SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 6/30/2020 Anaheim Ducks Los Angeles Kings 1187129 Who could the Ducks lose to Seattle in the 2021 1187156 The LA Kings will select second overall in the 2020 NHL expansion draft? Draft. Arizona Coyotes Minnesota Wild 1187130 Who could the Coyotes lose to Seattle in the expansion 1187157 Dane Mizutani: Wild should welcome loss to Canucks if it draft? means shot at Alexis Lafreniere Boston Bruins Montreal Canadiens 1187131 Bruins busy assembling an expanded squad for training 1187158 Stu on Sports: Canadiens' Carey Price heads back to camp Montreal 1187132 Bruce Cassidy awaits NHL return specifics 1187133 Bruins readying for 30 players, handful of goalies in Nashville Predators training camp 1187159 With these Predators, anything is possible, even the No. 1 1187134 ‘We have to honor their request’: Bruins would understand pick in NHL Draft | Estes if players sit out 1187160 Ford Ice Centers reopen in limited capacity, hoping to 1187135 Distant Replay: The favorite regular season game of the bring back 'small sense of normalcy' Bruins’ core 1187161 Are you wrong for wanting a shot at Alexis Lafreniere over the Stanley Cup? Buffalo Sabres 1187136 Chuck LaMattina out as executive VP of finance at Pegula New York Islanders Sports and Entertainment 1187162 Who might the Islanders expose to Seattle in the 2021 1187137 After selection to Hall, Jarome Iginla says he understands expansion draft? Jack Eichel's frustration Ottawa Senators Calgary Flames 1187163 The Ottawa Senators will be able to put more pieces in 1187138 FAVE FLAME EVER: '90s style! place for this rebuild 1187139 ‘I’m ready’: Flames prospect Adam Ruzicka progressing, 1187164 GARRIOCH: TSN's Craig Button says the Ottawa earns mini-camp invitation Senators will be fine in NHL draft Chicago Blackhawks Philadelphia Flyers 1187140 NHL Prospect Tournament — which was a launching pad 1187165 Flyers observations: Analyzing the Wyatt Kalynuk, Mikhail for Alex DeBrincat and other Blackhawks — canceled in Vorobyev matters Trav 1187166 2019-20 Flyers season grades: Derek Grant 1187141 NHL Tonight analysts choose Blackhawks over Oilers in 1187167 Longing for a return to 'normalcy' in Philadelphia pro NHL play-in round sports 1187142 What if Blackhawks get No. 1 pick and select Alexis Lafrenière? Pittsburgh Penguins 1187143 Wasserman acquires Acme, adds to growing hockey 1187168 Double Team: Gilles Meloche was good, but not good agency division enough to lift the Golden Seals, Barons 1187169 First Call: NHL Draft lottery fallout posses questions for Columbus Blue Jackets NFL if 2020 season busts 1187144 Blue Jackets’ expansion outlook bright with one year to go 1187170 One year later, the truth about why the Penguins traded before Seattle joins Phil Kessel Dallas Stars Tampa Bay Lightning 1187145 Annual prospect tournament featuring Stars prospects 1187171 Lightning broadcaster Rick Peckham to receive Foster canceled due to coronavirus Hewitt Memorial Award 1187146 Pandemic or not, Stars’ Joe Pavelski going all-in with his 1187172 Who could the Lightning lose to Seattle in the 2021 first restaurant expansion draft? 1187147 Why wasn’t Dallas selected as an NHL hub city? Now we know Toronto Maple Leafs 1187173 NHL notes: Covid cases up Detroit Red Wings 1187174 Who could the Maple Leafs lose to Seattle in the 2021 1187148 Detroit Red Wings alter fall schedule because of expansion draft? coronavirus. Here are the changes 1187149 Red Wings get Lucas Raymond with fourth pick in ESPN Vancouver Canucks mock draft 1187184 Skate in the playoffs? Canucks fans want it, even if it's 1187150 Whitmer cautions about return of pro sports: 'We're going unlikely to watch it differently' 1187185 Details matter to NHL’s COVID-19 infection rate: 1187151 Red Wings move 2020 training camp to Detroit from epidemiologist Traverse City 1187186 Ben Kuzma: Canucks wrestle with three-tier COVID-19 1187152 Red Wings to hold 2020 camp at LCA; prospects tourney guidelines as players return cancelled 1187187 Ben Kuzma: Hockey Hall of Fame finally salutes Province 1187153 Defenseman Jamie Drysdale might be best fit for Red pundit Tony Gallagher Wings at No. 4 1187188 From J.T. Miller to Tyler Myers: Ranking Canucks 1187154 George Pohly -- Flawed process, not conspiracy, contracts from best to worst sandbagged Red Wings' draft position Florida Panthers 1187155 Who could the Panthers lose to Seattle in the 2021 expansion draft? Vegas Golden Knights 1187175 Golden Knights keep up Phase Two workouts at City National Arena 1187176 Brayden McNabb hopeful Golden Knights will return to play 1187177 Ranking the 8 opponents the Golden Knights could face in the first round Washington Capitals 1187178 15 out of 250+ NHL players test positive for COVID-19 1187179 Drafting the ultimate Capitals all-time lineup 1187180 The biggest 'what ifs' for the 2019-20 Capitals' season: What if there was no pandemic and the season was not Websites 1187189 The Athletic / What can the hockey world do to advance the conversation about race? 1187190 The Athletic / Wasserman acquires Acme, adds to growing hockey agency division 1187191 The Athletic / Wheeler: Every NHL team’s best draft of the last 20 years 1187192 Sportsnet.ca / NHL, NHLPA finalizing plan to resume season amid new COVID-19 cases 1187193 Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' Carey Price returning to Montreal to rejoin teammates 1187194 Sportsnet.ca / Dreams of Alexis Lafreniere as a Canadien become more real 1187195 Sportsnet.ca / Canucks' Zack MacEwen on why he's never letting go of No. 71 1187196 Sportsnet.ca / Breaking down Matthew Tkachuk's between-the-legs, top-shelf snipe 1187197 Sportsnet.ca / Roundtable: What it’s like to be an openly gay athlete 1187198 TSN.CA / Framework of the NHL’s Draft Lottery sure to face scrutiny Winnipeg Jets 1187181 Lafrenière sweepstakes add extra intrigue to unusual NHL playoffs 1187182 Niku anxiously awaits teammates' return 1187183 Former Jets winger Kane has grown into a leader with Hockey Diversity Alliance World Leagues News 1187199 Don't drink, don't cheer: coronavirus curbs hit Korean baseball 1187200 Rockies’ Ian Desmond announces he won’t play this season in moving post: ‘Home is where I need to be’ 1187201 Formula One deploys war chest of coronavirus strategies for Austria 1187202 Sick jockey cleared after COVID-19 scare as hoops forced to miss meeting 1187203 Frost says Nebraska football is 'elbows deep' into plan to manage its way through pandemic 1187204 Forget scheduling changes and crowd lockouts — we're lucky to have any sport at all during the coronavirus pan 1187205 Ryder Cup 2020: Postponement likely as Whistling Straits announcement nears 1187206 Brady’s still ignoring COVID-19 warnings - and the NFL players union is angry SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1187129 Anaheim Ducks meaning to the franchise and B) they’re still able to easily keep the forwards that are not worth losing and C) he’ll still be a useful player even if no longer dominant.

Who could the Ducks lose to Seattle in the 2021 expansion draft? Jakob Silfverberg: Still a fine two-way player that’s one of their leaders and important to the Anaheim cause. Four 20-goal seasons in the last five. Murray could have traded him at the 2019 deadline. Instead, he By Eric Stephens Jun 29, 2020 locked him up for five more seasons. A clear-as-crystal sign of what he thinks about the hard-working winger.

Rickard Rakell: Rakell’s shine has come off a bit over the past two There was a big lesson for every team that came from the expansion seasons after going back-to-back with 30-plus goals. But he is 27 and draft for the Vegas Golden Knights. Just accept that you might have to still has two years left on a ridiculously affordable contract. We can see if part with one quality player and move on. that goal-scoring touch returns with force. Faced with too many NHL-level defensemen and enough productive Troy Terry: Terry didn’t bust out like we thought he might last season. But forwards on what was then a Western Conference finalist, Ducks general the personable winger is still worth betting on. You would regret it greatly manager Bob Murray had the difficult chore of choosing who to protect. if you left him exposed and watched him bloom into a 20-goal, 50-point Complicating that were four no-movement clauses for veterans that we player in the Pacific Northwest. now see were on the back end of their careers. Or beyond the end when it came to their best days. Sam Steel: A lot of what was said about Terry could also apply to the heady center. It’s coming for him. Slowly, yes. But trust me on that. (This Add in an old-school GM not wanting to rub those veterans he respected is also the point where I try to ignore the thought that he’s really a No. 3 the wrong way and you had Vegas taking Clayton Stoner when the draft pivot with little offensive upside). went down. That wouldn’t have been a problem. The problem, of course, was the injury-wracked Stoner (and his contract) being chosen by Adam Henrique: Henrique is a popular name mentioned in trade talk and George McPhee because of an agreement where Murray would send that’s part of why I think you protect him. Of course, I do remember him a talented defenseman with plenty of untapped upside in Shea having him exposed in Version 1.0. You could lose his $5.8 million cap Theodore. hit, but the 29-year-old is still a consistent scorer who led the team in goals this past season. Keep him for a few more years and then review if Lesson learned. it’s worth retaining him as the term and money owed dwindle on his There are at least 12 more months left to prepare for another expansion contract, making him more appetizing if you have to go that route. draft as Seattle will become the 32nd NHL team. You can guess teams Max Jones: Among the forwards, Jones is the one that sits in flux. Much won’t be as willing to make side deals with GM Ron Francis as they were of this will depend on how the 22-year-old develops over this next with McPhee. season. His youth and him being on a cheap rookie contract and a Four years is an eternity on the NHL timetable. A lot can change and the homegrown first-round pick win out for now. But it’s very possible that Ducks certainly have. It only takes one February trade deadline to show Danton Heinen or Sonny Milano push him to the exposed column. how much a team can transform. Defensemen This is already reflected in the changes since the last time we looked at Hampus Lindholm: The bedrock of the blue line. Put it this way. If you who the Ducks would protect in the Seattle expansion draft. Since lose him for nothing, that’s grounds for a pink slip. (Yes, I know some of December 2018, some familiar faces are no longer in Anaheim. Corey you felt that way about the Bieksa-Theodore-Stoner convergence of Perry. Andrew Cogliano. Brandon Montour. Ondrej Kase. Nick Ritchie. mismanagement). Ryan Kesler (technically). By the time we take a third run at this, there could be some players that shift from protected status to exposed and Cam Fowler: The other bedrock. Fowler tends to get banged up and it’s vice versa. very possible that he has peaked. But you still want to ice a competitive roster. He had a sneaky good season in 2019-20, and the Ducks are still The view in Version 2.0 is that Murray’s job could be much easier. But a better team with him in the lineup. And it’s not as if there are a bunch of before we break down the players that could be each column, let’s review better options ahead of him to protect. what the expansion draft rules will be. Josh Manson: This one was far from an easy call and it could easily Teams have the option of protecting seven forwards, three defensemen change. Since his 37-point bust out in 2017-18, Manson hasn’t come and one goalie; or eight skaters regardless of position and one goalie. close to delivering that kind of offense from the point. We can accept that Players with no-movement clauses (NMC) have to be protected. First- was an outlier. But the other important elements in his game also haven’t and second-year pros along with unsigned draft picks are exempt from been as strong. He could return to form and this isn’t up for debate. But the expansion draft. Josh Mahura could slot in here instead. Or Christian Djoos. Or Brendan Guhle. Or Jacob Larsson. We can keep going with this. Teams must make a minimum of one defenseman and two forwards available who played 40 games the previous season or 70 combined in Goalie the previous two seasons. John Gibson: Gibson is still your man for the present and well into the One goalie must be made available. future. And that $6.4 million cap hit still has a chance of looking really good if he gets back to playing at a near-Vezina level. Unless Lukas Pending unrestricted free agents in 2021 can be protected or exposed, Dostal at some point over the next few years pulls an Ilya Samsonov and with the Seattle club having a 48-hour window before the expansion draft outplays him. to negotiate a deal and sign that player if it wished to claim him. It could also choose a UFA in the draft and retain exclusive negotiation rights The exempted until July 1. Max Comtois: The decision to limit him to 10 games with the Ducks at the There you have it. Let’s look at the possible lists. start 2018-19 pays off here as sending him back to the QMJHL allows the season to not count as pro status. He’ll be a second-year pro by the The protected time next season is done. By the way, he has seven goals and 18 points in just 39 total NHL games. And he’s far from a finished product. Forwards Trevor Zegras: No need to worry about protecting the organization’s top Ryan Getzlaf: Bracing myself for all the reasons not to. He’ll be 36 next prospect. summer. His contract is expiring and the no-movement clause that goes along with it. He isn’t a top center anymore (at least when it comes to The Ducks’ 2020 first-round pick: The only question here is will the No. 6 offensive production). You can do a Joe Thornton-type deal where you overall pick supplant Zegras as the top prospect before the talented wait until he officially becomes an unrestricted free agent and then re- center plays his first pro game? Probably not, but that would be a twist. sign him. But what if Murray and Getzlaf wish to re-up earlier, perhaps even sometime this summer or fall? I think it’ll be done because A) his Kodie Curran: The 30-year-old veteran of a few European leagues was should be far less painful than what he and the Ducks had to go through signed by the Ducks to a two-year deal at the start of June, but they don’t in 2017. have to worry about putting him under protection. Because he only played one full pro season in North America, his 2020-21 will fit him As you see, we went with the 7-3-1 model instead of protecting eight under the second-year rule. skaters and a goalie. There isn’t a fourth defenseman that has emerged with a must-keep-at-all-costs look to him and this allows them to keep the The exposed few productive forwards they have. The right youngsters with breakout potential are protected and there is no need to worry about the brightest Danton Heinen and Sonny Milano: Put the two together here because it’s prospects in the system. And there was no need to expose a high- hard to judge separately their worthiness of possible protection when salaried veteran with lengthy ties to the club in the process. they had very small sample sizees after coming to the Ducks in separate trades at the deadline. You could lean toward Heinen because of a And if a situation develops where someone like the 28-year-old Manson longer track record and that he did some good things with Boston over is considered for exposure, take a lesson from before. Take your the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons even though he was inconsistent. If chances. Make sure you don’t give up someone who might turn out either gives Anaheim some legitimate secondary scoring, it could push better. him into protected status. The Athletic LOADED: 06.30.2020 Christian Djoos: In his nine games with the Ducks, Djoos averaged more than 21 minutes. He logged 22:56 or more in five of them. What he does in 2020-21 could leave him in this column or put him into consideration for protection. The 25-year-old has puck-moving ability and could flourish if he gets some second unit power play time. He signed a one-year extension in early May.

Isac Lundestrom: In Version 1.0, I had Lundestrom among the youngsters that were protected. Even though he wasn’t putting up any points in his first handful of games with the Ducks, he had showed some glimmers in his first foray with them. Now that he has a full season in North America under him, Lundestrom has displayed a sound defensive game but the offensive side is still running behind. At this point, he’s running behind Steel, Terry and Jones. But he’s only moving into his age- 21 season.

Jacob Larsson, Brendan Guhle and Josh Mahura: Perhaps you might consider protecting one of these three instead of Manson, who’ll be 29 in October. Except none of the three have shown themselves to be someone the Ducks had to keep. If there’s a choice between the three, I’d lean toward Mahura’s relatively untapped future as one to make sure to hold onto. Larsson and Guhle have had circumstances to seize regular roles but often have let those chances slip through their grasp.

Erik Gudbranson: We can’t assume that the big-bodied 28-year-old is going to remain with Anaheim when next summer rolls around because he will be on an expiring contract. If the Ducks aren’t very good again next season, it is possible that the veteran would be a trade piece for a contender that can use defensive depth.

Carter Rowney: A good foot soldier who has done well in an expanded role since coming to Anaheim, but they could feel safe that Seattle wouldn’t choose him or not be too broken up if he were plucked away.

Nicolas Deslauriers: It doesn’t make a lot of sense to use one of the seven protected slots on the plugger but that doesn’t mean the Ducks don’t value him. Deslauriers earned praise all last season for his tenacity and eagerness in protecting teammates or dropping the gloves to change the momentum. Besides, we’d think that Francis looks at other options on Anaheim’s roster first.

David Backes: To get Boston’s first-round pick, the Ducks absorbed the veteran’s contract that has one more year left. The 36-year-old also has a 15-team trade list for 2020-21. What they do with him is undetermined – it’s possible he could be their fourth-line center – but exposing him is an easy call if he’s still on the roster.

Anthony Stolarz: Imagine a scenario where Ryan Miller hangs up his equipment and Stolarz not only gets elevated to No. 2 status but excels in a backup role to Gibson. And then you’d be looking at leaving a 27- year-old netminder that’s finishing up a cheap contract (and will be a UFA) out in the open. Maybe none of that happens. But if it does, that’s life when you have a clear No. 1 locked up for a long time. Only one can be kept off-limits.

Others: Not part of this are veteran defenders Michael Del Zotto and Matt Irwin, who appear headed to free agency this summer. Minor leaguers Chris Wideman and Justin Kloos have already signed to play in the KHL. Forwards Andrew Agozzino and Sam Carrick are signed for next season, while Kiefer Sherwood is a restricted free agent this offseason.

Conclusion

Moves made over the next 12 months and how players advance and regress can certainly affect what Murray does but as it stands now, this 1187130 Arizona Coyotes Seven forwards

Taylor Hall: Let’s for fun assume that Hall, who has professed his desire to set down some hockey roots after bouncing from Edmonton to New Who could the Coyotes lose to Seattle in the expansion draft? Jersey to Arizona in recent years, hangs around the Coyotes. He’ll be at the top of the list of forwards under the protected bubble.

By Scott Burnside Jun 29, 2020 Phil Kessel: Kessel has had an up and down year for the ‘Yotes, his first since being traded to Arizona by Pittsburgh with whom he won back-to- back Stanley Cups in ’16 and ’17. The sniper finished with just 14 goals, nine of which were on the power play. Kessel has a no-move clause and A year from now (give or take pending the vagaries of the COVID-19 so will remain a Coyote assuming he doesn’t approach the team about pandemic) the Seattle expansion draft will take place and the NHL’s 32nd wanting to waive that protection and thus perhaps going to Seattle. Don’t team will finally begin to take shape with goaltenders and defensemen see that happening. and forwards. Nick Schmaltz: The Coyotes’ leading scorer this season is under contract Much has been said and written about how teams will learn from the through 2025-26 at $5.85 million annually and doesn’t look to be going experiences from the Vegas expansion draft in the summer of 2017. And anywhere anytime soon. one imagines that NHL GMs will be much more prudent about sending additional assets in the form of prospects or draft picks to Seattle in order Christian Dvorak: Another part of the long-term core. Dvorak, 24, was to protect one specific player on their roster. second on the team with 18 goals this season. He’s also got a team- friendly deal that carries a $4.45 million cap hit through 2024-25. But the fact is that each team will approach the Seattle draft based on their own evolutionary arc. Lawson Crouse: The 23-year-old was the 11th overall pick in 2015 and while he hasn’t yet found his offensive groove at the NHL level is another That’s why the Arizona Coyotes may find themselves in a much more young piece of the Coyote puzzle and will be a restricted free agent at difficult position than in ’17 when they saw Teemu Pulkkinen head to the end of the 2021-22 season. Vegas. Clayton Keller: The seventh overall pick in ’16 hasn’t set the world on fire With all due respect to the former Red Wings prospect, his departure yet but he has oodles of talent and can expect to be a Coyote for many didn’t hurt the Coyotes at all as Pulkkinen is in the KHL. years to come. His new eight-year deal kicks in at the start of the 2020- Four years later the Coyotes will be a team in a completely different 21 season. stratosphere in terms of its evolution when they prepare their protected Conor Garland: The 123rd pick in the ’15 draft has been a revelation for lists for the Seattle expansion draft. the Coyotes this season leading the team with 22 goals, the only 20-goal As they prepare for a possible play-in series against Nashville later this scorer on the team. Garland will be a restricted free agent at the end of summer, Arizona has built itself into something they believe is next season but look for the ‘Yotes to lock him up and protect him. approaching a perennial playoff team with shrewd drafting and trading. So, what if Hall doesn’t sign? Carl Soderberg has been a useful addition Last summer the ‘Yotes added a high profile scoring star in Phil Kessel to this team after coming over from Colorado and is an unrestricted free and landed 2018 Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall early in the 2019-20 agent at the end of the current season. If he gets extended and Hall hits season. the market then Soderberg could be the seventh forward under wraps.

Hall is a potential unrestricted free agent and if, as the Coyotes hope, he Three defensemen chooses to stay a Coyote it will only make GM John Chayka’s Oliver Ekman-Larson: The captain and leader of this team is critical to preparations for the Seattle draft more difficult. Which is a good thing. the team’s success today, tomorrow and beyond. As the GM has said, the best way to not lose a good player in these Jakob Chychrun: The 16th overall pick in the ’16 draft is under contract kinds of situations is not to have good players. The Coyotes have good through 2024-25 at $4.6 million annually. He is a cornerstone guy. players so it’ll be a question of trying to protect as many of them as he can. Kyle Capobianco: The 63rd overall pick in ’15 had a terrific season with Tucson of the AHL with 37 points in 42 games and you can bet Seattle Before we look at what might unfold for the Coyotes sometime in the will be looking to snatch him up if he’s unprotected. summer of ’21 here is a reminder of the expansion draft rules that will apply to the Seattle draft as they did for the Vegas draft. The interesting dynamic is that veteran defenders Niklas Hjalmarsson, a three-time Stanley Cup winner in Chicago, Alex Goligoski, Jason Demers Teams (apart from Vegas which does not have to give up a player) have and Jordan Oesterle are all coming to the end of their current deals at the the option of protecting seven forwards, three defensemen and one end of the 2020-21 season. All will be unrestricted free agents. Not all will goalie or eight skaters and one goalie and will lose one player to Seattle be back. The two most prominent of that group, Hjalmarsson and in the draft. Goligoski, will be 34 and 35 a year from now. It’s possible Seattle might Players with no-movement clauses must be protected. take a look at either Hjalmarsson and Goligoski given their experience. Goligoski had a stellar season for the ‘Yotes this season with 32 points, First- and second-year pros along with unsigned draft picks are exempt 11 on the power play. from the expansion draft. Per the CBA, players aged 18 or 19 earn a year of pro experience by playing 10 or more NHL games in a given season. One goaltender Players aged 20 or older (or who turn 20 between Sept. 16 and Dec. 31 Darcy Kuemper: We might be talking about Kuemper as a Vezina Trophy of the calendar year in which they sign their first standard player contract) favorite had he not been injured in December. Head coach Rick Tocchet, earn a year of professional experience by playing 10 or more pro games via our Two Man Advantage podcast with Pierre LeBrun, recently under an SPC in a given season. described him as the team’s best player. The 30-year-old Kuemper is Teams must make a defenseman and two forwards available who played under contract through the end of 2021-22. 40 games the previous season or 70 combined in the previous two What does Seattle do? seasons. Unrestricted free agents do not fulfill the 40/70 rule. Derek Stepan, a veteran center, is going to be an unrestricted free agent One goalie must be exposed. at the end of next season. Coming off a 10-goal campaign, Stepan would We’ll assume that once again Arizona will go the traditional 7-3-1 route in have to take a deep pay cut from his current $6.5 million average annual protecting seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie. cap hit and agree to a short-term deal to stay in Arizona. He would certainly be a solid veteran presence on an expansion team if Seattle Chayka only has two players currently under contract with no-move wanted to go that direction. clauses which require automatic protection at the expansion proceedings, Phil Kessel and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Vinnie Hinostroza is going to be a restricted free agent at the end of this season and, assuming he is extended, might be of interest to Seattle. Here’s how things could shake down in the desert. Hinostroza had 16 goals last season for Arizona but had only five this season.

One of Seattle’s top priorities will be in looking to lock down solid goaltending and lots of it. Antti Raanta will be a UFA next summer. He came to Arizona hoping to be the starter and was supplanted by Kuemper. Would Raanta, who will be 32 next summer, relish a chance to be the man in Seattle?

Christian Fischer was the 32nd overall pick in the ’15 draft and is just 23 so would be appealing to Seattle in terms of building some youth into their lineup. He’s a restricted free agent this offseason.

Adin Hill has been pushed down the goaltending depth chart by Kuemper and Raanta but he is still painfully young in goaltending terms at 24. He’s a restricted free agent and could be of interest to Seattle.

We’ve always been a big fan of Hudson Fasching, the big Minnesota forward who wowed scouts as a teenager. He’s bounced from the Kings to Buffalo and now to the Coyotes where he had a 19-goal, 35-point campaign for their AHL affiliate in Tucson.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187131 Boston Bruins with a short turnaround and a lot on the line, to start messing too much with your game.”

Injury question Bruins busy assembling an expanded squad for training camp Cassidy brought up Keyser’s name as a possibility to join as a fifth goaltender, but also noted that the first-year pro from Florida had been By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff,Updated June 29, 2020, 11:48 a.m. dealing with an injury when play was halted in March. He was unsure of the 21-year-old’s status … Prior to shipping off to the designated hub city, the Bruins will have to pare down to a hard roster number, likely 28 forwards and defensemen. The league has not put a limit on goalies The Bruins expect to have potentially five goalies, including veterans because of the underlying risk of positive COVID-19 tests, leaving a club Tuukka Rask and Jaro Halak, in uniform for the start of training camp, at risk of not having enough personnel … Rask started all 24 of the club’s expected to be July 10 at Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton. playoff games last season … If a player were to inform the club he was Coach Bruce Cassidy, speaking to the media via Zoom Monday morning, uncomfortable with returning to action, Cassidy said, a team doctor would noted that Dan Vladar, Max Lagace, and possibly Kyle Keyser will be the attempt to alleviate his concerns. “But at the end of the day, if that’s the additional goaltenders available for workouts. way they feel, I think we have to honor the request,” said the coach.

Ex-Maine goalie Jeremy Swayman, who recently signed his first contract Coaches’ challenge with the Bruins, likely is ineligible, noted Cassidy, since he was not under The players, Cassidy figures, will be excited to get back to work. “Our contract prior to the NHL suspending operations March 12 because of guys love coming to the rink,” he said. “They have a workmanlike the coronavirus pandemic. mentality to begin with, so I think all that stuff will fall into place. It’s just Otherwise, said Cassidy, the goalies will be joined by 28-30 forwards and going to be the unknown at the end of the day: How many times do you defensemen for training camp, which is expected to last most of the test, how frequent are the tests, what time of day, does it affect your remainder of July prior to the club shipping off to one of two “hub” city routine, are you allowed to congregate in the gym? I think those are locations that will play host to the NHL playoffs for August, September, going to be the hurdles for us as coaches to get them over, where there and part of October. isn’t a lot of griping. Because it’s going to be different. We have to make sure we get the players in a good state of mind in terms of focusing on The league intends to open camps July 10, but reports over the weekend what we can control.” … Still unknown: How clubs will engage the media suggested the start could be delayed 48-72 hours. As with most details during training camp and then the playoffs. “I don’t know what that will connected to the ambitious return-to-play plan, all dates must be look like, to be honest with you,” said Cassidy. “How you guys will be considered fluid — in part because players ultimately will vote on all the situated, I’m not sure. I assume they’ll place you 6 feet apart. Will masks conditions. be required? All good questions, and right now, I don’t have the answers. There has to be availability, I mean, we are trying to sell the game, Cassidy was reluctant to name the handful of extra skaters, the so-called correct? And it’s the best time of the year — playoff hockey. So I imagine “Black Aces” who will be added to the working roster that was in place they’ll find a way to make it work, so you can report on the game and get when play was halted. The extras will be recruited from the AHL some conversation with key players within the game.” Providence lineup, adding support for the two dozen or so players on the varsity roster. Boston Globe LOADED: 06.30.2020 “I don’t want to get into the last 7-8 guys,” said Cassidy, “because I don’t know if they’ve been notified yet. So I’m not at liberty to tell you that.”

Could Jack Studnicka land a spot with the big club?

Among forwards, likely candidates would be Jack Studnicka, Paul Carey, Brendan Gaunce, Peter Cehlarik, Trent Frederic, and Oskar Steen. Among the backliners: Alex Petrovic, Jakub Zboril, and Urho Vaakanainen.

Leaguewide, players who are uncomfortable with the idea of returning to play amid the pandemic will be allowed not to report, without fear of retribution. Thus far, said Cassidy, none of the Bruins has voiced a concern, leading him to believe he’ll have his full squad in uniform for the opening day of practice.

“The message for us hasn’t changed in terms of what our ultimate goal is, our unfinished business to be Stanley Cup champions,” said Cassidy. “Inside of that message will be a lot of the unknown and how we have to be prepared to deal with that as it comes at us.”

Some of the variables are how all of this will affect players’ families, how long players will be in hub cities, and whether they will be able to see or visit with their families while there.

“Right now we don’t have all the answers to that,” added Cassidy, “but we’ll certainly try to uncover them before [camp starts] and see what the process is. That is going to be the message.

“I think the mental toughness is going to end up determining who raises that trophy at the end of the day, and that’s where I like our chances.”

How will Bruce Cassidy handle training camp?

After a four-month layoff, and with the intensity of the playoffs to be an abrupt wakeup call, simplicity will be a governing force for the start of camps.

“We’re not going to introduce a whole lot of new concepts,” acknowledged Cassidy, whose club ranked No. 1 in the overall standings when play was suspended. “Even though [as a coach] you’ve had lot of time to dream up a lot of different things, I don’t know if it’s the best time, 1187132 Boston Bruins While a couple of Providence players like Jack Studnicka and Trent Frederic have surged this year, Cassidy said it won’t be easy for them to push anyone out of a spot.

Bruce Cassidy awaits NHL return specifics “The obvious scenario is necessity, which is injury or if there’s a positive test within the group. Otherwise, we have confidence in our guys,” said Cassidy. “We had a strong regular season, we used different players, we By STEVE CONROY PUBLISHED: June 29, 2020 at 3:48 p.m. | have depth, realistically 15 forwards and eight defensemen all played. In UPDATED: June 29, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. that regard, they would have to excel to push out someone who’s done a good job for us. But the other area could be if a player comes in and

conditioning-wise he’s not there yet. We should have enough time to get With reports continuing to peg Toronto as one of the two leading him where it needs to be but if that’s not the case and one of these candidates to be hub cities in the NHL’s Return To Play plan — Las younger guys has more to give then we’ll certainly consider it. That’s the Vegas being the other one — Bruins’ coach Bruce Cassidy was asked facts of it. It’s a short window to get it right, so there’ll be some tough how he’d like to play all his playoff games at Scotiabank Arena. That’s calls to make if players aren’t up to speed in a hurry. But I like to think the home of the Maple Leafs, against whom his Bruins have played two with the group that we have we’ll be fine in that regard.” tight series that the B’s needed seven games to decide in their favor the Cassidy expects one of the biggest challenges will be to keep his players past two years. focused while many of the integral social aspects of the game — shared Granted, no fans will be allowed in the buildings, but his feelings were workouts, team dinners, etc. — are stripped away or severely curtailed mixed. because of coronavirus precautions.

“We’ve played well in that rink in the playoffs for the most part, so that’s a “That’s going to be one of the biggest hurdles to get them over, because positive,” said Cassidy on Monday. “There’s 12 teams from the East so there’s going to be some griping,” said Cassidy. “It’s going to be different the chances you bump into them? Who knows, right? That would be from the way it was. So we have to get the players in a good mindset in speculation. But I think it is an advantage (for the Leafs). If someone told terms of focusing on what we can control, which is once you get on the me we could play at the Garden, I’d happily do it first and foremost than ice and play the game. That will be the challenge for us, to make sure the travel somewhere else. I do believe there is not a home crowd players are focused on the ultimate prize and not all the stuff going on advantage, but there is some advantage to being in your own city, some around them. And I don’t mean (that they shouldn’t) worry about their advantage being in your own building, your own locker room, etc. That’s safety. I’m just talking about the hurdles you’ll have to go through that the part I’d disagree with the league, but again I don’t think it’s an easy you wouldn’t typically do when you come here. … decision to find the right spot. “There are always sacrifices in playoff hockey, and these ones might be “Ideally, you’d go to two non-playoff venues, but I don’t know if that’s a little different than in years past, so that’s going to be our message. We going to happen. I have no idea where we’re going to end up. I’ve heard have to make the appropriate sacrifices to get our name on the Cup.” different cities. But at the end of the day, we’re going to go where they Before camp begins, Cassidy expects to sit down with team leaders tell us and make the best of it. Hopefully, it’s reasonable weather. Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron to gauge how they felt the informal Everyone talks about Vegas, but what’s the temperature there this time skates went and to take the temperature, so to speak, of the team in of year? Is it even difficult to get outside and go for a walk in that general, how it feels about the situation. Excited? Nervous? And then temperature. I think the players are going to want to have a little flexibility they’ll go from there. in what they do, but I’m not sure how much they’re even going to have, to begin with. I know Toronto this time of year, there’s nice weather. I’ll give Said Cassidy: “I think the message from us hasn’t changed in terms of them that. We’ll be ready to go when they tell us where we’re going.” what our ultimate goal is — our unfinished business is to be Stanley Cup champions.” While the league and the Players Association continue to negotiate the hub cities and myriad other health and labor-related issues before it can Boston Herald LOADED: 06.30.2020 begin its Phase 3 (training camp) — scheduled to start July 10 — Cassidy discussed various topics on a Zoom call.

The league announced that 26 players have thus far tested positive for COVID-19 of which it is aware, 15 inside of Phase 2 (voluntary workouts) and 11 outside of Phase 2. All players have self-isolated. The announcement did not specify how many of those players were symptomatic. The Bruins had announced two weeks ago that one player had tested positive. He was asymptomatic and had two subsequent negative tests.

Prior to the league’s announcement, Cassidy said that thus far no Bruin has expressed a reluctance to participate in the 24-team tournament. But if a player did voice that hesitance?

“I’d try to get to the root of it,” said Cassidy. “What is it? Is it simply a health issue or is there something deeper in there? Obviously we’d have to poll management and have a discussion with that player and if that’s the way he felt, then I don’t know how we’d stop him. To me, it would be that simple. It’s the player’s right to work in a safe environment.

“And that’s why I think the NHL is doing everything they can. They don’t want this to happen. They want all their players participating, so that’s the challenge they have. But that’s the way we’d handle it. We’d have to have an internal discussion, see if there’s something that could make them feel more comfortable in the decision as well on the medical side, so that’s another area we’d have to look at. What is your exact concern? Maybe Dr. So-and-So could answer that question for you and go from there and see if it puts them more at ease. But at the end of the day, if that’s the way they feel, then I think we’d have to honor their request.”

Cassidy expects 28 or 30 skaters to be allowed in camp — he wasn’t sure of the number yet. The league has not put a cap on goalies, but the coach expects the B’s will have four — Tuukka Rask, Jaroslav Halak, Daniel Vladar and Maxime Lagace. 1187133 Boston Bruins included given the unknown that the Black and Gold will be skating into over the next few weeks.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.30.2020 Bruins readying for 30 players, handful of goalies in training camp

By Joe Haggerty June 29, 2020 6:30 PM

With Bruins players in Boston in greater numbers for the Phase 3 open of NHL training camp in mid-July, things are beginning to take shape.

Goaltenders Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak were both at a voluntary practice at Warrior Ice Arena on Monday morning along with Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, Matt Grzelcyk, Sean Kuraly, John Moore and Par Lindholm as NHL teams can now have up to 12 players on the ice all at once.

Bruce Cassidy broke down where the Bruins are with the July 10 start date less than two weeks away and the B’s expecting roughly 35 players to attend a two-week training camp before heading to a hub city expected to be named by the NHL later this week.

“It looks like it will be 30 skaters. I don’t know if that’s been confirmed yet. We’ve got a list of 28 and of 30 [skaters] and four goaltenders. I think you’re unlimited with your goaltenders. The message will be, we’ll get together with [Patrice Bergeron] and [Zdeno Chara] first and see how these skating pods have gone,” said Cassidy, during a Monday morning Zoom call with Bruins reporters. “It’s just to make sure everybody is in a good place. It’s to just get a temperature of the guys and where they are at. Are they comfortable with the situation? Are they nervous? Are they excited to get going and that the group has done their work?

“The message for us hasn’t changed in terms of our goals haven’t changed with the unfinished business that our goal is to be Stanley Cup champions. Inside of that message is the unknown and how we need to be prepared to deal with that as it comes at us. It can be difficult because we don’t know how it's going to work out with players' families yet. How much time will they be away? Will they able to visit their families? Will their families be able to see them? That will be the most important thing outside of the obvious that is playing the games.”

Cassidy says he's not expecting any B's to sit out NHL restart

Cassidy reeled off Tuukka Rask, Jaroslav Halak, Max Lagace and Daniel Vladar as the four Bruins goalies set for training camp, and Kyle Keyser may also have an opportunity to take part after healing from an injury during the season. The NHL may cut down to 28 roster players plus the unlimited number of goalies when the teams travel to the hub city locale, so there may actually be a couple of cuts at the end of the two-week training camp.

Still, Cassidy wondered if the extra bodies might come in handy depending on COVID-19 positive tests within teams such as the five positive tests that shut down the Tampa Bay Lightning informal skate last week. Something like that once the NHL begins playing games could really begin to compromise a team when combined with the normal spate of injuries and illness associated with playoff hockey.

“What happens when a player tests positive, is asymptomatic and then gets cleared after a couple of negative tests? Whatever they determine it needs to be, should you have those [extra] players on site in case the [positive] players have to miss two weeks?” said Cassidy. “That's something I don’t know the final rules on. You’re going to need enough bodies. So that’s something the general managers are definitely discussing with the league, and I assume the [NHLPA]. I know they want to limit the number [of players] you do have for obvious reasons to limit interaction.”

A Return to Play agreement between the NHL and the NHLPA is expected in the coming days along with naming the hub cities, and perhaps an extension of the current CBA for a few more years as well. At that point, the Bruins will know exactly the parameters of what they are dealing with for training camp and the games to be played largely in August, September and perhaps October.

The expectation is that young players like Jack Studnicka, Jakub Zboril, Urho Vaakanainen, Paul Carey, Trent Frederic, Steve Kampfer and Karson Kuhlman will be among the names included on the Bruins roster, but it will be interesting to see what other players are going to be 1187134 Boston Bruins to decide whether Kuraly between Joakim Nordstrom and Chris Wagner is the best deployment for the fourth line. He has to monitor whether Connor Clifton or John Moore can displace Jeremy Lauzon on the third ‘We have to honor their request’: Bruins would understand if players sit pairing. out Shortly after camp opens, Cassidy will likely split the roster into two groups: the expected varsity, then the Black Aces, there as reserves in case of injury, illness, or poor performance. Cassidy hopes that he does By Fluto Shinzawa Jun 29, 2020 not have to dip into the latter group.

Cassidy forecasts the first few days of camp to be strange. Players will not be used to staying distant. They may not enjoy regular testing. As of Monday, by Bruce Cassidy’s knowledge, none of his players had Anxiety will develop if a teammate tests positive. expressed reservations about returning to work. Based on pictures and video released by the Bruins, Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara, Matt “I think those are going to be the hurdles for us as coaches to get them Grzelcyk, Torey Krug, Sean Kuraly, Par Lindholm, Brad Marchand and over where there’s not a lot of griping about that,” Cassidy said of John Moore have been skating at Warrior Ice Arena as part of Phase 2, unknown variables. “Because it’s going to be different. It’s inevitable the voluntary segment of on- and off-ice workouts. there’s going to be some differences from where it was. So we’ve got to make sure we get the players in a good state of mind in terms of focusing But it may be that by July 10, the start of the mandatory period of training on what we can control. Which is once you get on the ice, playing the camp, second thoughts flicker about reporting to the rink. Several NBA games.” players, including Davis Bertans, Avery Bradley, and Wilson Chandler, have already decided not to rejoin their league as it concludes its season. Lately, there hasn’t been much for Cassidy and his assistants to do. In Phase 3, NHL players are at the highest risk of exposing themselves Assuming no diversions, that’s about to change. He cannot wait. and their families to the coronavirus. The Bruins reported one positive test at the start of Phase 2. The player was asymptomatic. The Athletic LOADED: 06.30.2020

Cassidy believes the NHL is considering every safeguard to extinguish embers of reservations. But if a player still prefers to stay home after engaging in dialogue with Cassidy and general manager Don Sweeney, the coach said the Bruins would respect that wish.

“It’s the player’s right to work in a safe environment,” Cassidy, who has two young children at home, said on a Monday video call. “That’s why I think the NHL is doing everything they can. Because they don’t want this to happen. They want all their players participating. That’s the challenge they have. That’s the way we would handle it. We’d have to have an internal discussion and see if there’s someone that could make them feel more comfortable with their decision as well on the medical side. That would be another area we’d have to look at. ‘What is your exact concern? Maybe Doctor So-and-so could answer that question for you.’ Then go from there and see if it puts them more at ease. But at the end of the day, if it’s the way they feel, then I think we have to honor their request.”

Normally, the days before camp would not be a time for reluctance. Players would be eager to return to the rink. Coaches would be dreaming about game plans, lineups and strategy.

But as Phases 3 and 4 approach, the NHL and NHLPA are devising bubbles for their two hub cities. Testing will take place regularly. Once games begin, players could be separated from children and significant others for weeks. Even activities such as walks, team dinners and mall visits may be restricted. Video game enthusiasts, Cassidy cracked, may be the only ones whose routines do not experience disruption.

All of this may blow some cloud cover over a typically sunny time.

“We’re a little more confined than what we want to be,” Cassidy said of restrictions once games begin. “Yet we’re being allowed to go and pursue our ultimate goal. So we’ve got to look at it at that way. We’ve got to be grateful for the opportunity to play for the Cup. It might infringe a little on what you’d like to do away from the rink. But there’s always sacrifices in playoff hockey. These ones might be a little different from in years past.”

In less than two weeks, Cassidy will welcome either 28 or 30 skaters — he and Sweeney have discussed both numbers — and four goalies: Tuukka Rask, Jaroslav Halak, Maxime Lagace and Dan Vladar. Cassidy will focus on conditioning and familiarization. As much as video study has made him consider new concepts, such as deploying five forwards on the power play, Cassidy knows this will be no time for expansion.

So the Bruins will practice a whole lot of the known. Heavy doses of the No. 1 line. A center rotation of Bergeron, David Krejci and Charlie Coyle. Krug behind the wheel of the power play.

“We’re not going to introduce a whole lot of new concepts,” Cassidy said. “There’s been a lot of time to dream up a lot of different things. But I don’t know if it’s the best time with a short turnaround. There’s a lot on the line to start messing with too much.”

As for his lineup, Cassidy has a short list of camp priorities. He has to determine where ex-Ducks Ondrej Kase and Nick Ritchie fit best. He has 1187135 Boston Bruins Kessel, Kessel, Kessel

Coach Claude Julien tweaked his line combinations and had Lucic playing with Marc Savard in the middle and Phil Kessel on the right. He Distant Replay: The favorite regular season game of the Bruins’ core scored against the Stars and started to show signs of becoming a two- way player, but he never fully found that part of his game on a consistent basis. Even though Bruins fans quickly learned to dislike Kessel after he By Joe McDonald Jun 29, 2020 was traded to Toronto the following season, the former first-round selection (No. 5 overall) by Boston produced during his time here. In

three seasons, he had 66 goals and 60 assists for 126 points in 222 When breaking down the top 10 Bruins games of the 2010s, we had our games. He was only 21 when he was traded to the Maple Leafs for favorites, sure. But who knows better than those who lived it? So we Toronto’s first-round pick (Tyler Seguin) and second-round pick (Jared decided to go to the experts for their opinion. Hockey players are like Knight) in 2010, along with the Leafs’ first-round pick (Dougie Hamilton) most professional athletes, in that they have an uncanny ability to in 2011. remember nearly every detail of almost every game they’ve been Back to the game involved in during their careers. The first period began and ended in intense fashion. When the buzzer So we were not surprised when we asked Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno sounded after the opening 20 minutes, Ott finished a late hit on the Chara and David Krejci for their most memorable regular-season game, Bruins’ Petteri Nokelainen. His teammates quickly responded when and all were quick to provide the same answer. Some games just stand Stuart grabbed Ott and Ward tangled with Avery. The officials did not call out. any penalties and the tone was set to start the second period. The only problem? They all had the wrong decade. Ott at it again We’ll allow it anyway: Bruins versus Dallas Stars, Nov. 1, 2008. Less than a minute into the second period, Ott upended the Bruins’ On that Saturday night, the Bruins defeated Stars 5-1 at TD Garden in a Stephane Yelle. It was a dirty hit, and if it occurred in today’s game, game that featured everything: line brawls, vicious hits, highlight-reel there’s no doubt Ott would be suspended. However, Ott did not receive a goals and wild saves. Everyone involved loved every second of it. It’s just penalty, yet Thornton was given a double minor for roughing after he too bad more weren’t there to see it, as there were only 14,576 in came to Yelle’s aid. That did not sit well with the Bruins. Ott actually attendance. remained on the ice for the ensuing power play and didn’t help his cause when he made deliberate contact with goalie Tim Thomas after a whistle. Dates aside, Patrice Bergeron remembers it well. Following the ensuing faceoff, referee Chris Rooney finally called Ott for hooking. “It was a crazy game, but so much fun to be part of,” he said. Only five minutes into the second period, Ott again launched himself at Jack Edwards, the Bruins’ play-by-play announcer for 15 seasons, Stuart, and when Hnidy dropped the gloves in defense of his partner, Ott describes that game in a similar fashion. accepted the challenge. He even backed down from Lucic while skating “Among the wildest games and most team-building experiences I’ve ever to the bench after the whistle. witnessed – all in one,” Edwards said. Thomas the tank A total of 36 penalties for 146 minutes were called, including five Not only did Thomas produce an impressive 35-save performance in the unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, and seven 10-minute misconducts. win, he was absolutely steamrolled by the Stars’ James Neal at 6:51 of Oh, and six fighting majors. From start to finish, in every aspect, the the second period. Fortunately, Thomas was fine and remained in the game did not disappoint. game. Until Thomas was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame last It started early year and discussed his issues, few knew the extent of concussions he dealt with during his career. Even though he remained in the game, the On the first shift, Bruins defenseman Aaron Ward and Stars captain hit by Neal could’ve resulted in one of those head injuries. Thomas would Brenden Morrow set the tone. The two were racing for a 50/50 puck go on in the 2008-09 season to win his first of two Vezina Trophies. He when Ward buried his opponent into the corner boards in the Bruins end. posted a 36-11-7 record, a 2.10 goals-against average and a .933 save Morrow was the type of player who would attempt to wear opponents percentage. He also registered five shutouts in 55 games. down with his relentless style of play and physicality in every area of the ice. He was always the guy opponents disliked playing against, but no Sturm an important factor doubt would welcome on their team. He wasn’t a dirty player. Even though most Bruins fans are still bitter about the Joe Thornton Teammates not so much trade, Sturm made an impact during his five seasons in Boston. After all, he did score that overtime winner against the Flyers in the 2010 Winter While Morrow was honest and respected for his style of play, his Classic at Fenway Park. He was respected on and off the ice by his teammates Steve Ott and Sean Avery played the villains in this game. In teammates. fact, neither player finished the game due to their antics. Avery received 21 minutes in penalties, while Ott served 18. Ott was running everyone Back to the fireworks but never answered the bell when challenged by numerous Bruins With the Bruins holding a 3-1 lead five minutes into the third period, players, including Milan Lucic, Shane Hnidy, Zdeno Chara and Shawn Ference demolished Ott with a clean, open-ice hit at center circle. It drew Thornton. Avery, at least, eventually dropped the gloves with the Bruins’ a standing ovation from the fans and the Bruins’ bench. Avery responded Andrew Ference (more on that later). to the hit and challenged Ference, who quickly accepted and dropped the Impressive pair gloves. After the fight, Ference waved to the crowd as he skated to the penalty box. It’s no secret David Krejci really enjoyed playing with Blake Wheeler. They made a solid pair and Krejci was not happy when the Bruins traded Others answering the bell Wheeler to the Atlanta Thrashers, along with defenseman Mark Stuart, Since Ott was running players with zero response when challenged, the for forward Rich Peverley on Feb. 18, 2011. Still, the Bruins don’t win the Stars’ Krys Barch was forced to drop the gloves with Thornton at 9:31 of Stanley Cup that season without acquiring Peverley (and also Chris the third period. Most would think that would calm things down after two Kelly, from Ottawa for a second-round pick): Boston’s third line of Kelly, heavyweights went toe-to-toe. Well, that wasn’t the case and Ott kept up Peverley and Michael Ryder were instrumental in the team’s the antics. Finally, he was given a 10-minute misconduct at 11:37 of the championship. Plus, the line of Milan Lucic, Krejci and Nathan Horton third. dominated that season. However, in this game against the Stars the chemistry was evident between Krejci and Wheeler. Marco Sturm played The famous line brawl the left side on that line in this game and he scored a pair of goals. This trio played well and it carried over into the Bruins’ next game when While Ott stood in the tunnel and watched the game from behind the Wheeler registered a hat trick with assists from Krejci and Sturm. Stars bench, Avery wouldn’t let up either. On the ensuing shift, he Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending knee injury on Dec. 18. blindsided and boarded Lucic from behind. Of all people, it was Savard who came to Lucic’s defense and quickly jumped Avery and started throwing punches. A line brawl erupted, involving everyone on the ice, with the exception of Thomas and Dallas goalie Marty Turco. Looking back, it actually appears that Thomas was more than willing because he was standing near the blue line and looking down the ice. It was old-time hockey and the victory cemented the Bruins chemistry that season.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187136 Buffalo Sabres Another significant shakeup occurred one month later with the departures of chief operating officer Bruce Popko; Brent Rossi, PSE executive vice president and chief administrative officer for the Sabres; and Erica Chuck LaMattina out as executive VP of finance at Pegula Sports and Muhleman, executive vice president of business development. Entertainment Buffalo News LOADED: 06.30.2020

Lance Lysowski Jun 29, 2020

With most of its holdings facing an uncertain financial future amid the coronavirus pandemic, Pegula Sports and Entertainment made another significant personnel change Monday.

