SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 9/25/2019 1108245 How can the Ducks score more goals (and win more 1108272 Jayson Megna is an opening-night option for the games) this season? Avalanche 1108246 The high hopes for Sam Steel, Ryan Getzlaf’s new reality 1108273 How’s life in Colorado for Andre Burakovsky? So far, so and the Ducks’ center situation good 1108274 Avalanche Notebook: Deeper than ever, Avs kick it into high gear as camp winds down 1108247 Adin Hill, Coyotes spoil Connor McDavid's preseason 1108275 Avalanche Prospect Portfolio: CHL’s opening weekend debut with Oilers 1108276 “Excellent” Shane Bowers is stealing the preseason show 1108248 Forwards key for Arizona Coyotes in preseason win over 1108277 Avs Preseason Game 4 Grades: Winning makes everything better 1108278 Cale Makar doesn’t care about expectations 1108249 Bruins’ Jakub Lauko feels ready to make the jump from Columbus Blue Jackets junior hockey 1108279 Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella says 1108250 With Bruins roster essentially set, young players face ongoing changes to roster is possible other challenges 1108280 Blue Jackets, former first-round pick Sonny Milano likely at 1108251 Urho Vaakanainen still trying to find footing with Bruins a crossroads 1108252 David Krejci missing from practice, Bruins intend 'to take our time with it' 1108253 Patrice Bergeron eyeing return to Bruins' lineup Saturday 1108281 Stars forward Roope Hintz ready to build off breakout 1108254 Bruins' hometown boys don't take wearing Spoked-B for performance in last season's playoffs granted 1108282 Why the Stars needed to see 'a lot' of urgency from young 1108255 Bruins forward Anton Blidh out four months following players trying to make the NHL roster vs. St. Louis shoulder surgery 1108283 Déjà vu? How Jim Montgomery’s experience at Denver 1108256 Disappointing game for Bruins' Urho Vaakanainen: 'Could could help Stars take next step have been better' 1108257 The Bruins’ uh-oh goalie: Why Maxime Lagace is OK with a challenging role 1108284 Detroit Red Wings, other NHL teams wrestle with ways to keep fans coming to games 1108285 New defenseman Patrik Nemeth sees shades of Colorado 1108258 Curtis Lazar trying to get career 'back on track' with in Red Wings' rebuild Sabres 1108286 Taro Hirose makes solid case for Red Wings’ second line 1108287 NHL teams aim to fill arenas, drawing fans away from Flames screens 1108259 Monahan, Bennett tally as Flames top Jets in exhibition 1108288 Video scouting report: How Filip Zadina can take his 1108260 Flames hopeful Dube needs to improve game after -scoring talent to the next level coach's warning 1108261 Flames’ newcomer making bid for first-unit work on the Edmonton Oilers power play 1108289 Connor McDavid knocks off the rust in Oilers pre-season 1108262 Five takeaways from camp as Flames prepare for start of debut the regular season 1108290 Edmonton Oilers relieved to see Connor McDavid back in lineup 1108291 Goaltender Mike Smith had good look at Connor McDavid 1108263 Canes deal defenseman to St. Louis Blues injury 1108264 The Hurricanes finally traded Justin Faulk: What does the 1108292 Dave King wasn't surprised Lokomotiv jumped on Craig future look like without the longtime scapegoat? MacTavish 1108265 Roundtable reaction: Breaking down the trade that sends 1108293 Connor McDavid set to make pre-season debut for Justin Faulk to the Blues Edmonton Oilers 1108294 Oilers cut Evan Bouchard and Shane Starrett. Is Ethan Bear on the cusp of making the team? 1108266 Ryan Carpenter and Zack Smith aim to fix the 1108295 Oilers’ bottom-six forwards, kill shine in loss to Blackhawks’ problematic 4th line: ‘They gave us exactly Arizona Coyotes what we w 1108296 Duhatschek: Connor McDavid returns after a gruelling 1108267 Blackhawks injury updates: Robin Lehner leaves practice, summer rehabbing his knee, but don’t expect a cautious st Kirby Dach and John Quenneville are making progress 1108297 Injuries and prospects: A brief Oilers history of devastating 1108268 Chicago Blackhawks goalie Lehner injured at practice derailments 1108269 Robin Lehner leaves Blackhawks practice with apparent injury two days before trip to Europe Panthers 1108270 What should the Blackhawks do with Kirby Dach? 1108298 This Panthers player is trying to secure a roster spot. This 1108271 Underpaid and underutilized, Brendan Perlini’s chill, is what Quenneville’s view optimism remain intact 1108299 Riley Stillman, Anthony Greco still in the mix as the Panthers’ preseason hits final week 1108300 Column: Kings partner with Sandy Hook Promise in 1108332 Erik Brannstrom inches closer to spot on Senators violence prevention campaign opening day roster 1108301 Kings looking at long rebuild with Todd McLellan as coach 1108333 Warrenspiece: Nilsson's return, DeMelo's fall from grace 1108302 ‘He’s amazing’: Drew Doughty gushes over Kings rookie and something in the water (and potential partner?) Tobias Bjornfot 1108334 After team-bonding Tuesday, Ottawa Senators ready to 1108303 MCLELLAN ON COMMUNICATING WITH OLDER & resume pre-season action YOUNGER PLAYERS, FAST VS. QUICK, ROUTINE 1108335 SENS POST-GAME REPORT: Good even-strength play 1108304 TRIO ASSIGNED TO ONTARIO; ROSTER AT 29 can't overcome weak penalty killing 1108336 Which Senators still need to impress and which ones are locks to make the opening night roster 1108305 Bonding without blades: Golf is offseason sport of choice for Wild players 1108306 Ryan Donato moves from center to left wing as Wild 1108337 It Gritty’s birthday: Flyers mascot, Philly’s orange id, turns juggles lines 1 1108307 Wild players know blueliner Nick Seeler has their back 1108338 Carsen Twarynski, Connor Bunnaman survive latest round 1108308 Why Jason Zucker could be poised for a bounce-back of Flyers cuts season for the Wild 1108339 Flyers roster cuts: German Rubtsov loaned to Phantoms, race heats up for final spots Montreal Canadiens 1108340 A look at the Flyers’ roster with four cuts to go 1108309 Canadiens waive Riley Barber as Carey Price nurses 1108341 Cameras have been rolling, soon it’s showtime for Flyers' bruised hand 'Behind The Glass' 1108310 Stu Cowan: Habs fan in Calgary lives dream — 1108342 10 things: The Philippe Myers question; Nicolas Aube- season-tickets at Bell Centre Kubel, Carsen Twarynski and Connor Bunnaman help their ca 1108311 What we think we know after the latest round of Canadiens cuts 1108343 Juuso Riikola more comfortable in 2nd season with the Penguins 1108312 Who will stay and who will go? Predators have a few 1108344 Penguins hire as professional scout roster decisions to make 1108345 Penguins’ John Marino, Adam Johnson, Zach Trotman out with injuries 1108346 Former Penguins goaltender Ty Conklin joins New 1108313 Devils’ roster for Wednesday’s preseason game against Hampshire as coach Bruins | Jack Hughes, Ty Smith, Jesper Boqvist playing 1108347 Analysis: 'Tough decisions' loom for Penguins in the 1108314 The Devils, finally, have good news about Pavel Zacha’s coming days visa 1108348 Sidney Crosby expects to make preseason debut vs. Red 1108315 What Devils’ said about latest meeting Wings between GM Ray Shero, agent Darren Ferris 1108349 Jim Rutherford: Trade talks are ‘heating up’ 1108316 Taylor Hall, Devils make progress in contract extension talks 1108317 What Devils still need to see from Ty Smith during training 1108350 Sluggish start dooms Sharks in preseason loss to Ducks camp 1108351 For some Sharks prospects, Tuesday’s game is make or 1108318 Pavel Zacha returns to NJ Devils camp following visa break issues 1108352 Sharks prospects getting final opportunity to audition for 1108319 Taylor Hall disputes new rumors of possible contract NHL roster extension with Devils 1108320 Rangers-Islanders-Devils returning buzz to their rivalries St Louis Blues 1108353 Thomas still has his sights set on Blues' season opener 1108354 Blues will put nearly full roster on the ice against Dallas 1108321 Rangers-Islanders-Devils returning buzz to their rivalries 1108355 (Updated) Tarasenko misses his second Blues practice 1108322 Islanders still looking for right combinations for two of their 1108356 champion St. Louis Blues trade for All-Star lines defenseman 1108323 Gov. Andrew Cuomo: Lawsuits against Belmont Park plan 1108357 Trade for Justin Faulk gives Blues’ defense ‘most lack 'credibility' balanced group’ in GM Doug Armstrong’s tenure 1108358 Roundtable reaction: Breaking down the trade that sends Justin Faulk to the Blues 1108324 Artemi Panarin-led Rangers top line has tantalizing debut 1108359 2019-20 NHL Season Preview: St. Louis Blues 1108325 Rangers’ Filip Chytil facing tight battle for center spot 1108326 Rangers-Islanders-Devils returning buzz to their rivalries 1108327 The potential consequences of Filip Chytil’s pedestrian 1108360 Tampa Bay Lightning’s Luke Witkowski is playing two Rangers camp positions 1108328 New York Rangers clean up mistakes, get first preseason 1108361 Tampa Bay Lightning can’t overcome defensive win over the Islanders breakdowns 1108329 New York Rangers aim to eliminate 'alarming' turnovers, improve puck management Maple Leafs 1108330 Rangers' Brett Howden looks to build on solid '18-19 1108362 Leafs star Auston Matthews faces disorderly conduct season charge 1108331 Artemi Panarin, Vitali Kravtsov share laughs, language 1108363 Leafs release veteran netminder Michal Neuvirth from and scoring duties in Rangers preseason tryout Maple Leafs Continued 1108364 It seems Auston Matthews still has some growing to do, 1108382 Jets hopefuls lose to loaded Calgary lineup 2-0 and we’re not talking about hockey 1108383 Vesalainen struggling to find comfort zone in NHL 1108365 Leafs prospect Dmytro Timashov takes Mike Babcock’s 1108384 The next cuts are the deepest praise as a sign he’s close to the NHL 1108385 Jets youngsters hold their own in loss to Calgary 1108366 Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews was charged with SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 disorderly conduct, disruptive behaviour in Arizona 1108367 John Tavares works on being the centre of attention on revamped Leafs power play 1108368 Maple Leafs will have to keep looking out for No. 2 1108369 SIMMONS: Will Matthews' stupidity and entitlement cost him Leafs captaincy? 1108370 Marincin taking advantage of renewed confidence at Leafs camp 1108371 Leafs' Auston Matthews facing a charge of disorderly conduct in Scottsdale 1108372 Babcock: Leafs betting on Hutchinson to be strong backup after Neuvirth released 1108373 Q&A: Sheldon Keefe on Marlies, rumours and lessons from Mike Babcock 1108374 ‘Pay it forward’: Why Jason Spezza is taking on a new role with the Leafs 1108375 Leafs Report Cards: Nic Petan and Yegor Korshkov dominate as Toronto’s AHL squad defeats Montreal’s NHL lineup 1108376 Monday Morning Leafs Report: Bubble watch, Jake Muzzin and Tyson Barrie, fresh starts and camp observations 1108386 Canucks put on brave face over 'hockey play' Boeser concussion 1108387 Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser in concussion protocol 1108388 Canucks returning to Burnaby 8 Rinks for more practices in 2019-20 1108377 Golden Knights players on bubble hope to make lasting impression 1108378 Golden Knights’ Nate Schmidt wants NHL to do more drug tests 1108379 NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to appear in G2E panel discussion 1108380 Coghlan’s blistering slap shot makes a splash at Golden Knights camp 1108381 Despite their playoff success, both Siegenthaler, Djoos still have something to prove Websites 1108389 The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: From bottom feeders to contenders, my best guess on where each team ends up 1108390 The Athletic / Despite increased leverage, the NHLPA would do well to avoid a labour dispute 1108391 The Athletic / Roundtable reaction: Breaking down the trade that sends Justin Faulk to the Blues 1108392 .ca / Oilers' Connor McDavid works out kinks in return from leg injury 1108393 TSN.CA / Matthews facing disorderly conduct charge in Arizona 1108394 TSN.CA / New Leaf Barrie eager to line up against NHL’s best 1108395 TSN.CA / Neuvirth release hands Hutchinson inside track on Leafs’ backup job 1108396 TSN.CA / Habs’ Julien voices displeasure with new coach’s challenge penalty 1108397 USA TODAY / star Auston Matthews accused of disorderly conduct in Arizona 1108398 USA TODAY / At 37, Henrik Lundqvist plans to be part of the New York Rangers' future 1108399 YAHOO SPORTS / Canucks' Brock Boeser placed in concussion protocol 1108400 YAHOO SPORTS / Auston Matthews facing disorderly conduct charge in Arizona 1108245 Anaheim Ducks League) to their junior-level teams and reassigned goalie Lukas Dostal to his Finnish club team.

The Gulls’ training camp continues through Sunday at Great Park Ice in How can the Ducks score more goals (and win more games) this Irvine. season? DUCKS DEFEAT SHARKS

Right wing Jakob Silfverberg and defenseman Brendan Guhle each had By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | PUBLISHED: September 24, 2019 at 3:58 pm | a goal and an assist in the Ducks’ 4-1 victory over the Sharks. John UPDATED: September 24, 2019 at 11:51 PM Gibson made 31 saves in his first full game and his second appearance of the exhibition season for the Ducks. Jonny Brodzinski had the Sharks’ goal. Andreas Martinsen and Derek Grant also scored for the Ducks, who ANAHEIM — It’s no secret that the Ducks failed to advance to the outshot the Sharks 37-32. playoffs last season in large part because they couldn’t score. They had a league-low 199 goals in 2018-19, their third-fewest in a full 82-game Orange County Register: LOADED: 09.25.2019 season since the franchise started play in the NHL in 1993-94.

In addition, the Ducks had the fewest shots on goal last season with 2,272 for a league-low average of 27.7 per game, more than a full shot fewer per game than the Kings and New York Islanders, who were tied for second-to-last in the 31-team NHL.

New coach Dallas Eakins has a plan for that. He wouldn’t have been named as their coach last June if he didn’t. The status quo wasn’t going to cut it, which was why General Manager Bob Murray fired Randy Carlyle on Feb. 10 and went behind the bench himself.

Eakins is in the process of installing his offensive schemes, and so far in the preseason, the guys who played for him last season with the AHL’s are picking it up faster than the ones who played in Carlyle’s less-creative (read: dull and predictable) system with the Ducks.

Structure must be maintained, of course, but not at the expense of creativity.

“The one thing you never want to take out is the creativity of these guys,” Eakins said in explaining his offensive philosophy. “These guys are so gifted with the puck and they see the game. The one thing we’re never going to do is take their creativity out.”

Eakins wants more shots on goal, but quality matters too.

“It’s not just about shots on net,” he said. “We can come up to the red line and instead of trying to place it and get it back, we can shoot it on net all night. We can have 40 shots on net and 20 of them will be from outside the red line. Well, that looks nice on the shot clock, makes us feel all warm and fuzzy, but in the end, it’s a bad idea.”

Here’s where the fancy stats crowd will be encouraged: Unlike his predecessor, Eakins has embraced analytics, especially the ones that let his players know how effective their shots can be when launched from a specific distance or spot on the ice.

“If you shoot the puck from here, 8 percent of the time it’s going to go in the net,” he said of his message to his players. “But if you shoot from here instead of trying to score, we’re looking for a rebound and that goes up to 28 percent. That gets in their heads, right?”

Eakins pleaded for patience before the Ducks began the three-game homestand portion of their six-game exhibition schedule. They were 2-1- 1 after Tuesday’s exhibition victory over the San Jose Sharks at Honda Center, which followed a 3-0 loss Monday to the Kings in which they had 31 shots.

“Offensively, some of the stuff is new to some of the guys, especially the NHL guys,” he said. “It’s interesting, I’m not sure how much goes into practicing actual offense, but it’s obviously something we’ve got to do here and be on the same page. That’s coming along quite well. We’re starting to see glimpses of it in the games, so that’s encouraging as well.”

ROSTER MOVES

The Ducks placed forwards Justin Kloos and Blake Pietila, defensemen Patrick Sieloff and Chris Wideman and goaltender Anthony Stolarz on waivers. If they are unclaimed by another NHL team by 9 a.m. on Wednesday, then they will be assigned to San Diego.

Those five would join forwards Alex Dostie, Brent Gates Jr., Luke Gazdic, Johno May, Antoine Morand, Conor Riley, Deven Sideroff and Corey Tropp, defensemen Dawson Davidson, Scott Moldenhauer and Steven Ruggiero and goalies Roman Durny and Olle Eriksson-Ek in San Diego.

The Ducks also returned forward Chase Wouters (Barrie of the ) and Mathew Hill (Saskatoon of the Western Hockey 1108246 Anaheim Ducks Diehards are excited to see how he will develop this season. His teammates are already excited. But the unassuming Steel isn’t about to get ahead of himself.

The high hopes for Sam Steel, Ryan Getzlaf’s new reality and the Ducks’ “It’s great and stuff,” said Steel, who finished his 22-game stint in 2018- center situation 19 with eight points in his last seven contests. “Right now, I’m still trying to make the team. Worry about that. That’s all I can do. Just play hockey. Try to earn a spot on the team. That’s about it. By Eric Stephens “I just got to worry about helping the team out.”

But it says something when Getzlaf, their unquestioned leader for nearly LOS ANGELES — The top four producers at center for the Ducks a decade, has acknowledged how Steel has so far fit with two of the last season combined for 44 goals and 78 assists. Ducks’ most productive and trusted forwards. He joked that he’s the only old guy left as he has long expected to skate with younger forwards this Connor McDavid had 41 goals and 75 assists for Edmonton. That’s right. season. One player — albeit the most dangerous and arguably greatest player in the NHL today – factored directly, at least in a pure statistical sense, in Within the visitors’ dressing room at Staples Center after a 3-0 exhibition nearly as many goals for his team as four centers did for the Ducks. loss to the Kings on Monday night, Getzlaf said, “Sammy Steel has been playing really good with those two guys. And that’s great. That’s depth in Such was the state of their collective in the middle. Offense isn’t our lineup. Now it’s about finding my wingers. Seeing where I fit in, where everything when it comes to winning, but you still have to score more I can help this team win hockey games.” goals than the opposition and the Ducks scored the fewest in the NHL in 2018-19. And outside of one hopeful audition by one of their best That is another big question. How will Getzlaf respond to a poor 2018- prospects, there wasn’t one center who particularly distinguished himself 19? At 34, he isn’t the dominant force that made him a top-five player at with the kind of season he had. his apex. But he is still an elite playmaker that can drive the action in the offensive zone and be a difference maker on many nights. The low production at that critical position was just one example of their sorry campaign. For instance, Ryan Getzlaf’s 48 points were near the Nearing his 1,000th career game and on track to become the Ducks’ all- bottom for any player topping his team’s centers in scoring. His team- time leading scorer, Getzlaf didn’t adapt well to the array of wingers that leading point total also tied for 118th in scoring overall. And that number he played with last season. Eakins had youngsters Max Comtois and not only was his fewest since his rookie season, but it also was the Troy Terry flanking him Tuesday. He also had Getzlaf centering Nick fewest to lead the Ducks over any complete (non-lockout affected) Ritchie and Ondrej Kase during a recent practice before putting Henrique schedule in the franchise’s 25 seasons. between those two against the Kings in what has been a combo that’s worked in the past. Which leads us to the coming year and the legitimate questions that the Ducks have at center as they stack up against other teams, particularly Corey Perry, the perennial 30-goal scorer that was attached to Getzlaf’s those they will compete with in the Western Conference. There is the war hip, is gone now. Eakins is now faced with the task of finding the right horse in Getzlaf and another solid veteran in Adam Henrique. And then linemates that can revitalize his big center. there are … the reasons why this article is being written. “He’s no different than any one of our forwards,” Eakins said of Getzlaf. This isn’t 2007 with a rising stud in Getzlaf working right behind the crafty “I never really look at the lines as lines. I usually look at it as ‘Can we find Andy McDonald. This isn’t even 2015 when the Ducks led off with a right- a bunch of good pairs?’ And then you can move the other guys around a in-his-prime Getzlaf and had the two-way beast that was Ryan Kesler on little bit. … We’re looking for some chemistry or some things that look deck. This is 2019 with a variety of options, but it’s a working list that good with pairs. won’t have opposing coaches dripping beads of sweat over matchups. “Ryan’s a hell of a player. We want to surround him and get somebody Where, oh where, are you, pre-major hip surgeries and perennial Selke on one of his sides that really, really fits there. And the great thing around Trophy candidate Ryan Kesler? Just a memory now. The battle- Ryan is sometimes when you go through this with a player, they’re very hardened and now-hobbled version is back home in Michigan for the picky. They’ve got a real strong opinion on it. The great thing with Ryan is season and possibly, if not probably, for good. But the Ducks aren’t he’s just put it in whatever’s best for this team is what he wants. He’s concerned with what they’ve got now. very, very open to who he has around him.”

“We’re obviously going to miss Kes’s tenacity and the way he played the Getzlaf echoed some of the same thought process. It is more about game,” Henrique said. “He’s one of those guys you hate to play against finding the one winger that he can flourish with and find some sort but you love having on your team. But I think we’re deep down the permanency as a duo. The preseason is about working through this type middle. We have some great options. of issue, and the center, in a moment of candor and clarity, said, “I may not be the easiest guy to play with. I don’t know. I’ll find that chemistry “There’s a big opportunity for Sammy Steel to step right in and play. He with somebody here.” looks awesome. Looks great. You could see it last year. I think he had an awesome summer. Really prepared himself to take that next step. Has Maybe it is Terry. The two started slowly on Monday but worked very well looked great early in camp. Now it’s just a matter of continuing to get off each other from the second period on. Each had scoring opportunities better. And that’s going to push our team a long way.” snuffed out by Kings netminders Cal Petersen and Jack Campbell. Together, Getzlaf and Terry fired a combined seven shots on goal. And with that, Henrique hit upon the key to giving the Ducks a fighting chance against the teams that have one or two elite centers and those “He looks like me when I was 20 years old,” Getzlaf said. “He’s good with who can run four matchup-crushing options down the middle. Steel is the puck. He likes to hang onto it. Me and Terrs just got to find it. We got hurting now, having suffered a lower-body injury in his lone preseason to play together. So that we find that chemistry where we know when to game on Saturday in Arizona. His return to action is up in the air as he unload it. Again, he’s a guy similar to myself that likes to hold it. Make has yet to return to skating in any on-ice workouts. plays with it. Those kind of things.”

The injury is a stickpin into the hope bubble that the 21-year-old created Coming off an 18-goal, 42-point season that didn’t nearly have the impact with his impressive late-season trial. New coach Dallas Eakins didn’t as his 2017-18 after being acquired from New Jersey, the 29-year-old mess around with a successful combination of Steel with top-six wingers Henrique has played left wing at times in the past, but Eakins has used Rickard Rakell and Jakob Silfverberg as he put the three together at the him exclusively in the middle. Another line could have been formed start of training camp. But with Steel ailing, Eakins has placed 19-year- Monday as Henrique, Kase and Ritchie had several strong puck old Isac Lundestrom with his fellow Swedes. possessive shifts and held a large advantage in driving play, with all three having higher than a 60 percent Corsi-for rating against the Kings The belief is that Steel’s injury isn’t of the long-term variety. And that is (according to Natural Stat Trick). good news for a fanbase that’s at the stage of acceptance and even anticipation of a team that’s in transition mode and beginning to Devin Shore has been getting a long look at center in this camp. Shore incorporate some of its young talent onto the roster. played the position regularly at the University of Maine, but most of his work at the NHL level has been on left wing between Dallas and Things are very different now. They’re at work trying to find solid Anaheim. answers.

When Ducks general manager Bob Murray took over as interim coach “The question mark is going to be if the younger players, the guys with last February, Shore got to dig back into his center skills for several the least amount of experience, if they can toe the line,” Eakins said. “If games after the club’s deep swoon took it out of playoff contention. He they can get in and not just be a young player on the team that’s hanging referred to the center on a line as the “general” and said there was a time on by a thread but be a contributor. Be a full-time NHL player. And that’s when he would change his mindset going into games when he was why it’s ‘go’ time now.” slotted in the middle as opposed to the wing. The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 “You kind of see what the game plan is,” Shore said. “Regardless of where I’m playing, when you’re doing your pregame warmup and you’re preparing for the game, you’re kind of visualizing and thinking about what your job is going to be tonight. If you’re playing center that night, you’re picturing helping out in the D-zone and being low support. And vice versa.

“If you’re playing wing, you’re thinking about what your role is going to be that night. It just comes with knowing what your job is that given night and preparing properly. But the overall mindset is the same.”

The Ducks also have other holdovers in Carter Rowney and Derek Grant. Rowney was their fourth-line center for much of last season but moved to right wing on occasion when Grant centered the line. The two were in that formation with Max Jones during Tuesday’s exhibition home game against San Jose.

And with Lundestrom being a key prospect and organizational piece, Anaheim has plenty of bodies available for Eakins to move around. Henrique saw the numbers as a positive area for the Ducks heading into the season.

“It’s definitely good to be deep down the middle,” Shore said. “And it’s good to have guys that are versatile. If you look at our forward group in general, there’s some good depth there. I think it’s just good news for the Anaheim Ducks.

“The more guys you can have to fill different roles and guys that can step into the middle, it’s only going to help us win more games. And I think everyone on board feels the same way. They’re ready to help the team however they can when called upon.”

Quantity is one thing. Quality is another. The numbers don’t lie when it comes to what the Ducks do have to be more productive than they were last season. A coaching change and a push to increase the number of shots on goal — particularly those in high-quality areas — can help. But it starts at the top with Getzlaf and a sign that they’ll match up with the West’s top threats in the middle if he can get his point total back in his usual 60-70 range or more.

How good their depth really is will lie with how Steel develops in his first full season.

“It’s big for us,” Henrique said. “Big. The way he plays the game as a complete player. Plays both sides of the puck, which is big as a centerman and what you want to see. Especially a young guy too. Learning.

“To be able to step in, I think you have to be able to play both sides of the puck. He has that and he’s going to continue to learn. He’s still young. That was the same way I got my start in New Jersey. I think being a two- way centerman allowed me to get that shot to play and try to take advantage of that. He’s looked great so far.”

As he continues to make his way in the league, Steel has leaned on the experience that Getzlaf and Henrique have when it comes to the process of mastering the finer details. Taking faceoffs. Defending in his zone. Gaining knowledge of the players he could be battling against.

“When you have guys like that,” Steel said. “They’re really open and willing to help, which is awesome. Even if I don’t ask, they’re helping me out. Just the little things. It’s a tough position to play at the level. They’ve been great in helping me out. That’s all I can ask.”

The Ducks see themselves as a team that isn’t that far away from playoff contention compared to the popular belief that a rebuild is — or should be — on. To truly contend, they’ve got to be strong in the areas that Eakins deems are most important.

They’ve got a star goalie. But there are significant questions elsewhere. When they were racking up Pacific Division titles and making a couple postseason charges to the Western Conference finals, the Ducks knew they had two aces in Getzlaf and Kesler within their center hand. 1108247 Arizona Coyotes

Adin Hill, Coyotes spoil Connor McDavid's preseason debut with Oilers

Arizona Republic Published 10:34 p.m. MT Sept. 24, 2019

EDMONTON, Alberta – Adin Hill made 38 saves to help the Arizona Coyotes beat the Oilers 4-2.

Lawson Crouse, Michael Bunting, Michael Grabner and Derek Stepan each scored for the Coyotes. Clayton Keller, Vinnie Hinostraza, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Kyle Capobianco each had an assist.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Riley Sheahan scored for the Oilers, who had Connor McDavid back in the lineup for the first time since suffering a knee injury in Edmonton’s final game last season.

Mike Smith started and gave up two goals on 17 shots in the first two periods. Mikko Koskinen stopped 14 of 16 shots he faced in the third.

The Coyotes' last preseason game is Thursday against the Canucks in Vancouver. They open the regular season a week later on Oct. 3 in Anaheim.

Arizona Republic LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108248 Arizona Coyotes

Forwards key for Arizona Coyotes in preseason win over Edmonton Oilers

BY ARIZONA SPORTS | SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 AT 10:41 PM UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 AT 11:26 PM

As the NHL preseason rolls on, the Arizona Coyotes have continued a win streak with Tuesday’s 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.

Lawson Crouse sparked the scoring for the Coyotes in the first period with an unassisted goal.

Just three minutes into the second period, Michael Bunting notched an unassisted goal as well.

Michael Grabner and Derek Stepan each scored for the Coyotes in the win. Clayton Keller, Vinnie Hinostraza, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Kyle Capobianco each had an assist.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Riley Sheahan scored for the Oilers, who had Connor McDavid back in the lineup for the first time since suffering a knee injury in Edmonton’s final game last season.

Adin Hill made 38 saves in net for Arizona.

Mike Smith started for Edmonton and gave up two goals on 17 shots in the first two periods. Mikko Koskinen stopped 14 of 16 shots he faced in the third.

The Coyotes are back on the road Thursday as they take on the Vancouver Canucks in their second-to-last preseason game. Arizona opens the regular season in Anaheim Oct. 3.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108249 Boston Bruins Krejci, who has missed only 19 regular-season games the last three years, tumbled to the ice a bit awkwardly while trying to gain position in front of Elliott. The 33-year-old made his way off the ice under his own Bruins’ Jakub Lauko feels ready to make the jump from junior hockey power but was not seen for the rest of the night.

In Tuesday’s workout, No. 3 center Charlie Coyle moved up a peg and centered Danton Heinen and Brett Ritchie — a trio that could remain By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff, Updated September 24, 2019, 10:32 intact if Krejci’s injury (a knee or an ankle) keeps him sidelined. p.m. “I’ve done that for seven years now,” said Coyle, noting how often he has been shuffled in the order, be it with the Wild or Bruins. “I’m pretty used to being able to adjust quickly. Jakub Lauko scored the Bruins’ first goal in Monday night’s exhibition win over the Flyers. “Not much thought really goes into it; get your mind right with how your new linemates play. For the most part, I just play my game, try to be that Jakub Lauko is inching toward Causeway Street. His speed and shot are force down the middle no matter what line I’m on.” obvious credentials, and the 19-year-old Czech left winger has that touch of offensive bravado that can turn a teenager’s dreams into NHL reality. Vladar to AHL

“I like what I’ve seen out of him,” said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy, The lone roster move Tuesday had goalie Dan Vladar headed back to poised to make wholesale roster trims Thursday, one week prior to the Providence, where he’ll likely be joined soon by Max Lagace and Kyle season opener in Dallas. “He reminds me a little of [Brad Marchand] Keyser. One of the three looks destined to be assigned to the ECHL when he was younger — on the puck all the time, second effort, irritating, . “Which I think is more beneficial than being a third good speed and shot. He’s just got to learn to harness all that.” goalie in practice,” said Cassidy. “At least you are playing.” . . . Cameron Hughes was back at practice, his first steps since getting a few teeth The question, possibly to be answered in the next day or two, is where knocked out in a rookie game vs. the Devils. A New Jersey player was will Lauko take his next steps? A varsity spot has not been ruled out, but upended along the boards, one of his skate blades smashing into it’s highly likely he’ll be shipped to AHL Providence to experience his first Hughes’s mouth. “A couple of tough days, a lot of dental work,” said pro season or be returned to Quebec (Rouyn-Noranda) for a second year Hughes, who still has a few more trips to the dentist scheduled. of junior and the opportunity to bolster his goal scorer’s ego. “Obviously better now and happy to be out there.” Total damage: 30 “If I am not going to make this team,” Lauko said Tuesday, “then I want stitches, three teeth knocked out, “and a little bit of head stuff,” said to play for [Providence] this year. Like, for me personally, junior is not an Hughes, referring to a few days spent in concussion protocol . . . Forward option. I see myself in Providence.” prospect Anton Blidh underwent surgery Monday to repair a ligament in his right shoulder and will be sidelined approximately four months. He Not surprisingly, Lauko felt the same last September, only three months banged up the shoulder in last week’s exhibition game in Philadelphia . . . after the Bruins made him the No. 77 pick in the draft. He reluctantly The Bruins are back on the ice Wednesday night at TD Garden to face accepted being assigned to Rouyn-Noranda, where he collected 41 the Devils . . . Joakim Nordstrom and Joona Koppanen each wore red points in 44 games, and then chipped in another 13 points to help lead noncontact sweaters in practice. Cassidy sounded hopeful that the Huskies to the championship. Nordstrom will be back in time to play in the opener.

Bruins general manager Don Sweeney, who ultimately decides how all Boston Globe LOADED: 09.25.2019 the parts fit, could choose to put Lauko back in juniors. His reluctance to assign Lauko last year to Providence was based on a concern that an 18-year-old could get chewed up in the AHL, a league with older, bigger bodies, some of whom are looking to hammer on younger, weaker opponents as their ticket to the big league.

A year later, Cassidy, while noting he is not the one to make such decisions, expressed similar concerns.

“If you ask me if he could play in the ,” mused Cassidy, “I would say he could. You have to be careful with kids that age; they need a mental toughness and have to be strong.

“I think he skates well enough that he could avoid some of the physical play. And he seems strong enough on his skates where I think he’d be OK at that level.”

As a note of caution, Cassidy brought up the fact that the AHL often schedules clubs to play three games in three nights during weekends. If Lauko is assigned to Providence, coach Jay Leach would have to monitor those three-in-threes closely.

Lauko caught eyes in Monday’s 4-3 overtime exhibition win over the Flyers at the Garden. He raced down the left side with a David Backes feed, eluded a defenseman with a pass to himself that he banked off the near wall, then fired a flat-angle wrister by a surprised goalie Brian Elliott for a 1-0 lead.

“It was like a little bit of dessert,” said a smiling Lauko, somewhat downplaying the dazzling strike. “I am happy I scored, but it’s not everything.”

Krejci update

As expected, veteran center David Krejci, injured on only his second shift of the preseason Monday night, did not participate in either of the two on- ice sessions Tuesday.

“He’ll be evaluated tomorrow,” said Cassidy. “Again, we don’t think right now it is anything serious, but we are going to take our time with it — to make sure he is ready to go next week.” 1108250 Boston Bruins

With Bruins roster essentially set, young players face other challenges

By MARISA INGEMI |September 24, 2019 at 7:27 PM

The Bruins will make cuts Thursday to have what essentially will be their final roster ready for Saturday’s game against the Blackhawks at the Garden, and already there is a good idea of how that roster will look.

With just two departing players in the offseason — Noel Acciari and Marcus Johansson — off a Stanley Cup Final team, there never were going to be many open slots. There still are a few questions, namely the final wing spots in the middle six forwards, but even that has been narrowed down.

It has made it a difficult camp for young players who otherwise likely would have had a shot at getting NHL playing time.

“It makes it tougher for those young guys trying to crack the lineup,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. “So what you’re trying to do is identify yourself as a depth player that can be the first call-up in certain situations. That’s about the best you can do with the hand you’re dealt.”

There still is some competition. Anders Bjork has played well in camp for the second time in as many years, and should push for a third-line wing spot against Brett Ritchie, but Bjork’s health the past couple of seasons has left him as a question mark regardless.

“He’s one of those guys who can push,” Cassidy said. “He’s a wild card, we’ve talked about injuries. He’s looked good. Are we ready to put him in the lineup for an older guy, I think with Anders, what we all want to see is him play some games consecutively. Get his confidence, get back to being a productive player. I don’t know if he’ll be able to do that here right away. Guys get banged up, he’s certainly a guy who’s looked good in camp. … His level of play hasn’t dropped off. He’s stronger, battling hard every day. So I like the direction he’s going.”

In another season in which a team perhaps lost more pieces, Bjork would be an obvious candidate to make the team. Maybe someone such as Jack Studnicka, who hasn’t jumped out in his second training camp, would be pushed harder as well.

It’s just not the year for as many young guys as two seasons ago, when the Bruins had six rookies, or even last season when they were hoping for a young player to jump off the page in camp.

“This year is a more difficult camp to find a spot in the lineup,” Cassidy said. “We just have more returning players. It doesn’t mean you can’t beat a guy out, but it’s more difficult than maybe last year where we created some competition at different spots hoping that a young guy would take over.”

Bergeron progresses

Patrice Bergeron is on track to play Saturday. The center, who has been absent from the lineup with a groin injury, practiced in a normal white uniform Tuesday, centering his traditional line with David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand.

“I’m slowly feeling better on the ice and more comfortable,” Bergeron said. “I’d like to be in Saturday for sure. If things go according to plan, it will be my first game. … There’s not much more to say (other) than I’m feeling good, things are advancing and looking good.”

Krejci remains out

David Krejci was not on the ice for practice Tuesday after exiting Monday’s exhibition contest against the Flyers with a lower body injury. Cassidy said after the game the injury was not serious, and Krejci will be re-evaluated Wednesday with the hope of being ready for games next week.

Blidh has surgery

Forward Anton Blidh had surgery on a ligament in his right shoulder Monday, and will be out for the next four months. He was injured in the preseason contest in Philadelphia last Thursday.

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Urho Vaakanainen still trying to find footing with Bruins

By MARISA INGEMI | PUBLISHED: September 24, 2019 at 6:00 pm | UPDATED: September 24, 2019 at 6:12 PM

Urho Vaakanainen is one of the Bruins’ most promising prospects.

But the rookie defenseman still faces a learning curve, some of which was on display in Monday’s preseason game against the Flyers at the Garden.

The 20-year-old is a longshot to get early playing time, but likely is the first one in if there’s an injury on the blue line while Kevan Miller and John Moore remain out. Vaakanainen played in two NHL games last season — one of which was cut short because of concussion — but there is a lot of hope for him to become one of their leading defensemen down the road.

The preseason has been a good example that while he has shown flashes, he also still is a work in progress.

“I don’t think he skated well enough to skate with people, to break out pucks,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said following Monday’s game. “One of his strengths is his foot speed, and his defending with his foot speed. He got beat wide once tonight, that’s not typically his game, he’s pretty good that way. So, I thought his feet weren’t engaged tonight enough in the game.”

A rough preseason game isn’t the end of the world for anyone, especially someone with as much potential as Vaakanainen. The most important thing for him early on is staying healthy after an injury-plagued season, in which he also was limited to just 28 games in Providence.

But it’s not an unimportant camp, either, especially when he got looks Monday working with the top power play unit and didn’t play at his best.

“(The coaching staff) give me tips and stuff all the time,” he said. “I feel like it helps. … I felt like my feet weren’t really moving. I felt pretty slow (Monday night), I don’t know why. (Cassidy) was right about that. It’s a big part of my game to keep my feet moving to make big plays, be good with the puck.”

Vaakanainen likely never will be the offensive quarterback type similar to Torey Krug or even Charlie McAvoy, but his skating and puck possession are his strengths and having off nights skating doesn’t bode terribly well.

The Bruins are not overly concerned; Vaakanainen is a young player, and likely Providence-bound for most of the season while the blue line is healthy. But they would like to see some progress, and at the least consistency in his skating.

“Those are things that we can work with him on, but his feet need to be moving every night,” Cassidy said. “I thought he could have been better in that area (Monday), being a little bit more of a factor. I thought (Jakub) Zboril did a pretty good job that way, breaking out, getting up ice and supporting the rush. Not as much for Vaak (Monday night).”

If there was any year for Vaakanainen to have time to develop, it’s one in which the Bruins have a plethora of depth on the back end, with reinforcements on the way. He knew heading into camp it would be a long shot to get regular playing time, but that hasn’t been overly discouraging.

He does have a shot to get some looks — or, as Cassidy described Tuesday for the young players looking for spots, at least being the first callup — but consistency each night is the biggest key to that.

“You just have to do your best, and see where you get,” Vaakanainen said. “You can’t think about stuff like that. Just try to play your best game.”

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David Krejci missing from practice, Bruins intend 'to take our time with it'

By Joe Haggerty September 24, 2019 6:54 PM

BRIGHTON, Mass – Bruins center David Krejci was missing from the practice ice on Tuesday and will be re-evaluated on Wednesday after exiting his preseason debut after just two shifts due to a lower-body injury.

It was a first-period collision with Philly defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere that appeared to tweak something on Krejci’s right side, but it was unclear at the time if it was a hip, knee or ankle that was the source of the problem. Bruce Cassidy said following the game that he didn’t believe the injury was serious that the 34-year-old Krejci was removed from the game more for precautionary reasons than anything else.

Lauko shows 'dazzle' again in preseason

Cassidy was sounding a bit of the same tune following Krejci’s absence from practice on Tuesday with the aim of making sure the Czech playmaking center ready for the Oct. 3 season opener in Dallas.

“Obviously he didn’t skate today. He’ll be re-evaluated [on Wednesday],” said Cassidy. “I don’t think right now that it’s anything serious, but we’re going to take our time with it for sure. We want to make sure he’s ready to go [for the regular season].”

Given all of that, it certainly wouldn't be surprising if Krejci is shut down for the remaining two preseason games regardless of the injury's severity.

Swedish free-agent signee Par Lindholm took Krejci’s place during Tuesday’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena, and certainly the Bruins have enough depth to withstand a short absence. But what if Krejci is banged up enough that it costs him the rest of the preseason, or even worse part of the regular season?

Well, certainly Charlie Coyle has looked ready, willing and able to bump up to the second-line center and perhaps the drop off wouldn’t be all that noticeable in the short term. But the Krejci injury would have a cascade effect on both the third and fourth line for the Black and Gold.

Sean Kuraly would most likely be elevated to third-line center, which is probably asking a little too much out of the perfect fourth-line center. Either Lindholm or a youngster like would center the fourth line, and that would undoubtedly impact the kind of quality minutes provided by the fourth line last season.

Clearly, the biggest area of concern with a Krejci absence is on the offensive end where the center is coming off a strong season with 20 goals and 73 points in 81 games. It’s true that the Bruins have four quality centers at the NHL level when everybody is healthy, but that depth gets tested when the Bruins find themselves in need of a top-6 center.

Jack Studnicka has a bright future and arguably Boston’s top forward prospect in the organization, but it’s been plain throughout camp that the 20-year-old needs some development time in the AHL.

“It’s going to be tough in the middle for Jack. We’d have to move pieces around, which we said we would do [if he was ready]. But I don’t think he’s there yet and that’s fine. With Jack, there is great hockey instincts and great will, but I just think he hasn’t grown into his body yet strength- wise. It is what it is,” said Cassidy. “But we like how he’s playing. Is he ready to unseat anybody? I wouldn’t say so yet.”

The bottom line: The Bruins have to be hoping that it’s nothing serious with Krejci’s lower body as they have been maintaining the past two days.

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Patrice Bergeron eyeing return to Bruins' lineup Saturday

By NBC Sports Boston Staff September 24, 2019 6:01 PM

The Boston Bruins may be getting a key member of their roster back sooner rather than later.

Patrice Bergeron is eyeing a return to the lineup on Saturday for the preseason finale against the Chicago Blackhawks and told the media he's feeling good after suffering a groin injury in the playoffs.

HAGGERTY: Lauko shows 'dazzle' again in preseason

"I think so. That's a fair assessment," Bergeron said according to BostonBruins.com's Eric Russo. "I'm slowly feeling better on the ice and more comfortable. I'd like to be in Saturday for sure. If things go according to plan, it will be my first game."

He added: "There's not much more to say than I'm feeling good, things are advancing and looking good."

 Patrice Bergeron on potentially making his preseason debut on Saturday: "I think so. That’s a fair assessment...things are advancing and looking good." pic.twitter.com/SK23d3c5Rd

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) September 24, 2019

Bergeron probably won't see an extended period of ice time Saturday as he continues to recover from injury. It appears it'll be more of a test to see how comfortable he is before the start of the regular season.

Bergeron is an extremely important member of the Bruins. His offensive creativity and defensive prowess helped Boston win the Stanley Cup in 2011 and reach the Cup Final in 2013 and 2019. The 34-year-old tallied 79 points (32 goals, 47 assists) through 65 games played last season while also adding 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) through 24 playoffs games.

The Bruins face the Blackhawks at TD Garden on Saturday at 3 p.m. before heading to Texas to face the Dallas Stars in the regular-season opener Oct 3.

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Bruins' hometown boys don't take wearing Spoked-B for granted

By NBC Sports Boston Staff September 24, 2019 4:46 PM

Boston Bruins' hometown boy's Charlie Coyle, Matt Grzelcyk and Chris Wagner are living out their childhood dream.

Putting on the black and gold sweater isn't something they take for granted, and being able to play close to home has been a blessing.

Charlie Coyle enjoys having his family at the games, especially after spending seven years with the Minnesota Wild.

"It's very special because you get to basically work from home, right?" Coyle said according to BostonBruins.com's Eric Russo. "You're with your family…they love it, they love making the trek in and going through the ups and downs of the season. Especially with the run we had last year, it made it that much more special that my family was there almost every night, if not every night. So just to do that, you feel very fortunate to be in that position."

HAGGERTY: Lauko shows 'dazzle' again in preseason

Coyle, a native of Weymouth, Mass., was drafted by the Wild in the first round (28th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and was acquired in a trade by Boston last season that sent Ryan Donato packing to Minnesota. And he wasn't the only one to be taken at the draft that year - - Bruins' teammate Chris Wagner also was selected in 2010, a fifth-round pick (122nd overall) by the Anaheim Ducks.

Wagner was signed by the Bruins as a free agent following the 2017-18 season after spending time with the Ducks, Colorado Avalanche and New York Islanders. After six years away from home, Wagner notes that he loves to hang out with his hometown family and friends during his downtime.

"If you do something well, you get the 'congrats' or 'great job.' Then on the off days you get to see people outside of the rink that you wouldn't normally be able to see [if you were] playing in a different state or something," Wagner said according to Russo. "A combination of all of those things makes it really great."

Like Wagner, Matt Grzelcyk also enjoys having his family close to home.

"It's a huge honor, something that I don't take lightly," Grzelcyk said according to Russo. "I think the more and more seasons you play, the more you cherish it. Especially last year, going on as deep of a run as we did. It definitely meant a little something extra, just talking to friends and family, how much it meant to them to go on that journey with us."

Grzelcyk, a native of Charlestown, Mass. was drafted by the Bruins' in the third round (85th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, two years after Coyle and Wagner were selected.

Following a brutal Stanley Cup Final loss last season, the trio from Massachusetts is looking forward to the upcoming season, and redemption. The B's kick off their season October 3 and will face the Dallas Stars, Arizona Coyotes, Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche before they return home for opening night against the New Jersey Devils October 13.

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Bruins forward Anton Blidh out four months following shoulder surgery

By Joe Haggerty September 24, 2019 12:20 PM

BRIGHTON, Mass. — Bruins depth forward Anton Blidh will miss a big chunk of this upcoming season after injuring his shoulder during the preseason.

The 24-year-old Blidh will miss at least the next four months after undergoing ligament surgery on his right elbow after sustaining an injury in last week’s preseason game versus the Flyers in Philadelphia. The 2013 sixth-round pick has appeared in 21 NHL games over the last three seasons with a one goal and two points, and essentially serves as a depth winger for the Bruins when they need a healthy body that can play bottom-6 minutes if injuries arise at the NHL level.

The Swedish forward’s best AHL season came in 2017-18 when he scored 11 goals and 26 points to go along with 36 penalty minutes. Blidh upped his instigator activity last season while pumping up his PIMs to 94 minutes, and was doing some rabble-rousing in the Philly preseason game prior to succumbing to the shoulder injury.

Certainly the Blidh injury is going to impact the ’ fortunes this year, but he was not in the hunt for an NHL roster spot with the Black and Gold this fall.

Vaakanainen disappoints vs. Flyers: 'Could have been better'

The surgery was performed on September 23 by Doctor Tom Holovacs at Mass General Hospital. On the “other injuries” front, forwards Joona Koppanen and Joakim Nordstrom were wearing no-contact jerseys at practice while young forward Cameron Hughes made his training camp debut after taking a skate to the face during Bruins rookie training camp a couple of weeks ago. Here are the line combos and D-pairings from the late practice session with David Krejci (lower body) missing from the ice:

Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak

DeBrusk-Lindholm-Kuhlman

Heinen-Coyle-Ritchie

Wagner-Kuraly-Backes

Chara-McAvoy

Krug-Carlo

Grzelcyk-Clifton

Zboril-Kampfer

Rask Halak

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Disappointing game for Bruins' Urho Vaakanainen: 'Could have been better'

By Joe Haggerty September 24, 2019 10:19 AM

BOSTON — One of the more difficult aspects of this fall’s training camp for the Bruins is the limited amount of space for up-and-coming youngsters on the NHL roster.

Particularly on the back end, things are locked in with the season opener in Dallas still more than a week away. Even with John Moore and Kevan Miller both injured and unable to start the regular season, Zdeno Chara, Charlie McAvoy, Torey Krug, Brandon Carlo, Matt Grzelcyk and Connor Clifton are pretty much guaranteed the top six spots with NHL contracts, and Steve Kampfer would make the most sense as the seventh D-man at the NHL level given his ability to sit for long stretches of time before appearances.

That doesn’t leave a lot of room for a young defenseman like Urho Vaakanainen, who kind of struggled while playing a top-4 role in Boston’s 4-3 overtime win over the Philadelphia Flyers at TD Garden on Monday night. Vaakanainen didn’t look particularly smooth quarterbacking the top PP unit when given a chance with Krug out of the lineup, but it was the skating game where the 20-year-old didn’t put his best foot forward.

Talking Points from B's preseason win vs. Flyers

“I don’t think he skated well enough to skate people, to break out pucks. One of his strengths is his foot speed, and his defending with his foot speed. He got beat wide once tonight, that’s not typically his game [because] he’s pretty good that way. So, I thought his feet weren’t engaged tonight enough in the game,” said Bruce Cassidy of Vaakanainen, who posted four goals and 14 points in 30 games for the P-Bruins while also appearing in two games in Boston last season, sandwiched around several injuries. “The penalty kill goal, he got caught in the wrong side of that battle down low and that’s going to happen.

“Those are things that we can work with him on, but his feet need to be moving every night. I thought he could have been better in that area tonight, being a little bit more of a factor. I thought [Jakub] Zboril did a pretty good job that way, breaking out, getting up ice and supporting the rush. Not as much for Vaak tonight.”

That’s good news for a young D-man like Zboril who needs to really make an impact with the Bruins organization this season, but a bit of a disappointment for the 20-year-old Vaakanainen in a big development season for him.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108257 Boston Bruins His performance was good enough for the Bruins to come calling during the interview period. On July 1, the Bruins signed Lagace to a one-year, two-way deal ($700,000 in the NHL, $225,000 in Providence, according The Bruins’ uh-oh goalie: Why Maxime Lagace is OK with a challenging to CapFriendly). Lagace appreciated the Bruins’ aggressive pursuit amid role a limited job market.

“The opportunity came. We jumped on it,” Lagace said. “There’s a lot of goalies on the market. It’s a little stressful going in. But I was really, really By Fluto Shinzawa Sep 24, 2019 pleased that it was done so quick and with such a good organization.”

It takes a goalie of strong character to accept a role that does not necessarily include NHL promise. But the Bruins, partly because of If Maxime Lagace appears in a game for the Bruins this season, Subban’s loss via waivers, are in a bit of a goaltending bind. Halak, 34, something will have gone horribly wrong. will be unrestricted after this season. His Black-and-Gold renewal is not Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak are the team’s two goalies. Lagace guaranteed. Rask, 32, has two years remaining on his contract. could stop every puck he sees for the rest of training camp and he would It may be that Keyser, 20, grows into an NHL starter. That is far from a not beat out either veteran. The 26-year-old Lagace is an emergency guarantee. Vladar, 22, has not done much with his pro opportunities. goalie, available to wear a cap and sit on the bench if Rask or Halak get Jeremy Swayman, the team’s fourth-round pick in 2017, is a junior this dinged up. year at the University of Maine. If Rask or Halak is injured, the Bruins As for playing … well, the Bruins signed Lagace (pronounced leh-gah- want a goalie with NHL experience to serve as insurance. see) with the hope he will never see a minute of varsity ice time. Primarily, the Bruins hope Lagace helps to push Keyser, in particular, “They have two young guys down in Providence,” Lagace said of toward NHL status. Some goalies would sulk at this task. Lagace prospects Kyle Keyser and Dan Vladar, “and obviously two great guys up appears to be upbeat and good-natured. On the first day of camp, his here. I’m coming in, trying to do my best. Do my job, and whatever name was misspelled “Legace” on the back of his practice jersey. Lagace happens, if I can help the young guys down there evolve, that’s part of laughed off the mistake. my job. Just coming in, having fun in camp and seeing where it goes.” “Of course. Of course. Of course,” Lagace said of sticking in the NHL. Lagace was never drafted. He has made ECHL stops in Missouri, “That’s the goal. My career’s been relentless. It’s just going forward. I just Bakersfield and Idaho. want to play hockey and go forward with it. It’s been really good to me so far.” Lagace, however, knows how minor-league burial can become an NHL opportunity. Two years ago, Lagace was No. 4 on the Golden Knights’ The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 depth chart behind Marc-Andre Fleury, Malcolm Subban and Oscar Dansk. Injuries to all three in the first month of that organization’s existence led to 12 straight NHL appearances for Lagace, including a 3-1 loss to the Bruins in his second career varsity start.

It was all part of a cuckoo introduction for the expansion franchise. Fleury went 3-1-0 to start the season before being sidelined for the next two months because of a concussion.

Subban, claimed on waivers from the Bruins, was ready to be the temporary No. 1. He started with a win over his old club on Oct. 15, 2017. But two games later, during a 3-2 win over St. Louis, Subban went down with a leg injury.

Lagace, then playing for Chicago, Vegas’s farm club, could not believe his former AHL crease mate Dansk was suddenly in the Golden Knights’ net.

“With the time change and all that, they were playing a little later, so I got to watch the third period,” Lagace recalled of the Vegas-St. Louis game. “I tune in and I saw Oscar was in.”

With Subban unavailable for three weeks, Lagace was brought up to share the net with Dansk. That plan went sideways when, on Oct. 30, Dansk pulled up lame in the second period against the Islanders with what would be a long-term injury.

Vegas was down to Lagace and junior goalie Dylan Ferguson, who had only turned 19 that September. It had no intention of exposing a teenage goalie to the ravages of the NHL. It was up to Lagace to carry the mail until Subban recovered.

Lagace won five of 11 straight starts. This allowed Vegas, which started 8-1-0, to hold second place in the Western Conference by the time Subban returned on Nov. 24.

“Crazy, crazy situation,” Lagace said. “Before playing in the NHL, you always ask yourself, ‘Would I be able to play at this level? How is it?’ When I got the chance, it really showed me I could take the step with a little more confidence and more games. I could see my game improved and I could adjust to the level. The stats didn’t really come with how I played. Overall, I was happy with the performances. Some games I wish I did better, that’s for sure. But overall, I was happy. It was a very good time. Very nice.”

Lagace appeared in one game for Vegas last year. He spent the rest of the season with Chicago of the AHL, where he went 16-16-2 with a 2.43 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage. 1108258 Buffalo Sabres creativity from his offensive game. The result was 12 goals among 36 points while averaging 12:33 of ice time in 176 regular-season games over three seasons before he was traded to Calgary.

Curtis Lazar trying to get career 'back on track' with Sabres "I kind of wanted to stay afloat and I couldn’t translate that into a larger role," Lazar said. "I have no problem playing on a checking line. For me it’s always been about team success, but I know I can leave my stamp on By Lance Lysowski Published Tue, Sep 24, 2019|Updated Tue, Sep 24, the game a little bit more than I had the opportunity to do. … I want to be 2019 part of this team very bad, and I think I’m showing it by the way I play."

Lazar never quite received that opportunity in Calgary, either. He averaged only 9:51 of ice time in 65 regular-season games during 2017- Curtis Lazar knows he's running out of time, yet the 24-year-old forward 18 and failed to make the Flames' roster out of training camp last fall. wasn't showing any signs of angst Tuesday morning inside the Buffalo Sabres' dressing room. Lazar was sent to the Flames' American Hockey League affiliate in Stockton, where he mentored younger players by teaching them how to "Another day," he said, grinning. "I’ve gone through this enough now. I file a tax return and cooking them dinner. He also took advantage of a understand it’s a business." prominent role, scoring 20 goals among 41 points in 57 games. The business can be cruel, though, and Lazar is amid an important step Now, Lazar wants to prove he can produce in the NHL when surrounded in his career. The former first-round draft pick spent most of last season by a talented core such as the Sabres' and while playing in a system that in the American Hockey League and signed a one-way contract with the encourages players to use their creativity with the puck. Sabres in July with the intent of getting his career "back on track." "It’s kind of a blessing in disguise," Lazar said of his time in Stockton. "It Despite performing well in both preseason games over the weekend gave me a chance to grow my game and I think you’re seeing the against Toronto, Lazar might face long odds to be among the 23 players product of that right now. I do feel like I’m playing some of my best on the Sabres' roster for the season opener in Pittsburgh on Oct. 3. hockey as an NHLer right now. Barring injury, new coach Ralph Krueger and General Manager Jason Botterill must trim the roster by seven over the next week. "I’m not thinking, I’m just playing. Everything is falling in place for me. It feels good because it’s the first time in a very long time that I’ve felt this Lazar played right wing on the Sabres' fifth forward line during practice way." Tuesday, an indication he could be on the outside looking in. However, he was brimming with confidence ahead of what could be his final Wilson cleared, Ristolainen returns audition for a new organization. Forward Scott Wilson and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen returned to "I definitely made a case for myself," Lazar said. "I feel very confident in practice Tuesday after sitting out Monday because of a lower-body injury the way I’ve played. I know I can help the Sabres take that next step. I and illness, respectively. Wilson, 27, had not skated with the Sabres just don’t have the final say when it comes down to it." since a preseason loss in Columbus one week earlier but has been cleared to return to game action, Krueger said. Through three preseason games, Lazar has shown a willingness to play a physical game and flashed skill in a checking-line role. The latter could Ristolainen, meanwhile, played 21:38 in the Sabres' 5-3 win over Toronto separate him from other potential fourth-line players such as Zemgus on Saturday night. Girgensons, Vladimir Sobotka, Johan Larsson and Remi Elie. Winger Conor Sheary (lower body) and center Johan Larsson (upper Following a somewhat slow start to camp – including a minus-3 rating in body) did not practice Tuesday. the preseason-opening win over Pittsburgh – Lazar had a strong showing Friday in Toronto, recording two shots on goal, five shot attempts and Dea clears waivers five hits. He also irritated a few Maple Leafs players throughout the Jean-Sebastien Dea will join Rochester after clearing waivers Tuesday. game. Dea, a 25-year-old forward, signed a two-year, one-way contract with the That earned Lazar some power-play time in the second night of a back- Sabres this summer and can play either center or wing. He'll likely be a to-back Saturday, and he finished with two shots on goal in 12:26 of the candidate to be among the first recalled to Buffalo in the event of an 5-3 win. injury.

"He’s one of many that’s putting good pressure on the roster evolution, Dea has scored five goals among seven points in 29 NHL games and I think he more than anything is somebody who’s had a good last between Pittsburgh and New Jersey. couple of days," Krueger said of Lazar. "We have a healthy competition Buffalo News LOADED: 09.25.2019 up front in more ways than one. One is we are healthy and we’d like to keep it that way, touch wood. But the other is that depending on the roles, there are a lot of options. ...

"We’re pleased with this group that’s out there right now and we’ve kept such a big roster because of how well everybody has performed in training camp. We’d be comfortable with any mix of these 12 forwards starting for us."

This might be the Sabres' last opportunity to see if Lazar can help them this season. His one-way contract will require him to clear waivers if he is assigned to Rochester, and his play this preseason could buoy his chances of landing an NHL job elsewhere.

Lazar chose the Sabres over multiple offers during his first foray into unrestricted free agency. In addition to encouraging conversations with Krueger, Lazar was intrigued by the Sabres' young core, which includes his former teammate at the IIHF World Junior Championship, .

Lazar also viewed this as his chance to realize the potential that he felt wasn't attainable earlier in his career. Lazar, who was drafted 17th overall in 2013 and scored 99 goals during his junior career with the Edmonton Oil Kings, was rushed to the NHL by Ottawa at 19 years old and struggled to adjust to a checking-line role.

Lazar gained traction late in his rookie season, recording six points in the final 12 games, but the Senators' neutral-zone trap system sapped the 1108259 Tobias Rieder, Zac Rinaldo and Devante Smith-Pelly and rearguard Andrew MacDonald — were scratched Tuesday.

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 09.25.2019 Monahan, Bennett tally as Flames top Jets in exhibition

Wes Gilbertson

Sean Monahan didn’t set aside much time for rest and relaxation last spring.

He would have preferred an extended stay in the Stanley Cup playoffs but with the frustration of a first-round flop still fresh, the Calgary Flames’ sharpshooting centre could hardly wait to launch his off-season workout program.

“It’s different this year, coming off a summer where I was actually training and trying to get better, not just rehabbing,” Monahan said. “I went back home, took maybe a couple days off and got right back into it. Obviously, the last couple of years, it has been different. It was such a process before — casts on and surgeries — so I was actually looking forward to working out and getting through the grind instead of just rehabbing.”

Another grind — 82 games of regular-season action — gets going next week, and Monahan is anxious to prove all that training will pay off.

The 24-year-old pivot continued his prep work with a power-play goal in Tuesday’s 2-0 exhibition blanking of a band of Winnipeg Jets’ wannabes at the Saddledome.

Pre-season performance doesn’t mean much of anything for Monahan, who is entrenched as the Flames’ first-line centre, but it’s certainly a good sign that he has twice tickled twine in three friendly appearances. Tuesday’s tally was a sweet deflection from the high slot on a second- period power-play, made possible by a slick setup by superstar pal Johnny Gaudreau.

Sam Bennett, currently operating as Calgary’s second-line left-winger, also scored for the hosts, while David Rittich pitched a 20-save shutout between the pipes.

The Flames have two remaining tuneups — on the road Thursday to San Jose, then Saturday’s exhibition capper against the Edmonton Oilers at the Saddledome — but their lineup for this date with the Jets had an opening-night kinda look.

Among the more fascinating sidebars was a glimpse of how off-season trade acquisition Milan Lucic could look as the net-front presence on the Flames’ top power-play, a job that is up for grabs for as long as restricted free-agent Matthew Tkachuk remains without a contract.

On a first-period man-advantage, Gaudreau spied Lucic at the door-step and plattered a perfect pass, but Jets masked man Eric Comrie denied both his one-timer and second chance. In the middle stanza, the new guy in No. 17 — impossible to miss at 6-foot-3 and 230 lb. — had several whacks at a rebound.

Lucic, who racked up five shots on net, was again parked at the edge of the blue paint for Monahan’s high-tip on the PP.

Just 33 seconds later, Bennett beelined to the same area and finished off a feed from centre Mikael Backlund. Bennett, who has been auditioning in Tkachuk’s usual spot on what was formerly the 3M Line, has three points in as many pre-season showings.

A lot of poolies will peg Bennett as a could-be breakout candidate.

Monahan was a fantasy stud last season, but can he really improve on a career-best 34-goal, 82-point campaign?

After a summer focus on explosiveness, instead of a slew of surgeries, he has big things in mind.

“This is a team that we believe in each other and we’re here to win,” Monahan declared. “We’re here to make something happen and we want to do that right from Game 1.”

ICE CHIPS

The Flames have 29 hopefuls remaining on their training-camp roster, a split of 16 forwards, nine defencemen and three netminders. That tally includes four PTOs, although each of the free-agent invitees — wingers 1108260 Calgary Flames Make no mistake, the second-round pick from the 2016 NHL draft is well- liked and appreciated in the organization. They want him to succeed. Prior to this fall’s training camp, Peters had even thrown his name as a Flames hopeful Dube needs to improve game after coach's warning potential fit in Matthew Tkachuk’s spot on the second line.

Dube has potential, but it’s about harnessing that potential.

Kristen Anderson, Postmedia Someone like Gelinas, who played 1,273 regular season games in the NHL (and another 147 post-season contests), knows NHL potential when he sees it.

There’s an intentional approach, at times, when a coach addresses the “He’s put in the work, he’s here all summer. He works hard,” Gelinas media with a message. said. “His fitness tests are always one of the best. He’s a great skater. So, he’s got all the tools to make it happen. He’s getting a great And that message on Tuesday morning was directed at Dillon Dube. opportunity right now, a great chance and he’s hungry. He had a taste of Whether it was meant to stoke a fire underneath the 21-year-old for the it last year. Now he wants to take the permanent step. remaining pre-season games, put things into perspective, or to remind “He looks ready.” the second-year professional that the Calgary Flames want to see the progression from him, Bill Peters aired it all out. The other side of the equation: Dube is making a shift from centre to winger which could be a cause of his struggles along the wall. “I think he’s come off (pace) a little bit,” said the Flames head coach when asked, simply, what he’d seen from the forward this training camp. As a centreman, you’re responsible for being down low, of being mindful “His wall play has been poor, his ‘D’ zone coverage awareness has been of proper defensive positioning, and constantly thinking and analyzing — sub-standard. “So, the things that nobody wants to talk about that allow you’re always “on.” to be you an every day NHL player and earn the trust of the coach have slipped. “If you’re programmed to be a centre and you go on the wing, it takes a bit of an adjustment,” Gelinas said. “But it’ll be fine and he’s a smart “So, now it’s time to get it back.” hockey player. He’ll get it right away.

This isn’t the first time Peters has publicly questioned Dube’s level of “It’s like life — you keep doing it over and over again, and hopefully do it play. Following a spectacular showing a year ago during the exhibition well, and eventually it becomes a habit. He’s such a good skater, too, schedule, he cracked the roster to start the 2018-19 regular season. But being on the wing, he’ll be able to read and see where the centreman is when things started heating up and a few injuries derailed his going and be able to jump in the open space.” momentum, Dube struggled. PRAISE TO SOME, WARNINGS TO OTHERS Peters had asked a rhetorical question during a pre-game media scrum, wondering if the team was doing the “right thing for him as a first-year Peters was pleased to see the development of a few certain players — pro?” Matthew Phillips and Glenn Gawdin, specifically, who got sent down to the American Hockey League on Monday. Shortly after, he was dispatched to the of the American Hockey League. In the end, he logged 25 games at the NHL level, “They’re so much closer to knocking on the door to being a call-up you scoring a goal and adding four assists. could have and win with,” he said.

This year, heading into training camp, it was widely thought that Dube Peters has also been impressed with Tobias Rieder, who is with the would challenge to become an NHL regular. Flames on a professional tryout offer but didn’t play against the Jets on Tuesday. He also sang the praises of Jakob Pelletier, who inked an He still can be. This year, even. entry-level deal with the Flames on Monday before being returned to the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL. Prior to Tuesday’s preseason clash at Scotiabank Saddledome against the Winnipeg Jets, Dube had two goals and an assist in three previous “He’s a real smart player . . . I think he’s going to fit in well over time,” friendlies. He has been generating offence. Peters said. “It was good to get that business out of the way and now he can just concentrate on going back and having a good season.” But Peters’ remarks after the morning skate would suggest that they have high expectations for Dube. That being said, he still needs more from players. Along with Dube, unprompted, he pointed to defenceman Oliver Kylington as a player who “It’s nice to, honestly, hear that because it holds you accountable,” Dube they need more from. said. “It’s a fun challenge to accept . . . I need to be at my best right now. It’s crunch time, it was like that last year. There’s no time for rust now “Shilly is in the same boat (as Dube),” he said. “Shilly, we’d like to see and these are the biggest games for me. some consistency out of Shilly, simply puck plays, hard in the ‘D’ zone.

“Every player is like that — it’s hard to not get up for games when you Calgary Sun: LOADED: 09.25.2019 have that pressure. I know every guy that’s fighting for a spot has that right now.”

That’s the thing — he’s not alone in competing for a spot.

Martin Gelinas knows Dube’s situation all too well.

“I played 19 years and every training camp, every fall, I was worried someone was going to take my job,” said the Flames assistant coach. “And you have to have a little bit of fear — you can’t get too comfortable. You have to find ways to push yourself and I think that’s how you get better. I think if you get complacent, there’s a lot of people pushing.”

Like wingers Andrew Mangiapane and Austin Czarnik. Both are both challenging for roster spots and bigger roles this season.

Like forwards Devante Smith-Pelly, Tobias Rieder, and Zac Rinaldo who are all here on professional tryout offers.

Like forwards Matthew Phillips and Glenn Gawdin, dispatched to the Stockton Heat on Monday.

“But playing with a little bit of fear and believing in your ability,” Gelinas said. “He’s confident and knows he can do it but you have to keep that fire going all the time.” 1108261 Calgary Flames In case any of the players on the premises assumed that audition time was over, Peters lobbed a few sticks of motivation into the proceedings.

During Tuesday morning’s scrum, the coach took a neutral question Flames’ newcomer making bid for first-unit work on the power play about winger Dillon Dube and transformed it into a bit of a spanking. Even defenceman Oliver Kylington got dragged into the critique.

By Scott Cruickshank Sep 24, 2019 “I think he’s come off it a little bit,” Peters said of Dube’s recent work. “His wall play has been poor. His D-zone-coverage awareness has been substandard. So the things that nobody wants to talk about that allow you to be an everyday NHL player and earn the trust of the coach has Camp, by this stage, has nearly done its job. slipped. Now it’s time to get it back.” The local gathering is pared to a manageable number — 28 souls, Peters, earlier in the preseason, made similar comments about Dube. including the four unsigned gents. Last winter, too, actually. Tuesday, he noted that the young man was Among the final bits of preseason business then? Fine-tuning special- made aware of the shortfall. teams personnel. “Well, there’s no surprises this way, right?” Peters continued. “Shilly is in Calgary Flames coach Bill Peters mentioned Tuesday morning he wants the same boat. We’d like to see some consistency out of Shilly. Simple to see how Mikael Backlund performs with the man advantage. He is also puck plays. Hard in the D zone. We’ve had those meetings here in the interested in finding out what Andrew Mangiapane can bring to the power last little bit and guys know what to expect.” play. Postgame, his assessments of Nos. 29, who drew a double-minor for Those determinations may be on hold. high-sticking in the first period, and 58 were gentler.

But what Peters & Co. did end up getting was an eyeful of the new- “I thought Shilly got better as the game went on, for sure,” said Peters, fangled first unit — featuring Mark Giordano, Sean Monahan, Elias “and I thought Dubes had lots of energy and was noticeable with his Lindholm (on the left side), Johnny Gaudreau (on the right point), Milan effort, so that was good.” Lucic (in Matthew Tkachuk’s spot). The fivesome looked terrific against David Rittich, preparing for his first season as The Man, put a full night the Winnipeg Jets. into the books. First time out, early in the opening period, they connected for four shots After two quiet half-games — four shots, eight shots — he stayed in for — including two point-blankers from Lucic (after a sweet feed from 60 minutes, blocking all 20 shots. Gaudreau). Their next opportunity, midway through the second, resulted in three more pucks on net — and the winning strike, courtesy of Nothing too spectacular. Just stopping every stoppable puck. Monahan. A perfect outing, even if there had been an oopsie in the third period, It appears to be a winning combination — at least in September against a when his clearing attempt dribbled through the slot — with him still grass-green group of visitors. Remember: last winter’s power play ranked behind the net. 18th. “I already checked my pants after that play,” Rittich, grinning, told “I thought we entered the zone well,” Monahan said shortly after the 2-0 reporters. “But I feel confident with my stick right now. I’m trying to play decision at the Saddledome. “Obviously, we had a lot of looks. I mean, it (the puck) more and more, trying to help the guys out a little bit more, like worked. We generated a lot of momentum and got the goal that won the what (Mike Smith) did last year. I want to keep working on that.” game.” With the team travelling to San Jose for another friendly Thursday, Lucic, in particular, looked at home on the power play — stubbornly Peters was vague about his goaltending plans. But the coach has said anchored near the crease, wide body in the goalie’s way. Rittich will start Saturday in the preseason finale against the visiting Edmonton Oilers. “I felt pretty good,” said the broad-shouldered newcomer, who, on the night, uncorked nine shots, putting five of them on target. “I’m with some “He’s ready,” Peters said. “This guy loves the game. He’s a good guys who know how to move the puck and have some great chemistry. teammate. Guys love playing in front of him. He has a lot of fun. He’s got Gio does a great job of getting pucks through to the front of the net. I was a lot of energy all the time. He’s never down. Every day’s a good day for able to get my stick on a few, but not able to find the net. I was joking, Ritter.” saying that I’m saving them for when they really count. While there had been a wide swath cut through camp the other day, the “But, in all seriousness, it was good flow, good chemistry, and we got Stockton-bound crew is far from forgotten. rewarded. It was fun to be out there with those guys.” “The common theme for me is the guys who went down to the American This is hardly new territory for Lucic. League … the improvement they made,” said Peters, singling out Glenn Gawdin and Matthew Phillips. “They’re so much closer to knocking on the Of his 198 career goals, 39 arrived on the power play, including a career- door to being a call-up that you could (use) and win with. Those guys high 12 in 2016-17 with the Edmonton Oilers. He also owns 64 power- have done a good job.” play helpers. The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 “For me, it’s just get in front of the goalie’s eyes, create a screen, tip some pucks, try to find loose pucks when I can,” he explained. “It’s a pretty easy adjustment when you come to a new team and get parked in front of the net.”

Another interesting wrinkle? Last season, immediately after shorthanded situations, it had been Monahan and Gaudreau hitting the ice. Getting the right side, since Lindholm penalty-killed, was always James Neal. Tuesday? It was Lucic’s job. No gripes from his side of the dressing room, either.

“If (Peters) puts me out there with them, great,” said Lucic. “It’s great to get shifts with them.” He laughs. “If that’s the plan, I’m all for it.”

Lucic also dished out a game-high four hits. No one else in red had more than one. No surprise, he said this was the best he’d felt all camp.

“Sometimes it takes a little bit for those everyday skating legs … to come in,” said the 31-year-old. “You want them to be there before the season starts. I felt like they were there this morning and there tonight.” 1108262 Calgary Flames just settling into a new two-year, $5.1-million deal, it’s time to up his ice time and see if he can’t bump his numbers like Elias Lindholm did last season. Lindholm’s spike came at age 23, with five NHL seasons on his Five takeaways from camp as Flames prepare for start of the regular resume. Bennett is also 23 and if you include his 11 playoff games in the season spring of 2015, he’s also played five NHL seasons. Any increase in production won’t be as dramatic as Lindholm, who had the luxury of playing on a line with Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, but 20 goals and 40 points should be within reach, both of which would be By Darren Haynes Sep 24, 2019 career highs.

2. Rittich on track to be the opening night starter Monday was hump day at Calgary Flames training camp. You can learn a lot about a player’s stock in the decision maker’s eyes Ten days earlier, 55 bodies hit the ice for the start of training camp. And based on usage. Rittich getting the first start of the preseason suggested just ten days from now is Game 1 of the regular season. early on that he was, indeed, the de facto No. 1 goalie when camp began. He was also the first Calgary goalie to earn two starts this A scheduled day off, it was also a big cut-down day with several taxis preseason and this week, he’s in line to get the home-games treatment, being dispatched to 555 Saddledome Rise SE. which is generally reserved for star players and/or guys at the top of a club’s depth chart. First came the placing on waivers of AHL-bound forwards Byron Froese, Buddy Robinson and Justin Kirkland, as well as blueliners Andrew Now it’s time for the easy-going Czech to get in a full game. In two half- Nielsen and Rinat Valiev. No surprises in that group, who will officially be games so far, totaling just over 65 minutes, he’s faced only 12 shots. assigned to Stockton on Tuesday after they clear waivers. Look for him to be tested more often during a couple of starts this week against better lineups. Next came the cutting of 15 more bodies. Thirteen were assigned to Stockton — forwards Glenn Gawdin, Ryan Lomberg, Luke Philp, Assuming it’s Rittich against the Avalanche next Thursday when the puck Matthew Phillips, Martin Pospisil, Adam Ruzicka, Eetu Tuulola, drops for real, that will mark the sixth different opening-night starter in the defencemen Robert Hamilton, Zach Leslie, Corey Schueneman, last eight seasons, dating back to the Miikka Kiprusoff era. No pressure, Alexander Yelesin, goaltenders Tyler Parsons, Artyom Zagidulin. Sent but he will be trying to become the first goaltender in 10 years to open back to Moncton (QMJHL), although not before signing his entry-level the season with a win. But it won’t be easy, as the Flames return to the contract, was 2019 first-rounder Jakob Pelletier. Cut free as the second scene of the crime where they were abruptly ousted from the Stanley of six PTOs invited to camp to be released was Alexandre Grenier. Cup playoffs last April.

It leaves 28 bodies in camp — 16 forwards (excluding unsigned RFA Opening night goaltender and results Matthew Tkachuk), nine defencemen (excluding injured Juuso Valimaki) and three goalies — and many decisions still to be made before one 2019-20 – David Rittich (projected) week from now when Calgary submits to the league office its season- 2018-19 – Mike Smith, 4 GA on 22 shots (L) opening roster of no more than 23 players. 2017-18 – Mike Smith, 2 GA on 44 shots (L) While there were no real surprises, goaltender Jon Gillies surviving the cuts may have struck fans as the biggest head-scratcher. But there’s a 2016-17 – Brian Elliott, 6 GA on 27 shots (L) method to the madness. On Thursday, the Flames travel to San Jose for their final road preseason game. Depart in the morning, fly back after the 2015-16 – Karri Ramo, 5 GA on 44 shots (L) game. That makes for one very long day. All signs point to Cam Talbot 2014-15 – Jonas Hiller, 3 GA on 32 shots (L) starting that game as his final tune-up (with David Rittich likely going at home on Tuesday versus Winnipeg and Saturday versus Edmonton), 2013-14 – Karri Ramo, 4 GA on 39 shots (SO-L) with Gillies expected to accompany him as the backup. No need for Rittich to make that trip. You can bet several veterans will remain behind 2012-13 – Miikka Kiprusoff, 4 GA on 29 shots (L) in Calgary for that one. 2011-12 – Miikka Kiprusoff, 4 GA on 36 shots (L)

Before we begin this final stretch of games, here are five takeaways on 2010-11 – Miikka Kiprusoff, 4 GA on 33 shots (L) what we’ve witnessed so far: 2009-10 – Miikka Kiprusoff, 3 GA on 42 shots (W) 1. Bennett making the most of Tkachuk’s continuing absence At 27 years and 45 days, Rittich would be the youngest goaltender to Goodbye 3M line, hello MSM line? Geez, the bloggers aren’t going to like start the season opener for Calgary since Trevor Kidd (24 years, 193 that moniker. days) in 1996-97.

