SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 11/21/2020 1196124 Arizona Coyotes captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson, back in town, learns from near-trade 1196125 Sabres prospect Jack Quinn's journey from first cut to first round 1196126 Avs Mailbag: When will top prospect Bo Byram get his NHL call-up? 1196127 Red Wings’ pick Kyle Aucoin aims to follow in NHL father’s footsteps 1196128 Canadiens fan survey, version 2.0: An explosion of offseason optimism 1196129 New Coliseum leaseholder gets break on rent 1196130 An inside look at why the NY Rangers took a chance on fourth-round goalie Dylan Garand 1196131 The Ottawa Senators sign second-round pick Egor Sokolov to a three-year entry-level deal 1196132 GARRIOCH: An inside look at Tim Stuetzle reveals he's a young man determined to succeed 1196133 Former Penguins forward, coach, executive Ken Schinkel dies at 87 San Jose Sharks 1196134 San Jose Sharks’ president says message about exiting SAP Center “was heard loud and clear” St Louis Blues 1196135 In the heart of Bruins country, Springfield (Mass.) ready to embrace Blues 1196136 Q&A with Jordan Binnington: Justin Bieber shootout, No. 1 fear and Kyle Clifford 1196137 Lightning fan survey 2.0: How Nikita Kucherov and Jon Cooper changed perceptions Maple Leafs 1196138 Mikko Lehtonen was part of Finland’s gold-medal team at the 2019 world hockey championship. 1196139 Losing, boozing and fear of flying: How Rick Vaive lost his joy for hockey with the Maple Leafs 1196140 Maple Leafs' Lehtonen heading to Toronto after -a-game pace in KHL 1196141 Maple Leafs prospect report: Updates on Kral, Brazeau and players in KHL 1196146 Nate Schmidt is an elite puck mover. But will his defence help the Canucks? 1196142 Emily Engel-Natzke’s dad was her ‘biggest fan.’ He died of covid-19 before her hockey triumph. 1196143 Capitals prospect report: What is the NHL potential of the team's prospects? 1196144 Report: Caps and Penguins may play in different divisions 1196145 How Backstrom helped Lundqvist's family adjust to DC Websites 1196147 The Athletic / Inside the lives of five NHL prospects who fled North America for Europe 1196148 .ca / Puljujarvi's maturation in Finland bodes well for return to Oilers 1196149 Sportsnet.ca / Thoughts on what looks like the plan for a 2020-21 NHL season 1196150 Sportsnet.ca / Former pros Mitchell and Lenes helping propel hockey's skill revolution 1196151 Sportsnet.ca / How positivity carried Jets' Al Pritchard through his battle with cancer 1196152 TSN.CA / Keefe reflects on one year behind Leafs bench

SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1196124 Arizona Coyotes Ekman-Larsson echoed teammates who've expressed their satisfaction with the Coyotes' offseason moves. One new Coyote is a friend of his, center and countryman Johan Larsson.

Arizona Coyotes captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson, back in town, learns "He's a hard-working guy and I think he's underrated a little bit for what from near-trade he does," Ekman-Larsson said. "I would rather have him on my team than playing against him."

Jose M. Romero Arizona Republic LOADED: 11.21.2020

A fan holds a sign for Arizona Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman- Larsson (23) against the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 19, 2019 in Glendale, Ariz.

The jet lag is dissipating for Arizona Coyotes captain Oliver Ekman- Larsson, back in the desert after spending quality (but socially distant) time with family in his native Sweden, and by Monday he hopes to join the group of his teammates working out at Gila River Arena.

That he is back in town signals the obvious — Ekman-Larsson remains a Coyote, less than two months after trade talks involving him heated up before ultimately going nowhere.

"I'm really glad that I'm a Coyote," he said. "That's why I signed my eight years here (contract extension). This is where I want to be and this is where I want to win. I really believe that we can do that if we keep doing the right things. But yeah, with everything going on in the world and this on top of that, the offseason had been really tough. I think I learned a lot, too, from that."

Among the lessons the two-time all-star defenseman learned: Thinking of himself a little more, as opposed to his nature of putting others first, isn't a bad thing.

"I also get that it's a business side of things, and that's how it works," Ekman-Larsson said. "I hope that's one of the reasons why I'm the captain of this club, because I do think about other people and my teammates. That's something I grew up doing and it's who I am as a person."

Hearing his name in trade talk and then being willing to waive his no- move contract clause for two teams, Vancouver and Boston, led to speculation that his relationship with the team and new general manager Bill Armstrong was strained, and that if Ekman-Larsson wasn't dealt, it would be a tense situation between the two.

The two did communicate throughout, and in the end there was no offer enticing enough to get Armstrong to make a deal.

Ekman-Larsson defended Armstrong, who was hired in mid-September just a couple of weeks before the NHL draft and free agency.

"He got in at a tough time, needed to make some decisions and stuff like that," Ekman-Larsson said. "But we've had some good conversations so far and I'm looking forward to getting to know him better. It's been good, but at the same time, it's easier to talk face to face than over the phone or Skype of Facetime. I don't think it's going to be a problem putting that behind, not from me at least. That's all I can talk about."

Coyotes center and alternate captain Derek Stepan said a situation like the one Ekman-Larsson faced can be difficult to overcome. But he's spoken with his teammate often, and feels Ekman-Larsson has handled it well.

"There's a lot of information that got out that kind of stirred the pot a little bit," Stepan said. "So I do think that the situation is a little bit easier to handle, because Bill and 'O' and Tock (head coach Rick Tocchet), they kind of know how everything unfolded.

"'O' is so excited to be here and he loves our group and he's ready to be the leader that he is and be the elite defenseman that he is and just play some hockey," Stepan added.

Tingsryd, a small town in southern Sweden, remains home. Ekman- Larsson got to live in his newly built house while there for a couple of months, but his second home is undoubtedly in the Valley. He's been a Coyote for 10 seasons and is only 29 years old, the fourth captain in 24 seasons of Arizona Coyotes hockey.

Back in Arizona with seven seasons left on his contract, and out of the cold and rain in Sweden, Ekman-Larsson is getting his COVID tests — he has one more to pass - and is soon to take the ice with the group of teammates already at work. 1196125 Buffalo Sabres “I was always a bad skater when I was younger,” said Quinn. “From there, I think my skating has gotten better every year. It was a weak point in my game and the reason I couldn’t make AAA growing up. I think teams dismissed me because I was a very, very average skater.” Sabres prospect Jack Quinn's journey from first cut to first round Quinn began to attend weekly power-skating clinics led by Malloy, who deployed the same curriculum used during his time with the Sabres. The two worked together to address Quinn’s propensity to skate upright, a Lance Lysowski Nov 20, 2020 Updated 10 hrs ago common issue among young players that prevents proper acceleration and power. Quinn often attended back-to-back sessions and spent 30 minutes every night performing muscle-memory exercises in his family’s The Sabres chose Jack Quinn with the No. 8 overall pick of the NHL draft basement. The latter was designed to train Quinn to be lower in his in October. skating stride.

Jack Quinn can’t recall the exact moment he had enough. Quinn scored 28 goals in that minor-midget season for the Kanata Lasers Under-18, and he was selected in the second round, 39th overall, by the There was the sinking feeling of being among the first cuts during his first 67’s in the OHL draft. Yet, for all Quinn accomplished that season, AAA tryout in major pee-wee hockey. Then came the shame of attending questions lingered about his ability to produce at the next level. the same high school as friends who made the AAA bantam team, while Quinn was told he wasn’t a strong enough skater. “Not many people were talking about him during his first year in AAA,” recalled André Tourigny, coach of the 67’s and Canada’s team for world “I knew that I needed to do more,” said Quinn, now 19 and a recent first- juniors. “Quickly he started to rack up points. His hockey sense was round draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres. “It was a good lesson for me to unbelievable. Because he was coming from nowhere, people were realize that nothing was going to come easy.” wondering if it was a one-time thing or if that’s what he was. He’s proven Quinn was a gifted athlete with raw skills, but unlike many of his to everybody what he has. competitors at that age, he did not train for hockey year-round. He spent “His ceiling is really high. He’s far from a final product. He will still get most of his summer days and nights on the golf course and enjoyed stronger, he will get faster. All of it is scary when you look at it.” competing in almost every sport, including softball, around Cobden, . This led some to question Quinn’s dedication to hockey. What was once a weakness is now viewed as a strength. During a game against Sudbury last November, Quinn carried the puck down the left Beneath the effervescent demeanor and seemingly permanent smile, side in the offensive zone and skated around a defender before snapping though, was a teenager who possessed a burning passion for the sport. a shot that beat the goalie short side. “I would say even since he was a young child he was constantly playing In February, Quinn made a similar play in which he darted past a hockey,” said Jennifer Holly, Quinn's mother. “We laugh about it now, but defenseman, alluded another opponent in the high slot and cut across he would rollerblade around the house with a hockey stick and some of the ice before scoring on a backhand shot. As important, though, he used our family members would say, 'You’re crazy to let him play hockey on his speed to close off passing lanes in all three zones. the hardwood floors.' Jack Quinn was selected to Hockey Canada's selection camp ahead of “He was fortunate to have access to outdoor rinks when he was growing the IIHF World Junior Championship. up, so you would be pulling him off the outdoor rink at 11 o’clock at night because he had school the next day.” “His short-space acceleration was a real treat,” Malloy said. “One of the cool things about him is he’s not just an offensive guy. He’s a guy who Once Quinn decided to channel all his time and energy into hockey, he can shut down as well. … He cuts off plays with his skating, which he’s ascended to the AAA level, earned the opportunity to play for the Ontario going to need at the level if he’s going to play Hockey League’s Ottawa 67’s and heard his name called No. 8 overall at long-term.” the NHL draft by new Sabres General Manager Kevyn Adams. ‘Never satisified’ Quinn’s meteoric rise was among the more prominent storylines of the NHL draft in October, but while his development into a 52- scorer Since Tony Greco agreed to take on Quinn as a client two years ago, the appeared to occur overnight, the trek from first cut to first round required Ottawa-based trainer has instructed the right wing to create a vision a determination to develop elite skating, strength and skills. board each season. The goals he set increased in difficulty following a 2018-19 season in which Quinn totaled just 12 goals among 32 points in “I play with a chip on my shoulder,” Quinn said during a recent phone 61 games for the 67’s – his first full year in the OHL. interview with The Buffalo News. “That’s a strength of my game. I think I do that because I’m a very competitive guy. … Part of my life I’ve dealt He wasn’t regarded as a future first-round draft pick and, in preparation with proving people right or wrong, whether I’ve thought about it or not. for his draft-eligible season, wrote his goal on a chalkboard: “45 goals.” It’s natural for me to continue to do that.” He surpassed his previous OHL career-high by the end of last November. Jack Quinn scored 52 goals for the 's Ottawa 67's last season. “Now, he believes that obviously he can go higher,” said Greco, whose professional and junior clients include Claude Giroux of the Philadelphia From ‘bad skater’ to ‘scary’ good Flyers. “That’s how he’s so competitive and he’s never satisfied. If he got Some players might have chosen to savor their final day at home before 50 goals, he wants 60 or 80. Most guys would take a week off after leaving for a 28-day selection camp at a bubble in Red Deer, Alberta, getting drafted. This guy was back in the gym that Monday. In his mind, that will be used by Hockey Canada to determine its roster for the IIHF he’s not coming back to the 67’s. He wants to make the Sabres this year, World Junior Championship. which is impeccable. And I think he can do it.”

Not Quinn. He awoke early last Sunday morning to join a small group of Greco’s regimen for Quinn has centered around triphasic training, which skaters on the ice with Pat Malloy, an Ottawa-based skills coach who uses different tempos to gradually build strength. The technique focuses worked in the Sabres’ player development department from 2014-17. on resistance and quality of reps, rather than quantity. Eventually, the athlete is doing quick repetitions, and, in this case, Quinn built his hex- “He seems enamored with the climb and continuing to get better,” Malloy bar squat maximum rep to 500 pounds. said following the workout. “At eighth overall, the sky’s the limit for him in terms of he’s not done growing or getting better.” Sabres Jack Quinn 6`

The “climb,” as Mallory put it, accelerated in 2016-17, a season in which Sabres prospect Jack Quinn (left) has been working with Ottawa Valley- Quinn finally reached the AAA level and needed a strong performance to based trainer Tony Greco (right) since 2018. be drafted into the OHL. A few months into that minor-midget season, The plan is designed to build strength and quickness, both attributes Quinn noticed his talent was comparable, or better, than many of his Quinn needed to improve if he was going to be more active with and competitors and decided he needed to shift his focus to hockey year- without the puck last season. During the 2018-19 season, Quinn wasn’t round if he was to achieve his goal of playing major junior. And he pinpointed his skating as the one area that needed to improve. driving to the net often enough and he wasn’t earning quality scoring During a predraft interview on a video call, Adams asked Quinn about his chances. decision to not focus on hockey at a younger age.

Tourigny urged Quinn to start going to the net, a task that requires the The Sabres were impressed by Quinn’s answer. After why he chose to ability to elude defenders and absorb the occasional body check around enjoy other sports, Quinn displayed what Adams described as a “growth the crease. mindset” and the team enjoyed hearing about how their eventual top pick, fueled by the disappointment of getting cut by multiple teams, “Jack started to go inside,” Tourigny said. “He has always been a guy dedicated himself to achieving his goal of becoming an elite player. who loves to have the puck and had it a ton. He was looking for space, slowing down the play and staying a little bit more on the perimeter. … “It was a good experience to go through as a kid,” Quinn said. “For me to Jack understood that if he wanted to be as successful as he wished he go through that at an early age, it was a lesson I learned early on. … needed to get inside and challenge the defense. Get inside, get Now when I face adversity I’m ahead of it a lot more and I know how to rebounds, get dirty.” deal with it. I think that’s helped me in the long run.”

However, the NHL has faster, stronger defensemen than Quinn faced in Quinn will likely encounter adversity at Hockey Canada’s selection camp, junior hockey. And while he has his sights set on playing in Buffalo this where he’ll compete against several forwards who are expected to play in season, withstanding the physical grind might be his most significant the NHL this season, including fellow Sabres prospect Dylan Cozens. hurdle. And while some analysts project Quinn to be among those cut, he hasn't shied away from a challenge in the past. Greco, though, cited Quinn’s progress in the gym, specifically how his measurables compare to his NHL training partners, when expressing “I’m a baseball fan. In baseball, you say how many ways can a guy beat confidence that a jump to the NHL is achievable in 2020-21. you,” Tourigny said. “That’s Jack Quinn in hockey. You don’t have to tell me the score. You don’t have to tell me about the time on the clock. You “There’s no doubt in my mind that he can definitely make that team and don’t have to tell me who is on the ice for the other side. I know I can put make an impact, especially with the way the game is going,” Greco said. Jack Quinn on the ice and I know he’ll be good. … Whatever you want, “It’s more of a skilled, explosive game. You can’t hit what you can’t catch. he can do it. He has it all.” This guy is going to be a star for Buffalo.” Buffalo News LOADED: 11.21.2020 Studying Eichel

Quinn did not want to wait for feedback. Following many games during the coronavirus-shortened season, Quinn texted his Toronto-based skills coach, Josh Wrobel, who provided detailed observations about missed scoring opportunities and how to better execute in specific situations.

The four-hour drive from Ottawa to Toronto prevents Quinn from regularly skating with Wrobel, but their on-ice work, which began in the summer of 2019, is supplemented by detailed video study.

Quinn is a student of the sport. He uses YouTube to watch clips of NHLers who exhibit positive habits with and without the puck. The player Quinn studied the most whom also texted him on draft night: Sabres captain Jack Eichel.

“It’s funny that this whole Buffalo situation worked out because almost with all of my young forwards, Jack Eichel is someone I like them to model their game after,” said Wrobel, who also trains Sabres defenseman Brandon Montour. “Jack Quinn is someone who bought into that. He sends me clips of 'Eichs' all the time. … He studied the little details of Eichel’s game and what makes him successful.”

Studying Eichel has provided Quinn with insight on how to create deception with his shot and the importance of patience in the offensive zone.

Prior to last season, Quinn’s shot was getting blocked too often, as he had trouble finding open lanes. When Quinn did find space, it was at the wrong time and he tended to settle for shots from the perimeter.

Quinn and Wrobel rehearsed every possible read Quinn would encounter during a game. Passes from the left and right sides. Recovering after receiving the puck at his skates. Corralling the puck on his backhand. Shooting the puck from all angles.

“Jack is someone who knows how to find certain spots and show up at the right time where the game is fast and slow,” Wrobel said. “There are times you need to slow down or you’re going to miss your windows. … Can we extend plays rather than get stuck? That’s something we watch Jack Eichel a lot because he can extend plays. It’s not always speed that does it.”

The propensity to drive to the net, combined with an improved sling-shot release, helped Quinn finish second in the OHL in goals and earned him the label as the best pure scorer in his draft class.

Quinn, though, was bothered by the missed opportunities.

“I’m obviously very proud of that accomplishment, but I think I can look back and find a lot of weaknesses,” Quinn said. “I think I left a lot of goals on the table, and I also have a lot to improve on my game. It’s more of a mindset of continuing to improve.”

‘He has it all’ 1196126 Colorado Avalanche addition of Toews they really didn’t make the big splash that was anticipated. Mainly, the signing of Taylor Hall or Alex Pietrangelo. Sakic, understandably, refuses to discuss a deal and/or negotiation that didn’t happen. Do you have any insight on whether the Avs: A) made an offer Avs Mailbag: When will top prospect Bo Byram get his NHL call-up? to either of those guys, and b) do you have any info that they may still be looking for another forward that brings more “grit” to the position? In my

opinion, the past playoffs exposed their lack of toughness as By MIKE CHAMBERS | PUBLISHED: November 20, 2020 at 5:45 a.m. | Dallas’ big guys pushed us around somewhat. UPDATED: November 20, 2020 at 4:11 p.m. — Dan Rish, Albuquerque, NM

Great questions. First of all, yes, they need a third- or fourth-line grinder, Denver Post sports writer Mike Chambers responds to questions in the a tough guy like Kyle Clifford or Matt Martin, the latter of whom is still on Avs Mailbag every other week during the regular season. the market. Problem is, the Avs are just $1.8 million under the salary cap — and that’s based on just 20 players. They still need an extra forward Pose an Avalanche- or NHL-related question for the Avs Mailbag. and an extra D, or one or the other. As for the trades for Saad and Toews, two brilliant moves by Sakic and his staff. No, they didn’t make a When I saw Bo Byram last year in spring training he clearly looked like big slash in free agency but they didn’t have to — while moving a player the best player on the ice most shifts. I could understand as an 18-year- they no longer wanted (Zadorov) and using only draft picks (two second- old to send him back to his junior team for another year of seasoning. rounders) to get Toews. This was already a really good team and Saad Now in your latest article about the acquisition of Devon Toews you and Toews will fit in well. As for Hall and others, no, Sakic declined to say suggest Dennis Gilbert or Kyle Burroughs may be the extra defenseman if he went after them. But I’m betting he didn’t have a long conversation this year with Byram going back to his junior team for another year. Did with anyone. Bo Byram take a step “back” after he looked so good last preseason or was I fantasizing that he looked as good as Makar at such a young age? Hi Mike, great talking hockey with you via the mailbag. With the start of hockey season pushed back, what other changes can we see the Avs — Scott, Lakewood making to better this team before the season starts up? Thanks. Hey Scott, I’m not sure what you’re talking about “spring training” — but — Joe, Denver assuming you mean the 2019 development camp in late June/early July right after he was drafted. If that’s the case, yes, he looked good but he Just a tough guy who can skate at depth forward, Joe. But we don’t know was playing with and against players around the same age. Byram hasn’t the extent of the injured guys. If some guys aren’t 100 percent, perhaps taken a step back. I hear he’s developing quite nicely. But the Avs don’t they continue to tinker. A buddy saw Erik Johnson playing golf with no want to rush him and all signs point towards him returning to his junior brace or limp, etc., and we thought EJ might have blown out a knee in team since the club acquired Toews, who is what Byram hopes to Game 1 against Dallas. If everyone is cleared to begin camp, I don’t see become — and possibly more. On paper, Byram is on the outside of them doing anything big. I have thought of one possibility: Trading Sam Colorado’s top six and he won’t serve as the seventh or eighth guy — Girard if they think Byram is ready and just as good. That would free up that’s why Gilbert and Burroughs were brought in. Byram needs to play, more than $4 million in cap space (Girard begins his $5 million annual and since he cannot play in the AHL because of the major-junior rule, cap hit next season and Byram is on his entry-level contract at $894K). he’ll likely return to the WHL’s Vancouver Giants. Expect Byram to Probably won’t happen but the addition of Toews definitely makes Girard become a full-time Avs D-man in 2021-22, replacing the expired contract somewhat expendable. of Ian Cole. Dear Mr. Chambers. The Avs just acquired the most under rated player What is our goaltending situation right now? Do the Avs have the right in hockey who will be the biggest surprise in the NHL this guys between the pipes to lead them on a deep postseason run? season. I’ve watched college hockey for decades and I’ve never seen a smarter, more gifted, fast-decision-making-and-scoring player ready for — Walker, Denver the NHL than Mike Vecchione. I don’t know him personally, I’ve never That’s the most-asked question about this group. Locally and throughout met, him, I don’t know his family nor do I know anyone who knows North America, seems like the majority of folks don’t think Philipp him….but I watched him play at Union College and then taken for Grubauer or Pavel Francouz is good enough to lead this team to a deep granted in the minors as an UFA. My question: wWill you remember to run. But that’s what they said about Anton Khudobin before the career write these words from your mailbag when this young man scores goals backup led Dallas to the Stanley Cup Final and then signed a big deal to in 10 consecutive games this season? Thank you. remain with the Stars. Grubauer and Francouz are both around 5-foot-11 — Michael J. Hallisey, M.D., Wethersfield, CT or 6-foot, very similar to Khudobin, and people don’t believe in the smaller guys unless they deliver big. The Avs certainly believe in Thank you, Dr. Hallisey. I’m with you on Vecchione. I covered DU at the Grubauer and Francouz, and let’s face it, they would have faired a lot 2017 Frozen Four when defenseman Will Butcher won the Hobey Baker better in the recent playoffs if one of them wasn’t on the injured list. Award over Vecchione and Zach Aston-Reese, who is playing for the Penguins. So when the Avs signed Vecchione I did a little research and Love the retro Quebec Nordiques jerseys the Avalanche just released. Is learned he had 21 goals in 61 AHL games last season. He’s a right-shot this something they are going to wear all season? Any chance they make goal-scorer, and he wore the “C” for Union — so I have no idea why the this part of a permanent rotation, would love your thoughts on the Blues didn’t resign the guy. He signed a relatively standard one-year, new/old school look. two-way deal with Colorado at $700K/$290K. Maybe the $290K was the — Billy, Denver best-guaranteed AHL offer he received. Anyway, yes, I’ll remember this “conversation” if Vecchione becomes the player you forecast. They’ll don those uniforms at least once next season, but probably more. They will announce the schedule at a later date. Also, it’s not just the new Mike, are there any updates on the 2021 season and where the Avs are jersey — they’re going with new blue breezers, gloves and helmets to going to play? Will there be any games played here in Denver with fans support that look. in attendance? I know fans missed this team during the playoffs.

I saw Pepsi Center is no more as the naming rights have changed. Are — Kenny, Lakewood there any other updates being made to the arena before next season? Still all up in the air, Kenny. Sounds like they want to play in four — Jen, Englewood temporary divisions, including an all-Canadian loop, and play baseball- like mini-series against the same team at home rinks. Just divisional I haven’t heard of any updates, Jen, and given that they might not play games. But nothing has been finalized and other ideas are out there. before any fans in the building or a small percentage of the 18,000-plus capacity, I don’t expect any. Ball Arena might rub off on folks — the guy Hi Mike, with the Avs celebrating 25 years here in Denver, are there any who runs Ball Corp in Broomfield is a hockey guy and former owner of plans for in-person games and celebrations? Do you see the team the Denver Cutthroats. Here is the link to that story. bringing back any players from past championship teams to honor the history of the franchise? Mike, it appears the Avs have strengthened their roster with the recent additions; however, other than the Saad for Zadorov trade and the — Chris, Aurora I sure do, Chris. I suspect Mr. Joe Sakic and the other five guys with retired jerseys will be special guests at a game or two. Adam Foote and Milan Hejduk still live here, along with Sakic, by the way.