Chuck LaMattina, executive vice president of finance for PSE since the company’s inception in May 2014, was fired, a source confirmed to The Buffalo News. No official announcement has been made. The firing was first reported by Trainwreck Sports.

The source said PSE plans to hire a replacement.

LaMattina previously worked for the Sabres as corporate controller (1997-2000), director of business and administration (2004-11) and vice president of finance and business operations (2011-14). He also served as treasurer for the Buffalo Sabres Foundation and his latest position included the oversight of financial management and operations.

LaMattina's dismissal is the first significant change within the company since owner Kim Pegula told The Buffalo News in April that PSE will need to be restructured with the goal of becoming “viable” and “sustainable.”

Across March and April, the Pegulas laid off 21 people at PSE, the parent company of their sports and entertainment holdings; furloughed 104; and temporarily cut pay for more than three dozen executives. Three Sabres vice presidents were among those laid off: Chris Bandura, vice president of media relations; John Sinclair, the vice president of tickets and service, and Jennifer Van Rysdam, the vice president of live events.

PSE also laid off an undisclosed number of employees at its hospitality businesses with no guarantees that employees will be rehired. Previously, PSE eliminated 10 of 30 jobs at the marketing and communications agency known to the public as PicSix Creative.

The owners of the Buffalo Bills and Sabres, two pro lacrosse teams, a minor league hockey team, various hospitality and real estate ventures – and a natural gas empire that financed it all – are navigating the simultaneous stoppage of professional sports and the collapse of oil and gas prices.

During a Zoom conference call with reporters on June 16, Terry Pegula explained that he fired Sabres General Manager Jason Botterill because the two had differences in opinion regarding Pegula's vision for a more "efficient" hockey operations department. Botterill was one of 22 employees fired in an overhaul that included the appointment of Kevyn Adams as general manager of the Sabres.

Though Pegula acknowledged his oil and gas holdings are "hurting," he denied the notion that PSE is under more financial stress than other companies with investments in sports.

"Yeah, if you look at every oil and gas company, which is our core business outside of sports, they’re all, you might use the word ‘hurting’ but we don’t have any debt on our oil and gas business," said Pegula. "We need to do better moving forward in the sports business, like every team’s going to have to do, because if we don’t have any fans in the seats next year, what are your economics in the world of sports? We need that component, especially in the National Hockey League, so even though times are not good in any of these businesses, it’s still, you‘ve got to find solutions. You’ve got to look up and try to find those solutions."

LaMattina’s dismissal is the latest change atop PSE. Turnover atop the company dates to May 2018, when president Russ Brandon resigned amid allegations of personal misconduct.

Mike Gilbert, senior vice president of administration and general manager of Harborcenter, and Nik Fattey, vice president and director of hockey at Harborcenter, resigned in January 2019 after an internal investigation into whether the two men sexually harassed female employees after a holiday party in December, sources told The News. 1187137 Buffalo Sabres

After selection to Hall, Jarome Iginla says he understands Jack Eichel's frustration

Mike Harrington Jun 28, 2020 Updated Jun 28, 2020

When Sabres captain Jack Eichel said he was "fed up" with losing last month, it made waves throughout the hockey world. Longtime NHL veteran Jarome Iginla understood how Eichel felt.

Iginla made his NHL debut for the Calgary Flames during the 1996 playoffs, appearing in two games against Chicago. He then played his first seven NHL seasons without getting back to the postseason, so he can relate to Eichel's five-season drought since joining the Sabres in 2015.

"It's frustrating. You want to compete, you want to win. You want to get into the playoffs. It's the most exciting time to play," Iginla said last week when asked by The News about Eichel after the Hockey Hall of Fame announced Iginla was a part of its Class of 2020. "When I first got to the NHL, it was just about trying to get in the NHL and get a regular spot. I came up on a younger team, very similar to Eichel, where you knew you were going to go through some rebuilding.

"But at a certain point, yeah, there is that pressure to take that next step as a team and you want it as a player. So I can see that frustration. I've read the articles (about Eichel) and that's only natural and part of what we are as hockey players. We're in a team sport, we want to be playing and winning and it's our job to try to win."

Iginla, 42, scored 625 goals in a career that stretched until 2017. He played with Calgary until 2013, and then appeared with Boston, Pittsburgh, Colorado and Los Angeles. But he never played in another Cup final, coming closest with the Penguins in 2013 as they lost to Boston in the East final.

Iginla said his first couple seasons in Calgary were a whirlwind, learning to play top goaltenders and traveling to the league's different cities while getting chances to play in all of its arenas. He finally got back to the playoffs in 2004, helping the Flames get all the way to the Stanley Cup final before a Game 7 loss at Tampa Bay.

"It does turn a corner where all of sudden, there's that responsibility but also expectations and true desire where you want to be part of the playoffs," he said. "I wish I was part of more playoffs but the ones I was a part of, it was by far the most fun hockey and one of the best experiences you have is to eliminate another team."

Iginla said he's been impressed with the growth of Eichel's career and how he's became the unquestioned leading man in Buffalo.

"I can see it. Hopefully they turn it around," Iginla said. "He's a great young hockey player. That passion and that drive is something his teammates will feed off. They'll all be pushing a little bit more. That's part of the leadership Eichel brings. That hunger and that little bit of anger you can see. It can be really good for them. I can see where it comes from and I know most hockey players can relate and understand it."

Buffalo News LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187138 Calgary Flames

FAVE FLAME EVER: '90s style!

Todd Saelhof

Mike Paddock and Andrea Worrall cheer on their team during a playoff game against the San Jose Sharks at the Saddledome on May 9, 1995.Postmedia Archives

We felt it would be fun to find out which of the Flames is the all-time favourite among the city's fervent fans by creating an online poll

In light of last week’s news celebrating Jarome Iginla’s forthcoming induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame, we here at Postmedia want to honour the superstar and the Calgary Flames in our own way.

In particular, we felt it would be fun to find out which of the Flames is the all-time favourite among the city’s fervent fans by creating an interactive online poll.

Is it Iggy?

How about lovable Lanny?

And don’t forget about Theo.

MacInnis with that boomer?

Or current hot-shot Johnny Hockey?

There’s Capt. Gio, too.

We’ve carefully created a March Madness-esque bracket of 64 Flames faves dating back through history.

Each quarter of the bracket will consist of 16 names you’ll know and remember from a particular decade. From there, we’ll move on to Round 2, featuring the eight winners of Round 1, and so on … until we’ve got one favourite from each decade competing in the final four of our FAVOURITE FLAME EVER battle.

We began by breaking out the 1980s last week.

And now it’s onwards to the 90s.

Brackets for the 2000s and 2010s will follow Wednesday and Friday on our website.

Our panel set down a few parameters in forming the brackets — with the most important being that a player would be slotted into the decade during which he played the most games with the Flames.

We also decided that no matter his popularity, he had to play more than just a few regular-season games and the playoffs here in Calgary (sorry, Ville Nieminen and Mike Commodore).

There are a few of your faves missing, no doubt.

Then we meticulously ranked the 16 players of each decade.

But in the grand spirit of playoff hockey, we’re hoping for an upset or two along the way.

So let’s keep at it …

Cast your ballot below, as we try to track just who is the most favourite Flames star of all.

Iggy just got the nod from hockey gurus to head to the hallowed hall of fame.

It’s your turn to vote now, Calgary. (Don’t forget to click the “submit” button at the bottom to register your votes.)

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187139 Calgary Flames Nevertheless, through the opening seven dates, he recorded only a single assist and witnessed his countryman — and roommate — Martin Pospisil being knocked out cold in a fight. It had been a terrible sight.

‘I’m ready’: Flames prospect Adam Ruzicka progressing, earns mini- “Well, of course, that’s my friend,” Ruzicka said. “So I was kind of upset camp invitation about that.”

His tentative start, however, wasn’t entirely unexpected. It’s typical — a By Scott Cruickshank Jun 29, 2020 point-piling, all-situation junior arriving in pro and needing to re-groove his game.

In Ruzicka’s case, that meant bolstering his faceoff prowess. Otherwise? Sprouting at a startling pace, the little boy developed back problems. In-house aces Byron Froese and Glenn Gawdin would handle the bulk of Family members, despite harbouring no interest in athletics themselves, the dot work — and gobble up extra shifts in the process. decided that sport may help to strengthen his frame. Also on his checklist — cracking the power-play unit, which was rated So, at his mother’s insistence, he was registered for hockey. No. 1 in the AHL. He figured out how to contribute by watching and learning. Immediately there was promise on the ice. He allowed himself to dream — and dream big. One day, if things went well, maybe he would get to “He had to earn that time,” said Domenic Pittis, assistant coach of the play for a team in the Czech Republic’s top professional league. Heat. “It forced him to have to do things a certain way. Then we were able to reward him for paying attention.” That had been the hope, according to Adam Ruzicka. Soon enough, Ruzicka, like he had as a teenager, was handling half-wall “I wasn’t really thinking about the NHL.” responsibilities with the man advantage. Perspective, however, shifted as Ruzicka surged through his teenaged “He really started to flourish,” said Pittis. “(The AHL’s shutdown was) years. He showed well enough that he was taken 14th overall in the 2016 obviously disappointing for the group as a whole, but I thought it would’ve KHL draft by his hometown club, Slovan Bratislava. Soon, a three-year been interesting to see him, especially, when teams are really trying to deal was put on the table. isolate him … and how he was going to evolve. Heady stuff for a 17-year-old. “He was getting better every game in that position because he does have “But three days before I was going to sign … all of a sudden my agent an elite skillset.” came up to me and told me there’s a good chance that I would be drafted Pace, too, was something that required addressing. (into the NHL) if I went to the OHL,” recalled Ruzicka. “My agent said that it’s a good idea. So I was kind of thinking about it for three days. Then I Level of engagement, which can be a slippery notion for wide-eyed talked with my parents (to see) if they’re fine with me going there and if newcomers, is a must. they wanted me to go there. I decided to go. I was like, ‘OK, let’s try it out,’ and I did it. “That ability to be an impact player on almost a shift-to-shift basis as opposed to being an opportunistic player,” said Stockton coach Cail “I’m pretty glad I made this decision. It was the right one for me. MacLean. “He has the skill and the size and the ability — can he put that Everyone has different paths — I chose this one.” to work so you don’t ever not notice him?”

Ruzicka’s march has been brisk, the progress undeniable. It’s coming. While intensity may have been a knock on him, it’s something he began to shore up in his final OHL season. Emphasis on Moves to Sarnia for the 2016-17 season. Collects 46 points in 61 games. competitive spirit remains a priority. Gets drafted. Turns pro in 2019-20. Makes significant headway in AHL Stockton. “From my side of it,” said Pittis, “I saw someone trying to shake that stigma.” And now, less than four years after departing Slovakia, Ruzicka is the lone rookie forward to be joining the Calgary Flames for their streamlined At a glance, Ruzicka’s numbers aren’t mind-blowing — 27 points, camp next week at the Saddledome. Freshly turned 21, the centreman including 10 goals, in 54 games. will skate amongst the regulars — and a select group of others from Stockton — during the two-week giddy-up. But it’s worth noting that he generated 12 points in his final 14 outings.

The Flames’ show of faith is no small thing. “I did a pretty good job, I think, to elevate my game through the course of the season,” said Ruzicka. “I felt pretty confident and pretty comfortable “Adam deserves to be here,” said general manager Brad Treliving. “This at the end. I didn’t really look at the points, you know. If you play good, is another step for him as we continue to develop a player here. He’s the points will come — I was just doing what the coaches said.” going to go through a training-camp process and it’s going to be good for him. Considering the positive steps — and the potential — how does he project? “It’ll pay dividends now and in the future.” Scott Wheeler, prospect expert at The Athletic, suggested Valeri An invitation, of course, had been Ruzicka’s wish since the NHL’s return- Nichushkin, the 10th overall draft pick in 2013, as a comparable. to-play scheme was announced. With the possibility in mind, the 6-foot-4, 215-pounder threw himself into prep work, lifting weights and skating “They have both confounded coaches and evaluators for similar regularly for more than a month. reasons,” said Wheeler. “For a long time, Nichushkin was the big, strong, talented forward who never lived up to the sum of his parts on the ice — “I’m ready,” he said the other day from his parents’ home in Slovakia. “I’m a disappointment relative to what could have been. Last year (in ready for everything.” Colorado), Nichushkin found a niche as serviceable, borderline dominant two-way forward with off-the-chart defensive results despite relatively While his puck-chasing scamper around North America looks remarkably limited usage, while still finding ways to contribute in the offensive zone free of hitches, Ruzicka’s rookie season necessitated on-the-fly and add a different dynamic to his line. upgrades. “Ruzicka has followed a similar path. He was a dominant junior player but Getting the hang of a new country. Adjusting to a new bracket of hockey, never as dominant as he could have been and questions about his a new team with new coaches. consistency and play without the puck lingered. This year, that began to “Yeah, it’s a pretty big step — the physicality, the smartness, the speed change and he grew into a more counted-upon role.” of the players is really different than juniors,” said Ruzicka. “I was coming MacLean’s year-end appraisal is similarly themed. off a good camp, the main camp in Calgary, (where I played) some good exhibition games, so I was pretty confident at that point.” He believes in Ruzicka’s offensive upside — “at the AHL and beyond” — but to get an opportunity “to express himself offensively at the higher levels,” the young man will need to polish his all-round awareness. No surprise, though, March’s exit interviews had been positive.

“They basically told me that the season was great — slow start, great finish,” Ruzicka said. “They liked that my game elevated every day. They were pretty happy about that.

“I still have to learn a couple things to be more consistent. Then, if I can get a chance, I hope I can take it and play well.”

No, he is not related to Vladimir Ruzicka — a five-year NHLer who put up a 75-point season for the 1991-92 Boston Bruins — even if he now answers to the old-timer’s nickname, Rosy.

Since he was a wee lad, he’s been deployed as a centre. He always cheered for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jaromir Jagr was his favourite player.

Back home, he routinely made teams in higher age groups. Three times, he’s represented Slovakia at the world junior tournament.

“I think that’s why I’m still playing hockey,” said Ruzicka, “because playing with older guys when you’re young helps you to think differently and to get experience.”

However, the move to Canada — to join the OHL’s Sting — had been challenging. Not only was his mom upset — “The first year was kind of tough for her” — communicating in Sarnia was difficult.

His command of English had not been strong.

“So I was just sitting in my stall listening to all those guys,” said Ruzicka. “I didn’t know what was happening or what they were talking about. Of course, I’m picking up all the slang and stuff like that.

“Just little adjustments, but the biggest one was the language barrier.”

He proved to be a quick study. He says it took him only three months to catch on. “Then everything was fine.”

Meaning Ruzicka was well-versed in his new language by the time he got to the 2017 NHL Draft in Chicago. Perched in the United Center stands — even knowing he’d been ranked 37th by Central Scouting — he had no idea what to expect.

“I was sweating … everything was so tense that day since I woke up,” he said. “Then Calgary picked me — no stress, I went down there and everything was fine.”

It’s a vibe that persists to this day.

Interestingly, although the young man seems laid back, he does simmer — particularly at nitpickers back home who bad-mouthed him and who, he says, still have no faith in his ability.

Which is why he was especially pleased that his first shot at the AHL went so well.

“They thought I wasn’t fast enough,” said Ruzicka. “There’s a lot of people who were doubting me. Not my family, but a lot of different people, so I kind of proved them wrong — and proved everybody else wrong.”

(Asked about mobility, if slow feet are a legitimate concern, Pittis doesn’t hesitate to give Ruzicka a passing grade. “His skating is fine.”)

And if the perceived naysaying serves to sharpen his motivation, then why not welcome the skeptics’ input?

Whatever works, right?

Because Ruzicka is exhibiting a progression that is steady, if a tad under the radar — the 107th pick in the 2016 CHL Import Draft, the 109th pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, the 179th scorer in the AHL.

Yet, propelled by self-belief — and now hand-picked to participate in the Flames’ mini-camp next month — Ruzicka is shining.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re from junior or if you played pro in Czech or Slovakia or somewhere else,” he said, “you can do it if you’ve got the right mindset.”

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NHL Prospect Tournament — which was a launching pad for Alex DeBrincat and other Blackhawks — canceled in Traverse City because of COVID-19 concerns

By PHIL THOMPSON CHICAGO TRIBUNE |JUN 29, 2020 AT 12:35 PM

The Chicago Blackhawks, along with seven other teams, will have one fewer tool to develop players trying to break into the NHL.

The Detroit Red Wings canceled the annual NHL Prospect Tournament in Traverse City, Mich., because of concerns about exposing players and others to the coronavirus.

“The health and safety of our fans, players and staff is our top concern,” Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman said in a statement. “We look forward to returning to Traverse City next year. The Traverse City community is extremely hospitable to our organization, and Centre Ice Arena is an ideal location for us to hold our events each September.”

The tournament has been a showcase for emerging players. Alex DeBrincat stood out in 2017, scoring a goal in each of the Hawks’ four games to help lead them to their first tournament title. Matthew Highmore and David Kampf also were on the roster.

The 2018 roster featured Adam Boqvist, Lucas Carlsson, Nicholas Beaudin and Dylan Sikura, who went on to play 33 games for the Hawks that season.

Last year, four Hawks were knocked out of a game against the Wild, including Kirby Dach and Boqvist.

Still, Dach and Boqvist built on that experience and went on to play significant roles for the Hawks this season, and tournament teammates Beaudin, Brandon Hagel and Dennis Gilbert also saw varying levels of action.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187141 Chicago Blackhawks

NHL Tonight analysts choose Blackhawks over Oilers in NHL play-in round

By Alex Shapiro June 29, 2020 7:43 PM

The Blackhawks are technically underdogs against the Oilers in the play- in round when the NHL returns to play, but two NHL Network analysts are picking Chicago over Edmonton anyways.

.@mike_p_johnson and @Rupper17 are taking the @NHLBlackhawks in this series. Are you? #NHLTonight pic.twitter.com/8vUVUKOTS2

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) June 29, 2020

Mike Johnson and Mike Rupp explained on NHL Tonight why they’re taking the 12 seed to upset the 5 seed.

“They have the high end stars,” said Johnson. “Kane, Toews and others. They have the goaltender in Corey Crawford, who when he’s on his game, he can steal a game, steal a series.”

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

Johnson continued by saying Edmonton can be overly-dependent on their special teams play.

“The Edmonton Oilers were so reliant on their power play and penalty kill. If that goes cold, 5-on-5 hockey-- which playoff hockey involves more of-- doesn’t favor them to the same degree.”

Rupp on the other hand values the Blackhawks’ playoff experience in this unprecedented format.

“Just look at the circumstances that we’re under right now,” Rupp said. “This is very foreign, it’s a unique situation. I want guys who have gone through some unique situations… That’s no knock to the Edmonton Oilers, they just haven’t been through a grind of any sort like this in the playoffs in general.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187142 Chicago Blackhawks Note: Dylan Strome, Dominik Kubalik and Drake Caggiula all become restricted free agents after this season. It's doubtful the Hawks let Kubalik, who scored 30 goals as a rookie, walk away. Caggiula's grit and What if Blackhawks get No. 1 pick and select Alexis Lafrenière? the goals that come with it should be somewhat affordable.

Strome's future is a bit more uncertain with his sophomore season in Chicago lagging a bit compared to his first one, partially due to injuries. If By Scott King June 29, 2020 7:42 AM the team does part ways with Strome after this year, Dach may be trusted to be the new No. 2 center in his second NHL season.

If Kane is placed on Chicago's second line, Kubalik will probably go up The Blackhawks received a gift when it was announced they'd be top, where he saw a lot of success next to the Blackhawks' captain as a included in the NHL's 24-team playoff format under the Return To Play rookie: plan. Saad-Toews-Kubalik They're set to play the Oilers in a best-of-5 play-in series after being 12th in the Western Conference and six points out of a playoff spot with four DeBrincat-Strome-Kane teams to jump and 12 games remaining at the time of the NHL pause on March 11. Lafrenière-Dach-Shaw

They received more good fortune on Friday during Phase 1 of the NHL's Caggiula-Carpenter-Nylander Draft Lottery when it was announced the No. 1 overall pick for the 2020 Like we saw at times with Dach earlier this season, it's possible Colliton NHL Draft will go to one of the eight teams that loses in the qualifying could also either give Lafrenière a look among the team's top six round of this year's potential playoffs during Phase 2 of the Draft Lottery. forwards on the first or second line or reward him for playing well with Meaning, if the Hawks lose their series with the Oilers, they have a 12.5 some minutes there. percent chance of walking away with the top pick. In the land of Make Believe, anything is possible. If the season or the playoffs don't conclude, the Hawks would have a 12.5 percent chance at the top pick as one of the bottom four teams in Training camps for teams leading up to the NHL's 24-team playoff format the Western Conference. are still being targeted for July 10. The series against the Oilers could prove to be an entertaining one and with the layover plus Chicago's mix Phase 2 is slated to be conducted at some point between the qualifying of vets and young players, they've got a shot. So don't schedule your round and the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. draft parties yet.

The No. 1 pick of this year's draft is expected to be forward Alexis We'll see how things play out in a matter of time. Lafrenière, who registered 35 goals and 77 assists for a league-leading 112 points in 52 games this season with the Rimouski Océanic of the Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.30.2020 QMJHL, where he also served as the team captain.

Listed at 6'1, 192 lbs., Lafrenière will not only bring offense wherever he goes, but a little bit of size.

According to The Athletic's Corey Pronman, the left winger "attacks the net, has some physicality in his game and gets a lot of goals in the dirty areas."

Pronman also believes the already highly-coveted forward, who shoots left, makes up for his "average" speed with skill, smarts and vision.

Let's say the Hawks lose to the Oilers, luck out again and land the 18- year-old Saint-Eustache, Quebec native. We saw the Blackhawks strike gold in last year's draft when they had an 8.2 percent chance of getting a Top 3 pick and moved up nine spots to select center Kirby Dach third overall.

So, for fun's sake, let's fast forward and envision the Hawks ending up with the No. 1 overall pick for the 2020 draft. (Obviously, it would also be fun to see a great series with the Oilers and Chicago advance, but seriously, what if they get the No. 1 pick??)

When it comes to his road to the NHL, Lafrenière should be instantly ready for the show. It's incredibly doubtful the Blackhawks would pass on his skill and ability to score from tough areas if they possessed the top pick. Those assets would give the Hawks several options next season.

Even with an impressive training camp, it may be safe to assume Chicago head coach Jeremy Colliton would ease Lafrenière in on the team's third line, the way he did with Dach for a majority of this season.

As with a lot of forward personnel on the Blackhawks, who's around the potential No. 1 pick in the lineup could be dictated by where Patrick Kane is penciled in.

If we see a nuclear line with Saad-Toews-Kane and Andrew Shaw is healthy from his latest concussion, the forward groups could look like this:

Saad-Toews-Kane

DeBrincat-Strome-Shaw

Lafrenière-Dach-Kubalik

Caggiula-Carpenter-Nylander 1187143 Chicago Blackhawks deals and second and third contracts, and we got more coming. We felt very good where we are as Acme, but you’re always thinking about what more can we provide our guys in terms of resources, expertise, Wasserman acquires Acme, adds to growing hockey agency division brainpower, networking, all that stuff.

“From a client perspective, we thought we could give them even more in terms of the marketing side, on the brainpower side, on a concierge side, By Scott Powers Jun 29, 2020 even on a perk side. We even felt strongly about what Wasserman provides our players from a cultural, social, charitable, ‘making a

difference in my own way’ perspective. Our players are aware of what is Markus Lehto has been thinking a lot more lately about the early days of going on in their communities, whether it’s in their hometown or the city in Acme World Sports. which they play. Some want to make a statement, some want to get behind a cause, some want to make a difference privately, whatever it is Lehto and Bill Zito had a vision to create a sports agency and represent they choose, and Wasserman has those resources to assist our players hockey players throughout the United States and Europe. Acme was in getting involved and making a real actionable difference in their own their dual creation in 1995. way. That is huge for us.”

They started very much from the ground. That was what sold Lehto, too. It’s why he was willing to part ways with the company he started. “You go back and think about those times when Bill Zito and me, we drove on the East Coast in Billy’s small car and kind of thinking, ‘How are “It’s what’s best for the players,” said Lehto, who expects to have we going to manage to work out things?’” Lehto said. “That must have Wasserman offices in Chicago and Europe. “That must be the priority No. been 23, 24 years ago. We had great moments. Those moments will 1 over whether Acme is going to be a 100-year company or whatever.” never be forgotten.” The Athletic LOADED: 06.30.2020 Lehto and Zito exponentially grew the agency over their 18 years together, and Lehto carried on when Zito left to join the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2013. Since then, Lehto and current Acme partners Pete Rutili, Simo Niiranen, Brett Peterson and Joe Pinter have continued to build Acme through their U.S. office in Chicago and other offices in multiple European cities. The agency currently has 52 players under NHL contract.

Lehto is now saying goodbye to Acme World Sports, though, in hopes of creating something even bigger and better. On Monday morning, it will be announced Acme World Sports has been acquired by Wasserman.

The acquisition puts Wasserman in the conversation of being among the world’s biggest hockey agencies. Wasserman previously purchased a significant equity stake in Orr Hockey Group in 2018. With the addition of Acme, Wasserman now has more than 75 NHL clients.

“There’s a lot that goes into doing these deals,” Wasserman executive vice president of hockey Jeff Jackson said. “It has to work from a culture standpoint, it needs to work geographically and it obviously needs to work from a business standpoint. Acme’s presence in Europe and in the U.S., particularly with an office in the Midwest, along with all of their agents’ reputations and experience made it work. We were able to put it all together.”

Acme’s staff includes, from left, Simo Niiranen, Pete Rutili, Markus Lehto, Brett Peterson and Joe Pinter. (Courtesy of Acme)

Wasserman especially grows its presence in Europe by adding Acme’s clientele. Wasserman’s hockey division, which also includes executive vice president Dave Gagner and senior vice president Judd Moldaver, includes a number of top NHL players, especially Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews, but its European foothold has been minimal.

Acme changes that. Its clients include European players Tuukka Rask, Esa Lindell, Teuvo Teravainen, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Kasperi Kapanen.

“We have a global presence in all the other sports and European soccer. We’re in China, we’re kind of all over the place,” Jackson said. “We’re a global agency from the brand, property, the team sports side, the athlete representation side. I think we’ve always been somewhat regional (in hockey). We’re based in Ontario and we recruit mainly in the Ontario, upstate New York areas.

“We didn’t recruit (in Europe) because you really need people on the ground all the time identifying teams at the appropriate ages and having connections with families, just like we do here. When we’re looking to grow and have a European presence and represent European players, because some of the best players in the league are Europeans and they make up a big piece of it, we just looked and were thinking, ‘Why aren’t we doing this?’ We should be because we want to be considered one of the top agencies.”

From Acme’s perspective, joining Wasserman made sense to provide even more for its current and future clients.

“We didn’t need to do this,” Rutili said. “Our client list is pretty young. We’ve got good young guys and really good guys on their entry-level 1187144 Columbus Blue Jackets Jackets will let him walk as an unrestricted free agent. If Anderson is traded, look for the Jackets to get a protectable forward in return, and be prepared to put his name here instead of Anderson’s.

Blue Jackets’ expansion outlook bright with one year to go before Seattle Boone Jenner, C — The 30-goal season in 2015-16 appears to be an joins aberration. Jenner can be counted on for 12 to 18 goals per season, but that’s not the first line on his resume. Jenner is a gamer, a grinder, one of the fiercest competitors in the NHL. He may not be a marquee player, but By Aaron Portzline Jun 29, 2020 he’s a big part of the fabric of the club. You protect those guys at all costs.

Nick Foligno, LW — The Blue Jackets were forced to protect Foligno COLUMBUS, Ohio — New contracts will be signed. Big trades are likely back in 2017 (not that they wouldn’t have otherwise) because he had a in the offing. Players will elevate or lower their value with their on-ice no-move clause in his contract. That contract expires after the 2020-21 performance. season, at which time Foligno is expected to sign an extension at And yet, with one year to go before the NHL’s newest expansion something less than his current $5.5 million annual salary. Foligno, like franchise springs to life in Seattle, the Blue Jackets’ outlook for the Jenner, is not going to scream “protection” with his production. But he’s dreaded expansion draft next summer isn’t nearly as dreadful as it was your captain. You can’t throw him overboard. when the Vegas Golden Knights joined in 2017. Gus Nyquist, LW — The four-year, $22 million contract signed with the Back then, the Blue Jackets had a cluster of players with no-move Blue Jackets last summer as a free agent does not have a no-move clauses in their contracts and a host of players three years deep into their clause, so they won’t be forced to protect him. But it seems likely at this NHL careers. They had to bend over backward (we’re being kind here) to juncture, as Nyquist is a lock to be a top-six forward on this club for the swing a deal with Vegas that led to William Karlsson joining the Knights. next couple of seasons. He had a very good debut year with the Blue Jackets. There will be no blockbuster expansion trade this time. Analysis: Emil Bemström, Liam Foudy, and Alexandre Texier are exempt Partly because the Blue Jackets, along with other clubs, learned their from expansion, so take a deep breath. The Blue Jackets’ first-round pick lesson three years ago. It’s better to bite down hard and accept losing a later this summer will be, too, and so are top Russian prospects Kirill single player, the philosophy goes, than it is to shower the expansion Marchenko and Dmitri Voronkov. … Here’s something to consider with club with prospects and draft picks to take another player. Foligno: the Blue Jackets could agree to terms on a new contract but hold off on signing that deal until after the expansion draft. That would But the bigger reason the Blue Jackets won’t be at the mercy of Seattle allow the Blue Jackets to expose Foligno to expansion and clear a spot GM Ron Francis is that their protected list — while still a bit murky as this to protect another forward, with the promise that both sides would sign distance — should be a breeze to build. the deal on the other side. Seattle would have a 72-hour window before The rules for Seattle will be just as fortuitous as they were for Vegas. free agency to negotiate with Foligno, however. (San Jose did this in That is, teams can protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one 2017 with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau.) … The one player who goaltender; or they can protect eight skaters (forwards and defensemen could “pop” at forward and give the Blue Jackets a tough decision here is combined) and a goaltender. Players with two or fewer years of speedy winger Eric Robinson, whose hands are trying to catch up with experience in the NHL are exempt from selection. his world-class feet. … The most prominent name who seems likely, as of this date, to be exposed is Alexander Wennberg, who is making $4.9 The format million per season and playing a third-line role. Oh, the irony, if the two best-friend Swedes — first William Karlsson, then Wennberg — are the At this point, it’s safe to say anything’s possible. It seems unlikely that the two players lost by Columbus in expansion. … Other prominent Blue Blue Jackets would choose the 8-1 option, but it’s not out of the question Jackets who appear headed for exposure: Nathan Gerbe, Kevin if they really want to protect a fourth defenseman and opt to protect only Stenlund, Stefan Matteau, Calvin Thurkauf, and Columbus native Kole four forwards. Sherwood. If you put names to the “8-1” equation (again, as of today), you’re Defensemen suggesting the Jackets would rather keep, say, David Savard, Ryan Murray or Markus Nutivaara as a fourth protected defenseman and Seth Jones — Prediction: By this time next summer, there will be two big expose Boone Jenner, (re-signed) Nick Foligno or Gus Nyquist as the issues regarding Jones — where he is going to keep his first Norris fifth through seventh forwards. Trophy, and whether the Blue Jackets can sign him to a long-term extension. He could become an unrestricted free agent after the 2021-22 It sure seems like a 7-3-1 approach fits best for most clubs, and the Blue season, and his willingness to sign long-term in Columbus will be seen, Jackets are no exception. Let’s proceed with that in mind. fairly or not, as a barometer of the franchise’s ability to keep top-end Forwards talent. They may lose him, but not in the expansion draft.

Cam Atkinson, RW — It doesn’t get any easier than this decision. Zach Werenski — Jones’ partner on the top pairing also has a contract Atkinson has struggled to adjust in 2019-20 after Artemi Panarin left for that expires after the 2021-22 season, but Werenski will still be a the New York Rangers, but Atkinson scored 35 goals the season before restricted free agent. By then, however, a long-term contract should be in Panarin arrived (2016-17), and there’s no reason he can’t do it again. the offing. This season was stopped so abruptly that it’s easy to forget Atkinson has a no-trade clause (not a no-move clause), but c’mon. He’ll Werenski was leading NHL defensemen in scoring with 20 goals. That’s be protected. a big number in only 63 games. He’s not going anywhere.

Pierre-Luc Dubois, C — The jury is still out on Dubois being a bona fide Vladislav Gavrikov — In just one season in Columbus, Gavrikov has No. 1 center. Right now he looks like a really good No. 2 center, but shown the ability of a top-four blueliner, and he’s still young and there’s still plenty of room between the top of his head and the ceiling. improving. He’ll be 25 years old by the time the expansion draft rolls around. It’s hard to imagine the Blue Jackets exposing him. His Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW — Bjorkstrand was exempted when Vegas came emergence — along with that of Andrew Peeke — is what’s making one into the league, but he’ll require protection this time. After scoring 11 of the veterans seem expendable. goals two seasons ago, Bjorkstrand bloomed to 23 goals in 2018-19 and was well on his way to 30 (21 goals in 49 games) this season before he Analysis: If there are no trades, and Jones, Werenski and Gavrikov are fractured his ankle on Feb. 20. He has starred in the Pacific Northwest protected, it means the Blue Jackets would expose David Savard, Ryan before (WHL Portland), but Seattle can’t have him. Murray, Markus Nutivaara, Dean Kukan, and Scott Harrington to Seattle. With Peeke emerging (and exempt), losing one of those guys would Josh Anderson*, RW — There’s still plenty of time for the Blue Jackets seem a survivable scenario. … It’s worth noting that Savard and Murray and Anderson to reach some kind of peaceful accord — and a contract are both UFAs when their contracts expire after 2020-21, so next extension — that would keep him under wraps in Columbus long-term. If summer could be one of significant change on the blue line. The Blue that happens (don’t hold your breath), Anderson will 100 percent be Jackets (like the above note suggests regarding Foligno) could keep both protected in the expansion draft. If that doesn’t happen, he’ll likely be of them as unsigned UFAs until after the draft. … Other minor-league traded well before Seattle’s roster takes shape in 2021. No way the Blue defensemen who would be exposed: Adam Clendening, Gabriel Carlsson, Ryan Collins, Dillon Simpson.

Goaltenders

Joonas Korpisalo — The Blue Jackets were worried sick about losing Korpisalo in the 2017 expansion draft, but no drama here. He’ll be protected. If they haven’t made the call by next summer — Korpisalo or Elvis Merzlikins as the No. 1? — they’ll be getting very close.

Analysis: This position falls perfectly for the Blue Jackets this time. Merzlikins does not need to be protected, which is a huge sigh of relief in Columbus. Now it’s a good thing Merzlikins didn’t pick up any games at the end of 2018-19. … Third-string Matiss Kivlenieks, who played six games in 2019-20, would be the goaltender exposed by the Blue Jackets. … Prospects Daniil Tarasov and Veini Vehviläinen are exempt.

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Annual prospect tournament featuring Stars prospects canceled due to coronavirus

The Red Wings announced intentions to return to Traverse City in 2021.

By Matthew DeFranks

Stars prospects will not be heading to Traverse City for the annual prospect tournament.

On Monday morning, the host Red Wings canceled the 2020 tournament, typically held in September one week before the opening of NHL training camps across the league.

In 2019, the Stars lost to the Red Wings in the championship game. Chicago, St. Louis, Toronto, Columbus, Minnesota and the New York Rangers also participated in the tournament, and the Red Wings announced intentions to return to Traverse City in 2021.

The tournament is usually an opportunity for Stars coaches and management to watch their top prospects play against other top players their age. Last year, it was the first step for Thomas Harley that turned into a long stay at NHL training camp, and he could have done the same this year. In 2018, it was Miro Heiskanen’s first introduction to North American hockey.

Stars general manager Jim Nill said the team has no plans for a prospect tournament until training camps are set for 2020-21.

With the 2019-20 season suspended due to COVID-19, the 2020-21 season will be pushed back to an unknown date. The draft, free agency, development camp, prospect tournament, training camp and the start of the 2020-21 season will all be pushed into a condensed offseason.

A prospect tournament could also be tougher to organize because some leagues (in Canada or Europe) could have already started playing again, making prospects unable to participate with their NHL club.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187146 Dallas Stars seemed like a good fit for Madison, a very active town. I don’t think pitch is the right word – it was more casual – but we talked with Joe and Sarah and decided to go for it.”

Pandemic or not, Stars’ Joe Pavelski going all-in with his first restaurant Ogle and Klein took a trip to the Bay Area to visit one of the restaurants and try meals. They were impressed with the setup, and Pavelski officially signed as a franchisee with the company, planning to open his By Sean Shapiro Jun 29, 2020 branch in early 2020.

Pavelski also said if he could find the right business partner in Texas, he’d happily help open a LeanFeast franchise in Dallas. Monday is always the busiest day of the week for Jay Ogle and Morgan Klein. The two of them run LeanFeast, a meal-prep restaurant in Pavelski has other business ventures outside of hockey; he’s an investor Madison, Wisconsin. in Kompany39, a social media and marketing company that works with pro athletes. But this is his first foray into the restaurant business. “Monday becomes kind of crazy,” Ogle said. “It’s the beginning of the Working in the restaurant is also a new experience for someone who week and everyone is trying to get ready for the rest of it those days if played in the NHL after two NCAA seasons at Wisconsin. they are really meal prepping.” “My aunt owns a restaurant, but I never really was working in there other Those are the days when you can often find their business partner, than maybe helping with dishes,” Pavelski said. “I rode in the back of an Dallas Stars forward Joe Pavelski and his wife, Sarah, doing their part. ice cream truck and sold ice cream with my uncle, but I wouldn’t qualify Last week, Pavelski ran deliveries for a few hours while Sarah was that as working in a restaurant.” washing dishes. Ogle said Pavelski had made up for any shortcomings with his passion “They’ve been in here every Monday and any other day that we need for the business. them,” Ogle said. “So it’s been pretty awesome working with them.” “I don’t think he has a bit of ego,” Ogle said. “When he comes in, the first Uncertainty has been a theme for restaurants across the country, thing he does is start washing dishes if there is a single dish to wash. particularly those like Pavelski’s LeanFeast, which opened in the middle He’s been incredibly even-keeled in all of this. I would say I get tied up a of the pandemic. little bit more in the fact we are in a pandemic and worrying about the Pavelski had never planned on attending the opening of the restaurant, numbers. He understands we are in crazy times, and we are going to ride but when the NHL shuttered on March 12, he drove back to Madison and it out, and he’s going to be here as much as possible for it.” had an important conversation with his business partners: Do we open The business has also been a welcome distraction for Pavelski while the restaurant now, as planned, or do we wait? waiting for the NHL season to resume. “Not the best time, but we figured we were ready to be open and we went “It’s been fun and kept my mind off things and focused on something for it,” Pavelski said. “We’ve been getting new people in the door, and it’s important,” Pavelski said. “That’s a positive, I guess, that you take out of been really encouraging with the returning customers.” this since we never would have been here to open a restaurant Pavelski said the business can operate at “about 95 percent of normal” otherwise.” during the pandemic. He and his partners originally planned on using a The Athletic LOADED: 06.30.2020 couple of high-top tables for in-person dining, but for the time being, the majority of the business is made up of grab-and-go meals or customers who buy packs for a week of meal prep.

Still, there are pandemic-related shortfalls. For one, it currently isn’t feasible to hire any employees beyond a couple of part-time workers. It’s also hard to grow the business at the original projected pace without being able to promote it in gyms, where Ogle expects many customers to come from in more normal times.

Pavelski first enjoyed the business model as a customer. He started frequenting LeanFeast soon after founder Eric Larosa opened his first restaurant in San Jose in 2015.

“I probably drove by it about a month before I stopped in and tried a meal,” Pavelski said. “Once we started eating a few meals, that’s where I started getting a lot of my pre-game (meals) from.”

Sarah and their son, Nate, would often pick up five or six meals to stock the fridge when Joe would travel with the Sharks. It was an ideal solution on busier evenings, particularly on nights when Nate, who also plays hockey, had a game or practice of his own. The problem came during the offseason, when the family would head to Madison, Wisconsin, Pavelski’s offseason home ever since he played college hockey for the University of Wisconsin after growing up in Plover, Wisconsin.

“Every time we came back to Madison, we’d talk about how we missed LeanFeast,” Pavelski said. “Around the time we ended up signing with Dallas, they were starting to franchise. It was always something that I always thought, ‘This would work well in Madison,’ and it was the type of place you’d like to open, but you’d have to find the right person since we aren’t there day-to-day (in Wisconsin).”

He found the perfect fit in Ogle and Klein, who had recently moved back to Wisconsin after working at Stratton Mountain School in Vermont. Klein’s parents are Pavelski’s neighbors on Lake Waubesa outside of Madison, and Klein had nannied for Nate in the past. Ogle and Klein, former collegiate alpine skiers at the University of New Hampshire, wanted to get into the fitness market in Madison and had originally thought about opening a gym.

“He was talking about it a lot,” Ogle said. “I knew we wanted to do something entrepreneurial, and things kind of just fell well together. It 1187147 Dallas Stars

Why wasn’t Dallas selected as an NHL hub city? Now we know

By Sean Shapiro Jun 29, 2020

Control is going to be vital for the NHL when it comes to the proposed return-to-play plan in a hub city.

Keeping a tight bubble will be paramount, and while those efforts could be made anywhere, some potential hub cities – which have to yet be finalized but need to be soon – are naturally tighter than others.

In a nutshell, that’s why Dallas was eliminated from the NHL’s list of 10 possible hosts when the league potentially returns to play in early August.

More specifically, hotels played a major role. Had Dallas been chosen, NHL teams would have stayed at the Omni Hotel, which sits 1.7 miles from American Airlines Center. That’s close, but not close enough.

“The issue and why we didn’t get selected is the other places are going to have a better setup for the hub where they can control the environment,” said Stars president Brad Alberts. “Whether it’s walking across the street to the hotel and the hotel (that) can be quarantined with multiple restaurants and things to do.”

NHL players staying at the Omni would have to take buses to the American Airlines Center, a short but necessary ride to avoid outside contact for those within the bubble. The Omni has restaurants, but not nearly as many offerings as some of the other hotels in other potential hub cities like Las Vegas.

“We couldn’t compete with that,” Alberts said. “At the end of the day, that was really the differentiator.”

A less major issue? While COVID-19 has spiked in Texas – there have been more than 5,000 new cases recorded every day for the past week – the growth itself wasn’t as much of a factor for the league as you might think.

“When the league called to tell me they were moving in a different direction, at no time did they say it was because COVID was high in Texas,” Alberts said. So that really wasn’t the issue. The issue was being able to have a more contained quarantine hub environment.”

One of Dallas’ early selling points was the number of rinks already under the Stars’ management umbrella. With 16 ice surfaces in eight facilities across the Metroplex, Dallas presented an option in which each team could have their own dedicated surface for practice throughout the return-to-play format. Yet as the process played out, it didn’t have as much of an impact as once foreseen.

“It became less important as it moved along,” Alberts confirmed. “You’re not going to have a lot of time to practice; it’s going to be teams playing all the time. The practice rinks became less of a priority as the league vetted through their own process.”

Alberts said there isn’t too much disappointment when it comes to getting passed over as a hub. Hosting would not have provided a financial windfall for the organization or the city. Hosting, and just being in the conversation, was essentially a continuation of the Stars’ growing relationship with the league after they rather successfully hosted the NHL Draft in 2018 and the Winter Classic on Jan. 1.

According to two NHL sources, Dallas’ chance of hosting really hinged on whether the league could put a hub in Canada or not. Vegas, according to a source, was always the frontrunner in the United States, while Dallas would only have been considered if a second city was needed in the United States. Now that the NHL has likely decided there won’t be, the hosting conversation is over. The next phase of Stars hockey will take place somewhere outside the Metroplex.

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Detroit Red Wings alter fall schedule because of coronavirus. Here are the changes

Helene St. James, Detroit Free PressPublished 12:38 p.m. ET June 29, 2020 | Updated 5:51 p.m. ET June 29, 2020

Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman on a Zoom call following the news he'll pick fourth in the 2020 draft. Detroit Free Press

The prospects tournament that precedes training camp offered a chance for to see how the Detroit Red Wings’ future stacked up against other teams’ young talent.

That won’t happen this September. The Wings announced Monday that the 2020 prospects tournament has been canceled, and that whenever training camp will be held, it will take place at Little Caesars Arena, not in Traverse City, as has been tradition since 1997. Add it to the list of things to blame on COVID-19, as the pandemic has forced changes to address health concerns.

The Wings plan to bring both back to Traverse City in 2021.

“The health and safety of our fans, players and staff is our top concern,” general manager Steve Yzerman said in a release. “Based on discussions with local health experts, we have decided to hold our 2020- 21 training camp at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. We look forward to returning to Traverse City next year. The Traverse City community is extremely hospitable to our organization, and Centre Ice Arena is an ideal location for us to hold our events each September.”

It was then-coach Scotty Bowman who began the tradition in 1997, taking the defending Stanley Cup championship to the picturesque city by Grand Traverse Bay. It was an instant hit with players, who relished the opportunity to play golf after practices, and locals, who attended practices and scrimmages at Centre Ice Arena.

The 2004 camp was canceled because of the labor dispute that wiped out the 2004-05 season. In January of 2013, the Wings held training camp at what was then known as Compuware Arena in Plymouth because of a labor dispute that wiped out the first half of the 2012-13 season.