While Tkachuk continues to hold out, his spot on the left side of the 3. Adding forward depth is a priority second line with Mikael Backlund and Michael Frolik has been taken by , who has seized the opportunity and looked good in his two Depth is important. When injuries inevitably set in, it’s the deeper teams preseason twirls so far. with more viable plug-and-play replacements in the minors, who best navigate through those tougher times. The presence still of three It makes one wonder, when Tkachuk inevitably rejoins the team and forwards on PTOs, suggests that Calgary is nervous about the resumes his longtime partnership with Backlund, that the only place experience level of their minor league roster. Bennett goes is to the other side of the faceoff circle to line up on his off- wing. One of the bubble players still in camp is Alan Quine, who has had a solid camp. If you’re the Flames, your only concern with Quine making It’s Frolik’s twisting fate that fascinates. The possibility looms that to open the season-opening roster is he would no longer be a call-up candidate up cap space, Calgary trades away Frolik, who is on the final year of a when injuries set in and Calgary needs to summon players from five-year deal that carries a $4.3-million cap hit. Even if Frolik stays, Stockton. there’s plenty of reasons for the organization to stick with Bennett in that top-six role and demote Frolik. Fair or not fair, it could be why Quine, who is already under contract, ends up not making the team and Tobias Rieder, who is without a For one, Bennett’s the guy with upside. The fourth overall pick five years contract, signs a deal and makes the team. ago, he had 18 goals and 36 points as a 19-year-old rookie. He hasn’t gotten back to that total since (last season he had 13 goals and 27 points Finishing second to Mark Giordano in fitness testing, Rieder has been in 71 games), but it’s not to say he couldn’t if he was given more ice time solid in the preseason. The 26-year-old has showcased his speed, he and opportunity. Bennett’s spent most of his career operating in the has been deployed as a penalty killer (where this is an opening with the bottom-six. Also, the last time the Flames played meaningful hockey, departure of Garnet Hathaway) and he’s shown an ability in the past to Bennett was the best forward on the team. score. Rieder notched 13, 14, 16 and 12 goals in his first four NHL seasons, before he went without a goal in 67 games for the Oilers last Building off Bennett’s team-leading five points (one goal, four assists) year. That run of being snake-bitten has continued this preseason, too. over five games during their first-round loss to Colorado a year ago and Ignoring, for now, the guys on PTOs, let’s assume the Flames opening to that top pairing with Giordano, dropping Swedish youngster Rasmus roster consists of all the usual suspects (including Tkachuk), plus Quine Andersson back to the third pairing. Or he could stay on that bottom as the extra. Ignore the lines as that’s not the point of this exercise. pairing, partnering with either Stone, Kylington or MacDonald — should Calgary offer him a contract. Gaudreau – Monahan – Lindholm So where does that leave MacDonald? Tkachuk – Backlund – Frolik Often we want to judge players based on what they make. Was Mangiapane – Ryan – Bennett MacDonald worth $5 million the last few years as he neared the end of Lucic – Jankowski – Czarnik his six-year/$30-million deal with Philadelphia? Probably not. But with his buyout money already in his back pocket, can he be a depth D-man for Quine Calgary while on an AAV near the league minimum? Sure. This is still a guy who brings plenty of experience — 586 NHL games worth, to be In that scenario, your minor league call-up options at forward would be: exact. He had averaged 20+ minutes of ice time ever since breaking into 1. LW/C Dillon Dube, 21 (25 NHL games) the NHL before dipping to 19:51 two years ago and last year logging a career-low 16:24, while also being a frequent healthy scratch. 2. C Byron Froese, 28 (110 NHL games) Left twisting in the wind is Kylington. As the one guy in the conversation 3. RW Buddy Robinson, 27 (7 NHL games) who is not waiver eligible, he could easily be sent down to log big minutes in Stockton, but for a 22-year-old who has earned a job on 4. C Glenn Gawdin, 22 (0 NHL games) Calgary’s blue line on merit, a return to the AHL for a fifth season would 5. RW Matthew Phillips, 21 (0 NHL games) be the wrong message to send and a tough pill to swallow.

Dube’s alluring upside and ability to play multiple positions top the list. No No doubt Calgary would like to add a little more NHL experience in the doubt, he’s the first guy up if he doesn’t make the team. Plug him in minors. For now, you’re looking at Brandon Davidson (162 NHL games) anywhere and chances are Calgary continues on, without skipping a as your first guy up and after that, either Valiev (12 NHL games) or new beat. free agent signing and fellow-Russian, Yelesin. But it could be argued the one guy most easily sent to Stockton, is the guy least deserving. The worrisome part is the drop-off shortly after that. While Froese is a consummate pro, who could step in and provide an NHL team with Heck, maybe they just decide to go with eight D-men on the NHL roster quality minutes, you’re just three (or fewer) injuries away from needing to and see how the season unfolds. It wouldn’t be the first time. bring up Robinson and that’s a less-comfortable situation for an 5. Favorable impressions left organization that won the Western Conference last year and fancies themselves as a Stanley Cup contender again this season. Of all the players jettisoned out of town on Monday, three prospects that raised their stock the most in training camp are Gawdin, Phillips and Remember that injuries can occur at both at the NHL and AHL level. Ruzicka. Perhaps when you need a player, Robinson and Gawdin are sidelined. Now you’re bringing up a very young and inexperienced Phillips. Gawdin parlayed a strong rookie camp into a solid main camp. His emergence as a depth option at center is promising. While in the top-six, However, sign Rieder and now you’re pushing Quine to the minors where Backlund (five years remaining) and Monahan (four years remaining) are he joins Dube as one of the top two options. Further, sign Zac Rinaldo, locked up long term, there could be opportunity not that far down the who has also impressed in camp, to a two-way deal and now you’ve road for a bottom-six role with Mark Jankowski one year away from being further solidified your farm system: an RFA (with arbitration rights, which is a scenario GM Brad Treliving has 1. LW/C Dillon Dube, 21 (25 NHL games) walked away from before) and Derek Ryan with two years left. Ryan’s ability to play right wing also opens up the possibility of a spot being 2. C Alan Quine, 26 (97 NHL games) created sooner. For Gawdin, a great next step for his growth would be a top-six role in Stockton. While they have veteran pivots like Froese and 3. LW Zac Rinaldo, 29 (351 NHL games) potentially Quine, Gawdin is the prospect that the focus should be on 4. C Byron Froese, 28 (110 NHL games) developing and given Calgary’s player development model, an increased opportunity should lie ahead. 5. RW Buddy Robinson, 27 (7 NHL games) Between the rookie games and the NHL preseason, Ruzicka is another That’s almost 450 additional NHL games of experience you’re adding to guy who turned heads. He’s got the physical attributes that you salivate your minor league team, which will nicely complement the many young over in a center — six-foot-four and 220 pounds and only 20 years old — guys and first-year pros. and those soft hands that put up big numbers in the OHL? We’ve seen The other forward on a PTO, who remains in camp is Devante Smith- glimpses of that, too. The jump to pro will be a big step-up in terms of Pelly, but he has not impressed as much Rieder or Rinaldo and could be competition and as a first-year pro, Ruzicka will operate in a bottom-six part of the next round of cuts. role in Stockton as he finds his footing, but there are lots of qualities there for fans to be excited about. 4. Calgary prepares for life without Brodie (in the top four) Going into his second pro season, it will be interesting to see if Phillips From the start of camp, some configurations have remained mostly intact can build on a rookie campaign in which he started slowly but then found — see Bennett with Backlund and Frolik, see Lindholm with Gaudreau his stride around Christmas. The Flames are perennially thin at right wing and Monahan, see Hanifin with Hamonic. But there have also been lines, and that bodes well for Phillips both playing time-wise in Stockton and pairings and individuals, which have been subject to ongoing opportunity-wise at the NHL level. During my sit-down with him in rookie experimenting by coach Bill Peters. TJ Brodie is one such player. Paired camp as he and Glen Gawdin, among others, did self-evaluations, one to open camp in his usual perch beside Giordano, on Sunday in area he expressed interest in getting more involved in was penalty killing. Winnipeg, Brodie was part of what essentially was third-pairing tryouts on While he admittedly wouldn’t be the puck-eating type, throwing his the blue line. diminutive body in the way of shots, he feels his smarts, quickness and a good stick are the attributes that could make him an effective penalty Brodie was paired with fellow veteran Andrew MacDonald, 32, who is the killer. Adding the PK to his resume would make him that much more lone defenceman remaining in camp on a PTO. The other pairing of note valuable of a call-up option, too. was Oliver Kylington and Michael Stone, who were the best of the bunch and it wasn’t all that close. For both Kylington and Stone, it was a These last three tune-up games are the dog days of the preseason. continuation of solid camps for both of them. While all teams will at least be icing more familiar lineups, more than anything that just makes one yearn even more for October and the start So where does that leave Brodie? of games that matter.

For Brodie, the potential outcomes are plentiful, much like the situation So while the preseason games may be dull, the action away from the rink up front with Frolik. He could get moved out for salary cap reasons. With should not be. one year remaining on his deal at an AAV of $4.65 million, that would clear up more than enough space to fit in Tkachuk. He could also return Will there be any progress made on the Tkachuk contract front? Will Kylington make the NHL roster or be sent down just because Calgary can?

Will the Flames sign one, two, three or all four of the PTOs remaining in camp? Or none at all?

Which of the bubble players will make the team?

Will Brodie or Frolik be moved out, or might it be somebody else? Or will Tkachuk sign a short enough deal for a small enough AAV that nobody needs to be traded?

So many questions still to answer and a dwindling number of days to learn the answers. Stay tuned.

The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108263 Carolina Hurricanes to score goals. We need guys who can stop the rush and kill penalties, so this was a different type of defenseman.”

Bokk, 19, is in his third season, after totaling 23 Canes deal defenseman Justin Faulk to St. Louis Blues points in 47 games for the Vaxjo Lakers in 2018-19. The Blues took the 6-2, 182-pound forward with the 25th overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft.

“Bokk played a big part in this trade,” Waddell said. “We all know offense BY CHIP ALEXANDER SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 02:13 PM is a big part of the game and it’s going to be moving forward. It’s a player we liked in the draft year. Bokk, as a former first-round pick, we thought

was a huge coup for us to be to land that type of player.” The Carolina Hurricanes opened preseason training camp at PNC Arena Waddell said the deal with the Blues began to first percolate last week on Sept. 13, 2019, and veteran defenseman Justin Faulk addressed the and by the weekend had begun to “ramp up” -- Faulk had a modified no- constant trade speculation swirling around him as he tries to prepare for trade clause in his contract but St. Louis was one of the pre-approved 15 the season. BY teams. By Tuesday, the deal was done and Waddell indicated it could be Justin Faulk once scoffed at media trade speculation, the Carolina the final move made before the season. Hurricanes defenseman saying, “I’ve been traded a hundred times “Today I think we’re in pretty good shape,” he said. “We addressed some according to reports.” of the areas we felt needed addressing. We like our group here and now But the Canes now have officially parted ways with Faulk, a former NHL we’ve got to get on to business.” All-Star and U.S. Olympian. Carolina on Tuesday traded Faulk to the St. In an N&O interview before camp began, Faulk discussed the changes Louis Blues, acquiring defenseman and offensive that had been made to the Canes since last season. prospect Dominik Bokk from the 2019 Stanley Cup champions. “That’s the way it goes. It’s a business and organizations make decisions Faulk signed a seven-year contract extension with the Blues that will pay based on however they see fit,” he said. “A lot of times it’s not just one him an average of $6.5 million a year, the Blues announced. The deal year down the road, it’s multiple years down the road. We’ll see how it could not be completed until those contract terms were finalized. The goes.” teams also swapped draft picks -- Carolina getting the Blues’ seventh- round selection in 2021 and St. Louis receiving the Canes’ fifth-round That was said before the Canes signed Gardiner, a free agent, to a four- pick in 2020. year deal with a cap hit of $4.050 million a year. With a glut of defenseman and Faulk set to become a UFA, the trade speculation Faulk, 27, had become a fixture in the franchise and on the Canes’ began again. blueline the past eight seasons. Drafted by Carolina in 2010, he had grown into a tough, seasoned defenseman whose heavy shot was a big Faulk played 559 games for the Canes and experienced his first playoff part of the Canes’ power play. He also was well-liked by teammates, games this past season as the Canes reached the Eastern Conference serving both as a team co- with in 2017-18 and then finals. He set a career high with 17 goals in 2016-17 and has career as an alternate captain, again with Staal, last season as Justin Williams totals of 85 goals and 173 assists in regular-season play, more career was named captain. goals and points than any defenseman in franchise history.

“It’s never easy,” Canes general manager Don Waddell said in a media Faulk played 82 games last season, finishing with 11 goals and 24 conference call Tuesday. “When you’re moving pieces, it’s not easy. But assists and career-best plus-9 rating. He had a goal and seven assists in we felt the return was going to help our hockey club, not only today but 15 playoff games as the Canes won series against the Washington certainly down the road.” Capitals and New York Islanders before being swept by the Boston Bruins. Faulk was at training camp practice Monday but did not appear at a team autograph session Monday night with Canes’ season ticket-holders at “He played a big part in our success last year, going deep in the PNC Arena, his name plate being pulled. When he then did not playoffs,” Waddell said. participate Tuesday in the practice and intrasquad scrimmage, more questions arose. A native of South St. Paul, Minn., Faulk won a national championship as a freshman at Minnesota-Duluth in 2010-11. He played for Team USA in Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour, asked about Faulk after practice, said, the World Junior Championship and in World Championships, and was a “He’s healthy. I was told to keep him off (the ice). I know it’s not a health member of the U.S. Olympic team in 2014. issue. He’s fine.” “He’s a good guy, just one of those guys you like to be around,” Waddell Faulk is in the final year of a six-year contract that carried an average said. salary-cap hit of $4.83 million a year but will pay him a $6 million salary in 2019-20. The Canes retained $840,000 in salary, according to News Observer LOADED: 09.25.2019 CapFriendly.com, which tracks players salaries.

Waddell said negotiations on an extension were not productive with a player due to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

“We got to the point where we could have kept Justin and ride it out and try to continue to sign him or we felt at this point we were getting good value and we should make the decision to move on,” Waddell said.

There was talk of a possible trade with the Anaheim Ducks earlier in September and Faulk was peppered with questions about it from the media on the first day of training camp.

“If it happens, it happens to pretty much everybody in the league at some point,” Faulk said on Sept. 13.

Edmundson, 26, has good size at 6-4 and 215-pounds. He was fourth among Blues blueliners with a plus-8 rating and averaged more than two minutes per game in shorthanded ice time as the St. Louis penalty kill ranked ninth in the NHL for the season. He appeared in 22 of the Blues’ 26 playoff games in helping St. Louis win its first Stanley Cup.

“Having what we already felt was a really strong D and adding Jake Gardiner to the mix late in the summer, we felt between him and (Dougie) Hamilton and (Brett) Pesce to bring the offense we needed a stay-at- home (defenseman),” Waddell said Tuesday. “We’re not looking for him 1108264 Carolina Hurricanes $3.1 million on a one-year deal, Edmundson is a cheaper de Haan type. The short contract allows those in the pipeline in need of some more time to get it without wasting prime time (Jake Bean and Chase Priskie come to mind). The Hurricanes finally traded Justin Faulk: What does the future look like without the longtime scapegoat? The sense is that the Hurricanes still felt they needed a stay-at-home- style defenseman to complement all the offensive upside.

Edmundson averaged more than 2:00 TOI shorthanded last season, and By Sara Civian Sep 24, 2019 while this team is of the mentality that anyone should be able to kill penalties (even Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen), someone’s gotta

take the brunt. A former Hurricane texted Justin Faulk on Dec. 23, a few hours before What does Faulk’s departure mean for the power play? that 5-3 Whalers Night win over Boston. PLEASE PUT ANDREI SVECHNIKOV AND DOUGIE HAMILTON ON “He asked me what the chant was going to be — ‘Go Canes’ or ‘Go PP1 MY FAMILY IS DYING Whalers,'” Faulk said postgame. “At first, to be honest, the first one I heard was ‘Go Bruins.’ I wasn’t really sure if that was going to continue, — SARA ‘MORNING SKATE TWEETER’ CIV (@SARACIVIAN) but then the group got together, then the fans were chanting ‘Let’s go SEPTEMBER 23, 2019 Whalers,’ throughout the night. That was fun. It’s fun when the crowd can get into it, and that’s what we want. We want to provide a type of game to Dare we say it out loud? Will the player who head coach Rod enjoy.” Brind’Amour often says “is supposed to be their best defenseman” actually get an opportunity to be their best defenseman? Faulk had endured too many nights that never got to the fun part in his eight-year Hurricanes career. Often touted as a player right on the cusp According to genius colleague Dom Luszczyszyn‘s model, Dougie of stardom, respected in the room as a former co-captain, he knows he’s Hamilton’s offensive figures were second only to Erik Karlsson’s in the partially to blame for what he’s called the “dog days.” NHL last season. Over the past three seasons, he’s No. 1 in expected goals driven. But he is equally responsible for the end of those days, the Hurricanes’ first playoff run in a decade and the new Era of Jerks. Doesn’t a man with an average of 1.27 points-per-60 at even strength over the course of three seasons deserve at least an opportunity on the Now, after honest-to-God years of trade rumors, the constant will-they- first power play unit? won’t-they ended up a will-they: Faulk is on his way to St. Louis carrying a 2020 fifth-round pick in return for Joel Edmundson, prospect Dominik As much as the loss of Faulk stings, and clearly his upside is higher than Bokk and a 2021 seventh-rounder. Edmundson’s, maybe the newfound opening on the first power play unit is a blessing in a terrible disguise because Brind’Amour will have to give Moreover, the 27-year-old defenseman can walk away from the only Hamilton more power play time. home his NHL career has known with dignity. Unless … “Justin spent a lot of his own money with his True Defenders program,” Hurricanes GM and President Don Waddell said on a conference call Jake Gardiner’s four-year deal was obviously a sign that the Hurricanes Tuesday. “I’ve known him for a long time, he’s a good guy, he’s just were trying to move on from Faulk. Gardiner knows his way around the (someone) you like to be around. On the ice, he was a big part of our point on the man advantage as well, and his ability to actually move the success last season. It’s never easy.” puck on the Canes’ power play throughout the preseason has reminded many of us what it means to function. Waddell confirmed reports that the Hurricanes started hearing teams out about Faulk after extension talks went south around the draft. A potential He excelled on Toronto’s so-called “second” power play unit in his 52- deal with the Ducks came closest but eventually fell through earlier this point outing two seasons back, so maybe we’ll see more of that, or month, when Faulk’s camp and the Ducks couldn’t agree to an extension maybe he’ll make things interesting with a Hamilton-Gardiner PP1 battle. so he flexed his no-trade clause. Point is, two enticing power play quarterback options exist, and they’re More teams came calling for Faulk in the fallout of that highly publicized no longer blocked by Faulk. near-event. The Blues, not on Faulk’s 15-team No-Trade list, reached out Even if Hamilton finally wins the spot, the probable Gardiner-Brett Pesce to the Hurricanes last week. Talks heated up over the weekend, they pairing will give Gardiner the best opportunity he’s had to unleash his settled on a deal Monday and everything was finalized Tuesday. gifts while his partner holds down the fort in years. Most Faulk trade rumors pegged a forward as a return, but sit with that What does Bokk bring? for a few seconds: Take it away, genius colleague Corey Pronman: “Bokk is a highly With offseason acquisitions Ryan Dzingel and Erik Haula, and prospects talented player who has the hands, IQ and speed to become a great top- Martin Necas and Julien Gauthier vying for an NHL spot, isn’t there a six NHL winger. There are no doubts on the talent, but he can be logjam on offense, too? frustrating to watch, and even some of his biggest supporters in the What Top Six forward is coming back for a Faulk formerly without a scouting world have come down on him a bit due to his so-so effort level contract extension? and inconsistency. I also have downgraded him from a year ago even if I’d still bet on him becoming a good NHL forward. Sure, there is a 50-car pile up in the Hurricanes’ defensive pipeline. But none of the options fill the Calvin de Haan-shaped void. “In discussions with teams since the trade, one topic that’s come up is Carolina acquiring a lot of prospects lately with a high skill level but who Enter Edmundson could be described as ‘soft skill’ in Bokk, Ryan Suzuki, and Patrik Puistola (although Andrei Svechnikov, Jamieson Rees and SO, EDMUNDSON IS PRETTY MEDIOCRE IN EVERY CATEGORY Jack Drury are counter to that). Depending on which scout you ask, they EXCEPT FOR SETTING UP SHOTS. BASICALLY A LEFT-HANDED could say this is a no-doubt top 10 farm system in Carolina or one that TVR. KIND OF A WEIRD DEFENSEMAN FOR CAROLINA TO TRADE won’t produce components of a winning playoff team. I lean to the FOR WITH THEIR DEPTH. WONDER IF THEY'LL FLIP HIM FOR former, but I have reservations.” MORE PICKS LATER. PIC.TWITTER.COM/CLVBZF8CHC Bokk is currently playing for Rogle BK in the Swedish Hockey League. — COREY SZNAJDER (@SHUTDOWNLINE) SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 He could try out with Charlotte at the end of the season (think playoff (First of all, a source has confirmed to The Athletic that it’s very unlikely run), but he’ll likely come to North America next season. Edmundson gets flipped. Waddell re-affirmed that, saying he doesn’t I say bring on the right-shot forwards with potential. He might be anticipate any other moves before opening night.) frustrating to watch, but he can’t be much worse than this power play. The Hurricanes actually like living with an excess of NHL-caliber Intangibles defensemen, just not so many with the same (expensive) skill set. At The locker room is a different place without Justin Williams and Faulk, two-thirds of the former leadership group. We won’t be able to gauge the impact of that until we’re looking at this in hindsight, but the Canes seem confident in returning leaders (Jordan Staal and Slavin) and new voices (Jordan Martinook and potentially some younger players) to carry these torches in their own way.

Roll call

Time to re-do the lines and/or pairings for the 12,000th time this off/preseason.

Jaccob Slavin-Dougie Hamilton

Jake Gardiner-Brett Pesce

Joel Edmundson-Trevor van Riemsdyk (practiced today in a yellow non- contact jersey)

Haydn Fleury

The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108265 Carolina Hurricanes an assistant coach with the Hurricanes, was telling me about this rising young defensive star they had in the organization – and how good he would eventually be once he reached his prime. Smith liked Faulk’s talent and the way the player carried himself. It means I’ve monitored Faulk Roundtable reaction: Breaking down the trade that sends Justin Faulk to closely, and while I get that he never did soar into the Norris Trophy level the Blues of NHL defenceman, he did seem to settle nicely into a Gary Suter-sort of niche – an above average player who can help you in a lot of different

areas. Even teams such as St. Louis, coming off a championship season, By Craig Custance Sep 24, 2019 152 sometimes need something to stir up the mix. Landing Faulk, committing to him all those years contractually and above all making him feel wanted – where he clearly wasn’t in Carolina anymore – it sure looks like it could be a home run for the relatively modest acquisition cost. The NHL trade rumor mill has to find someone else to constantly talk about. Justin Faulk was finally traded and it’s to a team nearly as deep DOM LUSZCZYSZYN: The trade itself is fine. The Blues bolstered their on defense as the Hurricanes. The St. Louis Blues sent defenseman Joel already strong blue line with a mobile defender who would be an upgrade Edmundson, prospect Dominik Bokk and a 2021 seventh-round pick to over Robert Bortuzzo on the right side, giving them a very deep right the Carolina Hurricanes in return for Faulk and a 2020 fifth-round pick. side. The Blues immediately signed Faulk to a seven-year contract extension with a $6.5 million average annual value. The signing though? That’s much tougher to comprehend. Faulk appears to be a capable scorer, but he’s given every opportunity to do so with There’s a lot to break down here, so we invited a roundtable of local and loads of power play time, so not cracking 40 points in five of the past six national NHL writers from The Athletic to weigh in: seasons doesn’t inspire confidence. He’s only an average play-driver and at $6.5 million per season will likely be very overpaid for his services as a SARA CIVIAN: It finally happened, and it’s sort of funny. run-of-the-mill top-four defender. That’s fine in a vacuum maybe, but with Of all the Faulk trade speculation that popped up as he approached his the much superior Pietreangelo’s contract expiring at the end of this contract year – some of it essentially one signature away from season, it’s hard to fathom why the Blues would do this. Pietrangelo, an completion (Faulk to the Ducks), some of it more pipe-dreamy (Faulk for elite defenseman, at $8 million, $9 million or even $10 million is much Nikolaj Ehlers, straight up, who says no) – he’s off to St. Louis for (record more palatable than Faulk at this price. scratch, freeze frame) a deal that included another fringe top-four COREY PRONMAN: Bokk is a highly talented player who has the hands, defenseman. IQ and speed to become a great top-six NHL winger. There are no Minutes after the trade came Faulk’s contract extension. For as much as doubts on the talent, but he can be frustrating to watch, and even some the Canes have loved Faulk on and off the ice in his eight-year stay, and of his biggest supporters in the scouting world have come down on him a having him as their resident scapegoat, there’s no way they could’ve bit due to his so so effort level and inconsistency. I also have swung that. They’ve basically built their defense around the foresight of downgraded him from a year ago even if I’d still bet on him becoming a signing young, mostly NCAA alumni and giving them legitimate good NHL forward. opportunities in exchange for relatively low salaries. In discussions with teams since the trade, one topic that’s come up is Something had to give, but evidently not at the expense of the infamous Carolina acquiring a lot of prospects lately with a high skill level but who logjam. The Hurricanes have decided they enjoy the luxury of the logjam could be described as “soft skill” in Bokk, Ryan Suzuki, Anttoni Honka enough to keep it going with Edmundson signed at $3.1 million for one and Patrik Puistola (although Andrei Svechnikov, Jamieson Rees and more year. Jack Drury are counter to that). Depending on which scout you ask, they could say this is a no-doubt top 10 farm system in Carolina or one that Faulk looked re-invigorated by the playoff run. He can eat penalty won’t produce components of a winning playoff team. I lean to the minutes. Maybe in a different power play system he’ll use his wrister former, but I have reservations. instead of his slapshot and make an impact. It has finally happened, and we all know why. For the Blues, they lose one of their top prospects and their farm looks thin now even with the positive summer for . Flags fly forever SCOTT BURNSIDE: Weird but I was just talking to a Western-based though. scout about St. Louis an hour or so before this trade, and he was talking about how difficult he thinks St. Louis is going to be to get past in spite of JEREMY RUTHERFORD: Neither the Blues’ acquisition of Faulk, nor the short summer and the Stanley Cup parties. This trade gives them their willingness to move Edmundson in the deal, are shocking. arguably as good a one-through-six on the back end as any team in the As Faulk’s situation in Carolina looked like it may lead to his departure, NHL. Nice work GM Doug Armstrong. And Don Waddell continues to there were rumblings the Blues had some interest. And with enjoy a renaissance as a top NHL GM in Carolina, adding defensive Edmundson’s contract talks this summer requiring arbitration to get to a depth with Edmundson to a group that I consider as good as any in the resolution, a deal between the two sides makes a lot of sense. Eastern Conference and continuing to stock the shelves with positive assets like Bokk, a first-round pick in 2018. The fact is that Faulk, with What’s extremely interesting about this is what does it mean for the Blues the addition of Jake Gardiner and an already impressive collection of and Pietrangelo? He’s entering the final year of his seven-year contract emerging young defensive talent in Carolina, had run out of runway with and could be in the market for $9 million-plus. With Colton Parayko and the Canes, who are now better, on paper, than the team that went to the now Faulk in the fold, what could this mean for the captain? It’s believed Eastern Conference final last spring. Not sure about the seven-year the Blues do want Pietrangelo back, but at the very least, this gives them extension Faulk immediately signed in St. Louis, but even if you hate the a fallback plan. last three years or so, it won’t matter much if there’s a whole bunch more “Gloria” being sung in St. Louis next spring. The other interesting factor is the Blues’ decision to re-sign Faulk to seven-year extension, which doesn’t kick in until next season. That’s a CRAIG CUSTANCE: I saw this and immediately thought about Alex serious commitment to a player who will turn 35 by the end of the deal. Pietrangelo. He’s 29 years old, entering the final year of his contract that But in addition to the cushion it gives them in the Pietrangelo situation, averages $6.5 million and is due for a monster raise. We’ve seen in the they’re getting a good veteran defenseman who can help their ailing past that Armstrong isn’t afraid to make tough decisions and move on power play, and they’re able to move on from a player in Edmundson from veteran players if it doesn’t make financial sense to extend them. who they soured on. Pietrangelo is a franchise defenseman who will command a lot of money and deservedly so. It’s also a contract that, if it’s eight years, probably The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 isn’t going to age well, since it’ll exist in Pietrangelo’s 30s. This isn’t to say Faulk is a potential replacement for Pietrangelo, the better defenseman; but now, at the very least, the Blues have given themselves leverage and options moving forward as they consider the best path in which to deal with their captain.

ERIC DUHATSCHEK: I have a bias towards Faulk that stems from his early formative days in the Carolina organization when Steve Smith, then 1108266 Chicago Blackhawks Lehner signed a 1-year, $5 million contract this summer to give the Hawks one of the NHL’s top goalie tandems with Corey Crawford. Colliton said he expects to find plenty of playing time for both.

Ryan Carpenter and Zack Smith aim to fix the Blackhawks’ problematic Sometimes the Hawks will plan things 10 days ahead, Colliton said, but it 4th line: ‘They gave us exactly what we were looking for’ won’t be set in stone.

“We do have two fantastic goaltenders,” Colliton said. “So it would probably be silly to put all your eggs in one basket there. There are a lot By JIMMY GREENFIELD CHICAGO TRIBUNE |SEP 24, 2019 | 4:30 PM of back-to-back games (early in the season), so naturally there’ll be a split. But their performance will dictate the rest.”

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 09.25.2019 Don’t expect Ryan Carpenter to get his own bobblehead night any time soon. Same for Zack Smith.

NHL marketing teams typically prefer using stars to entice fans to come out for games over little-known fourth-line wingers. Not that either Carpenter or Smith minds. They understand why the Blackhawks brought them in and the importance of their roles to team success.

“You look at any team that makes playoffs and goes on runs, they usually get depth players that play big roles and sometimes even chip in on scoring,” said Carpenter, who signed a three-year, $3 million free-agent contract this summer. “And then you take a look at the Cup runs the Hawks went on. They always had depth guys contributing and having success in the playoffs. You definitely need four lines.”

That was something the Hawks didn’t have last season when their fourth line had trouble scoring as well as difficulty as a checking line. Marcus Kruger, Chris Kunitz and John Hayden all are gone, replaced by Carpenter, Smith and Andrew Shaw, who can play anywhere in the lineup.

Blackhawks center Ryan Carpenter, left, tries to get his stick on the puck during a preseason game against the Bruins on Saturday at the United Center.

The Hawks also return Drake Caggiula, who was acquired Dec. 30 and earned Hawks coach Jeremy Colliton’s trust as a grinder who is willing to do the dirty work. Colliton still is experimenting with the fourth line, but in the Hawks’ most recent game on Saturday against the Bruins, Carpenter, Smith and Caggiula lined up there.

“(Smith and Carpenter) have been really good, especially last game,” Colliton said. “They gave us exactly what we were looking for, just settling the game down when things got somewhat out of control. They gave us offensive zone shifts, they created chances, easily could’ve scored. Playing a hard game, and we need that element to our team to be balanced. Caggiula too. He was very good.”

Smith, 31, played 11 seasons with the Senators before general manager Stan Bowman acquired him for Artem Anisimov over the summer. Smith has some offensive potential — he scored a career-high 25 goals in 2015-16 — but he won’t be focusing on scoring.

“I was talking to Stan and Jeremy (after being traded) and they weren’t talking about who I was playing with or what line I was playing on,” Smith said. “It was more like we’re bringing you in to help out defensively. They struggled last year with that as you hear from a lot of people.

"So that’s my mindset coming in. They got enough guys who can score goals and put up numbers offensively. I’m quite aware of my role.”

Zack Smith chases down the puck Saturday during the Blackhawks' preseason game against the Bruins at the United Center.

Carpenter, 28, is more of a classic grinding fourth-line winger than Smith, who was a third-round pick in 2008. Carpenter went undrafted and never has scored more than nine goals in a season. Whether it’s Smith, Caggiula or Andrew Shaw on the fourth line, it might take a little time to find a comfort level.

“You just try building chemistry and ask where they like to be in certain situations,” Carpenter said. “Just little things. If you’re on the same page, you’re able to play faster. Sometimes it’s the difference between scoring and not scoring and making a big play.”

Lehner leaves practice: Goalie Robin Lehner suffered an apparent injury during practice Tuesday. Colliton said he didn’t believe it was serious but didn’t know yet if Lehner would miss time.

The team leaves for Berlin on Thursday to kick off the European portion of training camp that will conclude with the season opener against the Flyers on Oct. 4 in Prague. 1108267 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks injury updates: Robin Lehner leaves practice, Kirby Dach and John Quenneville are making progress

The goaltender exited midway through practice Tuesday. Coach Jeremy Colliton said he didn’t know exactly what happened.

By Ben Pope Sep 24, 2019, 3:04pm CDT

Scarcely an hour after the Blackhawks’ two injured forwards — Kirby Dach and John Quenneville — finished a light skate at Fifth Third Arena’s east rink, goaltender Robin Lehner left practice early with a health concern of his own Tuesday.

The Hawks’ big summer signing was seen walking after practice but was not available to the media. Coach Jeremy Colliton said he didn’t have much information yet but wasn’t overly concerned.

“Obviously, he did leave, so it wasn’t perfect, but I haven’t got an update yet,” Colliton said. “I don’t think it’s a serious thing, but obviously serious enough that he had to leave.”

Lehner has stopped 54 of 58 shots — a .931 save percentage — in two preseason appearances. At even strength, he has saved an even more impressive 49 of 51 shots — a .961 save percentage.

The Hawks will need to quickly get a read on his health because they’re scheduled to depart Thursday for the preseason finale in Germany and the regular-season opener in the Czech Republic.

They’ll need to bring three goalies on the trip. If Lehner can’t travel — although that seems an unlikely worst-case scenario — Kevin Lankinen presumably would be recalled from Rockford, joining Corey Crawford and Collin Delia.

The same must be said for Dach and Quenneville.

Dach remains in the concussion protocol but has skated on his own the last several days. He has participated in only low-intensity drills, such as puckhandling between cones, and hasn’t taken part in any full team practices.

Still, the third overall pick is slowly getting better.

“[It’s] progress that he’s out there, no question,” Colliton said. “That’s certainly positive. There’s no hurry. He’s a kid, and it’s a tough league. So we want to make sure he’s totally 100 percent.”

Quenneville suffered a hip injury last week, shortly before he was scheduled to make his Chicago preseason debut, and Tuesday’s skate was his first since the incident.

He’s in a tough spot, as a new player who likely needed a strong camp to make the team.

“Both of those guys are getting closer to potentially skating with us,” Colliton said. “That’s a long ways away from playing with us, but we’ll see how it goes.”

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108268 Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Lehner injured at practice

John Dietz

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Robin Lehner left the ice with an undisclosed injury during practice Tuesday at Fifth Third Bank Arena and didn't return.

Coach Jeremy Colliton didn't have an update afterward, saying only: "I don't think it's a serious thing, but obviously serious enough that he had to leave."

Corey Crawford and Collin Delia finished practice in net.

In other injury news, forwards Kirby Dach (concussion) and John Quenneville (hip) took part in individual on-ice drills. Colliton said both players are closer to skating with the team.

Shaking up the lines

Jeremy Colliton mixed up the forward lines at practice the last two days, moving Drake Caggiula up to play with Jonathan Toews and Alex Nylander, and sliding Patrick Kane down to play with Dylan Strome and Alex DeBrincat.

Caggiula was particularly impressive skating with Toews and Kane last season, but he suffered a concussion Feb. 27 that kept him out of the lineup for a month.

"He can play with anyone," Colliton said. "He does the hard work. He wins a lot of races, wins a lot of puck battles. Gets into a lot of battles.

"I think that's sometimes overlooked. You've got to get there to create them. Whether it's just winning a race or putting pressure on the puck it allows us to get a forecheck going. He recovers a lot of those pucks and then all of a sudden we're creating offense out of it."

Last chance for some

Wednesday's preseason game against Washington at the United Center will be the last chance for players such as defensemen Carl Dahlstrom and Slater Koekkoek to prove they belong in the NHL.

Forwards Brendan Perlini, Anton Wedin and Aleksi Saarela also could all use strong performances.

"There are going to be changes throughout the year, so we tell these guys, 'You build a body of work and ultimately you earn what you get,' " Jeremy Colliton said. "We haven't set the lineup yet, but those guys who would consider themselves bubble guys, of course it's a chance to leave one more impression."

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108269 Chicago Blackhawks

Robin Lehner leaves Blackhawks practice with apparent injury two days before trip to Europe

By Charlie Roumeliotis September 24, 2019 1:20 PM

The Blackhawks got some good news on Tuesday when coach Jeremy Colliton revealed that top prospect Kirby Dach (concussion protocol) and forward John Quenneville (hip) are getting closer to practicing with the team. But they also found themselves holding their breath on another key player.

Robin Lehner left practice early with an apparent injury and it's unclear what happened. Corey Crawford and Collin Delia finished practice as the two goaltenders, and Colliton didn't have much of an update afterwards.

"I don't know," Colliton said. "Obviously, he did leave so it wasn't perfect but I haven't got an update yet. I don't think it's a serious thing but obviously serious enough that he had to leave."

The Blackhawks leave for Berlin on Thursday and they're expected to bring all three goaltenders with them, although this could change things depending on the severity of Lehner's injury. Colliton is likely to provide a more concrete update on Wednesday after morning skate.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108270 Chicago Blackhawks

What should the Blackhawks do with Kirby Dach?

By Charlie Roumeliotis September 24, 2019 11:00 AM

The Blackhawks have narrowed down their roster to 30 players, but there’s one guy in the group that they haven’t been able to evaluate yet. And it’s their No. 3 overall pick Kirby Dach.

Dach was placed in concussion protocol after sustaining an injury in the seventh-place game of the 2019 Traverse City Prospect Tournament on Sept. 10 and he hasn’t practiced since.

The good news is, Dach has been skating on his own for several days now and he’s responding well to the on-ice sessions. Tuesday's skate lasted approximately 45 minutes.

“Progress that he’s out there, no question,” coach Jeremy Colliton said. “That’s certainly positive. There’s no hurry. He’s a kid and it’s a tough league so we want to make sure he’s totally 100 percent. And once he gets to that part or that level, then we’ll make a plan as far as his return.”

While they certainly want to be overly cautious when it comes to his return, the Blackhawks have a decision to make on Dach. The team leaves for Europe on Thursday and doesn't return to the states until Oct. 5.

Should Dach be part of the group? All signs point to the 18-year-old starting the season with the Blackhawks and it's the right move.

The Blackhawks want to give him a fair chance at proving he belongs on the roster this season, just like everybody else had the opportunity to do in training camp. Dach is no different.

The likely course of action at this point is for the Blackhawks to give Dach a "tryout" of up to nine games before figuring out whether they want to hang onto him and burn that first year of his entry-level contract or send him back to the WHL with the , whose season started on Sept. 20.

The challenge for Dach is that he's lost some valuable time getting acclimated to the system and develop some on-ice rapport with his teammates. But that will come with time and it appears he's getting closer to practicing.

"We’ll see," Colliton said when asked whether Dach will travel with the team to Europe. "Obviously we have a few different plans, but the focus now is getting him cleared. He has to go through those steps and we’ll go from there."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108271 Chicago Blackhawks Evolving Hockey’s projection. Buffalo’s Zemgus Girgensons (five goals, 13 assists in 72 games; just 26 goals in the last four full seasons) got one year at $1.6 million. Winnipeg’s Andrew Copp (11 goals, 14 assists in 69 games after never scoring more than nine goals in his previous three Underpaid and underutilized, Brendan Perlini’s chill, optimism remain seasons) got two years at $2.28 million a year. intact Perlini, meanwhile, is making just $24,125 more than Carl Dahlstrom, the lowest-paid player on the team (excluding entry-level deals). But even Dahlstrom, who has played just 49 NHL games, got two years. By Mark Lazerus Sep 24, 2019 It’s the kind of contract negotiation that brews bad blood. But if Perlini’s

angry about it, he’s doing a heck of a job hiding it. Brendan Perlini should be pissed. “If you don’t have arbitration rights or anything like that, it’s tough,” he He got hosed on his contract. He was sent to play in the two road said. “You look at guys in the past, the team has the upper hand, and preseason games with all the no-shot prospects, and he didn’t play in the then once you get some of your rights (later in your career) and you get two home preseason games as the Blackhawks lineup started taking into arbitration and things like that, then you get the upper hand. It goes shape. And when he walked into the dressing room at Fifth Third Arena both ways, right? I believe in balance that way, and that’s part of life. … on Monday morning, the dreaded white jersey — reserved for the “fifth Regardless of whether I play for 15 million this year, or 5 million, or I play liners” who are currently on the outside looking in — was waiting for him for free, I’m going to go out and I’m going to have fun, work hard every in his locker stall. day, try and improve, and just enjoy myself, you know? What’s done is done as far as that whole side, money, blah blah blah. Now it’s just go This is where your average player might start pouting, muttering under play hockey and do your thing.” his breath, venting and throwing teammates under the bus, off the record, to reporters. Brendan Perlini is far from disgruntled about his contract situation. (Christopher Hanewinckel / USA Today) Well, Brendan Perlini is not your average player. He’s all chill, no ill will. This is a guy whose perspective is so wide, he basically turned himself What his “thing” is remains to be seen. Is he the guy who was named the into a meme during an eight-goals-in-seven-games outburst last March, NHL’s second star of the week back in March, the guy who scored eight telling anyone and everyone in the local and national press how the goals in seven games, including a hat trick against his former Coyotes documentary “Free Solo” taught him not to take hockey so seriously, that teammates? The speedster with the big shot who can take over a game? nothing could kill him the way a fall from El Capitan would. Or is he the guy who Colliton felt sometimes lost interest during puck battles, who didn’t engage hard enough between the blue lines, who So when he trudged into the room after practice on Monday, a black vanished at times, who had five shots on goal the entire month of jersey over his white jersey (over his pads and underthings) after filling in January? on some drills, he flashed a big smile and joked, “Give me a sec; I’m like a Russian nesting doll.” “We saw he had flashes of greatness last year,” said general manager Stan Bowman, who said the offer to Perlini was “the best move for us,” “That’s just over the years, learning,” he said, when I asked where the and that Perlini’s standing with the team will be re-evaluated after the relaxed attitude comes from. “In the OHL, I was traded at a young age season. “It’s just a matter of the consistency for him. His best game is and so I learned the business early. Even this past year, moving here really impressive and it can help us. If we can get that to come out more and being up and down a bit, it was an up-and-down year. It’s really just, often, then it’ll be good for the team.” hey, stick with it and have fun, whatever you do. Every day, you’re still waking up alive, so just have fun with everything.” Perlini’s competitive side, masked but not completely obscured by his laid-back demeanor, came out when I mentioned that heady seven-game Perlini’s relentless chill and — gasp! — outside interests have sometimes stretch back in March. Not only was it a helpful reminder to himself of been interpreted as disinterest inside the hockey world, which considers what he’s capable of — after all, when the trade went down last year, a vanilla personality and a myopic obsession with the sport to be among Perlini was a far more established player than Strome, who’s now humankind’s highest virtues. But it’s not as if he’s thrilled with his entrenched as a linchpin of the Blackhawks’ future — but it offered the contract, or with his inability to earn a permanent place in Jeremy rest of the team, in the room and in the front office, a glimpse of it, too. Colliton’s lineup. That’s the player he’s working to be all the time. It’s just that stewing isn’t his style. “Oh, yeah, for sure, 100 percent,” he said. “It was good that I showed “Maybe they’ve seen in games that I’ve played better on the road or those guys that, hey, if you give me an opportunity, I can play. It was something,” he said with a laugh when I noted he wasn’t exactly getting good to have that, especially because you always want to show your the prime preseason assignments. “I don’t know. I just stay chill and teammates what you’re really like as a player, as well. You want them to relaxed. It’s just water off a duck’s back. There’s no use stressing about know what you really can do.” things you can’t control.” Colliton knows. Maybe that’s why he always seems so frustrated with That just about sums up Perlini’s summer. He was part of the league- Perlini. The brief flashes of brilliance only underscore the longer wide restricted free-agent logjam, and didn’t sign his one-year, $874,125 stretches of mediocrity. contract until Sept. 6. But rather than stress about it, he let his agent handle it while he spent his summer traveling, working out and seeing Joel Quenneville used to use the white practice jerseys sparingly, often movies with his brother. They live about 30 minutes outside of the as a way to send a shot across the bow of a player from whom he nearest theater in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, but checked out the likes of expected more — a threat, almost. There’s a reason we old-timers in the “Avengers: Endgame,” “Spider-Man: Far From Home” and “Once Upon a Blackhawks press corps call them “Stalbergs.” Ol’ Viktor knew them all Time In Hollywood” on discount Tuesdays (hey, he technically didn’t too well. have a job at the time). Colliton, on the other hand, said Monday that the white jerseys were When the contract finally came, it looked on the surface to be a brought out just to make it easier to balance out the reps with five full borderline insulting offer from the Blackhawks, who had all the leverage lines in practice. But the message was there all the same. Perlini was and used every bit of it. Perlini was in and out of the lineup after being joined in white by Anton Wedin and Aleksi Saarela. Saarela is likely acquired from Arizona in the Dylan Strome/Nick Schmaltz trade last headed for Rockford, while Wedin and Perlini would likely be healthy November, but still managed 14 goals in 68 games (12 in 46 with the scratches if the season began tonight, bumped from the lineup by Alex Blackhawks). He’s averaged 15 goals a year in his three NHL seasons. Nylander and Dominik Kubalik, who have been playing with the likes of Evolving Hockey’s annual salary projections, which tend to be right on Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Brandon Saad throughout camp. the money, had Perlini getting two years with an annual cap hit of $2.056 They’re getting the big opportunities now, the ones that Perlini craves million. He got half the term and 43 percent of the AAV, a fairly stunning (and, to be fair, hasn’t done enough with in the past). number. Despite all that, Perlini’s job is safe. No matter how much he plays, he’s a For comparison, the Kings’ Adrian Kempe (12 goals and 16 assists in 81 steal at this price, and the Blackhawks wouldn’t risk losing such a bargain games) got a three-year deal worth $2 million a season, in line with on waivers. So Rockford’s not in his future. What is? Who knows? But whatever is, Perlini surely will greet it with a grin. The consistency — and the opportunity — will come. He’s sure of it. In the meantime, he’s playing hockey, he can afford to see movies on days other than Tuesday, and he’s alive. What’s he got to complain about?

Other than some promotional royalties from “Free Solo,” that is.

“Yeah,” he said. “I’m still waiting for my cut of that.”

The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108272 Colorado Avalanche

Jayson Megna is an opening-night option for the Avalanche

Megna was born in Florida, raised in Chicago and played one year at Nebraska-Omaha

By MIKE CHAMBERS | [email protected] | The Denver Post

Kickin’ It with Kiz: Will John Elway begin rebuild for real when Broncos have 2-6 record at mid-season?

Another new right-winger has emerged for the Avalanche, and at this rate, the club will be entirely rebuilt on the right side of the ice for the Oct. 3 regular-season opener against the visiting Calgary Flames.

Journeyman Jayson Megna practiced on Colorado’s fourth line Tuesday and coach Jared Bednar said he’s in the opening-night picture if All-Star Mikko Rantanen remains unsigned and Colin Wilson begins the season on injured reserve.

Megna’s linemates are Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Matt Calvert, who both have guaranteed contracts and are locks to be in the opening-night lineup.

Megna, 29, began last season with the Washington Capitals but didn’t see any action before being reassigned to the American Hockey League’s , where he had 20 goals in 71 games. Megna joins fellow newcomers Joonas Donskoi, Valeri Nichushkin and Andre Burakovsky as Colorado’s top right-wingers at this point in time.

“He’s separating himself from the pack of guys we’re looking at,” Bednar said of Megna, who has scored a goal in each of his two preseason games with the Avs. “We’re evaluating a handful of other guys at this point, based on their play in training camp and through our exhibition games. But he’s stood out in every game he’s played.”

The Florida-born and Chicago-raised Megna is with his fifth NHL organization. As an undrafted free agent, he signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2012 after his freshman NCAA season at Nebraska-Omaha. He played 48 games for the Penguins, plus six for the New York Rangers and 59 with the Vancouver Canucks.

Megna signed a two-way contract with Colorado as a free agent July 1. He’ll make $700,000 in the NHL and $350,000 if he slips to the of the American Hockey League.

“Always room for improvement but the games in the preseason have been good games for me to show the organization what my game is all about,” Megna said. “I feel like I’ve shown flashes of it. Obviously, scoring goals is nice but for me, it’s the little things — using my speed and being disruptive on the forecheck and backcheck. I felt like I’ve done a pretty good job of that. So I’m getting a good opportunity in practice to skate on a line with (Bellemare and Calvert). Not everyone is here but I just have to control what I can control.”

The other lines in Tuesday’s Group 1 practice were center Nathan MacKinnon with Gabe Landeskog and Donskoi, center Nazem Kadri with Tyson Jost and Burakovsky and wingers Matt Nieto and Nichushkin with center J.T. Compher.

The defensive pairs were Sam Girard-Cale Makar, Nikita Zadorov–Erik Johnson, Ryan Graves-Conor Timmins and Mark Barberio-Kevin Connauton.

Bednar said the Group 2 practice included most of the players who will be in Wednesday’s preseason-game lineup at the Vegas Golden Knights. Colorado concludes the preseason Saturday at Dallas.

Denver Post: LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108273 Colorado Avalanche The hope is this will be the setting that allows Burakovsky to consistently harness those abilities and become a consistent producer in further supplementing the top line.

How’s life in Colorado for Andre Burakovsky? So far, so good “I think everything is about confidence and how you feel about yourself,” Burakovsky said. “I didn’t really have a great feeling in Washington about myself, and it’s tough to play. You want to be consistent out there and play and really get a flow in the game. I haven’t been having that in a By Ryan S. Clark Sep 24, 2019 couple years with Washington. You play. You sit. You play. You sit. It’s tough to get something going and then feel really good about yourself.

CENTENNIAL, Colo. — Practice has ended, affording Andre Burakovsky “I’m just trying to build my game, and for every good thing I do on the ice, at least 10 or so minutes of rest before attempting to answer what some I am trying to build on that. It’s been a couple tough years there, and I might deem to be either a complex or easy question. think that’s why I’m here and trying to get a new fresh start and get the opportunities that are here.” The query itself? Exactly who is Andre Burakovsky? Burakovsky said he had a feeling a change was coming. He added his “Who am I?” Burakovsky responds with a smile. “I’m just a Swedish guy agent asked the Washington Capitals what their plan would be only to who likes to play hockey, and I am always trying to do my best. And have the trade to the Avalanche happen in a fast manner. every time I step on the ice, I am doing whatever it takes to win a game. I hate to lose.” “Then, it just happened. It happened pretty quick,” Burakovsky said. “I was on the golf course playing, and my agent called to say something Of course, this is just the preamble when it comes to fully answering that might happen soon. Two hours later, it happened.” particular question. Sakic and his front office staff have made it a priority over the last two And then there is another question that will likely take a bit longer to offseasons to acquire players who can do more than fulfill a need in the answer: How will everything work out for Burakovsky and the Colorado lineup. Avalanche this season and in the future? Acquiring players with significant playoff experience has become a Let’s start here. Fourth-year coach Jared Bednar views Burakovsky as a necessity as well. serious top-six option. That much is evident given Bednar had Burakovsky on the top line next to and Nathan That added to why they signed forward Matt Calvert and defenseman Ian MacKinnon as a fill-in for Mikko Rantanen, who is seeking a new Cole last summer. Calvert had 16 games of postseason experience, contract. And if that is not enough, there’s the fact Burakovsky is logging while Cole, a two-time Stanley Cup champion, had 62 contests prior to first-team power-play minutes while playing with Nazem Kadri, signing with the team. Landeskog, MacKinnon and Cale Makar. It was also applicable to center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Donskoi. “He’s got a good opportunity to play with some real good players, and no Bellemare has 31 games of playoff experience, including a Stanley Cup matter what line combinations we end up with, we have a lot of depth on final appearance against … well … Burakovsky and the Capitals in 2018. this team,” Landeskog said. “He’s going to play with some good players, Donskoi has 50 games plus the 24-game run he had with the San Jose and he is a good player. So he’s going to contribute to this team and that Sharks when they reached the Stanley Cup final in 2016 and lost to Cole line, and we’re excited to have him here. He fits into the way we want to and the Pittsburgh Penguins. play the game, and we want to play fast.” Burakovsky has 56 games of playoff experience, with his strongest Tuesday provided a bit more insight into where Burakovsky potentially campaign coming when the Capitals won the Stanley Cup. He missed 10 fits into the team’s plans. Bednar shuffled his line combinations and games with an injury but bounced back to score two goals in Game 7 moved Joonas Donskoi next to Landeskog and MacKinnon. That, in turn, against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference final. led to Burakovsky receiving minutes on the second line anchored by Burakovsky finished that postseason with six points in 13 games. Kadri while Tyson Jost occupied left wing. Oh, and there is another player the Avalanche received in a trade in the Preseason has allowed Bednar a few trial runs to get a feel for what he summer of 2018 who may or may not be able to speak on what has in Burakovsky, with the belief being the real experiment would come Burakovsky can bring to a team. once he was eventually paired with Jost and Kadri. The concept of a “He was a huge part of the Cup run in Washington in the playoffs,” Burakovsky-Kadri-Jost second-line combination has been discussed Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer said. “He stepped up huge for since late June. the team.” Finding a sustainable second-line combination was an issue at times for An argument could be made that Grubauer has a stronger understanding the Avalanche last season. Trading for Burakovsky in late June was of Burakovsky’s situation than anyone on the roster. He left the Capitals viewed as one way of solving that issue. Moving for Kadri days later with the goal of becoming a No. 1 goaltender. Grubauer needed time but coupled with general manager saying Jost would move to the outright won the job at the most critical time of the year when he helped wing provided an indication the Avalanche might have found a potential the Avalanche reach the playoffs for a consecutive season for the first solution. time in more than a decade. Seeing if it will work remains the question. Kadri is the proven veteran From there, he was one of the team’s most consistent performers en center who can win faceoffs at a high rate while possessing the offensive route to helping the Avalanche push the Sharks to Game 7 in the ability to score 30 goals a season when placed in a second-line role. It is Western Conference semifinal. just about seeing what Burakovsky and Jost can achieve in those respective roles next to Kadri. “I think this is a great opportunity for him to step up and step into the top six,” Grubauer said. “I don’t know if last year if he got the opportunity in “Obviously, I gotta pull my weight, and as a centerman, it is important to Washington. He’s going to get another opportunity here. Everybody has take responsibility and lead the line, so to speak,” Kadri said. “They’re to work for that. I have to work for my spot, too. So does he. He has to good players. I’m still trying to find that chemistry with them. We’ve had a work for being on the top lines, and he has to produce. Nothing gets couple opportunities, not a whole lot there in preseason, but from what handed to him just because we won the Cup a couple years ago. I’ve seen, I’ve liked.” “He’s a great addition to the team, and I think we are really excited and Kadri described Burakovsky as “a skilled skater who can definitely make really looking forward to what this group can bring, and he’s going to be a plays” and also has a fluent stride. He then added how it is his job as a huge part of it.” center to give Burakovsky the opportunity to make those particular plays while also working to get open whenever he has the puck. Again. Knowing how it will all work out for Burakovsky and the Avalanche will not be determined until well into the season. Having that sort of ability packed into a 6-foot-3, 201-pound frame is what made the idea of trading for Burakovsky enticing from the perspective of OK. Cool. But what about the initial question of finding out who Sakic and his front office staff. Burakovsky is? Come to find out, he has an affinity for cars and is pretty big into soccer. He loves Real Madrid and also supports his hometown club, Malmo FF, which was the starting point for a young Zlatan Ibrahimovic several years before he became a global superstar.

So, why not do soccer? What made him choose hockey?

“Well, my whole family played hockey,” he said. “My grandpa coached in Sweden for a long time. My uncle played hockey. My dad played a couple years in the NHL and was successful in Sweden and in Austria and in Germany and in Switzerland. He’s been everywhere, and he’s had a really successful career.

“I just think I’ve followed the same path as the rest of my family, and so far it’s been pretty good.”

The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108274 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche Notebook: Deeper than ever, Avs kick it into high gear as camp winds down

BY EVAN RAWAL SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

There was a different feel at Avalanche practice today. With the recent cuts putting the roster down to 37, the Avs separated into two distinct groups, with the veterans taking the ice first, and the youngsters afterward.

The difference in pace was noticeable.

“It’s been a while since we’ve had a group like that together and practiced that hard,” veteran Matt Nieto said after practice. “That was a real good practice for us. We don’t get many of those days right now in camp having two groups.”

The first group that hit the ice today could very well be the opening night 23-man roster when the season starts. There are still two preseason games left to determine a few final spots on the roster, but there is no shortage of depth in the organization at this moment.

Nieto thinks it’s easily the deepest the team has been since he was acquired.

“We’re four-deep upfront,” the winger said. “We’ve got a lot of depth on defense too, which is huge. You definitely need that depth when you want to be a team that goes far. There’s going to be injuries and stuff like that, so to be able to have guys that are going to be able to step in and have an impact is huge.”

Having just acquired Pierre-Eduoard Bellemare to center the fourth line, the Avs don’t feel like there will be any drop off in the lineup. That is not a luxury they had last season.

“We could have our fourth line out there in a situation where it might be against the opposing team’s first lines, and I think us as players and coaches would be comfortable with that.”

NEWS AND NOTES FROM PRACTICE

Erik Johnson and Nikita Zadorov returned to practice as full participants, and appear set to start the season as a pair, with Samuel Girard and Cale Makar filling out the rest of the top 4 on defense.

Colin Wilson skated hard before practice but did not join the rest of the team for the full practice. His status is still up in the air for the season opener.

Coach Jared Bednar said that journeyman Jayson Megna, who skated with Bellemare and Matt Calvert on the fourth line today, has “separated himself” upfront in terms of earning a spot. Coach also said Nichushkin’s game has picked up since his first few days in Denver.

Coach Bednar flipped wingers in the top 6, putting Joonas Donskoi with MacKinnon and Landeskog, and Andre Burakovsky with Nazem Kadri and Tyson Jost. That situation may be fluid until Mikko Rantanen comes back.

Conor Timmins found himself in the veteran group, perhaps signaling he’s moved ahead of a few others defensemen on the depth chart, but Bednar said nothing has been determined yet and the final two preseason games will play a big role in figuring out who starts where.

Tyson Jost has spent all camp playing wing but played Center in his two preseason appearances, and what position he plays will be a fluid situation all year. Bednar liked how he looked at Center to end last season, but Jost wants a shot in the top 6 and the only way to earn that right now is at wing.

It will be a mostly younger group playing in Vegas tomorrow, with a few veterans sprinkled in, with most of the NHL group playing in the final preseason game on Saturday in Dallas.

BSN DENVER LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108275 Colorado Avalanche With his rights expiring at the end of the year, Kvaca is probably the goalie furthest on the outside in the Avs system currently. After a few years in the Czech2, he looks to have finally broken into his countries top league in a backup role. Despite making 29 saves in his season debut he Avalanche Prospect Portfolio: CHL’s opening weekend still wasn’t able to get the win as he didn’t receive much offensive support.

WHL: BY NATHAN RUDOLPH SEPTEMBER 23, 2019 Luka Burzan – RW ()

Games Played Goals Assists Points PIM +/- This is the Prospect Portfolio, a one-stop-shop for weekly information, highlights and stats on all of the Avs prospects. From the AHL to the 2 2 2 4 0 1 and even into juniors. Roughly half of the Avs unsigned prospects have begun their seasons at this point with Canadian major juniors Taken in the sixth round as a second-year draft eligible expectations for opening up over the weekend. Burzan are high in what should be his final year in the WHL. Possibly the most well rounded offensive threat of the Avs WHL forwards, he did not For now, the focus will be on players whose seasons have already disappoint in his opening two games dropping two assists in game one started and as we move into October and beyond the list will expand and and notching two goals in game two including this poke check leading to coverage will continue to grow. a breakaway finish:

KHL: Trent Miner – G (Vancouver Giants)

Nikolai Kovalenko – RW () Games Played Wins Losses OTW OTL Save % GAA Games Played Goals Assists Points PIM +/- 1 1 0 0 0 87.00 3.00 5 0 1 1 0 -3 Miner got the win in the Giants season opener with a performance best The Avs’ Russian prospects had their seasons begin at the start of described as good enough. Making 20 saves on 23 shots isn’t anything September and have a handful of games under their belt. Kovalenko has to write home about and Miner likely would have liked two of the goals he gotten off to a bit of a stilted start, picking up just a single point thus far. gave up back, but the Giants never trailed in the game. Look for Miner to He was also held out of the lineup for a few games for unknown reasons. fight for tandem time in the net over the season as he battles the more The good news is Kovalenko’s TOI is up around the 13-minute mark and seasoned David Tendeck at the position. he looks to have a solid grasp on a third line spot. Sasha Mutala – RW (Tri-City Americans) Daniil Zhuravlyov – D (Ak ) Games Played Goals Assists Points PIM +/- Games Played Goals Assists Points PIM +/- 2 1 3 4 2 0 8 0 2 2 2 4 With four points on opening night for the Americans, Mutala got off to the For much of the summer Zhuravlyov’s developmental path seemed to be hottest start of any of the Avs prospects. He was involved in every single up in the air, but less than a month into the season it now looks rock goal on the night and looks to be a key piece both in the top six and on solid. Not only has he secured his spot in the KHL, but he is also playing the power play. The Americans were blown out in their second game of second-pairing minutes for Ak Bars and has been able to pitch in on the weekend 6 – 1 as Mutala failed to record any noteworthy stats but at offense with a couple of assists as well. The 19-year-old is also poised to this point has involvement in 80% of Tri-City’s goals and has shown a be a key piece on Russia’s World Junior blue line. nice ability to distribute. Liiga (Finland): BSN DENVER LOADED: 09.25.2019 Justus Annunen – G (Oulun Kärpät)

Games Played Wins Losses OTW OTL Save % GAA

3 1 0 2 0 92.31 1.97

After playing in the (Finland’s second-tier hockey league) last season, Annunen has graduated to the big leagues and is off to a flying start going undefeated in his first three games and posting some impressive numbers. Kärpät has been one of the best teams in the Liiga over the past few years and looks to be a great place for Annunen to cut his teeth at one of the highest levels.

QMJHL:

Alex Beaucage – RW (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)

Games Played Goals Assists Points PIM +/-

2 3 1 4 4 3

Taken in the third round Beaucage is the highest-drafted skater in this week’s portfolio. He immediately put the strongest aspect of his game to work, potting three goals over the weekend. He is expected to be the Huskies main trigger man this season and is also quite capable of creating for himself as you can see below:

Extraliga (Czechia):

Petr Kvaca – G (HC Oceláři Třinec)

Games Played Wins Losses OTW OTL Save % GAA

1 0 1 0 0 91.43 3.05 1108276 Colorado Avalanche

“Excellent” Shane Bowers is stealing the preseason show

BY EVAN RAWAL SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

On most days, Avs head coach Jared Bednar is very calm, and at least to the public, won’t praise a player too much.

On Sunday night, Bednar didn’t hold back. Shane Bowers has made quite the impression on him.

“I thought he was excellent both nights. Excellent.”

And that was just the beginning.

“Bigger, stronger, faster than he was last year,” Bednar continued. “You can see his personality. You saw it right away in the rookie tournament. Involved every shift. He’s a good player, he’s a really good player. I really like what we’ve seen from him so far. He handles himself really well in a bunch of different situations, and I like him a lot.”

Much like the Jelly of the Month club, the Matt Duchene trade has proven to be the gift that keeps on giving. The move that brought the Avs Samuel Girard, playoff legend Andrew Hammond, and Vladislav Kamenev is now seeing some of the other players acquired in the deal make waves in Bowers and fourth overall selection Bowen Byram.

Bowers, who was the 28th overall selection by the Ottawa Senators in the 2017 draft, is in just his first NHL training camp after leaving Boston University at the end of March. One of the standouts in the rookie tournament, he’s noticed the pace is always picking up.

“You get to main camp, it’s a whole other level,” Bowers told BSN Denver. “They’ve been pushing the pace and it’s been fun so far.”

By signing at the end of March, Bowers was able to get a small taste of what professional hockey is like. He played eight games for the Colorado Eagles before heading home for the summer to train. That small taste gave him an idea of what the pro level is like.

“You just know where you stand,” Bowers said after the Avs 3-2 preseason win over the Wild. “I got that taste of pro and know what I had to work on. I knew what areas I needed to improve on. I think that was a big advantage for me, getting that little sniff, that little taste there, at the end of the year so when I came to camp now, there would be no surprises.”

The coaching staff has not held back when it comes to opportunity with Bowers. In his two preseason games, he’s been used in all situations, playing over six minutes on the power play on Saturday night, and getting shifts on the penalty kill in both of his games. On Sunday night, he was out there in overtime and came very close to ending it with an Alex Stalock poke check preventing him from scoring.

That sort of trust can only make you feel better.

“Yeah, for sure,” Bowers said when asked if that trust is giving him confidence. “I’m definitely getting the opportunity and I’m just trying to make the most of it, and show I can be in all those situations.”

After Sunday’s game, the Avalanche made a few more cuts to get down to 37 players. Bowers was not one of them.

If he keeps it up, he may not have to worry about being cut at all.

BSN DENVER LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108277 Colorado Avalanche Nick Henry – C: Henry looked to have a goal in the third period, but from what I saw, he pretty clearly pushed Stalock into the net, so it was the right call to disallow it. A few nice shot blocks, but ultimately, he was sent to the AHL after the game to start his pro career. Avs Preseason Game 4 Grades: Winning makes everything better Joonas Donskoi – B: This man is basically a guaranteed controlled zone entry, but you can kind of see why he hasn’t been a big-time goal scorer in the league, despite creating a good amount. He had a nice chance on BY EVAN RAWAL SEPTEMBER 22, 2019 the power play, alone in front off a nice feed from Bowers, but put it right in Stalock’s chest.

Breaking their goose egg this preseason, the Colorado Avalanche were Nazem Kadri – B: He took two penalties, but I’m not sure he really did able to get on the board, coming out ahead of the Minnesota Wild by a anything wrong on either of them. He was feisty tonight, and was score of 3-2 in a shootout. dominant in the face-off circle, winning 15 of the 22 he took. He’s the ideal #2C behind MacKinnon. How did each player perform? Let’s find out… Gabriel Landeskog – B+: The Captain was back to his old self tonight, Dan Renouf – B-: I’m not sure Renouf has much of a shot at making the controlling the puck down low, which really led to the Jost goal in the first. team, but he’s making an impression on the staff with his abrasiveness. The shootout winner was awfully nice, and Landeskog has proven to be A big hit last night, and a fight tonight. To go with that, he did pick up two pretty good in shootouts. assists. Did look a little lost on the Wild’s power play goal though. Andre Burakovsky – F: Through three games, he’s easily the biggest Cale Makar – B-: He’s going to have to learn where to pick his spots, but disappointment of the new guys. He looks disengaged often, and when boy is he a fun player to watch. Some really nice pinches in the offensive he’s been set up to shoot, he waits too long and misses the net often (4 zone to extend zone time, but also some questionable decisions, trying to of his 5 attempts missed the net). Plays are just dying on his stick. You make moves when it just wasn’t there, particularly in the defensive zone. can see the skill is there, but you can also see why his ice time It’s easy to forget how little NHL experience he has. consistently dropped in Washington. You just hope it clicks at some point. Jayson Megna – B+: At this point, the veteran may be a dark horse to make the team with the injuries upfront. He picked up another goal and Philipp Grubauer – B: In his two games, Grubauer hasn’t really faced a has been used by the staff on both the power play and penalty kill. ton of pressure, but he’s been solid overall. He made a huge right pad save in the third period to keep the game tied, and made a nice one in Shane Bowers – B+: I have never seen Coach Bednar sound so excited overtime on the Wild’s only real chance as well. He looks calmer in net when talking about a player as he was after the game. Bowers is earning this year than he did last preseason. a long look because his play has been exceptional. He almost won it in overtime and had a few shifts where he looked like he was never going to The Avs preseason continues when they head to Las Vegas to take on give the puck up. His NHL career may begin sooner than later. the Golden Knights on Wednesday. The game starts at 8 PM MST.

Sheldon Dries – C-: He’s been given some real opportunities, playing BSN DENVER LOADED: 09.25.2019 with good players the last two games, but hasn’t done much with it. He did have a nice drive wide to create a chance for Kadri in front but has been generally quiet. Zero shot attempts tonight.

Tyson Jost – B: I liked his game in the offensive zone tonight, but thought he struggled in the defensive zone, including a flub in the first period that Grubauer bailed him out on. A goal early in preseason can hopefully build his confidence for the year. I like him more at center than wing.

Logan O’Connor – C-: Much quieter game tonight, perhaps from playing with lesser players. There’s not a lot of top-end skill there, but I think his skating may be enough for him to earn a spot, given the way the Avs like to play.

TJ Tynan – D: He has gotten quite a bit of power play time and not done much with it, clearing the zone with a few flubbed passes. He seems destined to play a big role for the Eagles.

Mark Barberio – C: I think Barbs has gotten a little better in each game. He didn’t truly stand out in any way tonight. He let the pass through for the Wild’s first goal, but it was kind of a broken play that led to it, so not sure he really can take much blame.

Bowen Byram – C+: He looked a little bit more comfortable tonight, but playing with Makar, he didn’t have to do a whole lot with the puck. My biggest gripe with him has been his unwillingness to put the puck towards the net, which has been a big surprise given he scored a ton in the WHL. Zero shot attempts tonight and he had plenty of chances to let it rip.

Colin Campbell – C: The fact that he made it this far is surprising, but he showed some effort tonight. Picked up an assist on the Megna goal, and then seconds later looked lost on the Wild’s power play goal.

Calle Rosen – B-: Through the first 30 minutes, I thought he was the Avs’ best defenseman, but he had some issues later in the game, giving up the puck a few times due to a heavy forecheck. He had a brutal giveaway on the penalty kill in the third period that Grubauer bailed him out on. His acceleration to draw a penalty in overtime was impressive, given his size.

Samuel Girard – B-: I liked Sam more tonight than the other night. He struggled to get his shot through on a few occasions but was more willing to shoot the puck. His ability to just skate the puck out is second to none in the NHL. 1108278 Colorado Avalanche Makar got to put his skills to the test today, especially in overtime as the Avalanche maintained possession and Makar was out there for all but 12 seconds of Colorado’s man advantage.

Cale Makar doesn’t care about expectations While they didn’t score, he showed off what he feels are his strengths in that role.

“Just have patience with the puck,” Makar began. “You want to get the BY AJ HAEFELE SEPTEMBER 22, 2019 puck to the net as quick as you can and it’s going to be an adjustment period in this league just getting pucks through. Everybody’s going to

crash the net really quick so being able to get pucks to the net. I learned It’s safe to say expectations are high for Cale Makar. It’s also safe to say that in the playoffs. It’s just going to be something to build off of. Having he doesn’t care all that much about them. the ability to be agile on the blue line is one of my strengths.”

The Avalanche have been lucky enough to see many incredible forwards Colorado needs Makar to be special, possibly even historic. He may come through town since 1995 but the high-end defenders have been reach those heights in his rookie year, he may not. One thing is for sure, harder for the organization to find. though. He won’t care about the noise either way.

There have been brief tenures of guys like Rob Blake and Ray Bourque GAME TAKEAWAYS and obviously, the excellent career of Adam Foote largely took place with Makar, Girard, and Bowen Byram are the future of this Colorado defense the Avalanche. Beyond that, however, the team has struggled to develop and seeing them all in the same game was pretty exciting. Add Conor its own high-end defenders. Timmins in there and it’s not hard to see why the Avalanche are believed Tyson Barrie and John-Michael Liles have been the best of the bunch to have the top young defense corps in the NHL. and those two players had very good Avalanche careers. Nazem Kadri is really good. He’s exactly what Colorado needed. I think But Makar…Cale Makar is different. we saw the limitations tonight and why he’s not a top-flight center but drop Nathan MacKinnon in front of him and the Avalanche will have one His impressive college career gave way to the rarified air of playoff of the best 1-2 center duos. production before ever playing a regular season NHL game. Six points in 10 games is a 49-point pace across 82 games. Shane Bowers was really good again and nearly ended the game in overtime when he took a pass from Girard and cut hard towards the net. If he replicated that scoring in his rookie year, it would be the highest A great poke check from Alex Stalock kept him from finishing it off. rookie total for a defenseman since 2009. Bowers received postgame praise from Jared Bednar that might be as Makar should get a plum opportunity to do so, however, because effusive of praise as I’ve heard him give a young player before. Colorado’s blue line is now missing the 59 points produced last season “Excellent. Bigger, stronger, faster than he was last year. He’s a good by Barrie. Makar isn’t getting ahead of himself with the idea he’s here to player, a really good player. I really like what I’ve seen of him so far. He “replace” Barrie. handles himself really well in a bunch of different situations.”

“I’ll be ready if it happens,” Makar said of Whatever the coaches want Because Bowers is a center, I still think it’s a tough road to making the me to do, I’ll try to do to the best of my abilities. That’s basically where NHL quickly but if they decide to move Pierre-Edouard Bellemare to left my mind’s at.” wing, they could open a spot for a Bellemare-Bowers-Calvert fourth line.

Makar’s comfort with the cliches aside, he does seem to be taking this Speaking of centers, Tyson Jost played his second preseason game in new challenge ahead of him with an appropriate amount of caution. He the middle of the ice and again looked dynamic and like an impact player. could have been overconfident after the playoff performance he put up The plan coming into camp was for Jost to play wing somewhere in the but instead is trying to make life next to Sam Girard a little easier for top six and J.T. Compher as the third-line center but after four preseason them both. games, I think they should revisit that plan.

“We both move well, we’re able to transition really quickly,” Makar said of That is, of course, assuming Jost is healthy. He took a slap shot off his his preseason partner. “If we start tightening up the defensive zone hand in the third period and briefly left the bench to tend to it. The x-ray systems, I’m still getting used to them, once I fully understand what I’m room was opened up following the game and it’s easy to connect the doing, it’s going to make it a lot easier to read off each other.” dots that it was Jost who got them on his hand. We’ll know more Tuesday when the team is next on the ice. While Makar and Girard didn’t exclusively play together in today’s 3-2 overtime win against the Minnesota Wild, they still saw certain situations Following the game, Nick Henry was sent to the Colorado Eagles and together that will likely become regular roles for them during the Colin Campbell was released from his PTO. Eagles camp opens on upcoming season. Tuesday so there might be more cuts coming in the next 48 hours.

Whether the Avs keep Girard and Makar, or ‘Turn and Burn’ together is BSN DENVER LOADED: 09.25.2019 anyone’s guess right now. For his part, Makar is just itching to get into some real games.

“We have so much depth on D on this team that anybody can play with anybody,” he said. “Who knows if they’ll keep us together or not. If they do, we’ll be happy but if they don’t, we’ll be happy as well. I can play with anybody on this team.”

Where Makar figures to have an immediate impact regardless of D partner is on the power play, where Barrie produced 25 of his 59 points last year. On a unit with Nathan MacKinnon, Gabe Landeskog, and eventually (maybe?) Mikko Rantanen, the pressure will be on Makar to keep a pretty well-oiled machine running.

To the surprise of no one, Makar feels he is up to the task.

“It’s one of my strengths,” he said of his power play acumen. “Whatever unit it’s on doesn’t really matter but I think playing power play and creating offense has always been one of my strengths. Just to add to that, regardless if you’re on the first or second unit, everyone can make plays. I’m fortunate to be on either.” 1108279 Columbus Blue Jackets I want to use my bench,” he said. “I think it’s very important that we do that and feel comfortable with that. I’m not saying I have all the answers and feel comfortable right now; we just need to let this develop.”

Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella says ongoing changes to Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 09.25.2019 roster is possible

Henry Palattella The Columbus Dispatch Sep 24, 2019 at 5:46 PM

John Tortorella isn’t ruling out anything when it comes to the Blue Jackets' opening-night roster.

While Tortorella and his coaching staff have cut down their roster earlier this year than in previous years, that doesn’t mean they’re done making moves.

Forwards Zac Dalpe, Markus Hannikainen and Ryan MacInnis and defenseman Adam Clendening cleared waivers Tuesday, one day after being assigned to the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League. Yet all might play in an exhibition game Wednesday night at Buffalo.

“As I’ve always said, competition for positions is healthy for your team,” Tortorella said. “That’s good news for an organization when you feel like you have some depth at positions. I think there’s six or seven guys playing (Wednesday) who were sent down, but they may play a really good game and it might make us do different things at the next practice. That’s the great thing about having Cleveland right down the street from us.”

The biggest areas of uncertainty for the Blue Jackets are the third and fourth forward lines, along with finalizing defensive pairings — things Tortorella said he’ll be looking at in the final three exhibition games.

“These are three pretty important games for a number of people,” he said.

The Blue Jackets have 28 players on the roster, which needs to be cut to 23 by their season opener on Oct. 4.

A player sitting squarely on the roster bubble is Sonny Milano, a first- round pick in 2014 who spent almost all of last season in Cleveland. He has shown flashes (22 points in 55 games in 2017-2018), but making the Blue Jackets roster out of camp will be contingent upon him putting together a solid all-around showing.

“The most important thing is that he doesn’t always have to make an offensive play every time he’s on the ice, that’s what puts him in a jam,” Tortorella said. “I think he understands positioning — it’s when he has the puck and he’s trying to make something out of nothing that is the problem. We’re going to keep looking at him.”

One of the key factors the coaching staff will be evaluating is how players perform away from the puck.

