Hynes, then were 19-16-8 for 46 points in 43 games led by Nasreddine, including 10- 5-2 in their final 17. This run probably won’t get the Devils into the playoffs – they were 13 points out of the last Eastern Conference berth with 13 games remaining when the season stopped – but it showed players responded to Nasreddine’s leadership.

“When I first found out I had the job, the anxiety level went up the roof,” he said. “It was nerve-racking because I didn’t have the experience. I go from a career assistant and there’s a lot of unknown. I can tell you one thing, my first year of coaching wasn’t pretty. I had to work and I dug in and I worked and worked to get better. I pride myself in my work ethic and that’s what I needed.”

Nasreddine now is confident that he’s the right man for the job that he has this season and beyond. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t appear to be sweating what interim GM Tom Fitzgerald has been up to of late.

“I heard what’s going on between the interviews and stuff like that, but to be honest I’m just focused on the season,” he said. “I don’t think there’s a need for an interview with myself. We’re still in the season. Once the season ends, I don’t know how it’s going to go.

“I still have the interim tag on my title, but right now I consider myself the New Jersey Devils head coach, which I am, and that’s how I go about my business.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 04.23.2020 1173983 New Jersey Devils Who coaches an expansion team to the Stanley Cup Final? Gallant accomplished that in 2017-18, and it was no fluke, either, because he had the Golden Knights playing great hockey throughout their shocking 109-point debut season. Devils interview Gerard Gallant for coach: Here are 4 others who should be candidates Before Vegas, Gallant also worked magic in South Florida. During his first season coaching the Florida Panthers, they improved 25 points, jumping from 66 in 2013-14 to 91 in 2015-16. The next year, Gallant led the Panthers to a franchise record 101 points and a playoff berth, one of By Randy Miller two in the last 19 seasons for the perennial also-rans.

Nasreddine is deserving of consideration, too, after leading the Devils to Devils interim general manager Tom Fitzgerald isn’t just waiting around a 19-16-8 record after being promoted from assistant coach on Jan. 3 for the NHL’s coronavirus virus stoppage to end to find out what when Hynes was fired. becomes of his job status. It’s no easy task becoming a first-time NHL head coach for a rebuilding The Devils, who are on the verge of missing the playoffs for the seventh franchise that was on the verge of trading a two-years-removed Hart time in the last eight seasons, have pressing issues that need attended Trophy winner, but Nasreddine served himself well leading the Devils to to ASAP. For instance, who’s running their bench next season if Alain improved play, especially in the month leading up to the stoppage when Nasreddine doesn’t have his interim tag removed? they were 10-5-2.

A first known replacement candidate has emerged with TSN’s Pierre Star Ledger LOADED: 04.23.2020 LeBrun reporting that former Vegas Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant has interviewed for the Devils’ position.

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LeBrun added that “a few” others have talked to the Devils about the coaching position, as well.

Here’s what LeBrun wrote:

“Gerard Gallant, according to our sources, interviewed last week by virtual manner, not face-to-face, by Tom Fitzgerald. Now, Tom Fitzgerald himself also has an interim tag, he’s still the interim GM for the Devils, Alain Nasreddine is the interim head coach and he is a legitimate candidate, he’ll be part of this process.

"Tom Fitzgerald has spoken to a few candidates, not just Gerard Gallant, over the last little while and why not? Use this time during the pause to start looking at next season.

“Other teams with interim coaches - you’ve got Calgary, Dallas, Minnesota and San Jose - none of those teams have started their coaching search or made any coaching decisions.”

Besides Gallant interviewing, the most interesting parts of LeBrun’s report are Nasreddine being a “legitimate candidate”’ to return next season and the mention that others have interviewed.

Who are the others?

There are a few strong retread candidates available.

You probably can rule out former Mike Babcock, who would be a bad fit because of his reputation for being very hard on young players, but options for the Devils include Peter Laviolette, Bruce Boudreau, Dan Bylsma and Dale Hunter.

Laviolette, who was fired by the Nashville Predators on Jan. 6, led three franchises to conference titles and won a Cup coaching the Carolina Hurricanes.

Bylsma, who currently is an assistant coach for the Detroit Red Wings, coached the Pittsburgh Penguins when Sidney Crosby won the first of his three Cups.

Boudreau, 65, never got to a Stanley Cup Final, but his teams won division titles in eight of his 14 seasons coaching the Washington Capitals (2007-12), Anaheim Ducks (2011-16) and Minnesota Wild (2016-20).

Hunter fared well in his short-lived only NHL coaching gig, as he led the Capitals to a 30-23-7 record in 2011-12 before quitting to return home to Canada and again coach the team that he owns. Other than for part of the 2011-12 season, Hunter has coached the London Knights since 2001-02, but he recently was mentioned as a candidate to succeed Laviolette before recently fired Devils coach John Hynes got the job.

Gallant, 56, is an obvious candidate for the Devils, and he should be a leading contender because his resume is fascinating. 1173984 New Jersey Devils LOOKING AHEAD: If the NJ Devils' season ended today, what would happen next?

Now that he’s in the head chair he’s trying to convince Harris and Blitzer NJ Devils' Alain Nasreddine is confident he's ready to be a head coach: he deserves to stay there. Nasreddine is confident in his coaching Here's why abilities and believes he is qualified to continue as the head coach without the interim label.

“The players will be the first one to tell you, or I'll be the first one to tell Abbey Mastracco, NorthJersey.comPublished 7:42 p.m. ET April 22, you I wasn't always perfect,” he said. “But the one thing is, I always put in 2020 | Updated 8:19 p.m. ET April 22, 2020 the time to prepare and try to make the best decisions I can make. And I really grew. Three months felt like a year but I felt like I got to experience

10 years' worth (of head coaching), and I felt really comfortable in the Alain Nasreddine, much like Tom Fitzgerald, is operating under the same end. general philosophy while the NHL is paused during the coronavirus “I know it's only 40 or 50 games, but I feel like I've learned a lot I'm pandemic: He is the head coach of the New Jersey Devils until someone ready.” tells him he isn’t anymore. Nasreddine is more focused on what may happen next then what may Word surfaced about Gerard Gallant interviewing for the Devils’ head happen after the official conclusion to the season. His focus is on how to coaching vacancy Tuesday afternoon and a day later Nasreddine run an abbreviated training camp and staying in touch with players and addressed his own job status as the interim coach. personnel and like every other parent, he’s been making sure his kids are Like Fitzgerald, the interim general manager, the status of his job is, well, doing their work as the self-appointed “principal” of the Nasreddine home status quo. school in New Jersey.

“We're still in the 2019-20 season so as far as I know, I'm the head coach The direction has been nothing but forward since March 12, the day the of the New Jersey Devils,” Nasreddine said Wednesday on a video league suspended operations, and until he’s told to find employment conference call. “I've heard what's going on with interviews and stuff like elsewhere, Nasreddine will continue to look forward to the future with the that, but to be honest, I'm just focused on this season.” Devils, even if that future only consists of a few more games.

Alain Nasreddine has long been a coach on the rise. Here he heads out “Right now, I consider if we come back to almost be another like a new to handle bench duties in his first game as interim head coach against year because we're going to have a training camp, we have time to make the Vegas Golden Knights at Prudential Center on Dec. 3, 2019 in some adjustments,” he said. “So there are a few tweaks and a few things Newark, New Jersey. we're going to look at and I think that will give us a perfect opportunity to work on them, whether it's seven games, 13 games, whatever that is. So Nasreddine is still operating under the assumption the season will we're definitely going to look to make some improvements.” resume at some point because there really is no other way to operate. There has been no formal job interview with Fitzgerald and owners Josh Bergen Record LOADED: 04.23.2020 Harris and David Blitzer and Nasreddine doesn’t think he needs a formal interview to begin with.

He’s not exactly a new face around Newark, having been with the team as John Hynes’ top assistant coach and the defensemen coach since 2015. But he has no choice but to look toward the future and operate as if the interim label isn’t there. He is reportedly considered a legitimate candidate.

GM: NJ Devils' Tom Fitzgerald talks NHL Draft prep, coaching decisions and more

As the interim coach, Nasreddine led the Devils to a 19‑16‑8 record (46 points) and felt he had the team trending in the right direction at the time the season was put on hold March 12, despite the team’s place in the standings (14th in the Eastern Conference, 26th in the league).

“There's a reason why we're in the position we're at,” Nasreddine said. “There's a lot more than just the offense, they’ve done a lot of good things. Defensively, I think we can all agree that there a lot of room for improvement. I don't see it being an issue with the system. There are numerous teams that play the same system we do and they're very successful, in the top five of defensive teams in the league.

“For us, we got to find ways to teaching maybe a different way to make sure it registers with the players and then they understand.”

Alain Nasreddine, interim head coach of the New Jersey Devils, speaks with the media following a loss to the Vegas Golden Knights at the Prudential Center on Dec. 3, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey.

When Nasreddine decided to get into coaching he did so with the hope of being a head coach. The former journeyman defenseman out of Montreal worked his way up from an assistant to a head coach, albeit one with an interim tag, and he’s proud of the work he’s put in to get to this point.

“I can tell you one thing, my first year of coaching I wasn't ready,” he said. “I had to work and I dug in and I worked and I worked to get better. And then (this opportunity) basically told me again that I work hard. I pride myself on my work ethic and, and that's what I needed. Now, as far as the job, until you're in that chair, you have no idea. I know, I got in touch with a couple coaches and head coaches and I had this talk with them. And nothing prepares you until you've sat in that chair.” 1173985 New Jersey Devils While those seven teams would vie for the Lottery Trophy, the remaining 24 would be entered into a Stanley Cup tournament that would involve a preliminary play-in round for the eight teams below the cut line when the season stopped and a second play-in round between those four winners NHL draft hypothetical would throw crazy twist into Stanley Cup chase and the four teams in wild-card spots on March 11. Maybe two rounds of a two-game total-goals series.

That would sift the field to 16, where, absent travel issues, teams would By Larry BrooksApril 22, 2020 | 5:19PM be seeded 1-16 and then reseeded throughout the tournament. There would be three rounds of best-of-five followed by a best-of-seven final.

The only question the NHL and NHLPA must answer when it is time to Or maybe something else. But the point is, the NHL should be bold and declare its intentions on reviving the season is the one that Sir Laurence creative if able to get back on the ice in July. The bigger the better. Olivier repeatedly asked Dustin Hoffman in the guises of the evil Szell Of course, only if it is safe. and the naïve Babe in the movie masterpiece, “Marathon Man.” New York Post LOADED: 04.23.2020 Is it safe?

Beyond that, it’s all a bag of shells.

Because we should all recognize this: When it comes to designing a format, should the league get back on the ice this summer, there is going to be no right and no wrong. Despite everyone’s best efforts, some teams (and their fans) will feel slighted. Conversely, some teams (and their fans) will receive second chances they ordinarily would not have earned.

But there is nothing ordinary about any of this.

If governing health bodies — as opposed to elected officials seeking to curry favor — endorse the NHL’s plan to resume play, then the league should have at it and implement the format and calendar that would generate the greatest interest and largest audience. That will demand creativity.

And that might entail holding the draft as scheduled, obviously as a virtual event, on the dates of June 26-27 even if the season were to resume in July. TSN’s Pierre Lebrun was the first to report on the concept that has been kicking around Sixth Avenue.

At first blush, it seems crazy, doesn’t it? If the intent is to complete the regular season, a team could conceivably win the lottery, get the first- overall pick, and then a few months later win the Stanley Cup. The league would have to adopt a policy dealing with conditional trades that would impact the order of selection and good luck on that.

And you wouldn’t be able to make trades involving players on the active roster. But that sounds more significant than it actually is, because for all the anticipation of draft-floor blockbusters being pulled off, there have been fewer than 10 draft-day(s) deals involving roster players the last three years.

The upside of holding the draft as originally scheduled in June ahead of the finalization of 2019-20 is that the league would put itself in the spotlight by creating news. That isn’t nothing. One can only write about the Emile Francis Era so often, though I promise there is more up my sleeve. Holding the draft would also allow for a normalized process for the draftees and their junior, college or development squads here and overseas.

Of course, not only is nothing normal, it surely won’t be in June, July, August or September, if by normal you’re referring to pre-pandemic. The draftees should be the least of the NHL’s and NHLPA’s concerns. Players drafted in 2004 had no NHL in which to play the following season when Owners’ Lockout III canceled 2004-05. They survived.

Here’s the thing, and I’ll come back to a concept I may have ridiculed a month ago. If the draft proceeds on its scheduled dates, it would preclude the ability to hold a lottery tournament for the seven NHL teams that are hopelessly out of the playoff picture, winner gets first-overall.

And holding that type of tournament may make sense in the context of providing meaningful competition for the Devils, Sabres, Senators, Red Wings, Ducks, Kings and Sharks. These franchises have the need to complete as much of their obligations to their media rights holders as possible. I appreciate that. But playing out the string of meaningless regular-season matches holds no appeal.

If you could stage a lottery round-robin, these players and organizations would have something to play for that is meaningful. Perhaps some of the $16 million pool created for the Stanley Cup playoffs could be diverted into prize money for the lottery tournament. If not, perhaps the league could sell the tournament as a separate television entity that would generate revenue that would go into the pool. 1173986 New York Islanders While those seven teams would vie for the Lottery Trophy, the remaining 24 would be entered into a Stanley Cup tournament that would involve a preliminary play-in round for the eight teams below the cut line when the season stopped and a second play-in round between those four winners NHL draft hypothetical would throw crazy twist into Stanley Cup chase and the four teams in wild-card spots on March 11. Maybe two rounds of a two-game total-goals series.

That would sift the field to 16, where, absent travel issues, teams would By Larry BrooksApril 22, 2020 | 5:19PM be seeded 1-16 and then reseeded throughout the tournament. There would be three rounds of best-of-five followed by a best-of-seven final.

The only question the NHL and NHLPA must answer when it is time to Or maybe something else. But the point is, the NHL should be bold and declare its intentions on reviving the season is the one that Sir Laurence creative if able to get back on the ice in July. The bigger the better. Olivier repeatedly asked Dustin Hoffman in the guises of the evil Szell Of course, only if it is safe. and the naïve Babe in the movie masterpiece, “Marathon Man.” New York Post LOADED: 04.23.2020 Is it safe?

Beyond that, it’s all a bag of shells.

Because we should all recognize this: When it comes to designing a format, should the league get back on the ice this summer, there is going to be no right and no wrong. Despite everyone’s best efforts, some teams (and their fans) will feel slighted. Conversely, some teams (and their fans) will receive second chances they ordinarily would not have earned.

But there is nothing ordinary about any of this.

If governing health bodies — as opposed to elected officials seeking to curry favor — endorse the NHL’s plan to resume play, then the league should have at it and implement the format and calendar that would generate the greatest interest and largest audience. That will demand creativity.

And that might entail holding the draft as scheduled, obviously as a virtual event, on the dates of June 26-27 even if the season were to resume in July. TSN’s Pierre Lebrun was the first to report on the concept that has been kicking around Sixth Avenue.

At first blush, it seems crazy, doesn’t it? If the intent is to complete the regular season, a team could conceivably win the lottery, get the first- overall pick, and then a few months later win the Stanley Cup. The league would have to adopt a policy dealing with conditional trades that would impact the order of selection and good luck on that.

And you wouldn’t be able to make trades involving players on the active roster. But that sounds more significant than it actually is, because for all the anticipation of draft-floor blockbusters being pulled off, there have been fewer than 10 draft-day(s) deals involving roster players the last three years.

The upside of holding the draft as originally scheduled in June ahead of the finalization of 2019-20 is that the league would put itself in the spotlight by creating news. That isn’t nothing. One can only write about the Emile Francis Era so often, though I promise there is more up my sleeve. Holding the draft would also allow for a normalized process for the draftees and their junior, college or development squads here and overseas.

Of course, not only is nothing normal, it surely won’t be in June, July, August or September, if by normal you’re referring to pre-pandemic. The draftees should be the least of the NHL’s and NHLPA’s concerns. Players drafted in 2004 had no NHL in which to play the following season when Owners’ Lockout III canceled 2004-05. They survived.

Here’s the thing, and I’ll come back to a concept I may have ridiculed a month ago. If the draft proceeds on its scheduled dates, it would preclude the ability to hold a lottery tournament for the seven NHL teams that are hopelessly out of the playoff picture, winner gets first-overall.

And holding that type of tournament may make sense in the context of providing meaningful competition for the Devils, Sabres, Senators, Red Wings, Ducks, Kings and Sharks. These franchises have the need to complete as much of their obligations to their media rights holders as possible. I appreciate that. But playing out the string of meaningless regular-season matches holds no appeal.

If you could stage a lottery round-robin, these players and organizations would have something to play for that is meaningful. Perhaps some of the $16 million pool created for the Stanley Cup playoffs could be diverted into prize money for the lottery tournament. If not, perhaps the league could sell the tournament as a separate television entity that would generate revenue that would go into the pool. 1173987 New York Islanders The NHL is considering possibly holding its draft in June before play resumes.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 04.23.2020 Gary Bettman considering holding games at four NHL rinks if play resumes

By Andrew Gross

The NHL has not finalized a model for resuming play after its regular season was paused on March 12 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. But commissioner Gary Bettman outlined one plan during an interview with Sportsnet's Ron MacLean on Wednesday night, while also insisting that no final decisions have been made.

Bettman said the NHL is looking at a model that could include as many as four NHL cities hosting up to three games each day. He added that NHL arenas with practice rinks and at least four locker rooms would be preferable.

"The particular location could be anywhere that isn't a hot spot and has what we need both in terms of the arena and having practice facilities," Bettman said.

Still, Bettman's comments — coupled with those made earlier in the day by Florida Panthers president and CEO Matt Caldwell on a Re-Open Florida Industry Working Group conference call — give a much clearer picture of the NHL's thinking if play can be resumed. ESPN reported on Wednesday that a neutral site could be selected for each of the four divisions.

“The NHL is trying to target sometime in July when we feel that players are safe and we have enough testing and we have enough ways to get back on the ice,” Caldwell said. “For us, it’s probably going to be contained at playing at four or five neutral sites. That’s all being discussed right now. My guess is that it would start with either limited fans or empty arenas.

“This is not something a final decision has been made on,” Caldwell said, noting that the NHL’s self-quarantine period for its players and personnel has been extended through April 30 and the need for training camps likely would take the league through June.

Caldwell said that while not having fans in the arenas “is not ideal, everyone is willing to entertain that idea” as the fastest way to resume play. He added, “We’d love to get sports back on TV as soon as possible.”

Caldwell said Bettman has been giving the 31 teams weekly updates on efforts to restart the season. He also said the NHL and NBA, which paused its season on March 11, have been working closely together on that matter.

Bettman and Caldwell’s references to neutral-site games is different from previous speculation that the NHL was considering games at non-NHL facilities. Buffalo, the University of North Dakota, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and Manchester, New Hampshire were all floated as potential non-NHL sites that could host games.

A source told Newsday that many facility- and infrastructure-related issues work against the idea of bringing all or multiple teams to a non- NHL location to resume games. These included the ability to house the large amounts of personnel — players and otherwise — that would be needed as well as the inability of non-NHL buildings to handle the technological requirements to broadcast games.

Plus, some of the non-NHL facilities speculated about were college facilities with Olympic-sized rinks as compared to the NHL-sized playing surface. Playing games on larger rinks apparently is not something the NHL is willing to consider.

Bettman repeatedly has said in interviews that “nothing has been ruled out, nothing has been ruled in” in terms of how the league might handle restarting play.

There were 189 regular-season games remaining when play was halted, and Bettman has said that optimally, the NHL would complete the regular season before starting the playoffs. However, he also has said that maintaining a full 2020-21 season is a priority.

No playoff format has been formalized. 1173988 New York Islanders THIS DAY IN #ISLES HISTORY (APRIL 8, 2007): THE ISLANDERS WIN THEIR SEASON FINALE VS. NEW JERSEY IN A SHOOTOUT, CLINCHING A PLAYOFF SPOT. WADE DUBIELEWICZ MAKES THE FINAL SAVE WITH A POKE-CHECK ON DEVILS’ FORWARD SERGEI The 10 best Islanders moments of the last 20 years BRYLIN TO CLINCH THE VICTORY. PIC.TWITTER.COM/16TJGRSLRJ

By Arthur Staple Apr 22, 2020 29 — NEW YORK ISLANDERS (@NYISLANDERS) APRIL 8, 2020

7. Isles sweep the Penguins (April 16, 2019)

The last two decades of Islander hockey have not given us a ton of Now that we all have loads of free time, go down the YouTube/NHL site amazing moments to choose from, let’s be honest. There have been rabbit hole and watch that 2013 Isles-Penguins series alongside the one eight playoff appearances, two series wins and a host of personnel from last spring. Six years earlier, the Islanders were chaotic, skilled but moves that are predominantly vying for spots on the “10 worst moments” green and unstructured; last year they looked like the team that had won list. two Cups a few years earlier and the Penguins the team that panicked and took too many chances. But the highs, such as they are, have been pretty sweet, many to do with the old barn on Hempstead Turnpike shaking to its foundation for the rare The magical 2018-19 season hit its apex in Pittsburgh on this night. After playoff game or a franchise-altering trade. a red-hot Jordan Eberle quickly erased an early deficit, followed by a goal from , ’s defensive structure and Robin Lehner Also, Wade Dubielewicz. did the rest. Lehner likely deserved a spot of his own on this list for his one incredible season on the Island. Let’s dive in: The Islanders held Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and company to six 10. Kyle Okposo vs. Matt Niskanen (May 3, 2013) goals in four games, one each in the last three. It was the Islanders’ first The Isles took advantage of the lockout-shortened schedule and a series sweep since the 1983 Cup finals. remarkable 11-2-4 finish to make the playoffs for the first time in six years 6. One hour, two defensemen (Oct. 4, 2014) … Then promptly looked like deer in the Penguins’ headlights for a game and half a period. Trailing 3-1 in Game 2, Okposo grabbed Matt “You still here?” Niskanen after a clean hit on Matt Moulson and tuned up the Penguins defenseman, leaving Niskanen bloodied while reminding the “Yep.” inexperienced Isles that they belonged. They went on to win 4-3 and “Don’t go anywhere.” produced a wild series that could have easily been theirs if for a few more saves. So began an interesting Saturday just before the start of the 2014-15 Islanders season. I got those texts as I was packing up to leave the 9. Two days in Sunrise (June 23-24, 2001) Coliseum following an Islanders practice. Within the hour, Garth Snow ’s rep as a trade-happy GM was already cemented through had reshaped his team and done it for almost no cost, acquiring Johnny six years of wheeling and dealing, mostly to the detriment of the Boychuk from the Bruins for two second-round picks and Nick Leddy Islanders and their tight-fisted ownership through the late 1990s. A year from the Hawks for three prospects, none of whom played an NHL game earlier at the 2000 draft, Milbury shipped off Roberto Luongo and for Chicago. selected Rick DiPietro first overall, then promptly watched his team Leddy and Boychuk are still around six years later, albeit no longer the produce its worst season since the expansion year of 1972-73. first pair they instantly became on their arrival that crazy Saturday. When But backed by new owner Charles Wang, Milbury turned the Islanders the Isles defense is fully healthy they are still a pair, however, and that around during the draft held in the Panthers arena. He traded first for longevity is impressive. After a disastrous 2013-14, Snow set about disgruntled Senators star Alexei Yashin (giving up intriguing but not yet remaking the Islanders around the homegrown core, trading for Jaro star-caliber defenseman Zdeno Chara and the second overall pick, which Halak’s rights and signing Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolay Kulemin. The became Jason Spezza) and then disgruntled Sabres team leader Leddy and Boychuk trades moved things along even more. Michael Peca (giving up solid young forward Tim Connolly). Milbury also 5. Belmont, here they come (Dec. 20, 2017) made an underrated move on June 22, acquiring defenseman Adrian Aucoin from Tampa for Mathieu Biron and a second-round pick. The announcement was kind of perfect for the Islanders: Fans were invited into a small room at the Belmont racetrack to cheer every Those deals, plus scooping up veteran goalie Chris Osgood in the pronouncement, John Tavares and a couple of his teammates sat September waiver draft, signaled the Islanders were ready to compete awkwardly on the dais and even Billy Joel was there, though not even he once again. And for three years heading into the 2004-05 lockout, they seemed sure why. But for a franchise that had been looking for a new did compete — not well enough to be a real contender, but they were far home on Long Island pretty much since the first Stanley Cup was won, better and more stable than they’d been for nearly a decade prior. this day was a monumental achievement, even if the finished product 8. Dubie! Wade Dubielewicz’s poke check (April 8, 2007) seemed far, far away.

He made five starts over eight days in the final week of the regular Construction has halted due to the pandemic, and they may need to push season while Rick DiPietro was sidelined with a concussion. Dubielewicz, back the projected October 2021 opening date, but the Islanders’ future who had been Bridgeport’s No. 1 goalie for three years running, made home is starting to take shape. Credit to owners Scott Malkin and Jon the most of his surprise NHL run. He won three straight games to give Ledecky for making it happen. the Islanders a chance at a postseason berth, helped a night earlier by 4. Barry Trotz comes on board (June 21, 2018) the Leafs rallying from two down to beat the Canadiens in regulation. The Isles needed two points in any fashion in the regular-season finale taking over as president a month earlier could also qualify against the Devils to make it. for this list, but getting Trotz in the fold two weeks after he won the Cup with the Capitals — and just 72 hours after he resigned from the Caps “Any fashion” took on a new meaning at the Meadowlands that day. bench — was the sort of power move Islanders fans could only dream Richard Park scored twice to stake the Isles to a 2-0 lead with under five about before. wasn’t yet Al Arbour when hired him; minutes to go; John Madden scored twice, the last with under a second Trotz was already one of the most respected coaches in the game when to play in regulation, to send the game to overtime, then a shootout. With Lamoriello hired him. the Isles up 2-1 in the shootout, the Devils’ Sergei Brylin was the final shot. And Trotz has delivered with a roster that pales in comparison to the one he had with the Caps. This season had its ups and downs before the Dubielewicz dove out with a perfect poke check and the Islanders league halted, but no one questioned the coach or his leadership. squeezed into the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. They got drilled in five games by the Sabres, but in Garth Snow’s first season as 3. Shawn Bates brings down the house (April 24, 2002) GM, the Isles had something to be proud of and did it on the back of a 28-year-old, undrafted goalie making his 17th career appearance. The Coliseum didn’t get to rock too hard too often in the last 20 years. There was Game 3 in 2013, the first playoff game there in half a decade; there was Game 6 in 2015, the last game at the old barn; there was Dec. 1, 2018, when the Isles returned and the fans went wild; and there were also the playoffs last year and when that Tavares fella returned with his new team.

But for anyone who was there for Game 4 against the Leafs 18 years ago, your ears may start ringing at just the thought of that moment. Shawn Bates steamed past Bryan McCabe in the closing minutes of a 3- 3 game, was swept down and got a penalty shot. You know the rest.

2. Tavares breaks the 23-year spell (April 24, 2016)

He’ll make an appearance on the “1o worst moments” list for sure, but when the time finally arrives that Islander fans can look back on Tavares’ years here with admiration, they will think of Game 6 against the Panthers in . It was a real dud of a game for 59 minutes, until Tavares snuck over and stuffed in a puck that Luongo thought he’d covered.

And then in the second overtime, Tavares produced one of the signature efforts of any Islanders player in the postseason — the sort of determined work he became known for. Following his own shot, he beat three Panthers to the puck and wrapped it around to send the Isles to the second round for the first time since 1993.

That series against Florida had some unlikely heroes — Thomas Hickey, Alan Quine, video coach Matt Bertani — but when it mattered, Tavares stepped to the fore.

1. The Barzal trade (June 26, 2015)

Snow came to the draft floor in Florida with no first-round pick. He left with the most important player in the organization. Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli — you may remember him from moment No. 6, when as Bruins GM he traded Boychuk to the Isles for two second-rounders — decided Griffin Reinhart was worth the 16th and 33rd overall picks. Snow made the move only after the Bruins, Chiarelli’s former club, passed on Mathew Barzal with three straight picks at 13, 14 and 15.

After the Islanders selected Barzal and traded back into the end of the first round with Tampa to select Anthony Beauvillier at 28, I made my way to the team’s suite in the Panthers arena. One member of the Islanders’ brain trust grabbed me by the shoulders and yelled, “Do you believe that? Someone’s getting fired for letting Barzal get to us!”

One Calder Trophy and three strong seasons later, Barzal is the unquestioned star of the team, one of the main reasons losing Tavares wasn’t the huge blow it could have been.

A few honorable mentions:

— Ryan Smyth deadline deal (Feb. 27, 2007): A few weeks before Dubielewicz’s magic, Snow pulled off his first big deal, adding the Oilers star at the trade deadline.

— Fight Night (Feb. 11, 2011): We covered this one a little while back. It was epic.

— Lehner wins the Masterton (June 19, 2019): The perfect way to cap a season of rebirth for the goalie, even though 12 days later he was an ex- Isle.

— Lou takes over (May 22, 2018): The first step in the remake.

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James Dolan is coronavirus-free and already helping others

By Larry BrooksApril 22, 2020 | 6:15pm | Updated

Jim Dolan, the 64-year-old CEO of the Garden, has clinically recovered from COVID-19, The Post has learned.

An MSG spokesperson confirmed that Dolan, who tested positive the final week of March following exposure to an individual outside the company who carried the coronavirus, recently tested negative and is in good health.

Dolan, who had mild symptoms that included a loss of smell, self-isolated after learning of his positive test but continued to work on a regular schedule from his home.

Having recovered, the owner of the Knicks and Rangers is immersed in the effort to medically combat the virus by volunteering to participate in multiple clinical trials. He has donated blood to NYU Langone Health and Duke University Medical Center.

In addition, Dolan has registered to donate plasma antibodies for a large multicenter through the New York Blood Center and Mt. Sinai. Persons who test negative for COVID-19 after having tested positive must have a high volume of antibodies in order to become a donor.

Dolan qualified.

The Garden has been closed since the Knicks’ overtime victory over the Hawks on March 11. Dolan has created a relief fund for venue employees experiencing hardships related to the virus that opened with a $1 million donation from the CEO, a $1 million donation from the MSG Company and a $300,000 donation from the MSG management team.

In addition, The Post has learned that the Garden sent an internal email on Monday informing qualified employees (based on hours worked) that they will be paid through May 31, extending the commitment past the original date of May 3.

New York Post LOADED: 04.23.2020 1173990 New York Rangers league could sell the tournament as a separate television entity that would generate revenue that would go into the pool.

While those seven teams would vie for the Lottery Trophy, the remaining NHL draft hypothetical would throw crazy twist into Stanley Cup chase 24 would be entered into a Stanley Cup tournament that would involve a preliminary play-in round for the eight teams below the cut line when the season stopped and a second play-in round between those four winners and the four teams in wild-card spots on March 11. Maybe two rounds of By Larry BrooksApril 22, 2020 | 5:19PM a two-game total-goals series.

That would sift the field to 16, where, absent travel issues, teams would Rangers mailbag: What if they can’t trade Lias Andersson? be seeded 1-16 and then reseeded throughout the tournament. There would be three rounds of best-of-five followed by a best-of-seven final. The only question the NHL and NHLPA must answer when it is time to declare its intentions on reviving the season is the one that Sir Laurence Or maybe something else. But the point is, the NHL should be bold and Olivier repeatedly asked Dustin Hoffman in the guises of the evil Szell creative if able to get back on the ice in July. The bigger the better. and the naïve Babe in the movie masterpiece, “Marathon Man.” Of course, only if it is safe. Is it safe? New York Post LOADED: 04.23.2020 Beyond that, it’s all a bag of shells.

Because we should all recognize this: When it comes to designing a format, should the league get back on the ice this summer, there is going to be no right and no wrong. Despite everyone’s best efforts, some teams (and their fans) will feel slighted. Conversely, some teams (and their fans) will receive second chances they ordinarily would not have earned.

But there is nothing ordinary about any of this.

If governing health bodies — as opposed to elected officials seeking to curry favor — endorse the NHL’s plan to resume play, then the league should have at it and implement the format and calendar that would generate the greatest interest and largest audience. That will demand creativity.

And that might entail holding the draft as scheduled, obviously as a virtual event, on the dates of June 26-27 even if the season were to resume in July. TSN’s Pierre Lebrun was the first to report on the concept that has been kicking around Sixth Avenue.

At first blush, it seems crazy, doesn’t it? If the intent is to complete the regular season, a team could conceivably win the lottery, get the first- overall pick, and then a few months later win the Stanley Cup. The league would have to adopt a policy dealing with conditional trades that would impact the order of selection and good luck on that.

And you wouldn’t be able to make trades involving players on the active roster. But that sounds more significant than it actually is, because for all the anticipation of draft-floor blockbusters being pulled off, there have been fewer than 10 draft-day(s) deals involving roster players the last three years.

The upside of holding the draft as originally scheduled in June ahead of the finalization of 2019-20 is that the league would put itself in the spotlight by creating news. That isn’t nothing. One can only write about the Emile Francis Era so often, though I promise there is more up my sleeve. Holding the draft would also allow for a normalized process for the draftees and their junior, college or development squads here and overseas.

Of course, not only is nothing normal, it surely won’t be in June, July, August or September, if by normal you’re referring to pre-pandemic. The draftees should be the least of the NHL’s and NHLPA’s concerns. Players drafted in 2004 had no NHL in which to play the following season when Owners’ Lockout III canceled 2004-05. They survived.

Here’s the thing, and I’ll come back to a concept I may have ridiculed a month ago. If the draft proceeds on its scheduled dates, it would preclude the ability to hold a lottery tournament for the seven NHL teams that are hopelessly out of the playoff picture, winner gets first-overall.

And holding that type of tournament may make sense in the context of providing meaningful competition for the Devils, Sabres, Senators, Red Wings, Ducks, Kings and Sharks. These franchises have the need to complete as much of their obligations to their media rights holders as possible. I appreciate that. But playing out the string of meaningless regular-season matches holds no appeal.

If you could stage a lottery round-robin, these players and organizations would have something to play for that is meaningful. Perhaps some of the $16 million pool created for the Stanley Cup playoffs could be diverted into prize money for the lottery tournament. If not, perhaps the 1173991 New York Rangers

NHL won't use neutral sites to play games if season resumes, report says

Vincent Z. Mercogliano, NHL WriterPublished 4:38 p.m. ET April 22, 2020

While the completion of the 2019-20 NHL season remains an uncertainty, speculation about how games will be played if the season resumes continues.

States with small populations and lower density such as North Dakota and New Hampshire were previously reported as potential neutral sites that would limit the risk of exposure during the coronavirus pandemic, but ESPN is reporting that the NHL plans to stick to league arenas.

The report indicated that the league could select one arena per region, with teams gathering based on division. The home rinks for the Carolina Hurricanes (Metropolitan Division), Edmonton Oilers (Pacific Division) and Minnesota Wild (Central Division) are listed as the most-likely hosts, with no arena listed for the Atlantic Division.

Of course, no plans are set in stone, both in terms of location and format. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has pointed out that "there’s too much uncertainty" to pinpoint a target date for a return, if they're able to resume at all.

The league has instructed its players to self-quarantine until at least April 30.

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MSG chairman James Dolan has recovered from COVID-19

By Steve Popper

Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan has recovered from the coronavirus, according to a Garden spokesman.

Dolan, who was diagnosed last month after being tested with minor symptoms, self-isolated at home and now is symptom-free. The spokesman confirmed a New York Post report that Dolan has volunteered to participate in multiple clinical trials and has donated blood to NYU Langone Health and Duke University Medical Center. He has registered to donate plasma antibodies through the New York Blood Center and Mt. Sinai, having qualified by testing negative with a high volume of antibodies.

The Garden has informed qualified employees that the previous date to pay them through May 3 has been extended and that they will be paid through at least May 31.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 04.23.2020 1173993 New York Rangers The NHL is considering possibly holding its draft in June before play resumes.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 04.23.2020 Gary Bettman considering holding games at four NHL rinks if play resumes

By Andrew Gross

The NHL has not finalized a model for resuming play after its regular season was paused on March 12 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. But commissioner Gary Bettman outlined one plan during an interview with Sportsnet's Ron MacLean on Wednesday night, while also insisting that no final decisions have been made.

Bettman said the NHL is looking at a model that could include as many as four NHL cities hosting up to three games each day. He added that NHL arenas with practice rinks and at least four locker rooms would be preferable.

"The particular location could be anywhere that isn't a hot spot and has what we need both in terms of the arena and having practice facilities," Bettman said.

Still, Bettman's comments — coupled with those made earlier in the day by Florida Panthers president and CEO Matt Caldwell on a Re-Open Florida Industry Working Group conference call — give a much clearer picture of the NHL's thinking if play can be resumed. ESPN reported on Wednesday that a neutral site could be selected for each of the four divisions.

“The NHL is trying to target sometime in July when we feel that players are safe and we have enough testing and we have enough ways to get back on the ice,” Caldwell said. “For us, it’s probably going to be contained at playing at four or five neutral sites. That’s all being discussed right now. My guess is that it would start with either limited fans or empty arenas.

“This is not something a final decision has been made on,” Caldwell said, noting that the NHL’s self-quarantine period for its players and personnel has been extended through April 30 and the need for training camps likely would take the league through June.

Caldwell said that while not having fans in the arenas “is not ideal, everyone is willing to entertain that idea” as the fastest way to resume play. He added, “We’d love to get sports back on TV as soon as possible.”

Caldwell said Bettman has been giving the 31 teams weekly updates on efforts to restart the season. He also said the NHL and NBA, which paused its season on March 11, have been working closely together on that matter.

Bettman and Caldwell’s references to neutral-site games is different from previous speculation that the NHL was considering games at non-NHL facilities. Buffalo, the University of North Dakota, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and Manchester, New Hampshire were all floated as potential non-NHL sites that could host games.

A source told Newsday that many facility- and infrastructure-related issues work against the idea of bringing all or multiple teams to a non- NHL location to resume games. These included the ability to house the large amounts of personnel — players and otherwise — that would be needed as well as the inability of non-NHL buildings to handle the technological requirements to broadcast games.

Plus, some of the non-NHL facilities speculated about were college facilities with Olympic-sized rinks as compared to the NHL-sized playing surface. Playing games on larger rinks apparently is not something the NHL is willing to consider.

Bettman repeatedly has said in interviews that “nothing has been ruled out, nothing has been ruled in” in terms of how the league might handle restarting play.

There were 189 regular-season games remaining when play was halted, and Bettman has said that optimally, the NHL would complete the regular season before starting the playoffs. However, he also has said that maintaining a full 2020-21 season is a priority.

No playoff format has been formalized. 1173994 New York Rangers Maybe just not for the Rangers. Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 04.23.2020

Henrik Lundqvist may have played his last game in goal for the Rangers

By Colin Stephenson

is it possible that Henrik Lundqvist already has played his last game in a Rangers uniform?

Yes, it’s definitely possible.

If the 2019-20 season, which was put on pause March 12 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, indeed is over, Lundqvist — after 14 years as the face of the Rangers — will have ended season No. 15 as the team’s No. 3 goaltender.

His last game will have been a third-period relief appearance March 7 in a 6-4 loss to the Devils at the Garden, and his last start will have been a 5-3 loss to the Flyers at the Garden on March 1, the day before his 38th birthday. He will have finished his final season 10-12-3 with a 3.16 goals- against average, .905 save percentage and one shutout.

“I know Hank can still play, and I know he can still play at a high level, and I know he can still be an NHL goalie,’’ said NHL Network analyst , a former Rangers goaltender. “Does he stay with the Rangers? I don’t necessarily see that happening. I could be wrong.’’

Weekes, who during the NHL pause is doing daily Instagram Live chats with hockey guests in addition to his NHL Network duties, might not be wrong about Lundqvist’s playing career with the Rangers. But it’s hard for him to come right out and say it, because he and Lundqvist are very close.

They have been ever since the Swede joined the Rangers as a 23-year- old rookie for the 2005-06 season. Weekes, then 30, had signed with the team as a free agent before that season. The two instantly formed a bond that stayed strong even after Lundqvist supplanted Weekes as the No. 1 goalie early in the season.

Now it is Lundqvist who has lost the title of No. 1 for the Rangers. Igor Shesterkin, who came over from Russia last summer and came up from the AHL in early January, is the new No. 1. And in the last six weeks of play, Alexandar Georgiev settled into the No. 2 role.

It is impossible to imagine the Rangers carrying three goaltenders next season, when Lundqvist will be in the final year of the seven-year, $59.5 million contract he signed in December 2013.

On Feb. 24, the day of the NHL trade deadline, a reflective Lundqvist said he would sit down with management during the offseason and talk about his role with the team going forward.

“I’ve been very open with the management the two years I’ve been through this process that, if there comes a day where they feel like I’m not a good solution . . . let’s talk about it, let’s be open about it,’’ Lundqvist said that day.

With the fate of the 2019-20 season undetermined, there are many issues that will need to be resolved before the NHL returns to play. The biggest, perhaps, relates to handling lost revenue from the current season.

Per the collective bargaining agreement between the league and the National Hockey League Players Association, players and owners split hockey-related revenue 50-50. If the 2019-20 season doesn’t resume, estimates are the HRR will be about $1 billion less than expected. That could mean the will go down next season from this season’s $81.5 million.

If so, the Rangers may have no choice but to buy out Lundqvist. Of course, even if the league and the NHLPA agree to a deal that keeps the salary cap where it is, they still might choose to part with Lundqvist.

If that happens, he could retire, or return to Sweden and finish his career there, or try to find a job somewhere else in the NHL. Weekes believes a team such as San Jose might be a fit.

“Is it another [NHL] team next year? I don’t know,’’ he said. “But I know he can still play.’’ 1173995 New York Rangers I think the current team is in a similar place as it was before the Rangers started that run, but has a lot more potential talent coming, and is going to have cap space after next season to add more. This team is going to need some prospects to turn into legit top players – and there’s almost Rangers notebook: Rewatching classic games gives the current rebuild no chance that they all will – but there’s every chance its corner-turning context “arrival” version of 2011-12 is coming soon.

KREIDER UPDATE: Man, I barely had a chance to talk to Kreider after his contract signing (then the flu), followed by his broken foot, then the By Rick Carpiniello Apr 21, 2020 87 season’s pause. But Kreider was in on a Boston-themed NHL Zoom chat Monday, along with the Flyers’ Kevin Hayes, the Bruins’ Chris Wagner and Florida’s Keith Yandle. Perspective can be interesting. Kreider is still at his Connecticut home, social distancing like the rest of During this sports pause, we’re seeing a bunch of old hockey games on us. “Just kind of slowly losing my mind, trying to find things to keep busy,” TV, and it occurred to me that I now know better where the Rangers’ he said. current rebuild stands. He was asked about the foot, which was broken on a shot by Specifically, I watched the anniversary of Wayne Gretzky’s final game Philadelphia’s Philippe Myers Feb. 28. from 1999 – and how is it even possible that it’s been 21 years? – on Saturday. “My foot feels good – Kev, thank your teammate for me, for that,” Kreider said. “The foot was better a few weeks ago so I’m able to work on kind of As cool as that was to be there and to see it again now, I was struck by rehabbing it and getting it back to where it was now.” Kreider had how miserably bad that team was, even with The Great One, Brian resumed light skating by the season’s stoppage Leetch and pre-injury Mike Richter and . Granted they had a bunch of banged-up players, but in the lineup that day were Chris I learned something new about Kreider, too. We all know about the Tamer, Richard Brennan, Johan Withall, Peter Popovic, Rumun Ndur, languages – especially the Russian, which Hayes said Kreider stepped Eric Lacroix and Brent Fedyk. Gretzky’s linemates were John MacLean up specifically to be able to communicate with Pavel Buchnevich when and Niklas Sundstrom. Other names in the game included backup goalie he arrived. I didn’t know he was multi-musically talented – he plays the , Manny Malhotra, Kevin Stevens, Darren Langdon, Mike guitar, the piano and the sax. Knuble, Mathieu Schneider and Marc Savard. RICHTER VS. LUNDQVIST: I did a story last week catching up with Mike Perhaps that team shouldn’t have been so bad, but my God, it was. That Richter. I always think about him in the conversation with Lundqvist, who was only two years into what would be seven straight seasons out of the is almost certainly the best goalie in franchise history. But Richter has playoffs (plus an eighth season canceled by a lockout). Just the darkest one Cup – the franchise’s only one in 80 years as of April 13, the of dark days. anniversary of the 1940 championship – and Lundqvist, obviously, none.