Mike, what can we expect from the Avs’ young prospects? Do you see any of them making the jump and having an impact on the team this coming season? Feels like this team is in win-now mode and are hungry to win the Stanley Cup.

— Alexander, Centennial

It’s absolutely win-now. Look up the Avs at CapFriendly.com and see the salary structure. There is a window and it’s definitely now, plus the next 2-3 years. As for prospects, I think Logan O’Connor will become a full- time third/fourth-line forward and primary killer. Please read above about Byram. Then Connor Timmins. Next year Alex Newhook. Hard to predict if 18-year-old draft picks will pan out, but Newhook appears to be a steal at No. 16 in 2019.

Denver Post: LOADED: 11.21.2020 1196127 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings’ pick Kyle Aucoin aims to follow in NHL father’s footsteps

Updated Nov 20, 2020; Posted Nov 20, 2020

By Ansar Khan

If Kyle Aucoin needs any inspiration for the long and difficult process of reaching the NHL that awaits him as a sixth-round pick, he can glean it from his dad.

Adrian Aucoin was a fifth-round pick selected 117th overall in 1992 and ended up playing 1,108 NHL games over 17 seasons.

Kyle, selected 156th overall by the Detroit Red Wings this year, aims to one day reach hockey’s highest level.

“He’s always been my role model, someone I could always look up to,” Kyle said. “He was always there to give me knowledge of the game. We broke down a lot of games. He’s definitely someone I strive to be like. It’s cool to have him around the house and pick his brain whenever I want.”

Aucoin is two games into his second full season with the USHL Tri-City Storm. He had two goals and 11 assists in 48 games in 2019-20.

If Aucoin makes it to the NHL several years from now, it will be in large part because of his skating.

“He’s an elite skater, he’s got a great stride, he doesn’t break down, he’s got really good wind and he’s able to maintain his skating over the course of a game and a weekend,” Tri-City coach Anthony Noreen said. “I would say he’s a really good two-way defenseman. He moves the puck well, can join in the rush, can help in the offensive zone, really good at breaking pucks out, also responsible defensively, good on the kill.”

Adrian Aucoin -- who played for seven NHL teams, including the Canucks, Islanders and Coyotes – was 6-2 and played at 213 pounds. Kyle is listed at 5-11 and 164. But even at age 18 he might not be done growing.

“It’s funny when you hear that his dad had a growth spurt when he was 18, 19, so we hope Kyle gets that as well,” Red Wings director of amateur scouting Kris Draper said.

Aucoin said gaining strength is his primary focus.

“I’m a pretty elite skater,” he said. “I think the game well, I’m pretty smart on the ice. I think I play on both sides. I defend quick, which will let me join the rush offensively and create things from there.”

Noreen praised Aucoin’s work ethic.

“He is a guy that 100 percent, even as a 17-year-old last year, treated it like a pro,” Noreen said. “He’s the guy that’s here early. We skate twice a day, he’s fully engaged in both skates and he’s a guy who’s staying out after the second skate, working on stuff that’s specific. He works at his game, takes care of his body, takes care of his schooling off the ice. He’s the picture of what you want a USHL and a junior hockey player to be like.”

Aucoin will play at Harvard next season. He was the USHL’s Scholar Athlete of the Year for 2019-20.

“Education has always been real important to me and my family,” Aucoin said. “I visited (Harvard) in 2018 and the coaches were unbelievable. The campus was great. I think that was the best of both worlds with a great hockey program and a great education.”

Michigan Live LOADED: 11.21.2020 1196128 MontrealCanadiens Last April, even more so than Bergevin, it was Geoff Molson who received the harshest evaluation from our respondents, even though his overall rating was still quite favourable.

Canadiens fan survey, version 2.0: An explosion of offseason optimism Molson still has the lowest marks among our group of four decision- makers, but he still benefitted from the overall increase in fan satisfaction over the last seven months.

By Arpon Basu and Marc Antoine Godin Nov 20, 2020 However, the context of 2020 makes it more difficult to evaluate Molson’s work. The Canadiens and evenko – the company’s entertainment arm –

have been hammered by the pandemic; they only have expenses with No one would blame you if you were to say nothing’s really changed in zero revenue. There have been layoffs, some administrative shuffling the last seven months, that life has become stagnant. Back in April, there and an embarrassing episode in the summer when it took them some was a general sense of pessimism in the air — and it could be argued time to open the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard for their players. But, that sense is even stronger now. honestly, are these what come to mind in the eyes of fans when evaluating Molson’s work? With everything going on this year, we would Except, apparently, when it comes to the Canadiens. imagine that Molson has never been further from the hockey arm of his business as he’s been over the past several months. We asked a series of questions on the state of the Canadiens in the spring, where they were and where they were heading. At the time, they Time appears to heal a lot of wounds when it comes to Claude Julien. were still 24th in the NHL overall standings, right where they were when We can remember much criticism being hurled his way in the playoffs play was suspended a month earlier. The season was miserable, marked and the favourable views when it came to Kirk Muller being forced to by two eight-game losing streaks, and you let us know how miserable replace him because of Julien’s cardiac episode. But again, compared to you thought it was. April, Julien’s level of support is quite high.

That’s right, seven months ago more than 62.2 percent of our 1,993 But let’s not kid ourselves, Julien has the best team he has had since respondents thought the Canadiens – as they were built at the time – returning to coach the Canadiens in 2017 and he will be under pressure would not be a playoff team in 2021. And the notion that they might win a to deliver results. Stanley Cup within the next five years seemed, to be polite, farfetched to the vast majority. As for Trevor Timmins, it’s a bit strange to see that his appreciation curve is identical to Julien’s. But this is why we decided to run through this exercise again, because even if life might seem somewhat similar to what it was seven months Timmins had a lot more people giving him a grade of 8 this time around ago, much has changed when it comes to the Canadiens. There was a than he did in April, which is weird since very few of Timmins’ draft picks lucky inclusion into the return-to-play tournament, a surprise victory have played a game since then. It’s not as if Ryan Poehling or Cale against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the qualifying round, a competitive Fleury won people over by practicing in the bubble. first-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers and then an offseason We suppose it has more to do with the fact the Canadiens, for a second spending spree from general manager Marc Bergevin. year in a row, were able to draft a lot of prospects and that some of them All of that has turned what was a sea of pessimism into unbridled have intriguing upside, going from , Jayden Struble and optimism about where the Canadiens are headed, not only in a far-off Mattias Norlinder last year to Kaiden Guhle, Jan Mysak and Sean Farrell distant future, but as early as this season. this year.

There’s a whole lot more blue in that chart than the one we published Considering it takes five years to properly evaluate a draft class, back in April. A sea of blue, in fact. More than 95 percent of our 1,514 Timmins’ favourable evaluation right now is based on futures, or hope. respondents believe the Canadiens are a playoff team. That’s simply a But right now, it would appear fans are willing to buy what they are being remarkable level of faith, especially since less than 40 percent of sold. respondents thought the same thing seven months ago. Carey Price and Shea Weber That is optimism. Price’s performance in the playoffs was a big sigh of relief for a lot of And it didn’t stop there. A significant number of you seem more people, both inside and outside the organization. Though no one who convinced that the Canadiens are on a path toward a Stanley Cup in the collects a paycheque from the Canadiens would ever admit as much, near future. there had to be some doubt swirling internally about Price’s ability to reach that level again. That was certainly the case externally, where Seven months ago, only 12.1 percent gave this question a rating of 4 or Price’s inconsistency and his annual November slump combined with the 5, a number that has now jumped to 32.6 percent. At the other end of the years left on his contract at $10.5 million a year created its fair share of spectrum, the nearly 58 percent of people who responded with a 1 or 2 anxiety among the fan base. seven months ago has been cut by more than half to 26.3 percent. That playoff performance apparently served the same purpose as a long, So you are feeling good about the new and improved Canadiens, a hot bath. sentiment that was reflected throughout our survey, starting with your evaluation of the people in charge. When compared to our last survey in April, however, the numbers did not increase all that drastically. Back then there were 33.8 percent of The decision makers respondents who gave this question a rating of 3 or lower, a number that has shrunk by more than half to 14.3 percent. The four most important decision makers in the organization are better perceived by the respondents than they were in April. There was underlying faith back then that has now shifted into an overwhelming wave of support. The most glowing response was reserved for Bergevin, who garnered near unanimous support for his active offseason. But Price’s playoffs seemed to overshadow how well Shea Weber played in front of him, showing some of the nasty snarl we grew accustomed to It’s not only that the most popular response to this question moved from seeing from him more regularly earlier in his career. As it turns out, he 7 to 8 since April, it’s more the fact that when you combine those who was simply saving it for games that mattered. gave Bergevin a mark of 8, 9 or 10 you get two thirds of respondents (66.9 percent), while those three answers represented only 17.7 percent Price turned 33 and Weber turned 35 in the bubble, so we were of the vote seven months earlier. wondering if fans still felt comfortable having these two guys as the central pieces the Canadiens are building around. As it turns out, even That is a crazy bump. Bergevin appears to be a new man in the eyes of though their contracts still have their critics, a vast majority of you are the fans; as far as public image goes, his own reset took place in the fall. perfectly fine with it. But that doesn’t mean Bergevin has earned a permanent free pass. We The youth can see how quickly things might change with the 55.7 percent of respondents who say he should lose his job if the Canadiens miss the playoffs in 2021. Hope in the Canadiens’ young players continues to be the basis of Bergevin. Two-thirds of respondents considered it either too long or too overall faith in the team. Back in April, 40.5 percent of respondents said rich. the prospect pool was the team’s biggest strength, and that sentiment has not dissipated in seven months. Looking at the comments on our survey post, several of you would have liked to be able to answer that it was both too long and too rich. This is This time, however, rather than focusing on prospects who are not yet in the risk involved in signing someone who plays the way Anderson does, the NHL, we went with the format our colleague Corey Pronman uses in a risk that is compounded by his shoulder surgery last season following his ranking of each organization’s players aged 23 and under. Since the an injury-plagued campaign in Columbus that saw him score one goal. Canadiens have recalibrated their gaze into the present, it made sense to include young players who have already graduated to the big club. However, it would appear to be similar to the risk Bergevin is taking on , who plays much bigger than his size and whose style Perhaps it was a result of this slight adjustment, but the Canadiens’ also exposes him to injury. Anderson will be 33 when his contract expires young players benefit from the same positive impulse as the members of whereas Gallagher will be 34, and yet … the front office, with respondents showing even more confidence than they did in April. … our respondents don’t see the same risk. A crushing majority of you consider Gallagher’s contract to be fair, or even team friendly. It is the The enthusiasm when it comes to Nick Suzuki and Jesperi Kotkaniemi is total opposite of the reaction to Anderson’s contract, which costs $1 in lockstep with what Bergevin expressed after the playoffs, when he said million less per season than Gallagher’s. But that’s fine, because judging they were two young players to build around. This is particularly true in by his performance compared to his peers, Gallagher is very much worth the case of Suzuki, with more than half our respondents predicting he the extra dollars. Our NHL analyst Dom Luszczyszyn agrees with our would produce somewhere between 50 and 60 points this season. Over respondents that the Canadiens did very well with Gallagher’s contract, the last 35 years only two players have produced more than 50 points in and not so well with Anderson’s. their second NHL season: in 1996-97 and Michael Ryder in 2005-06. What does that tell us? That our subscribers did their homework, that’s what. What’s striking is that only 6.5 percent of respondents believe Suzuki will produce fewer than 40 points after hitting 41 points in his rookie season. What’s to come That suggests most of you believe he will avoid the sophomore jinx. The most pressing dossier remaining on Bergevin’s docket is Phillip In speaking to The Athletic just prior to the draft, Bergevin acknowledged Danault’s next contract, which, if we’re being honest, is not all that Suzuki could take a step back while expressing confidence that such a pressing. But with all the money Bergevin has committed elsewhere and regression would be avoided. If Kotkaniemi’s second season in the NHL with the anticipated ascension of Suzuki and Kotkaniemi, how he handles should serve as a warning of what to expect from Suzuki, it appears to this negotiation with Danault is of high interest. have also tempered expectations from respondents when it comes to his It would not be unreasonable of Danault to expect an annual salary own production this season. hovering around the $5.5 million a year mark based on several While more than 10 percent of respondents expect an offensive comparables that work in his favour, most notably Jean-Gabriel Pageau explosion from Suzuki, fewer than 1 percent thought Kotkaniemi would signing for $5 million a year with the Islanders. Which raises the exceed 60 points this season. But overall, two-thirds of our respondents question: what should Bergevin do if Danault insists on that $5.5 million a expect Kotkaniemi to produce like one of the best third-line centres in the year figure? league, or like someone who even deserves second-line minutes. The problem here, of course, is signing a short-term contract with Respondents did not hold back much when it came to Alexander Danault would be near impossible because it would give him no incentive Romanov, even though most have never even seen him play. to forego the unrestricted free agent market next offseason, where he would very likely get the contract he is looking for. But it is interesting The Canadiens haven’t really done a whole lot to temper expectations in nonetheless to see what percentage of you are in favour of playing Romanov’s case. It’s pretty rare to see a 20-year-old player with no hardball with someone who has been such a good player for so long in professional experience in North America arrive at his first training camp his home province, with nearly 27 percent of you opting for an outcome with a job essentially guaranteed. Our respondents echoed the team’s that would see Danault leaving Montreal very shortly either via trade or confidence; not only did an overwhelming majority see Romanov free agency. spending the whole season in Montreal, nearly 30 percent of you saw him making his way into the team’s top-4, playing with Weber or Jeff Sticking with the same theme, we asked who you expect to be the most Petry. significant casualty of the Canadiens’ sudden cap crunch. It comes as no surprise that a solid majority see the team’s leading scorer leaving town The offseason additions shortly.

Let’s take a closer look at Bergevin’s moves this fall. It appears more and more likely the Canadiens will play in an All- Canadian division this season, which impacts their playoff chances in a Reinforcements are always welcomed with a big cheer. Let us mention significant way. On the one hand, they separate themselves from the right off the bat that a typo slipped into our survey for about half an hour. Bruins and Lightning, but they also separate themselves from the Sabres No, it was not an attempt by us to make sure the Canadiens led the and the Red Wings (though honestly, the Red Wings might be a good league in people named Joel, because they are already well armed in thing for them). In other words, an All-Canadian division might lack the that department with Bouchard, Armia and Edmundson, but we did have elite competition of the Atlantic Division, but there will truly be no easy a Joel Anderson option to that question for a tiny bit. What hurts is that games, especially with an improved Senators team. this Joel Anderson character who does not exist collected nine votes in those 30 minutes — or the same amount Joel Edmundson received in Still, an overwhelming majority of you feel the Canadiens should have no three days. need to fight for a wild card spot in a division like this.

All joking aside, Josh Anderson’s arrival appears to be overwhelmingly Finally, we wanted to know how comfortable you all felt heading back to welcomed by Canadiens fans, perhaps because a true power forward live hockey games, whenever that might be. It is fair to conclude that the has not played in Montreal in forever. How long? Going back to Erik vast majority of you don’t feel ready to head back to an arena without Cole? Or John LeClair? Suffice to say: players like this are rare in the drastic changes to the current conditions relating to the pandemic. NHL, which would explain why so many fans are impatient to watch him in a Canadiens uniform. Conclusion

The addition of a scorer like Tyler Toffoli also had a significant number of Let us now emphasize that these survey results are only based on a votes, but it was most interesting to see 8 percent of respondents choose relatively small sample of Canadiens fans. With that disclaimer out of the backup goalie Jake Allen. This surely has as much to do with his quality way, what the results suggest is that for the first time in a few years, as a goaltender as it does with the potential impact it will have on Carey there are high expectations for this team. And with expectations come Price’s performance this season. accountability.

The excitement of seeing Anderson play in Montreal, however, does not Results and progress will be needed for this team this season, but align with the general consensus on the contract he received from shouldn’t that be the goal every season? Bergevin has done what he could, and now it will be up to Julien to guide this team – the best he has coached in years – to the next level.

But having expectations should be the goal here. Expectations mean you are doing something right, that you have put the pieces in place to compete. The Canadiens have done that over the last seven months and have climbed in the eyes of their fans to a place that includes some inherent pressure.

Assuming we ever get this season off the ground, it will be fascinating to watch this team as it ventures to meet those expectations.

The Athletic LOADED: 11.21.2020 1196129 New York Islanders The NHL, which has targeted the start of the season for Jan. 1, has not yet decided whether teams will host games at their home arenas or instead have them play in "bubble" cities, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said this week. New Coliseum leaseholder gets break on rent This coming season is slated to be the Islanders’ last at the Coliseum before moving to UBS Arena.

By Jim Baumbach and Candice Ferrette Curran has said she's made it a priority to ensure the Coliseum remains a viable option for hosting the team. Updated November 20, 2020 6:43 PM Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 11.21.2020

Nassau County has agreed to let the new leaseholder of Nassau Coliseum off the hook from paying rent until at least the summer in a deal that also guarantees that the Islanders can use the arena if needed during the COVID-19 shutdown.

The lease amendment, which requires approval by the Nassau County Legislature, calls for rent relief that continues until six months after the state lifts all restrictions on arena events.

Under the current lease, Nassau County collects more than $4 million in annual rent from the Coliseum leaseholder.

"This agreement recognizes the impact of COVID on Coliseum operations and the surrounding development," Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said. "That impact includes lost revenue and lost time."

The new leaseholder, Nassau Live Center LLC, headed by Nick Mastroianni II, has not paid rent since taking over in August after Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov had shuttered the building and walked away from $100 million in debt.

Mastroianni was next in line to take control of the lease because he had orchestrated the loan for the Coliseum’s 2015 renovation.

Mastroianni's Jupiter, Fla.-based company, U.S. Immigration Fund, raised $100 million from 200 Chinese investors through a federal program that provides visas in exchange for financing job-creating projects in the United States.

USIF is not affiliated with the federal government.

"We are all trapped by the pandemic," Mastroianni said in a text message. "We’re just trying to find a path forward. … We’re just trying to find out how to put things back into perspective and have a normal life."

Nassau Live Center has not yet paid the contractually obligated rent, because the county agreed in August to give Mastroianni three months to assess the future viability of the arena. County officials also required him to submit a plan for the Coliseum's future.

The deadline for Mastroianni to file his plan for the arena was Wednesday. But with big live events prohibited during the coronavirus pandemic, the county negotiated a lease amendment that, like the rent relief, gives Mastroianni until six months after the state lifts restrictions on arena events to submit his plan for the Coliseum's future.

The amendment is expected to go before the Republican-controlled Nassau County Legislature next month.

"This extension coupled with the suspension of rent payments in recognition of the economic impact of the pandemic, will give Nassau and the HUB Team the opportunity to plan for the future, post-COVID, when the entertainment industry restarts," Curran said.

Among the proposals pitched to Mastroianni was to downsize the arena into a 5,000-seat music venue that would be operated by the arena management company Oak View Group. OVG also is a part owner and operator of the Islanders' new arena, UBS Arena, that is under construction at Belmont Park.

UBS Arena is slated to open in November 2021.

Nassau officials say the extension of the deadline for Mastroianni to submit his plan will allow him to better evaluate the impact UBS Arena will have on the Coliseum.

The lease amendment also would ensure that Mastroianni makes the Coliseum available to host Islanders games early next season even without revenues from fans, if the state and the National Hockey League agree to the arrangement. 1196130 New York Rangers Garand posted an 11-7-3 record, which propelled him into the next season as the clear starter.

His numbers jumped across the board in 2019-20, as he went 28-10-3 An inside look at why the NY Rangers took a chance on fourth-round with a 2.21 goals against average and a .921 save percentage. goalie Dylan Garand "I just kind of look at it as constant improvement," Garand said. "I try to get better every day, and that builds over the year. ... I think playing the amount of games that I did helped in my development." Vincent Z. Mercogliano Goalie Dylan Garand, pictured playing for the Kamloops Blazers in the WHL, was selected in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Draft by the New York Rangers. The Kamloops Blazers didn't return from last year's Nov. 8 road trip to Seattle until roughly 3 o'clock in the morning. Size isn't a concern for the Rangers

As the bus was unloaded and sleepy players headed home, goalie coach The main knock on Garand is, at 6-foot-1 and 172 pounds, he doesn't Dan De Palma was surprised to find someone in the training room, look like a prototypical goalie. submerged in the cold tub. But what he lacks in size, he makes up for with technique and skill. It was starting netminder Dylan Garand. "He moves really well (and) he's an elite tracker of the puck," De Palma "That’s just the kind of kid he is," De Palma said. "Monday morning till said. "His head trajectory on the puck is outstanding ... and then from Sunday night, he's as complete a young man as I've ever coached. He's there, when the stress and the chaos ensues, his movement is just really complete in terms of his nutrition, his sleep, his workouts, his exceptional, as well." post-game workouts — everything." LaBarbera echoed those sentiments, adding, "The thing I've been Garand describes himself as "the most serious guy on our team," which noticing here is his hand work." explains the late-night (or early morning) ice bath while his teammates hurried to bed. "He’s able to make saves with his with his hands really well, and some guys don't have that ability," he said. "Sometimes, even if you’re a 6-foot- He can't help himself. 5 guy and you don’t have good hands, you can be exposed."

The No. 103 overall selection for the New York Rangers in the fourth The Rangers have shown no qualms about playing smaller goalies under round of last month's NHL Draft is committed to — maybe even the guidance of longtime assistant coach Benoit Allaire. obsessive about — becoming the best goalie he can be. In fact, all three that they used last season — Igor Shesterkin, Alexandar "I take hockey super seriously, so that's my focus 24/7," Garand said. Georgiev and Henrik Lundqvist — are the same height as Garand. "When I'm not at the rink, I'm kind of just hanging out at home, just relaxing and recovering so I can get ready for the next day of practice. "Those three guys are world class, and it just goes to show that it doesn't That's pretty much it. It's kind of boring, if you're looking at it that way. But matter if you're 6-foot-3 or 5-foot-11," Garand said. "At end of the day, that's what I like to do and that’s who I am." you’ve got to stop the puck. If you can do that, then doesn't matter what your height is." PROSPECT PROFILE: Third-round center Oliver Tärnström A step in the process TOP 10: Which prospects could impact the Rangers in 2021? Team Canada's tryouts for the World Juniors began this week, but the 'Constant improvement' games aren't scheduled to begin until the day after Christmas.

Garand's rise as an NHL Draft prospect has been more steady than That leaves plenty of time for Garand to make his case for ice time, with flashy. LaBarbera indicating it will be a while before they make any final decisions. As further proof of his standing, the 18-year-old was selected as one of five goalies who will vie to start for Canada's 2021 team at the World "He's a very well-prepared kid," said the former NHL goalie, who was Junior Championships. drafted by the Rangers in 1998. "Talking to him leading up to camp here and just trying to get to know him a little bit on the phone and kind of "Who wouldn’t be excited to have an opportunity to play for their understand what his process is, he's very dialed into the things he wants country?" the Victoria, British Columbia native said. "At the same time, to get done in getting himself ready to go. There's not a lot of looseness there's still a ton of work to be done and I’ve got to earn it and play my to his preparation, which I like." game and be consistent every day." That seems to be Garand's approach in all aspects of life, including the Your stories live here. classroom, as evidenced by being named the WHL's Scholastic Player of Fuel your hometown passion and plug into the stories that define it. the Year.

Create Account Even after getting the call from the Rangers, rather than bask in the glow of a possible NHL future, the 18-year-old quickly got back to his routine. Team Canada goalie coach Jason LaBarbera has called the competition "wide open," noting that Garand "has evolved the last few years." Like the post-game cold tub, the draft was just another step in the process. "He's got a lot of different aspects to his game," LaBarbera said following Thursday's practice. "He's very talented in that sense. He’s very good at "I was expecting a bit of jolt — a jolt of confidence," Garand said. "But tracking the puck. He stays down on the puck; he doesn't chase it. He honestly, it doesn't really matter. It's just the start of your career. You've gives himself opportunities to make saves with his positioning and his been drafted, which is great, and you worked so hard for it. But at the skating ability." same time, you’ve still got a long ways to go and a lot of improving to do."