“I think we need to have more grind in our game when it comes to playing away from the puck,” Tortorella said. “We have two young goalies, and we need to let them get their feet underneath them as we start the year. That’s incumbent upon us being a really stiff team. It’s a tremendous concentration of mine to be able to play four lines.”

One player whom Tortorella said needs to improve playing off the puck is Emil Bemstrom, who could be a wild card in deciding the Blue Jackets’ third and fourth lines.

Bemstrom, who led the Swedish Hockey League with 23 goals last season, has excelled in the power play this preseason, including a power-play goal 52 seconds into the first game. If the 20-year-old continues to look like an NHL player, he could be a game-changer for the Blue Jackets.

“You have a different look on a fourth line if he’s there — maybe he even ends up playing higher than the fourth line,” Tortorella said.

On Tuesday, Bemstrom filled in on the first line for Pierre Luc-Dubois, who missed practice because of an illness.

Regardless of what roster decisions are made, Tortorella’s depth will be on display almost immediately. 1108280 Columbus Blue Jackets And with captain Nick Foligno currently playing on the third line with center Boone Jenner and right winger Josh Anderson, the only line that appears up for grabs is the fourth line.

Blue Jackets, former first-round pick Sonny Milano likely at a crossroads Milano would appear to be in a battle with Emil Bemstrom, Marko Dano and Jakob Lilja for one of the final two forward spots.

Tortorella said he’ll let the players who make the final cut dictate how he By Aaron Portzline Sep 24, 2019 puts together his fourth line. But whatever it looks like, Tortorella wants to be able to roll that line with consistency.

“Sonny has been a good pro in scoring 14 goals (in 2017-18), and he COLUMBUS, Ohio — This is Sonny Milano’s sixth training camp with the doesn’t get a sniff last year,” Tortorella said. “We’re going to keep looking Blue Jackets, and his game still has all of the promise and some of the at him, but there are other guys here who have played pretty well, guys potholes he brought with him as a big-time, big-haired prospect in 2014. who weren’t with us last year. But the situation is different. “He’s in that group, trying to find a way to fill one of those lines.” Milano is one of 15 healthy forwards in camp, which means he’s only two So far, Milano’s offseason legal issues have not been a disruption. He more cuts away from surviving training camp to make the Blue Jackets’ was arrested July 7, charged with assault in the alleged beating of an roster for the Oct. 4 season opener against Toronto. acquaintance in his New York City apartment. But the Blue Jackets can no longer simply send him back to minor- He appeared in court Sept. 4 — eight days before training camp — but league Cleveland for more seasoning because Milano would need to has been excused from his next hearing Oct. 16. clear waivers for the demotion. The Athletic contacted front-office members with five different NHL clubs. All five doubted Milano would Whether he’ll still be a Blue Jacket by then is anyone’s guess. clear waivers. Notebook In other words, the former first-round draft pick could be playing for another NHL club within a week. • Center Pierre-Luc Dubois didn’t practice Tuesday because he was sick.

“You could look at it that way,” Milano said. “But I’m just focused on • Forwards Zac Dalpe, Markus Hannikainen and Ryan MacInnis and making this team. I just feel like it’s a good opportunity this year. I feel defenseman Adam Clendening all cleared waivers Tuesday and were well prepared and ready to go. officially sent to AHL Cleveland. However …

“When I’ve been here, I’ve scored goals, so I don’t think that’s a question • Tortorella said “six or seven” players would be recalled from Cleveland anymore. It’s working hard and doing the little things. It’s the same things to play Wednesday in Buffalo. we’ve been going over for a couple years now, the details. • Here’s Tortorella on the demotion of Hannikainen, who has a one-way “I think I belong here. I know I belong here. I just have to prove it.” NHL contract but, surprisingly, didn’t make it to the final cuts: “Guys played better. Doesn’t mean he’s done. We’re still juggling a number of One could make the argument that the Blue Jackets have never needed different thoughts as far as what our team is going to be by opening Milano more than they do now. night. I’m sure Hanni is going to do everything he can to get back here and be part of that opening (night) lineup. We’re not saying no, but some The departure of leading scorer Artemi Panarin has opened up a spot in guys have played better to this point.” the top six at left wing, and Milano has always been regarded as a player with top-six skill. The departure of trade deadline acquisitions Matt • Here’s Tortorella on goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, who is getting adjusted Duchene and Ryan Dzingel has many wondering whether the Blue to the smaller rinks and faster style of play in North America. Merzlikins Jackets will score enough goals to remain competitive. has an .885 save percentage through 4 1/2 periods of play. “The kid’s working hard at it. He’s one competitive son of a bitch. Sometimes he “It’s definitely the most open it’s been since I’ve been here,” Milano said. may get in the way of himself, because he competes so hard. That’s “It’s a good opportunity.” where he’s got to find himself and settle himself down and allow the There’s been only one season — 2017-18 — when Milano has truly had game to come to him. I’m not going to talk about goaltending, but I can a chance to stick in the NHL lineup, and he responded with 14-8-22 in 55 talk about his personality. I love his personality. I’d rather have a guy like games. that, who you have to talk off the wall a little bit, instead of having to push a guy’s ass up the wall. This is a really good situation with Elvis.” For some players, the ability to score goals gives cover to weaker parts in their game. But nobody could score enough goals to cover for Milano’s The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 decision-making and his play without the puck, which are the two biggest reasons he’s spent so much time in Cleveland over the years.

Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella has always had trouble abiding those aspects of Milano’s game, but he was clear Tuesday — perhaps as clear as he’s ever been — in describing Milano’s biggest, last hurdle.

It’s not his defensive play or his “play away from the puck” anymore.

“I think Sonny gets put in a box,” Tortorella said. “He gets jammed up a little bit in the perception of what he is. He’s a smart enough guy to understand how to play away from the puck, and it’s part of our responsibility to teach him that part of the game.

“The most important thing with Sonny is, he does not always have to make an offensive play every time he’s on the ice. That’s what puts him in a little bit of a jam.

“He understands positioning. It’s when he has the puck and he’s trying to make something out of nothing when he really shouldn’t. That’s the problem. It’s old for me how everybody thinks he’s a goofball.”

With Alexandre Texier slotting into Panarin’s old spot next to center Pierre-Luc Dubois and right winger Cam Atkinson, and free-agent signing Gustav Nyquist playing on the second line with center Alexander Wennberg and Oliver Bjorkstrand, it would appear Milano is an odd man out for the top six. 1108281 Dallas Stars

Stars forward Roope Hintz ready to build off breakout performance in last season's playoffs

By Matthew DeFranks

FRISCO -- As the Stars shape their roster and premier players fine tune their games, Roope Hintz appears ready to go.

"He's a player that seems ready to attack the season," Stars coach Jim Montgomery said.

Hintz was dangerous in his first preseason game against Minnesota, scoring a power-play goal after speeding through the neutral zone, and one of a few standouts in Dallas' 6-0 loss to Florida on Saturday in Tulsa. Montgomery said Hintz, Jason Robertson and Thomas Harley were the Stars' best players in that game.

Unlike last year, Hintz has little to prove this preseason. He's entrenched in a top-six role -- either centering the second line or as a wing on either of the top two lines -- following a strong finish, including a postseason in which he was possibly the team's best forward.

He played his third preseason game Tuesday night in St. Louis between Jamie Benn and Alexander Radulov, and will be a key fixture in generating scoring after the Stars finished tied for the third-worst offense in the league last season.

"There's no question [Hintz is] going to be in our top six, and we need him to be in our top six," Montgomery said. "Right now, I think he's pulling people with him and other people got to start pulling him along as well."

Briefly: Dowling returned to practice Tuesday afternoon in a red non- contact jersey after he missed three practices with an upper-body injury. On Monday, Montgomery said he'd like to get Dowling in a preseason game so he can earn his way onto the roster.

The Stars close their preseason with home games against Minnesota on Thursday and Colorado on Saturday.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108282 Dallas Stars

Why the Stars needed to see 'a lot' of urgency from young players trying to make the NHL roster vs. St. Louis

By Matthew DeFranks 11:06 PM on Sep 24, 2019

Tuesday's game in St. Louis was one of the final chances for roster hopefuls to play their way into the opening night lineup, with the Stars expected to ice close to their NHL lineup in the final two preseason games.

That meant for players like Denis Gurianov, Ty Dellandrea, Joel Kiviranta, Nick Caamano, Robertson and Rhett Gardner, it was an opportunity to show something they hadn't during training camp yet. How much urgency was needed from that group Tuesday?

"A lot," Montgomery said. "They need to start proving they want to play for the Dallas Stars this year."

For Dellandrea and Kiviranta, this training camp was their first real chance to make an NHL roster. Last year, it was a foregone conclusion that Dellandrea would end up back in the OHL with Flint, while Kiviranta was playing in Finland's Liiga.

Across the last two weeks, neither has taken hold of what appears to be an open roster spot -- assuming Gurianov and Justin Dowling make the roster, and the Stars carry seven defensemen. Kiviranta had a decent opening game last week, but hasn't stood out since. Dellandrea said he struggled to find his groove early in camp.

"You come to camp and you want to do so well and you want to show so well," Dellandrea said. "I guess just nerves and playing with the big club, it just takes a little while to get comfortable."

Dellandrea carries the potential that comes with a first-round pick -- the Stars took him at No. 13 in 2018 -- and could be an early season option in the NHL since he can't play in the AHL. If Dellandrea is not in the NHL, he must be returned to Flint.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108283 Dallas Stars It’s a tactic he repeated in his first season in Dallas, providing players a direct line of communication and earning the favor of the locker room. He had a strong relationship with the leadership group that included Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, John Klingberg and Ben Bishop. All of those players Déjà vu? How Jim Montgomery’s experience at Denver could help Stars are back, and they’ll be augmented by veteran leadership additions in take next step Joe Pavelski and Corey Perry. It’s a strong core for a team that remembers the pain of falling short in Game 7 of the second round of the

playoffs against eventual Stanley Cup champions St. Louis. By Saad Yousuf Sep 24, 2019 “There are things that you keep in the back of your mind, but we learned a lot from St. Louis and last year’s playoff run,” Seguin said. “We use that, definitely, in the back of our mind to motivate us all summer, and Jim Montgomery has been here before. He knows the agony of coming now it’s putting the new pieces together and start off right. It’s a new so close, the task of starting the journey all over again and proving his year.” team belongs on the grandest stage. Seguin says there’s a balance of how much last year is used as fuel to That’s the situation he was in three years ago at the University of Denver, the fire with staying in the present and not worrying about the past or and it’s the one he’s in right now with the Dallas Stars. present. Montgomery agrees with that, but he also recognizes the parallels between his 2016 Denver team that lost in the Frozen Four and The 2015-16 Denver Pioneers began their season 3-1, only for that last year’s Stars. strong start to quickly give way to mediocrity. In fact, when they adjourned for winter break on December 12th to conclude the 2015 Like the Pioneers, the Stars started 3-1 before dropping down the calendar year, they were exactly 7-7-2; not a losing team but not a standings toward the end of the calendar year. They strung together their winning one, either. Once they reconvened, however, the team lost just longest win streak right around the All-Star break, winning the game one of their first 20 games played in 2016, headlined by an 11-game going into the break and the first four games after. A strong second half winning streak. pushed them into the playoffs, beating Nashville in six games and going up 3-2 on St. Louis. They turned a stellar season into a playoff run, where they met North Dakota in the Frozen Four. Denver and North Dakota were tied 2-2 with Then came heartbreak – a Game 6 loss at home and a double-overtime less than a minute left in regulation before the Pioneers let a goal slip loss in St. Louis that ended their season. Now, Montgomery once again through the cracks to give North Dakota a 3-2 lead. The Fighting Hawks finds himself in the position of moving a team past postseason then scored on an empty netter to seal a 4-2 win, sending Montgomery’s heartbreak. And despite it being two different levels of hockey, he says Denver team home in heartbreaking fashion. he’ll apply the lessons he learned three years ago in Denver.

“It was really eye-opening,” said New Jersey Devils defenseman Will “Our approach (in Denver) was very similar to here,” Montgomery said. Butcher, who was a junior on that team. “(Montgomery) was very “It’s fuel to the fire, but we’ve got to worry about getting better so we can emotional, like a lot of us were. It was a pretty hard loss, just because we get back to that opportunity.” had taken that group so far from where we were at Christmas break. He was very emotional, because our seniors gave so much to that group.” Montgomery says he never brought up the Frozen Four loss during the subsequent regular season. Once Denver made it back to the same Montgomery and the coaching staff knew Butcher was primed to be the round, he knew he didn’t need to. captain for the following season, so he was a representative voice in the aftermath. In one interview, Butcher made the proclamation that Denver “It’s fuel for the fire once we get there because we won’t let things go. No was going to win the championship the next season. One of Denver’s detail left unturned once we get there,” Montgomery said. “But we’ve got assistant coaches, Tavis MacMillan, told Montgomery of Butcher’s brash to be a really good hockey team and believe in our process to get back confidence. Montgomery approved. there. It’s the same thing here (as it was in Denver). We need to be a better regular-season team, and then once we get to the playoffs, then “Will was kind of the epitome of how Monty prepared players and how he that fuel for the fire comes from what happened last year.” got them to believe,” MacMillan said. That short-term focus is important for the Stars, an organization that After starting the 2016-17 season with two losses, Denver rolled off six hasn’t made the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 2008. On paper, it consecutive wins to move to 6-2. The Pioneers never looked back. They should be a smoother journey than last season now that Montgomery’s flirted with being the top-ranked team in the country for most of the year process is firmly in place among a roster that remains mostly intact. Now before assuming that position for good in late February. They eventually it’s time to take the next step. If their coach’s history is any indication, entered the NCAA tournament 29-7-4 and blew past Michigan Tech and don’t be surprised if the Stars do exactly that this season. Penn State to return to the Frozen Four, the same place they experienced agony just one year ago. This time, they were ready, The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 disposing of Notre Dame 6-1 and then beating Minnesota-Duluth in the national championship to finally plant their flag on the mountaintop. Their captain believes it may not have happened without the learning experience of the previous season.

“I think it was the fact that we came together so much in the second half of the previous year,” Butcher said. “We were playing for each other, and when you do that, the focus is on the team. We were one game away from the final, and we learned that you have to buckle in as soon as you can.

“We came out my senior year, and we were just like, ‘We are going to hit it hard from week one and just keep going.’ It was pretty incredible to see a group of guys play for each other for an entire year like that.”

For his part, Montgomery took a slightly different approach in 2016-2017. He knew he had the potential on his roster, and while he kept his fingerprint on the team, he empowered his players to police themselves.

“He gave the team to the team,” Butcher said. “We had great leaders, and they kept everyone accountable. That’s what good, championship teams do. The players hold each other accountable, just like we talk about here in New Jersey. That’s what good coaching is. He realized the team could handle it.” 1108284 Detroit Red Wings savings compared to individual tickets. The mobile-only, ticket-selling innovation has become relatively common in Major League Baseball, but the Hurricanes are a unique team in the NHL to try it.

Detroit Red Wings, other NHL teams wrestle with ways to keep fans "It gets people in the building for an affordable price," Hurricanes vice coming to games president Mike Forman said. "We think if we can get people to a game, they're hooked."

Red Wings fan Melanie Bidwell was one of the many hooked on hockey Larry Lage, Associated PressPublished 2:11 p.m. ET Sept. 24, 2019 | in the Motor City for years, proudly counting herself as a season-ticket Updated 2:59 p.m. ET Sept. 24, 2019 holder for more than a decade. When the team moved from Joe Louis to Little Caesars Arena two years ago, she continued to buy season tickets.

Last season, she gave up her tickets as her family got busier and doesn't Detroit Red Wings season-ticket holder Matt Larson pays about $74 for regret it. two of the cheapest seats in Little Caesars Arena. "It's nothing against the Red Wings, we still love them, but it's not The 32-year-old fan gets a pair of chairs set up behind a counter — convenient to get to games when you're juggling work schedules and a 9- giving him plenty of space for food and drink — in a spacious area year-old boy playing hockey," she said. "I'm excited that the season is perched near the rafters behind a net. starting again, but our family priorities will keep us at home watching "There's nothing better than watching hockey in person," Larson said games on TV so we can get our kid in bed for school and we can get up recently while watching Detroit host Chicago in a preseason game. for work."

The Red Wings, and every other NHL team, hope there are a lot of Detroit Free Press LOADED: 09.25.2019 people who agree with him.

Detroit is desperately trying to keep fans filing into its arena, which is a little more than two years old, as the allure of the spectacular facility wears off while the team trudges through a multiyear rebuild.

Despite another season without a trip to the playoffs, the Red Wings said the arena was filled to 98% of capacity on average. They ranked in the middle of the pack in a league that generally is able to draw fans to watch its high-speed, full-contact product in person. Ten teams averaged sellouts and just five of 31 franchises had an average attendance last season that didn't fill at least 90 percent of their arenas.

Red Wings fans cheer after a goal during the second period of the Wings' 3-2 overtime loss to the Blue Jackets on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018, at Little Caesars Arena.

While Detroit did not have trouble selling tickets last year, it wasn't always playing in front of a packed house because some fans simply couldn't get people to take and use their tickets. To make unoccupied seats stand out less on TV for Red Wings and Pistons games, the red material covering chairs has been replaced by black to blend in throughout Little Caesars Arena.

"It was an expensive choice," Larson said. "I would've hated to foot the bill for it."

Like franchises in other sports and leagues, NHL teams are invested in enhancing game-day experiences, knowing there is a lot at stake to keep them coming to arenas instead of staying at home.

"Our biggest competitor is Netflix," San Jose Sharks vice president Doug Bentz said. "The one advantage we have over Netflix is you're a part of a community at a Sharks game. We want more of that in our world where so many are stuck on devices in isolation or binge-watching on a couch maybe with one other person."

On streets and in living rooms, St. Louis is still buzzing from its first Stanley Cup.

The Blues will raise a championship banner Oct. 2 before opening the season against the Washington Capitals. Blues season-ticket holder Mike Buschhorn plans to be there for the party, deciding not to cash in on his tickets by selling them and watching the festivities on TV.

"You have to be at a hockey game in person to get it," the Blues fan said. "TV doesn't do it justice. It is the most exciting sport to be at."

The price of tickets, however, plays a part in keeping some fans at home.

"It's a lot cheaper for a 12-pack on the weekends," Blues fan John Fuchs said.

The Carolina Hurricanes have gotten creative, trying to climb up from the bottom of the NHL's attendance figures in terms of percentage of capacity. Carolina sold a little more than three-fourths of its tickets at its Raleigh arena last season to rank ahead of only Ottawa after a three- year run of being last in the league.

The team has been offering monthly subscription passes, giving fans access to a certain number of games for a one-time fee at a substantial 1108285 Detroit Red Wings “Once you get the feeling that you are actually winning some games, you’ve got some confidence in the group, that’s when you’re starting to believe things can happen,” Nemeth said. “The league is so tight now that you can never know what can happen. If you look at St. Louis last New defenseman Patrik Nemeth sees shades of Colorado in Red Wings' season, they were predicted to be a top team, got off to a slow start — rebuild they were last in the league by New Year’s (Day) — and then they go win the Cup. Nobody expected that.

“It’s such a tight league that if you just have a good group of guys, with Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News Published 2:51 p.m. ET Sept. 24, 2019 | good character, and have that mindset that you want to win, anything can Updated 3:30 p.m. ET Sept. 24, 2019 happen.”

Interestlngly, it was Nemeth who got into a fight with Anthony Mantha on Detroit — Patrik Nemeth has been through this before. Dec. 2, in a fight in which Mantha broke his hand and was forced to miss 15 games. The defenseman who the Red Wings signed as an unrestricted free agent July 1 was with the Colorado Avalanche the last two seasons. The Nemeth brushed off the incident as part of professional sports. season before Nemeth joined the Avalanche (2016-17), Colorado earned “That is stuff that happens,” Nemeth said. “My head was pretty hard, I only 48 points all season — one of the worst NHL seasons on record. don’t know what to say. That was last year. It’s one of those things that Last season, the Avalanche earned 90 points, had the nucleus of one of happens sometimes.” the best young teams in the NHL, and reached the second round of the Preseason: Red Wings at Penguins playoffs. ► Faceoff: 7 p.m. Wednesday, PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh So, Nemeth has seen this rebuilding stuff come to fruition and thrive. And, Nemeth feels the Red Wings are trending in the same direction. ► TV/radio: None.

“When I got (to Colorado, on waivers), they had 40-something points, ► Outlook: The Red Wings defeated Pittsburgh in Sunday’s exhibition really low points, the year before,” Nemeth said. “It was just trying to build game, but they’re likely going to see a more Penguins’ NHL-centric a different mindset. That’s what I’m talking about with (general manager) lineup in this game…This game begins a four-game in four-day stretch Steve (Yzerman) coming in, what he’s trying to do. With him and (coach) that will conclude the exhibition season for the Wings. Jeff (Blashill), what they’re trying to do is have that mindset switched, so you’re expecting to win. Detroit News LOADED: 09.25.2019

“That’s something that you have to change in order to turn this thing around. That’s what is appealing. It’s a fun thing to be part of.”

Nemeth, 27, was one of the free agents targeted by the Wings when free agency opened.

The Wings had a need for a burly defenseman who is tough in front of his net, is effective killing penalties and can clear the puck.

Nemeth checks off all the boxes, plus is regarded as one of the better shot blockers in the league. At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, the Wings were to quick to sign the Swedish defenseman (to a two-year, $6 million contract), especially with Niklas Kronwall undecided about his future at that time (Kronwall eventually retired).

Nemeth figures to easily slide into a top-four defensemen role on the Wings, along with being an integral part of the penalty kill.

“He’s strong, strong, strong,” Blashill said. “He wins puck battles, wins net-front battles. We haven’t been good enough in front of our net. We haven’t been good enough at getting pucks out on the power play. We haven’t been good enough in creating stalls in the defensive zone.

“He does all those things. He knows how to defend.”

Nemeth’s offensive game lags behind his defensive strengths, though Blashill feels Nemeth’s shot can be an effective weapon.

But the fact Nemeth understands his strengths, Blashill said, is a positive.

“We needed to become a good penalty-killing team, and the best way to do that is to add great penalty killers,” Blashill said. “He blocks shots for fun. He’s going to be a real good addition.

“He’s a lot of what we didn’t have.”

Nemeth was, and has been, excited about joining the Wings organization.

Although the lack of playoff participation the last three seasons — and likely a fourth, in many analysts’ opinions — is disappointing, Nemeth believes in all the young talent headed into the Wings organization.

“It’s an organization that’s on the rise,” Nemeth said. “They’ve been missing the playoffs three years in a row, right? (But) they have a lot of good young players and with the history it has, it’s a real professional organization.

“That was the most exciting part of it (of joining the Wings).”

Nemeth experienced how the Avalanche gradually became successful again, and believes the Wings can duplicate with some early success. 1108286 Detroit Red Wings “Just crazy,” Hirose said. “You never really expect that to happen when you’re a kid collecting cards when you’re growing up. Sort of a surreal feeling.”

Taro Hirose makes solid case for Red Wings’ second line Michigan Live LOADED: 09.25.2019

By Ansar Khan

DETROIT – Taro Hirose has a knack for making plays that lead to offense and picking up points.

He did it during a 10-game stint with the Detroit Red Wings at the end of last season and has carried it over into training camp and the preseason.

The Red Wings wrap up what was billed as a competitive preseason with four games in a four nights, starting Wednesday in Pittsburgh (7 p.m., no TV). But it’s clear Hirose has wrapped up a spot on the second line, with Andreas Athanasiou.

With Hirose’s ability to facilitate and Athanasiou’s finishing touch, it could be a nice complement to the top line of Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha and Tyler Bertuzzi, providing decent secondary scoring.

Coach Jeff Blashill has been using Valtteri Filppula with Athanasiou, who’s missed some time the past few days with a minor tweak, to see how the combination clicks. He said he might go back to Frans Nielsen, who’s also missed the past few days with a minor injury, on that line when the regular season starts.

Regardless, it appears the Red Wings made a nice find in Hirose, the small (5-10, 160), undrafted free agent winger out of Michigan State. He has looked like a polished veteran in his first NHL training camp and preseason, tied for the team lead with four points (goal, three assists) in four games.

The humble Hirose, however, isn’t taking anything for granted that he has a top-six spot or even a spot on the roster, until it’s official.

“Just being familiar with the systems and the way Blash likes guys to play gives me a little step over some of the guys who haven’t played at that level before, but at the same time, with the new general manager (Steve Yzerman) and a lot of new management and new faces you have to prove yourself every day,” Hirose said.

“I’m not looking too much into (last season) because it was the end of the season, just trying to show them my game and what I can do.”

Hirose’s “elite hockey IQ” has been evident since he produced seven points (goal, five assists) in 10 games after signing with the Red Wings. He worked over the summer on his skating, trying to improve his first couple of strides, and his shot.

Blashill also stressed better puck management after Hirose committed too many turnovers in the final two games of the season.

“He’s got a body that’s not going to get a whole bunch bigger and stronger, but you’re either going to separate yourself with your speed or your quickness and I think he can do it with his quickness,” Blashill said. “He’s a little player that has to make lots of plays.”

Athanasiou’s speed and scoring ability should benefit Hirose.

“He’s an unbelievable player and one of those guys you have to get the puck to,” Hirose said. “He can make something out of nothing, so it’s easy to play with him. I think I can find guys in open spaces and create chances for my teammates. With Filppula, it’s the same. He’s a real good player. I’ve been real impressed skating with him.”

Blashill still has some question marks about that line.

“Are there enough shooters, is there enough hardness at the net? Those are things we have to wait and see,” Blashill said. “But I think Taro’s earned a chance to come to camp and show in greater capacity what he can do.

“I think he gets exponentially better with better players because he’s got such a good hockey mind.”

It remains to be seen if Hirose can join the exclusive group of players who reaches the NHL without spending time in the AHL, but he already has his first hockey card. 1108287 Detroit Red Wings "It gets people in the building for an affordable price," Hurricanes vice president Mike Forman said. "We think if we can get people to a game, they're hooked."

NHL teams aim to fill arenas, drawing fans away from screens Red Wings fan Melanie Bidwell was one of the many hooked on hockey in the Motor City for years, proudly counting herself as a season-ticket holder for more than a decade. When the team moved from Joe Louis to Little Caesars Arena two years ago, she continued to buy season tickets. By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer Sep 24, 2019 Updated 10 hrs ago Comments Last season, she gave up her tickets as her family got busier and doesn't regret it.

"It's nothing against the Red Wings, we still love them, but it's not DETROIT (AP) — Red Wings season-ticket holder Matt Larson pays convenient to get to games when you're juggling work schedules and a 9- about $74 for two of the cheapest seats in Little Caesars Arena. year-old boy playing hockey," she said. "I'm excited that the season is The 32-year-old fan gets a pair of chairs set up behind a counter — starting again, but our family priorities will keep us at home watching giving him plenty of space for food and drink — in a spacious area games on TV so we can get our kid in bed for school and we can get up perched near the rafters behind a net. for work."

"There's nothing better than watching hockey in person," Larson said Macomb Daily LOADED: 09.25.2019 recently while watching Detroit host Chicago in a preseason game.

The Red Wings, and every other NHL team, hope there are a lot of people who agree with him.

Detroit is desperately trying to keep fans filing into its arena, which is a little more than two years old, as the allure of the spectacular facility wears off while the team trudges through a multiyear rebuild.

Despite another season without a trip to the playoffs, the Red Wings said the arena was filled to 98 percent of capacity on average. They ranked in the middle of the pack in a league that generally is able to draw fans to watch its high-speed, full-contact product in person. Ten teams averaged sellouts and just five of 31 franchises had an average attendance last season that didn't fill at least 90 percent of their arenas.

While Detroit did not have trouble selling tickets last year, it wasn't always playing in front of a packed house because some fans simply couldn't get people to take and use their tickets. To make unoccupied seats stand out less on TV for Red Wings and Pistons games, the red material covering chairs has been replaced by black to blend in throughout Little Caesars Arena.

"It was an expensive choice," Larson said. "I would've hated to foot the bill for it."

Like franchises in other sports and leagues, NHL teams are invested in enhancing game-day experiences, knowing there is a lot at stake to keep them coming to arenas instead of staying at home.

"Our biggest competitor is Netflix," San Jose Sharks vice president Doug Bentz said. "The one advantage we have over Netflix is you're a part of a community at a Sharks game. We want more of that in our world where so many are stuck on devices in isolation or binge-watching on a couch maybe with one other person."

On streets and in living rooms, St. Louis is still buzzing from its first Stanley Cup.

The Blues will raise a championship banner Oct. 2 before opening the season against the Washington Capitals. Blues season-ticket holder Mike Buschhorn plans to be there for the party, deciding not to cash in on his tickets by selling them and watching the festivities on TV.

"You have to be at a hockey game in person to get it," the Blues fan said. "TV doesn't do it justice. It is the most exciting sport to be at."

The price of tickets, however, plays a part in keeping some fans at home.

"It's a lot cheaper for a 12-pack on the weekends," Blues fan John Fuchs said.

The Carolina Hurricanes have gotten creative, trying to climb up from the bottom of the NHL's attendance figures in terms of percentage of capacity. Carolina sold a little more than three-fourths of its tickets at its Raleigh arena last season to rank ahead of only Ottawa after a three- year run of being last in the league.

The team has been offering monthly subscription passes, giving fans access to a certain number of games for a one-time fee at a substantial savings compared to individual tickets. The mobile-only, ticket-selling innovation has become relatively common in Major League Baseball, but the Hurricanes are a unique team in the NHL to try it. 1108288 Detroit Red Wings In the sequence below, Zadina demonstrates his contortionist shooting ability, along with several other exciting elements. First, Zadina forces a steal on the forecheck (this is such an underrated element of his game). Second, he drives through the defender, gains body positioning, then Video scouting report: How Filip Zadina can take his goal-scoring talent uses the top of his free hand to shake off the defender’s stick. Next, he to the next level cuts into a group of three defenders with his go-to pre-shot backhand- forehand move, before shooting. But this is not just any shot; his toes are

pointed away from the goal — he shoots opposing his momentum. His By Mitch Brown Sep 24, 2019 stick basically brushes the front of his skate. Somehow, he still has the control to flick a wrister short-side on the goaltender.

Another variable that impacts the quality of a player’s shot is the speed of This is the fourth in a six-part series where Mitch Brown will use video the shooter. Sometimes, players aren’t able to set their feet for a proper analysis to take a deep dive into what makes some NHL prospects so weight transfer while shooting with speed. This is certainly not an issue special. for Zadina, who previously found great success at an up-tempo transition shooter. However, transition shooting wasn’t a strength of Zadina’s this Jack Hughes | Kaapo Kakko | Adam Boqvist | Filip Zadina | Kirill Kaprizov season, which limited the number of quality shots he was able to | Vitali Kravtsov generate with speed. But what he showed was encouraging. There’s At this time last year, the Detroit Red Wings nabbing Filip Zadina at sixth rarely an extra handle in the shot set-up; every motion is made for an overall seemed ludicrous. For most of his draft year, Zadina seemed like efficient shot. He sets up the puck to shoot by taking a bit of momentum a lock to go top-three. He destroyed the international circuit; he was one off the puck, then letting his feet pass in front. Even with the added pace, of the top scorers in the QMJHL, and he had been hyped as a top talent Zadina still deceives goaltenders with the placement of the puck on his for half a decade. blade — an even rarer trait.

I bought the hype. I even published an article titled, Why Filip Zadina is The main knock on Zadina’s AHL campaign was he needs to shoot the draft’s premier NHL-ready sniper. Yeahhhhh, that didn’t work out so closer to the net. And, in today’s edition of Generic Hockey Analysis, I well. Detroit decided he wasn’t so NHL-ready after all, sending him to argue that it is correct for all, but especially Zadina. Earth-shattering AHL Grand Rapids for most of the season. revelation, I know.

In the past 15 years, only 22 players have played their post-draft year in Returning to transition shooting, one way Zadina can improve his shot the AHL. Part of the limited quantity of players is undoubtedly due to the quality and generation is by attacking differently in the neutral zone. In CHL-NHL Agreement, which Zadina was exempt from. But teenagers the QMJHL, world juniors, under-18s — well, everywhere — Zadina playing full seasons in the AHL is impressive. Of these 22, Zadina’s point posterized nearly everyone who stood in his way. Zadina’s not going to production (0.59) lands right in the middle, right around Kevin Fiala, walk through everyone in the AHL and NHL as he did previously, but he Rasmus Ristolainen and Tomas Tatar, but far behind the incredible could benefit from returning to his old habits. production of Mikko Rantanen (1.15), David Pastrnak (1.12), and William Comparing Zadina’s rushes in the QMJHL and world juniors to the AHL Nylander (0.86). illustrate not a player who somehow lost his magic touch, but instead, While Zadina’s statistical profile has slipped, it was on-par with the stars. one who altered his rush patterns (i.e., how he rushes the puck up the Given the skill set, there’s plenty of evidence Zadina will attain that level, ice). At the lower levels, Zadina had the rush patterns that align with the even if it takes a bit longer than expected. high-end NHL transition players; the dot-line crossing (lateral) rushes, the adjustments in speed, the vision and creativity. For all the flash and Scoring goals is Zadina’s game. While he didn’t do much of it last season dazzle he played with, it rarely seemed unnecessary or risky; the control (16 goals), every other year, Zadina’s filled the net. Like the top shooters in his stickhandling decisions was a defining characteristic. In the AHL, in the NHL, Zadina’s dangerous because of the number of ways he Zadina’s head-cranking, zigzagging rushes were replaced with straight- shoots. He’ll shoot off his left foot, off his right, off both, in stride. He’ll line, single-speed attacks. As the rushes became simplified, the dazzling adapt his release to the situation, drawing back for power or shortening stickhandling swapped out with telegraphed drag-moves through for quickness. But what stands out is what Zadina does before the shot. defenders. Zadina, a masterful creator of confusion and uncertainty, To figure out the impact of Zadina’s pre-shot set-up, we have to look at became predictable. As a consequence of the altered patterns, Zadina the result of the shot. Even when it’s evident that Zadina is shooting — wasn’t able to consistently create the high-slot and high-circle looks in whether he scores or misses the net — goaltenders react late, or seem transition that made him so deadly two seasons ago. Here’s a to guess where the shot is going. When shooters can confuse the comparison video: goaltender like this, it’s often because of a curl-and-drag angle change (à Another way Zadina can shoot closer to the net is by, once again, using la Auston Matthews) or setting up defenders as a screen (like Alex his hands. He relies on perimeter shooting too much sometimes, despite Ovechkin). Zadina can do those things, but the typical confusing Zadina having the room to cut into the slot and fire. In the clip below, Zadina’s shot contains more subtle forms of deception. manipulated the defender’s stick out of the middle and altered the tempo. This clip provides a glance at Zadina’s lethal shot. The sequence begins He’s done the work, but he doesn’t reap the rewards. Instead of taking with Zadina setting up for the shot — it’s apparent he’s shooting and the the more dangerous look, pulling the puck around the defender and goaltender positions accordingly. But the goaltender is still late to react to firing, he takes a shot just inside the faceoff dot. the shot. At first glance, the mechanics of the shot are standard: The Similarly, becoming more active off the puck will create more dangerous push-pull on the stick, the downward force to create the whip, and the shots for Zadina. Let me preface: Zadina is not scared of taking weight shift across the body. There’s also deception built into the shot punishment standing in front of the net. Sometimes, he’s too content just itself. First, Zadina’s blade indicates a chance into the pads of the hanging around the goal. Instead, I think he’d find more success keeping goaltender. Simultaneously with the weight shift, Zadina rolls the puck his feet moving, slipping in and out of the crease timed with a pass or across his blade, changing the placement, mid-release. It’s a subtle shot. change, but one that he uses often. Zadina’s almost certainly doing more during the release that I can’t see or don’t know. In transition, Zadina often gets involved off-puck, whether that’s by supporting the rush as a trailer or driving straight down the middle. While that’s a wicked shot, clean, unpressured looks like those aren’t all Sometimes, he’s unable to find the separation he needs. Others, he that common. When many players hurry their shot, trading power and demonstrates an acute level of awareness. Below, Zadina tries to gain accuracy for quickness, Zadina rarely encounters that trade-off. He most body positioning on the defender but fails. However, Zadina gets his stick definitely doesn’t miss out on the power, as he often shoots bullets right over the defender’s, then clamps down on his wrist, allowing him to free through defenders, even with a stick or shoulder in his way. And his stick and wedge the puck into the net. accuracy? You’ll have use more than one defender to disrupt his shot. I mean, check out this skate-to-stick snapper against the grain. Zadina has shown the ability to do these three things — more diverse rushes, timed slot movement, rush support — at a high-level in various Okay, so what about two, or even three defenders? No problem, Zadina leagues. It comes down to consistency; a lack of which isn’t uncommon says. Like a contortionist, Zadina twists and bends his limbs in for a rookie making the professional transition. uncomfortable ways to fire off a tricky shot through multiple defenders. Even if Zadina doesn’t improve these habits (which I’m confident he will), he still could be a dangerous perimeter shooter who impacts the game in other manners.

With his anticipation and timing on the forecheck and backcheck, Zadina could bring defensive value to the NHL. He’s such a switchable defender (especially for a winger), often stringing together several important elements. He’ll move down low to support the middle, grab the puck carrier and drive the play high, before making a strong close-out to pressure the shot. His anticipation through the neutral zone stands out, funnelling attackers into tricky positions and pickpocketing the puck. As he continues to get stronger, I expect his on-puck defense only to get stronger as dispossessing becomes easier.

Another strength of Zadina’s: Passing. He forced plenty of passes this past season, seemingly battling with the pace. Of course, the tools are there to return to his precision playmaking ways. Many of the same skills that make him a dangerous shooter make him a nearly as-dangerous passer. He deceives defenders, looking off his preferred target while entering a shooting stance before passing. Patient and cunning, he draws in defenders to find an open teammate lurking behind the defence. The most stand-out element of his passing on the backhand. Even when reaching out and tangled up, Zadina completes backhand passes in the slot, often through sticks and skates.

If there’s one area Zadina can help the Wings right away, it’s on the power play. The creative passing and precision one-timers make Zadina a dual power play threat on the right circle. Unlike many shooting threats, he’s so active, continually moving and adjusting to the penalty kill structure, amplifying the damage he can do.

With 16 goals in 59 games, the goals didn’t exactly flow for Zadina this season. Consequently, Zadina’s path to the 30-plus NHL goal-scorer that once seemed clear and immediate is now a little muddier. But not much. Whether last year was an anomaly or a sign of more significant issues, Zadina has the tools. The execution is just about there.

Zadina could’ve helped the Red Wings last year. Was it best for his development? In hindsight, probably not. This year, I’m confident the NHL is the best place for Zadina to continue to hone his craft.

The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108289 Edmonton Oilers The Oilers were down to five defencemen when Joel Persson left the game in the second period with an upper body injury. He logged 6:54 in the first period (third highest total on the team), but was out there for just 10 seconds in the middle period. If he is gone for any length of time it will Connor McDavid knocks off the rust in Oilers pre-season debut change the complexion of Edmonton’s blue line and open the door for one of the Oilers young prospects, likely Ethan Bear since Evan

Bouchard was assigned to AHL Bakersfield after the game. Robert Tychkowski STILL HOT

Nugent-Hopkins, coming off a career-high 28 goals and 69 points last Connor McDavid is just fine. year, looks like he’s picking up where he left off. He’s looked very good in training camp, showing the kind of speed and shot that made him a first Of all the concerns the Edmonton Oilers might have had heading into this overall draft pick. He scored his third goal of the pre-season, and second season, the biggest one was put to rest Tuesday when the captain took shorthanded, with a second period wrist shot Joe Sakic would be proud his posterior cruciate ligament for a successful test drive against the of. visiting Arizona Coyotes. DOH! It was kind of fitting that they would unleash the Roadrunner against the Coyotes, but fans didn’t care who it was against, they just needed to see Adam Larsson might be the most dependable defenceman on the team, for themselves that the franchise player was OK. but everyone makes a blooper they’d love to take back. His came in the second period Tuesday when he picked up the puck behind his own net After holding their breath since McDavid slid into that Saddledome goal and slid a soft, blind backhand pass right into the slot, setting up the post in the 82nd game last season, they could finally exhale. easiest goal Michael Bunting might ever score.

McDavid, held out as a precautionary measure for the first four games of SITTING IT OUT the preseason, looked a lot like his normal self against Arizona. Not dressed for the Oilers were defencemen Ethan Bear, William “A little rusty, but that’s to be expected in the first pre-season game,” said Lagesson and Evan Bouchard. The forwards not in the lineup were McDavid, who logged 20:38 of ice time and had two shots on net. Markus Granlund, Gaetan Haas, Tomas Jurco, Joakim Nygard and “Obviously a game is a lot different than a practice, so it was nice to get Anton Burdasov. in one. I was able to push myself like nothing happened.” HEADY PLAY He didn’t electrify in a game where there wasn’t much time and space to operate, or a particular need to electrify, but he played a regular shift, Riley Sheahan’s first goal as an Oiler was one for the highlight reels. He even double-shifted on occasion, had a strong night in the faceoff circle didn’t go coast to coast or undress any defencemen, but when you bury a (10-3) and didn’t show any ill-effects from the injury or the late start. one-timer with your visor up it’s always worth a second look. Sheahan was charging the net when a rebound bounced up and hit him right in the “He needed to get in a game to get his mind right,” said head coach Dave shield. Tippett. “He worked hard. Not much happened.” “I was just trying to get to the net and see if there was anything laying McDavid says he’d like to play at least one more game, but the decision around,” he said. “It hit me pretty hard. Thank God it didn’t get me in the is out of his hands. face at all. Lucky bounce and I’m happy to get one in.”

“It’s up the coaches. Obviously I’d like to keep playing but it’s up to him Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 09.25.2019 and the lineup he wants to see.”

CLOSE ONE

As for the game itself, Edmonton went with a veteran-heavy lineup, icing what could very well be, with maybe one or two tweaks, their opening night team on Oct. 2.

So it’s probably not all that reassuring that they lost at home to Arizona, who went heavy on opening night players as well, but they’ll worry about the scores when the scores matter.

Arizona never trailed in this one, leading 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 3-1, 3-2 and 4-2.

“We know that these guys are hard to play against,” said Ryan Nugent- Hopkins, who scored a short-handed goal in the second period. “They clog up the middle and don’t give you much coming through the neutral zone. We have to be prepared to play that style of hockey when the regular season starts.”

Tippett wasn’t thrilled with how the Oilers looked. Some of them, anyway.

“Our bottom six worked hard and was good, our penalty killing was really good, but our top six wasn’t so good,” said Tippett. “We had far too many turnovers with both groups.”

SMITH DRAWS IN

Goaltender Mike Smith made his Oilers debut after spending the first week of camp in sickbay. He didn’t face a lot of shots early on, but earned a nice round of applause for his puck handling skills after twice clearing the puck out of Edmonton’s zone on Arizona’s first power play.

The Oilers put him to work later in the period when Arizona took over, but the only one of the 12 first period shots to beat him was a rocket just inside the far top corner from Lawson Crouse.

Smith finished with 15 saves on 17 shots over 40 minutes before giving way to Mikko Koskinen.

EARLY EXIT 1108290 Edmonton Oilers As much as McDavid tested out his knee during training camp, the true test was how it would hold up was in a game situation. McDavid needed the game against the Coyotes to get any lingering doubt his knee was completely healed. Edmonton Oilers relieved to see Connor McDavid back in lineup “I feel like that’s with any injury,” he said. “When I came back from my collarbone injury, sure you practice and whatnot and you take bumps here and there, but nothing really replicates a game. That’s part of the Derek Van Diest game, and so we’ll see what happens.”

Oilers head coach Dave Tippett knew he could only hold the reins of his Until Connor McDavid hit the ice with the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, thoroughbred so long before having to let him go. He was relieved there was always lingering doubt. doctors finally gave him the go-ahead to play.

Doubt whether McDavid’s injury was more serious than first let on. “We’ll get him up and going, but he’s wanted to play for three weeks,” Tippett said. “It’s between doctors and our organization, we wanted to Doubt whether he would return to be the most dynamic player in the make sure everything was right. He pushed us hard for two weeks and NHL. he’s itching to play. I know he wants to get games in before (the regular season). I don’t know how many he’ll play this week, we’ll get through Doubt whether the Edmonton Oilers had a prayer of making the Stanley this first one and then we’ll figure it out. He’s been itching to play for a Cup Playoffs if McDavid was out for any significant length of time. while.” So when it was revealed McDavid was finally cleared medically, was Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 09.25.2019 indeed going to play a preseason game and would be available for the opener on Oct. 2 against the Vancouver Canucks, a collective sigh of relief was heard throughout the city.

And it was the reason prices suddenly tripled on ticket exchange sites to the game against the Coyotes.

“I’m excited, it’s been a long layoff,” McDavid said following the morning skate. “The first preseason game is always exciting. This one obviously comes a little bit later, but I’m just looking forward to getting out there.”

There is little questioning without McDavid in the lineup the Oilers are going nowhere this season. His 116 points were not good enough to get the Oilers in the playoffs last season and he will likely have to improve on this number for the team to have a realistic shot this year.

“It’s obviously tough when anyone on the team goes down but when it’s your star player, your franchise player, it was something that you don’t want to see,” said Oilers forward Zack Kassian, who is riding shotgun with McDavid on the top line. “A lot of people don’t realize how much work he put in, in the off-season; numerous hours of training and rehabilitation to get to where he is today. I know he’s excited to kind of put it all behind him and just go out and play.”

In hindsight, McDavid was fortunate he was injured in the final game of the season when tripped up by Calgary Flames defenceman Mark Giordano driving to the net.

Unlike the fractured clavicle sustained in his rookie season, which cost him 37 games, it looks like McDavid will end up not missing a single regular-season game. Early on in training camp, there were questions whether he would be ready for the home opener, but those were put to rest Tuesday.

“I definitely feel lucky, it definitely could have been worse,” McDavid said. “I could have been sitting there and talking about missing the whole year. It’s not bad and I’m looking forward to playing (Tuesday).”

It’s a scary proposition to imagine the Oilers without McDavid for an entire season.

As it turned out, things were better than they first seemed.

“A while back, it was probably not as optimistic he would be playing in preseason games as he is now,” said Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse. “So it has to be exciting for all of us to have him back and he seems excited by it.

“He looks ready to go. He’s looked ready to go since we’ve gotten here at the end of August. He’s definitely hungry to get back out there and it’s exciting for everyone to see him back doing what he loves.”

As he was after crashing into the end boards against the Philadelphia Flyers in his rookie season, McDavid was asked if he would change his approach when speeding towards the net? Whether he would take a more cautious approach after blowing past opponents?

“No,” he said. “I’ve been doing that for a long time and you hit the post and you hit it in the wrong way and that happens. I’ve gone flying into the net before and I’ve had nothing happen at all. These things happen, it’s part of the game and you move forward.” 1108291 Edmonton Oilers

Goaltender Mike Smith had good look at Connor McDavid injury

Derek Van Diest

Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mike Smith had a front-row seat when Connor McDavid sustained his knee injury on April 6, in the final game of the 2018-19 regular season.

Smith was in goal for the Calgary Flames when McDavid crashed into the goalpost after being tripped by defenceman Mark Giordano.

“I was more worried, to be honest, to try and get out of the way, because I had my foot kind of in between him and the post at the time,” said Smith, who is now on McDavid’s team. “And then I kind of got it out at the last second and tried to slow him down as he came to the net. Obviously, a player that can skate as fast as he can and coming in as hard as he did, there is no slowing a guy like that down.”

McDavid crashed into the post and tore the PCL in his left knee. The injury did not require surgery, but it took all summer to heal and McDavid did not get back in the lineup until Tuesday against the Arizona Coyotes.

“Initially, I didn’t think he was hurt, but then when I saw his face, I could tell something wasn’t right,” Smith said. “Obviously you never want to see a player, especially of his calibre, with the severity of the injury he had. I’m glad he was back in the lineup (Tuesday) and hopefully he staves off any injury this year.”

Smith signed with Edmonton as a free agent this off-season and made his first start for the Oilers on Tuesday. He spent two seasons with the Flames, who were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last season.

“He (McDavid) is arguably one of the best players in the world and I’m fortunate to have an opportunity to play with a player like that,” Smith said. “I think I’ve played with a lot of good players throughout the course of my career and to have a guy of his calibre on your team now is special and obviously to come back gives the whole team a big boost. There are not many players like him out there. It’s nice to be on his side now and this group is excited about having him back (Tuesday).”

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108292 Edmonton Oilers get going or the coach would be going,” said King. “The KHL is a good league, a competitive league and Craig had a very young team, one of the youngest in the KHL.”

Dave King wasn't surprised Lokomotiv jumped on Craig MacTavish One of those kids playing for MacTavish was the 21-year-old goalie Konovalov, who didn’t do him any favours with an 0-3 record, a 4.48 average and a .867 save percentage.

Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal King, who keeps close tabs on the KHL even back here, coached against Oilers tryout winger Anton Burdasov when Burdasov was with SKA St.

Petersburg and King was behind the Lokomotiv bench. He likes Anybody wanting to coach in the KHL knows that the rope they get is a Burdasov quite a bit. tightrope. “He’s played in the KHL a long time and was a very consistent player. So Craig MacTavish taking the fall with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl after just He’s not a top-end guy but he’s a good player,” said King. “If Tip (Oiler eight games is certainly painful but it’s the price of doing business. head coach Dave Tippett) is looking at his bottom six, a player like Although MacTavish getting fired after a loss to Helsinki, the Burdasov could help. He’s a pretty conscientious player and he’s got Finnish team that MacTavish’s buddy Jari Kurri runs, is certainly a cruel some skill. He might give the Oilers some edge if he’s there.” fate. When King sees an older Russian coming over, he’s impressed because MacTavish wasn’t available after his Russian firing but former NHL head they’re taking a big leap from a comfortable lifestyle back home. He coach Dave King, who coached Lokomotiv twice within the last six years, figures Burdasov is highly motivated to make the jump. “It really is a knows how it is over there. Impatience reigns supreme. feather in a Russian player’s cap to say he played in the NHL, no matter how long that is. That holds a lot of stock in Russia,” he said. “They get right at it … if they want to change the coach, they change the coach,” said King. “It’s not just Loko. In Russia they’re fairly impatient Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 09.25.2019 with the coaching. If a team looks like it’s lingering and not performing, the coach is really accountable over there.”

Indeed, Magnitogorsk axed their coach Josef Jandac after their first three games this month.

MacTavish, who was the Oilers vice-president of hockey operations last year, went to Russia for an adventure, as much as a chance to get behind a bench as head man for the first time since 2011-2012 with the AHL . But when Lokomotiv started 0-2 with the most recent 4-1 loss to equally faltering Jokerit, which dropped the Yaroslavl record to 3-5, MacTavish was out.

Yaroslavl president Yuri Yakovlev, who has had 18 coaches in the last 15 years, was feeling the heat from the slow start, so MacTavish was quickly bounced with the team’s sporting director and former player Alexander Ardashev taking over. MacTavish, who was hired in May, now hopefully gets the money owed him on what reportedly was a multi-year contract.

“I don’t think Craig will have trouble getting his money at all. There may some negotiations on it but the top clubs are very honourable. They’ll let you go but pay you your money,” said King.

While coaches don’t get a long leash either, with three years being a long time for many, the KHL runs coaches through a spin cycle. Throw ’em in, and see what comes out in the wash, especially in Yaroslavl, one of the bigger spenders in the KHL, with their constant coaching turnover. MacTavish needed some adjustment time to life over there but didn’t get it.

“We have a little longer or broader view of situations for coaches over here, unless something catastrophic happens within a team, like a confrontation … we give coaches over here a chance to work their way out of it (holes),” said King, who coached in Calgary and Columbus and was an assistant in Montreal and Phoenix.

“In Russia it’s very much a knee-jerk reaction to make a change. It’s kind of old Soviet. Never give anybody any credit, always keep them on their toes. If you won, you could have played better. That is the old Soviet system and it still exists. Coaches don’t get a long tether there,” said King.

MacTavish, who had ex-Oilers Anton Lander and Ty Rattie on his club and his starting goalie was 2019 third-round draft Ilya Konovalov, called King after getting the Yaroslavl job to get the lay of the land.

“Craig asked about the city, the team, how it was there and I got the impression MacT had done his homework. Most coaches know going over there there’s a fair bit of coaching change in every season. Loko is a strong team, with a good organization that spends money (top eight in the KHL) …they have very high standards,” said King.

“MacT is a good hockey man but you’re given no opportunity to dig yourself out of a hole. This isn’t a blemish against Craig, it’s just a league where teams are quick on the trigger.”

“Loko was also playing a game against Jokerit where their coach was under some heat, too, and there was lots of speculation the team had to 1108293 Edmonton Oilers

Connor McDavid set to make pre-season debut for Edmonton Oilers

Derek Van Diest

Connor McDavid is healthy and will be in the lineup for the Edmonton Oilers tonight in a pre-season game against the Arizona Coyotes.

McDavid had been a spectator for the first four pre-season games after injuring his left knee in April during the Oilers’ final game of the regular season.

The Oilers captain tore the PCL in his knee, which did not require surgery, but despite practicing with the team throughout training camp, he was held back from playing until now.

“I’m excited. It’s been a long layoff,” McDavid said following the morning skate. “The first pre-season game is always exciting. This one obviously comes a little bit later, but I’m just looking forward to getting out there.”

McDavid needed clearance from the Oilers medical staff before he could suit up for game action. Oilers general manager Ken Holland said before training camp they would err on the side of caution and that it was possible McDavid could be held out for the season opener on Oct. 2 against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Place.

“Ken said it right. Originally we thought (I’d play) hopefully one (pre- season game), maybe none,” McDavid said. “This is probably a little bit earlier, but everything has been feeling good. I just want to play and be out there and see what that feels like again.”

McDavid was injured while he was driving to the net against the Calgary Flames in that April 6 game when he was tripped by defenceman Mark Giordano. McDavid hit his left knee on the goal post and had to be helped off the ice.

It now does not appear as though McDavid will miss any regular-season games, which is big news for the Oilers, considering he generated half their offence last season.

“I definitely feel lucky. It definitely could have been worse,” he said. “I could have been sitting there and talking about missing the whole year.”

McDavid will centre the Oilers top line with Leon Draisaitl and Zack Kassian. The Oilers will dress a majority of their regulars for the first time this pre-season.

“We’ll get him up and going, but he’s wanted to play for three weeks,” said Oilers head coach Dave Tippett. “It’s between doctors and our organization, we wanted to make sure everything was right. He pushed us hard for two weeks and he’s itching to play. I know he wants to get games in before. I don’t know how may he’ll play this week, we’ll get through this first one and then we’ll figure it out. He’s been itching to play for a while.”

While cleared medically, McDavid said it would likely take some contact in a game for him to feel assured he’s completely back from the injury.

“I feel like that’s with any injury,” he said. “When I came back from my collarbone injury, sure you practice and whatnot and you take bumps here and there, but nothing really replicates a game. That’s part of the game, and so we’ll see what happens.”

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108294 Edmonton Oilers The most important item in all of this, however, is the demotion of Bouchard. Not only is it the right call, but it’s also a call decidedly out of step with Edmonton’s recent history. Just last season, an 18-year-old Bouchard was kept in the majors out of training camp and only returned Oilers cut Evan Bouchard and Shane Starrett. Is Ethan Bear on the cusp to junior once the coach repeatedly refused to take him out of the press of making the team? box.

It would have been easy to keep an improved 19-year-old version of the player on the roster. Already he’s the Oilers’ best defenceman with the By Jonathan Willis Sep 24, 2019 puck on his stick. He could help the team immediately in at least some areas, though his defensive game remains a work in progress.

The Oilers made two more cuts to their roster following Tuesday’s There are two important arguments against keeping Bouchard, though: preseason loss to Arizona, sending down a pair of players who had sat one predicated on the best development path, the other on the cost of his out the game. Defenceman Evan Bouchard, the team’s first-round pick in mistakes. Without mentioning Bouchard — the question concerned Bear 2018, and third-string goalie Shane Starrett were assigned to being an under-the-radar prospect — Tippett touched on both aspects of Edmonton’s AHL affiliate in Bakersfield. the problem in a comment Sunday.

The moves reduce Edmonton’s roster to 31 players, which is somewhat “There’s a big difference to get judged on a pro game than a junior game. misleading in that three of those are injured. With Kyle Brodziak’s NHL They can play their 35 minutes in junior and cruise around and make a career over and Kailer Yamamoto and Logan Day ultimately destined for bunch of mistakes, and they’re still going back out there,” Tippett said. the minors once health allows, just 28 players remain in pursuit of 23 “In the NHL it doesn’t work that way. … When you’ve got a guy like Bear, spots on the opening-night roster. or a guy like Lagesson that’s played two years in the American League, For one of those players, 22-year-old prospect Ethan Bear, the road to those guys learn how to play. They know how to play in certain playing in Game 1 was made a lot clearer. situations. That’s probably giving those guys a leg up right now.”

Bear is one of nine defencemen still in competition for seven roster spots. It’s debatable whether Bouchard gives back more than he creates. The Given his relative youth and inexperience (107 career professional decision to send him down Tuesday would seem to indicate how the games), it is possible but unlikely he would be kept around in the No. 7 Oilers’ coaches see things. He’s certainly not as polished as his older slot, something that would be more of an option for a veteran like colleagues. Brandon Manning or conceivably even for the older William Lagesson In the big picture, though, that’s the wrong question anyway. The right (23, though just 116 pro games). one is: Which course of action is likeliest to result in the best version of The coaches have also made it clear they prefer defencemen to play on Bouchard? their forehand, which would make Bear one of four competitors for a spot Put that way, it’s obvious. Ignoring the less developed areas of his game on the right side. Established NHLer Adam Larsson is clearly the top because he does some important things exceptionally well and just option there, but after that it’s a contest among Bear, fellow rookie Joel hoping that over time he figures it out has been a fairly standard Oilers Persson and the potentially vulnerable Matt Benning. approach. It hasn’t always turned out well. Sending him to the minors Persson had the early edge on Bear and Bouchard for top-four work, on with the explicit aim of improving areas of weakness in heavy minutes a pairing with veteran Oscar Klefbom. Yet Sunday, Dave Tippett against professionals is the surest way to grow him into a well-rounded downplayed certainty at the position, saying “the defence is not set in player. stone by any stretch” and an upper-body injury that forced Persson from It is a test Bouchard has yet to really experience. In the AHL playoffs last Tuesday’s game only adds intrigue. season, he was mostly (and successfully) used as an offensive With Bouchard gone and Persson’s status uncertain, Bear’s odds of specialist. He didn’t play lots of minutes, he wasn’t put in key matchup making the team have increased considerably. As Tippett also explained situations, and he certainly didn’t face the grind of doing it night after Sunday, Bear put himself in a position to take advantage of any openings night. That experience will go a long way toward instilling the kind of that appeared. habits Tippett sees in Bear and Lagesson.

“First and foremost, he came in great shape, worked hard all summer,” That doesn’t necessarily mean it will need to be a long assignment. Tippett said. “I love his attitude. He’s got a positive attitude; he’s upbeat Bouchard is a brilliant talent and found ways to improve his pace of place all the time, wants to get better right now. He’s kind of an in-betweener; and defensive awareness last year in junior. Now in pro hockey and he can move the puck well, but he still has the thought process that he’s under the tutelage of coaches whose primary objective is to groom got to be a good defender. prospects, there’s no reason that learning curve can’t accelerate.

“He’s an interesting guy. He looks quicker, his mindset seems really Defence is going to be a position to watch this season. Persson, Bear, clear, and he’s out there working hard to try and find a position on the Lagesson, Bouchard and even prior cuts like Caleb Jones and Dmitri team.” Samorukov are all young enough and talented enough to push for greater responsibility over the course of the season. With Tippett’s stated desire to play a right-shot passer on the Klefbom pairing, it would seem the job comes down to Bear or the banged-up At the moment there are, at most, two major-league jobs available to that Persson, an outcome that was anything but certain coming into the fall. group of six. Not only will that number increase as the year continues, but training camp is also far closer to the starting point of the competition Starrett’s fate falls at the other end of the predictability spectrum. From than it is the end. the moment on July 1 when Mike Smith was signed to a one-year contract, it was clear the Oilers’ two goalies (barring injury) would be The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 Smith and Mikko Koskinen. Smith was ill through the early part of camp, so Starrett was kept around as a fill-in.

Smith played Tuesday, though, signalling the end of Starrett’s time on the big roster. He will begin the year as Bakersfield’s starter and hope a major-league opportunity arises. He can’t afford any backward movement from last year’s revelatory .918 save percentage performance; if his play slips, not only would it put his NHL aspirations at risk, but it also might leave him vulnerable in a highly competitive Condors net.

As it stands, younger prospects Dylan Wells and Stuart Skinner are slated to split backup duties in the AHL and starting duties in the ECHL. Now second-year pros, one or both should also push Starrett for playing time. 1108295 Edmonton Oilers Sheahan scores an unusual goal; Archibald is doing a lot of work on the tally.

The math was even stronger. At five-on-five, the Khaira-Sheahan- Oilers’ bottom-six forwards, penalty kill shine in loss to Arizona Coyotes Archibald line outshot the Coyotes 10-2, scored a goal and had three high-danger scoring chances. The Chiasson-Cave-Russell line also outshot the opposition, 8-5, allowing no goals and going 2-2 in high- danger scoring chances. A night in which Edmonton’s bottom-six By Allan Mitchell Sep 24, 2019 forwards outshoot the opponent 18-7 while scoring a goal without allowing one is a stark contrast with the past two seasons.

Dave Tippett went with a veteran lineup for the Oilers’ final preseason The penalty killing showed this group to have an advantage as well. home game. His veterans won the shot differential and delivered quality Cave and Russell played 3:37 at four-on-five, getting outshot 2-1, while on the penalty kill, but they came up shy on the scoreboard against the Sheahan and Archibald played 2:28 and allowed no shots against during Arizona Coyotes. After the game, Tippett made clear the top two lines that time. In 1:52 together, Khaira and Nugent-Hopkins did even better, didn’t execute in the way they’ll be expected to this season. In regard to scoring a goal on what was the only shot while they were short-handed. Connor McDavid’s first game, the coach said, “He worked hard, not much Defence happening,” and left open the possibility of a second preseason game later this week. I saw Joel Persson as a strong member of the second pairing before his injury. He made a nice defensive play after Oscar Klefbom got caught The top line showed a lack of touch on its passes, something Oilers fans behind. Persson raced back under pressure, gathered the puck on a know is a patented skill for Edmonton’s best forwards (McDavid and potential two-on-one and moved it to safety. He did lose a battle in the Leon Draisaitl). McDavid gave fans what they came for about nine first period; that’s going to be an area of work, as those strong NHL minutes into the first period. He received a pass in full flight, left a Coyote wingers will wear him down over the long season. standing in the shadows and drove toward the net. His breathtaking speed was key to a dangerous chance. Draisaitl had a fine defensive The shutdown pairing (Nurse and Adam Larsson) was the breakdown moment early in the first period, using his big body to gain position, pairing on the night. Nurse made an ill-timed pinch against Vinnie control the puck and carry it to safety. His best scoring chance came in Hinostroza and Michael Grabner, losing to Grabner in a race to the net. It the third period on the power play. On a set piece, he drilled a hard shot was a killer goal. low at the far post that would have cashed without a fantastic save by Adin Hill. Larsson made a shocking pass to his own slot. The only logical explanation is an Oilers forward was supposed to be there to catch the Overall, the trio (Zack Kassian was on right wing, as was the case pass. Either way, it was a gift to the Coyotes. January to April a year ago) was outscored 1-0 and had just one high- danger scoring chance at five-on-five. Draisaitl fanned on a couple of Matt Benning couldn’t offer any resistance after the Coyotes got a quick passes on promising rushes, and McDavid seemed a split second off in turnover. Lawson Crouse took full advantage and delivered a terrific shot his normally expert timing. Third man Kassian brought the work boots, for the game’s first goal. and it led to his best chance. On an early forecheck, Kassian intercepted Mike Smith an errant pass to the Arizona slot. His backhand shot was a solid chance that resulted from good forechecking. The big man was solid in his Oilers debut. He was beaten twice (great shot on the first, bad luck on the second) and stopped two of three high- The Nuge line danger shots. His puckhandling was mostly a strong point, and there Although Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored (another) short-handed goal were segments of the game when the team looked organized defensively Tuesday night, his line was on the wrong end of the story at five-on-five. and capable in goal. Consistency has been Smith’s issue. Edmonton Nuge and wingers James Neal and Sam Gagner were outscored 3-0 at badly needs him to bring it this season. even strength. There was some offensive chemistry from the line and Jujhar Khaira Gagner made a fine defensive play in the slot (breaking up what would have been a strong scoring chance), but on the evening, the line was In the minutes after his PK assist, Khaira was around the puck a lot. He chasing too much. It confirms what many observers have been saying: settled the game by gaining possession in the neutral zone, sent deft Nugent-Hopkins, who plays tough minutes, needs at least one winger passes to linemates on breakouts and showed the kind of presence we with two-way acumen. saw in 2017-18 (when he scored 11 goals). Two years ago, fans got a glimpse of a useful NHL player who had enough skill to be a The bottom-six forwards complementary scorer on a line playing in the heart of the game. He Tippett’s postgame comments about the third and fourth lines — “Our spent part of the second period (after the PK assist) looking like that bottom six worked hard, were good” — contrasted his view of the skill player again. lines. Reviewing my game notes, Tippett’s words matched the game log Sometimes a player will show flashes and never find the consistency for the six men playing on depth lines: necessary to step into a larger role. I believe Khaira has the ability to In the first period, Alex Chiasson with a great look from the slot. impact the game offensively, and there’s miles of proof he can help in other ways. We saw Khaira’s potential tonight. Again. He is a fascinating Patrick Russell with a late first-period chance, strong push around the young player. I bet Tippett noticed that second period by the big man. Coyotes net and then a shot. After the game Jujhar Khaira and Russell are among several good penalty killers in a four-minute kill from a Darnell Nurse infraction. Tippett told the media Persson will be evaluated Wednesday, and the team sent defenceman Evan Bouchard to Bakersfield (along with goalie Khaira picks up a short-handed assist from a two-on-one with Nugent- Shane Starrett) after the game. Depending on Persson’s immediate Hopkins. future and Brandon Manning’s fate, rookies Ethan Bear and William Lagesson could make the opening-night 23-man roster next week. It’s Riley Sheahan and Josh Archibald find themselves in the Arizona end already an interesting week. and execute a pass and shoot, with Archibald getting a shot on net. The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 Archibald shows good speed through the neutral zone and drives down the right side. He got a shot off from a bad angle.

Khaira walked out front for a look that was blocked.

Colby Cave, with a 10-bell chance, can’t cash. It is his second high- danger chance of the game.

Russell draws a penalty; he got buried in the slot as a pass was headed his way. 1108296 Edmonton Oilers Some of that real outpouring came from the players in the Oilers’ dressing room on Tuesday.

Oilers forward Sam Gagner spends his summers in Ontario as well and Duhatschek: Connor McDavid returns after a gruelling summer rehabbing was in steady communication with his teammate. his knee, but don’t expect a cautious star “I was talking to him throughout the summer and then I saw him a few times,” Gagner said. “It was a tough injury, but he placed a huge amount of importance on being ready for Game 1. He put in a lot of time and a lot By Eric Duhatschek Sep 24, 2019 of work and I know he’s proud of that fact. I don’t think people see how much goes into being a top-level athlete like he is. He has a great team

around him that helped him get back to the level he’s at – but he had to EDMONTON – Connor McDavid is back, and among popular, much- put in the time and put in the work. anticipated returns, this ranks right up there with the “Return of the Jedi,” “It’s great to see how good he looks now.” “Return of The Dragon” and for some of an older vintage, “Return of The Pink Panther.” Presumably, McDavid didn’t have a lot of fun – or downtime – this past summer. Days, maybe even weeks ahead of what was always a fluid schedule, McDavid will play in Tuesday night’s exhibition game in Edmonton “The thing about rehab,” Gagner said, “is it’s just so tedious because against the Arizona Coyotes. there’s so much time that goes into it. When you think about a normal summer, you get there, you warm up, you skate, you’re probably training McDavid tore the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during last for three or four hours and then you’re done. year’s regular-season finale against Calgary, and thus his convalescence has been a daily point of concern ever since. He has incrementally “Whereas, Connor probably had to be there an extra two hours to get in inched his way back to health and of late, the only question was: When? his rehab and get everything strengthened. So, he was putting in six, Now we have our answer: Now. seven-hour days. It’s a lot – but he really cares about it and he puts a lot of time in and it’s great to see him flying like he is now.” “The docs just met and thought it was safe to play – and I wanted to play – and everyone signed off on it, so … it’s good,” McDavid said on McDavid will play the opener with the linemates he finished with a year Tuesday. “This is probably a little bit earlier, but everything’s been feeling ago, Leon Draisaitl and Zack Kassian. Kassian didn’t have to ask around good.” to speak on behalf of the team when he said they were all happy to have McDavid back in the lineup. Originally, McDavid was hoping to get into one exhibition contest but was resigned to the possibility that he may not play in any. With three warmup “He’s like all of us,” Kassian said. “He wants to get into an exhibition contests left on the preseason scheduled, this represents a wholly game and make sure he gets all the rust off, so he’s ready to go when positive turn of events. the real games start.

Back when McDavid limped off the ice in that collision with Flames’ “A lot of people don’t realize how much work he put in, in the offseason, defenceman Mark Giordano last April, there was grave concern about to get to where he is today. I know he’s excited to put all of it behind him how serious the injury might be. The strength of McDavid’s game starts and just go and play.” with his foot speed and his otherworldly acceleration. Any sort of knee injury can undermine leg strength and stability. McDavid acknowledged he won’t know himself if he’s at 100 percent until his knee takes some contact, but suggested that would be the same with But so far, that doesn’t appear to be the case. McDavid has been a any injury. regular at practice, and in the last few days, his confidence level seems to have risen, if his body language is any indication. “When I came back from my collarbone, sure, you practise and take bumps here and there, but nothing really replicates the game, so … “I definitely feel lucky (because) it definitely could have been worse,” obviously, that’s part of the game, so we’ll see what happens.” McDavid acknowledged. “I could have been sitting there, talking about this the whole year. But it’s not bad – and I’m looking to play tonight.” McDavid was asked if Giordano – who was involved in the collision that caused his injury – had reached out at all. Oilers coach Dave Tippett said his deployment plan for McDavid in the opener was pretty basic: “We’ll just get him up and going. But he’s “He stopped by after the game, before we left, to see how I was, which wanted to play for three weeks. Between doctors and our organization, was nice, and then he reached out in the middle of the summer,” we wanted to make sure everything was right. He’s practised hard for two McDavid said. “I definitely appreciate that. He didn’t have to do that.” weeks. He’s itching to play. I know he wants to get games in. Tippett said the danger in their first game with McDavid is that the Oilers’ “I don’t know how many he’ll play. We’ll get through this first one and players could be like the rest of the hockey world – so focused on then we’ll figure it out.” watching No. 97 play that they’re not doing their jobs.

Tippett is in his first year behind the Oilers’ bench, after lengthy stays in “First of all, let’s hope we don’t all go out there and watch him,” Tippett both Dallas and Phoenix – and has a long list of friends and said. “I felt like there was a little bit of that the other day against Calgary, acquaintances in the game. with Leon. ‘OK, let’s watch Leon for a while.’ It’s a team sport. Everybody has to play. Everybody has to do their part. I wondered if Tippett had been badgered by those friends and acquaintances for McDavid updates all summer. “But that being said, Connor is obviously a special player. We’ve talked about him wanting to go for three weeks now, he raises the level of “If I had a dollar for everybody who’s asked me if he’s going to play, I’d practice, just with the things he does and the speed he plays at. He be a rich man,” Tippett answered, with a smile. “And that goes for fans, makes everybody else come with him. And hopefully, that’s what we’ll media and everybody. see in the game tonight. He plays at a speed that very few players play at. I’d like our team to all try to keep up to that speed – because if we are, “I mean, he’s a special player, a generational player, whatever you want we’re playing hard and we’re playing well.” to call him. When he’s playing well, people like to watch – and you don’t have to be an Edmonton Oiler fan, you can be a hockey fan, to watch McDavid is, believe it or not, now entering his fifth NHL season, after him. I know I watched him from afar – and now I get to watch him every being the Oilers’ first pick in the 2015 Draft. In his first four seasons, he day and I’m happy about that. has played 287 NHL games, scored 128 goals, 244 assists and 372 points. “But there has been a real outpouring. The bottom line is, he’s good for the game. That skill, speed, talent – it’s good for the game. And he’s a Including his broken collarbone, which caused him to miss 32 games really good person to go with it. Everything our game epitomizes, that’s a during his rookie season, this is his second major injury in those four special person in that spot. There’s been lots of people reach out. I’m years. glad he’s healthy. I’m glad he’s ready to go. And I hope he plays well.” The injury that time was similar on one level – it occurred because he was driving hard to get to the net. Presumably, somebody somewhere is telling McDavid to protect himself better in those situations, but it is hard to imagine he would ever take that advice. It’s doesn’t seem to be part of his DNA, to play the game in a guarded fashion, an observation with which McDavid agreed.

“No, I’ve been doing that for a long time,” McDavid said. “You hit the post and you hit it the wrong way and that happens. I’ve gone flying into the net before and have had nothing happen at all, so … it’s part of the game – and you try to move forward.”

Still, I had to ask: Has anyone tried to convince him to change his game – and play a little safer?

“No, no one’s tried that,” he replied.

Even his mom?

McDavid smiled.

“No, she kinda stays out of that.”

The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108297 Edmonton Oilers Tyler Benson was sent back to Bakersfield last week, with coach Dave Tippett saying “he’s close” at the media avail. Benson’s injury history is a tome (detailed here) and includes surgery to remove a cyst on his spine, Osteitis pubis, a shoulder injury and core/groin issues that eventually led Injuries and prospects: A brief Oilers history of devastating derailments to sports hernia surgery. So, fun. Benson would miss so much of his draft and draft-plus-one seasons (playing just 44 percent of the Vancouver

Giants’ regular-season games in those seasons) that the Oilers simply By Allan Mitchell Sep 24, 2019 wanted him to play an entire schedule once he turned pro. In that first AHL campaign with the , Benson recharged his career. That said, the missed development time most certainly had an impact, perhaps reducing Benson’s outer marker as a player. It’s fair to It is a day that will live in Oilers draft infamy: June 22, 2002, at the Air say injuries had a major impact on Benson’s career development. Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario. The NHL Draft, Day 1. , in his third draft as general manager of the Edmonton Oilers, traded Kailer Yamamoto delivered impact offence in junior hockey, scoring 59- down one spot and landed on No. 15 overall. The organization chose a 95-154 in his final 100 WHL games. He also impressed previous tall, razor-thin centre named Jesse Niinimaki who wasn’t listed among management and coaches, winning an NHL job twice out of training the top 50 players in The Hockey News. Lowe could have traded into the camp. Yamamoto got hurt last season, and it impacted his development middle of the second round and still had a shot at Niinimaki based on the timeline. He played just 17 NHL and 27 AHL games in 2018-19. His wrist experts’ published rankings. surgery in the spring was successful, but Yamamoto didn’t get into game action for the Oilers during training camp this fall. The choice of Niinimaki sent Oilers fans scrambling for Google search, only to be disappointed at the lack of immediately available information. Absent new information, it’s reasonable to expect his conditioning and Lowe and his scouts had decided on a massive “reach” pick, a young the recovery from surgery land him close to AHL opening-night man ranked No. 50 on the European Central Scouting list. readiness. Unlike Benson, it’s difficult to put any kind of assessment on the injury’s impact on his career. A wrist or hand injury to a skill player is In his draft-plus-one season, Niinimaki spent most of the campaign in the a worry, but we’ll have to wait and see Yamamoto’s results this season. SM-liiga (with Tampere) and scored 17 points in 41 games. Sean Bergenheim, six months younger but from the same draft year, posted Ostap Safin was drafted by the Oilers in 2017, and he delivered a quality just six points in 38 games — same league, same season. season in the QMJHL during 2017-18. In August 2018, Safin suffered a hip injury playing for the Czech Republic U-20 team at the Four Nations The following season, 2003-04, Niinimaki posted three goals and six Tournament, and it derailed his season. He is 20 and will turn pro this points in his first 10 games, showing promise. At that point, Niinimaki fall, but he played in just 15 regular-season games in the QMJHL last suffered a career-altering injury, one that Guy Flaming from The Pipeline season (plus 23 playoff games in which he was a shadow of his previous Show recalls: “I remember the description of his shoulder injury that I was self). Impossible to estimate career impact, a recovery season in the AHL given. I was told that the X-ray, or MRI or whatever, it came back and will go a long way in easing worry. showed ridiculously extensive damage. The word that was used was ‘pulverized’ because the shoulder wasn’t broken or cracked — it was in Ryan Mantha had a strong first AHL season going on in 2017-18 when many small pieces.” he suffered an unusual eye injury (a blood clot damaging his central retinal artery, via Jim Matheson and the Edmonton Sun). He begins the It’s a funny thing about injuries to prospects. Niinimaki was injured final year of his entry contract this fall, with no news in many months on playing in faraway Finland, and the severity of his injury, while clearly his condition. Obviously a massive impact on his career. devastating, was not front-page news in Edmonton and has been long forgotten. If you ask the average Oilers fan, one who remembers Logan Day was injured during the preseason and will require surgery. Niinimaki at all, chances are the conversation will quickly head toward Cooper Marody appeared to be recovered from the injury (concussion) bad drafting and missed opportunities via the scouts. that ended his season last spring. Ethan Bear’s shoulder, a worry last spring, does not appear to be an issue. That’s seven men from a list of In truth, the Niinimaki injury short-circuited what might have been a 24 prospects on the current 50-man list (29 percent) who have suffered a productive career. Bergenheim played over 500 NHL games, and significant injury. Niinimaki had more skill. It’s easy to dismiss Niinimaki and others like him; these stories are 15 years old. It is also important to acknowledge The elephant in the room the impact of these injuries and just how much damage the player and organization suffer because of them. At the NHL level, the Connor McDavid injury has been causing ulcers all spring and summer, and the captain’s absence from exhibition games Everybody hurts isn’t helping the healing process among the locals. All quotes from McDavid this summer and (now) fall are positive, and reports from camp Even successful NHL players often have a fairly long list of injuries have him toying with any resistance his teammates attempt in before reaching the NHL. Oscar Klefbom had several leading up to his scrimmages. We should see him in game action soon. first games in North America: What does it all mean? September 2011: Klefbom suffers a cut to his thigh by an ice skate; the wound was sewn with 10 stitches, and when the stitches were removed, Niinimaki remembers his shoulder injury, Lowe too, but for Oilers fans, there was an infection. the injuries get lumped in with bad drafting. There’s plenty of evidence through the years Edmonton missed at the draft table, but it’s worth November 2011: Klefbom is hit from behind and suffers some noting careers that run shy of expectations are often impacted by concussion-like issues. significant (and sometimes repeated) injuries. October 2012: Klefbom loses his balance and flies into the boards, We forget about prospect maladies but not a McDavid injury. We don’t leading with his left arm, and is injured. have a national registry of hockey injuries (we should) in order to track September 2013: After a dangerous hit at the University of Alberta and monitor prospects as they come through the system. There’s nothing Golden Bears-Oilers rookies game, Klefbom is held back for a few days wrong with criticizing an NHL scouting staff for poor performance, but with concussion-like symptoms. injuries (especially post-draft) should be part of the consideration.