Then you fast forward as you continue looking back and watch some of Lundqvist at his best, I believe, would have/could have/should have won the Rangers’ return to relative glory – including the 2014 Stanley Cup the Cup if he played on that ’94 team. He’s never played on a team final and the decisive Alec Martinez game in Los Angeles or the Eastern remotely close to that one in terms of overall skill, depth, size, toughness. Conference final against Montreal that preceded it. That said, I do wonder if Richter at his best might not have won the Cup That makes you appreciate how good those Rangers teams of that era in ’14, because Richter, at his best, was sensational. really were. I mean, especially when Brad Richards and Martin St. Louis Another Richter story: When he suffered his second ACL tear in a home were producing, the Rangers were loaded in those few years from 2011- game – the first came at the 2000 all-star skills competition in Toronto – 12 through 2014-15. They weren’t ever the best team in the league in Richter made his way back from the hospital, on crutches, because he terms of top-end talent, but they were ridiculously deep in the 2014 run to thought the media would like to talk to him. That’s the kind of guy we’re the final and the Presidents’ Trophy season of ’14-15 when they probably talking about. would have been in the Cup final again if they hadn’t lost Mats Zuccarello early and hadn’t had four injured defensemen for Game 7 of the Eastern ANDERSSON UPDATE: In case you missed it, Lias Andersson – the final against Tampa. first-round pick who was sent to Hartford, demanded a trade, then left the team earlier this season, then was loaned to HV71 of the Swedish league And I agree with some of those I spoke with about Game 6 of the 2014 so that he could continue playing – was interviewed by the Gothenburg Eastern final, a series-clinching 1-0 victory at the Garden. That was Post recently. about as perfect a game as you can play. The Rangers gave the Canadiens next-to-nothing, and Henrik Lundqvist gave them zero. Andersson, 21, said he struggled with his self confidence and that led to bad habits and sleep difficulties. Now he is feeling better. I think this current still-very-much rebuilding team has quite a way to go to be as deep as those teams. At the same time, I think the current group Asked what’s going to happen now, Andersson said (via Google is heads and shoulders better than Gretzky’s farewell group (or any of Translate): “I have no idea what’s going on. No fucking idea whatsoever. those teams that followed over the years). I just practice – and see what happens. I’m open to anything. I just want to have fun. I just want to play hockey.” The start of that run, under in 2011-12, was a team with little depth, a team with a bunch of younger players who arrived a year or I don’t believe the Rangers have completely slammed the door on a two earlier than expected. That team wasn’t deep, and aside from Marian potential return for Andersson. We’ll see. Gaborik, then Rick Nash, didn’t have the top-end talent of an Artemi Panarin or a Mika Zibanejad. That team had really only three lines, and NEW YOUNG FACES: The Rangers signing free agents Patrick most of those were made up of bottom-six guys, really – Brian Boyle, Khodorenko, Auston Rueschhoff and Justin Richards might not mean Brandon Prust and Ruslan Fedotenko were the third line, not the fourth. much at all in the big picture. But it could mean a lot of competition for On defense they had only two pairs of defensemen, with Michael Del bottom-six jobs, and should make it more challenging for incumbents to Zotto and either Stu Bickel or Steve Eminger filling third-pairs in theory keep those jobs, including Brett Howden, Julien Gauthier and Phil only. They were tough as hell, though, and shot-blocked their way to a DiGiuseppe, not to mention Brendan Smith. near Presidents’ Trophy and an Eastern final in ’12. Later, with Nash, It should also mean a better team in Hartford – which was headed for the Richards, St. Louis, Anton Stralman and Kevin Klein added to Derek AHL playoffs – though it’s difficult to quantify how much of that relative Stepan, Zuccarello, Derick Brassard, Benoit Pouliot, a young Chris success was due to having Igor Shesterkin in goal for half a season. Kreider, Dom Moore, Boyle, etc., it really could have won a Cup in 2014 or 2015. I’ve been saying this for a while, but pretty much every incoming player should expect to start his career in Hartford next fall. That should be the Also, looking back at 2014 now, even though that series got to 3-0 in new norm, like the old norm, and there should be no entitlement. favor of L.A. in what seemed like 15 minutes and ended in five games, the Rangers, with any luck, really could have had that series 2-2 after four and really could have won Game 5 many times. ONE MORE 99 ANECDOTE: Going through some files on the anniversary, I came across this first quote from Gretzky’s post-final-game press conference:

“It’s time,” he said. “(Coach) John (Muckler) called timeout there with 30 seconds to go. He’s got a daughter that is about to give birth in Edmonton, and he called timeout … and I came over and he said, ‘I’ve got to tell you something.’ I said, ‘What?’ He said ‘I just had a grandson today and you’ve got to get the winner.’ And maybe when I was younger I might have gotten the winner for him. I didn’t get it for him today, and I know it’s the right time.”

A minute or so later, he said, “I wish I could have been Jordan hitting that last shot to win the championship. That wasn’t going to happen.”

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'NOTHING IS PERFECT:' NHL wants general managers to consider June draft, Daly says

Bruce Garrioch

The National Hockey League is studying the possibility of holding its draft in June virtually.

Deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed Wednesday he told the NHL general managers in a conference call Tuesday the league is studying the possibility of holding the draft in June instead of waiting until after the regular season and the playoffs are completed. There would be complications involved in that process, but it’s something the NHL head office wants to look at if it’s able to overcome the hurdles involved.

“The logistics would be different, there’s no doubt about that,” Daly told this newspaper from his New York office. “We wouldn’t have proposed this unless there were ways we felt we could deal with the logistics in effective ways. Nothing’s going to be perfect, and the point we’re making to the general managers is, with the end of the season and trying to fit in a draft lottery and a draft, and trying to determine what a draft lottery looks like in a short off-season, may be challenges as well.

“There’s not going to be any perfect scenario here. You look to find a scenario that you can make work, that’s fair and has integrity, and you go from there. I’m not suggesting one way or another whether there are legs to the possibility, but it’s being thrown around and being talked about.”

Not only does the league have to decide what to do about conditional picks, such as the first-round selection the Ottawa Senators received from the New York Islanders in the Jean-Gabriel Pageau deal at the deadline, there’s also things like the potential for draft-day trades that have to be dealt with. In the past, teams have moved picks for players who will be on their roster the next year.

Holding the draft in June would give the league some much-needed exposure and would get people talking because, at that point, the sport may be ramping back up to return to an empty venue. In this situation, the reality is teams have to be open-minded because nobody has been here before.

“I would say on the call there were some questions, there may have been one general manager who had opposition without being able to consider all the pros and cons, so I think it’s too early to say how the managers feel about it generally,” Daly said. “At first blush, everybody resists change and it’s different so you have to vet more thoroughly, and have the opportunity to vet more thoroughly, the pros and cons.”

Naturally, the league would have to set the rules for how the lottery would be held, but Daly noted a simple solution would be to just determine the odds by the winning percentage of the teams out of the post-season when the league went on pause. Right now, the Detroit Red Wings would have the best chance to get the No. 1 at 18.5 per cent due to their .275 winning percentage while the Senators would be second at .437, giving them a 13.5 per cent chance.

Ottawa also has the San Jose Sharks’ No. 1 pick and they would have the third-best chance of getting the top selection at 11.5 per cent, which would give the Senators an overall 25 per cent chance of winning the lottery. The Los Angeles Kings are fourth at .457, which would give them a 9.5 per cent chance.

Daly said the league won’t do anything without a consensus from the teams.

“The most likely metric would be the teams’ points percentage at the time of the pause in terms of determining draft order. There are other ways to do it and there are even alternative ways to do it using points percentage,” Daly said. “But, at the end of the day, it would be objective, fair and a fair measure of what a draft is supposed to do, which is advantage the teams who need the most help from a talent standpoint.

“We could preserve the intent of the draft with it coming early, but like I said nothing’s going to be perfect. There’s always ways you wish were going to be better, but you just don’t have the opportunity to make them better.” 1173997 Ottawa Senators we shouldn’t be stepping in front of the line just for our own purposes,” Daly said.

“We understand the realities, but we have reason to believe the testing NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly says he remains 'optimistic' league landscape is changing rapidly in a positive way. Hopefully, by the time will play this summer we’re talking about being able to play hockey games, the testing is available to us in the amount and ways we need it.

Daly says the NHL hasn’t closed the door on the possibility of holding Bruce Garrioch games in non-NHL cities like Manchester, N.H., Saskatoon and Grand Forks, N.D. but did say logistically it may make more sense for the

league to focus on neutral site games in NHL cities with no fans. The Bill Daly can see light at the end of the tunnel, but he’s not ready to idea may be to put divisions four different NHL cities, house players in declare the National Hockey League is going to return this summer. the same hotel and severely limit the access to the rinks.

While the NHL deputy commissioner is “optimistic” the league will be able The reality is NHL cities may make sense because they can use hotels to come back in some format during the summer, that he and that already house teams and that may not be available in smaller commissioner Gary Bettman have a lot of options on the table after venues on both sides of the border. Florida Panthers’ president Matt Caldwell told reporters Wednesday “No final decisions have been made,” said Daly. “We’ve highlighted what morning the league will be back in July. the benefits would be of playing in NHL cities and the primary benefit is Not so fast, noted Daly, who added he had missed a call from Caldwell. an NHL-ready facility. They have our standards, our technology and have all the modern accoutrements that you’d need technologically in terms of “I’m not sure the approach has really changed since the beginning of broadcasting or creating a broadcast for the game. They have a lot of this,” Daly told this newspaper from his New York office Wednesday built in advantages that will be attractive.” afternoon. “We have to be prepared for every eventuality. We need to do our due-diligence so that the time it takes for us to respond to the Daly confirmed the league has been in touch Prime Minister Justin circumstances is basically that the work is done and the only thing that Trudeau’s office to keep them up to date on what the NHL is thinking in needs to be implemented is the decision. terms of a return with seven franchises in Canada.

“That’s kind of where we are. We’re doing all our due-diligence, we’re ‘We’ve had contact with the Prime Minister’s office,” Daly said. “The trying to read the tea leaves as well as anybody else can read the tea purpose of opening the lines of communication is making sure that leaves in terms of what circumstances may present themselves. The everybody knows what we’re thinking about and making sure there are social gathering restrictions seem like they’re going to have a long light no disconnects. It’s more a representation and commitment that we’ll than maybe originally hoped or anticipated so we’re deal with that keep those lines of communication open so that we’re not doing anything possibility or probability that’s maybe not a certainty. We have to flexible, out of step with what the government wants either in Canada or the nimble and ready to respond as events continue to unfold.” .

Daly added he feels this may be headed in the right direction. “We want to make sure we’re aligned with two countries where our teams play games.” “I will say that the last week to two weeks, in particular, have been more hopeful and optimistic that there may be a light at the end of the tunnel Ottawa Sun LOADED: 04.23.2020 and we’re moving toward it,” he said. “I don’t know how long it will take us to get there and don’t know how broad or bright that light will be. I think we’re moving in the right direction.

“I won’t use the term confident because in my mind that puts it too far up the scale but I am optimistic. I remain optimistic, and part of my job is to optimistic, but there’s a basis for optimism. We had a GM conference call Monday and most of our clubs remain optimistic. We haven’t had a session with the players themselves, but the ones we have had they’re not only optimistic and they’re very, very anxious to get back if there’s an opportunity.

“That energizes us, for sure, because if only half of our equation wanted to come back and the other half was ambivalent, that’s not as positive if one side isn’t interested in return. I do have daily interactions with the NHLPA and both sides are interested in coming back if we can safely come back. First, and foremost, has to be the safety issue. The health and safety of our players, our fanbase and the general population as well. All those boxes have to be checked.”

Naturally, it’s not the preference, but at the start empty rinks sound like they may be the only option.

“It’s going to be different if it happen,” said Daly. “It’s not our preferred alternative, but if it’s only our alternative it’s certainly better than the alternative of not playing at all. There’s pent up interest and demand in professional sports that the public has been deprived of for six weeks now so I think there will be a real groundswell of interest and demand of seeing the product if we can present it some way.

“That should be infectious even if it’s not inside the building. There are unique ways you can bring that out. Like everything else, you have to see what’s possible and what’s not possible but we have every indication our fans remain engaged with us, the sport and want to see its return.”

Of course, Daly said it has to be done in a “safe environment” and readily-available testing will be part of the solution.

“Testing is an important part of the general re-opening of society so it will be important to us so we understand that people have to have their priorities right and until there’s adequate testing on a society-wide basis 1173998 Ottawa Senators The expectation was Anders Nilsson would reach up to grab the starting role this season and that didn’t happen because he suffered a concussion mid-December that kept him out for the balance of the year.

If this is it for Craig Anderson with the Ottawa Senators, then his No. 41 Dorion said last week Nilsson has passed his baseline test but needs to should be retired practice before the decision is made to put him back in the net again. If the Senators do get a chance to suit up for some summer hockey and Nilsson is able to play that would give the club a better idea of what’s happening in the net because Marcus Hogberg is on a one-way contract Bruce Garrioch next season.

So, if that game in Los Angeles was indeed his last, would Anderson feel The NHL hasn’t thrown in the towel on finishing its season, but the like he’s leaving on his own terms? possibility exists we may not get the chance to see Craig Anderson pull “It’s hard to say. We’re at that point where we’re in an unprecedented on the No. 41 jersey again with the Ottawa Senators. area,” Anderson said. “We’re in a time where we never expected. I’m just The 38-year-old Anderson, who drove back to his home in Coral Springs, rolling with it right now and let the chips fall where they may. As an Fla. in early March is with his wife Nicholle along with the couple’s two individual, I’m hopeful that we are able to get back to play and kind of children Jake and Levi, isn’t sure what’s going to happen next but he’s finish off the rest of the year. trying to stay ready for anything as NHL players are still being advised to “But it’s out of my control. If it was something I did that kind of screwed stay in self-isolation. things up for myself, I’d be in a different boat. Right now I’m not too “We’re all hoping for the same result, we all want to get back to playing concerned about it. I don’t want to put too much energy into that kind of and doing what we’re supposed to be doing,” Anderson said in a stuff.” conference call with Ottawa reporters Wednesday. “I can’t say with any Ottawa Sun LOADED: 04.23.2020 confidence one way or another, but we’re definitely hopeful that we do get back to normalcy and we’re able to get back to finish the season.”

And, yes, even if that means playing an empty arena.

“Right now, everybody is looking for something to watch on TV,” Anderson said. “I think you’ve seen NASCAR and Indycar jump into the virtual world. We don’t have luxury of being able to play the sport as a video game. We’re open to anything. We’d get a lot of the fan base to be able to tune if we were able to go with a national broadcast with a game of hockey.

“Myself, along with a lot of other players, I’m sure they’re all in for it just because it gets us back to our normal every day routine of doing what we love to do but it also gives our fan base, even though they’re not at the game, it still gives them something to tune into at home to kind of break up the monotony of this pause.”

If Anderson’s performance in the club’s 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings before the season on pause due to COVID-19 was indeed his last game in the club’s net, he hasn’t given a whole lot of thought to his future, he’s been trying to stay ready at home in case he’s called back to Ottawa and hopes there’s the opportunity to finish out the season somehow.

“Right now, there’s been a lot of time on our hands to get into the family thing and hang out with the kids and my wife and go through that,” said Anderson. “I haven’t put too much thought into future plans. I’m kind of trying to stay in the moment as best as I can and stay in the now so to speak and focus on the what ifs for what we’re going through right now.

“We’re all focused on can we get back and finish our season? We’ll cross the bridge as far as future plans down the road. As of right now, I’m missing the game like crazy, I want to be there competing with my teammates and right now that would way I’m leaning too is that I want to compete and continuing to do what I love every day.”

If Anderson isn’t back here next season, he’s had a brilliant career in Ottawa and that would most certainly make him a candidate to have his number retired down the road along with winger Chris Neil’s No. 25.

Should the Senators not return to finish this season, the next time people here get to see Anderson , it may be at centre ice with his family as his jersey may being lifted to the rafters at the Canadian Tire Centre to join Daniel Alfredsson’s No. 11 and the No. 4 of Chris Phillips.

Now, if you think I’m getting ahead of myself, I am because it hasn’t been ruled out in any way, shape or form – despite some people’s wishful thinking – that the Senators won’t finish out the 2019-20 once the threat of the novel coronavirus around the world has passed and general manager Pierre Dorion won’t make any roster decisions anytime soon.

Anderson has spent a decade with the Senators. In 435 appearances in the club’s net, he has a 202-168-46 record with a .914 save-percentage and a 2.84 goals-against average while he’s also suited up for 40 playoff games with a 21-18-0 record, a .928 save-percentage and a 2.30 GAA. His effort in the club’s trip to the Eastern Conference final in 2017 was inspiring. 1173999 Ottawa Senators The search is also on for PPE equipment for the support staff, including kitchen workers. There’s a particular demand for masks, goggles and gowns.

Beer leaguers stickhandle to support those hit hardest by coronavirus While the Mission is no longer allowing non-residents to enter the building for meals, they are serving 1,000 take-out meals a day for those in desperate need.

Author of the article:Ken Warren “It’s hard on everyone,” Tilley said. “But it’s like lining up outside Wal- Mart, with everyone six feet apart.”

There are similar scenes across the country, of course, and that’s where In many ways, it’s the ultimate Canadian fundraising campaign. there’s hope that an extension of the #HockeyLegendsHelp campaign A pair of Ottawa-area oldtimer beer league hockey groups have donated comes in. more than $10,000 toward the Ottawa Mission, the Ottawa Food Bank The Ottawa oldtimers’ groups suggest that there must be associations of and CHEO, receiving gratitude from those most in need during the novel players in similar situations across the country, also looking for ways to coronavirus crisis. help. “It was a series of no-brainers from our point of view,” said Patrick “I heard from some Dragon Boat (Festival) guys, that they are going to Esmonde-White, a spokesman for the Hockey Legends, a group of 60- use their unused money to donate,” said Gwozdecky. “It could be any and 70-somethings who play three times a week during the hockey group. It doesn’t have to be hockey. It could be figure skaters who have season at the University of Ottawa. unused money. That’s the beauty of it.” Now, they’re hoping they can inspire a social media campaign of sorts — By their very nature, hockey players – even recreational players who are #HockeyLegendsHelp — across the country, believing that other adult retired from their day jobs – maintain their competitive spirits. In this sports groups will also reach out to help the hungry, the homeless and case, the challenge is to see if pick-up players in other cities can follow those with significant health concerns. suit. The idea started simply enough. “I’ve checked in with a few guys (elsewhere) during the past few days,” After Ottawa shut down city services in March, arena doors were closed, said Esmonde-White. “If we can reach a certain total in Ottawa, maybe resulting in the end of the season for the Hockey Legends. we can see if there are other cities who can pick up on it, too.”

Don’t let the name fool you. They are legends of the game in their Ottawa Sun LOADED: 04.23.2020 dreams only — Esmonde-White jokes they might be more aptly named the “Hockey Leg Ends” — but their hearts are in the right place.

When the rebate for the lost ice time rolled in, the players held a vote to ship the “found money” where it could be of some help. With a few top-up donations and the tax credits for charitable donations factored in, the group raised $7,000 for the Mission and the Food Bank.

“It’s a really good group of guys,” Esmonde-White said. “That was easy.”

Word travels fast in the hockey community.

Mark Gwozdecky, the administrator of the Champlain Park oldtimers’ league, heard about the idea because he occasionally serves as a spare with the Hockey Legends.

He brought the donation idea back to his own 25-member group.

“We were sitting on about $3,000 in refunds for the Champlain group,” Gwozdecky said.

“I didn’t know all their economic situations, so I told them it was strictly voluntary, but to a man, everyone came back to say they wanted to help. The money was already spent. Nobody was interested in taking the money back.”

The cash is a welcome bonus for the groups that need it most amid all the uncertainty, trying to find the funds for a patchwork plan during the pandemic.

“Please thank those hockey guys,” said Peter Tilley, chief executive of the Ottawa Mission. “We’ve really been whacked by (the coronavirus). All of our lives and worlds have been turned upside down by this. We’re constantly dealing with challenges here, but this (crisis) has really changed things for us.”

The Mission, which typically has 250 guests per night, has had to close its doors to non-residents because of health concerns.

“With physical distancing, you can imagine how compressed our environment is,” said Tilley.

Due to those physical distancing rules, guests with mental health and addiction issues can no longer engage in one-on-one and group meetings with their counsellors. Accordingly, the Mission has been busy trying to obtain laptops and tablets so that its visitors can be involved in support sessions through Zoom or Skype. There have been hiccups along the way.

“We’ve had some relapses,” said Tilley. 1174000

A look at the latest buzz on 2019-20 NHL season and what it means for Flyers

By Jordan Hall April 22, 2020 5:50 PM

An inside look at how Flyers have built 2019-20 turnaround

With perspective from the players and head coach, let's take an inside look at how the Flyers have built their 2019-20 turnaround. By Jordan Hall

Updated: 8:34 p.m.

There had been some buzz about the NHL discussing a potential resumption of the 2019-20 season at neutral sites in remote parts of the country.

"That’s just part of considering all of the potential options, depending on how we find the circumstances," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said April 7 in an interview with NBC Sports' Mike Tirico.

It sure sounds like mostly everything is still on the table with the NHL now 42 days and counting into the suspension of its regular season because of the coronavirus outbreak. However, the neutral-site idea appears to be no longer in consideration, according to a report Tuesday night by Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Per Friedman's report:

Instead, we’re looking at one NHL city per division to resume the season. Teams from that division would be brought to this location. And, it sounds like the plan is to complete the regular season — if possible. One idea, a triple-header per day at each location to get it done in three weeks. The players have to agree.

Looking at the CDC and Canadian information, I could see places like Edmonton, Minnesota and Raleigh being options if the league and the respective governments were willing.

The NHL will not rush to decisions on how or when it will resume play. Right now, making those types of calls simply isn't plausible. The league is looking at the entire summer to work with in its decision-making.

“Not necessarily divisional based, it’ll be four cities if that’s the route we go — and by the way, all of this is contingent, nothing has been decided," Bettman said Wednesday night in an interview with Sportsnet's Ron MacLean. "This is just part of the modeling I talked about where we’re making sure we’re prepared for any eventuality. Maybe it’ll be two cities. It’s not something that we can predict right at this moment, but this is a part of the contingencies.

"It doesn’t necessarily have to be by division — although the centralization may be by division, but the particular location could be anywhere that isn’t the hot spot and has what we need both in terms of the arena and having practice facilities. Because if you bring in seven or eight clubs to a particular facility and you’re playing lots of games on a regular basis without travel, there does need to be ice for practice."

The Flyers should like their outlook if the NHL finds a way to resume in any fashion, whether it be to finish the regular season or expedite the process to the playoffs.

If PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, is a possible location for the Metropolitan Division, the Flyers are 22-12-2-4 all-time in that building, so maybe that's a positive.

In the grand scheme, though, what's most important is the safety of everyone involved in this or any potential plan as it impacts players, team and league employees and their families.

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'From a punk little kid to a father' — Scott Hartnell knows Philly can rely on Claude Giroux

By Jordan Hall April 22, 2020 3:00 PM

Back in December 2018, Scott Hartnell was honored at the Wells Fargo Center. The beloved former Flyer had announced his retirement from the NHL and was setting out on the next phase of his life.

On that Thursday night, Hartnell had his little boy Wesley with him and the two snuck into Claude Giroux's postgame interview.

Hartnell and Giroux were together again, smiling and laughing. In Hartnell's case, the enjoyment of fatherhood had recently begun.

Flyers Captain @28CGiroux has a special guest interviewer!@Hartsy43’s son!

Baby Wesley didnt like the answer #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/L5KllSoBwd

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) December 21, 2018

Share with us your best caption for this photo of The Captain with Scott and Wesley Hartnell! #LetsGoFlyers ⁠ ⁠ pic.twitter.com/58LBmljLtZ

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) December 22, 2018

Hartnell has watched Giroux transform from a 20-year-old kid into an NHL star, the 32-year-old leader of the Flyers and now a father himself.

“He’s kind of grown up under our eyes I guess you can say,” Hartnell said Monday on NBC Sports Philadelphia's Flyers Talk podcast.

Giroux and his wife Ryanne welcomed their baby boy Gavin into the world last August. Hartnell and his wife Katie are two weeks from being due with their second child.

The former teammates chatted over FaceTime recently during the NHL pause.

Two dads catching up. teamwork makes the dream work pic.twitter.com/iqtoqDGqwE

— Ryanne Giroux (@ryannegiroux) April 20, 2020

"Just to check in and see how life was up in Ottawa," Hartnell, now an NHL analyst, said. "You could just see talking about his son Gavin and just the light that little man brings to him. Kind of comparing stories because I was just through that maybe eight months ago with how old my son was.

"It’s amazing, when you’re a father, your whole perspective of life changes. It’s all about that little man and your family and just how much joy that gives.

"It’s cool to see him kind of go from a punk little kid to a father and being a good leader for everyone in that dressing room — and for the city of Philadelphia, people look up to him.”

Giroux is the longest-tenured active athlete in the city, going back to 2008, and has been the Flyers' captain since January 2013.

The 2019-20 club was looking like one of his better shots at another run for the Cup.

"Since I was traded, I don't even know now, five, six years ago, this was probably the team that has played the best and probably that gave the players hope, but even the fans hope," Hartnell said. "I hear now that I'm living here in the area that everyone was jacked up, getting ready for the playoffs, how great they are — they lose a game, they come back and they win two, three in a row — everything was trending upwards."

Time will tell if Giroux and the Flyers get a chance to compete in playoff hockey this season. For now, the captain gets more time to be a dad — and Hartnell will enjoy hearing about it.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.23.2020 1174002 Pittsburgh Penguins for clubs in all sports and how they’re impacted by the fact that sports has no revenue coming in. I think our owners, overwhelmingly, have tried to do the right things.”

NHL’s Gary Bettman: ‘We’re going to have to make adjustments’ to settle Tribune Review LOADED: 04.23.2020 on restart plan

SETH RORABAUGH | Wednesday, April 22, 2020 10:56 p.m.

When or if the NHL concludes its 2019-20 campaign is anyone’s guess.

Including the league’s comissioner.

But one thing is certain: Gary Bettman and company have explored multiple options for trying to stage games in order to finish this season and start the next one while the world at large tries to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

He made that abundantly clear on Wednesday night during a video interview with Ron MacLean of Sportsnet in which Bettman outlined a handful of scenarios the league has considered in order to resume playing games.

“Which one of the plans?” Bettman quipped. “We’re modeling. We’re trying to see what our options will be under whatever scenario unfolds. And I’ve got a lot of talented people at our organization, both at the league level and at the clubs, and we’re focused on what the issues might be, how we respond if we get a green light. The decision ultimately will be made by medical people and people who run governments at all different levels. So we’re not going to try and do anything that flies in the face of what we’re being told is appropriate.

“But whether or not we play the rest of the regular season on some basis, whether we play the playoffs as we normally do or on an expanded basis, whether or not there are going to be fans in the building, how we deal with all of our partners, media and otherwise, how we continue to interact with our fans … we’re just constantly trying to figure out what the alternatives will be.”

While stressing nothing has been determined, Bettman made it clear there is not necessarily a hard deadline to make a determination on when to complete the 2019-20 campaign.

“Clearly we can play into the summer,” Bettman said. “Clearly we can play next season, which we intend to do in its entirety, starting later. So with a lot of timing options, we have a great deal of flexibility. We’re not going to rush anything. We’re not going to do anything crazy. We’re going to try to do something under the circumstances at the time that is sensible.”

“If whatever we do (to award the Stanley Cup) is fair and has integrity, it will work. … We don’t live in a world of perfect anymore. We’re going to have to make adjustments. Ideally from our standpoint, and it would resolve a lot of issues, would be if we could complete the regular season, even if it’s on a centralized basis, and then go into the playoffs the way we normally play them. That would be ideal. But that’s again one of the numerous models that we’re looking at. If we can’t do ideal, if we can’t do perfect, we’re going to have to figure out what’s next to perfect.”

In his discussions with the NHL’s players association, the point of allowing players time to prepare for a potential restart has been emphasized.

“The first step will be getting our players back into the training facilities that our clubs have to be able just to work out pre-training camp,” Bettman said. “And we’re going to need a training camp. … We had a conversation with the players’ association and a number of players to discuss these issues. There was a sense that somewhere, give or take, probably more give, there needs to be at least three weeks of training camp. Because when the players come back, they want to be in, and we want them to be in, game-ready shape. Most importantly, so that nobody gets hurt needlessly.”

As has been the case with virtually every industry on the planet, the NHL’s finances have been damaged due to the pandemic. Bettman declined to get into specifics beyond one point of emphasis.

“Let’s be clear about one thing,” Bettman said. “We have no revenues coming in right now. And that poses an issue, not just in terms of how our system works with players, but the tens of thousands of people that work 1174003 Pittsburgh Penguins Maatta, physically unscathed by the rigors of illness and NHL hockey, was a treat to watch.

3. Ryan Whitney, 2005-06 John Marino stacks up well compared to top rookie defensemen in A cynic would suggest that Whitney was one of the first players to realize Penguins history the value of hitching his wagon to Sidney Crosby. It helped him to six goals and 38 points as a rookie. In fairness, before his foot betrayed him, Whitney was a dynamic player with high-end offensive instincts. Seth Rorabaugh And Jonathan BombulieSETH RORABAUGH AND JONATHAN BOMBULIE | Wednesday, April 22, 2020 7:19 p.m. 4. Jim Johnson, 1985-86

Undrafted out of Minnesota-Duluth, Johnson had three goals and 29 points. He was a plus-12 for a team, in Mario Lemieux’s second year, John Marino’s timing is impeccable. that wasn’t very good. He fought Rick Tocchet and . He was the only player on the team to appear in all 80 games. In one sense, he came along at just the right time for the Pittsburgh Penguins. 5. Marty McSorley, 1983-84

Saddled with a defense corps that sprung leaks during a mediocre 2018- First of all, what a fight card. Chris Nilan, Dave Brown, Behn Wilson, 19 season, especially in a first-round playoff exit, the team needed him. even twice. Second of all, he had nine points and a minus- 39 rating. Without all those minuses, do the Penguins have the worst Marino escaped the Edmonton prospect pool, built on a stellar Harvard record in the league and get Mario Lemieux in the draft? Think about it. career and recorded six goals, 26 points and a plus-17 rating before the season was put on pause. He handled the traditional pitfalls much better RORABAUGH’S TOP 5 than the average rookie defenseman. 1. Zarley Zalapski, 1988-89 “What I was expecting was a much higher pace of play. Everyone is skilled. Everyone can contribute. Everyone can make a play,” Marino The standard-bearer for freshmen blue liners in Pittsburgh, Zalapski was said. “Every game’s a battle, too. You can’t really take any games off. tailor-made for the Penguins and their aggressive approach to the 1988- Not that you’re taking games off in college, but if you’re going into a 89 season as he put up 45 points (12 goals, 33 assists) in 58 games. game where you know your team should win the game, you probably Wearing No. 33, Zalapski was a vital component of the Penguins’ take a step back. voracious “Double Trouble” power-play unit which included others who wore double-digit jerseys such as Mario Lemieux (No. 66) and Paul “In the NHL, you can’t take a step back. Every shift, you have to compete Coffey (No. 77). Zalapski’s offensive acumen helped the franchise reach and you have to be ready for. I think that was eye-opening, for sure.” the postseason for the first time in seven years. In 11 playoff games, he netted nine points (one goal, eight assists). In another sense, Marino also came along at the right time in NHL history. 2. Olli Maatta, 2013-14

For decades, teams were wary of giving first-year players important Once upon a time, Olli Maatta was a universally beloved precocious minutes on the blue line. They were afraid of fresh-faced kids in their rookie who no one wanted to trade. That was in 2013-14 when a 19-year- early 20s getting abused in front of the net by grizzled, bearded grown old Maatta’s steady style allowed him to claim a regular spot on a roster men. filled with veteran blue liners who already had coach Dan Bylsma’s trust. The former first-round pick put up nine goals and 29 points – still career A couple of examples from post-1997, when the league started keeping highs – in 78 games that season and helped the franchise make its ice time records: Andrew Ference was a highly touted youngster in 1999, eighth consecutive postseason appearance. but he was limited to 16 minutes, 19 seconds per game. Kris Letang, a minutes muncher on defense if there ever was one, was afforded 17:30 3. Dave Burrows, 1971-72 as a rookie in 2007. Arguably the greatest defensive player in franchise history, Burrows’ Marino, meanwhile, is averaging 20:15 this season. The Penguins have abilities are difficult to quantify because he played in an era where trusted him, more or less, from the word go. advanced metrics were light years away from being a concept while even basic numbers such as blocked shots weren’t maintained regularly. What “In the beginning, I was a little more sheltered, but they gained a little is clear is, as a 23-year-old rookie in 1971-72, he played in 77 of a more trust with me the more they put me out there,” Marino said. “I think I possible 78 games and put up 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) and was able to take advantage of the opportunity. It’s still definitely a accrued countless bumps and bruises through a hardscrabble style of learning process. I have a lot of stuff to figure out. I think the biggest thing play, presumably, while helping the franchise reach the postseason for is the coaching staff put their trust in me and being able to take only the second time. Finishing in fourth place for the Calder Memorial advantage of an opportunity.” Trophy voting, his apprenticeship that season under partner Tim Horton When Marino’s rookie season concludes — if it hasn’t already — it will and coach , two of the greatest defensemen in NHL history, rank among the best for a first-year Penguins defenseman. In the helped craft Burrows into an all-star later in his career. meantime, beat writer Seth Rorabaugh and former beat writer Jonathan 4. Paul Stanton, 1990-91 Bombulie compiled a list of the top five rookie defensemen in franchise history. The 1990-91 season is a memorable one for the Penguins for a variety of reasons. Stanton’s rookie campaign is hardly one of them. But as a 23- (Note: For the sake of argument, Marino has been omitted from these year-old, Stanton found himself in the lineup for 75 of a possible 80 listings as his rookie season is not yet complete.) games and remained a steadying presence throughout the campaign BOMBULIE’S TOP 5 while general manager Craig Patrick restructured the blue line by shipping out veterans such as Zalapski and Jim Johnson and replacing 1. Zarley Zalapski, 1988-89 them with the likes of Larry Murphy and Peter Taglianetti. Putting up 23 points (five goals, 18 assists) that season, Stanton helped the franchise Joining the Penguins as they were starting to become contenders, win its first Stanley Cup title. Zalapski set franchise rookie defenseman records with 15 goals and 56 points that might never be broken. His numbers lose a little luster when 5. Marcus Pettersson, 2018-19 adjusted for era. Teammate Paul Coffey, for instance, had 113 points that year. His rookie season of 2018-19 should probably come with a qualifier as he spent the first two months with the Anaheim Ducks before landing in 2. Olli Maatta, 2013-14 Pittsburgh via trade as 22-year-old. A scheduling quirk with that trade allowed him to play a league-high 84 games (teams play 82 games in It’s probably a misconception that Maatta’s first year was, by far, his best. normal seasons) and he put up 25 points (two goals, 23 assists). Blessed Nine goals and 29 points was great, but he was a plus-27 in 2015-16 and with a lengthy 6-foot-3 frame, Pettersson offered stability to the Penguins’ had 29 points again in 2017-18. It is fair to say, though, that a 19-year-old blue line last season and was arguably one of their more reliable players – admittedly, there were few candidates for this designation – during a brief four-game postseason run.

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Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins re-sign forward Chase Berger

SETH RORABAUGH | Wednesday, April 22, 2020 4:41 p.m.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have re-signed forward Chase Berger to a one-year American Hockey League contract for the 2020-21 season.

During his first professional season of 2019-20, Berger, 25, appeared in 53 AHL games and scored 10 points (one goal, nine assists).

Before turning professional, Berger spent four seasons with Penn State. In 154 career NCAA games, Berger recorded 118 points (51 goals, 76 assists).

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Gary Bettman details one possible plan for the resumption of the NHL season

Matt Vensel

The NHL still has so much to figure out when it comes to contingency plans for the resumption of the 2019-20 season, should government officials and public health experts give the league the green light in the coming months.

But it does appear the league is at least whittling down its options.

In a Wednesday interview with Sportsnet, commissioner Gary Bettman said the NHL has decided against playing games in non-NHL arenas at neutral sites. He acknowledged the league is considering a plan to finish the season at as many as four NHL arenas, knocking out multiple games per day with no fans.

“Maybe it’ll be two cities,” he said, per NHL.com. “It’s not something that we can predict right at this moment. But this is part of the contingencies. It doesn’t necessarily have to be by division, although the centralization may be by division. But the particular location could be anywhere that isn’t a hot spot.”

Bettman said the league won’t be able to play games in, for example, an arena on a college campus because the facility would need to have at least four locker rooms, a playing surface that meets NHL specifications and the technology needed to put on the games and broadcast them on various media.

So, no, the Penguins won’t be playing playoff games in North Dakota.

The league, Bettman said, could look to play games in two to four NHL venues, with several teams in each city for practices and games. He added that locker rooms, benches and other areas would need to be sanitized often.

Bettman said it has not been determined which cities could play host. It’s been rumored the NHL is eyeing Raleigh, N.C., for Metropolitan Division games.

Again, this is just one of the many, many ideas the NHL, the 31 teams and the NHLPA have been kicking around. But it is certainly noteworthy that in a TV interview Bettman was willing to discuss in detail this particular plan.

Another significant admission Bettman made in the Sportsnet interview was that the NHL is open to pushing back the start of the 2020-21 season to make sure the Stanley Cup gets awarded for the 2019-20 season. Previously, the NHL’s public stance was that having next season go as scheduled was a priority.

“Clearly, we can play into the summer,” Bettman said, per NHL.com. “Clearly, we can play next season, which we intend to do in its entirety, starting later. And so, with a lot of timing options, we have a great deal of flexibility, and we’re not going to rush anything. We're not going to do anything that’s crazy.”

The NHL has told players and team staff that they should self-quarantine through April 30. The next step, eventually, will be allowing players to skate and work out at team facilities. After that would be training camps. Bettman, after talking with the NHLPA, said the camps would need to be at least three weeks.

All this sounds encouraging. And who doesn’t want hockey back? But looking at the landscape outside the NHL bubble, it’s clear we probably still have a long way to go before we are able to watch people chase around a puck again.

Bettman again acknowledged that the NHL isn’t calling the shots right now.

“The decision ultimately will be made by medical people and people who are in governments at all different levels,” he said. “So we’re not going to try and do anything that flies in the face of what we’re being told is appropriate.” 1174006 Pittsburgh Penguins five goals and 27 points in 65 games as a sophomore or junior compared to his totals above.

IF THE SEASON RESUMES: The Penguins must decide whether to Penguins on pause: What's next for John Marino after superb rookie keep Marino on their second pair alongside Marcus Pettersson. Marino season? significantly outplayed Justin Schultz this season, leading to that switcheroo. Would Sullivan trust Marino to continue to play top-four minutes with the Cup on the line?

Matt Vensel LONG-TERM OUTLOOK: Marino will make $925,000 next season and is under team control beyond that. The question is: What is his upside?

Can he become a top-pair defender? What about an All-Star? Or is this The NHL has “paused” its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is as good as he gets? Even if he doesn’t improve all that much, he’s unclear if it will resume. So, with one eye still on the future, the Post- already a heck of a player. Gazette’s Matt Vensel and Mike DeFabo are looking back at what each Post Gazette LOADED: 04.23.2020 Penguins player did in 2019-20. We started with the captain, No. 87, and will count down by jersey number.

There were a number of pleasant surprises in Pittsburgh this season, from Bryan Rust closing in on 30 goals to Tristan Jarry making the All- Star Game. But the most stunning development and maybe the most significant when it comes to the long-term future of the Penguins was the discovery and emergence of John Marino.

Last summer, the Penguins sent a 2021 sixth-round pick to the Edmonton Oilers for a little-known prospect who wasn’t even considered the best blue liner on his college team then persuaded him to skip his senior year at Harvard.

At that point, the 22-year-old was sixth among the right-handed defensemen on Pittsburgh’s depth chart. So it sure looked like Marino would spend most, if not all, of the 2019-20 season developing down in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Penguins decision-makers have said they knew all along that they had something in Marino. But inject them with truth serum and they would probably admit they initially did not expect him to make much of an impact right away.

Coach Mike Sullivan and general manager Jim Rutherford got their first glance at Marino in black and gold at the prospects challenge in Buffalo. He played the best among their group of blue-line prospects, who included Calen Addison and Pierre-Olivier Joseph. Marino kept it going in his NHL training camp.

Marino made the team. Now the Penguins had to find playing time for him.

At first, Sullivan and Co. tried to rotate Jack Johnson, Erik Gudbranson and Marino in and out of the lineup as a way to keep those two veterans happy and Marino busy. But their intentions were clear. On Oct. 25, Rutherford found a taker for Gudbranson’s contract, giving Marino a chance to settle in as a regular.

He would have a superb rookie season, impressing with his poise, skating and aggressive defense. He had a team-best plus-17 rating in 56 games when the NHL suspended play March 12. Among Penguins defensemen, only Kris Letang had more goals and points than Marino, who had six and 26, respectively.

Marino, whom Edmonton picked in the sixth round in 2015, was even trusted with time on the top defensive pairing with Letang or Dumoulin sidelined.

In another year, Marino might be getting more buzz for the Calder Trophy. But his scoring statistics were dwarfed this season by other neophyte defensemen in Colorado’s Cale Makar and Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes. Blue liner Adam Fox, his former teammate at Harvard, also put up more points for New York.

Still, even if Marino doesn’t come away with All-Rookie accolades, there is no mystery today about what the Penguins have in him — a good, young defender who just might have a chance to ascend to an All-Star level someday.

DEFINING MOMENT: In his first NHL game back in his hometown of Boston and with his family in the house, Marino stepped out of the penalty box and scored a beautiful breakaway goal on Jaroslav Halak to give the Penguins the lead. They would lose, but that goal Nov. 4 was among their most memorable.

STAT THAT STANDS OUT: Interestingly, Marino’s NHL numbers were a tick above what he did during his final two seasons at Harvard. He had 1174007 Pittsburgh Penguins “What that nap hits, that’s the time when I try to do my workout,” Bjugstad said. “She naps for two hours. That’s been big, having that routine every day.”

Penguins focus on fatherhood with their season on hold Johnson’s 4-year-old daughter, Jacklyn, and oldest son, Ty, were enrolled in a preschool program through a local church before Gov. Tom Wolf ordered child care centers closed statewide last month. The family is currently at their house in the Columbus area, doing the Matt Vensel homeschooling thing after breakfast.

“We’re staying up with the curriculum. My 2-year-old is kind of in over his Penguins blue-liner Jack Johnson should have been chasing Claude head because he’s doing stuff that she’s supposed to be doing. But he Giroux or stepping in front of one of Alex Ovechkin’s booming slap shots just likes to tag along and it’s fine,” Johnson said. “We’re not worried last week. about their development at [their ages] because they don’t even have to be at school yet.” Instead, Johnson chased a toddler then stepped in front of a changing table. Recently, the two kids learned about U. It was raining that day, so Jack and Kelly gave each one an umbrella and let them open them up After that was overtime against a little girl who refused to stay in her bed. outside.

The 33-year-old father of three is not complaining. Quite the opposite Homeschooling gets a little bit harder when the kids hit elementary actually. Sure, he wishes the world was in better shape right now and the school. Penguins were skating in playoff games. But after his hockey career often pulled him away from his young family the last few years, Johnson “The funny part about it is when they ask for your help and you’re is happily hunkered down. learning with them,” Zucker said. “All the math and that stuff, I have no idea what I’m doing. So I’m Googling things, trying to help [Sophia] with “I’m very hopeful we are going to get a chance to finish what we started,” her math homework.” he said recently. “In the meantime, it’s the old saying — you only worry about what you can control. So the silver lining is I get to spend time with Boredom is the opponent most afternoons, so parents have to improvise. my newborn baby and my family that I probably wouldn’t be seeing very Maybe the Johnson kids put on chef’s outfits and help Kelly bake muffins. much right now.” Or they all hop on the golf cart and go feed the swan on the pond on their Johnson is one of several Penguins who are adjusting to life as stay-at- property. Or Jacklyn and Ty ride bikes, their Superman capes flapping in home dads while the NHL season is stuck on pause due to the COVID- the breeze. 19 pandemic. “Every day is a little different, trying to find something new for them,” he Kris Letang’s back aches from hunching over to play mini-sticks with his said. 7-year-old son. Patrick Marleau’s brain was quickly fried homeschooling Johnson isn’t sure how to best tell his kids why daily life has been his four boys back in San Jose. Jason Zucker needs an afternoon nap as disrupted. much as anyone. “It’s too bad that things have come to a halt because we just got her into “[My wife and I] thought we were going to have all this time,” Zucker told skating lessons,” he said. “It’s tough to all the sudden pull the plug. I can’t AT&T Sportsnet. “We have this list of things we were going to do at the just explain to her, ‘Well, you know, it’s the coronavirus.’ It’s like, what do house. We were going to clean out our storage room. We’re going to you say?” clean up the basement and hang up these TVs and whatever else. None of it’s gotten done.” After dinner time, it’s time for baths, stories and bed. Unless it’s Friday. That’s movie night. The Johnsons pop a tub of popcorn and crowd the Zucker has three kids. His oldest daughter is 9. Nick Bjugstad is just couch. getting started in fatherhood. His little girl, Layla, turned 1 on Friday. Due to the need for social distancing, they were forced to throw a virtual When Johnson was younger, he loved hitting the road with his birthday bash for her. teammates. He was able to explore new places and wine and dine at four-star restaurants. Now, his favorite meals are the pretend ones “It’s kind of a bummer,” Bjugstad said. “Obviously, the first one is a big whipped up by Jacklyn and Ty. one.” “It’s really nice for them, especially, to have Dad home every night to tuck Unfortunately, Bjugstad has spent a lot of time at home over the past six them in and do all those things and know that Dad is going to be there in months due to his three separate stints on injured reserve. He is itching the morning,” he said. “Because during the season, they wake up and to get back onto the ice. But he is grateful for memorable days like the Dad’s not there.” one last week. Will this season ever resume? Penguins players know about as much as “[Last Tuesday] was her first official day of walking on her own with you do. But the dads are creatively trying to limit the deterioration of their legitimate steps and stopping and going again. So that was pretty cool,” skills. the big forward beamed. “We’re really going to be in trouble now that she’s started walking.” Johnson bought a hockey net and cones on Amazon and has been running his kids through driveway drills. Marleau recently got scolded for Bjugstad might have missed that if the Penguins were playing right now. rollerblading through the halls of his home. Bjugstad has been softly “That’s what I meant about staying positive and looking at the benefits of shooting tennis balls at baby Layla, who after making the save will being able to be home with your family right now,” said Bjugstad, who bounce the ball back to her daddy. revealed that his wife, Jackie, and he are expecting a second Bjugstad Johnson and the others hope that at some point the Stanley Cup gets baby in September. awarded, preferably to them. In the meantime, they are just going to Like Bjugstad, Johnson spends a chunk of his days changing dirty enjoy being Dad. diapers. His wife, Kelly, and he welcomed a baby boy, Thomas, into the “I’m sure the league is going to do whatever they can to let us finish this world on March 4. [season],” Johnson said. “I’ve got a lot of faith that I can get the best of One week later, that world started to shut down due to the coronavirus. both.”

Johnson’s days in isolation begin around 6 a.m. He puts on a pot of Post Gazette LOADED: 04.23.2020 coffee while Thomas has his first feeding of the day. After the two older children skip down the stairs, Johnson usually cooks them waffles or scrambles some eggs.

Around 9 o’clock is when Johnson gets in his workout. Ditto for Bjugstad. 1174008 Pittsburgh Penguins The Wild led, 1-0, in the third period. Lemieux scored twice in the third period to give the Penguins a 2-1 win, along the way winning his mini- battle with Lemaire.