The prospects tournament began in 1998. The Wings won the tournament in 2019, led by top prospects including Moritz Seider, Filip Zadina and Joe Veleno. They defeated the Dallas Stars, 6-5, in the championship game. Veleno led the tournament, which also included the Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues and Toronto Maple leafs, with seven goals.

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Red Wings get Lucas Raymond with fourth pick in ESPN mock draft

The Detroit News Published 1:17 p.m. ET June 29, 2020

Lucas Raymond, a 6-foot, 175-pound forward from Sweden, is the Detroit Red Wings’ selection at No. 4 in a partial NHL mock draft by ESPN’s Chris Peters.

Raymond, who turned 18 in March, averaged just 9:38 of ice time last season playing for Frolunda, a team stacked with NHL-age players in the Swedish Hockey League.

Lucas Raymond

“The Red Wings could get more dynamic up front, and Raymond would be the guy to help them do it,” Peters says. “His creativity lends itself to some intriguing upside. The Wings would have to let him marinate in his native Sweden a bit longer, but playing at Frolunda – one of the best developmental clubs in the world – puts him in phenomenal hands to round out his game.”

Raymond had 10 points in 33 games for Frolunda. Against players of similar age, he had 14 points in nine games with Frolunda's U20 team in the SuperElit league. He also had four points in seven games with Sweden's bronze-medal winning team at the U20 world championships.

"It would be a dream come true to be selected but any NHL team but especially the Red Wing with their history of Swedes," Raymond told The Detroit News in May. "(Henrik) Zetterberg, (Nicklas) Lidstrom, (Niklas) Kronwall, (Tomas) Holmstrom. I can only imagine playing in front of so many fans there."

In the NHL Central Scouting Bureau rankings, Raymond is the No. 4 European skater.

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Whitmer cautions about return of pro sports: 'We're going to watch it differently'

John Niyo, The Detroit News Published 12:39 p.m. ET June 29, 2020 | Updated 12:45 p.m. ET June 29, 2020

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order late last week that allows for the return of professional sports in the state. But she sounded a cautionary note while discussing that decision — one that won’t allow fans in attendance at games due to concerns about COVID- 19 — during a radio interview Monday on 97.1 The Ticket.

“We’ve been talking with the MLB commissioner, we’ve talked to the head of NASCAR, we’ve spoken to the Pistons and the NBA, as well as the NFL and (commissioner) Roger Goodell,” Whitmer said on the Jamie and Stoney Show. “It’s really important that we resume some normalcy, but do it in a safe manner. I’ve had people say, ‘Oh, you’re gonna cancel sports.' I said, ‘C'mon, let’s keep our wits about us. I’m not gonna to cancel sports, but we’re going to watch it differently.’ And that’s for our safety. And maybe this is one season of doing it this way, but it’s the smart way to do it to keep the athletes safe, keep the sport going and give us the ability to enjoy it.”

Scenes like this at Comerica Park are highly unlikely this season because of the pandemic.

Whitmer has been consistent in her message about the return of sports this spring, making headlines back in May with her comments that there won’t be full stadiums again until there’s a vaccine.

"Some people don’t know, but my first passion in life was to be a sports broadcaster, so this is something that I recognize as an important part of our culture,” she said Monday. “We want it to continue, but we’re just going to have to observe it differently than we have before."

Pro sports league are taking different avenues to resuming play, with the NBA and NHL planning to finish their seasons in hub cities while MLB and the NFL teams attempt to start their 2020 schedules in home stadiums. But with coronavirus case numbers spiking in various states across the country, that raises obvious concerns, particularly here in Michigan, one of the hardest-hit states this spring. The Tigers are set to report for a second spring training Wednesday, and the regular season is scheduled to start July 24.

“Any time people are traveling, especially between states and especially coming from a state that’s having such a massive outbreak like Florida is right now, we all have to be cautious,” Whitmer said. “So the MLB and the Tigers have a really thoughtful, evidence-based plan to keep people quarantined to ensure that they mitigate spread and test all their employees as well as the athletes.

"I think we can navigate this. We just have to be really smart and remember this virus hasn’t changed. The only thing that’s changed is we’ve learned how to live with it better to protect ourselves, And that’s why we all have to keep our guard up. I see outbreaks happening in Michigan because people are letting their guard down. And that’s something that's really important, that every one of us masks up when we’re out and about, that we stay six feet apart, and remember, you’re always safer at home. Unless you need to go out, if you can stay home, that’s the best way to stay safe."

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Red Wings move 2020 training camp to Detroit from Traverse City

The Detroit News Published 11:29 a.m. ET June 29, 2020 | Updated 11:35 a.m. ET June 29, 2020

The Red Wings will hold their 2020 training camp in Detroit, not their traditional Traverse City location, the team announced Monday.

The Wings’ camp will be at Little Caesars Arena in 2020, and the team will return to Traverse City’s Centre Ice Arena for camp in 2021.

Red Wings players skate through drills during practice in 2019 at Centre Ice Arena.

The Wings also canceled the NHL Prospect Tournament and Training Camp Golf Classic, but said those events would return to Traverse City in 2021.

“The health and safety of our fans, players and staff is our top concern,” said Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman. “We look forward to returning to Traverse City next year. The Traverse City community is extremely hospitable to our organization, and Centre Ice Arena is an ideal location for us to hold our events each September.”

More information about the Wings’ 2020 training camp will be announced later.

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Red Wings to hold 2020 camp at LCA; prospects tourney cancelled

By Ansar Khan

Detroit Red Wings training camp prior to the 2020-21 season has been relocated from Traverse City to Little Caesars Arena.

The club announced Monday the cancellation of the 20202 NHL Prospects Tournament and Training Camp Gold Classic held annually in Traverse City. The club said both events, as well as training camp, will return to Traverse City in 2021.

The NHL, paused since March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic, has not yet determined when training camps will open for the 2020-21 season.

“The health and safety of our fans, players and staff is our top concern,” Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman said in a statement. “Based on discussions with local health experts, we have decided to hold our 2020-21 training camp at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. We look forward to returning to Traverse City next year. The Traverse City community is extremely hospitable to our organization, and Centre I.C.E. Arena is an ideal location for us to hold our events each September.”

The Red Wings have held training camp in Traverse City every year since 1997, with the exception of the canceled season in 2004-05 and the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season.

“We support the Red Wings’ decision to hold their 2020-21 training camp in Detroit,” Tom Rodes, Centre I.C.E. director of Detroit Red Wings Events in Traverse City, said in a release. “We’re able to hold these events thanks to the tireless efforts of hundreds of volunteers who prepare for months to create a memorable experience for thousands of fans across Traverse City and northern Michigan, players and staff from the Red Wings, and personnel from organizations throughout the NHL. Changes to our training camp events were made with their health in mind, and we eagerly await the return of these events to Traverse City in 2021.”

Michigan Live LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187153 Detroit Red Wings could be part of the mix if he improves defensively. Gustav Lindstrom could be a capable third-pair defenseman down the road.

Prospects still in juniors, college or Europe include Jared McIsaac, Seth Defenseman Jamie Drysdale might be best fit for Red Wings at No. 4 Barton, Kasper Kotkansalo, Albert Johansson and Antti Tuomisto.

There is some depth of prospects on the blue line, but the Red Wings By Ansar Khan need another defenseman with high-end potential. That could be Drysdale.

Michigan Live LOADED: 06.30.2020 The script for the top of the 2020 NHL draft seems straightforward.

One of the eight teams that loses in the qualifying round of the playoffs will win the second phase of the lottery and select Alexis Lafreniere, virtually everybody’s projected top pick.

The Los Angeles Kings will then select either center Quinton Byfield or winger Tim Stuetzle at No. 2. The Ottawa Senators at No. 3 will take who is available between Byfield and Stuetzle.

The Detroit Red Wings select at No. 4. This is where the guessing begins, but defenseman Jamie Drysdale makes the most sense.

Scripts have a way of changing. We saw that in 2019 when Steve Yzerman, in his first draft as Red Wings general manager, pulled a surprise by taking defenseman Moritz Seider of Germany at No. 6, ahead of centers Dylan Cozens and Trevor Zegras, one of whom many anticipated Detroit would choose.

It is still way early in the evaluation process, but one year later that appears to have been a wise decision.

Seider is a big, mobile, puck-moving defenseman (6-4, 207) who had a fine rookie season in AHL Grand Rapids at age 18 and a strong World Junior Championship showing with Germany. He is the Red Wings’ top prospect, one who might be NHL-ready next season.

The Red Wings have a good core of 25-and-under NHL forwards in Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha, Tyler Bertuzzi and Robby Fabbri and some promising prospects up front.

Filip Zadina, their 2018 top pick, has played only 37 games but is inching closer to establishing himself in the league. Evgeny Svechnikov, their 2015 top pick, will have an opportunity to prove himself from the start of next season. Michael Rasmussen, their 2017 top pick, could return to the NHL next season after a year of development with the Griffins.

Joe Veleno, Detroit’s second first-round pick in 2018 (30th overall), has a year of AHL experience. Jonatan Berggren, taken three spots later, has flashed tremendous skills in Sweden despite two injury-plagued seasons.

The Red Wings’ prospect pool on defense is not as strong.

This high in the draft teams generally select the best player on their board, forward or defenseman. That is what Yzerman said he will do.

Forward options likely will include centers Cole Perfetti of Saginaw (OHL) and Marco Rossi of Ottawa (OHL) and wingers Lucas Raymond (Frolunda, Sweden), Alexander Holtz (Djurgardens, Sweden) and Jack Quinn (Ottawa, OHL).

But unless the Red Wings feel one of those players is clearly superior to Drysdale, the defenseman from Erie (OHL) appears the best option.

Drysdale (5-11, 175) is described by analysts as having a good combination of puck-movement skills and defensive acumen. He skates well and is aggressive for his size.

“His smarts with the puck and excellent footwork and stick placement help him against bigger players,” Red Line Report said. “Tough to gain the offensive zone on his side of the ice -- keeps his shoulders squared up to puck-carriers and closes gaps perfectly. Extremely dangerous when he has the puck. Calculated passer spreads wealth out to all areas in offensive zone. Utilizes pinpoint accurate snap shots from far out, aiming for areas where teammates can get deflections. Superb skater links together world class moves in all four directions.”

Red Line Report said Drysdale’s style compares to Cale Makar, the 2017 fourth overall pick who has had a strong rookie season with the Colorado Avalanche.

Drysdale in two or three years would join a young defense corps that includes Filip Hronek, who established himself in the NHL this season, and Seider, who seems certain to be with the Red Wings at some point next season, if not at the start. Dennis Cholowski, their 2016 top pick, 1187154 Detroit Red Wings If you think Wings fans feel bad today, imagine how they’ll react if the Penguins get to add Quebec Major Junior League star Lafreniere to a roster that includes Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin; if Toronto George Pohly -- Flawed process, not conspiracy, sandbagged Red complements Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander with Wings' draft position the high-scoring forward, or if Edmonton links Lafreniere with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

The Red Wings finished 23 or more points behind every team this By George Pohly season, and three teams will have the opportunity to pick before they do.

How anyone in a decision-making role with the NHL said yes to that possibility is beyond me. Steve Yzerman took the high road when the Red Wings emerged from the NHL draft lottery with the fourth pick. Yzerman is right. The Red Wings might get lucky.

While fans fumed that Detroit, far and away the worst team during the They might wind up with a forward prospect like Tim Stutzle, Quinton pandemic-shortened season, didn’t get the top pick and the chance to Byfield, Marco Rossi or Lucas Raymond and come away with the best draft teenage forward Alexis Lafreniere, general manager Yzerman player in the draft. struck a conciliatory tone after it was determined that a first-round playoff loser will get the No. 1 choice. It’s also possible that Lafreniere, or whomever is chosen second or third, will for a decade torment the Wings while Detroit’s glory days slip further “We’ll get a great prospect and do whatever we can to develop him,” into the past. Yzerman said. “Maybe we will get lucky.” Yzerman should have his pick of all, or all but one, of the players Lucky? The Red Wings? available.

That would reverse a trend. Then, if he made a mistake, the boo-boo would have been on him.

NHL Draft Lottery Hockey Lafreniere Detroit fans are quick to concoct conspiracy theories when things go against their teams. Canada's Alexis Lafreniere shoots during the team's practice at the World Junior Hockey Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic. I don’t think the NHL conspired to do the Wings harm. Lafreniere is thought to be the best prospect in the 2020 NHL draft. The injustice that played out Friday was the product of a foolish system Ryan Remiorz, The Associated Press that shouldn't have been implemented.

Luck plays a part in the building of any successful sports franchise. From Commissioner Gary Bettman on down, it might be wise to keep fingers crossed that Yzerman finds a superstar with the fourth pick. We all remember how the Red Wings were disappointed in 1983 when they “settled” for a center from the Peterborough Petes after the New Reputations and credibility could be at stake. York Islanders snapped up Waterford’s Pat LaFontaine with the third pick, and then the Petes’ Yzerman became the cornerstone of Stanley NHL Draft Hockey Bettman Cup-winning teams in what was to become known as Hockeytown. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks during the first round of the That was a great story with a happy ending for a long-staggering 2017 draft in Chicago. franchise. Nam Y. Huh, The Associated Press

It would be just as good a story if Yzerman the GM turned the fourth pick Macomb Daily LOADED: 06.30.2020 into a player of his ilk.

But I wouldn't count on that happening.

Besides, we never should have gotten to this point.

“Luck” isn’t much of a plan.

The draft lottery that went down Friday and made it possible for a team like Pittsburgh, Toronto or Edmonton to land the No. 1 pick was an ill- conceived mishmash of ideas, an overreaction to the fact that COVID-19 kept the NHL from playing its entire regular season.

Either Detroit, which won 17 of 71 regular-season games and had 39 points, or Ottawa, which won 25 of 71 and had 62, should have been guaranteed the top pick before the wheels of the lottery started spinning.

The Wings and Senators played 86.5 % of their seasons, clearly enough time to prove their inferiority.

Sure, another team like the Kings, Devils or Sabres could have “caught” the Senators for the second-worst record if the final 10 or so regular- season games had been played.

But in mid-March, when the coronavirus shut down sports at every level, Detroit and Ottawa were 1-2, and they should have been slotted for the first and second picks when the NHL cooked up its plan to reopen.

Any system that allowed even a slim chance for the Red Wings or Senators to fall lower than second and a playoff team to get No. 1 should have never gotten out of a conference room, let alone into execution.

Instead, the Wings pick fourth and the Senators fifth, although Ottawa also gets the third pick thanks to one it acquired in a trade with San Jose.

The system was flawed.

Now the NHL looks silly. 1187155 Florida Panthers Let’s assume Tallon inks one of the two skilled wingers and he is protected as a result. For argument’s sake, we’ll say it’s Dadonov because the 31-year-old is a homegrown player having been selected Who could the Panthers lose to Seattle in the 2021 expansion draft? 71st overall in 2007.

Maybe Haula signs a new deal, too, although he won’t be nearly as expensive as either Dadonov or Hoffman, who is 30. By Scott Burnside Jun 29, 2020 Captain Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau (no-move clause) will be protected and then it gets a bit tricky given the good value that players such as Noel Acciari, Frank Vatrano, Brett Connolly and possibly The Vegas expansion draft in June of 2017 was not a shining moment for Wallmark bring to the proceedings. There’s also the 23rd overall pick in a number of NHL teams as it caused a collective brain cramp for many the ’16 draft, Henrik Borgstrom, to consider. He must be protected if the executives. Cats don’t want to risk losing him. Perhaps no team gave up so much to gain so little as the Florida On the back end, it is a little more cut and dried because veteran Keith Panthers. Yandle has a no-move clause so he’ll be staying put. And there’s no way Reilly Smith and Jonathan Marchessault went to Vegas in deals meant, the Panthers will expose former rookie of the year Aaron Ekblad or Mike in large part, to protect a couple of emerging young Panthers Matheson, who was recently signed to an eight-year deal. That means defensemen, Mark Pysyk and Alexander Petrovic, who it turned out did Anton Stralman, signed last offseason to a three-year deal, is likely to be not emerge as the organization expected. exposed.

Pysyk is nearing the end of his current contract and if he’s re-signed, he In goal, there’s no question about the plan, given that Bobrovsky has a could end up being exposed by the Panthers next summer in the Seattle no-move clause and the Panthers sold the farm to sign him to a seven- draft. Petrovic was dealt to Edmonton in December of 2018, about six year, $70-million deal last summer. months after Vegas went to the Stanley Cup Final in its first season, So, here’s how things could look come expansion draft ’21 for the helped in large part by the contributions of Marchessault and Smith. Panthers. Marchessault has notched 181 points in 225 games with the Golden Knights. Smith had 27 goals this past regular season. Seven forwards

The Panthers have retooled mightily since that fateful expansion draft, Aleksander Barkov: Team captain and the heart soul of this Panthers adding Hall of Fame-bound head coach Joel Quenneville and two-time group. Let’s stop calling him underrated and start calling him what he is: Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky to go with an an elite center. already deep, offensively talented lineup. Jonathan Huberdeau: The Panthers’ leading scorer with 78 points, he’s a The Seattle expansion draft won’t be any easier for the talented cornerstone of this offensively talented team. Panthers, but don’t expect general manager Dale Tallon to step out with any side deals this time around even if it means he’ll likely have to say Evgenii Dadonov: Assuming he re-ups with the Panthers, he represents goodbye to a veteran defenseman or a strong role-playing forward. consistent 30-goal potential if not more.

Here’s a reminder of what the rules are for the expansion draft that will Noel Acciari: Quenneville loves the former Bruins player who has a nice take place sometime after the completion of the 2020-21 season, blend of sand and skill as witnessed by his 20-goal breakout season. presumably in late July. Notable also is that none of those 20 goals came on the power play. Has a nice $1.67 million annual cap hit through 2021-22. Teams (apart from Vegas, which does not have to give up a player to Seattle) have the option of protecting seven forwards, three defensemen Frank Vatrano: Has a team-friendly $2.53 million cap hit, also through and one goalie, or eight skaters and one goalie, and Seattle will select 2021-22, and was on his way to a 20-goal season when the NHL paused one player from each of the 30 teams. for COVID-19.

Players with no-movement clauses must be protected. Lucas Wallmark: Hard to imagine the Panthers don’t find a way to keep Wallmark in the fold as at least some return for Vincent Trocheck, who First- and second-year pros along with unsigned draft picks are exempt went to Carolina at the trade deadline, and given Wallmark’s ability to do from the expansion draft. Per the collective bargaining agreement, pretty much everything and play up and down your lineup and in all players aged 18 or 19 earn a year of pro experience by playing 10 or situations. He’s not going to break the bank either. more NHL games in a given season. Players aged 20 or older (or who turn 20 between Sept. 16 and Dec. 31 of the calendar year in which they Henrik Borgstrom: Hard to imagine Seattle doesn’t pounce on the lanky sign their first standard player contract) earn a year of professional center if he’s left unprotected. experience by playing 10 or more pro games under a standard player The Panthers can’t risk losing Henrik Borgstrom to Seattle. (Christopher contract in a given season. Hanewinckel / USA Today)

Teams must make available a defenseman and two forwards who played Three defensemen 40 games the previous season or 70 combined in the previous two seasons. Unrestricted free agents do not fulfill the 40/70 rule. Keith Yandle: The NHL’s reigning iron man will have just turned 35 when he steps on the ice to start the 2021-22 season. He’s under contract One goalie must be exposed. through 2022-23 at a hefty $6.35 million annually. He’s a crafty veteran So, what do the Panthers do? who commands the Panthers’ power play and might be attractive to Seattle for his experience if the Panthers approached him about waiving With the caveat that this is far too early to be a meaningful barometer of his no-move. what might happen whenever the Seattle draft is actually held, it’s expected the Panthers will go with the favored 7-3-1 forward, defense, Aaron Ekblad: The former rookie of the year looks to finally be back on goalie protected route that allows maximum flexibility in protecting the arc to stardom and remains a pivotal part of the team’s plan moving assets. forward. He carries a $7.5 million annual cap hit through 2024-25.

Up front there will be lots of moving parts to contend with depending on Mike Matheson: The solid top-four defender was given the maximum what Tallon does with a group of talented forwards who are coming to the eight-year deal by the Panthers at a nice $4.875 million annually. He ends of their deals whenever the current season ends. Mike Hoffman, doesn’t have trade protection but we don’t see any way the Panthers Evgenii Dadonov and Erik Haula, acquired from Carolina at the trade expose him. deadline along with the useful Lucas Wallmark, are all pending One goaltender unrestricted free agents this summer. Wallmark is a restricted free agent. Sergei Bobrovsky: Lots of ups and downs in his first season in Florida but Hoffman, who left Ottawa with some off-ice baggage when he was first the belief is he is the guy who will make this team a perennial playoff traded to San Jose and then acquired by the Panthers in June of ’18, led participant and Stanley Cup contender. the Cats with 29 goals this season. Dadonov was second with 25 goals. Who will Seattle be looking at?

Brett Connolly is under contract through 2022-23 at a nice $3.5 million cap hit. He’s versatile and a winner, having played a significant role in Washington’s run to a Cup in ’18. He had 19 goals at the pause. If he’s exposed, he’d be an extremely attractive player to Seattle, which will be looking for character guys. If the Panthers don’t re-sign either Hoffman or Dadonov, Connolly could easily slide into the protected list.

Stralman is another quality player who will be 35 before the 2021-22 season begins. He’ll be entering the final year of a deal that pays $5.5 million, which makes him attractive as he could be flipped by Seattle at the ’22 trade deadline to gather more assets if the team isn’t in the hunt.

MacKenzie Weegar is a younger — he’s 26 now — depth defenseman who will be a restricted free agent at the end of this season. Assuming he’s re-signed by the Panthers, he’ll be another option for Seattle and if it follows the Las Vegas model, which is to load up on defensemen and then flip some of them for picks or other assets, then Weegar could be that kind of guy.

The Panthers will also have to make a decision on who will back up Bobrovsky moving forward with Sam Montembeault, 23, a restricted free agent this summer and Chris Driedger, 26, an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season. Both have shown flashes and could be of interest to Seattle although that’s less likely given some of the other goaltending options available to the club.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187156 Los Angeles Kings but it takes away an opportunity to meet with some of the European prospects on a more personal level.

“It’s a little piece of information you don’t have now,” Yannetti said. “The The LA Kings will select second overall in the 2020 NHL Draft. draft combine interviews, they’re kind of like window dressing for me. It’s a chance for Rob to meet some of the guys that he wouldn’t have met during the season face to face. It’s a chance to, especially the North Staff Americans, that work has been done. Our scouting staff has been wired to watch certain conversations, to check certain boxes in terms of

interviewing and vetting these guys. 90 – 95 percent of the heavy lifting is It’s no longer new news, but it still feels nice to say. Immediately following done before the combine. The one thing you miss, is it’s a little bit hard to Friday’s Draft Lottery, Kings General Manager Rob Blake spoke with get all of the Europeans done during the year. Christian Ruuttu does a local and national media about his early thoughts and excitement about great job, and I get over there with Christian and we talk to them, but acquiring the second overall selection, plus some thoughts on positional that’s probably the biggest piece that would be missing with the fit and his approach to the selection. Blake’s comments can be found Combine, is the Europeans.” here, and watched below. When looking at the remainder of the team’s selections, moves made In a special episode of All The Kings Men Live, LA Kings President Luc around the Trade Deadline have stocked the Kings with three second Robitaille and Director of Scouting Mark Yannetti each joined the show to round selections in 2020, plus additional picks in the third and fourth give their reactions to the selection. rounds. With extra picks in recent seasons, and positive selections at those slots, Yannetti said that it becomes a possibility to trade up if the “It’s one of those things, you’re trying to be cool but we’re pretty excited,” right player was available, or to be more aggressive with selections, Robitaille said. “We trust Mark and his staff, they’ve always gone above considering the depth already within the system. He mentioned Arthur and beyond on figuring out who’s [got] the best character, who’s the best Kaliyev as a possibility in a similar situation last year, but the team took a player. You look at what was done early on…you look at the character “calculated risk” and got their guy without spending draft capital. we’ve brought into this organization, players that it meant something to play for the Kings. You look now, and what people are talking about with “The stockpile of talent does a couple of things,” Yannetti said. “It allows our organization and the pipeline we have. We know now this gives us us to maybe be a little more aggressive in some of the things that we’re the opportunity to get one more player that will come into our doing, since you have a cushion to fall back on. For me, what it says is organization, it will mean something to be with the Kings.” we’ve got a lot of good prospects, and a lot of guys to fill certain roles. Maybe, with the depth of our prospect pool, maybe you can argue that Robitaille spoke to the success that Yannetti has had when it’s come to you do package some of those picks to get a higher level player, since the NHL Draft, adding not only talented players into the organization, but we have a lot of good level players. Instead of blanketing three second also the right character fits for the organization. The Kings President was picks, maybe you try to get a higher level guy and take two guys off the confident that Yannetti and his team will use the additional time between board and not worry about…in terms of depth we have a lot of the Lottery and the Draft to turn over every stone in finding the right fit at prospects.” second overall. Lastly, a couple additional links after Friday’s news – “Knowing these guys, what they’re going to do when it gets to the final decision, they’ve got a long time so that means Mark’s going to work – ESPN deemed the Kings a “Draft Lottery Winner”, with prospects really hard, I know Mark,” Robitaille said. “You talk about there’s no stone analyst Chris Peters calling the Kings prospect pool “one of the deepest” unturned, trust me, there won’t be anything unturned in the entire plan in in the NHL, while also noting that the player selected second overall knowing which guy is the best. We’re going to get a player that’s going to could immediately jump to the top of that list. Down Goes Brown with The really help our franchise, and I think that Kings fans should be really Athletic placed the Kings in the same category in his Winners/Losers happy about that.” recap.

Looking back at the history of this selection in the Kings organization, – Blake discussed a group of “3-4 players” that would be heavily looked Robitaille pointed out that the last two second overall selections have at with the second overall pick. Various outlets including ESPN, Sportnet, served the organization well. Drew Doughty went on to win two Stanley The Athletic and NHL.com had the Kings taking one of Quinton Byfield or Cups and a Norris Trophy, while Jimmy Carson was a dynamic scorer in Tim Stutzle in the first round. But there’s a lot more time for that later as his two seasons with the Kings, before serving as the centerpiece for the things become clearer. trade that brought Wayne Gretzky to LA. NOTE – Zach Dooley works for the Ontario Reign and is one of many “The last guy we got second overall helped us win the cup,” Robitaille contributors to LA Kings Insider during this time. Our organization said. “He was an instrumental player, he’s still a big piece, Drew is so understands the importance of LAKI to you and remain committed to important to our franchise. The guy before that who went second overall evolving the platform and providing even more content once we resume was Jimmy Carson, who helped us get Wayne Gretzky. So far, the LA usual operations. Kings have been pretty fortunate [picking second overall].” LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 06.30.2020 Yannetti also had his own segment on the show, where he spoke to the meaning of the pick on his side of things. He talked about the thought process of there being consensus number one overall selection here in this year’s draft, likening it to the 2008 Draft where Tampa Bay selected Steven Stamkos first overall, in a scenario where even the organization came out and said they’d select Stamkos there. Sitting at number two, the Kings took Doughty, which seems like it worked out for all parties.

“Without giving away trade secrets, if you finish first, it’s a pretty easy pick this year, right,” Yannetti said. “Now, finishing second is a wonderful thing, but it opens up a lot of work. It’s a lot of good work, but it’s nice because you don’t have to sit there and wait at three or wait at four or seven and hope this guy falls to us, you’re just crossing your fingers saying please don’t pick so and so at six. It allows us a certain amount of control over our own destiny.”

While the pause in the NHL season, and the cancellation of most if not all amateur seasons across the world, as well as the combine, has put a wrinkle into scouting for this year’s draft, Yannetti noted that “90 – 95 percent” of the heavy lifting would have already been completed before what would have been the combine. He noted that almost all the work with North American players would essentially have already been done, 1187157 Minnesota Wild They might actually be better off for it.

Pioneer Press LOADED: 06.30.2020

Dane Mizutani: Wild should welcome loss to Canucks if it means shot at Alexis Lafreniere

By DANE MIZUTANI | PUBLISHED: June 29, 2020 at 2:08 p.m. | UPDATED: June 29, 2020 at 3:48 p.m.

Maybe winning is no longer the best option for the Wild. At least not in the traditional sense.

As the NHL continues to move forward with its Return To Play Plan, the most chaotic scenario imaginable played out over the weekend when deputy commissioner Bill Daly revealed the No. 1 draft pick would go to a team currently in the postseason, to be awarded at a later date.

Yes, that means the Wild are still very much in contention to draft dynamic left winger Alexis Lafreniere, an 18-year-old who some analysts say can be the next Sidney Crosby or Connor McDavid.

As a part of the 24-team format, which was agreed upon last month amid the coronavirus pandemic, a total of 16 teams will meet up in the preliminary round of the postseason.

The winners advance to the playoffs, continuing their chance at hoisting the Stanley Cup. The losers will now be entered into a separate draft lottery with each team having a 12.5 percent chance at adding a generational talent to their roster.

Not a bad consolation prize. Especially considering that’s much better odds than most teams have at actually winning the Stanley Cup.

As fun as the Wild were a few months ago — no doubt Kevin Fiala’s emergence as a star in the making played a major role — it’s hard to consider them a legitimate contender right now. They still have too many holes to compete with some of the top-tier teams in the league.

Thus, it might actually behoove them to lose to the Vancouver Canucks in the preliminary round, cross their fingers and toes, and hope the No. 1 pick falls into their lap.

If the Wild beat the Canucks, they would have a 1-in-16 chance at winning the Stanley Cup, and that’s assuming every team is exactly the same. That’s obviously not the case because some teams are much better than other teams.

Look at if the Wild manage to get past the Canucks, for example, which is by no means a guarantee. They would have to play the St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights or Dallas Stars in the next round. In no scenario would the Wild be favored.

Do fans really want to see another early playoff exit?

If the Wild lose to the Canucks, they would have a 1-in-8 chance at drafting a player who could instantly alter the landscape of the franchise. To say Lafreniere would expedite the rebuilding process in the Twin Cities would be putting it lightly.

He finished with 112 points (35 goals, 77 assists) in 52 games this past season, becoming the first player since Crosby to be named the best player in the Canadian Hockey League in back-to-back season. Not only would Lafreniere give the Wild a foundational piece for the future, he would serve as a perfect counter punch to Russian sniper Kirill Kaprizov, 23, who plays the same positions and is expected to sign with the Wild at some point this offseason.

Imagine if the Wild were able to add both prospects in the same offseason and Fiala continued his rise. In a matter of months, the Wild could sneakily emerge as a force to be reckoned moving forward despite what some might say about their aging roster.

Obviously the Wild won’t throw games when play resumes. These players are professionals and have too much pride to do that. Plus, the playoffs can be a crap shoot with the NHL consistently showcasing more parity than most other leagues.

That said, if the Wild give way to another early exit, this time at the hands of the Canucks, they can take some solace in knowing that it could lead to them landing a generational talent. 1187158 Montreal Canadiens as they could be, as antiseptic as they could be, that the most significant protective measures are in place so that they’re not going to infect themselves or family members or others. Secondly, of course, you have Stu on Sports: Canadiens' Carey Price heads back to Montreal the economic interests. When the game is shut down, the business is shut down. But it’s the health things which matter most.”

Author of the article:Stu Cowan • Montreal Gazette On Monday, the NHL announced that another 15 players have tested positive for COVID-19 during Phase 2 of the Return to Play Plan, in addition to 11 players who earlier tested positive outside the Phase 2 With NHL training camps slated to start on July 10 as Phase 3 of the protocol. Return to Play Plan, Canadiens players who are out of town should be heading back to Montreal soon. The NHL said more than 250 players have reported to team practice facilities as part of Phase 2 and that more than 1,450 COVID-19 tests Carey Price’s wife, Angela, posted the photo below on Instagram have been administered to them. The NHL added that all players who Monday morning of the goaltender hugging his two daughters — Liv, 4, have tested positive have been self-isolated and are following CDC and and Millie, 1 — before heading back to Montreal from Kennewick, Wash., Health Canada protocols. where he has been spending time with his wife’s family since the NHL was shut down on March 12 because of COVID-19. I also asked Fehr what the players are looking for from the two hub cities that will host the 24-team postseason. No date has officially been been VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM set for the start, but July 30 is a possibility. I'M NOT CRYING, YOU'RE CRYING. WE SENT DADA OFF THIS “You want a couple of things,” Fehr said. “As I said before, you want MORNING BACK TO MONTREAL OF COURSE LIV TAKES THIS safety first. Secondly, and not quite as importantly but still important, you SAD MOMENT TO TELL CAREY “ONCE YOU LEAVE, ME AND MAMA want a good atmosphere. If you can create a bubble with a campus area CAN DO WHATEVER WE WANT” WHERE DO KIDS GET THIS where you’ll have restaurants, where you’ll have some entertainment and STUFF?! you’re not cooped up in your room, obviously the players want to do that, too. And then they want to make sure, to come back to the beginning, A POST SHARED BY ANGELA PRICE (@BYANGELAPRICE) ON JUN that if it is possible to have the families join them at some point during the 29, 2020 AT 10:31AM PDT playoffs — it very probably won’t be initially — that there’ll be facilities to Price said during a conference call last week that his family will most do that.” likely stay in Kennewick for as long as the Canadiens are in the playoffs. When asked how he feels commissioner Gary Bettman and the NHL His wife announced recently that she is pregnant with their third child. have handled things so far with the Return to Play Plan, Fehr said: Arpon Basu of The Athletic reported on Friday that Jesperi Kotkaniemi “Professionally I think would be as good a word as any. This is a terribly will be coming back to Montreal from Finland and that he will be ready to difficult situation. No one has ever been through it before. In collective take part in training camp after suffering a spleen injury while playing for bargaining throughout my career and throughout Gary’s career — and the AHL’s Laval Rocket on March 6. you’re now going back to about 1980 on both sides, mine is a little bit longer — if you’re in a bargaining situation I know what the other guy “Kotkaniemi is not coming to Canadiens camp simply to continue his wants, he knows what I want. And we know that we can make a deal and rehab, he is coming as a player who is available to play, according to a end the problem … that things are within our control. That is not true here team source,” Basu wrote. “Whether coach Claude Julien decides to and it’s not going to be true for quite a while. insert him into the lineup for the play-in round against the Pittsburgh Penguins will be up to him, but Kotkaniemi would be available to play.” “All we can do is attempt to craft agreements which meet the situation, try and smooth things out and try and get things done in as reasonable a Basu reported that Kotkaniemi is expected to fly to Montreal this week. manner as we can given what we’re dealing with,” Fehr added. “And the biggest problem, of course, is the unknown. No one has any idea Paul Byron, Jonathan Drouin, Charles Hudon, Laurent Dauphin and whether we’re going to be able to open next year on time — we hope we goalie Michael McNiven are the only players who have been skating at will, but we don’t know. Whether if we do we’ll have fans. What that’s the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard as part of Phase 2 of the Return to going to mean eventually for the revenue numbers? But in that regard Play Plan. They skated together again on Monday. we’re like every other sport, like most businesses.” Deux buts 헲헻 ퟭퟬ 혀헲헰헼헻헱헲혀, ça mérite un tweet. You can watch the entire Sports Celebrity Breakfast in the video below: Two goals 홤홣 황홝홚 홨홖홢홚 홨홝홞홛황 is worth a tweet.#GoHabsGo Hickey honoured at breakfast pic.twitter.com/PfN2qbfv26 I was happy to see my friend and Montreal Gazette colleague Pat Hickey — Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 29, 2020 receive the Larry Fredericks Media Award — named after the late NHLPA’s Fehr ‘reasonably confident’ playoffs will happen Montreal journalist — during the Sports Celebrity Breakfast.

I had an opportunity to interview Donald Fehr, executive-director of the Hickey, who was born in Queen’s, N.Y., and came to Montreal in 1962, National Hockey League Players’ Association, last week for the has basically covered it all — including the NHL, CFL, MLB, MLS, three Cummings Centre Virtual Sports Celebrity Breakfast, which was posted Olympics, one Super Bowl and an NCAA Final Four — during a media on YouTube Sunday morning. career that began in 1965 at the Montreal Star. He has been at the Gazette since 1988, is a former sports editor and has been on the The 16th annual breakfast, which is normally held in early spring, had to Canadiens beat since 1992. He has also worked for the Toronto Sun, be postponed and was then done virtually as a result of the COVID-19 Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail and the Vancouver Sun. pandemic. The virtual breakfast was still able to raise more than $250,000 to help seniors in crisis through the Cummings Centre. During the virtual breakfast Hickey was asked by colleague Herb Zurkowsky what event was the highlight of his career. One of the questions I asked Fehr is how confident is he that the NHL playoffs will actually take place this season in two hub cities yet to be “There are a couple,” Hickey said. “The one event that I always named. remember was the night that Jean Béliveau scored his 500th (NHL) goal. I forget why, but Red (Fisher) wasn’t covering the game that night. He “Reasonably confident, I think,” Fehr said. “But you can never be 100- was writing a column. I think he was doing radio or television and so he per-cent sure. Nobody can predict the extent of the pandemic or how it’s was going to write a column rather than do the game story. I remember going to work. And so what we have to do is be ready so that if after the game I said: ‘Red, it’s a big game. Do you want to do the game everything works out we could go ahead and play. So I’m reasonably story?’ And he said: ‘No, it’s all yours, kid.’ That was probably the first hopeful, but nothing’s 100 per cent in this world.” game I had to cover that night. When asked what the biggest concern is for the players at this point, Fehr said: “The most important thing, obviously, is their own health and safety. Making sure that if we do come back circumstances are as clean “I’ve covered a couple of Stanley Cups and I’ve covered Donovan It was on June 29, 2016 that the Canadiens traded P.K. Subban to the Bailey’s (100-metre) world record at the Olympics in Atlanta,” Hickey Nashville Predators in exchange for Shea Weber. added. “So those are among my highlights.” The Canadiens were eliminated by the New York Rangers in the first This Date in Habs History — Part 1 round of the playoffs the season after making the trade and haven’t played another playoff game since. The Predators advanced to the It was on June 29, 1990 that the Canadiens traded Chris Chelios to the Stanley Cup final in Subban’s first season in Nashville and he was a Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Denis Savard. finalist for the Norris Trophy after his second season in Music City. Savard would only play three seasons for the Canadiens and was part of Subban played 41 playoff games during his three seasons in Nashville, the 1993 Stanley Cup team before signing with the Tampa Bay Lightning while Weber has played only six playoff games with the Canadiens. as a free agent. Chelios would spend nine seasons with the Blackhawks Subban’s body and his game have started to deteriorate and he was and then 10 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings before wrapping up his traded to New Jersey at last year’s NHL Draft, posting 7-11-18 totals and NHL career by playing seven games with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2009- a minus-21 in 68 games this season with the Devils. Weber has also had 10. Chelios was part of the Canadiens’ Stanley Cup team in 1986 and injury issues, but posted 15-21-36 totals and a plus-8 in 65 games this won two more Cups with the Red Wings in 2002 and 2008. He won the season with the Canadiens. Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenceman with the Canadiens in 1988-89 and won the trophy again in 1992-93 and 1995-96 with the Subban, 31, has two more seasons remaining on his eight-year, US$72- Blackhawks. million contract with an annual salary-cap hit of $9 million. Weber, 34, has six more seasons remaining on his 14-year, US$110-million contract with an annual salary-cap hit of $7.857 million.

Chelios learned about the trade in a one-minute telephone call from Canadiens fans can probably debate forever on who won the trade. former Canadiens GM Serge Savard in Madiscon, Wisc., and was still in shock later that day when he was contacted by the late Red Fisher of the Below is the column I wrote after the trade was made. Montreal Gazette. It was four years ago today that #Habs GM Marc Bergevin traded P.K. “It sucks,” Chelios told Fisher about being traded. “That’s pretty much Subban to the Nashville Predators for Shea Weber. Here's the column I what I want to say. Serge called from Bermuda and told me everybody wrote after it happened #HabsIO: https://t.co/M3zDAbGrdC was all over him to make a move. He told me it was something he felt he had to do. No hard feelings, he told me. — Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) June 29, 2020

“It still hasn’t sunk in,” Chelios added. “What are you gonna say? I’ve still Birthday boy got butterflies. But what are you gonna do? … I had no inkling whatever. Happy birthday to former Expos catcher John Boccabella, who turned 79 I was never ready for this. Everything happened so quick. on Monday.

“I wanted to finish my career in Montreal. I loved it there.” Boccabella played for the Expos from 1969 to 1973 and although I was Red’s take on the trade only a young boy at the time I can still remember going to games at Jarry Park and hearing the announcer introduce him coming up to the plate: Here’s what Fisher wrote in a column after the Chelios-for-Savard trade “John Bocc-a-bella!” was made: It was beautiful! People have been all over Serge Savard to do something after a season during which finishing No. 4 over-all wasn’t good enough. So, Friday he Happy birthday to former #Expos catcher John Bocc-a-balla! He turns 79 sent Chris Chelios to Chicago for Denis Savard. … A leader went to today. pic.twitter.com/2K7fV0CnJF Chicago and a scoring star came to Montreal. — Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) June 29, 2020

What that means is that the Canadiens will be a more exciting team, but Photos of the day will they win more often? Probably not. Tom Brady … then and now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Don’t get me wrong. Nobody has to sell Denis Savard to anybody. Mention the word superstar and he’s it. High school vs. Now pic.twitter.com/BB1b6gdW8g

Mention offence, which the Canadiens need badly, and he’s it. — SI Extra Mustard (@SI_ExtraMustard) June 29, 2020

Mention excitement and charisma and that’s Savard. Video of the day

On the other hand, what have the Canadiens lost by shipping Chelios to A cool memory for Expos fans with two Hall of Fame catchers. RIP, Gary the Blackhawks? Carter.

A mean, aggressive, dedicated and unflinching s.o.b. Today’s throwback starting lineup is the 1982 @Montreal_Expos, introduced by Gary Carter and Johnny Bench! #MLB #Baseball A guy who lives and loves the game. #MLBAtHome #BaseballisBack pic.twitter.com/OsRmxpz2H3

A superstar defenceman who’s hated by anyone who ever faced him. — Greatest Show on Dirt (@greatestondirt) June 29, 2020

Someone who plays with pain. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.30.2020 A leader.

I know Chris Chelios as well as anyone, and better than most people. I know a lot of hockey players but he’s special.

He is among the National Hockey League’s best because he is, indeed, a mean, aggressive, dedicated and unflinching s.o.b. on the ice.

He is, or rather was, the Canadiens’ only leader. The Canadiens know it. More importantly, the opposition knows it.

Leaders are special because there are so few of them and, now that Chelios is gone, the Canadiens are a team without one. Savard is blessed with all kinds of talent but leadership is not among them. In other words, they’re adding something important, but they’re also losing a lot. Too much, maybe.

This Date in Habs History — Part 2 1187159 Nashville Predators And this is how the NHL has inadvertently invited a healthy dose of cynicism to the start of its tournament.

Just another reason why this should be a wild affair and why it’ll be With these Predators, anything is possible, even the No. 1 pick in NHL impossible to predict – even more than usual – how these Stanley Cup Draft | Estes playoffs will progress.

In forecasting these Predators, however, the idea of shoulder-shrugging Gentry Estes uncertainty isn't new.

Anything still seems possible.

Had things stayed cool for the NHL, had there been no coronavirus and Even, perhaps, the No. 1 pick in the draft. the Predators kept playing and won just enough to squeak into the Tennessean LOADED: 06.30.2020 playoffs, this would have been true then, as it is now:

We wouldn’t have had a clue what to expect.

Not to say that’s rare in hockey. The unpredictably of the Stanley Cup playoffs, in fact, might be its best quality. That the worst-seeded teams have a legitimate chance, you’d rarely see that in the NFL, and you’d never see it in the NBA.

But inconsistency didn’t flatter these Predators. Most of the season, it drove them crazy, trying to figure out what was missing and how an undeniably talented roster – despite occasional moments of brilliance – could play so poorly so often.

Whether it was a matter of being not very good or not very inspired or both, the stench of underachievement was all over general manager David Poile’s midseason firing of coach Peter Laviolette. It was far easier to switch out the coach than trash a roster that Poile built, liked and was convinced was capable of contending for a Cup.

Maybe it scratched an itch. Those players, who hadn’t stood on the table for their ousted coach, had started to play better for John Hynes, their new one.

Then, of course, a weird season got much, much weirder.

So now, here we are, awaiting training camps and the NHL’s 24-team postseason extravaganza while still wondering whether these Predators can put it together before it’s too late.

Who could say the Predators – who did start the season on fire before falling into mediocrity – couldn’t exit this hiatus hot? Who could also say they won’t bow out sheepishly in the opening round?

And might that actually be the best thing?

They’d be favored to knock out the Arizona Coyotes at first, but would the odds of these unsteady Predators being able to win five consecutive series to claim the Cup be anywhere close to … say … 12.5%?

Why 12.5%? Those would be the Predators’ odds of landing the No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft if they were to lose that best-of-five, play-in series to the Coyotes.

A revamped NHL Draft lottery – the first stage of which was last week – has created an odd circumstance. Turns out, this year’s No. 1 pick is going to be drawn to one of the eight teams that played and lost during the opening round of the postseason.

And the No. 1 pick looks important. It’ll likely be Canadian forward Alexis Lafreniere, a prospect who – fairly or not at this early stage – is being mentioned alongside names like Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid.

Tanking wouldn't be advisable, mind you. Even if the Predators did lose to the Coyotes, they’d have an 87.5% chance of not getting that No. 1 pick. Those aren’t good odds.

But it'd make losing that play-in series a lot easier to take.

Somebody is going to get the No. 1 pick, and whoever does also would have had a 12.5% chance to do it.

MLB's woes may help expansion efforts in cities like Nashville

In 'bubble' events for NHL, NBA, MLS, winners might start envying the losers

Lamar Jackson jabs Titans by saying they caught Ravens napping

Vanderbilt didn't look so eager, but turns out, it wants football too

COVID-19 cases haven't deterred college football, but when would they? 1187160 Nashville Predators

Ford Ice Centers reopen in limited capacity, hoping to bring back 'small sense of normalcy'

Will Backus

Danny Butler knows what the past four months have been like for most people.

The vice president and general manager has had to conduct his business, the Ford Ice Centers in Bellevue and Antioch, from home because of the coronavirus pandemic. Businesses that have been shuttered since March are just starting to reopen.

While ice rinks are not an essential service, Butler does understand that they can provide much-needed distraction during a time of crisis.

"I know a lot of people have a lot of anxiety and other stressors with everything that's going on in the world," Butler said. "Just being able to open up and bring back a very, very, very small sense of normalcy, it was exciting, and I do think it's important."

Ford Ice Center in Bellevue, which opened to the public in October, opened its doors back up June 15. The location in Antioch followed the next week.

The ice centers are complying with Phase 3 of Nashville's reopening plan, which features four phases total. The city moved into the third phase on June 22.

Misty Adfield, the superintendent of Centennial Sportsplex, said that facility's rink is open, too, though it is also limited to pre-scheduled programs, and only 10 skaters can be on the ice at a time.

Butler said that he consulted with Mayor John Cooper, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and a group of other NHL-affiliated owners who operate public ice rinks to develop a series of guidelines and safety measures for reopening.

"We put together probably a 30-page document of our reopening plans," Butler said. "Of how we're going to function and how we're going to operate."

He sent that document to the health and the parks and recreation departments for review, and both departments signed off on it.

The rinks will not be open to the public anytime soon, but Butler hopes they can start phasing in public skates sometime in mid-July. For now, only a limited number of programs are starting back up, including both the youth and adult recreational leagues and Jr. Preds practices.

He said that they will keep records of everyone who signs up for the programs and enters the buildings. No guests are allowed for registered participants. Those in a specific program are not allowed in the building until 15 minutes before their scheduled session.