Klefbom’s injury résumé since arriving in the NHL is also substantial, but The prevailing wisdom is it all evens out in the end; no NHL team suffers he’s a quality NHL player and has covered his draft bet despite the substantially more than another. An Oilers fan with a good memory has a concussions and infections. solid foundation to argue otherwise. Perhaps we’ll know for sure when they build that central registry. That brings us to the carnage that populates the current roster of AHL prospects. It’s fascinating to look at the minor-league group and see just The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 how many have suffered possible career-altering injuries.

The current Condors 1108298

This Panthers player is trying to secure a roster spot. This is what Quenneville’s view

BY ALANIS THAMES SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 05:02 PM

Florida Panthers forward Anthony Greco has no problem with proving himself.

With just over a week until the Panthers kick off their 2019-20 season against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Greco is one of several players still hoping to earn one of the team’s final roster spots, but he said he doesn’t mind the adversity.

“I think that’s the mindset I have always had,” he said after Monday’s practice. “I have to prove myself every day. I have no problem with that. It’s something I kind of just thrive in now.”

So far, he’s made the most of his chance. The 25-year-old is tied for fourth in scoring with four points (three goals, one assist) in three games this preseason.

And his two-goal performance in last week’s 6-0 win against the Dallas Stars grabbed the attention of coach Joel Quenneville, who said he’s earned a much closer look ahead of the team’s upcoming preseason matchup against the Tampa Bay Lighting at the BB&T Center.

“Grecs is a guy that we’re kind of talking about,” Quenneville said, “that all of a sudden he comes up with a big game. I think he’s improving without the puck. His speed really catches your eye. And all of a sudden he’s got some breakaway here, and he’s got some finish around the net. His speed can turn the pucks over as well … Last game, it was one of those where, OK, we’ll keep an eye on him and give him a better opportunity.”

Greco, who’s entering his fourth season with the Panthers, led the AHL Springfield Thunderbirds in scoring last season with a career-high 59 points (30 goals, 29 assists).

The Ohio State product is also used to battling proving himself after entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2015.

“It’s sort of how it’s been the last however many years,” he said. “I’m used to it now, at this point, trying to come in and prove myself. And I have no problem with it.”

Quenneville has noticed Greco’s effort in camp. He’s one of a few players on the bubble who’s performance recently has made those roster decisions tougher.

And after surviving this past weekend’s most recent round of roster cuts, which put the Panthers’ roster at 29, Greco still has time to solidify his spot, as Quenneville said he’s one of the guys who will get more playing time in the remaining three preseason games.

“It’s been a long camp, and the days have been pretty hard,” Greco said after the Panthers’ Monday practice. “But for myself, just taking it day by day ... just trying to come in and be confident every single day and just take it one practice at a time and one period at a time in the games. And just try my best.”

The Panthers’ final three preseason games are against the Lightning, who won the Presidents Trophy last season after going 62-16-4 with 128 points. Florida then opens its regular-season against Tampa Bay at Amalie Arena, after which, the team will return to the BB&T Center to face the Lightning in its 2019 home opener.

“Tampa’s as good a team as you’re going to see as far as watching all their systems, how they play, the skill, the pace, the speed,” Quenneville said. “You’re going to see a lot of different things that’ll help us learn about our team and how to play.

“It’ll be good competition.”

Miami Herald LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108299 Florida Panthers Panthers right wing Anthony Greco celebrates his preseason goal against the Canadiens with teammates during the second period at Bell Centre. (Jean-Yves Ahern / USA Today)

Riley Stillman, Anthony Greco still in the mix as the Panthers’ preseason For Stillman, being called up for what would be his NHL debut last hits final week season was a surprise.

Then 20, Stillman was in his first professional season with Springfield after four years of junior hockey. By George Richards Sep 24, 2019 The Panthers brought Stillman up Feb. 28 on an emergency basis and put him in the lineup at Arizona. He was sent back to Springfield soon afterward. CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — Riley Stillman and Anthony Greco did not get much a chance to show the Florida Panthers they could play in the NHL Being able to play 59 AHL games seems to have helped Stillman — a last season. fourth-round pick of Florida in 2016 who has developed into a good defensive player the organization has high hopes for — adjust to the They are both getting a much longer look in training camp and are rigors of what could come next. making a strong case to stay with the team once the regular season starts next week. “It was very beneficial for me,” said Stillman, who credits Springfield head coach Geordie Kinnear and assistant Doug Janik for helping him grow Both players, teammates with AHL Springfield who made their NHL his game and on-ice demeanor. “They helped me understand what it debuts last season, have been good in games and in practices takes to be a pro.” throughout camp. In this training camp, Stillman has definitely not looked out of place Greco made the biggest splash of the Florida hopefuls this past weekend defensively. in Tulsa as he scored two goals to help the Panthers to a 6-0 victory over the Dallas Stars — Florida’s first win of the preseason. Monday, Stillman worked with Anton Stralman for the first time. The two could be paired up again Tuesday night as the Tampa Bay Lightning visit “They have helped themselves,” coach Joel Quenneville said, adding BB&T Center. Stillman has also worked with Aaron Ekblad and Mark both players have earned a longer look. Pysyk during the preseason. As another round of cuts hit this weekend, leaving Florida’s roster at 29, As far as the final roster goes, both players still face an uphill climb. Stillman and Greco are still pushing for a spot with three preseason games remaining. Greco would have to go through waivers if the Panthers were to send him back to Springfield; Stillman, in the second year of his entry-level General manager Dale Tallon and Quenneville were hoping some young deal, would not be subjected to waivers. The Panthers still have six or players would step up in camp and force them into the proverbial “tough seven roster moves to make in the next week. decision” when it comes time to final cuts. “Obviously, he has had a great camp or he would not still be here,” The Panthers only have a few spots open as it stands right now, but Stralman said of Stillman. “I am looking forward to seeing him a bit more, Greco and Stillman are making a run at them. see if we are paired up (Tuesday). It is always interesting and fun to play “I am not taking anything for granted,” said Stillman, the son of former with up-and-coming guys like that. NHL forward Cory Stillman, who spent part of three seasons (2008-11) “I remember when I was in that situation and was trying to break out, I with the Panthers. played with Hal Gill (in Toronto) and it was fun. Now I am in Hal’s position “We will see. I’m not so much focused (on making the team) as I am just and I am going to try and help him out. We talked a lot on the ice, trying to play my best every day. At the end of the day, it’s up to the especially with new systems we both are trying to learn. You have to coaching staff and management. I am just trying to put my best foot communicate and we did a lot of decent work. He can make plays, he forward. … I have been able to play in some big situations here the past made all the right defensive moves.” couple of games, which has been nice. (I’ve) been able to make some Hello, old friend plays. That makes you feel good going into the next couple of games.” The Panthers and Lightning are no strangers, and they will quickly get For Greco, who went undrafted out of Ohio State but has scored 59 goals reacquainted. over the past two seasons for Springfield, being the underdog is nothing new. Tampa Bay is in town to play the Panthers twice in a span of three nights, with the Panthers visiting the Lightning Saturday to conclude the “I’m used to coming in, trying to prove myself,” said Greco, who scored preseason. 29 goals for Springfield two years ago and followed that up with a 30-goal campaign last season. “I have no problem with that and have grown Florida will return to Tampa next week for the season opener on Oct. 3, comfortable with it.” and the Lightning will fly down to play the Panthers in their home opener on Oct. 5. Greco, who turns 26 next week, made his NHL debut with the Panthers in December at Minnesota but was sent back to Springfield following a That is five games between the same two teams in a span of 12 days. disappointing 5-1 loss to the Wild. Three games don’t count — but two of them do.

That loss was a low point in a disappointing season and led to Tallon to “Tampa is as good as you’ll see as far as watching their systems, how call up rookies Henrik Borgstrom and Jayce Hawryluk in hopes they they play, the skill they have, the pace and the speed,” Quenneville said. would spark the team. “So you are going to see a lot of different things that will help us learn about our team and how to play them as well. It will be good Greco would like to stick around with the Panthers a little longer this time. competition.” Monday, with the team split up for scrimmages, Greco played on a line The two teams have done this dance before, as the Panthers opened the with Colton Sceviour and Troy Brouwer. regular season in Tampa last October after three preseason games (one “Obviously, it was frustrating,” said Greco, who played just 9:30 and was each in Tampa, Orlando and Sunrise) against the Lightning. a minus-3 in that loss at Minnesota. “It is one of those things that at the Since 1998, the Panthers have either opened the season or played their end of the day, you think about it and make sure when you get the home opener against the Lightning eight times. opportunity again to prove them wrong. Florida and Tampa Bay have played the first two games to open things “That’s the mindset I have always had. I have to prove myself every day. up in two of the past three seasons. I have no problem with that. I thrive in that and it’s exciting to be in this last week, be in these last games and hopefully do what I have been “I think it’s a little weird (playing three preseason games) since we open doing.” the regular season against them,” said Stralman, who signed with the Panthers this offseason after five years with the Lightning. “In the end, I don’t think it really matters, but what I remember is those regular-season games weren’t very good because they felt like we were still in the preseason. Maybe we will try to change that this year. It’s just natural. You play three preseason games and then it counts — but it still kind of feels the same.”

Bob takes the net

Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has not played for the Panthers since signing his seven-year, $70 million contract with the Panthers in July, but Quenneville said he would make his debut Tuesday night at BB&T Center.

The only action Bobrovsky has seen in the first five exhibition games was during warmups of the fourth game at Montreal. Bobrovsky was dressed but stayed on the bench as Sam Montembeault played the entire game.

Quenneville said Bobrovsky and Chris Dreidger will split the net on Tuesday. Bobrovsky will likely see full game action in Florida’s final two exhibitions against the Lightning this week.

Montembeault, who stopped all 30 shots faced Saturday in shutting out the Stars, appears to have won the backup job, although Quenneville would not officially confirm that Monday.

“Sammy has had an excellent camp and is coming off an outstanding game,” Quenneville said.

More cuts to come

The Panthers are sharing the same locker room for the first time this preseason although, because the roster is at 29 players, some rookies (like Stillman and Greco) are making use of folding chairs placed around the room since there are not enough locker stalls for everyone.

Florida reduced its roster this past weekend with 11 players put on waivers either Saturday or Sunday.

On Saturday, eight (Rodrigo Abols, Jonathan Ang, Ryan Bednard, Tommy Cross, Joel Lowry, Jake Massie, Kevin Roy and Paul Thompson) were assigned to AHL camp in Springfield. Sunday, Philippe Desrosiers, Thomas Schemitsch and Ethan Prow were added. Serron Noel was sent back to his junior team.

Quenneville said more will be coming in the next few days as the Panthers should have their opening night roster all but set following the third preseason game Saturday against the Lightning.

Tallon said at the start of camp he expects to begin the season with 22 players instead of the NHL maximum 23.

Florida Panthers roster breakdown — Sept. 23

Forwards (17 in camp, 13 projected to be on opening night roster)

Locks (10): Noel Acciari, Sasha Barkov, Henrik Borgstrom, Brett Connolly, Evgenii Dadonov, Mike Hoffman, Jonathan Huberdeau, Colton Sceviour, Vincent Trocheck, Frank Vatrano.

Still in the mix: Troy Brouwer (PTO), Anthony Greco, Jayce Hawryluk, Dryden Hunt, Denis Malgin, Owen Tippett, Dominic Toninato.

Defensemen (9/7)

Locks (6): Aaron Ekblad, Mike Matheson, Mark Pysyk, Anton Stralman, MacKenzie Weegar, Keith Yandle.

Still in the mix: Josh Brown, Ian McCoshen, Riley Stillman.

Goalies (3/2)

Lock (2): Sergei Bobrovsky, Sam Montembeault.

Still in the mix: Chris Driedger.

The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108300 Los Angeles Kings It’s easy to be skeptical that something as small as a greeting could change a life. “Sometimes just being seen or felt to be connected or validated, that can cause a person to make a very different decision in what happens next in their life. It does actually make a huge difference,” Column: Kings partner with Sandy Hook Promise in violence prevention Hockley said. “Especially in incidents of self-harm, someone who’s campaign considering that ‘No one will notice me if I’m gone,’ or wants to retaliate to feel connected to a community, it will make you have a different

perspective on life.” By HELENE ELLIOTTSPORTS COLUMNIST SEP. 24, 2019 8:35 PM Like most NHL teams, the Kings are active in their community. Last year, after 12 people were shot to death in a bar in Thousand Oaks, players held placards bearing the word ENOUGH. Two years ago, the Kings Dylan Hockley would have been in eighth grade now if he hadn’t been funded the purchase of trauma kits for South Bay school classrooms and among the 20 children and six staff members killed at Sandy Hook the training for teachers to use them. “I think we’ve always said that if Elementary School in December 2012. He was 6 years old. He they are the dustiest bags in each classroom that’s a really good thing,” sometimes struggled to communicate because of his autism, but his spirit Cheeseman said. “I think this initiative should lead to that, and that’s our soared. goal.”

He would have been around the same age as the kids who gathered at It’s a goal everyone can celebrate. “There are kids, we don’t know what’s Hermosa Valley School in Hermosa Beach on Tuesday to listen to his going on in their minds but if another kid says hello to him and it changes mother, Nicole, promote a message of inclusion and encouragement in his life, you never know,” club President Luc Robitaille said. “You’ll never the hope fewer parents will endure the pain she and too many other know. That’s the idea.” parents live with every day. LA Times: LOADED: 09.25.2019 The eighth-graders who sat in a semi-circle in front of her are participating in a program called “Start with Hello,” one of many initiatives created by Sandy Hook Promise, an organization she co-founded. The goal is to persuade kids to offer a kind word to a classmate instead of a taunt, to draw outsiders into a circle of activity instead of shutting them out and sparking resentment that might build up and lead them to act out violently.

The Kings on Tuesday added their support to Sandy Hook Promise’s mission by giving the organization a check for $360,000 that will be used to train educators and kids in middle and high schools in the L.A., Torrance and Conejo Valley Unified School Districts to identify and get help for at-risk kids. That initiative is called “Know the Signs,” and the Kings made a three-year commitment to help.

“Dylan would be in eighth grade, had he survived. But he didn’t,” Hockley told an attentive audience. “And it’s through his legacy and ongoing support of the L.A. Kings as well that help give you the tools to help create the change that you want to be.”

The “Know the Signs” program isn’t politically partisan. Nor is the “Start with Hello” program, which was implemented in more than 12,000 schools nationwide this week. “It’s a kind message,” said Kelly Cheeseman, the Kings’ chief operating officer. “It has an impact on the bottom end of the scale. It’s not about the guns. It’s about kindness in that moment.

“We did not want to get involved in the political conversation. That is not our place. But we do want to make an impact and that’s at the core of who we are as an organization. It’s everything that we’re about. We want to win hockey games and we want to win Stanley Cups, but if we can have an impact in our community, that goes a long way.”

Many Kings players and executives live in the South Bay and those who are parents send their kids to local schools. Jennifer Pope, the Kings’ vice president of community relations and team services, has two kids in school, a son who’s 7 and a daughter who’s 4. Pope cried as she listened to Hockley talk about Dylan and about Sandy Hook Promise. “Honestly, they’re the perfect partner,” Pope said. “They focus on kids and they focus on trying to recognize the signs before anything happens. So, anything we could do to help that cause and move that message forward, we’re in.”

Kings defenseman Derek Forbort is the son of teachers: His mom, Mary, teaches kindergarten and his father, Keith, teaches fourth grade, both in Duluth, Minn. A news bulletin about a shooting in or near a school always catches his attention. “As we’ve seen, it can happen anywhere. I know it’s something they worry about and I worry about too,” he said. “Making schools a safer place to learn and play is extremely important to me.”

Where to begin? “We know that in schools everywhere there are kids that are feeling alone. There are kids that are feeling invisible and isolated,” Hockley said. “There are signs and signals that people give off before they commit acts of violence or self-harm, and social isolation is a long lead indicator of somebody who could be at risk in the future. Creating those early connections is important, so we created this program to go to schools.” 1108301 Los Angeles Kings rebuilding, we’re going to be younger. We shouldn’t be surprised if we make trades this year. We just got to be better.”

PREDICTION: The Kings should improve on last season’s point total but Kings looking at long rebuild with Todd McLellan as coach are expected to miss the playoffs and be near the bottom of the Western Conference. The most interesting month of the season figures to be February as they’re likely to be in the trade market again and making the slow steps necessary to rebuild the roster. By ASSOCIATED PRESS |PUBLISHED: September 24, 2019 at 2:22 pm | UPDATED: September 24, 2019 at 2:22 PM Orange County Register: LOADED: 09.25.2019

LOS ANGELES — Todd McLellan wants to make the Kings playoff contenders again. He faces an uphill climb in trying to make that happen.

McLellan, who was named coach on April 15, inherited a roster with five players age 32 or older that had the fewest points in the Western Conference last season, scored the second-fewest goals in the league and was 29th out of 31 teams in penalty killing.

That’s why McLellan has modest expectations for what will be considered a success this season.

“Growth. Everyone has to improve in every facet of the game,” McLellan said early in training camp. “I think I’ve said this before. Old dogs have to learn new tricks, and the new dogs have to be prepared and open to absorb and be professional.”

McLellan spent most of training camp trying to get all his players on the same page. They have spent as much time in front of the white board as they have skating.

McLellan, who had previous stints with Pacific Division rivals San Jose and Edmonton, wants the Kings to be more aggressive on the forecheck and also to be quicker to the puck. Whether that can work with one of the league’s oldest lineups, remains to be seen.

Early reviews by players about McLellan have been positive. Ilya Kovalchuk said the Kings are hoping to exceed expectations even though many think LA’s best days are behind it.

“I believe we still got it. In this league you never know,” he said. “You see the St. Louis Blues won the Stanley Cup, they were the last team in the whole league by Jan. 6 or something. So you just have to work hard and together as a team cause you can’t just be bunch of individuals. We have some new guys coming, but we have a core that knows how to win and that’s most important.”

WHO’S HERE? Defenseman Ben Hutton was signed Sept. 18 with Derek Forbort (back) and Paul LaDue (knee) likely not ready for the start of the regular season. Hutton spent four seasons with Vancouver. He had 20 points in 69 games last season but also posted a career-worst minus-23 rating, which is why he wasn’t extended a qualifying offer. Fellow defenseman Joakim Ryan, who spent his entire career with San Jose, also provides some experience. The Kings also added forwards Mario Kempe and Martin Frk, but they might have a tough time breaking into the lineup.

WHO’S NOT? The Kings bought out veteran defenseman Dion Phaneuf while forward Brendan Leipsic signed with Washington. The team dealt some prospects near the trade deadline for draft picks.

KEY PLAYERS: Forward Anze Kopitar scored 60 points last season, which was a 32-point decrease from 2017-18. He is expected to bounce back and have increased production this season, but probably not on the level of two years ago.

Kovalchuk had a nightmare return to the NHL last year, with just 34 points and at one point being demoted to the fourth line. McLellan has lauded the Russian during training camp, saying he is more engaged and buying into the new system.

Goaltender Jonathan Quick was hampered by injuries and was in net for only 46 games. This could be the year he is traded after Jack Campbell was signed to a two-year extension prior to the start of training camp

OUTLOOK: The Kings are looking to avoid missing the playoffs in multiple seasons for the first time since 2008-09 but has an aging roster with large contracts, which doesn’t give the Kings much salary cap flexibility.

Veteran defenseman Drew Doughty knows the team is in a rebuilding phase. “It’s just what we got to do,” he said. “We’re a new team, we’re 1108302 Los Angeles Kings the captain for Sweden’s gold-medal winning U-18 team at the IIHF Championships earlier this year.

“Not to sit on the fence but way too early to tell,” the scout said, via text, ‘He’s amazing’: Drew Doughty gushes over Kings rookie (and potential but did agree with the Vlasic comparison. “The problem with comps is partner?) Tobias Bjornfot people only want to use names like Doughty or (Nicklas) Lidstrom, etc.

“I’ve seen five Doughtys in the last seven drafts which is strange since there was only one Doughty in the last 15 prior.” By Lisa Dillman Sep 24, 2019 Bjornfot may not have used the word “awesome” several times to describe his partnership with Doughty but he clearly enjoyed their first game together. LOS ANGELES — While it was one game, a preseason game at that, it might have marked the beginning of a beautiful friendship on the blue On Monday, he played 18 minutes, 10 seconds, and notably logged 1:40 line. on the penalty kill, an important sign of trust from McLellan.

You could see Kings defenseman Drew Doughty was happy about how “A lot more confidence when I play more games,” said Bjornfot, who things were going in Game 1 of his partnership with Swedish rookie turned 18 on April 6 and is 6-feet, 193 pounds. “I try to do stuff on the Tobias Bjornfot. offense, on the blue line. And I think I have more confidence when I play more games. Maybe giddy is a better word. “He (Doughty) makes it easy. He talks a lot. So it’s easy for me to make Doughty was positively pumped in the dressing room at Staples Center the play.” during his postgame TV hit with Carrlyn Bathe of Fox Sports West. The giddiness spilled over to our conversation after the Kings’ 3-0 victory Doughty noted that Bjornfot was “so calm and laid back.” against the Ducks on Monday night. “That’s the other thing,” Doughty said. “I can joke with him (on the bench) Should he (Bjornfot) stay or should he go? about the song that’s playing during the game or whatever. He’s just got that same mentality I have … just having fun out there but at the same Doughty, of course, is one vote but an important one. time competing as hard as we can. It’s crazy. The two-time Stanley Cup champion and 2016 Norris Trophy winner “He just keeps getting better and better. He’s so young, so there is a went on to use the word “amazing” to describe Bjornfot about three times chance he’ll go back, obviously. But it’s not because of how he’s played if in less than 30 seconds. he doesn’t make the team.” “He’s amazing,” Doughty said. “I don’t know how they send him back (to Doughty’s praise wasn’t limited to Bjornfot. He also singled out forward Sweden). Honestly, I don’t know. He’s amazing, honestly. His poise out Rasmus Kupari, who was a first-round pick (No. 20) in 2018. there. Him making plays to me on the blue line. It’s nuts. Another important byproduct of the infusion of youth in training camp is “He’s amazing. I love playing with him.” their impression/impact on the veterans. It’s been a long time, seemingly, Doughty rolled out one of his lines he used in the TV interview. since Doughty has been quite this exuberant.

“I made a joke on Fox, I said, ‘I’ve got eight years left on this deal. If we “It’s so exciting seeing these young guys come in and be effective,” he still have him, I’ll easily get another contract if I can keep playing with said. “I can’t explain how it is to watch these young guys. I feel like we him,’” Doughty said. “He’s amazing. I was really really impressed with haven’t had too many first-rounders in the last 10 years because we him.” traded them

Doughty would know how difficult (and rare) it is for an 18-year-old to “To have these new guys, these fresh guys … to try to help them out, it’s crack an NHL lineup, especially on the blue line. The Kings took him at a lot of fun.” No. 2, overall in the 2008 draft and he made his NHL debut, at 18 years, The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 308 days, and the rest is history.

Defenseman Aki Berg, the No. 3 player taken in the 1995 draft, is the youngest player to appear in a regular-season game for the Kings (18 years, 71 days). But one difference between Berg and Doughty in their rookie seasons is that Berg played 20 games in the minors late in the season while Doughty appeared in 81 of 82 NHL games and never played a minute in the minors.

Landing multiple impact players in one draft can help accelerate a rebuild. And the Kings may have done just that by landing Alex Turcotte (No. 5), Bjornfot (No. 22), Arthur Kaliyev (No. 33) and Samuel Fagemo (No. 50) with their first four selections at this year’s draft in Vancouver.

The Bjornfot pick was the final piece of the Jake Muzzin trade in January, in which the Kings also received two prospects from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Turcotte is in his freshman year at the University of Wisconsin, while Kaliyev and Fagemo were at rookie camp and the main training camp but have been sent back to their respective teams.

With two preseason games remaining, Bjornfot is still here. I asked a management source if there was any downside to keeping him at the NHL level, at least to start the season, and was told, “No, not at all.”

Earlier in camp, Kings coach Todd McLellan compared Bjornfot to the San Jose Sharks’ Marc-Edouard Vlasic, bringing back memories of when McLellan coached the young Vlasic in San Jose.

Here is where we attempt to curb the hype we’ve been creating. I reached out to an NHL amateur scout for another comparison for Bjornfot, who is also highly regarded for his leadership skills, having been 1108303 Los Angeles Kings least one of the two. Fast for me is long. Quick is Joe Pavelski, three foot races, body position, thinking. So if you have both fast and quick, Connor has fast and quick, you’re probably a star.

MCLELLAN ON COMMUNICATING WITH OLDER & YOUNGER On how he communicates differently with younger and older players PLAYERS, FAST VS. QUICK, ROUTINE Well, the older guys, they’re a little closer to our age, so they’re doing things that we’ve already done, parenting, taking kids to soccer games, that type of stuff. Homework…Brownie’s doing homework with the kids. ZACH DOOLEY SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 That is relatable and that’s a good way of talking to those players. Then you look over at the 18-year-old, he has no interest in homework or

soccer games and now I’ve got to think about what my boys do and what PRACTICE QUOTES are their days like and how to they communicate. You’ve got to kind of convert to their level and break the ice that way with the younger group. Todd McLellan met with a small group of media members following It’s a Catch 22. Certainly, the older ones are a little easier because today’s practice in El Segundo. they’re closer to our age.

The Kings coach touched on several subjects ranging from establishing On if younger players are asking for the “why” or if it’s something he new habits, how he communicates, explaining the “why,” and knows he needs to give them establishing productive routines. With players ranging from 18-year-old rookies to established and wily veterans, every player responds When they’re in one big group, they’re not going to put their hand up and differently to stimulus, something that McLellan elaborated on. say “hey coach”, they just won’t. So if we want to test them, we’ll do it in small groups. I’ll always tell them what we want to do and then try to Highly interesting was his breakdown of “fast” versus “quick.” It’s been explain why we’re doing it, see if they understand. Their body language beaten to death that the Kings need to play faster, but it’s not as simple sometimes tells you if they get it or not. The group’s still pretty large and as just bringing in players that skate faster. To demonstrate what he it’s hard to read everybody, so you hope that everyone in the classroom meant as playing quickly, he recalled a former player, Joe Pavelski. is keeping up. Being “quick” isn’t necessarily “end-to-end skating ability,” but rather winning three foot battles, proper positioning and making sound On if he likes that part of coaching decisions. Pavelski is no slouch in his skates, but he’s also not a I think that is coaching, to me, that’s coaching. It’s not standing behind notorious burner. Being “quick” is something that every player, regardless the bench and saying next, or whoever’s up. That’s the easy part. The of their footspeed, can improve and that seems to be a clear focus rest is coaching. throughout the first 11 days of training camp. On if he’s ever taking any formal communications courses or seminars Via Reign Insider Zach Dooley, the full transcript from McLellan’s media availability below. Not really, just observing, it’s all I’ve ever done. I’ve lived it. I think it’s part of being a parent. When we had kids, we bought that book, what to On the progress of breaking habits that were already in place and do when you’re expecting or whatever…900 pages long, never read a progressing with new ones page. You just go, you have a child and you figure it out. You start That question has a lot of range, because there’s so many parts of the coaching 25 years ago and you figure it out. It changes all the time, you game. We’re a little further ahead in some areas, we’re a little behind [in better be on your toes just like a player or you’re left behind quickly. others]. We had a day off the other day, and it gave us a chance to On establishing a game-day routine or schedule breathe a little bit, reflect on what we’ve accomplished in seven days. I think we put a lot in play and they’ve absorbed a lot and now, we’re going I like consistent, steady routine, I like a rhythm. I think the players like to start looking at repetition and then building off of at what we have. rhythm too. They want to know where they need to be at a certain time We’ve added a piece almost every day. There are times when we’ve got and pre-game skates are going to look the same. If you watch a pre- to slow it down a little bit, because we don’t think they’ve grabbed it yet game skate, they won’t even need us on the ice by the time Christmas and if they haven’t, then we’ll put the breaks on everything and continue comes around, because they’ll be able to zip that puck around, they’ll feel to work on it until we get it. In a respectful way, it’s like going through fast, they’ll feel in position. Meeting times will happen relatively the same. school. You don’t multiply before you add. You get all of the adding and Establish a rhythm as much as we can. subtracting done and then all of a sudden, pretty soon you’re in college and you don’t know what the hell you’re doing, because it’s stats class. LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 09.25.2019 Right now, we’re just simple and getting concepts and trying to knock them out. [Reporter: Is it easier with the younger guys, who maybe haven’t built up habits in a different system?]. Well, they played somewhere in good leagues with good coaches, different language, different systems. It’s more difficult for the veterans that have played together for a long time. The individuals, they don’t know Kopi’s tendencies, they don’t know what Drew has a tendency to do, they just play.

On the biggest adjustment he’s asking the group to make, from how they used to play to where they are now

I guess I’m going to answer it this way first: They won two cups, what they were doing was right. What they were doing was the right thing for their group at that time. The pieces fit, the way they played, the way they did the things they did together, it was right for their team at that time. Different pieces, different time, so what are we asking our guys to do? We still believe we can be a heavy, hard team to play against but we need a little more pace. Whatever we’re trying to do, is get a little more pace out of our players, starting in meetings, hopefully they’re happening faster. The practices, the execution, just playing with pace, that’s what we’re trying to get to. [Reporter: You can play with pace without making your players faster too, right…is it more about moving the puck faster and doing things faster?] Absolutely, yeah. I remember a young fellow that we had in juniors, he looked like Connor [McDavid], but then the game started and he disappeared, because there’s no sense of how to use your speed or timing. I think, when we talk about pace, for me, there’s fast and there’s quick, there’s two types of speed. If you’re fast and quick, you’re probably a star. To play in the league, you better be at 1108304 Los Angeles Kings minutes vacated by Jonathan Quick or Jack Campbell as the third link in a deep goaltending chain. He stopped 36 of 38 shots over 67:41 of preseason action.

TRIO ASSIGNED TO ONTARIO; ROSTER AT 29 LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 09.25.2019

JON ROSEN SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

PROSPECTS AND SCOUTINGROSTER MOVES

The LA Kings trimmed their roster by three players on Tuesday, assigning forward Martin Frk, defenseman Mikey Anderson and goaltender Cal Petersen to AHL-Ontario. None of the moves represented a surprise or any deviation from where the players had been penciled to start the season, though their transactions do add definition to the roster shaping up ahead of the October 1 23-man deadline.

The remaining roster:

Forwards (17): Michael Amadio, Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Dustin Brown, Jeff Carter, Kyle Clifford, Carl Grundstrom, Alex Iafallo, Adrian Kempe, Mario Kempe, Ilya Kovalchuk, Anze Kopitar, Rasmus Kupari, Trevor Lewis, Blake Lizotte, Nikolai Prokhorkin, Tyler Toffoli, Austin Wagner

Defensemen (10): Tobias Bjornfot, Drew Doughty, Derek Forbort, Ben Hutton, Paul LaDue, Kurtis MacDermid, Alec Martinez, Matt Roy, Joakim Ryan, Sean Walker

Goalies (2): Jack Campbell, Jonathan Quick

Italics denote waiver-exempt status

There’s not much learned today that hadn’t been learned yesterday. The bubble spots are essentially being contested by Mario Kempe, Anderson- Dolan, Amadio, Grundstrom, Kupari, Lizotte and Prokhorkin up front, and among them three or four spots will be claimed. On the back end, one or two players will be trimmed from a group of Bjornfot, LaDue, MacDermid, Roy, Ryan and Walker. Keep in mind that waiver eligibility plays a major role in the construction of the October 1 roster, which won’t necessarily look exactly like the December 1 roster. There’s nothing hidden in that statement beyond the annual reminder that asset retention enters into the forefront of preseason roster construction and that they retain the option to “slide” the first year of Bjornfot’s contract should they – hypothetically – decide to return him to Sweden before he plays in his 10th game (which triggers the first year of his entry-level contract).

Forbort (back) is not projected to return in the near future and is not expected to occupy a roster spot at the beginning of the season, while LaDue entered into his first preseason game Monday against Anaheim, registering four blocked shots in 18:44 – though he and MacDermid, his defensive partner, combined for six giveaways, per the official tally. He had missed the first week of preseason action with a knee injury that put him in skates but apart from the main groups when training camp opened. “Even if you’re not hurt, you want to get as many games as you can just to shake the rust off from the summer,” LaDue said Tuesday. “Especially since I couldn’t really skate that much this summer, as many games or game-like opportunities – even in practice – as I can get would be better.”

Up front, Lizotte has made a very strong claim for a roster spot not liberally distributed to waiver-exempt 21-year-olds, let alone those who stand 5-foot-7 and weigh 172 pounds. But it is the Land Of Opportunity for those in the organization qualified to play center at the National Hockey League level, and Carter and Kovalchuk wrung good juice out of Lizotte as well as any linemates this preseason. There’s good pace and playmaking ability in Lizotte’s game – which to this point has simply passed a few exhibition tests – and a motor that has drawn praise from his teammates. “He’s fun to play with. He’s got a motor, and he goes,” Carter said. “He never quits on pucks, he always seems like he’s in the right spots and he’s turning pucks over. And he’s got great skill – he can make plays, so he’s fun to play with.” In three preseason games, he scored on his lone shot as part of a four-point, plus-three performance.

Frk, signed to a one-year $700,000 on July 1, had cleared waivers earlier in the day. He showed well, accounting for a goal, two points and a plus- three rating in two games and will be among those in Ontario to battle for a call-up based on need. Anderson, who also drew preseason praise and recorded a goal and an assist in two games, will open his professional career with the Reign, while Petersen, who stopped all 23 shots through two periods in Monday’s 3-0 win, will return to the AHL as the heir to any 1108305 Minnesota Wild Players went whitewater rafting Tuesday afternoon. In the evenings, they had a team meal before sitting around the campfire at their resort to share stories.

Bonding without blades: Golf is offseason sport of choice for Wild players They also heard a speech Monday morning from motivational speaker Gian Paul Gonzalez, whose "All In" mantra is the same motto the Wild has adopted for 2019-20.

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune A teacher in New Jersey who also works with the NFL's New York Giants, Gonzalez expresses a message of being fully committed — like SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 — 10:58PM when poker players push all their chips to the center. Wild players were given poker chips that held a ball marker for their golf tournament, and they also had grey T-shirts embossed with "All In" on the back. The EAGLE, Colo. – The planning started in July, back when the Wild was Wild's logo is on the front, and poker chips are on the shoulders. assembling its schedule for the upcoming season. Those are some of the tangible takeaways from this detour to the With some players recently signed and others being late arrivals during mountains, but the Wild hopes more show up during the season. the previous campaign, a retreat focused on team bonding was deemed a necessity. "For some reason always after the rookie dinner, the team always gets behind each other and then you go kind of on a nice streak after," Foligno And it was a no-brainer that this trip would include golf, reinforcing the said. "Why not do that early in the season so you get a jump ahead of it? stereotype that all hockey players — no matter their age, nationality or I just think you want everyone on the same page and inside jokes, things position — also swing clubs. like that. It helps make you jell, and you want to play for each other."

"Every single hockey player golfs," goalie Devan Dubnyk said. "If a guy doesn't golf when they're coming up, they're going to learn how to golf because everybody golfs." Star Tribune LOADED: 09.25.2019

Before getting back on the ice Tuesday for a practice at the Eagle Pool & Ice Rink outside Vail, Colo., where the Wild shifted training camp for this three-day excursion, players, coaches and staff members spent Monday at Beaver Creek Golf Club for a four-person scramble that was treated like a tournament.

There was a digital leaderboard updated in real-time that players checked on their cellphones, and prizes awarded.

Each group was organized by the Wild's director of team operations and player relations Andrew Heydt, who mixed veterans with youngsters and up-and-coming defensemen with established ones.

"Let's shut our brains off from hockey and get to know each other," Heydt said of the outing's mission.

It was a competitive vibe, with teams getting heckled as members made their way to the 18th hole, where the parties that already had finished gathered. But there was also conversation that allowed players to connect.

"You're not talking about the neutral-zone forecheck," Dubnyk said. "More just telling stories of different things that happened in the past."

That seems to be one of the reasons why golf is a pastime of NHLers.

As players move from hole to hole, there's time to chat. The activity isn't draining on the body, and the offseason overlaps with the perfect time to hit the links.

"It's like, 'You don't golf?' " winger Marcus Foligno said. "It's one of those things like, 'What's wrong? What do you do in the summertime?' "

How serious everyone is about the sport, though, varies.

Center Eric Staal is considered one of the best golfers on the Wild, and he's been playing since he was 7 years old.

Growing up, Staal would earn free rounds after laying down sod at golf courses.

"I've always loved it," said the 34-year-old, who has a 3 handicap. "It's one of those games it's competitive on your own. You can compete against other people, but it's your own game. It's up to you. There's no excuses. There's no one else to blame. So it's fun, and you're outside. You have beautiful weather, a beautiful course. You can't beat it."

Winger Jordan Greenway, 22, started getting more into golf just in the past few years, while Swedish defenseman Jonas Brodin plays only when it's part of a team function.

"I'm really bad," Brodin said.

Still, there are some NHLers who don't partake at all.

"I've met a couple," Dubnyk said, "but they're very rare."

Golf, however, wasn't the only item on the Wild's agenda while in Colorado. 1108306 Minnesota Wild

Ryan Donato moves from center to left wing as Wild juggles lines

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune

SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 — 9:01PM

EAGLE, Colo.

After playing the Stars on Thursday in Dallas, the Wild will close out its exhibition schedule Sunday afternoon at home against the Winnipeg Jets.

"We're just trying a different [look]," coach Bruce Boudreau said, "and we wanted to make sure we didn't spring this on guys like next Tuesday."

Ryan Donato's audition at center seems to be over, as he shifted to left wing alongside center Mikko Koivu and right winger Ryan Hartman.

Boudreau said he still considers Donato a possible fill-in up the middle but, for now, Luke Kunin will take over at center. Kunin worked with wingers Zach Parise and Mats Zuccarello.

Moving Kunin to center opened the door for another lefty to take a right- wing spot, and Jordan Greenway was the one to get the nod. He filled out a line with Marcus Foligno and Joel Eriksson Ek. Greenway has played primarily at left wing after a brief stint at center.

"We've got three left shots on the right side, which isn't ideal," Boudreau said. "But Greener, I think he's confident enough now that he felt good about it."

Kevin Fiala slotted on the right side of Jason Zucker and Eric Staal, as expected, with J.T. Brown, Gerald Mayhew, Victor Rask, Drew Stafford and Nico Sturm skating as a fifth unit.

"We'll see how it works out," Boudreau said.

Injury updates

Defenseman Greg Pateryn, who's been dealing with a lower-body injury, returned to practice Tuesday.

"I would love for him to play Thursday and Sunday," Boudreau said.

Pateryn has yet to play in the preseason. Fellow blue liner Brad Hunt missed the session because of back spasms.

The Wild assigned Matt Bartkowski, Luke Johnson and Kyle Rau to Iowa of the American Hockey League after all three cleared waivers, dropping the training camp roster to 29.

Star Tribune LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108307 Minnesota Wild

Wild players know blueliner Nick Seeler has their back

By DANE MIZUTANI | [email protected] | Pioneer Press

PUBLISHED: September 24, 2019 at 1:59 pm | UPDATED: September 24, 2019 at 2:00 PM

Watching Wild defenseman Nick Seeler spark his teammates with haymaker after haymaker to poor Avalanche defenseman Dan Renouf in a recent preseason game, it’s hard to imagine that he once was an undersized kid almost ready to give up on his NHL dreams.

Long before Seeler emerged as a mainstay on the Wild blue line — part of his job is to take on some of the toughest guys in the league — the 6- foot-2, 198-pound 26-year-old was a teenager at Eden Prairie High School who couldn’t make the varsity roster.

“I just wasn’t growing and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue with it,” Seeler said before quickly pausing to correct himself. “Well, I guess wouldn’t say that. It was just difficult to stay motivated sometimes.”

Those doubts eventually started to fade away for Seeler.

Once he hit a growth spurt that allowed him to develop into a star on the blue line, he helped lead Eden Prairie to a pair of Class 2A state championships before moving on to the next level.

It was around that time that he also developed quite the mean streak, something that followed him to Nebraska-Omaha, where he played for a couple of seasons, and back home again when he transferred to finish his collegiate career with the Gophers.

After turning pro, Seeler played more than 100 games in the American Hockey League before cracking the NHL, and despite leaning into his role as an enforcer on the back end, doubt started to creep in again.

Was he ever going to accomplish his goal of reaching the NHL?

“There were definitely times I wondered,” Seeler said. “Just dealing with that type of adversity has made me continue to work and improve my game. It’s been a great journey so far.”

And it looks like it might just be getting started.

Not only has Seeler found niche on the blue line, he has developed into a heart-and-soul kind of player, willing to stick up for his teammates whenever the situation calls for it.

“Just compared to where I was a few seasons ago, it’s almost night and day,” he said. “There’s definitely more comfort. That said, I have a mindset where I’m never going to get comfortable. Just have to come in and earn my spot every day and continue to work on it.”

That’s something Seeler has had to do yet again this training camp, competing with fellow blueliners Greg Pateryn and Brad Hunt for a spot in the lineup.

Wild winger Joel Eriksson Ek is a star on a bike. That needs to translate to the ice.

With , Matt Dumba, Jared Spurgeon, and Jonas Brodin holding down the top pairings, that leaves just a couple of spots up for grabs on the backend.

“It’s healthy competition between teammates,” Seeler said. “There’s always going to be competition for those spots. You just have to go out and earn it. I definitely put the hard work in this summer. Just need to continue to play my game.”

Which for Seeler means continuing to answer the bell whenever the situation calls for it.

Pioneer Press LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108308 Minnesota Wild To help account for ice time (and games played), we’ll look at Zucker’s expected goals per 60 minutes over the last few seasons to get an idea of how well he was generating chances — and finishing on them.

Why Jason Zucker could be poised for a bounce-back season for the As you can see, Zucker has historically outperformed his expected goals Wild numbers, meaning he scores more goals than we would expect a league- average shooter to from the same locations. Last year, though, he underperformed in that area.

By Ian Tulloch You might, then, point the finger at shot quality to explain Zucker’s disappointing 2018-19 season — maybe he was taking lower-percentage Sep 24, 2019 shots. But his expected goals per 60 last year was only slightly off from 2017-18 — effectively taking one fewer 3% blue-line shot per hour — and he was still generating plenty of chances from in tight, he just wasn’t It wasn’t too long ago that former Wild general manager Paul Fenton was converting on them as much as he had in the past. looking to ship Jason Zucker out of Minnesota after a disappointing 2018- 19 season. That led to some … interesting rumors, as Zucker’s name To help visualize that, here’s a heat map of his shots from last season. was mentioned in several potential trades. Through The Athletic’s That doesn’t look like a perimeter player who’s relying on low-quality reporting, we know the Wild even had deals done at separate points to shots. Zucker’s the kind of player who has a knack for getting looks from send Zucker to Calgary for Michael Frolik and what was believed to be a in tight, whether it’s off the rush or cycle in the offensive zone. first-round pick and to Pittsburgh for Phil Kessel before both fell through. In 2016-17, Zucker had his first big breakthrough. He scored 22 goals Much like the Nino Niederreiter for Victor Rask trade, this felt like a and 25 assists, more than doubling his point total from his first full season situation where an underrated player was going to get traded for pennies the year before, aided by one big stat — his team scored on a crazy high on the dollar when their value was at an all-time low. Zucker only scored proportion of their chances that season while he was on the ice, which 21 goals and 42 points last season after scoring 33 goals and 64 points really inflated Zucker’s point totals. the year prior. Still, there’s a lot of evidence that shows Zucker is a player who consistently generates tons of chances, goes hard to the net, and Here’s a look at the Wild’s year-by-year overall team shooting does all the little things to help your team come out on top when he’s on percentage whenever Zucker was on the ice at 5-on-5. the ice. Only Patrik Laine finished with a higher on-ice shooting percentage in The fallout from the Zucker rumors even left Wild fans unsure if it was 2016-17 (the Jets scored on 12.6% of their chances when he was on the going to affect negotiations for a new contract for Jared Spurgeon, who is ice, which is flat-out ridiculous). Even over large samples, the best represented by the same agent as Zucker. scoring lines in the league tend to finish with an on-ice shooting in the 9- 10% territory, with most lines between 7-9%. The Wild overall as a team Fast forward to today and the Wild have a new general manager, Zucker led the NHL at 9.2% shooting at 5-on-5 that season. Add it all up, and it is still on the team, and Spurgeon re-signed to the tune of 7 years and should have been a red flag that a dropoff was coming, both for Zucker over $53 million. and the team overall. It’s safe to say the situation has been remedied. The question now shifts Instead, Zucker went out in 2017-18 and put up that career-best season to whether or not Zucker can produce like a $5.5 million player — you and earned himself a big new contract, even as the team regression did can’t keep paying that to a forward who’s only going to give you 42 in fact come and their shooting percentage dipped down to a more points. normal range — 8.2% overall and 8.7% with him on the ice. So can Zucker bounce back in 2019-20? Let’s dive a bit deeper into Then, last season, the Wild’s team offense disappeared. Their 6% things. shooting with Zucker on the ice was worse even than their dismal overall Shooting percentage and goals: Due for an upswing? team number of 6.8%. In two seasons, the Wild went from the highest shooting percentage in the league to 30th of 31 teams. Looking at a player’s shooting percentage is one of the simplest (and most effective) ways to check if their scoring rate is sustainable. If a In that context, it makes sense that Zucker’s numbers dropped last player drastically outperforms their career average (like TJ Oshie season. Realistically, it probably wasn’t fair to expect him to put together shooting over 26% at even strength in 2016-17), then we should probably another 33-goal, 64-point season when the team couldn’t buy a goal for expect his production to drop back down to earth in the following season most of the year. But the fact that Zucker had his best season when his (which Oshie’s did, going from 33 goals to 18 the next season). on-ice numbers were right on his career average mark should give some hope that if the Wild can improve closer to the mean, he’ll be producing Then you have cases like Jason Zucker, where a player has consistently more points. scored on a high percentage of his shots throughout his career — and then has an outlier of a season where nothing is going in. Will the Wild be better offensively in 2019-20? On the one hand, it can’t get much worse. On the other, it’s hard to know anything with so much We’ve seen enough cases like these by now that we know players are new about the roster. A lot of it will come down to how much new pieces likely to move back to their career average the season after an outlier. In Kevin Fiala and Ryan Donato succeed in their first full seasons with the Zucker’s case, that means a move upwards. Wild. What are the odds that Zucker doesn’t generate as much offense with Fiala in place of next season? Granlund has quietly Like it or not, luck can play a key factor in the results. You could have a been one of the best passers in the league for a while now, whereas player replicate the exact same season, take the exact same shots from Fiala is a much bigger question mark. The Swiss youngster has the exact same spots, and they would still have a wide range of incredible raw talent and elite transition numbers, but does he have the outcomes. Some years you would get fortuitous bounces and score 30 hockey IQ to get the puck to Zucker in the slot as often as Granlund did? goals, but the next year some of those pucks are bouncing over your stick or just clipping the goalie’s pads and you only end up with 20. Last I’m of the opinion that Fiala and Donato can provide top six value for season, had Zucker shot his career-average at 5-on-5, he would’ve been Minnesota, which I wrote about earlier this offseason, but we haven’t up to 29 goals — much less of a dropoff. seen either player do it for 82 games at the NHL level. Considering those two players are likely to play a lot of minutes with Zucker this year, it So what does it mean for 2019-20? When we’re trying to predict future does leave some margin for error in our projections for him. If Fiala and goals, it’s actually better to look at the number of shots and scoring Donato disappoint, Zucker might finish the season with fewer than 20 chances a player is generating. One good metric for quantifying this is goals, but if they excel in an expanded role, 30 might not be out of the “expected goals,” which is exactly what it sounds like — the number of question. goals you’re expected to score from a particular location. A shot from the blue line calculated to have a 3% chance of going in, for example, counts To sum up these thoughts on Zucker, it’s important to point out that both for 0.03 expected goals. A 20% shot from the slot counts for 0.20 of the following statements can be true: expected goals. Sometimes bounces go a player’s way and he capitalizes on his chances, and other times his luck dries up and he begins to look human. We’ve seen both sides of the spectrum with Zucker over the past two seasons, and the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. Is he a lock to score 30 goals and 60 points? Absolutely not, but he didn’t just forget how to put the puck in the net after being one of the NHL’s best even-strength goal scorers since entering the league.

So we land on a prediction something like what Dom Luszczyszyn’s model projects for Zucker — 26 goals and 54 points this season, which seems like a fair starting point.

The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108309 Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens waive Riley Barber as Carey Price nurses bruised hand

STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE

Updated: September 24, 2019

The Canadiens had the day off Tuesday, but they did make one move, placing forward Riley Barber on NHL waivers.

The Canadiens announced after Monday night’s 3-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs in NHL pre-season action at the Bell Centre that Barber had been reassigned to the AHL’s Laval Rocket, along with forwards Alex Belzile and Jake Evans and defenceman Josh Brook. Barber was the only one of those four players who has to clear NHL waivers before being able to report to Laval. Other teams have until noon Wednesday to claim Barber.

Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin signed the 26-year-old Barber to a one- year, two-way contract as a free agent on July 1 after the 6-foot, 198- pounder posted 31-29-60 totals in 64 games with the AHL’s Hershey Bears. Barber was selected by Washington in the sixth round (167th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft, but only played three games with the Capitals and has spent the rest of his career in the minors.

The Canadiens will practise at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard before flying to Toronto to play the Maple Leafs Wednesday night (7 p.m., TSN2, TSN4, RDS, TSN 690 Radio). Canadiens goalie Carey Price, who is sidelined with a bruised left hand, won’t practise or play in the game.

“All it is is a bruised hand and when he went to see the doctor, the doctor said for precautionary reasons we’re going to keep him out for a few days,” Julien said about Price after Monday’s game. “So that’s all it is. So we should see him back on the ice hopefully before the end of this week.”

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108310 Montreal Canadiens “I don’t think I can really explain how much the Habs mean to me,” Hing added. “They’re as big a part of my identity as my family or anything else. I will never say that there’s no bigger fan than me because I know there are millions of people who are insane about this team. But you’d be hard- Stu Cowan: Habs fan in Calgary lives dream — season-tickets at Bell pressed to convince me that you’re a bigger fan than me. I might put you Centre on my level, but I won’t put you above me.”

STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Montreal Gazette LOADED: 09.25.2019 Updated: September 24, 2019

You’d be hard-pressed to find a bigger Canadiens fan than Rob Hing — and he doesn’t even live in Montreal.

Hing, 42, is the athletic director, teaches phys-ed and math and also coaches basketball at St. Gabriel the Archangel School in Calgary. He grew up in Pembroke, Ont., and his passion for the Canadiens was ignited at age 13 when an uncle took him to his first game at the Forum.

“That was just like: Wow!” Hing said in a phone interview Tuesday. “My goal in life from then was to be able to be at every single one of these games later on in my life. So, season tickets were always a dream from a young age.”

That dream came true this season after Hing spent 10 years on a Canadiens waiting list for tickets. A full season-ticket package wasn’t available, but he did get a half-season package.

“The goal is still a full season,” said Hing, whose passion for the Canadiens caught fire when they won the Stanley Cup in 1986 and Patrick Roy became his all-time favourite player.

Hing paid about $4,000 for his two tickets in the Whites (Section 308) at the Bell Centre, even though he lives more than 3,000 kilometres away.

“At first, I was like: Man, I’m going to have to spend quite a bit of money on these tickets,” said Hing, who lived in Montreal for about five years. “But after I committed to doing that, it was just excitement … a fulfilment of a lifelong dream. Alayne (his wife) was sitting beside me that day and I was just smiling. She said: ‘You’re so happy, aren’t you?’ I was like: ‘Yep!”

Some wives might file for divorce if their husband spent that much money on tickets for a team so far away, but Alayne — who is from Calgary — knew what she was getting into when she met Hing while they were both studying at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Rob would have her listen to streamed radio broadcasts of Canadiens games with him and on Saturdays they would watch the Habs on Hockey Night in Canada, starting around 1 a.m., on a satellite feed at a hostel owned by a former Montrealer. Their Calgary basement is a shrine to the Canadiens and Hing can’t remember the last time he missed a single second of a Canadiens game, watching live or on his PVR.

Now, the question is what to do with all his Canadiens tickets because Hing figures he will only be able to fly in from Calgary to attend a handful of games.

“Obviously, I’m going to try and sell a few to try and recoup a little bit of the money,” he said. “I know there’s a way to donate some through the Habs web portal for charities. I’m also going to donate a pair for the HI/O Summit charity raffle.”

Hing and his wife are regulars at the annual HI/O Summit that brings together Canadiens fans from across North America and beyond who follow the team on the Montreal Gazette’s hockeyinsideout.com website to attend a game at the Bell Centre. This year’s summit will be on Nov. 16 when the New Jersey Devils play the Canadiens.

“Even though I’ve been to the Forum and the Bell Centre many times, still to this day if I’m there for a game, I get emotional about it,” Hing said. “I know there’s a lot of people who don’t get to go to the games. So I’m thinking I’m spending all this money anyways, obviously, I’ll try to recoup some of it. But if I can’t sell them, I’d love to find people who are as hard- core about the team as me and would just love to be at a game and can go at no cost. I know if I was on the other end of that, I’d be like so happy. So that’s kind of my goal.”

“I’m trying to come up with questions that test Habs fandom,” Hing said. “Something that only hard-core fans would know … something you can’t Google, to test how big of a fan you really are. The winner seemed super appreciative. That’s what I want. 1108311 Montreal Canadiens Then there are the kids. Poehling’s injury takes him out of the running and it remains unclear if he will recover from his concussion in time to play one of the final two games of the preseason. Here’s hoping he doesn’t rush back in order to do so, because Poehling could easily go to What we think we know after the latest round of Canadiens cuts Laval to start the season and play his way into a call-up relatively early.

Then, there’s Suzuki …

By Arpon Basu A year ago, Kotkaniemi played the final four games of the preseason. The Canadiens wanted to take advantage of every opportunity they had Sep 24, 2019 to evaluate him before deciding what to do with him. At the beginning of that stretch, the smart money would have still had Kotkaniemi returning to Finland for the year to play a top-line centre role in Liiga. By the end of Following a thoroughly listless preseason loss to the Toronto Maple that stretch, Julien was saying things like this: Leafs on Monday, the Canadiens cut Riley Barber, Alex Belzile, Jake Evans and Josh Brook, leaving the team with 35 players in training camp “The puck seems glued to him,” Julien said on Sept. 26 last year, after and two preseason games to play. the second-to-last game on the Canadiens’ preseason schedule. “In Kotkaniemi’s case, right now it’s hard not to see him on our roster, the That number includes injured players Noah Juulsen, Michael McCarron, way he’s played, the way he’s handled himself.” Gustav Olofsson, Ryan Poehling and Joël Teasdale, so in reality, they are down to 30 with seven cuts left to make by next week. There is the This is relevant because Suzuki did not play Monday night. If the surface reality of the cuts the Canadiens made after the game Monday, Canadiens had doubts, if they were still wondering if Suzuki is ready, it but there’s more information to be gleaned from the moves, a mixture of would be hard to explain his exclusion from the lineup Monday. That’s deductive reasoning, logic and some good old-fashioned speculation. what last year taught us.

Let’s begin with what we think these cuts mean and where the If that wasn’t actually a tell, if Suzuki was genuinely just getting a night off Canadiens stand at this advanced stage of training camp. before the real test in Toronto on Wednesday against a Maple Leafs team that should be stacked with NHLers as opposed to the Marlies- Hearing Claude Julien say on Day 1 of training camp he believed there heavy group they brought to Montreal, then maybe the bigger tell came were essentially eight forwards fighting for five jobs was startling on late last week. many levels. For one, it is rare to hear Julien say something that definitive before camp has even begun, but what that statement said in a Julien was asked to what extent he expected having to shelter Kotkanieni grander scheme of things was in his mind, his top-nine was essentially this season. The intention behind the question was to know how many set and the competition was on the fourth line and the fourth line only. players he could realistically shelter if Suzuki and/or Poehling made the team in addition to Kotkaniemi. We can safely guess who those eight forwards were: Nick Cousins, Charles Hudon, Matthew Peca, Poehling, Nick Suzuki, Nate Thompson, “You’ve got to realize Kotkaniemi came in as an 18-year-old. He’s 19 this Jordan Weal and Dale Weise. Evans performed well enough in camp to year,” Julien said. “Suzuki’s 20. Poehling is, I think, 21. So they’re a little enter that conversation, but ultimately not well enough to force the bit more mature in their game than maybe he is. Maybe at 18, and you Canadiens to perform a waiver high-wire act. In reality, there isn’t too saw Suzuki here as a 19-year-old, but Kotkaniemi as a player won his much uncertainty about Cousins, Thompson and Weal; they are probably role. But it doesn’t mean that when it comes to fine details of the game the three players Julien had penciled in as his fourth line before the start one doesn’t have a bit more experience or maturity than the other one. of training camp, a massive upgrade from a year prior when he had … So this is what we have to look at.” Peca and Hudon among the players he used there. That answer would suggest, at the very least, Suzuki is no longer in the Though they got to this point following very different paths, Peca and group of players fighting for a fourth-line job. He is more likely to be Hudon are at a similar place in their respective careers, in their mid-20s fighting for a top-nine job, if not top-six. This is where Suzuki’s ability to and still trying to establish themselves as NHL players. By this point in a play right wing and Jonathan Drouin’s shift to right wing coincide … player’s life, certain realities become accepted. Peca appears to have Suzuki’s ability and comfort in playing both right wing and centre, on top made the realization that he will be a fourth-line player and he needs to of being able to play on both special teams, gives Julien options. Having find a way to excel in that role. him as the fourth-line centre, even in a platoon situation with Thompson, Peca spoke at length Monday morning about how he had difficulty would transform it into a legitimate threat to score while allowing Julien to accepting that role last season and therefore had difficulty adjusting to give the power play an infusion of skill and vision. Between his fourth-line what was expected of him. He said he needed to fully embrace this year minutes and power-play minutes, Suzuki would not exactly be rotting by being a more difficult opponent, and the way he would do that, the away on the bench. word he repeated several times, was by being “relentless.” But Suzuki would also provide insurance in case Drouin picks up where “This year coming in, I just wanted to gain the coach’s respect back and he left off last season, which was as a totally ineffective player. Julien gain the staff’s trust back to be able to put me out against guys, be hard appears married to the idea of Artturi Lehkonen playing left wing with to play against in the D zone, and create energy,” Peca said. Max Domi and, for now at least, having Drouin on the right side of that line. If that doesn’t work, putting Suzuki there as a replacement would be Peca fits the profile of an ideal 13th forward in the sense that he can play easy. And Drouin hasn’t done a whole lot in camp to render that centre and wing and can also kill penalties. Hudon, on the other hand, is insurance unnecessary. painted as a somewhat one-dimensional forward who needs to produce in order to play. Julien has gone out of his way to note that for Hudon to This was Julien’s response Monday morning when asked to evaluate make the team, he needs to play in the top nine, a top nine Julien made Drouin’s camp thus far. quite clear on the first day of camp that he is more or less settled on. “What has he played, two games? So we’re going to continue to evaluate Hudon has to change his mind. him,” he said. “In the practices the last few days he’s looked even better. Hudon has not produced this preseason. He’s played on the power play That’s no different than anybody else trying to find their game as we get and been holding Paul Byron’s place on the left wing of Jesperi ready for the season opener.” Kotkaniemi and Joel Armia. He has shot the puck as often as humanly What we can reasonably interpret from that response is Drouin’s first few possible, or at least attempted to do so — he whiffed on back-to-back days of practice and games left something to be desired, and that he one-timer attempts during one power play against the Maple Leafs on hasn’t found his game yet. A few hours later, Drouin was Julien’s least- Monday. Hudon does not appear to be a player Julien wants on his fourth used forward against the Maple Leafs, both overall and at even strength. line, nor has he done enough to displace someone in the top nine. The problem with Suzuki potentially replacing Drouin to the right of It’s difficult to say what the Canadiens are thinking when it comes to Lehkonen and Domi is what to do with Drouin. Playing him with Weise, but it would be very surprising to see him break camp in the NHL, Kotkaniemi hasn’t worked and the first line of Tomas Tatar, Phillip especially when compared to Peca’s versatile profile as a 13th forward. Danault and Brendan Gallagher appears untouchable, even if they’ve been split up in camp, probably because Julien already knows exactly what he can expect from them. So that would leave the fourth line, which is a role we know Julien doesn’t like having one-dimensional offensive types fill.

It would be quite the conundrum. But it is one Suzuki might very well force Julien to tackle at some point.

Much was made of Brook being paired with Brett Kulak from the start of camp because of what we saw when Victor Mete was paired with Shea Weber at the start of camp two years ago. This was Julien putting a young player in a position to succeed, and it was not hard to interpret he was doing the same thing with Brook.

That meant Fleury was playing with no security blanket, and he’s shown enough to this point to suggest he might be a better option as Kulak’s partner to start the season than Christian Folin or any other candidate for that spot. As opposed to a security blanket, Fleury was paired Monday with Karl Alzner playing his first game of the preseason, and it was Fleury who carried the pairing.

One area where Folin seemingly has an edge on that job is his physical play, a dimension that still might win him the job. But Fleury has shown that same dimension to go with puck-moving skills the incumbent Folin simply does not possess.

“I think that’s how I’ve been playing my whole life, but I also wanted to show them that I can do that at the next level,” Fleury said Monday morning. “For me, I’m not really making those hits if I’m out of position anyway, so there’s not really much catching up to do in order to make those hits. So they just kind of happen when they happen. Just being in good position allows that to happen.”

It will be very telling to see who Julien puts with Kulak now that Brook is gone.

The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108312 Nashville Predators Who will be here? Irwin has the most experience and could find a spot, though Santini, who was acquired in the P.K. Subban trade, might get first crack at playing next to Hamhuis.

Who will stay and who will go? Predators have a few roster decisions to In the pipeline: Jeremy Davies, also acquired in the Subban deal, will make receive some seasoning in the AHL. Veteran Matt Donovan also could be called in eventually.

Goalies Paul Skrbina, Nashville Tennessean He'll be here: Pekka Rinne, Juuse Saros. Published 11:57 a.m. CT Sept. 24, 2019 | Updated 12:23 p.m. CT Sept. 24, 2019 Who will be here? Both of the above.

In the pipeline: Connor Ingram, acquired from the Lightning for a seventh-round pick, figures to challenge Troy Grosenick for the No. 1 job Ryan Johansen directed a playful dig at teammate Matt Irwin on Monday. in Milwaukee. The 22-year-old eventually could be Saros' backup after Saros takes over for Rinne. "Nice stick," Johansen said to the defenseman, who carried what was left of the bottom half to his locker stall at Centennial Sportsplex.

Oh, no, the remains of the stick weren't destined for the garbage can. Tennessean LOADED: 09.25.2019 Instead, Irwin began taping the top of it, salvaging the stick so he could add it to the growing collection of his growing 1 1/2-year-old son, Beckham.

Question is, will Irwin, a 31-year-old hoping to enter his eighth NHL season, be on the short end of the stick when the Predators pare their roster for the regular season?

He hopes not, of course.

He hopes to be on the team's third defensive pairing, presumably next to Dan Hamhuis.

Or, at the very least, on the opening night roster.

But Irwin knows he's on the bubble. Knows there are only so many spots.

"That’s the mind-set I have every year going into camp, ever since I've been in the NHL," Irwin said. "You have to prove yourself each year. I understand my role on this team. I bring value to the club.

"I have to prove it. Every camp I have to have good showings and let the rest take care of itself."

Irwin averaged a career-low – by more than a minute – 11 minutes, 18 seconds of ice time in 44 games last year, the second-fewest he's played in a full season.

He had just one goal and six assists for a career-low seven points. He had just 37 blocks and eight takeaways last season. He has just three goals and 12 assists in his last 94 regular-season games with the Predators over the past two seasons.

Irwin is not the only one trying to prove he should be on the active roster.

Irwin, along with Steven Santini, Jarred Tinordi, Daniel Carr, Frederick Gaudreau and Miikka Salomaki seem the most likely candidates to be fighting for the final three possible spots.

Here's a breakdown by position:

Forwards

He'll be here: Viktor Arvidsson, Nick Bonino, Matt Duchene, Filip Forsberg, Mikael Granlund, Rocco Grimaldi, Calle Jarnkrok, Ryan Johansen, Colton Sissons, Craig Smith, Kyle Turris, Austin Watson.

He's still here: Daniel Carr, Frederick Gaudreau, Miikka Salomaki.

Who will be here? Carr, last year's AHL MVP, and Salomaki look to be the favorites to stay.

In the pipeline: Rem Pitlick and Eeli Tolvanen were sent to Milwaukee, mostly because they are exempt from waivers. Expect both to be back with the Predators sooner rather than later, should opportunity present itself.

Defensemen

He'll be here: Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Ellis, , Dan Hamhuis, Roman Josi, Yannick Weber.

He's still here: Matt Irwin, Steven Santini, Jarred Tinordi. 1108313 New Jersey Devils

Devils’ roster for Wednesday’s preseason game against Bruins | Jack Hughes, Ty Smith, Jesper Boqvist playing

Posted Sep 24, 2019

By Chris Ryan

The Devils have two preseason games left, and Wednesday’s lineup against the Boston Bruins will feature all of the players fighting for spots on the team’s final roster.

Jesper Boqvist, Ty Smith, Michael McLeod, Nathan Bastian and Matt Tennyson will all dress, along with a plethora of returning NHL players, when the Devils play the Bruins at 7 p.m. at TD Garden in Boston.

While Zacha is listed on the roster, he isn’t expected to play. Wednesday will be his first team activity on the ice during the preseason after resolving his visa issue. He’ll participate in the morning skate but won’t play in the game. There are only 19 skaters on the roster, so the other 18 will dress.

Kyle Palmieri practiced on Tuesday after sitting out Monday with a lower body issue, but he won’t play in Wednesday’s game.

Blackwood is slated to play the full game before Schneider plays the preseason finale on Friday in Columbus.

Star Ledger LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108314 New Jersey Devils

The Devils, finally, have good news about Pavel Zacha’s visa

Updated Sep 24, 2019; Posted Sep 24, 2019

By Chris Ryan

The Devils and Pavel Zacha have beaten their first opponent of the season: a lot of bureaucratic red tape.

Zacha has not practiced with the team at all during the preseason while getting his work visa approved, and at long last, the issue is finally settled. Zacha will be with the team on the ice for Wednesday’s morning skate in Newark ahead of a game later that night in Boston against the Bruins.

Zacha won’t play in that game, of course, but he’ll finally get to start playing catch-up on the practices he’s missed thus far. Forward Kyle Palmieri, who missed practice on Monday with a lower body injury, returned to the ice Tuesday, but he also won’t play in Wednesday’s game against the Bruins.

To get his visa approved, Zacha was in Toronto to finish the necessary steps, and he continued to skate and work out on his own while away from the team.

Once the Devils get him into a couple practices, they’ll be able to gauge where he’s at in terms of game shape, and there’s still a chance he makes an appearance in Friday’s preseason finale against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

“Possibly. We’re going to see. He has been skating and working out,” Devils coach John Hynes said. “So we’ll get him, get our hands on him here tomorrow and see where he’s at and make a decision for Friday.”

As preseason has progressed, the Devils have steadily integrated system work into their practices, so Zacha will need to catch up on some of the changes made from last season.

Hynes doesn’t foresee that being an issue, and Zacha will have more than one week to practice ahead of the team’s regular-season opener on Oct. 4.

“He’s been here. We have made some adjustments, so I think it’s a little bit of an easier learning curve for him just in the sense he’s not like a new player coming in,” Hynes said. “There’s just certain tweaks that we’ve made, and we’ll go over those with him. He’s a pretty smart guy, so he’ll get it quick.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108315 New Jersey Devils

What Devils’ Taylor Hall said about latest meeting between GM Ray Shero, agent Darren Ferris

Updated Sep 24, 2019; Posted Sep 24, 2019

By Chris Ryan

Taylor Hall confirmed his agent, Darren Ferris, sat down with Devils general manager Ray Shero over the weekend, as the two sides continued their dialogue toward a potential contract extension.

But that’s all it is at this point: potential. From Hall’s perspective, it was a productive meeting and a part of the process, but there are still steps for both sides to make before any type of deal gets close to done.

“I know they had a meeting and I think it went well," Hall said. “There’s some amount of interest on both sides, but there was no numbers discussed or term, dollars, anything like that. I wouldn’t say there’s anything close right now, just because that hasn’t really been discussed.”

The meeting between the two followed the plan laid out by both Hall and Shero last week, where both said they expected a meeting to take place before the end of September.

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And for now, Shero and Ferris, and to an extent, Hall, will keep discussions going into the season.

“I think it’s important for both sides to have dialogue, and it sounds like there’s some things to be worked out on both sides," Hall said. "I think they have a good relationship, my agent and Ray, and obviously I have a good relationship with him as well. So we’ll see where it goes.”

Hall and his camp haven’t set any sort deadline to end talks, unlike some other pending free agents in the past. Hall is fine with carrying on negotiations into the season, saying he can find the right balance between that and focusing on his play on the ice.

For the time being, most of the discussions will remain between Shero and Ferris, and Hall trusts both to keep the process moving.

“It’s my first time going through that, so my focus is at the rink," Hall said. "It’s important for you to have trust in your agent that they’re going to say the right things and push the right buttons, but also have a lot of respect for the situation that the Devils have going on.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108316 New Jersey Devils

Taylor Hall, Devils make progress in contract extension talks

Updated Sep 24, 2019; Posted Sep 24, 2019

By Chris Ryan

Taylor Hall and Devils GM Ray Shero both expected some dialogue to happen during September regarding a contract extension for the star forward, and that reportedly happened over the weekend.

Hall’s agent, Darren Ferris, sat down with Shero, according to a report from TSN’s Darren Dreger. The talks, according to Dreger and The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, are considered preliminary in terms of reaching a deal, but they’re certainly a necessary step if both sides want to get there.

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Here’s what Dreger said:

“It sounds like they’re making some traction. You have to keep in mind Taylor Hall is coming off a significant injury. He loved the way he was treated by the Devils organization; very professional from start to finish. He likes what Ray Shero has done and the changes that he’s made to the lineup of the New Jersey Devils. It’s one of those situations that could happen sooner than later, which is saying a lot considering he’s in the final year of his contract.”

Shero said on media day at the start of training camp to “not hold your breath” on a contract extension getting done immediately, and the two sides would continue to work at a comfortable pace, knowing July 1, 2020, is the ultimate deadline.

One of the factors behind that patience was Hall’s health. After playing 33 games last season and missing every game after Dec. 23, 2018, due to a knee injury, both Hall and the team wanted to make sure he was healthy heading into 2019-20. Hall has practiced every day at training camp, and he made his preseason debut on Friday. He is expected to play in each of the Devils’ final two preseason games.

Star Ledger LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108317 New Jersey Devils

What Devils still need to see from Ty Smith during training camp

Updated Sep 24, 2019; Posted Sep 24, 2019

By Chris Ryan

After Ty Smith nearly made the Devils’ roster as an 18-year-old during his first training camp with the team in 2018, it was a logical expectation to see the defenseman make an even harder push to secure a spot the second time around.

The 2018 first-round pick entered 2019 camp with all eyes on him. Coming off another strong junior season where he was named WHL defenseman of the year, Smith looked like a player ready to make the NHL leap.

The smooth skating and puck handling of Smith have been displayed in flashes during the preseason, but so far, the Devils haven’t seen the consistency they want in his play.

“Need more urgency to his game. A lot more urgency to his game," Devils coach John Hynes said. "Defending, ending plays, net-front defense, play away from the puck, moving his feet, getting back to pucks and breaking out. He’s got some work to do.”

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Smith is the only junior-eligible player left in training camp, so he’s certainly shown enough for the Devils to still be giving him a serious look at staying in the NHL in 2019-20. But if Smith is going to play in the NHL, it will have to be in a role where he gets regular playing time. He wouldn’t stay as a seventh or eighth defenseman where he would be missing valuable developmental ice time.

He still has about one week and two preseason games to make his case for the NHL roster during camp, and he can even stick around for nine regular-season games while still being eligible to go back to junior hockey.

“If he winds up going back to junior, it’s where he’s supposed to be. So that’s going to be the thing, whether he’s on our team and he’s here, it’s going to be the right thing for him,” Hynes said. "If he has to go back to junior, it’ll be the right thing for him. And that’s what we’re going to do, is do the right thing for the player and the organization. And that’s still to be determined, still over a week left in preseason for us to be able to make that decision and an opportunity for Ty to put some work in.

“He’s going to meet with (assistant coach Alain Nasreddine) this afternoon and go through some clips of some areas that he has done well, but some areas that we really need to see better play in to be able to make the team, so he’s still in that tryout situation.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108318 New Jersey Devils

Pavel Zacha returns to NJ Devils camp following visa issues

Abbey Mastracco, NHL writer

Published 4:56 p.m. ET Sept. 24, 2019

NEWARK — The wait is finally over: Devils’ forward Pavel Zacha is set for a return to training camp after nearly two weeks of waiting on a work visa.

“Surprise, surprise” coach John Hynes joked following practice Tuesday at Prudential Center.

Zacha signed a three-year contract as a restricted free agent just a few days ahead of training camp but was unable to secure a visa in time for training camp. He was able to complete the skate tests that administered over the first few days of practice but he has yet to skate with the team or see any competitive action.

However, the Devils aren’t concerned about getting him into game shape. His skate test results gave them no reason for pause and he had been skating at the practice facility in the weeks leading up to training camp, but they would still like to gauge his preparedness during the final preseason game this week in Columbus.

“Unfortunately, there’s no way to replicate what he’s missed,” Hynes said. “He’s certainly in shape, but it’s just, what level? And where is he compared to the rest of the guys.”

The Devils are hopeful he’ll be ready to play come Oct. 4, when they open the season against the Winnipeg Jets at Prudential Center, but the question is will he play center or will he play wing?

There is significant depth up the middle in New Jersey right now and Zacha could be fourth or even fifth on the depth chart. Kevin Rooney has consistently been centering the fourth line and Michael McLeod took reps there during Tuesday’s practice. Back on media day, Hynes mentioned working the 21-year-old Czech forward in at the wing.

Nothing is set in stone, but it’s something to watch for in the waning days of camp.

The lines at Tuesday’s practice were different, to say the least. Travis Zajac centered a line with Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri while the defense pairs rotated. The line with Nico Hischier in the middle of the two Jespers, Bratt and Boqvist, was intriguing with the speed element and the line with Nikita Gusev, Jack Hughes and Wayne Simmonds was entertaining.

Ultimately, there is probably little to glean from practice lines right now. Hynes still isn’t showing his hand when it comes to regular season lineups and Zacha’s return throws another wrinkle into things. Friday’s lineup could be a preview of what’s to come next Friday but that’s tentative at best.

Palmieri missed practice Monday with what the team said was a lower- body injury and was considered day-to-day. He returned to practice Tuesday and was not limited in any capacity. Hynes called Monday a “maintenance day” and said he will play the preseason finale in Columbus on Friday.

Julian Melchiori is being returned to Binghamton of the American Hockey League before the Devils leave New Jersey for games in Boston and Columbus.

Bergen Record LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108319 New Jersey Devils

Taylor Hall disputes new rumors of possible contract extension with Devils

Abbey Mastracco, NHL writer

Published 3:13 p.m. ET Sept. 24, 2019 | Updated 6:22 p.m. ET Sept. 24, 2019

NEWARK — Taylor Hall promised nothing but transparency and honesty when it came to questions about a contract extension, and when he says something, he means it.

Hall was exactly that — transparent — when he addressed the status of his contract extension Tuesday after the New Jersey Devils practiced at Prudential Center. While Hall confirmed that his agent met with the Devils over the weekend and characterized it as a positive one, he said the two sides aren’t any closer to a deal than they were before the meeting.

Hall disputed reports that said the two sides are “making progress” or closing in on a long-term contract extension. Ray Shero did meet with his representative, Darren Ferris, but Hall said it was a very preliminary meeting and numbers were not exchanged.

“I know they had a meeting and I know it went well. I know there was some amount of interest on both sides but there was no numbers discussed, or term or dollars, or anything like that,” Hall said. “I wouldn’t say that there is anything close right now because it hasn’t been discussed.”

Hall declined to say what was discussed during the meeting between Ferris and Shero and Shero was not available for comment Tuesday. However, Hall did reiterate that any reports of a deal being close are false.

“I (wasn’t) in the meeting, so for me to say what was said would be second-hand,” Hall said. “I’d be telling it to you guys so you guys would be reporting that third-hand. That’s the thing, when a guy like (TSN reporter Darren) Dreger says stuff that a deal is imminent or it could be close, there wasn’t even numbers discussed. That’s when you have to just let things take shape and see where they go.”

The 27-year-old left winger has one year left on a seven-year, $42 million contract he signed with the Edmonton Oilers and can become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Hall has been eligible to sign an extension since July 1.

After winning the Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP in 2018 he was limited to just 33 games last season and underwent knee injury. Both sides have expressed a desire to see how he bounces back from the knee injury in the early part of the season, which means negotiations could take place during the season.