That improvement has come from Garand's relentless training regime Bergen Record LOADED: 11.21.2020 and his WHL experience with Kamloops.

At just 16 years old, Garand stepped in as the Blazers' starting goalie after Vegas Golden Knights prospect Dylan Ferguson got hurt toward the end of the 2018-19 season.

"We were a team that looked like a long shot to get in the playoffs down the stretch, and our No. 1 goalie — an older goalie — goes down," De Palma recalled. "Dylan steps in and just packs the mail and gets us into the playoffs." 1196131 Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators sign second-round pick Egor Sokolov to a three- year entry-level deal

Bruce Garrioch

Publishing date:Nov 21, 2020 •

The hard work and the dedication has paid off for Egor Sokolov.

The Ottawa Senators signed the 20-year-old second round pick from Cape Breton Screaming Eagles In last month’s NHL draft to a three-year entry-level deal Friday

“To Egor’s credit, he’s worked especially hard for this,” said Ottawa GM Pierre Dorion. “Despite initially being undrafted, he applied himself to improve many facets of his game to the point where he led the Quebec league in goals last season. We were pleased to select him where we did and look forward to seeing his career progress.”

Speaking after the draft wrapped up, chief scout Trent Mann noted that Sokolov had shown constant improvement and the ability to score goals.

“I realize he’s older, but over three years, he’s scored almost 100 goals at the major-junior level,” Mann said. “He’s a kid that’s been committed to improving his game on and off the ice over the last three years. We’ve seen a lot of growth in his game and we just feel that scoring from the right side is something we wanted to address. He fits that need.”

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 11.21.2020 1196132 Ottawa Senators expectation is Stuetzle will be on the ice with the Senators at training camp.

Discussions on a entry-leave deal are in the early stages, but first the GARRIOCH: An inside look at Tim Stuetzle reveals he's a young man organization has to secure his release from his contract in Mannheim. determined to succeed Those talks are taking place but the reality is there would be no reason for Mannheim to hold Stuetzle back if he wants to make the jump to the NHL.

Bruce Garrioch From watching the documentary, you realize he’s popular with his teammates. After an off-ice soccer game and practice, he played golf Publishing date:Nov 21, 2020 with some of them. They were all on hand in the wee hours of the morning in Mannheim when the late Alex Trebek called out Stuetzle’s name on behalf of the Senators’ organization. Tim Stuetzle was calm, cool and collected the day the Ottawa Senators changed his life. Mannheim winger David Wolf, 31, who spent a year in the Calgary organization, has taken Stuetzle under his wing and couldn’t be happier The club’s No. 3 overall pick even spent part of it on the golf course with for him. some teammates from Adler Mannheim. “In all honesty we’ve all waited for this moment and few have enjoyed it,” Being followed by a camera crew from Magenta Sport in Germany from Wolf said. “With Ottawa picking him, I think he ended up with the club morning until night on Oct. Oct. 6, a 32-minute documentary posted on that’s the best fit for him.” YouTube with English subtitles Thursday, reveals a side of a young man being selected that people rarely get to see. You learn in the documentary that Stuetzle is a genuine person surrounded by good people. It also it shows the kind of desire the 18-year-old forward has to be the best. “He’s pretty happy and I’m very happy with Ottawa,” Marion said. “There’s some sadness to it when you see how the team this with him. I “I aim to be drafted as high as possible,” the video begins with Stuetzle don’t think it’s easy to say, ‘Okay, now it’s time for the next step’.” making his way to the Whistle Mannheim pub on the night of the draft. “So it would be totally disappointing if I’m not drafted high. I have to be Ottawa fans can’t wait to witness it. honest.” Ottawa Sun LOADED: 11.21.2020 Stuetzle’s mother, Marion, and his father, Martin, both state all their son ever wanted was to be a hockey player. Marion relayed a story about Stuetzle only agreeing to go to the pool in hot weather in the summer as long as his mother picked up on so he could do an off-ice workout in what she referred to as a “stinky gym” with the rest of teammates from the mite hockey team.

“He always knew what he wanted,” Marion said. “He thought it was the greatest when he could practice twice a day or three times. Yes, it was a joy to watch him do it. (Practice) was always the greatest thing for him and that hasn’t changed to this day.”

Former Ottawa 67’s great Peter Lee, the long time general manager of the Berlin Eisbaren in the DEL, told Postmedia in an interview before the draft he first noticed Stuetzle as youth because he was such a difference- maker.

Stuetzle had the ability to write his own ticket and take whatever route he wanted to the NHL. He chose to sign as a pro with Mannheim, but that meant he turned down a full scholarship to the University of New Hampshire. His parents weren’t thrilled with the decision but in the end they supported it.

Both indicated there was no shortage of discussion.

“I was with him in New Hampshire, it was a dream. The original plan was for him to combine his hockey and his studies,” Marion said. “When he came and said, ‘I’d like to stay in Mannheim’ that wasn’t a popular decision with us. He had just turned 17.”

Added Martin: “We weren’t okay with it at all. That was very difficult and it went on for a long time.”

Both felt Stuetzle needed to have a “backup plan” in case getting to the NHL didn’t work out but he couldn’t be deterred and he opted to sign with Mannheim. He finished with seven goals and 34 points in 41 games in his rookie season play against men.

“My goal was to play hockey as soon as possible, to play adults,” Stuetzle said when asked by Martin to explain the decision to turn pro to the cameras. “I just thought the sooner I play against adults the higher I can go in the draft.

“I thought I’d learn so much (in Mannheim). It helped in life. I played with two veterans on the same line and it helped so much. One of them won the Stanley Cup. You can learn loads about life from guys like that. Being on the ice and practising against men is a huge advantage I think.”

You have to give Stuetzle credit because he made the right choice. Recovering from surgery to repair a broken hand, if he isn’t at the world junior championships next month with Team Germany then the 1196133 Pittsburgh Penguins

Former Penguins forward, coach, executive Ken Schinkel dies at 87

SETH RORABAUGH | Friday, November 20, 2020 6:18 p.m.

Ken Schinkel, an original member of the Penguins franchise, has died at age 87.

The Penguins announced his death. A cause of death was not reported.

A native of Jansen, Saskatchewan, Schinkel joined the newly formed Penguins at age 35 through the 1967 expansion draft when the NHL doubled in size. The first player in franchise history to be selected for an All-Star Game in 1968 and 1969, Schinkel spent six seasons with the Penguins in the late 1960s and early 1970s. By the time he retired as a player in 1973, Schinkel was the franchise’s career leader in games (371) and points (236).

Schinkel recorded the first postseason hat trick in franchise history when he scored three times during a 5-2 win against the Oakland Seals in Game 3 of a quarterfinal series on April 11, 1970.

During his penultimate season of 1971-72, Schinkel was grouped with Ron Schock and Eddie Shack, forming the popular and phonetic-friendly “Schink-Schock-Shack Line.”

Midway through his final season of 1972-73, Schinkel retired as a player at age 40 and was named head coach of the team on Jan. 13, 1973. He held that position for parts of four seasons over two stints. In 203 regular season games as the Penguins’ head coach, Schinkel had a record of 83-92-28.

After stepping down as coach for good in May of 1977, Schinkel held a variety of front office positions with the franchise, including as assistant general manager and scouting director before joining the in 1989.

Schinkel also played for the New York Rangers earlier in his NHL career.

Tribune Review LOADED: 11.21.2020 1196134 San Jose Sharks The Sharks urged fans who shared those concerns to contact local elected officials in advance of a City Council study session that was held on Monday. Becher also chimed in during open forum at the meeting, and said Friday he wanted to express the team’s option and that it went San Jose Sharks’ president says message about exiting SAP Center on record. “was heard loud and clear” “We’ve had lots of really interesting conversations, not just the last couple of days — over the last three years,” Becher said. “The heart of the message I was trying to get across is, we need more than just talk. By CURTIS PASHELKA | PUBLISHED: November 20, 2020 at 1:35 p.m. | UPDATED: November 20, 2020 at 5:32 p.m. “This is not the time for talk, this is the time for action. Essentially the window closes in the spring, because many of these decisions will be

made.” SAN JOSE — Sharks Sports & Entertainment president Jonathan Becher San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 11.21.2020 said Friday he’s been encouraged about what he has heard from city council members after he pleaded last week that proposed downtown developments around the Diridon train station would endanger the NHL’s team future at SAP Center.

The Sharks sent a letter to the team’s fans Nov. 12 saying new construction planned for the area would threaten access and the amount of parking available near the downtown arena, which would not be viable if those plans went into effect.

“I think our message was heard loud and clear,” Becher said. “With thousands of pages of documents, frankly a lot of people probably hadn’t read them through. Part of what we were trying to do was educate people about what the consequence was of some of the decisions that are being made.

“I think a lot of people got educated and voiced their opinions, which luckily elected officials heard and are now, it seems like, taking into account.”

The Sharks’ agreement with San Jose requires the city to ensure 4,850 parking spaces are available within one-third of a mile of SAP Center. Google struck a deal to buy from the city the SAP Center parking lots that would provide part of the land for the Downtown West development.

The Sharks’ largest concern is the proposal to reduce traffic lanes on Santa Clara and Autumn streets, which intersect in front of the arena. Becher said if that is addressed, and the city upholds its parking agreement with the Sharks, that would alleviate many of the team’s concerns.

“If they do those two things, which seems more likely now than before, that goes a long way,” Becher said.

Google plans a transit-oriented development of office buildings, homes, shops, restaurants, entertainment hubs, cultural centers and parks near the train station that totals 7.5 million square feet.

More development, also roughly 7.5 million square feet in size, is planned for areas adjacent to that project, and the Sharks are concerned with parking, traffic gridlock and the impact of ongoing construction.

The Diridon train station is slated to also become a BART stop. Caltrain, which also uses the station, is undergoing modernization and a high speed rail system could also make use of the station in the future.

“The City of San Jose has been engaged with the Sharks and all the parties to the Downtown West development for many months, and City staff are very aware of and attuned to the need for the SAP Arena and all the events it hosts to be successful,” said Nanci Klein, Director of Economic Development for the City of San Jose, in a statement Friday to this newspaper.

“We fully intend to pursue our work with all parties to ensure continued operation of the Arena, as well as a smooth construction plan that can maintain the economic growth of the downtown area.”

The Sharks are asking for better integration between all of the various projects.

“Somebody’s got to masterplan,” the projects, Becher said. “Because each of those projects, just the nature of construction, is going to shut down roadways temporarily. But temporarily could be months, not weeks.”

If all of those projects take place simultaneously, Becher said, “you couldn’t physically even walk to the building, let alone drive to the building. Seems like common sense that no one would let that happen, but all five of those things are happening independently, so someone has to step in and govern those five. That would be the city.” 1196135 St Louis Blues Costa previously had worked for the Rampage, and reached out to contacts in San Antonio for a scouting report on the Blues.

“Touched base with them on what type of people and business the Blues In the heart of Bruins country, Springfield (Mass.) ready to embrace had run, and they had nothing but great things to say,” Costa said. “We Blues met with (the Blues) and things worked out really well.”

The Thunderbirds are entering their fifth season under their current ownership group, which has gradually built up the fan base in Springfield. Jim Thomas 5 hrs ago “We took over a franchise that was last in the league in attendance and have really grown quite a bit in the last four years,” Costa said. “We had nine sellouts last year, averaged over 5,000 in the building. In the heart of country, of all places, the Springfield (Mass.) Thunderbirds are eager to wrap their arms around the St. Louis “Our fans were really enthusiastic about (the Blues’ affiliation) because I Blues. Well, the Blues’ prospects. think they see the pedigree — the things that the Blues have done at their level. I think it’s an exciting thing to be a part of here.” The Blues announced a five-year agreement with the Thunderbirds during the first week of March, replacing the as In terms of logistics and travel, it should be a much better arrangement St. Louis’ affiliate. for the Blues than San Antonio. Playing in the Central Division the past three seasons, the Rampage had only one destination they could reach Of course, we all know what happened the next week. Hockey, and via bus — the near Austin. pretty much the rest of the sports world, shut down March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic. In Springfield, it’s the opposite. They have only one plane trip in the AHL’s Atlantic Division — Charlotte. “We’re trying to get ready, but it’s been delayed,” Thunderbirds president Nathan Costa told the Post-Dispatch. “It’s been a challenge. We “The travel is gonna be a lot less on the players,” Costa said. “We’ve got obviously would’ve been underway by now. But we haven’t been able to Providence an hour away; we’ve got Bridgeport and hour and 15; we’ve do much to be quite honest.” got Hartford 30 minutes down the road. So the players can sleep in their own bed 90 percent of the time.” At the moment, the AHL is shooting for a Feb. 5 start, or about a month after the NHL’s hoped-for return to play. In addition, there won’t be a grueling “rodeo trip” in February, when the Rampage were on the road for most of the month because of the annual None of the projected players for the Thunderbirds’ roster have been San Antonio Stock and Rodeo Show at the AT&T Center. So there will be able to get to Springfield yet because of the pandemic. Costa talks less wear and tear, more time for practice and training, and more days regularly with Kevin McDonald, the Blues’ executive and scout who also off. All of which should aid player development. serves as Springfield’s general manager. Once they get to the season, that is. “Normally, we would really do a huge blowout and welcome the Blues’ organization in our market,” Costa said. “We would also do the same “I’m really looking forward to the relationship,” Costa said. “It’s just we’re thing with our players around our opening and really try to educate our not sure exactly when we’re going to be able to kick that relationship off.” fans as to who’s coming into town, especially with a new franchise.” St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 11.21.2020 Instead, the Thunderbirds have had to get by with virtual marketing. Over the past few weeks, they’ve held a series of “Town Halls” on Facebook in which fans and sponsors have gotten to meet and interact with McDonald, coach Drew Bannister, and forward Nolan Stevens.

Stevens, who played the past two seasons for San Antonio, is the son of a well-known name in Springfield hockey — John Stevens. Currently assistant coach of the and a former NHL head coach, Stevens was captain of the ’ team in 1990.

The city of 155,000 (with a metro population of just under 700,000) has a long and storied history in minor league hockey, dating back to 1926 and the Canadian-American Hockey League.

It was a charter member of the AHL, has won seven Calder Cups as league champs, and has had an AHL franchise continuously since 1954, albeit with different ownership groups, NHL affiliates, and team nicknames. AHL headquarters are within walking distance of the MassMutual Center, which seats 6,793 for hockey.

Many times in the AHL, the franchise ownership group and the NHL affiliate are separate entities, with the ownership group running business operations while the NHL affiliate provides the players and coaches. Such is the case here. Throughout the league, it can be a roving carousel.

When the Rampage ownership group in San Antonio sold its franchise to the Vegas Golden Knights, the Knights moved the team to Henderson, Nevada, just outside Las Vegas — leaving the Blues without an AHL affiliation.

Filling the void was Springfield, which was just ending a four-year affiliation with the Florida Panthers and jumped on the chance to hook up with the Blues.

“We thought it was a prudent decision for us to partner with an organization that has the rich history that the Blues do, and obviously coming off a Cup win,” Costa said. “A lot of their guys have been developed in our league, and I think both of our mindsets really meshed well in terms of trying to develop players in a winning environment. And that’s what we’re about.” 1196136 St Louis Blues Is there anything you practice to stay calm, or do you just naturally have ice in your veins? — Nathan S.

Binnington: Confidence comes from preparation, so for me, I try to put Q&A with Jordan Binnington: Justin Bieber shootout, No. 1 fear and Kyle myself feeling the most prepared come the time. At the same time, no Clifford matter how much work you put into it, it doesn’t matter. You’ve got to still find a way to compete and win.

Name your top three favorite things about St. Louis unrelated to hockey? By Jeremy Rutherford Nov 20, 2020 — Joe T.

Binnington: No. 1, the people. Everyone is just very friendly and likes to have a good time. No. 2, the restaurants. And No. 3, this year was my When most NHL players respond to a question with a brief reply, it’s easy first time being there in the summer — May, June and July — and to see there are a million other places they’d rather be at that moment. enjoyed the quick afternoon storm. When St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington provides a one- or two-word answer, it’s usually gold. Blues fan Heather Brewer has Jordan Binnington’s nickname, “Binner,” on the license plated of her team-themed Jeep. (Jeremy Rutherford / The Binnington was in Toronto when The Athletic caught up with him this Athletic) week to ask many of the nearly 70 questions sent in by subscribers. But before we got into that, I asked him how he was doing. What is your go-to thing that you like to do — that has nothing to do with hockey — that you use to get away from it all? — Thomas F. “Good, I’ve been here since September,” Binnington said. “I’ve been training for three months pretty much, and a lot of family time. Obviously Binnington: Hmm, lately I’ve been liking going for a walk in the forest. So there’s not much going on, so I would say a lot of family time and just I’d say that, going for a walk in the forest with some buddies. getting excited to hopefully return to play.” Can you describe your workout regimen? Is there a lot of weight-lifting, The NHL is targeting Jan. 1 for the start of the 2020-21 regular season, and what are your most beneficial exercises? — Gregory N. but as our Pierre LeBrun reported Thursday, there are economic issues that could delay or even prevent that from happening. Binnington: Obviously this offseason has been a unique one. It’s kind of given me some time to build up strength that over the last couple of years “Yeah, I kind of steer clear of it,” Binnington said. “Hopefully both sides I haven’t had much time to take care of. Giving you some details, I do can come to an understanding. I miss playing hockey. I miss the some deadlifts, some squats, some strong core exercises and go from atmosphere. I miss playing at Enterprise Center … the fans, the energy. I there. just hope we can get back on the ice competing and winning some hockey games.” How was your experience with the “bubble,” and if they had to do another one at some point this next season, what would you like to see Binnington’s plans are to head to St. Louis in the next couple of weeks, improved? — Adam L. but in the meantime, he spent some time offering his thoughts on what you readers are wondering about. In typical fashion, a few of his replies Binnington: Well, first off, kudos to everyone who made it happen; we were brief, dry and, well, Jordan-esque. had to play. But for me, I didn’t really enjoy it. It was kind of like a luxury prison. What I would do to improve it? I don’t know. I couldn’t tell you. It’s Enjoy the Q&A, and thank you to those who sent in questions. tough to create one of those. They did a good job. I just didn’t really enjoy the lifestyle. When is the Justin Bieber shootout taking place? — Michael C. Who is an athlete in another sport that you are a fan of? — Cole H. Binnington: There’s been a little back and forth. Ideally, we wanted to do it over the summer, but now with everything going on … He’s dropping Binnington: I’m a big Michael Jordan guy. He’s obviously retired, but songs pretty often here, so I think he’s got some bigger things going on. yeah, Michael Jordan. That’s where my parents got by name from, and I But I’m still open to it when the time comes, and we’ll let you know. enjoy that.

Who is your go-to artist for pregame music? — Cameron N. What is your reaction — and the reaction of your teammates — to the loss of Alex Pietrangelo? Do you think Colton Parayko is ready to step Binnington: I’d have to give that to Drake. into the lead role? — Jeff N. When was the last time you listened to Gloria? — Thomas B. Binnington: Petro is a very dynamic player. He’s kind of irreplaceable, the Binnington: It’s been a while. I couldn’t tell you. way he plays on the ice. He’s a great guy, and we had tons of great memories together. But Parayko can play and he’s a heck of a player, so What went through your mind when Jake Allen was traded to Montreal? I’m excited for this opportunity for him. — Ryan S. Are you going to become best friends with Kyle Clifford, like Torey Krug Binnington: I don’t remember how I found out. I think someone messaged and Robert Thomas did? — Sam T. me. I gave Jake a call a couple of days after. I’m sure he got a ton of calls and media and stuff like that. We had a nice chat. He’s been so Binnington: (Laughing). Yeah, I’m sure we’ll be all right. I like the way he great with me and as a teammate. Everybody respects him and loves plays, and I’m happy he’s on my team. him and we’re going to miss him. I’m excited for him and, yeah, going How do you get along with Ville Husso? Do you think the two of you will into this year, it’s exciting. It’s a new opportunity, new experiences, and make a strong tandem this upcoming season? — Darrin G. that’s what we enjoy. That’s what keeps us alive, right? Binnington: Yeah, Ville is a great guy. We’ve had experiences playing Jordan Binnington will no longer have Jake Allen as his backup in St. together in the past, and he works hard. It’s a new experience, so it’s Louis. (John Cordes / Icon Sportswire) exciting. I’m excited to get started. Do you have a (goalie) pad design that you’ve dreamed of but just felt it What is your favorite BBQ place in STL? — Ryan H. might be too outlandish for the NHL? — David P. Binnington: Honestly, I don’t have one. I’ve got to get one, though. Binnington: I wouldn’t hold back if I wanted to do something more. What was your first drink after winning the Stanley Cup? Also, be honest, Going into the 20-21 season, are you nervous? — Scott F. you knew who Jim Montgomery was, right? — Carrie B. Binnington: No. Binnington: First drink I remember after we won, I had to just grab What is something that makes you feel uneasy? Do you hate roller something from the bench because I was pretty thirsty. I can’t even coasters? A fear of spiders? — Brett C. remember what it was — maybe just water. But once we got into the locker room, the beers started flowing. On (Montgomery), I’ll just say no Binnington: Interesting question. I mean, if I’m on a high balcony in a comment. condo, I don’t really like leaning over the railing. Was there a moment during your 2019 run where the success even surprised you, and if/when that happened, how did you stay grounded mentally? — Kevin L.

Binnington: Nothing is guaranteed. I think I’ve learned that the feeling of fulfillness is something that I strive for, and that comes from continuing to work.

What team and goalie were you a fan of growing up? — Tom F.

Binnington: I was in Toronto, so I was a Leafs fan, and (it was) Cujo (Curtis Joseph) because he was in Toronto. His time in St. Louis was too early for me.

Will the Cujo tribute mask make a return? — M.M.

Binnington: We’ll see.

Any particular reason for wearing No. 50? — Dane C.

Binnington: The reason is (former Blues equipment manager) Joel Farnsworth. I just walked in and it was there.

Who has one the best most deceptive shots in the show? — Will C.

Binnington: I’m not going to comment on other teams, but Vladi (Tarasenko) has got a very deceptive shot.

What’s the best way to measure a goaltender’s reflexes? — S.K.

Binnington: Throw something at him.

As a youth hockey coach, I have the honor and privilege to help develop young kids and hope they find the passion for the game that you have. What advice can you give to the kids (including the young goalies) and us coaches, too? — Bob B.

Binnington: To the kids and the goalies, don’t be afraid to add your own touch or creativity to your game. For the coaches, have a presence and show confidence.

The Athletic LOADED: 11.21.2020 1196137 Tampa Bay Lightning who were worried about his attitude and how he let his emotions get the best of him, like in the 2019 playoffs when he got suspended for a must- win Game 3 against Columbus. But I think everyone got to see another side of Kucherov in the playoffs, from him being more vocal behind the Lightning fan survey 2.0: How Nikita Kucherov and Jon Cooper changed scenes with teammates to his more engaged play on the ice. Then there perceptions was Kucherov’s epic celebration and never-ending smile (not to mention him pouring a Bud Light into the mouth of owner Jeff Vinik at their rally at

Raymond James Stadium). Some of your responses: By Joe Smith Nov 20, 2020 “Kuch was clutch early in his career but has struggled with his emotions in recent years. I was glad to see him keep his composure and dominate in the way we knew he could.” This was a blast. “It was hard to defend Kucherov after last year. He didn’t do much to help Earlier this week, we put out the call for Lightning fans’ opinions on an the team and came off as petulant. After he was benched midseason, he array of topics, from the Stanley Cup run to the salary cap crunch, changed. And his performance, focus and restraint (were) beautiful to prospect pools and perceptions of certain players. There were some watch. Plus, I never thought I’d see him sharing a beer with Vinik.” interesting differences in how you feel based on the last survey we did in April, especially when it comes to Nikita Kucherov and coach Jon “Thought Kuch played gritty, playoff-style hockey and set the tone — Cooper. didn’t view him as that type of player until these playoffs.”