They also must leave the building immediately after their event.

Of all the health measures in place, Butler said the most important in his mind is a strict mask policy. Everyone in the building must be wearing a mask, unless they are working out on the ice, and no one is allowed entry unless he or she has some kind of protective covering.

Time between programs has been extended to allow patrons to enter and exit safely and for all equipment and facility space to be thoroughly sanitized.

Butler said recreational leagues already have started back up after the midseason interruption, and participants are more energetic than normal.

"They are really excited to be back," Butler said. "Just the joy of being able to come back out and be around some teammates again was really exciting for them."

Tennessean LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187161 Nashville Predators Lafreniere receiving passes from Ryan Johansen, Matt Duchene or, one day, Philip Tomasino?

Also, it was not as if the Predators were considered a serious Stanley Are you wrong for wanting a shot at Alexis Lafreniere over the Stanley Cup contender when the regular season ended March 12. They finished Cup? in the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference but spent a large portion of the season outside a playoff position.

By Adam Vingan Jun 29, 2020 It can be argued, though, that the Predators are among the returning teams that would benefit most from the hiatus. Coach John Hynes has used the time to connect with his players, outlining his system and articulating his expectations. Chaos reigned Friday evening when NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly revealed that the No. 1 pick in the draft will belong to one of the eight “For the group, they had gone through a tough stretch, then they go teams that lose in the qualifying round. through a coaching change,” Hynes said last month. “I think mentally and team-wise, belief-wise, identity-wise, it was going in the right direction. It “Team E,” which had a 2.5 percent chance of securing the first selection, wasn’t where it needed to be every night. It probably wasn’t where we won the lottery. Thanks to “Team E,” the Predators could end up with the wanted it to be statistically all the time, but a big factor is finding ways to top pick for the first time in their history. win, finding ways to continue to get better. It was coming along, and our For that to happen, the Predators would have to lose to the Arizona game can certainly get better and grow. Coyotes in their scheduled best-of-five series, then win the second lottery “I think discussions with the coach, discussions with the (assistant) drawing. They would have a 12.5 percent chance of doing so if they are coaches, understanding what’s expected when we get back and how eliminated. things are going to be run and how we want to play, they’re all clarifying The odds of that scenario coming to pass are slim; colleague Dom for the players.” Luszczyszyn puts them at 5 percent. Of course, this assumes that the This particular group of Predators players, which has transformed the league’s 24-team tournament takes place amid the coronavirus perception of the franchise for the better, is running out of chances to win pandemic. If it does not, then the Predators will be out of the running for the Stanley Cup together. Luszczyszyn gives them a 2 percent chance, the No. 1 pick based on points percentage. which is lower than the odds he gives them to lose to the Coyotes and The point is that there is a possibility, even if it is slight, that ultra-talented win the second lottery drawing. But this postseason figures to be even winger Alexis Lafreniere could wind up on the Predators. more of a crapshoot than normal, so perhaps a refocused Predators team could go on a run. Armed with that knowledge, you might be asking yourself, “Does it make me a bad fan if I want the Predators to lose to the Coyotes so they can That brings us back to the central question: Is it wrong to want your have a shot at drafting Lafreniere?” favorite team to blow another opportunity to win the Stanley Cup if it means having even the slightest chance of drafting an elite prospect? First, know that you are not alone. The fan bases of the 15 other teams in the qualifying round are having the same conversation in some form, Truthfully, there is no right or wrong answer during these absurd times. which was probably not the league’s intention. You do you.

The Predators have picked in the top 10 seven times in 22 years and not The Athletic LOADED: 06.30.2020 since 2013, when they selected Seth Jones at No. 4. For all of their success drafting defensemen, their record of drafting forwards is far less impressive by comparison.

Points by Predators-drafted forwards

Scott Hartnell

707

1,249

David Legwand

618

1,136

Martin Erat

545

881

Patric Hornqvist

480

770

Alexander Radulov

334

442

Lafreniere, the consensus No. 1 pick, appears to be a star in the making. He had 112 points in 52 games this season, becoming the first player since Sidney Crosby in 2004 and 2005 to win back-to-back CHL player of the year awards.

In NHL terms, the core of the Predators’ roster is aging. Dante Fabbro is the only everyday player under 25, the result of the Predators’ prospect cupboard being emptied by win-now trades. Lafreniere, 18, would provide the team with a young, foundational piece. Can you imagine 1187162 New York Islanders Given the cap constraints every team will be under, Lou Lamoriello could probably roll the dice and leave either Lee, who will have five years at $7 million AAV left, or Eberle unprotected. But that may not be the message Who might the Islanders expose to Seattle in the 2021 expansion draft? the team wants to send to its captain and one of its top-six forwards.

That leaves a couple of very intriguing young players available in Koivula and Bellows, both of whom could have regular roles by next season. By Arthur Staple Jun 29, 2020 When I ran this list by a Western Conference executive, Koivula was the player who stood out. “He could be a good one by the end of next

season,” the exec said. “You can’t find big guys with hands like that just A few months ago, the idea of making the Islanders’ protected list for the anywhere.” 2021 Seattle expansion draft seemed unnecessary; it was so far off and Defensemen there were a lot of variables to consider. Protected: Ryan Pulock, Adam Pelech, Devon Toews Now we’re just under a year from this event, and the Islanders’ immediate future has come more into focus. So why not give it a whirl? Unprotected: Johnny Boychuk, Nick Leddy, Thomas Hickey, Scott Mayfield, Sebastian Aho In case you’ve forgotten since the Vegas expansion draft from June 2017, here are the rules that apply — we think, since the pandemic may Exempt: Noah Dobson impact everything in the NHL going forward — when Seattle GM Ron Francis selects one unprotected player from each of the other 31 NHL Pulock and Toews will be RFAs after this season so this list could teams’ lists: change if the Islanders make a drastic move or two, but two important members of the D core are protected here. Pelech was the driving force — Teams can choose to protect either a group of seven forwards, three behind Snow’s convoluted trade with Vegas three years ago, and the ex- defensemen and one goalie or eight total skaters and one goalie. GM was proven right by how much Pelech has grown the last two seasons. — Players with no-move clauses must be protected. Boychuk, Leddy and Hickey will each have a year left on their deals — Teams must leave two forwards and one defenseman with 40 NHL heading into this expansion draft. Boychuk will be 37 so he’s an unlikely games in 2020-21 or a combined 70 NHL games in 2019-20/2020-21 pick; Leddy will be 30 and might have some value to Seattle. So might unprotected. Mayfield, with two years at $1.45 million left and around 300 NHL games — Players with two years of pro experience (NHL or AHL) or fewer are likely under his belt. Of the unprotected players here, Mayfield has the exempt. most appeal.

As a reminder, here’s the Islanders’ protected list from 2017, when Garth Goalie Snow went to great lengths to keep his young defensive core intact. Protected: Semyon Varlamov Skaters: Anders Lee, John Tavares, Andrew Ladd (NMC), Johnny Unprotected: None Boychuk (NMC), Nick Leddy, Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock, Travis Hamonic Exempt: Ilya Sorokin

Goalie: Thomas Greiss Even though Sorokin will be almost 26 by the time this draft takes place, he’ll have played one or two pro seasons in North America and will be Snow traded the Isles’ 2017 first-round pick, a 2018 second plus Mikhail exempted. Too bad — I wonder if Lamoriello wouldn’t mind leaving Grabovski’s contract to the Golden Knights so that Vegas would select Varlamov, who’ll have two years at $5 million per left, exposed to Seattle pending UFA goalie J-F Berube, who never signed with them. Vegas GM as possibly their first goalie and allow the Isles to save some money in George McPhee engineered 10 trades to stockpile picks, with his fellow net. GMs scared by such a small protected list, and the Knights still put together a team good enough to reach the Stanley Cup final in its first It’s hard to see Lamoriello making a pre-draft deal with Seattle to target season. an unwanted player being selected. The Isles are most likely down their first-rounder in 2020, even with the potential to pick first overall still on Francis won’t get to fool that many teams this time around, but he will the table, plus their 2020 and 2021 second-rounders, so they don’t have have a chance to select some good players. This Islanders’ list became much left that’s tempting to Seattle. tougher to put together with the trade and signing of J-G Pageau, which added a must-protect forward to a group that includes some important No, it seems far more likely that Lamoriello will forge ahead with a 7/3/1 veterans on big contracts. protected list and let either a solid veteran or a young, up-and-coming forward go. Let’s see where things stand: The Athletic LOADED: 06.30.2020 Forwards

Protected: Anders Lee, Brock Nelson, Jordan Eberle, Anthony Beauvillier, Mathew Barzal, J-G Pageau, Casey Cizikas

Unprotected: Josh Bailey, Cal Clutterbuck, Andrew Ladd, Leo Komarov, Ross Johnston, Michael Dal Colle, Otto Koivula, Kieffer Bellows, Josh Ho-Sang

Exempt: Oliver Wahlstrom, Simon Holmstrom

The Isles would probably not be gambling much on losing Bailey or Clutterbuck, two guys who figure prominently in what Barry Trotz likes about his forward group. Clutterbuck, with a year left heading into 2021- 22, likely doesn’t appeal much to an expansion team. Ladd and Komarov aren’t going anywhere, and Johnston most likely too.

Then things get interesting. Cizikas is a free agent after 20-21, so he may not even be signed by the time this protected list is submitted in mid- June. The idea of letting perhaps the most important forward on the team outside of Barzal go unprotected seems unthinkable, though another injury-plagued season in 20-21 could change that. For our purposes right now, Cizikas seems to be a must-protect. 1187163 Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators will be able to put more pieces in place for this rebuild

Bruce Garrioch

Published:June 29, 2020

Updated:June 29, 2020 5:47 PM EDT

Pierre Dorion will be busy working the phones between now and whenever the NHL draft is held.

The most likely scenario would see the draft held either at a hotel or virtually sometime between Oct. 9 to 15, but it’s anybody’s guess what may happen with the threat of the novel coronavirus continuing around the world.

With 13 selections in total, including as many as three in the first round and seven in the first two rounds, the Senators will likely use some of those picks to either move up, back or acquire NHL players in return for picks. The reality is they’re not likely going to take all those players and some of those second-round selections could be used to get NHL players in return.

“Ottawa has lots of cap space and if the salary cap is going to be capped for the next one or two years there’s also an opportunity,” said Craig Button, a former NHL GM and TSN’s director of scouting, from his Calgary home Monday. “Teams are going to have to find a way to be cap compliant so there’s opportunity and how do they do that?

“Trading players for a pick. Ottawa can say we’ll take that player, we’ve got some cap space, and you can have a second-round pick. The cap management, prospect management and where the roster is at, you’d like to check every box and I don’t want to be overly critical about the goaltender but that’s the box they’ve got to find a way to check.”

Now, the answer on that front may come from within because the Senators do have prospects Joey Daccord, Filip Gustavsson, Kevin Mandolese, Mads Sogaard and Marcus Hogberg in the system, but Button is talking about someone who can take them to the next level.

Button is bullish on the route the Senators have taken in this rebuild that started in Feb., 2018 when owner Eugene Melnyk and Dorion decided to go this route. Winning the lottery would have been nice, but it’s not the be all and the end all to this plan.

“It’s a lottery and why do you buy a lottery ticket? To win,” said Button. “You do want to win and you do want to be as high as possible and fans want to see you win. Yes, there’s initial disappointment but take that step back and look at the big picture. I’m really impressed with what’s unfolded in Ottawa.

“I’ve really been impressed with the deals (Dorion) has made, how he’s managed it and he’s really kept a nice level of composure. I see a team that’s in a really good position.”

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187164 Ottawa Senators “He’s a difference-maker. He’s a high-end player and I really think he’s the second-best player in the draft,” Button said. “Lafreniere is that good. There’s different ways that teams can go. We were looking at different scenarios for the (mock) draft and I was trying to figure out a way where GARRIOCH: TSN's Craig Button says the Ottawa Senators will be fine in (Ottawa) could get Stutzle and Drysdale, but I don’t see how one of those NHL draft guys goes past Detroit.

“I went to the centre who’s ready to contribute for Ottawa and he’s a centre that’s a really good offensive player. They’re going to have an Bruce Garrioch opportunity to have a good strong, discussion and debate at No. 5 but Published:June 29, 2020 when they make that pick they’ll have great confidence in that pick.”

Updated:June 29, 2020 5:23 PM EDT That means the winner of the Lafreniere sweepstakes is to be determined. Button added it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a team with a low chance actually came away with the victory.

The Ottawa Senators walked away from the NHL’s draft lottery Friday In 2017, Button noted Philadelphia moved No. 2 from No 13 and and night pleased with where they stood. Dallas went from No. 8 to No. 3. The next year, Carolina moved to No. 2 and in 2019 No. 12 Chicago moved to No. 3. It really just was the luck of And, they should be, noted Craig Button, a former NHL general manager the draw in this case. and TSN’s director of scouting. “All the managers were aware of this so when the format was developed Oddly enough, the Senators had the best odds of winning the lottery at everybody had input,” Button said. “Nobody should be surprised based 25%, but when the dust settled the club ended up with the No. 3 and No. on the history of the last three years that a team below the seven teams 5 pick in the 2020 draft. A placeholder team that will take part in the 24- won a spot in the top three. It’s happened. team Play In tourney next with only a 2.5% chance of winning came away with the top prize. “That’s why there’s a second phase and all the managers were part of it. Every single one of them. Now, somebody is going to be arguing one Winger Alexis Lafreniere of the Rimouski Oceanic is expected to be No. way or another. Is there a perfect scenario? But there was a lot of ideas 1 in this year’s draft, but owner Eugene Melnyk and general manager thrown around and it developed into (this format). For Alexis Lafreniere, Pierre Dorion both stated they’re happy with the results because the club he sits in the same place as he did prior to the lottery. has an opportunity to get impact players. “There’s been so much uncertainty and this could have created certainty “When I look at the Ottawa Senators, their prospect pool and the players for one player.” on their team, they’re going to be able two high quality players,” said Button from his Calgary home Monday afternoon. “When I say high Ottawa Sun LOADED: 06.30.2020 quality, I’m talking about first-line forwards, top pair defencemen and if you want a goalie think (Yaroslav) Askarov is a No. 1 goalie.

‘They’re different players (at the top), but to me they’re all clear-cut first- line forwards and top pair defencemen that add to your group. If you’re a team like Detroit, they’re probably where Edmonton was in 2015 when they got (Connor) McDavid. They’re further away. I don’t see Ottawa like that. When I look at who’s on their team and who’s in their prospect pool, I see nine-to-10 A and B prospects.

“That’s not including (Brady) Tkachuk.”

Button is right, the shelves are well stocked and this draft will play a big role in adding more names to the list. The club already the likes of Josh Norris, Drake Batherson, Logan Brown, Alex Formenton and Erik Brannstrom with its AHL affiliate in Belleville. Defencemen Lassi Thomson (Finland) and Jacob Bernard-Docker (University of North Dakota) and forward Shane Pinton (UND) are in the system.

“When you can two quality players to that group you’re just building out,” Button said. “There’s fantastic opportunity for Ottawa here in my view. Next year, you’re looking at a team that I think can be competitive going into the last quarter of the season. When I say competitive, I mean playing meaningful games.

“Maybe not really in a playoff spot, but in those games where you’re tighter. The year after playoffs and then the year after that in 2022-23 I think you’re starting to look at a team that’s in the category of contender. There’s going to moves in there with salary cap and everything but with their group of players on their roster and in their organization, I think they’re well-positioned.”

Depending on what happens with the N.Y. Islanders in the Play the Senators could end up with three picks in the first round. The selection from the Isles for centre Jean-Gabriel Pageau is conditional and lottery protected. The pick they received from the Sharks for blueliner Erik Karlsson was actually the one that finished ranked third.

In a mock draft immediately following the lottery, Button had the Senators selecting forward Tim Stutzle from Mannheim in the Deutsch Elite League and Marco Rossi of the Ottawa 67’s. That’s because Button believes the Los Angeles Kings will take Quinton Byfield of the Sudbury Wolves and defenceman Jamie Drysdale of the Erie Otters is headed for the Red Wings.

If the Senators got Stutzle, they’d be pleased and Button believes the Kings want Byfield at No. 2. 1187165 Philadelphia Flyers The 23-year-old center had five different stints with the Flyers over the last two seasons. Vorobyev is a skilled passer with good vision but he struggled to sustain effort and consistency in his call-ups to the Flyers.

Flyers observations: Analyzing the Wyatt Kalynuk, Mikhail Vorobyev He just never seemed to look comfortable with the Flyers. Playing in his matters native country should be good for Vorobyev and the move isn't overly surprising given he was going to become a restricted free agent during the offseason and the Flyers have strengthened their depth at forward.

By Jordan Hall June 29, 2020 8:25 PM Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.30.2020

As the Flyers continue to prepare for July 10, the expected start date of training camp in the NHL's return-to-play plan, some matters regarding the future popped up over last weekend.

Let's take a look at those in Flyers observations:

• Prospect Wyatt Kalynuk, the Flyers' 2017 seventh-round pick who has decided to forgo his senior year at Wisconsin, is now able to test free agency.

With Kalynuk as a 20-year-old draftee, the Flyers had a 30-day window to sign the Badgers' product to his entry-level contract after he officially left school (as outlined here by Broad Street Hockey). Both sides have not come to terms on a deal, which ends the Flyers' exclusive rights to the defenseman.

The 6-foot-1, 189-pound Kalynuk has developed into an advanced skater with promising puck-moving tools.

"He’s an elite offensive defenseman," Wisconsin head coach Tony Granato said in March.

While Kalynuk is permitted to look elsewhere, the Flyers are still very much in the running to keep the prospect in their organizational picture.

One reason for optimism on the Flyers' chances to sign Kalynuk:

The 23-year-old knows the Flyers' way having been to three development camps at the team's practice facility in Voorhees, New Jersey. Over the last three-plus years, he has built strong relationships with Flyers development personnel like Kjell Samuelsson and John Riley (not to mention with the club's scouting staff), so there very well could be a sense of loyalty and comfortableness, which should hold weight in Kalynuk's decision.

"Philly has had lots of people here and been very instrumental in his growth as a player," Granato said in March. "I think when they drafted him, they recognized out of the gate that this guy could be a big part of their organization moving forward. They’ve been hands on, they’ve been here a lot, they’ve done it respectfully in a way that they’ve helped him a ton in preparing to get ready for the next step.”

Wyatt Kalynuk

One reason for concern on the Flyers' chances to sign Kalynuk:

His shot to crack the NHL is closer to now than it is in the distance. At 23 years old and well-groomed, Kalynuk could be eyeing the speediest climb to the NHL and bigger opportunity; the faster he gets to the league and the more he plays, the better he sets himself up for his next contract. Considering he's an older prospect, that's particularly important.

The Flyers are pretty deep and young on the blue line. Ivan Provorov, Travis Sanheim, Philippe Myers, Robert Hagg and Mark Friedman are all 25 years old or younger. Prospects Egor Zamula, Wyatte Wylie and Linus Hogberg are also turning pro in 2020-21, while 2019 first-round pick Cam York isn't far behind.

Could Kalynuk have a clearer path and greater role in another organization? Very possibly yes, something his camp could be contemplating.

This is a total guess on a team to watch for Kalynuk's services: the Kings. Ron Hextall, who is now an advisor in Los Angeles' hockey operations department, drafted Kalynuk. Granato, Kalynuk's college coach, played seven years for the Kings and was teammates with current Los Angeles general manager Rob Blake. The Kings are retooling and could look to add on the back end to start.

• Per a report by a Russian media outlet, Mikhail Vorobyev, a fourth- round pick of the Flyers in 2015, will sign a three-year contract to play in the KHL next season. 1187166 Philadelphia Flyers Grant is a veteran in this league and has played for a plethora of teams, some of them multiple times, so his ability to fit in with a new group of guys makes him a valuable piece for a team with aspirations of a deep playoff run. 2019-20 Flyers season grades: Derek Grant This experience, coupled with the goal and four assists in the first seven games he has played for the Flyers, earns Grant an A from me despite the small sample size. By Brooke Destra, Katie Emmer, Taryn Hatcher, Joe Fordyce, Jordan Hall June 29, 2020 12:30 PM Hall

Grant was such a savvy, cost-effective move by Fletcher that quietly made the Flyers better. The 2019-20 NHL regular season has concluded and the next time the puck drops will officially kick off the race to the Stanley Cup. The Flyers Fletcher gave up Phantoms forward Kyle Criscuolo and a 2020 fourth- are hungry and ready to battle it out, but that is thanks to the hard work round draft pick to add Grant, who has a cap hit of only $700,000 and from back in October. can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

In an End to End series, NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Brooke Destra, Katie The 30-year-old center made the Flyers tougher to play against with his Emmer, Taryn Hatcher, Joe Fordyce and Jordan Hall will be grading 6-foot-3, 206-pound build and proved to be an underrated scorer. Grant players based on individual performances. recorded five points (one goal, four assists) through seven games, a stretch in which the Flyers went 6-1-0 prior to the season being Today we will be looking at a newer addition in Derek Grant. suspended. Between his time with the Ducks and Flyers, Grant put up 15 Destra goals and 25 points — both career highs.

Grant is an interesting case to take a look at — mainly because he’s Grant had the profile of a rental but he'll certainly be under consideration played only seven games as a Flyer so far. Although the sample size is for the Flyers to re-sign, especially if he shows even more during the 24- still fairly small, it looks like he’s taken to his new team quickly, team tournament. registering five points (one goal, four assists) in the short span. We have to consider the small sample size in our grade, so let's go with a In addition to that, he had back-to-back two-point games and registered a B+ for Grant and his difference-making seven-game audition. point in three consecutive. This was the first time he had recorded points Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.30.2020 in three straight games since Dec. 11-16 in the 2017-18 season. Overall, it’s been a solid start with the Flyers, and chemistry with his new teammates will only continue to get stronger.

B for the newcomer.

Emmer

When Grant was acquired at the trade deadline, it was clear Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher was looking to build and improve the depth, and adding the Ducks' fourth-line center did that.

Grant had plenty of experience in the league, including experience moving to different locker rooms. The Flyers are the seventh team he’s played for in his career and that way of knowing what it was like to quickly meet teammates and learn systems with a new club was certainly a benefit when he made the transition to the Flyers.

Grant jumped in right away, and by his third game with the orange and black, he recorded his first goal, along with an assist which from there he continued on to a three-game point streak. Grant had a small sample size to grade off of as far as his regular-season performance, but with five points in seven games along with a plus-2 rating during that span, the goal of finding players to improve the depth was achieved in this case.

Grant is an A-.

Hatcher

Grant is still a bit tough to evaluate just yet, but let’s go for it anyway. Here’s the thing: Grant graded according to what this team wants him to be, should really get an A+. He’d been with the team for all of a split second before the NHL pause. In seven games, he tallied five points on a goal and four assists.

According to the guys I interviewed during the break, he’s made a concerted effort to keep in touch with them, and seems to genuinely have become fast friends with the entire locker room (which is impressive given how close this team is). He’s been the depth the Flyers really wanted Fletcher to bring in.

Let’s give him an A … it’s more of a midterm mark than a final grade given the small sample size. But he deserves it!

Fordyce

My initial instinct for a player who has played only seven games for the Flyers is to give an incomplete. However, in Grant’s case, he has done enough to earn an A for me. From what we’ve seen so far, he is far exceeding expectations by earning five points in seven games, especially for a player who was projected as a bottom-six forward when coming over at the trade deadline. 1187167 Philadelphia Flyers win streak. Sitting through TV replays of games for three-plus months got old in a hurry.

What a welcome change it would be to tune into live Philly pro sporting Longing for a return to 'normalcy' in Philadelphia pro sports events again.

Courier-Post LOADED: 06.30.2020

Tom Moore

Published 4:19 PM EDT Jun 29, 2020

In 1920, Republican Warren G. Harding’s campaign slogan on the way to winning the presidency was a “return to normalcy.”

One hundred years later in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it carries a whole different meaning in the sports world.

While it’s still possible that too many positive tests in Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League might prevent some or all of them from completing their seasons, how wonderful would it be to enjoy something approaching a return to normalcy?

Imagine the 76ers, Flyers and Phillies playing regular-season or playoff games on the same night — which could happen in August — for the first time since April 6, 2019.

Yes, things would still be quite different than they were 14 1/2 months ago. There won’t be any fans in the stands and the Sixers and Flyers will be playing at neutral sites (Orlando and TBA), but think how nice it’d be to turn on the television and see Philly’s major sports teams involved in live, meaningful games again.

The Sixers will play the first of eight regular-season games Aug. 1 against the Pacers at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex. They can finish no worse than sixth in the Eastern Conference and could move up to fourth or fifth, depending what happens with Indiana (which has the same record as the Sixers) and the Heat (two games ahead of Philly). The NBA playoffs are scheduled to begin Aug. 17 and would be the traditional best-of-seven series.

The fourth-place Flyers, like the Sixers, can only move up in the East depending what happens with the round-robin tournament vs. the conference’s top three teams — the Bruins, Lightning and Capitals — that starts July 30 to determine seeding for the playoffs, which would also be best-of-seven series.

The NHL inexplicably still hasn’t announced a schedule or its two hub cities — one for the Western Conference and one for the East. I’m not sure what the holdup is for commissioner Gary Bettman and company.

The Phillies are expected to begin their 60-game schedule July 24. Unlike the NBA and NHL, which will compete in one location, MLB teams will play half of their games at home and the other half on the road against divisional and regional rivals.

The Phillies will play 40 regular-season games vs. NL East foes the Nationals, who are the defending World Series champions, Braves, Mets and Marlins, as well as 20 against the top-heavy AL East (the Yankees, Rays and Red Sox, plus the Blue Jays and Orioles).

That is a formidable schedule. If the Phils are, say, in the wild-card hunt with the Cubs, Chicago’s weaker AL Central slate could impact Joe Girardi’s team’s chances.

The Phillies announced their 53-player pool for the 2020 season Sunday night. The list was more notable for who didn’t make it — outfielder Oddubel Herrera, who was suspended for the second half of 2019 for domestic violence and almost surely won’t play for the Phils again, or former No. 1 overall pick Mickey Moniak — than who did.

But I’d rather not focus on such details right now. Let’s think more from a big-picture perspective.

On Aug. 5, the Sixers face the Wizards at 4 p.m. in Orlando. The Flyers and the Phillies, who are slated for 60 games in 66 days, could play that night, too.

Watching six hours of Philly’s pro teams would be a treat for fans in a city whose last live major sports game was the Sixers’ March 11 home victory over the Pistons, one day after the Bruins snapped the Flyers’ nine game 1187168 Pittsburgh Penguins by the likes of stars such as Paul Coffey or Kris Letang, but Stackhouse is still among the franchise’s overall leaders in points (343) and games played (621).

Double Team: Gilles Meloche was good, but not good enough to lift the 3. Earl Ingarfield, center Golden Seals, Barons Having spent parts of nine seasons in New York, Ingarfield’s tenure as a member of the New York Rangers easily defined his NHL existence.

SETH RORABAUGH | Monday, June 29, 2020 5:32 p.m. By the time the Penguins claimed him in the 1967 expansion draft, Ingarfield, then 33, was more of a name who would hopefully draw ticket sales than he was a player on the ice. Regardless, he contributed a solid 37 points in 50 games during the Penguins inaugural season of 1967-68. Note: CCPA compliance requires embedded widgets like Facebook, Twitter and inline videos be disabled in stories. At the start of 1968-69, he was named the Penguins’ second captain in franchise history but was traded to Oakland by midseason. While the NHL is on hold because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Tribune-Review will offer the Double Team project, an examination of Spending parts of three seasons with the Seals/Golden Seals, Ingarfield the five best players who have contributed substantially to the Penguins put together a strong campaign in 1969-70 by scoring 21 goals and 45 and another franchise. For consideration, a player must have played at points in 54 games at the age of 35. least the equivalent of a full season for each franchise. (Sorry, Jarome Iginla fans.) He retired by 1971.

Today, a look at the Oakland Seals/California Golden Seals/Cleveland 4. Wally Boyer, center Barons franchise. It might seem cruel to say this long-defunct franchise is Boyer was the definition of a journeyman as an NHLer. He only played lost to history, but it would also be fitting as the Seals/Golden seven NHL seasons but he did so for four franchises. Seals/Barons lost to just about everyone else. Part of the NHL’s 1967 expansion, the Seals were based in Oakland, Calif., but took on the Claimed by the Seals from the Black Hawks in the 1967 expansion draft, California Golden Seals name in 1970 to appeal to fans in San Boyer, who flourished in the AHL for most of his professional career, set Francisco. By 1976, the Golden Seals were sunk and moved to a career-high as an NHLer with 74 games while contributing 33 points. Cleveland, becoming the Barons. Even with that change, the franchise was still a bust and in 1978, it ceased operations, merging with the During the 1968 offseason, Boyer was traded to the Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota North Stars. In 69 all-time games against the Seals/Golden who then flipped him to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the team with which Seals/Barons, the Penguins had a 35-16-18 record. Boyer had his most success as an NHLer.

1. Gilles Meloche, goaltender In parts of four seasons, Boyer, a sturdy penalty killer, played in 203 games and scored 94 points. A member of the Penguins’ first playoff Meloche was the best player in the history of this franchise because, team in 1970, Boyer still shares the record for the fastest two goals in well, someone had to be. Acquired in a trade with the Chicago Black Penguins history, having scored twice within a span of seven seconds Hawks early in the 1971-72 season, Meloche was given a chance to play during a 5-3 road loss to the Red Wings on March, 5, 1970. and despite his 16-25-13 record, he finished fourth in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie. By 1972, Boyer joined the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association. His career with the Golden Seals and Barons would follow a similar pattern in that he was good enough to play but not good enough to lift 5. Stan Gilbertson, left winger this woebegone franchise out of its stupor. In 155 games with the Golden A strong scorer in the AHL, Gilbertson got a chance to play in the NHL Seals and Barons, Meloche had a 93-191-62 record. thanks to expansion during the late 1960s and early 1970s. As a 27-year- After the merger with Minnesota, Meloche’s fortunes improved during a old rookie with the Golden Seals, he put up a solid 32 points in 78 mostly successful seven-year run with the Minnesota North Stars. Just games. prior to the start of the 1985-86 season, he was traded to the Penguins at Gilbertson played parts of four seasons for the Golden Seals, appearing the age of 35. Largely platooning with the likes of Roberto Romano and in 235 games and scoring 88 points. Early in the 1974-75 campaign, he Frank Pietrangelo behind some porous defenses, Meloche finished his was traded to the St. Louis Blues along with forward Craig Patrick, a 18-year career with three challenging seasons as a member of the future general manager of the Penguins. Penguins. After bouncing between the Blues and Washington Capitals, Gilbertson Primarily due to his valiant but unsuccessful tenure with the Golden was traded to the Penguins midway through the 1975-76 campaign. In 79 Seals/Barons franchise, Meloche was the NHL’s all-time leader in games that season, he put up career highs of 26 goals and 48 points goaltending losses (351) at the time of his retirement. while helping the Penguins reach the postseason. He followed that up by 2. Ron Stackhouse, defenseman putting up 15 points in 67 games during 1976-77.

A second-round pick (No. 18 overall) by the Seals in the 1969 draft, Gilbertson’s career came to a premature end at the age of 32 in Stackhouse put together a solid rookie season as a 21-year-old in 1970- September of 1977 due to an automobile accident in Rostraver that 71 with Oakland, putting up 32 points in 78 games. Despite that caused part of his right leg to be amputated. promising start, Stackouse was dealt to the Detroit Red Wings for Honorable mention: Charlie Burns, center; Rick Kessell, center; Charlie forward Tom Webster in what proved to be a clunker of a trade as Simmer, left winger; Bob Stewart, left winger; John Stewart, left winger. Webster only played seven games all-time for the Seals. Tribune Review LOADED: 06.30.2020 Stackhouse, on the other hand, continued to produce at a consistent rate for parts of three seasons in Detroit before he was traded to the Penguins midway through the 1973-74 campaign for defenseman Jack Lynch and a goaltender by the name of Jim Rutherford. It was with the Penguins that Stackhouse had his greatest success.

An offensive defenseman who fit in well during the free-flowing NHL of the 1970s, Stackhouse spent parts of nine seasons in Pittsburgh and became an All-Star in 1980.

His signature season of 1975-76 saw him put up 71 points (15 goals, 45 assists) in 80 games.

While Stackhouse was often criticized by fans for not being a physical player, he held most of the franchise’s offensive records for defenseman by the time he retired in 1982. Most of those marks have been surpassed 1187169 Pittsburgh Penguins I’d trade Burrow and go with Lawrence. Either way, though, the Bengals would get a franchise quarterback and an ungodly haul in exchange for whichever “other” franchise quarterback they shipped away.

First Call: NHL Draft lottery fallout posses questions for NFL if 2020 So much so, that the resulting takeaway would be disproportionately season busts unfair. So scratch this plan.

Option 2: A tiered lottery format with sliding-percentage chances.

TIM BENZ | Monday, June 29, 2020 6:20 a.m. Let’s say, between the worst 10 teams from 2019, the middle 11 teams, and the best 11 from 2019.

This would be more equitable, and similar to the NHL system. Note: CCPA compliance requires embedded widgets like Facebook, Twitter and inline videos be disabled in stories. However they do it, just exclude the Bengals from the first tier. I can’t live with them getting the first pick two years in a row! For “First Call” Monday, we look at the NHL draft lottery drawing over the weekend and what the NFL can learn from it. Option 3: Whatever the NFL format in the first round, it could do a snake draft like a lot of fantasy football leagues do. It’d go 1-32. Then 33 back Or — better said — what the NFL can learn to avoid. up through 64 in the second round. And back down again 65-96.

So the NHL had its draft lottery over the weekend, and its perceived Option 4: Just don’t have a draft. Skip it. worst-case scenario took place. I don’t know how that would go over with the NFL Players’ Association or Team X won. college players who are now three years removed from high school graduation. Team X means some random club from the loser pool of teams, which don’t advance from the play-in round of the rebooted schedule, will have But maybe that doesn’t end up being the NFL’s concern. the opportunity to select future franchise player Alexis Lafreniere. Congrats, Clemson! You get Lawrence in 2021 as well. In other words, the loser of the Penguins-Montreal Canadiens series has a chance to draft this future organization-altering player. Nah. I don’t see that one happening either.

Meanwhile, the dreadful Detroit Red Wings only finished fourth. But of all these shaky ideas, I really don’t have a stable one. So, let’s just play. Somehow. Someway. Seems weird, right? Tribune Review LOADED: 06.30.2020 Many people are ripping the NHL for how this lottery process was organized. So what can the NFL learn from this perceived misstep if its season isn’t allowed to get off the ground in 2020?

I know. It’s a pessimistic view. But with the way covid-19 numbers are going, maybe we should start embracing that possibility.

Keep in mind, the last time there was a canceled NHL season, it was the Penguins who benefited from a tiered lottery system that yielded them the top draft choice in Sidney Crosby’s rookie season.

As the Detroit Free Press recalled, “When a lockout canceled the 2004- 05 season, with no new standings to go on, the league came up with an alternate way to weight its lottery.

Rather than take a single season into account, the NHL used composite records from its three previous full seasons — 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04 — to slot teams into different categories. Teams with no playoff appearances in that time, and no No. 1 overall picks in the previous four drafts, were given three lottery balls. Teams with one playoff appearance or No. 1 pick were given two. And everyone else had one of the 48 balls in the hopper, or approximately a 2% chance of landing the greatest prospect of his generation.”

And, cue the angels singing. The Penguins landed Crosby.

Now then, what may happen in the NFL if no games are played and Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence is sitting there as the prized, clear-cut prospect as the No. 1 pick?

Someone — God bless their hearts and covid-19 shut-in-inspired ingenuity — created an NFL-style simulation based on the 2005 NHL model.

Here are few other ideas:

Option 1: Reboot last year’s order, relying solely on 2019 results with only existing trades of picks allowed, and those made in advance of the 2021 event.

The problem with that idea, though, is that the Cincinnati Bengals get the No. 1 pick two years in a row. Which is a problem for everyone besides the Bengals.

But before we dismiss this idea out of hand, what do you think Cincy would do?

Do the Bengals take Trevor Lawrence and trade Joe Burrow? Or vice versa? 1187170 Pittsburgh Penguins “There were times when they weren’t going to agree on things, like what line he was on and whatnot,” Rutherford said. “But it was probably blown out of proportion.”

One year later, the truth about why the Penguins traded Phil Kessel Kessel asked to be traded

This one largely remains a “he said, he said” situation.

By Josh Yohe Jun 29, 2020 On the evening Kessel was sent to Arizona, Rutherford surprised reporters when he said that Kessel asked to be traded numerous times during the 2018-19 season.

Phil Kessel was a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins for 1,460 glorious, Later that night, Kessel cryptically offered a denial of sorts. successful, fascinating days. “I’m not sure that’s exactly what happened,” Kessel said. “Jim came to Those four seasons produced two championships, 130 goals (20 of me one time and said, ‘(You’ll) never be a Penguin again.’ I think he’s which came in the postseason), 229 assists, 359 points, zero games mistaken a little bit there. But I don’t want to get involved in that. I’m not missed, a lifetime of memories and, ultimately, a divorce that was more here to tell you what really happened and the real truth, but whatever Jim complicated than it was nasty. wants to say.”

So, why did the Penguins decide to trade Kessel to the Coyotes one year So, what is the truth? ago today? Kessel never speaks of it, at least not publicly. The Penguins, including There are many theories: Rutherford and Sullivan, have been nothing but complimentary of Kessel since his departure. • Kessel and Mike Sullivan couldn’t work together anymore. There was always a sense, however, that things would probably go • Kessel asked to be traded. sideways for Kessel in Pittsburgh if the Penguins ever stopped winning. • Kessel’s cap figure was too high. As long as the Stanley Cups were being compiled, the Penguins were perfectly satisfied implementing the laissez-faire approach toward him • Kessel was past his prime. that he preferred. Kessel’s first two springs in Pittsburgh produced two championships, with him playing a starring role in the production. All was A year later, Kessel is struggling in Arizona, the Penguins are arguably well. better without him and the trade that felt inevitable for a year before it happened remains a polarizing topic for a Penguins fan base that quickly Even though the 2017-18 campaign ended in the third of a trilogy of and unapologetically loved No. 81. classic series against the Capitals, Kessel was marvelous that season. He powered a historically effective power play in his third year in Let’s explore the theories. Pittsburgh, scored 34 goals and finished with 92 points. Kessel and Mike Sullivan couldn’t work together anymore He started on a hot streak in his fourth season with the Penguins, but There’s an element of truth here, but to suggest they couldn’t work stumbled badly in the season’s second half and never seemed to find his together probably isn’t accurate. groove. Sullivan has never been more frustrated with the Penguins than he was in the spring of 2019. They were playing a freewheeling brand of When Sullivan is asked about Kessel, his immediate response is always, hockey that the coach knew wouldn’t work in the postseason, especially “I like Phil.” against the defensively-tight Islanders. Kessel was one of the Sullivan is no liar. On a personal level, I think he does like Kessel. Or, at ringleaders. least, he’s amused by him, like a teacher finally cracking a smile when a Days after the Penguins were swept by a team with clearly inferior talent, class clown makes a funny comment. Also, there’s absolutely no Rutherford let other general managers know that changes were coming question that Sullivan admires Kessel’s physical gifts. to the Penguins and the Kessel was available. Multiple sources in the Of course, there’s also no question that Kessel comes with an expiration organization confirm that Kessel did indeed ask Rutherford for a trade. date with coaches. Those who have coached him rarely speak well of Nobody in the organization believes Kessel demanded a trade, but that him. And consider the words of Jack Parker, the legendary former Boston Kessel and Rutherford came to a mutual agreement that it was best for University coach, who happens to be Sullivan’s close friend and mentor: him to move on. “I wouldn’t coach Kessel if he was playing across the street, to be honest “It’s not something that I want to get into,” Rutherford said a year later. with you. I know Michael had his battles with Kessel. But you know what? He got a lot of out Kessel and they won championships together.” Kessel’s cap figure was too high

I’m not privy to private conversations between Sullivan and Parker. Given Kessel’s productivity and age, the $6.8 million that the Penguins Perhaps Sullivan vented to his old friend about Kessel a time or two. paid him every season — remember, the Maple Leafs pick up $1.2 Make no mistake, Kessel vented about Sullivan to his former teammates. million of his contract — seemed perfectly reasonable.

A former teammate of Kessel’s, who prefers to remain anonymous, Rutherford, when asked about it last week, suggested that money was summed up Kessel’s feelings toward Sullivan this way: “I don’t think Phil the biggest reason the Penguins ultimately moved on from the mercurial hated Sully. I just don’t think Phil likes coaches or being told what to do. one. Sully got on him during a flight one time for not playing more of a two- “It was ultimately a cap thing,” Rutherford said. “There’s really not that way game. When Sully went back to his seat, Phil looked up and said, much more to talk about. It’s the same with (Marc-Andre) Fleury. Would I ‘Fuck him.’ We all liked Phil a lot. We still do. And we all like and respect have liked to have kept Fleury? Of course. Would I have liked to have Sully a ton. He’s a great coach. But they had their moments.” kept Kessel? Of course. You get forced to make certain moves because Kessel’s postseason brilliance made up for much of his occasionally of the cap. Were there some issues with Phil? Yeah, but the cap was the lackluster two-way performances during the regular season. Some biggest thing.” members of the Penguins’ blue line used to refer to Kessel’s defensive The Penguins initially had a deal orchestrated with Minnesota that would zone area along the right-wing boards as “the black hole” because he have sent Jack Johnson and Kessel to the Wild in return for Jason wasn’t always the most reliable player in his own territory. The truth is, Zucker and Victor Rask. Kessel vetoed it because he wanted to play for however, that in the biggest of games, he was perfectly fine defensively, old friend Rick Tocchet in Arizona. played hard and is among the most clutch players of his era. The Penguins don’t win the Stanley Cup in 2016 or 2017 without him. “To be honest with you, we were fortunate to be able to move him,” Rutherford said. “I like Phil as a person. I respect him. And I know what a “No question,” Jim Rutherford said. “He was so good, so consistent. great player he is. But the cap forces things like this. We’re still up Always.” against the cap even without him and without (Alex Galchenyuk, who Rutherford maintains that the relationship between Sullivan and Kessel was traded to Minnesota in the deal that did indeed see the Penguins get wasn’t the reason for the trade. their man in Zucker). We had to take a player that Arizona wanted to Any effort to do so almost surely would have been futile, anyway. No one move to make it work for them.” tells Kessel what to do. That very antihero brashness is precisely why Kessel is such a killer in the biggest of games and made him a perfect The Penguins never believed Galchenyuk was going to fit into their personality in the Penguins’ locker room. Those in awe of Crosby and system, and he most assuredly did not. Tocchet, in fact, even warned Malkin never thrive with them. The most secure of personalities — think Sullivan after the trade that he didn’t think Galchenyuk was going to be a Billy Guerin, Chris Kunitz, Pascal Dupuis — flourish alongside the good fit with Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin because of his penchant for Penguins’ stars. Kessel was the guy who was meant to play with them cutting to the center of the ice when he possesses the puck. Crosby and and help transform them from generational talents into icons. Malkin hate that. They want wingers to take defenders away from them as opposed to inviting them into the middle of the ice. Tocchet was right Mission accomplished. on the money. But that same brashness was never going to work in the long run. Still, Rutherford said moving Kessel’s contract was important. Also, the Penguins acquired defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph in the deal, a “I think it was just time,” Rutherford said. “We’ll always love Phil.” player the Penguins believe will be in their top six by the 2021-22 season The Athletic LOADED: 06.30.2020 at the latest.

“We feel really good about him and how good he can be,” Rutherford said. “So, we opened up some cap space and got a really good prospect. It was the right thing to do. I just view that trade as a cap thing more than anything else. There weren’t that many issues with Phil. A few, but that’s not why he was traded. We all really like Phil. We appreciate what he did for our team. We really do. It just gets to the point that teams are forced to move certain guys.”

Kessel was past his prime

No one likes to touch this one out of respect for Kessel. No one, from Rutherford and Sullivan on down, will acknowledge what the numbers appear to indicate, that Kessel is on the decline.

Kessel turns 33 in October and is legendary for his relative indifference to keeping himself in top condition. It would seem logical that his game would begin to decline around this age.

The numbers offer an unforgiving view of a star who likely has seen his best days. Something happened to Kessel around the beginning of February in his last season with the Penguins and he’s never really recovered.

In the past 102 games — 70 with the Coyotes and 32 with the Penguins — Kessel has managed only eight even-strength goals. Eight.

To put that in perspective, Kessel scored 25 even-strength goals in his previous 102-game stretch.

While plus-minus can be a very deceptive statistic, when a player is located at one or extreme or the other, it warrants attention. In Kessel’s past 164 games — the equivalent of two full seasons — he is a minus- 45. Kessel was a plus-11 in his previous 164 games.

Obviously Kessel had more talent to work with in Pittsburgh, but his numbers were already in decline. It’s been more of the same in Arizona and his head coach doesn’t sugarcoat what he is seeing.

“Phil would look you right in the eye and tell you he had a bad year,” Tocchet said. “I know he is disappointed with the season that he had. We’ve talked about it. He knows he needs to be a lot better.”

Here’s the bottom line about Kessel’s time in Pittsburgh:

• His teammates, to a man, loved him and found him entertaining.

• Coaches never expected him to be a Selke candidate and, while they knew he could be difficult, tolerated his quirks because of his talent and big-game greatness.

• When the Stanley Cup years started to get distant in the rearview mirror, it was determined that Kessel’s time had come to an end.

A microcosm of the Kessel era always took place at the end of Penguins’ practices. When practice would conclude, players would gather in a circle to stretch for a few minutes before leaving the ice. Kessel never felt the need to stretch with his teammates, and would instead shoot pucks into a vacant net by himself.

It was funny. It was cool. More than anything, it was non-conformist, and isn’t that why everyone loves Kessel so much?

But it wasn’t the kind of behavior that endears a player to an organization when the winning stops.

Rutherford and Sullivan will never publicly bash Kessel and, to my knowledge, they’ve never bashed him privately. When he asked to be traded, however, the Penguins’ organization didn’t try to change his mind. 1187171 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning broadcaster Rick Peckham to receive Foster Hewitt Memorial Award

Mari Faiello

Rick Peckham’s work will be remembered long after the end of his 42- year broadcasting career, as he’ll be honored in November at the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Peckham, who has spent the past 24 years as the play-by-play voice for the Lightning, will receive the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for his outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster. He is retiring at the end of this season.

The award, given out by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association, honors “members of the radio and television industry who have made outstanding contributions to their profession and to the game of hockey.”

Peckham will be honored alongside hockey writer Tony Gallagher, who will receive the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award for excellence in hockey journalism, during the 2020 Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Weekend in mid-November in Toronto.

Peckham and Gallagher will be recognized by the Hockey Hall of Fame as “Media Honourees” ─ a separate distinction from individuals inducted as “Honoured Members” who are elected by the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee.

The Hall of Fame is not currently accepting ticket orders for the 2020 induction due to coronavirus concerns.

Before his 24-year stint in Tampa Bay, Peckham worked with the Hartford Whalers for 11 seasons as their television play-by-play broadcaster. In addition to his time in the NHL, Peckham worked in the AHL — after graduating from Kent State University in 1977 — as the radio/TV voice of the Rochester Americans.

Peckham’s career has been previously recognized with four local Emmy Awards for his work on Fox Sports Sun and SportsChannel New England.

“I have known Rick for 36 years, since his days covering the Hartford Whalers”, said Chuck Kaiton, President of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association. “Rick has had a most distinguished hockey broadcasting career, which deserves to be recognized by this honour. His longevity and excellence tell the story and his passion for his profession came through each broadcast.”