Hall does not believe it will be a distraction.

“That’s basically the only negotiating that would be happening,” Hall said. “I think if you have the right focus you can balance the two.”

The Devils want to see if they’re getting the same Hall they had two years ago and Hall wants to see that the club is capable of winning now and in the future. While there is certainly some unease among the fans, Hall seems unbothered by it all.

NJ Devils roster predictions: Does Jesper Boqvist make it?

He's content to take a backseat to negotiations and just play while his agent handles the rest.

“I’m not even a free agent yet,” he said. “I’m still a member of this team and we have a huge job to do this winter and that’s really my focus. As far as being a free agent, that’s a long ways away.”

Bergen Record LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108320 New Jersey Devils an interesting hockey season has descended on Gotham and its surrounding area.

“As we move along, the games are going to mean a lot again,” Staal Rangers-Islanders-Devils returning buzz to their rivalries said. “In February or March, when there [was] no realistic shot of getting into the postseason, those games kind of flatline. So now, with all the additions and the moves that these teams have made, the expectations are a lot higher for everyone. It’s only going to add to the intensity and By Brett Cyrgalis the emotion of the games, which is a good thing.” September 24, 2019 | 10:20PM

New York Post LOADED: 09.25.2019 The Rangers, Islanders, and Devils all seem poised for interesting seasons in a relatively wide-open Metropolitan Division. There is young talent amassed in Manhattan, as well as a few miles southwest through the Holland Tunnel and few more miles east through the Midtown Tunnel. The most recent time all three teams made the playoffs was 2006-07, but that could change this year if the intrigue also brings competitiveness.

“There is excitement and buzz around,” Rangers veteran defenseman Marc Staal said recently.

The Rangers beat the Islanders 3-1 in their first of two preseason matchups on Tuesday night at the Garden.

“The Islanders being successful again, and us, and New Jersey now getting some high-end talent,” Staal said. “I think it’s going to help the rivalries.”

The Rangers are just about coming out of the other side of their rebuild that started in earnest with the letter sent by management to the fans on Feb. 8, 2018. Not only do they have young players in camp vying for roster spots, but they added two high-end veterans in Artemi Panarin, who scored two goals Tuesday (one an empty-netter with 16 seconds left), and Jacob Trouba, who had an assist.

But it has been two straight seasons without a postseason appearance for the Blueshirts, who had made it 11 of the previous 12 years coming out of the canceled season of 2005-06. With David Quinn behind the bench now for his second year, and with John Davidson taking over for Glen Sather at the top of the organization, there is a renewed hope that they can not only compete this year, but are also set up well for the future.

That same sentiment came to the Islanders this past season, when owners Scott Malkin and Jon Ledecky were able to hire Lou Lamoriello to run the team, and he hired Barry Trotz, fresh off a Stanley Cup victory in Washington, to be the coach. The club immediately turned it around, winning just their second postseason series since 1993 before getting swept by the Hurricanes in the second round.

With a team that is almost entirely intact, the enthusiasm is stoked not only with the on-ice product, but with Monday’s official groundbreaking for the new arena at Belmont Park, set to open for the 2021-22 season.

“We had a big announcement [Monday] and it was pretty exciting for the franchise,” Trotz said Tuesday morning. “For our players, going forward, through free agency and all that, it’ll be a little bit of a missing piece. I think we’ve established something on the Island where players want to come to this area.”

The Devils, meanwhile, now have the longest-tenured coach in the New York area with John Hynes, behind the bench since 2015. They’ve had the top-overall pick in two of the past three drafts, and took American wunderkind Jack Hughes in June. Among other moves, general manager Ray Shero was able to swing a trade for flamboyant defenseman P.K. Subban — who, as managing partner Josh Harris likes to point out as often as possible, also brings some glitz and glamour with his girlfriend, skier-turned-celebrity Lindsey Vonn.

“We’re top five in new season tickets. The fans are engaging,” Harris said. “Clearly, P.K. — and the added bonus of Lindsey — and Jack, and the excitement of [new additions] Nikita [Gusev] and Wayne [Simmonds], all these people are bringing energy into the building.

“We always said we would spend at the right time. Now, having gone through this summer, we’ve put our money where our mouth is. Expect that to continue. We’re all in on this in terms of doing what we have to do.”

That seems to be the sentiment of all three teams, which each show their own glimmers of promise — now and into the future. It finally seems like 1108321 New York Islanders That seems to be the sentiment of all three teams, which each show their own glimmers of promise — now and into the future. It finally seems like an interesting hockey season has descended on Gotham and its surrounding area. Rangers-Islanders-Devils returning buzz to their rivalries “As we move along, the games are going to mean a lot again,” Staal said. “In February or March, when there [was] no realistic shot of getting into the postseason, those games kind of flatline. So now, with all the By Brett Cyrgalis additions and the moves that these teams have made, the expectations September 24, 2019 | 10:20PM are a lot higher for everyone. It’s only going to add to the intensity and the emotion of the games, which is a good thing.”

Hockey in the New York area has changed, and those around it can see it, and feel it. New York Post LOADED: 09.25.2019

The Rangers, Islanders, and Devils all seem poised for interesting seasons in a relatively wide-open Metropolitan Division. There is young talent amassed in Manhattan, as well as a few miles southwest through the Holland Tunnel and few more miles east through the Midtown Tunnel. The most recent time all three teams made the playoffs was 2006-07, but that could change this year if the intrigue also brings competitiveness.

“There is excitement and buzz around,” Rangers veteran defenseman Marc Staal said recently.

The Rangers beat the Islanders 3-1 in their first of two preseason matchups on Tuesday night at the Garden.

“The Islanders being successful again, and us, and New Jersey now getting some high-end talent,” Staal said. “I think it’s going to help the rivalries.”

The Rangers are just about coming out of the other side of their rebuild that started in earnest with the letter sent by management to the fans on Feb. 8, 2018. Not only do they have young players in camp vying for roster spots, but they added two high-end veterans in Artemi Panarin, who scored two goals Tuesday (one an empty-netter with 16 seconds left), and Jacob Trouba, who had an assist.

But it has been two straight seasons without a postseason appearance for the Blueshirts, who had made it 11 of the previous 12 years coming out of the canceled season of 2005-06. With David Quinn behind the bench now for his second year, and with John Davidson taking over for Glen Sather at the top of the organization, there is a renewed hope that they can not only compete this year, but are also set up well for the future.

That same sentiment came to the Islanders this past season, when owners Scott Malkin and Jon Ledecky were able to hire Lou Lamoriello to run the team, and he hired Barry Trotz, fresh off a Stanley Cup victory in Washington, to be the coach. The club immediately turned it around, winning just their second postseason series since 1993 before getting swept by the Hurricanes in the second round.

With a team that is almost entirely intact, the enthusiasm is stoked not only with the on-ice product, but with Monday’s official groundbreaking for the new arena at Belmont Park, set to open for the 2021-22 season.

“We had a big announcement [Monday] and it was pretty exciting for the franchise,” Trotz said Tuesday morning. “For our players, going forward, through free agency and all that, it’ll be a little bit of a missing piece. I think we’ve established something on the Island where players want to come to this area.”

The Devils, meanwhile, now have the longest-tenured coach in the New York area with John Hynes, behind the bench since 2015. They’ve had the top-overall pick in two of the past three drafts, and took American wunderkind Jack Hughes in June. Among other moves, general manager Ray Shero was able to swing a trade for flamboyant defenseman P.K. Subban — who, as managing partner Josh Harris likes to point out as often as possible, also brings some glitz and glamour with his girlfriend, skier-turned-celebrity Lindsey Vonn.

“We’re top five in new season tickets. The fans are engaging,” Harris said. “Clearly, P.K. — and the added bonus of Lindsey — and Jack, and the excitement of [new additions] Nikita [Gusev] and Wayne [Simmonds], all these people are bringing energy into the building.

“We always said we would spend at the right time. Now, having gone through this summer, we’ve put our money where our mouth is. Expect that to continue. We’re all in on this in terms of doing what we have to do.” 1108322 New York Islanders

Islanders still looking for right combinations for two of their lines

By Andrew Gross [email protected] @AGrossNewsday

Updated September 24, 2019 10:46 PM

Anthony Beauvillier started on Derick Brassard’s left wing. Josh Bailey, in his preseason debut, was on Brock Nelson’s left as coach Barry Trotz gave a good glimpse of how the Islanders will lineup for their regular- season opener.

Still, it wasn’t the full picture in the Rangers’ 3-1 win on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.

With the presumption that Anders Lee-Mathew Barzal-Jordan Eberle will be the top line and Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Cal Clutterbuck will remain together, it still is to be decided who plays on the right side for those two lines.

Even if he’s not the fleetest skater, figure wily veteran Leo Komarov slots in at one spot, most likely with Brassard. That leaves Michael Dal Colle, Tom Kuhnhackl, Josh Ho-Sang and Oliver Wahlstrom the leading candidates for the other spot with Andrew Ladd (knee) not ready to play.

The idea, Trotz said, is to give Nelson and Brassard “comparable parts” on the wing. Tuesday, Ho-Sang was on Nelson’s line while Wahlstrom was on Brassard’s right wing. Ho-Sang also was placed on the first power-play unit with Barzal, Eberle, Lee and defenseman Nick Leddy.

“I’d like to give Brass at least one guy that has a little more finish and I don’t want to give him necessarily two young guys,” Trotz said. “I think a veteran and a young guy would be good, depending on the route we go with the veteran guys, Tommy or Leo.”

Until Tuesday night’s offensive dud, Beauvillier has had a solid preseason, with two goals in his first two games, as he’s spent time with both Nelson and Brassard.

“He’s looked good, I’ve always been a big fan of Beau’s,” said Bailey, held out of the first five preseason games with a lower-body issue. “You come in with more confidence each year you’re here.”

Beauvillier, entering his fourth NHL season at age 22, had 18 goals and 10 assists in 81 games last season and Trotz stuck with him despite just one goal without an assist in his first 16 games.

“My mindset is in the right place, I have the right mentality,” Beauvillier said. “Just having Barry for a second year, all the coaching staff, it helps me be more confident and comfortable in the system. It’s part of taking another step.”

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108323 New York Islanders But "for a project to succeed we absolutely need to engage with the surrounding communities," Curran said.

Residents who live closest to Belmont Park have expressed concerns Gov. Andrew Cuomo: Lawsuits against Belmont Park plan lack about vehicular traffic, noise and light pollution and water quality and 'credibility' usage.

By Candice Ferrette and Jim Baumbach Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 09.25.2019 [email protected], [email protected] @candiceferrette

Updated September 24, 2019 7:06 PM

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Tuesday he did not believe lawsuits against the $1.3 billion Belmont Park project have "any credibility" as he defended New York's approval process for a new arena and entertainment complex for the New York Islanders.

In a radio interview on Tuesday, Cuomo said there's always "negativity" associated with large-scale projects. But he dismissed two lawsuits against the Belmont development as NIMBYism similar to opposition to the Long Island Rail Road's Third Track project.

"We went through a whole environmental process. We consulted with everyone. We had hearings. We talked to everyone. Everyone's concerns were considered. If there is any issue that needs to be fixed as we go along, we'll fix it," Cuomo told Jay Oliver of Long Island News Radio.

Cuomo's remarks followed a ceremonial groundbreaking Monday attended by hundreds of project supporters, including state and local lawmakers and Islanders owners, players and fans.

Cuomo, a Democrat, joined Islanders' co-owner Jon Ledecky in putting golden shovels into the ground on the 43-acre state-owned site where construction began last month after a 22-month state approval process.

However, lawsuits filed in state Supreme Court in Mineola over the last two weeks seek to stop constructionof the project.

The Village of Floral Park on Sept. 9 challenged the state's environmental review process.

Court documents say the public bidding process for the development rights at Belmont Park was flawed and tipped in favor of the developers due to a "secret plan" conceived before the state issued a request for proposals.

Civic leaders in Elmont also filed suit Saturday challenging the legitimacy of the state’s approval process.

They contend the state does not have the authority to designate its own land at Belmont for private development. The suit claims the property is parkland that had served as a disaster evacuation site for nearby residents.

Floral Park Mayor Dominick Longobardi said NIMBYISM played no role in the village's lawsuit.

"Our Village residents have worked tirelessly to provide feedback and ideas on how to create a project at Belmont Park that would not cause harm or detrimental effects to our friends and neighbors in Floral Park and surrounding communities," Longobardi said.

"You can have all the meetings and hearings you want but when nothing to help negative issues and situations comes from those meetings then they mean just that — nothing," Longobardi said.

New York Arena Partners, a partnership among the owners of the Islanders, Mets and arena development company Oak View Group, have begun construction work on the project, which includes a 19,000-seat arena, 250-room hotel and 350,000 square feet of retail. A new full-time LIRR stop will be built as part of the project.

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, a Democrat and supporter of the Belmont project, said she believed it was "very important to work with the surrounding communities" where there is opposition.

"I believe the new Elmont train station will alleviate a lot of the traffic concerns that have been expressed by the residents," Curran said at Monday's groundbreaking. 1108324 New York Rangers

Artemi Panarin-led Rangers top line has tantalizing debut

By Brett Cyrgalis

September 24, 2019 | 11:59PM

This was the hope when Rangers coach David Quinn first conceived of a new top line with Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, and Pavel Buchnevich.

The trio hardly disappointed in their preseason debut together, combining for four points, including Panarin scoring twice (one empty-netter), during their 3-1 win over the Islanders on Tuesday night at the Garden. Panarin’s first goal of the game was a beauty, a cross-ice give-and-go with Buchnevich that was buried on a slick one-timer.

“They had a good night, for sure,” Quinn said after his team got its first win of the exhibition season following three straight losses. “Obviously the goal was a highlight-reel goal. They were buzzing pretty good.”

Of course, the coach is always going to find something to pick apart.

“Sometimes, when you put three skill players like that together, it becomes a Harlem Globetrotters hour,” Quinn said. “We’re going to have to be a little bit more aware that we have to get inside a little bit more, and more net-front presence. It doesn’t have to be a beauty contest. So we’ll work towards that.”

Panarin also scored in his preseason debut last Wednesday, before he had to leave that game with a mild groin strain. He hardly looked any worse for the wear, and certainly enjoyed playing with his new linemates.

“Every game I feel better and more confident,” Panarin said through an interpreter. “But the first games, not everything works out. But it’s a process.”

Former Ranger Derick Brassard made his first Garden appearance as a member of the Islanders, having signed a one-year, $1.2 million deal this summer after getting traded twice last season and three times since the Blueshirts shipped him to Ottawa in the deal that brought back Zibanejad in 2016.

Brassard was welcomed back when Henrik Lundqvist made three saves on him in a matter of seconds midway through the first period — the final stop being a great right-pad save that drew a smile from Brassard.

“Are you f—ing kidding me?” is what Brassard said to his old teammate, according to Lundqvist.

Lundqvist stopped all 13 shots he faced in 29:48 of ice time in his second exhibition match. He was relieved by Alexandar Georgiev, who made 16 saves and was only beaten by Jordan Eberle on the doorstep.

Brendan Lemieux made his preseason debut for the Rangers, hoping to bring the physical edge the club is short on — part of the reason they signed the restricted free agent to a one-year, $925,000 deal just before training camp. The 23-year-old got 15:19 of ice time on a line with — who had a nice game at center — and Jesper Fast.

“Pretty good,” Quinn said of Lemieux’s debut. “Obviously when you start the preseason this late into it, you might get a little bit behind. But I thought he got better as the game went on.”

New York Post LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108325 New York Rangers Again. No one is labeling Chytil a failure. But he struggled the second half of last season and hasn’t wowed anyone these past couple of weeks. Howden, meanwhile, has reported as a chiseled-edge specimen after spending his summer working with skills coach John Cara at home Rangers’ Filip Chytil facing tight battle for center spot in Winnipeg, Manitoba, before living for two months with and soaking in No. 20’s training regimen, and Andersson appears more

physically equipped to deal with the NHL than the first two times around. By Larry Brooks There are decisions coming. One of them will center on Chytil. September 24, 2019 | 10:40PM

New York Post LOADED: 09.25.2019 We’re eight days away from the Rangers’ season opener and while it is still too early to declare Filip Chytil has lost the second-line center spot at which he was given first crack, it is assuredly accurate to state the 20- year-old has done little through training camp and his two exhibition matches to nail it down.

And so, with Brett Howden skating between Vitali Kravtsov and Kaapo Kakko and Ryan Strome lining up in the middle for the first time this preseason in Tuesday’s 3-1 exhibition win against the Islanders at the Garden, the Rangers will perhaps have unexpected decisions to confront if Chytil does not pick it up before it starts for real next Thursday.

Because if Chytil isn’t centering one of the top three lines, does that mean No. 72 moves back to the wing, where he played 42 games last season … or to AHL Hartford to start the season? This becomes the question in the aftermath of coach David Quinn stating he does not envision any of his three young centers — Chytil, Howden and Lias Andersson — playing on the fourth line.

“All three of these guys have to make the team and they know that and they understand what they’re going to have to do,” Quinn said. “Obviously if they all do what they’re capable of doing, we’re comfortable having three centers of that age and if we think that gives us the best chance to win, we’ll do that, and if not, if all three are playing well enough to be here, we’ll probably have to move one to the wing.

“But there are a lot of moving parts to all that.”

Chytil, who did not play Tuesday, may have 84 NHL games to his credit, but he just turned 20 on Sept. 5. He was a phenomenon in camp two years ago, cracking the opening-night lineup one month to the day after turning 18. He had a dynamic camp last year. This year, so far, Chytil has been pedestrian. Surely there is more to come from this talented Czech, selected 21st overall in 2017.

The question becomes ”How quickly?” Remember, just because the Rangers’ rebuilding trajectory may have been altered by adding Artemi Panarin and Jacob Trouba over the summer, that doesn’t mean the kids’ respective progress accelerated as well. This is still about the long-term best interests of each individual youngster, not about doing whatever is expedient to squeeze an extra few points out of the roster in October.

Hence, if Strome is playing either second- or third-line center next week, it won’t necessarily be because he took the job, but because one of the kids could not. A prospect or two may need to start in the shallow end of the pool. If that is the case, so be it.

“These young guys playing the middle, it’s very and up and down, it’s very inconsistent,” Quinn said. “So there might be times when all three of them are playing center if they’re all on the roster, depending on how they’re playing. Matchups may come into it. What everybody has to understand is that so much goes into these decisions.

“And you want to put these guys in a situation to succeed, too.”

They’re not the same guy and this is not the same era. But way back when, after Joe Cirella had spent essentially the entire season with the Colorado Rockies in 1981-82 after being selected fifth overall in the ’81 entry draft, the defenseman was sent back to the OHL the following season as a 19-year-old when the franchise moved to New Jersey. It was a painful decision for all parties, but when Cirella returned to the Devils for 1983-84, it became Year 2 of an 828-game NHL career.

Sink or swim probably is not the most effective means of player development.

“It’s the makeup of the person that [goes into that],” said Quinn. “If you’re sinking, sinking, sinking, sinking, some people can never recover. So I think knowing the player and understanding how much failure you can have, how much damage that could do long term. I think we all have to be cognizant of that.” 1108326 New York Rangers That seems to be the sentiment of all three teams, which each show their own glimmers of promise — now and into the future. It finally seems like an interesting hockey season has descended on Gotham and its surrounding area. Rangers-Islanders-Devils returning buzz to their rivalries “As we move along, the games are going to mean a lot again,” Staal said. “In February or March, when there [was] no realistic shot of getting into the postseason, those games kind of flatline. So now, with all the By Brett Cyrgalis additions and the moves that these teams have made, the expectations September 24, 2019 | 10:20PM are a lot higher for everyone. It’s only going to add to the intensity and the emotion of the games, which is a good thing.”

Hockey in the New York area has changed, and those around it can see it, and feel it. New York Post LOADED: 09.25.2019

The Rangers, Islanders, and Devils all seem poised for interesting seasons in a relatively wide-open Metropolitan Division. There is young talent amassed in Manhattan, as well as a few miles southwest through the Holland Tunnel and few more miles east through the Midtown Tunnel. The most recent time all three teams made the playoffs was 2006-07, but that could change this year if the intrigue also brings competitiveness.

“There is excitement and buzz around,” Rangers veteran defenseman Marc Staal said recently.

The Rangers beat the Islanders 3-1 in their first of two preseason matchups on Tuesday night at the Garden.

“The Islanders being successful again, and us, and New Jersey now getting some high-end talent,” Staal said. “I think it’s going to help the rivalries.”

The Rangers are just about coming out of the other side of their rebuild that started in earnest with the letter sent by management to the fans on Feb. 8, 2018. Not only do they have young players in camp vying for roster spots, but they added two high-end veterans in Artemi Panarin, who scored two goals Tuesday (one an empty-netter with 16 seconds left), and Jacob Trouba, who had an assist.

But it has been two straight seasons without a postseason appearance for the Blueshirts, who had made it 11 of the previous 12 years coming out of the canceled season of 2005-06. With David Quinn behind the bench now for his second year, and with John Davidson taking over for Glen Sather at the top of the organization, there is a renewed hope that they can not only compete this year, but are also set up well for the future.

That same sentiment came to the Islanders this past season, when owners Scott Malkin and Jon Ledecky were able to hire Lou Lamoriello to run the team, and he hired Barry Trotz, fresh off a Stanley Cup victory in Washington, to be the coach. The club immediately turned it around, winning just their second postseason series since 1993 before getting swept by the Hurricanes in the second round.

With a team that is almost entirely intact, the enthusiasm is stoked not only with the on-ice product, but with Monday’s official groundbreaking for the new arena at Belmont Park, set to open for the 2021-22 season.

“We had a big announcement [Monday] and it was pretty exciting for the franchise,” Trotz said Tuesday morning. “For our players, going forward, through free agency and all that, it’ll be a little bit of a missing piece. I think we’ve established something on the Island where players want to come to this area.”

The Devils, meanwhile, now have the longest-tenured coach in the New York area with John Hynes, behind the bench since 2015. They’ve had the top-overall pick in two of the past three drafts, and took American wunderkind Jack Hughes in June. Among other moves, general manager Ray Shero was able to swing a trade for flamboyant defenseman P.K. Subban — who, as managing partner Josh Harris likes to point out as often as possible, also brings some glitz and glamour with his girlfriend, skier-turned-celebrity Lindsey Vonn.

“We’re top five in new season tickets. The fans are engaging,” Harris said. “Clearly, P.K. — and the added bonus of Lindsey — and Jack, and the excitement of [new additions] Nikita [Gusev] and Wayne [Simmonds], all these people are bringing energy into the building.

“We always said we would spend at the right time. Now, having gone through this summer, we’ve put our money where our mouth is. Expect that to continue. We’re all in on this in terms of doing what we have to do.” 1108327 New York Rangers have, how much damage that could do long-term, I think we all have to be cognizant of that.”

Again. No one is labeling Chytil a failure. But he struggled the second The potential consequences of Filip Chytil’s pedestrian Rangers camp half of last season and hasn’t wowed anyone these last couple of weeks. Meanwhile, Howden has reported as a chiseled-edge specimen after spending his summer working with skills coach John Cara at home in Winnipeg before living for two months with Chris Kreider and soaking in By Larry Brooks No. 20’s training regimen, and Andersson appears more physically September 24, 2019 | 4:17PM equipped to deal with the NHL than the first two times around.

There are decisions coming. One of them will center on Chytil.

We’re eight days away from the season opener and while it is still too early to declare that Filip Chytil has lost the second-line center spot at New York Post LOADED: 09.25.2019 which he was given first crack, it is assuredly accurate to state that the 20-year-old has done little through training camp and his two exhibition matches to nail it down.

And so, with Brett Howden skating between Vitali Kravtsov and Kaapo Kakko and Ryan Strome lining up in the middle for the first time this preseason in Tuesday’s Garden exhibition match against the Islanders, the Rangers will perhaps have unexpected decisions to confront if Chytil does not pick it up before it starts for real next Thursday.

Because if Chytil isn’t centering one of the top three lines, does that mean No. 72 moves back to wing, where he played 42 games last season…or to Hartford, Conn. to start the season? This becomes the question in the aftermath of David Quinn stating that he does not envision any of his three young centers — Chytil, Howden and Lias Andersson —playing on the fourth line.

“All three of these guys have to make the team and they know that and they understand what they’re going to have to do,” Quinn said. “Obviously if they all do what they’re capable of doing, we’re comfortable having three centers of that age and if we think that gives us the best chance to win, we’ll do that and if not, if all three are playing well enough to be here, we’ll probably have to move one to the wing.

“But there are a lot of moving parts to all that.”

Chytil may have 84 NHL games to his credit, but he still just turned 20 on Sept. 5. He was a phenomenon in camp two years ago, cracking the opening night lineup one month to the day after turning 18. He had a dynamic camp last year. This year, so far, Chytil has been pedestrian. Surely there is more to come from this talented Czech, selected 21st overall in 2017.

The question becomes how quickly? Remember, just because the Rangers’ rebuild trajectory may have been altered by adding Artemi Panarin and Jacob Trouba over the summer, that doesn’t mean that the kids’ respective progress necessarily accelerated as well. This is still about the long-term best interests of each individual youngster, not about doing whatever is expedient to squeeze an extra few points out of the roster in October.

Hence, if Strome is playing either second- or third-line center next week, it won’t necessarily be because he took the job, but because one of the kids could not. A prospect or two may need to start in the shallow end of the pool. If that is the case, so be it.

“These young guys playing the middle, it’s very and up and down, it’s very inconsistent,” said Quinn. “So there might be times when all three of them are playing center if they’re all on the roster depending on how they’re playing. Matchups may come into it. What everybody has to understand is that so much goes into these decisions.

“And you want to put these guys in a situation to succeed, too.”

They’re not the same guy and this is not the same era. But way back when, after Joe Cirella had spent essentially the entire season with the Colorado Rockies in 1981-82 after being selected fifth overall in the ’81 entry draft, the defenseman was sent back to the OHL the following season as a 19-year-old when the franchise moved to New Jersey. It was a painful decision for all parties, but when Cirella returned to the Devils for 1983-84, it became Year II of an 828-game NHL career.

Sink or swim probably is not the most effective means of player development.

“It’s the makeup of the person that [goes into that],” said Quinn. “If you’re sinking, sinking, sinking, sinking, some people can never recover. So I think knowing the player and understanding how much failure you can 1108328 New York Rangers This was the first game in which the Rangers played their entire new-look first line with Panarin, Buchnevich and center Mika Zibanejad.

"We agreed to play simpler," Panarin said. "If you work really hard and New York Rangers clean up mistakes, get first preseason win over the complete the task at hand, then the goals will come." Islanders Panarin added that the line is feeling "better and more confident" with each passing day of camp.

Vincent Z. Mercogliano, NHL writer Quinn was also impressed with what he saw from the talented trio, but warned that they need to be careful of relying too much on their finesse Published 9:21 p.m. ET Sept. 24, 2019 | Updated 10:32 p.m. ET Sept. and not doing the dirty work. 24, 2019 "They had a good night, for sure," Quinn said. "Obviously, the goal was a highlight-reel goal and they were buzzing pretty good. There are certainly scenarios they can get a little bit better at. I think sometimes when you NEW YORK – That’s more like it. put three skilled players like that together, it becomes the Harlem The New York Rangers dressed a more representative lineup for Globetrotter hour. We’re going to have to be a little bit more aware that Tuesday night’s preseason game against the rival New York Islanders at we’re going to have to get inside a little bit more and have more net-front Madison Square Garden and put forth a more representative showing. presence. It doesn’t have to be a beauty contest. We’ll work towards that." After losing their first three preseason games — including two over the weekend in which they allowed nearly double the shots they generated — the Blueshirts got into win column with a 3-1 victory. Bergen Record LOADED: 09.25.2019 "Obviously, there a few things we can work on," defenseman Brady Skjei said. "But it feels good to get a win."

New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) reacts with teammates after scoring a goal during the second period against the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden.

Ignoring the fact that these wins are meaningless once the regular season begins, there were areas coach David Quinn identified that needed to be cleaned up. And for the most part, the Rangers delivered.

Through the first three preseason games, they had allowed 27 scoring chances on the rush, according to Quinn. Many of those came from self- inflicted wounds — turnovers — and those were drastically cut down Tuesday.

"I didn’t think we gave up nearly as many of the initial rush chances that we had in the first three games," Quinn said. "I thought our puck management was much better; I thought our penalty kill was really good tonight. We made some strides in areas we’re going to have to be good in."

When the Islanders did generate quality chances, goaltenders Henrik Lundqvist and Alexandar Georgiev answered the bell. Lundqvist played 29:48 and saved all 13 shots he faced, while Georgiev played 30:12 and finished with 16 saves.

New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist (30) takes a drink of water during a break in the first period against the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden.

'Best period of camp'

Two of the Rangers goals came in the second period — the first from rookie Vitali Kravtsov and the second from newly-signed forward Artemi Panarin. The third came on an empty-netter from Panarin for his third goal in two preseason games.

"Our second period was probably our best period of camp," Skjei said. "We were all over them. We really preached before the period about line changes and making sure we got pucks behind them before we changed. We really sustained a good forecheck and put them on their heels a little bit."

Skjei had his strongest showing of the preseason and assisted on the first two goals. He set up the first with a well-placed backhanded pass to Kravtsov, who is trying to prove he belongs on the NHL roster rather than getting his feet wet with AHL Hartford.

The 19-year-old was hard on himself after the game.

"I don’t think about the goal," Kravtsov said. "I think about my game. First period, I was so nervous. I don’t know why. I played bad. Second and third, I played — not well — but better than the first."

Top line debuts with 'highlight-reel goal'

Pavel Buchnevich had the primary assist on the second goal, a strong pass through traffic right to Panarin's stick for the one-timer. 1108329 New York Rangers Cutting down on the mistakes and giveaways, while fixing the discrepancy in shot totals, is going to be critical to accomplish their stated goal of contending for a playoff spot.

New York Rangers aim to eliminate 'alarming' turnovers, improve puck “Everyone is so skilled now,” Staal said. “It’s a game where, there’s a lot management of talent, and now you’re just trying to make them understand how to transform that into winning hockey games together. That’s the biggest thing. You can have as much talent as you want, but if you don’t play winning hockey as a team, you’re not going anywhere.” Vincent Z. Mercogliano, NHL writer

Published 6:00 a.m. ET Sept. 24, 2019 | Updated 6:02 a.m. ET Sept. 24, 2019 Bergen Record LOADED: 09.25.2019

TARRYTOWN – David Quinn thought his team needed a breather following a 10-day stretch with only one day off. But after a relaxing Sunday, it was back to work Monday morning.

Given the chance to review the tape from back-to-back preseason losses Friday and Saturday, the New York Rangers coach had a clear message for his team during a practice in which he upped the intensity at times.

“I think guys are trying to do too much,” Quinn said. “I don’t know if guys are trying to do too much to make the roster, or guys that think they are going to be on the roster are trying to do too much to crawl up the roster. So, that’s what we’re looking for. We’re looking for people who are going to do things to allow us to have success collectively and play winning hockey. We certainly haven’t done enough of that in the last two games.”

That anxiousness led to a slew of sloppy turnovers, breakaway opportunities for opponents, and the Rangers being outshot by a combined total of 80-42 in their last two games against the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers.

“We’ve touched on some of the things we need to be better at,” Quinn said. “Puck management is No. 1. In three games, we’ve given up eight scoring chances off D-zone coverage, which is pretty good, and 27 off the rush, which is incredibly alarming.”

New York Rangers head coach David Quinn speaks to his team during practice at the Rangers practice facility in Greenburgh Sept. 15, 2019.

The obvious disclaimer is that the Rangers didn’t have anywhere near their opening night roster out there for either game.

Friday night’s lineup featured roughly five forwards who should make the team and only one defenseman — veteran Marc Staal. And while Saturday’s lineup did include defensemen Jacob Trouba, Brady Skjei, Adam Fox and Libor Hájek, the core of forwards was still missing several notable names.

That won’t be the case when the Rangers take the ice at 7 p.m. Tuesday at home against the rival New York Islanders. Trouba, Skjei, Staal and Fox will be in the lineup on the blue line, while many of the forwards expected to make the team will also suit up.

“We’ll see how it goes tomorrow night and take it from there,” Quinn said. “We’re at the point now where we want to tighten things up from a roster standpoint.”

Quinn was upfront at the beginning of camp, identifying “two things that I think from a team standpoint we have to do a much better job of, and that’s D-zone coverage and penalty killing.”

The stats he mentioned Monday highlight an issue with turnovers more than defensive zone coverage, but the main objective remains doing a better job of limiting scoring opportunities for their opponents. An average of four goals and 40 shots allowed per game isn't going to cut it.

Trouba and Fox were brought in to shore up the defense, and Tony DeAngelo agreeing to a one-year contract and returning to practice should provide a boost. But the Rangers still have a lot to prove, with many of their defensemen noted more for their offensive skills than their ability to lock down opposing forwards and control gaps.

The same can be said for their forwards. New additions Artemi Panarin, Kaapo Kakko and Vitali Kravtsov bring the ability to generate goals, but they’re not exactly known as strong defenders.

“Your best defense is your forwards, in a way,” Trouba said. “It’s a five- man unit that plays defense.”

It’s far too early to jump to conclusions, but the areas where the Rangers need to improve have been identified. 1108330 New York Rangers

Rangers' Brett Howden looks to build on solid '18-19 season

By Colin Stephenson [email protected] @ColinASteph

Updated September 24, 2019 10:44 PM

In the Rangers’ locker room at their practice facility in Tarrytown, New York, Brett Howden and Lias Andersson have stalls next to each other. On the ice, their games mirror each other, as both are two-way centers who win faceoffs, play sound in their own end, drive the net on offense, kill penalties and play on the power play.

Howden, 21, beat out Andersson a year ago and earned a roster spot out of training camp. He spent the entire season with the Rangers, and played in 66 games, scoring six goals, with 17 assists for 23 points. But he isn’t taking anything for granted this training camp.

“No, no, definitely not,’’ he said Tuesday, before the Rangers played their fourth preseason game, this time at the Garden against the Islanders. “My mindset is I want to make the team . . . Nothing’s given to you. You’ve got to work for everything you get. And, I truly believe that.’’

Howden centered the second line, between teenage sensations Kaapo Kakko and Vitali Kravtsov. Kravtsov scored the first goal of the game in the Rangers’ 3-1 victory.

“I’m excited to play with these caliber players,’’ Howden said. “So highly skilled and so smart – they think the game well, and they’re so young. I mean, they’re – I’m young, and they’re younger than me. So, it’s pretty crazy.’’

Meanwhile, Andersson, who scored a goal in the preseason opener versus the Devils last week and who hit the goalpost in the final minute of Saturday’s 4-2 loss to the Flyers in Philadelphia, played on a fourth line Tuesday, between Micheal Haley and Danny O’Regan, neither of whom figures to make the team. Andersson did play on the penalty kill and on the second power-play unit – with Howden.

With Mika Zibanejad locked in as the No. 1 center, all the spots behind him are open to be won. Filip Chytil, 20, currently is penciled in as the No. 2 center, with Howden and Andersson battling to determine the third and fourth spots – though coach David Quinn said all three players still need to make the team, and one could be switched to the wing.

Andersson, who turns 21 in three weeks, said he is a different player and person than the one who started last season in Hartford (AHL). He’s lost weight – 188 pounds now, compared to 205 a year ago – and he feels quicker and stronger.

“I think I’ve grown as a person, and learned what’s important in life, you know, with working out, and training, and nutrition and everything,’’ he said. “I’ve been growing up and being a little more like a man, and not a kid anymore. I’m, trying to be more of a pro this year.’’

Blue Shorts: Kravtsov scored the first goal, Artemi Panarin the second and third (empty net) goals for the Rangers. Brady Skjei assisted on the first two . . . Henrik Lundqvist started in goal and played 29:48, stopping all 14 shots he faced. Alexandar Georgiev replaced him, and stopped nine of 10 shots. Jordan Eberle scored for the Islanders at 12:07 of the third.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108331 New York Rangers He’s an impressive kid with impressive upside, with size and skill. But he might be best served, at 19, in the minors to start — as most players do.

“He played pretty well,” Rangers coach David Quinn said. “I thought he Artemi Panarin, Vitali Kravtsov share laughs, language and scoring did a good job. It was nice to see him get a goal, but there are other duties in Rangers preseason things I think he did a better job in. Overall, our group of wingers have to do a better job on the walls. We’re young on the walls so that’s going to be an area we’re going to have to continue to harp on in practice, through video sessions and things of that nature.” By Rick Carpiniello Yup, Quinn, as he did in his rookie year as an NHL head coach, shuns Sep 24, 2019 the popular coaches’ mantra of “don’t dissect the wins.” He dissects everything.

NEW YORK — They were a few feet away in the Rangers locker room, Thoughts the Russian winger who is an established NHL point-a-game star with a 1) Quinn Bin: No occupants yet, but rest assured Quinn was not thrilled new seven-year, $81.5 million contract; and the Russian winger trying to with the way his team was executing or taking care of the puck through make the NHL roster as a teenager. the first three games, and not entirely in love with the fourth. This one Artemi Panarin and Vitali Kravtsov scored goals in the Rangers’ first was mildly better, but it was clearly a varsity versus JV lineup situation victory of the preseason, 3-1 over the Islanders on Tuesday at the favoring the Rangers. And they did show improvement in those areas. Garden, Panarin adding an empty-netter to his eye-popping goal earlier, “A lot,” Quinn said. “I don’t think we gave up nearly as many as the initial- giving him three in two games. rush chances we had the first three games. I thought our puck Now came the interesting part. The locker room. Panarin’s English has management was much better, and I thought our penalty kill was really improved over the years, they say. He seems to let on that he good tonight. We made some strides in areas we’re going to have to be understands more than he does when it comes to English, and that he good at. And again, a lot of our guys, it was their second game. … We’re can say more than he does, although word is he didn’t do a lot of still finding our way and getting closer to having a full lineup and working interviews in Columbus last year. our way towards the regular season. It was a good step in the right direction today.” Kravtsov spoke almost zero English when he was drafted in 2018, and has worked hard to learn his new language in his new land. But Kravtsov, 2) Again, the Rangers’ top line — Kaapo Kakko played with Panarin and who has grown obviously close to Panarin in their short time together, Mika Zibanejad in the preseason opener, and Tuesday it was Pavel also has a sense of humor. They both do, actually. So while Panarin was Buchnevich, who is penciled (penned?) in as the first-line right winger to being interviewed, Kravtsov lurked at the back of the pack and tried to start the season. That line did some really cool stuff with the puck, and make Panarin laugh. some not great stuff without it.

Panarin did most of his interview in Russian, with an interpreter, but did “They had a good night, for sure,” Quinn said. “The goal was a highlight- some of it in English. Kravtsov did his, again, on his own. reel goal, and they were buzzing pretty good. So there’s some areas they can get a little bit better at. I think sometimes when you put three skilled “The first period we weren’t playing so well and we went to the locker players like that together it becomes a Harlem Globetrotters Hour. But room and we spoke and it changed the game,” Panarin said. we’re going to have to be a little bit more aware that we’re going to have to get inside a little more and have a little more net-front presence. It “I speak, too,” he then cracked. doesn’t have to be a beauty contest. So we’ll work towards that.” “We agreed to play more simple and to get the puck behind the goal.” That line, Quinn pointed out, got hemmed in late in the game with the Panarin answered a few questions, said the right things about playing Islanders skating six-on-five. But they didn’t allow a goal, and Panarin put hard and the goals and points will come. the game away with the empty-netter.

When he was finished, he apologized for his difficulty and promised to 3) Henrik Lundqvist played the first half of the game, with a much smaller get better. workload — 13 shots, no goals, compared to three goals on 24 shots in half a game in Newark on Friday. Well, this time he didn’t face a “I have seven years,” Panarin smiled. breakaway by a star-in-waiting (Jack Hughes) half a minute into the Kravtsov has done nothing but smile since he got here. He still has some game. Lundqvist made a couple of good early stops on Derick Brassard proving to do — with only about a week until the season begins — to wide open on a rebound, the second while laying on his belly, kicking up prove he’s better off here on the big team than starting in Hartford with his pad in desperation mode. some of his friends, Igor Shesterkin and Yegor Rykov, who are probably 4) It just makes you revisit the Brassard-Zibanejad thievery performed by going to start their North American careers in the AHL. Jeff Gorton. Big Game Brass, 32, is on his fifth team since the trade. “I don’t think about the goal,” Kravtsov said. “I think about my game. Like, Zibanejad, 26, is about to be named captain (most likely). Rangers also first period, so nervous. I don’t know why. I played bad. Second and third, got a second-rounder in the deal from Ottawa, who was ultimately traded not well, but better than first.” to Detroit in the Brendan Smith deal, so …

Was it nice to get that first goal in a Rangers sweater? 5) Early second, Rangers’ four-on-two, Brady Skjei with the puck around Jordan Eberle in the right circle. Scott Mayfield did the snow angel, which “I don’t know,” he said. “It’s important to win today for me. We feel so almost always fails, and Kakko drove to the net. Skjei got the puck better, if we win games here we can win more in the season.” through to Vitali Kravtsov for his first goal as a Ranger. Jacob Trouba with the second assist. 1-0. That was the first Rangers’ lead of the Kravtsov thought the game was better — it certainly was — than the first preseason. In the second period of Game 4. Earlier, Kravtsov leveled three preseason games the Rangers have played — two losses to New Mayfield in a collision at the blue line. Jersey, one to Philadelphia. 6) Mid-second, after the goalie switch, Panarin and Buchnevich played “We had more chemistry, I think,” he said. give-and-go, Panarin firing his second goal in two games, both on one- “Coach told us we didn’t play a system game (previously). He told us timers, past Thomas Greiss on the return pass. Just a rocket. Another before the game us how we need to play, forecheck, backcheck, and we assist for Skjei. tried to make those plays. The game felt better.” 7) Daily Bread: Earlier Panarin got his stick up in self-defense, a la Mark He was asked if he thinks he’s playing well enough in training camp? Messier, with Brassard charging at him. Only got a minor. Messier would have gotten nothing. By the way, seeing him from afar all these years, I “I think yeah,” he said. “I feel better now after I score the goal. But I think just assumed Panarin was a little scrawny guy. Guess what. He’s like a about the game. If I don’t play well, I don’t think a lot about my scoring.” miniature Chris Kreider. Panarin also got upended by a sliding Greiss in a race for a loose puck in the third — sort of like John Davidson-Bobby Nystrom (ask your parents, or the Rangers’ president). Coming back from a mild groin injury, there might have been a bit of breath-holding on the part of Panarin and his coaches. “I didn’t have time to react so I didn’t have time to get scared,” Panarin said. Then Greiss kicked away another Panarin one-timer.

8) Mat Barzal, who has about 1,000 points against the Rangers, set up Jordan Eberle for a snipe through Marc Staal’s screen and past Alexandar Georgiev’s shoulder to snap the shutout, after a linesman’s skate helped the Islanders keep the puck in.

9) Kakko-Meter: He missed the net on the five-on-three in the first, a cardinal sin. Puck right out of the zone. Cannot do that. I thought he was really good otherwise. Still wearing No. 45.

10) Upon relieving Lundqvist, Georgiev wasn’t really tested until late in the second when he stopped and smothered a Devon Toews slapper on a break-in. Then he turned away a deflection next time down the ice. In the third he exploded across the crease and robbed Eberle outside the left post on the power play.

11) Another game and more pain-in-the-assery by Lias Andersson. And I mean that in the highest form of flattery.

12) Brendan Lemieux’s white stick against the white ice sometimes looks invisible to me.

13) Good Tony, Bad Tony: DeAngelo said he’s in good shape, and had been working out hard at home, figuring he’d be in camp soon enough. It remains to be seen if he will get just one or both remaining preseason games. And how ready he will be to lace ‘em up on opening night.

14) Six periods left.

My Three Rangers Stars

1. Artemi Panarin.

2. Vitali Kravtsov.

3. Pavel Buchnevich.

The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108332 Ottawa Senators

Erik Brannstrom inches closer to spot on Senators opening day roster

Ken Warren

September 24, 2019 7:15 PM EDT

VANCOUVER — The numbers would appear to be adding up for Erik Brannstrom, but he’s not counting on anything just yet.

“There is a little bit of pressure, but I’m just trying to play and have some fun,” the 20-year-old defenceman said Tuesday of his bid to crack the Ottawa Senators’ roster for the start of the National Hockey League season.

That is, of course, easier said than done. Following the shoulder injury to Christian Wolanin before training camp and Sunday’s demotion of Max Lajoie to Belleville of the American Hockey League – a mild surprise because it occurred with three exhibition games remaining — Brannstrom’s odds have increased significantly.

If, as expected, the Senators begin the season with seven defencemen, only one of the current eight would not remain. That will most likely be 29-year-old Cody Goloubef, but the Senators must also be careful in not giving Brannstrom, their star prospect, too much too soon.

He arrived with a lot of hype in the trade for Mark Stone in February.

There have been some moments in training camp, but he hasn’t flashed much of the offensive flair he previously showcased in the AHL.

He’s expected to play Wednesday against the Vancouver Canucks beside Ron Hainsey, which was a combination coach D.J. Smith used at the start of training camp. Brannstrom played Monday alongside Dylan DeMelo.

“Pretty good,” Brannstrom said when asked about his own game in the contest that the Senators lost 6-4. “I think I’ve played better games, but I think I’ve played OK. I can play better.”

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108333 Ottawa Senators Did he catch a rut in the ice? “I would like to think so. It sounded like the way it felt.”

NEW PARTNER, SAME GAME: In his short time with the Senators, Warrenspiece: Nilsson's return, DeMelo's fall from grace and something DeMelo has received a fair share of time playing alongside two of the in the water organization’s most prized defencemen. He spent most of the 2018-19 season with $64-million man Thomas Chabot and he was paired with Erik Brannstrom on Monday.

Ken Warren “I can’t change my game, no matter who I’m playing with,” DeMelo said. “Maybe you alter some things, but, with (Brannstrom), it has just been September 24, 2019 7:15 PM EDT about communicating with him in the defensive zone and our gaps and trying to close plays. He has a ton of skill, a lot like Thomas. I’ve just got to continue to play the way I play and I think you’ve got to be VANCOUVER — The end of Anders Nilsson’s goaltending stint with the interchangeable and play with everyone.” Vancouver Canucks was anything but positive, but that hasn’t taken away from his feelings for the community.

“Our youngest son was born here,” said Nilsson, who returned to face his Ottawa Sun LOADED: 09.25.2019 former teammates Monday for the first time since the early January swap that sent goalie Mike McKenna and forward Tom Pyatt the other way. “I have some good memories with my family. I know, hockey-wise, it wasn’t maybe the best situation that I’ve been in before, but we made a lot of friends here.”

The trade helped turn around Nilsson’s career. After winning his first three games with the Canucks last season, he lost his final nine decisions and had a 3.09 goals against average and .895 save percentage in Vancouver.

After joining the Ottawa Senators, however, he went 11-11-0 with a 2.90 average and .914 save percentage, earning a two-year contract extension in the summer.

The tandem of Nilsson and Craig Anderson also figure to have some long nights — similar to the 6-4 pre-season defeat Nilsson suffered against the Canucks — as they try to keep the rebuilding Senators afloat.

“I have to step up and make a few saves,” Nilsson said of Monday’s game, which featured four Canucks power-play goals. “It’s our job as goalies to stand back there, no matter what’s happening in front of (us). We have to stop the puck. For me, it’s just a matter of focussing on my own routine, doing what I need to do to put myself in the best position to make the saves.”

After team-bonding Tuesday, Ottawa Senators ready to resume pre- season action

Erik Brannstrom inches closer to spot on Senators opening day roster

COSTLY VICTORY: According to Canucks coach Travis Green, Brock Boeser and Oscar Fantenberg were in National Hockey League concussion protocol after taking hits from Senators players on Monday.

Fantenberg’s fate was the result of a hit by from the Senators’ Jaden Szarwz behind the Canucks net in the first period.

Szarwz was assessed a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct.

While Fantenberg briefly returned to the game, he didn’t come out for the second period.

Boeser was on the wrong end of a third period cross-check into the boards by the Senators’ Chris Tierney, who received a two-minute penalty.

If Boeser is out for any extended period, it could be a colossal blow to the Canucks. He has scored 59 goals and 57 assists in 140 NHL games. Last week, Boeser ended a contract stalemate with the Canucks by signing a three-year extension worth $17.625 million.

IF YOU CAN’T LAUGH AT YOURSELF…: With only a few minutes remaining in Monday’s game, a loud thump broke the silence during a stoppage in play. It was the sound of Senators defenceman Dylan DeMelo losing his balance and falling into the boards.

As embarrassing as it was, DeMelo dusted himself off and saluted the crowd as he skated towards the bench.

On Tuesday morning, DeMelo showcased his knowledge of hockey history and sense of humour.

“Well, (Phil) Esposito did it in the (1972) Summit Series, right?” he said. “Same player.” 1108334 Ottawa Senators “I know every guy now and it’s just the feel, I kind of know what to expect in the games,” he said. “I don’t feel like I’m (definitely) on the team or anything like that. There are guys fighting for spots, so I’m just trying to show the coach I can play here.” After team-bonding Tuesday, Ottawa Senators ready to resume pre- season action While Balcers and fellow forwards Logan Brown and Nick Paul have picked up their games at times, the Senators would like to see more from Drake Batherson.

Ken Warren The roster for Wednesday’s game won’t be officially announced until after the morning skate, but it’s expected that Craig Anderson will play September 24, 2019 7:15 PM EDT the full game in goal.

VANCOUVER — The sun finally emerged from behind the clouds here Ottawa Sun LOADED: 09.25.2019 Tuesday, allowing the Ottawa Senators to move outside to learn more about each other away from the ice.

The Senators are hoping for the best from the National Hockey League season to come, of course, but they’re not kidding themselves. They know there will be plenty of long nights as the full pool of prospects isn’t quite ready to take hold of the franchise.

If they can all laugh a bit now — that was one of the goals of team- building exercises on the University of British Columbia campus — they might just have something to fall back on when the stresses of the regular season start next week.

In their ideal confidence-building world, they would skate out of Rogers Arena late Wednesday with a victory, allowing them to split two pre- season games against the Vancouver Canucks.

Victory or not, a determined effort from veterans and those pushing for the final available roster spots is what general manager Pierre Dorion and head coach D.J. Smith want to see. With cuts expected Thursday, they don’t want those decisions to be easy.

In Monday’s 6-4 loss to the Canucks in Abbotsford, a less than complete Senators roster — Brady Tkachuk, Colin White, Connor Brown, Jean- Gabriel Pageau and Ron Hainsey sat out — couldn’t overcome a parade to the penalty box that led to four Canucks power-play goals. The most damaging blow was a five-minute major and game misconduct to Jaden Szwarz eight minutes into the game, quickly turning a 1-0 Senators lead into a 2-1 deficit.

“That’s an NHL top-end power play,” Smith said of the Canucks. “They have guys that can really shoot the puck and we had some guys trying out to be on the penalty kill. And you want to see. And it’s perfect. It’s a test against elite players, with (Brock) Boeser and (Elias) Petersson out there … These are elite guys on the flanks. They got us (Monday), but it’s all part of learning.”

Presumably, the return of more experienced penalty killers such as Pageau, Hainsey, White and Brown will give the Senators sharper play in that regard in Wednesday’s rematch. If the Senators have any chance of staying competitive when the games matter, they can’t bury themselves with weak special teams. In the past two games, including the listless 4-0 defeat against the Montreal Canadiens at Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday, they’ve yielded seven power-play goals.

“The penalties killed us,” said veteran centre Artem Anisimov, who has quietly had a decent pre-season.

When the Senators weren’t trying to kill penalties, they carried the play against the Canucks for extended stretches. They finished with 45 shots against Vancouver goaltender Jacob Markstrom.

“Overall, five on five, we did some good things,” Senators winger Tyler Ennis said. “Every night, we’re going to have to outwork the other team. Our identity is just going to be work ethic.”

As for prospects pushing to stay on the NHL roster, Rudolfs Balcers raised his game a notch on Monday. He moved in from the perimeters more often and was rewarded for being around the net, collecting a goal and an assist.

“It was only my second game, but I’ve been feeling better and better every day at (training) camp, and for sure I felt at my best (Monday),” he said.

The experience of being around the NHL for half of the 2018-19 season — he registered five goals and nine assists in 36 games — has helped Balcers settle in this fall. 1108335 Ottawa Senators So much for the hope of seeing whether the high-scoring AHL line of Nick Paul, Logan Brown and Drake Batherson could translate their magic into an NHL pre-season contest.

SENS POST-GAME REPORT: Good even-strength play can't overcome “I don’t think we had one shift together, honestly,” said Brown. “Maybe weak penalty killing one in the first.”

Brown, who once again showcased his strengths on the Senators power play (he hit the post on an early second period manpower advantage) Ken Warren said it was difficult to find an early rhythm because the Senators were shorthanded so often so early. September 24, 2019 6:06 PM EDT “There wasn’t any flow at all,” he said. “Just a lot of special teams. At the

start of the game, you don’t get a shift for the first 10 minutes because ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – There are a few ways to digest the mottled mess you’re not on the (penalty) kill. It’s hard, but I thought we bounced back. I of the Ottawa Senators 6-4 pre-season loss to the Vancouver Canucks thought we kind of turned around the game and got some chances and here late Monday night. some shots.”

There was plenty of good in the determined mid-game pushback from an In the end, the Senators had 45 shots against Canucks goaltender Jacob early deficit. There was too much bad in allowing four power play goals, Markstrom, but that wasn’t enough to rally from the early ugliness. running the back-to-back game total to seven.

Ultimately, though, the Senators could never recover from the ugly of the Ottawa Sun LOADED: 09.25.2019 high hit from veteran AHLer Jaden Szwarz, which allowed the Canucks to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 advantage. The Canucks never lost the lead again.

Let’s begin with the recognition that the Canucks brought a reasonable facsimile of their opening day lineup to the match-up that was played well down the road from Vancouver, through the steady grind of the heavy traffic leaving the city in late afternoon and early evening.

It was a major test for Senators coach D.J. Smith, who kept the club’s top line of Brady Tkachuk, Colin White and Connor Brown, along with Jean- Gabriel Pageau and Ron Hainsey out of the lineup in order to receive another look – in many cases, a final look – at a few players who will be down in Belleville later this week.

Szwarz is one of those guys, but when he crunched the Canucks’ Oscar Fantenberg with a high hit behind the Vancouver net eight minutes in, his night was over – gone with a five-minute major and game misconduct, adding to the first period parade to the penalty box.

The Szwarz penalty also spelled the end of the Senators one and only lead, an early Bobby Ryan goal coming off some solid work by Rudolfs Balcers and Chris Tierney.

The Canucks scored twice on the major penalty. And every time the Senators pushed back to narrow the gap – closing to 3-2 on an Artem Anisimov goal and 4-3 on a Balcers marker – the Canucks power play struck again and again against Senators goaltender Anders Nilsson to thwart the rally.

“That’s an NHL top-end power play,” said Senators coach D.J. Smith. “They have guys that can really shoot the puck and we had some guys trying out to be on the penalty kill. And you want to see. And it’s perfect. It’s a test against elite players, with (Brock) Boeser and (Elias) Petersson out there. These are elite guys on the flanks and they got us tonight, but it’s all part of learning.”

If the pre-season is all about answering questions, the Senators learned that the crew they had on the ice killing penalties Monday isn’t close to good enough.

Come Wednesday, when the clubs meet again at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, more established Senators penalty killers, including Pageau, Hainsey, Connor Brown and Colin White will be in the lineup.

For those who put any measure into pre-season statistics, Petersson finished with two goals and two assists and Boeser had three assists.

In terms of positives, the Senators did receive some solid even-strength play, particularly from a veteran group that included Ryan, Anisimov, Tyler Ennis and Tierney, who completed the Senators scoring in a failed third period comeback attempt.

“In the second period, once the five-on-five started, we played better and we took over the game a little bit,” said Anisimov. “But again, the penalties killed us again.”

The other big blow caused by Szwarz’s departure was that Smith was forced into an early line juggling with only three centres and 11 forwards. 1108336 Ottawa Senators games here and there. At this stage of his career, sitting the press box won’t hurt his development.

I think Batherson is a near lock on this roster and furthermore, Smith Which Senators still need to impress and which ones are locks to make seems fairly high on him. Batherson ‘s spent time with Duclair and the opening night roster Pageau as well as on the power play so far during exhibition play and hasn’t looked out of place.

“Drake does a lot of things. He’s a lot bigger guy on the ice than you see By Hailey Salvian from up top and he really moves a lot quicker, too,” Smith said on Saturday morning before an exhibition game against Montreal later that Sep 24, 2019 night. “He’s a big guy that I think is going to be able get to net fronts and loose pucks. He’s heavy. I like a lot of the parts of his game.

With just over a week left until the regular season begins, the Senators “I see this guy being able to score some goals and being able to be a real final two preseason games are more important than ever. power forward in this league.”

The games may not mean anything when it comes to the standings at the That doesn’t sound like analysis from a coach about a player who he is end of the year, but the two games are crucial because of the major about to cut. With Batherson included, that’s 11 forwards, which leaves decisions that are still looming regarding this young Senators roster. only the 12th and 13th spot open.

Going off what general manager Pierre Dorion said before training camp On Monday, Smith reunited Batherson with Paul and Brown who were a started, there are about 10 forwards that are locked in, meaning that great line in Belleville at the tail end of last season. The hope was that three spots are up for grabs. While on the blue line, five defencemen can the familiarity would spark something amongst the prospects to show be written down on the roster in pen, leaving two spots there. their best before final cuts. With a big week, Brown could make a push to lock himself a spot on the opening night roster. With 31 players remaining in training camp, it’s safe to say there are some roster battles still to be had. Another intriguing option is Abramov. While at times he appears well on his way to making the team, other times he simply doesn’t look ready. “These exhibition games will work that out here for sure,” head coach However, every time he steps on to the ice, he does so with purpose and D.J. Smith said last week after practice. “By the end, you’re playing works hard, a prerequisite to play for Smith. Abramov’s been a pleasant against a real NHL team and that’s a big difference compared to training surprise to watch, even for Smith, who said early on in camp that it’s not camp scrimmages.” hard to keep Abramov around because “he scores every time I see him play.” So far the team has made three rounds of cuts totalling 32 players sent to either junior, the AHL or released from professional or amateur tryout But as impressive as Abramov has looked at times, he is only 21, with contracts. just one season of professional hockey in North America under his belt and its mostly been in the AHL (he played one game in the NHL last There weren’t many surprises in the first two rounds of cuts, with a lot of season). Abramov is certainly electric, but I’m not sold that he is ready to junior and ECHL players in the mix. make the full-time jump to the NHL just yet. It would make more sense To recap: for him (and for most young players in a similar position) to play on the top line in Belleville as “The Man” for a year and bring him to the NHL These four prospects were sent back to junior: Kevin Mandolese (Cape when he is ready. It’s not best for his development to play six minutes a Breton), Mads Sogaard (Medicine Hat), Jonathan Gruden (London), and night on the fourth line or even worse, sit in the press box. Maxence Guenette (Val-d’Or). Tristan Scherwey was also returned to Bern of the Swiss League I think Chlapik will round the forwards out as the 12th or 13th man when the season starts, depending on how these last few games go. He has a These 11 were assigned to AHL Bellville: Francois Beauchemin, Michael bit more experience than the other prospects having played 25 games in Brodzinski, Jack Dougherty, J.C. Beaudin, Michael Carcone, Mark the NHL. He has looked solid during camp and preseason and will likely Kastelic, Jack Rodewald, Andrew Sturtz, Jonathan Aspirot, Nick Ebert be fighting it out with Brown for playing time. Balcers, another option, has and Hubert Labrie. also looked solid and had a good showing against Vancouver Monday While Adam Capannelli, Chris Clapperton, Maxim Trépanier, Conner night with a goal and an assist in the 6-4 loss. McDonald and Nathan Todd were released from amateur and professional tryouts. Clapperton and Todd will also join Belleville’s training camp. The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019

On Saturday, following a 4-0 preseason loss to the Montreal Canadiens, the Senators made several much more difficult cuts.

Joey Daccord, Filip Gustavsson, Andreas Englund, Max Lajoie, Jordan Murray, Jonathan Davidsson, Alex Formenton, Morgan Klimchuk, Joe LaBate, Josh Norris and Max Veronneau were all assigned to Belleville.

Lajoie being cut may have come as a shock to fans, as some believed his pro experience in the NHL (albeit limited) would give him more of a shot to start the year in the NHL. Instead, Dorion and Smith decided Lajoie would be better off starting the year in the AHL.

And as difficult as those cuts were for management to make, the biggest, and toughest ones are yet to come.

My take:

There shouldn’t be any dispute about the ten locks to start the season, except for Boedker who has missed the majority of training camp. I think he makes the team to start the year but could find himself in the press box to make way for some younger players if they can prove they belong in Ottawa.

Last season, Boedker had an underwhelming seven goals and 35 points. Therefore, if a bubble player like Abramov or Brown makes an impact this week, I could see the 29-year-old being pushed out for a handful of 1108337 Philadelphia Flyers And all of Philadelphia — including Gritty — is unhinged. Gritty’s got mad shticks

Whether it’s his outie belly button, which inexplicably changes colors; his It Gritty’s birthday: Flyers mascot, Philly’s orange id, turns 1 hands, which make the most adorable squeak; or the Men in Black-like guards who accompany him everywhere, Gritty’s gimmick game is strong. by Stephanie Farr This summer, he released a Spotify mix tape that spanned every genre of music, from the Pipes & Drums of Leanisch to Nickelback and Enya. He put out his resume, where he listed among his skills “Master of Karate Birthed into this world a year ago upon a wave of shock and horror not and Friendship” and put his career objective as “the Iron Throne.” And seen since Rosemary’s Baby or Eraserhead, in just 12 months, Gritty has Gritty’s March Madness bracket predicted that love would be the winner come to exemplify everything about Philly that Philadelphians love. because love always wins. He is our id, that primitive part of Philly’s collective psyche driven by He also picked up a pet during his first trip down the Shore, a instinct and impulse. He enjoys streaking and starting fights with fans “Northwestern Caribbean hermit crab” he named Claw’d. from other cities. And he always looks like he just woke up, which is on- brand for Philly. Got me one of these jawns today.

But he’s got a soft side, too. And we’re not just talking about his tummy. We asked him about it. He’s visited children in the hospital, marched for love in Philly’s Pride Parade, and he fanboys hard over his BFF, Flyers captain Claude “You never know yourself, really, until you become a parent. Crab Giroux. motherhood is a journey that has shown me compassion, patience, and small pinch pain management. He smells a little, and honestly it’s really For his first birthday, I sent Gritty a few questions. hard, crabs can’t wear deodorant," Gritty wrote to us. "In many ways, I am the child of Philadelphia, and Claw’d is my child. Which makes him He sent back sass. the grandchild of Philadelphia. He is waiting to be spoiled with all your Gritty referred to me throughout his answers as “Allen.” I was ready to savings bonds like every first born grandchild is. Send them to my officially change my name — Who am I to question Gritty? — only to attention. Thx.” learn that he refers to all reporters as Allen. So, Gritty’s using his new pet as a side hustle. Now that is Philly. He then gave me a hard time for one question: What is your Wawa When Gritty was chosen as the NHL fans’ favorite mascot in June, he order? was quick to remind them all of when they were haters. “As I have previously mentioned in former interviews, ‘Have you played Not only did fans vote him their favorite mascot, NHL players did, too. Wawa Screen Roulette? Eyes closed — tap, tap, tap, complete order.’ Happy to see you’ve done research, Allen.” Roses are red,

Gritty thinks the Philly neighborhood he best relates to is the “Airport, Gritty even garnered write-in votes in actual elections in November. In mostly,” and he believes the most Philly thing about him is his accent. Philly alone, at least 43 people thought Gritty would do a better job than any human. We think birthdays are a time to reflect on the previous year. Unsure how Gritty will celebrate or what he’ll wish for — “Come on now, I don’t wish In October, Philly City Council passed a resolution honoring Gritty, but he and tell, Allen” — we’ve compiled some of our favorite moments from was too busy to pick it up. Gritty’s first year. Aside from getting stacks on stacks of citations and awards, like a As the marketing team behind Gritty put it during a panel at Philly Tech Webby, Gritty has also been hanging with celebrities like Stephen Week, it was Gritty’s “first personality tweet.” Colbert and Patrick Stewart, as well as Ricky Gervais and Jimmy Fallon.

And it was a personality Philly liked. Almost immediately, Philadelphians But we think his greatest honor is becoming a Jeopardy! question within changed their tune and started defending Gritty. his first year of existence, which must be some sort of record.

Two weeks later, Gritty made another grand entrance in his debut at the What is very cool indeed? Wells Fargo Center for the Flyers’ home opener by descending from the ceiling to Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball.” He made a similar entrance at But when we asked what the highlight of his year above ground has Lincoln Financial Field in February for the NHL’s Stadium Series, outlined been, Gritty had a more modest answer. in neon lights like a sign on the Vegas strip. “Making it to year two,” he wrote. “Flyers just extended my internship!” Speaking of stripping, Gritty went streaking at one point during the

Stadium Series — or got “nakey” as he calls it — and made quite the exit as well, by getting ejected from the game. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 09.25.2019 Gritty is unhinged

Like most of Philadelphia, Gritty’s not afraid to pick a fight with anyone who has wronged him, or might be thinking about wronging him.

He’s punched a ref, knocked another mascot out cold playing dodgeball, assaulted Santa with a holiday wreath, started fights with fans from opposing teams, and shot a man in the back with a T-shirt cannon just to watch him cry.

Not even kids are safe, especially the Mites on Ice who play between periods during Flyers games. Gritty has face-palmed a Mites goalie, sprayed water on a player, and even threw a kid in the penalty box. little kids get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to play on the ice during the intermissions of NHL games. it’s adorable. last night, one of those kids decided to go rogue and use his time in the spotlight to fight Gritty. twice.

We teach our lessons early in Philadelphia. Don’t mess with the unhinged. 1108338 Philadelphia Flyers

Carsen Twarynski, Connor Bunnaman survive latest round of Flyers cuts

by Ed Barkowitz,

Don’t read anything into the latest round of cuts, warned general manager Chuck Fletcher. The Flyers clubhouse early in the season will be more fluid than the presidential Cabinet.

“I anticipate an awful lot of roster changes the first six weeks of the year,” Fletcher said. “Our goal right now is to get a roster to play Chicago in Prague [on Oct. 4 in the season opener]. When we get back, I’m sure there will be things we’ll need to do as we move forward. [But] right now, it’s just about getting ready for Prague."

The Flyers sent seven players to the AHL on Tuesday. Prospects Carsen Twarynski, Connor Bunnaman, and Joel Farabee, and veteran Chris Stewart were among those who survived.

Forwards German Rubtsov and Mikhail Vorobyev, and defenseman Mark Friedman went directly to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Forwards Andy Andreoff, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, and Kurtis Gabriel, and defenseman Chris Bigras must first clear waivers before they can report to the Flyers’ top affiliate. It is expected they will.

This leaves the Flyers roster at 27, including injured players Nolan Patrick, Tyler Pitlick, Andy Welinski, and Morgan Frost, entering Thursday night’s exhibition game at Madison Square Garden against the Rangers (7 p.m., no TV). They must be at a maximum of 23 players by Oct. 1, though Fletcher indicated they could start the season carrying fewer.

“We could even carry 20 or 21,” said Fletcher. “We’ll just have to see how the [salary] cap situation and how the math works out.”

The Flyers’ final preseason game will be against Lausanne HC in Switzerland on Monday (2 p.m., NHLN, NBCSP+). They will bring as many as 25 players on the European trip, including three goaltenders: starter Carter Hart, and backups Brian Elliott and Alex Lyon.

The season opener in Prague counts as one of the Flyers’ 41 home games. After a quick stop at the Wells Fargo Center for the Oct. 9 home opener against rival New Jersey, the Flyers play three games in western Canada, Oct. 12-16.

“I can’t stress [enough] that we’re going to put a roster together to play against Chicago, but we certainly reserve the right to immediately make changes for the New Jersey game or for the Vancouver game,” Fletcher said. “There’s going to be an ebb and flow of players between Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley for the early part of the season, depending on who we’re playing, the health of our team, [or] whether we need right shots or left shots, or wingers or center men.”

Injury updates

Fletcher did not have an update on Patrick (upper body) but said winger Pitlick’s left wrist is about 75 percent healed after surgery last month. It’s unclear, the GM said, whether Pitlick would be available for the opener. He is skating but not ready for contact. Frost strained his groin and could be back in about a week.

Ice cubes

The first episode of this season’s Behind The Glass, the NHL Network’s look at Flyers training camp, premieres Wednesday at 8 p.m. Other dates for the four-part series are Sept. 30, Oct. 7, and Oct. 14 (all Mondays). Think of it like HBO’s Hard Knocks except for the ice and a lot of people who say “Eh?” ... The Toronto Maple Leafs released goaltender Michal Neuvirth, who was battling undisclosed injuries throughout camp. Neuvirth, 31, had been with the Flyers the last four years (77 starts) and

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108339 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers roster cuts: German Rubtsov loaned to Phantoms, race heats up for final spots

By Jordan Hall

September 24, 2019 12:43 PM

The Flyers' roster must be trimmed down to a maximum of 23 players by 5 p.m. on Oct. 1.

The team on Tuesday got closer to its final product for the Oct. 4 season opener.

German Rubtsov, Mikhail Vorobyev and Mark Friedman were loaned to AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley, while Andy Andreoff, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Chris Bigras and Kurtis Gabriel will be placed on waivers for the purpose of reporting to the Phantoms.

Joel Farabee, Carsen Twarynski, Connor Bunnaman and Chris Stewart remain in the hunt for the Flyers' bottom-six vacancies.

Rubtsov performed well, starting with a two-goal rookie game, but the 21- year-old center had lost steam toward the end of his audition. Rubtsov, who struggled in the faceoff circle, can play winger, as well. However, with the uncertainty surrounding Nolan Patrick's injury, the Flyers could need help not only on the wing, but also down the middle.

Vorobyev, last year's preseason darling (six points in six games), played only two exhibition games. He needs to win over a new front office and coaching staff with more well-roundedness in Lehigh Valley.

Aube-Kubel played with effort and pace in the preseason, drawing praise from head coach Alain Vigneault. The 2014 second-round pick will be a call-up option if he clears waivers.

Andreoff was too inconsistent to win a job and Gabriel played just one game because of an injury. If they're not claimed off waivers, they'll be good bottom-six insurance for the Flyers.

The Flyers obviously like Farabee. The 19-year-old hasn't put up points but he has shown plenty of ability while not looking out of place. Expect him to play Thursday at Madison Square Garden in the sixth preseason game.

Twarynski has been excellent, scoring two goals over the past two games. He plays a bottom-six style, has pro experience and could be the front-runner for a spot.

Suddenly, the Flyers may need Bunnaman, who has quietly performed throughout camp and the preseason. The 21-year-old can play center or winger and Vigneault said he was one of the team's "best conditioned athletes" in camp.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108340 Philadelphia Flyers camp and might be impressed enough with his play without the puck to be too concerned about a lack of offensive production. Farabee seems most likely to be in a third-line role and Vigneault said he wouldn’t necessarily hesitate to put two rookies on the same line. A look at the Flyers’ roster with four cuts to go “I’ve always believed that talent has no age,” Vigneault said the other day. “When you’re ready to play and you work hard, it doesn’t matter how old you are. If those kids prove and deserve to be here, then they’ll be Dave Isaac, NHL writer here.” Published 12:51 p.m. ET Sept. 24, 2019 | Updated 12:55 p.m. ET Sept. With both Patrick and Frost hurt, the Flyers will have to use someone 24, 2019 else in the middle on Thursday in New York against the Rangers. Although Scott Laughton has played all camp in a fourth-line role, he could move up and impressive 21-year-old Bunnaman could take the The picture is getting clearer of what the Flyers’ roster will look like when fourth-line spot. Bunnaman had a goal in Monday night’s loss in Boston they leave late next Friday night for Switzerland to play one last and Vigneault said he stood out in the team’s physical testing before on- exhibition game and start the regular season in Prague. After cuts on ice competition began. Tuesday, the Flyers only four decisions left to make and some are easier than others. Twarynski is also fighting for a spot and is getting down to the wire like he did last year. Twarynski has goals in each of his last two games and Forwards Mikhail Vorobyev and German Rubtsov were loaned to the has a physical aspect to his game. Lehigh Valley Phantoms along with defenseman Mark Friedman. Vorobyev didn’t show much in the preseason and has a reputation to “I just gotta work hard. I was close last year,” Twarynski said the other overcome after work ethic issues cut two stints with the Flyers short last day. “I’ve forgotten about it as much as I still remember the whole season. Rubtsov showed promise, but played only 14 games last season process and what went down. I think part of my maturity from last year, with the Phantoms before a shoulder injury ended his season. Friedman which grew, helps me forget about that and it’s a new year, new coaching will likely be an NHLer someday, but there’s a numbers game on defense staff. There’s some spots open, there’s still some injuries so the opportunity was there last year and it’s there again this year. I’m just not Where there was some insight into the Flyers’ thinking was when they gonna let it slip.” waived forwards Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Andy Andreoff and Kurtis Gabriel as well as defenseman Chris Bigras. The roster picture is muddied a bit Here's a full look at the remaining roster, with only Thursday’s preseason by injuries to Nolan Patrick and Tyler Pitlick, but there is still a spot on the game left in the U.S. before the team leaves for Europe: wing open regardless of those two injuries. FORWARDS (16) Aube-Kubel had a strong showing in camp and opened eyes from Connor Bunnaman, Sean Couturier, Joel Farabee, Morgan Frost management with his game last Tuesday. General manager Chuck (injured), Claude Giroux, Kevin Hayes, Travis Konecny, Scott Laughton, Fletcher and assistant GM Brent Flahr both told head coach Alain Oskar Lindblom, Nolan Patrick (injured), Tyler Pitlick (injured), Michael Vigneault that his performance in 15:50 of ice time against the New York Raffl, Chris Stewart, Carsen Twarynski, James van Riemsdyk, Jake Islanders was “the best game they had seen him play in the sense that Voracek he kept it simple, played a north-south game, was good on the forecheck, had a good stick, defensively was responsible and was conscious of the DEFENSEMEN (9) things we had talked about.” Justin Braun, Shayne Gostisbehere, Robert Hägg, Samuel Morin, Phil Andreoff and Gabriel were both players that Fletcher mentioned as Myers, Matt Niskanen, Ivan Provorov, Travis Sanheim, Andy Welinski having the potential to crack the lineup before camp began and now (injured) they’re both gone. Same for Bigras, who didn’t see any action in the NHL last season when he was part of the Colorado Avalanche and New York GOALIES (2) Rangers’ systems. Brian Elliott, Carter Hart So what does that leave the Flyers with?

There are 16 forwards (including Pitlick, Patrick and the injured Morgan Courier-Post LOADED: 09.25.2019 Frost) for either 13 or 14 spots. Whenever Andy Welinski heals from a “lower-body injury,” he figures to be headed for waivers as well, although he could also be on the short list of candidates for a call up if the Flyers get into injury trouble on the back line.

Forwards on the bubble are likely Pitlick, who has yet to take contact and only been part of one skate with the team in training camp as he recovers from wrist surgery, Frost, Joel Farabee, Carsen Twarynski, Connor Bunnaman and tryout Chris Stewart.

Stewart doesn’t have a contract, so the Flyers don’t have to make a decision on him anytime soon and could conceivably bring him to Europe without one and make a decision on him after the team returns because he wouldn’t be on the active roster. The Islanders strung defenseman Dennis Seidenberg along last season well into the season on a tryout, but he didn't sign a contract until February and never played a game.

Coach Alain Vigneault floated the idea the other day of taking upwards of 25 players to Europe even though the NHL requires a final roster capped at 23 to be filed by 5 p.m. on Oct. 1. Players starting the year on injured reserve (which might be the case with Patrick) or without a contract would allow them to bring the extra bodies.

Frost has only played center so far in training camp and exhibition games but is on the shelf with a groin strain for the next several days. He figures to only have a spot at third line center, Patrick’s spot, behind Sean Couturier and Kevin Hayes. If he were a candidate for a wing position, the Flyers likely would have tried him there by now.

Farabee has played well also, but like Frost he has no points to show for it. The Flyers have put the 19-year-old winger with skilled players all 1108341 Philadelphia Flyers “You do notice them,” Voracek added. “You’ve got to be careful what you say. It’s really hard because when you have a mic or you know there’s a camera on you— I’ve never been that guy to be just saying stuff so everybody likes it. It’s hard for me to…obviously there’s guys around the Cameras have been rolling, soon it’s showtime for Flyers' 'Behind The league or on teams that every time there’s a camera on them they start Glass' talking so everyone’s talking about how they’re great leaders and they have great leadership and great at pumping up the team. I was never like

that. Dave Isaac, NHL writer “On every team you have guys who always pretend to be something for Published 8:40 a.m. ET Sept. 24, 2019 | Updated 9:09 a.m. ET Sept. 24, the camera.” 2019 Even this team?

“One hundred percent,” Voracek said. “It’s everywhere like that.” VOORHEES — Shayne Gostisbehere was a freshman at Union College the last time there was a television series marking the Flyers’ every move. While most of the fans tuning into HBO’s 24/7 were watching for Courier-Post LOADED: 09.25.2019 entertainment value, Gostisbehere was hoping to get some insight on what it was like to be a pro, what he’d be in for two years later when he eventually signed with the Flyers.

“I was more interested in seeing their lives away from the rink and whatnot and see what cars they drive,” Gostisbehere said. “I was in college, man, so I thought anything was cool.”

Wednesday night at 8 p.m. will mark the first episode of NHL Network’s series “Behind The Glass” following the Flyers throughout training camp and the opening scene is one Gostisbehere would have liked back in the day. A black Bentley owned by Claude Giroux emerges from an underground parking spot through a trap door, pushing the car up on a platform where the Flyers captain is waiting to drive to practice.

How’s that for life as a pro hockey player?

These days Gostisbehere has that life too, and some of the moments he craved watching eight years ago now center around him. Camera crews followed the defenseman around before training camp began a couple weeks ago, but he downplayed the allure now that he’s on the other side of the TV show, saying it’s, “just my car, my dogs, my girlfriend. People have seen it before.”