We learned in this survey who changed your opinion the most during the “Kuch showed grit in the playoffs that we have not seen in years past. playoff run, which restricted free agent you’re worried about losing and Much like the rest of the team, he did not let himself get down when whether you’d be comfortable attending a game at Amalie Arena next things didn’t go right, and played within his game, creating opportunities season. In perhaps the most surprising response, we found out how for his line every single game.” many of the 428 of you we polled would support or understand the idea There were several candidates. Defenseman Zach Bogosian (21.9 of captain Steven Stamkos being traded to free needed cap space percent), coming off an unceremonious exit in Buffalo, turned into a (though we don’t believe Stamkos is going anywhere). bargain signing at the deadline, earning minutes in the top pair. Gourde You did most of the work on this one, so let’s see how it turned out, with (23.5 percent), who went through a “rattling” two-month slump during the your answers and explanations for 20 questions surrounding the regular season, anchored the team’s momentum-swinging third line with Lightning: Barclay Goodrow and Blake Coleman. But it was longtime core player Ondrej Palat who played some of the best hockey of his life, teaming up There were several major moments in the Lightning’s Cup run, from the with Point and Kucherov for a dominant top line. It was fitting considering overtime and series-clinching goals to the moment they hoisted the Cup Palat’s journey from seventh-round pick to playoff hero. in . But the resounding response by fans was that Stamkos’ inspirational goal in Game 3 of the Cup Final was their favorite. The fact Most of you followed the Lightning in the playoffs the same way I did: by Stamkos hadn’t played a game since late February due to core surgery watching on TV (84.3 percent). But there were a lot of interesting and issues in his rehab, then scored a highlight-reel goal on his third responses, from “pirating the Canadian feed” to one of you actually shift, will forever live in playoff and Lightning lore. Stamkos had another getting to work in the bubble in Edmonton, to others who watched on TV core surgery in early October, to repair a lower-left side abdominal while listening to Phil Esposito and Dave Mishkin making the radio call. muscle, but is expected to be ready for the start of next season; the Then there was the most honest response, “Streamed illegally.” captain has been seen on social media skating and working out with The Lightning are facing their toughest cap crunch in years, with $78.6 teammates in Brandon. million of the $81.5 million salary cap committed to just 18 players. That As a Conn Smythe Trophy voter, I can attest to how difficult a decision doesn’t leave much room to sign their three top restricted free agents in this was. There was Brayden Point, who emerged as a superstar with a Mikhail Sergachev, Anthony Cirelli and Erik Cernak. We did our best to fantastic playoffs. There was Kucherov, the Hart Trophy winner, whose make projections on what the three players would get in a potential deal engaged and matured play was a difference-maker. Andrei Vasilevskiy, and updated you on what we were hearing on their struggles to clear cap the 2019 Vezina Trophy winner, played every minute of every game in room. But you feel the priority should be Sergachev (77.8 percent), who the playoffs and delivered on his goal to lift the Lightning to a Cup. But I grew into a two-way force this season. Cirelli was next at 20.8 percent. ended up picking Victor Hedman, just like 59.3 percent of our subscribers There were similar answers in the question on which restricted free agent polled. Hedman, a Norris Trophy winner, was a monster, putting him in (RFA) you are most worried about losing (Sergachev was the top rare air even in his star-studded Swedish hometown. Point was the choice). There’s no real update on the situation, with the Lightning runaway runner-up, with Kucherov and Vasilevskiy next. Even Pat needing to clear cap space first before entering serious negotiations with Maroon and Yanni Gourde received votes. the trio. Many teams are not willing to take on more money, and the entire league is waiting to see when the season will start before knowing This might have been the most interesting debate in this survey, and it when the deadlines are to sign their RFAs. was a split. My question was, “Who changed your opinion the most in the playoffs?” And there were several answers, including Cooper (27.3 The Lightning don’t want to trade anyone, but there are a couple of percent), Kucherov (26.1 percent) and Point (17.5 percent). With Point, it players who have to go. Tampa Bay tried to move Tyler Johnson, even was more of the fact you knew he was good but didn’t realize he was that putting him on waivers. Give Johnson credit for being open to giving the good. The other two are more polarizing. We’ve seen our share of Lightning a list of eight or nine teams they can work with to make a deal, #fireCooper hashtags from Lightning fans the past several years after as he didn’t have to do that considering his full no-trade clause. Your playoff heartbreak, but the longest-tenured coach in the league seems to next highest response, Alex Killorn (11 percent), has value on the market have won many of his fans over by leading the team to the Cup. coming off a career season (and a modified no-trade clause), but he’s someone I don’t think the team wants to move. It’s been pretty quiet on As one fan wrote of Cooper: “I always believed he was a good coach, but the Johnson front in recent weeks, so we’ll see. we always came up short. I had questioned whether extending him prior to last year’s playoffs was a wise move given that we always came up It was surprising to see that some suggested the Lightning should trade short (CBJ series aside). Obviously, we finally overcame the hump and Stamkos to clear cap space. Stamkos’ contract has an average annual made it to the promised land with the Cup win. I admit some of it was bad value of $8.5 million over the next four years and has a full no-move luck in the past, but at some point, you had to get it done or move on. clause. He controls his future. There were some reports earlier this Thankfully, we did just that.” offseason that Stamkos was not on the Lightning’s “untouchables” list, and The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported that Tampa Bay approached Said another: “Last year’s playoffs, I didn’t think Coop was capable of the 30-year-old this fall about his no-move clause, but it didn’t go very far. adapting, because he didn’t, but this year changed my mind.” For this question, I asked how fans would feel if Stamkos was traded. The results were a bit eye-opening. Of the 428 of you, 42.5 percent And another: “All of the ‘He can’t coach in the Finals’ talk is history chose “Wouldn’t like it, but understand,” with 12.6 percent saying they’d forever.” strongly support the move. There is a strong contingent, however, at 42.5 With Kucherov, his talent and hockey IQ have never been questioned, percent, that is strongly against trading Stamkos. with even his Russian idols admiring his rise. But there were some fans There were some colorful ways you voiced your opposition. also on the list and, after getting their names on the Cup, are expected to make an impact this year. “He should be untouchable IMO. He’s the heart and soul of this team and trading him would probably bring a curse on the organization.” This was a fun one to end it. There are several players on the team who will likely have their number hung from the Amalie Arena rafters, with “I would be gutted. I might be able to understand it, but it would be Stamkos, Kucherov and Hedman among them. But we were curious who devastating.” is your favorite Lightning player of all time? The answers were split, with “I would probably drive my head through a brick wall and light myself on Stamkos first (24.2 percent), followed by Hedman (22.8 percent), Martin fire in ceremonial respect to one of the greatest to play the game.” St. Louis (16.7 percent), Vinny Lecavalier (14.1 percent) and Kucherov (12.7 percent). Rob Zamuner got a few votes, as did Dan Boyle and “I would personally lead a protest outside (general manager Julien) Point. There was even one for Daymond Langkow, the fifth pick in 1995. BriseBois’ home.” The Athletic LOADED: 11.21.2020 I don’t really think Stamkos is going anywhere, but that there’s such a divided opinion — even among the fan base — is interesting.

BriseBois did a masterful job “transforming” the Lightning this year into a Cup champion. And it seems as though he’s earned the fans’ trust in his ability to keep the team together. BriseBois has a significant challenge on his hands, but 58.6 percent of you are hopeful he can navigate the cap crunch, with 31.1 percent “very confident.”

“I’m confident he’ll navigate it fine, but some fans are going to be ticked off based upon who will be traded.”

“The team will simply not be the same version it was in 2020. It has nothing to do with BriseBois. It was inevitable.”

This was another tough one, and the most popular answer may surprise you. Hedman was overwhelmingly your top choice at 56.3 percent. There were 19.4 percent who voted for Point and 16.8 percent who said Kucherov. Vasilevskiy got the next most votes. But there were two fitting write-in votes.

“All of the above.”

“How do you choose this? They all offer so much.”

The NHL and NHLPA are still trying to figure out when (or if) next season will start, with the most optimistic date being Jan. 1. It’s hard to envision everything getting put together so fast, but, either way, arenas won’t be at full capacity. I’ve heard some teams are preparing to start at 20 percent capacity or so if that can be worked out. The question is whether you would be comfortable attending a game at Amalie Arena if there are COVID-19 protocols in place. It was pretty overwhelming with 71.7 percent saying yes and 28.3 percent saying no. There’s not a right or wrong answer, with everyone at their own comfort levels during this pandemic.

Kevin Shattenkirk bet on himself last year by taking a one-year, $1.75 million deal with the Lightning after being bought out by the Rangers. And it paid off big time, with Shattenkirk delivering a bounce-back season while developing into a key leader for the Cup champs. The Lightning made an offer in free agency, but Shattenkirk cashed in with the Ducks on a three-year, $11.7 million deal. Our poll had Shattenkirk as the free agent you’ll miss the most (82.8 percent), with Bogosian (who signed a one-year deal with the Leafs) second at 11.5 percent. Carter Verhaeghe, who didn’t receive a qualifying offer from the Lightning and then signed with the Panthers, was third.

The Lightning will still likely be a favorite in the Eastern Conference next season, but there should be no shortage of challengers. We asked who you felt was Tampa Bay’s biggest threat, and you picked the Bruins (48.9 percent), followed by the Capitals (19.5 percent), the Maple Leafs (18.8 percent) and the Islanders (19.4 percent), whom the Lightning beat in the Eastern Conference Final. But the next one was the Penguins, along with the Flyers and — believe it or not — the Canadiens.

“I’d say the Flyers. They were the hottest team before the pause, and everyone on their team is getting better.”

“Themselves, a letdown performance/Cup run.”

The Lightning don’t have a ton of high-end prospects, partly due to many of them graduating into the lineup and another because of the players (i.e. Nolan Foote) and picks they’ve dealt in building a contender. But there are several players in their minor-league system who could play a role this year, including the one you’re most excited about, defenseman Cal Foote (38.1 percent), who could crack the blue line out of camp. Alex Barre-Boulet, an AHL All-Star last year, was your second favorite at 17.7 percent, followed by Alex Volkov, who made a surprising playoff debut in the Cup-clinching Game 6. Mitchell Stephens and Mathieu Joseph were 1196138

Mikko Lehtonen was part of Finland’s gold-medal team at the 2019 world hockey championship.

By Mark ZwolinskiSports Reporter

Fri., Nov. 20, 2020

Mikko Lehtonen’s departure for Toronto from his KHL team Thursday wasn’t surprising, but it might be a sign of hope that the NHL will open its 2020-21 season on time.

Lehtonen’s KHL team, Jokerit, announced Friday that the two sides had mutually agreed to terminate his contract for the purpose of his move to Toronto. The 26-year-old defenceman, who signed a one-year deal with the Maple Leafs in May, had been on loan to Jokerit with the NHL season was on hold.

The NHL is hoping to start Jan. 1, though COVID-19 and a difficult swing in negotiations between the league and the NHLPA have put that date in doubt.

Lehtonen, who tested positive for COVID-19 while in Finland, will have to quarantine in Toronto for 14 days once he arrives, as will any players coming from outside Canada. That quarantine should be done by mid- December, when NHL teams hope to open two-week training camps.

Toronto is expecting five players in its NHL camp who have been playing in Europe, including 41-year-old centre Joe Thornton. There has been no indication Thornton has left his Swiss league team in Davos. The others are Swiss forward Denis Malgin (Lausanne), Russian forward Egor Korshkov (Yaroslavl) and Swedish forward Filip Hallander (Lulea).

Lehtonen was named KHL defenceman of the year last season, and will certainly challenge for a spot among the Leafs’ top six blueliners. He was averaging a point a game in the KHL, with eight goals and nine assists in 17 games. He was sidelined from Oct. 21 to Nov. 10 after his positive test.

Leafs coach said this week competition will be intense for jobs on the third defensive pairing and on the bottom two forward lines. Morgan Rielly, T.J. Brodie, Jake Muzzin and Justin Holl are expected to form the first two defensive pairings, with Lehtonen, , Zach Bogosian and among the contenders for the fifth and sixth spots.

Nonroster defencemen Mac Hallowell, Martin Marincin, Calle Rosen, and Teemu Kivihalme will also be pushing for jobs.

Note: Three Leafs prospects are on the 28-player Russian roster preparing for the 2021 world junior championship in Edmonton next month — forwards Rodion Amirov (the 15th pick in the 2020 NHL draft) and Mikhail Abramov (115th, 2019), and goalie Artur Akhtyamov (106th, 2020).

Toronto Star LOADED: 11.21.2020 1196139 Toronto Maple Leafs trips. We’d fly to Toronto, make it our hub, and fly Convairs to wherever we were going (Buffalo did the same thing when I played there). The thing about those little planes? They couldn’t rise above a storm. If there was crappy weather on the horizon, you knew it was going to be a rough Losing, boozing and fear of flying: How Rick Vaive lost his joy for hockey flight. That wasn’t easy. One time we went from Boston to St. Louis, with the Maple Leafs which normally takes maybe three hours, and it took almost five because of headwinds. I was wiped out by the time we got there. On the best of

days, the post-flight fatigue was a problem, because with the Leafs, when By Rick VaiveSpecial to the Star we were leaving Toronto, we never departed for anywhere until 7:35 p.m., which meant we’d arrive stupidly late, wherever we were going. But Fri., Nov. 20, 2020 that way Harold (Ballard) didn’t have to pay our meal money. And any travel for team business after 3 p.m. meant he was only obligated to pay

a half-day per diem. In 1983-84, I scored 52 goals — which made it 50-plus for three When I’d step on one of those Convairs, all I could think was that I loved consecutive seasons. This time, though, the elation of the previous my wife and hoped someday to see my kids grow up. I understood the seasons was replaced with an empty feeling. In the seventy-second statistics, but I didn’t want to be the guy on the wrong side of them. I game, on March 14, I scored two goals in a 3-3 tie (yes, there were ties understood how many flights there were every day and every year, and back then) against Minnesota and goaltender Gilles Meloche to hit 50, how many safe landings — people would keep telling me that, trying to and then scored two more against Chicago down the stretch to finish with be reassuring. One person who understood me was Rick Fraser, one of 52. That season I had 93 points, my career best. the newspaper beat writers covering the team. He was a wonderful guy, You can’t not be happy with scoring 50 goals, but when you don’t make a great and fair reporter, and a nervous flyer (who sadly has left us, but the playoffs it’s not fun, and that year we missed again, finishing with 61 not because of a plane crash!). I’d see how nervous Ricky was on flights, points. Brutal. You come to the rink every day and it’s miserable when when we all flew commercial. (Harold wouldn’t let the media on the you’re losing, knowing your season is going to come to a hard stop. charters.) Anyway, Ricky’s favourite drink was Canadian Club rye and water. On the road, he would keep a bottle of CC in his carry-on, and Hockey becomes a job. I hate to put it that way, but that’s exactly what when he got on the plane, the first thing he’d do was ask the flight happens. It becomes a chore to play, not like when you’re winning and attendant for a glass of ice water. One time it was early in the morning, having fun. When you play a sport for a living, it is a job, but there still but Ricky still asked for his glass of ice water. should be some joy in it. That’s part of what drives you. You have to work hard, but you should still be able to enjoy yourself on the ice, at practice, The attendant smiled and said, “Now, I don’t want to see that water around the room, on the planes — or, in my case, maybe not on the change colour.” planes. Ricky said, “Then don’t look!” … I hate flying. Always have, always will. It’s a control thing. I like to be in Ricky used to say, “I’m tired of people telling me if your number is up, control. I’m not a great passenger in a car either. If someone else’s foot your number is up; there’s nothing you can do about it.” He’d say, “Okay, is on the gas pedal and brake, I feel like I’m putting my life in their hands. if my number’s up that’s fine, but what about the guy across the aisle? Then there are the variables that come with flying: weather conditions, What if his number is up? How do I fit into that equation?” And then he’d human error, mechanical error. I just don’t like it. And five seasons into drink his CC. I liked Ricky’s logic. my NHL career, I’d spent a lot of time in planes. Flying wasn’t fun, and for a number of years it fit right in with everything Wayne Gretzky hated flying, too. He once said it took a lot out of him. else around the team. We just weren’t enjoying the game. For all three of Just think what he could have done otherwise! Looking back on those those years that I hit the 50 mark, it was almost like if our line didn’t score three 50-goal seasons — how they came early in my career and on we had no chance of winning the game. Billy and Danny Daoust and teams that weren’t winning — I know my fear of flying certainly didn’t help Tom Fergus, the three centres I played with over those years — I had my career. Imagine sitting on a plane for two or three hours, maybe great chemistry with all of them. But a lot of nights it felt like we were on longer, and basically holding on to the arms of your seat with white our own. And I hated losing more than I liked winning. That’s the way I knuckles, nervous and tense the entire time. Mentally and physically, it was as a kid; I didn’t like losing at anything. feels almost like playing an extra game. You’re exerting so much energy, and sustaining so much tension, that you’re emotionally drained by the Toronto Star LOADED: 11.21.2020 time your feet are back on solid ground.

Road trips were terrible. The night before, I’d worry about flying. Every single time. I wouldn’t sleep very much — and I was already a poor sleeper because of my bladder problem — and then I would think about getting on that plane the whole next day. The flight crews would often let me sit in the jump seat with the pilots for takeoff and landing, and that helped a little. But when I came out of the cockpit, my shirt would be drenched in nervous sweat. It was exhausting.

I had my coping strategies. At most NHL rinks, a few older gentlemen are assigned to the visitors’ dressing room, and they help out the trainers with the equipment, loading the truck, unpacking the gear, that sort of stuff. Those guys always had beer stashed away. We had those gentlemen in Toronto, too, and they’d help me out. I would flip them a few bucks and they’d stash a six-pack in my bag. That took a little of the edge off and helped me get on the plane. It was the only way I could cope with all the flying. But even if I drank four of those six beers, or maybe even all six, it still didn’t make the anxiety go away. I’d probably need 10 to forget I was on a plane. Being drunk on a team charter cost me a $500 fine once. The team kept it quiet, but my self-medicating was noticed — and not appreciated.

In my rookie season, in Vancouver, they would always have one of those plastic garbage bins full of ice and beer after home games. We didn’t have that at home in Toronto, but on the road there would always be a couple of two-fours of beer in the room. That helped get me on planes, but it couldn’t have helped my game.

The Leafs chartered turboprops, those little old Air Ontario Convair 580s and 640s. Vancouver used them, too, when we were on eastern road 1196140 Toronto Maple Leafs A father of three, Snowden will find ways to keep himself busy hockey- wise.

“I’m going to piece it together,” Snowden said. “The season is over when Maple Leafs' Lehtonen heading to Toronto after point-a-game pace in it comes to the Growlers and playing, but for me, it’s not done. I’m going KHL to continue to learn, grind on the video, do whatever I can to be of help to Sheldon and (Marlies coach) Greg (Moore).

“If they ever need anything from me, video from afar, essentially Terry Koshan whatever the Leafs want me to do, is what I’m going to do. I’ll watch more teams, watch more styles of play. You have to be adaptable and always Publishing date:Nov 20, 2020 • Last Updated 11 hours ago • 4 looking to get better.” minute read OFF TO CAMP

Russia on Friday announced its 28-player roster for its training camp for Mikko Lehtonen is on his way to Toronto. the 2021 world junior championship in Edmonton. Jokerit , Lehtonen’s team in the KHL, announced on Friday that The roster includes three Leafs prospects — forwards Rodion Amirov the club and the player have mutually agreed to terminate Lehtonen’s (selected 15th overall in the NHL draft in October) and Mikhail Abramov contract. (115th in 2019) and goalie Artur Akhtyamov (106th in 2020). Signed by the Maple Leafs in May to a one-year, entry-level pact, the 26- Amirov has six points in 20 games for Ufa Salavat of the KHL, and year-old defenceman had been loaned to Jokerit by the Leafs in August. recently starred for Russia at the Karjala Cup, becoming the first Russian In 17 games, Lehtonen — who didn’t play between Oct. 21 and Nov. 10 in the nation’s hockey history to score in his first three international as he battled through a COVID-19 diagnosis — had 17 points. In three games. games after returning from the illness, Lehtonen had one assist. Now in his third season with Victoriaville of the Quebec Major Junior Lehtonen’s impending arrival in Toronto will give him a head-start on Hockey League, Abramov has 11 points in six games for the Tigres. quarantining before the start of training camp, though the start date of Akhtyamov stands a good shot of backing up Yaroslav Askarov at the camp has not been determined. It also should provide Lehtonen an world junior. earlier opportunity to get to know some of his new Leafs teammates, as well as coach Sheldon Keefe and his staff, ahead of the start of camp. The camp in Russia will start on Nov. 29, with the team travelling to Edmonton on Dec. 13. Lehtonen, who was named the KHL’s defenceman of the year in 2019-20 after leading all blueliners with 49 points in 60 games, has been pencilled Three players will have to be cut from Russia’s camp to get the team in to the Leafs’ top six once the 2020-21 NHL regular season starts. down to the maximum of 25 players for the tournament.

Still, Lehtonen is going to have to earn the spot. As Keefe indicated Toronto Sun LOADED: 11.21.2020 during an interview with the Toronto Sun on Thursday, there will be serious competition for jobs, including on the third pair in the defence corps and among the bottom-six forwards.

Among the Leafs who remain with European teams on loans include Joe Thornton with HC Davos of the Swiss National League, Denis Malgin with Lausanne of the Swiss National League, Egor Korshkov with Lokomotiv of the KHL and Filip Hallander with Lulea of the .

NO GROWLING

Some 48 hours after the ECHL announced on Wednesday that its North Division would suspend play this season, coach John Snowden still was coming to grips with the fact he won’t be behind the bench of the Leafs affiliate in 2020-21.

“We’re all extremely upset,” Snowden said from his off-season home in Seattle. “I feel bad for numerous people — the players not being able to play in Newfoundland this year and play for the Growlers, I feel bad for my staff, I feel bad for the Growlers, for the Leafs, the organization top to bottom as a whole.

“We have a pretty unique plan set out every year and it’s not going to be easy (to not see it through). It’s unprecedented times, things we have never seen, and there is still so much uncertainty with how things are going to shake out.

“It’s unsettling, it’s sad. We have a really good group of guys who are good people, good hockey players that we all look forward to seeing on the ice and the staff gets to coach and get to interact with daily.”

Under the terms of the ECHL collective bargaining agreement, players from the division’s six teams — Newfoundland, Adirondack, Brampton, , Reading and Worcester — who are on ECHL contracts become free agents for the 2020-21 season.

“Teams are always going to look to get better and if they have opportunities with our players, and I believe our players would all be really good players on any team,” Snowden said.

Thirteen of the ECHL’s teams are scheduled to begin play on Dec. 11, with another five teams are slated to start in mid-January. Two other ECHL clubs, Atlanta and Norfolk, have also opted to suspend play for the season. 1196141 Toronto Maple Leafs But the Czech first division continues to play, and often. Kral played six games in 10 days, and he’s noticing the benefits.

“I think I would be more ready from games than practices if I go back to Maple Leafs prospect report: Updates on Kral, Brazeau and players in Toronto,” said Kral, who signed a three-year ELC in April. KHL Kral has two assists and has averaged 19:07 of ice time through six games, second among Kometa defencemen. With the increased speed in the first division, he’s found he’s playing his own game with a better By Joshua Kloke Nov 20, 2020 pace.

Kral has logged power-play time and is a regular on the penalty kill. He played his youth hockey with Kometa and is familiar with first-team coach While the NHL attempts to negotiate a start to the 2021 season, many Libor Zabransky, having played four seasons for him in the youth system. European leagues are already underway. As a result, some Maple Leafs prospects are playing regular games. Some NCAA teams are intent on “The coaches trust me a lot,” said Kral. “I want to be as productive as I playing too, which will see other prospects get much-needed ice time. can.” Meanwhile, other prospects continue to wait for the AHL to begin after the unfortunate news that the Leafs’ ECHL affiliate, the Newfoundland Kral said the players in the Czech league are the strongest he’s played Growlers, would be suspending play for the 2020-21 season. against. He said while reviewing video with Leafs director of player development Stephane Robidas, the former NHL defenceman has The Athletic spoke to Leafs prospects and coaches about where they’re suggested he use his 6-foot-1 frame to push players into the boards. at during an important time in their development. “I play too much with my stick,” Kral said. “I need to play more with my Here’s what we learned… body.”