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187172 Tampa Bay Lightning Plan A: Eight skaters, one goalie Forwards: Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Anthony

Cirelli Who could the Lightning lose to Seattle in the 2021 expansion draft? Defensemen: Victor Hedman, Mikhail Sergachev, Erik Cernak, Cal Foote

Goalie: Andrei Vasilevskiy By Joe Smith Jun 29, 2020 For now, this seems like the most likely option for the Lightning.

You can lock in your top four forwards with Stamkos, Kucherov, Point The Seattle expansion draft is just one year away. and Cirelli. And you can protect more of your defensemen, keeping Hedman, Sergachev, Cernak (a pending RFA) and Foote. It’s a lot harder The coronavirus pandemic could move things back some, if the 2020-21 to find quality defensemen, especially right shots, than wingers, and the NHL schedule is shifted, but the point is that we’re getting closer to some Lightning pool of prospects on the blue line isn’t very strong. So if Foote difficult decisions for teams like the Lightning. shows he can stick in the NHL, even if it’s in the third pair, he could put himself in this list. We tried our best projections for Tampa Bay’s protection list a couple years ago, and last summer, but now there seems to be more clarity, and The risk here is leaving veteran Ryan McDonagh unprotected. This urgency, when it comes to planning ahead. doesn’t have as much to do with McDonagh’s level of play, as he was still in the Lightning’s shutdown pair last season and was on my Norris The bottom line: You could see a very familiar face leave the Lightning Trophy ballot last summer. But McDonagh, who turned 31 this month, still for the Pacific Northwest. has six years left on a long-term deal that carries a $6.75 million cap hit. Here’s a reminder of the expansion draft rules, which will be the same for He’s been dealing with injuries the past couple years, including Seattle as it was for Vegas. concussion-like symptoms this season. Plus Sergachev has grown into a two-way force, showing the potential to be a top-four anchor on the left Teams have the option of protecting seven forwards, three defensemen side behind Hedman. He’ll likely start to get paid like one this summer. and one goalie (7-3-1); or eight skaters and one goalie. So you leave McDonagh unprotected with the thought that the new Seattle franchise, which has an analytics-based front office, would pass Players with no-movement clauses have to be protected. First- and on taking on the latter years of McDonagh’s deal. second-year pros, along with unsigned draft picks, are exempt from the expansion draft. At the end of the day, the Lightning could still strike a pre-draft deal with Seattle to protect their defensemen, much like they did with Vegas to Teams must make a defenseman and two forwards available who played protect young defensemen Slater Koekkoek and Jake Dotchin (neither of 40 games the previous season or 70 combined in the previous two which are with the organization anymore). seasons. But Tampa Bay can also bet on Seattle taking one of its forwards, One goalie must be made available. whether it’s Spokane native Tyler Johnson, versatile winger Ondrej Palat, The Lightning have three players with full no-move clauses: captain Killorn (if he’s still with Tampa Bay), Yanni Gourde or a prospect like Steven Stamkos, winger Nikita Kucherov and defenseman Victor Volkov. Hedman. They have to be protected (they’re no-brainers, anyway). Plan B: 7-3-1 format Vezina Trophy-winning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy would be protected in both formats. Forwards: Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Anthony Cirelli, Ondrej Palat, Mitchell Stephens, Alex Volkov Tampa Bay still needs to sign a goalie who would be eligible, as all of its goalies currently under contract (including backup Curtis McElhinney) will Defensemen: Victor Hedman, Mikhail Sergachev, Erik Cernak be free agents by the time next summer’s expansion draft comes around. Goalie: Andrei Vasilevskiy There are several key factors that will come into play in the next year that might help determine the Lightning’s list: The Lightning would use this plan if some of their young forwards take a step forward, or if they re-signed a player they have recently acquired Salary cap crunch – The Lightning are entering their most challenging (like Blake Coleman or Barclay Goodrow). Up front the locks continue to cap crunch yet, with $76 million already committed to 15 players, and be Stamkos, Cirelli, Point and Kucherov. And by this point, Palat will star core players Mikhail Sergachev and Anthony Cirelli among the have just one year left at $5.3 million (and a modified no-trade clause). restricted free agents. He has the kind of versatility and two-way play that would be worth hanging on to, as would Killorn if he’s still with Tampa and under contract There’s going to have to be some moves this offseason, which likely for one more year. won’t be until October/November, where some players are traded to create cap space (like the J.T. Miller to Vancouver deal at last year’s Mitchell Stephens’ emergence this year opened some eyes, and as a NHL Draft). One candidate is Alex Killorn, who is coming off a career center with strong faceoff ability, he’d be good to keep to slide into the season both on and off the ice. His no-trade clause moves to a modified third/fourth-line center role. Volkov still has the most dynamic skill set of list of 16 teams he can be dealt to, offering Tampa Bay some rare any forward with AHL Syracuse at this moment, and I think Tampa Bay flexibility. wants to have some patience with that. You could make an argument for Joseph too, depending on how his year goes, or if Barre-Boulet proves to Prospect development – A lot can change in a year. For example, my be an NHL-caliber option. projection last summer had Mathieu Joseph and Alex Volkov protected in the Lightning’s 7-3-1 format. Not that either of the two prospects are out Remember, Seattle can only take one player, so you’re only going to lose of the team’s thinking on that, but Joseph went from a regular to a one piece. humbling demotion to AHL Syracuse before finding his way back to the taxi squad for this year’s playoffs. Volkov remained a “mystery,” with the On defense, Hedman and Sergachev are the two pillars on the left side. talented Russian winger not making a big impact in nine NHL games this You’d probably protect Cernak on the right aside, assuming he’s re- year. On the other hand, Mitchell Stephens put himself on the team’s signed as an RFA this summer. That means risking Seattle takes on radar, and in the lineup, by December. McDonagh’s contract or a shot at Foote.

We still haven’t seen defenseman Cal Foote, the 2017 first-round pick, The Athletic LOADED: 06.30.2020 play in an NHL game, though he continues to get closer. What if Foote establishes himself as a regular this year? That could make him someone Tampa Bay would want to hold onto. Alex Barre-Boulet could potentially debut this coming season too, giving the brass a better idea of his NHL potential.

If some of the younger forward prospects take a step forward, it could lead the Lightning to consider the 7-3-1 format. 1187173 Toronto Maple Leafs CAN KHL CONQUER COVID? Though Russia remains a COVID-19 hot spot, the KHL is optimistically

moving ahead with several August exhibition games. In Helsinki, Jokerit’s NHL notes: Covid cases up KHL team plans to allow 500 fans into games after Aug. 1 and if all goes well, club president Jari Kurri says that restriction will be lifted after Oct. 1.

Lance Hornby “Nobody has any direct answers to anything at the moment, and nothing can be nailed down,” Kurri told a local newspaper. “But at the moment we Published:June 29, 2020 are expecting to start (the regular season) on Sept. 2.” Updated:June 29, 2020 5:52 PM EDT ICE CHIPS

The Hockey Hall Of Fame’s media wing welcomed two new members on While the NHL’s choice of two hub cities in Canada or the U.S. is on Monday. Tony Gallagher, the long-time columnist for the Vancouver hold, the number of positive COVID-19 tests from players in its small- Province, who broke many stories on the West Coast through three group practices is up. decades, was named winner of the 2020 Elmer Ferguson Award. The Foster Hewitt Award for broadcasting goes to Rick Peckham, with 42 As of Monday, more than 250 who reported voluntarily to club rinks in years in the business, the last 24 as TV voice of the Tampa Bay Phase 2 of the return-to-play plan were tested in excess of 1,450 times Lightning … Defenceman Roman Polak is not expected back in the total. The 15 confirmations of the virus are in addition to 11 the league Dallas Stars lineup for the playoffs. He wasn’t playing full-time when the was made aware of outside Phase 2, which began June 8. All affected season was halted, and he recently signed a three-year contract with players (no names were released) have been self-isolating, according to Vitkovice in the Czech League starting in 2020-21 and has concerns the league. about returning to North America in the midst of the pandemic … Nassau County executive Laura Curran says not to give up hope that the That news comes 11 days before the league intends to start formal Islanders will play at the Coliseum in 2020-21, despite the rink’s private training camps for its 24-team playoff tournament in two hubs. Toronto owners declaring it closed because of debt. The team will be in its new and Edmonton remain the Canadian favourites, Las Vegas in the U.S. Belmont Park digs in 2021-22 … Las Vegas is the latest team to bring its unless COVID-19 becomes such an issue in the south that the league AHL farm club close to home. The Golden Knights have moved the San opts for two Canadian sites. Sensitive negotiations between the league Antonio Rampage from Texas to a few minutes’ drive from the Strip, and the players’ association on such matters as testing, accommodations rebranding them the Henderson Silver Knights. They’ll play at Orleans and the inclusion of family are ongoing, likely complicated by parallel Arena in Paradise, Nev., part of a casino. Collective Bargaining Agreement talks to settle the 2020-21 season. With many 2019-20 and 2020-21 contracts incomplete and revenue streams Toronto Sun LOADED: 06.30.2020 undetermined, there’s lots to settle before the next game is played.

“July 10 seems a little quick for what needs to be done,” Minnesota Wild goaltender and player rep Devan Dubnyk told local media. “But at the end of the day, a vote of any sort on anything can happen July 9 and if it’s voted on, then we can start July 10. So, in that regard, there are two weeks still to get something hammered out. It certainly feels like it’s going to happen.”

MINORITY NHLERS SPEAK UP

The Hockey Diversity Alliance, a group of minority NHLers and players who’ve been at the forefront of stories about racism in the game, have released a YouTube video that includes their mission statement.

The co-heads, San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane and former player Akim Aliu, joined Wayne Simmonds, Trevor Daley, Matt Dumba, Chris Stewart, Nazem Kadri, Anthony Duclair and the retired Joel Ward in a video moderated by Canadian film director, screenwriter and former pro, Charles Officer.

“When Akim’s story first broke, we were all taken aback by the news,” said Kane of Aliu’s revelations of mistreatment in junior hockey. “Obviously, with his story re-invigorated by the Players Tribune article (and) unfortunately having George Floyd’s death, Breonna Taylor and Aumaud Arbery, it became apparent to us something had to be changed, not only in society, but in the hockey world. We as as a group thought it was important our voices finally be heard and united as minority players.”

Aliu, who has challenged the league’s previous claim that the sport is all- inclusive, and Kane added Kadri and Duclair to the group in recent weeks.

“Nine guys who’ve all kind of experienced the same things in a game that is predominantly white,” Aliu said. “It’s a tough space to speak out about.”

Our whole mindset is to make the path a little smoother (for young minority players) than it was for us.”

Simmonds said he was tired of the “denial I’ve been seeing from the outside world that this stuff actually happens (in hockey).

“We watched Floyd with a (policeman’s) knee on his neck, we’ve watched a numerous amount of other black people be killed in the streets,” Simmonds added. “I’ve had several instances in the hockey world and outside when something racist has happened to me and every time I say something, people fail to believe. Now’s the time to accept this does happen and move this conversation along.” 1187174 Toronto Maple Leafs He’s arguably the most influential team leader. He’s also insurance longer-term if Rielly leaves as a UFA.

Hyman is a more interesting selection since, as it stands right now Who could the Maple Leafs lose to Seattle in the 2021 expansion draft? anyway, he’ll be unsigned for the 2021-22 season. That can change. But given the further pandemic-fueled squeezing of the cap, it’s possible the Leafs, no matter how much they wish otherwise, won’t have the luxury of keeping him. By James Mirtle and Jonas Siegel Jun 29, 2020 However, I bet they find a way. He’s too important to what they do, too

unique in the scheme of what they have otherwise up front — and it’s Here comes Seattle… possible, as a hometown guy, he’s willing to take a bargain ticket to stay. (More on that here.) Well, in another year, anyway. The whole prospect of NHL expansion to 32 teams suddenly feels a lot closer, as we could be less than 12 months Hyman will be 29 next summer. away from the Kraken picking their roster. A logo and name Two forwards, one defenceman and a goalie left to shield. Back to you, announcement are also expected shortly. James. While there are many difficulties inherent in trying to project who will be Protected Goaltender: Jack Campbell available a year from now, we’re taking our best shot this week at The Athletic and generating protected lists for every team (except Vegas, who The Leafs have to protect one goaltender and expose one signed are exempt). goaltender, but at this moment, only Campbell is signed through 2021- 22. When it comes to the Maple Leafs, they are basically guaranteed to go the 7-3-1 route and protect seven forwards, three defencemen and one I think the decision here is pretty simple: If you’ve re-signed Frederik goaltender, given how many talented forwards they have. A few of those Andersen by the time of the expansion draft, obviously you protect him. decisions are very simple, but some are not. You’ve decided he’s your starter.

What follows is our draft of the protected list, with Jonas getting the first If you haven’t, you protect Campbell. pick. The Leafs don’t need to decide this for a while, so I’d wait and see how Protected Forward No. 1: Auston Matthews they both play, through the postseason and into the first half of next season. I don’t think Andersen is in line for a raise, given what’s James, thanks for giving me the very difficult choice at No. 1 here. Let’s happening with the cap, and if you can keep him at around the same be honest, the first few picks are no-brainers. dollar figure, maybe that makes sense. But he turns 31 in October, and Couple thoughts when it comes to Matthews looking ahead to next 32 by the time a new deal would start, so I’d be very wary of term. Three summer though. For one thing, he’ll be heading into his age-24 season. by $5 million or something might be fine. I’m fascinated to see what that looks like. We saw real signs of him But I wouldn’t want to commit before seeing him rebound from what’s rounding into something special at both ends this season. He was been a rocky fourth season in Toronto. already perhaps the league’s most dangerous goal scorer. How does the two-way thing look after whatever next season looks like? If you’re not keeping Andersen, then protect Campbell, get a third goalie to act as expansion draft fodder, and find a new starter in summer, 2021. On another note, Matthews will have only three years remaining on his Easy, right? contract by the time of the Seattle expansion draft. Two forwards and a D-man to go. Decisions getting harder, now. Time flies! Protected Forward No. 6: Kasperi Kapanen Protected Forwards 2-4: Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about Kapanen’s potential and future with Protected Defenceman 1: Morgan Rielly the Leafs. If they haven’t dealt him by then, in either their quest for cap I’m going to speed things up here, Seagull… room or help on defence, he’s being protected.

Let’s not belabour some of the no-brainer decisions here. This is the Seattle would love to nab a guy like this. Come next summer, he’ll be 24, Leafs core. These players are not getting exposed for an expansion draft. signed for one more season ($3.2 million cap hit) and a restricted free agent after that. For one, Tavares has a no-movement clause, so you can’t expose him. If you could? Well, maybe if we are a few more years down the line, there’s The Leafs will rightly keep them away from him. a conversation there. Maybe Seattle would think, you know what, sure Protected Defenceman No. 3: Travis Dermott we’ll take him, to give us some veteran leadership, even if he isn’t quite worth $11 million. Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren are exempt, so this feels relatively simple. The choice comes down to Dermott or Justin Holl, and I’m But the Leafs obviously wouldn’t expose him for 2021-22, even if they keeping the player who will be 24 (and an RFA this offseason) over the could. He’ll have value at that ticket, despite being 31. one who will be 29 (and a UFA in 2023). Rielly, meanwhile, will be into the final year of his deal, about to enter Holl was a great, feel-good story this season. He also played higher in unrestricted free agency. That’ll be a tough extension to get done given it the lineup more frequently than Dermott did. But if we’re going on upside, looks like the cap will be flat for up to four or five years. Dermott’s the pick. A conversation for a later date. Now, where this could get tricky is if the Leafs add another defenceman Bet you didn’t expect this, Jonas – now you’ve actually got some tough this offseason. If they sign, say, T.J. Brodie for a few years as a UFA choices to make! Only three forwards, two defencemen and one whenever the 2020 offseason begins, then all of a sudden you’d have to goaltender left to protect. Choose wisely… expose Dermott and Holl (or one of Muzzin or Brodie).

Protected Defenceman No. 2: Jake Muzzin Something to keep in mind when looking at how to improve the Leafs blue line before next season. Whatever extra pieces they add this Protected Forward No. 5: Zach Hyman summer could get exposed in Summer 2021, if they get multiyear deals.

Since you swiped four guys off the board, I’ll take the next two… Last pick to you my friend… there’s not a ton left, is there?

First, Muzzin. The Leafs just extended him in February – four years, Protected Forward No. 7: Alex Kerfoot $22.5 million. He’s their most important defensive defenceman and should remain so after next season – even when he’s 32. It feels like Actually, I think the last forward pick is very much up in the air. At the Muzzin has been around a lot longer than he actually has given the effect moment, it comes down to three: Andreas Johnsson, Alex Kerfoot, and he’s had on the dressing room. Pierre Engvall. It’s possible – maybe even likely – that one of Johnsson ($3.4 million cap The Athletic LOADED: 06.30.2020 hit) or Kerfoot ($3.5 million), or even Kapanen, is dealt before we get to the expansion draft to clear cap space. The 2020-21 season could also alter things. If Kerfoot, say, shines as the Leafs third-line centre, it’s likely he’s the guy who stays. Or, if the Leafs keep Johnsson after all, and he comes back strong playing alongside Matthews or Tavares, maybe he gets protected.

There’s also the price question to consider. Engvall makes less than half of either Johnsson or Kerfoot ($1.25 million) and remains under team control in 2022 as an RFA. He lacks the same upside, I would argue, and is older than you think: He’ll be 25 next summer.

Initially, he was my pick here.

I thought long and hard about Johnsson, but his number on a contract that will still have another two years on it come next summer, as well as the potential emergence of Nick Robertson, makes him feel a little less necessary.

So I’m going with Kerfoot – for now. He fills the third centre spot, and can slide over to the wing, and hinted at interesting things alongside Tavares and Nylander this season. Still, this selection is written down in pencil.

Who would that expose?

A lot can change obviously. As James noted, the Leafs could bring in a defenceman, which might then expose someone like Dermott to Seattle. And we do expect one of the forwards to be dealt; if it’s Kerfoot or Kapanen, Johnsson may slide into one of the final spots.

In light of all that, the two best players the Leafs will likely expose to Seattle are Justin Holl and Pierre Engvall.

In either case, that’s a more significant loss than 2017, when the Leafs lost Brendan Leipsic to Vegas. He played six games for the Leafs during the 30th place 2015-16 season, a non-entity really.

With Holl or Engvall – or someone else – you’re talking about either a top-nine(ish) forward, or a top-four defenceman.

That hurts your depth a lot more than in 2017, when the Leafs were protecting players like Matt Martin and Connor Carrick.

The expansion draft rules require that teams expose two forwards under contract for 2021-22 who have either 40 games played in 2020-21 or 70 games in the two previous seasons. Engvall would count for one, and the Leafs will likely need to get another under contract. Maybe that’s reason to give Frederik Gauthier, an RFA after this season, a two-year contract.

Holl would fill the exposure needs on defence as the fourth defenceman after Rielly, Muzzin and Dermott. And, James, you already touched on the goalie question, which gets more complex if the Leafs re-sign Andersen before next summer.

Other possibilities for Seattle

Kyle Clifford

Jeremy Bracco

Adam Brooks

Denis Malgin

Kenny Agostino

Jason Spezza

Frederik Gauthier

Notables who are exempt from the expansion draft

Nick Robertson

Ilya Mikheyev

Rasmus Sandin

Mikko Lehtonen

Timothy Liljegren

Alexander Barabanov

Yegor Korshkov

Joseph Woll 1187175 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights keep up Phase Two workouts at City National Arena

By Ben Gotz

June 29, 2020 - 8:20 PM

The Golden Knights skated at City National Arena again Monday as part of Phase Two of the NHL’s return to play plan.

Defenseman Brayden McNabb said “almost every guy” on the team is participating in these skates. The league allows the Knights to skate in groups of up to 12.

Those known to be taking part besides McNabb are Deryk Engelland, Marc-Andre Fleury, Nick Holden, Jonathan Marchessault, Jon Merrill, Max Pacioretty, Ryan Reaves, Paul Stastny, Chandler Stephenson, Mark Stone and Shea Theodore.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187176 Vegas Golden Knights “I think we’re very confident with the group we have and the players we have,” McNabb said. “We know when we play the right way we’re a very hard team to beat.”

Brayden McNabb hopeful Golden Knights will return to play LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.30.2020

By Ben Gotz

June 29, 2020 - 7:52 PM

Updated June 29, 2020 - 10:09 PM

Brayden McNabb’s lifestyle has been “almost like retirement” the last three-plus months, and the Golden Knights defenseman is ready for that to change.

McNabb has enjoyed golfing, cooking and hanging out with his fiancé and dog while the NHL’s season is paused. He wants to start playing hockey again, however, and he should get answers soon as to whether he’ll be able to.

McNabb said the NHL players association should vote on a return-to-play plan “pretty quick.” His comments echoed those of Commissioner Gary Bettman, who said he hoped to have an agreement with the players “very, very quickly” during the draft lottery telecast Friday on NBC Sports Network.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty right now,” McNabb said. “I think everyone believes we’re going to play. I know as a team we really want to play.”

McNabb said he hasn’t talked to anyone yet who doesn’t want to finish the NHL season. But he acknowledged the health risks that would come with returning to play are real. The league said Monday that 15 of the more than 250 players that have entered Phase Two of its return-to-play plan (small-group workouts) have tested positive for COVID-19.

An additional 11 players have tested positive outside of Phase Two.

So far, McNabb said he’s had a positive experience with the league’s safety protocols. He believes the Knights staff is doing an “outstanding” job keeping players healthy since Phase Two began this month.

McNabb said “almost every guy” on the team is participating in these skates. Those known to be taking part besides McNabb are Deryk Engelland, Marc-Andre Fleury, Nick Holden, Jonathan Marchessault, Jon Merrill, Max Pacioretty, Ryan Reaves, Paul Stastny, Chandler Stephenson, Mark Stone and Shea Theodore.

“It’s good that we have a lot of guys here now skating,” McNabb said. “I think it’ll be an advantage.”

The players association will need to approve moving forward with the return-to-play plan for the Knights to use that edge. The union has to vote on safety guidelines for training camps, which are scheduled to begin July 10, and games as well. That includes what life will look like inside the NHL’s “bubble” in its still unannounced two hub cities.

McNabb said those discussions are still ongoing. All he knows is that the hub cities will likely have a “campus feel” and players’ families possibly won’t be allowed in for at least the first two rounds.

“Once we get into the bubble I think there’s probably no safer place to be, in my opinion,” McNabb said.

The players may also vote on the framework of a collective bargaining agreement extension at the same time. McNabb said the key issue for the union is escrow, the portion of each player’s salary that gets withheld to ensure a 50-50 split of hockey related-revenue with the owners.

Since COVID-19 cut the regular season short, escrow could skyrocket next season as the league tries to recoup some of the money it lost. A new CBA could allow the players to limit the damage or spread the pain across multiple seasons.

“If we can get somewhere we can agree upon, that would be great,” McNabb said. “There’s a lot of little things that have been discussed. A lot of stuff that’s going to need a little bit of ironing out.”

Then, if all those hurdles are cleared, McNabb and the Knights will get to play hockey again. It’s something the defenseman has looked forward to for a long time, because he thinks his team has the talent to go far if things pick back up. 1187177 Vegas Golden Knights Knights claiming a 6-3 win in Vegas and the Canucks winning a 5-4 overtime thriller in Vancouver.

Vancouver presents several challenges, mainly the dynamic playmaking Ranking the 8 opponents the Golden Knights could face in the first round of Elias Pettersson and solid goaltending from Jacob Markstrom. But when these teams have met Vegas has really flexed its muscle, using its strong, heavy game to bruise and batter a much smaller, faster Canucks squad. In a world currently filled with unknowns, the familiarity between By Jesse Granger Jun 29, 2020 these teams makes Vancouver an ideal matchup for the Golden Knights.

Player to WATCH: Brock Boeser tallied two goals and two assists against The Stanley Cup Playoffs still feel a ways off in the distance. They’re Vegas this season (Pettersson also had three goals). getting closer to reality as the NHL and NHL Players’ Association 3. Calgary Flames continue negotiations to return to play, with the latest talks surrounding the location games will be played. Players are skating in small groups at I chose the Flames for the next-best potential opponent for the Golden team facilities around North America, and the hope is full training camps Knights for many of the same reasons as Vancouver. As Pacific Division can begin on July 10. rivals the teams have played a ton of games against each other, so the familiarity removes at least some for the unknown entering a first-round As one of the top-four seeds in the Westen Conference, the Golden playoff matchup. Knights already know they’ll be in the official first round of the playoffs. They just don’t know their opponent. This season Vegas has dominated the Flames, going 3-0-0 including two blowout wins by the scores of 6-0 and 6-2. In their three contests, the Vegas won’t know its opponent until just before the first round begins, Golden Knights outshot the Flames 85-75, out-chanced them 89-57 and and it will be decided by Vegas’ results in the round robin (against St. outscored them 13-4 at even strength. Also, Calgary has never won a Louis, Colorado and Dallas) and the winners of the play-in round. Right game at T-Mobile Arena in six tries. While it obviously won’t have the now the Golden Knights only know they’ll be playing one of the eight same sort of home-ice advantage, there’s a chance these games are teams seeded fifth to 12th in the Western Conference — Edmonton, played in Vegas. Nashville, Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Minnesota, Arizona and Chicago. Player to WATCH: Surprisingly enough, Calgary’s leading scorer versus Vegas this year is Milan Lucic, with one goal and one assist in three “Prior to them releasing the (playoff) structure we dove into potential games. The player the Golden Knights are more concerned with is playoff opponents, so we’ve got a pretty good library on everybody in the Matthew Tkachuk, who has wreaked havoc in front of Marc-Andre Fleury. Western Conference that we might see,” head coach Peter DeBoer told The Athletic. 4. Nashville Predators

DeBoer said he and his staff have spent much of their days poring over The Predators aren’t a particularly bad team, going 35-26-8 this season analytics and video of potential opponents, with each member of his to finish fifth in a tough Central Division. The Golden Knights also didn’t coaching staff focusing on a different aspect (special teams, offensive play particularly well against Nashville this season. They did go 2-1-0, but zone, defensive zone, etc.). were actually outscored 7-5 at even strength.

It’s not easy to construct a game plan for eight different potential However, I think Nashville would be a good matchup for the Golden opponents, and it’s not something NHL coaches are accustomed to. Knights based on style of play. Unlike the next four teams in this ranking, Under normal playoff formats, teams only have one or two possible the Predators likely won’t try to slow Vegas down too much, but will opponents, but with the NHL’s decision to re-seed the playoffs after each instead play an up-tempo game with their equally-deep forward unit. round, it opens up dozens of new potential matchups. Nashville will present challenges for Vegas’ bottom-six, with talented forwards like Kyle Turris, Viktor Arvidsson and Craig Smith on their And while the Golden Knights should feel relatively confident heading bottom-two lines. The Golden Knights have great forward depth, but their into their first-round series, there are some opponents that would present third and fourth lines don’t possess the scoring power of Nashville’s. more of a challenge than others. Player to WATCH: Roman Josi recorded three assists in three games Here are the potential first-round opponents for the Golden Knights against Vegas. His speed to activate in the offensive zone gave the ranked in order of the best possible matchup for Vegas. Golden Knights’ zone defense issues in two of the three matchups. 1. Chicago Blackhawks 5. Arizona Coyotes Everyone in hockey — from the players, to coaches, to general Many probably expected the Coyotes to be higher on this ranking, managers — says “there are no easy matchups in the playoffs.” considering their the second-worst team to qualify for this postseason That may be true, but the 12th-best team in the conference also usually with only one more win than Chicago. However, the Coyotes have played isn’t in the playoffs. Chicago was not a good hockey team this year, Vegas tough this season and implement a tight-checking strategy that losing six more games than it won with a goal differential of minus-six. has left very little room for the Golden Knights high-octane offense to operate. Sure, the Blackhawks have a ton of experience and players who have performed at the highest level in the game’s biggest moments. Patrick Vegas went 2-1-0 against Arizona this season but scored only three total Kane is still a phenomenal player after turning in another 80-plus point goals at even strength in those games. Meanwhile, the Coyotes season. But, there’s a reason Chicago sold at the trade deadline, managed six goals at even strength and outshot Vegas 80-76. including their deal that sent their best goaltender — Robin Lehner — to The Coyotes won’t score many goals, but with a healthy Darcy Kuemper Vegas. The Golden Knights have also matched up extremely well with in net they have the ability to make this a long, hard-fought series which Chicago since their inception, going 8-1-0 all-time while outscoring the is something Vegas would like to avoid in its opening round. Blackhawks a combined 40-24. Player to WATCH: Kuemper stopped 74-of-76 shots by the Golden Player to WATCH: Dylan Strome led all Chicago players with four points Knights this season for an impressive save percentage of .974. (one goal and three assists) in the two games against Vegas this season. 6. Edmonton Oilers 2. Vancouver Canucks Edmonton is the highest-ranked team playing in the play-in round and is Unlike Chicago, Vancouver isn’t one of the lowest seeded teams in the also the most talented. It obviously starts at the top with superstars postseason. However, a matchup with the Canucks provides the Golden Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but the Oilers have received depth Knights with both familiarity and a stylistic advantage, in my opinion. scoring from other sources this season like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Vegas has never lost to Vancouver in regulation, with an all-time record defensemen Oscar Klefbom and Darnell Nurse. of 8-0-2. During that span, the Golden Knights have outscored the He does it to everyone, but McDavid has really hurt the Golden Knights Canucks 45-26, their biggest goal differential against any team in the over the last three seasons with seven goals and eight assists in 10 league. This season the team’s split their two games, with the Golden meetings. No team in the Pacific Division has given Vegas more problems than Edmonton.

Player to WATCH: After a three-assist performance in their first meeting, the Golden Knights held Draisaitl off the scoresheet entirely in the final two matchups. Vegas can’t expect to shut him down completely, but limiting his impact would go a long way towards winning a playoff series against the Oilers.

7. Minnesota Wild

Over their first three years as a franchise, no team in the NHL has given the Golden Knights more fits than the Wild. Vegas is 2-6-0 all-time against

Minnesota and suffered one of its more discouraging losses of this season to the Wild.

Even in the midst of its strongest stretch of the season — going 14-4-1 from Jan. 31 on — Vegas was completely neutralized by Minnesota in a 4-0 loss on Feb. 11. The Wild play a simple, defensively sound game that clogs up the neutral zone and prevents the Golden Knights’ forwards from entering the zone with any speed or room to work. That has led to only 1.88 goals per game against the Wild, which is Vegas’ lowest against any opponent.

Player to WATCH: Speedy winger Kevin Fiala led the Wild with 54 points this season, and registered one goal and three assists in only two games against the Golden Knights.

8. Winnipeg Jets

Winnipeg is the only potential first-round opponent that the Golden Knights don’t have a win over this season. The Jets squeaked by 4-3 in overtime in Vegas and pummeled the Golden Knights 4-0 in Winnipeg on March 6.

The Jets will go as far as Vezina-candidate goalie Connor Hellebuyck can take them, and with how he’s played this season that might be further than their team deserves to go. Hellebuyck was fantastic in his only meeting with the Golden Knights, stopping all 29 shots he faced for his sixth shutout of the season. But it wasn’t just Hellebuyck, in two games against Winnipeg the Golden Knights managed to score only one goal at even strength.

The Wild and Jets both present the Golden Knights with stylistic problems. My decision to go with Winnipeg as the worst possible opponent came down to my opinion that the Jets are simply a better overall team than the Wild. That’s mainly because of the offensive firepower Winnipeg has in Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler and Patrik Laine.

It’s worth noting that Winnipeg is also the only potential first-round opponent that the Golden Knights have previously faced in the playoffs (a 4-1 win for Vegas in the 2017-18 Western Conference Final).

Player to WATCH: Connor has played exceptionally well against Vegas, with four points in two matchups this season, and 13 total points in only eight career games versus the Golden Knights.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187178 Washington Capitals

15 out of 250+ NHL players test positive for COVID-19

By J.J. Regan June 29, 2020 5:03 PM

As the NHL continues to approach training camp and its return to play, the league announced the latest numbers from its Phase 2 testing. The league announced Monday that 15 out of over 250 players tested have tested positive for COVID-19. There were also an additional 11 players who have tested positive outside of the league’s Phase 2 protocol.

The league noted that all players who tested positive have been self- isolating.

This is a critical point in the league’s testing with training camp approaching on July 10. As more players return, the possibility of infecting others increases. As of June 19, there were 11 positive tests. The fact there have only been an additional four positives in 10 days despite cases spiking across the country is a good sign for the league and the possibility of completing the 2020 postseason.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187179 Washington Capitals Holtby WC: Pivonka, Druce

Ben Raby, Capitals Radio host Drafting the ultimate Capitals all-time lineup Picks:

Peter Bondra, W By J.J. Regan June 29, 2020 6:00 AM John Carlson, D

Olaf Kolzig, G If you could put together the best Capitals lineup, who would you take? That was the question we tried to answer on the Capitals Talk Podcast. Dennis Maruk, C With no games, all the local hockey experts have some extra time on their hands so we decided to get together for a Capitals fantasy draft. Matt Niskanen, D

The rules were simple. We each would select eight Capitals players: two Bobby Carpenter, C wingers, one center, two defensemen, one goalie and two "wild card" Mike Knuble, W players you could take for any reason. Any player who had played for the Caps at some time during the team's history was eligible. Random Chris Simon, W names were pulled to determine the draft order and we held a snake draft on the podcast. We then got together the top Caps experts we could Lineup: find, i.e. everyone who was just as bored with the season pause as we Maruk - Carpenter - Bondra were and who would return our calls. Here was the draft order: JJ Regan, Rob Carlin, Ben Raby, Joe Beninati, Ryan Billie and John Walton. Carlson - Niskanen

Hijinks ensued all of which you can hear on the episode of the Capitals Kolzig Talk Podcast. WC: Knuble, Simon So who put together the best lineup? Obviously, me. But who put together the second-best lineup? Joe Beninati, NBC Sports Washington's Capitals play-by-play announcer

Check out the draft results: Picks:

JJ Regan, Capitals Insider Mike Gartner, W

Picks: Kevin Hatcher, D

Alex Ovechkin, W Sergei Gonchar, D

Jaromir Jagr, W Bengt Gustafsson, C

Larry Murphy, D Jakub Vrana, W

Adam Oates, C Philipp Grubauer, G

Semyon Varlamov, G Mike Ridley, C

Sylvain Cote, D Craig Laughlin, RW

Dave Christian, W Lineup:

Quintin Laing, W Vrana - Gustafsson - Gartner

Lineup: Gonchar - Hatcher

Ovechkin - Oates - Jagr Grubauer

Cote - Murphy WC: Ridley, Laughlin

Varlamov Ryan Billie, NBC Sports Washington's Capitals game producer

WC: Christian, Laing Picks:

Rob Carlin, host of the Capitals Talk Podcast and the pre and postgame Scott Stevens, D shows Calle Johansson, D

Picks: Evgeny Kuznetsov, C

Nicklas Backstrom, C Alex Semin, W

Mike Green, D Kelly Miller, W

Braden Holtby, G Pete Peters, G

T.J. Oshie, W Joe Juneau, C

Tom Wilson, W Sergei Fedorov, W

Phil Housley, D Lineup:

Michal Pivonka, C Semin - Kuznetsov - Fedorov

John Druce, W Stevens - Johansson

Lineup: Peters

Oshie - Backstrom - Wilson WC: Miller, Juneau

Housley - Green John Walton, radio voice of the Capitals Picks:

Rod Langway, D

Dino Ciccarelli, W

Dale Hunter, C

Don Beaupre, G

Al Iafrate, D

Steve Konowalchuk, W

Marcus Johansson, C

Alan May, W

Lineup:

Konowalchuk - Hunter - Ciccarelli

Langway - Iafrate

Beaupre

WC: Johansson, May

Some of the highlights:

After the podcast, Carlin tried to pull a fast one and texted us all he was sending Druce down and signing Ilya Kovalchuk. He was immediately (and rightly) called out.

I thought Jagr going with the last pick of the second round was a huge steal for me. Everyone else just made fun of me for declaring it a steal.

Jagr was a steal...but good on Billie for snagging Fedorov with his eighth pick.

I would not want to meet Walton's team in a dark ally.

Of course Joe B. would take Vrana...and Locker.

Raby brought lots of visual props which usually work great in a podcast.

Carlin sees a lot to like with the current Caps as they make up a big part of his lineup. He did steal Housley away from me one pick before I could grab him which I was not happy about.

Good luck keeping my offense of Ovechkin, Oates and Jagr from scoring.

Raby's team would be great if it just played exclusively on the power play.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187180 Washington Capitals

The biggest 'what ifs' for the 2019-20 Capitals' season: What if there was no pandemic and the season was not paused?

By J.J. Regan June 29, 2020 7:00 AM

We are looking at some of the biggest “what ifs” for the Capitals for the 2019-20 season.

Today’s what if: What if the COVID-19 pandemic had never hit and the season had not been paused?

The round robin will give the Capitals a chance to jump from No. 3 in the Eastern Conference to No. 1. Had the pandemic not forced the season to be paused, however, Washington would have struggled just to maintain its hold of first place in the Metropolitan Division.

The Caps were struggling mightily heading into the pause and had been for some time. Every team goes through slumps over the course of the season, but the length in which the team struggled and the fact that they just did not seem to be getting better was troubling.

From Dec. 23 to March 12, Washington ranked 21st in the NHL in points percentage with a record of 15-14-3. That’s essentially .500 hockey. From Feb. 1 to March 12, they got worse ranking 27th in points percentage with a 6-8-3 record.

The Philadelphia Flyers, meanwhile, were red hot and erased the Caps’ sizable lead in the division. From Feb. 1 to March 12, while the Caps were 27th in points percentage, Philadelphia was tied for first. They and the Boston Bruins were the hottest teams in the league with a 14-4-0 record.

By the time the season was paused, the Flyers trailed Washington by a single point in the standings.

Would Philadelphia have been able to maintain that blistering pace through the end of the season? Perhaps not, but considering the Caps had shown no signs that they were improving, it seems almost certain the Flyers would have bumped Washington out of the top spot in the division which would have likely pitted the Caps against their biggest rival in the playoffs.

At the pause, Washington held a four-point lead over the third-place Pittsburgh Penguins. In fourth place was the Carolina Hurricanes who trailed Pittsburgh by five. Most likely, the Caps and Penguins would have held onto their spots setting up the rivalry matchup in the first round.

As bad as Washington was playing, the Penguins were almost just as bad. The entered the season pause with three wins in their last 11 games. During Washington’s struggles, one of the few bright spots has been the team’s two wins over the Penguins including a dominant 5-2 win in Pittsburgh on March 7.

I don’t know if Washington would have beaten Pittsburgh in a playoff series -- given how they were playing, the Caps would have been fortunate to beat anyone -- but even if they did, a long playoff run seemed like a long shot given how the team was struggling. Given the circumstances surrounding why the league had to pause the season, no one can say it was a good thing. In the long run, however, it may prove beneficial to Washington’s Stanley Cup hopes which seemed to be floundering in March.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187181 Winnipeg Jets However, if complete chaos and maximum intrigue are your thing, the NHL has stumbled into something pretty great. As if there weren’t enough storylines in play, you now have the added drama of the Lafrenière sweepstakes thrown into the mix. Lafrenière sweepstakes add extra intrigue to unusual NHL playoffs It’s so juicy, you wonder if some general managers aren’t secretly hoping to see their team lose their one-in-24 shot at Lord Stanley by getting wiped out during the play-in series in favour of the more lucrative one-in- Mike McIntyre eight chance at Lafrenière? A team like Montreal, for example, is only included in this unprecedented playoff because the NHL has expanded the field beyond the normal 16. They are long shots at best. You think Dare to dream, Winnipeg Jets fans. winning a round or two would trump getting the homegrown phenom on their roster? No chance. With Canada Day on deck, a pair of tantalizing outcomes remain in play for the local hockey club in this most absurd of seasons. Both would Unless you go all the way, bowing out quickly — or not playing at all — bring instant joy around here, for very different reasons. could lead to a hell of a consolation prize.

One involves a silver chalice. The other a silver lining. By the way, I should note "Team E" had the 12th best odds (2.5 per cent) of winning the draft lottery. Guess who would have been in the 12-hole Behind door No. 1 you have the Stanley Cup, the ultimate prize in the based on win percentage at the time the NHL shut down? None other sport. The Jets are among 24 teams still standing under the sizzling than your Winnipeg Jets. summer sun. It won’t be easy, with Winnipeg first having to beat the Calgary Flames in a best-of-five series, then win four traditional best-of- Dare to dream, indeed. seven rounds. But with a Vezina Trophy candidate in net, a potent offensive group and a roster that’s as healthy and deep as at any point in Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 06.30.2020 the season, they’re going to be a tough out.

Behind door No. 2 is Alexis Lafrenière, the undisputed first-overall draft pick seen by many pundits as a generational talent. Hard as it may be to believe, there are actually two scenarios that could see him suiting up with the likes of Mark Scheifele, Patrik Laine, Kyle Connor, Nikolaj Ehlers and Blake Wheeler with the Jets next season, which would be the stuff of nightmares for opposing goaltenders and goal-light operators.

If the puck drops on the most unique playoffs in league history, Winnipeg has a one-in-eight chance (12.5 per cent) if they can’t get by the Flames, as all eight "play-in" losers are eligible for Lafrenière. And if COVID-19 prevents the NHL from finishing what it started, Winnipeg has those same odds (along with Minnesota, Chicago, Arizona, Montreal, Florida, Columbus and the New York Rangers) based on their win percentage that had them outside the top 16 at the time the league paused in mid- March.

To quote the great Lloyd Christmas from Dumb & Dumber: "So you’re telling me there’s a chance." Which might be a perfect movie to cite, considering the NHL is taking some lumps for the sheer stupidity of their draft lottery.

Case in point: the Detroit Red Wings were really bad this season, historically bad. Their record of 17-49-5, with a winning percentage of .275, was the worst in the NHL’s salary-cap era dating back to 2004. If any team could use a budding young superstar, it’s them.

Their reward for such futility? Not Lafrenière. Not even the second-best prospect, or even the third-best. Instead, they get the fourth-overall pick.

Team "E" (the yet-to-be determined squad that won the No. 1 spot in Friday night’s draft lottery), the Los Angeles Kings and Ottawa Senators (via a previous trade with San Jose) all jumped the sad-sack squad from Motor City. General manager Steve Yzerman could barely hide his disdain at the development. Who can blame him?

Yet a team like the Jets, which finished with 41 more points than the Red Wings, are among the 16 still alive in the running for Lafrenière’s services. The seven worst teams that had no lotto luck are eliminated, as are the eight best teams that get a bye through the play-in series.

Imagine the hue and cry if the Pittsburgh Penguins, with 47 more points than Detroit, fail to get by Carey Price and the Montreal Canadiens, only to have the ping pong ball bounce their way and land them Lafrenière to go with the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Or how about if the Edmonton Oilers, with 44 more points than Detroit, bows out to a playoff- savvy Chicago Blackhawks squad in the best-of-five, only to win yet another top pick to skate with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

That sound you hear is hockey fans losing their collective lunches, along with their minds.

All of this was created by a system clearly in need of an overhaul, given the most putrid teams rarely win the top pick. In fact, of the six biggest bottom-feeders in the salary-cap era, not a single one landed the biggest fish. The idea was to discourage deliberate tanking once a season starts to go south, but it seems the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction. 1187182 Winnipeg Jets While Niku is healthy and eager to perform, he's realistic about his chances of facing the Flames. Jets head coach Paul Maurice will have a full complement of blue-liners — Josh Morrissey, Neal Pionk, Dylan DeMelo, Nathan Beaulieu, Dmitry Kulikov, Tucker Poolman, Anthony Niku anxiously awaits teammates' return Bitetto, Luca Sbisa and Carl Dahlstrom — at his disposal.

"When training camp starts (July 10), I'll just do my best and try to be as good as possible, and then coaches decide who's playing and who's not Kevin Rollason playing," said Niku. "It's always exciting to go to the playoffs, and if you don't play you are still part of the team, and it's a team game."

To suggest no Winnipeg Jets stayed in the city during the COVID-19 A slick skater with good offensive instincts, Niku believes he made some pandemic would be to inadvertently overlook Sami Niku as a member of improvements in his defensive game, even with all the interruptions. the NHL team. "I played harder in the (defensive) zone and my gap was better, and That's entirely forgivable considering, for the most part, the Finnish-born that's the big thing for me, to stay closer. I have to trust my skating, so I defenceman's 2019-20 NHL regular season was pretty darned don't have to use my body as often and I can really use my stick," said forgettable. And the reasons were not altogether the doing of Niku, who Niku, a restricted free agent after the season. His desire is to remain in was expected to have a role in the Jets' top six but simply could not stay Winnipeg for years to come. healthy. "That would be awesome to be here for a long time. That is my goal. And Even the good-natured 23-year-old had trouble mustering anything nice I have a family here now, so that would be perfect," he said. to say about his third pro hockey season in North America during a chat Off the ice, the season held some personal joy for the former AHL Monday with the Free Press. defenceman of the year. Niku and his partner, Ashley, welcomed a son, "Yeah, it's been a really tough season for me. A lot of bad luck and I Sami Jr., into the world in October. He's eight months old and growing didn't get to play a lot of games. Not a very nice season," he said. "When fast. I came back here (in the fall), that was my goal, to play the full season in "Just been hanging out with the little guy the last three months. I've had a the NHL. That was the only thing I was thinking about. lot of time to spend with him, which was really nice. He can't sit still. He "But always something kept happening, so it was really tough. This has has to move all the time. Probably soon he'll start to try and stand. Thank been the bad season for me and I really hope there's a lot of good things God he doesn't walk, yet," Niku said, laughing. in the future." "During the season, it has been really helpful we had him this season. Keeping track of the ailments suffered by the 6-1, 180-pound left- Even when I was hurt, it was so nice to come home and see the baby. I shooting defender is no easy chore. had something else in my mind than my injuries. There's nothing better. A few years ago, I didn't expect that I'd have a son in two years. But now Firstly, there was a car crash on the opening day of training camp, in that I have him, it's the best thing ever." which the vehicle driven by him and with forward and fellow Finn Kristian Vesalainen in the passenger seat, was T-boned at an intersection. Both Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 06.30.2020 escaped serious injury but were shaken up and kept off the ice for the first few days of camp.

Niku played just one pre-season game before suffering a groin strain and was assigned to the Manitoba Moose, the Jets' American Hockey League affiliate, for conditioning. He was recalled by the Jets during the first week of the regular season for one night only — a 4-1 triumph over the Pittsburgh Penguins — but was promptly sent back to the Moose.

The 2015 seven-round draft pick aggravated the groin injury with the Moose and was again sidelined, but rejoined head coach Pascal Vincent's squad in early November, only to sustain a rib injury at the end of the month that sidelined him for another four weeks.

Niku was recalled Jan. 2 by the Jets and played four nights later in Montreal against the Canadiens. He suited up for 15 of the next 21 games, and was slated to play against the Washington Capitals in D.C., but turned an ankle while the team was getting its kicks with some pre- game soccer.

"Yeah, maybe a little break from soccer before games," he said.

He finished with five assists in 17 games with the Jets, and three goals and 11 assists in 18 games with the Moose.

Niku was in Winnipeg rehabbing the ankle when the NHL pushed the pause button on March 12, owing to the coronavirus, while the Jets were on a road trip in Western Canada. The league has since announced a 24-team playoff format, setting up a best-of-five preliminary series between Winnipeg and the Calgary Flames in late July in one of the yet- to-be named hub cities.

Niku, off skates for about 100 days, figures he's the only Jet player that stuck around in the city but is excited about the prospect of rejoining some of his returning teammates on the ice, likely within a week.

"At first, I thought the season was done but now they are planning to play again. I'd be happy if we can continue and play the playoffs," said Niku. It's his understanding the Jets will skate in small groups at Bell MTS Iceplex soon — part of Phase 2 of the NHL's return-to-play protocol.