Yohe: Countdown of Mario Lemieux’s greatest moments (66-51) 63. Oct. 30, 1988

This one serves as an illustration to Lemieux’s early years with the Penguins. His final game of October came at Madison Square Garden, By Josh Yohe Apr 22, 2020 and I mention the month for a reason. That October, the Penguins played 11 times. In those games, Lemieux produced 16 goals, 22 assists and 38

points. That’s not a typo. That would be 3.45 points per game. If Wayne Gretzky was about prodigious point totals and Bobby Orr was In his final period of the month, Rangers’ defenseman David Shaw about transforming the game, Mario Lemieux was about producing slashed Lemieux in the throat. The Penguins’ response got so heated moments that were so astonishing, so unimaginable, that even now, they that members of the NYPD had to help Shaw off the ice because the are difficult to fully appreciate. Penguins blocked the exit to the Rangers’ locker room. Really. This also From the time he was a teenager, Lemieux has been a fascinating led to Paul Steigerward’s classic, “You can run, but you can’t hide” line in character with an unparalleled flair for the dramatic. So many moments reference to Shaw. Hockey was the wild west at that point and it was a have transpired over the years, that picking 66 of them wasn’t so difficult. reminder that Lemieux’s greatness came during a time when his health was frequently put at risk. Some of them are championship moments, some are acts of heroism, some are highlight-reel goals, and some are even controversial. Lemieux 62. Nov. 1, 1992 wasn’t just a great hockey player, he also is an extraordinarily defiant Of course, the 1992 start to the season wasn’t so bad, either. Lemieux character. He took his country to court when he was 18. He refused to produced 38 points in his first 12 games of the season and scored at visit the Penguins’ table at the 1984 NHL Draft because they weren’t least one goal in each of those 12 games. In fact, he scored 18 during meeting his financial demands. He once exited the penalty box looking that stretch. The 12 straight games with a goal was Lemieux’s longest entirely intent on attacking a referee. He got ejected from a famous streak and one of the longest in NHL history. postseason game because he snapped. He scored for a 12th straight game in Tampa on this night. The streak Seemingly everything about Lemieux was compelling. For the next five would end at home against the Islanders two nights later. What was it weeks, on Wednesday, I’ll be counting down his most incredible about the Islanders in Pittsburgh during that season? moments. This installment will rank numbers 66-51. 61. Sept. 13, 1987 66: Nov. 3, 2005 Everyone speaks of the “Gretzky to Lemieux” goal in Game 3 of the 1987 Lemieux and Sidney Crosby only teamed up on one pretty goal during and understandably so. But the better game was Game 2. their very limited time together. But it’s a moment that deserves Canada needed to beat the just to force a Game 3. Gretzky mentioning. The 2005-06 season was a disaster for the Penguins and produced five assists and has called it the greatest game of his career. Lemieux, in fact, would retire a few weeks later because of a heart But it was Lemieux who notched a hat trick, including the game-winner in condition that made his decision an easy one. double overtime. For my money, it’s the greatest hockey game ever On a power play on Long Island, Lemieux fired a beauty of a pass to played. (I’m an American, I’m aware of the . But the hockey Crosby, who redirected the pass for a goal. At the time, Penguins fans snob in me believes that Lemieux, Gretzky and a team of Hall of Famers assumed the two would perform much magic together for a year or two, against the Red Army was, from a hockey talent standpoint, substantially until Lemieux decided to retire. It happened much faster than that. more fun to watch though not more historically relevant.)

65. March 1978 60. May 19, 1992

It’s the oldest installment on our list and the only that doesn’t come with Lemieux’s hand was broken by Adam Graves two weeks earlier, and it an exact date. But you’ll love the story. Mario scholars and fanatics was believed at the time that he could be out for the entire postseason. should definitely check out Lawrence Martin’s book, “Mario,” published in Instead, he found that he was still able to shoot the puck with the injury 1994. Lots of great stories from his childhood, one of which is so good and returned to the lineup for Game 2 against the Bruins in the Wales that it made our list. Conference final. Jaromir Jagr won Game 1 in overtime.

Lemieux’s Ville-Emard Hurricanes essentially never lost in his pre-junior Lemieux won the rest of the series pretty much by himself and scored hockey days. They had Lemieux, which was enough. They also two goals in his return to the lineup. showcased a couple of other future NHL players in and 59. Feb. 27, 1996 J.J. Daigneault. In a regional final game in 1978, many of the fathers on Lemieux’s team, according to Martin’s book and to a couple of players Lemieux scored an outrageous goal in Vancouver, shooting the puck I’ve spoken with from that team, made significant wagers with fathers on between his legs for one of the sensational goals of his career. the opposition team. They had Mario, so they figured they couldn’t lose. But the game went to overtime and still was undecided, which prompted 58. April 3, 1994 a shootout. Lemieux hadn’t played in weeks because of his notoriously bad back. On Lemieux’s team had a one-goal advantage entering the final round. He Easter Sunday, the Penguins were playing a nationally televised game would be the final shooter. The 12-year-old Lemieux skated to his goalie, against the Bruins in Cleveland, back when neutral site games were an Carl Parker, to have a word. occasional thing.

“Carl, if you make the save, we win,” Lemieux told the goaltender. When waking up in Pittsburgh that morning, Lemieux felt oddly healthy. So he drove to Cleveland and arrived in time for the matinee, scoring one Parker was well aware of this and wasn’t sure why Lemieux needed to of the great goals of his career, earning the classic call, “It’s tell him. like there’s no one else on the ice.”

“But Carl,” Lemieux said. “It doesn’t matter. I’m going to score anyway.” 57. Nov. 10, 2005

Parker naturally allowed a goal, and Lemieux naturally skated in on the Lemieux had a tendency to score goals moments after sustaining opposing goaltender and beat him, top shelf. Parker didn’t even celebrate injuries. This game was no different. In a scary moment at Mellon Arena, because he was still in shock by the calmness of Lemieux’s message. Lemieux took a stick to the eye behind the Montreal net in the first period.

64. Feb. 14, 2001 After remaining on the ice for a minute or two, he methodically got up and skated to the Penguins’ bench. A few seconds later, Lemieux jumped Lemieux and Jacques Lemaire, then the Minnesota Wild coach, entered back onto the ice, made a beeline for the net, and planted himself there this game having a war of words. Basically, Lemieux thought the before redirected a pass for the 690th and final goal of his career. expansion Wild were lame for playing the trap. Lemaire thought Lemieux needed to mind his business. 56. Dec. 20, 1983 It’s not every 18-year-old that takes essentially his country to court. Lemieux didn’t want to play in the World Junior Tournament in December of 1983 for two reasons. He didn’t particularly like Canada’s coach, Dave King, and he was attempting to break Guy Lafleur’s all-time QMJHL scoring record (which he would accomplish). He didn’t want to miss the four games that would take place while representing Canada in Sweden.

The QMJHL, in agreement with Team Canada officials, suspended Lemieux for his refusal to play for in the tournament. Lemieux and his representation believed this to be bogus and took the matter to Quebec Superior Court. Judge Frazer Martin ruled in favor of Lemieux, who was able to play in those four games.

55. Feb. 12, 1985

I don’t know why, but back then, All-Star Games were simply a bigger deal. They also were more competitive, as players on each side took the event seriously, which is no longer the case. Lemieux almost always rose to the occasion.

In his rookie year, he scored twice and added an assist, earning the first of his three All-Star Game MVP awards.

54. April 24, 1996

Lemieux didn’t like the direction of the game by the mid-90s. Most of the thuggery was gone by that point, but officials increasingly allowed the opposition to hook and hold the best players. He had finally had enough in Game 4 of the first round against the Capitals.

This game would famously end in a fourth overtime courtesy of a Petr Nedved goal. Lemieux simply snapped and was ejected from a playoff game for the only time in his career late in the second period.

53. May 11, 1996

Lemieux was the victim of a couple of assaults from the Rangers in his younger days and always seemed to take particular pleasure in destroying the Blue Shirts. The 1996 postseason series was no different.

Lemieux scored the game-winner in Game 1 and was dominant throughout, putting away the Rangers with a hat trick in Game 5 during the 7-3 victory.

52. April 21-May 1, 1992

These 10 days represented arguably the greatest hockey Lemieux ever played. He missed Game 1 against the Capitals with a shoulder injury. The Capitals, by the way, were the NHL’s second-best team that regular season and the best defensive team in the league.

Lemieux, bad shoulder and all, put up 17 points in the final six games of the series.

Washington coach said simply following the series, “We were beaten by one man.”

51. Feb. 6, 1993

The 1992-93 season provided Lemieux with the road to a third straight championship that he always wanted. Had the indomitable Penguins not been stunned by the Islanders in the second round, they would have played the conference final in Lemieux’s hometown of Montreal. Waiting next would have been Gretzky’s Los Angeles Kings. Alas, it wasn’t mean to be.

Lemieux should have enjoyed another homecoming of sorts on Feb. 6 when the NHL All-Star Game was held at the . However, Lemieux was unable to play because he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Disease four weeks earlier . In an unforgettable moment, though, Lemieux walked onto the ice following the game’s pregame introductions to a thunderous ovation from his hometown. He was presented with Wales Conference All-Star sweater by Penguins coach .

It was Lemieux’s first public appearance following his press conference to announce the shocking news.

The Athletic LOADED: 04.23.2020 1174009 St Louis Blues In terms of handling the pandemic, Sorensen said Mercy did a good job preparing and was probably a bit ahead of the curve in that respect.

“We’ve literally worked around the clock the last 10 weeks to be Who is that mask man? Jordan Binnington prepared,” he said. “And we’re prepared as well as we could be.”

But just as you can never have enough good goaltending in hockey, you can never have enough masks during a pandemic. Jim Thomas “Like everyone in the nation and the world, having a supply of PPE, vents and beds is extraordinarily important,” Sorsensen said. “So we’re in pretty good shape right now.” Jordan Binnington helped bring the masks. A couple days earlier, brought some food. And the folks at Mercy Hospital couldn’t have And many would agree, you can never have enough pizza either. been happier about last week. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 04.23.2020 Binnington, the Blues goalie, and local businessman David Corbett delivered 2,000 N95 masks last Thursday to Mercy’s Virtual Care Center in Chesterfield.

Corbett owns Bespoke, a clothing and apparel company.

“He is the one who procured a bunch of masks,” said Donn Sorensen, executive vice president at Mercy. “And he and Jordan brought them over to the command center. We’re very grateful. Our caregivers need ‘em, and it was greatly appreciated. They helped us out a lot by doing that.”

Sorensen didn’t provide specifics in terms of numbers but said that Mercy has had its “fair share” of coronavirus patients over the past 2 ½ months.

He’s a big Blues fan and had met Binnington before the mask-bearing visit.

“A great guy; awesome guy,” Sorensen said. “I’m glad he came over. We gave him a little tour of our Command Center, which is the group that spearheads and looks over all of our efforts that are COVID.”

Like most Blues players, Binnington has remained in St. Louis since the NHL began its coronavirus “pause” on March 12, suspending play indefinitely. He has taken up the guitar, worked out from home, and kept in touch with his teammates, who have a group text going constantly during shelter-in-place.

“You know this is a really tough time for a lot of people,” Binnington said. “You see a lot of negative news. Seems like everyone knows someone who has gotten sick or even lost a loved one. But times like these also bring out the best in people.

“People show their true colors and rally around each other as humans. And it’s important for those of us with the means and a platform to do our part and lead the way.

“What Dave is doing is an example of that. It’s inspiring. We owe so much to the people that are fighting this thing on the front lines, and it was my responsibility to contribute.”

Independent of Binnington and Corbett, Chase showed up at Mercy Hospital earlier last week with food for emergency room and ICU workers.

“St. Louis is my home. It’s where the people I love the most live,” said Chase, a former Blues player and radio analyst. “I have friends in restaurants that are small restaurants — they’re not chains. And I figured if I did that I could help two groups of people that I have a great deal of respect for. Which is frontline workers, the people that are helping save this thing right now. …”

And local restaurant owners and employees.

Chase, who now has a role in business and community development for the Blues, tries to bring lunch to different places — not always hospitals — from different restaurants every week.

“He’s the biggest-hearted guy I know,” Sorensen said. “He doesn’t want anyone to know but he’s a big heart and he brought us pizzas and everyone loved it.”

Chase said visiting Mercy was comforting and boosted his spirits as he got a sense of what frontline medical workers are doing to treat COVID- 19 patients.

“They gave me a true sense of how prepared they are, and how good they are at what they do,” he said. “They train their whole lives for this.” 1174010 St Louis Blues team-bonding trip just before training camp. He’d miss the entire 2008-09 season but make a full recovery, returning the following season and netting 10 goals and 39 points in 79 games.

What if the Blues had drafted Jonathan Toews No. 1 overall in 2006? However, two things had happened back in 2008 that would have a direct impact on his future with the organization: Doug Armstrong was hired as the GM-in-waiting in May, and the club selected Alex Pietrangelo with the No. 4 overall pick in June. Armstrong would be watching vigilantly from By Jeremy Rutherford and Mark Lazerus Apr 22, 2020 behind the scenes, while Pietrangelo would be laying the foundation to be a true No. 1 defenseman.

Editor’s note: “What if” is an occasional series at The Athletic exploring In 2011, with Pietrangelo en route to a 43-point rookie season, Armstrong what might have happened if things had gone differently at significant executed a blockbuster deal, sending Johnson, Jay McClement and a points in sports history. first-round pick to Colorado for Chris Stewart, Kevin Shattenkirk and a second-round pick. Johnson was just 21 years old and had played only T.J. Oshie was the guest on our “We Went Blues” podcast this week with 203 games in the NHL, but Armstrong had seen enough. co-host Barret Jackman and myself. That deal worked out OK for the Blues, but had they taken Toews, they Fans will remember that the current Washington Capitals forward was wouldn’t have even entertained the idea of trading the No 1 overall pick. once a popular player with the St. Louis Blues, taken in the first round of After going back to North Dakota for a year, Toews put up 24 goals and the 2005 NHL draft. But before that, Oshie played with Jonathan Toews 54 points in 64 as a rookie with Chicago in 2007-08. At age 20, going into for two years at the University of North Dakota. his second season, he was named the Blackhawks’ captain and responded with 34 goals and 69 points in 82 games. And in his third The summer after Oshie’s draft year, the Blues had the No. 1 overall pick year, the Hawks won their first of three Stanley Cups in a six-year span. in 2006, and Toews was going to be one of the top picks. Over the years, Oshie and I have had a few conversations in which he told me that he It’s impossible to know how Toews would have performed with the Blues’ pushed for the Blues to take Toews, but we know what happened. They personnel, which at the time included players such as Brad Boyes, Paul took defenseman Erik Johnson No. 1 overall, Jordan Staal went No. 2 to Kariya, Keith Tkachuk, Lee Stempniak, Andy McDonald, David Backes Pittsburgh and Toews went No. 3 to Chicago. Two of those three have and David Perron. But one thing is for sure: The search for a true No. 1 since been traded and the other, Toews, will one day have a statue in center and a leader would have been over. Some might argue that Chicago and his No. 19 retired in the United Center rafters. Johnson could have developed into a force if not for the golf cart injury, but even before the incident, those around the organization were noticing So during this week’s podcast, I asked Oshie what he recalled about that passion didn’t drip from the defenseman the way it did with “Captain pumping Toews’ tires to the Blues. Serious” in Chicago. “Yeah, I did,” he said. “I don’t know how much input a freshman in But let’s take a deeper dive into how not having Toews affected the college can give pro scouts, but I had mentioned to them just kind of the Blues’ other moves, the signings and trades they made to compensate type of player he was. He was 17 (years old) as a freshman in college. I and the draft picks they didn’t have as a result. There are probably more think he only went to high school for three years. He was very mature at points to be made, but here’s the list I came up with off the top of my a young age and someone that I knew would be very good in the NHL head. and be in the NHL for a long time. So we had imagined and we had hoped that the Blues were going to draft him. Back then, (Johnson) being • Shortly after David Backes arrived in St. Louis in 2006-07, former coach the size he was, and the talent that he had … I’ve talked to scouts from Andy Murray turned the right winger into a center. Backes proved to be back then and they were like, ‘No matter what you do at the time, I think capable in the middle, but how much better would Backes have been on anyone that had the No. 1 overall was probably going to take E.J. the wing?

“But looking back, to pick up (Toews) and have that No. 1 center and • In the 2007 draft, one year after taking Johnson, the Blues had three future leader, future captain, it definitely would have changed the course picks in the first round. They took Lars Eller No. 13 overall, Ian Cole No. of history. My first year (in St. Louis), which would have been (Toews’ 18 and David Perron No. 26. If they had taken Toews in 2006, would they second year in Chicago), E.J. had the (golf cart) accident, so he missed have taken a defenseman at No. 13 instead of Eller? Shattenkirk went the year. You never know what would have happened if that didn’t No. 14 to Colorado, so he would have been a possibility. happen. But (Toews’) career and his resume, I think, speaks for itself.” • When the Blues traded Johnson to the Avalanche, they got Shattenkirk In the time I’ve been covering the Blues (since 2005), it’s the biggest and Stewart in the deal, and both were good players. Shattenkirk played “What if …” question I can think of. What if Toews were a Blue all these behind Pietrangelo and produced more offense than Johnson probably years? How would the rivalry have been different? To lay it all out, I’ve would have, with 59 goals and 258 points in 425 games; and Stewart had summarized why the Blues took Johnson and the aftermath of their 63 goals and 115 points in 211 games. But remember, the Blues also decision, and I’ve solicited the help of colleague Mark Lazerus of The sent a first-round pick (No. 11 overall in 2011) to Colorado, and the Blues Athletic Chicago to give us his thoughts on the Blackhawks. At the end, got the Avalanche’s second-round pick (No. 32 overall). The Avs drafted we had some fun back-and-forth banter before reaching a conclusion. defenseman Duncan Siemens, who played just 20 games in the NHL; the Blues took forward Ty Rattie, who played 99 games. Let’s say the Blues — Jeremy Rutherford had kept the No. 11 pick, and because they took Rattie, let’s say they still The Blues’ perspective take a forward. The list of forwards from No. 11-32 in that draft included Sven Baertschi, J.T. Miller, Joel Armia, Philip Danault, Vladislav The Blues’ reward for suffering through a last-place finish in 2005-06 was Namestnikov and Rickard Rakell. the first No. 1 overall pick in franchise history. Newly hired team president John Davidson wanted to rebuild from the blue line out, and • If the Blues don’t trade Johnson, do they take defenseman Colton what better way to do that than with a strapping, 6-foot-4, 222-pound Parayko with a third-round pick in 2012? They probably still would have defenseman? because Parayko was a late-bloomer and his potential as a No. 1 defenseman wasn’t clear at the time. But with Pietrangelo and Johnson It’s been said for many years that it takes longer for players to develop on still early in their careers, that would have led to a logjam on the right the back end, and perhaps the best illustration is that since the NHL side. began awarding the Calder Trophy in 1933, only nine defensemen had won the Rookie of the Year Award before Johnson’s draft year: Barret • With Toews in St. Louis, would there have been a need to sign center Jackman, Bryan Berard, Brian Leetch, Gary Suter, Ray Bourque, Denis Paul Stastny to a four-year, $28 million deal in 2014? It worked out fine, Potvin, Bobby Orr, Jacques Laperriere and Kent Douglas. but could that money have been spent elsewhere? Not having to spend on the positions that Shattenkirk and Stewart played make that Johnson, who played two seasons for the U.S. National Development somewhat of a moot point, but it’s still food for thought. team and one at the University of Minnesota, was no different. He looked the part with the Blues and showed glimpses with 33 points in his rookie • Would luring Jori Lehtera to the NHL from the KHL have been as much year. His second season would be so important to his growth, but he of a priority? If not, then the Blues never would have overpaid him with a never got on the ice, tearing his right ACL in a golf cart accident at a four-year, $14.1 million contract extension in 2016. They eventually had to move the bad contract, trading Lehtera and two first-round picks to have been the driving force behind an unflappable mindset that led to Philadelphia, which the Flyers used on Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee. unprecedented success? The Blues got a good player in Brayden Schenn, but would not have had to give up multiple first-rounders for Schenn. Hell, does Hossa even sign in Chicago after two near-misses with the Red Wings and Penguins if Toews isn’t there? Does Campbell a year • Finally, we must mention what the Blues got for Shattenkirk and Stewart earlier? Do they win three Cups? Two? One? None? when they traded them to Washington and Buffalo, respectively. Shattenkirk yielded prospect Zach Sanford and a first-round pick, which The mind reels trying to envision the ripple effect of putting any other was one of the picks the Blues sent to Philadelphia (Frost). Stewart was player in Toews’ place. involved in the package with Jaroslav Halak that brought in goalie Ryan “For me, it’s the wrong question,” said Stan Bowman, then a member of Miller and Steve Ott. So essentially, what the Blues got in return for the Tallon’s staff. “Because the question has an underlying supposition that players involved in the Johnson trade were Miller for a couple of months, there is one guy, and only one guy. That’s the wrong question to have. Ott for three seasons, Sanford and the pick that helped acquire Schenn There isn’t one guy. These are all good players. It’s not like those guys and dispose of Lehtera. are slouches. They won Stanley Cups, too.”

That’s it from the Blues’ side. So let’s read what Lazerus has to say… That’s fair. Toews isn’t the best player on the Blackhawks. He probably The Blackhawks perspective isn’t even the best player in the 2006 draft. But as Bowman and Tallon both put it, he was the right guy for the Blackhawks. Anyone else, and Looking back on the Blackhawks’ decade of dominance, who was the history — and the United Center rafters — would look a lot different. most irreplaceable player? How it all played out … Patrick Kane was the most productive and the most talented, but there were plenty of other players who could put the puck in the net. Duncan Lazerus: First of all, kudos to JR for coming up with possibly the single- Keith was the MVP, the engine that made everything go, but Brent most gut-wrenching what-if scenario for Chicagoans. The thought of Seabrook, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Brian Campbell were no slouches on Jonathan Toews — maybe the most universally admired and loved the back end. Marian Hossa’s extraordinary value has been obvious in Chicago athlete in decades — playing for the team and the city his absence, as the Blackhawks have crumbled without his two-way Chicagoans hate the most? That’s some elite-level trolling right there. dominance, but he was never the star attraction. Truly. Bravo. *chef’s kiss*

But take away Jonathan Toews as the No. 1 center — the guy who could The question, though: Is Toews enough to put those terrific Blues teams take advantage of favorable matchups when Kane’s line drew the most of the mid-2010s over the top? I picked the Blues to win the Cup in both attention, who could shut down opponents’ top lines, who could kill 2013 and 2014 in my preseason picks in the Sun-Times, because I don’t penalties, win critical faceoffs, be instrumental on the power play — and learn lessons. Only the Ducks and the Blackhawks (by two measly the whole house of cards collapses. The other centers in 2010 were points) had more regular-season standings points than the Blues from Dave Bolland, John Madden and Patrick Sharp (a winger by trade). In 2013-2016. With Toews up top and in the room, do they claw together a 2013, it was Michal Handzus, Andrew Shaw and Bolland. In 2015, it was few more series victories and win a Cup or two long before the “Gloria” an aging Brad Richards, a rental Antoine Vermette and Marcus Kruger. era? Does Toews help them hold on to a 2-0 series lead in 2014? Does Jonathan Toews become the most hated man in Chicago? Or does the For the last 13 seasons, Toews has been the only No. 1 center the butterfly effect swing the other way, and those Blues teams aren’t even Blackhawks have had. And you don’t win Stanley Cups without a No. 1 all that good in the first place as the roster construction veers in other center. directions? The possibilities are endless.

So what if the Blues had indeed taken Toews No. 1 overall in the 2006 Rutherford: Dang it, you picked up on the trolling. Well, with Blues fans draft? Aside from breaking Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon’s watching the club go 4-0 against the Hawks this season, but not having heart — Tallon insists that Toews was his man no matter what, while anything to rub their nose in lately, I figured we’d write a story about other GMs scoff, noting that Johnson was the consensus No. 1 that year. stealing your captain. Jarmo Kekalainen, then the architect of the Blues’ draft, said he read an anonymous survey of the league’s GMs and that 29 of them said they’d But seriously, you hit the nail on the head with your top takeaway in this take Johnson. Was Tallon the lone holdout? Perhaps. scenario. Does Toews take those Blues teams that were close to another level and help them win a Cup? It’s apples and oranges when you put Regardless, the Penguins almost certainly would have taken Johnson at somebody on a different roster with different coaches, etc., but you have No. 2 — Ray Shero took a blue-liner in the second and third rounds after to believe he does — he’s obviously that good. And the thought of Toews taking Staal and needed a No. 1 defenseman after drafting Marc-Andre being hated in Chicago, only you would put that in people’s heads, ha. Fleury, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby in the previous three drafts — which would have left the Blackhawks with a most intriguing decision. Do Lazerus: Well, that’s how drastic a what-if this is. This is Derek Jeter on they take Staal, the imposing and polished two-way center, who had put the Red Sox, Sidney Crosby on the Flyers, Tom Brady on the Bills. up 68 points in 68 games in the OHL? Do they take Phil Kessel, the There’s no way of knowing the difference Toews would have made on supremely talented winger who had fallen from the top of draft boards that Blues team. But being around the guy and his teammates for the because he was deemed too unpredictable by GMs and scouts? Or do past eight seasons — particularly during all those Cups runs — you see they take Nicklas Backstrom, the gifted skater and playmaker who was that intangible impact he has. I always go back to that 2015 run, when something of a wild card coming over from Sweden? the Blackhawks were exhausted, miserable, dealing with tragedy and controversy off the ice. They had no business winning the Stanley Cup Any of them would have made an impact. Backstrom has 112 more that year. But Toews basically won the conference final against the career points than Toews; he’s a superior offensive weapon. Kessel has Ducks by himself. And his killer instinct, his defiance, his borderline 26 more career goals than Toews; Kane called him the most naturally arrogance in his self-belief permeated every corner of that room. He is as gifted player he’d ever played with while skating on a line with him at the advertised. All the stuff that makes fans in other cities roll their eyes? 2014 Olympics in Sochi. Staal scored 29 goals as a rookie while Toews Particularly over the last five years, as the Blackhawks have crashed was still at North Dakota. hard? I feel like an old Han Solo in “The Force Awakens,” telling the next generation of cynics: “It’s true. All of it.” But could any of them have been a captain at age 20? Could they have handled being the face of a resurgent franchise in a massive media Oh, it helps that he’s a great offensive player, a great defensive player, a market? Could they have won the Conn Smythe just six weeks after their great faceoff man and a great penalty-killer. That part, too. 22nd birthday? Could they have spent three months as a de facto coach during the lockout, springboarding the Blackhawks to a 21-0-3 run to And for any doubters out there, look what happened when Ryan O’Reilly open another Stanley Cup season? Could they have stood up in the showed up in St. Louis. No. 1 centers kinda matter. middle of the locker room during the third intermission of Game 7 against Rutherford: As we wrap up here, I was just thinking about that name, Detroit after the Blackhawks had a series victory taken away from them O’Reilly. Would Blues fans have loved to have Toews the last decade- by the officials and growled, “We’ll just fucking beat them 3-1,” a defiant plus? The honest ones will answer yes. The other ones value principles moment that defined a team and an era? Could they have willed an higher than championships. But you know what? For all the different exhausted team to a third championship in six years in 2015? Could they ways it might have played out if the team had drafted him, one thing’s pretty certain: They never would have traded for O’Reilly. And while it took a few extra years to break the Stanley Cup drought, the storybook 2018-19 season would have never happened. So can we agree that everything happens for a reason, and the rivalry is better off with what unfolded in reality?

Lazerus: Absolutely. Both teams and cities have made out rather well in the long run. But your pizza’s still awful. And always will be. There’s no what-if scenario that would make provel cheese not disgusting.

Rutherford: You can keep your captain. I’ll keep my cheese.

The Athletic LOADED: 04.23.2020 1174011 Tampa Bay Lightning the organization’s staff has also done grocery shopping for season ticket members who cannot for go themselves.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 04.23.2020 Jeff and Penny Vinik nearing $2 million in COVID-19 relief efforts

The Viniks have now totaled $1 million to Metropolitan Ministries alone. The nonprofit says 75 percent of the people it is helping are new in the last month.

DIANA C. NEARHOS

TAMPA — Jeff and Penny Vinik are trying to address the needs they see in the Tampa Bay community. Through the Lightning and the Vinik Family Foundation, they have now put nearly $2 million toward COVID- 19 relief.

A couple of weeks ago, the Viniks donated $300,000 to Metropolitan Ministries to go toward food and rent assistance. On Tuesday, they more than tripled that amount, adding another $700,000 for a total of $1 million to Metropolitan Ministries.

The unemployment rate in the state of Florida has skyrocketed from 2.8 percent in February to 4.3 in March. The need for food and rent assistance has risen with it.

Metropolitan Ministries says 75 percent of the families they are serving are new to them.

“There is an immediate, crucial need to help families stay above water between now and the time we can reopen our businesses and bring back our employees,” Jeff Vinik said in a statement. “Metropolitan Ministries has been outstanding at helping meet the basic needs of our neighbors who are struggling through the COVID-19 response.”

Metropolitan Ministries CEO Tim Marks has seen people lining up at 9 a.m. to receive food boxes, which are available starting at 10 a.m. The organization has given out more than 7,000 boxes (which total about 12 meals apiece), and more than 127,000 grab-and-go family meals in the last month.

The case managers assessing rent assistance needs and qualifications are maxed out, but Marks feels they could easily take another 1,000 families from their pool of applications if they had the capacity.

“I feel like we’re only scratching the surface as far as need is concerned,” Marks said.

The Viniks’ donation will address all of those programs. Metropolitan Ministries has partnered with civic funds like One Tampa, but the benefit of private donations is they can be spread beyond a specific geographic area. The organization has physical locations in Tampa and Holiday, but benefits people as far as Sarasota and Spring Hill.

As an independent non-profit organization, Metropolitan Ministries does not have a national base to draw from.

The Viniks have donated more funds to Metropolitan Ministries than anything else, but have also contributed to fund that help on multiple fronts. They gave $100,000 to both One Tampa and a similar fund in St. Petersburg to help individuals and small businesses — the Rays and Bucs also contributed equal amounts to both funds — and $50,000 to a student fund at USF.

They have also spent more than $200,000 on a public service announcement campaign to spread awareness of other existing aid services targeting food needs (including Metropolitan Ministries), small businesses and unemployment.

In addition, the Lightning have made donations of physical items. When events at Amalie Arena were postponed and canceled, the organization sent 18 pallets worth of food to Metropolitan Ministries and Feeding Tampa Bay. The team gave supplies like n95 masks and gloves to local healthcare facilities as well as t-shirts for doctors and nurses to change into after their shifts. It also gave plastic bags to Feeding Tampa Bay to assist with food distribution. Those aren’t big things, but it never hurts to share what you have.

The Lightning players also donated 500,000 meals through Feeding Tampa Bay. The team also is giving away their special St. Patrick’s Day jerseys (never worn) to first responders and doctors and nurses. Some of 1174012 Tampa Bay Lightning The woman asked human resources staff about her sexual harassment complaints and an employee responded, "Oh, I heard about that but that’s in the past and doesn’t matter,” the lawsuit says.

Lightning hit with sexual-assault lawsuit by former women’s hockey The Lightning “failed to comply with its statutory duty to take all coach reasonable and necessary steps to eliminate harassment from the workplace and to prevent it from occurring in the future,” the lawsuit says.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 04.23.2020 Anastasia Dawson Hillsborough Commission and General Assignment Reporter

TAMPA — A former youth hockey coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning says she lost her job after telling the organization’s human resources department she was sexually assaulted by a team executive during a company trip, according to a lawsuit.

The Hillsborough County woman, 23, is seeking punitive damages for post-traumatic stress disorder, back pay to her dismissal August 2018, and reinstatement to her job with the Lightning’s community outreach program. She worked as a coach for the girls hockey program.

According to the lawsuit, the woman began working for the Lightning in 2016 and was repeatedly “subjected to disparate, discriminatory, and harassing treatment based on her sex.”

The Tampa Bay Times is not identifying the woman because of the nature of the allegations.

The lawsuit names as defendant Tampa Bay Sports and Entertainment, doing business as the Tampa Bay Lightning. Lightning owner Jeff Vinik is a member of FBN Partners, a group of local investors who have loaned $15 million to Times Publishing Co., owner of the Tampa Bay Times.

In court documents, the woman alleges she was sexually harassed and, during a work trip, sexually assaulted by coworker Aaron Humphrey, community hockey coordinator for the Lightning and an associate coach with the University of South Florida Ice Bulls hockey team.

No criminal charges were filed against Humphrey in Hillsborough courts, according to records from the Circuit Court Clerks office. In January 2019, the woman filed discrimination charges with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Florida Commission on Human Relations, the lawsuit says. Neither complaint has resulted in any action.

The Lightning organization does not comment on pending litigation as a matter of policy and had no comment for this story, spokesman Bill Wickett told the Times Wednesday. Humphreys had no comment either, Wickett said.

The assault occurred during an overnight company trip to Pensacola by the woman and five men, the lawsuit says. She repeatedly resisted Humphrey’s advances but he sexually assaulted her, the lawsuit says.

When she returned to work, the woman was “scared and unsure as to how to handle the situation” and at first tried to act as if nothing had happened. But the harassment continued as she refused to engage in a sexual relationship with Humphrey, the lawsuit says.

In March 2018, the woman ran into Humphrey at Hattricks, a bar and restaurant near the Lightning’s Amalie Arena. She “attempted to have a conversation” with Humphrey so she could ask him to leave her alone, the lawsuit says.

“Mr. Humphrey responded by laughing and by shoving his hand down (the woman’s) pants,” the lawsuit says. She "immediately told him to stop and walked away from him.”

Still, the discrimination continued, the lawsuit says. The woman was subject to increased scrutiny of her work performance, passed over for a promotion and given formal write-ups for behavior common among her coworkers.

In June 2018, the woman filed a formal complaint with Jay Feaster, vice president of community hockey development for the Tampa Bay Lightning, requesting to meet in person, the lawsuit says. Feaster declined, assuring the woman he would refer her complaint to human resources to "handle the situation” with Humphrey, the lawsuit says.

Nothing changed until Aug. 7, 2018, when the woman was fired for a “violation in company policy," the lawsuit says. 1174013 Tampa Bay Lightning “We have to learn from this and focus on the next game,” Bergeron said. “We can’t get too high, or too low. We’ve been in these situations in the past and we have the experience to respond.”

Simulating the 2020 NHL playoffs, Round 2: Bruins vs. Lightning Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy didn’t like the result, but he was pleased with the energy level. It’s these types of games that the Bruins want to draw their opponents into because not many teams can sustain this type of physicality. However, Tampa does have the size and the speed to By Joe McDonald, Joe Smith and Dom Luszczyszyn Apr 22, 2020 compete in this type of series, so buckle up because it’s only going to get more intense as it progresses.

The NHL isn’t back yet, but we’re going to pretend it is. Over the last – Joe McDonald month, we’ve run a simulation of how the NHL’s regular season might Game 2 have played out if the league hadn’t been suspended on March 12. Now, the standings have been set and we’re carrying that forward through the No changes for the Lightning. For the Bruins, Joakim Nordstrom slots in playoffs. This time around, one of our beat writers from each team will be for Par Lindholm. in charge of every lineup decision, the narrative for every playoff game and they’ll get to decide what “happened” in each game. Join us as we Boston evens the series at one apiece. make our way through the simulated postseason to crown a virtual As expected, the Bruins simplified their game, especially in the defensive Stanley Cup champion. end and goalie Tuukka Rask was outstanding as Boston evened the This is basically the Stanley Cup final right here, unfortunately, played series at one game apiece with an impressive 2-1 overtime victory. At a two rounds early due to the league’s playoff format. The Boston Bruins time when the Bruins needed their best players to be their best players, and the Tampa Bay Lightning are the league’s two best teams and one of Patrice Bergeron scored both goals, while Brad Marchand chipped in them will be going home after a second-round duel. with a pair of assists. Rask stifled the Lightning’s offensive onslaught with a 35-save performance. Both teams needed seven games to get through the first round and it’s unlikely this series will be a short one either, not with two experienced Tampa had a golden opportunity late in the third period with a pair of teams hungry to win hockey’s ultimate prize. This year, no two teams power-play opportunities, but Boston’s penalty-killing unit came up huge. look more destined to lift the Cup by season’s end. A look at the talent The Bruins’ Joakim Nordstrom, who was a healthy scratch in Game 1, available on either side shows exactly why. combined for three blocked shots, including an all-out dive when the Lightning’s Steven Stamkos had a wide-open net on a one-timer from the For 29 other teams, the top lines on each side are the stuff of nightmares left circle. Nordstrom was favoring his left leg as he skated to the bench. with three top 15 players on either side, headlined by the top two right wingers in the league in David Pastrnak and Nikita Kucherov. In terms of Bruce Cassidy was able to roll four lines – a recipe for success for the power versus power, no matchup comes close to offering the talent Bruins. Time and again the coach didn’t hesitate to put the fourth line out available in this series. against the Lightning’s top two lines in different scenarios. “That was more our style of game, compared to Game 1,” Cassidy said. “We It’s the rest of the lineup though that separates both teams from the rest received contributions throughout the lineup and Tuukka was of the league. It’s not just star-power propelling Boston and Tampa Bay, outstanding. We’ll need more of the same as this series progresses and there’s depth here too. Both have very strong second lines and an we’re bracing for a seven-game series.” enviable defence-corps, headlined by two elite studs in Charlie McAvoy and Victor Hedman. The Lightning are arguably a bit deeper at both – Joe McDonald positions, which is why my model fancies them a bit more, but the Bruins “I thought I had it.” hold the trump card in between the pipes with likely Vezina candidate Tuukka Rask. Andrei Vasilevskiy, last year’s winner, might find his way Lightning captain Steven Stamkos usually cashes in from his “office,” the onto the ballot too, but much of his value seems to be due to the team in left circle. Especially when he has an open net. So that’s why Stamkos front of him being so strong. was stunned when the Bruins Joakim Nordström came out of nowhere to block his potential game-winner late in the third period. In any sense, this looks to be a fairly even, high-powered matchup, one that could ultimately decide who wins it all a couple of rounds later. For The Bruins won this one in a thrilling OT performance to even the series now, it’s advantage Tampa Bay as the Lightning are the pre-series at 1-1. Tampa Bay knew the league’s top team would bounce back, and favourites, winning the series 57 percent of the time. they were led by the usual suspects. But the Lightning had a lot to like about this one, peppering Tuukka Rask with 36 shots while holding the Game 1 powerful Bruins attack to just two goals. As the series moves to Tampa, The Lightning take Game 1 on the road. they know that each team’s depth could be the difference. It can’t just be the top two lines carrying the team. “They can roll four lines, but so can This one didn’t take long to get out of hand. we,” coach Jon Cooper said.

It became clear early on that both teams remembered the bad blood that – Joe Smith brewed in their last regular-season meeting up at TD Garden. Three minutes in, a fight between Anthony Cirelli and Brad Marchand led to the Game 3 first of many line brawls of the night. No changes for either side ahead of Game 3. Pat Maroon (once again) fought Zdeno Chara. Tampa Bay takes a 2-1 series lead with a 3-1 victory. Mikhail Sergachev dropped his gloves with Charlie Coyle. This time, it was Andrei Vasilevskiy’s turn. The actual game was action-packed too, with both teams trading power- One game after Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask stole the show, it was play goals in the first. Blake Coleman scored his biggest goal with the the Lightning’s Vezina Trophy winner who delivered his best performance Lightning, a wrist shot from the left circle with three minutes to go for the of the playoffs. He made 30 saves, including a how-did-he-do-that go-ahead goal. Nikita Kucherov added an empty netter to seal the game sprawling stop on a 2-on-1 versus Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak. with a 3-1 scoreline. They don’t call him “The Big Cat” for nothing. But most of the talk postgame was about the scrums and bouts, and The Lightning went the other way on the play and Anthony Cirelli cashed whether they’d carry over into Game 2. in for the momentum-swinging goal midway through the second period. “If that’s what they want,” Sergachev said. “We’ll be ready.” Tampa Bay took the lead and never looked back. This was the way the Lightning wanted to play, dictating the pace and swarming the Bruins – Joe Smith with a four-line attack. Both Pat Maroon and Cedric Paquette scored as the fourth line stepped up. “They set the tone,” captain Steven Stamkos It was quiet in the Bruins’ locker room after this loss. In typical fashion, said. “Just like they did in Sweden.” alternate captain Patrice Bergeron stood at his locker, waiting for the media. – Joe Smith It’s not too often the Bruins’ top line is unable to finish a near-perfect Well, almost. play, but Vasilevskiy read it flawlessly and stunned Pastrnak with an outstanding save. As the Lightning responded at the other end, the Matt Grzelcyk suffered an upper-body injury in Game 4 and is out for Tampa goalie wasn’t too pleased with the Bruins’ Brad Marchand taking Game 5. John Moore takes his place on a pairing with Jeremy Lauzon a few liberties with his stick after Vasilevskiy’s save. While the Lightning which likely won’t see much ice tonight. Coach Bruce Cassidy should ride celebrated their goal, the always-calm Vasilevskiy was screaming at his top four to big minutes and also lean on his top line to get the team Boston’s bench because of Marchand’s antics. If Marchand thought he out of this hole – just like in the first round. was able to get under the goalie’s skin, it seemed to have the opposite Jon Cooper will probably match that, finding more minutes for the big effect, as a motivated Vasilevskiy stifled the Bruins for the remainder of three on defense: Victor Hedman, Mikhail Sergachev and Ryan the game. McDonagh.

After the loss, Marchand described it as “playoff hockey” and predicted Boston cuts the series lead to 3-2. he would score in Game 4. This series has all the elements of a Hollywood script. And, once again, – Joe McDonald Brad Marchand is playing the villain.

Game 4 His power-play goal in the second period proved crucial as the Bruins Knowing this is a chance to bury the Bruins on home ice, Tampa Bay will stave off elimination with a 2-1 over the Lightning at TD Garden. Tampa likely lean on their top six a little more tonight. The Bruins will stick with still leads the best-of-seven series 3-2. Marchand, who was fined $5,000 the status quo before bringing out the big guns. for his hit on the Lightning’s Brayden Point in Game 4, said the Bruins would respond in Game 5 and he answered the bell with his backdoor The Lightning take a 3-1 series lead, putting the Bruins on the ropes. tap-in on a nifty feed from David Pastrnak. Not only did Marchand score on the power play, but he also drew the roughing penalty on Pat Maroon But they didn’t leave this one unscathed. that set up the eventual game-winner.

Brayden Point was the star in a Game 4 win at Amalie Arena. He had two Both goalies were solid, but in the end, it was Rask who finished with a goals and an assist while going 8-for-12 in the dot in a 4-2 win. But Point 21-save performance en route to the victory. didn’t finish the game after taking an apparent slew foot from Brad Marchand midway through the third period. The result left Point down on Boston relied more on its top two lines and top four D-men in this game. the ice, holding his left knee. But he was able to get off the ice with the It didn’t help that Matt Grzelcyk was out with an upper-body injury. help of a couple of teammates. That ticked off Tampa Bay, with Barclay Goodrow jumping in to defend Point and pummeling Marchand, before “In order to force a Game 7, we’re going to need everybody to contribute taking his share of punches from a few Bruins in a massive scrum. There in Game 6,” Cassidy said. “Discipline will be a key factor and we have to was no penalty on the Marchand hit, but you can bet the NHL stay out of the box against a potent Tampa offense.” Department of Player Safety will review it. A Bruins team source told The Athletic that the players spent the off-night Coach Jon Cooper didn’t have an update on Point postgame other than watching Game 7 of the 2011 Eastern Conference final between the to say the injury looked worse than it actually was, with the team hopeful Bruins and the Lightning. Boston won that game 1-0 to advance to the the No. 1 center could play in Game 5. “I’ve always said, (Marchand) is a Stanley Cup final before beating the Canucks. player you don’t like playing, but you’d love to have him on your team,” “It served as motivation,” the team source said. “Hopefully it carries over Cooper said. “But that was a dangerous play.” into Game 6.”

It should make for some more bad blood in Boston for Game 5. – Joe McDonald

– Joe Smith Of course, it was him.

Immediately following the loss, Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy and You had to figure when Bruins star Brad Marchand skated a suspension Marchand said they hadn’t seen the replay yet, but didn’t think it was a for his Game 4 hit on Brayden Point (instead, drawing a fine), that he suspendable offense. might come back to bite (not lick this time) the Lightning. And Marchand’s Because there was no penalty on the ice, it wouldn’t be a surprise if power-play goal was the difference-maker as Boston stave off Marchand is fined for the hit on Point, especially if the Tampa forward elimination. The Lightning still feel good about where they’re at, believing isn’t able to play Game 5. Either way, the Bruins, one of the better puck they can close it out in Game 6 at home. The fact Point looked good after possession teams in the league, need to do a better job in the faceoff his lower-body injury was encouraging. They’ll no doubt lean on Victor circle. Hedman and Sergachev, both of whom logged more than 26 minutes in Game 5. “We knew this would be a long series,” Hedman said, who is Now that the series shifts back to Boston, Cassidy can create the one of two current Lightning players who were on the team for 2011 matchup he wants. It’ll be interesting to see if the Bruins coach decides Eastern Conference Final Game 7 (Steven Stamkos the other). They to go with backup Jaroslav Halak in Game 5 since the Lightning have hope that’s just ancient history and they won’t have to go back for won consecutive games against Rask. However, Rask is one of the another one. reasons the Bruins won the Presidents’ Trophy during the regular season, and also beat the Hurricanes in the first round, so maybe the net – Joe Smith remains his with the team one loss away from elimination. Game 6

Speaking of the first round, the Bruins staved off elimination and erased No changes for either side. Grzelcyk remains out. a 3-1 series deficit to win, so they’re confident they can do it again. If Marchand is out for disciplinary reasons, it will be a huge challenge for As if it would end any other way, this one is going to seven. Boston. On the off-day, Cassidy indicated that Marchand would be a game-time – Joe McDonald decision due to an upper-body injury. He was on the receiving end of a clean hit, but was in obvious discomfort, favoring his right shoulder late in Game 5 Game 5.

The NHL department of player safety has fined Brad Marchand $5,000 – He was in the lineup for Game 6 but wasn’t at his best. This time it was the maximum allowed under the CBA – for his Game 4 slew foot on veteran David Krejci who led the way for the Bruins with a pair of goals Brayden Point. and one assist en route to a 3-1 victory. Jake DeBrusk added the empty- After flipping a weighted coin to decide Marchand’s punishment (literally, net goal. we gave him a 20 percent chance of being suspended and a 60 percent The Lightning did a solid job shutting down Boston’s top line with chance of being fined), it was determined that Marchand would not be favorable matchups, so Krejci, like he’s done so many times during his barred from an elimination game. Point, the victim of the slew foot, won’t career, took control of the game. It helped that Cassidy tweaked his lines miss any time either which likely played into the decision. That means late in the game and moved Charlie Coyle up to play on Krejci’s right both clubs will be icing their best lineup for a pivotal matchup. side. Coyle was a beast down low in the offensive zone and controlled the play for much of the third period. He assisted on both of Krejci’s training camp and ready to compete once again for the Stanley Cup. This goals. veteran core isn’t done yet.”