Lehtonen is T.O. bound Brazeau believes gamble is paying off

There’s no shortage of Leafs prospects in the KHL right now, all of whom In August, as uncertainty loomed over the upcoming season in North are experiencing varying degrees of success. America, Justin Brazeau had made a decision: he wasn’t going to play in Europe. His skating needed to improve, so he would stay in Toronto to Free agent signing Mikko Lehtonen has continued to dominate from the make the most of the Leafs’ internal resources. blue line, scoring eight goals with 17 points in 17 games for Jokerit. There’s going to be an adjustment period when any player transitions The 6-foot-6 free-agent signing, who will likely play for the Marlies this from one league to another, for sure. But with Jokerit announcing Friday season, offered The Athletic a look at his development program. that his loan deal has ended and he’s coming to Toronto, the Leafs have to feel good about how Lehtonen has followed up on his breakout season For the past two months, every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, of a year ago. Brazeau arrives at the in between 8 and 8:30 a.m to begin the day’s workout. After running amok in the MHL, scoring nine goals and 22 points in 14 games, 2020 fifth-round pick Dmitri Ovchinnikov earned a well-deserved Mondays and Thursdays begin with skating development consultant Barb call-up to Novosibirsk in the KHL. But through five games, the 18-year- Underhill, or one of her assistants, to work on his speed, acceleration old has averaged a measly 3:05 of ice time per game. I’ve long been a and explosiveness for 20 minutes as part of a 45-minute on-ice session. believer in teams giving opportunities to young players, but this is where The Leafs have broken down video of his stride from when he signed it gets tricky. Everyone I’ve spoken to in Russia about the driving, with them and have decided to go back to basics with him, focusing on attacking forward is high on his game. Is it better for him to be exposed to turns in tight space and his cutbacks. the second-best league in the world, and professional life, but while only “We looked at another video from last week and it’s crazy to see the seeing a handful of shifts a game? differences,” said Brazeau. “I’m more efficient with my stride. I’m not Rodion Amirov (2020 first-round pick) was named the Karjala Cup’s wasting energy. I’m getting more glide. You can see the effectiveness of forward of the tournament after scoring three goals and adding one assist what we’ve been doing.” in three games for the Russian national team. After seeing his ice time He then focuses on leg lifts for approximately 90 minutes before returning drop significantly with Ufa in the KHL, it was clear throughout the to the ice for skills sessions. tournament how enticing his high-end potential remains. Tuesdays and Fridays are spent improving his off-ice conditioning before Semyon Der-Arguchintsev (2018 third-round pick) has seen his ice time taking part in upper body-focused weight training before hitting the ice for steadily increase with Torpedo, from 7:48 in his first game to 20:27 in a skills sessions. He believes he’s become stronger over the summer, game this week. He has scored one goal and one assist in six games. which has benefitted his skating. Egor Korshkov (2016 second-round pick) has eight goals and 17 points Brazeau appreciates what he calls “big-man related (sessions)” led by to lead all Lokomotiv players. Not bad for a player earning an average of skill development consultant Nik Antropov, which focuses on puck 15:35 in ice time, seventh among all forwards. It’s an important boost of protection and how to properly move from the net front to the boards to confidence for a player who drifted in and out of games at times in the collect passes when a shot isn’t available. He said he loves picking the AHL last season. former Leaf forward’s brain. We’re talking baby steps here, but it was good for 2017 fourth-round pick “A lot of what I feel and see he understands and he gets my perspective,” Vladislav Kara’s development to earn more ice time with the KHL’s said Brazeau. “Because it’s different; obviously if a guy is 6-foot and he’s Severstal (12:59 ATOI through 17 games) than he did with AK Bars, trying to explain stuff, he’s never really played the style I do. But he’s big when he played an average of 8:17 a game last season. Still, a regular and he knows what I’m talking about.” lineup spot might not be assured for him as he was sent down to second- tier side Molot-Prikamie Perm and logged 14:12 in his first game on He has also transitioned from fewer one-on-one sessions in the summer Wednesday. to more group-based work with player development consultant Darryl Belfry as part of what Brazeau calls “the group.” Leafs participating in Kral seeing major minutes in Czech Republic those skills sessions include Jason Spezza, Zach Hyman, Morgan Rielly After a long break from playing games and then another pause to his and Jake Muzzin. With Belfry, Brazeau focuses on improving his shot season, Filip Kral believes he’s back on track with his development. and moving pucks from tricky spaces at his feet into an optimal shooting position. It’s helped expand his shooting range, so he’s not reliant on The 2018 fifth-round draft pick was called up to HC Kometa Brno in the scoring close to the net. Czech Republic’s top division after spending three months on loan to HC Prerov in the Czech second division. The defenceman made things look He’s also benefitted from practicing alongside Spezza, who Brazeau said easy with Prerov, scoring two goals and 10 points in seven games before will approach him after drills to continue the work and will offer advice on their season was paused due to rising COVID-19 numbers. how to approach cutbacks after observing his work with Antropov. “(Spezza) has been really good about making me feel included with the than the KHL. His goal right now is to make smarter decisions with the group,” said Brazeau. “Anything you can take from them, it’s huge.” puck.

He feels confident in his decision to forgo playing in Europe to focus on His coach, Matti Tiilikainen, said Rasanen needs to get his confidence skills development. back and “play hockey like a big guy should play.”

“This is the best thing for me,” he said. “With the workouts, I feel a lot His booming shot from the point remains one of his strengths, but stronger, which has helped with my skating. I think I’m at a point Tiilikainen wants him to improve his awareness on the ice, use his size technically where it’s pretty good.” better in the defensive zone and make a strong first pass.

Miettinen ready to start with St. Cloud State “He has an amazing shot,” said Tiilikainen. “But if you don’t care for the defensive basics, you can’t have that shot.” After a lengthy visa application process and pandemic-related delays, Veeti Miettinen is finally in Minnesota. The sixth-round pick in 2020 Defensively, he wants to see him use his stick with more force, box out arrived last week to begin practicing at St. Cloud State University. Their better, win loose pucks, and intimidate opposition forwards in front of the NCHC season is expected to begin Dec. 1. net.

Miettinen scored 42 goals and 73 points for Kiekko-Espoo’s U20 team in “You don’t want to go to the net-front if you have this size of guy,” he Finland, but the sharpshooter made the unconventional choice to move said. to the United States and allow himself a longer runway to develop. He could have potentially turned pro this season if he had stayed in Finland. Rasanen is still in regular contact with the Leafs, including Robidas. They break down video of his game every week. “It’s not easy, it’s a big step to college hockey, and he is going to face some adversity,” said St. Cloud State head coach Brett Larson. “The plan “He wants me to be more active in the offensive zone. That’s the biggest isn’t to expect that he’s going to be this difference-maker and huge goal- thing now … how to create more chances and get the puck to the net scorer immediately. But what we believe is he has the ability to develop better,” said Rasanen. into that, for sure.” He knows time is running out to prove he’s worth an entry-level deal with “That’s the great thing about college hockey. You sign and go pro when the Leafs. you’re ready.” “I don’t think it’s smart for me to feel pressure,” said Rasanen. “All I can Based on what he’s seen from Miettinen’s first few practices, Larson do is work, get better and that’s what I can show them.” believes the Finn should be able to manage the transition because he’s Just weeks after being selected in the seventh round of the 2020 NHL adept at handling pressure. Draft, Ryan Tverberg is settling into his new home on the other side of “Some of those things you can’t teach,” said Larson. “He’s got that knack the country in Port Alberni, BC. that a lot of high-end offensive players have to make plays even under The Richmond Hill, Ont., native was looking at the OJHL potentially not extreme pressure.” beginning until January. He said both the Leafs and , Larson said this season Miettinen will play top-six minutes and log time which he will be attending in fall 2021, felt it was best for his development on the power play. to play as much as possible.

“As he develops and gets used to playing college hockey, he’s a guy that So, a trade to the BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs was orchestrated. It we think can be a difference-maker,” he said. was a trade Toronto Jr. Canadiens general manager Blake Ricci said he didn’t want to make, but they also didn’t want to stand in the way of an Eemeli Rasanen is happy to have his suitcases unpacked. NHL prospect who needed to play.

After spending last season with four different teams in four different “Ryan’s skill level matches his compete level, which is not something you leagues, the 6-foot-7 right-shot defenceman signed with HPK in Finland’s find very often,” said Ricci. “He has a combination of speed and power . that you don’t see from many guys when you’re 5-foot-11.”

“It’s just unreal to be playing again,” said Rasanen, after two trying The deceptive forward has one goal and three assists in seven games. seasons in the KHL. Bulldogs associate coach Brandon Shaw believes that while Tverberg has the ability to push the pace of the game and make creative plays, he The Leafs drafted Rasanen in the second round of the 2017 NHL Draft will become more than just a point producer in the BCHL. One of the and there were some questions at the time. goals Tverberg expressed to Shaw this season was to become more “He needs to develop his body, he’s a little inconsistent because his legs reliable in the defensive and neutral zones and make fewer turnovers. don’t carry that big body around, but he’s got a great shot, he played top “He’s looking to improve his entire overall game, which is really nice to pairing for Kingston and he has huge upside on his skill level,” said then see,” said Shaw. “He’s focused on improving his habits in the defensive assistant general manager Mark Hunter after the draft. zone. He’s a bit of a captain serious-type guy. Very driven.”

Following the draft, he had a decent season in the OHL, but many of his Tverberg was a 12th round pick of the Hamilton Bulldogs in the 2018 miscues on the smaller ice were forgiven because he won the puck back OHL Priority Draft but opted to keep playing Jr. A. hockey even after the with his size. Rasanen then made the decision to sign with Jokerit in the Bulldogs offered him a roster spot in the 2019-20 season. He then KHL. On the larger ice, his skating flaws were exposed. He played just committed to Harvard after the offer from Hamilton. 12 games in his first season and only 17 games last season, while also spending time with Jokerit’s U20 side, Kiekko-Vantaa in Finland’s second “I didn’t think it was the best life for me,” Tverberg said of the OHL. “In division, and Frederikshavn in the Danish league on loan. Rasanen the OHL, you’re travelling non-stop. It’s top-notch development, but I admits the transition from OHL to KHL hockey was more difficult than thought I could get a better education in the States and probably play a expected. He’s learned to be patient with his development as a result. little bit longer and have a much better career if I went the other way. I knew that I could do it on my own.” “Obviously, it didn’t go well,” he said. “I didn’t really get to play. I still think it’s not very smart to regret it because I already did it and I need to move The Athletic LOADED: 11.21.2020 on. It was my decision and I stand behind it.”

His NHL rights with the Leafs expire after this season.

“I feel like it’s going to take some time to get into the rhythm because I haven’t been in the lineup on a regular basis for the past two years,” said Rasanen, who struggled with a lower-back injury in 2018-19.

So where is he at now?

Rasanen is pointless and averaging 15:17 of ice time through nine games, fifth among HPK defenceman. He said Liiga is more fast-paced 1196142 Washington Capitals even six years later, that she knew even in their first year of dating that Emily was destined to do something big.

“Pretty much from the day we met I’ve known that this has been a goal of Emily Engel-Natzke’s dad was her ‘biggest fan.’ He died of covid-19 hers to work in professional hockey,” Spencer Engel-Natzke said. “I’ve before her hockey triumph. seen the late nights and early mornings and the work she puts in outside the office and you know it is so nice to see it finally pay off for her and for other people to finally see what I’ve been able to see for so many years.”

Samantha Pell Emily Engel-Natzke started to play hockey in middle school and kept playing in Wisconsin, after her family moved to the state from Colorado. November 20, 2020 at 8:23 AM EST She then played club hockey at the University of Colorado, where she majored in film studies.

In late October, Emily Engel-Natzke was formally offered the position of “I didn’t even know this [a video coach] was a job you could have,” Emily video coach for the , a move that, when she accepted, Engel-Natzke said. “When I was in college, I planned on doing ‘E:60’ made her the first female coach in the Washington Capitals organization. more like sports documentaries and then you know through a number of Then she went to her car and cried. different events … I pretty much went all in after that.”

It was a bittersweet moment for Engel-Natzke and her family. Engel-Natzke’s first full-time job in the field was in the fall of 2014, when she was hired to be the video coach for Wisconsin women’s . The position — video coach for a professional hockey organization — She had applied for, but did not get, the hockey video coach job. Instead, was a dream job for Engel-Natzke. It broke a glass ceiling with the out of the blue, she got a call months later, asking if she would be Capitals, one that continues to shatter throughout major American interested in women’s basketball instead. That job was her foot in the professional sports teams. When news of the hire hit social media, it door and her career blossomed from there. sparked delight from those who knew Engel-Natzke and praise from those who advocate for more women in hockey’s ranks. She worked with both the men’s and women’s hockey teams at Wisconsin from 2015 to 2017 before moving solely to the men’s side. “That just gives me chills thinking about it because I think she wants that Granato, who was hired by Wisconsin in 2016, knew her goal was to [more women in top positions in sports] as much as all the little girls reach the professional hockey ranks and so he started to give her a around,” Engel-Natzke’s mother, Maggie, said. “It’s just, women belong in workload he knew was the NHL norm. sports, major sports, and I hope this opens the door for other females … you don’t need to be a man to understand the game, and boy I tell you, “I praise the Capitals for finding her and reaching out to her,” Granato she understands the game.” said “She’s worked for it. She’s earned it. I’m excited for her, I’m excited for the Capitals. I look forward to watch her continue to grow.” The Bears, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Capitals, announced her hire without any “first” caveats, but Emily knew the weight Up next for Engel-Natzke: A move from Wisconsin to Hershey, Pa., after it carried. She had worked for years under Tony Granato as an assistant the holidays. With the couple will come two cats and a three-legged black for the University of Wisconsin men’s hockey team. Now, she will finally lab mix named Hat Trick, which they adopted in 2019. get her shot. And as Engel-Natzke and her family move onto their new chapter, Engel- “I wish it wasn’t such a big deal, like I wish it was just like cool, another Natzke knows her dad is with her and “smiling with the news.” hire, but I know it is more than that,” said Engel-Natzke, 29. “I think now “I don’t think he would be surprised, actually,” Maggie Engel said. “He is the time and I am certainly not the only woman out there qualified for would give her a big hug and tell her how proud he was and that he knew something like this, so hopefully it is just the beginning and hopefully it would happen all along. He just had faith in her, as did I, but it is just, to other teams in the American League and the NHL will follow suit and see the passion and how she understands the game, it is really hopefully a year or two from now it is not such a huge deal.” something special, and we always felt and hoped that she would break But in all the joy and tears, there was someone missing from the this barrier and follow her dreams.” celebration. Washington Post LOADED: 11.21.2020 Engel-Natzke’s father, Tom, whom she got her love of sports from and was her “biggest fan,” Engel-Natzke’s mother said, died in April from covid-19. Engel-Natzke was the main point of contact while her dad was in the hospital, with her mother, Maggie, also contracting the virus at the same time. Engel-Natzke took all the telephone calls, came up with the questions to ask doctors and recorded every phone call for the family.

“She was just so strong,” Maggie Engel said, her voice trailing off.

In what has been a long, difficult year for nearly everyone, for Engel- Natzke and her family, the news of the hire meant a little bit more.

“I hope wherever my husband is, he is with her,” Maggie Engel said. “She has said throughout the interviews and all this she has been very calm and she thinks that was him, telling her it will be okay and it will work out, and I think she was right.”

Tom and Emily had a strong father-daughter bond that stemmed from their love of sports. He took her to Colorado Avalanche games and Colorado Rockies games when she was young, and when she was old enough to play , Tom and Maggie went to every game.

When Emily went on to work at Wisconsin, Tom loved going to Badger games. Even if they only got to see each other for a few minutes on game nights, their time was special.

“She misses talking to him about sports and he understood it, too … those two had a connection with sports and he was the best dad there was,” Maggie Engel said.

With her mom by her side throughout, so was Emily’s wife, Spencer. The couple married in September 2019. Spencer laughs as she reminisces, 1196143 Washington Capitals drafted is a unique one as he was a relative unknown before the 2019-20 season.

"He came on very early this year," assistant general manager Ross Capitals prospect report: What is the NHL potential of the team's Mahoney said. "Interesting story, really didn't play a high level of hockey prospects? until this year. Basically was a walk-on for in the Western League, end up making the team and end up playing quite a bit on the second line, third line. We feel that he really has a lot of growth ahead of him just because of the path that he's taken. I think his potential by J.J. Regan is pretty untapped right now. We expect him to make a big leap next year as far as his progress."

When teams gather for the draft, they make each selection with one goal G Garin Bjorklund in mind: to select the best and most NHL players. No team, however, Another WHL player, Bjorklund plays goal for Medicine Hat where he bats 1.000 when it comes to its prospects. Not every player within an registered a 20-5-1 record with a 2.91 GAA and .897 save percentage in organization is going to make it to the NHL. The problem is that we don't 2019-20, playing significant time for a 17-year-old. As you can tell, the get to see those players very often so it is hard to judge their skill level. win statistics don't really match the personal statistics, but it is felt he Plus, it's not as if a team will ever come out and say "we drafted this guy frequently put his team in a position to win with his effort and you can in the third round, but now we don't think he's going to make it past the certainly tell that from his highlight reel. AHL." Bjorklund plays a very chaotic, non-positional style similar to Jonathan Capitals fans have likely seen a lot of rankings of late ranking the team Quick. That is going to make it hard to really evaluate him. There are dead last in terms of its farm system. Are they right? How many NHL times his style looks really ugly, but he is still able to make the save players does the team actually have among its prospects and how good which is what matters. He will be a challenge for goalie coaches who can they be? need to figure out how to tap his potential while not coaching his style out Here's a look at where I put the potential of the team's prospects based of him. on what I have read, what I have heard and what I have seen from these F Oskar Magnusson players. Magnusson spent the majority of the 2019-20 season playing in the J20 The new guys SuperElit league in Sweden, but did make the jump to the SHL for four It's too soon to really judge the 2020 draft picks. Sure, you can read games. With his junior team, he scored 22 goals and 26 assists in 38 article after article and draft profile after draft profile, but you have to take games. So impressed with him were the Caps that the team ultimately those with a grain of salt. Ultimately, if they were all that accurate then traded into the seventh round to get him specifically. we would not see nearly as many draft busts as we do every single year. "We really thought we needed to get that extra pick in order to get him Even if I think it's too soon to declare which players are possible NHLers, and we had him rated higher than where we took him," Mahoney said. here's a quick look at each of the newest Caps prospects. He added, "Smaller player, a little bit smaller stature, but can skate. Very F Hendrix Lapierre competitive and can put up points."

Lapierre was considered to be a high to mid-first-round draft pick based Elite NHL players on his play-making ability and hockey IQ, but he began to slide due to The franchise players, the all-time greats, the Alex Ovechkin's who you injury concerns. This is a player who quite possibly would have gone in can build a team around and be confident that team can compete for a the top 10 if not for reportedly suffering three concussions in a 10-month Stanley Cup for years to come. span in 2019. That, however, was not the case as Lapierre was later diagnosed with other vertebrae issues and Lapierre said after the draft None that he had only actually suffered one concussion. Don't get me wrong, the Caps have some very good prospects, but if General manager Brian MacLellan decided the potential was worth the you're hoping for an easy transition from the Alex Ovechkin years to the gamble and traded a third-round pick to jump up making Lapierre the next all-time great franchise player, it's not going to happen. That player team's only pick in the first three rounds. just isn't in the organization yet.

“I know he’s had a rough year with injuries," MacLellan said. "We’ve had High-end NHL players our doctors, our trainer check him out as we went through the whole draft process. There probably is a little risk there, but I thought at our pick, Top-six forwards, top-four defensemen and starting goalies. where we were at, the upside just made up for it. He’s a skilled player D Alex Alexeyev with potential to be a top-six centerman. Has real good character, real good personality, lot of positives about the player.” Alexeyev is an immensely talented defenseman and incredibly mature. He has both supreme confidence in his abilities and the self-awareness F Bogdan Trineyev to know he is not a finished product. I see him as a top-four, puck-moving At 6-foot-3, 198 pounds, Trineyev certainly has the size teams want in an defenseman, possibly top pair. The only concern is the injuries. NHL player. He scored 12 goals and 14 assists in 36 games in the MHL Alexeyev's WHL career ended with a knee-on-knee hit that ended his in 2019-20. Because of his size, he is able to win puck battles and get to 2018-19 season. He then suffered a concussion in a rookie tournament the dirty areas of the ice and he said after being drafted that he does try that kept him out of the entire Caps' training camp in 2019. Those injuries to play physically. That skill doesn't always translate when players reach seemed to take a toll on his development. the AHL and NHL and start to play against guys who are just as big or bigger than they are so it will be interesting to see how he adjusts when In 2019, Alexeyev was far and away the most highly regarded defensive he gets to North America. He lacks quickness so if he wants to be an prospect on the team. Now it seems as if Martin Fehervary has NHL player, he is going to have to learn to play a very physical style of surpassed him on the depth chart. Fehervary earned his opportunities game. last season, but I do believe Alexeyev's injuries put him behind where he was hoping to be in his first professional season. F Bear Hughes "It took [Alexeyev] a bit maybe to get his skating to where he wanted," Hughes plays for Spokane in the WHL, a junior league the Caps Zack Fisch, the voice of the Hershey Bears said. "I thought he really frequently like to pick from. He had 16 goals and 31 assists in 61 games improved on his foot speed and being able to keep up with the pace of for Spokane in 2019-20. In the summers he has been known to work with play as the season progressed and his conditioning and strength are just Tampa Bay Lightning forward Tyler Johnson who is also from Spokane. things that he's going to continue to work on. That's just a product of not Hughes seems to do a lot of his damage in front of the net by crashing getting the games because of the injuries he had." the crease and getting in front of the goalie's face. His journey to getting The biggest goals for Alexeyev in 2021 will be to stay healthy and play at a consistent, high level. D Martin Fehervary F Daniel Sprong

I expected Fehervary would be a full-time NHL player in 2021, but it Not only is Sprong an NHL player, but I believe he will be an NHL player appears the Caps had other ideas. Still, I see that more as a reflection of this season for Washington. In 2018-19, he scored 14 goals for Anaheim the team's Stanley Cup or bust mentality for 2021 than a knock on in the NHL. The Caps have a hole on the third line and Sprong looks like Fehervary. This is an NHL defenseman who is going to be in the big an obvious fit. leagues sooner rather than later. "He has an NHL shot," Fisch said. "That's the most exciting thing for me Fehervary is a more defensive player than Alexeyev and I don't think his about him that is going to translate right away. His shot is as good as I've ceiling is quite as high, but I do see him as a top-four player. He is a seen in the American Hockey League." defensive defenseman in a more modern sense in that he is still a good puck mover, good on the breakouts and mobile. He has good closing Sprong's defensive game needs some work and that is likely why he has speed and uses his body well defensively. He is not going to be a statue struggled to stick in the NHL. Coaches want two-way players in the out there just used to park in front of the net and block shots, he is a bottom-six. A third-line player is going to struggle to get enough playing defensive player who can fit into the modern mold of the NHL. time to produce and justify his spot on the team if that's the only thing he brings to the table. For Washington, however, this team desperately F Connor McMichael needs depth scoring. They should coach up Sprong as best they can then try to be patient with any defensive mishaps. He is only 23, after all. McMichael was the team's first-round pick in 2019. In his first season after he was drafted, he had a breakout year with 102 points in 52 games G Vitek Vanecek playing for the London Knights of the OHL. McMichael's hockey sense and skill are undeniable, it is just a matter of waiting for McMichael's body Vaneck has stuck around within the organization since the Caps drafted to catch up to his skills. Plus, he will not be able to make the jump to the him in the second round back in 2014. In that time, he has still yet to play AHL this season and will have to play another year in juniors. That's not an NHL game. This is somewhat in part due to the team's depth in net ideal considering McMichael's stats say he has nothing left to prove at and luck in terms of injuries, but it also has to do with the fact that that level. Vanecek's ceiling just is not as high as a player like Ilya Samsonov's.