Winnipeg captain Blake Wheeler, three-time 30-goal scorer Kyle Connor, all-star goalie Connor Hellebuyck and the rest of the gang should start trickling into town by the end of the week. 1187183 Winnipeg Jets “The only reason I’m still in the league is because there was no truth. It was just all bull—-.”

“It’s the way it’s portrayed.” Former Jets winger Kane has grown into a leader with Hockey Diversity Kane pointed to the recent stories about Winnipegger Brendan Leipsic, a Alliance white 25-year-old who engaged in a series of misogynistic and offensive conversations on a chat site and was subsequently released by the Washington Capitals. Ted Wyman “This guy does what he does, has a group message where he’s saying Published:June 29, 2020 some not so good comments, to put it lightly,” Kane said. “I go on TSN and I’m trying to look for the article. I’m thinking ‘Big story, career over, Updated:June 29, 2020 5:53 PM CDT it’ll be at the top of the page’ because every time something happened to me or another Black player, top of the page, blowing up, front-line news. They want to make sure everybody can see it. Perhaps it was due to immaturity, mixed with the insecurity of being a Black player in a mostly white league, but you likely would not have “I’ve got to scroll all the way down and there’s a little blurb. It’s not perceived Evander Kane as a leader when he played for the Winnipeg ‘Brendan Leipsic makes horrific comments about player’s girlfriend’ or Jets. ‘Makes misogynist comment or fat shames,’ it’s ‘Brendan Leipsic apologizes for comments.’ How generic and undetailed is that for a Today, he seems like a different person, or at least one who is much headline? more comfortable being himself. Kane said he believes if the player in question were a player of colour it Just 20 when he arrived in Winnipeg, Kane spent close to four somewhat would have been a totally different headline. There’s no doubt, negative tumultuous seasons with the Jets before he was traded to Buffalo in headlines did seem to follow him around early in his career and it was 2015. certainly no exception in Winnipeg.

You could tell he was never quite comfortable in Winnipeg and the Jets “From my own personal experience, they want to make it as detailed as organization, but he’s since gone on to play six seasons and establish possible,” Kane said. “They want to overstate it, blow it up. They want to himself as a consistent power forward. portray you in such a negative light that it gathers so much attention.

Off the ice, he has become a well-spoken advocate for change with “When it comes to white players, it’s a footnote.” regard to the way players of colour are perceived and treated in the game of hockey. Of course, Monday’s Zoom call was not all just about players telling their experiences. The group wants to help hockey change, to make it more He is very clearly a leader, and on Monday, that was very much on diverse and inclusive and to make its administrators more aware of the display during an appearance with the Hockey Diversity Alliance on needs of minority players. It starts at the grassroots level. YouTube. “In terms of our individual goals, we want to be able to effect change at Now with the San Jose Sharks, who will not participate in the NHL’s the youth level immediately,” Kane said. “We feel strongly, the way we upcoming summer tournament, Kane has focused his attention on the can do that immediately is by implementing policies into associations cause of minority players in the hockey, people like Akim Aliu, who has such as Hockey Canada and USA Hockey. done a great deal to expose racism in the game over the last year. “We feel strongly that by them taking on some of our policies and our Kane, a 28-year-old from Vancouver, was easily the most vocal person in suggestions and our initiatives and implementing that into their the Hockey Diversity Alliance Zoom discussion, which included Aliu, organization, when it comes to all of their leagues spread across the Wayne Simmonds of the Sabres, Trevor Daley of the Detroit Red Wings. country, that we can create real change and real accountability among Matt Dumba of the Minnesota Wild, Chris Stewart of the Philadelphia the higher ups, which will have that trickle down effect, hopefully, on the Flyers, Nazem Kadri of the Colorado Avalanche, Anthony Duclair of the ice and in the dressing room and so on and so forth. Ottawa Senators and retired NHL player Joel Ward. “That is our first big step.” Kane didn’t mention Winnipeg specifically, but the message he relayed to his fellow Alliance members clearly referred to his time in the city, when Words of a leader. some of his off-ice antics (remember the money phone?), a perceived Winnipeg Sun LOADED 06.30.2020 “NBA attitude,” and countless unfounded rumours made him a target for criticism among the fans.

“It’s always looked at in a negative fashion … you’re selfish, you’re a bad guy, you’re a bad teammate, you’re doing your own thing,” Kane said.

“There’s always a negative tone to being different, as a minority. If you’re doing something different or you are different as a white player, you’re unique. That’s a great thing. But if you’re a minority, that’s looked at in a negative way. You’re a troublemaker, you’re an issue, you’re a problem.”

That certainly sounds like the way things sat with Kane and the Jets before he was traded on the heels of the infamous “track suit incident.”

And it speaks to what he and many other hockey players of colour have experienced: A different standard.

Most times, growing up, they were the only Black players on their team, maybe in their entire league. Their parents told them they needed to be 10 times better than anyone else just to make the team.

Clearly they also needed to behave better than the other kids because even the slightest slip up was always under a microscope.

That has carried on into the NHL, where Kane believes the double standard exists today.

“I’ve been a part of some off-ice, whatever you want to call it, stories or headlines,” Kane said on the Zoom call. 1187184 Vancouver Canucks

Skate in the playoffs? Canucks fans want it, even if it's unlikely

PATRICK JOHNSTON

Published:June 29, 2020

Updated:June 29, 2020 5:20 PM PDT

"I grew up in the 90s era watching Bure and the 94 team reach the finals, ever since I've been in love with the colours, the logo and everything associated with the skate." — Jovan Heer

We have to be clear up front: the Vancouver Canucks have already told the NHL which sweaters they’re going to wear in the playoffs.

It’s not going to be the black skate getup, even if there’s a vocal contingent of fans who would like it to be otherwise.

The Canucks told the league midseason that if they were to make the playoffs, they’d be wearing their primary blue uniforms.

Nonetheless, there’s little doubt that the revival this season of the Canucks’ black skate sweater was very popular with Vancouver hockey fans.

The team heard the passion for the two-decade-old look and had planned to switch to the black uniforms a fourth time this season, in the season-closing game vs. Vegas. But that, of course, was not to be.

Jovan Heer, who has cheered for the Canucks since the early 1990s, is the organizer of an online petition calling on the Canucks to wear their popular uniforms in the 2020 qualifying round

“I always loved the skate jersey,” Heer said Monday, a day after he launched his campaign using change.org. He got the idea, he said, in a random conversation with his girlfriend, Jodi.

Even though the Canucks have had to make their pick and the ship seems to have sailed, Heer said he’s undeterred about seeing the sweaters worn when the likes of Pavel Bure and Trevor Linden were leading Vancouver’s hockey charge.

“It’s never too late,” he replied.

“I see tweets every day mentioning the skate jersey and how iconic it was, so to her I was like ‘it’s worth a shot to see what we can do!’”

Hey guys we need your help to potentially bring the @Canucks skate jerseys back for the playoffs! @patersonjeff @BlakePriceTSN @FarhanLaljiTSN @sportsnetmurph @risingaction @irfgaffar https://t.co/IFsYEZFXHY— DJ Heer (@DJHeerMusic) June 28, 2020

“I grew up in the 90s era watching Bure and the 94 team reach the finals, ever since I’ve been in love with the colours, the logo and everything associated with the skate. I believe it’s the most popular jersey with all the fans, as we could tell this season when the team started selling them and they flew off the shelves,” he added. “Since Arizona announced they’re using their Kachina jerseys I thought it’d be a perfect time to bring out the skate logos again for the playoffs, which is why I started the petition to try to bring attention to the team that we want to do what we can as fans to bring the jersey back again.”

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187185 Vancouver Canucks (With 250 players having been officially tested by the NHL, that leaves around 500 players untested by the league.)

Even if there are a few other players who have the virus but who haven’t Details matter to NHL’s COVID-19 infection rate: epidemiologist been tested, the data still wouldn’t be out of whack with the group of players who have been officially tested.

Communities have a "contact budget" just like individuals. It's a massive PATRICK JOHNSTON oversimplification, but if you have X daily contacts you can "spend" and still keep the virus "under control," you have to decide where to spend Published:June 29, 2020 those contacts – schools vs. bars, for example. https://t.co/wnt3f92ykv— Updated:June 29, 2020 8:15 PM PDT Zachary Binney, PhD (@zbinney_NFLinj) June 29, 2020

Most NHLers have travelled to their off-season homes in Canada or Europe, but there are still a good number of players who are in the The ice surface at Rogers Arena prior to a Vancouver Canucks game United States. during the 2019-20 NHL season. The ice is back in at the arena and the team’s training facilities are available for use by the players. “With the sheer amount of virus that you have in the U.S. in particular, it does not shock me that we would find people getting the virus going Dr. Zach Binney sees some good signs so far in the NHL's testing about their daily life,” he said. protocols Sorry, got my numbers mixed up. It was 11 cases in the first 10ish days, There’s a gap in the data underlying the National Hockey League’s latest then 4 more in the next 10ish, for a total of 15 so far. The point stands – round of COVID-19 testing, but one epidemiologist says there’s still fewer cases as we move into later testing rounds.— Zachary Binney, cause for cautious optimism in the fact that just six per cent of players PhD (@zbinney_NFLinj) June 30, 2020 tested over the past week-plus have the novel coronavirus. As for Binney’s big caveat in this story: There is still a gap in the NHL’s On Monday, the NHL announced it has tested at least 50 more players data that leaves some doubt. We don’t know the distribution of where the for COVID-19 since its initial round of testing earlier this month as part of team-tested 15 positive players are. its Phase 2 testing regime. Four of those new players tested positive and are now self-isolating. If they’re spread pretty out evenly amongst the teams, that’s OK, Binney said. A week ago, the league announced that 11 players had tested positive for COVID-19, out of an initial batch of players who were taking part in “If it’s five cases on three teams, I’m much more concerned,” he said. Phase 2 of the NHL’s reopening. And it would be worrying if there have been a rapid series of positives. Asked why the NHL’s latest number was inexact, Gary Meagher, the Still, Binney admitted to extremely cautious optimism. There are a lot of NHL’s executive vice-president, communications, explained in an email examples of sports leagues taking big, unnecessary risks. So far, he’s that the imprecise figure was because “player numbers change every not seeing that in the NHL. day.” “If there’s a chance to be doom and gloom I’d take it, but I’m not here to “We will likely be able to provide more specific numbers at the end of do that today. Though there is still that caveat,” he said. Phase 2,” he said. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 06.30.2020 The Vancouver Canucks won’t say if they have tested any of their own players yet, but if they haven’t, they certainly will be doing so soon as the team confirmed Monday that the ice is back in at Rogers Arena and the team’s training facilities are available for use by their players under Phase 2 of the return-to-play protocols beginning Tuesday.

And so it begins… @RogersArena looking fresh. pic.twitter.com/Tl6G6UQY09— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) June 29, 2020

Under the Phase 2 protocol, players are permitted to skate and work out at team facilities while following physical distancing rules. They are also regularly tested for COVID-19.

Dr. Zach Binney, an epidemiologist at Emory University in Atlanta who also writes about sports injuries for Football Outsiders, says the rates of infection aren’t unexpected and that there’s actually a potentially positive sign in the growth of the league’s infection rate.

He called the original 11 positive tests over the initial 10-day period “a good baseline.”

“The NBA found very similar results,” he said. The fact that there doesn’t appear to have been a surge in the second round of tests is a (conditional) good sign.

“In the second (window) we saw four additional cases. That’s great. That’s exactly what I would expect if the protocols were being followed as intended,” he said.

The NHL also announced that about 200 players have been tested in the community.

Still, the broader context suggests the NHL’s players or their infection rates likely aren’t out of the norm.

“The 11 positive tests from outside the Phase 2 protocol are a little concerning, but it’s a little hard because we don’t know the denominator,” he said. “If 500 is the denominator, then that’s not shocking at all — that’s 2.2 per cent.” 1187186 Vancouver Canucks “Decisions were made provincially that I fully support,” said Benning. “Dr. Bonnie Henry (provincial health officer) has done a wonderful job of controlling (COVID-19) cases here in Vancouver and in B.C.”

Ben Kuzma: Canucks wrestle with three-tier COVID-19 guidelines as ‘BEEN THERE, DONE THAT’ players return The virtual draft lottery Friday looked very familiar to Benning.

No GMs shifting nervously before the TV cameras, but that Zoom-like BEN KUZMA version still caught glimpses of disappointment in Pierre Dorion and Steve Yzerman. Ottawa and Detroit had poor seasons and favourable Published:June 29, 2020 odds of getting the first pick to land highly touted Alexis Lafreniere, but their teams both fell. Updated:June 29, 2020 2:46 PM PDT The Senators wound up with the third and fifth selections, and the Red

Wings, who had the best odds, slid to fourth. The early arrival of his first child has helped Bo Horvat's timeline to be In 2017, the Canucks fell three spots and selected Elias Pettersson fifth here for the start of camp. overall. In 2018, the Canucks fell from sixth to seventh and Quinn “We were just trying to figure what was going to go on, so this (Bo Hughes fell all the way to them. Horvat's arrival) makes it easier for sure,” said GM Jim Benning. This year, in a theatre of the bizarre, a placeholder team not in the Bo Horvat is no math major. bottom eight but in the opening qualifying round, took the top lottery slot. It means one of eight teams eliminated in the qualifiers will have a 12.5 However, the Vancouver Canucks’ captain was pretty good at adding per cent chance of securing the top pick. what had to occur to be here for the start of training camp. And if the Canucks fall to the Minnesota Wild in their best-of-five The birth of his first child in Ontario had to be followed by getting back to qualifying series, they could wind up with the 112-point QMJHL winger. B.C., adhering to an NHL coronavirus pandemic quarantine edict — eight Imagine that? Or course, that would not meet the get-to-the-playoffs days for those arriving from another province via a commercial flight — mantra. and hitting camp ice July 10 at Rogers Arena. “Our luck has been so bad with all that, if it happens, it happens,” When Gunnar John Horvat arrived three weeks early Sunday as a Benning said of the lottery circus. “But I’m not going to waste one ounce planned C-section, the travel summation for the centre suddenly didn’t of energy worrying about it or thinking about it. We worked hard the last seem so complicated. His wife, Holly, doesn’t leave hospital until four years and have scratched and clawed to draft and bring players in Wednesday and because Bo is staying in the room, he can’t return if he so we could be a playoff team. leaves because of pandemic safety measures. “That’s where our focus is. All the other stuff, let the chips fall where they “We were just trying to figure what was going to go on, so this makes it may.” easier for sure,” Canucks general manager Jim Benning said Monday of having his captain help set the camp tempo from the outset. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 06.30.2020

What doesn’t need figuring out is that safety will remain at the forefront of every phase of the NHL’s evolving return-to-play plan. Players who arrived over here over the weekend from Europe and the U.S. are in a mandated 14-day quarantine in a hotel and can’t interact with other players or the populace.

Those driving here from another province, or those who remained in B.C., don’t have to follow a quarantine edict. But once camp starts, players are expected to be directed to head straight to their places of residence after training and practice, and not interact with the public.

“They’ll continue to go through the protocols and hopefully we can get through this next stage,” said Benning.

Not that it’s going to be easy.

The NHL released a statement Monday that 15 players of more than 250 involved in a voluntary Phase 2 — returning to skate and train at club facilities in small groups — have tested positive for COVID-19. A total of 1,450 tests were administered to the group. The results are in addition to 11 players testing positive outside of Phase 2 and those affected either are or where in self-isolation.

To get to Phase 4 and the possible resumption of play in August, the NHL and the NHL Players Association have to still reach several agreements — including one should a player opt out of post-season play for personal family reasons or health concerns.

“We’re constantly talking to our players and I haven’t had any players come to me with those concerns,” added Benning. “But I know they (concerns) are real and that (opting out) could happen.”

Vancouver’s non-negotiable COVID-19 safeguards led to the city’s removal as a hub-city favourite Thursday and left Las Vegas and Toronto as front-runners in jurisdictions with different health guidelines. The kicker for post-season play is what happens if a players is diagnosed with the virus and is asymptomatic?

Can he still play? Does the team, or the tournament, need to be shut down and quarantined to figure out the tracking trail? In Vancouver, that would have been the case, but not elsewhere. 1187187 Vancouver Canucks “I had a lot of great stories like Bure asking for a trade and that was one of my biggest,” noted Gallagher. “I worked hard at them and had a lot of great contacts and people were helping — the inside stuff that doesn’t happen much anymore. Ben Kuzma: Hockey Hall of Fame finally salutes Province pundit Tony Gallagher “My wife (Susan) and I laugh and talk about it all the time because it was an incredible ride. I was inside on a lot of stuff that I never wrote about and some of the early quotes were mind-boggling. We had the best times in the newspaper business when salaries were high and the conditions BEN KUZMA were the best. Published:June 29, 2020 “The last couple of years were tough with the players becoming very Updated:June 29, 2020 6:34 PM PDT circumspective of what they would say. And certainly in my last five years, when social media took off, it made the players way more guarded. It was hard to get good material. I was lucky. I went to 19 straight Stanley Cup Final and you get contacts and it takes years to get "I could have chosen another line of work. I was a bright guy. But I’ve had up to speed as a hockey writer.” a great life and opportunities and went with my heart. I was seduced by the newspaper industry and I loved it, but it was a battle at times." — Former Province writers Tony Gallagher, left, and Jack Keating discuss Tony Gallagher news coverage in 2009.

It takes something of supreme significance to silence the unflappable Gallagher formed a friendship with Wayne Gretzky that came by chance. Tony Gallagher. They were seated together on a commercial flight and Gallagher’s natural instincts kicked in and the personal relationship evolved off the Never at a loss for words or a frank opinion, the legendary Vancouver ice. Province writer and columnist is being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as the 2020 media honouree and recipient of the Elmer Ferguson “He was always very magnanimous with his time and he told me a couple Memorial Award for journalism excellence. of weeks ahead of time that he might be coming to Vancouver,” Gallagher said of contract negotiations. “So, I knew all about it and he However, when Gallagher got the confirmation call, he was stunned. said not to say anything because nothing had been done. He reasoned that a 45-year career recognized with induction into the “And when he didn’t come, it was disappointing for me and I might have B.C. Sports Hall of Fame in 2018 was as good as it gets. The warm-and- been a little hard (on the Canucks) and I only have agent Mike Barnett’s fuzzy buddy system for adulation never applied to Gallagher, and if there side of the story. Then the (Mark) Messier thing happened the next year, was a higher award calling, then the Professional Hockey Writers’ which was a rebound from Wayne. Association reached the decision based on merit. “Gretzky was just the greatest person, the greatest of the superstars. We Gallagher’s work did the talking and the Vancouver chapter of always got to know the person in the old days and some of the greatest Professional Hockey Writers’ Association did the lobbying. times we had were waiting for flights in the airport.” Still, when association president Frank Seravalli reached out, Gallagher Former Canucks general manager Mike Gillis was also a player agent. didn’t know what to make of it. He thought the TSN senior hockey He dealt with the media a few times a season — draft, free agency, reporter might be pitching a freelance project. contracts, trades — and that paled in comparison to the daily microscope “I have to say, for about the next five minutes, I was in considerable he was under as GM. And Gallagher was always focusing in for a closer shock — really,” admitted Gallagher. “I was able to carry on a examination. conversation, but I wasn’t really into it. He was doing a bio and I was However, like any credible journalist, he would back up his views with answering the questions, but not really present. facts and not fiction. “I was already retired for five years and it (HHOF) was gone and I put it “To write factually about what you’re witnessing, no matter how difficult out of my mind. That was fine and life was going to go on. In retrospect, that might be, and be totally invested in it is an incredible trait for a those things (awards) are selective. We’ve never had anybody who’s journalist,” said Gillis. “Tony displayed those things. It isn’t that you’re from Vancouver get in and there have been several who deserved always right or wrong, and sometimes the facts are clearer a little bit consideration.” later. Gallagher was a must-read insider for everything evolving on and off the “But the fact that you would base your reporting on facts, base your ice with the Vancouver Canucks — especially during turbulent and opinions on facts and have the courage then to write about what those triumphant times from 1977 to 1997 — and was either loved or loathed facts display, I think is the sign of a true journalist.” for crossing swords with players, agents, coaches and management in relentless pursuit of the truth. And a true writer will poke and prod at players and issues and have to answer to management. Many called for his head and former Canucks general manger Brian Burke tried to get him fired after Gallagher returned from a two-year “When I first took the job in Vancouver, Tony and Jason (Botchford) were sabbatical in sports-talk radio. The Canucks threatened to bar Gallagher being really hard on a couple of players,” recalled Gillis. and Province writers from the dressing room. Brian Butters was editor-in- chief and ran the letter on the front page of the paper and supported his “I pulled them aside and said: ‘Hey, you know, you can’t have a target. If scribe. you’re going to be hard, you’ve got to be hard on everybody’.

“They all did — everybody tried to get me fired,” recalled Gallagher. “I “They agreed and we all laughed. It wasn’t like it was a collision, it was tried to write what I thought was happening and what the true story was more of a discussion about maybe a bit broader lens to look through in and I’m sure I made lots of mistakes, annoyed a lot of people and terms of certain items. But that was the extent of it.” begged forgiveness from those I critiqued unjustly. It also said something that when Gillis was considered for NHL positions “You get a wrong steer or used by somebody to make somebody else he confided in Gallagher. look bad. You think about that. I had Dwight Mathiasen signing in “I wasn’t living in Vancouver and it was great to have a good friend, who Vancouver (1985) and he went to Pittsburgh the following day. I was was not just challenging things that I may have believed, but also hornswoggled along with (owner) Frank Griffiths, but it turned out to be a provided a lot of background and a lot of information about how things blessing because Mathiasen wasn’t a very good pro.” were happening and being done,” said Gillis.” Owning up to a wrong is imperative, but the big story was how Gallagher “We had long conversations about lots of philosophical issues, issues owned the market. Pick a player like Pavel Bure or Igor Larionov. Pick a relating to player rights and issues related to league rights and lots of contentious point like a trade request or transfer payments with Russia. different things. And over time, I just came to really appreciate how Gallagher was all over it. honest he was in what he was trying to do. And he would recognize at times that he wasn’t completely right and would have to modify things.” Gallagher was recruited by The Province after graduating from UBC, where he wrote for the campus paper. He started his storied hockey coverage when the New Westminster Bruins of the WHL relocated from Estevan, Sask. In 1972, he moved to the WHA beat with the Vancouver Blazers and in 1976 became the paper’s lone Canucks beat writer. He was promoted to columnist in 1987.

Gallagher doesn’t have a lot of regrets, but when you’re surrounded by accomplished siblings — working tirelessly in the demanding health profession and also have sons who became lawyers — it’s easy to believe that you just work in a toy factory and there’s a whole other real world out there.

“Maybe I didn’t help as many people and maybe my siblings made up for me — but maybe I entertained them (readers),” reasoned Gallagher. “I could have chosen another line of work. I was a bright guy. But I’ve had a great life and opportunities and went with my heart. I was seduced by the newspaper industry and I loved it, but it was a battle at times.

“There were great memories when you felt like you were confided in by people you loved and respected. Those are special. What helped keep my sanity most of all was that my family was not a sports family. My kids were and became great counsels in my latter years.”

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187188 Vancouver Canucks Superstars on entry-level contracts might be the most prized assets in hockey and in Pettersson and Hughes, the Canucks have two of them under their control.

From J.T. Miller to Tyler Myers: Ranking Canucks contracts from best to Pettersson trails Miller in total surplus-value because he only has one worst year left on his deal, but if you were judging based on cap hit instead, the former would have the edge by a long shot. The Alien is on the standard $925,000 ELC ticket, but after taking significant steps forward in his even-strength two-way impact, he’s projected to give Vancouver the type By Harman Dayal Jun 29, 2020 of value you’d expect from an $11.8 million player.

The 21-year-old has earned his Schedule A bonuses, which means the Efficient cap management is crucial to building a sustainable contender club will be charged an additional $850,000 in space that will likely roll in the modern NHL. over to next year, but that’s still peanuts to pay for a game-breaking, franchise centre. For the Vancouver Canucks, it’s arguably the most important challenge they’ll have to navigate with pricey extensions for Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes, $925,000 x one year left Quinn Hughes next summer. Total expected surplus value: $8.7 million On the current roster, many of the club’s contracts inspire debate. We Quinn Hughes is in virtually the same boat as Pettersson contractually — know Tyler Myers, for example, is hard-pressed to justify his $6-million an elite player getting paid a fraction of what he’s worth even after cap hit, but how exactly is that deal expected to age? Conversely, how $850,000 in Schedule A bonuses for one more year. much positive value are the Canucks getting out of the J.T. Miller, Brock Boeser and Bo Horvat deals? In contrast to Pettersson, Hughes is worth roughly $2-million less for next year, but he should still check in with performance equivalent to that of a They’re all relevant and important questions to ask. $9.6 million cap hit. This shouldn’t be surprising given that he was 17th Fortunately, we can use colleague Dom Luszczyszyn’s model to project among all defencemen this year in contributing just north of two wins. how much surplus value each deal is expected to provide and rank each The Canucks will only end up with two years (this season and next) of contract from best to worst accordingly. garnering this exceptional surplus-value despite Hughes being a rookie Many of you will already be familiar with Luszczyszyn’s Game Score because he went the NCAA route and burned his first year at the tail-end (GSVA) model — it’s an all-in-one metric that estimates how many wins of 2018-19 as many college players nowadays are doing. worth of value every player provides. It takes into account a player’s Brock Boeser, $5.875 million x two years left offensive production, their two-way play driving impact and other relevant factors such as penalty differential. For context, the GSVA model graded Expected surplus value: $5.65 million both Elias Pettersson and Miller as top-20 forwards in the NHL this year. In signing Brock Boeser to a three-year bridge deal in September, the To project the surplus-value of each contract, we’ll first estimate how Canucks gained short-term surplus value at the risk of having his many wins each player will continue to provide in the future (adjusted for contract expire (as an RFA) at age-25 when he might mount a strong ageing effects) and then compare that to the level of production each case for a significant pay hike. player’s cap hit should command. Pending free-agents and goalies (Dom’s model only works with skater projections) will be exempt. Even in what many characterized as a “down” year for Boeser, the Minnesota native was the Canucks’ fourth most valuable skater (after An important qualifier: These are just projections. Players can Pettersson, Miller and Hughes) in contributing 1.8 wins of value. For the underperform or outperform them and because nobody can predict the next two years, the club can expect Boeser to perform at a near $8.7 future, there’s definitely some margin of uncertainty. Regardless, there’s million annual clip while paying him a shade under $6-million per year. some value in using this as a reference point and giving us a general idea of each contract’s worth. That’s solid value, irrespective of the fact that it’s a shorter-term, bridge deal. J.T. Miller, $5.25 million x three years left Bo Horvat, $5.5 million x three years left Total expected surplus value: $11.7 million Expected surplus value: $3.6 million Miller’s debut season in Vancouver was a smashing success. He led the team in scoring, ranking 17th in the NHL with 72 points in 69 games, and Bo Horvat’s coming off of an up-and-down season that saw him struggle when you factored in what he brought to the table as a play driver he was defensively at even-strength, but he’s still expected to offer the Canucks the 15th most valuable forward in the league by GSVA. a nice little dosage of positive value. He’s also the final skater on the roster currently under contract who’s expected to outperform his contract. As for the table, let’s explain some terms, going from left to right. “Cap hit” is self-explanatory, “xCap Hit” is the annual value that a player In totality, you can see there’s a clear trend where the Canucks’ best deserves based on their future performance outlook — we can see that players (Pettersson, Hughes, Miller, Boeser and Horvat) are all in Miller’s case, he’s worth roughly $9.1 million per year through the underpaid and some of them by significant margins. We can comfortably remaining term left on his contract, in contrast to the $5.25 million he’s say that these are Vancouver’s top skaters and collectively, they’ll cost collecting. the Canucks just $18.5 million in cap space before accounting for performance bonuses. What Vancouver can expect meanwhile, is a “Total contract” refers to the entire sum of money left on the player’s whopping $45.9 million worth of value — more than double the actual contract and then “expected value” is simply the expected cap hit cap hits. multiplied by the term left. For Miller, we can expect the 27-year-old to add around $27.4 million of value over the life of his contract, while he’s It’s a massive competitive advantage that the organization has earned, only earning $15.75 million. The difference between those two is the but as we’ll see towards the end, there are plenty of contracts that erode “surplus” value — meaning that Miller should outperform his contract by a a vast chunk of this positive value. total of $11.7 million over the next three years. Tanner Pearson, $3.75 million x one year left Miller’s breakout performance certainly makes his contract one of the Expected surplus value: -$0.65 million better bargains in the league. Coming from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a shrewd swap for Erik Vancouver has the former first-round pick locked through his prime years Gudbranson, Tanner Pearson has delivered excellent stability on Bo where he should remain a first-line level contributor at a very tidy Horvat’s left-wing. number. He’s been a consistent scorer, a trustworthy two-way presence against Elias Pettersson, $925,000 x one year left top lines and delivered bonus value on a revived second power-play unit. Total expected surplus value: $10.9 million Pearson has injected 21 goals and 45 points worth of offence into the club’s top-six, though it’s worth noting that six goals and nine points of year, though it comes with a $1.16 million penalty for 2020-21 when his them came against an empty net. deal would otherwise be off the books if they just let it run.

The 27-year-old might technically be worth less than the $3.75 million Clearing salary will be Benning’s biggest priority this offseason and he’s slated to earn next year, but it’s by a very slim margin. This is Sutter could be one of the prime candidates they look for an exit on. probably the closest contract to fair value on the roster right now. Micheal Ferland, $3.5 million x three years left Jordie Benn, $2 million x one year left Expected surplus value: -$4.3 million Expected surplus value: -$1.3 million Micheal Ferland’s contract is the last thing we should be discussing — What seemed like a reasonable and safe bet on July 1, looks like a very his long-term health and safety in recovering from a concussion is really poor fit one year later. For whatever reason, Jordie Benn just hasn’t been the only priority at this stage. able to mesh with the Canucks. However, I’m sure I would have received many questions about Ferland He struggled in transition, had a decisively negative two-way impact on if I left him off this list, so I’ve added his profile here for reference. It bears shot attempts and scoring chances and was a regular in the press box in mentioning though, that his performance, should he return healthy is the second half of the year. It’s possible that he bounces back next arguably the most difficult to predict on the club and thus this projection season and gives something close to the $2-million he’s on the books for, carries a lot of uncertainty. but after a campaign where he was well below replacement-level, it’s more likely he’s a seventh defenceman. Jay Beagle, $3 million x two years left

It could be difficult to orchestrate in a flat cap environment, but it wouldn’t Expected surplus value: -$4.6 million be surprising if the club tried to move Benn to clear a little bit more room. Expected surplus value: -$4.6 million

Alex Edler, $6 million x one year left It seemed ill-advised to pay a notable premium for a luxury fourth-line Expected surplus value: -$1.7 million centre in Jay Beagle two years ago, and the signing certainly doesn’t look any better now. You could make a reasonable case for bumping Alex Edler’s contract above Benn’s. And if we’re being honest, the $6-million cap hit Edler Frankly, no club should be investing $3-million in a fourth-line player, commanded is perfectly fine considering that Jim Benning was able to regardless of how highly you think of him. Beagle is excellent in the face- limit the contract’s term to just two years last summer. This contract still off circle and adds value when the team is short-handed, but that’s really represents a tidy piece of business for management, even if Edler has where his contributions end. slowed down a little bit. The Canucks have been dominated with Beagle’s line deployed at 5-on-5 The 34-year-old has continued putting up good point totals and remains a in the last two years — scoring just 27 goals while allowing 51, with an perfectly serviceable defenceman, but he’s not the top pairing expected goal share just shy of 42 percent looking almost equally defenceman he once was — instead projected to provide value in the grotesque. You can cut him some slack given that he’s faced tougher $4.3 million range for next season. assignments than most fourth-line centres, but the way Beagle’s line gets pinned in and continues getting outscored just isn’t good enough. Players get paid more for what they’ve accomplished before signing as opposed to what they will likely add moving forward and that always Really, this isn’t Beagle’s fault — he’s just a fourth-line player at the end makes UFA contracts like Edler’s tough to deal with. In light of this of the day and it’s not as if he’s massively underperformed expectations. context, the Canucks are getting relatively fair value for Edler. It’s just inefficient to pay a bottom lineup player $3-million per year and it’s hurting the Canucks now. Antoine Roussel, $3 million x two years left Loui Eriksson, $6 million x two years left Expected surplus value: -$2.3 million Expected surplus value: -$10.3 million If the Canucks can get the 2018-19 version of Antoine Roussel who was an integral secondary scorer with 31 points in 65 games, a two-way Loui Eriksson’s contract standing out as a massive drag was the most stalwart and an effective energy presence, they’ll be getting the type of predictable outcome for this exercise. The Canucks are expected to lose performance that closely resembles the $3-million cap hit he’ll earn for $10.3 million over the remaining two years on Eriksson’s deal (the another two years. If Roussel’s contributions are closer to what they were equivalent of a $5.15 million cap hit). At this point, Vancouver’s only hope this year when he seemed rusty coming off of ACL injury, far less is if the league offers a compliance buyout or some type of retirement or productive offensively and owned a middling two-way profile, his cap hit mutual termination after his summer bonus is paid out. will prove to be a minor drag. Tyler Myers, $6 million x four years left

Dom’s model tips a little conservatively based on Roussel’s age (he’ll Expected surplus value: -$16.6 million turn 31 in November) and leans towards this year being more indicative of what the club should expect for the next two years. It might be surprising to see Tyler Myers’ contract lower than Eriksson’s, but that’s because of the two extra years left on his deal (remember this That said, if there’s a sign for hope it’s that Roussel’s game was quietly is about total surplus value). I can still see the argument for slotting him turning a corner before the season was suspended as he led Canucks ahead of Eriksson, however, and if we weren’t basing the ranking entirely regulars in 5-on-5 expected goal differential in the last 20 games. off the model, I probably would have flipped the two once you consider Barring something unforeseen, Roussel’s contract should only bleed the Canucks would have zero NHL calibre right-handed defencemen value on the margins at the worst — it shouldn’t be a major problem. signed for next year (Troy Stecher RFA, Chris Tanev UFA) if you take Myers off the roster. Brandon Sutter, $4.375 million x one year left There’s no denying this contract has the potential to go completely off the Expected surplus value: -$3.1 million rails.

This is where the Canucks really start to feel the heat of some of their Myers had a pretty decent inaugural campaign in Vancouver, ranking bad contracts. second among Canucks’ defenders in helping control 5-on-5 shot attempts and scoring chances, but he was never going to be worth the The 31-year-old Sutter has been ravaged by injuries and just doesn’t big $6-million cap hit he signed for and his performance is only likely to move the needle enough offensively or with his defensive game to decline the older he gets. warrant the hefty $4.375 million ticket he’s carrying. Moreover, once you consider Jay Beagle’s presence, Sutter really becomes redundant. Dom’s model believes that Myers could be replacement level for the last two seasons of his deal (2022-23 and 2023-24). That’d be a really painful The issue, of course, is that this is a difficult contract to move in a flat cap pill to swallow in what should be the heart of Vancouver’s championship environment. I’d be shocked if a team took it on without looking for a window, which is the primary reason why we advocated against the sweetener coming back and it’s possible that a buyout is the club’s best signing last offseason. solution. Buying Sutter out would save the Canucks $2.33 million this These signings are what undermine the advantage created by the surplus from the top players. Eriksson, Myers, Beagle and Sutter collectively project to provide $4.7 million in value when they’re actually slated to make $19.375 million.

For how well the Canucks have done accumulating young talent, it’s no secret that they’ll have to be more efficient with their salary expenditures moving forward to field a long-term Cup contender.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187189 Websites 2018 by the Los Angeles Kings who is slated to spend next season with the AHL’s Ontario Reign.

What would Thomas say to coaches about how to handle that The Athletic / What can the hockey world do to advance the conversation conversation about race and racism? about race? “The best advice I can have is to go into (conversations about race) with an open mind,” Thomas said. “You have to do your homework and get as much info as you can. Or you can talk to someone who has been through By Scott Powers and Ryan S. Clark Jun 29, 2020 this on a consistent basis. … But coaches also need to realize that this just does not happen with players on the other team. This could happen

within your locker room. That could be a form of bullying or it is because Canada, the United States and nations around the world are having your player is Black and is playing this sport, that some might feel that discussions about race. Those debates have seeped into numerous player is below them. facets of daily life and hockey finds itself dealing with issues that many “That is something you gotta tackle and know all the information that this Black Americans and minorities of color around the world have discussed could be happening in your locker room and you may not even know. It for generations. could be away from the rink. At the apartment or when they go out for San Jose Sharks star forward Evander Kane was an outspoken figure for drinks. Get all the information you can and know that this is happening years, along with players such as Akim Aliu and J.T. Brown. Their voices everywhere. It’s not happening when you go to an away game with fans have been amplified recently with other players like Sidney Crosby, or opposing players. This can be happening in your own rink with your Taylor Hall, Connor McDavid, Tyler Seguin, Jaccob Slavin and Jonathan players.” Toews becoming more vocal when discussing race and racism. Evan F. Moore, a Chicago Sun-Times reporter involved in Chicago’s Now that some of the game’s most prominent figures have spoken, what hockey community, thinks the biggest changes have to come from the about the people throughout various levels of hockey who have been larger hockey entities. impacted by racism within hockey? What do they have to say? The “Hockey clubs within the Chicago area like the Blackhawks, Wolves, Athletic’s Ryan S. Clark and Scott Powers spoke with people in the sport IceHogs and the Steel must play the lead role in making the changes to discover what changes they suggest for what hockey can do to better hockey — the sport — can’t make itself. … These conversations won’t be understand race and racism. fun; uncomfortable is too nice a word in regards what teams are going to Canadian Olympic silver medalist Sarah Nurse has established herself hear. The onus shouldn’t be on Black people to figure out racism; we as one of the stars within women’s hockey. The 25-year-old former didn’t create it,” Moore said. “For instance, former (Rockford IceHogs) University of Wisconsin star made the point that hardships do exist within coach Bill Peters’ racism toward Akim Aliu. It’s time to look into a few hockey – a sport where economics is a major factor. But some must face areas on that subject: the environment created that allowed Peters to use those challenges along with the difficulties that come with being a the slur. Why did we hear about it 10 years later? Why did it take Aliu’s different race. former teammates’ corroboration of slurs before anyone took it seriously? More important, what were those teammates doing all of these years?” “You may have had hardships but they have not been because of the color of your skin. There are so many barriers into hockey because of the Queen’s University assistant professor Courtney Szto was part of a color of someone’s skin and that needs to be understood,” she said. roundtable to discuss racism in Canadian hockey in March 2019. An “Microaggressions also need to be understood. There are so many anti-racism policy paper was created out of that roundtable that outlines indirect incidents about racism that are these subtle but noticeable recommendations to address racism at all levels of the sport. comments. That is the first step to understanding racism.” “It was probably one of the more radical hockey discussions I’ve ever Nurse had an easy example for those unfamiliar with microaggressions. been a part of, for sure,” Szto said recently of last year’s roundtable. “People weren’t pulling any punches and were quite willing to call out the “Probably the simplest way to look at it is when you look at a Black systemic issues that are kind of plaguing the sport. At the same time, we person who is playing hockey and ask them why they are not playing didn’t have the people in the room that we hoped would show up, people basketball,” she said. “It is often harmless but it is also putting you on the from major junior hockey and Hockey Canada, those kind of people who spot about why you are there and it is asking you to explain yourself. It is really have the power to make big changes. It was kind of hit and miss subtly offensive.” depending on how you looked at it. But the policy paper that came out of it from Eugene Arcand, the keynote speaker, who was a residential Much of the conversations around race in hockey have centered around school survivor and a high level hockey player, he wanted to make sure if the men’s game, but Nurse said women’s hockey needs to be more open he was going to share his trouble with us, it wasn’t a conversation that and accepting, and have these conversations as well. was going to stay in the room. So we have him to thank for actually “I am 25 and I have been playing hockey for a while now,” Nurse said. having something tangible to hand around.” “My first teammate who was not White was Brigette Lacquette when we Szto has continued to help further that discussion over the last year and went to the Olympics. It is not a huge thing because there are not many hosted another roundtable with the paper’s other authors on June 29. players of color. It’s not that (those conversations) haven’t been had but there are not enough Black, Indigenous or brown people playing hockey.” “We actually moved a fair distance in this last year, Szto said. “Obviously it’s because of broader social issues, but it’s nice that we could kind of Nurse added that there needs to be more education with the contribute to the discussion, certainly very timely.” understanding those policies and procedures would come with consequences. One of the areas the policy paper addresses is hiring practices.

“I think this should be a conversation that starts at the grassroots level all “If we’re actually talking about what you can do make people actually the way up from professional hockey,” she said. “I think in minor hockey care, I think unfortunately there’s not a lot you can do to make people when racial slurs are made, that kid is gone. You say, ‘This is what will do,” Szto said. “It’s kind of the point of free will. We’ve seen it with Dan happen to you.’ I think there needs to be a strict zero-tolerance policy.” Snyder for the Washington football team. There’s no amount of public shame that seems to be the right amount that will shame that man into Sarah Nurse played for Canada in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. doing something the public really desires. As private entities, I don’t think (David E. Klutho / USA Today) you can make people really do it. You just kind of unfortunately have Leo Thomas was the only Black head coach at any level of professional people come around at their own time. hockey in North America, as coach of the Macon Mayhem in the SPHL “But if we’re talking about the actual implementation of it, it’s really about before he was let go by the club early in the 2019-20 season. targeted and prioritized hiring. We can’t just wait for people to send in Thomas spent five seasons coaching in the SPHL after playing in the their resume. You have to actively go look in communities that you CHL, ECHL, IHL and SPHL. wouldn’t necessarily get a resume from. You need to mentor different people with the hopes of you can bring them up into the system. The And the game is clearly the family sport. His brother, Kahlil, also played same way we do with talent identification with players is the same thing professionally. And Thomas’ nephew, Akil, was a second-round pick in you would do with … front office jobs. You just have to do it with a and stop letting people just come to you because there is this old adage different kind of intent.” in sports where everyone thinks we have the best job in the world.

As much as a lot of the discussion on social media is done from an NHL “We do. I do. I love working in sports. This is fun for me and a lot of level, especially when players have spoken up about racism, Szto thinks people think because it’s a job in sports, you’re going to have hundreds the biggest impact could be had at the lower levels. upon hundreds of people beating down your door. But I also think you need to look for talent if you are serious about diversity. Go out into the “Personally, I’m less concerned about the NHL level than I am at the community and track down the people you may have heard about. Start grassroots level because I’m more concerned about the kid who is the looking for what you want instead of waiting for what you want to come to only one on the team and then we end up losing that kid because they you.” just can’t take it anymore,” Szto said. “That’s the research that really hasn’t done yet is how many people drop out of the game for one reason Damon Mason traveled a lot over recent years promoting his movie “Soul or another because hockey has made them leave. Not necessarily on Ice” and got a look inside a bunch of hockey organizations. because they weren’t good enough or they find another passion, but because they were actively kind of discouraged from fitting in. I think “To me, it’s a lot more than the statements and conversations, it’s about education at the grassroots level certainly helps. I think it’s something the action. … I think the biggest thing I’d like to see is the game of that just needs to be consistent, right. It’s just part of the culture, so that hockey become more of an inclusive space,” Mason said. “Whether it be whenever you’re kind of going into coaching or something like that, that’s in the higher offices in the NHL or within individual teams, I think that’s just part of the learning that goes on. where I think you’re going to see the beginnings of change. Because you’re going to have different perspectives and have different “I don’t think it needs to be mandatory for everybody in the system, not conversations. I think that’s what the game has been missing. … I’ve every parent, not every player, but certainly those in leadership positions. seen this in arenas, ticket takers, security, concessions are Black and This should be a requirement. If you’re working with youth, we should Hispanic, and the higher you go up into the organization, the less people want the best people working with our youth. I don’t think making more of color you’ll see there.” stringent requirements is outlandish.” Mason has a few ideas how to change that. Everett Fitzhugh, the director of public relations and broadcasting for the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones, is the only Black play-by-play announcer at “When I talk about inclusivity, the one thing I think there might be a fear any professional level of hockey throughout North America. of it sounds like you’re trying to take away jobs from people or it’s like an affirmative action type of thing,” he said. “I’m not saying that. All I’m Fitzhugh offered a few suggestions. The first was that there needs to be saying is you can give an equal opportunity out there and look for the more Black voices and minority voices. He cited how television best person for the job, but broaden your search. You’re going to find broadcasters like David Amber, Anson Carter and Kevin Weekes have Black and Hispanic and East Indian and Indian people that are just as established a precedent. But there now needs to be a similar approach qualified as anyone else. And if you put those people in positions of toward seeing more diversity among public relations staff in addition to power or positions of influence, you’re going to get a whole different social media departments. perspective on any given amount of conversation.

“I think that when it comes to culture in America – and a lot of folks “The NHL now has February allocated for Black History Month. So every believe that Black culture is American culture – there are things that February all across the league and its partners celebrate Black history. If started in Black culture that have now become mainstream,” Fitzhugh you’re a team and inside your marketing or your promotions department, said. “I think it goes a very, very long way in uncovering and showing you don’t have any person of color working there, how are you going to some of the issues that go on in the Black community and offering an come up with ideas to work with the Black community? … I’m not saying understanding of what happens in Black communities. When you see that a person of White can’t come with a great idea that can be these social media departments, not only in hockey but sports in general, celebratory for Black history, but wouldn’t it be much easier if you had there aren’t many Black faces, Hispanic faces, not many faces of color somebody of color there? Let’s talk Indigenous month, celebrating the who run these accounts or run these content departments. But you do Indigenous community. Don’t you think it would make sense to have see a lot of these posts with a lot of takes and things taken from Black someone of an Indigenous background that you’re working with that can culture, from different cultures but you have White people, non-people of say, ‘hey, this is my community, here’s how we can give initiatives color running these accounts. towards my community.’”

“I think giving Black voices and giving a multicultural group of voices an Mason also had an idea for how to grow from within and identify the most opportunity to run these social media accounts and be reflective, you are promising people of color at an early age. He suggested looking within having your accounts be reflective of the population you are trying to your own organization for young people in college, find out what career attract. I think the NHL is doing a good job in trying to embrace their they are working toward and offering them advancement. diversity and establishing these different things and different programs they want to accomplish. I will give them credit for that but I think we can “You know what? When you’re in your senior year, come back to me and do so much more. I think a big part is hiring more Black people, more I’m going to give you an internship here, so that you stay within the Black women and as many people from as many different types of company, so that you stay within the city and you can give back because cultures and as many different types of voices that you can bring to for the last couple years you’ve been a model employee. How about we different perspectives and life experiences as you can to these give you the incentive to stay with us and give you a position at a higher accounts.” level once you finish your education? That’s how you make change,” he said. He said teams must work toward incorporating more diversity in certain roles while offering that organizations would also benefit from pursuing Damon Mason released “Soul on Ice” in 2015. (Courtesy of Damon different avenues when it comes to who they hire for jobs. Mason)

Usually, prospective employers sift through applications submitted Ray Lilja runs a non-profit organization Hockey on Your Block, a through certain websites to find future employees with the idea they are Chicago-area program aimed to introduce every race to ice skating and going to get a wide pool of applicants. But he felt they could do more later hockey. than just simply leave it up to those seeking a job. Fitzhugh said teams “(The original idea) is basically let’s figure out the kids in the city who could benefit from attending job fairs or partnering with organizations like would benefit the most from our program,” Lilja said. “Now we’re going the National Association of Black Journalists, which has a public relations into these schools – well, at least until schools let out back in March – arm among its membership. and finding the kids that are doing well in school, no truancy problems “You scout coaches, positions like vice president of sales and people in and they’re just really sweetheart kids who would deserve more than front offices,” Fitzhugh explained. “You can go to universities and job anything to be part of this program. Let’s put them in this program, teach fairs. Every major city has a NABJ branch. Every city has a young them how to skate for starters because that’s the main thing. Naturally a professionals group and I think the NHL and all these leagues can go out lot of them are going to find it too challenging and they’ll drop out, which and do a better job recruiting talent. Not saying the folks who are running is fine. We won’t put any pressure on them. For the kids who stick around these accounts aren’t the best folks. If they were not good, then they and work hard at their own pace, we provide an opportunity for them after would not have the job. But I do think you need to be active in recruiting they learn how to skate and they finally go into our hockey program.” Hockey on Your Block provides everything for free for its members. Equipment is donated. Coaches are volunteers. The ice time is taken care of. Lilja just wants to introduce hockey to everyone.