With a chance to close out the series on home ice, Tampa fed off its fans In true Bergeron fashion, he was quick to congratulate the Lightning on at Amalie Arena and gained an early 1-0 lead when Hedman jumped into the victory, especially captain Steven Stamkos. “He deserves a Stanley the play and blasted a shot past Rask from the slot. It was the only one Cup,” Bergeron said. the Bruins netminder allowed and he finished with another strong performance (28 saves). When asked what he thought about Brady and Gronk sporting Lightning sweaters, a pissed off Marchand said, “Fuck them.” From the beginning of this series, both teams expected it to go the distance and now we’ll have a Game 7 back in Boston. – Joe McDonald

– Joe McDonald After the simulation was complete, McDonald informed Cassidy of the results. The affable Bruins coach was, shall we say, not impressed — Here we go. and predicted general manager Don Sweeney would feel the same:

The Lightning haven’t done anything easy this postseason, including “Mac … Sweens needs to see you tomorrow morning, 9 o’clock in his losing the first two at home in the first-round series against Toronto. And office.” it certainly isn’t surprising that this one is going to Game 7. But watching a 3-1 series lead disintegrate like this, and staring at a win or go home — Bruce Cassidy game in TD Garden has to make Lightning fans queasy. The Athletic LOADED: 04.23.2020 Brayden Point appeared to be favoring his lower-body injury, so Anthony Cirelli saw his ice time jump over 20 minutes.

Coach Jon Cooper broke up the big three midway through, putting Cirelli between Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat. It looks like this could be another defining moment for their core, knowing a chance at the Cup rests on slaying the top team in the league on home ice.

– Joe Smith

Game 7

Grzelcyk is back for Game 7, a big boost to Boston’s defensive depth. The Bruins will likely stick with the ice-time allocation that’s been working for them in this comeback bid, while the Lightning are going all out and emptying the tank tonight. This is the season. Don’t be surprised if Hedman plays half the game here.

Tampa Bay survives Boston’s onslaught, wins Game 7 thriller to advance to the conference final.

Steven Stamkos is the vocal leader for the Lightning, the conscience of the room.

Yet his veteran teammates haven’t recalled him making a pregame speech quite like this. The captain, who returned from core surgery in the middle of the first round, impressed on the group how this is the most talented team he’s ever played on. The closest. And that it’d be a damn shame if their redemption story ended here, in TD Garden, where he had one of the worst memories of his career.

“We’ve got a lot of chapters left to write, boys,” Stamkos told them. “This isn’t where it (bleeping) ends.”

What happened next will live in Lightning lore. Both goalies were terrific, making their share of 10-bell saves, much like Dwayne Roloson and Tim Thomas did in the 2011 Game 7 showdown here. The scoreline was the same too: 1-0. Stamkos and Brad Marchand fought, with referee Tim Peel taking an inadvertent elbow to the face during the ensuing melee. (He left the game with an upper-body injury.) The Lightning bench later said they got fired up when the Jumbotron showed new Bucs (and former Pats legends) Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski in the stands chugging a beer and showing off their Stamkos and Victor Hedman jerseys. Gronk held up a sign, “Stanley Cup then Super Bowl.”

This one was close the entire way. Rask robbed Nikita Kucherov on a breakaway. Vasilevskiy somehow got a skate on Patrice Bergeron’s re- direction late in the third. It took two overtimes. But it ended when Mikhail Sergachev, trailing on a rush, took a feed from Brayden Point and went shelf on a one-timer. TD Garden was stunned silent. But in the hallway outside the visitor’s room, you heard loud applause. A roar. And on the dry erase board in the room, there was a brief message written in black sharpie. “8.” The number of wins needed to hoist the elusive Cup. The only end to their book.

– Joe Smith

A once-promising season implodes on the Bruins and it didn’t help that it ended on home ice. When the media was allowed in the locker room after the loss, Patrice Bergeron was the only player at his stall. He remained in his full equipment with only his helmet and gloves hanging up. He was in disbelief. “This one is going to hurt for a while, but I believe in this team. We have a strong group and I know they will be ready for 1174014 Toronto Maple Leafs Both of those organizations are essentially run by men. And both are supported by unique economies. Women’s sports programs in the NCAA are allocated money based on their Title IX rights to equal funding. Olympic teams are often funded by national federations. But pro sports Toronto’s new NWHL franchise is counting on women to develop are different. women’s hockey “It’s a capitalistic economy. Not everything’s for free,” Murphy said. “You start to think about what everyone wants for women’s sports — a sustainable living wage. But when you start to do the math from a By Dave Feschuk Sports Columnist business perspective, you really need to get a lot of people watching it. You really need paid ticket holders. You really need merchandise. A lot of coaches and players forget about that.” There was something to be admired about Wednesday’s announcement of a Toronto franchise in the National Women’s Hockey League. In announcing the launch of the NWHL’s Toronto team, there was big talk of investments in smart marketing and desirable merchandise and For one thing, it took some chutzpa for the team’s overseers to choose outside-the-box innovation. If you listened to it all, you could get the the thick of a global pandemic to make public their plan for their league’s sense the principals were making a statement. While the PWHPA waits sixth team and its first Canadian franchise. Considering nobody is laying to be rescued by its moneyed saviour, the NWHL is at least making a go a skate on an ice surface this side of Sweden any time soon, this is of saving itself. That’s not to say anyone has it figured out. The plan is for essentially a theoretical entity. The team still doesn’t have a name Toronto’s 20-player NWHL roster to split a combined $150,000 in salary (although it’s inviting fans to submit ideas at NWHL.zone). It’s got all of for a 20-game schedule set to begin in mid-November — not exactly a five players under contract. Its eventual existence depends on the world living wage. But a team run by entrepreneurs seems to be attracting one day returning to some state of pre-coronavirus normalcy. athletes not averse to some side hustle.

And even assuming the playing of the national winter sport will one day Hamilton defender Kristen Barbara, formerly of the CWHL’s Markham re-emerge as a civic staple, planting a flag in the sports-saturated GTA, Thunder, works as an on-ice skills coach and an off-ice personal trainer which has always been more of a Maple Leafs town than a hockey one, when she’s not completing training as a firefighter. Michigan winger is never easy business. , who played for the United States at the 2016 world championship, runs a nutrition company when she’s not working for an Given all that, the league happily declared its commitment to making a go employee-engagement platform. forward Taylor Woods is a of things in its quest to continue growing the women’s game. To an skills coach, a strength coach and a minor-hockey tournament director, optimist, it makes some sense. Judging by the massive interest in its among other gigs. well-watched Olympic product, women’s hockey ought to be bigger, but its supporters haven’t yet found the formula for sustainable growth “It’s not a living wage. But at least you’re not paying to play hockey,” beyond the five-ringed Games. Darkangelo said.

“Toronto’s the greatest hockey city in the greatest hockey country in the To which the members of the PWHPA might reply: This is exactly the world,” said Digit Murphy, the newly installed president of the Toronto kind of hand-to-mouth existence the Dream Gap Tour has been franchise. “What’s not to love?” campaigning against.

Women’s hockey, of course, is a sport very much divided. While the To which Murphy says, it’s early days. NWHL was in operation this past season, the rival Canadian Women’s Hockey League — where the bulk of the world’s best players had been “This is about the long term. It’s a marathon, not a sprint,” Murphy said. “I competing — was shuttered last May. In lieu of a league, many of the respect what the PWHPA is trying to do, and I honour their mission. But I CWHL’s displaced athletes formed the Professional Women’s Hockey personally would rather work together to unite the game, because it’s just Players Association and embarked on the Dream Gap Tour. Organizers a small world. It doesn’t do any good to build barriers. We’ve got to build of the tour talked of their hope of attracting an angel investor to start a bridges. We’re here with open arms. We’re ready to embrace the unity new league and provide their undeniably skilled workforce with that hockey needs right now … And my phone’s ringing off the hook with sustainable existences as full-time pro athletes. There were expressions people who want to play.” of hope that the National Hockey League would step forward to form a LOADED: 04.23.2020 hockey equivalent of the WNBA.

But the NHL has repeatedly insisted it won’t enter the women’s market so long as there’s an existing league in operation. And the NWHL, for all it lacks of on-ice star power, seems possessed of an entrepreneurial spirit that suggests it won’t die so easily.

The leader of the ownership group of the Toronto franchise, Johanna Neilson Boynton, is a former captain of the Harvard hockey team who is now CEO and co-founder of a firm that designs and builds upscale homes near Boston. The team’s chairman, Tyler Tumminia, has a long history working in minor-league baseball, one of the North American epicentres of ingenious gimmickry aimed at putting butts in seats. (Tumminia is also the daughter of a scout and her husband, former Blue Jays executive Ben Cherington, is the general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates.)

Murphy, for her part, is one of the winningest coaches in the history of NCAA women’s hockey and a long-time advocate for women running women’s sports.

“I’ve always seen the NHL as a sponsor, not an owner, of women’s sports. That’s the way I see it,” Murphy said. “I think that women need to stand on their own two feet … The model that exists now is the WNBA model, where the NBA owns the league. And that’s what the players want. And that’s awesome. But I think there’s also another way to look at it. My question is, ‘Is it the NHL’s job to do it?’ I think it’s our responsibility as women.”

Murphy said the bulk of the women who play high-level sports in North America have two main reference points for how sports ought to be run.

“We think of it like the NCAA model or the Olympic model,” she said. 1174015 Toronto Maple Leafs “We have to learn from this and focus on the next game,” Bergeron said. “We can’t get too high, or too low. We’ve been in these situations in the past and we have the experience to respond.”

Simulating the 2020 NHL playoffs, Round 2: Bruins vs. Lightning Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy didn’t like the result, but he was pleased with the energy level. It’s these types of games that the Bruins want to draw their opponents into because not many teams can sustain this type of physicality. However, Tampa does have the size and the speed to By Joe McDonald, Joe Smith and Dom Luszczyszyn Apr 22, 2020 compete in this type of series, so buckle up because it’s only going to get more intense as it progresses.

The NHL isn’t back yet, but we’re going to pretend it is. Over the last – Joe McDonald month, we’ve run a simulation of how the NHL’s regular season might Game 2 have played out if the league hadn’t been suspended on March 12. Now, the standings have been set and we’re carrying that forward through the No changes for the Lightning. For the Bruins, Joakim Nordstrom slots in playoffs. This time around, one of our beat writers from each team will be for Par Lindholm. in charge of every lineup decision, the narrative for every playoff game and they’ll get to decide what “happened” in each game. Join us as we Boston evens the series at one apiece. make our way through the simulated postseason to crown a virtual As expected, the Bruins simplified their game, especially in the defensive Stanley Cup champion. end and goalie Tuukka Rask was outstanding as Boston evened the This is basically the Stanley Cup final right here, unfortunately, played series at one game apiece with an impressive 2-1 overtime victory. At a two rounds early due to the league’s playoff format. The Boston Bruins time when the Bruins needed their best players to be their best players, and the Tampa Bay Lightning are the league’s two best teams and one of Patrice Bergeron scored both goals, while Brad Marchand chipped in them will be going home after a second-round duel. with a pair of assists. Rask stifled the Lightning’s offensive onslaught with a 35-save performance. Both teams needed seven games to get through the first round and it’s unlikely this series will be a short one either, not with two experienced Tampa had a golden opportunity late in the third period with a pair of teams hungry to win hockey’s ultimate prize. This year, no two teams power-play opportunities, but Boston’s penalty-killing unit came up huge. look more destined to lift the Cup by season’s end. A look at the talent The Bruins’ Joakim Nordstrom, who was a healthy scratch in Game 1, available on either side shows exactly why. combined for three blocked shots, including an all-out dive when the Lightning’s Steven Stamkos had a wide-open net on a one-timer from the For 29 other teams, the top lines on each side are the stuff of nightmares left circle. Nordstrom was favoring his left leg as he skated to the bench. with three top 15 players on either side, headlined by the top two right wingers in the league in David Pastrnak and Nikita Kucherov. In terms of Bruce Cassidy was able to roll four lines – a recipe for success for the power versus power, no matchup comes close to offering the talent Bruins. Time and again the coach didn’t hesitate to put the fourth line out available in this series. against the Lightning’s top two lines in different scenarios. “That was more our style of game, compared to Game 1,” Cassidy said. “We It’s the rest of the lineup though that separates both teams from the rest received contributions throughout the lineup and Tuukka was of the league. It’s not just star-power propelling Boston and Tampa Bay, outstanding. We’ll need more of the same as this series progresses and there’s depth here too. Both have very strong second lines and an we’re bracing for a seven-game series.” enviable defence-corps, headlined by two elite studs in Charlie McAvoy and Victor Hedman. The Lightning are arguably a bit deeper at both – Joe McDonald positions, which is why my model fancies them a bit more, but the Bruins “I thought I had it.” hold the trump card in between the pipes with likely Vezina candidate Tuukka Rask. Andrei Vasilevskiy, last year’s winner, might find his way Lightning captain Steven Stamkos usually cashes in from his “office,” the onto the ballot too, but much of his value seems to be due to the team in left circle. Especially when he has an open net. So that’s why Stamkos front of him being so strong. was stunned when the Bruins Joakim Nordström came out of nowhere to block his potential game-winner late in the third period. In any sense, this looks to be a fairly even, high-powered matchup, one that could ultimately decide who wins it all a couple of rounds later. For The Bruins won this one in a thrilling OT performance to even the series now, it’s advantage Tampa Bay as the Lightning are the pre-series at 1-1. Tampa Bay knew the league’s top team would bounce back, and favourites, winning the series 57 percent of the time. they were led by the usual suspects. But the Lightning had a lot to like about this one, peppering Tuukka Rask with 36 shots while holding the Game 1 powerful Bruins attack to just two goals. As the series moves to Tampa, The Lightning take Game 1 on the road. they know that each team’s depth could be the difference. It can’t just be the top two lines carrying the team. “They can roll four lines, but so can This one didn’t take long to get out of hand. we,” coach Jon Cooper said.

It became clear early on that both teams remembered the bad blood that – Joe Smith brewed in their last regular-season meeting up at TD Garden. Three minutes in, a fight between Anthony Cirelli and Brad Marchand led to the Game 3 first of many line brawls of the night. No changes for either side ahead of Game 3. Pat Maroon (once again) fought Zdeno Chara. Tampa Bay takes a 2-1 series lead with a 3-1 victory. Mikhail Sergachev dropped his gloves with Charlie Coyle. This time, it was Andrei Vasilevskiy’s turn. The actual game was action-packed too, with both teams trading power- One game after Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask stole the show, it was play goals in the first. Blake Coleman scored his biggest goal with the the Lightning’s Vezina Trophy winner who delivered his best performance Lightning, a wrist shot from the left circle with three minutes to go for the of the playoffs. He made 30 saves, including a how-did-he-do-that go-ahead goal. Nikita Kucherov added an empty netter to seal the game sprawling stop on a 2-on-1 versus Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak. with a 3-1 scoreline. They don’t call him “The Big Cat” for nothing. But most of the talk postgame was about the scrums and bouts, and The Lightning went the other way on the play and Anthony Cirelli cashed whether they’d carry over into Game 2. in for the momentum-swinging goal midway through the second period. “If that’s what they want,” Sergachev said. “We’ll be ready.” Tampa Bay took the lead and never looked back. This was the way the Lightning wanted to play, dictating the pace and swarming the Bruins – Joe Smith with a four-line attack. Both Pat Maroon and Cedric Paquette scored as the fourth line stepped up. “They set the tone,” captain Steven Stamkos It was quiet in the Bruins’ locker room after this loss. In typical fashion, said. “Just like they did in Sweden.” alternate captain Patrice Bergeron stood at his locker, waiting for the media. – Joe Smith It’s not too often the Bruins’ top line is unable to finish a near-perfect Well, almost. play, but Vasilevskiy read it flawlessly and stunned Pastrnak with an outstanding save. As the Lightning responded at the other end, the Matt Grzelcyk suffered an upper-body injury in Game 4 and is out for Tampa goalie wasn’t too pleased with the Bruins’ Brad Marchand taking Game 5. John Moore takes his place on a pairing with Jeremy Lauzon a few liberties with his stick after Vasilevskiy’s save. While the Lightning which likely won’t see much ice tonight. Coach Bruce Cassidy should ride celebrated their goal, the always-calm Vasilevskiy was screaming at his top four to big minutes and also lean on his top line to get the team Boston’s bench because of Marchand’s antics. If Marchand thought he out of this hole – just like in the first round. was able to get under the goalie’s skin, it seemed to have the opposite Jon Cooper will probably match that, finding more minutes for the big effect, as a motivated Vasilevskiy stifled the Bruins for the remainder of three on defense: Victor Hedman, Mikhail Sergachev and Ryan the game. McDonagh.

After the loss, Marchand described it as “playoff hockey” and predicted Boston cuts the series lead to 3-2. he would score in Game 4. This series has all the elements of a Hollywood script. And, once again, – Joe McDonald Brad Marchand is playing the villain.

Game 4 His power-play goal in the second period proved crucial as the Bruins Knowing this is a chance to bury the Bruins on home ice, Tampa Bay will stave off elimination with a 2-1 over the Lightning at TD Garden. Tampa likely lean on their top six a little more tonight. The Bruins will stick with still leads the best-of-seven series 3-2. Marchand, who was fined $5,000 the status quo before bringing out the big guns. for his hit on the Lightning’s Brayden Point in Game 4, said the Bruins would respond in Game 5 and he answered the bell with his backdoor The Lightning take a 3-1 series lead, putting the Bruins on the ropes. tap-in on a nifty feed from David Pastrnak. Not only did Marchand score on the power play, but he also drew the roughing penalty on Pat Maroon But they didn’t leave this one unscathed. that set up the eventual game-winner.

Brayden Point was the star in a Game 4 win at Amalie Arena. He had two Both goalies were solid, but in the end, it was Rask who finished with a goals and an assist while going 8-for-12 in the dot in a 4-2 win. But Point 21-save performance en route to the victory. didn’t finish the game after taking an apparent slew foot from Brad Marchand midway through the third period. The result left Point down on Boston relied more on its top two lines and top four D-men in this game. the ice, holding his left knee. But he was able to get off the ice with the It didn’t help that Matt Grzelcyk was out with an upper-body injury. help of a couple of teammates. That ticked off Tampa Bay, with Barclay Goodrow jumping in to defend Point and pummeling Marchand, before “In order to force a Game 7, we’re going to need everybody to contribute taking his share of punches from a few Bruins in a massive scrum. There in Game 6,” Cassidy said. “Discipline will be a key factor and we have to was no penalty on the Marchand hit, but you can bet the NHL stay out of the box against a potent Tampa offense.” Department of Player Safety will review it. A Bruins team source told The Athletic that the players spent the off-night Coach Jon Cooper didn’t have an update on Point postgame other than watching Game 7 of the 2011 Eastern Conference final between the to say the injury looked worse than it actually was, with the team hopeful Bruins and the Lightning. Boston won that game 1-0 to advance to the the No. 1 center could play in Game 5. “I’ve always said, (Marchand) is a Stanley Cup final before beating the Canucks. player you don’t like playing, but you’d love to have him on your team,” “It served as motivation,” the team source said. “Hopefully it carries over Cooper said. “But that was a dangerous play.” into Game 6.”

It should make for some more bad blood in Boston for Game 5. – Joe McDonald

– Joe Smith Of course, it was him.

Immediately following the loss, Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy and You had to figure when Bruins star Brad Marchand skated a suspension Marchand said they hadn’t seen the replay yet, but didn’t think it was a for his Game 4 hit on Brayden Point (instead, drawing a fine), that he suspendable offense. might come back to bite (not lick this time) the Lightning. And Marchand’s Because there was no penalty on the ice, it wouldn’t be a surprise if power-play goal was the difference-maker as Boston stave off Marchand is fined for the hit on Point, especially if the Tampa forward elimination. The Lightning still feel good about where they’re at, believing isn’t able to play Game 5. Either way, the Bruins, one of the better puck they can close it out in Game 6 at home. The fact Point looked good after possession teams in the league, need to do a better job in the faceoff his lower-body injury was encouraging. They’ll no doubt lean on Victor circle. Hedman and Sergachev, both of whom logged more than 26 minutes in Game 5. “We knew this would be a long series,” Hedman said, who is Now that the series shifts back to Boston, Cassidy can create the one of two current Lightning players who were on the team for 2011 matchup he wants. It’ll be interesting to see if the Bruins coach decides Eastern Conference Final Game 7 (Steven Stamkos the other). They to go with backup Jaroslav Halak in Game 5 since the Lightning have hope that’s just ancient history and they won’t have to go back for won consecutive games against Rask. However, Rask is one of the another one. reasons the Bruins won the Presidents’ Trophy during the regular season, and also beat the Hurricanes in the first round, so maybe the net – Joe Smith remains his with the team one loss away from elimination. Game 6

Speaking of the first round, the Bruins staved off elimination and erased No changes for either side. Grzelcyk remains out. a 3-1 series deficit to win, so they’re confident they can do it again. If Marchand is out for disciplinary reasons, it will be a huge challenge for As if it would end any other way, this one is going to seven. Boston. On the off-day, Cassidy indicated that Marchand would be a game-time – Joe McDonald decision due to an upper-body injury. He was on the receiving end of a clean hit, but was in obvious discomfort, favoring his right shoulder late in Game 5 Game 5.

The NHL department of player safety has fined Brad Marchand $5,000 – He was in the lineup for Game 6 but wasn’t at his best. This time it was the maximum allowed under the CBA – for his Game 4 slew foot on veteran David Krejci who led the way for the Bruins with a pair of goals Brayden Point. and one assist en route to a 3-1 victory. Jake DeBrusk added the empty- After flipping a weighted coin to decide Marchand’s punishment (literally, net goal. we gave him a 20 percent chance of being suspended and a 60 percent The Lightning did a solid job shutting down Boston’s top line with chance of being fined), it was determined that Marchand would not be favorable matchups, so Krejci, like he’s done so many times during his barred from an elimination game. Point, the victim of the slew foot, won’t career, took control of the game. It helped that Cassidy tweaked his lines miss any time either which likely played into the decision. That means late in the game and moved Charlie Coyle up to play on Krejci’s right both clubs will be icing their best lineup for a pivotal matchup. side. Coyle was a beast down low in the offensive zone and controlled the play for much of the third period. He assisted on both of Krejci’s training camp and ready to compete once again for the Stanley Cup. This goals. veteran core isn’t done yet.”

With a chance to close out the series on home ice, Tampa fed off its fans In true Bergeron fashion, he was quick to congratulate the Lightning on at Amalie Arena and gained an early 1-0 lead when Hedman jumped into the victory, especially captain Steven Stamkos. “He deserves a Stanley the play and blasted a shot past Rask from the slot. It was the only one Cup,” Bergeron said. the Bruins netminder allowed and he finished with another strong performance (28 saves). When asked what he thought about Brady and Gronk sporting Lightning sweaters, a pissed off Marchand said, “Fuck them.” From the beginning of this series, both teams expected it to go the distance and now we’ll have a Game 7 back in Boston. – Joe McDonald

– Joe McDonald After the simulation was complete, McDonald informed Cassidy of the results. The affable Bruins coach was, shall we say, not impressed — Here we go. and predicted general manager Don Sweeney would feel the same:

The Lightning haven’t done anything easy this postseason, including “Mac … Sweens needs to see you tomorrow morning, 9 o’clock in his losing the first two at home in the first-round series against Toronto. And office.” it certainly isn’t surprising that this one is going to Game 7. But watching a 3-1 series lead disintegrate like this, and staring at a win or go home — Bruce Cassidy game in TD Garden has to make Lightning fans queasy. The Athletic LOADED: 04.23.2020

Brayden Point appeared to be favoring his lower-body injury, so Anthony Cirelli saw his ice time jump over 20 minutes.

Coach Jon Cooper broke up the big three midway through, putting Cirelli between Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat. It looks like this could be another defining moment for their core, knowing a chance at the Cup rests on slaying the top team in the league on home ice.

– Joe Smith

Game 7

Grzelcyk is back for Game 7, a big boost to Boston’s defensive depth. The Bruins will likely stick with the ice-time allocation that’s been working for them in this comeback bid, while the Lightning are going all out and emptying the tank tonight. This is the season. Don’t be surprised if Hedman plays half the game here.

Tampa Bay survives Boston’s onslaught, wins Game 7 thriller to advance to the conference final.

Steven Stamkos is the vocal leader for the Lightning, the conscience of the room.

Yet his veteran teammates haven’t recalled him making a pregame speech quite like this. The captain, who returned from core surgery in the middle of the first round, impressed on the group how this is the most talented team he’s ever played on. The closest. And that it’d be a damn shame if their redemption story ended here, in TD Garden, where he had one of the worst memories of his career.

“We’ve got a lot of chapters left to write, boys,” Stamkos told them. “This isn’t where it (bleeping) ends.”

What happened next will live in Lightning lore. Both goalies were terrific, making their share of 10-bell saves, much like Dwayne Roloson and Tim Thomas did in the 2011 Game 7 showdown here. The scoreline was the same too: 1-0. Stamkos and Brad Marchand fought, with referee Tim Peel taking an inadvertent elbow to the face during the ensuing melee. (He left the game with an upper-body injury.) The Lightning bench later said they got fired up when the Jumbotron showed new Bucs (and former Pats legends) Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski in the stands chugging a beer and showing off their Stamkos and Victor Hedman jerseys. Gronk held up a sign, “Stanley Cup then Super Bowl.”

This one was close the entire way. Rask robbed Nikita Kucherov on a breakaway. Vasilevskiy somehow got a skate on Patrice Bergeron’s re- direction late in the third. It took two overtimes. But it ended when Mikhail Sergachev, trailing on a rush, took a feed from Brayden Point and went shelf on a one-timer. TD Garden was stunned silent. But in the hallway outside the visitor’s room, you heard loud applause. A roar. And on the dry erase board in the room, there was a brief message written in black sharpie. “8.” The number of wins needed to hoist the elusive Cup. The only end to their book.

– Joe Smith

A once-promising season implodes on the Bruins and it didn’t help that it ended on home ice. When the media was allowed in the locker room after the loss, Patrice Bergeron was the only player at his stall. He remained in his full equipment with only his helmet and gloves hanging up. He was in disbelief. “This one is going to hurt for a while, but I believe in this team. We have a strong group and I know they will be ready for 1174016 Vegas Golden Knights San Jose’s Melker Karlsson hit the post three minutes into the third period. But 36 seconds later, Max Pacioretty beat Jones through the five- hole after Mark Stone created a turnover and the Knights had a 3-0 lead. Golden Knights’ Game 7 loss to Sharks still stings a year later Gallant: “San Jose came out and played well. Fleury made some unbelievable saves the first 50 minutes and it was 3-nothing for us, so we were a little bit fortunate to be there.” By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal Knights president of hockey operations George McPhee: “We were playing very well in Game 7, and it got down to 12 minutes, I think, and April 22, 2020 - 3:56 PM you worry about that call that’s coming. And it came, unfortunately.” Knights owner Bill Foley: “The game was ours. It was over. Three-zip. I was sitting actually with (injured forward Erik Haula), he was sitting with us and we were kind of looking and saying, ‘All we’ve got to do is play It hasn’t gone away. some defense. Play defense, stay out of the box.’ And almost within 30 seconds, five-minute major.” One year after the Golden Knights’ 5-4 overtime loss at the San Jose Sharks on April 23, 2019, the pain still lingers. The five-minute major, the Knights center Paul Stastny lost a faceoff to Pavelski, leading to a long four unanswered goals, the late comeback followed by the gut-punch shot by Sharks defenseman Brent Burns that Fleury stopped with 10:54 ending. remaining. Gallant sent Eakin over the boards to take the next draw, and after losing it cleanly, Eakin cross-checked Pavelski in the chest, All of it. knocking him off balance. Pavelski became tangled with Stastny on his The first Game 7 in Knights franchise history became a “Where were you way down and hit his head on the ice. when …?” moment once Cody Eakin’s cross-check connected with Joe Stastny: “More people say it was my fault than anything, but you lose a Pavelski’s chest. faceoff, that happens 100 percent of the time off a faceoff. The guy who For the central figures, the events of that Tuesday evening at SAP wins the draw wants to block the guy, the guy that loses the draw wants Center in San Jose, California, remain a touchy subject. to push him out of the way. More than anything, we’re both looking at the puck because Brent Burns has the puck and he’s shooting it. So more The Knights declined to participate in a story about the first anniversary than anything, we’re trying to get to him and block that angle, so it’s an of that defeat. Pavelski, who now plays for Dallas, turned down an unfortunate injury.” interview request through a team spokesperson. So did Eakin, who was traded by the Knights to Winnipeg in February. Gallant: “I feel awful that Joe got hurt. He’s a class player for their team. Everybody loves him. But there was no intent. There was no high-stick Maybe in a few more years, when the wounds have healed, everyone that hit him in the face.” involved will be ready to share their thoughts on that memorable Western Conference quarterfinal series between the newly minted rivals. Pavelski was helped off the ice, and Eakin sat in the penalty box before referees Eric Furlatt and Dan O’Halloran assessed a five-minute major But they had plenty to say 366 days ago. Here is a look back at Game 7, penalty for cross-checking and game misconduct with 10:47 left. Eakin in their own words: was then escorted off the ice by linesman Michel Cormier. A heated series had one more plot twist, as then-Knights coach Gerard Eakin: “Actually, when they called me out of the box, I thought, ‘OK, they Gallant was asked the morning of the game if he wanted to respond to just reviewed it and realized it wasn’t a penalty, I’ll head back to the the accusation by then-Sharks coach Pete DeBoer that Gallant was bench,’ and they said, ‘No, you’re gone.’ I went right to the room where chirping at San Jose players. Gallant said, in part, “for that clown to say all the extra guys were watching it. I watched the replay. I figured out that in the paper yesterday, it’s not right.” pretty quickly exactly what happened. I watched it about 20 times and went to the locker room, sat there and watched the rest of the game.” Knights forward Ryan Reaves: “It’s tough when you make things up in a chirp. You have to come with facts, so I would say (Gallant) took that one Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault: “Furlatt told me, ‘It looks pretty for sure.” bad.’ If it looks pretty bad, you clearly did not see it. It’s a faceoff. It’s a push. Probably 50 percent of the faceoff players, when they lose, they Once the puck dropped, the Sharks carried the majority of the action in give a small cross-check, right? If you want to call the cross-check, call it. the first period after two early power plays. But the Knights took a 1-0 It’s fine. It’s a cross-check. … But that call changes the whole outcome, lead into the intermission, as goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury made 11 changes the whole future of us, the outcome of this year. It’s a joke.” saves, and center William Karlsson knocked in a rebound at 10:10, one of the Knights’ four shots on goal. DeBoer: “If you’re a referee, that’s obviously a distressing sign. As far as the calls goes, listen, you go back through the series, there’s calls that Fleury: “I thought we came into this building and played a good game, a we didn’t get, too, that changed games at different points.” solid game. Did the right things. … I felt comfortable in San Jose, and I felt I played a great game, one of my best in the series, until that power Pavelski: “Was it a five-minute major? No, I don’t think it was. There’s play (in the third period).” different aspects. Am I glad they called it that way? Heck, yeah.” Gallant: “It’s two real good hockey teams. There’s not much between the San Jose’s Logan Couture scored the first of his two goals seven two teams, and that’s what you see. There’s good hockey games. They seconds into the power play, and Tomas Hertl tallied 49 seconds later to play well. There’s a lot of talent on both teams, so there’s not much make it 3-2. Kevin Labanc had the go-ahead goal with 6:39 remaining. between the two teams.” DeBoer: “The group rallied. Joe Thornton spoke up. Logan Couture. I The Knights saw more of the puck in the second period and added to think they saw a guy they love and respect in some distress and wanted their lead midway through when Eakin tipped Brayden McNabb’s shot to do what they could to help the situation, which was try and get some past Sharks goalie Martin Jones. Video review confirmed Eakin didn’t goals and get us back in the game. And they did that.” deflect the puck with a high-stick, and not long after, Fleury made a windmill glove save on Timo Meier to help send the Knights into the Marchessault: “They came clutch. They feed off the bad call, and they break ahead 2-0. came back 4-3. … You’ve got to give them credit at some point. They’re a great hockey team.” DeBoer: “I thought we had some chances through the night. Fleury, I thought, was fantastic at different points to keep us off the board. I Fleury: “Yeah, they came hard. I just felt they threw a lot of pucks and thought there were some opportunities throughout the game for us to get everyone was around the net. I couldn’t see most of them.” some momentum and build on it, and he made some huge saves.” Marchessault’s goal with 47 seconds left sent the game into overtime, but Gallant: “We were in control of the hockey game.” the Sharks ended it with 1:41 to go in the extra session. Defenseman Erik Karlsson intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and spotted Barclay The Sharks started to press early in the third period trying to cut into the Goodrow entering the zone with speed. Goodrow blew past McNabb and deficit. Eakin got behind the San Jose defense about two minutes in, but rounded Fleury to score on just his second shift of OT. couldn’t beat Jones on the breakaway. McNabb: “I think Karlsson had it, and I was kind of in between. I should NBC Sports Network color analyst : “The Sharks have to be have backed off, obviously, and just take Goodrow going to the net. But I careful as they push for one goal that they don’t give up a third. A third got caught in between, and he was able to get me. Yeah, it stinks.” one is curtains for them.” DeBoer: “We started to fatigue as the overtime went on because of the short bench with Pavelski out, and we went back to (Goodrow). That’s what it’s about. A guy like that, keep himself ready and jump over the boards and make a play.” Fleury: “We came back in the game and tied it up. It was a good emotion. It was nice to do, but tough to lose this one in seven (games) in overtime. It’s tough to take.” Pavelski: “I had the headaches and was dizzy at that moment, but was able to come out. I wanted to be in that (locker) room. I was still very excited for those guys. And then we went and got everything checked out after.” San Jose went on to reach the Western Conference Final before losing to St. Louis. The NHL altered its rulebook starting with the 2019-20 season, requiring referees to review all major and match penalties. Marchessault: “Obviously human error exists, but it’s a fast game for everyone. I think everybody needed extra help, and I think they just got involved in the game. Called a bad call and look where we are. The summer’s started. (Expletive) five months now until Game 1 of the regular season starts. It’s awful.” Pavelski: “The refs have a very tough job with how fast plays happen. It’s a scary play. It gets twisted and everything. Was it malicious or anything like that? I don’t believe so. It’s part of the game. I got twisted up. Got bumped on the way down, hit the head. Again, I was glad it was called that way. From that moment on, what the guys did after it, to actually go and do that, score four goals, it was a special night.” Gallant: “Last year in the Stanley Cup Finals it was tough to lose. Tonight was tougher than that. It really was the way we lost that hockey game.” DeBoer: “That’s the craziest game I’ve ever seen. That was wild. I think they’ll be talking about that one for a long time here, and the people that were in the building, I think it was extra special because it was electric.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 04.23.2020 1174017 Vegas Golden Knights

NHL now focused on games in league arenas, not neutral sites

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal April 22, 2020 - 2:34 PM Updated April 22, 2020 - 5:40 PM

The NHL is moving to Plan B if it is able to complete the season. Commissioner Gary Bettman told Sportsnet the league is no longer considering plans to play at neutral sites and is focused on having games at NHL arenas if the season resumes. “We can’t play in a small college rink in the middle of a smaller community, because if we’re going to be centralized, we need the back of the house that NHL arenas provide, whether it’s multiple locker rooms, whether it’s the technology, the procedures, the boards and glass, the video replay, the broadcasting facilities,” Bettman said. The latest plan calls for regional sites centralized by division. There would be multiple games played each day to complete the regular season, which was paused March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic. The league had been exploring the option of playing in locations, such as Grand Forks, North Dakota, and Manchester, New Hampshire. Edmonton, Alberta, is the leading candidate for the Pacific Division, according to the multiple reports by ESPN and Sportsnet. Other sites that have been mentioned as possible host candidates are Carolina (Metropolitan Division) and Minnesota (Central Division). “Maybe it’ll be two cities,” Bettman said. “It’s not something that we can predict right at this moment. But this is part of the contingencies. It doesn’t necessarily have to be by division, although the centralization may be by division. “But the particular location could be anywhere that isn’t a hot spot and has what we need both in terms of the arena and having practice facilities, because if you bring in seven or eight clubs to a particular facility and you’re playing lots of games on a regular basis without travel, there does need to be ice for practice.” The self-quarantine period for players and staff runs through April 30. Bettman said the league and NHL Players’ Association discussed holding a three-week training camp for players to return to game shape. Also, Bettman confirmed the NHL is looking into conducting its draft remotely in June, similar to the NFL draft that begins Thursday. The NHL draft scheduled for June 26 and 27 in Montreal was postponed. “It was a trial balloon,” Bettman said. “No decision has been made. And I said as we were getting some feedback, ‘We don’t live in a world of perfect anymore. We’re going to have to make adjustments.’ ” Holding the event during the summer provides the NHL much-needed exposure but also comes with several obstacles. The lottery rules and selection order must be determined, while a solution for conditional picks also would have to be finalized. For instance, the Knights received a conditional fourth-round in 2021 for Cody Eakin, but it becomes a third-round pick if Winnipeg reaches the postseason or re- signs Eakin on or before July 5. Draft-day trades, a popular pastime for general managers, become almost impossible to pull off if there are games still to play. And what happens if a lottery team in June gets hot when the season resumes and makes a run to the Stanley Cup? “Ideally from our standpoint — and it would resolve a lot of issues — would be if we could complete the regular season, even if it’s on a centralized basis, and then go into the (Stanley Cup playoffs) the way we normally play them,” Bettman said. “That would be ideal. But that’s, again, one of the numerous models we’re looking at, and if we can’t do ideal, if we can’t do perfect, we’re going to have to figure out what’s next to perfect.”

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Golden Knights sign Nicolas Roy to extension

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal April 22, 2020 - 2:15 PM

Nicolas Roy finally got rewarded for all his traveling to and from the American Hockey League. The Golden Knights rookie forward, who was recalled or sent down 31 times since the first day of the regular season, signed a two-year extension with an average annual value of $750,000 on Wednesday. Roy is the second restricted free agent the team has locked up since play stopped, along with rookie defenseman Zach Whitecloud. “That was my goal, to prove that I belonged in the NHL,” Roy said by phone from Las Vegas, where he is working out on an exercise bike, doing puzzles with his girlfriend and playing Xbox to pass the time. “This contract shows that I was able to do that.” Roy had much to prove after joining the Knights in June through the trade that sent center Erik Haula to the Carolina Hurricanes. The big-bodied forward slowly earned the respect of his teammates and coaches through his work ethic and attitude. He never complained about his constant shuffling between the NHL and AHL. Instead, he worked hard to show where he belonged. Chicago Wolves coach Rocky Thompson often caught Roy and Whitecloud working out in a hotel gym after plane rides. That work paid off for Roy later in the season, as he started to use his 6- foot-4-inch frame to establish himself as a physical defender and aggressive forechecker. He made a good enough impression on coach Peter DeBoer that he was moved to second-line right wing in the Knights’ last four games in place of injured Mark Stone. It was quite a rise for a rookie who was part of another organization last summer. But Roy wants to continue to grow through his new contract as well. “I want to keep my defensive game intact,” Roy said. “Be physical, be good on faceoffs, those kind of things. But I think the more games I play, the better I’ll feel. I want to show what I’m capable of doing offensively as well.” With Roy signed, the Knights have two pending restricted free agents on their roster in forwards Chandler Stephenson and Nick Cousins. The team also has five pending unrestricted free agents in forwards Ryan Reaves and Tomas Nosek, defensemen Jon Merrill and Deryk Engelland, and goaltender Robin Lehner. The Knights are projected to have $8.125 million of salary cap space remaining if the upper limit stays flat at $81.5 million.

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Golden Knights sign Nicolas Roy to 2-year extension

By Justin Emerson (contact) Wednesday, April 22, 2020 | 2:56 p.m.

The Golden Knights have signed center Nicolas Roy to a two-year contract extension worth an average $750,000 a year, the team announced today. Roy was set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season, and his new contract ties him to the team through at least 2022. The league’s salary minimum is going up in 2021-22 to $750,000, so Roy will have a league-minimum cap hit in the second year of his contract. He’ll be slightly above the $700,000 floor next season and will be a restricted free agent when the contract expires. Roy, who was acquired in a trade last summer, played 28 games with the Golden Knights this season with five goals and five assists. Before that, he played in seven career games across two seasons with Carolina. Between recalls and assignments, Roy, who was part of a roster shuffle with AHL Chicago, has been part of 29 transactions. The Golden Knights now have 16 players signed for next season with a combined cap hit of $73.375 million. If the salary cap ceiling stays flat at $81.5 million as expected next year, Vegas will have $8.125 million in space. Chandler Stephenson and Nick Cousins are Vegas’ other pending restricted free agents, and the team has five unrestricted free agents in need of new contracts this summer: forwards Ryan Reaves and Tomas Nosek, defensemen Jon Merrill and Deryk Engelland, and goalie Robin Lehner.

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Everyone wins as Gretzky, Ovechkin tie in The Great One vs. The Great 8 Showcase

By J.J. Regan April 22, 2020 9:16 PM

While Wayne Gretzky and Alex Ovechkin make it look easy on the ice, they learned Wednesday in The Great One vs. The Great 8 Showcase that replicating their skills in a video game is harder than it looks. After they each won a game in NHL 20 in their showdown streamed on Twitch and raising over $16,000 for charity, they mutually decided to call it a tie and match $8,000 each to raise over $32,000 total that will be split between the Edmonton Food Bank and the MSE Foundation's "Feeding the Frontlines" fund. Gretzky and his son Ty played as a team in the first game with Trevor Gretzky subbing for his brother in Game 2. Ovechkin played with John Wayne of Caps Gaming. Besides the money raised for charity, here were some highlights of the event: Team Gretzky scored the first goal of the night by...Wayne Gretzky. When he scored, one of his sons chirped "895!" referring to Gretzky's current record of 894 goals. Gretzky looked like he was going to get the 4-3 Game 1 win, but Ovechkin managed to tie it with 2.8 seconds left in regulation. His reaction was pretty great. Team Gretzky ultimately won Game 1 in overtime but right before the game-winner it looked like Braden Holtby was able to pull off "The Save" again. If you saw that Ovechkin and Gretzky were playing online, would you try to join their game? Probably. The second game was delayed a few minutes when, before they could start, several people tried to join forcing Ovechkin and Gretzky to quit and restart again. The posted goal for the evening was to raise $10,000. That amount was raised before the first game was over. Ultimately they raised over $16,000 by the end of the second. With Ovechkin winning Game 2, Gretzky suggested they end the night with both of them agreeing to pitch in an additional $8,000 to match the half that would be going to each respective charity.

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Capitals gameday broadcast team hopeful about finishing season, even if without fans

By Ryan Wormeli April 22, 2020 5:55 PM

With the NHL season suspended indefinitely, there are no sports at the present. As such, the men and women who cover the Capitals have been forced to look both to the past and the future. On the most recent episode of Capitals Talk, Rob Carlin spoke with the gameday broadcast team, including Joe Beninati, Craig Laughlin and Al Koken. They spent most of the hour discussing their favorite memories from covering the team, telling fun behind-the-scenes stories in the process. One of the things they all agreed they missed most during the suspended season, however, was something from off the ice. "We work with so many great people that also make the job fun," Al Koken said. "In this business, there are so many people that you would just love to shove off the side of a cliff. But I can’t name anybody that I would put in that category who’s worked on our game broadcasts." The sentiment was quickly echoed by Beninati, the play-by-play voice of the Capitals. "The men and women behind the camera are phenomenal," he said. "We work at a regional network, but so many of the people in our crew are national talents...We’ve been blessed to work with them for a long, long time." Laughlin, who provides color commentary, agreed with the other. He also pointed out just how unique, and thrilling, covering hockey is. "Obviously we’re the luckiest guys in our field," he added. "Because hockey is dynamic. It’s not a game or a job where you’re doing the same thing day in and day out. Every game is different, every game is exciting. I still pinch myself from my first game to now that it’s been this long, because it goes by in a hurry." Of course, when reminiscing, the question quickly turns to how soon any sense of normalcy will return? Carlin gaged from the crew how likely it is we see the NHL season resume this summer. "I’m hopeful that they can finish off the season," Laughlin answered. "It will be, I would think, sometime in July, but it will definitely be without fans. That’s the only disappointment I have...but I think the NHL for a lot of different reasons is going to go right down to the wire, try to get the season in, and try to have someone hoist the Stanley Cup." He wasn't the only one who expects a season, in some form or fashion. Though Beninati was a little less sure. "I think we’re going to try, I just don’t know how feasible it’s going to be to keep everybody quarantined and everybody safe," he added. "I know the league wants all of us to have hope, and that’s a good thing. I don’t think they’re toying with our emotions. At the same time, it’s been a moving target. You know the best minds in our sport are trying to figure it out, and let’s just hope the people in the medical profession can help us get through." He continued, with a sentiment no Caps fan will disagree with. "This season deserves to get finished," he said. "And I’d love to see where Washington ended."

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NHL considering four-site restart of the season, according to Gary Bettman

By J.J. Regan April 22, 2020 5:05 PM

The NHL is no longer considering neutral sites as possible venues for resuming the season and is instead looking at league arenas as centralized sites, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told Sportsnet. The centralized sites would be regional based on divisions, according to ESPN. The frontrunner for the Metropolitan Division location is reportedly PNC Arena in Raleigh, the home of the Carolina Hurricanes. Andy Slater of Fox Sports Radio also reported Wednesday, per Florida Panthers president Matt Caldwell, that the NHL is potentially looking at a July return. JUST IN: NHL looking at restarting season in July. Games would be played at 4 or 5 neutral sites with limited or no fans, according to Florida Panthers president Matt Caldwell. The idea of playing in neutral sites made sense in terms of isolating players, but there were a number of logistical concerns that ultimately make such a plan difficult to execute. Even if games are not open to fans, those neutral sites would still have to accommodate the players, coaches and staffers for each team as well as the media. It is fair to wonder if centralized sites in North Dakota and New Hampshire could adequately accommodate all those people for several NHL franchises. Such small arenas may also not have the capacity to handle the broadcast demands of a Stanley Cup playoff game. In that sense, NHL venues make more sense provided they are somewhat isolated or in metropolitan areas less hard hit by the virus. It should come as no surprise that Carolina would be the frontrunner for the Metro as opposed to Washington, Philadelphia or anywhere in the New York area. ESPN's Greg Wyshynski also reports that Edmonton and Minnesota are front-runners for the Pacific and Central Divisions, respectively, as opposed to any cities in California or Chicago. Caps fans may not like the idea of Washington possibly winning the Metro Division and having to play playoff games in Raleigh, but at this point, it should just be accepted that home-ice advantage is probably not going to be possible for anyone this year given the circumstances presented by the coronavirus pandemic. Having said that, if there are limited fans allowed in the venues, as Caldwell suggested, that would be a tough pill to swallow.