“Curious to see the gains [McMichael] will make strength-wise, that’s "Vanecek's not the biggest goaltender as far as size go," Fisch said. probably one of the biggest things for him is to get stronger so I think I "He's not the 6-foot-5 mammoth netminders that you're seeing in there, am curious to see how he does," Mahoney said when asked what he but he moves very well. He never gives up on a puck and his movements would be watching for in training camp." are very solid. But he's not afraid to be a bit unconventional when he needs to." Depth NHL players I see Vanecek as an NHL goalie, but as a traditional backup. I don't think These guys have the skills to be full-time depth NHL players. he can be an NHL starter or a 1b as teams move more and more towards tandems. He does not have the size to be as effective a butterfly goalie F Axel Jonsson-Fjallby as he is in the AHL. I think he has a tendency to play too deep in his Jonsson-Fjallby looks like he can be the next Carl Hagelin. He has great crease which also doesn't help. His play can be maddeningly inconsistent speed, but lacks the finishing skills to make him a major offensive threat at times with him looking unbeatable for almost an entire game, then at the NHL level. He's not going to be a 20-goal scorer (and if he is, it will letting in a handful of soft goals. be a one-year peak), but he will be a solid third-line speedy winger and a Vanecek can be an NHL goalie in the right situation, I'm just not sure if strong penalty killer. that situation is ultimately going to be Washington.

The biggest issue with Jonsson-Fjallyb is just consistency. He scored six The jury is still out goals in 11 playoff games in the SHL in 2018, tallied only three points in 16 games for Hershey the following season before returning home to These are the guys who are still developing and it is too soon to close the Sweden, was very quiet in the regular season, then exploded in the book on what exactly the team has in them. While some are early on in playoffs again for 12 points in 19 games. Last year, he was awful in the their hockey career, others are on the cusp of breaking out and showing rookie tournament prior to training camp, but turned in a decent season that they belong in the big leagues. For others the clock is ticking and in Hershey with 12 goals and 11 assists. they need to show that they can play at the highest level.

"[Jonsson-Fjallby] came in this year invested, had double-digit goal total, F Kody Clark and F Riley Sutter was a big part of the PK," Fisch said. "I remember saying this on a podcast, he's got to get the hands, the head and the feet working Said Fisch, "It was tough for some of our first year guys like a Kody Clark together. Sometimes he's too fast for his own good. Much better at that and Riley Sutter, they got hurt early which put them behind the eight ball this season, his shot was much more accurate." a little bit."

At the very least, Jonsson-Fjallby has NHL speed, but I'm not convinced D Tobias Geisser he can play with the consistency to really challenge for anything other There were just too many defensemen in Hershey last year for Geisser to than a bottom-six role. get any consistent playing time so he ultimately returned to Europe to F Beck Malenstyn play in his native Switzerland. At 6-foot-4, 201 pounds, he has NHL size, but I'm not sure yet if he has the skills to be an effective NHL blue-liner. Sometimes it is harder for highly skilled players to make the transition from the AHL to the NHL because those players need top-six roles to F Shane Gersich thrive and teams don't want to hand those roles to players coming right Gersich went straight from the NCAA to the NHL, playing three games for out of the minors. A player like Malenstyn, however, could step into an the Caps in 2017-18. A lot of people expected him to be an NHL regular everyday role for the Caps tomorrow without skipping a beat. That's from that point on, but it hasn't worked that way and, thus far, Gersich because he is a fourth-line grinder. has not yet made it back to the NHL. It was always going to be a tough Fisch said of Malenstyn that "He grinds, hits hard, fearless shot-blocker transition for him, considering he was a strong offensive player in college and penalty killer and is tough as nails. He can drop 'em, he'll stand up but he needed to transition to playing more of a bottom-six, two-way role for his teammates and is just a really good guy that fits right in in the NHL, but that transition is taking longer than expected. He was not anywhere." even among the players taken by the Caps to the Toronto bubble over the summer. Gersich was in training camp, but was among the last cuts F Aliaksei Protas heading into the postseason.

Watching Protas in the 2019 preseason just weeks after he was drafted "He's settled into a really good role where he can realize what it's going by Washington, I was convinced he was an NHL player. I feel even more to take for him to get to the NHL being a bottom-six player," Fisch said, convinced after he exploded for 80 points in 58 games in the WHL. "Grinding, working hard, Nathan Walker-like in the sense that he'll get in your kitchen and he's going to let you know that he's there and not make I don't believe he has the shot, hands or offensive acumen to be a top-six it comfortable for you and he'll get under guys' skins. I think his foot forward, especially as a center, but I could see him being a third-line, speed is really strong. It's a fast game. We know speed is the name of two-way center at the NHL level. the game right now. He scored 10 goals this year, he took the next step, NHLers and it is best for them and their NHL squads if they remain big he was a big part of the penalty kill. He knows that's probably where his fish in the AHL pond. role is going to be as an NHLer." G Pheonix Copley G Mitchell Gibson Copley did well in 2018-19 to win 16 games as the backup in Gibson's one year in the USHL was nothing to write home about (.890 Washington, but there were aspects of his play I did not like that were save percentage, 3.50 GAA, 13-21-4 record), but his first season at masked by his win total. He struggled to track pucks and gave up bad Harvard certainly was (.916 save percentage, 2.61 GAA, 11-3-8 record). rebounds on shots he should have been able to grab and freeze. He was As a freshman, Gibson stepped in and established himself as the team's also slow in his lateral movements. top netminder. The fact that Vanecek supplanted him on the depth chart over the D Martin Has summer despite having no NHL experience and it came just one year removed from when Copley was the NHL backup is a reflection of the D Paul LaDue deficiencies in his game.

LaDue has 69 games of NHL experience and will either be on the Caps' F Brian Pinho roster or the team's first call-up when it needs a right defenseman. I assumed he was a minor-league signing when Washington signed him My opinion of Pinho clearly differs from that of the Caps as evidenced by as a free agent, but he was then given a jersey number and a press the fact that he played two games in the playoffs for Washington against conference with the media, things normally reserved for NHL players. the New York Islanders. I expect he will be in play to make the NHL roster as the 13th forward this season. In my mind, I just don't see it. I "I've been working a lot this summer on my skating," LaDue said. "I think don't think there is any aspect of his game or skillset that I would label to I can bring more of a physical presence to my game. I've been focusing be NHL caliber. I like him in the AHL a lot, but I am not sure what he on that a lot. I think a little bit has to do with consistency, just bringing my adds to Washington other than just a body and a cheap contract. game every night. In the end, I'm just going to go out there, I'm going to play my game to the best of my ability and we'll see what happens from Fisch described Pinho as, "A very productive player that's responsible in there." his own zone, that kills penalties, is good on faceoffs and can play the wing. Now is he a guy that's going to come in and score 20 goals at the LaDue added, "I'd say right now I'm an all-around defenseman who really NHL level? Probably not, but he's older, a little bit more seasons, couple prides myself on the defensive part of the game, but, at the same time, I years under his belt and got a look. Now a new coaching staff has to re- can use my offensive abilities to contribute on the offensive zone." establish himself with now Peter Laviolette, but I think he's certainly in the F Brett Leason mix."

The reality that faced the 6-foot-4, 201-pound Leason in 2019=20 was Minor league players that he was no longer the biggest kid on the playground and he struggled Players whose skill level is a notch below the NHL. They may get a call- with that. The good news is that he seemed to settle in towards the back- up here or there, but these guys are all ultimately minor-league players. end of the season so it's just a matter of building on that and continuing to trend in the right direction. F Daniel Carr

"Brett Leason I thought made great strides," Hershey head coach Carr was the AHL MVP in 2018-19. He is a great AHL player, but I said. wonder if the Caps added him more as a possible depth piece than just a great pickup for Hershey. Salary cap constraints will force teams to get Leason was drafted to be a skilled NHL power forward. He was not going creative in 2021. Still, even if he does see NHL time this year, it won't be to be as dominant physically in the AHL or the NHL (not everyone can be long-term. Tom Wilson) as he was in juniors, but he has to be able to add more physicality to his game as he continues to develop. G Zach Fucale

D Benton Maass F Philippe Maillet

D Lucas Johansen There can be a disconnect sometimes when people assume that just because a player is good at the AHL level, it means he should be good in At this point, I am convinced that if Johansen is going to have an the NHL or at least next in line to make the jump. That's not the case. opportunity to make it to the NHL, it will be with another team. Frankly, I The AHL and NHL are two different leagues and sometimes there are was a little surprised he was re-signed as a restricted free agent. players who are just good at the AHL level. That's where they fit and it Injuries have completely derailed Johansen's development and he was doesn't mean they are in line for an extended look at the NHL. limited to just 54 games over the past two seasons. Maillet is a very good AHL player. He scored 44 points last season for "Just has never got that consistency factor down because he's been Hershey and 54 points the season before with the Ontario Reign, but he's hurt," Fisch said. "Part of that's bad luck. I don't know exactly how you not someone in the mix to make the NHL roster. Maybe he could get a develop when you don't have the ability to play this many games." call-up on a short-term basis if needed, but that's about it.

Johansen has to be better in his own zone not just defensively, but on "[Maillet's] an older player that's on his first-ever NHL contract, but did the breakouts as well. He is a puck-moving defenseman, but I often see lead the Bears in points, continues playing like he does at the American him struggle against a forecheck when trying to distribute the puck. League level," Fisch said. "Probably more of a call-up, but hopefully he has a good camp to keep him on the radar." D Bobby Nardella F Kristian Roykas-Marthinsen Nardella has been opening eyes in Hershey with his play, but he's only 5- foot-9, 174 pounds and on a team loaded with left defensemen. Even if D Cameron Schilling he does have NHL skill, I think it more likely that he will only serve F Michael Sgarbossa Washington in the form of a trade at some point. D Sebastian Walfridsson F Garrett Pilon Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 11.21.2020 F Damien Riat

F Joe Snively

NHL subs/High-end minor league players

These are the players who you may see in the NHL as a call-up. Heck, some of them may get extended looks. They can handle themselves in a pinch, but ultimately they are not quite good enough to be full-time 1196144 Washington Capitals

Report: Caps and Penguins may play in different divisions

by J.J. Regan

The 2021 season is obviously going to look very different from anything we are used to and that may mean splitting up one of the best rivalries in the NHL. According to Greg Wyshynski of ESPN, the potential NHL divisions for the 2021 season would have the Capitals in the East and the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Central.

Among the myriad of issues the NHL is facing when trying to put together the 2021 season is the issue of the border. There are seven NHL teams located in Canada and the Canadian government has closed the border to non-essential travel through Dec. 21. That date can be extended and likely will be considering there is no end in sight to the current wave of the coronavirus striking the continent. As a result, the NHL is expected to group all seven Canadian teams into their own division. If you do that, you then have to adjust all the other divisions and that could mean splitting the Caps and Penguins.

This does not mean the Caps and Penguins won't play, we just don't know enough about the season format to know how much they will if these divisions hold.

Let's be fair to the NHL. Adjustments have to be made to account for the Canadian teams being taken out and there is no realignment that will please everyone. This is also expected to just be a temporary realignment with the regular divisions returning in 2021-22 plus Seattle joining the Pacific.

Still, it seems curious that the league would decide to move Pittsburgh out of a division with Washington and Philadelphia at a time when the league should be drumming up as much interest in the game as possible. It is also strange considering the emphasis the league puts on rivalries. Heck, the entire ridiculous wild card format the league uses as its playoff format in a normal season is used for the explicit purpose of matching rivals against one another in the postseason. I am not sure how separating the Penguins from the Caps and Flyers accomplishes that goal.

If rivalries are not a priority in 2021 when the league should be seeking out as many storylines as possible, maybe the league should not base its entire playoff format on those rivalries.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 11.21.2020 1196145 Washington Capitals

How Backstrom helped Lundqvist's family adjust to DC

by Mike DePrisco

Good news, Caps fans. Henrik Lundqvist and his family are enjoying their early days living in Washington D.C., and at least part of the credit can go to Nicklas Backstrom.

Well, more specifically, Backstrom's basement.

Lundqvist and his family visited Backstrom's house and the highlight for his kids was Backstrom's decked out basement.

“Best part for the kids was probably hanging out at Backstrom’s house and getting to play in his playland basement,” Lundqvist told NHLPA's Chris Lomon.

There's nothing like a good basement to a kid, and it's hard to imagine not enjoying a good basement executed by someone on a professional athlete's salary.

Lundqvist and Backstrom have had their battles on the ice, as both have played their entire careers on rival franchises until now. However, they've gotten to know each other over the years as two of Sweden's very best NHL players and have spent a fair amount of time on the Swedish national team.

Lundqvist and Backstrom are back together again, and their kids are probably thrilled for a full season of Backstrom basement play time.

“The family really enjoyed D.C. a few weeks ago and they all look forward to getting even more familiar with the city as we get started,” he said.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 11.21.2020 1196146 Vancouver Canucks Those numbers may be boosted from having played on strong teams but models that account for teammate quality, deployment and other factors outside of a player’s control are similarly bullish on Schmidt’s historical defensive impact. Evolving-Hockey’s RAPM tool, for instance, reaffirms Nate Schmidt is an elite puck mover. But will his defence help the the assertion that he’s helped stifle shot attempts and scoring chances to Canucks? a modest degree between 2016 and 2019.

There’s a catch that could change this equation, though. There was a notable decline in Schmidt’s defensive profile last season — no Golden By Harman Dayal Nov 20, 2020 Knights defenceman was on the ice for a higher rate of scoring chances against and he was second last in suppressing shot attempts against.

It’s no secret the Vancouver Canucks have recently struggled to 5-on-5 Defensive Numbers VGK (2019-20) assemble talent on the back end. Last season’s blue line featured a bona Nick Holden fide No. 1 defenceman in Quinn Hughes, followed by a cluster of solid but unspectacular defenders like Alex Edler, Chris Tanev, Tyler Myers 20.5 and Troy Stecher — who can all be roughly classified as No. 4/5 options. 46.3 Vancouver’s lack of high-end defencemen beyond Hughes was a pressing issue. The loss of Tanev and Stecher in free agency Jon Merrill significantly undercuts the depth of the corps, but by acquiring Nate 20.6 Schmidt, the Canucks have at least added one of the coveted top-of-the- lineup pillars they desperately needed. 49.6

Schmidt is an upgrade over Tanev but the way the two garner value is Shea Theodore very different. Tanev’s limited with the puck but stifles plays defensively with ruthless efficiency. Schmidt, on the other hand, is a dynamic force at 22.7 pushing play up the ice but there hasn’t been a ton of analysis into what 47.2 he offers defensively. The latter is a crucial point to evaluate because Vancouver’s already permissive blue line lost two of its better defensive Nicolas Hague defenders. 24.2 Aggregate value is the most important thing to prioritize when building a team but the stylistic makeup matters too. If all the defencemen in the top 50.9 four can skate and offer offensive value, there will be diminishing returns Deryk Engelland if none of them can defend. This isn’t a huge concern for the Canucks because they still have at least one sturdy in-zone defender in Edler, but 25.6 what happens when he eventually ceases to be a credible top-four 56.6 piece? Brayden McNabb Hughes is a superstar but is unlikely to become a strong off-puck defender. Myers offers limited defensive value and two of Vancouver’s 25.9 top defence prospects, Jack Rathbone and Olli Juolevi, aren’t renowned for their defensive game, either. 52.9

So what exactly does Schmidt offer defensively? Let’s dive into what we Nate Schmidt know. 27.3 Analyzing Schmidt’s defensive game 53.8 When scouring through the defencemen who’ve been most impactful at This defensive drop off is why Schmidt went from being worth 1.7 wins in suppressing shot attempts and high-danger scoring chances over the 2018-19 to 1.3 wins last season according to colleague Dom past three seasons, an interesting dichotomy emerges. Some embody Luszczyszyn’s model. He still provided legitimate top pair value because the archetype of a stereotypical shutdown defender like Niklas of how much offence he drove, but it adds a cloud of mystery over a Hjalmarsson, Hampus Lindholm, Adam Pelech and Colton Parayko. defensive track record that’s otherwise pretty solid. Other players featured, however, certainly don’t fit that mould, including Was this past season just a down year? Or is it a sign of what’s to come Rasmus Andersson, Dougie Hamilton and Matt Grzelyck. Their now that he’s in his late 20s? pronounced impact on suppressing chances derives largely from their elite puck-moving ability. Playing tight gaps, being smart at angling It’s not just the underlying metrics that matter in this discussion, though. forwards away from the middle, taking passing lanes away are vital to Defence can be hard to evaluate and the numbers won’t ever tell the playing good defence but possessing the puck is another way to avoid whole story. That Schmidt was tasked by the Golden Knights to play getting scored against. matchup minutes against top lines in Vegas says a lot about the trust they had in him. This means that a player like Hughes can boast an illustrious two-way profile without necessarily being a defensive ace without the puck. It What I do find interesting is his results with different partners. In should go without saying that the association between puck-moving Washington, he crushed third pair minutes with Brooks Orpik, a ability and defensive value is far from a hard and fast rule, though. There defensively oriented partner, controlling well north of 55 percent of shot are plenty of players like Shayne Gostisbehere and Tony DeAngelo with attempts and outscoring opponents by a 2-1 ratio. But when he was tremendous puck-moving talent but putrid defensive results. Still, it’s a shifted to play with an offensive partner in John Carlson, that duo was valid point to introduce because as has been well documented already, outshot and outchanced. Schmidt is an excellent and aggressive transporter. Schmidt with Orpik vs Carlson In WSH 5v5 Data tracked by Corey Sznajder shows that Schmidt is in the 93rd percentile of NHL defencemen at creating successful defensive zone Schmidt-Orpik exits with possession over the last three years. 56.9% That prowess in keeping play away from the own zone has historically 59.7% helped Schmidt prevent goals against. He possesses the 20th lowest 5- on-5 goals against rate among the 187 NHL rearguards who’ve skated at 66.3% least 3,000 minutes since 2015. The 29-year-old also slots just outside of the top 50 in his expected goals against rate. Schmidt-Carlson 49.0%

48.6%

53.4%

In Vegas, he found success with Brayden McNabb, another burly, stay- at-home defender. Intuitively, Schmidt’s success with McNabb and Orpik makes sense. Those two can be more calculated, giving Schmidt free reign to handle the transition play and be aggressive offensively in joining the rush. So while he can play matchup minutes and has posted decent defensive numbers through his career, he’s best served as the mobile, puck mover of the pair as opposed to sharing that offensive responsibility.

It’s why an Edler-Schmidt pair makes a lot of sense. Schmidt will get plenty of time with Hughes, especially when the Canucks are trailing, but the former should provide a big lift to Edler, who can provide the defensive responsibility to handle tough minutes.

The one concern to have with Schmidt away from the puck is his zone entry defence. The Canucks have really struggled in that area and it doesn’t look like Schmidt will be of particular help. He ranks in the 27th percentile in preventing controlled offensive zone entries over the last three seasons according to Sznajder’s data.

He’s a more capable in-zone defender, though. He leverages his skating and physical aggressiveness to break up plays in the defensive end, doesn’t get outmuscled in front of the net and excels at disrupting passing lanes.

So while Schmidt is well-suited to playing a matchup role and has generally carried an above-average defensive impact, that value has predominantly come from his transition utility. There was a sizeable defensive drop-off last season as he was in the red for the first time in his career, but with his track record it’s possible he can bounce back to being average or better defensively.

At the very least, he’ll be competent defending top players and he’s certainly not going to be a liability in his own end.

Schmidt will provide a massive boost to the top-four with his overall ability — he’s a credible No. 2/3 defenceman — but it’s also clear that the club still needs someone on the blue line to replace Tanev’s defensive skill set. Schmidt will definitely hold his own away from the puck, but that’s not his strength. Thus, the impetus for the Canucks to find another defensively oriented defenceman remains paramount since Edler’s days as a top-four fixture are numbered.

The Athletic LOADED: 11.21.2020 1196147 Websites “It’s been interesting because when I was in America they had the (Black Lives Matter) protests and then when I came to they had their protests too,” Lodnia said.

The Athletic / Inside the lives of five NHL prospects who fled North Lodnia also arrived to find fewer COVID-19 restrictions in Belarus than in America for Europe Los Angeles.

“It’s not mandatory to wear a mask and you can go to dinner. It’s a refreshing feeling, honestly. When I look back at the news of what’s By Scott Wheeler Nov 20, 2020 going on at home, I feel bad for people because it sucks,” Lodnia said.

Due in part to those loose restrictions, more than 107,000 people have so far tested positive for COVID-19 in Belarus, a country of fewer than 10 Every year, many of Europe’s best young hockey players leave home as million people. In Russia, that number is approaching two million positive teenagers to move to North America in pursuit of their NHL dreams. results. This year, as with most else in the world, things turned upside down. Those high case totals include many within the KHL. Through 22 games, As prolonged offseasons in Canada and the United States stretched on, Dinamo Minsk has already had to use 39 players. And though Lodnia spilling through the peaks and valleys of the COVID-19 pandemic, top said he couldn’t confirm how many positive cases there have been within NHL prospects from across North America, not Europe, faced a choice: Dinamo Minsk, he did say that they have had positive tests within the Risk waiting for uncertain seasons or flee across the Atlantic in search of team. hockey. Otherwise, he said the adjustment hasn’t been as pronounced as he These are the stories of five of the prospects who left, their journeys to expected it would be. His parents were both born in Ukraine. Though the their destinations, and their lives sprawled across Belarus, Russia, Ukrainian and Russian languages are slightly different and his speaking Germany, Switzerland and Sweden. skills are limited, he has been able to get by in ways few top prospects born and raised in North America could. Ivan Lodnia, 21 “I can understand the typical phrases and normal words,” he said. “And I Nizhny, Russia use Google Translate.”