For the past several weeks the Flyers have had to adjust to the cameras following them inside the locker room and out in the world away from the rink. None want to be the next reality TV star like ex-goalie Ilya Bryzgalov was offering his existential thoughts about the universe.

Only a few Flyers from that team are still on the roster — Giroux, James van Riemsdyk, Jake Voracek and Sean Couturier — and the series became a sideshow of their season, overshadowing the 2012 Winter Classic.

“When HBO was here in 2011, I think nobody really gave a (crap) about me then,” Voracek said. “It was all about Bryz and G and (Jaromir Jagr), (Scott Hartnell), all the big guns. I didn’t really care, to be honest.

“After a week or two you just try to be yourself and whatever they pick up, they pick up and whatever they cut, they cut.”

“It’s not too bad,” added Couturier, who was a rookie when HBO’s cameras were rolling. “First few days or maybe a week you’re always wondering where the camera is but after a few days, after a while you get used to it and you just be yourself. I think they do a good job of cutting things off and making it look good. There’s nothing really to worry about, I guess.”

The nature of most hockey players is to not rock the boat with their words, to be a part of a greater team instead of an attention-seeking individual. As those who have been mic’d up this season hand their shoulder pads to equipment manager Harry Bricker and watch as he removes the wire tie securing the lapel microphone, they take a second to wonder if they said anything they shouldn’t have.

Considering the show’s production is now run by the NHL and not an independent studio like HBO, it’s unlikely they’d allow something that salacious air as a representation of the league. Still, it can be a bit awkward to know you’re being watched and listened to.

“You notice them around the room and what not,” Gostisbehere said. “I think they’re looking to capture more of, ‘this is how they are right before games.’ They’ll just be in there 10 minutes before we go out and it’s always normally quiet anyway, so I don’t know how much they’re capturing. They’re nice guys. They followed me around this summer. I got to know them a little bit. It’s not that bad.” 1108342 Philadelphia Flyers Elliott’s doorstep. But the mistakes were glaring as well. In fact, they directly led to two goals against: poor coverage against a 2-on-1 versus Marchand and Pastrnak, and a misplay of an airborne puck at Myers’ own blueline that allowed Wagner to score the game-tying goal. This 10 things: The Philippe Myers question; Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Carsen wasn’t a case of Myers’ only two mistakes ending up in the back of the Twarynski and Connor Bunnaman help their cases net — no Flyers player posted a worse 5-on-5 Expected Goal differential than Myers. His errors were large enough to counteract his good plays.

So where does that leave Myers? Only one game remains before the By Charlie O'Connor bulk of the roster decisions will be made (Vigneault has said the Flyers Sep 24, 2019 want to have their final roster basically in place before leaving for Europe on Friday), and Myers isn’t even a lock to start in the opener. If this were his entire case, where might he stand?

For the second time in the preseason, the Philadelphia Flyers decided to It’s tough to imagine he’d be left off the roster, for one simple reason: It’s make time for extra exhibition hockey. And for the second time, they not like his primary competition, Robert Hagg or Samuel Morin, has came up short in overtime. excelled in camp, either. For that reason, I’d advocate he appear in the starting lineup for Game 1, uneven preseason and all. Hagg might be the Chris Wagner tied the game at 3-3 with less than two minutes remaining “safer” choice in that he’ll make fewer glaring errors, but when looking at in regulation, and then Jake DeBrusk potted the game-winner midway the full equation of value added, my guess is that even a version of through overtime to give the Boston Bruins a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Myers adapting to NHL competition will still be more useful than the Monday at TD Garden. Travis Konecny, Carsen Twarynski and Connor lower-upside Hagg and Morin, who still appears to be searching for his Bunnaman scored for Philadelphia, which dropped to 1-2-2 in the groove after missing nearly a full season of hockey. It’s not ideal that exhibition slate. Brian Elliott played the entire game in net for the Flyers, Myers enters the regular season without much momentum. But he still making 18 saves. On the other end, Tuukka Rask and Dan Vladar split seems like the best time in goal for the Bruins, with the latter earning the victory. 3. With opportunity in front of him, Rubtsov doesn’t stand out 1. No victory, but far cry from last Thursday Nolan Patrick remains in limbo; he’s yet to rejoin his teammates due to Last Thursday night, a veteran-laden Flyers squad took on the Bruins at his mysterious upper-body injury. Mikhail Vorobyev hasn’t come close to the Wells Fargo Center, and got clobbered. The final score was 3-1, but matching his impressive work from last preseason. And on Monday the territorial battle was far more lopsided, as Philadelphia lacked morning, the Flyers announced that Morgan Frost — who had delivered attention to detail and energy throughout the game. Head coach Alain two consecutive impressive showings in preseason games to close out Vigneault reacted swiftly, adjusting his cutdown plan and slashing nearly last week — had reaggravated a groin issue, putting him on the shelf for 20 players off the roster in an attempt to better focus the remaining five to seven days. instructional sessions and — in what was surely an element of the decision — catch the attention of the remaining players to let them know Suddenly, the door to winning an open spot at center on the roster that such an effort wouldn’t be tolerated. appeared to swing open for German Rubtsov. Unless the Flyers had designs on temporarily moving Giroux back to the middle or giving Andy The Flyers responded with their best game of the preseason Saturday. Andreoff both a roster spot and the opening night 4C role, Rubtsov On Monday night, again facing the Bruins, they carried over much of their looked by process of elimination to be a viable choice as the team’s success. fourth center (at 3C or 4C) to start the season. And on Monday, he would The Flyers didn’t pull out the win — a couple weak goals allowed by have a chance to deliver the type of performance that would lock down Elliott and some rough sequences from Philippe Myers killed their the job. chances of a second consecutive victory. But process matters far more Instead, Rubtsov was quiet. than results in the preseason, and the process was sound. Philadelphia outshot the Bruins 33-22, and won both the raw shot attempts and Now, quiet doesn’t mean bad, and Rubtsov had his share of solid plays, Expected Goals battles at 5-on-5. Key veterans such as Kevin Hayes, such as an early pass from in tight along the boards that helped to spark Shayne Gostisbehere and Sean Couturier stood out in positive ways, and a 2-on-1 for his linemates, and nice work behind the net late in the the prospects largely held their own against Boston heavy hitters Brad second period to create another chance. His line allowed just 0.07 worth Marchand and David Pastrnak. of Expected Goals to the Bruins, implying that it didn’t make many obvious mistakes. Perhaps that’s enough for Rubtsov, if the plan is to The pace Vigneault has preached wasn’t consistently there, but a few utilize him as a low-minutes NHL 4C out of the gate. gaffes aside, the team’s defensive structure held, as the Flyers allowed just five high-danger chances and 0.93 Expected Goals at 5-on-5. The But he certainly didn’t pop and make a no-doubt-about-it case for a roster overarching goal of preseason is to trend upward as the real games spot (going 0-for-7 on faceoffs isn’t going to endear him to an NHL approach, and the outcome notwithstanding, the Flyers took another coaching staff). In fact, it didn’t even seem like he was the primary driver positive step Monday. on his line. Rubtsov has had a solid camp, particularly impressing in the games played early last week. But on Monday, he had a chance to throw 2. The Philippe Myers conundrum a royal flush down on the table and scamper away with the whole pot; The hope of everyone — fans, the organization and surely the player instead, he turned over two pairs and finds himself left hoping that himself — was that Myers would absolutely blow the doors off in training everyone else was bluffing. camp, and make it abundantly clear that he not only needed to be on the 4. Aube-Kubel continues to impress final roster, but also in a prominent position in Game 1’s starting lineup. His 21-game NHL trial at the end of the 2018-19 season gave Myers a Rubtsov wasn’t the primary driver of play on his line last night; that honor taste of the pace of the league, his stint at the World Championships went to Nicolas Aube-Kubel, who continued his strong preseason. showed him what it was like to face off against high-end talent, and his Despite entering camp further down the depth chart than his age and offseason helped make him a bigger, stronger hockey player. A standout pedigree would seem to warrant, Aube-Kubel has pushed himself into the camp appeared inevitable. race for a roster spot the old-fashioned way: through pure hard work. He’s been heavy on the forecheck, high-effort on the backcheck and But that’s not how things have played out. consistently involved in the play. In other words, he’s looked like the Myers hasn’t been bad — if he were, he wouldn’t still be here, partnered prototypical NHL fourth-liner. almost exclusively with roster locks. But he’s yet to deliver a statement It really shouldn’t be a major surprise. Aube-Kubel has been a high-end game to show he’s ready to be a full-time NHL player, and he’s made his play-driver at 5-on-5 for two seasons in the AHL, as a result of his fair share of on-ice mistakes. tenacious play and hockey smarts. The latter were on display Monday. Monday’s game showcased his issues. Oh, he had positive moments: a His best moment came in the third period, when Rubtsov attempted to forced turnover of Marchand in the defensive zone that Myers send a pass to him just after entering the Bruins’ zone. The feed was immediately transitioned into offense, numerous successful pokechecks misplaced, and headed toward the Boston skater covering Aube-Kubel, to end threats and another nullification of Marchand late in the game on rather than leading the Flyers forward past the checker. But Aube-Kubel wasn’t about to relinquish possession; he lifted the opponent’s stick just his final shot at a job in the best hockey league in the world. It’s been as the Bruin was about to intercept the pass, collected the pass himself clear from the start that his presence at camp is no publicity stunt, either. and then ripped a wrist shot that required a deceptively tough save via General manager Chuck Fletcher respects Stewart, and the the shaft of Vladar’s stick. That’s split-second hockey intelligence at organization’s belief that the team could benefit from a physical presence work, and it’s why Aube-Kubel has been so effective in preseason. in the lineup is real. There aren’t many days of camp left, and Stewart is still here and playing in preseason games. That’s no accident. No, he hasn’t racked up points. But he won’t be expected to in the fourth- line role that he would likely have in the NHL. Add in that Aube-Kubel is Here’s the real question: Has Stewart been impactful enough to justify a no longer waiver-exempt and could be snatched up by another club if the spot on the final roster? He has picked up an assist in two consecutive Flyers try to send him back to the minors, and he seems like a logical games (both on Twarynski goals), and he’s been in two fights in four choice to end up on the final roster, even as an extra forward. In the games. Those are facts, not opinions, and they can be used to build the coming days, we’ll see if the front office agrees. foundation of a case for Stewart, especially considering his veteran competition hasn’t stood out. Carsen Twarynski celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in the third period. (Brian Fluharty / USA Today) Yet Stewart has struggled at times to keep up with the pace of his linemates, a concern since the games will only get faster once the 5. Twarynski standing out regular season begins. In his final two NHL seasons (2016-17 and 2017- If there’s a prospect on the camp roster with late momentum, it’s 18), Stewart was a severe play-driving liability at 5-on-5. Skepticism Twarynski. After a Saturday performance that garnered “best player on regarding his effectiveness is warranted. the ice” praise from Vigneault, Twarynski lit the lamp for the second In the end, Stewart’s chances will likely come down to whether the Flyers consecutive game on Monday. It’s easy to see how he remains in the mix are dead-set on adding a physical, veteran presence to the bottom of for a roster spot: He’s big, he can skate and he’s got the puck skills to their lineup, even if the “winner” of that competition hasn’t delivered a chip in with offense. It’s an intriguing skill set, and he’s showing well as dominant camp. In a few days, we’ll find out where the front office stands. camp winds down. 8. Andreoff slowly improving, still something of a disappointment He’s also becoming something of a “compromise candidate” for fans who have been skeptical from the start of the bottom-of-the-lineup veterans in My read coming into camp was that Andreoff would be given every the race. Players such as Chris Stewart, Andreoff and Kurtis Gabriel are chance to make the roster. He had signed a one-way contract on July 1, battling to fill the role of “gritty, physical contributor,” thought by some in and Fletcher seemed surprisingly high on the 28-year-old forward’s the organization to be essential after the departures of Wayne Simmonds upside after a solid AHL season (55 points in 75 games). Sure, Andreoff and Radko Gudas. By virtue of being a drafted prospect, Twarynski had never excelled at the NHL level, but he seemed to fit the mold of doesn’t come with the vets’ baggage of recent underwhelming what Fletcher was looking for in an extra forward, and therefore entered performances in the NHL, and he still brings the physicality that the camp as one of the quiet favorites for a roster spot. organization believes might be needed. And, unlike the more highly touted forwards, Twarynski is actually scoring goals in preseason. It’s no He hasn’t really taken advantage of that head start. surprise he’s earning supporters. But Monday was probably his best all-around preseason game. He That said, there are reasons for skepticism. This is a player who scored wasn’t a liability on a successful line (73.33 percent Corsi, 74.29 percent only 24 points in 69 games last season in the AHL, and he didn’t really xG), tied for a team-high three hits and was involved with quite a few drive play at 5-on-5, according to PhancyStats’ tracked dataset (51 stretch-pass opportunities that nearly led to high-quality scoring chances. games). He’s having a strong camp, but he did last year as well, and it But like Stewart, Andreoff just hasn’t been regularly involved in the play, didn’t lead to impressive results in a lesser league. Players can make and unlike Stewart, he’s not regularly starting fights to make sure he’s at summer improvements, but in an evaluation, larger samples (a full least being noticed. season) are generally preferable to smaller ones (a couple preseason Andreoff isn’t out of the running, and his time spent at center when camp games), as Twarynski’s 2018 camp versus regular-season performance began makes him a plausible start-of-season 4C if the injured players showed. aren’t ready for Game 1 and the organization deems none of the The injury uncertainty makes it tough to know how the final mix will shake prospects to be deserving of the job. But had Andreoff delivered a few out and how many roster spots are actually available. But I have to impressive games, he would seem like a lock right now, considering his acknowledge my preference — if it comes down to Twarynski and Aube- pre-camp momentum. Instead, he’s right on the bubble. Kubel for a spot, I heavily lean toward the player who has had a strong 9: Morin struggling to make an impact camp, excelled in the AHL and could potentially be lost via waivers over an impressive camp performer who was inferior in the AHL and remains It shouldn’t be a major surprise that Morin hasn’t made headlines this waiver-exempt. preseason.

6: Don’t forget Bunnaman After all, he missed almost the 2018-19 season due to injury, and even though he made five late-season appearances with the Flyers, any Another reason why I’m skeptical of Twarynski’s case to make the roster momentum gained from those games ground to a halt over the summer. is simple: I’m not sure he’s outplayed fellow 2016 draftee Connor If anyone has an excuse to not be in-rhythm right now, it’s Morin. Bunnaman, who also scored Monday. Yes, Twarynski’s Saturday showing was the best single-game performance when comparing the two Unfortunately, Morin is in a precarious roster position. At the moment, he prospects. But Bunnaman, not Twarynski, played on a scoring line with almost certainly sits eighth on the Philadelphia depth chart, and teams Hayes and Oskar Lindblom and didn’t look out of place. Bunnaman has don’t always choose to keep eight defensemen on the final roster. Even also been the consistently quicker and more noticeable forward in assuming the Flyers keep him up with the big club, his path to actual practices. playing time is still dependent on multiple defensemen ahead of him either underperforming or getting injured. He might not see the ice for And it’s Bunnaman who was the better player in the AHL last year, quite a while. scoring 32 points in 62 games while spending time on the Phantoms’ top line at center. Even if Twarynski has looked a bit better during camp — Morin is in a strange spot; he clearly needs to appear in more games to and Saturday aside, I’m not convinced that’s an accurate reflection — play himself back into form, and the best place for him to get those Bunnaman’s more impressive AHL campaign shouldn’t be ignored, nor games is likely in the AHL. But in order for Morin to get down to the should his positional versatility. Phantoms, the Flyers would have to pass him through waivers, and there’s a chance another team would take a shot on a 6-foot-7 blueliner To be clear, even with Bunnaman’s dramatic improvement in conditioning with first-round pedigree who can skate. Yet if he’s not in form, it will be and speed during camp, I’m not advocating for him to make the big club. tough to justify using him in NHL games. It’s not going to be an easy But if one thinks Twarynski should be closing in on a roster spot, problem to solve. Bunnaman should be in the conversation as well. 10. Gostisbehere getting a look on the PK 7. Is Stewart making a strong enough case? When mapping out the likely penalty kill rotation on defense, three In a sense, Stewart is the feel-good story at training camp — a player players were obvious choices: Ivan Provorov, Matt Niskanen and Justin one year removed from his last NHL season who is getting what could be Braun. The fourth defenseman seemed likely to be Travis Sanheim or Philippe Myers, as both took up the role in the minors and spent time in shorthanded situations during the second half of 2018-19. One thing seemed certain, however: The offensive-minded Shayne Gostisbehere wouldn’t make an appearance.

Fast forward five preseason games, and there’s Ghost, averaging 1:32 of shorthanded time per game, and not looking half bad while doing it.

It still seems unlikely Gostisbehere will be part of the penalty kill rotation once the season begins, but the fact that Vigneault and Mike Yeo are giving him a real shot to play there in the preseason shouldn’t be ignored. It functions as a show of faith in Gostisbehere’s defensive capabilities, or at least sends a message that the new regime isn’t going to immediately pigeonhole him into an “offense-only” role. Vigneault has praised Ghost’s defensive play on multiple occasions this preseason, and the look he’s received on the PK implies that it’s not hollow talk. At the very least, Ghost might factor into the rotation sparingly based on the preseason, which is a major jump from his usage in that situation under Dave Hakstol.

The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108343 Pittsburgh Penguins “I think it was good because there was a time I didn’t play (with the NHL team),” Riikola said. “I went there and played five games then I got injured. But those games that I played, I played a lot. And that’s the best thing you can do. Or (you can’t play) and you can work out and watch the Juuso Riikola more comfortable in 2nd season with the Penguins game. That’s not so good. Definitely a good thing to get a lot of minutes and play there.”

If Tuesday’s practice in Cranberry was any indication, the left-hander SETH RORABAUGH might be in line to get significant minutes on the third defensive pairing. Tuesday, September 24, 2019 6:43 p.m. He worked with Gudbranson, a right shot, while left-handed Jack Johnson skated on a fourth pairing with right-handed reserve Chad Ruhwedel.

Casey DeSmith had an unwanted task during last year’s training camp. Sullivan pumped the brakes on a query if Riikola and Johnson are competing with one another for a spot on the third pairing but lauded The Penguins backup goaltender became a chauffeur. Riikola’s performance this preseason. His only client was an out-of-towner on a business trip who wasn’t all that “Jusso’s had a strong camp,” Sullivan said. “He’s getting better with each familiar with the area — or the entire continent, for that matter: Juuso game that he’s played. Probably just the familiarity with the training camp Riikola. itself and the surroundings helps him.” “I hung out with Jusso quite a bit last fall because were both kind of on “I’ve played this game last season,” said Riikola, whom the Penguins re- the bubble, in the hotel together,” DeSmith said. “And he didn’t really signed this offseason to a one-year deal worth $850,000. “Now, I know know many people. I don’t even know if he had a car. So I was giving him better what we are trying to do and what I need to do better. I have those rides and stuff.” things clear in my mind. Maybe that’s easier. When we (play) I know The native of Joensuu, Finland, was getting his first taste of North which things I need to focus.” America last September as an undrafted free agent. With few expectations, he had a strong preseason and earned a spot on the NHL roster out of training camp. As a rookie, he experienced a disjointed Tribune Review LOADED: 09.25.2019 regular season, appearing in 37 games and scoring five points (two goals, three assists).

He enters the 2019-20 season with a greater level of familiarity with his foreign surroundings and more concrete expectations.

“When I came last year, I didn’t come here to play AHL or anything else,” Riikola, 25, said. “I came here, and my main point was to play (in) the NHL. The same as this year.

“Now, I’ve been here one year. All the places and where to go, it’s easier. Where you need to be, when you need to leave from home, where is the airport and all that. You don’t need to think about those things. I think that’s the big thing.”

A big part of Riikola’s game is shooting. Coach Mike Sullivan regularly compliments Riikola for his ability to put the puck on net.

“You have (a) chance, you need to shoot all the time,” Riikola said. “But the (defenders) are so good at coming in the lane. Sometimes you can’t shoot. You have to pass. Or try a redirection. But every time you have a chance to shoot, I try to shoot.”

Riikola took that chance on Saturday during a 3-1 preseason loss at Columbus. He scored the team’s only goal by blistering a one-timer from the left point to the far side past goaltender Joonas Korpisalo’s glove during the first period.

“He’s got a bomb,” Sullivan said. “He can really shoot the puck from the blue line. The goal he scored in Columbus is an example of that. He can utilize it more, especially on the power play but also coming off that offensive blue line five on five.”

Riikola’s ability to hit is his other calling card. During a 6-5 overtime win Oct. 23 at Edmonton, Riikola (6-foot, 189 pounds) tagged massive power forward Milan Lucic (6-3, 231) early in the contest. Lucic spent the remainder of the game trying to get a measure of retribution by targeting Riikla repeatedly.

This preseason, particularly during games against the Sabres and Red Wings, Riikola has thrown his body around liberally and agitated the opposition in the process.

“I don’t know what they were trying to do,” Riikola said of those opponents who have tried to retaliate after his hits. “You don’t need to look for big hits. Same thing with the shots: When you have the chance, you can hit. But you need to hit when you try to get (the) puck out of their hands. But you don’t if they have passed already.”

After the arrival of defenseman Erik Gudbranson via trade in February and the return of several injured defensemen to the lineup in March, Riikola was a regular healthy scratch and was sent to Wilkes- Barre/Scranton to get some playing time. Injuries limited him to five games and two assists with the AHL Penguins, but Riikola valued the assignment because it furthered his development. 1108344 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins hire Duane Sutter as professional scout

SETH RORABAUGH

Tuesday, September 24, 2019 4:39 p.m.

The Penguins have hired former NHL forward and coach Duane Sutter as a professional scout.

A member of the revered Sutter family, Duane Sutter will oversee scouting on the West Coast of North America. Sutter, 59, was a member of four Stanley Cup-winning teams with the New York Islanders in the early 1980s. In addition to the Islanders, Sutter played for the Chicago Blackhawks. He has held a variety of front office roles throughout the NHL including the head coaching position of the Florida Panthers in the early 2000s. Most recently, he served as director of professional scouting for the Edmonton Oilers until being fired this past May.

Sutter is the brother of former Penguins forward and uncle of former Penguins center .

Additionally, the team has hired former NHL forward Jay McClement as a scout. McClement, 36, spent 12 years in the NHL with the Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues. After failing to make the Penguins’ roster as a non-roster invitee during the 2017 training camp, he finished his career with EHC Olten of Switzerland’s NLB league. McClement will scout in Quebec.

The Penguins also promoted a number of their staffers.

Derek Clancey, formerly the director of professional scouting, is now the director for player personnel. A member of the franchise for 13 years, Clancey has been part of the 2009, 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cup championships.

Ryan Bowness, formerly a professional scout, is now the director of professional scouting.

Eric Heasley, manager of hockey operations, has been also been named assistant general manager of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Former All-Star power forward Kevin Stevens, who has served as a special assignment scout since 2017, will now also serve as a professional scout.

Former professional scout Al Santilli has been named as a global cross over scout.

Tribune Review LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108345 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins’ John Marino, Adam Johnson, Zach Trotman out with injuries

SETH RORABAUGH

Tuesday, September 24, 2019 1:44 p.m.

As the final week of training camp draws to a close, the Penguins are dealing with bad news as several players are hobbled with injuries.

The good news is none of those ailments involve individuals who were expected to make the NHL roster out of training camp.

Coach Mike Sullivan announced forward Adam Johnson and defenseman John Marino are each sidelined because of undisclosed injuries. Additionally, defenseman Zach Trotman is recovering from sports hernia surgery.

Johnson has been absent from games and practice since a 5-4 shootout loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Sept. 16. He scored a goal in that contest. Last season, Johnson, 25, made his NHL debut by appearing in six games and recording two assists.

Marino has no timeline for his recovery. The first-year professional has appeared in all four of the Penguins’ preseason games and has two assists. The Penguins signed Marino, 22, to a two-year entry-level contract after acquiring his signing rights from the Edmonton Oilers in a trade this past offseason.

Trotman’s injury was described as “longer-term” by Sullivan. Entering his third season with the organization, Trotman, 29, has not appeared in any preseason games. He played in 13 NHL contests last season and had one assist.

Tribune Review LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108346 Pittsburgh Penguins

Former Penguins goaltender Ty Conklin joins New Hampshire as coach

SETH RORABAUGH

Tuesday, September 24, 2019 10:56 a.m.

Former Penguins goaltender Ty Conklin has joined the University of New Hampshire as a goaltending development coach.

Conklin, who spent the 2007-08 season with the Penguins, returns to his alma mater where he was an All-American in 2000 and ‘01.

During his lone season with the Penguins, Conklin became a cult hero while filling in for injured starting goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury during most of the campaign. In 33 games that season, he had an 18-8-5 record with a 2.51 goals- against average, a .923 save percentage and two shutouts. He also started in net for the Penguins’ Winter Classic game at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. Making 36 saves on 37 shots, he directed the Penguins to a 2-1 shootout victory during a snowstorm.

Conklin, 43, also played for the Edmonton Oilers, Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues during his career. After retiring as a player, he served as a goaltending development coach with the Blues from 2013-17.

Tribune Review LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108347 Pittsburgh Penguins Rutherford, the Hall of Fame GM. “Hopefully everybody can get settled in here pretty soon.”

DeSmith, who in January signed a three-year extension paying him $1.25 Analysis: 'Tough decisions' loom for Penguins in the coming days million per season, is in the process of moving into a new house after getting married in July. He admitted there was some apprehension before buying it. But he has craved a place to call home during his long road to the NHL. MATT VENSEL “I’d hope [money] wouldn’t be the determining factor,” he said of his Pittsburgh Post-Gazette competition with Jarry. “It’s been my impression that whoever earns the SEP 24, 2019 5:13 PM job is going to get the job. … I just go out there and play and enjoy the time that I do have here. It may be a week. It might be eight months. I don’t know. So we’ll see.”

Those two dirty words — “salary” and “cap” — had yet to be uttered to Both DeSmith and Jarry are subject to waivers if sent down to the AHL. Jim Rutherford after he ducked into an office at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex to chat about the roster decisions the Penguins must make in The Penguins trimmed their roster to 27 players Monday. Among the 17 the coming days. sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton were Anthony Angello, Kasper Bjorkqvist and Sam Lafferty, all of whom could be in the conversation if the NHL But finances, which clearly will be a factor, were already on his mind. club needs a forward. Samuel Poulin and Nathan Legare were returned to their junior teams. “There’s always difficult situations when you’re dealing with the cap. Usually it’s a decision you don’t want to make. But you get forced to,” the A day later, coach Mike Sullivan announced that defenseman Zach GM said Tuesday when asked if there were any surprises during training Trotman, who was expected to start the season in the AHL, had sports camp. “As for the roster, yeah, it’s coming together pretty much the way hernia surgery and is out indefinitely. Forward Adam Johnson, we expected it to.” meanwhile, remains sidelined by his lower-body injury. Sullivan said there is no timetable for his return. The Penguins have until Monday to become salary cap compliant for the start of the season by getting under the $81.5 million cap ceiling. To Placing one or both on long-term injured reserve would not provide the accomplish that, they don’t need to make a significant move — unless Penguins significant cap savings because both players are on two-way they really want to. contracts.

Penguins center Sidney Crosby works against defenseman Jack The extended absences for those two leave the Penguins with 13 healthy Johnson during training camp Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, at UPMC forwards, nine defensemen and three goalies vying for spots on the Lemieux Sports Complex. roster.

But they will have to part ways, even if just temporarily, with at least one The forward group — deeper after the acquisitions of Tanev, Alex player they’d prefer to have on their 23-man roster for the Oct. 3 opener. Galchenyuk and Dominik Kahun — appears to be set. They often carried 13 last season. As of Tuesday afternoon, both Capfriendly.com and Puckpedia.com, two websites that specialize in crunching NHL cap numbers, had the There is more uncertainty on the blue line as the Penguins decide who Penguins at $331,625 over the cap ceiling. They can get under in a few dresses for the opener and whether they will keep seven or eight different ways. defensemen.

One is to send goalie Casey DeSmith to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the Jack Johnson and Juuso Riikola sure seem to be battling for one spot on American Hockey League and keep Tristan Jarry as the top backup for the left side of the third pair, next to Gudbranson. Tuesday, it was Riikola Matt Murray. who skated with Gudbranson. Johnson dropped down to skate with Chad Ruhwedel. Another is simply keeping fewer than 23 players to start the season. Sullivan tried to downplay Johnson practicing on the fourth pair, saying, There also remains the possibility the Penguins could trade a pricey “Everybody’s in competition. ... It’s not about one guy versus another veteran or even stash someone in the AHL to get a small amount of cap guy.” But if Riikola beats out Johnson for a lineup spot, it will be relief. fascinating to see what happens with Johnson, who has four years and Of course, the Penguins would have preferred to not worry about this $13 million left on his deal. during camp and the preseason. But the trade market was not what they The Penguins also must decide what to do with John Marino, the expected. impressive youngster acquired from the Edmonton Oilers. The right-shot The Penguins on July 1 signed Brandon Tanev to a six-year, $21 million defenseman opened eyes with his poise during the Prospects Challenge contract that left little, if any, cap space. Later that day, Rutherford said in Buffalo. It carried over into camp and the preseason, during which he’s they would likely need to trade a veteran player to make room for both played every game. Tanev and a long-term deal for Marcus Pettersson, their promising, But Marino would have a salary of $925,000 if on the NHL roster, young blue liner. compared to $700,000 for Ruhwedel, per Puckpedia. So fitting Marino in Penguins wing Bryan Rust flashes a smile after scoring Dec. 20, 2018, would make things trickier for Rutherford. The Penguins might prefer, against the Wild. anyway, that he play big minutes in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this fall instead of watching here. Pettersson, who ultimately had to settle for a cheap one-year deal, at the time was projected to receive a new contract in the $3 million range. So, yeah, that’s a lot of stuff for Rutherford and the Penguins to sort out Penguins who will earn similar salaries this season include forwards — some of which will actually be decided on the ice — before Monday’s Bryan Rust and Nick Bjugstad and defensemen Jack Johnson and Erik deadline. Gudbranson. “There will be some tough decisions here by the end of the week,” he But this summer, Rutherford discovered that “a lot” of NHL teams were in said. the same boat, desperately trying to dump undesirable deals overboard.

With only a few teams looking to take on significant salary to receive prospects or picks as incentive, “It was made it hard to make deals,” he Post Gazette LOADED: 09.25.2019 admitted.

That led to an anxious offseason for players sucked into trade speculation.

“You don’t really like to see players having some doubt as to whether they’re here or they’re not here. But it’s part of our business,” said 1108348 Pittsburgh Penguins Staff changes The Penguins announced the following hockey operations staff hirings

and promotions: Sidney Crosby expects to make preseason debut vs. Red Wings • Kevin Stevens, a key catalyst for Pittsburgh during the 1991 and 1992 Stanley Cup runs, will continue as a special assignment scout and has been promoted to pro scouting. MIKE DEFABO • Derek Clancey, formerly the director of professional scouting, has been Pittsburgh Post-Gazette promoted to director of player personnel.

SEP 24, 2019 3:53 PM • Ryan Bowness, formerly a professional scout, has been promoted to director of professional scouting.

• Erik Heasley will continue as manager of hockey operations, and has At 32 years old, Sid is hardly a kid anymore. been promoted to assistant general manager of the Wilkes- So as Crosby enters the 15th year of his accomplished NHL career, the Barre/Scranton Penguins. Penguins are beginning to take steps to ensure he stays healthy and at • Jay McClement has been hired as a professional scout. his best during training camp. • Duane Sutter has been hired as a professional scout. Traditionally, Crosby played in three of the six preseason games. But this year, Crosby said he anticipates he’ll play in just two. He also skated on • Al Santilli joins Colin Alexander as a global crossover scout. his own on Saturday instead of participating in team drills. Injury update Coach Mike Sullivan said this was all part of the plan and it’s an effort to manage Crosby’s workload in camp. Three Penguins on the fringe of the NHL roster are working through injuries as the countdown to Game 1 reaches single digits. It could be an interesting few days for Jim Rutherford and the Penguins. • Marino, a defensive prospect, is day-to-day with a lower body injury, “We’re just trying to manage the time that we have,” Crosby said, while Sullivan said. downplaying the moves. “Camp is pretty intense, especially the first few days. I think after that, I just tried to make the most of the time we had • Zach Trotman, who played in 13 games last season, had sports hernia between these exhibition games.” surgery. Sullivan said that, to his knowledge, it was not a long-term injury but more of an acute one. Crosby said he expects to make his exhibition debut Wednesday when the Penguins play host to the Detroit Red Wings. The preseason • Adam Johnson, who played in six NHL games last year, has missed concludes Saturday when the Buffalo Sabres visit PPG Paints Arena. about a week of camp due to a lower-body injury. Sullivan said there is no timetable for his return. Building chemistry will be one of the keys for Crosby. He and left winger Jake Guentzel have been playing with two newcomers — Dominik Kahun and now Brandon Tanev — on the right wing. Post Gazette LOADED: 09.25.2019 “Those scrimmages are tough, going against your own guys,” Crosby said. “The skates at the beginning of camp are pretty intense. It will be nice to go into a game. There are a lot of different [line] combinations we’ll see to start the year.”

Penguins defenseman Jack Johnson almost didn’t make it to his second training camp in Pittsburgh after an offseason move nearly sent him to Minnesota.

It’s no secret the Penguins were shipping Phil Kessel this offseason. One deal would have sent Kessel and Johnson to Minnesota. But when Kessel vetoed the trade, the deal fell apart. Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford ultimately worked out a different deal that sent Kessel to Arizona.

Penguins wing Bryan Rust flashes a smile after scoring Dec. 20, 2018, against the Wild.

Johnson said he didn’t pay too much attention to the news and rumors.

“I didn’t get a call from my agent or Mr. Rutherford,” Johnson said. “Nothing matters to me until I get a call from one of those two.”

Johnson is no stranger to trade rumors — or trades for that matter. In 2011, he signed a seven-year extension with the Los Angeles Kings. Just months later, he was shipped to Columbus.

“I got traded six months into a seven-year deal,” Johnson said. “You can get traded at any point. It’s not like you worry about any particular point. That’s the business we’re in. It is what it is.”

Johnson has played with a number of different defensemen during camp. He played two games with prospect John Marino (more on him later). At practice Tuesday, Johnson lined up with Chad Ruhwedel, while Erik Gudbranson skated with Juuso Riikola.

It prompted some speculation that there could be a position battle brewing between Johnson and Riikola. So is there a competition there for the final blue-line spot?

“I wouldn’t suggest that,” Sullivan said. “Everybody is in competition. All the guys that are here are in competitions for positions. It’s not about one guys vs. another guy.” 1108349 Pittsburgh Penguins “We can still find a way to make this roster compliant,” he said. “We can go with fewer than 23 players on the roster, but that’s not ideal. We’ll see. We could certainly move somebody.”

Jim Rutherford: Trade talks are ‘heating up’

The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019

By Josh Yohe

Sep 24, 2019

Earlier this month, Jim Rutherford said that making a trade to get his roster into salary cap compliance was unlikely.

One week before the regular season is set to begin, the general manager is changing his tune.

The Penguins are currently over the salary cap by about $300,00 or $400,000.

“We have several options,” Rutherford said Tuesday night, “none of them that we are totally comfortable with.”

Making a trade is becoming more and more likely.

“It’s definitely a possibility,” said Rutherford, who admitted during the summer that he was interested in trading Tristan Jarry, only to find no takers.

The goalie market was quiet during the summer because so many goaltenders were available in free agency. According to Rutherford, the market has changed.

“We just couldn’t do anything in the summer,” Rutherford said. “But in the last three or four days, things have changed. The market is really heating up, especially for goalies.”

Each of the Penguins’ top three goalies — Matt Murray, Casey DeSmith and Jarry — would be forced to clear waivers if Rutherford attempts to send one to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He knows very well that sneaking any of them through waivers would be a risk.

“Conversations are going on,” Rutherford said. “If someone wants to make a trade, then there’s a good chance we will do that. Otherwise, we’re either going to keep all three on the roster or hope one of them clears waivers.”

Rutherford was asked if DeSmith, who received a new contract in January, is the clear cut No. 2 goalie behind Murray.

“I’m not going to get into that,” he said.

Jarry and DeSmith have both looked sharp during the exhibition season.

“We have three really good goalies, I know that much,” Rutherford said. “That’s a good problem to have, but it’s still a problem. Those guys have all been great. So, is there going to be a trade coming up here? It’s certainly a possibility.”

Numerous league sources have confirmed Tuesday night that the Penguins are willing to deal numerous players in the right deal. Forwards Bryan Rust and Nick Bjugstad are said to be available, but only for a certain return. Jarry also is believed to be available, as is defenseman Jack Johnson, who might start the season as a healthy scratch. Johnson skated on the fourth defensive pairing with Chad Ruhwedel at practice Tuesday morning, as Juuso Riikola took his spot on the third pairing alongside Erik Gudbranson.

“We have a lot of good defensemen,” Rutherford said. “Since we signed Jack, we’ve also added Marcus Pettersson and Gudbranson. Riikola is more experienced now. John Marino has been really, really good. So we just have more defensemen now. I don’t think anybody should read too much into the pairings right now. Not at this point in time. Give it a month into the season before you start looking into it. I think you’re going to see Sully (Mike Sullivan) experiment with a lot of different things for a little while here.”

Rutherford said that he isn’t displeased with Johnson’s training camp performance.

“Not at all,” he said. “He’s doing fine. He worked hard in the summer to get more mobile, and I think he is. He’s doing just fine.”

His team’s salary cap situation, though, isn’t fine. 1108350 San Jose Sharks

Sluggish start dooms Sharks in preseason loss to Ducks Jonny Brodzinski scores and Aaron Dell makes 33 saves as the San Jose Sharks fall to 0-4 on the preseason

By CURTIS PASHELKA | PUBLISHED: September 24, 2019 at 9:36 pm | UPDATED: September 24, 2019 at 11:18 PM

SAN JOSE — The Sharks fell behind by three goals by the 1:10 mark of the second period and never fully recovered in a 4-1 road loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. In what was likely the final chance for many of their roster hopefuls to audition for jobs, the Sharks allowed goals by Andreas Martinsen and Jakob Silfverberg in the first period and another by Brendan Guhle just 70 seconds into the second period as the Ducks took a 3-0 lead. With the teams playing 4-on-4, Jonny Brodzinski scored his second goal of the preseason off a nifty assist from Dylan Gambrell with 54 seconds left in the second period for the Sharks’ only goal. Derek Grant scored an empty-net goal with 21.8 seconds left in regulation time to seal the win for Anaheim. Goalie John Gibson made 31 saves in the win. Goalie Aaron Dell played all 60 minutes and stopped 33 of 36 shots as the Sharks fell to 0-4 on the preseason. Sharks defenseman Dalton Prout, one of those players looking to secure an NHL position, received a five-minute major for kneeing and a game misconduct at the 17:18 mark of the second period. As Anaheim defenseman Josh Mahura tried to skate with the puck along the boards near the Sharks blue line, Prout stepped into him with his shoulder but also caught Mahura’s right leg with his own. Just 33 seconds later, Ducks winger Max Jones was called for high sticking Jake Middleton to set up the 4-on-4. Forward Jeffrey Viel and Anaheim’s Sam Carrick fought at the 17:08 mark of the first period with the Sharks down by two goals. The two teams combined for 51 penalty minutes. The Sharks’ roster was light on NHL experience as eight players who were recalled from the Barracuda’s training camp Tuesday morning dressed for the game. Those players were originally reassigned to the AHL on Monday. Others who played Tuesday that are in competition for jobs with the Sharks include Middleton and Mario Ferraro on defense, and forwards Brodzinski, Gambrell, Antti Suomela and Alex True. Tuesday’s game may have been the last chance for those players to get extended ice time in the preseason. For the Sharks’ final two exhibition games — Thursday at home against Calgary and Sunday on the road against Vegas — coach Pete DeBoer has said he wants to dress a regular-season type roster to get ready for the Oct. 2 opener against the Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108351 San Jose Sharks While Radil’s spot on the team is safe, True, Suomela and even Gambrell still have something to prove.

DeBoer said Monday that he has no issues with forward Barclay For some Sharks prospects, Tuesday’s game is make or break Goodrow starting the season as the Sharks’ fourth line center is another player can’t command that position. Goodrow was the Sharks’ fourth line San Jose Sharks’ game vs. Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday may be last center for much of last season. opportunity some prospects get in preseason “He’s versatile enough that I’m comfortable with him in either spot,” DeBoer said of Goodrow. “We’ve got some centermen here we’re taking a look at to see if one of them can grab a job. If they can’t, then I’ve got By CURTIS PASHELKA | PUBLISHED: September 24, 2019 at 6:02 am | no problem playing Barclay there again.” UPDATED: September 24, 2019 at 1:31 PM After Tuesday, the Sharks conclude the regular season with games against the Calgary Flames at home on Thursday and in Vegas against SAN JOSE — For a handful of young players, the Sharks’ game Tuesday the Golden Knights on Sunday. against the Anaheim Ducks likely represents their last shot at leaving the San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 09.25.2019 type of impression needed to make the NHL roster once the regular season begins next month. For others, it’s a chance to reinforce the positive strides they’ve already made. Competition for the final few roster spots came into greater focus Monday when the Sharks trimmed their training camp numbers to 32 players — 17 forwards, 12 defensemen and three goalies. Two of those players, goalie Antoine Bibeau and defenseman Trevor Carrick, cleared waivers Tuesday and were reassigned to the Barracuda of the AHL. The bubble players slated to dress against the Ducks include Dylan Gambrell, Jonny Brodzinski, Alex True and Antti Suomela, and defensemen Mario Ferraro and Jake Middleton. Sharks coach Pete DeBoer has mentioned Ferraro and forward Lean Bergmann as two players who have jumped ahead of the pack in the competition for roster spots. He’s still waiting for others to state their case. “For me, there’s been a couple of young guys separate themselves and then there’s a group of other guys that I don’t think have yet,” DeBoer said. “So we want to give them every opportunity to do that.” DeBoer has said repeatedly he wants the lineup for the Sharks’ final two preseason games to closely resemble what it will look like Oct. 2 when his team faces the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. So Tuesday’s game would appear to be the last chance for some players to get extended ice time in a preseason game. With defensemen Radim Simek still not practicing with the group, the Sharks have an opening for a third left shot defenseman. Ferraro, a left shot, has made himself noticeable from the start of camp, including two intrasquad scrimmages and preseason games. Although he’s been a bit wild at times, Ferraro, 20, has shown that he’s not been afraid to make plays. DeBoer even noted Saturday that Ferraro has some “Simek-like characteristics” in terms of his confidence. “He’s getting used to the NHL pace and the size of the guys. His competitiveness is off the charts,” DeBoer said Saturday. “He’s ready to play every night, he brings a lot of good energy. He’s had a good camp.” Bergmann, who will not be in the lineup Tuesday, continued his solid preseason with another strong game Saturday against Vegas. “This is a competitive league and you need competitive people, especially in the playoffs,” DeBoer said. “I look at St. Louis and their identity and their competitiveness one-to-20 in their lineup was probably the difference last year. “For me, that’s what separates guys all the time. For (Bergmann), he’s got elite competitiveness to him. When the puck drops in a drill, or in a game or in practice, he’s full tilt. That’s a great skill to have.” Who winds up where on the Sharks’ four forward lines for Thursday’s preseason game is anyone’s guess. The Sharks had Gambrell and Danil Yurtaykin on Joe Thornton’s wings in practice on Sunday and Monday, moving Brodzinski and Bergmann to the fifth line with True. Gambrell started camp on a line with Tomas Hertl and Evander Kane, but Lukas Radil moved into that spot for the third period of Wednesday’s preseason game in Calgary and has remained there for the last two practices. “I think he’s had some good moments. I want a little more consistency,” DeBoer said of Gambrell’s transition to the wing. “A little more impact on the games, especially in the exhibition games. A lot of these games, you’re playing against American League guys or mixed lineups. “You’re looking for guys to have an impact on the game. I think Bergmann’s done that here in camp so far.” 1108352 San Jose Sharks

Sharks prospects getting final opportunity to audition for NHL roster

By Chelena Goldman September 24, 2019 2:44 PM

SAN JOSE -- This year's training camp has served as one big audition for several new faces in the Sharks organization. And Tuesday evening signals the final stage of that tryout process. One day after several players were reassigned to the AHL for the start of Barracuda training camp, San Jose recalled eight players for what will be a prospect-heavy lineup for Tuesday's game against the Ducks down in Anaheim. This game will likely serve as a final opportunity for these players to show if they can handle competing at the NHL level on a nightly basis -- or if they're better off starting the season with the 'Cuda. "We're getting close, we have to start getting our group together and start to get ready," Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer told the media over the weekend. "The guys, I think, between the training camp, scrimmages, and the exhibition games, have had more than enough opportunity to show us what they can do -- or can't." This isn't to say that highly-touted prospects such as Joachim Blichfeld, Alex True and Sasha Chmelevski don't have the chops to eventually crack the Sharks' roster later in the season. But now, after roughly a week and a half of practices and preseason contests, it's more likely the eight players who were recalled for Tuesday's game in Anaheim will still start the season at the AHL level. Unless, of course, one of them plays off-the-charts against the Ducks and earns another look in one of the Sharks' final two preseason games. Even so, Tuesday's game shows that the tryout window is closing. It isn't just the newest faces from this year's camp who have something to prove on Tuesday evening. Two players who need to have good showings were rookies a year ago: Dylan Gambrell and Antti Suomela. The Sharks signed both centers to deals over the summer -- Gambrell to a two-year contract, Suomela to a one-year deal -- and the expectation was that both would be top candidates to fill in roles for the NHL club this season. Gambrell, in particular, entered the preseason with a strong chance of snagging a roster spot after he split time between the NHL and AHL last season. He was penciled into the lineup for San Jose's final playoff game against the St. Louis Blues, and scored the Sharks' only goal in that game, no less. With just one goal between them so far this preseason -- which Suomela scored Saturday against the Vegas Golden Knights -- it's crucial they take advantage of their opportunities against Anaheim. Two players who won't be on the roster for Tuesday's game in Anaheim are forward Lean Bergmann and defenseman Mario Ferraro. Both skaters have had impressive camps and were standouts in last Saturday's preseason game against Vegas. DeBoer is expected to put two NHL-heavy lineups on the ice in the final two preseason games, so it will be interesting to see what opportunities those two players get toward the end of the week. San Jose's preseason schedule concludes later this week with a Thursday night home game against the Calgary Flames and a Sunday evening tilt in Sin City against the Golden Knights. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108353 St Louis Blues started to take steps in the right direction and that continued in the playoffs. I think for me I just keep saying, it’s day to day. Every day you’ve got to get better, every day you’ve got to adjust a little bit more and work toward the game you know you can play.” Thomas still has his sights set on Blues' season opener And he said he’s learned from playing alongside a veteran center like Bozak. By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch “Playing with a guy like Bozie definitely helped out a lot,” he said. “He’s so sturdy, smart with the puck, he gets it to you at the right time, so I think that was the biggest thing, getting with a guy like that.” The NHL season may be a marathon, but within that marathon are a No one on the Blues has done more winning over the past two years series of sprints, and right now, it looks like Robert Thomas may win one than Thomas. In 2018, he was on the Canada team that won the gold at of them. the World Junior Championships, and later that season, his Hamilton Thomas, who jumped from juniors straight to a regular spot with a team Bulldogs team won the Ontario Hockey League title (though the team that won the Stanley Cup last season, is close to being able to get into a went on to lose in the Memorial Cup, the nationwide championship.) And preseason game in the days ahead, which would be one of the requisites then last season, there was that Stanley Cup. No one on the Blues has for him to be ready to go when the Blues season begins on Oct. 2. had more chances to lift a championship trophy in the past 18 months. “I’m feeling really well,” he said Monday. “Just a slow process of getting “I’ve been pretty lucky to be on some good teams,” he said. “I think I’ve back into it and every day, I’m feeling better. I’m getting pretty close. I had a pretty good run the last couple of years. We’ve got to keep it wouldn’t say 100 percent yet. (Being ready for opening day) has been the going.” plan the whole time, to be ready for Game 1. I still feel like we’re on a St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 09.25.2019 really good path for that.” Thomas won’t play on Tuesday, when the Blues face Dallas at Enterprise Center, but the team still has three preseason games after that, and if Thomas can get in two of them, that should prove he can play on opening night. “It’s important (to get games in the preseason),” coach Craig Berube said. “It is. It’s different than just practicing, I’ll tell you that. We’d like to get him in a couple games before the season.” Thomas had wrist surgery shortly after the season ended to fix ligament problems that arose early in the Western Conference Finals with San Jose. He finished out that series, but wasn’t terribly productive and by Game 1 for the Final with Boston, his wrist was a real problem. “I wasn’t in the best shape at that time,” he said. “Before that game I kind of had to pick and choose what the plan was moving forward. When I got into that game, I could feel I might need some rest after that one.” Berube tried a Hail Mary play by putting Thomas back in the lineup for Game 6, but Thomas clearly wasn’t up to where he needed to be and he was out again in Game 7. “It definitely was hard getting out there in that big of a game,” he said, “but with the crowd and how excited your teammates are, you don’t feel a thing.” But could he do the things he wanted to on the ice in that game? “Probably not,” he said. So began the road back, and over the summer, though the wrist surgery prevented him from doing standard work in the weight room, he was able to bulk up. Though still listed at 6 foot, 190 pounds like he was at the start of last season, he said he put on five or 10 pounds of muscle in the offseason. “I was pretty happy with my limited summer,” he said. “This year, I feel a ton better protecting the puck. I’m definitely not getting pushed around nearly as much. I definitely feel I improved that category of my game.” When camp opened, Thomas was skating separate from the majority of the team in a group consisting of other injured players and players headed back to their junior teams. But after a few days of practice there, in which he took some shots that spoke to his wrist being not an issue, he moved back with the main group. On Monday, he was back in his old spot, on the right of Tyler Bozak on the Blues’ third line. (Robby Fabbri was in Pat Maroon’s spot on the left wing.) But how long will he be in that position? Thomas played center in juniors and would like to get back to what he feels is his natural position. He didn’t make more than a cameo at the position last season, as the Blues took the time-honored stance of having him play wing while he got used to the NHL game. “For me, it’s about getting back,” he said. “That’s my natural position, that’s where I want to play. It doesn’t really matter. Whatever Chief thinks is best for the team, I’m ready to step into that role.” Thomas is still only 20, so there are still a lot of lessons to be learned. He points to last season and how much better he played as the season went on. By April, it was easy to forget he was a rookie. “I think the biggest thing for me was that first half of the year,” he said. “That whole time I was just learning, getting adapted to the speed. It’s such a busy schedule. In the second half I started to feel my game, 1108354 St Louis Blues when: defenseman Jakub Jerabek, acquired a year ago in a trade and who played in one game with the Blues before becoming a healthy scratch and then being sent to San Antonio for the rest of the season, was named the defenseman of the week in his new home, the KHL. Blues will put nearly full roster on the ice against Dallas St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 09.25.2019

By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The Blues still have 36 players in camp and four preseason games to play, but their practice on Monday gave the clearest picture yet of how the team will look when it breaks camp. With so many players still on hand, the team has to be divided into two groups for practice, and the first group that took the ice on Monday was, with one exception, the unit that will likely make up the opening night roster. At forward, the lines were Jaden Schwartz, Brayden Schenn and Sammy Blais, standing in for Vladimir Tarasenko, who was sick and missed his second straight day of practice; Zach Sanford, Ryan O’Reilly and David Perron; Robby Fabbri, Tyler Bozak and Robert Thomas; and Ivan Barbashev, Oskar Sundqvist and Alexander Steen. On defense, Vince Dunn skated with Alex Pietrangelo, Jay Bouwmeester with Colton Parayko and Joel Edmundson with Carl Gunnarsson. Robert Bortuzzo skated with Jake Walman, who was with the group so they would have an even number of defensemen for drills. So that group, minus Walman, and plus goalies Jordan Binnington and Jake Allen, looks like it will make up 22 of the 23 players the team can have on the opening day lineup, with a spot for one more forward. The candidates for that spot, notably Mackenzie MacEachern and Klim Kostin, skated with the smaller second group. That’s also the lineup that will, for the most part, take the ice on Tuesday for the Blues’ fifth preseason game, against Dallas at Enterprise Center. Kostin will skate in the spot of Thomas, who still isn’t ready to get in a game, and the Bouwmeester-Parayko pairing and Binnington will have the night off. Other than that, it’s very close to being the lineup that skated in Game 7 against Boston. “I like to get some practices in with everybody out there,” coach Craig Berube said. “Vladdy wasn’t out there, which is the way it is. I just wanted to make sure we got some practices with everybody in there and a full lineup.” Teams need to set their opening day rosters by next Tuesday. SICK DAY Tarasenko missed his second straight day of practice with an illness, but Berube said he was hopeful the forward would be back on Tuesday, though he won’t be in the game-day roster. Berube said one of the reasons Walman had skated with the main group was because he was sick on Sunday and didn’t play as planned, so he would play on Tuesday. Andreas Borgman, who the team got from Toronto in the Jordan Schmaltz trade, took his spot on Sunday. Sundqvist, who also had been supposed to play on Sunday but didn’t after an upper-body tweak in practice last week, was back on the ice and will play on Tuesday. Bortuzzo, who left the Columbus game with about a minute to go after taking a shot off his ankle, was also back. REINKE’S DOWN Mitch Reinke didn’t get in a game last season but he spent most of the playoffs with the Blues and came into camp battling to be one of the first players in line in case of a need at defensemen. Instead, on Sunday, he became one of the first defensemen sent out among players who may get in a game this season. “His two games he played were not great,” Berube said. “But he’s a young guy. He played one year pro, had a really good last year. He’s a really good player. He’s going to be fine. We’ve got to get down to numbers and he played a couple games. He was just OK. He knows he was just OK and he’ll be better. He’s a young guy yet.” The Blues are down to 11 defensemen in camp, and after the seven back from last season who appear to have locks on roster spots, the four still in camp are Borgman, Niko Mikkola, Derrick Pouliot and Jake Walman. NOTES Pouliot, who had to clear waivers to be sent to San Antonio, wasn’t claimed and the Blues can send him there whenever they see fit. With four games still to go in camp, the team is keeping around depth players longer so they can give the regulars more of a rest. … We knew him 1108355 St Louis Blues MacEachern and Klim Kostin were not with the main group, but with a group that is largely slated for San Antonio.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 09.25.2019 (Updated) Tarasenko misses his second Blues practice

By Jim Thomas St. Louis Post-Dispatch Sep 23, 2019

Any time Vladimir Tarasenko isn’t on the ice for the Blues, it’s cause for notice. And in this case, Tarasenko has missed two straight practices. He did not participate in the non-game group practice Sunday morning at Enterprise Center — for the group that didn’t participate in the Blues’ preseason game against Columbus that afternoon. And he wasn’t on the ice Monday morning for practice at Enterprise. But there doesn’t appear to be cause for concern: coach Craig Berube said Tarasenko was sick. “Hopefully tomorrow we’ll see him on the ice,” Berube said. Sammy Blais took Tarasenko’s place on a line with Jaden Schwartz and Brayden Schenn in Monday’s first practice session, a group that looked like the Blues’ regular-season roster with the exception of defenseman Jake Walman. Walman was scheduled to play Sunday against Columbus, but also was sick according to Berube. Berube plans to play Walman on Tuesday against Dallas, so he wanted him practicing with a full group Monday. (With the roster down to only 36 players, only 13 players skated with the second group Monday.) “Plus, I like having eight ‘D’ out there in practice,” Berube said. THOMAS CLOSE Forward Robert Thomas said the plan is for him to play in a preseason game or two, and it could be as early as Tuesday against the Stars. He’s in the final stages of rehab/recovery from offseason wrist surgery. Thomas said the surgery took two hours and was to repair tendon damage. TUESDAY'S LINEUP The projected lineup for Tuesday's home game against Dallas is as close to a regular lineup as the Blues have gone with this preseason: Forwards: Barbashev, Blais, Bozak, Fabbri, Kostin, O’Reilly, Perron, Sanford, Schenn, Schwartz, Steen, Sundqvist. Defensemen: Bortuzzo, Dunn, Edmundson, Gunnarsson, Pietrangelo, Walman. Goalies: Allen Wilcox PRACTICE LINES Here's how the Blues' first group lined up in practice Monday. Forwards Schwartz-Schenn-Blais Sanford-O’Reilly-Perron Fabbri-Bozak-Thomas Steen-Barbashev-Sundqvist Defensemen Dunn-Pietrangelo Bouwmeester-Parayko Gunnarsson-Edmundon Walman-Bortuzzo BLUENOTES Robert Bortuzzo said he took a puck off the ankle late in the Columbus game, but he practiced and looked full-go Monday. ... Berube, explaining his lack of a postgame media session Sunday, said he didn’t think anyone wanted to talk to him after the Blue Jackets game. Members of the media were delayed, talking to players in the locker room. (Yes, things are a little more informal in the preseason.) ... The most interesting part about the roster breakdown Monday was that Mackenzie 1108356 St Louis Blues

Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues trade for All-Star defenseman

BY NEWS-DEMOCRAT SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 02:30 PM

The Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues defense may have just gotten a little better. The Blues acquired 27-year-old defenseman Justin Faulk Tuesday in a major trade that sent defenseman Joel Edmundson, prospect Dominik Bokk and a seventh-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Blues also acquired a fifth-round pick in 2020. Following the trade, the Blues signed Faulk to a seven-year contract extension worth $45.5 million with an annual average value of $6.5 million. Faulk, had been the subject of heavy trade speculation as he entered the final season of a six-year contract with Carolina. “We are excited to add Justin to our core group for the next eight years,” Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong said. “He’s a top four defenseman who averages over 23 minutes a game and we are confident he will be a strong addition to our club.” Faulk was a key part of the Hurricanes’ run to the Eastern Conference Final last season, posting one goal and seven assists (eight points) in 15 playoff games. In the regular season, he ranked second on the club among defensemen with 35 points (11 goals, 24 assists) and registered a plus-9 rating. A second-round pick (No. 37 overall) of the Hurricanes in 2010, Faulk is a three-time NHL All-Star (2015, 2016, 2017) and has represented the United States in international play, including winning a gold medal at the 2010 IIHF World U18 Championships, claiming bronze at the 2013 and 2015 IIHF World Championships and earning a bronze medal at the 2011 World Junior Hockey Championships. In 2014, at age 21, Faulk became the youngest player on Team USA’s roster at the Winter Olympics in Sochi. Edmundson played four seasons with the Blues, spanning 269 career games. He posted 13 goals and 39 assists (52 points) and a plus-18 rating, helping the team claim its first Stanley Cup in 2019. Edmundson was drafted by the Blues in the second round (No. 46 overall) in 2011. Bokk is a first-round pick of the Blues (No. 25 overall) in 2018 but has yet to make his NHL debut. Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108357 St Louis Blues Though Faulk is only familiar with only one player on the roster, Jaden Schwartz, he said, “We were happy to go forward and try to get a deal done with the Blues.” Trade for Justin Faulk gives Blues’ defense ‘most balanced group’ in GM They worked out the seven-year contract, which won’t kick in until the Doug Armstrong’s tenure 2020-21 season. In his first year with the Blues, he’ll be playing out the final year of his Carolina contract, which has a $4.83 salary-cap hit. Then his cap hit will climb to $6.5 million, with an actual salary of $9 million in 2020-21, $9 million in ’21-22, $5.85 million in ’22-23, $7.9 million in ’23- By Jeremy Rutherford Sep 24, 2019 24, $4.75 million in ’24-25, $4.5 million in ’25-26 and $4.5 million in ’26- 27. For weeks, it’s been written that the Blues will be bringing back all but “Credit Justin and ultimately his agents, who understood what we were one player from their Stanley Cup-winning roster. But now Pat Maroon trying to accomplish,” Armstrong said. “Going in, I was quite honest that won’t be the only one from the historic 2018-19 season not on the ice we have two high-profile (unrestricted) free agents (Alex Pietrangelo and Oct. 2, when the club raises its championship banner. Brayden Schenn) that our goal is to try and sign and to do that, we needed him to be understanding of the overall cap situation and he was. In a trade that wasn’t surprising, but stunning just nine days before the We’ve seen some recent contracts that he was willing to come to our start of the 2019-20 season, the Blues parted ways with Joel Edmundson group at a cap hit we could afford with an idea of trying to keep our group in a package trade with Carolina for fellow defenseman Justin Faulk. together moving past this season.” They are also giving up prospect Dominik Bokk and a seventh-round pick in 2021 and they’re receiving a fifth-round pick in 2020. Carolina retained 14 percent of Faulk’s salary, so his cap hit will be be $4.16 million in 2019-20 instead of $4.83 million. For now that will leave The Athletic responded with a instant roundtable discussion, but later had the Blues about $140,000 under the $81.5 million cap ceiling. a chance to chat with Faulk, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong and Brian Bartlett, Faulk’s agent from the Sports Consulting Group. Here “Much to Doug Armstrong’s credit, they did a nice job of presenting what is a closer look at the deal. they could do and why and we presented on our side why we felt the range we were looking for was appropriate and found something that How the trade came about worked for everybody in just a couple of phone calls,” Bartlett said. Faulk, 27, who was Carolina’s second-round pick in 2010 and played Did the Blues pay too much for Faulk’s extension? eight seasons with the Hurricanes, had long been rumored to be on the move. He was entering the final season of a six-year, $29 million contract The deal was discussed Monday and finalized Tuesday, and while the and the Canes, who weren’t close in contract talks with the defenseman, components of the trade were well-received in St. Louis, the term was didn’t want to lose him for nothing. second-guessed to some degree. But as Armstrong explained, in order to keep the cap hit manageable, the club had to extend the length of the “We’ve had some discussions with Carolina, and I don’t think we were term. seeing eye-to-eye on what the value would be to bring Justin back,” Bartlett said. “So they decided to pursue that route of moving him to get “Well, I think that’s the price of doing business in today’s NHL,” quality assets back.” Armstrong said. “You look at his comparable group, whether it be (Minnesota’s Jared) Spurgeon, (Anaheim’s Cam) Fowler or (Nashville’s There were reports earlier this month that Faulk might wind up in Ryan) Ellis, you get to a certain point where if you’re going to give up Anaheim, but a deal with the Ducks, who were not among his approved potential cap dollars, you want to get some security and some term.” list of teams, never came to fruition. There were other options, but Faulk’s camp never gave much thought to the Blues, who were on his Spurgeon, who is 29 years old, recently signed a seven-year, $53 million approved list, because Alex Pietrangelo, Colton Parayko and Robert contract extension ($7.58 million AAV); Fowler, 27, inked an eight-year, Bortuzzo were already on the right side. $52 million contract ($6.5 million AAV) two years ago; and Ellis, 28, agreed to an eight-year, $50 million contract ($6.25 million AAV) last “St. Louis obviously had a good team last year and the right side of their year. D core is pretty good,” Bartlett said. “So as we were going through depth charts, to be honest, it wasn’t one that’s like, ‘Oh these guys need a ton JUSTIN FAULK #BLUES of help on the right side.'” $6.5M X 7 YEARS But wanting to bolster his defensive core even more, Armstrong MOST COMPARABLE CONTRACTS: contacted Carolina GM Don Waddell last Wednesday and alerted him of the Blues’ interest. They coveted Faulk and wanted to move Edmundson, PLAYER (SIGNING TEAM) but knew it would take more to acquire the three-time All-Star. 1. RYAN MCDONAUGH (TBL) “It starts with, ‘What are you looking to accomplish?’ from both sides,” Armstrong said. “Obviously we were looking at a player of Faulk’s caliber, 2. JARED SPURGEON (MIN) (so) it was more what Donny was looking for in return. He was looking for 3. CAM FOWLER (ANA)HTTPS://T.CO/PEATU18WZA a really strong prospect. We bandied around different situations, and PIC.TWITTER.COM/9UHS4IT21I unfortunately we had to add Bokk to this equation.” — CAPFRIENDLY (@CAPFRIENDLY) SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING. #STLBLUES PIC.TWITTER.COM/KBCSGQUYPU But with one season left on Faulk’s current contract, and seven more added on his new deal, he’s slated to be with the Blues for the next eight — ST. LOUIS BLUES  (@STLOUISBLUES) SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 years, or until he turns 35. But in order to feel comfortable giving up an asset like Bokk, the player “If you look out there, he’s only 27 right now and his birthday (March 20) whom the Blues took with the 2018 first-round pick they got from is relatively late in the season, so even though it’s a seven-year deal, Winnipeg in the Paul Stastny trade, the club wanted to sign Faulk to a he’s only 35 for the last two weeks of the regular season on the last year contract extension. of this deal,” Bartlett said. “There’s a bunch of other guys that signed at “We didn’t want to get into a situation when we (didn’t have) some similar ages for the six-seven-eight year term, so it seems to be where security and cost certainty moving forward,” Armstrong said. the market is for these high-end, top-four defensemen.” So in order to facilitate the trade, Carolina granted the Blues permission The offer was compelling enough that Faulk, who had never experienced to speak with Bartlett. free agency because his last contract was a six-year deal, chose to commit long-term to a city and an organization that he really doesn’t “They reached out to us, and said, ‘There’s a possibility that a trade may know. be in place, but the team that is thinking about acquiring him wants to have a conversation about the possibility of an extension,'” Bartlett said. “I’ve heard nothing but good things about St. Louis, about the organization,” he said. “I’m from St. Paul, Minnesota. I’m not really a guy Faulk found out it was the Blues on Sunday night. that would love the big city. I’m kind of sticking in the Midwest, being a part of St. Louis, and joining that community seems more enjoyable to “Once he heard it was our team, it sort of picked up steam from there,” me. We all know the team is in position right now and they’re trying to win Armstrong said. again. “You never know what the future’s going to be. I don’t know who any of Defensemen the prospects are, but you just know who’s on the team today and you like that team. You just have to believe in the people running the team Left defense Right defense that they’re going to do their best to keep that success happening and Vince Dunn ($722K+) Alex Pietrangelo ($6.5M) hopefully for a long time.” Jay Bouwmeester ($3.25M+) Colton Parayko ($5.5M+) Faulk’s contract includes protection: there’s a no-trade clause for the first five years of the deal and then a limited no-trade clause (including 15 Carl Gunnarsson ($1.75M) Justin Faulk ($4.16M) teams he can not be traded to) in the final two years. Robert Bortuzzo ($1.38M) How the Blues benefit Armstrong believes with the success of the Bouwmeester-Parayko pair Regardless of the contract, Faulk’s arrival in St. Louis gives the Blues last season, and Faulk’s ability to play in key situations, it will continue to one of the best defensive units in the NHL. He’s been an annual allow the Blues to put Pietrangelo in better offensive opportunities. scapegoat in Carolina, but he logs legitimate minutes and produces significant results. He averaged 22:25 of ice time per game last season “We saw how Alex’s offense was able to grow as Bouwmeester and (more than 1:43 on both special-teams units) and scored 11 goals Parayko became the shutdown pair,” he said. “Petro was getting a (including six on the power play). chance to jump into the offense more and more and we think that’s going to be a big positive for him and for Faulk.” Over the past five seasons, Faulk’s numbers rank favorably around the league, as Bartlett illustrated in a tweet Tuesday. How does this affect re-signing Pietrangelo? FOR @STLOUISBLUES FANS UNFAMILIAR WITH @JUSTINFAULK27, The first thought of many after seeing the Faulk trade was, ‘What does it OVER THE LAST 5 SEASONS, AMONG NHL DEFENSEMEN, HE mean for the future of Pietrangelo in St. Louis?’ The 29-year-old is RANKS: entering the final year of his seven-year, $45.5 million contract, which interestingly, is the same as Faulk’s new deal. 7TH IN GOALS It’s been speculated that Pietrangelo could be in line for as much $9 4TH IN PP GOALS million-plus, but it’s not known if the Blues would be willing to splurge on him with Parayko waiting in the wing and now Faulk in the fold. 4TH IN GW GOALS Sources have indicated the Blues do desire to bring Pietrangelo back 25TH IN POINTS and Armstrong said as much when addressing the trade Tuesday. 25TH IN TOI/GP “Ultimately, the pie is so big and (Faulk) is taking out a slice of it now,” he 21ST IN ESTOI/GP said. “But our goal was to do this with the understanding that we felt we still had the ability of getting creative and doing other things to sign those 11TH IN SAT% (200+GP) guys and that’s still our mandate.” — BRIAN BARTLETT (@BBARTS) SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 With the trade of Edmundson, who was awarded a $3.1 million salary in arbitration in August, the Blues won’t have to pay him. This offseason, “People are surprised about is how high his offensive numbers are,” The Athletic’s Craig Custance wrote about restricted free agents who Bartlett said. “He has 40 career power-play goals, 32 of them in the last reach arbitration and how often they switch teams in a matter of a few five years. He can bring that element, which St. Louis, despite being a seasons. This is another example of that, though Armstrong denied any good team, the power play hasn’t been an elite power play since (Kevin) lingering angst with that situation played a part in the deal. Shattenkirk left.” “This isn’t any correlation to the business that was held in July and It’s been well-documented how the Blues’ ailing power play in the 2018- August,” he said. “That is just business and we understand that and we 19 postseason, particularly in the Stanley Cup final, could have cost them expect that. We can’t be disappointed at Joel for going to arbitration a championship. They operated at 16.3 percent in their 26 playoff games. because we took Ville Husso to arbitration. So you really can’t have it “I think my game can be pretty good at both ends, but the power play has both ways. Arbitration is just part of a process.” been one of my specialties in my time throughout the league,” Faulk said. Just like trades are part of the process, and the Blues say the one they “I think I shoot the puck pretty well and have scored a good amount of made Tuesday has made them a better club. goals in my career on the power play. So if that’s what is needed, I’m more than happy to lend my services and continue on with that, and if not “Our goal is put our best foot forward and be competitive with the top and I’m put in a different spot, that’s fine. I’m just trying to bring a game teams, and I believe you get better in the NHL maybe by 3-4 percent at a that’s going to be tough to play against all over the ice.” time,” Armstrong said. “No disrespect to anyone, but I think we’re a better team than we were yesterday because of the addition of Faulk.” “He fits into the way the game is played right now,” Armstrong said. “I think our forwards are going to appreciate every pair being able to get the The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 puck in the right spots, but the power play, he’s scored power-play goals. He’s comfortable playing with the top players on the team in those high- pressure situations. It’s that internal competition, whether it be forwards or defense, we have guys that want to secure that ice time. Now Justin has to come in there and wrestle that away from somebody, and if he’s doing well, someone has to come wrestle it away from him.” In training camp, Pietrangelo has been skating with Vince Dunn in the top pair, followed by Jay Bouwmeester and Colton Parayko in the second pair. So it appears for now that Faulk will slot in on the third pair with either Carl Gunnarsson or Robert Bortuzzo. “When I look at our group of defense now, it’s probably the most balanced group that we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Armstrong said. “Alex Pietrangelo has played very well with all three guys on the left, whether it be Dunn, Gunnarsson or Bouwmeester, and we know that Parayko and Bouwmeester played very good last year. I think it’s going to give (Blues assistant coach Mike Van Ryn) and (head coach Craig Berube) a lot of opportunities to have different pairs. “The ultimate goal would be to have our best four players on the ice at the most important times. I’ll leave that up to Mike and Craig, but we talked about that prior to making this acquisition. Is there enough ice time for top players, and the feeling was that today everybody is healthy and how long is that going to last? We’re not really sure. But while we are healthy, the ability to role out Dunn, Bouw and Gunny on the left and those three guys on the right, it’s going to be three good pairs that can play against anyone.” 1108358 St Louis Blues niche – an above average player who can help you in a lot of different areas. Even teams such as St. Louis, coming off a championship season, sometimes need something to stir up the mix. Landing Faulk, committing to him all those years contractually and above all making him feel wanted Roundtable reaction: Breaking down the trade that sends Justin Faulk to – where he clearly wasn’t in Carolina anymore – it sure looks like it could the Blues be a home run for the relatively modest acquisition cost. DOM LUSZCZYSZYN: The trade itself is fine. The Blues bolstered their already strong blue line with a mobile defender who would be an upgrade By Craig Custance Sep 24, 2019 over Robert Bortuzzo on the right side, giving them a very deep right side. The NHL trade rumor mill has to find someone else to constantly talk The signing though? That’s much tougher to comprehend. Faulk appears about. Justin Faulk was finally traded and it’s to a team nearly as deep to be a capable scorer, but he’s given every opportunity to do so with on defense as the Hurricanes. The St. Louis Blues sent defenseman Joel loads of power play time, so not cracking 40 points in five of the past six Edmundson, prospect Dominik Bokk and a 2021 seventh-round pick to seasons doesn’t inspire confidence. He’s only an average play-driver and the Carolina Hurricanes in return for Faulk and a 2020 fifth-round pick. at $6.5 million per season will likely be very overpaid for his services as a The Blues immediately signed Faulk to a seven-year contract extension run-of-the-mill top-four defender. That’s fine in a vacuum maybe, but with with a $6.5 million average annual value. the much superior Pietreangelo’s contract expiring at the end of this season, it’s hard to fathom why the Blues would do this. Pietrangelo, an There’s a lot to break down here, so we invited a roundtable of local and elite defenseman, at $8 million, $9 million or even $10 million is much national NHL writers from The Athletic to weigh in: more palatable than Faulk at this price. SARA CIVIAN: It finally happened, and it’s sort of funny. COREY PRONMAN: Bokk is a highly talented player who has the hands, IQ and speed to become a great top-six NHL winger. There are no Of all the Faulk trade speculation that popped up as he approached his doubts on the talent, but he can be frustrating to watch, and even some contract year – some of it essentially one signature away from of his biggest supporters in the scouting world have come down on him a completion (Faulk to the Ducks), some of it more pipe-dreamy (Faulk for bit due to his so so effort level and inconsistency. I also have Nikolaj Ehlers, straight up, who says no) – he’s off to St. Louis for (record downgraded him from a year ago even if I’d still bet on him becoming a scratch, freeze frame) a deal that included another fringe top-four good NHL forward. defenseman. In discussions with teams since the trade, one topic that’s come up is Minutes after the trade came Faulk’s contract extension. For as much as Carolina acquiring a lot of prospects lately with a high skill level but who the Canes have loved Faulk on and off the ice in his eight-year stay, and could be described as “soft skill” in Bokk, Ryan Suzuki, Anttoni Honka having him as their resident scapegoat, there’s no way they could’ve and Patrik Puistola (although Andrei Svechnikov, Jamieson Rees and swung that. They’ve basically built their defense around the foresight of Jack Drury are counter to that). Depending on which scout you ask, they signing young, mostly NCAA alumni and giving them legitimate could say this is a no-doubt top 10 farm system in Carolina or one that opportunities in exchange for relatively low salaries. won’t produce components of a winning playoff team. I lean to the Something had to give, but evidently not at the expense of the infamous former, but I have reservations. logjam. The Hurricanes have decided they enjoy the luxury of the logjam For the Blues, they lose one of their top prospects and their farm looks enough to keep it going with Edmundson signed at $3.1 million for one thin now even with the positive summer for Klim Kostin. Flags fly forever more year. though. Faulk looked re-invigorated by the playoff run. He can eat penalty JEREMY RUTHERFORD: Neither the Blues’ acquisition of Faulk, nor minutes. Maybe in a different power play system he’ll use his wrister their willingness to move Edmundson in the deal, are shocking. instead of his slapshot and make an impact. It has finally happened, and we all know why. As Faulk’s situation in Carolina looked like it may lead to his departure, there were rumblings the Blues had some interest. And with SCOTT BURNSIDE: Weird but I was just talking to a Western-based Edmundson’s contract talks this summer requiring arbitration to get to a scout about St. Louis an hour or so before this trade, and he was talking resolution, a deal between the two sides makes a lot of sense. about how difficult he thinks St. Louis is going to be to get past in spite of the short summer and the Stanley Cup parties. This trade gives them What’s extremely interesting about this is what does it mean for the Blues arguably as good a one-through-six on the back end as any team in the and Pietrangelo? He’s entering the final year of his seven-year contract NHL. Nice work GM Doug Armstrong. And Don Waddell continues to and could be in the market for $9 million-plus. With Colton Parayko and enjoy a renaissance as a top NHL GM in Carolina, adding defensive now Faulk in the fold, what could this mean for the captain? It’s believed depth with Edmundson to a group that I consider as good as any in the the Blues do want Pietrangelo back, but at the very least, this gives them Eastern Conference and continuing to stock the shelves with positive a fallback plan. assets like Bokk, a first-round pick in 2018. The fact is that Faulk, with the addition of Jake Gardiner and an already impressive collection of The other interesting factor is the Blues’ decision to re-sign Faulk to emerging young defensive talent in Carolina, had run out of runway with seven-year extension, which doesn’t kick in until next season. That’s a the Canes, who are now better, on paper, than the team that went to the serious commitment to a player who will turn 35 by the end of the deal. Eastern Conference final last spring. Not sure about the seven-year But in addition to the cushion it gives them in the Pietrangelo situation, extension Faulk immediately signed in St. Louis, but even if you hate the they’re getting a good veteran defenseman who can help their ailing last three years or so, it won’t matter much if there’s a whole bunch more power play, and they’re able to move on from a player in Edmundson “Gloria” being sung in St. Louis next spring. who they soured on. CRAIG CUSTANCE: I saw this and immediately thought about Alex The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 Pietrangelo. He’s 29 years old, entering the final year of his contract that averages $6.5 million and is due for a monster raise. We’ve seen in the past that Armstrong isn’t afraid to make tough decisions and move on from veteran players if it doesn’t make financial sense to extend them. Pietrangelo is a franchise defenseman who will command a lot of money and deservedly so. It’s also a contract that, if it’s eight years, probably isn’t going to age well, since it’ll exist in Pietrangelo’s 30s. This isn’t to say Faulk is a potential replacement for Pietrangelo, the better defenseman; but now, at the very least, the Blues have given themselves leverage and options moving forward as they consider the best path in which to deal with their captain. ERIC DUHATSCHEK: I have a bias towards Faulk that stems from his early formative days in the Carolina organization when Steve Smith, then an assistant coach with the Hurricanes, was telling me about this rising young defensive star they had in the organization – and how good he would eventually be once he reached his prime. Smith liked Faulk’s talent and the way the player carried himself. It means I’ve monitored Faulk closely, and while I get that he never did soar into the Norris Trophy level of NHL defenceman, he did seem to settle nicely into a Gary Suter-sort of 1108359 St Louis Blues It’s very easy to say “that should regress next season” – a common refrain in these previews – partially because that’s far too low for a player of Schwartz’s caliber, but also because we already saw it come playoff time where he was one of the Blues’ best scorers. All the pucks that 2019-20 NHL Season Preview: St. Louis Blues refused to go in during the regular season found their way home when it truly mattered as Schwartz scored 12 goals and 20 points in 26 playoff games – a 38-goal and 63-point pace. That’s more like it. It wouldn’t be a By Dom Luszczyszyn Sep 24, 2019 surprise to see him return to being a 60-70 point player, especially if he gets back on the top unit power play (his likelihood of being on the second unit is the main reason my model projects him at 56 points). The story has been beaten to death already but it deserves to be told one After him though, things get very thin, very quick. There’s potential, but more time. The St. Louis Blues were dead last in the NHL in early for now little certainty and it’s part of what puts the Blues behind the three January. In June, they were the last team standing. It’s one of the best Atlantic behemoths, who are noticeably deeper at forward. stories to come out of the NHL in a long time, made even better by a city capturing its first NHL championship. There’s a massive hole at second line left wing that featured a rotating cast of players during the playoffs. It’s likely that spot will have several There are some who have downplayed the Blues’ Stanley Cup win on the auditions throughout the year until someone earns it full time. It’s a cushy basis of it being a slightly unexpected result. To hell with that. This Blues gig next to Conn Smythe and Selke Trophy winner Ryan O’Reilly and for team is no fluke and they have a decent chance of repeating the magic now it belongs to 24-year-old Zach Sanford. Last season was Sanford’s this season or at least representing the West in the Stanley Cup final. first “full” season as an NHLer (he still only got into 60 games) where his While the results at the time were iffy, this team carried a lot of hype from presence was mostly felt on defense. He’s a very strong defensive the offseason and there were inklings of a sleeping giant buried forward and was one of three Blues with an expected goals against rate underneath all the losses. They’re the real deal and the team to beat under two per 60. That led to a strong 56 percent expected goals rate from the West (leaving the final three teams left all coming from not just that ranked third on the team. The defensive responsibility is nice, one conference, but one division). especially when paired with O’Reilly, but the key to Sanford taking the next step will be unlocking his offensive game. Last season he was a The Blues winning it all last season was the main reason I made some modest third line scorer and his shot contributions were below average. big changes to my model and lo and behold the team comes out looking That’s not ideal in a top six role, but for now he does appear to be the very strong as a result. St. Louis are the fourth highest ranked team, are best option. almost a 90 percent certainty to make the playoffs and have the third best chance of winning the Stanley Cup. Last season didn’t start how the Robby Fabbri has potential to be that offensive weapon in the top six if team intended obviously, but it looks unlikely that there will be any bad he can get back to the form he showed in his first two seasons, but times for the club this year as only seven percent of simulations have the injuries have derailed his career and it’s getting a bit more difficult to see team finishing with under 90 points. that from him until he proves otherwise. After scoring at a second line rate in his first two seasons, Fabbri only scored 0.98 points per 60 in 32 The changes were made in the name of better accounting for defense games last year, a replacement level rate. He was also one of just three and utilizing the power of expected goals over shot attempts. Both play to players to post a below average expected goals rate (with a subpar goal the Blues’ strengths as they were the third strongest chance suppression rate to match) and in a small sample his play with the puck had dropped team last season and had an expected goals percentage of 54 percent, a bit too. Fabbri is only 23, has a clean bill of health and had a full fifth highest in the league and two percentage points higher than their summer and training camp to get back up to speed; it’s time to see if he Corsi rate. The Blues’ dominance wasn’t as evident by shot attempts can make due on the promise he showed early in his career if he stays alone as the team makes a concerted effort to both create better chances healthy. Scoring on more than five percent of his shots should help with and stifle them the other way. That’s better reflected now, hence the that. higher standing. The other two players with a below average expected goals rate were The Blues have balance throughout the lineup and while the team isn’t Ivan Barbashev and Sammy Blais, the other two left wing options for the perfect by any means, they have few holes. The gang is mostly intact Blues, which doesn’t bode well for the team. The final spot likely goes to from last season’s run and with a full year under coach Craig Berube, this Barbashev, who has been a surprisingly effective scorer for his career team could build on what they started last year and come back even thanks to his incredibly selective shooting. Since entering the league in stronger. The rest of the league should be worried. The Blues aren’t just 2016-17, Barbashev’s 3.98 shots per 60 ranks sixth lowest in the league going to bask in the afterglow of a championship. among forwards, but his 20.2 percent shooting percentage ranks first by The defending Stanley Cup champions enter the 2019-20 season with a full 1.5 percentage points. He picks his spots, but that comes at the mostly the same roster intact. The only notable exit is hometown hero expense of actual goals as he doesn’t really drive goal difference despite Patrick Maroon, gone after one season after completing his goal of his shooting gifts. helping bring some hardware to the town where he grew up. It’s a nice It’s not an ideal group of talent, but the team more than makes up for it touch to last year’s narrative but the Blues likely felt his impact could be down the middle and on right wing, ranking top five in both positions. It replaced internally, giving them a bit more roster flexibility. With the leads to a formidable foursome of duos that will be tough to stop. young-ish players available it’s certainly a possibility but at this time there does seem to be a 6-foot-3, 225-pound void left on the left side, which is On the top line, Brayden Schenn and Vladimir Tarasenko join Schwartz notably the team’s biggest weakness. If there is one flaw to this lineup, in a reunion of the team’s best line from the season prior. The team it’s at left wing. Maroon was second on the team last year with a 56.7 strayed away from that trio last year with the arrival of O’Reilly, playing percent expected goals rate. just 243 minutes together compared to the 431 minutes in 2017-18. They went back to it in the playoffs and for good reason as the line has a very At the top of the depth chart is Jaden Schwartz, looking to parlay last strong history earning 62 percent of the expected goals share and 58 spring’s playoff mastery into a bounce-back regular season. For almost percent of the goals share over the last two seasons. In the playoffs his entire career, Schwartz has been one of the game’s most unheralded those numbers were 53 percent and 67 percent, a major catalyst for the defensive forwards, regularly suppressing chances and goals against. team’s Cup triumph. Since entering the league in 2012-13 (among forwards who’ve played 2,000 minutes), his expected goals against rate of 1.93 is the 14th lowest Schenn didn’t look like a legitimate first line center in Philadelphia but it in the league (and equal to Patrice Bergeron) and his goals-against rate didn’t take long for him to emerge as just that in St. Louis paired with two is nearly identical, ranking 32nd. For a top line forward that’s mighty premier wingers. He scored at a first line rate last year and led all Blues impressive and Schwartz rarely gets his due for that. That defensive with a sterling 58 percent expected goals rate by way of the team’s acumen was still on display last year but his offense infamously took a strongest offensive impact, leading the team in expected and actual nosedive with the worst on-ice goal numbers since his rookie year. goals per 60. Schwartz is incredibly gifted with the puck, a top offensive contributor While Schenn gets the puck into the right areas, Tarasenko is the one who is skilled at carrying the puck with control, but as strong as he that puts it home. He’s the team’s sniper and is one of the best pure remained in those facets last year, it didn’t convert to offensive results. shooters in the league. Despite a very slow start, Tarasenko still finished His expected numbers remained relatively unchanged from the year prior the year with 33 goals and 35 assists in 76 games, pretty much in line while his own personal chance rate increased with Schwartz earning a with his usual production. It took a massive second half to get to those career-best 0.81 individual expected goals per 60. That rise in shot and numbers though, showcasing his elite potential under Berube. He was a chance volume should’ve been the basis for a career season as the huge part of the team’s second half surge, scoring 46 points in 39 sharpshooter has consistently scored on 10-12 percent of his shots at 5- games, a 97-point pace after starting the season at a sub-50 point pace. on-5, but that wasn’t the case. He scored on 4.8 percent of his shots on He’s projected to finish with 70 points this season, but after seeing that 5-on-5 instead leading to a career low 0.43 goals per 60. second half, that may be far too pessimistic. He’s one of the most He’s been the team’s top defender for a while now, but at 29 it won’t be talented players in the league. long until that changes. If last season was any indication, that honor may best be bestowed on Parayko, who finishes just shy of Pietrangelo’s It was a huge turnaround to go along with a 59 percent expected goals projected win rate but surpassed him in value last season. He’s a top 20 rate that gave him an average Game Score of 1.51, the second best defenseman in the league with his impact being mostly felt on defense, mark in the seasons’s second half. Schenn did his part too, scoring at a where he is the league’s best according to my model. His combined 67-point pace with a 60 percent expected goals rate, good for an average ability to consistently suppress goals and expected goals is second to Game Score of 1.29 – the 10th best mark in the league. none. Last year his expected goals against RAPM was second best to Ryan O'Reilly only Niklas Hjalmarsson while his actual goals against rate was first. Perhaps even more impressive is that despite being one of hockey’s That’s not all. O’Reilly was also a big part of that and was easily the most effective shutdown defenders, Parayko plays a very clean game team’s MVP last season. He was their most consistent and effective with a projected plus-three penalty differential that ranks as one of the player all year at both ends of the ice, worth 4.4 wins by GSVA. That was league’s best. That’s very difficult to do in his role. the seventh highest mark in the league, making him very worthy of Hart Trophy buzz last year when he finished 13th in voting. Repeating a Over the last two seasons Pietrangelo hasn’t had to spend as much time career year will be tough, but it’s possible my model is underrating him with Jay Bouwmeester, which provided a boost to his numbers. But it here – his previous two seasons in Buffalo (where he was worth just over wasn’t until last season that he spent some time with arguably one of the two wins) drag him down to the three-win range. Another strong season strongest partners of his career, the supremely underrated and talented in St. Louis should erase any doubt and would be a determining factor in Vince Dunn. The 22-year-old is a decent puck-mover who has shown an the team beating these projections. innate ability to drive play early in his career, grading out as the team’s strongest offensive driver. His 59 percent expected goals rate led all It was a second half surge that really cemented O’Reilly as one of the Blues last season on the strength of a team-leading 3.1 expected goals game’s best centers as he took his play to new heights from January for per 60, which contributed to the league’s third best offensive RAPM. onwards, often playing on the same line as Tarasenko and Schenn. He That makes for a dynamic and high-octane pairing with Pietrangelo, scored at a 77-point pace with a 58 percent expected goals rate of his putting the team’s two best offensive defenders and puck-movers on the own, while earning a plus-11 penalty differential which was tied for the ice more frequently with its best forwards. That should mean less seventh highest mark in the league. His average Game Score was 1.35, defending, which culminated in a 54 percent expected goals share the sixth highest mark in the league giving the team three top 10 together last season. Not bad, but they were even stronger down the forwards over the league’s second half. That trio obliterated the stretch earning a 60 percent expected goals share. If Dunn does indeed competition down the stretch, outscoring opponents 22-8. start on the top pair, the Blues have a potential top five pairing on their hands (bumping Nashville’s top duo into sixth). They look to be split up to start (as they were in the playoffs) which should be David Perron’s gain. He missed much of the second half, but That leaves Bouwmeester with Parayko, which would normally be a he was lights out when he did suit up scoring 21 points in 21 games. That detriment to the latter, but that wasn’t exactly the case last season. put him at a 66-point pace for the season, a year removed from the 77- Bouwmeester struggled mightily without Parayko, but for whatever point pace he cracked in a career year in Vegas the year prior. The most reason the two found great chemistry together forming what looks to be interesting thing about Perron is how he fits into a scheme as necessary. an elite shutdown pair. For the season they earned a 55 percent In Vegas, he completely transformed his game turning into an elite expected goals rate on the strength of allowing just 1.87 expected goals passer in the 99th percentile for shot assists en route to earning 50 against per 60. And of course, they were even better in the second half at assists. Last year he flipped the script, upping his personal shot rate 38 56 percent. A lot of the credit for that likely belongs to Parayko and that percent and turning himself back into a goal scorer when playing with he can get that kind of performance is a testament to his talent level. more talented playmakers. Over the last two seasons he’s been very involved in goals, earning a point on just under 80 percent of them. Having a top four with two pairs capable of posting 55 percent expected goals shares (or higher) provides a sizeable advantage for the club. With Stability will help a lot with Perron’s game as he went through the lineup Joel Edmundson, Robert Bortuzzo and Carl Gunnarsson rounding out blender early on in the season. He led the team in points per 60 at 2.19, the third pair as capable options in sheltered minutes, the team looks but his best results came when paired with O’Reilly, scoring 2.93 points more than set on the blueline, though they’ll need a bounce back from per 60. The duo also earned a 62 percent expected goals rate, which Edmundson who has regressed a bit in recent seasons. His 51 percent bodes well for the top six. expected goals rate was ahead of only Bouwmeester while both Bortuzzo and Gunnarsson were at 57 percent with better goal impacts too. In the bottom six, Tyler Bozak is perfectly fine in his role as third line center as a modest play-driver who can chip in 40-45 points. He’s not a For nearly everyone on the roster it was a tale of two seasons. The great puck-carrier, but 20-year-old Robert Thomas looks to be just that, a players were nowhere near as bad as their wretched start and made up player ready for bigger and better things. The highly touted pass-first for it with a vengeance in an impeccable second half – one that will be winger had a fine first season scoring at a second line rate consistently very tough to replicate. It was there that 16 of 19 regulars had an throughout the year, but it was his monstrous play-driving in the second expected and actual goals rate above 55 percent. They’re likely closer to half that should really turn heads. There, he led all Blues with a stunning the team they were in the second half than the first half and are mostly 63 percent expected goals rate with a near identical actual goals rate, graded as such here, but we need more than 40 or so games to know thanks to some stingy defense – a 1.49 expected goals against rate that whether that’s the team’s true ability and should downgrade accordingly. led the team and was the second lowest in the league among forwards. If they can control play to that degree all season and get results out of it, He looks like a player with immediate top six upside that deserves a the Blues are an easy choice to run the West one more time. This is a bigger role in his second season, but for now should continue crushing it team built on defense and few do it better than St. Louis, which is why on the third line. He’s the real deal. my model is much more fond of them now than it was last spring. On the fourth line, Alex Steen is a victim of the numbers game and saw a What changed in the second half more than anything though was the steady decline in ice time as the season went along. The 35-year-old still team’s goaltending fortunes. The Blues turned away from Jake Allen, a has game on defense (who doesn’t on this team?), especially in a lower goalie they’ve been grooming into a starter for the past decade, and role, but his scoring impact has drifted to third line caliber over the past toward Jordan Binnington, their fourth string goalie at the start of the two seasons. He’s paired with Oskar Sundqvist, who’s really come into season. As we all now know, it worked to a degree no one could’ve his own as a Blue scoring 1.92 points per 60 last season while being a expected as Binnington was one of the league’s best goalies down the steady two-way presence earning a 53 percent expected goals rate. It stretch, earning a .927 save percentage in 32 games and saving 10.8 doesn’t get much better for fourth line centers, and he has the ability to goals above expected in the process. Binnington is by far the team’s slide up the lineup if needed. biggest wild card going into 2019-20 and can make or break this season. As strong as St. Louis’ forward depth looks, the defense is the backbone Judging and projecting goalies is hard. Doing so with just 32 games of of this team, a stingy group buoyed by two elite forces on the right side: service is a fool’s errand. You can regress and guess all you want, but at Alex Pietrangelo and Colton Parayko. That’s a strong one-two punch of the end of the day it’s easier to throw your hands up in the air and say “I shutdown options that few teams can match. don’t know.” Based on what Binnington did last season and a lot of regression lopped onto his tiny sample size, he’s projected to come out Pietrangelo rarely gets his due as one of the game’s elite defenders and as a top 10 goalie. That’s how good he was, but the margin of error on he ranks 11th by GSVA. He’s a strong puck-mover and despite playing that forecast is massive, especially considering he’s expected to earn a tough minutes with generally weak partners, Pietrangelo consistently full starter’s workload, which is no easy task. My model expects a .917 earns above average expected and actual goal rates, finishing at 54 and save percentage for the season, but seeing him back around last year’s 53 percent respectively last season. Like every other Blue, he was even rate or plummeting to a league average rate wouldn’t be all that more impressive down the stretch at 57 and 62 percent and that was surprising. while upping his own individual offensive contribution scoring at a 55- point pace. For St. Louis the difference in goaltending has been massive. It Before 2018-19, there was never a season in St. Louis history like the undermined the team in 2017-18 and again to start the 2018-19 season, one we witnessed. And before 2019-20, we’ve never known what to then it was one of the biggest reasons for them being one of the league’s expect from a Blues team that won the Stanley Cup the year before. So best to end the season. Knowing what they’ll get is impossible and plays your guess is as good as mine, but my guess is that the encore will be as a crucial role into what this team will be come April. memorable as encores usually are. With that being said, it shouldn’t be as big of a worry this September as it The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 was last September. Then, it was one of the only reasons my model wasn’t buying the Blues hype. Once Berube arrived, though, everything had changed and while goaltending still matters, the team should still safely make the playoffs if it falters. Take out Binnington’s 2.4 win projection and this team still lands in the top 10 and it shouldn’t be forgotten that part of his strong save percentage is due to the stingy defense in front of him. If that’s the team’s biggest concern, they should be more than fine. Binnington’s strong start to his career is more than enough to be optimistic that it’ll be a strength rather than a weakness anyway, despite his small body of work. There’s not much holding this team back from a repeat. The Blues look like the best of the West, a deep group with few question marks that should be able to overcome the holes they do have. It’s been a long time coming, but the team is finally the elite contender many have been hoping to see for years. The 2018-19 season was special but this team doesn’t look done just yet. Market Expectations St. Louis Blues: 96.5 points This is an absurd line, one that lands five points lower than my model for one of the biggest discrepancies this summer. Usually, defending Stanley Cup champions get a lot more clout than this in the market and it’s difficult to see why the Blues wouldn’t be more well regarded given they exceeded this total already despite mailing in half a season. Under Berube and with only Maroon missing, it’s hard to understand such a low valuation here. What Fans Predict Public Sample: 1,337 Fan Sample: 186 It seems the public is aligning with the market at large, projecting a finish just one point higher. I’m not sure I buy that, even if you discount the team’s elite second half. Even the fans themselves are hesitant, betting on one point under my model’s forecast. There’s a lot to like with the Blues and that most of it comes from the team’s defensive prowess might be the reason for the subdued expectations. Defense itself is harder to repeat than offense, so that apprehension isn’t without merit, but it still feels like the Blues aren’t getting their due despite being the defending champions. They arguably deserve better than what the market and public believe. What The Athletic Insider Thinks Jeremy Rutherford: Just as everyone expected a year ago, Dom’s 2019- 20 Blues’ season preview is about the team potentially repeating as Stanley Cup champions. OK, not everybody, like Dom or myself. Last season was truly a historic season, and three months later, it’s still hard to fathom. But it happened, and now it’s time to analyze the Blues using a different scope — a scope that sees a club with championship experience and a window that’s still wide open. I’ll leave the point projecting to Dom’s model, but I’ll tell you what I think about the Blues’ chances. It was summer like no other in St. Louis and the hangover could be very real. That said, Blues coach Craig Berube — notice the ‘interim” tag has been removed — is adept at delivering his message to the players and he’s already implored them to move on. And they have heard him, evidenced by Vladimir Tarasenko saying recently that “one is not enough!” I think they have a roster that will be in the thick of things. I like the talent they have up front, and while they’re losing Pat Maroon, who had some key moments for his hometown team, they have solid replacements in Zach Sanford, Sammy Blais, Robby Fabbri, etc. Meanwhile, the same seven defensemen are back, so there’s some chemistry and depth on the backend as well. For me, it comes down to two things: No. 1, Jordan Binnington. Is he the real deal? If he is, they’ll be fine. It’s not to say there won’t be hiccups, there will be, but if he’s almost as good as he was last season, he won’t be a concern. And No. 2, not having their backs up against the wall. They were in last place in the standings in January, so the feeling of desperation was constant the entire second half. That won’t be there anymore, at least not at the start. So their structure and their execution have to beat opponents, not their motivation. 1108360 Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa Bay Lightning’s Luke Witkowski is playing two positions The natural defenseman can play forward as well, which is part of why the Lightning signed him this offseason.