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The behind-the-scenes story of one hilarious Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin blooper

By Caroline Brandt April 22, 2020 1:23 PM

With the NHL on pause, NBC Sports Washington's Rob Carlin got the gang back together on the latest episode of the Capitals Talk Podcast to recap what they miss most and share fun memories of their decades in the industry. One particular story that involved everyone's favorite dynamic duo, Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin, stood out from all the rest. The Caps were playing the Devils in New Jersey about 20 years ago and Joe B. set up for his interview during intermission. But someone passing by the "500 pounds of spaghetti of wire," tripped, and a huge, old-school light came crashing down onto Joe B.'s head, seconds before he was about to go live on the air. "BAM! I mean, crackerjack on the back of my head, like you read about," Beninati said. "And I can see what Zippy's [Locker] doing already. He's dying, laughing." Despite getting nailed in the head by a huge studio light, Beninati was still expected to go live on the air seconds later, dizzy from the blow he just took, AND talk longer than expected, because Locker couldn't stop laughing before his interview with a player. "We thought my hair was going to be on fire and Locker was worried- slash-upset that I wasn't cut for 20-stitches, but I did manage to stretch 30-seconds so that he could compose himself while crying to do the interview. To this day, I hate him." Beninati said. CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW ON THE CAPITALS TALK PODCAST: "I am just about in convulsions laughing. But Joe is so sour," Locker said. Beninati and Locker managed to keep it together to finish the intermission live interview, but Locker wishes one thing would have happened. "At the end of the game, I did say, 'The only thing better, would've been if your hair caught on fire,'" Locker said. "I still have that lump today in the back of my head," Beninati said. There really isn't a better duo in the business than Joe B. and Locker.

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Holtby, Dowd, Hathaway share crazy stories of their first NHL games

By J.J. Regan April 22, 2020 9:30 AM

Most NHL players will never forget their first game. That is especially true for a handful of Capitals players who all had crazy experiences in their first taste of NHL action. Braden Holtby joined Nic Dowd and Garnet Hathaway in the latest edition of the Between Two Blue Lines Podcast episode that released on Tuesday and the three began telling the story of each of their first NHL games. As it turns out, those games proved to be memorable in more ways than one. Holtby, for example, was terrified his skate was going to fall off during his debut in 2010. "Back then, I was having trouble with my ankles, my bursas in my ankles," Holtby said. "They were really big and they went over my skates so we were up 3-0 going into the third period so I was like, ah, this is killing me. I'm going to untie my skate for the third period. It was barely hanging on and they scored three goals in the first like minute and a half or something." You can see where this is going. "Bruce was the coach at that time, Bruce Boudreau, and he looks down at me and he says, Holts, go in. And I was just panicking. I went in there, knees were shaking, I could barely even skate because my skate was so loose." Holtby was legitimately concerned his skate was going to fall off mid-play and during the next TV timeout, he skated to the bench, took off his pad and tied his skate. Taking off a goalie pad and putting it back on is not a quick process, but desperate times call for desperate measures. The skate did not fall off and Holtby stopped all four shots he faced to earn his first professional win. This prompted Dowd to tell the story of his first game which...actually didn't happen. Dowd was recalled by the Los Angeles Kings and told his family, rented a car, and then, "They call me after the game, after they just played, they were playing a back-to-back on the first half, and they go OK, we don't need you anymore so we're not going to call you up." Dowd then had to sheepishly tell his family that he actually wasn't getting called up. This story, however, has a happy ending as you could probably guess from the fact that he is still an NHL payer. "I come back and then two days later, they call me back up," he said, "But my first game ends up being in Minnesota which was pretty special because basically I went to school there, I've got a lot of buddies there and then Paige's whole family was from there so I have like 40 people at the game, Paige got to fly out and see it." Not to be outdone, Hathaway then shared his story of waiting inside an empty arena for over an hour for his first NHL game. When Hathaway was first recalled by the Calgary Flames, he had to meet the team in Philadelphia. "They said hey go to the rink and just wait in the stands until the team gets there," Hathaway said. "I sat in the stands in the rink for probably an hour and a half." Hathaway was eventually spotted by an equipment manager and was soon informed by head coach Bob Hartley that because of a trade the Flames had 12 forwards...including him and that he would be playing that night. "I'd been sitting in the stands an hour and a half just sitting there, staring at the rafters being like, where am I?" Hathaway said. And how did Hathaway even get into the building to sit in the stands? By asking Claude Giroux, whom he saw drive into the parking lot. Not knowing where to go, Hathaway asked the Flyer forward where the visiting team entrance was. "I'm surprised he didn't send you to a different building," Holtby said. As they say, you never forget your first.

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Who will win The Great One vs. The Great Eight Showcase? Oshie breaks it down

By J.J. Regan April 22, 2020 12:00 PM

Wayne Gretzky is the greatest hockey player to ever play the game, but how will he fair digitally? Alex Ovechkin will take on Gretzky in NHL 20 on Wednesday in The Great One vs. The Great Eight Showcase and T.J. Oshie provided the breakdown for who he thinks will walk away victorious. “I feel like Ovi probably plays more video games, so I’m probably going to give him the nod," Oshie said in a video conference Monday. It is hard to go against Gretzky in anything related to hockey, but Oshie makes a strong case here. While Ovechkin has said the NHL games are not his typical go-to while playing, it seems safe to say he has far more video game experience than the 59-year-old Gretzky. Of course, it ultimately doesn't matter who wins on Wednesday, it's all for a good cause. Gretzky and Ovechkin have become linked in recent years with Ovechkin climbing the all-time goals list nearing Gretzky's record of 894. Now the two are taking advantage of that for charity. "When I saw that on social media about a week ago, I thought it was really, really cool," Oshie said. "I don’t know who set it up, but it’s going to be really cool to see them go head to head. Gretzky’s goal record’s obviously way up there, but I think it’s a cool thing and I think it’s been fun watching Ovi trying to get to that number.”

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What is the Caps' best all-time Swedish lineup?

By J.J. Regan April 22, 2020 6:00 AM

Hockey fans from the capital of the United States tune in every game to cheer on a Capitals team led by a Russian superstar, an elite Swedish center and a Canadian goalie. Hockey truly is an international game with many players coming from all around the world to don those red sweaters. We know who some of the best Capitals were, but what if you separated the players by their native countries? Where have the best Capitals players really come from? Let's look at some of the best players in franchise history to determine what the best lineup is (two wings, one center, two defensemen and one goalie). For the second installment, we are looking at the best Swedes to play for Washington. One quick note to start, incredibly, the Caps have never had a Swedish goalie between the pipes. There have been enough top Swedes, however, that it seemed a shame not to write out an article for the remaining skaters so this is the only group that will not include a netminder. Forwards Bengt-Ake Gustafsson - Nicklas Backstrom - Andre Burakovsky Backstrom is the given here. He is one of the best players in franchise history, period. Gustafsson is also an easy call with 629 games with Washington in which he amassed 196 goals and 359 assists. He ranks eighth in franchise history in assists and seventh total points with 554, only two behind Dale Hunter's 556. The tough part was finding that second winger. Ultimately I was torn between Burakovsky and Marcus Johansson. Johansson is primarily a center, but he played primarily on the wing in Washington so I felt it fair to consider him here. Johansson played in Washington longer than Burakovsky and amassed more points, but I think overall Burakovsky is the more skilled player of the two. He just struggled to play with any sort of consistency. If I'm being honest, I am also swayed greatly by a two-goal performance in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final in 2018. Johansson was a skilled player and scored a series-clinching overtime goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2017, but that does not carry nearly the same significance as what Burakovsky did to Tampa Bay. Defensemen Calle Johansson - Peter Andersson The first answer is obvious. The only defenseman with more points with the Capitals than Johansson is John Carlson. That's it, that's the list. He played 15 great seasons for Washington. While Johansson is an obvious choice, trying to find a second defenseman was a bit tougher. In the history of the franchise, only four Swedish defensemen have played more than 100 games for Washington and Christian Djoos is one of them despite what felt like a brief stint with the NHL squad. Playing fewer than 100 games is not an automatic deal- breaker, it depends more on a player's impact, but obviously it becomes harder to have an impact on your team the fewer games you play so there are not many others to consider here. In the end it came down to Andersson and Djoos and I'll go with Andersson. Andersson played three seasons for the Caps and netted the team a third-round draft pick when he was traded to Quebec. He was also very active with the Swedish National Team with two goals, one silver and one bronze medal in the World Championship and one Olympic bronze. The real takeaway here is that while Sweden has produced two of the franchise's best players in Backstrom and Johansson, the country is not a pipeline the franchise has tapped into all that much in its history.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.23.2020 1174027 Winnipeg Jets Hawerchuk is currently on medical leave as head coach of the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League. He's talked to his young players recently, including those who had their final year of eligibility come to a sudden halt without completion of the regular-season or playoffs. Hawerchuk thankful for small victories "It's a tough finish for them. But when I talk to these kids I tell them hockey's great, we love it, we miss it. But it's not the world. This is the world," he said. "I think about the non sports fan as he opens up his By: Mike McIntyre computer and they're talking about maybe playing sports. Guys gotta be Posted: 04/22/2020 7:00 PM thinking are these people nuts, I can't even go to my job or I'm out of business and going broke. And these guys are talking about sports? I'm all about trying to get the economy going here, but we've got to be careful." As the long, painful days began to pile up, melting into weeks and then months, Dale Hawerchuk kept moving the goalposts. For those having trouble seeing the light right now, with seemingly so much darkness in the world around us, Hawerchuk offers up some hope At first, the Winnipeg Jets legend just wanted to live to see one more based on his own lived experience. Christmas. Next, a family birthday early in the new year. Then, his own big day, celebrated earlier this month when he began his 58th trip around "I've been quarantined for eight months, and I was sick a lot during that the sun. And now, a milestone he feared might never come, with his final time. I'll say this, it can be done. You can do it. You change your habits, scheduled treatment for stomach cancer finally in the rear-view mirror. you do different things you might not have done before. It kind of broadens your horizons a little bit. But there's worse things that can be The Canadian Press happening," he said. "When I was diagnosed last August, you're thinking, 'Man, that's a long "The mental part of it is tough, I get it. You just need some little victories. road.' When I first thought of it, it felt like a death sentence. But the more And then when you go through a tough part, you know you've had a I looked into it, the more people I talked to, the more I realized this was a victory before and you can have a victory again. That's what got me battle you could win. It was like competing again," Hawerchuk told the through it. My first week after chemo treatment was a killer. I dreaded it. Free Press Wednesday in a telephone interview from his Ontario home. But once I got through a couple of them I was like 'Hey I can do this.' The NHL Hall of Famer underwent two months of debilitating More and more small victories eventually become a big victory." chemotherapy last fall, which led to enough progress that he was able to undergo surgery to remove his entire stomach on Jan. 6. Once he was recovered enough from that, two more months of chemotherapy began, Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 04.23.2020 with the last round on April 13. He gets his feeding tube removed on Thursday and goes for scans next month, which will hopefully bring positive news. "It feels to be good at this point. I don't think this a battle will ever be over, but life's a battle," said Hawerchuk, who credited family, friends, strangers and the global hockey community for cheering him on from the sidelines. "There were times I felt down and out, where I didn't really know if I could do it anymore. But the support really helped push me through the dark days," he said. One thing Hawerchuk never envisioned was getting through cancer treatments just as a pandemic was sweeping the globe. But that's the current reality of COVID-19, which made the last stages of his treatment risky given his compromised immune system. Hawerchuk said his own eye-opening medical experience has given him new appreciation for the dedication and sacrifice being made right now by front-line workers, especially those in health care. "They're in a battle, there's no question. We're all thankful for what they do. Not only them, but all the people that are working out there, who get up every morning and go to work. Those people are at the forefront now. They're the lifeblood of our society," said Hawerchuk. Always a straight shooter on the ice, Hawerchuk pulled no punches Wednesday in talking about how we got to this stage -- and what it's going to take to get out of it. He feels the world was too slow to react to what was happening, especially here in North America. "I hate to say it, but we all got caught with our pants down on this one," he said. "Even when it hit , nobody really started worrying. Nobody seemed to have the foresight, and there's something wrong with that. It's like we're all caught up in our own little worlds." As much as he'd enjoy seeing sports return, Hawerchuk isn't holding his breath on that happening anytime soon, nor does he understand why pro leagues including the NHL aren't coming to the same conclusion. "There's going to be no sports until they get a vaccine or a cure. It's impossible to do. Why they're talking otherwise is beyond me," said Hawerchuk, who doesn't think playing in empty rinks or stadiums should even be an option at this point. "If one person gets infected on a team, the whole league's compromised. At some point, enough's enough. This is where the world has got to wake up. I think I'd have more respect for the NHL and all these leagues if they said 'You know, we're done for this year,'" he said. "Hopefully next year they can get something going, but I'm not seeing training camp in September. The potential to compromise the whole league from one person is so prevalent. I understand they want to get the revenue, but let's think about the pandemic." 1174028 Winnipeg Jets The support from around the hockey world, tons of it coming from Manitoba, were like assists on his biggest winning goal.

“You’ve got to have a great attitude for it,” he said. “And I’ve always been 'Thank God I'm finished': Hawerchuk puts cancer treatments behind him competitive.” But he hasn’t always been as mindful as he is now. Paul Friesen In that way, Hawerchuk figures he’ll come out of this better than he was. April 21, 2020 6:28 PM CDT “Some days are better than others,” he said. “But I sure appreciate when I see that sun pop over the rise every morning. There was a time I couldn’t drink coffee, but now I’ll have a small coffee just to enjoy that.” He lit the lamp more than 500 times over his Hall of Fame NHL career, It’s the little things that are worth noticing. The big things, a bonus. but there was no feeling quite like ringing that bell. “When you wake up, it’s refreshing,” is how Hawerchuk put it. “You start Last week, Dale Hawerchuk completed his last round of chemotherapy to realize that everything we’ve had was such a privilege. We take that treatments in his fight against stomach cancer. privilege for granted too often. The cancer’s helped me realize that a bit. But this coronavirus is also going to help, not only me, but everybody. “Two thoughts,” the former Winnipeg Jets captain, at home in King City, Ont., said, Tuesday. “One, thank God I’m finished. And two, man it’s “We can’t take so many things for granted anymore.” gonna be a rough week. A fourth round of chemo, your body’s already beaten up, you’re going into your fourth round in two months and you Hockey’s return not so Ducky know you’re going to have a rough week. It’s good to have hope, but when it comes to hockey, Dale Hawerchuk “But that week’s passed and I’m feeling a lot better.” doesn’t hold out much. This time, there won’t be just one more week of rest, followed by yet The pragmatist in him just doesn’t see the NHL returning this season, or another round of what Hawerchuk calls “the good poison.” even next. He’s reached the end of a long, rough road that also saw doctors remove “Sports are a long way off, now,” Hawerchuk said. “I don’t see anybody his entire stomach and part of his colon. playing any kind of sport here for quite a while. We’re going to go to training camps with 50 guys? Until there’s some kind of cure or vaccine, “It was like a sandwich plan: two chemos around a surgery,” Hawerchuk it’s going to be impossible. It’s great to hang onto the hope, but let’s have said. “You look back on it, eight months ago, and it’s like, ‘Man, I’ve done the foresight to see what’s coming here. We already missed that.” that journey.’ It seemed like a big, uphill battle at the time.” Hawerchuk is amazed a world as smart as ours was caught basically The battle was marked with exhaustion from the chemo, plus other side unprepared for the pandemic. effects like numbness in his fingers, toes, his mouth and his nose. Restarting sports too soon would only compound the mistakes. His outlook now, though, is far different than it was that day in August when he was first told what he was dealing with. And the Hockey Hall of Famer doesn’t see games in neutral sites in empty arenas working. His doctor had given it to him straight: the cancer was advanced, and this wasn’t going to be easy. He’d be removing not part of his stomach, but all “How you gonna do that with 31 teams?” he wondered. “Some teams of it. have got half their team in Europe and Russia. Some borders are closed, and then when they do get here you’ve got to quarantine them for two “You think it’s a death sentence at first,” Hawerchuk said. “Yeah, you’re weeks. I don’t see it happening. scared. Am I going to make it to Christmas? And then you realize, ‘Hey, this is beatable.’ A lot of people have beaten it.” “So if people can’t go, and you’re worried about the almighty dollar, where’s it going to come from? It would have to be all TV sponsors. But Getting that message out is why Hawerchuk has been so open about his the minute somebody gets sick, then it’s all compromised.” fight. Hawerchuk is hoping society remakes itself in the wake of the pandemic, If his story inspires another cancer patient, it’s worth every excruciating from how much we rely on imported food to what we value. public minute. “I would hate to see mankind just jump back into the old ways,” he said. “I “Maybe there’s somebody out there that reads it and says, ‘Hey man, I’m think this is going to be a wake-up call.” gonna beat this.’ If you can help somebody, why not?” he said. “People have helped me my whole life. Not just with the cancer. I’m not going to go run and hide now.” Winnipeg Sun LOADED 04.23.2020 Helping people again is what Hawerchuk looks so forward to, as a coach – he’s on a leave of absence from the Ontario Hockey League’s Barrie Colts – as a public speaker, as a father. His wife Crystal, whom he met in Winnipeg, and two kids, Alexis and Ben, are living with him, while Eric, a pro golfer, has returned to Phoenix. “It feels like a huge step,” Eric said of his dad’s final treatment. “We don’t know for sure that everything is gone yet. But when he was diagnosed in August, the plan was to get to where he is now. My mom has been doing everything for him so I’m also relieved for her.” Compounding the family’s concern was the pandemic, and what effect that might have on Hawerchuk’s treatments. Doctors left his feeding tube in, even though he hasn’t used it since December, just in case he had a setback. They didn’t want to worry about scheduling a surgery to re-install it. The tube, which kept him alive when he couldn’t eat, should come out later this week. At the end of May he’ll undergo scans, then meet with his doctor in early June to find out where he stands. One of the best things about his recovery is one of those simple things we take for granted: he enjoys eating again. “Six months ago, I didn’t think that was going to happen,” Hawerchuk said. 1174029 Vancouver Canucks who wants you,” said Markstrom. “I think Ian Clark is one of the best in the world.

“To work with him every day is a privilege. He expects a lot from you, but Ben Kuzma: Loyalty a two-way contract street for Canucks, Markstrom I really like that. That’s when I push myself to become better. “I’m very comfortable in Vancouver for sure. In my mind I want to stay — that’s my goal. And this season isn’t over yet. We want to push to the BEN KUZMA playoffs and give the people something to cheer for and that’s 100 per cent of my mindset. I’m still a Canuck and proud of that.” April 22, 2020 5:34 PM PDT However, empathy for the COVID-19 crisis dominates Markstrom’s mindset. Sweden initially took a more open approach to physical The Vancouver Canucks are banking on long-standing trust to help distancing — restaurants, schools and pubs remained open — but secure netminder Jacob Markstrom to a contract extension. positive-test cases have spiked. The Vancouver Canucks are banking on long-standing trust to help Markstrom isn’t skating, but works with his trainer to stay mentally and secure netminder Jacob Markstrom to a contract extension physically sharp. And being a good global citizen is as important as being a standout goalie. Loyalty is a two-way street void of red lights and stop signs. “With all the other stuff, hockey has not become that important and is As the novel coronavirus pandemic continues to push a possible kind of secondary,” said Markstrom. “Seeing the hospitals and what all resumption of the NHL season into July — creating complicated the front-line workers do and I especially follow Vancouver very closely. scheduling and host city site scenarios to play in empty arenas to recoup lost revenues — the Vancouver Canucks are banking on long-standing “Businesses are struggling and people are losing family members, so it trust to help secure netminder Jacob Markstrom to a contract extension. (contract) is definitely taking a back seat with everything that’s going on. I want everybody to come out of this.” And even though the salary cap ceiling could remain at US$81.5 million, and not increase to $84-$88 million as forecast two days before the Markstrom’s countrymen have been skating in Sweden, but he believes season was placed on pause March 12, mutual admiration and respect there’s enough understanding to keep COVID-19 numbers from rapid between the Canucks’ goaltender and the franchise has never wavered. escalation. That has been the mantra in Vancouver since distancing edicts were put in place last month. Can that help get a deal done with the 30-year-old unrestricted free agent, who has been the Canucks’ most valuable player this season and On Wednesday, B.C. health officials reported 71 new positive-test cases is fully recovered from a February knee injury? to boost the provincial total to 1,795. There are 46 patients in intensive care and three new deaths have raised the total to 90. On the “It plays a part,” general manager Jim Benning said Wednesday. “We’re encouraging side, 1,079 have fully recovered from COVID-19. trying to establish a culture here and we’ve taken steps in the right direction. And Jacob is a big part of that with how hard he competes and “With the rules of the lockdown, they (citizens) have a little longer leash how well liked he is in the room. than other countries,” said Markstrom. “People are still working here and you do see people out and about. But everybody is smart about it. We’re “It’s been a difficult year for him with his father getting sick and having to all grown up and professionals. Everybody has to be responsible.” leave the team and then going back home again when (his father) passed. And playing out the last year of his contract isn’t easy and that Markstrom took the same approach with a meniscus tear suffered in a says a lot about the person and his character.” wild 9-3 triumph over the Boston Bruins on Feb. 22 at . Jacob Marksrom is resting and rehabbing in Sweden during the In an early first-period breakaway, David Pastrnak scored on a deke that stoppage. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck / PNG forced Markstrom to stretch in an extended fashion. He felt some knee discomfort in the second period and more in the third. Under normal circumstances, Markstrom’s expiring $3.6 million cap hit would get a bigger boost here or in free agency, but today’s NHL is far “I felt it was a little stiff and with 10 or 15 minus left, I told the guys to start from normal. If the season is totally scuttled, the $1 billion in lost revenue blocking some shots because the knee wasn’t feeling too good,” recalled will escalate escrow for players and put many teams in cap hell. Markstrom, who finished with 34 saves and was running on post-game adrenalin. “I wasn’t sure what it was, but it wasn’t anything major that we Markstrom ranks with Robin Lehner, ($5M cap hit) and Braden Holtby couldn’t fix. The timing wasn’t the best going for the playoffs.” ($6M), but cash-strapped teams can’t buck up for top UFA stoppers. Even the term-for-salary exchange would be moot. Who would want to However, on a long flight to Montreal the next day, the knee tightened sign longer for less money and then see the league’s hockey-related right up. revenue rebound? “I didn’t get better at all,” said Markstrom. “I woke up the next day and felt What is seldom in doubt is being in the right place at the right time. like we needed to take an image to make sure that we don’t ruin it anymore. I was hoping it was nothing and something I could play In the AHL, Markstrom was often labelled the best goalie not playing in through.” the NHL. In Utica, N.Y., he backstopped the Comets to the 2015 Calder Cup Final. In Vancouver, he got the roster nod over Eddie Lack, who Markstrom didn’t practise on the Feb. 24 NHL trade deadline and the needed a new contract and was dealt at the 2015 draft. team called it a maintenance day. He flew back to Vancouver for an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and then had a minor procedure to Markstrom has embraced guidance from goalie coaches Rollie stabilize the knee. The recovery goal was four weeks. Melanson, Dan Cloutier and Ian Clark and has matured as a player and person. His once-prickly relationship with the media transitioned into a “Everything went smooth and I didn’t have a bad day in rehab,” said unanimous selection as the club’s Masterton Trophy nominee last Markstrom. “My goal was to play in California in one of those back-to- season as the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, back games (March 20-21).” sportsmanship and dedication. OVERTIME — Benning had exploratory discussions with Colin Campbell, All that was tested Feb. 18. The Canucks and Markstrom’s camp agreed NHL director of hockey operations, on Wednesday about Vancouver to table extension talks until the end of this season. In a perfect world, a being a possible site to host games should the season resume in July. deal would have been done before the season was paused. Reports have listed Edmonton as the preferred Pacific Division location. “I would have like to have a long-term deal and know what I’m going to do for a few years,” Markstrom said Wednesday during a video Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.23.2020 conference call from his native Sweden. “But that’s not the case right now and hopefully we get back playing. “It’s been a while since I’ve been left without a contract, but I’ve been in this situation before. There are obviously uncertainties now with what nobody could predict.” One certainty is mutual respect. “Every player wants to play on a team that helps you as you come up in the system and the league, so obviously, you want to play for somebody 1174030 Vancouver Canucks A Lions spokesman said via email the team isn’t commenting on refund requests but did pass along a message it sent to season ticket holders last week that offered deferral of payments: Patrick Johnston: Canucks, Whitecaps address ticket-refund options due “We recognize the significance of the impact that COVID-19 has had on to COVID-19 chaos all of our lives. We believe it is important to extend the same support to our fans that they have shown us as season ticket holders and ensure they have flexibility on their accounts and payment plans. PATRICK JOHNSTON “In a most recent example of this commitment, we extended an opportunity to season ticket holders to defer any payments owing. April 22, 2020 4:11 PM PDT Tickets for any postponed home games will be valid for rescheduled game dates, once those dates are confirmed. Two of Vancouver's three major sports teams have acknowledged they “This situation is fluid and as changes develop, we will communicate with are entertaining refund requests due to the COVID-19 outbreak our season ticket holders and partners immediately. Our No. 1 priority continues to be the safety and well-being of our tremendous fans.” Sports fans in Los Angeles are suing Major League Baseball, Ticketmaster — the biggest seller of event tickets in North America — and StubHub (the ticket-resale website) for not providing refunds on Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.23.2020 tickets that are likely never to be used. A fan in Wisconsin has sued StubHub for not issuing him a refund on tickets to a Minnesota Wild versus Winnipeg Jets game. The key word is “cancellation.” On Tuesday, Live Nation, the largest concert promoter in North America, confirmed it will only be issuing refunds on cancelled or officially rescheduled concerts and events. Vancouver’s three major sports teams all use Ticketmaster for single- game ticket sales and, as it stands, all are in limbo with their future schedules. Due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, and B.C.’s heath ministry’s restrictions against gatherings of more than 50 people — and the repeated suggestions from provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and provincial health minister Adrian Dix that social-distancing requirements are expected to remain in force until a vaccine is available some time next year — it’s just about certain that if the Vancouver Canucks, B.C. Lions or Vancouver Whitecaps play games in Vancouver this summer, it will be without fans in the stands. The Canucks have started offering refunds, but in limited terms, according to Canucks Sports and Entertainment COO Trent Carroll. “We look at each request on a case-by-case basis and want to do what’s right for our ticket buyers and fans,” Carroll said in an email. “At this point the NHL hasn’t cancelled games, but rather postponed them. Tickets will remain valid for rescheduled games. We’ve encouraged single-game ticket purchasers to hold on to their tickets while we await further information from the NHL. In some extenuating circumstances, we have helped with the process of refunding tickets, particularly for single-game ticket buyers who were travelling from out of town (spring break trips, etc). “But overall, we have not received too many refund requests as everyone awaits further clarity from the NHL on what will happen with the rest of the season.” Should the schedule change, Carroll said his team has been working on a variety of options for season-ticket holders. Those details will be announced once the NHL has announced its plans, he added. Last week, Major League Soccer said it was considering a number of possible schedule formats for whenever it was allowed to play again. The league’s preference would be to play the entirety of the remaining schedule, which was suspended like the rest of North American sports in mid-March. MLS officials are prepared to hold the MLS Cup championship in December or perhaps even early next year. Play won’t resume before June 8 at the earliest, the league has indicated. “Our goal remains to play as many games as possible, and while we currently have enough dates to play the entire season, we recognize at this time that it may become difficult to do so,” the league said in an April 14 statement. The most recent instalment of Whitecaps season-ticket payments were due last week, but the team offered to delay those payments upon request, a team spokesman noted in an email. Single-game ticket holders can request a refund at point of purchase, the team also indicated. And ticket holders for any games that are cancelled or are played without fans will be offered the choice of a credit or refund. The CFL has acknowledged its season kickoff will be delayed, too. 1174031 Vancouver Canucks that has consistently surrendered too many shots and scoring chances against, Markstrom has been a rock in the crease.

He’s built the resume of a top-15 NHL goaltender. At least. Arguably he Why a Jacob Markstrom deal will have to wait — even if both sides want belongs in the top 10. it done This is a must-have piece for the Canucks and they know it. Because of factors outside either parties control, what should be relatively straightforward — Markstrom wants to stay in Vancouver and the By Thomas Drance Canucks want to keep him — is now rather complicated. Apr 22, 2020 Facing a never-before-seen level of salary cap uncertainty, the Canucks believe it’s not prudent to commit significant cap dollars to any player until the rules of the road are apparent. Our understanding is that the Jacob Markstrom wants to stay with the Canucks. club’s preference is to wait and see what the environment looks like on the other side of this crisis prior to signing any players to significant one- “In my mind, I want to stay in Vancouver,” Markstrom said, rather way, long-term contracts. definitively on Wednesday. “In my mind, that’s my goal.” It’s a prudent posture, particularly as NHL and NHLPA leadership have He later added that he’s “super proud” to be a Canuck and “has no plans made it abundantly, repeatedly clear that everything is on the table. of leaving.” The Canucks’ careful conservatism on this front is probably wise, but it Truthfully, Markstrom’s preference to remain in Vancouver has been comes attached to some risks of its own, particularly considering crystal clear all season. And it was the most evident takeaway from a Markstrom’s All-Star level performance, his crucial importance to the conference call on Wednesday when the Canucks’ All-Star starting team and his stature in the Canucks dressing room. goaltender spoke with the media from his home in Sweden. As unpredictable as the market for free agent goaltenders can be — A pending unrestricted free agent, a potential Markstrom extension is particularly this offseason — Markstrom is going to have options. And subject to a rare degree of uncertainty — part of the domino effect of the while remaining in Vancouver is his preference, it’s essential to make COVID-19 global public health crisis. sure star-level players feel respected. As anyone who watched ESPN’s “The Last Dance” documentary about Michael Jordan and the Chicago The NHL has essentially shut down while the world grapples with the Bulls can tell you, impatience over contract negotiations can foster raw virus. A league that was projecting to generate an additional billion emotions in professional sports. dollars in revenue between March and June of this year has effectively seen that projection drop to zero (or thereabouts). Ultimately it’s one thing to say that a player is a top priority, but at some point in contract talks, it becomes less about words and more about While there’s optimism that hockey could return this summer, no one action. knows for sure whether the league will actually be able to resume play or even start the 2020-21 campaign on time. Until the NHL has a better “Jacob has consistently said that he’d like to be in Vancouver and finish grasp on those key facts, there’s no way to confidently project what the his career there. He has been very clear on this,” said Markstrom’s agent salary cap will look like going forward. Pat Morris of Newport Sports Management in a brief conversation with The Athletic on Wednesday afternoon. That level of uncertainty shapes all league business, particularly where pending free agents are concerned. There’s still a few one-way deals “When you want to be somewhere, you’re willing to be flexible, but with being signed — seven such deals for NHL-level players have been that said he’s also very proud of what he’s accomplished, particularly signed and approved since play was suspended indefinitely in mid-March over the last two seasons,” Morris continued. “Vancouver means a lot to — but the unique uncertainty of this moment has caused what’s usually a him, the city does, the team does and the organization does and he feels steady stream of contract extensions for key players at this time of year a relationship with the fans. This is where he became a No. 1 goaltender. to slow to a trickle. He’s hopeful that there can be more certainty for Vancouver to make a decision.” “It’s not easy,” Markstrom said, in discussing the uncertainty of his status. “Hockey doesn’t seem so important with everything that’s going on For Jim Benning and the Canucks, however, that decision won’t be around the world. I would’ve liked to have a long-term deal and know rushed. Patience is paramount at the moment. what I’m going to do for the next few years here but that’s not the case right now. “We’re in a holding pattern right now,” Benning told The Athletic on Wednesday. “Everybody is. There’s so many unknowns — are we going “It is what it is, right now nobody knows what’s going to happen,” to play and finish off this season? And if we do, then that money goes to Markstrom continued. “Hopefully we get back playing, even next year the cap and impacts that next year. There’s too many unknowns to try with cap hits and that stuff. Hockey is kind of secondary. It’s been a while and figure it out … since I was left without a contract but I’ve been in this situation before …” “I don’t know what the cap is going to look like next year,” Benning Markstrom noted at length that he’s keeping his situation in perspective. continued. “When we have a better idea, Jacob is an important player in He expressed a clear, admirable awareness that the professional our group. We’re trying to build a culture here and he fits into it, a uncertainty he’s facing pales in comparison with the sacrifices of front competitive, hardworking guy. He’s one of the leaders of our team. We line healthcare workers. And with the unprecedented human suffering of want to try and figure out a contract for him, but with everything that’s those afflicted by the virus worldwide. And with the day-to-day anxieties going on, we need to be patient. that small businesses and regular people are struggling with as they try to make ends meet. “Once some things get figured out, we’ll go at him hard and try to figure out some sort of a deal.” It’s a healthy way of looking at things. Thoughtful, humane and typical of Markstrom. And so both sides, like the rest of us, are in that “holding pattern.” Kept apart. Until there’s an obvious way forward for the league, though, Markstrom is left in a state of limbo. The Canucks have taken the stance that they’re unable to proceed with negotiating a Markstrom extension — or any significant one-way deals — From the Canucks’ perspective, make no mistake: Markstrom is their top until the path forward is more clearly illuminated. Frankly, that’s probably offseason priority. The club has a lot of work to do whenever the season the right approach. ends to flesh out their depth, try to retain another key pending unrestricted free agent in Tyler Toffoli and walk a salary cap tightrope It’s fair to wonder, though, as the likes of Joonas Korpisalo and Marco made even more precarious by the financial ambiguity the virus has Scandella sign multi-year contracts with other organizations, whether introduced. Vancouver’s cautious approach risks frustrating a core piece of their puzzle. Patience, after all, is an asset that sometimes needs to be From Vancouver’s vantage point, though, Markstrom isn’t just a player managed. they’d prefer to keep. He’s a player they absolutely need. The most likely outcome remains that the two sides will eventually get a Markstrom wasn’t just an All-Star, he was the team’s consensus MVP. deal done. That when all of this is over, Markstrom will remain with the Over a run of form that’s now extended for 18 months and is based on Canucks. meaningful, sustainable technical enhancements to his game, Markstrom has been nothing short of remarkable. Even as he’s backstopped a club Still, it would be a mistake to assume that it’s an inevitability. Even once the NHL environment returns to a state more closely approximating normal, there’s a tough negotiation ahead.

The Athletic LOADED: 04.23.2020 1174032 Vancouver Canucks Money section dings the 2019-20 team a bit unfairly, since concepts like a buried cap hit for an American League player or the concept of recapture were products of the 2013 NHL/NHLPA collective bargaining agreement and didn’t exist in 2010-11. Three cap allocation lessons the Canucks can learn from the 2011 team With all of that said, here’s how the 2010-11 and the 2019-20 Canucks allocated their cap space: By Thomas Drance Canucks Cap Allocation: 2011 and 2020 Apr 22, 2020 First line 28.90% It’s taken the better part of 10 years, but the 2010-11 Vancouver 18.80% Canucks are having something of a moment. Second Line What began in earnest throughout the Canucks’ 50th-anniversary celebration, has snowballed in recent weeks. The 2010-11 Canucks have 11.90% been featured frequently in classic game replays on Sportsnet in recent 13.70% weeks and were the subject of an extensive must-read oral history from Elliotte Friedman. It seems like all of a sudden this juggernaut 2010-11 Third Line Canucks team – unloved until recently, especially relative to the 1994 Canucks despite their superior accomplishments – is cool again. 8.30% As the pain, the disappointment and the rancorous drama that 8.70% characterized the fading away of that team has receded into collective Fourth line memory, Canucks fans seem to be ready to recall the 2010-11 campaign with some fondness. Even more polarizing figures like Ryan Kesler and 4% , who were received warmly during Henrik and Daniel’s retirement ceremony, are now celebrated. And quite rightly. 9.70% Finally, it seems like Canucks fans are ready to remember the good First pair times, the willful, assertive dominance of that 2010-11 Canucks team, rather than focusing on the sordid way that June 15, 2011 – the most 10.70% cataclysmic evening in recent civic history – unfolded. 14.70% In reading about and considering that 2010-11 Canucks side this week, Second pair the thing I keep coming back to is their construction. This was a team led by a handful of star players who had already been paid. There were no 13.90% meaningful entry-level contracts. 7.40% Still, they had the requisite depth to compose the greatest team in Canucks’ franchise history. Third pair Can the current Canucks reach into the past and draw on any lessons as 7.15% they attempt to walk a cap allocation tight rope in the years ahead? 3.90% To answer that question, I figured I’d start by modelling it out. Goaltenders First, I built a data set for the 2010-11 Canucks (sourcing an archived 10.40% version of capgeek.com) and the 2019-20 Canucks (sourcing capfriendly.com) that grouped all forwards and defenders who appeared 5.80% in at least 10 games based on average even-strength ice time per game (“first line” “second line” “first pair” etc.). Using average ice time yields Depth some funky results – on the 2010-11 team Kesler is considered to be a 9.90% first liner, even though he rarely played with Henrik and Daniel at even- strength, while the 2019-20 Canucks first line is composed of Horvat, J.T. 10.40% Miller and Tyler Toffoli – but it’s the most straightforward way to determine things, considering how often coaches juggle their lines game Dead Money to game. 0.001 Secondly, I priced out each “group” based on the percentage of salary cap space that their contracts – based on the AAV, not the salary level – 7.80% took up collectively. Henrik ($6.1 million), Daniel ($6.1 million) and Kesler A few things are worth noting here off the bat. The 2010-11 Canucks ($5 million) aren’t represented as $17.2 million, but as 28.9 percent of the were a very top-heavy forward group with a significant level of $59.4 million salary cap upper limit. I took this approach because $17.2 differentiation in the salary level between the most highly used forwards, million doesn’t mean the same in a contemporary $81.5 million cap the middle-six group and fourth liners. The defenders, on the other hand, environment as it did back in 2010-11 when the upper limit was set were paid an exceptionally balanced amount. The 2010-11 Canucks had nearly 30 percent lower. six defenders on the roster that were paid in a narrow range between Finally, a few qualifiers. I utilized the rosters as they were set on the final $3.1 million and $4.5 million. That would show up more clearly in the day of the regular season for the 2010-11 Canucks and the day before table above, except that our criteria would consider Ballard to be a depth the suspension of the season for the 2019-20 Canucks. Injured players piece since Aaron Rome averaged more minutes per game at even were included in my accounting so long as they appeared in over 10 strength. games, as were players added at the trade deadline (players traded You’ll also notice that there’s much less differentiation in how Canucks away by the organization during the season were not included). Because forwards are compensated in 2019-20 than there was in 2010-11. of long-term injured reserve and the like, if you sum up the percentages, Framed a different way, the 2010-11 Canucks spent 40.8 percent of their you’ll get a figure that’s above 100 percent. cap space on their top-six forwards and 12.3 percent on their bottom six. I also opted to keep the rosters to a standard 23-man roster limit, which That’s a sharp contrast with the 2019-20 Canucks, who allocated 32.5 meant cutting loose Lee Sweatt from consideration for the 2010-11 team percent of their cap space to their top-six and 18.4 to their bottom-six – a and Zack MacEwen from consideration for the 2019-20 team. Forwards much narrower gap. and defenders that qualified within the 23-man parameters, but were not On defense, it’s flipped. Where the 2010-11 Canucks had six defenders among the top-six defenders in ice time or the top-12 forwards are all in a narrow salary range, the current Canucks roster has a much more considered “Depth.” stratified internal cap structure among defenders. And I created a category that includes everything from buyout cap hits, to What are the key takeaways here? For me, there are three major ones: recapture penalties, to bonus overages, to buried money and called it, perhaps inelegantly “Dead Money.” As an important qualifier, the Dead 1. The Same Old Problem The Sedin twins signed significant extensions back in the summer of In 2010-11, most teams had relatively clean books. Now, just this past 2009 and immediately outperformed them. Shortly thereafter, Luongo season, between retained salary transactions, buyouts, recapture followed suit signing a 12-year mega-deal that is and remains the most penalties, buried salaries in the American League and the like, the NHL’s discussed player contract in Vancouver sports history. Kesler agreed to 31 member clubs closed the season with nearly $100 million tied up in his big extension in the spring of 2010. non-player cap space. The per-team average comes in at roughly $3.2 million, meaning Vancouver would be “average” if not for the $3 million Though the cap hits on all of the deals listed above were market value or Luongo recapture penalty. The Luongo penalty is a real thing though, an below for the level of performance those players provided, the fact immovable, inconvenient, cap sapping object for the Canucks to contend remains that the top end of Vancouver’s roster was pricey. At a $6.1 with through the 2021-22 season. million cap hit apiece, Henrik and Daniel’s contracts each took up more than 10 percent of the $59.4 million salary cap upper limit that the NHL The fact remains that only three teams in the NHL ended the season with played under in 2010-11. The equivalent cap hit today would come in at more “dead money” on the books than Vancouver: Los Angeles, Carolina roughly $8.4 million. (mostly because they bought out Patrick Marleau’s 35+ contract and got a first-round pick for their trouble) and New Jersey (who made a flurry of And yet, year over year, even as their star players improved and got retained salary cap transactions at the deadline). And next season, the significant raises, the Canucks were able to continue to fill in the depth Canucks will be adding a roughly $1.7 million bonus overage penalty around them. because Hughes and Pettersson maxed out their Schedule A bonuses. It took an army. Depending on the final accounting of the bonus overages, how things In the summers of 2009 and 2010 and at the 2011 NHL trade deadline, unfold with Sven Baertschi over the summer and any potential ordinary the Canucks were able to add a handful of contracts to their books, course buyouts the team elects to exercise, the Canucks will carry at without sending money out, by trade or through free agency. Players like least $5.7 million in dead cap space as a result of Luongo recapture, the Christian Ehrhoff, Dan Hamhuis, Mikael Samuelsson, Manny Malhotra, Ryan Spooner buyout and their bonus overages. It seems likely that the Chris Higgins and Raffi Torres completely reshaped the blue line and total will ultimately be higher. Vancouver’s forward depth on contracts that provided significant surplus The good news for the Canucks is that once they hurdle the two value. Players like , eh, not so much. remaining seasons of Luongo recapture penalties, there are no extended As I considered this anew over the past week, it occurred to me that the commitments beyond 2022. There’s likely to be some bonus overages task the Canucks faced a decade ago isn’t too different from the one they this season and next (perhaps significant ones if Pettersson hits his face today. In 2009 and 2010, the Canucks were facing a glut of tough Schedule B bonuses), but with some discipline and careful planning, they negotiations with star-level players: Henrik and Daniel in 2009, Luongo should have clean books by the time that Hughes and Pettersson both and Kesler in 2010. The task was a difficult one. The team essentially enter their statistical prime. had to figure out how to continue to improve and flesh out a high-quality That has to be a priority for the Canucks. They simply can’t afford to be blue line, while also keeping that core group together. among the league leaders in cap space allocated to non-player penalties One can draw a straight conceptual line from that decade-old quandary and the like as their top players become significantly more expensive. to the one facing Jim Benning and company in the coming years. The Canucks are looking down the barrel of an environment where the club still needs to improve their depth and their blue line but has an enviable The Athletic LOADED: 04.23.2020 top-end core group all of whom are due raises, albeit over a more elongated timeline: Jacob Markstrom in 2020, Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson in 2021, Brock Boeser in 2022 and Bo Horvat in 2023. How the franchise navigated this problem 10 years ago was key to building a Cup contender. How they navigate it now will define the future of the Pettersson/Hughes era. 2. Quality depth Based on the percentage of cap space allocated to their third line forwards, there’s not much to separate the Canucks in 2010-11 (8.3 percent) and 2019-20 (8.7 percent) in cap terms. Where the difference shows up is in the quality of their play. Using on-ice 5-on-5 goal differential as a quick and dirty method of comparison, the 2010-11 Canucks third liners (Higgins, Malhotra and ) outscored opponents by an average of five goals per skater, while the 2019-20 Canucks third liners (Jake Virtanen, Brandon Sutter, Josh Leivo) combined for an even goal differential at 5-on-5. The 2019-20 fourth line took up 2.5 times the amount of cap space as the 2010-11 fourth line, but the 2010-11 fourth liners (Jeff Tambellini, Maxim Lapierre, Torres) outscored opponents at even-strength by an average of four goals per skater at 5-on-5, while the 2019-20 fourth line (Tyler Motte, Loui Eriksson, Adam Gaudette) was outscored by an average of 7.3 goals per skater. We know that the top end of the Canucks current roster can do serious damage. It is arguably already as good as any in the league and can reasonably be expected to continue to develop and improve in the years ahead. At the bottom end of the Canucks’ forward ranks though, the club desperately needs to raise the floor level of performance while also cutting costs in the years to come. Without it, the Canucks cannot take that next step, much less develop into a team capable of accomplishing the one thing the 2010-11 team couldn’t. 3. Critical for the Canucks to avoid adding any additional ‘dead money’ I’m not going to harp on the “dead money” difference between the 2010- 11 and 2019-20 Canucks too much. It’s an unfair comparison because of how much the NHL’s rules of the road have changed in the intervening nine years. The vast majority of the dead money on the 2019-20 Canucks books is the result of devices in the collective bargaining agreement that didn’t exist in 2010-11 – including a punitive recapture penalty on the Luongo deal. 1174033 Websites after the Canucks got to use that draft pick, how fair is that to the Devils that they have to wait for the 2021 draft to get that asset?