It’s 8:51 p.m. on Oct. 29 when Ivan Lodnia picks up his phone. He’s in Lodnia says roughly half the team also speaks at least some English. Nizhny in central Russia and he has just finished eating dinner. It’s the night before his team, Dinamo Minsk, plays Torpedo in the KHL. Then He has also quickly grown fond of the different style of play than the one he’ll hop on a Saturday night flight bound for Yaroslavl for a game he grew up with in the top minor hockey ranks in Michigan and later in against Lokomotiv, before flying back to Minsk — across the border from the OHL. Russia into Belarus — late Sunday night. “It’s not a lot of dump and chase. If they don’t have room they’ll just take Back home, in California, it’s 11 hours earlier and it’s time he calls his the puck back. It’s a more possession-style game. In North America, you parents. Because of the time difference, Lodnia can only speak to his get used to that style where most of it’s always going forward. Here you family as he finishes his days and they wake up to begin theirs. have more room. When you think you have to chip it you have that extra one step,” Lodnia said. “If you know me, I’m very about family,” says Lodnia. “I don’t like to drift away from them. So I call them every night.” And while many top young players sit at home for an eighth consecutive month, Lodnia’s beginning to play bigger minutes. When the pandemic started, Lodnia, a 2017 third-round pick of the , never imagined this would be his routine. “We took a chance and went to Belarus because it was extremely important for him to continue developing. Just because there’s COVID in It began with a sudden call from his agent Dan Milstein. the world, doesn’t mean that hockey’s over,” Milstein said. “I was ringing the bells as loudly as I could to all of my clients and some teams to send “(Milstein) said ‘do you want to play hockey?’ and I said ‘well, obviously.’ and loan players earlier in the process (because) now it is very difficult, But I thought he was just calling to see what was going on. I thought he virtually impossible.” was joking around,” Lodnia says. “And he was like ‘well, you can go to Belarus to play for Dinamo in the KHL.’ I was like ‘when do I have to go?’ Because many European seasons started in the late summer and end in and he was like ‘Uh, in two weeks.’” February or March, players who didn’t make that early call are running out of time. Especially now that the NHL has planned a January restart. Milstein, who predominantly represents top Russian players (from Nikita Kucherov to Pavel Datsyuk) figured he could leverage his connections to “The problem that the European clubs are faced with is ‘Do I play the find Lodnia a place to play in the KHL. import who is better than my guy but then is the import going to bolt on me five minutes before the playoffs and I will have to play my guy who After making some calls, he’d settled on Dinamo Minsk, the lone KHL has sat out the entire year?’” Milstein said. “He’s not there for vacation, team in Belarus, for a few reasons. First, the coaches, Canadian Craig he’s there to play hockey. The guys (that went to Europe) are going to be Woodcroft and Belarusian Mikhail Grabovski (who spent a dozen better prepared, in better game shape to come in to compete for a spot.” seasons in the NHL) both speak fluent English. Second, his agency, Gold Star Hockey, has an office in Minsk. Third, a number of his other young Due to the small overlap between the KHL’s finish and the NHL and clients who’d played in North America and could speak English, were AHL’s starts, Lodnia hopes to end the season with Minsk and still join the with Minsk, including NHL prospects Yegor Sharangovich, Alexei Protas Wild organization. and Vladislav Kolyachonok. Fourth, and maybe most important, KHL teams outside of Russia don’t have to abide by the import player caps “I don’t want to speak for other prospects but the main reason why we’re that the Russian teams do. all doing this is to make the NHL,” Lodnia said. “You don’t want to be sitting at home just training all day. To get good at hockey you’ve got to “It came at me quick and I just got packed and I flew over,” Lodnia said. be on the ice, you’ve got to play games. So wherever they’re playing games, that’s where I want to be. I’m very happy to be here.” (HC Dinamo Minsk) Akil Thomas, 20 After he arrived in early August, Lodnia and the entire team stayed together at a hotel during training camp. Since the start of the season, he Berlin, Germany has been living in an apartment in downtown Minsk. Akil Thomas wasn’t alone when he landed in Berlin for his next chapter. “It’s a very nice country. Especially Minsk. It’s a very modern, up-and- The Los Angeles Kings had decided it was best that he and four of his coming city that is really clean. It’s great here,” Lodnia said. future teammates go together to play for Eisbären in the DEL, Germany’s top professional league. The transition didn’t come without some culture shock, though. Minsk has been the centre of widespread protests over the re-election of incumbent But his travels to get there were certainly the longest. president Alexander Lukashenko, a victory many claim was illegitimate. Before he settled into his Berlin apartment in the middle of September, While Resnick was reaching out to the Kings and searching for a place Thomas had been searching for a change. for Thomas to play, he was getting calls from Oilers director of European scouting Keith Sullivan about another one of his clients. Weeks earlier, he was growing tied of training and skating by himself in Toronto. The Oilers wanted to be proactive with their prospects and Resnick represents Ryan McLeod, their 2018 second-round pick. In their first call, Then the owner of the Toronto condo he was renting decided to return Sullivan spent hours breaking down every league in Europe for Resnick home, and because his parents live in the United States, Thomas didn’t — and promised to do all of the leg work. really have anywhere to go. Sullivan and Oilers assistant general manager Keith Gretzky then came His agent, Joe Resnick of Top Shelf Sports Management, reached out to back to Resnick and McLeod with a list of options. Kings general manager Rob Blake with a question: “Is it possible that I place Akil in Europe?’ “(Sullivan) had a black book and had made phone calls after phone calls after phone calls. He said ‘OK, this team is looking for a forward and this Blake told Resnick it was fine as long as Thomas was back by Nov. 1, team is looking for a defenceman and this team has no money,'” Resnick believing that plans for a Nov. 16 training camp were in play. said.

But that timeline didn’t work because Resnick knew that even if they Sullivan and Resnick settled on two potential landing spots — Sweden’s could scramble to figure out the paperwork, teams weren’t going to be second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan or Switzerland’s top-tier National League interested in taking Thomas for a month. — because both leagues allowed for temporary loans that would let Out of options, the 2018 second-round pick had an idea: Why not go to McLeod leave in the middle of the season, whereas a league like Los Angeles, where he has an aunt he could stay with, and the Sweden’s top-tier SHL requires a full-season commitment. teammates, coaches and the facilities he needs? And why not take a Resnick felt most comfortable with Switzerland because a number of his road trip? clients had played there, including Joe Thornton and Rick Nash.

When Thomas broached the idea with Resnick, his agent laughed. “We “Once you cross the pond and you go over to Europe and you’re there by can ship your car,” he insisted. Then he realized Thomas was serious. yourself, it’s a daunting task. You don’t want to put your client in a It was a drive Thomas had always wanted to do. And he’d done long trips situation where two weeks in he’s calling you and saying ‘this place is not before, visiting his dad Khalil (a pro hockey coach) and family in Atlanta, good, we’ve got to get out of here,'” Resnick said. “We looked at the Ga., and Greenville, S.C. quality of living because you’re going over there and you want to be happy.” And so Thomas, with his little brother Akyn in tow, loaded up his car and drove west, stopping in Fort Wayne, Ind., to see Khalil on the way. McLeod was also drawn to Switzerland because he believed the level of the hockey would be closer to the AHL, where he played last season. After a weeklong drive, and two weeks in an LA hotel, another call from Blake to Resnick changed plans again. “There’s no point in going over and it’s a subpar league and the player’s developing bad habits,” Resnick said. “So the homework had to be “He drove all the way across the country to get all set up and then the thorough” funny thing was that Rob said ‘well maybe he should go to Europe,'” Resnick said. “He says ‘you know what, the pandemic is definitely not Once that homework was done, they reached an agreement with EV subsiding, we’re not starting until January.’” Zug.

The team, Blake told Resnick, had something in the works with Eisbären, “It’s a first-class, first-rate organization. And the league is too, but they’re who are owned by AEG, the same group that owns the Kings. one of the premier teams there. So we knew it was a great place to go to and he’d be supported,” Resnick said. So, after a whirlwind trip, Thomas had another one to make. (EVZ / Felix Klaus) “It was a big trek,” Akil said. “And I was not settled at all. I didn’t even make it one day with my aunt.” From his apartment in Zug, McLeod can see the nearby lake that bears the name of the city and the mountains that wrap around it. (Marco Leipold / City Press) McLeod describes it as a “rich city” rife with big businesses, but a quiet In Germany, where he would begin his transition from junior to pro one. On off days, he confesses that there’s not a lot to do. hockey, Thomas’ whirlwind didn’t relent. Though there were familiar faces (Thomas had roomed with prospect Aidan Dudas, who was among When he initially arrived, in the first week of September, there were the Kings’ contingent in Berlin, at Team Canada camps), their virtually no restrictions and there was no quarantine period for travellers apartment’s population quickly fell from five to three when Kings from Canada into Switzerland, so acquiring the proper visas happened prospects Tyler Madden and Alex Turcotte left (Madden to a broken quickly (a week faster than the two-week wait he’d been told) and he was finger and Turcotte in favour of training back in LA). able to go to the rink right away.

Meanwhile, their apartment still didn’t have functioning internet for a While he imagines the lifestyle is closer to his Toronto roots than some of month, so Thomas couldn’t connect with his family. the other places he could have gone, it hasn’t come without some barriers. These days, as he and the two remaining Kings prospects (Dudas and goalie Jacob Ingham) finally begin to get settled, they’re trying to do it in Chief among those obstacles are the four languages he can run into the midst of a partial lockdown in Berlin. around town. Most of his teammates and the locals speak the Swiss dialect of German, but there are others whose first language is Italian or At the rink, though all three of Eisbären’s coaches are Canadian, there French. has been a steep learning curve. And it’s not just about the level of the competition in their exhibition games. “I came over not knowing anyone to start with, let alone the language,” McLeod said, chuckling. “The coaches don’t really know too much about us so they’re just trying to learn a little bit more about us every game and we’re trying to learn a The support of the team — which included setting him up with a car — little bit more about the coaches every game,” Thomas said. “(Life) has has lived up to his expectations, though. been way different. It’s a way different style of play, the coaching is McLeod’s biggest daily worry has become COVID-19. In recent weeks, different, the ice is different, the environment off the ice is different, the the loose restrictions that were present when he first arrived have caught environment in the locker room is different. It’s a big adjustment in pretty up with the country and cases have soared. much all areas.” “When I came over, there was like nothing. You could kind of do Ryan McLeod, 21 whatever you wanted. You didn’t really have to wear a mask anywhere. Zug, Switzerland We wear them around the rink because we don’t want to get anyone infected on the team,” McLeod said. “But now it’s not good here. It’s definitely worse than Canada. They’re putting in a lot stricter rules now so hopefully it can go back down.” In that way, hockey has been the least of his concerns. In fact, he’s It’s not easy, though. Lavoie celebrated his 20th birthday in Sweden thriving in his environment, with five points in seven games. alone. And though most of his teammates speak English, his first language — having been raised in Québec — is French. “It’s really strong over here. There’s a lot of top-end players and NHL guys who came over. It’s a great league, actually. It’s been a lot of fun “I manage the language barrier the best I can (and) I am trying to learn a and challenging,” McLeod said. few words so I can speak Swedish the best I can before I leave,” Lavoie said. “I miss my family. It’s tough to be so far away from them. It’s hard to But he does worry that the league may shut down early. The distance stay in touch. They were worried for me.” from his family (both physically and through six time zones) compounds some of those anxieties. He has learned to appreciate, though, how Joe Veleno, 20 much less time he spends on his phone — and how much more focused he is on hockey — while on different schedules than friends and family. Malmö, Sweden

Plus, the league has done a better job than some — including Lodnia’s “It has been,” Joe Veleno says, pausing to find the right word for his KHL — at containing the virus. Because Switzerland is small and Zug is reality, “it has been tough.” well-located, they also don’t have to deal with the heightened risks of But things are turning around. hotel stays when they play on the road. It’s Nov. 1 and from his apartment in Malmö, Sweden’s third-biggest city, “One of the best parts about Switzerland is there’s no overnight trips. It’s the Red Wings first-round pick is excited. The SHL’s no-fans policy is only day trips because our longest bus ride is three and a half hours, so supposed to be lifted this month. The next game he plays, he hopes, will we’re always in and out on the day-of,” McLeod said. be in front of 300 fans.

In the grand scheme of things, he has no complaints. It’s been a long eight months to here. When his season with the AHL’s “It has been great,” he said. Grand Rapids Griffins shut down in March, the Red Wings sent him a clear message: Get stronger. Raphael Lavoie, 20 Early on, that proved challenging when he returned home to Montreal Väsby, Sweden and the city entered a full lockdown which prevented him from getting in the gym. McLeod wasn’t the only prospect the Oilers helped make the move. Sullivan also worked closely with Quartexx Management’s Phillipe When restrictions eased, though, Veleno had his first chance in years to Lecavalier to place one of his clients, 2019 second-round pick Raphaël dedicate himself to training without the interruptions of camps and Lavoie. tournaments.

It started with a conversation Lavoie had with former NHL defenceman Then in August, another opportunity to play instead of train came, this Éric Gélinas, who he trains with throughout the summer. Gélinas plays one to join teammate Filip Zadina in the Czech Republic. In theory, it for Rögle BK in the SHL and he asked Lavoie if he’d be interested in made a lot of sense because the Red Wings could have two of their best playing in Sweden. young players on the same team, HC Ocelari Trinec, and both are represented by Quartexx (Veleno by Kent Hughes and Zadina by Darren After Lavoie talked to Lecavalier about the idea, Lecavalier called Rögle Ferris). general manager Chris Abbott, a Canadian. Veleno was reluctant, though. The Stanley Cup Final was underway and “We were worried what would happen as COVID persisted, or if there he was hoping that an announcement on the 2020-21 NHL season would was a second wave. Going back to junior was probably a waste of time follow. for him. And not playing, in our opinion, would have been harmful for his development,” Lecavalier said. “I don’t think I was ready yet to make that decision,” Veleno said. “I just wanted to see how things were going to play out.” After conversations with Abbott and Sullivan, they reached an agreement where Lavoie would travel to Rögle for a one-month tryout. But by September, when that NHL announcement never came, Veleno grew antsy and eventually changed course. He wanted to play, though Three weeks into that agreement, Lavoie was told he’d made the team. finding a team was a bit of a challenge. But two days before the deadline, Rögle’s plans shifted and Lavoie was released. Lecavalier believes the sudden change was because Rögle After conversations with Hughes, his parents and Red Wings general thought they were getting Canadiens first-round pick Cole Caufield (who manager Steve Yzerman, they settled on the SHL’s Malmö Redhawks — ultimately decided to stay at the University of Wisconsin) and they with the help of former Red Wings defenceman Niklas Kronwall — even needed room. though a contract with the Redhawks meant that Veleno would have to stay for the entire season and miss Detroit’s training camp (which he Regardless, Lavoie needed another place to play. would have been able to attend had he gone to the Czech Republic).

With the help of Sullivan, Lecavalier found a deal for Lavoie with Väsby “In the big picture of things, there’s no substitute for continuing to develop IK on a loan agreement in HockeyAllsvenskan, instead of the one-year and get better,” Hughes said. “(Yzerman) said ‘I can’t look at the player I contract they’d pursued in the SHL. So Lavoie packed up his bags for a saw in March and say he’s ready to play in the NHL right now, and that second time and moved from the small city of Ängelholm to the doesn’t mean he’s not ready but I can’t guarantee it.’ So what do you do? municipality of Väsby, five and a half hours north. He’s better off to go and continue to play.”

“Unfortunately it didn’t work out (in Rögle),” Lavoie said. “(But) I get to Plus, when the opportunity in the Czech Republic had presented itself, play some professional hockey, improve myself as a player and discover cases were soaring. a new country, a new culture. My new life is great. I really like the city and the people here are very nice.” “It was like ‘wait a second, are we going to send him over, have him quarantine, and then they’re going to shut him down and now he’s stuck (Bror Rosenback) over there?’ So we were trying to navigate through these different issues In Väsby, Lavoie has become a top player, leading the team in goals (six) and Sweden made more sense,” Hughes said. “We wanted to put him in and points (eight) through 11 games. a hockey-playing country where you’re prone to development and the travel schedule is conducive to working out.” Though he wishes the team were permitted to have more than its 50 fans per game, he says Väsby is clearly a “hockey town.” Feeling good about progress made in the gym, Veleno wanted to use the SHL as a stepping stone before rejoining the Red Wings or the Griffins in He loves his apartment, which is close to the rink and both he and March, when the SHL season finished. Lecavalier were able to see before he moved in. Whenever he has spare time, he makes the hour-long trip south to Stockholm by train for “You look at it as a really cool experience coming overseas to play in a shopping or dinner. really nice country. I knew I was going to enjoy it. (But) at the end of the day the main part was to come over here to play some good, competitive hockey and get myself ready to play in the NHL,” Veleno said.

(Malmö Redhawks) In Malmö, Veleno has settled into an apartment building where two teammates also live that’s a short distance from the rink and downtown. Being able to spend time with them has helped relieve some of the stress of the transition.

Most about it still feels foreign to him, though. He has been struck by some of the little things, like cold cuts of meat for breakfast.

“The Swedish food is all different,” he said, laughing.

Sweden’s loose approach to COVID also contrasts starkly against the lockdown he experienced in Montreal. On his visits downtown during his days off, everything is open.

“Masks are not really obligatory here. It’s different but it’s more like normal. Some people wear masks but some people choose not to and you go inside a store and not really anyone is wearing masks,” Veleno said. “(But) the city’s really nice. There’s a lot to do here. It’s not really a dead or quiet city. Everything’s pretty busy and everyone’s always outside. I’m soaking everything in learning a different culture and seeing the lifestyle that they live and how different it is from North America.”

The hockey itself has had its own highs and lows as well. Though he has just three points through seven games, he’s playing a prominent role, averaging more than 17 minutes per game. He thinks the results are coming, but it’s not easy.

“It’s a lot different,” he said. “You have to skate twice as much and you can’t really overextend your shifts or you’ll be pretty gassed.”

Through it all, he’s relieved he made his choice before it was too late, while many of Hughes’ other clients scramble to find places to play.

“We’re all operating in the dark in terms of the virus. I can’t tell you how many phone calls we get,” Hughes said. “‘Should we go to the USHL? Can we go? Should we go to the BCHL? Or Europe?’ And we don’t have answers. Nobody really knows.”

Even in the tough moments, Veleno considers those alternatives. And when he’s done thinking about it, he comes to the same conclusion that most of those who made his unconventional choice, in this most unconventional of years, did.

“I was really lucky to land with a really good team in a league that’s up and running, in a really good city, with a first-class organization,” Veleno said. “It turned out to be a pretty good decision on my end.”

The Athletic LOADED: 11.21.2020 1196148 Websites It’s not just about getting by on raw talent anymore. The game doesn’t only matter when you have the puck — there has to be more.

“Our coaching staff is very tough on him, preparing him for what’s coming Sportsnet.ca / Puljujarvi's maturation in Finland bodes well for return to (in the NHL). I don’t think this is his last shot, but he wants to make a Oilers good impression this time around,” said Kunyk.

Said Karpat GM Harri Aho, via email: “Jesse is better player and has developed here compared to his first visit to (the) NHL. (He's) stronger Mark Spector with the puck and his game is more versatile.”

November 20, 2020, 10:23 AM There is a spot waiting in Edmonton on Kyle Turris’ right wing, secured by a new two-year deal between Puljujarvi and the Oilers. But until the

NHL fires up again, it is Kunyk -- not Turris -- who Puljujarvi will count on EDMONTON — Cody Kunyk had his NHL moment, a one-game career for pucks that can build his resume. in the 82nd game of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 2013-14 season. It was On a team that sports a 37-year-old Jussi Jokinen, Puljujarvi is clearly short and it was fast — kind of like Kunyk, the son of former CFL Karpat’s most dominant player. Even with one skate out the door. punter/kicker Gerald Kunyk. “For us as a team, he is the biggest part. We need Jesse to stay here as Today, Kunyk’s job with the Finnish Liiga's Oulun Karpat isn’t so much long as he can to help our team out,” Kunyk said. “When that phone call about him as it is about Jesse Puljujarvi, the wayward does come, everyone here is going to be very excited. We all want the draft pick who mans Kunyk’s right wing on Karpat’s top line. As the best for him. team's No. 1 centre, Kunyk’s job — as soon as the Karpat players return from a 10-day COVID-19 quarantine — is to furnish Puljujarvi with the “I have no doubt he’ll be successful. It might not be as quick as everyone pucks he needs to be Karpat’s best player. And by extension, a full-time wants it to be, but I don’t see him not being successful in the NHL this Edmonton Oiler. time around.”

“He demands the puck. He loves to have the puck,” said Kunyk, who Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 11.21.2020 grew up an Oilers fan in Sherwood Park, the Edmonton suburb that gave hockey Carter Hart, Mark Pysyk and Gerald Diduck. “It’s easy for me to find him in this league, because he’s skating so fast — he’s got incredible speed. You just have to know that he wants the puck more than anyone else. You’ve got to do whatever can to get him that puck.”

Hockey Fights Cancer

Since its inception in 1998, the Hockey Fights Cancer initiative has resulted in millions of dollars in donations to support cancer research institutions, children’s hospitals, and many player and local charities.

Kunyk, 30, is speaking over the phone from Oulu, Finland, where he, his pregnant wife and 17-month-old son are weathering their fourth Liiga season. It’s already dark in Finland in November, and with the coronavirus biting one of his teammates, Kunyk and the Karpats are languishing inside their Finnish flats with little to keep them busy.

But he wouldn’t change a thing.

“The world is so big, I’ve seen places that I would never even dream of,” he mused of his career. “If I can keep being able to provide for my family doing this, and able to travel, I’ll do it until somebody tells me I can’t do it anymore.”

If Kunyk can put a small stamp on a player that fans hope will be a star for Edmonton, then Kunyk will have to settle for that as the Oilers moment he dreamed of growing up.

“He’s going back to the team that I grew up watching, and I’ll love to say I was playing with him this year until the NHL kicks back up again,” said Kunyk, who leads Karpat in scoring and has been a top two scorer on his team in three of his four seasons in Finland.

“I remember last year, when (Puljujarvi) ended up signing with Karpat, our first game last year was against them. I had never seen him play for the Oilers. Being on the ice for the first time with him, I knew he was big. But I couldn’t believe how big he was.

“To go full circle, to know everything he’s been through with the Oilers, playing with him has been amazing. He works so hard, all the time. He expects so much of himself, and is very hard on himself. If he plays his ‘B’ game one night, he’ll be the last guy at the rink working out after the game.

“He cares. He loves the game.”

It’s hard to know what, if anything, has changed in Puljujarvi’s game, when measured against the level of competition he faces nightly in the Finnish Liiga. But that last quote — “He cares. He loves the game,” — is a new one that jibes with what we’ve been hearing about the maturation of Jesse Puljujarvi.

Remaining Time -3:15

Why CBA negotiations stand in the way of 2021 NHL season 1196149 Websites punitive, and there’s too little chance to change track if your team starts on a bad one.

So, 60 games. Not perfect, but I think enough action to reasonably tease Sportsnet.ca / Thoughts on what looks like the plan for a 2020-21 NHL out the good teams from the un-good. season *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time.

…division-only play… Justin Bourne Most of the reason the league bothers with making sure every team plays November 20, 2020, 2:31 PM each other is simply so no fanbase gets denied seeing each star player at least once a season. If we aren’t worried about fans right now, that becomes a non-issue.

When reading anything written by NHL insiders these days, I’m Combined with the express goal of minimizing mingling between different encouraged by one thing above all: I can’t find a single one who’s hinting groups, this is a no-brainer. at hockey not being played this upcoming season. Usually even if it’s the faintest whiff of a chance, someone will dangle it out there to cover their …(Canadian Division, too)… bases in case that reality comes to fruition. To a person right now they all Not in doubt at this point. It does feel a little bit cruel, creating this at a say “everyone wants to play, it’s just a matter of getting over this hurdle.” time when buildings can’t be packed. But I do expect the action on the ol’ Here’s how our own Elliotte Friedman phrased it yesterday in his “quickie interwebs, where I spend most of my time anyway, to be fairly lively with blog” on the state of NHL/PA affairs: this development.

What I don’t believe is NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA Here are the current odds to win the Stanley Cup, as listed on Coolbet: Executive Director Donald Fehr are playing the roles of Thelma & Louise, (Odds listed as “bet $100 to win”…) accelerating their convertible off the cliff. You cover sports long enough, you know when strikes and lockouts are a strategy. It was for the players Toronto: +1700 in 1992; the league in 1994, 2004 and 2012. Calgary: +2400 This is not the same. Edmonton: +2400 The players want to play. Several governors on last week’s call with the NHL said Bettman wants to play and made it very clear he wants to make Vancouver: +3900 it happen as soon as New Year’s Day. Montreal: +3900

And so, let’s imagine that they get over the hurdle safely, shall we? Winnipeg: +4900

With feet safely on the other side of it, you’ll note that we’d almost Ottawa: +14900 immediately be into the home stretch sprint, particularly with seven teams being granted an extra week of training camp. Do the math on a Jan. 1 Calgary and Edmonton have even odds, Vancouver and Montreal too. I start or thereabouts, subtract two weeks for training camp and another can’t imagine Canucks fans are going to love that. week for those seven teams, and somewhere between 20-25 per cent of NHLers will return to their teams for league-sanctioned action …in your own arenas… somewhere around Dec. 10th. There are just so, so many reasons for the league and teams and players This, you may note, is like three weeks from now. Using our “pandemic to want this. It’s just a matter of if it’s aligned with reality or not. I’ll hazard time” to “normal time” conversion rate that’s still about 6,000 years, but a guess that it won’t come without some COVID cases, but along the hey, it could be worse. way, the gains would be:

Let’s go back to Friedman’s quickie blog to pick apart the paragraphs on • NHL arena naming rights honoured (and teams like money) the NHL’s structure when it returns in the weeks ahead. Not if. Emphasis • Sponsorship deals (like board ads) honoured (and teams like money) mine, of course. • Players not confined to a bubble (and many seem to like humans aside From Friedman: from their teammates, so that’s a plus)

There is a 60-game schedule in place — division-only play (Canadian • Comforts of your team’s facilities (generally preferred to slapdash Division, too), in your own arenas, baseball-style back-to-backs in the temporary spaces, or overloading one team’s permanent facilities) same venues, at least a week between the end of the season and the playoffs to allow for make-up games, playoffs start by mid-May and end • Puck drop start times can overlap (meaning no mid-week noon puck by July 15. drops, which rightsholders don’t love)

(If I was a player, I might demand expanded playoffs in exchange for You could go on here. This may not be the most prudent option from a accepting any alterations to the agreement. It’s time and wouldn’t it health standpoint, but I believe the league thinks it can take as many increase revenues?) safety precautions as possible in these different buildings and at least get through to the release of a vaccine with minimal damage. Fingers 31 Thoughts: The Podcast crossed they’re right.

Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey …baseball-style back-to-backs in the same venues… world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what they think about it. My money is on this becoming a permanent feature of the NHL calendar. For one, the second game of back-to-backs can be a lot of fun if If you’re going to have a shortened season, baseline season integrity animosity builds from the first one. But also – and this is something Brian starts at that number for me. Your mileage may vary on that feeling, but Burke has illuminated numerous times on Hockey Central – travel costs a look at the last full season we had, 2018-19. It was almost exactly around fortune in the NHL and leaves a terrible environmental footprint. If there’s the 60th game when the eventual Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues a way to cut down on travel costs (probably the owners’ first priority if poked their head into the Western Conference playoff picture. Go back we’re being real) and do better for the environment in the process, you’d just two weeks prior and there were only two teams beneath them in the have to think the league would consider adding this as a more permanent Western Conference standings. feature.

If you run a 48-game season, random events carry outsized weight and It isn’t ideal for season ticket holders, I get that. More variety is preferred. we don’t get an accurate assessment of how good teams really are. And But y’know, life stuff, people. let’s remember, “random events” is what comes up if you highlight the word hockey on your computer and click “look up.” Injuries are overly Remaining Time -2:57 …at least a week between the end of the season and the playoffs to allow for make-up games…

Here’s to hoping that’s enough, cause COVID is still a very real thing.

…playoffs start by mid-May and end by July 15…

What’s super appealing here is the season ending in mid-July, then ramping back up again on a normal schedule, meaning a short off- season for hockey fans. That may be less ideal for players, but there’s really little that can be done for them there. So, we’ll stick to focusing on the bright side.

And finally,

…(If I was a player, I might demand expanded playoffs in exchange for accepting any alterations to the agreement. It’s time and wouldn’t it increase revenues?)…

I know Gary Bettman doesn’t love the expanded playoffs thing, but with 32 teams in the league beginning next year, and those finishing in the 14- 18 standings spots being virtually interchangeable, I’m a proponent of this in a small way.

In divisional playoffs for this season, I’d like best-of-3s between the 4 and 5 seeds. Home ice advantage for every game goes to the 4 seed in my format. (And if the fourth seed leads the fifth seed by six points -- three wins -- in the regular season standings, they should scrap the play-in.)

All of this is contingent on the part I mentioned off the top: that the NHL and NHLPA resolve their financial issues quickly, and we get hockey at all this upcoming season. But as of now I’m casting doubt aside, and believing they’ll find a way.

And whenever they do, it should be a lot of fun.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 11.21.2020 1196150 Websites “I think if we had this, and we had more of an understanding for the technical side of hockey when I was coming up, I think I would’ve had a better chance of making it.”

Sportsnet.ca / Former pros Mitchell and Lenes helping propel hockey's *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. skill revolution Mitchell said the technical skills he and Lenes are focused on, sharpened in the confined space of a 40-by-60-foot ice surface they’ve built, would’ve made him a different player than the one who spent most of his Eric Engels career as a checking centre and penalty killer.

November 20, 2020, 2:59 PM “I’ve done so much more stickhandling now than I did when I played, which is so ridiculous to say,” said Mitchell, a 35-year-old Montreal

native. “But all of this small skill stuff is transforming the game. Everyone A Bauer Nexus Geo with a 65 flex and an extreme toe-curve — a stick wants to be Connor McDavid going through the obstacles, and the game that towers well above his forehead — is Pete Lenes’s weapon of choice. is accepting that now. That type of training is what’s popular. And you He wields it so precisely you’d let him cut your hair with it. see now that every kid going through the draft now is so stinkin' skilled.

If you zoomed in to see Lenes weave it through obstacles and “The game is now tailored perfectly toward players like Pete. And I think manipulate it for aerial passes and effortless bar-clanking snapshots, for me, personally, it would’ve changed a lot. Now, fourth-, fifth- and you’d think you were watching Pavel Datsyuk or Patrick Kane. sixth-round picks (Mitchell was drafted by the Sharks in the fourth round of the 2004 Draft) are no longer grinders; a lot of them are studs who can If he was coming up in the hockey world now, Lenes's name might be stickhandle better than first-liners from 10 years ago.” synonymous with those two. But at five-foot-four and 161 pounds, the 1986-born Vermont native’s path to yesterday’s NHL seemed as arduous It’s a revolution that started with Hall of Famer Adam Oates, one that’s as an Everest climb without supplemental oxygen. As a result, the gained steam with renowned skills coach Darryl Belfry and his star- furthest Lenes ended up making it was Austria, where he spent six years studded roster of NHL clients, and Lenes and Mitchell are hoping to carry as a relatively anonymous professional hockey player. the niche forward — not just for NHL hopefuls, but for players at every competitive level. Times have changed. “And for girls, too,” Mitchell, a father of three girls, emphasized. There are many more NHL jobs now reserved for undersized players who possess eye-popping skill, and Pete Lenes’s name is going to grow The players training at Elev802 are as young as seven and as old as 23. because of that — even if his playing days are through. Some are attending U.S. prep schools, some are playing college hockey, some are in the ECHL — a league Lenes played in for two seasons Technically, it’s Lenes’s pseudonym — SwaggyP on Instagram and before leaving for Europe — and some are in the AHL. TikTok — currently getting all the attention. And it’s not just coming from your average hockey voyeur who can barely contemplate how he does “And we’ve had some NHLers reach out, and a bunch of former NHLers what he does, but particularly from developing players in leagues around are expressing interest in what we’re doing,” Mitchell said. the world. Players who want to refine their skills and are willing to do Down the line, the pair hopes to open up shop in different states and anything to get to Vermont and do it with Lenes and his partner, recently- potentially get some of the NHL alumni involved in running training retired NHLer Torrey Mitchell. sessions, which is something they’ve discussed with NHL Alumni The former teammates at the University of Vermont, who kept in touch Association president Glenn Healy. and continued training together as their professional hockey paths But for now, Lenes and Mitchell will do what COVID restrictions allow: diverged, opened Elev802 in Essex Junction, VT., in November of 2019, train one-to-three people per session with highly-customized technical and the inquiries have been steadily pouring into their inboxes ever since programming and grow their brand with more of their viral social media (802, by the way, is the area code for Vermont). content. It started with some local buzz, but the excitement swelled fast and “We wanted people to understand what we were doing and I said I’m furiously with Lenes and Mitchell’s short-form videos spreading on social going to shoot a video until we hit 10,000 followers, and that started in media. March,” Lenes said of the Instagram feed that now has over 22,000 Monkey see, monkey want to do. followers. “It hasn’t stopped since. We’ve put at least one video, sometimes two in a day since March, and now we’re getting paid “We give 12 semi-private and private skills lessons a day, seven days a advertisements.” week, and we’re booked through this coming spring,” Mitchell, a veteran of over 650 games split between the San Jose Sharks, Minnesota Wild, “These are 15-second videos,” Mitchell said. “We’re very aware this Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings, told catches on more with players than an actual tutorial. The tutorial is for Sportsnet this week. “We’ve got 50 kids on a wait list — and that’s just when you come in the building.” within Vermont. We can’t even take kids from out of state right now, or And if you come out of it handling the puck more like Lenes does, or from Montreal. skating and shooting like Mitchell does, mission accomplished. "We’ve had a tonne of kids reach out from Montreal who want to come do Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 11.21.2020 some training with us, but we can’t. We could’ve filled our entire summer schedule — 84 lessons a week — with non-Vermonters. We’re getting messages just through social media, and they’re coming from literally everywhere. Europeans are reaching out. We had three people fly in on private jets just to get around the border to train with us.”

Bauer has signed on as a sponsor, and cross-promotions have been developed with HockeyShot.ca and Biosteel Sports.

The sheer momentum they’ve gained — even with COVID-19 standing in the way of the larger vision to expand the brand and tour cross-country to work with more premium players — has only reinforced to Mitchell and Lenes that they’ve popped up with the right idea at the right time.

“I think now, with the access people have through social media and skill coaches, there’s so much more opportunity for kids to improve at developmental ages,” Lenes said. “Torrey’s and my skills have gotten so much better just by having those continuous touches on the ice, and that’s what we’re selling to the kids. Kids need to touch the puck in ways they can’t during a standard practice. 1196151 Websites on the team and I liked to take care of my teammates, get into the corners and be the big, burly guy. In the dressing room, I always wanted to be the guy making everyone laugh. I was joking and bringing everyone’s spirits up. Sportsnet.ca / How positivity carried Jets' Al Pritchard through his battle with cancer “I was always trying to help make everyone laugh and make everyone smile because I thought that would make them happy. I never wanted to see anyone sad. Everything is better when we’re happy, we’re laughing and we’re smiling. That’s just who I am.” Ken Wiebe@WiebesWorldNovember 20, 2020, 9:03 AM Pritchard is still known for keeping things light around the rink.

“He’s one of the guys you feel comfortable around right away. He’s so WINNIPEG -- Al Pritchard was due for some good news. easy going and outgoing, he’s loud and he’s making other people laugh,” The Winnipeg Jets massage therapist had battled two different types of said Jets centre Adam Lowry. “He brings this energy about him every cancer during the past five years and this was supposed to be a relatively time that you’re at the rink. There’s some positivity coming out of him. routine check-up. He’s a bit of the class clown. When you come in the room, he immediately puts you at ease. His thyroidectomy -- the surgical removal of all or part of the thyroid gland -- had been a success and things had been under control for quite some “He’s so worried about putting a smile on other peoples' faces that you time. don’t even really notice the hardships he’s been dealt and the things he has to go through. It’s amazing. He’s been dealt a tough hand batting While having an ultrasound done, Pritchard had a nagging and uneasy cancer twice -- and he lost his brother to cancer early in his life -- and feeling. none of those things seem to affect him in a negative way. That just shows what kind of person he is. He’s selfless and he’s an awesome Because he’s had so many ultrasounds and scans, Pritchard knew how guy.” long things were supposed to take. Life changed dramatically for Pritchard when he found out as a teenager When the clock kept ticking, he suspected something might be amiss. that his older brother Mike had been diagnosed with sarcoma cancer in “This one was a pretty big one because we had gone in for a routine his back. ultrasound and got a little bit of a scare,” said Pritchard. “When my brother got sick, there was a time to get serious,” said “They’ve got it down to a 10 or 15-minute ultrasound and this one had Pritchard. "Any time that a doctor came in, you would get serious and been 23 minutes, then 25 and 30, and then they had left the room and take the news and you would wait for the news to sink in. But when the come back in and worked on it a little bit longer. Then I had laid on the time was right, you would try to bring up the spirits again in the room and table for about 25 minutes and got up and they walked me right down try to get him thinking a little bit more positive by trying to get a giggle or into the surgeon’s office. I was wondering what was going on. The a laugh out of him." surgeon walked in and they said, ‘you’ve got a blood clot in your neck.’ I Pritchard eventually accompanied Mike to Mexico for some alternative was like ‘What?’ This is right in my neck. It’s close to your brain and treatment. Those five or six weeks together were a combination of everything like that. But it wasn’t a big deal. I talked to the surgeon and to moments Al will always cherish and other painful times he won’t soon my doctor and they said it was in a really good spot, it was really small forget. and it was going to dissipate on its own. “Once it got a little bit more sombre at the end, it was harder,” said “It was one of those things where you think: 'Why does everything keep Pritchard. “You would try, but it was one of those things where happening to me?' You’re trying not to feel sorry for yourself, but you’re sometimes it was harder. Every day I went to see him and I was trying to wondering, 'Why can’t I go a little bit of time without bad news?’” be his bedside nurse. I was trying to bring the laughter and bring the joy Hockey Fights Cancer into his world. I felt that was all I could do because in the last three or four months of his life, it was going downhill. There was nothing else I Since its inception in 1998, the Hockey Fights Cancer initiative has could bring to him.” resulted in millions of dollars in donations to support cancer research institutions, children’s hospitals, and many player and local charities. Losing his brother in 1998 at the age of 28 was a monumental loss for Pritchard and his entire family. Pritchard is one of the most positive people you will ever meet and that fact is even more impressive when you consider what he’s endured “It was tough. I was so young and immature and yet, you’re going during his lifetime. through something that is so advanced and so over my head. You’re losing your brother at 18 years old,” said Pritchard. First, the good news. “He’s dying and you’re trying to be strong about it. Meanwhile, you don’t During his recent one-year check-up, Pritchard was told by his doctor even know that it’s going to affect you for the rest of your life. You’re that he was cancer-free, which brought a serious sense of relief. trying to be strong, but inside, you’re dying yourself. It was terrible. It was On that same call, the earlier prediction from his doctor that the blood clot the worst thing that could ever happen to me at the time in my life. You’re would dissipate had also come to fruition. trying to figure out what you want to do.

Another reason to celebrate, even though it’s impossible to put your “At 18, you’re trying to live the best of your life. You want to be guard down when you’ve been touched by the disease. celebrating. But you’re watching your idol go through the worst of his years and the worst time of his life. He should be getting married and “He’s given me a clean bill of health,” said Pritchard. “We will obviously having kids. It was absolutely gut-wrenching. And he was just in see him yearly for ultrasounds and bloodwork and stay on that for the absolutely excruciating pain and then pain went to numbness and the next three-to-five years, but he says that as far as things go, that it numbness went to grey and the grey went to death. It was awful. It was shouldn’t come back and we’re in the clear there. He’s happy with how three months of absolute hell watching him go through that. It was things have gone and confident with the way we’re heading.” terrible.”

Pritchard grew up in the small town of Roland, a farming community that Pritchard-family is 95 kilometres west of Winnipeg. Like most youngsters, dreams of playing in the NHL raced through his head. Pritchard would have his own cancer battle to deal with in 2014.

Pritchard wasn’t the most talented player on his team, but he ensured After initially thinking it was nothing other than back pain, Jets athletic those around him had a smile on their respective faces and enjoyed therapist Rob Milette mentioned to Pritchard’s doctor that there had been themselves. He knew what his role was and he embraced it fully. some cancer in his family.

“When I was young, I was always the loudest. That’s probably from my Following a series of tests, Pritchard was informed he had a cancerous dad. He was loud and boisterous. He was an auctioneer and I wanted to tumour in his kidney. be that guy,” said Pritchard. “When I played hockey, I was a bigger guy That news was tough to take, especially since Pritchard had also lost an aunt, his father-in-law and a high school friend to the disease. He was scared, not only for himself but for his wife, Rachel, and their children, Nicholas and Addison.

But Pritchard quickly regrouped and focused his energy on being positive and battling the disease the best he possibly could. After surgery on Feb. 20, Pritchard’s recovery was smooth enough that he was able to return to work after approximately six weeks.

His positive demeanour and fighting spirit came in handy once again in the summer of 2019, when news of thyroid cancer was given to him by his doctor.

This time, Pritchard had surgery on Sept. 20 and was back in time for the Jets' season opener at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 3.

Having the support from the hockey community and specifically from the Jets organization, from the close-knit training staff to the players to the coaching staff to management and even the ownership group, is something Pritchard has never taken for granted.

The Jets wore "Pritch Strong" decals on their helmet last season to show their support, and the organization put together an encouraging video for him to watch before he went into surgery last September.

In many ways, the rink became a sanctuary -- a place where he didn’t have to think much about the battle he was waging.

“For sure. You get to go to work every day, you put on your shorts and your T-shirt and you can be yourself. You go into those rooms and it’s just the guys,” said Pritchard.

“Everyone knows everyone, you know where your space is and you know who you are. Everyone knows who I am and what they’re going to get every day. That’s what it is. Whether I was sick or I wasn’t, they know what I’m going to bring to the table every day. If it wasn’t that way, if it wasn’t right, then they would come talk to me.

“I try to get close with all the people that I surround myself with. We’re with each other every day and they become family. It’s great to have them and to know that they’re there.”

Pritchard went to massage therapy school and while he hoped to one day work for a professional sports franchise, his dream of making it to the NHL didn’t really factor in when he accepted a volunteer position helping the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.

Following five seasons, Pritchard got a promotion.

In May 2011, the announcement was made that the Jets were relocating from Atlanta, and Pritchard was hired to work for them.

He still has to pinch himself when he thinks about being with the organization from the beginning of the 2.0 version, and that he’s preparing for a 10th season.

“It’s amazing how quick that it’s gone. It’s the little things that make things so much better,” said Pritchard. “If there is anything out of my story that can help anyone in any way, and if anyone is to say that I’m inspiring to them in any way, that would be unbelievable.”

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 11.21.2020 1196152 Websites It's been a busy off-season for general manager and the management team, and I want to get your perspective on some of the new recruits. T.J. Brodie is the big signing on defence. Who do you see him slotting in beside to start? TSN.CA / Keefe reflects on one year behind Leafs bench "You'll have to stay tuned for that one. With T.J. and all of our signings, we've really increased our depth in all positions and that gives us a lot of great options. Clearly, T.J. has established himself as a player that can fit By Mark Masters in and play with top players and against top competition and that's obviously a big need for us, so we felt really good about adding him."

One year ago today, the Maple Leafs fired head coach Mike Babcock. What does Zach Bogosian bring? The club was mired in a six-game winless streak (0-5-1) and sitting "A guy with a great deal of experience and perhaps the most valuable outside the playoff picture with a 9-10-4 record overall. experience, given what he's just gone through in adjusting to a new team, A team with championship aspirations handed the keys to Sheldon finding his place in a new team and ultimately being a part of a team that Keefe, who had guided the to an AHL Calder Cup title in was trying to find its way and get over its own humps to win a 2018. Keefe hopped on a plane to join the Leafs in Arizona where they championship in Tampa Bay. He's going to bring a lot not only on the ice, were in the middle of a Western Conference road swing. but in the locker room as well. He's got great energy about him."

"A whole lot of excitement," Keefe recalled of that day. "It was just a You will be coaching Joe Thornton, who's a year older than you. How do whirlwind, really. That whole experience of getting the call and getting you plan to use him initially? Do you see him as the third-line centre? everything done and then making the travel arrangements and then "Again, you're going to have to stay tuned. A very versatile guy that we before you know it you're at the airport and on a plane. And then you land think can play anywhere in our lineup depending on what we need or in Arizona, of all places, which has a very special place in my heart with what's happening. With him coming here he's going to be an important my wife being from there. There was just a lot of work to be done in a piece of our team. He's coming here for a reason and we're bringing him short amount of time." for a reason. We're really excited to bring in somebody with his Keefe guided the Leafs to a 3-1 win against the Coyotes the next night. experience, his energy and the passion that he still has for the game. So, no matter where he plays he's going to bring a lot to us and we're excited "Felt really comfortable," he said. "The puck is dropped and the first few about that and I know our players are as well." shifts you're adjusting a bit to the speed and execution of things being higher, of course, than what you're accustomed to in the American Dubas mentioned that Thornton is such a great playmaker and you have League and just the building itself being bigger and all those types of some tremendous goal scorers so it's a good fit in that respect. I guess things, but it was a great game. The players responded very well. It it's tempting to put him up with guys like Matthews and . Is capped off what was a great experience for myself and the whole family." it fair to say we might see that a bit?

With Keefe behind the bench, the Leafs went 27-15-5 before the regular "Well, I would think if anything I've proven in my time that I'm willing to season was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The .628 points experiment and try different things, so I certainly would not count percentage in that stretch ranked eighth in the National Hockey League anything like that out. And through all the signings that we've made here and offered optimism for what the Keefe era could bring. it's given us an abundance of options and opportunities. We'll obviously have a plan coming into training camp but, you know, I wouldn't be But some ugly off nights and then a loss to the in surprised if things change frequently and we find what works best for us." the qualifying round in the Toronto bubble created more questions about the makeup of the team. You mentioned that you aren't afraid to experiment. Jack Han, a former member of your Marlies staff, recently told the Toronto Star he wouldn't Keefe, who turned 40 in September, spoke to TSN this week to reflect on be surprised to see the Leafs try out a two-forward, three-defenceman his first year at the helm and look ahead to the 2020-21 season. He formation. Is that something you are considering? offered insight on how free-agent acquisitions T.J. Brodie, Zach Bogosian and Joe Thornton will bolster the team, and also explained what the next "No." step looks like for , Mitch Marner and William Nylander. Is it something that you've considered in the past? The following is an edited transcript of the interview. "I like to think of myself as someone who will really never say never to What's the biggest thing you learned last season that will help you anything. In fact, in my time in Sault Ste. Marie we worked with that at moving forward? different times when the situation called for it, such as a big defensive- zone faceoff with the goalie out. We felt we had three really strong "The biggest thing is I really learned to just trust myself. You're adjusting defenders and put out three defenders and two forwards and had them to the NHL and you're expecting all these new things to come your way, play more like a penalty-kill situation with three good defenders on the but the more I experienced, the more I realized I've been in a lot of these back. I remember one time we had a bad injury situation when we were situations before at various levels and the scenarios are very, very really short on defencemen and we went with four forwards and one similar. The people are a little bit different and the competition, of course, defenceman throughout the game and managed that. So, I've had some is far greater. The attention that everything we're doing gets is far experience with that. I think there's enough examples at various levels different, I recognize that, but when I'm in my office and working with our where I think that has been done, but it's not something I've given a coaching staff or I'm talking to the players it feels like very similar second of thought to for this season's team." conversations." We talk a lot about the newcomers, but so much of the team's success During your media availability on the day of the draft, you mentioned that will depend on the core guys. You have three young forwards who have standards will be higher moving forward. What standards are you setting produced quite a bit in the league in Matthews, Nylander and Marner. for the group? How much room is there for those guys to grow?

"We need to recognize that we have to do everything better. We have "They have a great deal to grow. I don't know where it shakes out in more to give in every area of the game. We need to create a standard of terms of their production. The production has been fairly good, of course, consistency, most importantly, and in order to do that we've got to start at especially in the regular season as they've established themselves as Day 1 of training camp. Well, I guess you could even say it starts with the premier players. But I think all of our players have room to grow in all the off-season. The players have been putting in a lot of great work here. In other areas of their game in terms of the consistency away from the puck just following up with the strength coaches, everybody's been very happy and the competitiveness in terms of their ability to bring the best out of with the efforts that have been put forth. But right from training camp, the others around them and not just be at their best. There is a responsibility, exhibition [games] if we’re going to have any, into the regular season, as you grow as leaders, to bring the best out of those around you and and all the way through, the standards of what we expect, we can't have that's a big part of it ... We're a significantly older and more experienced any lulls in that. You're going to have bad days, but the standards of team this season than we were last, so we're going to have greater effort and competitiveness have to be there consistently." support in that area, because I do think it requires a team of leaders. I think that will just help everybody find a whole new level." Frederik Andersen is coming off a regular season where he had his worst save percentage as a Maple Leaf (.909) and he's also in the final year of his contract. What gives you confidence that he's going to bounce back?

"First thing is just that he's a very good goaltender. He's established himself among the top goalies in the NHL and we really believe in him. We believe we have a part to play in front of him and do a much better job, from coaching staff right on through the players. We think we'll get better there and that's going to help give him that support. Of course, having the additional depth around him that we've added to with Jack Campbell and Aaron Dell as well, that's going to help. But then, the big thing is, I know he's motivated to have that bounce back. He knows he's capable of more. He's already here in Toronto and already skating and working here in the facility. This is the earliest he's ever come in prior to the start of the season, so that's really good and really exciting."

After the Leafs-Jackets series in the summer, Columbus coach John Tortorella came to your defence. He said, "I just can't get over people ripping Sheldon Keefe and his staff. They have done a terrific job with the team … half the pundits in this city think they know the game, but they really don't." There's always going to be criticism when a team loses, and it's amplified in a city like Toronto. What did you think of Tortorella showing his support and how have you dealt with the Toronto fishbowl so far?

"Torts is very much about the fraternity of coaches and obviously he's not afraid to speak his mind if he feels like he has an opinion on something. I appreciated that, of course, and we had very brief conversations when the series ended, and we've exchanged a number of text messages and stuff and all those kinds of things as we were going through that. I appreciated that, but I don't need that. You know, I recognize the responsibility that I have and where we fell short. It's a great responsibility here to deliver for our fans and for our city and we fell short of that, so I recognize where the criticisms come from and we're looking to grow in all the areas that will help us get better. That's really my focus."

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