By Diana C. Nearhos

SUNRISE — Luke Witkowski doesn’t remember the exact scenario but he knows Jon Cooper first switched him to forward in the middle of a game three years ago. Either due to injuries or penalties, the Lightning needed more forwards. Cooper looked down the bench and asked if Witkowski, naturally a defenseman, could play right wing. Witkowski said yeah. What else was he going to say? “I always say whatever I need to do to get in the lineup or stick in this league, I’m going to do it,” he said. In five seasons, the 27-year-old has never played a full season in the NHL. His high is 34 games. Witkowski went on to play 10 straight games at forward in 2017 and then signed with Detroit as both forward and defenseman. That ability to play both ways is part of what appealed to the Lightning in bringing him back into the organization this summer. He has played both this preseason, and was at forward Thursday night against Florida. Over the past couple of years, Witkowski has gotten more comfortable playing forward. The hard part is when he plays both within a single game. That switch from automatically skating forwards vs backwards takes a quick recalibration of instincts. “I’m playing fourth line forward, so it’s just skating as hard as I can trying to hit,” he said. “You don’t have to think too much.” The Lightning is taking a fresh look at Witkowski this preseason. They know him but haven’t seen him within their system in two years. Assistant coach Derek Lalonde observed Witkowski has had an impact at both positions. Not bad for someone who didn’t even play forward as a kid. “I started playing forward in the NHL and I’ve only done it for 60-some games,” he said. “It’s not the easiest place to learn, but I’m trying to make the most of it.” Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108361 Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa Bay Lightning can’t overcome defensive breakdowns Andrei Vasilevskiy allowed six goals in his preseason debut but didn’t get much support in front of him.

By Diana C. Nearhos

SUNRISE — The Lightning committed what coach Jon Cooper called “fixable mistakes” on Thursday and it cost them. On the night Andrei Vasilevskiy made his preseason debut in net, the team got caught with turnovers and breakdowns in the neutral zone, falling to Florida 6-3. The issues didn’t necessarily come in quantity but in quality. Ryan MacDonagh’s term was obvious mistakes. The Panthers scored four goals in the second period, including three in a 3:02 span. Those goals came on odd man rushes, turnovers, line changes and scrums in front of the net. Not a lot to write home about for the Lightning’s defense there. By the time the game was over, Vasilevskiy had allowed six goals total on 24 shots. The goalie wasn’t entirely to blame on most of those goals given the defensive breakdowns in front of him. “Sometimes we rely on Vasy a lot and that’s something we need to get away from,” Alex Killorn said. That’s something the Lightning started the offseason saying they wanted to address but old habits die hard. Alex Volkov was a bright spot with a nice wrist shot to put the Lightning on the board in the first period. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108362 Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs star Auston Matthews faces disorderly conduct charge

MARTY KLINKENBERG

Toronto Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews faces a disorderly conduct charge as a result of a May 26 incident that occurred in Scottsdale, Ariz. A complaint filed in city court in Scottsdale – the 22-year-old’s hometown – alleges that Leafs’ highest-paid player dropped his pants, bent over and grabbed his buttocks after he was confronted by a female security guard at a condominium complex. According to published reports, the security officer identified Matthews as being among a group of young men who attempted to force open the door of her vehicle as she sat doing paperwork at 2 a.m. When confronted, the officer said Matthews said he thought it would be funny to see how she would react. Matthews was not arrested, but a pretrial conference is scheduled in Scottsdale on Wednesday morning. The Maple Leafs have acknowledged they are aware a complaint has been filed and say Matthews is co-operating with Scottsdale police. The exact charge – disorderly conduct and disruptive behaviour – is a Class 1 misdemeanour in Arizona. If guilty, Matthews could face a jail term of as long as six months and a fine of US$2,500. In January, he signed a five-year contract extension worth US$58-million. The young star, who won the Calder Trophy in 2017 as the league’s top rookie, had been touted as a candidate to be the team’s captain this year. The Maple Leafs play an exhibition game against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena Wednesday night. It is unknown why the alleged incident and the charges are only coming to light a week before the start of the 2019-20 season. The Leafs’ season opener is at home on Oct. 2 against the Ottawa Senators. The team issued a brief news release on Tuesday confirming the complaint, but said it would release no other statement. Matthews did not comment and his agent did not respond to an interview request. The incident is alleged to have happened a little more than a month after Toronto was eliminated in seven games by the Boston Bruins in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The team has failed to advance beyond the first round in each of the past three years. Matthews had a career-high 73 points in 68 games last season and scored five goals and added one assist in the playoff series against Boston. The first pick in the 2016 NHL draft has accumulated 205 points in 212 regular-season games. The security officer’s complaint says that a fellow member of the group attempted to intervene on Matthews’s behalf and asked her not to report what happened to the building’s management. She responded by saying the incident was on video and would be reported. A police report says a surveillance video shows a male walking toward the complex’s elevators with his pants around his ankles. Matthews has two goals and one assist in two preseason games. Globe And Mail LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108363 Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs release veteran netminder Michal Neuvirth from tryout

THE CANADIAN PRESS PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

The Toronto Maple Leafs released veteran goalie Michal Neuvirth from his professional tryout on Tuesday. The 31-year-old was brought in to compete with Michael Hutchinson for the backup job behind Frederik Andersen at training camp, but saw just two periods of action in preseason owing to an unspecified injury. Hutchinson, 29, likely cemented his spot as Toronto’s No. 2 netminder with a 38-save performance in a 3-0 shutout of the Montreal Canadiens on Monday behind a largely American Hockey League lineup. Neuvirth was supposed to make the trip to Montreal, but head coach Mike Babcock said before the game he “wasn’t feeling up to it.” Selected 34th over all at the 2006 NHL draft, Neuvirth is 105-93-26 in his career, with a .910 save percentage and a 2.71 goals-against average in 257 games, including 228 starts, with the Washington Capitals, Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers. Plagued by various injuries throughout his career, Neuvirth played just seven games with Philadelphia in 2018-19. Hutchinson was acquired by Toronto in a trade with the Florida Panthers last season, when Andersen went down with a groin injury. He was then thrust into the starter’s job when then-backup Garret Sparks suffered a concussion in practice, going 2-3-0 with a .914 save percentage and a 2.64 GAA for the Leafs. In 111 career NHL games, including 95 starts, the native of Barrie, Ont., is 46-43-13, with a .908 save percentage and a 2.70 GAA. The Leafs also recalled goalie Kasimir Kaskisuo on Tuesday from their AHL camp. Globe And Mail LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108364 Toronto Maple Leafs Like politics and entertainment and a great many other things that involve money and status, sports lets a lot go. Some fans are already screaming, Leave Him Alone. It’s not just management, and not just fans, either. The 2019 Winter Classic was just the latest major NHL event to pay tribute to It seems Auston Matthews still has some growing to do, and we’re not Bobby Hull, a notorious wife beater who famously once told The Moscow talking about hockey Times, “Hitler had some good ideas. He just went a bit too far.” Enjoy the popcorn, everyone.

Matthews didn’t do any of that. He allegedly did the kind of thing that Bruce Arthur young men do when they haven’t learned empathy yet. You’d hope it was a blip in his life, one bad dumb thing, though there are also lots of pants and butt jokes in his future. Some Images endure, and become “Auston’s friend then stepped in and tried to calm Fayola down and also punchlines. asked her not to tell management. As the friend was speaking to Fayola, she said Auston began to walk away and after he walked some distance, And if it’s true, Auston Matthews should apologize. He may do some Auston pulled his pants down, bent over and grabbed his butt cheeks. I community service, if convicted. His hockey career won’t stop growing tried to clarify with Fayola if she saw skin or was he wearing underwear. because of this. You just hope he grows from it, too. Fayola said she knew he had his boxers on, and she did not see his Toronto Star LOADED: 09.25.2019 butt.” — From the Scottsdale, Arizona, police report dated May 28, involving Auston Matthews. Auston Matthews’ season had been over for a month when it is alleged he did a stupid drunken thing. He’s not as famous in his home state of Arizona as he is here in Toronto, where he is expected to be the next captain of the Maple Leafs. The police report alleges that after a night out drinking, Matthews and some friends tried to break into a female security guard’s locked vehicle, where she sat doing regular paperwork. This is the part where we say, none of the allegations have been proven in court. The guard, Fayola Dozithee, handled it all pretty well, if by her own account: She basically yelled at them, saying why would you try to break into a woman’s car at two in the morning, mentioning she is a veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder, and telling them all to just go home. Meanwhile, even as his friends tried to calm everything down, she says Matthews kept saying he thought it would be funny to see how she would react. That was before the Captain Underpants moment. The officer said he reviewed security footage of a young man walking to the elevator, his pants still around his ankles; that young man was identified as Matthews. He has been charged with disorderly conduct. If true, it’s the kind of dumb, entitled, thoughtless thing that young men are prone to do, especially if they have power and money. Scaring a woman at two in the morning with a group of drunken men is menacing if you think of it from her point of view. Matthews doesn’t seem to have done so. “During our conversation, Fayola appeared to be very disturbed over the situation. She also mentions a few times that she was a female sitting in her car, who knows what they intended to do and the fact that it was more than just one guy,” read the police report. Of course there are far worse things in sports and in politics and in life, but because Auston Matthews is who he is, this is A Thing. Because this is sports, the debate will centre around the captaincy, which may be one of the more overrated things in sports, except when it isn’t. We’ve been waiting for him to be named captain of the Leafs for a while now, because he’s the team’s best player, its highest-paid star, and probably the best goal scorer in hockey. People figured the Leafs were waiting because Mitch Marner was still trying to get the same contract as Matthews, his peer, and giving Matthews the captaincy could upset the negotiations. Maybe there was more to it than that. YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN... But because Matthews now comes off as loutish and immature in this particular instance, it would be at least a little awkward for an organization attuned to social issues and protective of its image to present him with the captaincy, and the keys to the team. This wasn’t Antonio Brown, but it wasn’t nothing, and an apology to the guard is warranted, at the very least. It was the kind of dumb thing that boys do all the time. A lot of boys have trouble imagining how their fun might feel to others, and women in particular. But does that mean this image-conscious organization won’t make him captain? Doubtful, though defenceman Morgan Rielly has the more obviously natural public temperament for the gig. But other beloved captains in team history had less appealing pasts than this. Less seriously, Claude Giroux has been the captain of the Philadelphia Flyers since 2013, and he was arrested in 2014 for allegedly grabbing the buttocks of a male police officer over and over before being arrested in the Byward Market in Ottawa. (Alcohol was said to be involved.) He didn’t face charges. As one former player noted, “think Chris Pronger was a good captain? He was awesome, and a walking misdemeanour.” 1108365 Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs prospect Dmytro Timashov takes Mike Babcock’s praise as a sign he’s close to the NHL

By Mark Zwolinski Sports Reporter Kevin McGran Sports Reporter

Dmytro Timashov says he is flattered by Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock’s positive comments about him. The 22-year-old forward — he turns 23 next week — remains part of the main training camp group that features mostly players who will start the season in the NHL. Babcock sees good things with Timashov, but the coach would also like to see him protect the puck more and develop into a player along the lines of Trevor Moore and, eventually, Zach Hyman. “It means you’re really close,” Timashov said, smiling, when he was made aware of Babcock’s comments Tuesday. “Since the beginning of camp, every time he’s sees me he tells me: ‘Why not you?’ It’s positive. I have to keep working hard and be good on things he wants me to be good on.” After three years with the Marlies, Timashov had wondered when he might get his chance. He has 38 goals and 69 assists in 202 AHL games. “You want to play in the NHL. That’s the goal. It takes time. I am a smaller player (listed at five-foot-10 and 192 pounds). I know I have to be stronger than everybody else. I’ve been working on that. I’ve been taking steps. I was an offensive guy when I came to the Marlies. I took steps defensively, too. That helps me.” BEYOND HIS YEARS: Defenceman Rasmus Sandin continues to be one of the feel-good stories of the Leafs’ camp. The 19-year-old Sandin, who has looked comfortable and NHL-ready, has surprised many of his peers with his poise, including goalie Michael Hutchinson. “He’s an incredible player … last year, I didn’t realize he was a 2000 (birth year) for about two months,” Hutchinson said. “When someone told me, I was shocked.” WARMING UP: Tyson Barrie says he is fitting in with the Leafs but the adjustment has taken a while. “There’s so much that changes. You get used to one place for so long and it abruptly ends,” the defenceman said. “One thing, I’m pretty loud in the room. (I like to) chirp guys and have some laughs. The first few weeks, I’ve been a little more quiet than I maybe would be, just feeling out some personalities. I’m going to have to start giving it to guys soon.” IN TOUCH WITH HUTCH: Starting goaltender Frederik Andersen can start building a relationship with his backup goaltender, now that the Leafs have released Michael Neuvirth. The 31-year-old Czech was expected to challenge for the No. 2 job, if not win his battle with Michael Hutchinson. But Neuvirth played only two periods in camp due to injury. Hutchinson now has the inside track on the role, and underlined his chances with a 38-save shutout in Montreal on Monday. YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN... “Just being part of a healthy group between me, the goalie coach, and the backup, that’s how I function best,” Andersen said. “There’s a healthy competition between us, but we support each other and help each other out, that’s what is important to me.” Toronto Star LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108366 Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews was charged with disorderly conduct, disruptive behaviour in Arizona

By Kevin McGran

Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews, believed by many to be the team’s next captain, faces disorderly conduct charges in Scottsdale, Ariz., after an incident last spring with a female security guard at 2 a.m., in which a group allegedly tried to get into her car and Matthews — walking away — dropped his pants. The Star obtained a copy of the complaint — filed May 28 — from Scottsdale Police on Tuesday. None of the allegations have been proven in court. Matthews, who signed in January a five-year extension with the Maple Leafs worth $58 million (U.S.), could not be reached for comment. His agent also did not respond to a request for comment. The Leafs acknowledged the charges in a statement provided to the Star. “The Toronto Maple Leafs are aware of the complaint of disturbing the peace against forward Auston Matthews. Auston is cooperating fully with the relevant authorities but neither he nor the Club will comment any further out of respect for the process involved.” The incident is alleged to have happened at 2 a.m. on May 26, when security guard Fayola Dozithee — who was in her locked car outside the condo building where Matthews lives — was disturbed by the sound of someone trying to open her door. She “jumped out of her vehicle to find out who was trying to get in her car ... and noticed it was Auston and his friends,” reads the police report, which contained some misspellings. “She confronted them and the response from Auston was they wanted to see what she would do and they believed it would be funny to see how she would respond. Fayola found this very disturbing and put her on edge. “Fayola said she’d told Auston and his friends, ‘I am a female, I am a military vet with sever (sic) PTSD.’ She also told them it wasn’t funny and how could they think it would be funny to try and get in a female’s vehicle at 2 a.m. in the morning.” She told police Matthews and his friends appeared to be drunk. “She continued to say that Auston would say that he thought it was funny. Fayola said she then began to tell them to just leave.” A friend of Matthews, unidentified, tried to intervene and asked Dothizee not to tell management. Dothizee said the incident was on camera, and would be reported. “As the friend was speaking to Fayola, she said Auston began to walk away and after he walked some distance, Auston pulled his pants down, bent over and grabbed his butt cheeks.” She added he was not fully exposed, keeping his underwear up. The police report said a security video shows a man walking with his pants around his ankles, but underwear up. Matthews is the team’s highest paid and most important player. It’s believed he’s in line to be captain. The team announced it would likely name one before the 2019-20 season begins. Disorderly conduct is designated a class 1 misdemeanour in Arizona, punishable by up to six months in jail and up to a $2,500 fine. Toronto Star LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108367 Toronto Maple Leafs

John Tavares works on being the centre of attention on revamped Leafs power play

By Mark Zwolinski

In the middle of a Maple Leafs training camp that is unusually busy with job battles — one less with the release of backup goalie candidate Michael Neuvirth — and changes to the power play, there is always a voice of calm. That voice belongs to John Tavares. The Leafs centre is both observant and reassuring about the changes coming to the Leafs playbook this season. Tavares is moving from the edge of the crease on the power play to Nazem Kadri’s old spot in the high slot, and there will obviously be adjustments. But Tavares broke it down, reflecting a veteran wisdom that allows him to understand things before they happen, and how to make himself a better part of the overall process. “There’s a few adjustments … obviously I’m not in front of the net anymore,” Tavares said Tuesday as the Leafs continued to work on their special teams. “I think (the role is) just a lot of puck support, being available, especially on loose pucks, second and third opportunities around the net, recovering pucks along the boards — 50-50 battles and what not, trying to out number the opponent — being available as an outlet to break the pressure down, and just having awareness of where to go and being in the right spot at the right time, and to be an outlet to make plays or get a shot when you get an opportunity.” That’s a lot of power play detail, and Leafs fans will witness it for the first time when Tavares and the Leafs host Montreal on Wednesday. The top unit is mostly the same — Andreas Johnsson, who will replace Tavares in front of the net, is the lone newcomer — but there are more changes with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner switching sides. The point duties will be handled by incumbent Morgan Rielly. New assistant coach Paul McFarland is handling the Toronto power play after having success with the man advantage in Florida the past two seasons. The Panthers were neck and neck with Tampa Bay for the best power play in the league, finishing second with a 26.8 per cent success rate. The Leafs finished eighth at 21.8 per cent. Tavares is coming off career highs in goals (47) and points (88) despite an average ice time of 19:05 minutes per game, the lowest of his career since his rookie season in 2009-10. YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN... A proud new father, he continues to be an example to younger players of what it takes to play in the league and how to prepare. “For me, I’ve always tried to work on the pace of my play, be very hard to defend, and you try to do that in different ways, you don’t want to be known to be strong in one or two areas, you want to be as versatile as you can be,” Tavares said. “Coming out of my own zone, making plays off the rush, being strong in the offensive zone, making plays in open ice, and being strong in tight areas, those have kinda been my strong suits, so for me, (I’m trying to) just elevate my game, work on the pace of my game, being more dynamic, being deceptive and hard to defend against. If you can get that to mesh with your overall game without the puck, it only helps you offensively and elevates all those things you like to do. “So, it’s continuing that evolution, trying to be a complete overall player. Sometimes things click a little quicker there, but for me, it comes down to working on the pace of my play, how quick I can make plays, being counted on for a lot of minutes, and making sure I’m ready for that.” Toronto Star LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108368 Toronto Maple Leafs No. 1 goaltenders who played fewer than 60 times during the 82-game grind.

And as much as Babcock has pushed back on that — he’ll worry about Maple Leafs will have to keep looking out for No. 2 keeping Andersen fresh for the playoffs, the coach has essentially said, when the Leafs have assured themselves of making them — it’s up to Dubas to provide a No. 2 option the coach can trust. By Dave Feschuk Andersen, after all, will turn 30 on the night of the Oct. 2 season opener against the Senators. Since he arrived in Toronto in 2016, no NHL goaltender has been worked harder. No NHL goaltender has started If you were attempting to pinpoint where it all went wrong for the Maple more games, faced more shots, made more saves. And no goaltender Leafs last season, you could list off any number of possibilities. who has played 20 or more post-season games over that stretch has a playoff goals-against average worse than Andersen’s 3.04. So trying a Why did they flounder down the stretch, finish third in the Atlantic lighter regular-season workload would seem to make sense. Division, and lose another Game 7 in Boston last spring? Maybe William Nylander’s nonfactor of a season gets some votes. Maybe Auston Toronto Star LOADED: 09.25.2019 Matthews missing 14 games to injury finds some support. Or you could make a case for Toronto’s less-than-stellar special teams, including an historically inept penalty kill. But in conversations with multiple team employees in the wake of the stretch-run cold streak that preceded a third straight first-round exit, there’s an internal belief that one of the biggest culprits was backup goaltending. Perhaps you’ll remember its devolution. By the end of Garret Sparks’s rough run as Frederik Andersen’s understudy, Sparks didn’t just take the loss in eight of his final 10 appearances in the Maple Leafs crease, he also fostered enough organizational doubt in his ability to handle the role that he was essentially kicked out of the team’s dressing room in the lead-up to the playoffs. His equipment hung in one of the spare locker rooms down the corridor at the team’s practice facility, where Sparks, in the weeks before he would be traded to Las Vegas in the David Clarkson deal, was left to work on his game solo. Sparks’s replacement as the No. 2, Michael Hutchinson, might have been a less off-putting presence to most palates, but he didn’t exactly set the world on fire either. Hutchinson won just twice in five starts. Tally it up, and the Leafs managed to compile just 21 points in 22 starts with a goaltender not named Andersen manning the mesh. The season before, by way of comparison, Curtis McElhinney was responsible for earning 22 points in just 15 starts. So backup goaltending, it’s fair to say, was an issue last year. And there’s little reason to believe it won’t be one this season, too, especially in light of Tuesday’s news that the Leafs had released Michal Neuvirth from his professional tryout. There was hope that Neuvirth could be a viable answer to a problem. At age 31, the Czech’s career resumé was better than anything else in Leafs camp. At his best, Neuvirth has been an NHL starter who played into the second round of the playoffs with the Capitals back in 2011. But at his worst — and lately the league’s been seeing a lot of it — Neuvirth has been an unreliable, injury-prone struggler. So it didn’t bode well for his chances that he pulled himself out of a scheduled pre-season start in Montreal on Monday night because, as head coach Mike Babcock put it, he wasn’t “feeling up to it.” So the job is Hutchinson’s, at least for the moment. YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN... “Hutch is a good kid. Hutch works real hard. I thought Hutch played well (in a 3-0 win Monday),” Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said. “The biggest thing is we’ve just got to work together and make sure that we have a good, stable backup so that we’re in a position where we can start him at any time and not worry about it, and know you have an opportunity to win. And that’s the biggest challenge for you … you’ve got to win games. The division’s going to be real tight. Some teams have gotten better, and we know there’s a challenge there. So we need good goaltending.” Give Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas credit for decisiveness in bailing on Neuvirth. Considering the importance of the role, there is no room for high-maintenance headaches among mask-wearing employees this season. This is a role that’s going to dwarf the approximately $700,000 (U.S.) in salary the capped-out Maple Leafs will likely devote to it. That’s the number Hutchinson is scheduled to make, and it’s likely the price range the Leafs would be looking to pay should they scour the waiver wire for other possibilities in the lead-up to the season opener at home against the Senators a week Wednesday. Andersen, after all, has become more and more comfortable in spelling out what he believes it will take to optimize his season. Never before has Andersen pinpointed a number of regular-season he sees as ideal — “between 50 and 60,” is how he has sketched it out, so far. It isn’t lost on anyone that the past seven winners of the Stanley Cup have employed 1108369 Toronto Maple Leafs “(And) as the friend was speaking to Fayola, she said Auston began to walk away and after he walked some distance, Auston pulled his pants down, bent over and grabbed his butt cheeks.” SIMMONS: Will Matthews' stupidity and entitlement cost him Leafs Dothizee said he was not fully exposed, keeping his underwear up. The captaincy? police report said a security video tape shows a man walking away with his pants around his ankles.

This isn’t the first time — and it won’t be the last — that a prominent Steve Simmons professional athlete is caught with their pants down. But it changes the perception of Matthews, this close to the start of the new season. It changes the likelihood of him being named captain. An apparently drunken Auston Matthews was caught with his pants down John Tavares and Morgan Rielly are now the likely candidates to get the in Arizona and, in doing so, probably cost himself the captaincy of the nod as captain. But the Leafs might put off any announcement in wake of Toronto Maple Leafs. the public circumstances. The announcement was expected to come early next week, just before But the ‘C’ doesn’t seem anywhere near as important as the poor the NHL regular season is to begin. decision-making displayed by the player the Leafs will pay $11.6 million a But how do they do that now? year for the next five seasons. How do they do that when Matthews is facing a disorderly conduct and They have to be terribly disappointed in Matthews. They expected more disruptive behaviour charge stemming from an incident last May, — and should expect more — from him. according to the Scottsdale Police Department? Toronto Sun LOADED: 09.25.2019 How do they do that in this changing world of MeToo and anti- harassment, with a hockey team run by the politically correct general manager Kyle Dubas? How do they look the other way? And how do the Leafs, in the wake of the Matthews news breaking late on Tuesday afternoon, reward idiocy? They can’t look away when a position that’s all about leadership and maturity — and, even more than that, that’s historically symbolic for a signature franchise — is trampled on by immature hijinks, and a lack of judgment … if the Scottsdale police report is to believed. None of the allegations have been proven in court and none are of the major-crime variety. More than anything, the real crime here is both stupidity and entitlement. A court of law doesn’t have to prove that. He is already guilty of being an ass, likely a drunken ass at 2 in the morning. “The Toronto Maple Leafs are aware of the complaint of disturbing the peace against forward Auston Matthews,” the Leafs began in a released statement on Tuesday that didn’t accurately portray the situation. The Leafs’ statement didn’t indicate Matthews was being charged with anything. “Auston is cooperating fully with the relevant authorities but neither he nor the Club will comment any further out of respect for the process involved.” Matthews facing a charge of disorderly conduct – disruptive behavior or conduct, stemming from incident in May in Scottsdale. Summons issued and arraignment set on July 23. #Leafs — Terry Koshan (@koshtorontosun) September 24, 2019 The incident apparently took place at 2 a.m. on May 26 outside of the condo in which Matthews lives in Scottdale. The building’s security guard, a woman named Fayola Dothizee, was sitting in her locked vehicle when she was startled by the sound of someone trying to open her car door. According to the police report “she jumped out of her vehicle to find out who was trying to get in her car … and noticed it was Auston and his friends. “She confronted them and the response from Auston was they wanted to see what she would do and they believed it would be funny to see how she would respond.” They thought it was funny. “Fayola found this very disturbing and (it) put her on edge. Fayola said she’d told Auston and his friends, ‘I am a female, I am a military vet with sever(e) PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).’ “She also told them it wasn’t funny and how could they think it would be funny to try and get in a female’s vehicle at 2 a.m. in the morning.” According to the security guard, Matthews found the whole thing funny and the apparently upset Dothizee told them “to just leave.” A friend of Matthews, unidentified according to the report, tried to intervene and asked Dothizee not to tell (building) management. Dothizee said the incident was on camera, and would be reported. A report from the Scottsdale police department. 1108370 Toronto Maple Leafs A good example is winger Egor Korshkov, who is unlikely to make the Leafs roster but is putting himself in good shape to be among the first recalls in the event of injuries. Marincin taking advantage of renewed confidence at Leafs camp “I have been seeing a real good player right from the get-go,” Babcock said. “His hands and his hockey sense for a man that big, he makes plays every time he has it. We have seen that right through. Terry Koshan “As he gets used to it and he understands more, he has a better chance to look way quicker. The other thing is, we often say he is not very quick but I saw him skate by three NHL D-men (in Montreal for a goal). He is a Mike Babcock was saying recently that, in his opinion, the lone issue for good player, we like him and we will just keep going with the process.” Martin Marincin in becoming an effective NHL player was confidence. With Korshkov and fellow Russian Ilya Mikheyev, Babcock and his staff The skating and ability and Marincin’s reading of the game, the Maple are trying to overcome a language barrier. Leafs coach figured, were in place. “It’s not easy for them,” Babcock said. “I can’t even imagine if I’m in Marincin just had to believe in himself. Now, that appears to be Russia and I’m trying to keep up to things going 100 miles an hour (and happening for the 27-year-old defenceman as he heads into his sixth not knowing the language). Over time, they’re going to get it. Goes to season as a member of the Leafs organization. show you how good a player they are to just be surviving when they don’t know. Are you getting 50%? Mikheyev maybe more than Korsh to be “I feel like this camp has been the best for me, I’m feeling the best in the honest with you, but it didn’t seem to hurt Korsh (in Montreal).” years I have been here,” Marincin said on Tuesday. “I’m feeling pretty confident.” LOOSE LEAFS Why now? MLSE chairman Larry Tanenbaum made a rare appearance on Tuesday at practice, watching from above with Leafs president Brendan Shanahan “I don’t know, it’s tough to say,” Marincin said. “I’m just trying to do and members of the Leafs’ front office. While some speculated that everything right, trying to work hard and it’s coming. Tanenbaum’s presence indicated a captain announcement would be made, that, obviously, didn’t happen … Upon being told he had made “I’m just looking to play right every game, fight for my spot. I know I can TSN’s list of top 50 players in the NHL, on which he placed sixth, Auston play in the NHL.” Matthews gave a verbal shrug. “There are 100 different lists and I could A veteran of 201 NHL games with the Leafs and Edmonton Oilers, care less about it,” Matthews said. “I just go out there and play hockey Marincin, signed to a one-year, $700,000 US contract by the Leafs in and leave the lists for you guys to argue over.” June, has been skating with rookie Rasmus Sandin on the Leafs’ third Toronto Sun LOADED: 09.25.2019 pairing. They’re going to get another opportunity on Wednesday when the Leafs play host to the Montreal Canadiens in a pre-season game at Scotiabank Arena. “I like to play with him because he is such a great skater,” Marincin said. “We play a lot in the offensive zone, and that’s what you want to do.” TIMASHOV’S TIME? Dmytro Timashov agrees with Babcock: Why not him for a depth spot among the Leafs forwards? “Since the beginning of the camp, every time he sees me and tells me, ‘Why not you?’” Timashov said. “I think it’s positive, so I’m just going to keep working hard. It means you are really close.” Timashov has developed well in the past three years with the Marlies, though he is aware of the challenge that comes in sticking with the Leafs. Against the Canadiens, Timashov will have a fine chance when he is slated to line up with Jason Spezza and Frederik Gauthier on the Leafs’ fourth line. “Of course, you want to play in the NHL,” Timashov said. “It takes time. I know I’m a smaller player (5-foot-10, 192 pounds), but I know I have to be much stronger than everybody else and I have been working on that. I have been taking steps not to be just an offensive guy with the Marlies. I took the steps to be good defensively, too. I think that helps me.” POWERFUL WORDS While the Leafs’ power-play units remain a work in progress under new assistant coach Paul McFarland, Mitch Marner knows there will be times with the No. 1 group that he will be in position to use his one-timer. It could be one of the few things in hockey that doesn’t come naturally to Marner, not that anyone is anticipating a problem. “I’m trying to be more comfortable with the passing, trying to figure out what the best lane is and also trying to work on my one-timer,” Marner said of coming off the left side. “It’s something I am not very used to doing, so something I’m trying to get used to and get better at.” Does he try to mimic anyone? “No,” Marner said. “I can’t model after Stammer (Steven Stamkos), Kuch (Nikita Kucherov) or Ovie (Alex Ovechkin). I’m just trying to do what I do and see what happens with it.” KORSHKOV OK What’s becoming clear, among other things, is that the Marlies are going to be the recipients of some fine players once the Leafs’ final cuts are made. 1108371 Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs' Auston Matthews facing a charge of disorderly conduct in Scottsdale

Terry Koshan

Auston Matthews is facing a charge of disorderly conduct in his home town of Scottsdale, Ariz., this past off-season. Court records show a summons was issued, and an arraignment set, for the Maple Leafs’ star centre on July 23. A pre-trial conference has been set for Wednesday morning in Scottsdale, but Matthews does not have to appear in person. According to police reports obtained by the Sun, officers received a complaint on Tuesday, May 28 of an “assault and public sexual indecency” that occurred in the overnight hours two days earlier. The complainant, a female security guard at a Scottsdale condo complex, told police she was doing paperwork in her patrol vehicle when she alleges Matthews and a group of his friends attempted to open her car door. Exiting her car and confronting the group, the guard claimed Matthews told her “they wanted to see what she would do,” and that it would be “funny to see how she would respond.” The police report says the guard said Matthews and his friends appeared to be intoxicated. “I am a female, I am a military vet with severe PTSD,” the guard claims to have told the group, ordering them to leave the area. That prompted one of Matthew’s friends to intervene, the report reads — attempting to calm her down and asking her not to report the incident to management. She then alleges that Matthews pulled his pants down, bent over and “grabbed his butt cheeks.” When asked by the officer if “she saw skin” or if Matthews was wearing underwear, the complainant replied “he knew he had his boxers on, and she did not see his butt.” On May 30, the officer attended the condo complex and was shown surveillance video of the encounter. The male in the video, identified by the building manager as Matthews, was depicted approaching a building elevator “with his pants down around his ankle,” the officer wrote in his report. “In the video you can see that the subject was wearing a shirt, and underwear as well.” The report states the officer made several attempts to contact Matthews, but wasn’t able to do so. On Tuesday night, the Leafs released the following statement: “The Toronto Maple Leafs are aware of the complaint of disturbing the peace against forward Auston Matthews. Auston is cooperating fully with the relevant authorities but neither he nor the Club will comment any further out of respect for the process involved.” None of the allegations against Matthews have been proven in court. Matthews, who turned 22 on Sept. 17, is believed by many to be in line to be named the next captain of the Leafs, possibly some time before Toronto’s regular-season opener on Oct. 2 against the Ottawa Senators. — With files from Bryan Passifiume Toronto Sun LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108372 Toronto Maple Leafs want to push yourself. I have my own motivations and my own goals for the season and you focus on that and what you can control.

“You want to win games. That’s the biggest thing. It doesn’t matter how it Babcock: Leafs betting on Hutchinson to be strong backup after Neuvirth happens. When I get a chance to play, I want to play well and give the released team a chance to win every night.” HE’S HOW OLD?! Terry Koshan Check that birth certificate. Michael Hutchinson had that feeling last season when he was told that Rasmus Sandin, then his teammate with the , was a For now, at least, there is no competition at Maple Leafs camp for the teenager. backup role behind starting goaltender Frederik Andersen. “He is an incredible player,” Hutchinson said. “Last year, I didn’t realize The oft-injured Michal Neuvirth on Tuesday was released by the Leafs he was a 2000 (birth year) for about two months. When someone told from his professional tryout, further securing Michael Hutchinson’s spot me, I was shocked. Not just on the ice, with the way he plays and sees on the depth chart. the game, he is always steady and makes the right plays, but off the ice he is such a mature kid.” “Hutch is a good kid,” Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. “Hutch works real hard. I thought Hutch played well last night (in a 3-0 pre-season win in The slick, smart and poised Sandin is on track to crack the Maple Leafs Montreal on Monday). roster. “The biggest thing is, you have to work together and make sure that we On Wednesday night against the Montreal Canadiens in a pre-season have a good stable backup so that we’re in a position we can start him at game, the 19-year-old Sandin, playing the left side, again is slated to be any time and not worry about it and know you have an opportunity to win. paired with Martin Marincin. “That’s the biggest challenge. You have to win games. The division is Sandin, Toronto’s first-round pick in 2018, continues to win over his Leafs going to be real tight. Some teams have got better and we know there is teammates. a challenge there, so we need good goaltending.” “He has been really good, has been really confident,” Auston Matthews Does Babcock see potential in Hutchinson to be that guy? said. “That’s what we’re hoping for and we’re betting on that,” Babcock said. “He doesn’t really force any plays, just hangs on to it and makes the right “Our goalie people have done a lot of work to try to set us up to make play 99% of the time. He has been fun to watch and fun to be out there decisions there.” with.” Babcock said he was not involved in the decision to release Neuvirth, Projected Leafs lineup for game against Montreal on Wednesday: though the move was not overly surprising. Neuvirth missed the early days of camp with an undisclosed injury, and though he showed well in Forward lines two periods in Buffalo against the Sabres last Saturday, was unable to Kasperi Kapanen-John Tavares-Mitch Marner resume practising after a day off on Sunday. Andreas Johnsson-Auston Matthews-William Nylander The Leafs recalled Kasimir Kaskisuo, who had been sent to the Toronto Marlies. Joseph Woll remains with the Leafs as well. Ilya Mikheyev-Alex Kerfoot-Trevor Moore Expect Hutchinson to back up Andersen on Wednesday against the Dmytro Timashov-Jason Spezza-Frederik Gauthier visiting Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena when the Leafs dress what likely will be their opening-night roster. Defence Hutchinson has 111 NHL games on his resume, including five with the Morgan Rielly-Cody Ceci Leafs last season. Despite his experience, there remains the possibility Jake Muzzin-Tyson Barrie the Leafs will scour the waiver wire in the coming days with the possibility of making a claim on a goalie, if not make a trade. Rasmus Sandin-Martin Marincin Chatter among NHL general managers is believed to be heating up Goal where goalies are involved, but it’s not clear if that’s an avenue that Kyle Dubas will explore. Frederik Andersen Against Montreal on Monday, Hutchinson made 38 saves. Michael Hutchinson “With age you get experience in that (backup) role, and lot of it comes Toronto Sun LOADED: 09.25.2019 from having that self-confidence,” the 29-year-old Hutchinson said. “When you’re younger, it’s tough when you’re not playing every game to try to stay fully confident. “You get in games sometimes and you try to force things a little too much. That’s one of the things I have realized as I have got older, is it doesn’t matter if you’re playing every night or every other night. If you come to the rink with that confidence that you’re going to play and have success, then it’s going to turn out more often than not (in your favour).” Not that it’s news that the backup position is crucial, but the Leafs got a harsh reminder last season when Garret Sparks, later traded to Vegas, proved to be unworthy. Making matters worse, Curtis McElhinney, who was sharp in the role for the Leafs in 2017-18, was lost on waivers to the Carolina Hurricanes and shone for his new team, winning 20 games. McElhinney turned his success last season into a two-year, $2.6-million US contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. And as Babcock inferred, the Atlantic Division didn’t exactly get less competitive in the off-season. What also needs to be determined is how much the Leafs’ backup will play. Nothing changes for Hutchinson in the wake of the Neuvirth release. “Not at all,” Hutchinson said. “When he was here, I was focusing on myself and doing what I could to earn the guys’ trust, work hard in practice and that doesn’t change. No matter who is here, you always 1108373 Toronto Maple Leafs what a Maple Leaf looks like and what the expectations are for Mike and his team.

What’s one of those things? Q&A: Sheldon Keefe on Marlies, rumours and lessons from Mike We do have things we’re talking about that I don’t know if we’d talk about Babcock openly or publicly, not that they’re big secrets or anything like that. But we’re going to experiment with a few different things. By Joshua Kloke Sep 24, 2019 If there’s one thing I’ve learned over my time is what you have in place through the summer looks entirely different when they arrive in the first week of October. So we’re going to wait and see how that evolves and what abilities we have to try and experiment with some things. Sheldon Keefe isn’t afraid of change. Rasmus Sandin has described you as easy to talk to. What do you do to As the head coach of the Toronto Marlies, Keefe makes every effort to make yourself available and connect with players? understand new approaches to hockey and he is always looking for opportunities to implement new ideas within his team. Just trying to speak to them as often as possible about non-hockey things. I think that you want to present yourself as you are, which is a So when his boss, Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas, sends him human being. I was once a guy in the room that liked to have fun, liked to something to read offering a fresh perspective, Keefe gets excited. joke around and be one of the guys. I try to really connect with the player “I believe that if you’re really going to succeed you have to continue to in me as much as possible and realize what guys are going through and learn and try new things,” Keefe explained. “It’s important to grow as a be present, be out of the office, be out and around and talking to guys. coach and a leader to do that.” Maybe not taking myself so seriously all the time. It’s an attitude that could serve him well this season, with the Maple Because the players know how to play hockey. You try to prepare them Leafs organization having undergone significant player personnel as best as possible for what you want your team to look like, what your turnover this offseason. The 2019-20 Marlies are bound to look different expectations are. But in the game, things happen so fast and the players as well. can sort that stuff out. But if your mindset’s not right going into it, you’re not going to be able to handle adversity either on an individual basis or As the Marlies prepared to open training camp on Tuesday, The Athletic as a team. Ultimately, everything we’re doing is about trying to ensure sat down with Keefe to discuss a number of topics, including how his job that our players and our team is going to be able to respond in the right continually evolves. way when things get difficult. That’s why we’re trying to prioritize relationships. So when things get hard, the player wants to dig in that At the end of last season, there was a lot of speculation about Mike much more and wants to give a little extra. Not just because it’s his job, Babcock’s future and your future coaching for the Leafs. How did you but because he really feels like part of this. treat that speculation? Is it more difficult to connect with young players? Just as that. Just part of what comes with working in this city. I tried to tune it out and resist reading anything that’s going on. But I’m living in the I don’t feel like it is. And I feel like when we say it is, it’s kind of a cop-out. city so you catch up on a lot of it from people and friends sending you In many cases, the players we’ve had with the Marlies, they’re very open, things and talking to you about it. they want to talk to you, they expect to be talked to. So I think in a lot of ways it’s actually a lot easier. The players want more information, they No matter what’s happening around me, I try to stay as focused as I can want more discussion with the coaches. Not necessarily on a hockey on the whole process. I really consider myself, right or wrong, as part of level but they want to know that you’re out there, you’re in it with them, the Maple Leafs. And I take my role very seriously when I look at the you’re on their side and you care about them. So those things are really number of players that have come through the Marlies that are important. Because of that, the pros want that more than ever. And we’ve contributing on the Maple Leafs. I sort of share in the emotions when it tried to put a priority on that. I’ve tried to put a priority on that myself doesn’t go well. So that’s more on what I’m focused on is what can I do because that wasn’t a strength of mine. better to help. And now the Leafs are in a situation where they’re relying on incoming players that are playing at low cap hits. So the Marlies, as Why not? much as we think we’ve played a role in the Leafs getting to where they’re at, it’s going to be all the more important now that we find the next It took time, especially coming out of junior hockey, for me to realize how wave of guys, now that we’re somewhat depleted in a sense of young important that was. And it took time for me to prioritize at times, that it’s talent coming through. more important than anything that’s happening on the ice. So do you find yourself dreaming a bit about coaching in the NHL when Do you find any value in looking at the different coaching methods your friends ask you about it? employed in different sports? I want to coach in the NHL. That’s what I’m preparing for. But never for a I do. In fact, I spend more time probably reading about other sports than I second have I ever thought it was going to be here. I’ve learned a great do hockey. There’s real value in looking at other sports because they deal from Mike Babcock and his coaching staff, both the new coaching have different situations and they go about things differently. staff and D.J. Smith and Jim Hiller previously. I take great pride and I Who is a coach from a different sport that you think you’d like to play for? recognize the responsibility I have to help them to have good players and constantly have players that are going to push to take spots on your The guys in the NFL that I read about, Sean McVay of the L.A. Rams is a team. popular guy right now. I love reading about him. What’s something you’ve learned from Mike? McVay is young in his field too. So many things. First of all, how he structures his day and how he He’s a football lifer. He’s had success as a young coach and he’s manages his day and his time to be able to run the team efficiently. For a changing the way a lot of the game is played offensively. In my limited coach coming out of junior hockey, which operates on a whole different knowledge of football, there’s more and more guys talking about the way schedule from pro hockey, that, early on, was a big eye-opener for me in the Rams play. So he’s been able to not only have success but influence terms of how I needed to reorganize my day and time. the way the game is played. That’s something it’s been hard not to pay attention to. And things away from the puck. The attention to detail defensively, how a system works and what can be efficient at the pro level. It helps me do Is it tough to launch new ideas in professional hockey? It’s sometimes my job that much better because I have firsthand knowledge of what’s known as a conservative environment. being taught and what the expectations are. And that’s really helped our program: developing players that are ready for him. I would say that it is. However, I’m very fortunate to work in an organization with Brendan Shanahan and Kyle Dubas leading the way. You’re known as a coach who is always bringing new ideas into the fold. These are two guys that are progressive. Brendan Shanahan is a Hall of So was there anything you learned this summer that you’re eager to try Famer but the way he talks about the game, he sees it differently as it’s out this season? evolving. And that motivates you to continue to work and not just stay with it in the way it’s supposed to be, but as it could be. There’s a few things. Not necessarily new, but I’ve long had different thoughts about different pieces and work has reaffirmed those thoughts Is that a question you ask yourself: what could hockey look like and things we want to try. I also recognize we have a plan in place about eventually? I ask myself that about the sport on a daily basis. When I watch a clip, I generally look for what else could happen in this scenario. You’ve obviously worked very closely with Kyle Dubas for some time now. How close is the perception of Kyle as an analytically-minded, progressive GM, close to the reality that you see day-to-day? Oh, it’s very much the reality. He’s always looking for an edge. A lot of my motivation and thirst for information has come through the early going when working for him in Sault Ste. Marie and seeing a young, successful guy with a passion to always be learning. He pushed me to expand my own horizons. But at the same time, I think what doesn’t get enough attention is that Kyle is a hockey lifer. He knows the game very well. He watches more hockey than anyone I’ve ever met in the game. It’s not uncommon for him to have two or three screens going and watching games from different leagues. He’s known to send articles to different people. Is there’s something he’s sent you that has stuck with you? The very first book Kyle ever gave me was in Sault Ste. Marie, it was called The Score Takes Care of Itself: My Philosophy of Leadership. Bill Walsh was one of the authors. When there’s the amount of turnover in the Leafs roster as there was this summer, many of the players the Leafs signed are bound to be sent to the Marlies. What are the steps you take to bring them on board? Last year we had a lot of continuity in the leadership. I think it’s important to have great leadership at the AHL level, without a doubt. But I also think with your young prospects, if the leadership doesn’t change, the young players will really struggle to take a step. No matter what, they’re going to be the younger guy to the more established player. But when there’s a leadership change though, it’s a great opportunity. Anyone who ends up coming down who’s played for us for a year or two, now all of a sudden they’re the most tenured people. The young people are going to have a bigger voice. I think that’s a really important piece in their development. Why is it important to empower players sooner? We ask a lot of our players. We ask a lot of their time and the standard we want them to bring every day. We’re trying to make them NHL players. We think that takes a lot of work and time. Sometimes what they think they need to do and what we think they need to do are two different things. So the more that we can involve them in that process and making them understand more of what we’re doing, why there’s an extra workout, why they’re not playing a game but we’re asking them to work with a strength coach instead. They need to know why we’re doing that. They can’t look at it as a punishment. It has to be part of the process. Over time, as they’re established and more important players to your team, you want them to be involved in the decision making, when we travel, when the days off are. Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren are two players that Leafs fans will keep their eyes on all season. Without lumping them together, what’s something you’ve learned about them? When it comes to Sandin, he’s a guy that came in at 18 years old and really thrived right from the start. It’s appropriate, the hype that he’s gotten and the impact he was able to make at 18 years old, to play upwards of 30 minutes a night sometimes for us. We thought he showed signs of wearing down for us a bit at the end of the season but his play allowed us a chance to get there. Liljegren, he’s been here a year, he was drafted higher so there’s a lot more attention put on him. I’m glad you said you didn’t want to lump them together because they’re two different players, two different drafts, completely different circumstances. The thing that happened with Liljegren, and it happened towards the second half of last season that was really cool for us, he really found his way defensively. He was billed as a high-octane offensive defenceman. And while I certainly think he has those abilities and we’re going to continue to work at that, the nice thing that’s happened is that now he has a foundation on his defensive play that he became one of, if not our most reliable defensive players last year. He played against other team’s best lines and on the penalty kill. That made him a really trusted player down the stretch. And ironically, the area we need him to take continued strides in is his offensive game. He’s evolving and trying to figure out what type of player he can be in the NHL. That’s taken some time. The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108374 Toronto Maple Leafs Senators assistant coach John Paddock said both Spezza and the Senators agreed that he wasn’t completely ready for a full NHL season.

“He had the right attitude towards it,” Paddock said. ‘Pay it forward’: Why Jason Spezza is taking on a new role with the Leafs The happy-go-lucky attitude Spezza had in junior didn’t dissipate as the pressure around him increased in the NHL. By Joshua Kloke Sep 24, 2019 Spezza eventually became a mainstay on a Senators team that was on the rise. It was then that he had continued interactions with a core of veterans that to this day Spezza credits with being pivotal to his development: Daniel Alfredsson, Curtis Leschyshyn, Chris Phillips and Bryan Smolinski would routinely put out the invite for the entire Ottawa Smolinski. Senators dressing room to hear. “The trials and tribulations that he was going to go through, he had no “OK, who wants to come over for dinner?” the 31-year-old centre would idea what it was going to be like,” Smolinski said. ask the 2003-04 edition of the team. And so Smolinski took Spezza under his wing. Some players would accept here and there, but there was one player who would never turn him down: 20-year-old centre Jason Spezza. “He was just a kid,” Smolinski said. “I didn’t want him to have to mature any faster than he needed to.” “He always wanted to come over,” said Smolinski. “He’d just come over and hang with the kids.” The constant advice helped Smolinski forge a bond with Spezza that is now reminiscent of the bond Patrick Marleau and Mitch Marner shared as While Smolinski and his wife Julie would cook pots of home-cooked Leafs teammates. pasta, Spezza would flock to Smolinski’s three-year-old son and five- year-old daughter. They’d work up an appetite over hotly-contested mini- Smolinski would routinely pull Spezza aside to give him advice on how to stick games. improve his defensive play. And after dinner, everyone would retire to the living room for bowls of “We’ve got scorers,” Smolinski would say. “Let’s work on a different part popcorn and to watch the NHL games that night. of the craft to keep you in the league as long as possible.” “They were really kind to me at a young age,” said Spezza. “I was single, When Spezza would get an earful from his coaches, Smolinski was there no family, and bored a lot of nights. It gives you a family away from your to serve as the voice of reason. own family.” “Hey, you are going to get yelled at,” Smolinski would say. “It’s not Watching hockey together gave Spezza an opportunity to discuss some personal.” of the information he’d been soaking up in his first two professional seasons. And one thought kept returning to Smolinski: “Man, he has got He’d counsel Spezza if his ice time was reduced. Smolinski encouraged a long career ahead of him.” Spezza to be flexible in the face of uncertainty and to follow coach Jacques Martin’s instructions dutifully. Spezza is now entering his 18th professional season. There may be new questions about his role on the ice, but there is little doubt over what his “Make him be an ally before he’s your enemy,” was Smolinski’s advice. role off it is expected to be. He is ready to be the person for some young “You might not like it, but it’s going to help you in the long run.” Leafs that Smolinski was for him. Senators assistant coach Greg Carvel said that as talented as Spezza “It’s almost like a pay it forward thing,” said the now 36-year-old Spezza, was with the puck, he still had plenty to learn about playing off the puck. signed this summer to a one-year, $700,000 deal. “Now it’s your job to Through his early time in Ottawa, Spezza always had coaches in his ear. show the way to guys. It was a very important part of my development to “Jason never gave you attitude when he heard information that have good leaders around me and now you try to give that back.” sometimes hurt,” Carvel said. “He wanted the information.” It’s a role that has taken Spezza most of his career to grow into. Carvel said he witnessed many hard conversations between Spezza and It’s not difficult for Chad Wiseman to remember playing against a 15- Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson. He remembers Spezza as always year-old Jason Spezza when they were both in the OHL. taking it in an “extremely professional” manner. “Tall, lanky and full of composure and skill,” said Wiseman, a forward “Guys who go through that, they look back in the end of their career and with the Mississauga Ice Dogs from 1998-2001. they realize how helpful it was at the time, even if they didn’t appreciate it or think it was necessary,” Carvel said. A year after watching the 15-year-old lead the expansion Brampton Battalion in scoring with 71 points in 67 games, Wiseman welcomed In the 2006-07 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Senators emerged as a bona Spezza as a teammate with the dismal IceDogs the following season. fide contender. They dispatched their opponents through the first three rounds in five games apiece. Spezza was tied for second in scoring on Spezza would finish with 61 points in 52 games, but his minus-49 was an the team that season with 87 points. He had five full regular seasons eyesore. For the second year in a row, Spezza’s team would finish in the under his belt. As the cliché goes, Spezza let his play do the talking. basement of the OHL. “He’s played under a microscope his whole career so he definitely knew But the losses didn’t lead to a sense of cynicism for Spezza. it was best for him to just get things accomplished,” Paddock said. “There were not many bad days in Jason’s life,” then-IceDogs head Spezza was known as the player who quietly went about his business coach Jim Hulton said. “He always had that big smile on his face. He with a smile. According to Paddock, that approach alone had a positive genuinely loved the game.” influence on his teammates in Ottawa. Every day, the same affable Spezza walked into the Mississauga rink. “I think he relished it, because that’s what he’s been doing his whole career,” Paddock said. “He was that big, goofy kid with big ears that everyone liked,” said Wiseman, chuckling both at the memory and also how the description still Spezza spent 12 years in the Senators organization and was named fits a generation later. captain after Alfredsson left. He was traded to the Dallas Stars in 2014 and would spend five seasons as a Star, eclipsing 1,000 games in the Wiseman stayed in professional hockey until 2013, and the reports he’d process. get on Spezza were always uniform. Same skill. Same proportionally large ears. And the same jovial disposition that made him a likeable When he signed with the Leafs on July 1, Leafs GM Kyle Dubas said the teammate, albeit a quiet one. experience Spezza has accumulated over his career, especially having been to a Stanley Cup final in 2007, means he can “serve as a sort of a “I don’t think he’s changed one ounce in the last 20 years,” Wiseman mentor to our guys.” said. Spezza agrees. That’s what quickly endeared him to his teammates and coaches with the Ottawa Senators. Spezza spent another season in the OHL before “As you get older, there’s more responsibility to try to help younger guys bouncing back and forth between Ottawa and the AHL’s Binghamton in the dressing room navigate how to be a pro,” Spezza said. “It’s just Senators in 2002-03. growing up in the right system.” There have been signs that Spezza was well on his way to becoming a mentor. In 2014, he sent an email to Sam Bennett, who was an NHL prospect at the time. News had broken that Bennett was unable to complete a single pull-up at the combine, so Spezza offered his support. “(Don’t) make what should be a positive life experience of getting drafted become a negative because of one test,” Spezza said he told Bennett. “I said he is probably well aware that he needs to work at his upper-body strength. Use the criticism constructively and use it to motivate, not to beat yourself up … My whole career people have told me about all the things I do wrong but it just drives me to get better.” Spezza appears ready to balance what’s required of him on the ice and an increased role off it. Over time, he’s grown to understand the positive influence people like Smolinski had on him. Now it’s his turn to do the same. “You realize how you were treated and what you liked and didn’t like and you try to just be (the kind of person) you liked for other people,” Spezza said. “It’s pretty simple to me.” Though the mentoring role might not have come naturally to Spezza, those who know him insist he doesn’t have to change who he is to connect with young players. The joy he still gets from the game should be contagious enough. “I don’t think (Spezza) has to do a lot,” said Smolinski. “He just has to have his personality out there.” The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108375 Toronto Maple Leafs BIG BOY HIT FROM JUSTIN HOLL#LEAFSFOREVER PIC.TWITTER.COM/I5R9NZ0TI7

— LEAFS ALL DAY (@LEAFSALLDAYY) SEPTEMBER 23, 2019 Leafs Report Cards: Nic Petan and Yegor Korshkov dominate as Babcock gave him a big pat on the head after this. I’m not sure if it gets Toronto’s AHL squad defeats Montreal’s NHL lineup him on the roster, but I wouldn’t be shocked if he ends up being the seventh defenceman to sit up in the press box early on (especially with his $675,000 cap hit, which is actually lower than the 2019-20 league By Ian Tulloch Sep 23, 2019 minimum of $700,000). Kenny Agostino (RW, No. 20) — I’ve been a fan of Agostino’s hustle since the beginning of training camp. He’s one of those guys who always Welcome to another edition of Leafs Report Cards. We’re currently in seems to be first on a loose puck, and if not he’s getting right in there. He preseason mode (trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t), so did flub a few scoring chances in the offensive zone, but we’re talking be sure to let me know in the comments section what you’d like to see in about a guy who scored at a third-line rate last season (I’m not too these postgame reports. I’ll be doing them all season, so I’d love to get worried about his offensive output). On a team that’s going to need an idea of what the readers are looking for in their postgame analysis cheap players to fill in the periphery of the roster in a complementary (with a bit of fun mixed in, because we are talking about sports, after all). role, I would argue that Agostino would make the most sense to play in a Now, let’s get to the game! “Zach Hyman” role if there were an injury. Key takeaways from the game Kevin Gravel (LD, No. 25) — I thought he looked pretty solid in this game, all things considered. He’s far from an elite stretch passer, but 1. Toronto’s AHL Squad outplayed Montreal’s NHL squad he’s actually pretty good at completing shorter passes underneath to open teammates (whether it’s a reversal to his partner, a slip pass to the I know it’s just a preseason game, but Claude Julien can’t be feeling too centre underneath or a quick pass to the winger along the wall). He great about a performance like that. On the other hand, Mike Babcock is reminds me a bit of Ron Hainsey in that he’s a slow skater but “he knows probably thrilled with the way his team played (especially Nic Petan and where to stand” and has an active stick. I’m not sure if that makes him an Yegor Korshkov, who were absolutely dominant). NHL defenceman on a team like Toronto, but I came away impressed 2. The backup goaltending battle might not be settled with his game. There’s been an assumption that Michael Neuvirth was going to win the Tyler Gaudet (C, No. 32) — Quick shoutout to Gaudet, a guy who had Leafs backup role if he was healthy, but he’s missed another game now zero chance of cracking an NHL roster coming into camp but still played that he was supposed to start — and Michael Hutchinson looked his butt off. I’ve become a huge fan of his play with and without the puck. excellent taking his place. He’s one of those guys coaches are going to love at the AHL level, where I’m curious to see what he can accomplish on the Marlies this season. 3. A few defencemen might have settled their fate ⭐⭐⭐ This was not a great game for Ben Harpur or Jordan Schmaltz, both of whom have been vying for a spot on Toronto’s third pairing. With the Matt Read (RW, No. 12) — He’s a speedy little player who can make preseason winding down, this might have been their last chance to plays when he has time and space (like his chance off the rush on the impress the coaching staff — and they did not pass the test. penalty kill). I thought Ryan Fancey put it best when he said this about Read: Player reports THE LEAFS INVITED TOO MANY BOTTOM SIX PLAYERS AND I ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ HAVE NO IDEA WHICH ONES SHOULD MAKE IT. LIKE, MATT READ SEEMS PRETTY GOOD, BUT THERE ALMOST SURELY WON’T BE A Best player on the ice: Nic Petan (LW, No. 61) — He and Yegor SPOT FOR HIM. GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE BUT I FEEL BAD FOR A Korshkov really separated themselves from the pack in this game. What FEW OF THE B’YS Korshkov provided with power and aggression, Petan brought with skill, making tons of nifty little tip passes to get the puck up the ice and into — RYAN (@RYANFANCEY) SEPTEMBER 23, 2019 dangerous areas in the offensive zone. He’s always been a phenomenal passer, which was on full display tonight. His between-the-legs touch I think he’s an NHL player, I just don’t think he’s high enough on pass on the power play was my personal favourite, although he had a Toronto’s depth chart to make the team. If you’re an NHL club looking for few others that really stood out (e.g., his behind-the-net pass to Korshkov some depth scoring, he’s probably going to be available on a league for a tap-in). minimum contract. I would argue that passing is currently the biggest market inefficiency for Adam Brooks (C, No. 77) — I’ve always been a fan of the way Brooks bottom-six forwards, and Petan has that in spades. I’m not sure if he thinks the game. He wasn’t super noticeable tonight, but he had a few made the opening night roster based on this game alone, but he certainly plays in which he created space in transition to get the puck up the ice. moved himself up Babcock’s pecking order. Throw in some strong positional play down the middle, and I’d call this a solid game for Brooks (who probably starts the season as the Marlies’ I’d love to see him get another shot with the Leafs this year, even if he first-line centre). doesn’t crack the opening night lineup. Jeremy Bracco (RW, No. 29) — Bracco’s such a weird player to evaluate Yegor Korshkov (LW, No. 96) — After a few uninspiring performances at this level. He can’t really skate forwards (he’s always on his edges with the Leafs this preseason (and Marlies last year in the playoffs), I drifting sideways), but his vision and passing ability are otherworldly. He wasn’t expecting much from Korshkov in this one, but he blew me away reminds me of a midfielder in soccer who helps the team maintain right from the get-go. He must have generated three or four Grade-A possession and drive play forward with quick little one-touch passing. I chances in the first couple minutes of the game, using his combination of still think he needs some work down in the AHL with all-world skating size, strength and some underrated skill to get the puck to dangerous coach Barb Underhill, but if he can add a gear or two to his straight-line areas. I still think he needs a full season in the AHL to work out the kinks speed, I’d be really curious to see what he could do at the NHL level in his game, but he has a rare set of tools for a 6-foot-4 forward that (there aren’t too many players who can thread the needle like he can). could make him an interesting top-nine player if he hits his ceiling. ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ben Harpur (LD, No. 22) — I didn’t think this was a bad game for Harpur Michael Hutchinson (G, No. 30) — It’s hard to not give a goaltender five per se, but with his limitations (lack of foot speed and passing ability), I’m stars when they pitch a shutout, but Montreal didn’t generate much of just not convinced he’s a fit for the modern game in 2019. For example, anything tonight. I’m not sure if that says more about their poor play or there was a puck that was flipped to his area in the second period, but he Toronto’s AHL squad really bringing it, but there weren’t many quality lost the race to the loose puck, which resulted in a cross-crease pass chances Hutchinson needed to stop. With that being said, he looked (that just missed the target). He still has a shot at making Toronto’s final great in his crease (excellent positioning) and was obviously perfect in roster because of the physical element he brings to the table (that no one this game, but it wasn’t your typical 60-minute workload. else on the roster currently provides), but I’m still of the opinion that the team would be better off finding a player with more talent to fit that role, Justin Holl (RD, No. 3) — This was a really good game for Holl. He whether it’s Mason Marchment or a player yet to be acquired via trade. looked confident with the puck on his stick, did a solid job defending, and laid out Jesperi Kotkoniemi along the boards with what might’ve been the biggest hit of Holl’s life. Hudson Elynuik (C, No. 76) — He had a few strong plays toward the net This was truly a bizarre game. Neither starting goalie showed up (literally using his size (at 6-foot-5), but I didn’t find myself jotting down too many — the backups had to play), the AHL team outplayed the NHL team and notes about his play. Holl hit somebody. Preseason games like these are usually boring (when one side dresses a varsity team), but I was legitimately entertained by Darren Archibald (LW, No. 49) — He did score a goal off a rebound, but tonight’s game. Hockey can be a weird sport sometimes. other than that, this was a pretty quiet night for Archibald, who probably ends up on the Marlies this year to provide some depth. As per the readers’ requests, we’ll finish tonight’s report cards with my best guess at Toronto’s opening night roster: Nick Shore (C, No. 26) — I believe in Nick Shore. Now that I’ve typed that, I feel comfortable saying that he hasn’t impressed me very much so Kapanen-Tavares-Marner far in the preseason. I found it interesting that he was getting lots of four- on-five time in this game, which suggests to me that Babcock wants him Johnsson-Matthews-Nylander winning faceoffs and killing penalties if he’s going to fill in the 4C role. My Mikheyev-Kerfoot-Moore guess is he gets sent down to the Marlies to start the season but could be used as an injury replacement if he doesn’t get picked up by another Petan-Gauthier-Spezza team on waivers (or overseas). Muzzin-Barrie Pontus Aberg (RW, No. 46) — Again, I believe in Pontus Aberg’s talent, but he didn’t look great tonight either. We’re reaching the point where a Rielly-Ceci few guys are clearly on the bubble (Agostino, Petan, Dmytro Timashov) Sandin-Marincin and the others are on the outside looking in. Aberg appears to be on the latter right now. Holl (Extra D, $675,000 contract) Kristians Rubins (LD, No. 56) — I didn’t think he looked great tonight, but Andersen I don’t think we should hold him to the same standards as players fighting for an NHL roster spot. I’m not sure how many more games we’re going Neuvirth (if healthy) to see Rubins in a Leafs uniform, but I’m just going to enjoy the ride while it lasts. Final grade: A Timothy Liljegren (RD, No. 37) — This was another disappointing game The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 for Liljegren. He looks a step behind at this level, with players able to maneuver around him in transition. Even when it comes to his biggest strength (puck-moving ability), he looks much less confident than he did with the Marlies in the Calder Cup playoffs. At times like these, I think it’s important to remember that the kid recently turned 20 and still has plenty of developing left to do, especially considering the time he’s missed over the past year and a half because of injuries (whether it’s mono or a high ankle sprain, he hasn’t been dealt a great hand). After a few months of No. 1D duties on the Marlies (and time spent with Underhill working on his skating), I wouldn’t be shocked if Liljegren found himself on the Leafs before the end of the regular season — or maybe he needs another year before he’s ready (and that’s OK).