“This is all about inclusion, and that’s all we ever wanted to be,” Lilja said. “I have some really strong feelings. If there’s going to be some real change in the hockey community, it’s going to be through inclusion. That means let’s not figure out ways to block kids or eliminate kids or have kids not be a part of the program. Let’s figure out ways that they all can participate because we only have a small window of time to reach these kids. Through inclusion, we get more kids out there, and it’s amazing because the kids are involved that can change not only them but their parents and the entire community as well.

“There’s a very positive thing. If we keep it simple, we don’t want to put any pressure on these kids. In other words, we’re not grooming these kids to be the next NHL players. In fact, it’s hard enough for even privileged White kids to make it to the NHL. Let’s just have them embrace hockey. It’s amazing, when we embrace them, we’re embracing their families and their communities, and that alone is an awesome start in making real change in the hockey community because the people who are doing the embracing are from the hockey community.”

The one general theme throughout all discussions was that education is required to take the next step.

“Education is key to hopefully changing hockey. But it’s not as simple as it sounds,” said Jashvina Shah, a senior reporter for College Hockey News. “A big reason hockey’s culture is so difficult to change is because it’s so insular, and players are usually only surrounded by people similar to them. … It’s important to have educational initiatives for both the players when they’re young and any of the adults, be it players, coaches, parents, GMs, etc.

“These education initiatives have to be intensive. … They need to be more than just a seminar or a video or a few words. They need to be more than just one class. It has to be a constant learning process. It’s also important that coaches and any person involved with youth hockey take stringent tests based on this education. If they can’t pass a diversity and inclusion course – a rigid one – they have no business shaping the minds of children. If even one person harbors racist thoughts or ideals, it is easy for that to transfer to another person and another, especially in the close confines of hockey. Especially when it’s a coach saying they will bench a player for protesting during the national anthem.”

University of Nebraska Omaha assistant coach Paul Jerrard agreed.

“Once we start and educate people more, they’ll start to have a little empathy and understand that not everybody has the exact same privileges in the game and even in life,” Jerrard said. “There will be a little bit more empathy and understanding because it’s across all racial lines. It’s just not White and Black. We have to be racially tolerant because in our society there are so many different races, and we have to live and harmonize together. It’s like trying to win a hockey game with a divided locker room. You know it’s just not going to work.”

The Athletic LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187190 Websites “We didn’t need to do this,” Rutili said. “Our client list is pretty young. We’ve got good young guys and really good guys on their entry-level deals and second and third contracts, and we got more coming. We felt very good where we are as Acme, but you’re always thinking about what The Athletic / Wasserman acquires Acme, adds to growing hockey more can we provide our guys in terms of resources, expertise, agency division brainpower, networking, all that stuff.

“From a client perspective, we thought we could give them even more in terms of the marketing side, on the brainpower side, on a concierge side, By Scott Powers Jun 29, 2020 even on a perk side. We even felt strongly about what Wasserman provides our players from a cultural, social, charitable, ‘making a difference in my own way’ perspective. Our players are aware of what is Markus Lehto has been thinking a lot more lately about the early days of going on in their communities, whether it’s in their hometown or the city in Acme World Sports. which they play. Some want to make a statement, some want to get behind a cause, some want to make a difference privately, whatever it is Lehto and Bill Zito had a vision to create a sports agency and represent they choose, and Wasserman has those resources to assist our players hockey players throughout the United States and Europe. Acme was in getting involved and making a real actionable difference in their own their dual creation in 1995. way. That is huge for us.” They started very much from the ground. That was what sold Lehto, too. It’s why he was willing to part ways with “You go back and think about those times when Bill Zito and me, we the company he started. drove on the East Coast in Billy’s small car and kind of thinking, ‘How are “It’s what’s best for the players,” said Lehto, who expects to have we going to manage to work out things?’” Lehto said. “That must have Wasserman offices in Chicago and Europe. “That must be the priority No. been 23, 24 years ago. We had great moments. Those moments will 1 over whether Acme is going to be a 100-year company or whatever.” never be forgotten.” The Athletic LOADED: 06.30.2020 Lehto and Zito exponentially grew the agency over their 18 years together, and Lehto carried on when Zito left to join the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2013. Since then, Lehto and current Acme partners Pete Rutili, Simo Niiranen, Brett Peterson and Joe Pinter have continued to build Acme through their U.S. office in Chicago and other offices in multiple European cities. The agency currently has 52 players under NHL contract.

Lehto is now saying goodbye to Acme World Sports, though, in hopes of creating something even bigger and better. On Monday morning, it will be announced Acme World Sports has been acquired by Wasserman.

The acquisition puts Wasserman in the conversation of being among the world’s biggest hockey agencies. Wasserman previously purchased a significant equity stake in Orr Hockey Group in 2018. With the addition of Acme, Wasserman now has more than 75 NHL clients.

“There’s a lot that goes into doing these deals,” Wasserman executive vice president of hockey Jeff Jackson said. “It has to work from a culture standpoint, it needs to work geographically and it obviously needs to work from a business standpoint. Acme’s presence in Europe and in the U.S., particularly with an office in the Midwest, along with all of their agents’ reputations and experience made it work. We were able to put it all together.”

Acme’s staff includes, from left, Simo Niiranen, Pete Rutili, Markus Lehto, Brett Peterson and Joe Pinter. (Courtesy of Acme)

Wasserman especially grows its presence in Europe by adding Acme’s clientele. Wasserman’s hockey division, which also includes executive vice president Dave Gagner and senior vice president Judd Moldaver, includes a number of top NHL players, especially Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews, but its European foothold has been minimal.

Acme changes that. Its clients include European players Tuukka Rask, Esa Lindell, Teuvo Teravainen, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Kasperi Kapanen.

“We have a global presence in all the other sports and European soccer. We’re in China, we’re kind of all over the place,” Jackson said. “We’re a global agency from the brand, property, the team sports side, the athlete representation side. I think we’ve always been somewhat regional (in hockey). We’re based in Ontario and we recruit mainly in the Ontario, upstate New York areas.

“We didn’t recruit (in Europe) because you really need people on the ground all the time identifying teams at the appropriate ages and having connections with families, just like we do here. When we’re looking to grow and have a European presence and represent European players, because some of the best players in the league are Europeans and they make up a big piece of it, we just looked and were thinking, ‘Why aren’t we doing this?’ We should be because we want to be considered one of the top agencies.”

From Acme’s perspective, joining Wasserman made sense to provide even more for its current and future clients. 1187191 Websites There are any number of draft classes you could make a case for here. From 2003-2006, the Bruins were the best-drafting team in the NHL. We all know the success stories — the Patrice Bergron, David Krejci, Brad Marchand and Milan Lucic picks, all outside of the first round — but they The Athletic / Wheeler: Every NHL team’s best draft of the last 20 years weren’t alone back then. They took a risk on Phil Kessel. They landed players like Kris Versteeg, Matt Hunwick and Nate Thompson deep into

the draft. It was impressive. By Scott Wheeler Jun 29, 2020 So maybe there’s some recency bias at play in my pick here. But 2014, given how the draft has changed over the years, should be considered a real crowning achievement for the organization. The David Pastrnak pick Ah, revisionist history. The lifeblood of every hockey fan. The rage- single-handedly extended the Bruins’ cup window, giving them a new inducing coulda, shoulda, wouldas. Deep down, we all love to complain. superstar. There are only two players in the conversation for the best Sports fans are bellyachers by nature. player in the 2014 class: Pastrnak and Leon Draisaitl. The Bruins landed theirs 25th overall. It can be easy to forget that they followed it up by And there are no bigger what-could-have-beens than the ones that come hitting on each of their next three picks, too, with Ryan Donato, Danton with the draft. When an NHL general manager makes a trade, we rarely Heinen and Anders Bjork in rounds 2, 4 and 5. know what else was available, who else they could have acquired, or why they bought or sold at the price that they did. But we know the draft Buffalo Sabres results. It’s as simple as taking the guy who become better than the guy you actually took. Right? Right!? Right!?!? Best draft: 2001

This week, across two days, I’ll dive into the best and worst of every If you’re a Sabres fan, you’ve got to look back on the 2003 class fondly. team’s draft history across the last 20 years, detailing my case for every Thomas Vanek at fifth overall wasn’t a no-brainer at the time and team’s greatest triumphs and their largest failures — and come to some grabbing Clarke MacArthur and Jan Hejda with back-to-back picks in the conclusions about the overall draft performance of each team along the third and fourth rounds is a huge win. way (hint: some teams have had several legendary classes, while others I still think you have to give it to the 2001 class on degree of difficulty have struggled to put together even one strong class, and vice versa). alone, though. In 2003, even if the Sabres don’t go with Vanek, they’ve Today, that exercise starts with my choice for all 31 teams’ best draft got Milan Michalek, Ryan Suter, Braydon Coburn, and Dion Phaneuf to class from 2000-2019. choose from in the picks that follow. On the flip side, in 2001, even if you don’t love the Jiri Novotny pick at 22nd overall, it doesn’t look nearly as Anaheim Ducks bad when you consider the names that followed in the first round (of which Tim Gleason probably had the best career of the bunch …). Then Best draft: 2003 you realize that they landed Derek Roy, Chris Thorburn and Jason I agonized over almost every single decision on this list. There were Pominville with their next three picks, all in the second round, and it’s teams where I had to seriously consider half a dozen draft classes in the even easier to forgive the Novotny pick. There were seven players taken ‘best’ or ‘worst’ categories. There’s probably going to be a really in the second round in 2003 who went on to play 400 or more games in interesting debate that emerges out of many of my selections. But there’s the NHL. The Sabres landed three of them. There’s probably an no debate as to the best Ducks draft class. It’s 2003. Landing Ryan argument to be made that Pominville and Roy were the best two players Getzlaf and Corey Perry in the back half of the first round contributed to taken in the second round that year, though Mike Cammalleri would also more than a decade of success, and a Stanley Cup. Between Getzlaf have a case. and Perry and late-round picks Drew Miller and Shane O’Brien, the Calgary Flames Ducks have produced more than 3,200 NHL games out of 2003. That’s impressive even when you consider the historic success of the 2003 Best draft: 2011 class as a whole. Marc-Antoine Pouliot was taken a couple of picks after Getzlaf. The selections that immediately followed Perry were Patrick This was one of the easier decisions, which either speaks to the Eaves, Shawn Belle, Danny Richmond and Ryan Stone. It could have impressiveness of the haul or the Flames’ lacklustre results in other gone a different direction. But it didn’t. drafts. The Flames’ worst pick in 2011 might have been their first one, with Sven Baertschi at 13th overall. And if we’re being honest it wasn’t The only Ducks class that might even remotely give 2003 a run for its even a bad pick at the time, especially when you consider that names money is their class of 2011, in which all seven of their selections have like Jamie Oleksiak, Joe Armia, Nathan Beaulieu, Mark McNeil, Stefan played NHL games, four of whom are top half of the lineup NHL players Noesen and Tyler Biggs followed. Would you have liked them to have in Rickard Rakell, John Gibson, William Karlsson and Josh Manson. The picked J.T. Miller in hindsight, or Oscar Klefbom? Sure. Could you twist it Ducks’ 2011 draft also includes their now-infamous swindling of the Leafs to suggest they should have taken Nikita Kucherov over Markus in a trade-down scenario, a swindling that will land the Leafs’ class of Granlund? Sure, but Kucherov was taken 13 picks later so they weren’t 2011 on this list for different reasons. alone. All told, all five of their picks in 2011 have played or are playing in the NHL. That doesn’t happen very often. And Johnny Gaudreau, taken Arizona Coyotes 104th overall, sits third in the draft class in scoring — and should soon Best draft: 2004 pass second overall pick Gabriel Landeskog to move into second place behind Kucherov. Given the way Victor Soderstrom, Mattias Maccelli and John Farinacci have progressed in the last year, I wouldn’t be surprised if Arizona’s 2019 Carolina Hurricanes class works its way into this conversation eventually. Grabbing Keith Best draft: 2010 Yandle, who now leads all defencemen from the 2005 draft in points and sits second in games played to Marc-Edouard Vlasic, also deserves The Canes’ class of 2010 feels like a no-brainer here. They took a some recognition, especially when Martin Hanzal became a significantly chance on the diminutive Jeff Skinner at seventh overall and a decade better player than the three players taken after him in the first round that later he sits behind only Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin, the top two picks year as well. of the draft, in career scoring. They followed that up by taking Justin Faulk — unequivocally one of the best defencemen to come out of the But I still think the Coyotes’ class of 2004 wins out. Six of their nine picks draft — in the second round. And while it’s hard to give them too much that year played NHL games. If you can allow yourself to forget what credit for drafting Frederik Andersen when they let him re-enter the draft happened after the Blake Wheeler selection, he was a home run at fifth to be selected by the Ducks, this isn’t an exercise in whether the picks overall when you consider that the rest of the picks that rounded out the worked out for them, but whether they identified talent — and Andersen top 10 that year were Al Montoya, Rostislav Olesz, Alexandre Picard, has become a starting goalie. Ladislav Smid, and Boris Valabik. Then you add in Daniel Winnik, who ranks 15th in the class in games played but was taken 265th overall and I Worth noting: I love the Canes’ 2019 draft class too. It’s too early to make think it’s a pretty clear choice. a definitive judgment on it but I wouldn’t be surprised if it produced a handful of NHLers. Boston Bruins Chicago Blackhawks Best draft: 2014 Best draft: 2003 This was an easy one. No first round pick and more than 3,200 NHL games to show for it — and counting! The Red Wings were fresh off of 14. Brent Seabrook. their third Cup in six years, the cap era was around the corner, and 52. Corey Crawford though they didn’t know it yet, they were going to have to find new ways to keep the dynasty alive. Names like Jiri Hudler, Tomas Fleischmann, 245. Dustin Byfuglien Valtteri Filppula, and Jonathan Ericsson became a part of that next era — and in some cases that next Stanley Cup. And 18 years later, Filppula You can spend a lot of time and energy mining the draft classes of the is one of only a handful of the 2002 draft’s players who is still playing in 2000s and 2010s and still not be sure for most teams which year is the the NHL. clear best result. You don’t have to look too far to answer that question for the Blackhawks though. Edmonton Oilers

Colorado Avalanche Best draft: 2015

Best draft: 2009 Forget the Connor McDavid pick. They didn’t get any brownie points for it here. The Oilers’ class of 2015 emerged as their strongest for me The Avalanche have drafted really well in three of the last five drafts. I because of the job they did with the rest of their picks in a draft where loved their 2019 class, from Bowen Byram and Alex Newhook down to they were without a second and third round pick. All three of Caleb Alex Beaucage. Cale Makar and Conor Timmins were home runs in Jones, Ethan Bear and John Marino are just getting their feet wet but 2017. Even in a stacked 2015 draft rife with success stories, Mikko there are good odds they landed three second pairing defencemen in Rantanen is one of the bigger wins. rounds 4, 5 and 6. They didn’t have a single top 100 pick after McDavid It’s still hard to give any of those drafts the edge over their 2009 and they walked away with four NHLers. That’s what makes a good draft. selections though. Taking Matt Duchene third overall is one thing. Florida Panthers Landing Ryan O’Reilly and Tyson Barrie in rounds 2 and 3 is something else altogether. You’re lucky to get one player in a draft who will become Best draft: 2011 one of the game’s, say, 100 best players. The Avs took three of their better players at their position in the decade that followed in the same This class felt like an no brainer on the Panthers’ front. Jonathan draft — and it set them on their path back to contendership, in its own Huberdeau has become one of the game’s best left wings and a far roundabout way, today. better player than both of those taken directly after him, in Adam Larsson and Ryan Strome. They took a swing on Rocco Grimaldi, knowing that if Columbus Blue Jackets he made it he would be one of the smallest players in the NHL, and he did. Vincent Trochek would go in the first round in a re-draft, is arguably Best draft: 2016 the best player to come out of the entire third round, and sits 13th in the Evaluating the Blue Jackets’ draft history in the context of the last 20 draft class in scoring. Then you add in four other picks who’ve gone on to years is one of the more fascinating exercises because it also overlaps play NHL games and that’s about all you can ever ask for out of a draft with their complete history as an organization. I lean 2016 as their best class. draft class to date for two reasons: Los Angeles Kings Picking Pierre-Luc Dubois over Jesse Puljujarvi was not the obvious Best draft: 2019 choice. I tended not to give teams too much credit for hitting in the top five in this exercise because that should be a given a these days, but the It can be hard to pinpoint some of the more recent drafts as an Blue Jackets going slightly off the board for a player who has become a organization’s best, but in reviewing each of the Kings’ draft classes, I big part of their present and future, while the other kid played his 2019- just kept coming back to their latest. In a pivotal moment in their current 2020 season in Finland, is impressive. rebuild, the Kings needed to use their nine picks (including four in the first two rounds) to their advantage. And they did. I labelled them as one of Even discounting the Dubois pick, the Blue Jackets did a lot with little for the draft’s winners last June and that was with me being lower than most their other four selections. I’m a big believer in Vitaly Abramov, who I still at the time on Tobias Bjornfot. Between Bjornfot, Alex Turcotte (my No. 3 believe will become a top-nine forward in the NHL, Andrew Peeke looks prospect at the time taken at No. 5), Arthur Kaliyev (my No. 13, taken No. like he’s going to be a piece of the puzzle on their backend for years to 33), Samuel Fagemo (my No. 42, taken No. 50), and Jordan Spence (my come, and both of Calvin Thurkauf and Peter Thome still have a chance, No. 47, taken No. 95), the Kings put together one of the best drafts as small as that chance may be, to give them at least something out of relative to my board since I began doing this seven years ago. In doing rounds 6 and 7. Does it maybe sting a little that they picked Peeke so, I believe they have a chance at coming away with a handful of future instead of Alex DeBrincat or Samuel Girard? I’m sure it does. Is Adam NHL players, including a number of potential top-of-the-lineup pieces. If Fox a constant reminder that he was picked just after Abramov, who is that happens, they will have re-shaped the organization in one fell no longer a part of the organization? Sure. But They’ve already had four swoop. of their five picks from 2016 play in NHL games. Minnesota Wild Dallas Stars Best draft: 2000 Best draft: 2005 When six out of your nine picks play in NHL games, that’s a good draft by I was tempted to go with their class of 2007 here, mostly because of the just about any standard. But it’s the Wild’s first two picks of Marian Jamie Benn pick, but 2005 was stronger from top to bottom while still Gaborik and Nick Schultz, who each went on to play more than 1,000 producing two stars with late-first and early-second round selections. Not games, that distinguished the Wild’s first draft class of the century. That’s only did six of the Stars’ seven picks in 2005 find their way into NHL because the two picks that followed Gaborik in the draft at fourth and fifth games, including some late-round depth options like Rich Clune and Tom overall, Rostislav Klesla and Raffi Torres, didn’t go on to have anywhere Wandell, but they struck gold at 28th and 33rd overall. A decade and a near the career that Gaborik did. In fact, two decades later Gaborik’s 407 half later, James Neal sits seventh in the draft in points and third in goals, goals and 815 points both lead the entire draft class in scoring, just while Matt Niskanen sits sixth among all players in games played and ahead of Justin Williams (28th overall) and Dany Heatley (2nd overall). third among all defencemen in points, behind only Keith Yandle and Kris Schultz, meanwhile, joined Gaborik as one of just seven players to play Letang. That’s a hell of an outcome without a pick. The 2005 draft exists 1,000 games (and one of just two not taken in the first round alongside in lore for a number of reasons: The lockout was finishing, hockey was Antoine Vermette). coming back, the draft was closed to the public and reduced from nine rounds to seven, and the league’s 30 teams gathered in a hotel in Ottawa Montreal Canadiens for a snake draft where the order was pre-determined by a lottery in place of the standings. And the Stars walked away with one of the better Best draft: 2007 hauls. The Canadiens have put together a number of impressive drafts over the Detroit Red Wings years. I considered four of them here. It’s hard to complain about getting Mikhail Sergachev (9th overall) and Victor Mete (100th overall) where Best draft: 2002 they did in 2016. The same can be said for back-to-back drafts in 2004 and 2005, which produced a combined eight players who played 300 or more NHL games: Kyle Chipchura (Round 1), Alexei Emelin (Round 3), I have to give some love to the Rangers’ class of 2018, which I believe Mikhail Grabovski (Round 5), Mark Streit (Round 9!), Carey Price (Round could produce as many as five NHL options (Vitali Kravtsov, K’Andre 1), Guillaume Latendresse (Round 2), Matt D’Agostini (Round 6), and Miller, Nils Lundkvist, Joey Keane and Lauri Pajuniemi). I didn’t love what Sergei Kostitsyn (Round 7). And yet, its their class of 2007 that is they did with their three first round picks at the time. In fact, looking back probably still the clear choice. Any time you land three bonafide NHL at the top-ranked players on my board back then, I probably would have stars and a fourth player who will soon surpass 500 games played, walked away with Oliver Wahlstrom/Adam Boqvist, Ryan Merkley and you’ve knocked the draft out of the park. The Canadiens did that in 2007 Joe Veleno instead — and I’m not sure I’d be confident with that outcome by hitting on each of their three picks with Ryan McDonagh, Max today, even though it could still go either way. The Lundkvist pick, in Pacioretty and P.K. Subban in rounds 1 and 2 — and then they further particular, has proven to be a home run. bolstered their class by grabbing Yannick Weber in the third round. All told, the Canadiens probably drafted three of the draft’s top 10 players, Still, it’s hard not to give it to their class of 2000, which, without a first without needing a top-10 pick (of which most of the draft’s other best round pick, famously produced both Dominic Moore and Henrik players, including Patrick Kane, Jakub Voracek, James van Riemsdyk, Lundqvist. If all goes well for their class of 2000, it will be their deepest and Logan Couture, all were). It may not just be the Canadiens’ best draft performance of the last 20 years. It will probably always be hard to say it of the last two decades, but one of the best performances by any team. gave the organization more value though. I have tended to lean towards drafts that produced several NHL talents, instead of those that gave a Nashville Predators team one or two standouts, but it’s hard to ignore The King.

Best draft: 2003 Ottawa Senators

It’s no secret to anyone that the Predators were one of the best-drafting Best draft: 2008 teams of the 2000s. So it should come as no surprise that all four of their draft classes I mulled over as their potential best happened in the The Senators produced two titanic drafts in the last decade, so this one decade. This is a team that, in 2009, rightly took a chance on Ryan Ellis was tough. Their class of 2011 produced eight (!) NHL players, including in Round 1 when other teams didn’t and then followed it up by landing Mika Zibanejad — now one of the best players in the world — sixth Craig Smith, Mattias Ekholm and Gabriel Bourque in the back half of the overall, Jean-Gabriel Pageau in the fourth round, and Ryan Dzingel with draft! This is a team that, a year before that, drafted Roman Josi 38th the 204th pick in a 211-pick draft. overall! This is a team that, in 2005, drafted Alexander Radulov 15th But 2008 still stands alone. Not only did they draft a future HHOFer when overall (again, when nobody else would) and then also picked Mike they selected Erik Karlsson 15th overall, but they also added past and Santorelli 178th and Pekka Rinne, one of the best goalies of his present pieces of the puzzle in the draft’s later rounds, including Patrick generation, 258th! All three of those drafts would earn the “best” label for Wiercioch, Zack Smith, and Mark Borowiecki. All told, six of their seven several other NHL teams. And yet it was the famed class of 2003 that picks finding their way into NHL action. Though there’s certainly a case to has to stand alone, with the decision to take Ryan Suter with the pick be made for first overall pick Steven Stamkos and second overall pick before Braydon Coburn, Dion Phaneuf and Andrei Kostitsyn, and some Drew Doughty as the best players of the 2008 draft, I’d be comfortable guy named Shea Weber at No. 49. In what has gone down in history as making a case for Karlsson, who I believe to be the best player at his one of the greatest drafts ever, the Predators landed two of the best position of his generation. defencemen in the world for the 17 years that followed. Philadelphia Flyers New Jersey Devils Best draft: 2003 Best draft: 2017 Despite recent misses on players like Jay O’Brien and German Rubtsov, I’ve got to be blunt: Any honest review of the Devils’ track record at the the Flyers have a strong track record over the last 20 years. Their 2015 draft over the last two decades reveals that they’ve performed as poorly draft produced Ivan Provorov and Travis Konecny, as well as a number as just about any team. That made selecting the best of the bunch a bit of late-round picks who are now making their cases for NHL careers. of a challenge. There have been a couple of good picks here and there: Even though the 2006 draft wasn’t a great draft on the whole, it produced Travis Zajac at No. 20 in 2004 and Zach Parise at No. 17 in 2003 come Claude Giroux with 22nd-overall pick. Though they missed on Jeff to mind. But those weren’t otherwise great draft classes, and a review of Woywitka in the first round in 2001, they hit home runs with Patrick Sharp the Devils’ first and second round picks in almost every other year is not and Dennis Seidenberg a little later. But, as was the case for many other pretty, nor is their late-round success rate. As a result, 2017 feels like the teams, their outcomes from 2003 changed everything. Jeff Carter and natural choice, even if they didn’t get the best player in the draft first Mike Richards soon became the faces of the franchise and they got NHL overall, because they made the right call on the Nico Hischier versus games out of four of their five third-round picks (yes, they had five picks Nolan Patrick debate, Jesper Boqvist should prove to be a strong in a single round). Despite the historic outcomes in 2003, just 12 of the second-round pick, I’m really high on Reilly Walsh as a potential second- third round’s picks played in NHL games. Together, those 12 picks pairing guy, and there’s at least a little intrigue in late-round picks Aarne amassed 2,478 games played. Together, Colin Fraser, Stefan Ruzicka, Talvitie and Yegor Zaitsev. And though a draft like that probably doesn’t Alexandre Picard, and Ryan Potulny accounted for 793 of them. Only land on the “best draft radar” for many other teams, it still has the Daniel Carcillo and Clarke MacArthur played in more games than Fraser. potential to be a strong class for the Devils five or 10 years from now. Pittsburgh Penguins New York Islanders Best draft: 2005 Best draft: 2009 It’s hard to give the Penguins too much credit for taking Evgeni Malkin You can count on one hand the number of team draft classes in recent and Sidney Crosby, who were both the obvious choices when they were memory where every single selection played in an NHL game. And the selected, but those two back-to-back drafts were the Penguins’ strongest Islanders class of 2009 is one of them. Forget John Tavares at first on other merits, too. And though there was certainly significant value overall. That was a no brainer. The strength of the Islanders’ 2009 draft drawn out of Alex Goligoski (61st overall) and Tyler Kennedy (99th was everywhere else, landing not one but two NHL goalies in Mikko overall) in 2004, I leaned 2005 for one reason and one reason only: Koskinen (now with the Oilers) and Anders Nilsson (now with the Kristopher Letang. With respect to Keith Yandle and Marc-Edouard Senators), as well as Calvin de Haan and several pieces of the current Vlasic, the Penguins got the best defenceman of the draft by a wide Islanders core more than a decade later in Casey Cizikas and in margin. As much as the Penguins’ Stanley Cups were driven by Crosby particular, Anders Lee, who was taken with their last pick of the draft and and Malkin, how many do they win if they take literally any other would be a first-round pick in a do-over. defenceman that was drafted in the third round of that year instead of Aside: Though their class of 2015 didn’t have the same strength in Letang, the best of whom was probably Cody Franson? It’s a question numbers, I wanted to give it some love here for the home runs that Mat worth asking. Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier have both proven to be. St. Louis Blues

New York Rangers Best draft: 2010

Best draft: 2000 I was tempted by 2007 and 2008. The former produced six players who played in NHL games, including 500-plus games out of each of the Blues’ three (yes, three) first round picks (Lars Eller, Ian Cole and David surpass 400 games played. It’s ironic that the worst outcome relative to Perron). The latter produced Alex Pietrangelo fourth overall (a little bit of where he was selected was probably with their first pick, Jiri Tlusty. And a no brainer at the time but still a definite hit), as well as Jake Allen and even then, he outperformed many of the draft’s first-round picks. The Jori Lehtera in rounds 2 and 3. But it’s hard to ignore the lasting impact Leafs made hay everywhere else with Nikolay Kulemin in Round 2, that the class of 2010 has had on the Blues organization. Though 2010 James Reimer in Round 4, and both Viktor Stalberg and Leo Komarov in didn’t result in any mid-to-late round success stories, the outcome of their Round 6. All told, their class of 2006 has played a combined 2,629 NHL two first round picks were enough to prop it up. The Blues used their first games to date. That’s about as good a job as you can do without landing pick, 14th overall, on Jaden Schwartz and their second selection two Brad Marchand as the draft’s late-round steal. picks later, acquired from the Senators as part of the David Rundblad trade, on Vladimir Tarasenko. And though they wouldn’t reap the rewards Vancouver Canucks on either player until two and three years later, they have both become Best draft: 2004 two of the better players of the draft class. They weren’t the obvious selections at the time, either, with questions lingering about Tarasenko’s I think the Canucks’ draft classes of 2017 and 2018 have a chance to contract status in Russia and Schwartz’s size. The players taken before, stand the test of time if players like Tyler Madden, Kole Lind or Jack in between, and after them were Brandon Gormley, Derek Forbort and Rathbone can become impact options alongside Elias Pettersson and Joey Hishon. Only Forbort is still playing in the NHL today, as a third- Quinn Hughes, who are both going to be in the conversation as the best pairing defenceman. Tarasenko and Schwartz, meanwhile, sit fifth and player of their drafts. But even if some of those other kids continue to eighth in the draft class in scoring, respectively. develop and hit their ceilings, I’m still not sure they will produce better outcomes than the sum of the Canucks’ 2004 class has. I don’t tend to San Jose Sharks endorse taking goalies in the first round but Cory Schneider was a home Best draft: 2003 run — even if he has hit a wall in recent years — at 26th overall. Then you add in Alex Edler’s 900-plus games and the prominent role he played The Sharks have put together a number of really strong draft classes at during one of the Canucks’ best eras as a franchise, as well as the 626 different points of their prolonged period of contending, which spanned NHL games that Jannik Hansen played as a ninth (!) rounder and it’s most of the last two decades. Every single one of their six picks in the hard to imagine the Canucks’ recent draft classes having that kind of 2001 draft class played NHL games, even without picks in the second success — or at least staking a confident claim that one of them will. Alex and third rounds, including late-round home runs like Christian Ehrhoff Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin and Blake Wheeler probably go 1-2-3 in a re- (the clear best player to come out of the fourth round that year) and draft but both Schneider and Edler are surely top-10 picks and likely even Ryane Clowe in the sixth round. In 2007, when they picked Logan in the conversation to round out the top-5. Players like Madden and Couture ninth overall, the pick before Keaton Ellerby, whose NHL career Rathbone, as good as they are, likely won’t join that conversation in their ended in 2015 and played last season in Austria. Later in the draft, they respective draft classes. added Nick Bonino (173rd overall) and Justin Braun (201st overall), who are each approaching 700 games played. Even more recently, their class Vegas Golden Knights of 2012 produced both Tomas Hertl and Chris Tierney, who sit fourth and Best draft: 2017 10th in scoring in what has since gone down as one of the worst drafts in recent memory. As has often been the case throughout this process, You’d think the decisions for the Golden Knights, who have only three though, I came back to the Sharks’ class of 2003 as its best. Though drafts under their belt, would be an easy one. Well, think again. The picking Steve Bernier 16th overall has definitely proven to be a miss Golden Knights have drafted as well as any team in the league (I think relative to many of those selected after him (including Zach Parise with they have a case for the best draft record since entering the league, the very next pick), the Sharks made up for it by landing Milan Michalek frankly). Still, their class of 2017 has a chance to be peerless in the sixth overall, Matt Carle in the second round and, famously, Joe Pavelski context of the 2010s. Look no further than my recent 2017 re-draft, which with the 205th overall selection. More than a decade and a half later, featured six (yes, you read that correctly) Golden Knights picks in the Pavelski sits tied for fifth in the class in scoring, ahead of first rounders new top 31. they were: like Thomas Vanek (fifth overall) and Jeff Carter (11th overall). 5. Nick Suzuki Tampa Bay Lightning 9. Cody Glass Best draft: 2011 12. Erik Brannstrom This one felt easy. Not only have all six of their picks since played in NHL 15. Nic Hague games but the Lightning got the best player of the draft 58th overall. Hell, Nikita Kucherov wasn’t just the best pick of the 2011 class, he’s one of 27. Lucas Elvenes the biggest value picks of the last 20 years in any class. He has, to this point, put together a career that may well put him in the HHOF 28. Jack Dugan conversation some day. And not only that, but the Lightning also landed The Golden Knights had to get it right in their first year of existence, with Ondrej Palat (whose 328 points in 496 games ranks 10th in the draft) their 12 picks, and they did better than anyone could have probably with the fourth-to-last pick of the year, 208th overall. Even Vladislav hoped for. I wouldn’t bet against any of those kids becoming top-nine Namestnikov, who has become more of a depth piece than you’d like for forwards or top-four defencemen. I think the first four names on that list a first-round pick, has out-performed eight of the nine players taken have a non-zero chance at becoming stars, too. directly after him (with Rickard Rakell being the exception). Washington Capitals Toronto Maple Leafs Best draft: 2006 Best draft: 2006 The Capitals are one of the teams that didn’t really have a clearcut “that’s It shouldn’t surprise anyone that most of the Leafs’ better drafts of the their best draft class” but also had five draft classes strong enough to be last two decades all land in the first few years. Their showings in the late considered. They got games out of seven of their 10 picks in 2012, a 2000s and into the early 2010s contributed to a never-ending rebuild that class that produced Filip Forsberg, Tom Wilson, and Chandler only began to turn around after they selected Morgan Rielly fifth overall in Stephenson with their first three picks, as well as Connor Carrick and a dreary 2012 class. There were bright spots in the early 2000s though. Christian Djoos with late-round selections. They landed Evgeny They walked away from the 2002 draft with Alex Steen, Matt Stajan, and Kuznetsov, who might be a top-five pick in a 2010 re-draft, 26th overall. Ian White, who have combined for more than 2,500 NHL games, without The Caps hit on each of their picks in rounds 1-3 in 2009, a draft class having a top-20 pick. Though their class of 2005 has gone down in that has since produced nearly 1,800 NHL games. Even if you consider infamy for the trade that would send Tuukka Rask to Boston for Andrew the Alex Ovechkin pick a tap-in, it’s still hard to ignore the class of 2004, Raycroft, it, combined with grabbing Anton Stralman, one of the draft’s which also nabbed Jeff Schultz and Mike Green at the end of the first best defencemen, in the seventh round, was a job well done. Still, round. I lean 2006, though, for the degree of difficulty. Taking Nicklas though, I lean on 2006 for the sheer volume of good NHL players it Backstrom fourth overall is one thing. He was widely expected to go in produced. The Leafs didn’t draft a star in 2006, at least not the kind that that range and it’s not as though Phil Kessel wouldn’t have also been an Rask or Stralman became from a year earlier, but six of their seven picks excellent pick (though Backstrom has had the better career). But taking went on to play 200-plus games (which is also six of the draft’s 44 two goalies (Semyon Varlamov and Michael Neuvirth) and having them players to have done so, or 14 per cent) and five of them will eventually both become NHL starters at different points during their careers? That’s an impressive bit of work. So is landing Mathieu Perreault with your final pick of the draft.

Winnipeg Jets

Best draft: 2015

I’m not going to re-hash the draft history of the Thrashers so for the purpose of this piece the Jets’ classes only date back to 2011. All told, they performed really well from 2011-2015 but I have been less impressed with the job they’ve done since then (more on that in the second piece of this series). They had big hits in each of their first few draft classes, beginning with Mark Scheifele at seventh overall in 2011, Jacob Trouba and Connor Hellebuyck in 2012 (I considered 2012 for the honour here), Josh Morrissey at No. 13 in 2013, and Nikolaj Ehlers ninth overall in 2014. But 2015 has a hit of a similar calibre at the top with Kyle Connor in the back half of the first round, as well as four more players who have either already established themselves as full-time NHLers or are in the process of doing so. Jack Roslovic has proven to be a value pick at 25th overall and he wasn’t the obvious choice there at the time. The Jets would probably take Jansen Harkins over almost all of the players selected immediately after him, especially after his strong 2019- 2020 season. Just by getting NHL games out of them, the Jets have already extracted value from the late-round picks of Sami Niku and Mason Appleton, who should be regulars as early as next year. And that’s without considering that Erik Foley probably pans out as a middle- six forward if injuries don’t get in the way.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187192 Websites where it takes a little bit of discipline on our part as players to make sure we don’t kind of derail the plans.”

The NHL says that all players who have tested positive have been in self- Sportsnet.ca / NHL, NHLPA finalizing plan to resume season amid new isolation and are following protocols set out by Health Canada and the COVID-19 cases Centers for Disease Control.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.30.2020

Chris Johnston | June 29, 2020, 5:53 PM

As the NHL and NHL Players’ Association continue putting the finishing touches on a plan to resume the season, the league says 26 players have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last three weeks.

We won’t be able to gain a full picture about the rate of infection in the NHL population until training camps open next month. Fifteen of the positive tests announced Monday came from those participating in voluntary small-group workouts at NHL facilities — a group that includes 250-plus participants, or roughly a third of the total needed for the planned 24-team restart.

The other 11 positives came from players not yet subject to regular testing under the league’s return-to-play protocol.

Exhaustive testing procedures are expected to be part of the overall package being finalized by the NHL and NHLPA now. They are believed to be close to settling on a plan that includes the location of two hub cities for games, the protocols governing training camp and the competition phase, and the framework for an extension of the collective bargaining agreement — all of which would be subject to approval.

The hope has been to get something to the NHLPA membership for a vote by the end of this week.

It’s an enormous undertaking, especially with how fluid the situation is.

Consider that at this point last week there was progression towards choosing Vancouver and Las Vegas as the two hub cities — only to see Vancouver dropped as an option when discussions hit a snag with the B.C. government on how positive tests would be handled inside the bubble.

Meanwhile, with coronavirus caseloads spiking in various parts of the United States, talks between the NHL and NHLPA continued into Monday night on the location of hub cities. There were sources who believed that two Canadian hubs could still be an option for the league with Toronto and Edmonton remaining in the bidding. Chicago and Los Angeles are also among the finalists.

Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what they think about it.

The opening of training camps remains scheduled for July 10, but there’s some thought among teams that it might get pushed back to July 13. Players are expected to spend about two weeks in their home markets before travelling to hub cities, where games could start on or around Aug. 1.

The NHL’s goal has been to return in as safe a manner as possible and will require it to keep players in a tightly controlled bubble with a myriad of built-in safeguards once games start. That’s expected to include daily testing.

Frequent testing, physical distancing and the wearing of masks inside team facilities will likely be part of the protocols governing training camps — although players are expected to be allowed to stay at their own homes during Phase 3.

Given that more than 400 NHLers aren’t currently being tested at all, there’s bound to be more positive results if the league keeps moving towards a restart. The 250-plus participants in Phase 2 have taken more than 1,450 combined tests since June 8, and produced 15 positive results.

Preventing an outbreak among the playing population is vital to handing out the Stanley Cup this October.

“I’ve been involved in a lot of the [return-to-play] talks and I’m pretty confident that once we get into hub cities we’ll be able to do a good job of keeping it out,” veteran Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jason Spezza said recently. “I think getting there is going to be the challenge and that’s 1187193 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' Carey Price returning to Montreal to rejoin teammates

Eric Engels | June 29, 2020, 3:13 PM

MONTREAL — Carey Price is on his way back to Montreal, according to his wife, Angela, who confirmed as much in two posts on her personal Instagram account over the last 24 hours.

On Sunday, Angela Price wrote, “What seemed like a never ending quarantine has now gone by way too fast. When Carey heads back to Montreal we will stay put in Washington state with my family praying that him and all the players and staff stay safe.”

She followed that post up with this one on Monday:

It was last Thursday afternoon that the 32-year-old goaltender mentioned, on a conference call with Canadiens reporters, that he was making arrangements to return to Montreal.

“I’m starting to make plans,” Price said. “I would like to have a few more answers to some questions. There’s a lot going on, a lot of things trying to get solved right now. But I would like to come back soon to start preparing as best as I can for a possible return to play.”

Price also expressed his trepidation about the NHL’s plans to kick off training camps July 10 and begin a 24-team tournament for the Stanley Cup by month’s end.

“I have I think about an equal amount of optimism or pessimism,” the Anahim Lake, B.C., native said. “It’s a very unusual situation. I want the opportunity to be able to play for a Stanley Cup, but I want to be able to continue living life normally. A lot of cases haven’t panned out, for a lot of people, very well. I’ve had friends’ family members who have passed away from COVID-19 and it’s nothing to balk at.”

It was back on Mar. 11 that the NHL paused its season indefinitely due to concerns about the coronavirus.

The league and the NHLPA agreed on a return-to-play format on May 22, and informal workouts at team facilities, as part of Phase 2 of that plan, have been underway since June 8.

Last week, the NHL changed the restrictions in Phase 2 to allow for as many as 12 players to be on the ice at the same time, so several dispersed members of the various teams have returned from home to their playing cities and several others are making travel arrangements.

As of Monday, Price, who went 27-26-6 and had a .909 save percentage in 58 games this season, was the only member of the Canadiens confirmed to be on his way back to Montreal. It is expected he’ll join Jonathan Drouin, Paul Byron, Charles Hudon, Laurent Dauphin and Michael McNiven at the team’s south-shore training facility in short order.

Those players have been practising there together since June 16.

More Canadiens players are expected to be returning to Montreal later this week, and The Athletic reported last Friday that Jesperi Kotkaniemi will be among them.

The Finnish centre, who was drafted third overall by the Canadiens in 2018, is healed from the spleen injury he suffered back on Mar. 6 and is expecting to compete for a position on the roster, according to The Athletic’s report.

The official roster size for each team involved in the return-to-play is expected to consist of at least 28 players.

If play resumes, the Canadiens will play a three-to-five game series against the Pittsburgh Penguins for a chance to participate in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187194 Websites But even if they believe they’re ahead of where most think they are, it’s almost unfathomable this group of Canadiens players believes it can win the Stanley Cup after the season it had — and with a depleted roster post-trade deadline. And if that possibility is so minute that it borders on Sportsnet.ca / Dreams of Alexis Lafreniere as a Canadien become more insignificant — and it is — how can they possibly think the sacrifices of real returning to play are worth it?

What true incentive exists for the Canadiens to leave the comfort and safety of their homes for a three-week training camp in Montreal followed Eric Engels | June 29, 2020, 1:07 PM by what could be weeks away from their families in a hub city? Do they really want to assume the risks of catching coronavirus or getting injured prior to jamming in an 82-game season and playoffs between January You can picture it already, can’t you? Alexis Lafreniere, outfitted head-to- and July of 2021 — in a year where they are actually expected to take a toe in bleu, blanc et rouge, bursting onto Bell Centre ice as public step forward? And do they want to do it for fans that would rather see address announcer Michel Lacroix belts out, “Mesdames et Monsieurs, them lose than win? Ladies and Gentlemen, Accueillons nos Canadiens!” Because those fans are dreaming of one thing and one thing only right Because that whole scenario became tangible on Friday when, during now: that 18-year-old kid from Saint-Eustache, Que., who scored 114 Phase 1 of the NHL’s Draft Lottery, it was determined that one of the goals and 297 points in 173 CHL games wearing that big CH on his chest eight losers of the play-in round will land the No. 1 pick in this year’s and stepping onto that Bell Centre ice to the sound of Michel Lacroix’s draft. booming voice.

Wild, eh? Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.30.2020 And yeah, the Montreal Canadiens may only be looking at a 12.5 per- cent chance of snagging this franchise-altering player in Phase 2 of the lottery, but them winning out in that situation seems more conceivable than a team that won just 31 of its 71 games this season beating a Pittsburgh Penguins team that put up the NHL’s seventh-best record from October through March and proved to be vastly superior in nearly every relevant category. Even if the odds don’t support that notion.

Did you buy your Canadiens Lafreniere jersey yet?

In the immediate aftermath of Friday’s drama, I thought long and hard about what this all meant for the Canadiens and I struggled to find the downside. A team full of players with limited-to-no playoff experience at all has a chance to play meaningful games this summer, a chance that was gifted to them by the NHL’s return-to-play committee. And that same team still has an opportunity to draft a Quebec-born superstar first overall in a dream scenario, even if it’s most likely to pick ninth when all is said and done.

And if the Canadiens should do something that seems a lot more inconceivable now than it did three days ago — if they should beat the Penguins to advance to the 16-team Stanley Cup tournament and go on a little run from there — that would unquestionably be the worst-case scenario.

But it wouldn’t be a bad one.

We’re talking about the long-term future of the Canadiens, which would obviously be best served by the lottery balls falling in such a way that you’d think it was serendipity. But an unexpected run, for a team that has more than a dozen players aged 25 or younger on its expanded roster, can’t be considered detrimental to that future.

You have to think Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin and his minions are hoping for the best of both worlds, for their team to give the mighty Penguins the scare of a lifetime — taking them to triple overtime of Game 5 of the play-in round before gracefully bowing out on a fluke goal that bounced off three bodies to beat a helpless Carey Price. A little precious experience gained, lottery odds intact and a top-10 pick preserved.

A few Molsons down the hatch and say your prayers…

But you have to wonder how the players feel.

The general sense, going back to April, was that not too many members of the Canadiens were keen on returning to play this summer. And given the multitude of reasons for that, it’s hard to imagine that’s changed much — even if many, like Price just last week, have said they’d prefer to have a chance to play for this year’s Stanley Cup.

Sure, they’re pro athletes and therefore conditioned to believe in the unbelievable.

But these Canadiens aren’t delusional.

They might believe they can do some damage, that they’re an underrated team capable of upsetting the apple cart. And, in speaking with many of them over the last few months, it’s abundantly clear they don’t feel this year’s standings accurately reflect where they actually are in their reset. 1187195 Websites Zack and his brother, Kurtis, their mom, Juliana, relatives and friends were able to hold a small celebration of life for Craig outdoors at Lakeside Beach on P.E.I., next to Craig’s favourite golf course, Crowbush Cove. That’s where the family reunited on Fathers’ Day, the Sportsnet.ca / Canucks' Zack MacEwen on why he's never letting go of boys playing nine holes like they always did with their dad on Fathers’ No. 71 Day.

“We scattered his ashes at his favourite beach and golf course; they’re right beside each other,” Zack said. “We spent the whole evening there, Iain MacIntyre | June 29, 2020, 10:56 AM just kind of telling stories, and spread the ashes and I think it was kind of the perfect sendoff for my dad. That night was just what everybody needed. VANCOUVER – They don’t ask you what number you’d like in the National Hockey League when you are an undrafted free agent out of “(Mom’s) got a lot to figure out, but she’s an incredibly strong woman. junior facing years of development time in the minors. She’s so smart and really just a salt-of-the-earth woman who would do anything for anybody. She has a good support system around her with Generally, you take whatever late-century digits you are issued at my family and her friends and even my friends. Me leaving and going training camp, are grateful to have an NHL logo on the other side of the back to Vancouver to play, that gives me comfort that she has that. I jersey, and don’t ask about a real hockey number until you earn one. know she’s going to be OK, but it’s definitely going to take some time.”