Holding the draft before the season resumes would be a draft devoid of The Athletic / LeBrun: The pros and cons of the NHL still holding the draft player trades. You could make trades involving draft picks, but not in June players for obvious reasons with the playoffs around the corner. So from a fan perspective, that would dilute the entertainment. From a team perspective, it would take away an important tool at draft time. As By Pierre LeBrun one team executive pointed out, using Tampa Bay as an example, the Lightning are going to be up against the cap this offseason and would Apr 22, 2020 normally use the draft to make a trade or two to address their cap situation while also getting a draft pick or two in the process out of it. But under this scenario, the Lightning would have to make those moves after It was a bombshell revelation in the NHL news cycle, though one not the summer playoffs are over and the draft has already been held. My necessarily met with universal praise. counter to that would be that Tampa would have to settle for trading for 2021 draft picks, but I understand why that’s less appealing. A day after the league told GMs on a call that it was considering holding the draft in June before a possible season resumption in July, it was very One team executive also pointed to Montreal as another example. much the talking point of the industry. They’ve got 14 draft picks this year. No doubt, the exec says, that the Canadiens would have tried to flip some of those picks for roster help at I reached out to front office sources on 25 different NHL teams the draft. Under this scenario, they wouldn’t be able to do that. Montreal’s Wednesday, and I would say the negative feedback outweighed the best play if the draft is held before the season resumes would be quantity positive but there were also many mixed responses. for quality in a picks-only deal, trading up in the draft. And I will be the first to admit that at first blush I loved the idea of a draft On the flip side, there were other teams executives Wednesday who saw before the summer playoffs. I’ve often accused the league of not thinking the positives in the proposed June draft before the season resumes: outside the box enough and being too conservative. But as I put more thought into it, I could also start to see the perils in it. “Brilliant idea,” is what one team exec said, pointing to the idea of using the draft as a launching point to bring hockey back into the public There are pros and cons. consciousness. “On the positive side, for the scouting fraternity, the players are still fresh “I get what they’re trying to do, stay relevant during this time,” said on their minds from the last time period players were scouted,” said another team exec. “Plus, when do you fit the draft in? If this season veteran Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill. “If you go too long, Images of players resumption keeps getting pushed back and pushed back, when do you fit are going to become ‘less clear’ over time. On the downside, many it all in? So I have no problem with the idea to go in June.” obstacles to overcome in regards to lottery, trades contingent on playoffs, a lottery team potentially winning the Stanley Cup that is played later in Another team executive didn’t hesitate. He very much liked the idea. the summer/fall after picking high in the draft. There is going to be no perfect resolution to any decisions the league as a whole has to make on “I think it is great for the health of the league to have the draft in June,” all scenarios as we move forward in this new world. he said. “We are in a time of uncertainty and the league has done a very good job He said it was different and a change to a major event which is good for of analyzing all scenarios, with the welfare of all being priority No. 1, the league. “It gives hockey a chance to show some life, showcase itself which I am proud of,” added Nill. “They have shown great leadership.” and take centre stage,” he said. That’s great perspective from Nill, who understands that no matter what He also felt the long-term impact of pushing the draft to the fall is being the NHL comes up with, there will be no appeasing everyone. underestimated by some. But on this specific idea, there will be pushback. Agreed another team executive: “I’m fine with the idea. I don’t think we should be waiting until September.” “It’s the dumbest thing ever,” said one team executive. I’m sure the 2020 draft prospects agree. You know, the people that the “Don’t like it,” said another. “Too many draft decisions are based on how event is actually about. Those kids no doubt would rather know their NHL we evaluate our team’s performance in the playoffs.” fate in June as per normal rather than wait until some time in the fall. “I hate it,” said yet another. Overall, the No crowd outweighed the Yes crowd. So there’s a clear sense, I think, of how the idea has been received. The case against it: But I will end this piece with this thought: I have covered the NHL for 25 The likely mechanism would be to use points percentage in the years. One thing I have learned over time is that when the NHL standings at the season pause to figure out the teams in the draft lottery commissioner gets on a GM call and suggests an idea which is being and the rest of the draft order, a number of team executives told me considered, it’s normally a lot less about actually wanting to get feedback Wednesday. from the teams on it and more about warning them what is coming and to OK, but what if a team wins the draft lottery and picks third overall in start wrapping their minds around it. June and then when the puck drops in July that team gets hots in the Now, maybe this is different. Maybe because we are in unchartered regular season games that are held, squeezes into the playoffs and wins waters with the pandemic’s impact on life and sports making these types the Cup? So a team could pick top-five in June and then win the Cup in of decisions for the league so difficult. Perhaps Bettman and Daly really August or September? do want to gauge feedback before deciding whether or not to proceed (One GM asked that very question on the GMs call Tuesday, and the with this draft idea. answer from deputy commissioner Bill Daly was that yes that was If that’s true, then they already have their answer. possible albeit the odds of it happening are pretty unlikely). But if they already feel like it’s the right thing to do, and feel strongly That’s not the only issue, though. about it, then the discourse won’t matter. The playoffs determine a number of conditions attached to some draft The more the NHL thought about neutral sites, the more it realized over picks. Take Vancouver as an example. The Canucks traded their 2020 time that what made more sense is, in fact, using their own buildings as first-round pick last year to Tampa Bay in the J.T. Miller deal. That pick centralized sites. now belongs to New Jersey from the Blake Coleman trade before the deadline. The condition to the pick is that if the Canucks miss the playoffs NHL rinks would be better for TV, for starters, but also offer the better this season, that first-rounder goes to 2021 and Vancouver keeps its first- amenities needed to accommodate 3-4 NHL teams per city if the league rounder for this year. The Canucks right now are right on the bubble to goes this route. make the playoffs. What happens if the Devils use that first-round pick in a June draft but then Vancouver just misses out on making the playoffs in Again, as sources confirmed Wednesday, nothing firm is in place, but July? Too late to get that 2020 first-round pick back. And conversely, if playing in NHL rinks as centralized sites will be the way to go instead of it’s ruled that Vancouver gets to keep its 2020 first-rounder as a non-NHL rinks. preventative measure since the Canucks are on the bubble right now, Beyond that, be careful with all the speculation you’re going to hear over and Vancouver goes out and reaches the conference final two months the coming weeks. Yes, places like Buffalo, Minnesota, Edmonton all make sense as centralized sites because of the amenities but the reality is that the league, I believe, will come up with a list of 9-10 NHL cities and only end up using 4-6 of them because it has to wait and find out where the hot spots remain or emerge with the pandemic. But the idea of centralized NHL sites makes sense on many levels, including being able to play three games a day and lessen the travel for teams which will help eat up regular season games on the schedule more quickly. Come the playoffs? Again, nothing decided. But one idea has the first round of the playoffs based in four centralized NHL rinks, then perhaps go down to two sites for the second round and one site for the final two rounds. Nothing set in stone. But these are the type of things being discussed right now.

The Athletic LOADED: 04.23.2020 1174034 Websites If a player answered yes to question 2, 3, 5, or 6, I classified them as a “high-end” player. If they answered yes to question 1, 4, or 7, I classified them as a “very good” player. The Athletic / NHL Draft depth: When should a draft class be labeled With this experiment, I found on average between the six drafts I had an good – or bad? average of 9.7 high-end players and 14.7 very good players, making 24.3 combined. Thus, the definition conforms to the draft value curve used by Schuckers and others, which shows a steep drop around the 10 slot, and a flattening around the 25 slot. We can now answer the larger question. By Corey Pronman What is a good or bad draft? Apr 22, 2020 With help from Schuckers, we put together a table of “draft successes” from the 1998 to 2009 NHL Drafts, successes defined by the above One of the things I often think about as someone involved in the world of explanation of a player in the “high-end” or “very good” tier. With this data prospects is not simply understanding players and player evaluation, but I could answer a few questions: What does a deep draft look like? What understand the concept of the draft. does a poor draft look like? How deep is an average draft? What has frequently been on my mind for the past twelve months is Like above using just the 2004-09 drafts, adding the extra years back to understanding 1) What does it mean for a draft to be good or poor, and 1998 didn’t change the answer on the average draft. That number was 2) What is the right way to classify prospects in terms of the caliber of 24.3 successful players again, with the median being 24.5. their talent? What I learned from this is, despite the odd great year such as a 2003, In most studies, draft successes are defined by games played or points. and the odd poor year such as 1999, for the most part the other 10 drafts Games have the obvious limitation of not accounting for production, and had a very tight distribution of results. Nine of the 12 drafts had between points doesn’t take into account defensive value. I’ve always thought ice 21-to-26 successful players. It lends more evidence to my theory that time is the best single metric to use if you had the choice of only having most draft classes are indistinguishable from each other. one stat. Michael Schuckers, a professor of statistics at the University of Why does this matter? Context. It’s important to understand what a draft St. Lawrence, made a draft pick value chart based on ice time in a tends to look like. In this 12 year span, there was only one time, for player’s first seven seasons, and the curve looked similar to that with example, when more than twenty good forwards came out of a draft. So if games played. we get to the 50th pick of a draft, the 30th forward goes off the board and For the purpose of this article, I’m going to use ice time as my metric of someone tells you that players projects as a top-six forward, they may success. The reason why is it takes into account how much the coach not be wrong since players outside the top 40 do become good players, trusts a player offensively and defensively. Iain Fyffe described this more but it should be a statement approached with skepticism. clearly in his paper on Points Allocation, one of the original attempts at In my upcoming 2020 NHL Draft rankings, I will classify nine players as creating a Hockey Wins Above Replacement metric back in 2002. high-end or better, and 25 as very good or better, which happens to be I view the draft in four parts, illustrated below, with this value chart closely in line with historical averages. I also reserve the right to change coming from Schuckers research. that number in the coming weeks as I review! If someone were to bet me that projection would be very off, such as betting the very good number The first part is the very top of the curve, the truely “high-end” prospects, would be 30-plus, I would be happy to take that bet because that seems which shows rapidly decreasing marginal value across the first third of highly unlikely. the first round. The second part is what I call the “very good” prospects. There is still a noticeable decrease in marginal value across the slots but Understanding the standard trends of the draft is good for a reality check the curve is much less steep. The third part is what I refer to as “legit for someone like myself who evaluates players. As part of my process for prospects,” players who project to play games but likely in the bottom half putting together a draft list, I give an overall value to prospects based on of a lineup. In this section the line gets much flatter, with the value their tool grades, among other variables. It’s not how I make the list, but it between players getting almost indistinguishable. The fourth section is helps contextualize the talent pool. what I will call NHL prospects, players with some NHL tools who are This table shows Schuckers draft value chart with the values I’ve given to longshots. Even though the third and fourth sections don’t seem to show my top 100 skater prospects for the 2020 NHL Draft, scaled to 1000, as that much of a difference, eventually you reach a point where players are in Schuckers research, although mine is a three-point-moving average, not playing NHL games. so don’t read too much into the preciseness of the numbers. What is a good draft pick? The curves don’t look exactly the same and mine is much less smooth, With that setup in mind, the next step is to understand which players fall which is reasonable given my values are very subjective and not formed into those groups. Focusing on the top two groups for the time being, during thoughtful statistical research. With that said, both show steeply given that is where the bulk of the output is, my goal was to find a player declining value until about the 25 slot before the curves flatten out. I may definition that conformed to the sections of the draft value curve. argue there’s a couple more or fewer very good or high-end players in a given class than the average, but I think this calibration is important to The experiment I ran was to take the 2004-09 NHL Drafts and ask the make sure your evaluations look on the right track. following questions: What’s important when looking at where the value in the draft is, is to How many forwards played at least 15 minutes a night for at least five focus on just how different the top 20-25 picks, and especially the 10-15 seasons? picks, look from the rest of the draft. Hitting on those picks, or finding that caliber of player outside the top 15, is hugely important. The top 25 How many forwards played at least 18 minutes a night for at least five players in a draft is what is important, but the top 25 don’t tend to all go in seasons? the top 25. How many forwards played at least 20 minutes a night for at least five As I showed last year, a large chunk of defensemen and a larger chunk seasons? of forwards do, but plenty of great players get picked on Day 2 of the How many defensemen played at least 20 minutes a night for at least five draft. As shown in the draft value charts, the difference between 20 to 40 seasons? is not that significant, which is why I sometimes hear scouts refer to the top group and a range of players who could plausibly get into the top How many defensemen played at least 22 minutes a night for at least five group if certain aspects of their games improve. seasons? That is also why when I have discussions with scouts about players, for a How many defensemen played at least 25 minutes a night for at least five large part we are not discussing who we think is the 50th or 100th best seasons? player in a draft. Sure that comes up often enough due to the wide scope I cover, but for the most part the discussions are about 1) Who do you How many goaltenders played at least 50 games a season for at least really like, and 2) Who are players that others really like, that you don’t. five seasons? The discussions focus on who we are passionate about as potential top NHL players, and that is usually a small range of players. I chose these cutoffs to try and find consistent average or better NHL players, as well as consistent high-end NHL players. Arizona GM John Chayka framed it in a similar way, saying to The Athletic’s Craig Morgan, “The draft is our best chance to get the players that we can’t trade for or sign in free agency. The better the player and the more premium the position, the harder they are to acquire.” It is important to understand when discussing the draft, that when it comes to the number of players we are discussing that are truly going to help a franchise, it is an incredibly small amount – consistently about 25 successful players in a 217 player draft. The chances of one team rising above the rest and getting multiple top players is very small, barring you being the Ottawa Senators in 2020. If someone claims a draft is unusually deep, I would need to see quite a lot of evidence to believe them. It’s been my belief for some time that folks across the hockey , from fans to media to team personnel, tend to oversell the depth of drafts on a much more frequent basis than it merits. In my opinion, the best practice would be to approach any statement about a draft being very good or very poor ahead of time with skepticism, and to assume the talent pool is roughly 25 good players deep.

The Athletic LOADED: 04.23.2020 1174035 Websites NHL players are well-compensated, which can alleviate some economic turmoil, but they also face a constricted earning period, which can cause anxiety. The Athletic / Uncertainty clouds NHL’s future, so union puts players’ “(Players) have a very short period of time to earn a living,” Schneider mental health in focus said, “and potentially losing a big portion of that, it affects you in a different way.”

Take a player like Devils defenseman Connor Carrick, for example. He’s By Katie Strang 26 years old, playing on the biggest contract of his career – a two-year, $3 million deal – and when the season was halted, he felt he was finally Apr 22, 2020 starting to round back into form following an injury that sidelined him for more than two months. As the NHL entertains the multitude of scenarios under which play could Carrick explained that many athletes derive a sense of fulfillment and eventually resume, players are finding creative ways to connect with fans purpose in their careers, and have exhausted virtually every resource as all 31 teams stay idle. they have – time, money, energy – to thrive in a very niche role in society. If the average NHL career is between three to five years (as per There have been pictures of newly adopted puppies, news of newborns current NHLPA estimates) and you shave off 25 percent of that, that and glimpses into players’ day-to-day activities, which include their comes at a significant price, not just in a player’s earning power, but in means and methods of staying in peak physical shape. his opportunity cost for his future, too. Some have been more conventional, others unorthodox (see: Nico “That’s the time frame where we’re chasing a dream,” said Carrick of the Hischier’s pushups-to-backflip maneuver). But as players hunker down years most people devote to growing a career and building a family. “No and ponder what a protracted layoff can mean, their physical health will one is going to feel bad for you, but we certainly have put a lot of eggs in not be the only concern. this basket, and culturally, we’re not at a point of a ton of diversification just yet.” When will play resume? What will that look like? What risks might be associated with returning to the game for the players? Their families? Even if players wanted to take this time to diversify their skill set and The fans, arena workers and support staff that make it all possible? begin preparations for future post-playing endeavors, it’s not quite that easy. Resumption of play scenarios are simply too murky for players to And there’s another important question to consider: What impact will all lay much tangible groundwork such as taking time to go back to school or of this have on players’ mental health and emotional wellbeing? applying for internships, or something similar. “There are huge psychological, mental and emotional impacts for NHL players, and most professional athletes, are also deeply entrenched absolutely everybody, and professional athletes are included in the in routine. Whether it’s the game day regimens — morning skates, absolutely everybody,” said Kate Hays, a Toronto-based psychologist pregame nap, postgame protein drink, etc. — or offseason training, elite who specializes in performance and sports psychology. performers often find solace in fastidious adherence to these daily “In general, human beings are hard-wired to be social and to connect. methods of controlling their environment. Being separated for anybody is difficult … (and) if you add on to that This situation has thrown a wrench into all of that. somebody whose profession and sense of self is about being part of the team, it’s that much more strange and distressing and sometimes “If we’re all creatures of habit, I suggest elite pro athletes tend to be even overwhelming.” more creatures of habit because their day-to-day world is so structured,” said Joel Fish, a licensed sports psychologist who has worked with the This is not affecting the NHL in a vacuum. All major professional sports Philadelphia Flyers for almost two decades. are confronting the challenges and acute stressors created by the layoff. The NBA has been proactive in its outreach. According to a recent article Fish noted that when the NHL season was paused, there was little in USA Today, the NBPA’s director of mental health and wellness William warning or foresight. And not long after the league shut down, life as Parham and player wellness coordinator Keyon Dooling have had “daily most have known it changed completely, as well. It was both jarring and phone and texting conversations with players.” abrupt. The NHL Players’ Association is aware of the additional stress this “If you’re in the NHL, you’ve been moving 100 miles an hour without any situation is putting on its members and is trying to prepare them, as well. preparation for slamming on the brakes, forcing you to go from 100 miles Union leadership has connected with all 31 teams on conference calls, per hour to zero miles an hour overnight,” Fish said. “I think human keeping them informed and making clear what resources are available, nature is better able to deal with disruption when you know a week or two including access to teletherapy and programs facilitated through the or three in advance and were kind of able to mentally and emotionally Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program. prepare.” The NHLPA recognizes it’s a difficult time for all its members, some of With the NHLPA making professional help available to all of its members, whom are already battling mental health and/or substance abuse issues. teletherapy is a critical option for anyone dealing with the triggers of this Additionally, some players may start recognizing some of these signs for unsettling time period. It allows players the option of seeking professional the first time now while under such extreme stress and during such help from the comfort of their home. uncharted circumstances. Others who have been vocal in their own mental health advocacy have Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner, who has been one of the offered up additional tools to augment this effort. league’s leading advocates for mental health awareness and education, said that financial insecurity, potential loss of livelihood, and the stress Lehner has been vigilant about staying inside for the past month, abiding both can exert on family and relationship dynamics may compound and by nationwide social distancing guidelines. He has been mindful of the exacerbate these feelings. risk COVID-19 poses to his wife, who has asthma. He encourages anyone experiencing a tough time to focus on the short-term rather than “This is what a lot of (the symptoms) of mental health issues are. A lot of absorb the totality of the pandemic. He also warned about the effects of people are going through them right now — isolation, anxiety and substances and said that one of the key mantras he learned in recovery depression,” Lehner said. — “This too shall pass” — has helped provide him the patience to take these challenges day by day. The NHLPA, which is collaborating with the league to game out different return-to-play options, is working to make sure players’ emotional and “Honestly, you have to understand that life is not always perfect and be mental wellbeing remains critical to that effort. fine with that,” Lehner said. “For me, it bothered me a lot when I had bad days and bad weeks. I’ve had to accept the bad times because that’s The union is providing online resources on health and exercise, and even part of life and not do anything too impulsive or use substances to get offering recommendations for podcasts and other outlets to help build through it. Before, I always thought (substances) made it better because community and professional development among those reeling in the it did at the moment, but it always makes it worse in the long term.” absence of hockey. Carrick, who has been outspoken on mental health awareness, “Pro athletes have a lot of the same experiences that any normal people particularly via social media, said he allots time for specific activities in do and they are the same fears and anxieties over similar things,” his day that will be uplifting, both to himself and others around him. NHLPA executive Mathieu Schneider said. That’s helpful when he’s riding the waves of uncertainty and starting to go down a path of wondering, “What if?” He writes down tasks and goals he wants to accomplish, gets the blood flowing with workouts, connects with his social network of friends and family, and also tries to incorporate The Athletic LOADED: 04.23.2020 some fun or “play” time – like taking his rollerblades out for a spin – to keep his mind occupied. Carrick also relies on journaling and breath work to keep him centered, and he has used some of this period to grow his podcast and pursue different philanthropic endeavors. “It’s interesting. I find every day different, frankly, and I think there’s a lot of idle time mentally where you go through ups and downs,” Carrick said as he was taking a weekend stroll in his Chicago neighborhood. “Today I woke up a little antsy, and I’m going for a walk now. I think the whole goal is to understand where you’re at mentally, understand the version of you that you want to be in that moment, that day, and having some tools to shift in the direction you want to go instead of riding the roller coaster of ups and downs.” Both Hays and Fish stress the importance of setting up routine and structure, even if those built-in windows feel arbitrary. Anything that helps the body and mind re-establish a sense of rhythm and daily accomplishment can be beneficial. Jamie Baker, a former NHL player who now works as a color commentator on San Jose Sharks broadcasts, said he has set up stations within his home to spend blocks of time daily. Baker, who opened up last year about his battle with depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, makes time each day for journaling, exercise and even mindfulness activities like coloring and putting together puzzles. He listens to music — and The Doors are his consistent go-to’s — and watches WWII documentaries about history when he needs to relax and escape. If he finds himself particularly anxious, he tries to go for a walk outside and avoids social media. The toughest thing for him is the loneliness; Baker is an extremely social person, so isolation has been difficult. “I like being around people,” Baker said. “It doesn’t have to mean a full house, but sometimes you just want someone to hang out with.” The lack of contact with the outside world can also make mental health issues trickier to spot. Baker suspects that many people are recognizing feelings they may not have recognized had the world around them not essentially stopped. Hays said that athletes can use some of the techniques they use to train their bodies to recognize when their mental wellbeing takes a turn. “One of the things that is really helpful in physical training is this concept of FIT — Frequency, Intensity and Time,” Hays said. “If one wants to get better (in physical fitness), he gradually increases each of those. As a metaphor, it almost works in terms of (assessing) mood (and) behavior. If you’re anxious, tense, stressed — I think you’d use some of those same three elements — how frequently, how intensely, and how overwhelming does it seem? How long does it last?” Hays also feels like this period could provide players a catalyst for thinking about what they want to do beyond their playing careers. Fish said the lack of in-person contact may spur more deliberate efforts at connectivity through different channels, with players becoming more proactive about building the type of “community” and familial atmosphere that many teams try hard to cultivate. “Who today do you need to reach out to?” Fish asked. “Players have always defined being a good teammate as celebrating each other when things are going well and being there for each other in times of adversity. What does that look like today?” Baker, who was forced to take a leave of absence to deal with his own mental health and substance issues in the fall of 2018, said sometimes it takes something drastic to effect a more healthy lifestyle or a more nuanced understanding of one’s own mental health. “(This is) an obstacle, but now it’s also an opportunity to grow in different ways that, when you’re so busy, you haven’t stopped and thought about,” Baker said. “Busy-ness is a coping mechanism and people don’t even realize it. It’s tough to talk about.” Above all, Baker said, players and their families need to treat the situation with the sort of kindness and understanding that is required of the moment. Leaning on the greater NHL community can and should provide a needed safety net at a time of extreme stress and anxiety. “We need a lot of compassion and empathy right now,” Baker said. “We’re all in this together.”

1174036 Websites “When you think of it from a business standpoint, what he did made sense. If we didn’t win, we’d have to go to L.A. for a Game 7. It would have meant another charter plane trip, plus hotels, plus other expenses. So, it was worth it as an incentive to him.” The Athletic / From carrots to carats, the evolution of Stanley Cup rings The tradition of creating a Stanley Cup ring dates back to 1893 when the Montreal AAAs won the Stanley Cup and rewarded all seven players with a ring, inscribed MHC (for Montreal Hockey Club). It didn’t happen again By Eric Duhatschek until 1927 when the Ottawa Senators gave rings to its championship Apr 22, 2020 team. Nowadays, rings are a standard reward for a championship season, even at the minor league levels. For example, currently, Jostens makes the NHL rings, but Baron manufactures them for the AHL. In October 2019, the St. Louis Blues handed out Stanley Cup rings to the Scotty Bowman may have the most varied collection of championship team prior to the start of the 2019-20 season. As is the case with every rings ever assembled in hockey. Between 1973 and 2015, Bowman championship ring in every sport today, they are all detailed, elaborate earned 14 Stanley Cup rings – nine as a coach, five more as an advisor and expensive. The Blues’ ring has nods to the famous Arch, to the – and over the arc of his life in hockey, Stanley Cup rings have become series’ scores in the Blues’ march to the championship, plus references far more detailed and elaborate. His collection represents the full gamut to the song “Gloria” and the inspiration provided by 11-year-old Laila from the championship ring’s relatively understated beginnings to modern Anderson on their historic worst-to-first journey. decadence. But the practice of including those sorts of esoteric details directly on a His first ring – won with the Canadiens in 1973 – is probably Bowman’s Stanley Cup ring may date back to 1984 when the Edmonton Oilers won favorite, in part because it was first and also because of its simplicity. But their first of five Cups in a seven-year span. The Oilers rings of the 80s 1976 was a special year too because it included a Stanley Cup were still a more plain, class-ring style but include one curious addition – championship, a Canada Cup championship, plus the birth of his twins. a partially eaten carrot. In all, Bowman won five Stanley Cups in Montreal, two in Pittsburgh, four A carrot on each Stanley Cup ring? Signifying what exactly? in Detroit and then the last three in Chicago, where he acts as a consultant for the Blackhawks and his son, Stan, is the team’s general According to former Oilers’ defenceman Kevin Lowe, it was meant to manager. symbolize the practice introduced by owner – of dangling a motivational carrot in front of his players tied to playoff According to Bowman, the last ring that he received – in 2015, for the success. third of the Blackhawks’ three titles in six years – is so big that he cannot actually wear it on his finger – or properly close his hand when he has “You can’t do any of that today because of changes to the standard tried to put it on. Bowman doesn’t wear any of his rings anymore – they player’s contract,” Lowe said, “but how the carrot started out was this: As are stowed away in a safety deposit box until they can be dispersed to we started to evolve as a playoff team, Slats (Oilers general his family. Bowman says his rings have come from three separate manager/coach ) was always big about having traditional manufacturers over the years, but he always gravitates back to that first team dinners before the start of every playoff series. It became almost one, from 1973. like a superstition. Typically, Peter Pocklington would come to these dinners and Peter was always big on incentives. was pretty “Of all my rings – when I put up against all the others – I like the first one instrumental in all this because he was bold enough to say to Peter one from Montreal because it wasn’t big or gaudy,” Bowman said. “It had time, ‘What are you going to give us if we win the next series?’ So, Peter beautiful diamonds with the CH crest. It’s a beautiful ring, but small – sort would say: ‘Everybody’s going to get a new suit from Sam Abouhassan of like the Hall of Fame ring. If you look at mine, you can see it’s been (a local tailor).’ Another time, it would be a set of Ping golf clubs, which worn. were really hot at the time. That’s how it started. That was the carrot. “Then they just got bigger and bigger. You can see the evolution. The “Then, as the years went on, the carrots became more lucrative. Besides last two or three, you could hardly wear them. I mean, you could wear the bonus money you’d get from the NHL, we would always get them, but they are so wide that they push your fingers apart.” something extra – a trip to Hawaii, or something like that.” Ron Francis, general manager of the NHL’s new expansion team in In all, 24 players have won the Stanley Cup six times or more, but only Seattle, was part of Bowman’s two championship clubs in Pittsburgh and five have done so without playing for the . They are: said the difference in size between the first and the second rings was Red Kelly (Toronto and Detroit), (New York Islanders and quite noticeable. Pittsburgh), plus a trio of ex-Oilers-turned-New York Rangers: Mark Messier, Glenn Anderson and Lowe. “My first one in Pittsburgh in 1991, I would describe it more like a high school ring or a college ring,” Francis said. “It had the Penguin on top Five of Lowe’s six rings – the ones he won playing for the Oilers – are on that was diamond-encrusted. It was very cool looking, but it was display in the foyer at Rogers’ Place. On each ring, the nibble taken out something you could wear every day and feel comfortable wearing. It of the carrot goes just a little lower down the stalk. wasn’t crazy. The next year got a little bigger – not like the rings of today – but with black onyx on top, with two diamonds, signifying the back-to- Ultimately, the carrot came to represent the group’s collective hunger – back, and then 16 chips around it, one for each victory of getting to the for more championships (and more gifts from the owner). Cup. It was a little bigger than the first one and not as easy to wear every The Oilers won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1984 and 1985, lost in the day, but not as big as they are today, right? I usually keep mine in a final to Calgary in 1986 and then won back-to-back safety deposit box. again in 1987 and 1988. The summer after the Oilers’ fourth “They’re a little bit small on my finger, so I tend to go to the Hall of Fame championship, Pocklington traded Gretzky to the Kings, who then ring, if I wear any ring at all, just because it fits better.” proceeded to knock them off in the opening round of the ’89 playoffs. In 1990, the Oilers returned the favor, defeating L.A. in the second round on Some years ago, NHL teams began donating Stanley Cup rings to the route to their fifth championship in seven years. in Toronto, where they are on permanent display. According to Kelly Masse, the Hockey Hall of Fame’s director of “Each year, we added another bite out of the carrot as we another corporate and media relations, the fascination with Stanley Cup rings had Stanley Cup,” Lowe said. “By the time 1990 came around, there were five become so great that during the current closure caused by the bites out of the carrot. As we moved along over the years, the guys coronavirus, the HHOF renovated the bank vault in one corner of the would give some thought to it and say, ‘OK, what are we going to ask Great Hall to include a special display area for its collection of Stanley Peter for? What’s fair?’ It got to be a serious thing. Everybody started to Cup rings. become a little bit more aware of what a playoff victory meant financially to the owner. But overall, I think Peter was fairly generous in that regard.” Winning the Cup isn’t the only time a ring is presented. The Hall of Fame annually bestows its newest members with a ring as part of their On one memorable occasion, Pocklington took the lead himself. induction weekend. In June of 2018, as part of a fundraising effort called “We were up 3-2 in a series against L.A.,” Lowe said. “Before Game 6, 75/25, the Hall created a newly updated ring that chairman Lanny Pocklington came in with a gunnysack and he had some carrots sticking McDonald wore to the ceremony. Subsequently, some of McDonald’s out the top. He took it over to the ping pong table and he explained to a Hall of Fame colleagues asked if they too could order one of the newly few of the new guys what the carrots stood for. Everybody laughed. Then redesigned rings. Ultimately, the Hall of Fame acceded to the request but he dumped the bag on the ping-pong table and there was something like limited each member to just a single additional ring. (Some wanted to $50,000 in cash there. And he said, ‘if you guys win this game, this is all order multiple copies so they could pass along one to each of their yours to divide. You can take it home tonight.’ children). But when it came time to place their orders, Yvan Cournoyer (Hall of said. “We haven’t done it yet, but that’s the plan. And then you tell them Fame class of 1982) put in a special request to Masse. Could he style it they could take everything now, or leave them with us.” differently? Lowe doesn’t wear any of his six rings anymore either – five are on “Yvan said for example, ‘Can we have gold instead of silver on the display in Edmonton and the sixth, he’s loaned to his brother-in-law. side?’” said Masse. “So, I asked Jeff (Denomme, CEO of the Hall) and he said, yes, we could do a variation. So, Yvan redesigned the ring and took “You wore it initially because you’re proud of it and also because people out all the silver and replaced it with gold. That then became a second wanted to see it,” Lowe said. “I wore my ring on my right hand and of option. Then Yvan also came up with a third option, so we sent that out course, that’s the hand you shake hands with. If you were wearing your as well. And I would tell you, most people liked Yvan’s take on it. There ring and people would shake your hand, it would crush your fingers are just subtle differences. When I told him that, he just put it down to because it was so big. Our rings were bigger than the ones from the being a stylish Frenchman.” 1970s, but they pale in comparison to the ones that they have today. A collection of Hall of Fame rings. (Courtesy Kelly Masse) “I don’t know who would think about wearing them – because they’re so gaudy. That was part of the decision for me too – not only did it hurt to The Hall of Fame was willing to accept Cournoyer’s input, in part wear it, but it almost felt as if you were flaunting it, so I chose not to wear because chairman McDonald remembers a time – after the Flames won it anymore. It’s kind of like the old Hugh Campbell expression: ‘Act like the Stanley Cup in 1989 – when the players suggested the ring design you’ve been there before.’” that differed from what management had in mind. More than three decades ago, Lowe said he learned how important a “Guess who won?” said McDonald, with a mischievous smile. Stanley Cup ring could be to a first-time winner – after he’d made a tentative suggestion to veer away from them once for a different option. Uh, management? “What I found, after a number of years, was that I wasn’t wearing the “Right. But when you think about it, in the end, it didn’t really matter,” rings,” Lowe sais, “and I remember reading that the Montreal Canadiens, McDonald said. “The most important thing was, we won the Stanley way back, used to give their players gold watches when they won the Cup.” Stanley Cup, with the Canadiens’ emblem on them. In all, McDonald earned three rings over his career and says he rotates “I always thought that was so classy, so I tried to convince our guys, after them depending upon the event that he’s attending. There is his Flames’ about the third or fourth Cup, that we should opt for a watch instead of a ring, his Hall of Fame ring, plus, a 2004 world championship ring, which ring, because you’re always going to wear a watch, right? So, why don’t he wears whenever he appears on behalf of at an we get a nice Rolex instead of a ring? international function. “But of course, all the first-time guys said, ‘are you out of your mind?’ I Unlike some players and executives, McDonald wears his rings but said, ‘trust me, 10 years from now, you’ll be wishing you got a Rolex understands that it can be more complicated nowadays, given the instead of a Stanley Cup ring’ – but I could never convince them to do physical size of the newer generation’s hardware. that.” “If they continue to go this way, pretty soon they’re going to have to have one that goes into your safety deposit box and another, smaller-sized ring that you can actually wear every day,” McDonald said. “Ours – from The Athletic LOADED: 04.23.2020 1989, you can feel comfortable wearing every day. “But I remember Joel Quenneville showing me his, from the first time Chicago won in 2010 – and he had it in a box. I said, ‘Joel, can you wear it?’ And he said it was so big that he couldn’t even bend his finger when he had it on.” Bowman calls his collection of rings his most prized possessions. They have been collected during a lifetime in hockey – not just his Stanley Cup rings, but also championship rings from junior, minor pro and international competitions, plus all the commemorative miniatures that the league provides as a keepsake whenever a team wins the Stanley Cup. So when the time comes, Bowman has a plan to divvy up the hardware among his children — he’s going to conduct a draft. Either there’ll be a draft lottery to see who gets to pick first, or he’ll simply go by age, which would then mean his eldest, daughter Alicia, would have the first choice. Naturally, to enhance fairness, the format will be a traditional snake draft so that whoever happens to choose last in the first round will then get the first pick of Round 2. Bowman said the idea of a draft to disperse those items came to him from an old friend who did something similar – retired goalie , who played for Bowman in St. Louis during the NHL’s 1967-68 expansion season. Hall and Bowman were together on the inaugural Blues’ team that advanced to the 1968 Stanley Cup final. Despite losing in four straight to the Canadiens, the Blues provided rings to the team to commemorate that historic occasion. That ’68 finalist ring is also part of Bowman’s vast collection. According to Bowman, when you get to a certain age – he is 88 – estate planning just becomes part of what you do. Even if he hasn’t set an actual date yet to conduct the draft, Bowman said it could happen as early as this summer. “We shouldn’t put it off much longer, because you never know,” Bowman said. Scotty and Suella Bowman have five children: Alicia, Stan, the twins Robert and Nancy and David, who was diagnosed with hydrocephalus (commonly known as water on the brain) shortly after birth and now lives in a long-term care facility in the Buffalo area. Bowman said Hall’s plan “sounded right for me.” “For your most valuable possessions, let your family choose what they’d like, rather than have them worry about who gets what later,” Bowman 1174037 Websites Dallas Stars All their key guys are locked in, and they have a ton of cap room to clean

up any loose ends. Roope Hintz would need a new deal and Miro The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: No, contracts won’t expire mid-playoffs. Heiskanen would want to talk extension, but that’s about it. Veteran But what if they did? Corey Perry would see his contract expire, but it’s the middle of the playoffs so he’d probably be suspended anyway, so no rush there.

Nashville Predators By Sean McIndoe Mikael Granlund, Craig Smith and Dan Hamhuis all hit UFA status. Apr 22, 2020 Granlund might be asked to take a pay cut from his $5.75 million cap hit, which would be an awkward conversation to have in the middle of a playoff series. Everyone else is locked up, though, and there’s enough Any chance of the NHL finishing the 2019-20 season revolves around the cap room to patch up the bottom half of the blue line. And Roman Josi playoffs extending further into the summer than ever before. Some of the would probably be in a good mood on July 1 after that $11 million signing proposals being kicked around would go into August or even September, bonus hits his account. Breakfast is on the captain, boys. and even the best-case scenarios extend well into July. Philadelphia Flyers That’s led to some fans asking a question: What happens to all those They’d have ten guys to re-sign, including UFAs Justin Braun and Brian contracts that are set to expire on July 1? Elliott, but overall the situation seems manageable. Carter Hart is eligible After all, everyone knows that July 1 is the key date of the offseason; for an extension, which could be tricky. And I don’t know what you do when expiring contracts officially terminate, multi-season deals roll over with Nolan Patrick’s first post-ELC deal, if he’s even available to play. to the next year and the free agency market opens. What if all that Still, they could clear Radko Gudas off the books and would have room happens while the NHL is still in the middle of the playoffs? to bring guys back, and maybe even add somebody. My suggestion: Sign Well, as it turns out the answer isn’t all that exciting. Yes, the CBA one of the Pittsburgh free agents to a mid-series deal just to get them to defines the start of the league year as being July 1. But it also allows for spill the Penguins’ game plan. a different date to be used, as long as the NHL and NHLPA agree. It’s Hold on, I’m still warming up. right there on one of the agreement’s very first pages, where “league year” is defined as “July 1 of one calendar year to and including June 30 Things could get tricky of the following calendar year or such other one year period to which the NHL and the NHLPA may agree.” Vegas Golden Knights That makes it pretty clear that the actual year-end date is flexible. Having They have eight guys at the end of their deals, but none of them jump out the two sides agree to push back the date presumably wouldn’t be all as key pieces. They’d probably want to have guys like Ryan Reaves and that hard, nor would it be unprecedented; it’s happened before due to Chandler Stephenson around for a playoff run, but nobody is make-or- lockouts, most recently in 2013 when free agency didn’t open until July 5. break. So there you have it. Sorry for anyone who was rooting for Team Chaos, Except for maybe one: Robin Lehner. In theory, he’s just there as short- but this one is actually pretty simple. It’s even kind of boring. The NHL term insurance. But given how Marc-Andre Fleury’s season went, having and NHLPA would just pick a new date in September or October or an insurance policy seems like a big deal. Lehner’s cap hit is dirt cheap whenever made sense, and the new league year would start then. because of salary retention shenanigans, but it’s safe to assume he’s not looking to sign another one-year deal. Do the Knights pay up to keep him BUT … WHAT IF THEY DIDN’T? in a time-share with Fleury and create one of the most expensive tandems in the league, or go all-in on Fleury? Vegas, baby. (Editor’s note: Oh lord.) Boston Bruins Look, I promised you things were going to get weird around here. Today, let’s ask the question: What if the NHL playoffs resumed, but the league They shake free of the remnants of the Dennis Seidenberg and Matt and players didn’t push back the July 1 date? What if they decided not to Beleskey deals, freeing up roughly $3 million. They’ll need it, because or couldn’t agree or, with everything else going on, they just forgot? What the big news in Boston is that Torey Krug hits the open market, and he’s kind of madness might ensue if the league year rolled over in the middle joined by captain Zdeno Chara and Matt Grzelcyk. That’s going to make of a postseason? for a tough choice for Don Sweeney since the Bruins don’t lose much up front and may not have the cap space to sign all three guys if Krug gets Let’s figure it out, for all 18 teams still in the running for a playoff spot the sort of deal he’s looking for. based on points or points percentage. We’ll imagine a world where the NHL regular season is declared over, and the playoffs start sometime in But while they’ll have to deal with losing at least some of their blue line, June. Then July 1 rolls around and … whoops. the Bruins do have Tuukka Rask locked up through 2021, so they’ll be fine in goal as long as he’s playing well. And he’d better be because This is so stupid. Let’s do it. backup Jaroslav Halak just hit the UFA market. Teams in good shape Columbus Blue Jackets Tampa Bay Lightning There’s not a single pending UFA to be found, as the Jackets kind of While they have nine players lining up for new deals, none of them are covered that ground last year. They do have two very important RFAs in key pieces beyond Anthony Cirelli and maybe Kevin Shattenkirk. The Pierre-Luc Dubois and Elvis Merzlikins, so that gets tricky. But both guys timing for Cirelli will be tricky since tradition dictates that young Lightning want to stay, and there’s more than enough cap room to get both locked stars play hardball for weeks or months before caving and signing an in. The Blue Jackets should be fine, as long as they understand the basic embarrassingly team-friendly deal. rules of contract-signing and don’t, I don’t know, mess it all up in a very public and embarrassing way. They’ll have the cap room to get something done, though, and can pick and choose which other pieces they feel they need based on how the Edmonton Oilers playoffs are going. This whole forgotten contract deadline even makes They have nine guys who’ll hit free-agent status, including six who’ll be Julien BriseBois look smart, since both of his big deadline pickups were unrestricted. That includes deadline rentals Mike Green and Andreas signed through 2021. Athanasiou, plus Tyler Ennis and Riley Sheahan. New deals kicking in for Zack Kassian and Darnell Nurse will eat some of their cap space, but they should still have room to keep who they want. The tough one will be They’ve got a dozen guys on expiring deals, which looks bad at first Mike Smith, who might expect a raise on his $2 million and would have glance, but the only one who jumps out as a problem is Andre some leverage to get it with Mikko Koskinen never having played a Burakovsky. He was their second-leading scorer among forwards this playoff game. year, and he’d become a UFA. They’d definitely want to re-sign him, and they’d need to bring back most of their restricted free agents just so they Toronto Maple Leafs could ice a full roster. But with lots of cap room already on the books and The big news in Toronto is that they’re going to lose two-thirds of the bad deals like Vladislav Namestnikov going away, they’d have more than right side of their defense mid-playoffs, which seems less than ideal. enough space to get it all done. Then again, one of those two players is Tyson Barrie, who’s struggled to fit into Toronto’s system and hasn’t put up the numbers the team hoped he’d produce when they traded for him. The other is Cody struggled. Both guys are RFAs, so the team retains their rights. But I’m Ceci, who is Cody Ceci, so maybe this is workable. kind of fascinated by the idea of Jarry sitting in an arbitration hearing going “Well, I had a 40-save shutout last night and Game 7 is tomorrow, They’ll also take a hit to the fourth line, as Jason Spezza and Kyle so I think I want $10 million.” Clifford become UFAs and Frederik Gauthier needs a new deal. But at least they’ll have cap space for a change, with almost $10 million freeing Carolina Hurricanes up to fill any holes in the roster that has come up during the postseason. They’re in good shape, with only six free agents, most of whom aren’t In other news, Frederik Andersen can sign an extension now. Might want playing crucial roles. They’d certainly want to get a deal done for Joel to get pen on paper before any Game 7s, Freddie. Edmundson, and Sami Vatanen’s deal could expire before he’d ever played a game with the team. (Editor’s note: Maybe we could just wrap this up here and call it a day?) But the big name here is Justin Williams. I mean, what do you do if you’re Hell no, we’re in too deep to turn back now … the Hurricanes and his contract expires right before a Game 7? Is there a Bring the chaos bidding war with the other team? You have to go max salary, right? I think you do. Washington Capitals Winnipeg Jets Here’s hoping Ilya Samsonov is ready for playoff starting duties because regular starter Braden Holtby becomes a free agent on July 1. Half the The Jets’ real-world cap situation is already weird, with the long-awaited blue line does too, but there’s cap room to bring some or all of them resolution of the Dustin Byfuglien saga. It’s about to get worse in our back. Holtby probably isn’t in the long-term plans, so his departure is fictional version, because they have a league-leading 15 free agents on going to be a problem. The Caps do have Pheonix Copley available, and July 1. That’s over half the roster! he has NHL experience. But they’d probably need to scramble to sign a The good news is that some of those are deals they’d probably be happy veteran. Halak might be a good fit, I hear he can get hot in the playoffs. to get out of, including Dmitry Kulikov’s. And almost everyone else is On a strategy note, if you’re the Capitals do you even start Holtby in currently a low salary option, with nobody jumping out as being due for a Game 1 of the playoffs if you know he’s not going to be around at the massive raise. It would be a busy day for Kevin Cheveldayoff, and he end? On the one hand, you might want to let Samsonov gain the probably couldn’t bring back everyone. But he probably wouldn’t want to, experience of driving from the starting line. On the other hand, you need and there’s enough cap space here to make it work. to win, and if Holtby’s your best guy against the Hurricanes or whoever The one tricky name would be deadline rental and new UFA Cody Eakin, then you have to use him. who’d probably want a multi-year deal. How many years should he get? Honestly, I kind of hope the Capitals start Holtby on June 30 and the He deserves two, but it’s the playoffs so he’d probably get five instead. game goes into multiple overtimes and he just leaves in the middle of a (Editor’s note: You sure you don’t want to take a break or something?) shift at the stroke of midnight. I may have thought too much about this. Yeah, I’m good. Look, there’s only one more team to go. We made it to Also, they lose Ilya Kovalchuk, as do the other nine teams in the league the end. It’s fine. I’m fine. who are also paying parts of his salary. (Editor’s note: OK, we’ve come this far so what’s the worst could …) St. Louis Blues

There’s only one player to worry about, but it’s a big one: Captain Alex Pietrangelo, who becomes a UFA on July 1. There isn’t much cap room The Athletic LOADED: 04.23.2020 to re-sign him, especially given the recent extension for Marco Scandella and the inexplicable Justin Faulk deal kicking in. Could they find a way to do it? Crunching the numbers, I’m not sure they could unless Pietrangelo would be willing to take a mid-playoffs discount to stick around. Calgary Flames They’d be fine up front, with only Andrew Mangiapane to really worry about. But the blue line is a mess, with five UFAs and only three guys signed in July. To make matters worse, they lose Cam Talbot. It’s a disaster. Or is it? The Flames might lose a bunch of guys, but they’d wake up on July 1 with roughly $20 million in cap space to work with. That means they could pick and choose a few guys to bring back, and still have enough left over to make a major signing or two. Yeah, I’m rolling, let’s keep this going. Vancouver Canucks They’d have to figure out what to do with rental Tyler Toffoli, and Chris Tanev could walk too. But the big concern would be in goal, where Jakob Markstrom would need a new deal. They’d have plenty of cap room to get it done, and you figure they would since he basically saved their season. And he couldn’t play that much hardball since there would be other goalies who were suddenly available, but it would be a volatile situation. There’s also the small matter of an Elias Pettersson extension, which wouldn’t kick in until 2021 but could be signed on July 1. Renegotiating contracts for star forwards in the middle of the playoffs always goes smoothly in Vancouver, right? Pittsburgh Penguins The big guns are locked in for the long term, but beyond that, it could get ugly. They’d lose Justin Schultz and Conor Sheary to UFA, not to mention deadline rental and potential OGWAC legend Patrick Marleau. Could they bring all three back? Probably, since their cap situation isn’t awful, although you wonder if Marleau would want to commit to a full year away from home. But there’s a bigger problem lurking: The contracts for both of their goalies are up. Those are going to be tough negotiations because Tristan Jarry just had a great season while Matt Murray 1174038 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Gary Bettman explains why NHL rinks are best for centralized games

Josh Beneteau | @jbenny15 April 22, 2020, 8:12 PM

Commissioner Gary Bettman says the facilities in NHL arenas are too important for the league to resume play at other sites. “We can’t play in a small college rink in the middle of a smaller community because if we’re going to be centralized, we need the back of the house that NHL arenas provide,” Bettman told Ron MacLean on In Conversation Wednesday. “Whether its multiple locker rooms, whether its the technology, the procedures, the boards and glass, the video replay, the broadcasting facilities. Those are the things that are in place in NHL arenas and that’s what we’re going to ultimately need if we’re going to come back in a centralized basis and play multiple games a day.” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Tuesday that a plan to host NHL games in neutral sites like North Dakota or New Hampshire was off the table. Instead, Friedman reported, the league was considering hosting each of the four divisions in one NHL city to play out the remainder of the regular season. Bettman emphasized that nothing has been decided yet, but said that while the games might see teams face their own division, the cities chosen won’t necessarily be based on divisional alignment. He added that whatever cities do host games, the buildings would need a practice facility and at least four NHL-calibre locker rooms so that up to three games a day could be played. “This is just part of the modelling… we’re making sure we’re prepared for any eventuality,” Bettman said. “It’s not something that we can predict right at this moment. “There’s a lot that would have to be done and frankly our buildings are the best equipped in North America to deal with what our needs may be, if we go this route.” You can watch the entire interview below, where Bettman addressed the debate over when to hold the NHL Draft, how governments at all levels play a role in deciding when the league can return, and how the NHL is getting creative to engage with fans during the shutdown. “Nothing is more important than everybody’s health and well-being and any decisions we’re making and anything we’re considering doing starts with health and well-being,” Bettman said. “In the final analysis, we are hopeful that, by doing the right things in the short term, we’ll be able to come back and hopefully complete this season on some basis that is fair and has integrity.”