Zack MacEwen was given No. 71 by the Vancouver Canucks. Now, he’s At least Craig MacEwen got to see his son develop into an NHL player. never giving it up without a fight. After 2 ½ seasons in the minors, Zack, undrafted out of bantam hockey, “That’s going to be the number I’m going to keep,” the winger from Prince undrafted out of the Quebec League in Moncton and Gatineau, was Edward Island says over the phone. “My dad was born on Aug. 17, 1971, promoted from Utica on Jan. 30 and a month later was declared a “full- so that number really resonates with me now and that’s the number I’m time NHL player” by Benning. The Canucks looked at adding toughness going to keep. Everything happens for a reason.” before the February trade deadline, then realized MacEwen could fill that need. MacEwen’s dad, Craig, died in Halifax on May 5 from the complications of a massive stroke. He hung on long enough on life-support for Zack to On a team full of young greyhounds, MacEwen is the pit bull who hits travel from Vancouver to say goodbye. and checks and, when needed, fights for his teammates. And in the nine games he played before the NHL closed for coronavirus on March 12, Craig MacEwen was 48 years old. Zack is 23. the six-foot-three forward also scored four goals. There’s a lot of hockey stuff in the news this week: overblown debates “I think so many areas of my game improved so much with my time in about hub cities for the NHL playoffs during the summer of COVID, a Utica,” MacEwen said. “It’s great to be able to play the physical game. draft lottery, draft rankings, haggling over escrow and the Collective But if you can contribute something offensively and be safe defensively… Bargaining Agreement. that’s going to, I hope, go a lot further in my hockey career than just None of that matters compared to losing your father, which, incredibly being that physical grinder. sadly, three Canucks players have endured this season. “If you had asked me when I was 15, I probably wouldn’t have been too Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey confident that I would be playing in the NHL. But I used to tell my parents world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what all the time when I was younger that’s what I wanted to do. They let on they think about it. like they believed it.”

While the MacEwens were coming together as a family last Sunday in MacEwen is excited about the possibility of the Canucks playing again Stratford, P.E.I., to help each other through Fathers’ Day, Vancouver this summer. He said he’ll never forget the support he received this defenceman Troy Stecher was learning that his dad, Peter, had died spring. suddenly here. Goalie Jacob Markstrom lost his father, Anders, to cancer “The outreach from everyone, from the team to the staff to the last November in Sweden. organization of the Canucks, has been just amazing,” he said. “They Troy Stecher is 26 years old, Markstrom 30. They’re not kids, but these probably don’t understand how good that was here, to know that players are awfully young men to be mourning the loss of their fathers. whatever you need, there are people to help you. I want to say thank you to everyone who reached out with love and support. It was truly “I don’t know how well you know Troy Stecher, but he’s just a really good amazing.” human being, a character kid,” Canucks general manager Jim Benning said. “He got that from his dad. This has been a really hard year. Their He’ll be reminded of his dad every time he pulls on that No. 71. fathers are a big part of these guys turning into NHL players, supporting “He was like the life of the party, the guy people would go to to cheer them. them up,” MacEwen said. “He just had this easy-going, no-worries way “I know Zack’s dad would go into Utica (in the American League) with his about him. It’s going to be weird to play games without him, but I think mom, and they’d visit Zack and get to know his teammates. When we I’ve got someone looking over me now, maybe give me a couple of heard what happened… even all the players in Utica were upset because assists down the road.” they were close to his dad.” Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.30.2020 Craig spent 20 years working for the Department of Veteran Affairs and helped develop a call system to help Canadian veterans access by phone the information they need.

“He was always my biggest supporter,” Zack said. “He’d get pretty fired up if he heard anything negative about me, and he’d want to go all nuts talking to people on Twitter and I’d have to calm him down. It was just the way he was. He was so passionate about hockey and he just loved coming to see me play. If we had a homestand for a week, I’d say, ‘I’ll fly you in, come stay.’ And he’d drop everything so he could do that and come spend time with me.

“It was a very fluke thing. It was a clot that started in his heart and worked its way up to his brain. He went in for initial surgery to remove the clot from his brain. Coming out of it, there were complications and there was a bleed in his brain, and after that there was just nothing they could do. They said it was like a one-in-a-hundred-thousand thing.” 1187196 Websites “As he pulls it between the legs on his backhand, he releases it at the toe, which allows him to get under the puck quickly without having to get unnecessarily low with his body to elevate it,” Barber explains. “You always want to finish on that forehand side if you can.” Sportsnet.ca / Breaking down Matthew Tkachuk's between-the-legs, top- shelf snipe A few angles that grant a better look at Tkachuk’s use of his toe, which lets him whip the puck skyward before Dell realizes he’s cut to the wrong side:

Sonny Sachdeva | June 29, 2020, 10:55 AM Much like a number of the between-the-legs moves Barber’s broken down, this particular version is grounded in two key factors.

The first is setting up a context that sells some sort of fake, getting the Each week, stickhandling specialist Pavel Barber and Sonny Sachdeva netminder moving in a particular direction with an eye on the opposite. will go Inside the Highlight Reel to break down one of the silkiest moves The second is mastering the mechanism of the move in question with from the NHL’s best, dissecting it to explain why it’s so dangerous and maximum efficiency, avoiding over-extending or over-emphasizing any demonstrating how to master it yourself. particular aspect, so that the split-second of time and space earned with Looking back now, the book on Matthew Tkachuk was always slightly the fake can be exploited. askew. In this case, that lies in how far the puck is pulled back behind the skate, While the Calgary Flames winger long garnered the spotlight on his way Barber explains: up through the minor and junior ranks, there always existed some level of “You want to make sure it doesn’t come too far back behind the lead foot notoriety by association — he was the son of one of the game’s most so that you can keep the angle on your stick needed to dig under the familiar power forwards, the linemate of one of the OHL’s most dynamic puck,” he says. “Always good to have a nice wide stance for these shots talents. as well.” But four years into his NHL career in Calgary, Tkachuk’s more than For a more detailed breakdown of how Tkachuk pulls off those between- proven he’s worth having the spotlight all to himself. The 22-year-old’s the-legs, top-shelf snipes, and how to do it yourself, we asked Barber to become the emotional compass of his Flames squad, and one of the demonstrate the sequence step-by-step, and offer up one drill to build up most polarizing names in the sport, his on-ice brand a blend of classic the skills to pull it off. Tkachuk truculence and high-octane skill. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.30.2020 There’s one move in particular that’s clearly become a favourite of No. 19 — the between-the-legs, top-shelf snipe. The Flames faithful have become accustomed to seeing the young winger break it out in key moments, whether it’s come with him planted at the net-front, cutting to the cage, or wildly streaking through the slot in the final moments of overtime.

That being the case, we asked stickhandling specialist Pavel Barber to break down the mechanics of Tkachuk’s go-to dangle.

Throughout the hockey world’s hiatus, we’ve called on Barber to share his on-ice expertise for young players using this downtime to fine-tune their skill-sets. The YouTube phenom-turned-skills coach has made his name dissecting the finer points of offensive wizardry — while amassing half a million followers online, the Toronto native has trained NHLers like Jonathan Toews and Jake Virtanen, and recently linked up with Bo Horvat and the Vancouver Canucks to coach some local Vancouverites.

So far, Barber’s dissected Mitch Marner’s backhand toe drag, Sidney Crosby’s one-handed magic, Connor McDavid’s use of the art of deception, Elias Pettersson’s mastery of ‘The Forsberg’, David Pastrnak’s trophy-clinching creativity, Alex Ovechkin’s go-to dangle and Evgeni Malkin’s backhand spinorama.

This week, Barber breaks down Tkachuk’s between-the-legs, top-shelf snipe:

Unlike the other versions of this move used by Tkachuk over the years, this one pulled off against the San Jose Sharks relies on the same basic framework as all of the between-the-legs variations covered so far by Barber — some form of a shot-fake that gets the netminder preparing for the opposite of what’s coming.

“As a lefty, Tkachuk comes left to right across the goalie on the approach, then goes between the legs — this approach automatically gets the goalie moving laterally in preparation for a backhand-side finish,” Barber says, walking through the sequence. “As he comes across, he first puts it to his backhand side first, which is an important point, because these between-the-legs goals are really fake backhand shots.”

Looking at the play from the angles below, you see the importance of what Barber’s touching on — that momentary hesitation from Tkachuk to signal he may cut to the chunk of open ice sitting to Aaron Dell’s left causes the netminder to flinch in preparation of that potential, opening up enough space for the winger to exploit.

As Barber outlines in his own demonstration of the mechanics of this move, the key that allows Tkachuk to so seamlessly whip pucks top-shelf after entering into this between-the-legs sequence is where he loads the puck on his stick: 1187197 Websites my job now with Major League Baseball. It’s one of my biggest concerns because I don’t want one player to have to harness the whole movement on their shoulders while they are trying to play.

Sportsnet.ca / Roundtable: What it’s like to be an openly gay athlete As a former athlete you know just how hard it is to get yourself to stay healthy, to stay focused, keep your body in shape and have the opportunity especially in team sport. So creating a culture of acceptance and having Images that are consistent and strong and that the entire Donnovan Bennett | June 29, 2020, 9:41 AM sports world sees that reduce that stigma…. That’s when you’re going to see our younger athletes less concerned about their private lives and being part of the equation. A few years back, I sat down for a roundtable conversation with three out athletes of different sports, backgrounds, ages and upbringings to see if SN: In the film, former NBA player Jason Collins talks about the fact he there were any commonalities in their journey. The only thing they had in didn’t get a phone call from the President, but shortly thereafter [NFL common, beside their sexuality, is they were featured in the documentary draftee and CFL player] Michael Sam did. Have you been surprised Out to Win, which was then the talk of the Toronto Film Festival and was about how fast people are trying to be on the right side of history when it produced by Canadian filmmaker Matthew Thomas. comes to this discussion?

As I met with four-time Canadian Olympic Gold Medal–winning hockey Bean: I’m not surprised. I’m happy about it. goalie Charline Labonté, former Major League Baseball player Billy Bean Mertens: It’s really beautiful. When you think about the history of social — now the league’s ambassador for inclusion — and Conner Mertens, change, sports have always been in the mix of it. You see Nelson the first openly bisexual NCAA football player, they candidly shared their Mandela with apartheid and Jackie Robinson and all these athletes and unique perspectives on everything from their own roles in the movement sports have been sort of the catalyst for social change, and I think this is to why it remains so difficult for high-level athletes to come out. just another example of that. We are going to look back and see these With June being Pride Month, it seemed a perfect time to bring this back people. These Billy Beans and Michael Sams who were blazing the trail. up. We’re going to read history books of these people. My kid is going to read about the civil rights movement and the LGBTQ movement, and we Sportsnet: Why did you feel compelled to not only be an out athlete but are going to see these names and it’s going to be a beautiful thing. be a part of the documentary Out to Win? Billy Bean, Donnovan Bennett, Conner Mertens and Charline Labonté Billy Bean: I feel a huge responsibility to the athletes that are coming after me. I’ve come to see the great examples of, say, Billy Jean King From left to right: Billy Bean, Donnovan Bennett, Conner Mertens and and Martina Navratilova, [but] there were not many male role models for Charline Labonté. someone like me. SN: You guys are different ages, and from different sports and Charline Labonté: When I decided to come out, it was not about me. It backgrounds. Do you learn from each other’s experiences? was about opening this window on gay athletes, on female athletes. As Bean: Absolutely. Just sitting here together, sharing experiences helping opposed to what [Bean] said, right now I think there is a lack of women each other not perpetuate the same mistakes. The beauty of the way role models so that’s why I was like, “Why not? I’m out. I’m very these kids are able to network today is now they all know each other comfortable with who I am. And if I can help one, two, three people, this before they meet together. I never met anyone who was like me until four is going to be worth it.” or five years after I played. It’s like anything to be a part of that arc, that Bean: I think people having the opportunity to see an athlete in the prime movement forward. It helps you have closure for things that didn’t go the of their career, whatever their truth is, it encourages you to be authentic. right way at least for me in my career. So it’s not so much as you need a representation of a lesbian female SN: We know of more gay athletes in female sports than their male athlete or a heterosexual athlete, but just people feeling safe to be counterparts. Charline, is your journey different because you’re a female themselves. It’s an exciting time. And that doesn’t happen until people athlete? are actually in it, which, again, is different from my generation. You see this kind of exposure is going to help so many future athletes. You just Labonté: Yeah, I think so. First of all I play a team sport. In women’s start to pass the baton forward, and pretty soon it won’t matter. hockey it’s an open environment, and it’s always been like that. Plus, I was somewhat straight before I thought I was gay. It didn’t change SN: Not many people understand how difficult that decision is to come anything, people didn’t change towards me. It’s more like, “Oh, all right. out for anyone, but can you put in perspective as an athlete how difficult Let’s move on.” So people really talk about it and everything else openly, that decision is? so it’s really never been an issue. Conner Mertens: We live in a society where athletes are elevated to this That’s why, for me, I never had the need to come out because people ultimate God-like status. Nobody has a bigger platform. And when you knew — my family, my friends, my team — which is the most important have these athletes that have so much power, they have power to create part. But … when I heard different stories of these guys and non-athletes change. And with that power comes this idea that we’re supposed to be and I realized there is still so much work to do, I just wanted to help a perfect. We’re supposed to follow that line of what it means to be a male little bit. But for me it’s been an easy process. or female athlete. And the problem is if you don’t follow that narrative you’re scrutinized or ostracized and seen as weak. SN: Conner, when you came out it was very publicly and you were able to see the feedback almost immediately via social media. What was that Of course in athletics the most important thing is to be competitive. You experience like for you? don’t want your teammates thinking you’re weak; you don’t want your opponent thinking you’re weak. So you internalize all these things that Mertens: First it was very scary. I had no idea how people would react. I society calls a weakness and hide them so you can protect yourself, so knew I was comfortable no matter what, but I was hoping it would be you can protect your team, so you can excel at something that is some sort of positive impact. influential in our society. Bean: That’s where it’s different now for these kids. You know people can SN: There is a certain expectation that as a gay or lesbian athlete you’ll be much more aggressive with you when they are not in your company. be up front about talking about it, but at the same time you want to be seen as the same. If you’re, say, an African-American athlete there isn’t Mertens: [nods in agreement] an expectation that you’ll speak on all African-American issues. At times Bean: It seems like the media is better with it, the players are much more can being seen as someone who needs to further a cause be a burden evolved, and while not everyone is comfortable with it I’d say the majority for an athlete? are [as long as] you are a good enough player and a good enough Bean: Well, I think the example you just mentioned, the African-American teammate. But (with) the nature of the internet and Twitter and Facebook athletes, were expected to [speak on African American issues] if they … you can put yourself out there to be attacked, and some people just were great 30 years ago. And you saw a lot of baseball players – Hank aren’t used to that. It doesn’t matter how famous or how successful you Aaron, Willie Mays — because they were so good at something and it are — it’s not fun to have negative things said about you. So there is a was so important to so many fans. It is a huge responsibility and part of very interesting balance between the harmony you have amongst your team.

We may not have 25 out athletes all feeling comfortable to come forward. We know we are getting to that place. Some are interested in wanting to know what it was like for Conner to come out, but others are so afraid and want to make it to the NBA or the NFL and feel that might be the deciding factor on why a team passes up and takes the next guy or the next girl. So it’s an individual process and we can’t just put a blanket statement towards what it means to come out.

Mertens: I was definitely like that. I would distance myself from anything LGBTQ related until I was about 18. There was a gay/straight alliance at my school and I was the one that was avoiding that hall. I was so terrified that I would be guilty by association in any way. And I just denied it so long.

Even the advocacy work I do now: I’ll see a kid that favourites a tweet every once in a while or retweets something, but it takes him four months until he says anything to me and then he’s like, “I was trying to say something for so long. I just didn’t want anyone to figure me out.” And it’s heartbreaking that we are at that crossroads where these people are finally getting the courage to reach out, but they are afraid of the backlash they might receive for reaching out.

Bean: I feel it’s still a win that these kids see they have an opportunity if they are ready for it. Sometimes perfect gets in the way of good. I was doing work with anti-bullying organizations before I got back with Major League Baseball. The less stories we hear of kids who feel they couldn’t get past that dark moment — we have to remind ourselves and keep sharing the stories that we are making good progress. And give them the time. If they need six months from the first retweet — you let the conversation happen on its own, and I think that’s why mentorship is a huge generous gift back to the community if you are willing to do it. Because it’s not easy.

You get invested, at least for me. I’ve had this going for 15 years almost now and you get so invested in the well-being of these kids especially if they are athletes you can relate to that. Athletes need a village for them to succeed. It’s just the truth you need solid home environment, you need to stay healthy, you need coaches, you need opportunity and you want to give them opportunity to be their best.

A version of this story was first published in 2015.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187198 Websites generally competitive for most any regular season – they are quite powerful.

I don’t think the league will do something as draconian as eliminating the TSN.CA / Framework of the NHL’s Draft Lottery sure to face scrutiny entry draft. But I do think there will be increased focus and attention to setups like the Gold Plan, which work to reward truly bad teams while ensuring a degree of competitiveness through the course of the regular season. Travis Yost This is not an easy issue to tackle, but you do wonder if the league will

consider some structural changes going forward. Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman said he wasn't TSN.CA LOADED: 06.30.2020 surprised with the outcome of last Friday’s NHL Draft Lottery, but surely there is some disappointment in a lost opportunity to secure the first- overall pick.

Yzerman has every right to be frustrated – his team finished last in the standings by a comfortable margin, and had the best single-team odds of selecting inside of the top three. The team, like most teams who finish 31st overall, is in desperate need of talent replenishment. But after all three lottery draws, the Red Wings were never called as a winner.

The end result? A team on pace for a 45-point season and a -141 goal differential will pick fourth overall. And while there will surely be a high- quality player available – perhaps Erie Otters defenceman Jamie Drysdale, or Saginaw Spirit centre Cole Perfetti – it doesn’t feel quite right.

It is also to be expected. There was a lot of consternation on social media about the construct of the lottery, and how it was unfair that any number of playoff teams may be able to snag the first-overall pick.

Privately, I’m sure the league is hoping it falls to one of the more deserving clubs, so to speak – teams like the Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks and Arizona Coyotes hardly set the world on fire this year and would have inevitably been in the lottery at season’s end.

It also feels inevitable that at least one quality team – perhaps the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins or Edmonton Oilers – could be upset in the play-in round and have a 12.5 per cent chance at consensus top prospect Alexis Lafreniere.

The league was also dealing with an unprecedented situation this year and had to get creative to save both the 2019-20 season and the longer- term economics. You might not like that type of creativity, but, on a one- off basis, something had to give.

What is of bigger concern is the framework of the draft lottery itself. The league instituted the draft to establish parity – the idea being that the league’s worst teams were the most deserving, and by extension deserved the first shot at a superstar player during the next draft.

But when teams realized that the quickest way to land a game-changing talent was to tank a season – remember what the Buffalo Sabres and Arizona Coyotes tried during the 2014-15 season? – the league reacted.

That reaction meant removing most of the incentive by flattening the lottery odds, taking away some balls from the league’s worst teams and distributing them to other non-playoff teams.

Whether or not you think this is equitable depends on how much you value the sanctity of the regular season and the draft lottery. I would guess that there is consensus that the league’s current structure – which includes the debatable merits of the draft itself, by the way – isn’t effectively accomplishing what the NHL intends.

The league’s worst teams are always more likely to slide than not, the league’s bad teams get the highest relative chance at moving up in the draft, and the league’s so-so teams carry an outside shot at moving way up in the draft at the cost of a much more immaterial drop in the lottery queue.

There is one point that is important to consider, and it gets back to Yzerman’s comments. It’s not as if any one team in the “so-so” group – think teams finishing between 23nd and 17th in the league standings, or thereabouts – have a good shot on their own. But as a collective, they hold quite powerful odds.

In the current example, these teams (which tend to pace between 85 and 93 points per 82 games) have a one-in-five chance of winning the first draw, and a three-in-five chance of winning one of the first three draws. Said another way: it is more likely than not for a team within striking distance of the playoff cutline to win a top-three pick. Each individual team’s chances may be small, but as a group – a group that was 1187199 World Leagues News

Don't drink, don't cheer: coronavirus curbs hit Korean baseball

AFP AFPJune 30, 2020

Stripping away South Korean baseball fans' rights to drink beer and savour fried chicken -- or even cheer -- while watching the country's most popular spectator sport would have been inconceivable in pre- coronavirus times.

But the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) imposed sweeping restrictions Tuesday ahead of the return of fans to the stadiums.

Nearly two months ago the league was among the first in the world to return to action, behind closed doors, after South Korea brought its outbreak under control.

Now limited numbers of spectators are expected to be allowed back in the coming days.

But the safety precautions announced by the KBO will transform the South Korean baseball experience, which has always been marked by fans wholeheartedly singing and dancing -- whatever the state of play -- fuelled by liberal supplies of alcohol and fried chicken.

Spectators will have to sit at least one seat apart and wear face masks at all times, the league's new safety manual said.

Eating while seated will be banned, with drinks limited to water and non- alcoholic beverages.

"Singing, chanting and cheering that involves physical contact will be banned as they could spread droplets," the manual says.

Beer and chicken will still be available at the stadium, but will have to be consumed away from the stands, out of sight of the field -- and people will have to remain a metre apart.

Those whose temperatures run at 37.5 degrees Celsius (97.7 Fahrenheit) and higher on entry will be turned away.

No confirmed cases among players or coaching staff from the 10 teams have been reported so far.

The league is preparing for fans to return despite what authorities have described as a second wave of infections in recent weeks, with around 30 new cases a day, mostly in the Seoul metropolitan area where half of the population lives.

Of 43 new cases reported on Tuesday -- taking the country's total to 12,800 -- 23 were domestic infections, while 20 were people arriving from overseas.

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Rockies’ Ian Desmond announces he won’t play this season in moving post: ‘Home is where I need to be’

Ryan Young

Yahoo SportsJune 30, 2020

Colorado Rockies outfielder Ian Desmond announced that he will not play this season on Monday night in a deep, lengthy social media post.

Desmond, in a nine-slide carousel on Instagram, explained that due to both the COVID-19 pandemic and the massive Black Lives Matter movement happening across the country, he isn’t needed out on a baseball field.

He’s needed at home with his family.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has made this baseball season one that is a risk I am not comfortable taking,” Desmond wrote on the final slide. “But that doesn’t mean I’m leaving baseball behind for the year. I’ll be right here, at my old Little League, and I’m working with everyone involved to make sure we get Sarasota Youth Baseball back on track. It’s what I can do, in the scheme of so much. So, I am.

“With a pregnant wife and four young children who have lots of questions about what’s going on in the world, home is where I need to be right now. Home for my wife, Chelsey. Home to help. Home to guide. Home to answer my older three boys’ questions about coronavirus and civil rights and life. Home to be their dad.”

Desmond’s announcement was part of a long story about his time playing youth baseball in Sarasota, Florida — something he’s vowed to help fix — and the intense racism he’s faced as a biracial man growing up in the United States.

He also touched on the lack of diversity in Major League Baseball, as well as cheating, sexism, homophobia and labor disputes surrounding the sport.

“Think about it,” he wrote. “Right now in baseball we’ve got a labor war. We’ve got rampant individualism on the field. In clubhouses we’ve got racist, sexist, homophobic jokes or flat-out problems. We’ve got cheating. We’ve got a minority issue from the top down. One African American GM. Two African American managers. less than eight percent Black players. No Black majority team owners.

“Perhaps most disheartening of all is a puzzling lack of focus on understanding how to change those numbers. A lack of focus on making baseball accessible and possible for all kids, not just those who are privileged enough to afford it.

“If baseball is America’s pastime, maybe it’s never been a more fitting one than now.”

Desmond is just the latest player to opt-out of MLB’s 60-game season. Veteran Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Mike Leake was the first to opt- out on Monday, and was quickly joined by Washington Nationals stars Joe Ross and Ryan Zimmerman.

Desmond, 34, is in the fourth year of his five-year, $70 million deal with the Rockies. Players are due to report to camp in Denver on Wednesday.

There were more than 2.6 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the United States as of Monday night, according to The New York Times, and more than 126,000 deaths attributed to it. Colorado had more than 32,000 cases, the overwhelming majority of which were in the Denver area.

Yahoo Sports:LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187201 World Leagues News

Formula One deploys war chest of coronavirus strategies for Austria

AFP AFPJune 30, 2020

Paris (AFP) - The Formula One season roars into action at the Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg this weekend with "military-like", coronavirus- busting sanitary regulations.

Every single person who sets foot inside the Red Bull Ring, where the first two races of the rescheduled season take place, must adhere to strict health and safety protocols developed jointly by the organisers and teams, who have employed their genius for logistics to the task at hand.

"The meticulous approach of the teams to both logistics and engineering and procedures and protocols is what we've transferred into our approach to dealing with this challenge," F1 chief Ross Brawn said.

The Red Bull Ring, nestling in the picturesque Styrian mountains, has been put into a fortress-like lockdown and will play host to a first race on July 5 and a second a week later.

Brawn predicted teams would be quick to adapt to all new measures.

"It suits our culture, our philosophy of working through every scenario, plan A, plan B, plan C," said Brawn, who added there was a two-metre social-distancing rule and compulsory visors or masks.

Each team has been reduced to a maximum of 80 staff, they will be asked to refrain from mixing with other groups and even split into subgroups so as to limit any possible cross contagion.

The teams will travel in motor-homes and once on site will use the facilities there to cook.

Anyone at the track must submit to coronavirus testing and regular temperature checks and no spectators will be allowed in the arena.

- 'Live and learn' -

Organisers also say they will be ready to react and improve or adapt to developing situations in the same way they do with races.

"We will live and learn at each race," Brawn said.

"That's the nature of F1. It's very military like in its approach."

Ferrari's sporting director Laurent Mekies says the strategies will make the sport more resilient to coronavirus, especially the sub-division of teams to carry out activities, which he argued would mean having a limited number of people in isolation were there an outbreak.

"If necessary we will have replacements on standby at the factory," Mekies said.

World champion Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes team say they have entirely reorganised their garage, adding tents and canopies so as to avoid slowing down the work on their cars.

There will also be a tracing app which all team members must download, granting access to all their contacts.

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner said last week he was more than happy with the ongoing safety measures.

"We could not have done more really, what has been put in place is the best possible," the Italian leader of the American team said.

LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187202 World Leagues News

Sick jockey cleared after COVID-19 scare as hoops forced to miss meeting

By Adam Pengilly and Chris Roots

Updated June 30, 2020 — 10.40amfirst published at 10.38am

A jockey, who displayed flu-like symptoms, has returned a negative test to COVID-19, but not until after 10 Sydney jockeys were forced to miss Tuesday's Gosford meeting.

Racing NSW went to its COVID-19 response plan after the jockey, who last rode at Rosehill on Saturday, reported feeling ill. He was tested on Tuesday morning and within hours was cleared of the virus.

"We have plans in place and Racing NSW doctor John Saxon was able to get a test done and to Laverty Pathology quickly, who we have a relationship with, and it has come back clear," chief steward Marc Van Gestel said.

"We didn't want the jockeys that rode at Rosehill on Saturday and mixing with another riders at Gosford as a precaution. Our protocol is to isolate those that had had contact with the jockey who was tested and it worked well.

"Now the jockey has returned a negative test, we will return to our COVID protocols and all jockeys will be allowed to ride at the Kensington meeting on Wednesday."

Racing NSW had taken every precaution and contacted 10 jockeys with mounts on the Central Coast, telling them to stay away from the provincial meeting. They included Rachel King, Tommy Berry, Sam Clipperton, Brenton Avdulla, Tim Clark, Jason Collett, Andrew Adkins, Adam Hyeronimus, James Innes jnr and Robbie Dolan.

Jockeys received a message early on Tuesday asking they attend a coronavirus testing centre, but once the negative test came back the other jockeys were not required to be tested.

The jockeys will return to work at Randwick's Kensington meeting on Wednesday.

The unavailability of the metropolitan hoops meant there were 30 jockey changes on the seven-event Gosford card.

Racing is the only Australian sport which continued uninterrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic, holding meetings behind closed doors throughout the lucrative Sydney autumn carnival. It had protocols have formed the framework for other sports around the country.

Jockeys were segregated in different areas around the racetracks and placed jockeys in three different riding pools throughout the state - metropolitan, north and south.

But those restrictions have been eased in recent weeks. Van Gestel said the jockeys were still able to segregated because they had ridden in different areas in the past couple of days.

Sydney Morning Herald LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187203 World Leagues News “So the idea that it was managed in a way that protected Nebraska and protected Lincoln was of paramount concern,” Lambrecht said, adding that the safety of the players was equally important.

Frost says Nebraska football is 'elbows deep' into plan to manage its way NU’s staff talks to players repeatedly about their social behavior and the through pandemic “best, safest, smartest way to conduct themselves,” Lambrecht said. When players returned to the state, they were placed in categories of driving and flying back into the state. If players drove into Nebraska from the north, east or south, Lambrecht said, they were generally asked to fill By Sam McKewon World-Herald staff writer Jun 29, 2020 Updated 9 hrs up their gas tanks before reaching the state line. Driving in from the west, ago Colorado for instance, was the occasional exception because of the distance.

LINCOLN — Adrian Martinez was supposed to fly back to Nebraska out In their quarantine suites, players had a balcony for fresh air, but they of Los Angeles International Airport. But the medical experts being used were asked not to leave their rooms. Sims would load up his car with by Nebraska’s football program suggested an airport with less traffic. So supplies at least once a day — food from Ellis’ grab-and-go system, Martinez flew out from a different spot. toiletries, disinfectant — and deliver them to the front doors of the suites for players to collect. This was late March, near the first peak of the coronavirus pandemic, and while Martinez was voluntarily choosing to return to Lincoln and NU’s At the outset of the pandemic in March, tests from UNMC were in shorter campus, the Husker brass — led by coach Scott Frost and his chief of supply and it took three or four days to receive results, which meant staff, Gerrod Lambrecht — had already planned, and begun to enact, a longer quarantines. The longest quarantine, Lambrecht said, was 27 way for Martinez to come back safely without putting himself, or the days, involving a player who tested positive upon arrival. Nebraska community, in danger. coaches used FaceTime chats with players dealing with cabin fever.

Martinez flew in and was directed to move quickly through the airport — This approach, spread over late spring and early summer, stands in no bathroom break, touching nothing — to a waiting car that had already contrast to most schools, including some in the Big Ten and Oklahoma, been equipped with a divider. From there, he was driven to his home, which will not bring back the bulk of its team until this week as where Martinez waited until April 3, when Nebraska first administered coronavirus cases spike all over the South and West. Husker football COVID-19 tests to a core group. Other athletes flying in from out of state players who live in states like Texas, Arizona, Georgia and Alabama — were taken to a suite-style dorm on campus and given a room number which combined for more than 10,000 positive tests on Monday — are by with a key taped to the door. and large already back in Lincoln, which reported just 16 positive cases Monday. Since then, NU has tested more than 250 student-athletes and staff several times. Eight have tested positive, two of whom are in other Frost said he doesn’t want to critique other schools’ plans but said sports. college football lacks a uniform approach to testing and managing the safety and well-being of players. Every conference, university president, Of the six connected to the football program, three — two players and a athletic director and coach may have their own perspective, and the coach — tested positive upon their arrival. Just three players, over nearly pendulum on whether a season can be played or not swings back and three months, tested positive based on community spread after their forth with regularity. There is not yet a protocol on how teams will test, arrival. and then isolate, players once the season begins, and because the U.S. is so vast, a “blanket approach,” Frost said, may not be best. None of the football players, Frost said, have had symptoms beyond a sore throat, a one-day fever spike or a two-day loss of taste and smell. HUSKERS One player who tested positive, Frost said, was asymptomatic. Nebraska athletics plan to reduce budget by 10% includes job cuts and Frost said Nebraska had never made a firm decision not to release case reduced travel numbers, and the decision to announce them Monday was not related to a World-Herald story last week covering their lack of release. Other By Sam McKewon World-Herald staff writer schools such as Clemson, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Iowa have And while testing is important, Frost said, he laid out a practical scenario been reporting positive tests, but roughly half of FBS schools, according in which it becomes clear that an attitude shift related to the virus may be to an Associated Press survey, have declined. more important than testing. “We’ve been elbows deep in this situation for a long time,” Frost said in a “If you try to peel back the onion of thinking that testing is going to keep scout room nestled on the second floor of Memorial Stadium. “As other everyone from getting this, you’re lying to yourself,” Frost said. schools decided to release that information, we’ve been talking for a month (about) doing an interview like this because we want Nebraskans Based on UNMC expertise, Frost said, the incubation period for the virus to feel like we did this in a safe way.” is 72 hours before a person would test positive, and it takes 24 hours to get back test results. So if Nebraska tested its players on Wednesday of Nebraska’s positive test cases are nowhere near the spikes seen at a game week, the school would know who might have contracted the Clemson (37 positives) or Kansas State, which suspended voluntary virus the weekend prior. workouts for 14 days after 14 players tested positive. While other schools brought back many of their players in a short time frame, Nebraska “But if they got it on a Monday or Tuesday, it’s not going to come up stretched out its return in waves, starting with the core group in late positive,” Frost said. “They’re still going to class Thursday, they’re going March. The final wave — mostly walk-ons — won’t arrive until mid-July. to class Friday morning, and if you have an away game, they’re going to be around bus drivers, flight attendants, hotel people preparing food. To By Tom Shatel World-Herald staff writer think that testing is going to keep our kids safe is probably a very flawed Frost credited Lambrecht, associate director of football operations way of looking at it. We’ve gotten to the point — not our decision, but Andrew Sims, nutrition guru Dave Ellis, strength coach Zach Duval, head advice from experts — that the ones we need to be worried about in trainer Mark Mayer, NU’s administrative leaders and two University of regards to the age group of people we’re working with, young, healthy Nebraska Medical Center experts — Dr. Steven Hinrichs and Dr. Scott kids, is that we need to focus on kids who are symptomatic.” Koepsell — for their help in administering the plan. Sore throats. Fever spikes. Shortness of breath. Identify and isolate Lambrecht typed up a document full of suggestions, pointers and those players, Frost said. And Nebraska said it will be “very attentive” potential pitfalls that was distributed to the rest of the Big Ten. Nebraska toward players with risk factors like sickle-cell trait or asthma. doesn’t know, to what extent, its plan has been followed by other “If we don’t get there, where we’re able to just play football and take care schools. of kids who are symptomatic — pull them, isolate them, isolate people in Frost just knows the plan has been “efficient” for Nebraska. Lambrecht direct contact with them and let everybody else go — I think football’s said it was “obvious” that most players would return to Nebraska at some unlikely.” point over the summer regardless of what they were told. The mindset surrounding the virus, Frost said, has to change. And there has to be consideration for whether athletes will contract COVID-19 regardless of whether they play football.

“I think that’s an important point,” Frost said. “Whether our kids are playing football games or not, or whether our kids are practicing football or not, they’re at just as high risk — or even a higher risk — of getting it without that structure. That’s another reason we allowed kids to come back — because of the structure and things to do.”

The clock ticks toward the season. Starting July 13, the NCAA will allow coach-supervised workouts. On July 24, the NCAA allows a mini-camp structure in which coaches can work with players 20 hours a week. By then, the sport will either have turned the corner toward a normal season or not.

Nebraska spends much of its time chewing on contingency plans. Frost quipped that “0%” of Big Ten coaches would be in favor of an all-league schedule, but the possibility has been floated. As far as NU knows, all three of its nonconference opponents — Central Michigan, South Dakota State and Cincinnati — plan on playing this season. The Huskers have contracts — which generally do not include out clauses for pandemics — that they want to honor.

Frost, and his staff, are all-in.

“We’re fighting the fight,” he said.

World-Herald LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187204 World Leagues News when they removed coach Stephen Kearney from their Gosford hub and left the players seemingly deflated.

You might also consider Gold Coast's 30-12 victory over the Brisbane Forget scheduling changes and crowd lockouts — we're lucky to have Broncos an outlier given the hapless Broncos and their bulky pack have any sport at all during the coronavirus pandemic become easy pickings for more nimble outfits — yes, even the once- hapless Titans.

Dramatic finishes follow unattractive arm wrestles By Richard Hinds Brisbane's sudden decline coupled with the trend toward one-sided Posted Yesterday, updated Yesterday games raises another problem for the NRL.

As perennial ratings magnets, the Broncos are scheduled to play nine more prime-time Friday or Thursday night games, which, unless there is A group of AFL teammates gather around a player after he kicks a goal. a dramatic form reversal, will appeal only to the blood lust of sadistic There are now daily reminders we are fortunate there is footy of any Sydney viewers. variety being played anywhere in Australia. Otherwise, with scores blowing out as teams tire, it seems only the A suspected positive test here, a surge of reported cases there and the marquee match-ups such as Saturday night's dramatic Parramatta- fixtures that were once as reliable and reassuring as a Nanna's hug are Canberra game are likely to cause nails to be bitten. thrown into chaos. Todd Goldstein stands with his eyes closed and the ball in front of him The AFL is the victim of both its (almost) truly national nature and also with a player in yellow singlet holding onto his leg that 10 of its 18 teams still reside inside Victoria which is rapidly having The Hawthorn — North Melbourne game at Docklands was far from a its identity transformed from "Garden State" to "COVID State". classic, but had a close finish.(AAP: Scott Barbour) Coronavirus update: Follow all the latest news in our daily wrap. Conversely, five of the nine AFL games at the weekend were decided by The NRL has benefitted from its northern state-centricity and its rapid 13 points or less (you might roughly equate an 18-point lead in Australian retreat to hubs. But the competition is only a front-rower's sneeze or a rules to 10 points in rugby league). former great's unauthorised training ground embrace from major Yet, in most cases, even the most dramatic finishes came at the end of upheaval. unattractive arm wrestles that had nostalgic fans wondering if this So as we wait for the (Less) Super Rugby and the Delay-League to bring season's shortened quarters were still far too long. rugby and football into this tentative and tenuous sporting environment, After Hawthorn clung on to beat North Melbourne by four points, Hawks forget the abrupt scheduling changes and crowd lockouts and remember coach Alastair Clarkson went public with the kind of stinging attack on the we are lucky to have any sport at all. game that is unusual from inside a league and that is usually (sometimes Which is better? wrongly) vastly self-assured.

You should be grateful we can even resume the Code Wars and ponder Clarkson blamed the eyesore of a game on the failure of umpires to pay which set of baked-on fans should be more grateful given the very free kicks for incorrect disposal. This he claimed created the kind of ugly different experiences they are enjoying in their socially distanced lounge scrimmages that now commonly leave games as clogged as the drain in rooms. Rapunzel's shower.

The current disparity between the NRL and AFL can be contained in an "At the minute, the seagulls are all going after the chip, but if there's an age-old sporting question: would you prefer to watch a vastly entertaining incorrect disposal [free kick paid], you watch the seagulls spread," said but one-sided game or a turgid contest with a dramatic ending? Clarkson in advocating more free kicks.

The Australian Rugby League chairman speaks at an NRL media The Hawks coach went on to say: "If that's the spectacle we're trying to conference. search for in our game, then our game's in a dreadful space."

V'landysball, the rapid and free-flowing pandemic-era game seemingly If so, there are plenty who will suggest the fault lies not with the umpires created at the stroke of Australian Rugby League chairman Peter but with the coaches who have adopted defensive zones and high- V'landys's pen, has been declared a winner by public acclaim. possession tactics from other sports that are anathema to a once-free- flowing, one-on-one game. "Six again … and again and again" is the mantra of those fans who believe the rapid attacks facilitated by repeat sets have made a game Read more about coronavirus: previously marred by wrestling tactics more like its best self. The man behind Sweden's contentious coronavirus plan is facing But as the ball flies from the ruck, defenders tire and the scoreboard ticks increased condemnation and recently, a few death threats over, there has been another notable consequence. Why is Australia still accepting international travellers when most of our Coronavirus questions answered coronavirus cases are from overseas?

An illustration of a cell on an orange background with the word Potential solutions abound, but why lament blow-outs and debate 'coronacast' overlayed. quality?

Breaking down the latest news and research to understand how the Some suggest the answer is to scramble the egg even more by reducing world is living through an epidemic, this is the ABC's Coronacast the number of players on the field; others continue to insist reducing podcast. interchange rotations and bench numbers will increase fatigue and open the game up (perhaps like V'landysball). Read more A consoling factor is that the Greater Western Sydney Giants' two-point In the past 15 years, approximately half of all NRL games finished with a victory over fellow premiership contender Collingwood on Friday night margin of 10 points or less. Since the implementation of the "six again" was an intense, high-class contest that proved — much like the NRL's rule, only 17 of 48 games have finished inside this "potential cliff-hanger" Eels-Raiders clash — that you are quite obviously more likely to have a range. good game when you have two talented teams on the park.

Last weekend, the average margin was 17.8 points, with only two games A Parramatta NRL player drop kicks the ball for the winning field goal decided by single figures. against Canberra.

This was inflated by the Storm's 50-6 victory over the rudderless A field goal in golden point from Parramatta's Clint Gutherson ended a Warriors, who became the first team to make a Big Brother-style eviction thrilling contest between the Eels and Raiders.(AAP: Brendon Thorne) Of course, in the AFL particularly, it is difficult to know which teams will be on the park on any given weekend.

Let alone whether it will be two titans or two also-rans.

So, perhaps rather than lament blow-outs in the NRL or run yet more debates about the quality of the contemporary AFL, we should remain grateful there are games at all. abc.net.au/LOADED: 06.30.2020 1187205 World Leagues News potential to be the foremost global sporting event of the year in which it is played.

However, for that to happen the bodies that profit from the Ryder Cup Ryder Cup 2020: Postponement likely as Whistling Straits announcement would then have to absorb a cycle between their biggest paydays of five nears rather than four years. This would not have been in original budgets.

And it would need to be accommodated at a time of global economic contraction, another important and potentially worrying consideration, By Iain Carter especially for the European Tour.

BBC golf correspondent Despite a handful of positive Covid-19 tests and initially lax social distancing, the PGA Tour has shown golf can exist and entertain Last updated on29 June 202029 June 2020. television audiences without fans present. They are now into the fourth week of their comeback.

Postponement is the most likely outcome as golf bosses on both sides of The European Tour is due to return in Austria next month before six the Atlantic hold complex meetings to decide whether this year's Ryder events in the UK. There will be no fans and none will be present for the Cup can be played. first two majors - August's US PGA Championship and the US Open at Winged Foot in New York the following month. A European Tour spokesman was only prepared to say "fingers crossed" when asked whether a final decision will be revealed this week, but chief "If those events can happen, why can't the Ryder Cup?" asked a former executive Keith Pelley had promised an announcement by the end of European Tour player who has been closely involved in previous June. matches. "I think they should play."

This is the time when the build programme for the biennial match This also seems to be the view of 2014 European captain Paul McGinley. between the United States and Europe, currently scheduled for 25-27 "Let's not just cancel because there is no crowd, because every other September at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, would need to begin. sport is getting on with it without spectators and golf has to do the same," he said. Ever since coronavirus forced sporting shutdown in March there has been speculation that the Ryder Cup would be postponed. Expectation The continent's most recent skipper, Thomas Bjorn, also pointed out: continues to grow that there will be an extra year before Europe's trophy "Even if you postpone it until 2021, we don't know where we are going to defence. be.

Playing golf's biggest event behind closed doors is unappealing and top "We are all talking almost like on 31 December, this whole thing is going stars, led by world number one Rory McIlroy, have said the match should to come to a stop and we can start a new year, everything is OK, but we not be played without fans present. don't know that for a fact."

Another four time major winner, American Brooks Koepka, said he The only truth is that certainty does not exist anywhere which is why the "possibly" would miss the event if it were staged behind closed doors. Ryder Cup scheduling decision is proving so difficult. If it is delayed, how will the teams be selected? US skipper Steve Stricker has had the Player power carries considerable and possibly decisive force but the number of his picks already increased from four to six. situation is far from straightforward. "It isn't just about the players, it's about all the financial implications," a well placed source told BBC Sport. Will performances on the current qualifying table be honoured? There are question marks wherever you look. Television and sponsor contracts are vital. These help significantly fund the PGA of America, who run the US side of the Ryder Cup as well as But postponement does seem the most likely outcome and the odds the European Tour and the Professional Golfer's Association, the Cup's shorten further amid the currently ever-increasing Covid-19 numbers founding partner. being suffered in the United States.

It is feared a delayed Ryder Cup could create an avenue for sponsors to BBC LOADED: 06.30.2020 remove their backing for the event. "It won't just be 'the Ryder Cup is without spectators, therefore we are not going to do it,'" the source added.

Moving the match back to 2021 would cause a significant restructuring of the golf calendar, although in the short term it would create a free week for the European Tour to stage a rescheduled Irish Open this September.

But next year there would be clashes with the Presidents Cup, which is organised by an increasingly powerful PGA Tour and Europe's defence of the Solheim Cup in the women's game.

The Solheim switched to odd years after the 2001 Ryder Cup was postponed because of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The Presidents Cup pits America's men against the rest of the world outside Europe and is growing in worth and credibility.

Moving the Ryder Cup would impact both events but online applications remain open for tickets to the 2021 Presidents Cup to be staged at Quail Hollow.

The scramble over the future schedule creates a potential power struggle between the PGA of America and the PGA Tour, although their respective bosses, Seth Waugh and Jay Monahan, are known to be close.

"They describe themselves as brothers," a source told me.

There are also suggestions that NBC, who screen the Ryder Cup in the United States, would prefer the match to revert back to odd years.

This would mean it would happen away from the usual shadow of Olympics and football World Cups. The Ryder Cup could re-harness 1187206 World Leagues News This article first appeared on the New York Postand was reproduced with permission.

foxsports.com.au/LOADED: 06.30.2020 Brady’s still ignoring COVID-19 warnings - and the NFL players union is angry

June 29, 2020 7:12am by GREG JOYCE

Father time is not the only thing Tom Brady is flipping the bird to, and the NFL Players Association head is not happy about it.

The 42-year-old quarterback is going against the advice of the NFLPA by continuing to hold group workouts with his new Buccaneers teammates, despite coronavirus cases spiking in Florida.

“Those practices are not in the best interest of player safety,” NFLPA president DeMaurice Smith told USA Today. “They’re not in the best interest of protecting our players heading into training camp. And I don’t think they are in the best interest of us getting through an entire season.”

Get your sport fix on Kayo ahead of live games returning soon - classic match replays, documentaries and the latest news & announcements. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

Let Brady be BradyLet Brady be Brady1:03

The NFLPA asked its players last Saturday to stop holding private workouts as COVID-19 cases began to rise in states like Florida, Texas and Arizona.

Brady and his teammates have been working out at a local high school in Tampa, while Matthew Stafford was also seen throwing to Lions teammates in videos posted to social media Thursday.

The memo came after a 49ers player who had been working out with his teammates in Nashville tested positive.

Source: AP

At least two Buccaneers and an assistant coach have also recently tested positive.

“Please be advised that it is our consensus medical opinion that in light of the increase in COVID-19 cases in certain states that no players should be engaged in practicing together in private workouts,” NFLPA medical director Dr. Thom Mayer wrote in the letter.

“Our goal is to have all players and your families as healthy as possible in the coming months.

Source: AP

“We are working on the best mitigation procedures at team facilities for both training camps and the upcoming season, and believe that it is in the best interest of all players that we advise against any voluntary joint practices before training camp commences.”

But that hasn’t stopped Brady and Stafford from continuing to hold workouts to prepare for a season that may or may not happen.

The NFL and NFLPA still have issues to work out regarding how coronavirus cases will be dealt with during the potential season.

Source: AP

“All of the things that players may want to do during the offseason have a direct impact on how well we can negotiate protections for them once the season starts,” Smith said.

“When you look at the risk factors for COVID-19 — high (body mass index), sleep apnea, asthma, players that are prone to blood clots — that’s our membership.

“For some of the players who’ve practiced, we’ve made sure they’ve heard the message.”

It’s not clear that Brady has, though. Instead he posted a message to his Instagram on Thursday quoting former president Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

“‘Only thing we have to fear is fear itself.’ -FDR” Brady wrote.