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 04.23.2020 1174039 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Wayne Gretzky: Maple Leafs 'could have won the Stanley Cup' in 1993

Sportsnet Staff | @Sportsnet April 22, 2020, 8:34 PM

Had Kerry Fraser called a high-sticking penalty on Wayne Gretzky in Game 6 of the Kings-Maple Leafs series in 1993, it’s quite possible the city of Toronto wouldn’t still be dealing with a 52-year Stanley Cup drought. “The Toronto Maple Leafs were probably a better hockey club than we were,” Gretzky told Ron MacLean. “Montreal deserved to win the Stanley Cup because they were better than the LA Kings. And I say this to people in earnest, and people in Montreal wouldn’t agree: Toronto probably could have won the Stanley Cup.” But that pivotal moment went in another direction and Gretzky’ Kings won both that game and the following one to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. There they met the Montreal Canadiens for a five-game series that had wild moments of its own, including three games that needed overtime. On Saturday night, in the first of a special two-part series, Gretzky joins MacLean to watch Game 2 of the 1993 Stanley Cup Final. The Great One will share some of his stories and memories from the game and will give viewers a glimpse into what he was thinking at certain key moments, such as when Los Angeles’ Marty McSorley was given a critical illegal stick penalty will less than two minutes left in regulation. MacLean and Gretzky will also be joined by Kirk Muller for a perspective from Montreal’s side. Game 2 appeared to be a turning point in the series. With Los Angeles already up 1-0 in the best-of-7 and 2-1 in Game 2, they were in position to take a favourable lead back to California. But the crucial call led to a Montreal goal in regulation to tie it up, and the home side went on to win in overtime to even the series. Gretzky never won a game in the Stanley Cup Final again. The Kings and Canadiens took very different paths to the final. Where Montreal came in having played only nine games in their previous 33 days, the Kings had played 19 total playoff games and had just come off an emotional win in Game 7 against Toronto. Their travel schedule was also more difficult, already surviving a cross-continent slugfest. Gretzky explained how exhausted the Kings were once they got to the final, and shared a story about one thing in particular that happened on the morning of Game 2 that will stick with him forever. “We won Game 1,” Gretzky starts. “Game 2 morning skate (Canadiens coach) Jacques Demers didn’t practice and I remember thinking, because I’m old school, how can you not have a morning skate? And they were so fresh and so ready for Game 2…we were physically and mentally exhausted as a team heading into that third period of Game 2. It was very difficult for us. “I remember thinking ‘I can’t believe Jacques Demers did not practice on the morning of Game 2.’ I thought ‘wow they’ve given up.’ That was my first thought. And boy was I way wrong.”

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Sportsnet.ca / The best team in Vancouver Canucks history, Part II – Sportsnet by Iain MacIntyre

BIEKSA It was just such a great time in our lives. We were starting to have our kids and our families. We were together for a while before success, and [then] we’re on top of the world. I don’t think it’s something we took for granted. You spent a lot of time together and made some really close friendships for life. BALLARD That was the most fun professional hockey experience I’ve had and, as you know, for me personally, it wasn’t an ideal situation. There’s so many good people there and you could just tell from Day 1, it was a special group. HIGGINS That whole spring was the most fun I ever had playing hockey. EHRHOFF The people there, we laughed for two years. VIGNEAULT I consider myself so lucky. I spent seven terrific years with that group. Obviously, you’re in this to win the ultimate prize, but as a coach, what you want to do is get the best from your group. They always gave me their best. GILLIS I can’t tell you how proud I am of those guys and their willingness to believe in us as a management group. They didn’t have to — they all had choices. It was a very special time to be part of the Vancouver Canucks. CARLING I had pride for the Canucks, where I worked. But my true passion is the Kansas City Chiefs, since I was 14. I would be the first to admit I have cared way too much about this football team. They lost every important game in my history. This year, they won the Super Bowl and I was so happy. I think about it every single day. Every. Single. Day. About six days after the Super Bowl, [Canucks vice-president of communications] Chris Brumwell reaches out. He goes, “Have you come down from your high yet?” I said, “No, and I’m not sure when I’m going to.” In fact, I’d been thinking a lot about the 2010–11 team in kind of a melancholy way. Because what I realized is there are three layers where you can interact with a team. There’s the players themselves. They’re the ones that deserve all the credit. They’re the ones that make the sacrifice. They’re the ones with the world-class talent that makes it possible. Then you’ve got your staff — coaching, management and support staff. It could be 150 people. The people that sell tickets and all that, just pour everything they’ve got into it, right? They work 70 hours a week. And you’ve got the fans. Without the fans, there’s no games, there’s no money, there’s no TV, there’s no nothing. But as emotionally invested in the Chiefs as I am, I know how much harder I worked as an employee of the Canucks for 20 years. What I realized, having never experienced it before … it’s forever. If I live to be 100, I can say, “Well, I remember 55 years ago the Chiefs won the Super Bowl.” I was thinking in a sad way, “It’s hard to win, and when you have the opportunity, you don’t want it to pass you by because it’s forever.” I’m only experiencing it as a fan, but I’ve been a fan for 31 years and I’ve been all-in and it’s such an awesome feeling. And I remember, I was sad for a couple of days. I talked to Trevor Linden about a week or two after that and he was asking me, “Tell me about it — tell me where you were when you watched the game.” And I said, “If it’s okay, I want to tell you this story.” I said, “I just wished you’d won in 1994. I didn’t know you, I was living in Victoria. I don’t care.” And all the guys we just talked about — the brothers and Louie and Alain in 2011, I just wish you’d won. Because it’s forever. They can’t take it away. And it changes conversations. The ’94 team is beloved here, as you know. Anybody 40-plus, they love that team. They love Cliff [Ronning], they love Pavel [Bure], they love Kirk [MacLean] and they love Trevor. The 2011 team, [it was like] nothing was ever good enough. I remember thinking for a long time, “This team will never be as beloved as the 1994 team.” But I was at the Sedin night as well, and thinking, “It’s starting to feel different.”

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 04.23.2020 1174041 Websites • As for the Capitals, they hit the jackpot in 2004 when they won the lottery with the third-best odds of doing so. (By the way, the two teams with a better chance than Washington were a Chicago club that was soon drafting Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, and a Pittsburgh squad Sportsnet.ca / What if Alex Ovechkin had been eligible for the 2003 NHL that was on the precipice of taking some guy named Sidney Crosby — Draft? how about those What Ifs?) Had Ovie been off the board in ’04, the Caps would have still made out pretty well with Malkin as the top pick that year. A 1-2 of Malkin and Backstrom down the middle may not have defined a Ryan Dixon | @dixononsports generation in D.C. the way Ovie did, but you have to think that’s the spine of a very competitive club. April 22, 2020, 10:49 AM • The really interesting squad in this make-believe scenario is Pittsburgh. If the Pens draft third in 2003, they might watch Ovechkin go first and Marc-Andre Fleury go second to Carolina, leaving them with Eric Staal. Sports are so generous. Not only do we get the plays and games that (Don’t forget, goalies were drafted absurdly high during that brief, make our blood rush and our stomachs churn, we also get to ponder how somewhat-bizarre period in history that saw Rick DiPietro go first in 2000, legacies and legends would be affected if a bounce, coach’s decision or Kari Lehtonen go second in 2002 and Luongo taken fourth in 1997.) a referee’s call had gone the other way. That’s how the “What If?” game While landing Staal to eventually be a 2C behind Crosby and ahead of works. brother Jordan, what if — with Malkin gone — the Pens left the ’04 draft For the next little while, Sportsnet.ca is going to run an ongoing “What with bust defenceman Cam Barker? We’ll assume they would have If?” feature, crafting alternative histories stemming from events big and figured something out during the entire Crosby era, but those runs to the small. This time, we asked, “What if Alex Ovechkin had been born two 2008 final and 2009 Cup would be in serious jeopardy if you swap Staal days earlier and been eligible for the 2003 NHL Draft instead of having to and Barker for Fleury and Malkin. wait for 2004?” • The 2003 draft class is already heralded as one of the best ever and its To be eligible for the NHL Draft, a player must have his 18th birthday by case just gets that much better if Ovechkin headlines it. By the way, a Sept. 15 of the year the draft is being held in. If you’re getting selected in similar dynamic exists for the vaunted 2015 draft, which would have 2020, you must be 18 by this coming Sept. 15. included Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and Auston Matthews had the latter — you guessed it — been born two days before the Sept. 17 Alex Ovechkin — born Sept. 17, 1985 — missed that cut off by two days birthday he shares with Ovie. in 2003 and had to wait for the 2004 edition of the draft to have the Washington Capitals take him first overall. In 2003, the Florida Panthers • Though an extra season would have helped Ovechkin in his chase for won the draft lottery and held the No. 1 pick. When the big day landed, Gretzky’s record, we would have lost out on something truly special had Panthers GM Rick Dudley moved down two spots, trading the top Ovechkin and Crosby not entered the league together in October, 2005. selection and a third-rounder to the Pittsburgh Penguins for the third It’s hard to overstate how face-melting it was to have both super rookies overall pick, a second-rounder and Swedish forward Mikael Samuelsson. land at the same time and immediately begin tearing up the NHL, helping everyone turn the page and look forward after the lost season. The first three selections in 2003 became Marc-Andre Fleury to Pittsburgh, Eric Staal to Carolina and Nathan Horton to Florida. Twelve months later, ‘Ovie’ went first overall ahead of Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh) Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 04.23.2020 and Cam Barker (Chicago). 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. What could have happened People do crazy things for love and generational athletes. As such, Dudley tried to convince the NHL that if you subtracted the leap-year days that had been added to the Gregorian calendar during the course of Ovechkin’s lifetime, he actually turned 18 by the required date, so the Panthers tried to draft him in the ninth round in 2003. I suspect the lawyer in Gary Bettman respected the ingenuity, but the commissioner in him said, “Not a chance, bud.” Had Ovie been born a couple days earlier, though, Dudley could have just strolled up to the podium and taken a franchise-altering player first overall. Possible hockey re-writes • Before we get to the teams, let’s focus on the man. During the course of the current NHL campaign, it became clear Ovechkin has a real chance to catch Wayne Gretzky for the all-time goal-scoring crown (Gretzky leads Ovie by 188 goals). Consider, though, that Ovechkin missed an entire season thanks to a lockout in 2004-05; another 41 per cent of a year in 2012-13 due to more labour strife and may well lose the rest of this season due to a global pandemic. Oh yeah, and had he been born a couple days earlier, he could have added an entire NHL season to his resume in 2003-04. Even in the Dead Puck Era, you have to think Ovechkin would have been good for 30-plus goals as an 18-year-old freshman. He’d be that much closer to ‘The Great One’ in a pursuit marred by some bad luck. • I hear what you’re saying: “Would Ovie have put up such crooked numbers without his Caps running mate, Nicklas Backstrom?” Fair ask. That said, the Cats actually had a little something cooking in 2003. Ovechkin would have stepped on to a team with centre coming off a 36-goal performance in his age 24 season; 2002 third overall pick Jay Boumeester about to start his sophomore season and, most importantly, Roberto Luongo just hitting his stride as a Vezina- calibre goalie. All those players were gone from South Florida a relatively short time later as the losing continued. The goal-scoring and good vibes Ovechkin brings wherever he goes could have completely changed the course of the franchise. 1174042 Websites And though this foray into hockey is new for Tumminia, the city of Toronto isn’t. She says it has been “a second home” for her family, which includes two young daughters. Tumminia’s husband, Ben Cherington, served as the Blues Jays’ VP of baseball operations for nearly four Sportsnet.ca / Meet the NWHL Toronto franchise's chairman, Ty seasons before the Pirates hired him last year to be their GM. Tumminia – Sportsnet Joining the NWHL’s first Canadian team’s management group was a “no- brainer,” she says, and not just because of her familiarity with the city. “I definitely wanted a next chapter of my life to become involved in Kristina Rutherford | @KrRutherford something that had a little bit more purpose and personal purpose and April 22, 2020, 8:22 AM goal,” she says. “Women’s hockey and growing the sport, for women in particular, definitely has always been a passion.”

Richard Deitsch and Donnovan Bennett host a podcast about how Ty Tumminia started out as an intern for a team, COVID-19 is impacting sports around the world. They talk to experts, and once she’d carved out a career in the game that included sharing athletes and personalities, offering a window into the lives of people we ownership in four minor league clubs, she knew she’d eventually get normally root for in entirely different ways. involved in another sport. Once Tumminia gets her foot in the door, she’s been known to make But unlike her namesake, Ty Cobb, Tumminia isn’t sticking to baseball. things happen quickly. She was working in public relations with IBM And her next move is now official: The 41-year-old baseball executive is when she sought out a role with Tampa Bay’s affiliate, the Hudson Valley wading into hockey. Renegades. “I’m not joking, I had to beg for an internship,” she says. But her time as an intern was awfully short: Six weeks later, the team named “At least I can skate,” Tumminia told Sportsnet in a phone interview. “Not her director of community relations. well. I mean, I still fall on my ass every now and then. But, you know…” “I often felt if someone could just give me a chance, if someone could just It’ll have to do. get me in there, then I could prove to myself and to everybody else that I News that the National Women’s Hockey League is expanding to Toronto can make this work,” she says, of her early days in baseball. She spent next season was officially announced early Wednesday, and five players less than a year with the Renegades before joining the Goldklang Group, and a trio of executives have been named, including Tumminia, who’ll which she left in 2016. Tumminia is now co-owner of the - serve as the team’s chairman. She’s the only name new to hockey based Pittsfield Suns of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League. circles. And now, the chairman is excited to delve into the pro women’s sporting The familiar names in the sport include the team’s ownership group landscape with the NWHL’s expansion team in Toronto. And yes, she’s leader, Johanna Neilson Boynton, a former Harvard Hockey captain, now well aware many will see her name (it’s “Tyler” on her birth certificate) CEO and co-founder of a housing company; and team president, Digit and title (she prefers “chairman” to “chairperson” or “chairwoman”) and Murphy, one of the winningest coaches in the history of NCAA women’s assume that she’s a man. hockey. The five signed players include two who won the 2019 Clarkson “All my life, you know, you see Tyler Tumminia on paper – it’s been wild,” Cup just before the CWHL folded: Ontario-born defender Kristen Barbara she says. “I kind of love the double confusion there. That’s been part of and Manitoba-born forward Taylor Woods. Former CWHL goalie Elaine my thing. I love to make people think.” Chuli from Waterford, Ont., will make her NWHL debut, while Emma Greco of Burlington, Ont., and former U.S. National Team member, The hope is this new face and name in women’s hockey can also help Shiann Darkangelo, are returning to the league. mobilize a fan and sponsorship base in Toronto, to make it think about and support the game. “I really think Toronto is going to be and should be The NWHL’s first Canadian franchise still needs a lot of things: A name excited, and hopefully impressed with the product that we put out there,” (fans can vote on that and more at NWHL.zone), a venue, more players, Tumminia says. a GM and a coach, to name a few. Announcements will come in the weeks and months ahead, with the season scheduled to open in And just how long does she figure it’ll take for this NWHL team to make November. But among the eight women announced so far with this team, waves in Toronto and capture the city’s attention? “I kind of think it it’s Tumminia who stands out: She’s the only graduate of MLB’s Scout already is, right?” Tumminia says. “I feel like we’re already getting some Development Program, for one. (Her dad scouted for the White Sox for good attention, and once we start playing, hopefully that grows, with the more than three decades, and he’s also the reason she’s named after Ty natural momentum going forward.” Cobb).

“Ty is bold and creative,” NWHL founder and commissioner, Dani Rylan, told Sportsnet in a statement. “There are very few people with the Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 04.23.2020 experience and passion for building a sports business like she has. The opportunity for us to work alongside such a smart and strong woman like Ty makes my job even more enjoyable. I’m really excited to see what Ty and her team bring to life in Toronto.” As chairman, Tumminia has a big task ahead. She’ll be a sounding board to the owner and management, and much of her responsibility will be as a resource for Neilson Boynton and Murphy when it comes to sponsorship, partnership and broadcast deals. She understands it’ll be a challenge to bring out fans in a saturated sports market like Toronto, but it’s not unlike work she has done before. “What I made my career off of — which I think brings a unique, outside perspective — I made a living off of living in a landscape where really entertainment value was valued higher than the wins and losses,” Tumminia says. “In minor league baseball we capitalized on this idea of a demographic that might not even be wanting to come to a minor league game. I mean, how can we compete with the big league guys? There is no competition… The landscape of minor league baseball felt like, we need to be targeting and bringing in [fans]… bringing the entertainment value, like outside of the lines. What could we do to bring fans and families to the rink or to the ballpark, [so] that if they weren’t even a fan, they would still walk out of there having a lot of fun and say ‘Oh, yeah, I want to go back, that was a lot of fun’? “As we build this going forward, I think it would behove us to be smart about the fact that there is a lot of competition in Toronto for that dollar and for the attention, and hopefully we can lay out a successful plan of how we’re going to specifically operate going forward.” She points out: “There’s room for us to test the waters and kind of give a unique business model and entertainment model. It can’t hurt to try.” 1174043 Websites came in the room and said they liked the way we were playing and that we just needed a little bit of luck.”

A couple of small bounces got the Canadiens to even with Quebec over Sportsnet.ca / How Jacques Demers' positivity set '93 Canadiens up for the next two games, and then they put the pedal down for a 4-2 series greatness win. Meanwhile, the big-picture bounces were monumental. The Buffalo Sabres had pulled off a considerable upset over the Bruins to present a Eric Engels | @EricEngels much more favourable second-round matchup. April 22, 2020, 8:49 AM The Canadiens dispatched them in four hard-fought games, three of which were settled in overtime.

And then, the mother of all bounces went Montreal’s way as they waited Sportsnet is turning back the clock to relive Canada’s most unforgettable for an opponent in the conference finals. best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series with NHL Classics: Best of Seven Series. Game 1 of the 1993 clash between Patrick Roy and the “So we get through Buffalo and we’re all watching Game 7 between the Canadiens and Wayne Gretzky and the Kings, airs tonight, April 22, New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins,” said Brisebois. “I have to starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT. The full broadcast schedule can be be honest with you: Do you want to face the Islanders, or the Penguins found here. with Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr? It’s a no-brainer. I don’t want to say you pick your poison, and it’s not to be disrespectful, but when the MONTREAL — The way Guy Carbonneau tells it, when Jacques Demers Islanders scored in OT of Game 7, we were all watching the game walked into the first team meeting of the 1992-93 season and told his together at the hotel and everyone was jumping in the hallway. We were Montreal Canadiens they were going to shock the hockey world and win going crazy. It’s only normal, it’s human nature. the Stanley Cup, no one laughed. But a lot of sideways glances were subtly exchanged. “Anyway, we got prepared and we knew the Islanders were good. They had Pierre Turgeon and Ray Ferraro and guys like that and we knew it And it’s not because this ragtag group of players couldn’t wrap their was going to be a challenge.” heads around the idea. The Canadiens had the consensus best goaltender in the world in Patrick Roy, a near perfectly-balanced blue But the Canadiens then rolled through the Islanders in five games and, line, and a good mix of talent and grit up front, so belief wasn’t too hard as they rested and watched the Kings gut their way through a gruelling to come by. seven-game series with Toronto, the team earmarked for goodness suddenly appeared destined for greatness. It’s just that even they knew they were more so earmarked for goodness than they were greatness — especially in relation to a juggernaut The Canadiens were battle-tested. In digging their way out of the Quebec Pittsburgh Penguins team that was just months removed from holding a series — and in winning seven games in overtime en route to the Stanley second consecutive Cup parade, a Boston Bruins team poised to do Cup Final — they had built an unshakable confidence. serious damage, and a Quebec Nordiques team loaded with talent and very much rising on the backs of Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg and Mats Brisebois believes the foundation of that confidence came from Demers. Sundin among others. “I wasn’t laughing when Jacques said we were going to shock the world And those were just a few of the teams the Canadiens had to worry and win the Cup,” he said. “That proved one thing: His ambition was so about on their side of the playoff picture. high. That is Jacques Demers. That is his personality. His positivity is extraordinary. The glass is always half full with Jacques. He was saying Over in the Campbell Conference, the Chicago Blackhawks had a star- things to you that made you feel like you were Bobby Orr. In my head it studded cast and all the makings of a Cup contender. The Detroit Red was like, ‘I can skate, I can shoot, I can hit, I can block shots,’ because Wings had a well-established superstar in Steve Yzerman and two more he was always telling me I could do it. That was Jacques, and I was not on their way in youngsters Sergei Federov and Nicklas Lidstrom. The really shocked when he said that, because that’s the goal. That’s the goal Toronto Maple Leafs were a force with Doug Gilmour and Wendell Clark every year is to win the Stanley Cup. To mention it that first meeting, it leading the way and a young Felix Potvin vaulting up the goaltending was wild, but we all looked at each other like, ‘Okay, I’m in for that.’ ranks. The Vancouver Canucks — with Pavel Bure prepared to explode in his sophomore season and Trevor Linden, Cliff Ronning, Geoff “The thing is, above all, I think we had character. Yes, we were a talented Courtnall and Petr Nedved in tow — were ready to go on a deep run. team, but we had character. To win a Stanley Cup — it’s not luck. You have to deserve it; no one is going to give it to you. I think of players like And then there were the Los Angeles Kings, who had the best player in Kirk Muller, and Mike Keane, and Carbo and all those guys — they had the world in Wayne Gretzky and a supporting cast that couldn’t be character. They gave everything every night and every shift. As a young underestimated. kid, you look at a guy like Carbo — yeah, he was our captain, but he wasn’t a talkative guy. He wasn’t talking much, but every time he was I may have only been nine years old at the onset of that fabled season, jumping on the ice it was like, ‘Holy cow! He’s ready to play.’ He wanted but even I knew what kind of competition the Canadiens were up against. to make a difference and would sacrifice his body for anyone on the I was a diehard hockey fan, the kind of fan that begged, kicked and team. That character defined the team. We all had that and that desire to screamed for extended bedtimes; the kind that kept up with all the stats; win. I think that’s why we made it.” and the kind that spent every waking minute playing or thinking about the game (sorry my grades sucked, Mom). I had high hopes for that Montreal group, but I wasn’t delusional. Like most fans of the team, I knew all the stars would have to align for them to win their first Cup since 1986. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 04.23.2020 Whatever hope I had was fading quickly as I approached my 10th birthday in March. The team that had established a 32-18-5 record, before rattling off eight wins in 10 February games, was sputtering towards the finish line. The Canadiens went 6-7 in March and then lost four of its final six games in April. To say a first-round meeting with Quebec had an ominous feel to it would be understating it. And my doubt had quickly turned to disappointment once the mighty Nordiques took a 2-0 series lead. I was ready to accept that this wasn’t going to be Montreal’s year. But, as told me in a telephone interview on Tuesday morning, the Canadiens’ belief wasn’t close to wavering. “We knew it was going to be a tough series, but we also knew we could beat them. Sometimes you just need luck and you need the puck to turn in your favour,” Brisebois, a 22-year-old upstart defenceman on the ’93 team, said. “It didn’t start the way we wanted it to, but we played some great hockey. And I remember Jacques Demers and (GM) Serge Savard 1174044 Websites Vernon cherished the rematch and was excited to be put to the ultimate test, once again, against Patrick Roy, who was chiefly responsible for the Habs’ win over Calgary three years earlier. Sportsnet.ca / Flames were all in for 1989 Stanley Cup Final rematch “He didn’t steal it in ’86 – they beat us,” said McDonald, whose Hall of with Canadiens Fame career was winding to a close with his 500th goal and 1,000th point earlier in the year.

“This time it was, ‘whatever it was going to take,’ because of what Eric Francis | @EricFrancis happened in 1986. We knew, ‘if we don’t win it now this team will have passed that window and we may never get this chance again.’ Because April 22, 2020, 10:56 AM we were the top two teams it was pretty much an understanding, whoever plays the best hockey here is going to find a way to win this.” Standing at centre ice with the Clarence Campbell Bowl in hand, Lanny Unlike previous rounds, this battle didn’t include fisticuffs, as the only two McDonald soaked up the moment. teams in the league to surpass 100 points settled quickly into a series that wouldn’t produce a single fighting major. As the euphoric Saddledome faithful stood and chanted his name, the Flames co-captain was mobbed by his adoring teammates. Granted, plenty of the 39 roughing calls and 89 other minors assessed in the series could qualify for modern-day suspensions. Three years after losing the 1986 Stanley Cup Final to the Montreal Canadiens, his Flames capped a five-game series triumph over the MacInnis kicked off one of the NHL’s most dominating finals by a Chicago Blackhawks to earn another crack at winning their first defenceman with two first-period goals to get the Saddledome jumping. championship. Montreal, which had lost only three games in the playoffs with studs like Once again, the final hurdle would come in the form of the NHL’s most Chris Chelios, Bobby Smith, Mats Naslund, Russ Courtnall and Guy storied franchise — the Canadiens. (The series re-airs on Sportsnet Carbonneau, countered with responses from Stephane Richer and Larry beginning Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. MT.) Robinson. But that was a concern for another night. Midway through the second period, 20-year-old Fleury, a fourth-line centre who made his NHL debut New Year’s Day, scored what would “So many teams say, ‘we’re not going to touch (the Campbell Bowl),’” stand as the game-winner. laughed McDonald, who shared the “tri-captaincy” with and . “I think it’s bigger than the goal I scored in Edmonton, but nobody talks about that one,” chuckled Fleury, referring to his Game 6 overtime winner “We didn’t give a s— – we wanted the damn thing, and we’re proud of against Edmonton in 1991 that produced a sliding celebration still shown what we accomplished. We knew damn well what the big goal was.” on ’s opening. After watching the Edmonton Oilers win four of the previous five Cups, “I was just trying to be an everyday player, and all of a sudden, six the Flames had captured their second-straight Presidents’ Trophy as the months after I got to Calgary, it was the Stanley Cup Final. It was a NHL’s regular-season champs. They dominated the rugged Smythe whirlwind. My entire family was full of Montreal Canadiens fans, and half division by finishing 26 points ahead of the second-place Los Angeles of them still cheered for Montreal when I was playing in that series.” Kings, which had a new star in Wayne Gretzky. It was a chance for the rest of the nation to pick sides too, as it would end The Flames rolled over the Kings in a four-game slugfest in the second up being the last all-Canadian final the league has seen, dating back 31 round that brought the team even closer together, but not before relying years and counting. on the heroics of to get them past the first round.

Despite finishing 43 points ahead of the Vancouver Canucks that year, the Flames needed the diminutive Calgary native to make several Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 04.23.2020 legendary saves in overtime of Game 7 before a fortuitous deflection off the skate of allowed Calgary to exhale. In today’s world of replays, there’s no chance the goal would have been allowed. No matter. “The Canucks clearly weren’t impressed by our press clippings or the standings, as that series showed,” said Flames coach Terry Crisp, 76, whose club narrowly averted being a first-round flop for the second- straight year. “We owe them a big thank you because when we dodged that bullet, our guys got it back on track and the train started to roll. We got back to playing the way we did in the regular season.” One year after Swedish enigma Hakan Loob finished top ten in league scoring, came seventh with 110 points. His 51-goals were equalled by 22-year-old sniper Joe Nieuwendyk on a team with five Hall of Famers that could also turn to Doug Gilmour, Gary Roberts, Mark Hunter, Otto and rookie sensations Jiri Hrdina and Theo Fleury for goals. All had scored 22 or more that year. The Flames also had 10 players who had over 100 penalty minutes, allowing them to dominate teams physically. That list was topped by Tim Hunter’s 375 penalty minutes, followed by young Gary Roberts (250), Jim Peplinski (241), Otto (213), Hunter (194), Rob Ramage (156) and Dana Murzyn (142). Being able to stand up for yourself was the way of the West. “(GM) Cliff (Fletcher) and (vice-president) Al (MacNeil) built a team that any game you wanted to play we could answer the bell,” said defensive star Al MacInnis, a future Norris Trophy winner, who played the best hockey of his career to lead all playoff scorers with 31 points. “You wanted to get into a track meet, a shootout, a physical game … the guys could respond. We were a pretty confident group, made even more confident by the play of Vernie.” 1174045 Websites With or without him, Anderson sees a bright future for the Senators organization, led by the likes of Brady Tkachuk and Thomas Chabot.

“We’ve got many, many good pieces that are young, energetic, good Sportsnet.ca / Senators' Craig Anderson not ready to make decision on leaders — guys that are willing to put in the work and do it the right way,” future yet Anderson says. “They’re just going to drag along the other guys that are kind of on the fence. So the future is bright.”

It will take some time, as the young players mature and veteran additions Wayne Scanlan are made. April 22, 2020, 4:53 PM “I’m kind of excited for those guys, I’m also kind of sad on my end, because by the time we add all the pieces, I’ll definitely be well out of the league,” Anderson says. Craig Anderson turns 39 on May 21, a relatively ancient age for an NHL Anderson has been home in Florida since mid-March and has been goaltender. spending most of his days helping Nicholle with virtual school duties And yet, the Ottawa Senators mainstay doesn’t sound like he’s quite involving their two boys, Jake, 8, and Levi, 6. ready to retire, despite approaching the end of his Ottawa contract. “Pretty well every day is educating the kids,” Anderson says. “They have “I haven’t put too much thought into future plans,” Anderson said on a multiple Zoom calls with their school teachers and a whole bunch of video conference call Wednesday. “I’m kind of trying to stay in the assignments. So I’ve had to pick up some duties that way.” moment as best I can… focus on the ‘what ifs’ with what we are going and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey through as far as the current season… can we get back and finish our world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what season? they think about it. “We’ll cross the bridge as far as future plans down the road but as of right Anderson’s first hockey wish is to finish the season. now I am missing the game like crazy. I want to be on the ice, I want to be there competing with my teammates, so right now that would be the “We want to get back to playing and doing what we’re supposed to be way I’m leaning, that I want to compete. And continue to do what I love doing on a normal day-to-day basis,” he says. every day.” But if the regular season gets cancelled, Anderson wouldn’t mind seeing Considering his team sits in 30th place, Anderson is coming off a decent his peers participate in playoff series in empty arenas, if that is what it season, with 11 wins in 34 games, a .902 save percentage and 3.25 takes to return to NHL hockey this summer. goals-against average. One could make a case for bringing Anderson back as a mentor to the younger goalies in the organization, but with “I think right now everyone is looking for something to watch on TV,” he Anders Nilsson under contract and Marcus Hogberg coming off a strong says. “You’ve seen NASCAR, and IndyCar jump into the virtual world. season filling in for the two veterans, there may not be room for a 39- We don’t have the luxury of being able to play the sport as a video game, year-old pending UFA. Waiting in the wings are several goalie prospects, so I think we’re open to anything. We’d get a lot of fan bases to tune in if including Joey Daccord, Filip Gustavsson, Mads Sogaard and Kevin we were able to go to national broadcasts with hockey that is currently Mandolese. happening. The NHL season, and possibly Anderson’s career, might have ended on “Myself and other players are all in for it. It gets us back to our regular March 11 in Los Angeles — with Senators players wondering aloud if the routine, what we love to do. It also gives our fan base — even though game would even be played after Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert had tested they’re not at the game — it gives them something to tune into at home. positive for COVID-19. The Jazz had played at the Staples Center the Kind of break up the monotony of this quarantine.” night before. Multiple other people across a wide range of sports If the regular season restarts, Anderson says a veteran goalie like him subsequently tested positive, including seven involved with the Senators would need a couple of weeks notice to get mentally prepared to play — five players, one staff member and broadcaster Gord Wilson. again. If the 2019-20 regular season does get cancelled and Anderson has to Anderson’s well-known passion for auto racing comes naturally. His retire on such a bizarre note, he is OK with that. father, Richard, used to race Corvettes and founded Motorsport “I’m just kind of rolling with it right now and let the chips fall where they Ministries. Craig and his brother also race, and have converted that may,” he says. “As an individual, I am hopeful that we are able to get passion into sim car racing, or computer-simulated auto racing. Anderson back and play and finish the year but it’s out of my control. has posted several of his iRace efforts online and admits he will find a place for auto racing in his life after he retires from hockey. “If it was something that maybe I did to screw things up for myself, I’d be in a different boat but right now I’m not too concerned about it. It’s not in “Sim racing is becoming a tool for real drivers honing their skills without my control, so I don’t want to put too much energy in that kind of stuff.” actually going to the track,” Anderson says. “So I’d like to think I’m using the sim racing as a stepping stone to learning new tracks, and different If that was his swan song — a 3-2 loss with Anderson stopping 36 of 39 cars. Kings shots — he will look back fondly on a number of memorable nights in the Senators goal. The first to come to mind was his emotional return “We’ll see where it goes. It comes down to time. I’ve put so much time against Edmonton on Oct. 30, 2016, after being on leave to support his and effort into hockey, I do owe it to my family that I have to give back to wife, Nicholle, through her cancer treatment. Anderson pitched a 2-0 them and be more involved that way. So it’s going to be a balancing act shutout, tears streaming down his face as he skated onto the ice as the of seeing how much I can get away from the family to do sim racing or game’s first star. actual motorsport.” The Senators all-time leader in regular season games played by a Richard Deitsch and Donnovan Bennett host a podcast about how goaltender (435), Anderson reflects fondly on his 40 playoff games with COVID-19 is impacting sports around the world. They talk to experts, Ottawa, and especially the unexpected run to the Eastern Conference athletes and personalities, offering a window into the lives of people we Final in 2017. Anderson was outstanding in each series, including normally root for in entirely different ways. victories over the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers. It is easily in the running for the least secure position in all of pro sports “Our fan base got absolutely electric and dynamic come playoff time, so — the top business executive post with the Senators. Into the breach that was something we eagerly looked forward to,” Anderson said. goes Anthony LeBlanc, named on Monday the Senators president of business operations. LeBlanc, an Ottawa resident and longtime Senators The man who wears No. 41 is often spoken about in Ottawa as a season ticket holder, was CEO and co-owner of the Arizona Coyotes candidate to have his jersey retired, alongside Daniel Alfredsson and from 2013-17. He was also a founding partner of Schooner Sports and Chris Phillips. (Winger Chris Neil is another popular candidate). If he’s Entertainment, a group committed to bringing the CFL to Halifax. done, Anderson would finish with a 202-168-46 Senators career mark to go with a .914 save percentage and 2.84 goals-against average. His “I am thrilled to be appointed to the position of president of business playoff numbers are even better: 21-18 and .928 and 2.30. operations with the Senators,” LeBlanc said in a statement. “I look forward to working closely with the entire staff as we prepare for an Anderson has also played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers exciting chapter in the history of the Senators.” and Colorado Avalanche. He came over to the Senators from Colorado in a trade for in 2011. He has appeared in 648 NHL games and LeBlanc becomes the fourth senior executive to be hired since club has 289 wins. founder and CEO Cyril Leeder was fired by Eugene Melnyk in late January of 2017. Since that time, a little over three years, Tom Anselmi, Nic Ruszkowski and Jim Little have come and gone from CEO or COO roles. Little was hired on Jan. 10 of this year and was gone in less than two months.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 04.23.2020 1174046 Websites still get tons of scoring chances off the cycle, but their conversion rate there is much lower, ranking 15th in the league.

Tampa Bay Lightning Sportsnet.ca / Breaking down four 2019-20 Stanley Cup contenders Another Atlantic Division team, another slow start, but the Lightning have been the league’s hottest team in the second half. Maybe there was a crisis of confidence with everything going wrong for them in their sweep Andrew Berkshire at the hands of the Columbus Blue Jackets last season, but whatever was holding them back earlier in the year isn’t doing so now.

Strengths The 2019-20 NHL season is in flux, and even if we do get playoffs, the results will likely be drastically different than if we were proceeding with The cycle. Only the Maple Leafs have produced more chances off the the normal schedule. cycle than this Lightning team, but they have the elite defence and goaltending to take more advantage of their offence. The Lightning are Fans from all markets miss watching their teams close out the season, only mid-range at creating controlled entries, but when they do get one but some teams are being burned worse by this pause than others, they have the second-highest rate of turning one into a scoring chance especially if things don’t calm down enough for the NHL to find a way to off the rush at 26.5 per cent, beaten only by Pittsburgh. What makes the stage some kind of post-season. Lightning so dangerous isn’t so much any one area, but that they are so Specifically, four teams stand out as clear Stanley Cup contenders above strong nearly across the board, so it’s tough to stop them. the rest. Here’s a breakdown of the strengths and weaknesses of each of Weaknesses those four teams. For a team that boasts a lot of speed and some great transition players, Boston Bruins the Lightning don’t attack off the rush much, ranking 13th in rush chances On the face of it, the Bruins’ differentials don’t look as strong as the other in the league. Oddly, they struggle even more defending the rush, teams here, barely above water from the slot at 5-vs-5 for example, but in allowing the sixth-most rush chances against of any team. If a team can the first half of the season when they were winning games left and right, play into that and attack with speed, it’s possible the Lightning would get their play wasn’t actually that strong. David Pastrnak’s goal scoring and upset again. Another avenue an opponent could take is to keep the game the combination of Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak really buoyed them on special teams as much as possible, since the Lightning are far less while they slowly turned it on. Since about December, they’ve been the dominant there. Bruins we’re used to seeing, one of the strongest teams in the league. Vegas Golden Knights Strengths Everything you can do, they can do better. I’ve talked about team speed One of the Bruins’ biggest strengths is puck movement: they produce the a few times, and the Golden Knights exemplify what makes that such an fourth-most one-timers in the league both at even strength and in all advantage. With easily the best differentials of any team this season, the situations. But as great as they are offensively, they’re better defensively. Golden Knights are flat out scary when their goaltenders can stop a puck. Only the Carolina Hurricanes have allowed fewer one-timers against from Marc-Andre Fleury’s subpar play this season resulted in a coaching the slot, but the Hurricanes don’t have Rask and Halak. That dynamite change, but the addition of Robin Lehner was the big key to this team goalie tandem is made even better by the Bruins allowing the third-fewest going from underwhelming results to Stanley Cup favourite. chances against in the league, bettered only by the Dallas Stars and Strengths Minnesota Wild. Vegas is one of the league’s best defensive teams, essentially mirroring Weaknesses Boston while allowing fewer rush chances and forecheck chances As great as the Bruins are, they play a relatively low event game at 5-vs- against. The Golden Knights thrive on putting pressure on opposing puck 5, and when they get frustrated, they tend to shoot from the perimeter a carriers, causing their opponents to have the highest turnover rates in the lot. Only the Los Angeles Kings take a higher per centage of their shot league in the neutral zone and overall, and third-highest in the defensive attempts from the perimeter than Boston at 67.4 per cent. If a team is zone. They’re second behind the Avalanche in chances off the rush, and able to take a quick lead and play a clean game that doesn’t give the have produced 102 more scoring chances at 5-vs-5 than the next best Bruins’ second-ranked power play many opportunities, they can be their team. Vegas is the ideal combination of elite offence and elite defence own worst enemies. The issue is getting a lead in the first place. Even if that hits hard in every style of play. you do break through Boston’s stifling defence, you have to beat Rask or, Weaknesses in a less likely scenario, Halak. Not an easy feat. If the Golden Knights decide to go with Fleury, goaltending is a question Colorado Avalanche mark for them that could lose a series. Fleury has the potential to give Injuries have taken a chunk out of the Avalanche this season, you would great performances, but he has always been an erratic goaltender who think. But the results speak for themselves for this high-flying offensive can lose his space when he’s struggling. As we saw with Vegas last team. The Avalanche may lack a little in the grit department compared to season, it only takes a couple minutes of panic to lose a series. The only some of the other top-end teams, which is why their differentials from the other glaring weakness the Golden Knights have is a tendency to give up inner slot aren’t as impressive as other areas, but the way they dominate rebound chances, with only five teams giving up more than they have this the high slot is something to behold. season, all five of which are non-playoff teams. That could be a function of poor rebound control by their goalies, but it’s an area an opponent Strengths should look to exploit if the playoffs ever happen. No team hits harder off the rush than the Avalanche do. Speed is the name of their game, and they’re not afraid to let their forwards get creative. Nathan MacKinnon is the only player who produces as much off Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 04.23.2020 the rush as Connor McDavid, and the Avs as a whole have scored 56 goals off the rush at 5-vs-5, 11 more than any other team. Despite controlling the puck the majority of the time, the Avs also lead the league in odd-man rushes at 5-vs-5 with 263. Interestingly, the Avs are just as excellent at defending plays off the rush, with rookie Cale Makar leading the league in the per cent of entry attempts against him that end with no scoring chance against, at 81 per cent. The young phenom is emblematic of the Avs as a whole: being an offensive dynamo with underrated defensive acumen. Weaknesses If someone is going to beat the Avalanche in a seven-game series, odds are they do it by clogging the neutral zone and creating more puck battles in that area. The Avalanche are bottom-five in the league at winning puck battles in the neutral zone, and clogging things up there has the added benefit of hurting their quick-strike rush offence. The Avs 1174047 Websites “There were stages during the season when we were playing so well as a line, but not getting much done offensively,” Hansen, who lives in North Vancouver after playing the last of his 626 NHL games with San Jose two years ago, said. “And you know a series can turn so quick if all of a Sportsnet.ca / Powerhouse 2010-11 Canucks were fuelled by impressive sudden the offence dries up on your top guys. So it’s a great feeling depth when you do poke a hole in the ketchup bottle and a couple pour out.” Poke a hole in the ketchup bottle? Iain MacIntyre | @imacSportsnet “The old bottles, you hold them and shake and shake them but the ketchup won’t come out,” the Dane explained. “And then when it comes, April 22, 2020, 9:40 AM it all pours out. The term might be the ketchup-bottle effect. Do you have that saying in English?” VANCOUVER – With the advantage of time and context, we can look We do now. back nine years at the 2010-11 Vancouver Canucks and conclude a Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it couple of things. 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, They really were freakin’ good, one of the best teams of the last 20 years they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover not to win a Stanley Cup. Nearly a decade later, this isn’t exactly a Canada’s most beloved game. revelation. But seeing again on Sportsnet the team that opened the After ending the regular season on a 14-game goal drought, Hansen National Hockey League playoffs that spring with a fantastic seven-game scored in the Canucks’ 2-0 win in the series opener, then two nights later series against the Chicago Blackhawks, we finally register how deep the started the 4-3 win in Game 2 by zipping a close-range shot past talent ran in Vancouver. Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford at 7:30 of the first period. Sure, the team was built around NHL scoring champions and future Hall- Ketchup. of-Famers Henrik and Daniel Sedin, and backed by one of the best goaltenders of his generation in Roberto Luongo. “Burr (Alex Burrows) came off and I came on,” Hansen said of the goal. “Danny and Hank behind the net, out to me and I one-timed it. But the Canucks had 41-goal scorer Ryan Kesler, the Selke Trophy winner that season, on their second line. When healthy, the four centres “As the series started, and especially Game 1 and 2, everything was were: Hank Sedin, Kesler, Manny Malhotra and Max Lapierre. Fifty-point clicking. We had depth scoring, the top guys were doing their part, we forward Mikael Samuelsson, a Stanley Cup winner with Detroit in 2008, had special teams, we scored at the right times. Everything was running was essentially a utility player who could play either wing and up and smoothly.” down the lineup. The Canucks were also pulverizing the Blackhawks physically, a trend And on the blue line, the Canucks opened the playoffs with five 20- that would be characterized in Game 3 by Torres’ thunderous – and minute defencemen: Alex Edler, Christian Ehrhoff, Kevin Bieksa, Dan somehow not suspendable – hit on Chicago defenceman Brent Hamhuis and Sami Salo. That left Keith Ballard, Aaron Rome and Seabrook. Andrew Alberts battling for the sixth spot. Rookie Chris Tanev, who would eventually be forced by injuries into the Western Conference final “I learned a lot that playoff series,” Higgins said. “And one of the things I and Stanley Cup final, was the ninth defenceman. learned – I’m sorry because I know it’s the biggest cliché – but it really was shift by shift. That was our focus. That win in Game 1 just meant we No wonder the Canucks built a 117-point regular season and won the had to start Game 2 well. That’s all it meant.” Presidents’ Trophy by daylight.

Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 04.23.2020 they think about it. “We went to the finals because of depth,” Dallas Stars coach Rick Bowness, who was then ’s associate coach with the Canucks, told Sportsnet.ca on Tuesday. “It was not because of one line, not because of goaltending, not because of any one thing. We had depth. “Jannik (Hansen) came up with big goals, Higgy (Chris Higgins) came up with big goals. It was depth that carried that team. That’s usually the case when you go to the finals: it’s not just the stars, it’s the depth. Look at St. Louis last year, and Boston – both teams had great fourth lines. They could play against anybody in any situation. And we had that. The stars always get the attention. But, man, that team was built on depth.” That depth was evident as the Canucks sprinted to a 3-0 first-round series lead against the hated Blackhawks. Higgins scored the winner in Game 1, and Hansen opened the scoring in Game 2, which is being rebroadcast Wednesday night on Sportsnet. Samuelsson, who sat out Game 2 with an injury, had the winning goal in Game 3. “We talked so much about depth and contributing and not just relying on one line, but being a four-line team,” Hansen recalled this week. “You point at your bottom six (forwards) and make sure you’re not just playing well defensively, but chipping in offensively.” Richard Deitsch and Donnovan Bennett host a podcast about how 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. Hansen was a third-line fixture opposite wrecking ball Raffi Torres, who missed the first two games of the playoffs with a suspension earned for an elbow to the head of Edmonton Oilers forward Jordan Eberle in Game 80 of the regular season. The Canucks wingers’ centre for much of the playoffs was agitator Lapierre, who was promoted when Malhotra suffered a gruesome eye injury three weeks before the Stanley Cup tournament. 1174048 Websites to it. That's one of the biggest challenges that I noticed coming into this level is getting the player buy-in and getting them to be open to different things." TSN.CA / Marlies' Greg Moore talks AHL learning curve, top Toronto What is an example of a different type of drill that you introduced? Maple Leafs prospects "To start practices I liked to do a lot of possession drills that may not be game realistic ... it's about trying to move pucks in and out of space using your teammates. How are you using that space? How are you supporting Mark Masters your teammates? How are you handling the puck? How is your brain identifying time and space or identifying your options before you get the puck? There's a lot of concepts within it that we try to work on that While he had played hundreds of games in the American Hockey hopefully gives players tools to use within the game regardless of the League, Greg Moore had never coached at that level before taking over situation." behind the Toronto Marlies bench midway through this season. In terms of phrasing, one of the players mentioned when you first took "It's tough to come in, in the middle of the year, for anybody, especially in over that you prefer 'depositing the puck' rather than 'dumping the puck.' the American League," noted Don Granato, who gave Moore his first How did you come to that? coaching job with the USA Hockey National Development Program. "I actually got the term from John Wroblewski who works at the National "None of those players want to be in the American League so it's Development Program. He used the word 'deposit' and I thought it was a automatically the hardest spot to coach." great way to get the players to buy-in to putting the puck to a place with The Marlies posted a 12-20-2 record with Moore in charge and sat purpose. So, just giving it more of a positive connotation and getting the outside a playoff spot when the season was paused due to the COVID- players to think, 'Where am I placing this puck so that we can recover it 19 pandemic. and gain possession again.'" "The staff and organization was so welcoming and made my transition as How has your playing career shaped you as a coach? easy as possible, but there was definitely a learning curve," Moore "I wasn't a great thinker of the game. I'd probably put my head down and acknowledged, "learning the players, learning about our staff and how go north as fast as I can and it was rare that I'd be cognizant and think things operate at this level and learning other teams and systems and the about where my teammates are and where am I creating this two-on-one style of play. There's been a lot [to process] and a lot has changed, but or playing give-and-go hockey. Once you get into hockey and studying for the good and I'm excited for the future." the game and you start learning it from the people around you and Moore first called Granato when he was playing in the top German studying film you start to develop a thought process and things you wish league during the 2014-15 season. Moore was interested in coaching you had as skills and/or assets when you played. So, your passion and wanted to pick the brain of the USNTP's head coach. The pair hit it becomes wanting to transfer those things to the next generation of player off immediately and one year later when an assistant job opened up and give them the tools that maybe you didn't have as an athlete. For Granato hired Moore. me, that really is a strong element of why I want to teach a style of play that I was not [demonstrating] as a player, because I think it's extremely "He's always looked at the game from the micro and the macro, you interesting and I'm passionate about studying it and wished I had that know, a player, but also a team," Granato, now an assistant with the brain when I played." Buffalo Sabres, observed, "and I liked the way he thought and processed that." Which players impressed you with the Marlies this season? After three seasons as an assistant with the USNTDP Juniors, Moore "Adam Brooks is a great player, very smart, can really make his earned a head coaching job with the Chicago Steel of the United States teammates better with how he distributes the puck. Hockey League. Just like with the Marlies, Chicago struggled at first. "I was really surprised with Egor Korshkov. He came back from injury and "I could just see so much potential and so much promise in him," said I hadn't seen him when I first got there, but as soon as he got into the Steel general manager Ryan Hardy, "and there's a style that he wants to lineup, his ability to create offence [stood out]. For a really big player play and it's nuanced with a lot of granular details in it and it just takes you'd think he'd have more of a power game and go north, but he really some time." has the brain for finding space, finding his teammates. He won't rush up the ice without his teammates, he'll wait for someone to come up and Moore eventually guided Chicago to the Clark Cup final in 2019 and the create a two-on-one, play give-and-go hockey and then when he does team got off to a blistering 15-4-1 start this year before Toronto Maple that he creates time and space and starts taking the puck to the net and Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas came calling about the Marlies gig. using his strength and speed. Sheldon Keefe had just been promoted to replace Mike Babcock in the National Hockey League. "[Timothy] Liljegren with his mobility and his skating. I know you interviewed him last week and he has so many tools. Really great kid, "Greg's very open to new ideas and wanting to challenge the status quo really good teammate, really smart. His ability to break pucks out, and push things in a certain way, which aligns with Kyle and what they're transition through the middle of the rink, join the line rush, he can trying to do there," Hardy notes. separate himself from people and that makes him really dangerous. "I'm excited he got the job," said Granato. "It's a huge challenge and I "[Rasmus] Sandin, obviously, was up [with the Leafs] for most of the think he'll do well. I really do." season. I saw him for a really short period of time, but really smart player and has a bright future. Moore, a product of the , spoke to TSN via Skype this week. The 36-year-old reflected on his first experience as an AHL coach, "[Jesper] Lindgren, really smart, really consistent, really steady, you may listed which players impressed him the most and explained how his not see him as flashy as Liljegren and separate himself but, man, he playing career, including 10 NHL games, influenced his approach behind does a lot of good stuff. He's smart offensively and defensively. the bench. "[Joseph] Duszak, [Mac] Hollowell are another couple young defencemen The following is an edited transcript of the interview. who had to fill in this year with call-ups and injuries and they did a great job. They belong at that level. Their skating was really good and they What changes did you implement with the Marlies this season? were able to get pucks away early up ice, create offence, distribute "I wouldn't say there was too much. The style of play was pretty similar in pucks, really good at the offensive blueline to get activated and find open terms of what we were doing in Chicago and what the Leafs have been space and create two-on-ones. They were a great addition to our back doing. Some of my triggers and/or my phrasing of concepts might be a end. little bit different in certain areas. There's a few drills that I've "And then was probably our best player. At times when implemented or concepts I implemented that were a bit out of the box for we were down maybe two or three goals he would go out and try and players. I recognized with this age of player it's a lot different than junior finish hits and try and bring energy, which isn't necessarily his game all kids. The junior kids come in and they don't have a foundation of the time and that's a tribute to the type of person and player he is. He structured hockey or a sense of what to expect so when you throw new wanted to be an impact guy and do anything he could do for the team to ideas or concepts at them they're open-minded to what is possible. I've try and win hockey games. If it was an overtime situation or pulled-goalie noticed here that these players already have a foundation. They're really situation, he just wanted to be the guy and he has the mentality that he smart, brilliant athletes and have had years of playing a certain way or wants to be the one to make it happen and he's not going on the ice thinking a certain way or practising a certain way so when you throw scared to cause the goal against. He was a really good teammate, really things at them that are a bit different it takes them a little bit to get used good leader for us and contributed in a lot of ways." Who are your coaching role models? "When I was younger, I played for at the US Program and World Juniors as well and he was the person that had motivated me to want to coach and that was when I was 18-years-old. His ability to organize a team, get everybody on the same page, communicate [was impressive and] at the time he was very progressive in his systems and his concepts and, obviously, we had success playing under him. He was just a great person. You could tell he genuinely cared about everyone in the room. And then working for Don Granato my first year in coaching really flipped my brain about how I think about the sport and how I process development. He has an outside-the-box way of thinking about the game. He's a great coach and someone who helped cultivate how I approach coaching and I've learned a lot from him." What do you remember about winning gold at the 2004 World Juniors? "Oh, the group of guys, the coaching staff. I've asked that same question to some players the last few years, you know, what their special moments in hockey were and they always say a championship. And I always ask, 'What about that championship?' And every time the response is, 'The quality of person in the locker room, the quality of the staff and really enjoying the people that you're surrounded with within the process that it took to get there.' The majority of the players that played on that team with me at that World Juniors, we all played together for the two years at the National Program when we were 16 and 17 years old and then we had other guys that were on the team that were either a year younger than us and had played at the Program and I already knew or players that had come in at other national events that we had prior relationships with so it was just a really close group and it was a special moment, because it was the USA's first gold medal in that event. We're all vey proud of that and relationships were built there that will last forever."

TSN.CA LOADED: 04.23.2020 1174049 Websites

USA TODAY / NHL looking at centralizing game sites when it's time to resume play

Steve Gardner USA TODAY

The NHL is considering a plan to finish its regular season by playing multiple games in as many as four arenas without fans present, commissioner Gary Bettman said Wednesday. In an interview with Canada's Sportsnet, Bettman said the proposal is one of several the league is considering, but stressed the number of cities and the locations have not been decided. However, he said the arenas would have to be ones currently used by NHL teams and have four different locker rooms in order to play up to three games in one day. "Ideally from our standpoint — and it would resolve a lot of issues — would be if we could complete the regular season, even if it's on a centralized basis, and then go into the (Stanley Cup playoffs) the way we normally play them," Bettman said. The NHL suspended play on March 12 due to coronavirus concerns and has recommended all teams and staff self-quarantine through April 30. Should the league get the go-ahead to start preparing to play again, Bettman said players expect to need about three weeks of conditioning before they're ready to return. In the meantime, the league has also floated the idea to general managers of holding the 2020 NHL draft in June before the season ends. "You've got to look at all of the options, balance them and try to make a good judgment, and we're doing it with the feedback from our clubs, obviously," Bettman said. "With a lot of timing options, we have a great deal of flexibility, and we're not going to rush anything. We're not going to do anything that's crazy. We're going to try and do something, under the circumstances at the time, that is sensible."

USA TODAY LOADED: 04.23.2020 1174050 Websites some music and candles. We like to chill out and relax and do a little Q&A for 30 minutes.

6 p.m. We usually sit at the kitchen counter for dinner. We eat and make USA TODAY / Quarantine Diary: Lindsey Vonn talks 'Tub Time,' daily our FaceTime calls to our friends and family, just kind of checking in with workouts with fiancé P.K. Subban everybody. For Easter we had a full family FaceTime, it was really cute. 7 p.m. Dinner is usually salmon and asparagus or chicken salad, or sometimes I’ll have a Beyond Meat patty with onions and tomatoes and Anika Reed lettuce. It’s nice because those keep in the freezer for a long time, so I’ve kind of stockpiled them. USA TODAY 11 p.m. After we’re done we usually watch a movie or some TV shows. I’ve gotten P.K. to watch “Tommy Boy,” which was a big stretch for me Going stir-crazy in quarantine? You’re not alone. Celebrities are cooped because he doesn’t like that kind of humor, but I love it. I’m trying to get up in their homes across the country just like the rest of us. As we him to watch older movies, like “Indiana Jones,” which I think is classic collectively navigate this uncharted territory, USA TODAY presents and he’s not super into it. We watched “The Usual Suspects” last night. Quarantine Diaries, which give readers a peek into how our favorite stars We watch 1 or 2 movies, so usually we go to bed around 11, that way we are spending their time at home. get a decent amount of sleep. Today's diarist is Olympian Lindsey Vonn, who is staying home with her How I'm feeling: I’m trying to keep it together. I think routine has been fiancé, NHL player P.K. Subban and their King Charles Spaniel, Lucy, really good and helpful for us, but just like everyone, it’s a grind. You’re amid the coronavirus pandemic. The sports couple has been working out isolated. I wish I was quarantined with other family members. My sister together and hosting "Tub Time" question and answer livestream lives 10 minutes away and I haven’t seen her since February. sessions with their fans. Here’s what a day in Vonn's quarantine looks like. – As told to Anika Reed USA TODAY LOADED: 04.23.2020 Staying Apart, Together: A newsletter about how to cope with the coronavirus pandemic 7:30 a.m. We’re trying to stick to as much of a routine as we can. I feel like that’s one thing that gives us sanity in this insane world right now. I always try to wake up at 7:30, 8. I’m trying to keep it together. 8 a.m. I like to have breakfast before I workout and P.K. doesn’t. We both kind of do our thing in the kitchen. I usually have some eggs and avocado. 8:30 a.m. We go into the garage, where we have a little home gym. It’s just a Peloton bike and some yoga mats and some bands. We’re trying to make use of what equipment we do have and get some help from (celebrity trainer) Gunnar Peterson to guide us through our workouts. I usually bike more, because I’m used to biking for long periods of time. P.K. is in more of an explosive sport, so he doesn’t do as much biking he does more plyometric work. I just want to burn some calories so I can eat my Ben and Jerry’s at night. He’s actually trying to stay in shape in case the season continues, so he’s definitely on a bit of a different program than I am. I’m on the “look good, feel good” program. We usually work out together for about an hour. New gig:Devils defenseman P.K. Subban is host of new NHL trivia show 11 a.m. After workout is kind of the 'work zone,' where we’re working on projects. It’s a bunch of Zoom meetings and working on finishing my book. I’m rewriting a little bit, because I felt like with the time I’ve had to think on things, I needed to change my book a bit. For my Zoom meetings I definitely put makeup on, probably way more than I normally would just because I like doing something different. I have to get dressed up in some way, shape or form, otherwise I’d just be in my workout clothes for the day. Even if it’s just putting a sweater on, and I still have my sweatpants on my legs, at least I’m half professional. It’s nice to feel like (even if) I’m not going anywhere, I’m still putting my game face on. My project: On the weekends it’s a little bit different, because we’ve been doing some spring cleaning trying to go through everything. He’s got a lot of hockey equipment and I’ve got a lot of ski gear. I’ve also found it really relaxing to go through some of my old Polaroid pictures. I’ve been taking Polaroid pictures for three or four years now and I have a huge pile and I’ve never put them into my album. I’ve been putting those together, to reminisce on my skiing career and being around friends. 1 p.m. I usually eat a snack after my workout, then usually around 1 I’ll have lunch. It’s usually chicken, like chicken and kale salad. I’ll have this zucchini bolognese – it’s no carbs, zucchini noodles and meat sauce. 3 p.m. Thank god we have Lucy. The reason I got her in the first place was because I felt isolated and was a bit depressed traveling on the World Cup Tour, and she brought a lot of happiness to me. So having her here with us during this time has been a godsend. Usually if I need a break when I’m working, around 3 p.m. I’ll take her out. She also likes to play in the backyard and chase after birds, so if I’m super busy with work she can definitely entertain herself. 5 p.m. We do “Tub Time.” We used to do it every night, but then we felt like we were getting annoying, so now we do it Tuesdays and Thursdays. It’s kind of our relaxation time where we can talk to our fans and have 1174051 World Leagues News

Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning To Play For Coronavirus Relief

April 22, 2020 at 8:26 pmFiled Under:Norm Elrod, Peyton Manning, Phil Mickelson, The Match: Champions For Charity, Tiger Woods, Tom Brady

(CBSNewYork/CBS Local) — The Match: Champions For Charity is officially on, though the specifics remain fuzzy. Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning will compete at a yet-to-be- determined time, on a yet-to-be-determined course under a yet-to-be- determined set of rules. We do know that the sport will be golf and all donations and fundraising will benefit COVID-19 relief. The event has been rumored since last month, and was announced Wednesday afternoon. The date will likely be some time in mid-to-late May, the course will probably be in Florida and the matchup seems destined to be Woods-Brady vs. Mickelson-Manning. Confirmation is forthcoming, and all plans depend on official approval from the proper authorities. Woods and Mickelson matched up over Thanksgiving a year and a half ago at Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas. Mickelson prevailed after a four-hole playoff to take home $9 million. This year’s event, which could be the first major sporting event since coronavirus put all sports on indefinite hold, will serve a more worthy cause. Tiger and Phil, two of golf’s best ever, have been competing against each other on the PGA Tour for decades. They have 20 major championships and 126 Tour wins between them. Their teammates in this charity event — Brady and Manning — have their own storied history of gridiron accomplishments, with eight Super Bowl titles between them. If the possible May dates hold, the event is likely to be the first major sporting event during the pandemic. A significant sports-starved viewing audience will likely tune in, though in-person viewing may very well be limited to participants and those necessary to stage and broadcast the event. The implementation of the needed social distancing measures could create a template, or best practices, for other sporting events to follow. At the very least, such attempts will help the PGA Tour when (if) it resumes in June with the Charles Schwab Challenge. The Match: Champions For Charity, if the parties involved manage to pull it off, will provide some hope that a post-quarantine world is within reach. And late May is only a month away. The circumstances that would allow this event to happen, however, seem much further off. But at least it’s something. LOADED: 04.23.2020 1174052 World Leagues News

Coronavirus pandemic changes NFL Draft plans for McKivitz’s

SETH STASKEY

Everyone who’s ever watched the NFL Draft has seen it. As the pick is announced, the television broadcast shifts to a shot of the player, who is joined by his family and friends, in his living room. As he’s hanging up his cell phone from the organization which picked him, the celebration commences as his name is announced. That’s exactly how Colton McKivitz envisioned spending draft weekend. However, the coronavirus pandemic has had other ideas. Last weekend, McKivitz informed his parents — Matt and Wendy — that he would not be coming home to Ohio — as he had planned — for the draft. Instead, he will be on the couch in his hotel in suburban Phoenix, where he’s been training, watching as his parents watch from their home in Centerville. “It’s going to be weird watching (the draft) alone, but I wasn’t planning for some big party or anything at home either,” McKivitz said. “I just wanted a couple of people and try to keep it to a small, family circle type thing.” With the health risks involved, McKivitz made the tough decision late last week to bypass getting on a plane to come back to the Ohio Valley. “I had fully planned to come home, but the whole coronavirus thing has caused that idea to get shutdown,” McKivitz said. “You can fly domestically, but I just didn’t want to risk either bringing something home and getting my mom and dad sick or picking up something and bringing it back with me. It was a very rough decision, but I think it’s the best decision considering the circumstances.” Though McKivitz is probably correct, it didn’t make it any easier for his parents to handle. After all, McKivitz hasn’t been in the Ohio Valley since before Christmas. His parents went to Arizona for a few days during the holidays, but that was the last time they’ve seen their son in person. “They were going to come out here like a few weeks ago, but it was around the time when everything started getting shut down, so that wasn’t worth taking the risk for either,” McKivitz said. Depending on which mock draft one reads, McKivitz is expected to be picked anywhere from the fifth through seventh rounds. However, plenty of offensive tackles are expected to come off the board during tonight’s first round, so he and his parents will still be glued to the coverage the next few days. “My mom has like a draft board set up,” McKivitz said. “She’s got all of the draft-eligible tackles listed, so she’ll be keeping track.” Technology has made it much easier for the McKivitz family to share the moment together. Both Colton and his parents will be sure to have their iPhones charged because plenty of ‘Facetiming’ will be held in the next several days. Plus, in case something were to happen to Colton’s phone, his mom’s phone is the back-up number that the NFL organizations would be utilizing to reach him. “It will be a fun and emotional experience,” McKivitz said. “It’ll just be a little different because I’m here and they’re at home in Ohio.” The McKivitz Family is very close. His parents didn’t miss any of the 50 games Colton played in during his Mountaineer career. So, obviously, when he told his parents that he was opting to remain in Arizona, it wasn’t the most pleasant conversation. “As soon as I started to tell her, my mom handed the phone to my dad,” Colton recalled. “And she didn’t talk to me for a day or so afterward. I understand why she was upset. I was upset, too. It’s better now.” Whenever McKivitz gets that call and then hears his name announced during the draft, he’s sure it’s going to be emotional. But, who will be the most emotional? “I will probably get more emotional just by seeing how they react,” McKivitz said. “The realization of a new journey, in the NFL, is exciting. It’s an accomplishment.” timesleaderonline.com LOADED: 04.23.2020 1174053 World Leagues News Each of them must deal with uncertainty in the spring and summer while attempting to “establish a culture via video conferencing,” Beauchman replied. Will coronavirus wipe out the high school football season? “I don’t know all the kids yet,” Calcagno added. “I was hoping to use that time to get to know them. This definitely puts us at a huge disadvantage.” By DARREN SABEDRA | [email protected] and The economic loss VYTAS MAZEIKA | [email protected] | Bay Area News High schools rely on the income generated from football games to fund Group athletics across the department. Such a negative impact could require cutbacks in staffing. The coronavirus has already forced high school officials to cancel the “If that stream of income is taken away, it will cause financial difficulties state basketball finals and spring sports season. Will there be a football for other sports,” Fremont-Sunnyvale coach Rob Swartz replied. season kicking off in August amidst the global pandemic? Eliminating the football playoffs in order to avoid an overlap with the Even if it’s four months away, football coaches are all about preparation. winter season was offered as an option. And even if they are all doing their best to prepare for a season, the majority of coaches who responded to a Bay Area News Group survey “Or league games with some type of bowl game, like a Thanksgiving Day believe it’s a coin flip whether football is played at all. type game,” Evergreen Valley coach Gabe Resendez suggested. “It changes by the day,” replied James Logan coach Ricky Rodriguez. It’s nearly impossible to predict what’s to come. “But I am at the 50/50 stage right now.” Multiple coaches shared sympathy about families within their community Rodriguez was among three dozen coaches from schools all over the impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Bay Area who responded to a survey that addressed a grab bag of topics, including: Offseason conditioning, distance learning, 7-on-7 The loss of jobs. Health care. Regular meals. passing competitions, economic impact and the possibility of a truncated “Poverty, being such a huge problem, yes,” Ygnacio Valley coach Bryan or delayed season. Shaw replied. “Most our kids have been greatly impacted.” On a multiple-choice question in which coaches were asked “How Campolindo’s Kevin Macy supplied a succinct statement: “Dreams are confident are you that there will be a season this fall,” 14 checked “50 being stolen from our kids.” percent” and seven marked “below 50 percent.” Bay Area News Group LOADED: 04.23.2020 Only six said they were “100 percent” confident. Three-quarters of coaches surveyed also say they’re willing to push the season back into the winter months if necessary. Twenty-six of 34 respondents were open to the idea even though the move would create conflicts with basketball, wrestling and soccer. “I would be willing to push football back to 2040 — doesn’t matter how long it takes, I will wait,” replied Branham coach Stephen Johnson, who also pointed out potential issues a pushback would entail, including field usage and maintenance. At-home conditioning Even when high school football is not in season, its participants spend countless hours getting ready, whether that be in the weight room, 7-on-7 activities or cardio workouts. It’s been weeks since Bay Area school closures and shelter-in-place orders forced offseason conditioning programs into the homes of student- athletes. And that’s been no small challenge, coaches said. More than 80 percent of the respondents checked “drastically” or “quite a bit” when asked how different the current workouts are from a normal offseason. “A lot of our kids need structure and we need to see them to provide that,” Wilcox coach Paul Rosa wrote. “My biggest worry is, for all the kids that truly need that structure are not going to stay on the correct path…. Football is what keeps certain kids coming to school every day and making good decisions.” Eligibility issues? Nearly 75 percent of coaches voiced concern over how distance-learning could result in academic eligibility in the fall. De La Salle coach Justin Alumbaugh, whose players fill out weekly nutrition logs, mentioned how the national powerhouse out of Concord finds itself in a unique position. “We have the online infrastructure and ability to make attendance mandatory for class,” he replied. “If anyone misses class or an assignment, I am immediately notified and communicate with the student-athlete.” But that’s not the case at many public schools. “Online learning will never supplant a physical site where the structured goal is to provide resources and attention to developing the mind and body,” Carlmont coach Eric Rado replied. Rado is scheduled to enter his first year at the helm in the fall alongside Bellarmine’s Jalal Beauchman and California’s Danny Calcagno. 1174054 World Leagues News

TV workers now jobless from coronavirus get creative in fight with Sinclair

By ANOUSHA SAKOUISTAFF WRITER

When sports fans in Los Angeles turn to watch reruns of games on cable TV aired during the coronavirus lockdown, they will be interrupted by ads funded by the union representing technicians who worked on those broadcasts. “Sinclair turned its back on technicians who bring you sports, left them to fend for themselves,” the ad says. “So when you turn on your TV or pay your cable bill, remember how Sinclair abandoned its workers.” The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees is airing cable TV ads on Sinclair Broadcast Group-owned to pressure the company to improve compensation for technicians who had been set to work on televised games. The union represents about 1,500 workers in a dozen markets where Sinclair-owned sports networks operate. The TV ad is part of a weeks-long campaign the union launched after Sinclair offered the workers $2,500 loans, rather than pay them for work on canceled games as some other networks have done. Maryland-based Sinclair, known for its conservative news broadcasts, said in a statement that hundreds of workers were using its loan program. “Our objective continues to be providing immediate relief to the more than 1,000 freelancers who regularly work with us to deliver the best in live, local sports,” Sinclair spokesman Ronn Torossian said in an email. “We determined that this initiative was what our company could offer at this time.” The ad campaign highlights the pressure on corporate employers to act ethically and treat workers equitably, many of whom are struggling to access emergency federal funds and turning to food banks across the country. Media companies are struggling financially to navigate the pandemic that has shut down many sources of revenue, such as theme parks, movies theaters and live sports. The production halt came at a particularly crucial time for those working on sports broadcasts, as they were set to enter their busiest season. “Most of the employers have worked with us closely because they value their employees and they realize both the value they bring their companies and the dire straits that they are in right now having lost all of their work ,” said Fran O’Hern, co-director of broadcast for IATSE. “Almost every other regional sports network operator has stepped up to pay their crews for at least a portion of work that would have been done thus far.” Sinclair, one of the nation’s largest TV stations owners, acquired 21 of the Fox regional sports networks in a $9.6-billion deal last year, which once were part of Rupert Murdoch’s sports and news . It emerged as the winner in an auction for the popular sports channels, including Fox Sports West, Prime Ticket and Fox Sports San Diego. The local outlets televise Angels, Clippers, Kings, Ducks and Padres games. Each game broadcast would have typically employed about 50 technicians. Sinclair’s approach stands in contrast to other networks. The Walt Disney-owned ABC, CBS, AT&T-owned Turner and Comcast- owned NBC networks have paid workers fully for canceled games and events that they were scheduled to work, a spokesman for IATSE said. IATSE has said that the repayment terms on the loans Sinclair is offering are onerous and that Sinclair is no longer making contributions to its sports broadcast technicians’ healthcare fund or retirement fund. Sinclair was thrust into in the spotlight in the last couple of years after it emerged it had mandated “must run” politically conservative content on local TV stations, leading some anchors and correspondents to refuse to read the promotional statements or leave the network. Founded by engineer Julian Sinclair Smith in 1971 with a single independent outlet in Baltimore, it has grown into a multibillion-dollar-revenue business. Los Angeles Times LOADED: 04.23.2020 1174055 World Leagues News

James Dolan is coronavirus-free and already helping others

By Larry BrooksApril 22, 2020 | 6:15pm | Updated

Jim Dolan, the 64-year-old CEO of the Garden, has clinically recovered from COVID-19, The Post has learned. An MSG spokesperson confirmed that Dolan, who tested positive the final week of March following exposure to an individual outside the company who carried the coronavirus, recently tested negative and is in good health. Dolan, who had mild symptoms that included a loss of smell, self-isolated after learning of his positive test but continued to work on a regular schedule from his home. Having recovered, the owner of the Knicks and Rangers is immersed in the effort to medically combat the virus by volunteering to participate in multiple clinical trials. He has donated blood to NYU Langone Health and Duke University Medical Center. In addition, Dolan has registered to donate plasma antibodies for a large multicenter through the New York Blood Center and Mt. Sinai. Persons who test negative for COVID-19 after having tested positive must have a high volume of antibodies in order to become a donor. Dolan qualified. The Garden has been closed since the Knicks’ overtime victory over the Hawks on March 11. Dolan has created a relief fund for venue employees experiencing hardships related to the virus that opened with a $1 million donation from the CEO, a $1 million donation from the MSG Company and a $300,000 donation from the MSG management team. In addition, The Post has learned that the Garden sent an internal email on Monday informing qualified employees (based on hours worked) that they will be paid through May 31, extending the commitment past the original date of May 3. NY Post LOADED: 04.23.2020 1174056 World Leagues News While there are scientific reasons to believe the pandemic will lessen in the approaching months, medical experts fear the virus won’t fully go away for a while. It could trigger outbreaks in different places at different Why Won't MLB Teams Issue Refunds? times over the next several years. Meanwhile, the creation of an effective and approved vaccine could take at least 18 months, plus additional time would be needed to ramp up vaccine production and distribute it. There have been encouraging reports about the development of medicines and refunds for games that are currently "postponed." drugs that might mitigate COVID-19’s worst symptoms, but nothing is certain yet. Without safeguards in place, some states will likely continue Michael McCann to limit economic activity, including the playing of sporting events.

For ticketholders to MLB games, this situation doesn’t provide much At what point must a sports organization offer to refund money for a ticket hope that they’ll be able to use their tickets. Even if the pandemic to a game scheduled during the coronavirus pandemic? Is it when the becomes much less problematic in the near future and even if games pandemic started several months ago? Or when President Donald Trump could occur with fans in attendance, some fans would likely feel reluctant proclaimed a national emergency on March 13? Or when states began to to use their tickets. The psychological impact of the pandemic might last issue gathering restrictions and similar measures? Or when a game is longer than the pandemic itself. Some consumers might remain wary of formally postponed? Or when a game is either cancelled or played partaking in activities where they (and their families) are near other without spectators? Or is no refund required at all—can the organization people, be it sitting in a ballpark, flying on an airplane or eating in a simply credit the money for a future game to be played when life returns restaurant. to normal? Unpacking the legal claims against Baseball These questions are central to a federal lawsuit brought by Matthew Within this context, Ajzenman and Terry-Bazer maintain that MLB clubs, Ajzenman and Susan Terry-Bazer, two New York residents who contend and the ticket merchants with whom they do business, should issue their tickets to postponed, but not cancelled, and refunds. The plaintiffs assert it is “virtually impossible” that games will be games should be fully refunded. played in 2020 with fans in attendance. Through their attorney, David Azar of Milberg Phillips Grossman, To that end, they insist the defendants are in violation of California’s Ajzenman and Terry-Bazer filed a complaint on Monday in a Los Angeles Legal Remedies Act. The Act makes it unlawful for businesses to falsely federal court. They have sued MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, the 30 market products. Here, the plaintiffs charge that MLB advertised and sold MLB teams and five ticket merchants (Ticketmaster, Live Nation tickets to games that they can’t hold or can’t allow fans to attend. Worldwide, Live Nation Entertainment, Stubhub and Last Minute Transactions). The case centers around the legal ramifications of MLB Ajzenman and Terry-Bazer also claim the defendants have violated postponing the first eight weeks of the regular season and whether California’s Unfair Competition Law. This law prohibits business activity persons holding tickets to those games are legally entitled to a refund. that is immoral, unethical, oppressive or substantially injurious to consumers. The plaintiffs insist that baseball’s refusal to issue refunds Ajzenman and Terry-Bazer assert the defendants are in violation of during a pandemic constitutes a cruel and unscrupulous practice that California statutes that outlaw unfair competition, unlawful conspiracies greatly injures consumers. They further allege that consumers were and unjust enrichment. The lawsuit portrays MLB and its teams as deceived when buying tickets. As Ajzenman and Terry-Bazer see it, unethically conspiring with merchants to hoard many millions of consumers “had no way of knowing” that MLB teams wouldn’t issue consumers’ dollars for games that might never be played or that might be refunds in the event of a pandemic and they didn’t known teams would played without fans in the ballpark. The lawsuit stresses that numerous “unfairly retain the payments of consumers for tickets of games that are fans have lost jobs or experienced diminished wages as a result of the not going to be played.” pandemic. Therefore, the plaintiffs contend, people need their money back. Ajzenman and Terry-Bazer depict MLB as acting in bad faith by not The complaint also asserts the defendants engaged in “coordination and returning fans’ dollars. cooperation” as part of an unlawful conspiracy. The conspiracy, the plaintiffs charge, was designed to use game postponements as pretext Ticket sales are more integral to MLB’s business structure than they are for retaining consumers’ monies. Ajzenman and Terry-Bazer further in the NFL and NBA. According to Statista, gate receipts account for charge that by holding onto the money, MLB and the other defendants approximately 30% of MLB revenue. In contrast, roughly 22% of NBA have been unjustly enriched at the expense of innocent ticketholders. revenue and 15% of NFL revenue derive from gate receipts (in the NHL, gate receipts account for approximately 37% of league revenue). This Ajzenman and Terry-Bazer have petitioned the court to certify their case highlights why MLB teams might be reluctant to part ways with as a class action. They propose two classes: ticketholders’ payments. Team Purchaser Class: All persons and entities who purchased regular Ajzenman and Terry-Bazer demand a court-issued injunction that would season tickets for MLB games directly from one or more Team order full restitution plus interest, along with an accounting of all MLB Defendants for games scheduled to be played during the 2020 MLB tickets sold for the regular season and disgorgement of related profits. season affected by COVID-19 that will not proceed as initially scheduled. They also seek to have their case certified as a class action on behalf of similarly situated ticketholders. The case has not yet been assigned to a Resale Purchaser Class: All persons and entities who purchased regular specific judge. season tickets for MLB games directly from one or more Ticket Merchant Defendants for games scheduled to be played during the 2020 MLB The uncertainty of the 2020 MLB season and how it relates to the lawsuit season affected by COVID-19 that will not proceed as initially scheduled. As the lawsuit details, it’s a mystery when, or if, MLB will play the 2020 The judge who is assigned to the case will review class certification regular season. There are numerous hurdles for a season to be played, pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Under this with or without fans at ballparks. While MLB and the Major League rule, class certification is only appropriate when the plaintiff establishes Baseball Players’ Association have negotiated player compensation and four prongs or findings: service time policies for a season, they have not yet formalized an agreement on the conditions of such a season—including where and 1. The class is so numerous that joinder (joining individual claims) of all when games would be played, how players (and managers, coaches and members would be impracticable. umpires) would be tested for COVID-19, whether everyone involved would be quarantined and what “quarantining” would exactly mean. 2. There are questions of law or fact common to the class. Even if MLB and MLBPA, along with managers, coaches and umpires, all 3. The claims or defenses of the representative parties are typical of the agree on the circumstances for a return, the legal circumstances claims or defenses of the class necessary for a 2020 regular season are complex and diffusely 4. The representatives would fairly and adequately protect the interest of controlled. The federal government can’t order the country to return to the class. normal. Under the U.S. Constitution, states enjoy wide latitude in determining matters of public health, safety and the general well-being of Ajzenman and Terry-Bazer argue their proposed class is numerous citizens. This is why states, along with cities, can issue very different (millions of consumers bought tickets), the questions raised in the case gathering restrictions, shelter-in-place orders and non-essential services are common (other people seeking MLB refunds are in the same closings. In some states, it would be illegal for MLB games to be held at predicament); the legal arguments are typical (other consumers with this time, even without spectators. In contrast, other states are more tickets might seek to rely on California’s consumer-friendly statutes); and willing to “open up for business” in spite of public health risks. One of the two plaintiffs would fairly and adequately protect the class (they hired those states is Florida, where MLB could play games so long as the a class action specialist who specializes in consumer cases). games are closed to the public. Forecasting MLB’s legal defenses In the coming weeks, MLB and the other defendants will answer the complaint. They are likely to assert several arguments. First, MLB will contend that the case is not yet ripe for litigation. Teams have postponed, not cancelled, games. To that end, the league will carefully distinguish postponement from cancellation. If the league cancels the games, plays them without fans or plays them in a different ballpark, the fans would gain a more compelling argument that they are owed refunds. In any of those circumstances, MLB would have failed to provide the advertised service: a license to enter a particular ballpark and sit in a particular seat to watch two teams play. For now, however, MLB maintains that it intends to play postponed games in advertised venues. As a rebuttal, the plaintiffs would insist this type of defense is made in bad faith, and that MLB is using “postponement” as mere pretext to keep money. Second, MLB will highlight teams’ well-established ticket policies. These policies explicitly state that postponed games do not compel refunds. MLB will thus assert that consumers were on notice before they made their purchases. Take the ticket policy for the Washington Nationals. It expresses that in the event a game “is not played due to weather or any other reason, the ticket will constitute a rain check that can be either: (a) used for admission to the rescheduled game, if any, subject to certain doubleheader limitations; or (b) the paid value of your tickets to a postponed or cancelled game can be redeemed for tickets to a future 2019 regular season game, subject to blackout dates and availability, and minus any Loaded Value previously spent. Under no circumstances will a refund be given.” This language indicates that so long as a postponed game is played during the same regular season, no refund is required. The Yankees also feature language in their ticket policy that attempts to limit their legal exposure and disclaim potential liability. Consider their “Rain Check Policy”, which states, in all caps: IN NO EVENT WILL THE YANKEES BE LIABLE TO THE TICKET HOLDER AND/OR TICKET PURCHASER FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES OR FOR LOST PROFITS, REVENUES OR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES EVEN IF THE YANKEES HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. Third, Ticketmaster’s website expresses language that similarly notifies consumers that MLB doesn’t provide refunds for postponed games: “Postponed MLB games are not eligible for refunds.” The defendants can thus cite repeated instances of language telling consumers that postponed games are not refundable events. As a rebuttal, the plaintiffs might argue that none of these policies contemplated a once-in-a-century pandemic and thus boilerplate language ought not to apply. MLB is also poised to argue that the case should neither be tried in California nor certified as a class action. According to the complaint, Ajzenman spent $1,730 for tickets to more than 20 Mets games at CitiField. Terry-Bazer, meanwhile, spent $926 to purchase six tickets to watch the Yankees play the Boston Red Sox on May 9 in . She intended to take her grandson to the game. MLB, which like the two plaintiffs is based in New York, could petition to have the case moved to federal court in New York on grounds that it would be a more appropriate and convenient forum for many of the parties (the ticket merchants are located in different states). This type of petition would, at a minimum, delay the proceedings and potentially preclude the plaintiffs from using California law. MLB could maintain the case should not be certified since, among other reasons, consumer laws vary significantly among the states where MLB games are played. Should the litigation advance, it’s possible MLB and the ticket merchants could point figures at each other. Their contracts with each other could become crucial evidence. The scheduling of the litigation is uncertain. As a result of the pandemic, many courts have adopted limited operations procedures. These procedures prioritize available court time for criminal cases over civil matters. This is true of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the Los Angeles-based federal court where the plaintiffs filed their civil suit. It’s possible the litigation will take longer to play out than the plaintiffs hope. We will keep you posted on key developments. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED LOADED: 04.23.2020 1174057 World Leagues News

L.A. sports merchandise sale to help those impacted by coronavirus

By ARASH MARKAZICOLUMNIST

Sports around the world have been suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic but fans in L.A. are now able to buy discounted merchandise from some of their favorite local teams while also supporting the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles. The Lakers, Clippers, Kings, Sparks, Galaxy, AEG and Rank + Rally joined forces Tuesday to launch the “Teams for LA” online sale during which fans will be able to buy sports and music-related merchandise with all proceeds going to help those affected by COVID-19 in Los Angeles. The site, which will be updated regularly, offers jerseys, hats, T-shirts, warmups, scarfs, bobbleheads and other items from the teams that play at Staples Center and Dignity Health Sports Park, which are owned and operated by AEG. The site also includes merchandise from other events at AEG venues or organized by AEG such as the 2011 and 2018 NBA All-Star games, the 2017 NHL All-Star game, the Amgen Tour of California, championship boxing events and music events such as the Grammy Awards and the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. “All of us in the Los Angeles sports community have been looking for additional ways to support the tremendous efforts of our city’s leadership and to help those in our community that are most impacted by the coronavirus outbreak,” said AEG President and CEO Dan Beckerman. “Our collective donation of merchandise will provide our fans a way to show their ongoing support for their favorite teams while also contributing to help their fellow Angelenos in need.” In addition to more than 30,000 items being offered, fans can also use the site to donate cash to the Mayor’s Fund or gear to those in need. All financial contributions collected on the site will facilitate the donation of up to an additional 30,000 items of merchandise by Los Angeles sports teams to local shelters and nonprofits supporting the community. Los Angeles Times LOADED: 04.23.2020 1174058 World Leagues News

South Dakota dirt track race will go on with 700 fans amid coronavirus pandemic

Scott Gleeson USA TODAY

A dirt track in North Sioux City, South Dakota, is planning to hold a race Saturday with tickets capped at 700 fans for a 4,000-seat venue. Gov. Kristi Noem has advocated for South Dakota residents to practice social distancing and avoid large gatherings, but she's one of the few governors who hasn't issued a statewide stay-at-home order or other enforceable restrictions. Thus, Park Jefferson International Speedway is planning to move forward with the Open Wheel Nationals. "I'm going to strongly recommend to the people of South Dakota that they not go and that they stay home," Noem said. "We're asking that they be wise and smart to continue on the path and plan we've laid out for South Dakota for several more weeks." South Dakota is one of the few states without enforceable restrictions in place against large gatherings due to the coronavirus pandemic. There have been 1,755 confirmed cases with eight total deaths, according to USA TODAY's coronavirus tracker. The county in which the track is located has seven positive tests for COVID-19, according to a New York Times database. "The way we figured it, we could probably have a little over 900 people with six feet apart between each person, and we're actually only selling 700 seats, not even 900. We actually went way less than that just to give people more room," race promoter Terry McCarl told Keloland.com. "There isn't community transmission in that county, and according to the CDC, we're still eligible to do what we want to do." The event will feature 410 sprint cars and the IMCA modifieds. Both fields are limited to 32 entries apiece. Former NASCAR Cup Series drivers Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace are slated to race on the IMCA modifieds entry list. Track owner Adam Adamson said in public statements the event will allow social distancing and safety precautions to be practiced adequately. Tickets will be pre-sold, concessions will be purchased via credit card and 10-person clubhouses will be closed. "We intend to go overboard on following CDC guidelines," Adamson said. "We're just a small race track in rural South Dakota trying to give some entertainment and a little bit of a break from some of this madness that's going on right now. We think we can do so in a safe environment." USA TODAY LOADED: 04.23.2020 1174059 World Leagues News 2008 NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Celtics Game 4 (8 p.m. ET) and Game 6 (10 ET).

2014 NFL Draft: Jadeveon Clowney, Johnny Manziel and many more. 8 Day 42 without sports : sets a date for real baseball, but ET, ESPN2. MLB can only wait 2014 AL wild card game: Athletics at Royals, 7 ET, MLB Network.

Sports we're missing Gabe Lacques USA TODAY NBA and NHL playoffs

MLB It was an epic day for baseball in South Korea: The pros got to compete against actual opponents in exhibitions. Texas Rangers at Philadelphia Phillies And a date for real, live games was established. at St. Louis Cardinals On the field, scoreboards lit up with actual scores, beautiful in their Kansas City Royals at Chicago White Sox symmetry, even if there were no fans to witness a pair of 4-2 games, a 6- at Los Angeles Angels 3, a 5-2; hey, what's this, the taking it to the NC Dinos, 8-0. Oakland Athletics at Cleveland Indians And on the calendar, a date players and fans alike can truly look forward to: May 5, when the Korea Baseball Organization will launch its 144- New York Yankees at Detroit Tigers game season. at Washington Nationals CORONAVIRUS & SPORTS: Get the latest news and information right in your inbox. Sign up here. Milwaukee Brewers at Pittsburgh Pirates KBO teams have been playing intrasquad games for weeks — of late, Marlins at New York Mets the umpires, not the players, have worn masks — and Tuesday finally marked the dawn of what we might consider their abbreviated Toronto Blue Jays at Boston Red Sox Cactus/Grapefruit league stretch. Then comes the regular season, with a Arizona Diamondbacks at Atlanta Braves full slate lined up but also the specter of a three-week shutdown looming should any player or coach test positive for COVID-19. San Diego Padres at At this point, we'll now pivot to the statistics that matter most for fans at hoping to see Major League Baseball, in full or at all, in 2020. Tampa Bay Rays at Houston Astros As of Wednesday morning, there were more than 825,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins Colorado Rockies at Giants University's coronavirus resource center, and more than 45,000 deaths. USA TODAY LOADED: 04.23.2020 In South Korea, more than 10,600 confirmed cases and 238 deaths. The USA's population is just more than six times the size of South Korea's 51 million. And South Korea and the USA recorded their first cases of COVID-19 on the same day, Jan. 19. It's clear the handling of the virus put both countries on different tracks, so while South Korea can implore its players to play ball, we are still reckoning with missteps. Nothing can get back the three months that preceded our current fates. For now, we will have box scores to look at — even if Tyler Saladino is the most familiar name to American fans — and some highlights to peruse. As for our stateside stars? All we can do is get better at this and hope there's still a window before autumn. Sports video of the day Feeling helpless? Perhaps a dose of Big Papi will help. It's been seven years since delivered his unforgettable "This is our (expletive) city" speech to a Fenway Park crowd still mourning the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing a week earlier. NESN provides this nifty look-back at empowerment and civic pride. Story time! Here's some of our best JORDAN: Could have played in MLB if one former GM had his wish OPINION: A-Rod and J.Lo owning the Mets? It's not impossible OPINION: Gronk brings more star power to Buccaneers, but leaves one big question COWBOYS OWNER: 'Highly unlikely’ Dallas trades away first-round NFL draft pick NFL DRAFT: Five big-name players could fall out of first round OPINION: Uncertainty, not optimism, over 2021 Olympics takes hold in Japan NUGGETS COACH: Canceling NBA season possible but games without fans more likely ENDLESS DEBATE: Nuggets' Malone compares Michael Jordan and LeBron James What we're watching