⭐ Pierre Engvall (LW, No. 47) — As a rule of thumb, if I had to ask whether you played tonight (and you’re not a defenceman), it typically means you didn’t play well. I’m a believer in the Pierre Engvall centre experiment, but he still probably needs some more seasoning in the AHL before he’s ready to make a legitimate crack at the Leafs’ roster. Jordan Schmaltz (RD, No. 2) — He’s been my guy all preseason, so it hurts to put him here, but man … this wasn’t his night. He had a few rough Jake Gardiner-esque turnovers where it was difficult to see what he was thinking, and he wasn’t able to recover after the turnovers (resulting in plenty of sustained pressure against). I’m still high on his talent as a puck-mover, but I’m starting to see why a lot of people see Schmaltz as a Quad-A (AAAA) type of player — he has the skill set to dominate at the lower level, but when the game speeds up a tick, I’m not sure whether he’s able to process everything fast enough to avoid those back-breaking turnovers. Here’s hoping he can get there in time, but if not, we’re probably looking at another Jordan Subban, which was lots of fun to watch with the Marlies last season. Game Score Game Score is a metric developed by The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn to quickly measure a player’s performance in a single game. It’s not perfect, but it can help give us a decent idea of how well players performed in a particular game based on their numbers (although I’d always recommend combining stats with video because single-game numbers can be wonky). Most important clip of the night BABS LOVES WHAT HE SEES PIC.TWITTER.COM/MOZNK7VB8I — LEAFS ALL DAY (@LEAFSALLDAYY) SEPTEMBER 23, 2019 This made me all warm and fuzzy inside. Is Holl an NHL defenceman? Probably not, but you love to see him getting praise from the coach for an area of his game that he’s often been criticized for (lack of physicality). Final thoughts from the game 1108376 Toronto Maple Leafs “Well, one, he can speak English, so that’s nice,” Muzzin said with a hearty laugh.

“No, obviously, (he’s) a little more offensive-minded (than Zaitsev). And I Monday Morning Leafs Report: Bubble watch, Jake Muzzin and Tyson think for me, reading that, I’ve just gotta let him do his thing a little bit and Barrie, fresh starts and camp observations kinda sit back and cover a little bit more. I think we got in a little trouble in St. John’s (in the first exhibition game) both pushing the pace and both being a little too busy. But it’s the first game, so your mind’s kinda going a million miles. But just reading some certain situations off him; most of By Jonas Siegel Sep 23, 2019 the time it’s situational play and it’s an easy read, but then there comes instinctive reads and stuff like that where it may take a few games and a few more practices to talk things over and get used to.” *The Monday Morning Leafs Report will be a weekly collection of quotes, observations, stats and notes. Stay tuned each week! Muzzin and Barrie teamed up for Canada at the 2015 world championships (Jason Spezza was also on the squad and led the What’s become clear at Maple Leafs training camp with a week in the tournament in scoring), but Muzzin didn’t think that history made much books and a week still to go? That so much about the roster is still difference. “Now, we’re playing a different system, different coach, unsettled, a point Mike Babcock hammered home after his team played different everything,” he said. “How many years ago was it? in Buffalo over the weekend. “Things have changed a little bit since then,” Muzzin said. He was still confused about plenty, specifically on defence. Training camp observations Here’s what we think we know: Here’s a fun snapshot of what camp is like behind the scenes: Muzzin is Rasmus Sandin has emerged as a favourite to play for the Leafs on on his way out of the Paradise Double Ice Complex one afternoon last opening night. week in Newfoundland. He’s preparing to hop into one of the fleet of Ford SUVs waiting on players and team staff. Oddly, Semyon Der- Frederik Gauthier has made a strong push to keep his job on the fourth Arguchintsev, aka SDA, is joining him. “In the front, SDA,” Muzzin chirps, line, maybe even at centre. “don’t say a word.” Ilya Mikheyev is a lock to make the team, likely at third-line left wing. The two ride off. Other than that? More notable was all the instruction — and subsequent repeating of Beyond Sandin, it’s unclear who among Martin Marincin, Jordan instruction — Babcock had to do with so many new players on hand. Schmaltz and Ben Harpur is going to claim the final spot on the third pair. Among the new NHL players joining (or potentially joining) the Leafs are Marincin is long and swats power plays away like flies. Schmaltz can dish Barrie, Kerfoot, Mikheyev, Harpur, Schmaltz, Spezza, Aberg, Agostino, the rock. Harpur is big and mean with some penalty-killing ability. But Cody Ceci and Nick Shore. “Does everybody understand?” Babcock which one fits best to start? Has any really distinguished himself? Maybe asked last week, just before a drill was set to begin. the Leafs end up keeping all three, alongside Sandin, and keep the tryout “You understand or not really?” he said, questioning Ceci, who nodded. going into the regular season. The drill started. Babcock stopped it after maybe 20 seconds. Then, he Up front, the question remains of who lines up with Mikheyev and skated into the corner of the zone in question and showed Ceci what he Alexander Kerfoot on the revamped third line. Babcock would probably was looking for, pressing Johnsson into the boards. like it to be Kasperi Kapanen, but he’s filling in for the injured Zach Hyman on John Tavares’ line. The Leafs coach has kept Trevor Moore in Another power-play weapon fourth-line terrain throughout camp, probably hoping the 24-year-old demands more opportunity, which is exactly what he seemed to do over On top of the fit he could form with Muzzin on what’s essentially the 13 minutes against the Sabres on Saturday. Leafs’ top pair, the biggest plus Barrie may offer is on the power play. The 28-year-old was third among all defencemen with 16 primary assists If not Moore, who claims the job? None of Nic Petan, Jeremy Bracco, on the power play last season. (Only Keith Yandle of the Paul Pontus Aberg or Kenny Agostino has really snatched hold of a spot just McFarland-run Florida power play and John Carlson had more.) yet. The game plan, Barrie said, is for Morgan Rielly to remain atop what Could a dark horse like Dmytro Timashov somehow emerge? should be a revamped top unit and for him to spearhead the second group. The backup goalie competition is similarly muddled. “It’s a good situation to have two guys that can both create offence and Michal Neuvirth looked sharp in two periods Saturday, but career-long quarterback a power play,” said Barrie, who had 25 power-play points injury concerns have already popped up again. Do the Leafs feel they last season, tied for fifth-best among defencemen league-wide. “I think can trust him, especially if Frederik Andersen is going to start fewer than it’s a good opportunity for us to maybe work something like they did in 60 times? If the Neuvirth question is too large, how does the organization San Jose with (Brent) Burns and (Erik) Karlsson.” feel about Michael Hutchinson’s wobbly start to the preseason (five goals on 34 shots)? Tyson Barrie was one of the league’s top-producing defencemen on the power play in Colorado. (Sergei Belski / USA Today) The next week should decide a lot. Somewhat underplayed in the Leafs’ relative power-play struggles last Jobs are still there to be had with the Leafs. (Marc DesRosiers / USA season (they still finished eighth at 21.8 percent) was how little they got Today) from the second unit, even after William Nylander returned from a More Sandman! contract dispute in December. It was a pretty punchless group, with Nylander (one goal) usually joined by Jake Gardiner (zero), Patrick Here’s Andreas Johnsson’s download of everything interesting he’s Marleau (four), Tyler Ennis (two) and Johnsson (three). discovered about the 19-year-old: Barrie may help change that on a fivesome that’s likely to include “I would say in hockey, his mindset out there, how smart he is with the Nylander, Spezza, Kerfoot and whoever claims one of the last spots up puck and how he moves and sets up (teammates) and then he finds front. Barrie sits fourth in total power-play assists among D over the past another space to get open to get a pass back. And personally, even at two seasons: such a young age, he’s very forward (socially) so he feels older than he really is. I think it helped him a lot (that) he moved at a young age and John Carlson: 58 had to take care of himself. Keith Yandle: 49 “I feel like he’s very mature, a very mature guy.” Torey Krug: 47 New-look top pair Victor Hedman: 47 Jake Muzzin spent most of his Toronto experience last season (30 Tyson Barrie: 46 games) with Nikita Zaitsev on what eventually became an effective shutdown pair. What’s the biggest change for him personally now that Brent Burns: 43 Tyson Barrie, a vastly different type of player, will be at his side? Morgan Rielly: 42 Rasmus Ristolainen: 38 John Klingberg: 37 Shayne Gostisbehere: 36 Fresh start, Part 1 One among the many new guys kicking around camp this fall is Schmaltz, whose prospects petered out in St. Louis, where he was a first-round pick in 2012. He’s looking for new life with the Leafs, dubbing it a “fresh start.” “It’s like your first year all over again,” said Schmaltz, who’s played in only 42 NHL games, nearly half of which were last season. “You’re learning the staff. You’re learning the trainers, coaches, how they want to play, the practice tendencies, all the different little things that are just new to you. It’s refreshing, and it’s been good so far.” Schmaltz has a few ties to the organization. He played with Agostino on the Chicago Wolves and knows Nylander, who played minor hockey with his younger brother, Nick. The whole Nylander clan, he said, is “family.” Schmaltz also played for new Leafs assistant Dave Hakstol at the University of North Dakota. Hakstol recruited him there, too. That connection, he acknowledged, won’t win him a job. “I think I need to show I can move the puck,” Schmaltz said. “I think they know I can do that — and get up in the play. But I also need to show that I’m willing to play defence at a high level and compete around the net especially. And if I can do that, I think I give myself a good chance to make the club.” Fresh start, Part 2 Unlike Schmaltz, a one-organization man up until this season, Agostino has bounced around from Calgary to St. Louis to Boston to Montreal to New Jersey and, now, to Toronto. In the past two seasons alone, Agostino has suited up for Providence (AHL), Boston (NHL), Laval (AHL), Montreal (NHL) and New Jersey (NHL). He joined the Leafs on a two- year deal. He’s gotten used to starting over, in other words. What’s changed in recent years, he said, is a realization of how he needs to play to carve out a place in the NHL. It was crystallized during a conversation with Laval head coach Joel Bouchard after training camp with the Canadiens last fall. “We realized,” Agostino said, “I might have a lot of offensive success in the AHL, but for me to be a regular in the NHL, it’s going to be being a bottom-six forward. And in order to do that, you gotta be responsible in all areas of the ice, and I think, let my offensive abilities take over when I have time and space in the offensive zone. But really, commitment to a 200-foot game, hard-nosed hockey, is what I’ve tried to form the last couple years.” Kenny Agostino got his first sustained NHL opportunity with Montreal last season. (Kim Klement / USA Today) Agostino had his NHL breakthrough last season, eventually winning a spot with the Canadiens before getting claimed off waivers by the Devils in February. He came up with 24 points in 63 games. So far at camp, it’s felt like he’s been outside the mix for one of the final lineup spots. He was noticeable over almost 17 minutes on Friday, though. He nearly scored on a breakaway and set up Johnsson for a goal on the ensuing power play. He was all over the puck early. If Moore does end up teaming with Mikheyev and Kerfoot on the third line, Agostino might fit on the left side of Spezza and Gauthier on the fourth unit. “Simple, hard hockey” is his focus. “You learn in this business,” Agostino said, “you can only control what you can control, and that’s by having a good day, and then come back to the rink and do it again the next day.” The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108377 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights players on bubble hope to make lasting impression

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal

The Golden Knights’ annual excursion to owner Bill Foley’s ranch in Montana serves as something of a reward for making it past a certain round of cuts in training camp. Keegan Kolesar lasted long enough to earn an invitation for his first trip, which ended Tuesday. Now, the 22-year-old forward is hoping to stick in camp a while longer. Kolesar is part of a group of forwards who will look to make one more impression on the coaching staff and management when the Knights host Colorado on Wednesday at T-Mobile Arena. Coach Gerard Gallant said he prefers to have his roster close to finalized for the final two preseason games, and with 33 players in camp, another round of cuts is expected afterward. That leaves the game against the Avalanche as the final opportunity for several bubble players, including Kolesar. “To be this far (in training camp), it’s farther than I’ve ever been. To go on the Montana trip was huge for me personally,” Kolesar said. “I think preseason for me is showing I can play at a high pace and play with these guys.” In addition to Kolesar, forwards Patrick Brown, Reid Duke, Cody Glass, Curtis McKenzie and Nicolas Roy are expected to be in the lineup Wednesday as they fight for jobs in the bottom six. Tomas Nosek, Brandon Pirri and Valentin Zykov appear to have solidified their spots on the 23-man roster, which must be submitted to the league by 2 p.m. on Tuesday. Gallant previously indicated there is an opening for a third-line winger and fourth-line center. “Different players bring different things. As much as it is they play their game well, it’s a matter of how you want the line to look, or that type of thing,” assistant coach Mike Kelly said after practice Tuesday at City National Arena. “As I said, there’s still lots of questions to be answered, and obviously there’s three (preseason) games left, so it’s getting down to the shorter strokes.” Kolesar was a 20-goal scorer in the American Hockey League last season and added six goals and five assists in 21 postseason games to help the Chicago Wolves reach the Calder Cup final. The 224-pound winger has delivered several big checks in his three preseason appearances, including a devastating open-ice hit to Arizona’s Aaron Ness that earned Kolesar a five-minute major penalty for charging in the opener Sept. 15. “I think going to the (Calder Cup) finals how we did, it showed me a way to play that’s going to be successful for me to be in the NHL,” Kolesar said. “Now it’s just making sure I bring that every time.” McKenzie, 28, scored the first goal for the Knights in their come-from- behind 3-2 victory at Los Angeles on Thursday and has been a consistent point producer in the AHL throughout his career. He had 20 goals and 34 assists in 71 games with the Knights’ AHL affiliate last season. The 6-foot-2-inch, 205-pound winger makes a living near the blue paint and could fit on the third line for the Knights. “My game is getting pucks around the net and creating some chaos there,” McKenzie said. “Obviously being down in the minors the last couple years, it stacks up against you. I’ve always been confident that I can play a good role up here. It’s just getting the opportunity to do so. I’m trying to show that on the ice.” LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108378 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights’ Nate Schmidt wants NHL to do more drug tests

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal September 24, 2019 - 6:50 PM Updated September 24, 2019 - 9:16 PM

Nate Schmidt says revisions to the NHL’s drug testing program could start with the type of test and its frequency. The Golden Knights defenseman, who was suspended the first 20 games of last season after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, wants the league to test more often and test using blood rather than urine. Schmidt said such changes would help players avoid suspensions like his, where he claims “environmental contamination” led to his positive test. His appeal was denied by an independent arbitrator. “I would do a blood test,” Schmidt said. “And I hate them. So much.” Schmidt hopes proposed changes could be included in a potential collective bargaining agreement extension between the league and the NHL Players’ Association, as he first discussed with ESPN.com on Monday. Schmidt, the Knights’ union representative, has said he would pursue change after returning from his suspension. He wants to remain true to his word. He’s talked to the team, his fellow union members and commissioner Gary Bettman about avenues for reform. Nothing has been decided, but he’s optimistic an agreement can be reached. “I’ve been a part of it as much as I can, trying to share my story,” Schmidt said. “I hope that there’s something that comes down here through the proper channels. That they get something done. And then my work will be done with that. Then I’ll be able to fully put it in the past.” The negotiations will come down to money, as blood tests are more expensive than urine tests. More frequent testing also would cost more. The league’s current policy calls for players to be tested once during training camp and once on a teamwide basis during the regular season. Players also can be randomly selected for testing during the regular season and playoffs. Schmidt believes testing more would be worth it, and not just because it would have saved him 20 games and public embarrassment. He said he thinks it could help more players than teammate Shea Theodore. The defenseman revealed in an essay on The Players’ Tribune website that a failed drug test before the quarterfinals of the International Federation world championships in May led him to a testicular cancer diagnosis. Theodore discovered the disease early, had surgery and is back practicing with the Knights. “I also want to catch cancer,” Schmidt said. “I want this to be more than just a police system.” Reaves returns Knights right wing Ryan Reaves made his training camp debut Tuesday, practicing in a noncontact jersey. Reaves remains day to day, according to assistant coach Mike Kelly, with an undisclosed injury he suffered in training late this summer. The Knights open their season Oct. 2 against the San Jose Sharks. “I’m definitely shooting for that,” Reaves said. “Obviously, I have to be 100 percent. My conditioning has to be good and the coaches have to know that I’m ready. That’s what this next week and a bit is for.” LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108379 Vegas Golden Knights

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to appear in G2E panel discussion

By Richard N. Velotta Las Vegas Review-Journal

The commissioner of the National Hockey League will take the stage in a panel discussion with three gaming industry leaders at next month’s Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas. Gary Bettman, who has been the NHL commissioner since 1993, will join Joe Asher, CEO of William Hill US; Greg Carlin, CEO of Rush Street Gaming; and Matt King, CEO of Fanduel, in a discussion about sports betting opportunities and the current and future value of new business partnerships. The panel is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 16, the third day of the four- day event that includes educational sessions and a trade show exhibition of the newest gaming equipment and machines. The event, at the Sands Expo Center, is expected to attract 26,000 people. Former National Basketball Association Commissioner David Stern was a G2E speaker at the 2016 event. Sports betting continues to be a hot topic within the industry as more states legalize wagering on games. LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108380 Vegas Golden Knights

Coghlan’s blistering slap shot makes a splash at Golden Knights camp

By Justin Emerson

Opinions vary on which young Golden Knights defenseman has stood out most at camp. But one thing should unify all observers: Dylan Coghlan has a heck of a shot. Coghlan hopes that howitzer of a slapshot will secure him a roster spot when the Golden Knights open the regular season a week from today. “I worked on it a lot when I was younger and now that it’s finally paying off, it’s awesome to have that behind you, a heavy shot,” Coghlan said. “Keep ripping the puck and see where it goes.” Coghlan’s journey has been unorthodox. He was undrafted in 2017 but earned an invite to Golden Knights camp. He impressed enough to earn an entry-level contract, then was a standout his last year in the . He made the jump to the American Hockey League last season and led Chicago defensemen in goals, assists and points. Like many young players in camp, the last two years were about impressing for the future. This year, Coghlan’s shot at the roster is as good as anyone’s. He’s competing with four other defensemen for one spot: Nicolas Hague, Jimmy Schuldt, Zach Whitecloud and Jake Bischoff, a quintet that assistant coach Mike Kelly gave a snappy nickname at practice Tuesday. “He’s been good, but I think all those young defensemen, the Group of Five if you want to call it that, have all been good in their own way,” Kelly said. “Some guys are a little bit more subtle with their game than other guys, where Dylan maybe has a little bit more of an offensive component to his game, so he’s easier to see.” Coghlan has played three of the four preseason games, rotating among Jon Merrill, Nate Schmidt and Brayden McNabb as defensive partners. He’s been good with each. Coghlan leads team defensemen with a 62.3 expected goals percentage and is second with a 55.6 Corsi percentage. The team has had nine high-danger scoring chances with him on the ice at 5-on-5 and only allowed four for a team-best 69.2% advantage. “He’s one of those guys who hits the puck real clean every time, he’s got his hands in a good place and he’s not afraid to let it go, too,” Merrill said. “He’s got good instincts offensively, too — he puts himself in good spots to get that shot off.” If the season started today, Coghlan would have the inside track at the roster spot. But there’s still three preseason games left, including tonight at 7 p.m. against the Colorado Avalanche, in which one of the other Group of Five defensemen could shine. Regardless, Coghlan has shown he’s ready to play in the NHL. The Golden Knights still have a choice to make, and he’s doing everything possible to make his case. “Hopefully it’s me, but if it’s not I’ll be super happy for whoever it is,” Coghlan said. LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108381 Washington Capitals Siegenthaler is certainly confident but also determined. He came oh so close to starting the season on the NHL roster last year only to see it slip away at the last moment. This year, he is determined not to let that happen. Despite their playoff success, both Siegenthaler, Djoos still have something to prove “I want to walk onto the red carpet,” he said. “I'll do everything to be on the carpet.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.25.2019 By J.J. Regan September 24, 2019 6:00 AM

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Jonas Siegenthaler has been here before. One year ago he looked like a lock to make the Capitals roster out of training camp. In fact, as the team prepared for the start of the season, he was told he had made the team. Then Tom Wilson was suspended and the Caps needed to clear cap space for his replacement. Thus, the waiver- exempt Siegenthaler was sent down to the Hershey Bears. Siegenthaler eventually did get called up to Washington and played in 26 NHL games last season. He also played in four playoff games, eventually playing on the top pair next to John Carlson in place of the injured Michal Kempny. Despite what he accomplished last season, however, clearly making the team for the start of the season means something to Siegenthaler. “It's my goal,” he said. “I haven't had the chance to walk on the red carpet on opening night. I think that's pretty special and that's for sure one of my goals.” With the Caps so close to the salary cap ceiling, however, Siegenthaler comes into camp knowing he will have to once again earn his spot on the roster. Christian Djoos is in a similar position. Djoos’ resume is longer than Seigenthaler’s as he played in 22 playoff games in Washington’s run to the Stanley Cup. He was not able to build on that momentum the following year, however, as he suffered compartment syndrome in his thigh and the resulting surgery kept him out from mid-December to early-February. “Last year was a weird year,” Djoos said. “Injured, played, scratched. It was just a weird year so I need to be better over the 82 games.” Though he denied the injury still impacted him after his return, Djoos did not look like the same player and played in just 45 games. Djoos now faces an uncertain future with the franchise because of the cap. “We all know the situation,” Djoos said. “It's nothing I think about. I'm here right now. I'm happy to be here and excited to get the season going.” With only three more preseason games and just over a week of training camp remaining, both players find themselves in a similar position with higher expectations and having to prove they deserve a spot on the roster over the young prospects nipping at their heels. “We have a couple of young guys who have played well,” general manager Brian MacLellan said at media day. “[Martin] Fehervary played really well in the rookie camp. He looks like he’s going to be a good player. [Alex] Alexeyev played good the one game and then got hurt. Those are good young players, good prospects. Siegenthaler has progressed well. I think he’s going to be a good player in this league and he should come in at a higher level this year than he has last year. I thought he finished up well. Djoos, we’re looking for a rebound season. I think the injury set him back, so it’s important for him to have a good camp and a good start to the year.” “That's how it is, I think,” Djoos said. “It's a great organization, great young players. ... That's good I think that we compete for every spot. That's a good thing.” When asked what they wanted to improve on for this season, both Siegenthaler and Djoos said consistency. While the salary cap is tight, there is a possibility that both players make the final roster. If that happens, both will get time on the third pairing which will mean cycling in and out again as they did last season. The lack of consistent playing time can often lead to a lack of consistent play. Both players know that is not going to cut it this season. Siegenthaler also said he has worked on improving his skating and he entered camp feeling more confident about his chances after last year. “If you have confidence, you just play your game,” he said. “It just comes automatically so you've got to have a healthy confidence.” 1108382 Winnipeg Jets perpetual motion, knocks down pucks, interrupts breakouts and is keenly aware of where to be in the defensive zone at all times.

F MASON APPLETON: If he was tentative in his first three exhibition Jets hopefuls lose to loaded Calgary lineup 2-0 assignments, Appleton was far more comfortable in Calgary. Undoubtedly, it was his most productive night of the pre-season, although the scoresheet won't show it as he accumulated 16:01 of ice time. By: Jason Bell Posted: 09/24/2019 He flashed the speed and puck pursuit that became his trademark in 36 NHL games a year ago, and it's that dogged checking Maurice needs to Winnipeg Jets' David Gustafsson, right, tires to get past Calgary Flames' see from the former AHL rookie of the year. He was a pest in his own Travis Hamonic during second period NHL pre-season hockey action in zone, slipping into holes to disrupt a couple of Calgary scoring Calgary, Tuesday. opportunities. The Calgary Flames lineup bore a striking resemblance to one that will He generated just one scoring chance on the night but it was a beauty. likely begin the 2019-20 season next week, while the Winnipeg Jets iced After chipping the puck past a Calgary defender, he regained possession a squad with an abundance of hopefuls. and cut hard to the net but was denied by Rittich. The result Tuesday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome was predictable F ANDREI CHIBISOV: This is not a guy with a penchant for floating in – although by no means a blowout. the middle of the ice waiting for loose pucks to arrive. He goes north- south along the boards and can punish with his 6-3, 200-pound frame. Calgary got goals 33 seconds apart from forwards Sean Monahan and Sam Bennett in the second period en route to a 2-0 triumph over the The Russian-born forward was a noticeable force along the wall again in Jets. his fourth pre-season contest, dishing out three hits, tying up defenceman and moving the puck with his feet. But he appears to be Winnipeg (2-2-1) suffered its second shutout in regulation time during the more than just a grinder, although he was far more noticeable in an early preseason as Flames goalie David Rittich turned aside all 20 shots he game playing alongside skilled centre Mark Scheifele faced. G MIKHAIL BERDIN: Maurice hinted he wanted to give the 21-year-old a THE SKINNY taste of big-league action and he was true to his word, sending him in for the third period. And Berdin was sharp, stopping five shots on an early The Jets and Flames were scoreless after 20 minutes, although the hosts shorthanded situation, including a toe save on Bennett and a brilliant had a golden opportunity to strike first but came up empty on a four- block on Lucic after pushing side to side quickly. minute power play after defenceman Tucker Poolman was slapped with a double-minor for high-sticking. Later, he showed why he's considered the premier puck-handler of the goalie crew, controlling the puck in the corner, deking out Lucic and then Midway through the second, the Flames finally sparked their fans out of tossing a pass up to a streaking Gabriel Bourque. their seats with a couple of goals in rapid succession. Starting goalie Eric Comrie had no chance on a power-play marker by Monahan, whose long He wandered a few times and had to sprawl and scramble back. But redirection off a point shot from Johnny Gaudreau found the top corner at there was never a dull moment. He even ripped the rubber all the way 13:37 of the period. down the ice at Rittich just as the buzzer sounded. He stopped all 13 shots he faced. Bennett upped the lead at 14:10 when he cruised through the low slot and knocked in a pass that originated from Mikael Backlund stationed Afterward, the comedic puck-stopper was asked how it felt to finally behind the net. experience an NHL-calibre game. Blue-liner Josh Morrissey was held out of the third period as a precaution "I’m exciting. It’s a long summer and I’m excited to get back to hockey," after feeling some tightness. said Berdin, who will partner with Comrie with the of the AHL this season. "But playing preseason is not my dream, my dream is It was the last opportunity for some of the players donning Jets jerseys to to play in show, win Stanley (Cups) and get trophies." impress, as a whack of demotions are expected Wednesday. Winnipeg Jets goalie Eric Comrie, left, blocks the net on Calgary Flames' "I like where their brains were and where their effort was. We were hard Milan Lucic during first period NHL pre-season hockey action in Calgary, on pucks and hard with sticks. I liked that game an awful lot. We were Tuesday. very consistent with how we played," said head coach Paul Maurice. "Obviously, we’re not moving the puck the way we would with a little .THE CANADIAN PRESS/JEFF MCINTOSH more experience back there, but that’s a pretty good team (Calgary) put on the ice. Winnipeg Jets goalie Eric Comrie, left, blocks the net on Calgary Flames' Milan Lucic during first period NHL pre-season hockey action in Calgary, "The guys in our lineup, trying to survive the big cut, they worked hard, Tuesday. they did a good job." HOW THEY LINED UP: FIVE PLAYERS WE WATCHED CLOSELY: FORWARDS: D NATHAN BEAULIEU: There are gaping holes on the Jets penalty- killing unit, with the big summer exodus of defencemen Tyler Myers and Bourque-Copp-Lipon Ben Chiarot, and the current absence of Dustin Byfuglien to a personal Appleton-Letestu-Chibisov leave of absence. Beaulieu could well assume some of those critical minutes, and, judging by some solid work Tuesday he's got the skill set. Vesalainen-Gustafsson-Griffith On an early four-minute power play for Calgary, Beaulieu dropped to Harkins-Spacek-Reichel block a couple of point drives and stretched out his stick smartly to break up a cross-crease pass that likely prevented a goal. DEFENCE: Beaulieu can't rely on his excellent skating alone to be a factor for the Bitetto-Poolman Jets, he must limit his mistakes and make competent decisions in his Beaulieu-Kulikov own end. He had one glaring gaffe in the second period with a bad pass behind his own net, took a tripping minor on the recovery and had to Morrissey-Nogier watch as Monahan tipped in the opening goal. GOAL: C MARK LETESTU: Signed to a one-year, two-way contract, he's done just about everything right since the start of camp and is an odds-on Comrie-Berdin favourite to win a job on the fourth line. WHAT’S NEXT? More than 500 games of NHL experience looks good on a resume, but Jets training camp continues at Bell MTS Iceplex on Wednesday. All Letestu is demonstrating he still has lots to give, despite playing just two signs point to it being cut-down day as the team brass whittles the group games for Columbus last season with the rest in the minors. down to one that looks more like the final roster. His instincts as a responsible centre are very apparent. At 34, Letestu The Jets host the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday at 7 p.m. doesn't have explosive speed from a standstill, however, the guy is in Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 09.25.2019 1108383 Winnipeg Jets

Vesalainen struggling to find comfort zone in NHL

By: Mike McIntyre

Left-winger Kristian Vesalainen played in the KHL in 2018-19. Kristian Vesalainen takes a long pause, seemingly lost in thought, as he attempts to answer a fairly simple question: what have you liked about your training camp? Turns out, not a whole lot. "I’ve tried to work hard," the 20-year-old Finnish winger offered up on Tuesday morning at Bell MTS Iceplex, before turning to some critical self- evaluation. "I think I have to show a little bit more to do with the offensive game. Obviously I just try to do my own things on the ice but I think it hasn’t worked out so far." Vesalainen, who possesses an NHL-quality shot, hadn’t put a single one on net in his previous two pre-season games heading into action Tuesday night in Calgary. That’s surprising, considering he’s been given ample opportunity with other offensive players, including plenty of power- play time. It’s also a bit concerning considering Vesalainen is a player the Jets are counting on to play a bigger role this season, especially with high-scoring forwards Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor still dealing with contract disputes and not in camp. "I just haven’t played how I can in the offensive zone. I haven’t had much time with the puck, too, so I have to show that to them," said Vesalainen, who had one assist in five NHL games last season. "I know with myself, I haven’t shot any pucks lately. You can’t score if you’re not taking those shots, so I have to shoot more." He was a non-factor again Tuesday in a 2-0 Jets loss, failing to register a shot on goal and being on the ice for one Flames marker in 14:40 of ice time. Vesalainen’s season got off to a rough start when he and teammate Sami Niku were involved in a two-vehicle crash while driving to the rink for the first day of training camp, leaving them with minor injuries that kept them out of the main group sessions for a few days. Jets head coach Paul Maurice said Tuesday that incident set 2017 first- rounder Vesalainen back a bit, just as going back to the KHL did last season shortly after being sent down to the Manitoba Moose. "He’s a skilled man. He’s a good skater. The biggest adjustment when these guys come over is the smaller sheet of ice with bigger and faster men in a really defined game," Maurice said. "When you have a skilled player who’s smart and reads the game, once he gets his pace up and realizes he can do all those things he used to do, he just has to do them all faster... then he’s going to have a little bit more open time and the game will feel to him like it slows down. "He’s a more physically developed player than he was last year at this time. He played in the KHL, so he played against men. So I think he is stronger. Because of the big sheet of ice, I don’t think he ever got to learn to adjust to the rink size last year. But he will this year." Vesalainen, who doesn’t have an out clause to return to Europe, said he’s putting a lot of pressure on himself. His goal is to be with the Jets, not the Moose. "Every day is important here, so I have to make it count," he said. Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 09.25.2019 1108384 Winnipeg Jets acclimatized to life in the NHL. Maybe he even gets a regular-season game or two. However, I expect the decision is ultimately made to return him to Finland to play in the top pro league there and also participate in the World Juniors. The next cuts are the deepest Rushing a young prospect, especially on the blue line, is not a typical Jets poised to burst bubble for NHL hopefuls destined for minors, juniors, play by the organization. Patience and the "process" will ultimately Europe as camp enters final week prevail in this case. Logan Stanley is close, but really struggled in Sunday's pre-season game and would be better served by some more fine-tuning on the farm. He'll By: Mike McIntyre be given all kinds of responsibility with the Moose this year and may ultimately get some games with the Jets. Nelson Nogier and Cam Schilling have had solid camps and remain legitimate recall options when Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice during the Jets NHL training the injury bug inevitably hits; both got some NHL time last season. camp in Winnipeg. The Jets will be trimming their roster down to 23 players by early next week. Luke Green (also battling a minor ailment) has also made some strides after missing most of last season in the AHL due to injury. He'll be Timberrrrr! returned to the Moose, along with Jacob Cederholm, Leon Gawanke and Johnathan Kovacevic, who didn't see any pre-season action. They've waited a lot longer than most NHL clubs, but the axe is finally about to fall at Winnipeg Jets training camp after nearly two weeks of ON THE ROSTER (7): Josh Morrissey, Dmitry Kulikov, Neal Pionk, workouts and five pre-season games. Nathan Beaulieu, Tucker Poolman, Sami Niku, Anthony Bitetto Coach Paul Maurice is expected to trim his troops down to a single group SENT PACKING (8): Ville Heinola, Logan Stanley, Nelson Nogier, Cam Wednesday, likely consisting of about 26 healthy players. With 45 Schilling, Luke Green, Leon Gawanke, Jacob Cederholm, Johnathan skaters still hanging around, that means as many as 19 cuts are Kovacevic imminent, depending on the status of a few minor injuries. STILL WAITING ON (1): Dustin Byfuglien, who remains suspended from The Jets will have to get down to a maximum 23-man roster by early next the team for not reporting to training camp as he mulls his future. week, so there will still be some nervous days ahead for those on the bubble with a few more moves to be made. Just two tune-up contests FORWARDS: (25 currently in camp, 2 without contracts) remain before the puck drops for real next Thursday at Madison Square You can write the names of Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, Bryan Little, Garden. Nikolaj Ehlers, Mathieu Perreault, Adam Lowry, Andrew Copp and Jack But why wait until then? I'm ready to declare the opening-night roster Roslovic in permanent ink. No doubt about any of them, although Lowry right now, based on my own observations, plus a helpful gaze into the and Perreault both have minor hurts right now and haven't participated in crystal ball. group sessions the past two days. You'll note my list doesn't include Patrik Laine, Kyle Connor or Dustin Assuming the Jets start with 13 forwards, that leaves five spots up for Byfuglien, who remain out of sight but definitely not out of mind. grabs. Regardless of how those situations play out, the chances of having any I believe Mark Letestu and Gabriel Bourque have made it, and will likely of them ready for the team's 2019-20 debut on Broadway are getting form two-thirds of the fourth line. Maurice told me earlier this week he slimmer with each passing day. likes the chemistry he's seen between them and believes they feed well With that in mind, here's how I see things shaping up, barring any last- off each other, as we saw on a nice pre-season goal last week against minute developments with the three absent players or any wheeling and St. Louis. They're also the kind of versatile players who can kill penalties dealing by general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, which certainly remains and add some physicality that Maurice likes on a traditional fourth line, a possibility, given some of the obvious holes in this lineup. especially with the loss of Brandon Tanev. GOALTENDER: (5 currently in camp) Going into camp, it was assumed Mason Appleton and Kristian Vesalainen were virtual locks, especially with Laine and Connor not in This one is easy and without any kind of intrigue or drama: Connor the picture. But both players have been somewhat underwhelming so far. Hellebuyck and Laurent Brossoit are your dynamic duo in the crease. That said, I still expect them on the roster, although they shouldn't get too Brossoit has been terrific in two pre-season starts, while Hellebuyck was comfortable. rather ho-hum in his one outing so far. He'll play Thursday night's game at Bell MTS Place against Edmonton, and the pair may split the final The final position is a real toss-up, with several players in the mix. game Sunday in St. Paul against the Minnesota Wild. Ultimately, I give the edge to the imposing Andrei Chibisov, but there's a whole crowd of competitors right there with him, including C.J. Suess, Eric Comrie will likely stick around through the weekend as a third Joona Luoto, Michael Spacek, Logan Shaw and Seth Griffith. goaltender before being put on waivers and reporting to the Manitoba Moose, assuming another team doesn't put in a claim. He should pass I think Chibisov starts with the big club, while the others all go down to through without any issues, considering a handful of other quality goalies the Moose to play big roles, while also pushing for work and being viable have already been sent down to the AHL. call-up options. Expect Mikhail Berdin and Adam Carlson to be AHL-bound Wednesday. David Gustafsson, the 2018 second-rounder, has had a nice camp but Comrie and Berdin will form a nice one-two punch on the farm, while will go back to Sweden for another year, while Jansen Harkins, JC Lipon Carlson will likely be pushed down to the ECHL. and Skyler McKenzie (still working his way back from off-season surgery) also get returned to the Moose. Kristian Reichel, Emile Poirier and Cole ON THE ROSTER (2): Connor Hellebuyck, Laurent Brossoit Maier, all here on tryouts, will have to try their luck in the AHL. SENT PACKING (3): Eric Comrie, Mikhail Berdin, Adam Carlson Laine and Connor will return at some point, so they will eventually push two players off the roster, barring injuries. That should create all kinds of DEFENCE: (15 currently in camp, 1 suspended) internal competition from the likes of Roslovic, Appleton, Vesalainen, Josh Morrissey, Dmitry Kulikov, Neal Pionk and Nathan Beaulieu are set Bourque, Letestu and Chibisov. in stone. I expect the Jets to start the year with seven blue-liners, so that ON THE ROSTER (13): Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, Bryan Little, leaves three spots. Nikolaj Ehlers, Mathieu Perreault, Adam Lowry, Andrew Copp, Jack Tucker Poolman, Sami Niku and Anthony Bitetto grab those jobs. Niku is Roslovic, Mark Letestu, Gabriel Bourque, Mason Appleton, Kristian currently battling a groin injury that has limited him to just a couple of Vesalainen, Andrei Chibisov practices and one pre-season game, and he wasn't even skating SENT PACKING (12): David Gustafsson, C.J. Suess, Joona Luoto, Tuesday. Coach Paul Maurice admitted there's some concern over how Michael Spacek, Logan Shaw, Seth Griffith, Jansen Harkins, JC Lipon, much time he's missed in terms of his readiness to start the season. If he Skyler McKenzie, Kristian Reichel, Emile Poirier, Cole Maier. can't go off the hop, keeping an eighth defenceman around makes some sense. STILL WAITING ON (2): Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor, who are restricted free agents needing to sign new contracts. Maybe that's Ville Heinola, who has opened many eyes with his silky- smooth play. Sure, there's a chance the 18-year-old first-rounder could OPENING NIGHT LINEUP: (22) stick around for the start of the regular season to get a bit more GOAL: Hellebuyck Brossoit FORWARD: Ehlers - Scheifele - Wheeler Copp - Lowry - Perreault Vesalainen - Little - Roslovic Bourque - Letestu - Appleton DEFENCE: Morrissey - Pionk Beaulieu - Kulikov Niku - Poolman EXTRAS: Chibisov, Bitetto Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 09.25.2019 1108385 Winnipeg Jets Asked if was a dream come true, Berdin said it wasn’t. “My dream is to play in the Show, win Stanleys and get trophies,” he

said. “This is my dream but it’s good and I’m excited. I’m happy. This is Jets youngsters hold their own in loss to Calgary what I want and this is where I’m going.” Berdin will be sent down to the Manitoba Moose this year and will back up Comrie, at least to start. Scott Billeck “I just focus on my game,” Berdin said. “I need to win. I need to play good. I don’t think about our goalies, how he’s doing, if he sort of f***** up. I don’t think about this. It could have been a blood bath. “I just focus about my game. If they send me (to the) Moose, OK, I will One team essentially dressed their opening night roster. The other play there. Send me to East Coast last year, I didn’t worry. OK, you want satisfied the league requirement when it comes to the minimum number to see me there, I will show you I’m ready for AHL. Now, I need to show of veterans that need to suit up in a pre-season game. I’m ready for NHL. Yeah, I need to show I’m ready.” Getting outshot 33-20 and losing 2-0 was sort of expected given the lack As mentioned above, Winnipeg’s training camp roster will likely see the of offensive firepower the Winnipeg Jets took with them on the two-hour ax as early as Wednesday. Maurice said earlier this week that he’ll carry flight to Calgary to meet the Flames on Tuesday. three goalies and 26 healthy bodies. What was not expected was some late-second-period tightness that The Jets have two pre-season games remaining, beginning with a home forced Josh Morrissey from the game. matchup against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. The Jets are With a team already reeling from a summer exodus on defence and with expected to ice a lineup that will mirror the one they send out against the Dustin Byfuglien still uncertain about his playing future, the loss of New York Rangers in their season opener next week. Morrissey for any length would be catastrophic. Winnipeg’s final pre-season game comes in the matinee on Sunday For now, however, it appears that it was all precautionary. against the Minnesota Wild. “He was tightening up and we didn’t want to get to the point that we were SHOOT MORE, DO MORE worried about him, so he got pulled,” coach Paul Maurice said. “I bet we Pre-season is hardly the time to slip into a funk, especially when you’re got 15 players with it now.” trying to fight for a roster spot on opening night. Meanwhile, Tuesday’s roster was tailored to the players sitting on the Yet, this is where we find Kristian Vesalainen, who doesn’t feel like he bubble, with one final chance to prove their worth ahead of Wednesday’s has done enough to show Maurice his full skill set with just a week to go anticipated first round of cuts. before the regular season opens — and just hours before the coach So who improved their stock? makes his first round of cuts. Gabriel Bourque was deployed for nearly two minutes of a four-minute Speaking to reporters in Winnipeg on Tuesday morning, Vesalainen feels double-minor in the first period after Tucker Poolman caught Dillon Dube he has worked hard so far but needs to show more, particularly on the with a high stick. offensive side. On that penalty kill, Bourque broke up a centring pass and blocked a “Obviously, I just try to do my own things on the ice, but I think it hasn’t shot. On a third-period PK, Bourque once again flailed himself in front of worked that well so far,” he said prior to suiting up in Calgary. a high-speed point shot. He’s not being overly critical of himself either, although Finns seem to Bourque wasn’t available to talk after the game, seemingly still suffering have no issue with the self-deprecation at times. from the side effects of being a puck sponge. Rather, Vesalainen is only saying what others are seeing. He simply And while his offerings to the team may seem minor, when you’re fighting hasn’t given Maurice enough to warrant a spot on his Oct. 3 roster to earn a roster spot with your penalty-killing prowess, it’s those things against the New York Rangers. that stand out to a coach. And it’s not because he has taken the safe path through the past 10 days “He threw out the old kick save, you don’t see that often anymore,” of training camp. Maurice joked. “(I’ve liked him) right from Day 1. He’s been consistent “I just haven’t played how I can when in the offensive zone,” he said. “I with it. Those kind of heart and soul guys are important for your team. haven’t had that much time with the puck, too.” They’re on the bench, they sit there for a while, they’re still talking and chirping and keeping that energy up. He’s had a really, really good Time is the keyword. camp.” “There’s the adjustment, truly,” Maurice said. “He’s a skilled man. He’s a On the blue line, Anthony Bitetto was given a long look based on his ice good skater. The biggest adjustment for these guys who come over on a time, which totalled over 20 minutes when the final horn sounded. smaller sheet of ice, with bigger and faster men, in a really defined game — even though it looks chaotic, the NHL game is very defined — it’s With Byfuglien’s future uncertain (and uncertainty over a nagging groin somebody’s job to have you if you’ve got the puck and over here that injury for Sami Niku), there’s at least an open spot on the back end as happens very, very quickly. the seventh defenceman. “Once he gets his pace up and realizes he can do all those things he Bitetto, like Bourque, saw significant time on the penalty kill and you used to do, he just has to learn to do them all faster. But the skill set is could hear him pretty clearly from up the press box communicating with there.” his teammates down on the ice. Vesalainen was a point-per-game player in the KHL last season and had Again, the little things. 13 points in 22 games during his stint with the Manitoba Moose that “He didn’t get a lot of games in last year and we want to get him right up followed. (to speed),” Maurice said. “He feels good. He feels strong. All new That hasn’t translated thus far in the NHL. systems for him. And he wants to play. He doesn’t want to rest right now. Vesalainen had two shots on goal in the 12:45 he saw in Winnipeg’s “He’s played well.” second pre-season game, a 4-1 win against the Minnesota Wild last Eric Comrie, starting his second game of the pre-season, looked Wednesday. unbeatable through a half-hour of play. He received a bump to just under 17 minutes two nights later in a 4-3 It took an unstoppable deflection from Sean Monahan in the slot on the overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues, a game that included 1:55 on the power play at 13:37 of the middle frame to solve the 24-year-old. power play, and a game in which Vesalainen failed to record a shot. Calgary took advantage of the momentum, making it 2-0 on the next shift On Sunday, a similar story played out, with Vesalainen once again failing after Mikael Backlund found Sam Bennett on the doorstep for the tap in. to get a puck on net despite more than two minutes spent on the power play. Mikhail Berdin got his first NHL action, making thirteen saves after entering the game to start the third period. “You can’t score if you’re not taking those shots, so I just have to shoot more,” he said. Part of that, he feels, is positioning. Vesalainen said he doesn’t feel he has had the puck in a place where he’s comfortable shooting. “I just (have to) get more puck and be comfortable with it,” he said. “Every day is important here. I have to make it count.” TWO IN THE TOP 50 TSN’s Top 50 players were released on Tuesday, with two Jets making the final cut in the annual rankings. Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid, to the surprise of few — if anybody — topped the list for the third straight year. Mark Scheifele was ranked 17th while Blake Wheeler was 32nd. “Are they in the top three?” Maurice asked about his duo when questioned about the list. “We’ve already established one, they’re not two and three? “OK. Fine.” Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov, the league’s reigning MVP, rounded out the top three. Maurice, meanwhile, didn’t appear surprised about McDavid’s place on the list. “Some guys with really fast hands in the league and then there’s guys who can skate really well. It’s just a rarity to have the extreme of both,” Maurice said. “All coaches, managers, at the end of the day, we’re all fans of the game, so if there’s a game with Connor McDavid on the list of seven you can choose, you find yourself watching that a little more, I guess.” INFIRMARY UPDATE C.J. Suess and Luke Green were added to list of Winnipeg’s walking wounded on Tuesday. They joined Adam Lowry and Mathieu Perreault, with all four the players nursing minor ailments. Maurice said Lowry and Perreault could rejoin full practice as early as Wednesday. Suess, too. Green’s status, meanwhile, is up to the trainers. And Niku, you ask? His injury is a little more complicated. Maurice said Niku has had just two full days of training camp after a car accident on the eve of the first team skate kept him out the first few days and then a groin injury, which he picked up last Thursday, has seen him sidelined ever since. “It is a concern,” Maurice said. “I can’t tell you when he comes back in because he has to hit an IR skate before he hits a game or a full practice. “I don’t have a timeline.” Winnipeg Sun LOADED 09.25.2019 1108386 Vancouver Canucks NEXT GAME Wednesday | Preseason

Ottawa Senators vs. Vancouver Canucks Canucks put on brave face over 'hockey play' Boeser concussion 7 p.m., Rogers Arena, TV: SN1; Radio: SNET 650 AM

Ferland hit by kid’s virus PATRICK JOHNSTON It’s been a very long time since Ferland weighed 209 pounds.

“Since junior, probably,” he said with a smile. But he wants to get back to The training camp plan never quite works out the way it’s drawn up his playing weight, which he says is usually around 215 pounds. anyway, but for Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser to be suffering from a concussion with just a week to go until the start of the regular The winger said a viral infection he picked up from his three-year-old season is a true wrench in the works, both for the player’s health and for daughter last week hit him so hard, he’s lost six pounds since Friday and the team’s ambitions. still isn’t quite feeling 100 per cent again. Canucks head coach Travis Green said Tuesday morning after practice “Had a good push today,” he said. “It’s nice to be able to get a workout in. at Burnaby 8 Rinks that Boeser, who signed a new three-year deal just a week ago, was out of action because of a concussion. “I just did a bag skate (after practice) now and I feel pretty bad right now. So I think another day and a half will be huge for recovery.” He sustained the head injury on a hit into the sideboards by the Ottawa Senators’ Chris Tierney during a third-period power play for the Canucks. Ferland was set to play on Saturday in Salt Lake City, but the bug laid him low for two days on Friday. Given that Pettersson and Boeser played You don’t usually see hits thrown by penalty killers, Green noted. Monday, you’d presume had he been healthy he would have played in Abbotsford, too. “Brock was more surprised by it than anything,” he said. But he also later added he felt the play was “a hockey play.” “The timing of it couldn’t have been any worse for me to try and get games in,” Ferland said. About four minutes into the third period, Boeser turned and was playing the puck as Tierney laid hands on his back and gave the winger a shove. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 09.25.2019 It appeared he didn’t intend to have Boeser fly with as much force as he did into the boards — Boeser essentially flew head-first into the top of the boards — and paused momentarily when he realized the violence of the hit. The referee blew his whistle quickly and assessed a minor penalty, while Boeser sprung to his feet and appeared to feel none the worse for wear. He wasn’t assessed in the moment by the team’s medical staff and when he returned to the bench, apparently felt fine. But he later felt off, Green said. Brock Boeser, shown skating at his first Canucks practice of the season a week ago, is now sidelined with a concussion. NICK PROCAYLO / PNG files Boeser left the bench with about three minutes to play and was obviously still undergoing assessments post-game as reporters asked to interview him then but were told he wasn’t available. “I hope he’s back for next week,” he said. “It’s unfortunate, but we move on.” Using the return-to-play protocol defined by the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT), it takes a player a minimum of six days to be cleared to return to game action. A player must be concussion-symptom free at each step of the protocol for 24 hours before advancing to the next step. Micheal Ferland, who was signed to play on the wing opposite Boeser, flanking Elias Pettersson, said it was hard seeing his new teammate out injured. “It sucks, obviously, you know, for preseason to try to get some chemistry going with new teammates,” he said. Pettersson was philosophical about his friend’s situation. “It’s the reality. Injuries come and you’ve just got to deal with it,” he said. Sven Baertschi and Josh Leivo skated with Pettersson during Tuesday’s practice. Canucks winger Micheal Ferland (right), known for his rugged play, squeezes out defenceman Troy Stecher along the boards during the NHL club’s training camp in Victoria on Sept. 14, 2019. Gerry Kahrmann / PNG files Fantenberg also concussed As most observers suspected, defenceman Oscar Fantenberg is also dealing with a concussion, Green said. The Swedish defenceman caught the brunt of dual hits from and Jordan Szwarz. Szwarz was assessed a major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct for his part in the hit. “A little bit late, a little bit from behind,” Green said of the hit. Unlike Boeser, who bounced right back to his feet after being hit into the boards, Fantenberg stayed down on the ice for some time. 1108387 Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser in concussion protocol

Scott Brown

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser is out of commission after being hit from behind during Monday’s 6-4 preseason win over the Ottawa Senators in Abbotsford. Vancouver coach Travis Green confirmed Monday that Boeser has been put on concussion protocol. Boeser was sent head-first into the boards by Senators forward Chris Tierney while the Canucks were on a third-period power play. Tierney received a two-minute minor for boarding on the play. Boeser, who chipped in with three assists, remained in the game — taking part in the ensuing two-man advantage — following the hit. "Brock was a bit surprised by the hit." Coach Green updates the status of Brock Boeser and Oscar Fantenberg and discusses the play where Boeser got hurt. pic.twitter.com/kgcgxuivLq— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) September 24, 2019 “You’re not usually hitting on a penalty kill, so I think Brock was more surprised by it than anything. He felt fine until about three minutes left in the period,” said Green. It’s not known how much time Boeser will miss, but the sniper was already playing catch-up after missing the team’s three-day training camp due to contract negotiations. “He’s going to miss a little bit of time here … hopefully he is back for next week,” said Green. “It’s unfortunate but we deal with it and we move on.” Defenceman Oscar Fantenberg was also placed in concussion protocol Tuesday after leaving the game with a head injury following a hit from Ottawa’s Jordan Szwarz, who earned a five-minute major. The Canucks host two more preseason games — a Wednesday rematch with the Senators and Thursday against the Arizona Coyotes — before opening the season Oct. 2 in Edmonton. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108388 Vancouver Canucks

Canucks returning to Burnaby 8 Rinks for more practices in 2019-20

Patrick Johnston September 24, 2019

The Canucks will still look to use Rogers Arena as often as possible for practices, but when necessary they'll look to Burnaby 8 Rinks before UBC. The Vancouver Canucks have confirmed that their primary non-Rogers Arena practice facility this coming season is a back to the future locale: Burnaby 8 Rinks. The team’s preference, of course, is to skate at Rogers Arena, but as first reported by Postmedia earlier this year, when scheduling conflicts arise — such as on Tuesday, when Elton John is set to play the third of three concerts in the evening — they’ll be heading to Burnaby more often this season. In recent years, the NHL club has used the University of B.C.’s Doug Mitchell Sports Centre as their non-Rogers practice facility. But last season, the team made a return to 8 Rinks, which had been the team’s practice facility for more than a decade beginning in 1995. Rink one has long been maintained to a higher standard — it has larger dressing-room facilities and offices for coaches, for instance — in preparation for occasional use by NHL squads. The Detroit Red Wings skated along with the Canucks at 8 Rinks last season, for instance. Canucks schedule Tuesday: 11:20AM ice at Burnaby 8 Rinks— Canucks PR (@CanucksPR) September 24, 2019 The facility is relatively family-friendly, with an upper-level viewing area accessible from the central, upstairs snack bar. The Canucks do expect they will still use UBC from time to time, but the “first choice” if they can’t use Rogers Arena will now be 8 Rinks, a team spokesperson said. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108389 Websites Last season: 33-39-10, 76 points, missed the playoffs for the eighth straight year

Their offseason in two sentences: They made some nice deals and hired The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: From bottom feeders to contenders, Ralph Krueger as coach. Same goalies, though. my best guess on where each team ends up Why they’re here: This is the first team where the ground starts to feel at least a little bit shaky. Unlike the last three teams, the Sabres aren’t still lingering in the patient part of a rebuild. Instead, they’ve spent the last By Sean McIndoe Sep 25, 2019 few seasons pumping the gas in time-to-win mode. So far that’s just meant a bunch of tire-spinning, apart from last year’s early win streak that didn’t fool anyone who wasn’t a gullible sap. But at some point, they We’re now just one week away from opening night. And you know what need to either make some progress or fire everyone and start over yet that means: If you can go just one more week without putting your again. If that progress arrives this year, it could be enough to move them predictions for the 2019-20 season in writing, you can pretend that out of this section. But I’m not betting on it. everything that’s about to happen was stuff you knew all along. Chicago Blackhawks Unfortunately for me, no such luck. So today, I’m unveiling my annual Last season: 36-34-12, 84 points, missed the playoffs attempt to break the NHL down into four divisions. Not the Central and Metro and all that. I mean real divisions. As in the Bottom-Feeders, the Their offseason in two sentences: They made a few additions, mostly Middle-of-the-Pack, the True Contenders and the always popular Your- involving the blueline. But the biggest move was signing Robin Lehner. Guess-Is-As-Good-As-Mine group. Why they’re here: If the ground felt shaky for the Sabres, it’s basically That’s it. Unlike some poor folks I could mention, I don’t have to predict breaking the Richter scale here, because I hate this pick. The Hawks had exact point totals or even who’s going to make the playoffs and who lousy goaltending and defense last year and still only missed the playoffs won’t. Just four relatively simple divisions. How badly could I screw that by three wins, and they just signed the reigning Jennings winner. Plus, up? (Narrator’s voice: He would screw it up very badly.) they’re the Hawks. They’re going to make the playoffs and make me look dumb. I don’t know what to tell you, I have a few other teams in this The teams aren’t listed in any particular order within each group, but in range that I like a bit better and I have to have at least seven teams in terms of the divisions we’ll start at the bottom and work our way up. Here each division. Also, I don’t trust Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane to we go … repeat their career years on the wrong side of 30, the defense still isn’t The Bottom-Feeder Division great and Islanders fans have assured me that Lehner isn’t actually good after all even though they all spent last year telling me that he was. But These are the teams that everyone with half a brain knows will be bad yes, future Blackhawks fans tracking me down to call me names after this year. Previous editions have included such obvious trainwrecks as they win a round in the playoffs, I hear you. the 2017-18 Golden Knights and last year’s Islanders. Arizona Coyotes Also, I’d just like to say that this is the section that makes me really regret going with a division-based format that forces me into groups of seven or Last season: 39-35-8, 86 points, missed the playoffs in the season’s final eight teams. There aren’t seven teams that are definitely going to be bad week this year. There are maybe three. The odds that at least one of these Their offseason in two sentences: Phil! Kessel! teams makes the playoffs and I never hear the end of it from their fans are like 90 percent. I hope you all appreciate the sacrifice I’m making Why they’re here: I hate this pick too, although not quite as much as I here. hate the Hawks one. The Coyotes just missed the postseason last year despite a ton of injuries, including to their starting goalie. Now they have Ottawa Senators Phil Kessel. I could absolutely see them being this year’s Hurricanes, Last season: 29-47-6, 64 points, dead last in the league where they finally make it over the hump and everyone goes “Yeah, of course, we could all see that coming.” I could also see them struggling to Their offseason in two sentences: They collected a bunch of ex-Maple score yet again, and watching the teams behind them zip past them and Leafs, which was weird. But they re-signed Thomas Chabot, which was into contention. Probably the Hawks. I’m such an idiot. the important part. Edmonton Oilers Why they’re here: Because even the most optimistic Senators fan knows they’ll be bad this year. Could they be better than last year? Sure, they’re Last season: 35-38-9, 79 points, missed the playoffs a young team that added a few pieces, so they could improve. But even Their offseason in two sentences: Please let Connor McDavid’s knee be an extra 10 wins wouldn’t get them anywhere near the playoffs. And better. Because the rest of the roster sure isn’t. since they won’t be getting three-quarters of a season from Mark Stone and Matt Duchene, it’s possible that they’ll be even worse. Everyone Why they’re here: Every year, I put the Oilers in the Your-Guess-Is-As- knew the Sens would be in this section, and here they are. Good-As-Mine Division, because they can’t keep being this bad forever. Every year, they keep being this bad. Every year, I promise that I’ll learn Los Angeles Kings my lesson. I still haven’t, because there’s still a part of me that wants to Last season: 31-42-9, 71 points, last in the West nudge the Oilers out of this section, based on a new coach and GM. Then I remember that the roster is basically the same except for Mike Their offseason in two sentences: They hired Todd McLellan. That was Smith and some tinkering, and I sigh deeply and drop them into the last pretty much it. bottom-feeder slot. Is this what personal advancement feels like? Why they’re here: They’re rebuilding, they say, even though they haven’t The Middle-of-the-Pack Division exactly been shipping out veterans. Still, that suggests that they’re willing to accept another bad year as the price to be paid for waiting on one of In one sense, this is the most boring division to find your favorite team. the league’s better farm systems to produce enough NHL talent to shift I’m not putting them in with the contenders, but I’m also not saying they’ll their fortunes. That’s a decent plan, but unless McLellan can work be terrible, so you can’t really yell at me too much. I’m not even grouping miracles, it won’t be enough to get them back into contention this year. them in with the confusing teams. I’m basically saying that they’ll probably spend most of the season within range of the playoff bubble; it’s Detroit Red Wings the equivalent of slapping a big “meh” label on them and moving on. Sorry about that. The good news is that in today’s world of mega-parity, Last season: 32-40-10, 74 points, missed the playoffs each one of these teams could absolutely win the Cup. Their offseason in two sentences: The roster is pretty much the same New York Rangers and they used their high pick on some kid in a bowtie. Nobody really cares, because Steve Yzerman is back to save us all. Last season: 32-36-14, 78 points, missed the playoffs Why they’re here: The Wings are the third of the three teams everyone Their offseason in two sentences: They added the best UFA forward, one agrees will be bad, and like the Kings and Senators, it’s all part of a plan. of the league’s best prospects and a new No. 1 defenseman. Other than Replacing Ken Holland was always going to be a tall order, but Yzerman that, not much. will get all the time in the world. If that means this year is a write-off, so be it. And it will be. Why they’re here: The Rangers spent the last few years rebuilding and now they’re clearly shifting into win-now mode. That doesn’t mean they Buffalo Sabres get to instantly become contenders, and they’ve got a long way to go to even get into the playoffs. But I think they’re good enough to at least get Their offseason in two sentences: They wanted Quenneville, Bobrovsky close, so I’ll nudge them into the Middle-of-the-Pack section even though and Panarin. Two out of three ain’t bad. you could make a case for them spending another year with the Bottom- Feeders. Why they’re here: Man, if I had more guts I’d love to move the Panthers into the contenders’ block. They’re young and were already pretty good Philadelphia Flyers and just made huge upgrades in goal and behind the bench. Last year, I thought they’d crack the Atlantic’s big three, and that turned out to be Last season: 37-37-8, 82 points, missed the playoffs getting ahead of things. There’s a good chance I’m wrong the other way Their offseason in two sentences: Alain Vigneault arrives. So does Kevin this time, but I still see them as being closer to a wild card than the 100- Hayes. point range. Why they’re here: The Flyers are one of those teams that you look at on Montreal Canadiens their own and figure “Yep, they’re probably a playoff team.” Then you Last season: 44-30-8, 96 points, finished 14th in a league where the top look at the other teams they have to beat out, and you’re not so sure. Did 16 teams make the playoffs, didn’t make the playoffs they really do enough to add 10 or 15 points? Hayes probably won’t make a big dent. Vigneault over Dave Hakstol and Scott Gordon might. Their offseason in two sentences: They tried and failed to strong-arm the Hurricanes on Sebastian Aho. Which is weird, because you figure if any (Matthew Pearce / Icon Sportswire) GM could succeed with strong arms … Nashville Predators Why they’re here: Give them credit for trying with Aho, I guess, but the Last season: 47-29-6, 100 points, won the Central but lost in the first Habs didn’t really get all that much better over the summer. They didn’t round get worse, either, and Shea Weber being healthy would be a plus. They could certainly build on last year’s big step forward and get back to Their offseason in two sentences: David Poile finally landed Matt competing for a division that everyone forgets they won just two years Duchene. But it cost him P.K. Subban. ago. But I think the more likely scenario is a season that looks a lot like last year, which was about as middle-of-the-pack as you can get. Why they’re here: The Predators are the first playoff team to show up in this post, and I have a feeling that they might be the first big surprise. The Your-Guess-Is-As-Good-As-Mine Division Others have them as elite contenders, including Dom. I can see it. But I also see a team that doesn’t score enough and may not be getting the A few weeks ago, I wrote in more depth about six teams that had me top-tier difference-maker they’re hoping for in Duchene. Mix in a starting utterly confused. As you’d expect, most of those teams appear in this goalie who’s about to turn 37, and the window doesn’t look as wide open division, although one managed to escape into the contenders’ group as it did a year ago. They could absolutely win the Cup, because this is and another (the Wild) has already shown up in the Middle-of-the-Pack the NHL and three-quarters of the league could. I’m just not as confident tier. Don’t worry, there were plenty of candidates to replace them, as others, even as I acknowledge that they’re probably the best team in because I am not a hard person to confuse. this group. New York Islanders Dallas Stars Last season: 48-27-7, 100 points, second in the Metro, lost in the second Last season: 43-32-7, 93 points, Western wild card, lost in the second round round Their offseason in two sentences: They kept just about everyone they Their offseason in two sentences: Joe Pavelski in a new uniform is going wanted to keep. But that list didn’t include Robin Lehner, which was kind to look weird. Corey Perry too. of weird. Why they’re here: Last year, they could barely score, but that was OK Why they’re here: The Islanders were last year’s biggest surprise, and because they didn’t give up much either. In theory, they’ve upgraded the we spent a big chunk of the season wondering if they were for real. offense. So as long as Ben Bishop stays healthy and plays like a Vezina Regression never really arrived, and they’re bringing back pretty much runner-up again, they should be very good. I’m not convinced that the same core, so there’s certainly room for optimism. But then you see happens, so I’m being a little more cautious than some. all the same red flags that Islanders fans are tired of hearing about, like the league-leading PDO and whether is really going to Vancouver Canucks be able to sustain Lehner-like numbers. I think they’re due for a fall. But I’ve been wrong about everything with this team for the last year, so I’m Last season: 35-36-11, 81 points, missed the playoffs sure not going to make any promises. Their offseason in two sentences: Brock Boeser signed an extension, Calgary Flames which is good. Jim Benning did too, which is … uh … I guess we’ll see. Last season: 50-25-7, 107 points, first place in the Pacific, lost in the first Why they’re here: There’s a good case for the Canucks to be down in the round bottom tier, which is where Dom has them. If I’m being totally honest, I might be getting too clever here, putting them in the middle group over a Their offseason in two sentences: They added Cam Talbot and Milan team like the Hawks or Coyotes because I know that it will be more Lucic because that worked out so well for the Oilers. But so far, no impressive if I’m right. But they’ve got some elite young talent, and teams Matthew Tkachuk deal. that have that sometimes make quicker jumps than expected. And while I didn’t love Benning’s offseason moves, including the J.T. Miller trade and Why they’re here: We were all so stunned by last year’s Islanders and Tyler Myers signing, both should at least make the Canucks better in the the big Blues turnaround that I feel like we don’t spend enough time on short term. If Jacob Markstrom can have a solid year, that should be the Flames improving by 23 points to shoot to the top of the Pacific. The enough to get the Canucks into the wild card mix. weird thing about that surge is that, unlike just about every other surprise success story, the Flames didn’t do it by riding hot goaltending. In theory, Minnesota Wild if Talbot is actually the answer or David Rittich has a great year, there’s room for even more improvement. But I just can’t get past the worry that Last season: 37-36-9, 83 points, missed the playoffs on paper, this team looks like it should be trailing the Sharks and Knights. Their offseason in two sentences: What the hell? No seriously, what the Winnipeg Jets hell? Last season: 47-30-5, 99 points, second in the Central, lost in the first Why they’re here: The Wild offseason was such a punchline that it’s easy round to forget that this team isn’t awful. In fact, they were one of the best defensive teams in the league, and that was with Mathew Dumba Their offseason in two sentences: On the one hand, they haven’t signed missing over half the season. They still need to figure out how to score, their key RFA forwards, but on the other hand, they’ve lost pretty much and I’m not sure that adding a 32-year-old Mats Zuccarello helps them their entire blueline. Sometimes, both hands are bad. there as much as they’d like to think. But while it’s tempting to write them off as a mess right now, I think it’s more likely that they end up being a Why they’re here: Man, everyone seems eager to bury the Jets. It’s not mess with a mediocre record. Maybe even a bit better. an unreasonable thought, given how bad that blueline looks right now. Even if we assume that they sign Kyle Connor and Patrik Laine soon Florida Panthers (reasonable) and get Dustin Byfuglien back (maybe less so), they still look like a worse team on paper than the one that disappointed everyone Last season: 36-32-14, 86 points, missed the playoffs last year. Still, isn’t this the same team we all agreed was on the verge of a Cup or several just a year ago? And whose terrible, disastrous, everything-went-wrong 2018-19 season still saw them hit 99 points and Hurricanes are an elite team now? (Reads the room.) Yeah, apparently nearly win the division? It’s not that hard to imagine them righting the we’re all sure. OK, count me in, I guess. ship just a bit, finishing the year with something like 103 points and topping the Central while everyone goes “Oh right, they’re good.” It’s also The True Contenders Division not that hard to imagine the season being a debacle that gets everyone Last year’s Contenders Division featured eight teams, all of whom made fired. the playoffs. But six of them lost in the first round and none of them won New Jersey Devils the Cup. I might be bad at this. Last season: 31-41-10, 72 points, missed the playoffs Tampa Bay Lightning Their offseason in two sentences: Jack Hughes, P.K. Subban, Nikita Last season: 62-16-4, 128 points, first place overall, quite possibly the Gusev and even Wayne Simmonds. It was a good summer. very best team of the cap era, and then let’s never speak of this again Why they’re here: They’ll obviously be better than last year. The question Their offseason in two sentences: They just re-signed Brayden Point, and is whether they can make up enough ground to get back in the playoff we’re not doing a second sentence because the Lightning always end up mix, and your answer to that probably has a lot to do with how much faith getting a lower number than anyone else. you have in Cory Schneider. They’ve got a long way to go, and even all Why they’re here: Because they’re ridiculously good, and should be the their offseason additions probably don’t add up to the sort of 25-point top team in the league again. Maybe they’re not your Cup favorites, improvement they’d need. Then again, most years see at least a few because you’re spooked by their playoff collapse or you think some other teams that do have 25-point improvements, so why not go with the one team is even better or you’re just being a contrarian. That’s cool. But one that added a ton of talent? I don’t think they’re in the playoff mix quite yet, of the eight best teams? Of course. but everyone else seems to. San Jose Sharks Anaheim Ducks Last season: 46-27-8, 101 points, second in the Pacific, lost in the Last season: 35-37-10, 80 points, missed the playoffs conference final Their offseason in two sentences: Corey Perry is gone and they didn’t Their offseason in two sentences: Erik Karlsson and Joe Thornton are add much. Good luck, Dallas Eakins. staying, as are Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc. But Joe Pavelski isn’t. Why they’re here: On paper, they’re a bad team coming off a bad season Why they’re here: Because I’m pretty sure their window is still open, even that didn’t really do anything to improve a bad roster. This one should be as I acknowledge that when it closes, it might happen quickly. The easy. But history tells us that there are two factors that can turn a bad goaltending is still an issue, and Dom’s not a big fan this year. I can’t say team into an unexpected success story: a smart new coach and top-tier I’d be stunned if they dropped out of the top tier of teams. But I think it’s goaltending. The Ducks have both, so pretty much anything from dead more likely that they hang around for at least one more swing at a last to contending for home ice feels like it’s in play. championship, and maybe this time they finally connect. Pittsburgh Penguins Boston Bruins Last season: 44-26-12, 100 points, third in the Metro, didn’t win a playoff Last season: 49-24-9, 107 points, second in the Atlantic, lost on home ice game in Game 7 of the Cup final Their offseason in two sentences: They made their annual terrible UFA Their offseason in two sentences: A typical Don Sweeney offseason. signing. And they finally traded Phil Kessel. That means no trades, but some key players signing team-friendly deals. Why they’re here: I’m convinced that the Penguins are about to be the Why they’re here: Because they’re a well-built team from top to bottom next Hawks or Kings or Ducks, the perpetually good team that doesn’t that should be about as good as they were last year as long as the key just take a step back but actually plummets off a cliff. Like, I’m talking an veterans can stay healthy. The path out of the Atlantic still looks brutal, 83-point season that kicks off a full rebuild. I’m also already mentally and they can’t count on a wild card taking care of the Lightning for them preparing myself to still have this thought as I’m watching Sidney Crosby again. Also of concern: Last year’s long run means fatigue could be a skate another Cup around the ice. factor. Still, the talent is here, they’re very well-coached and they should Columbus Blue Jackets have at least a little bit of cap room to patch any holes that appear. Last season: 47-31-4, 98 points, Eastern wild card team, shocked the Washington Capitals Lightning but then lost in Round 2 Last season: 48-26-8, 104 points, first in the Metro, lost in the first round Their offseason in two sentences: Everybody left. Even the team because Alexander Ovechkin WILL NEVER WIN THE BIG ONE! Sorry, president. force of habit. Why they’re here: Because I’ve always been a believer in healing power Their offseason in two sentences: They made a few minor changes that of “everybody is against us.” Look, there’s no rational reason to think the you already don’t remember. Also, cocaine. Blue Jackets are making the playoffs. They barely made it last year, and Why they’re here: This is basically still the same team that won the Cup that was before the offseason exodus. They’ll probably be bad. in 2018, and while the Metro is deep, it doesn’t seem especially top Everybody knows this. But the thing is that they know that everybody heavy. They should win the division for a fifth straight year, which will set knows this, and if they ever got off to a hot start, that stuff can snowball. them up nicely for another long playoff run. By the way, they start the season with back-to-back games against the Maple Leafs and Penguins, two spotlight-hogging teams that would make Toronto Maple Leafs for pretty much the perfect “We’re still here” statement wins. I’m not saying, I’m just saying. Last season: 46-28-8, 100 points, third in the Atlantic, played the Bruins in the first round so you know how that goes Carolina Hurricanes Their offseason in two sentences: Kyle Dubas stayed busy by rebuilding Last season: 46-29-7, 99 points, Eastern wild card, lost in the conference the blueline, clearing out cap space and re-signing several key players. final But all anyone wants to talk about is the Mitch Marner mega-deal. Their offseason in two sentences: It got weird. And that was before Why they’re here: The Leafs are stacked with young talent up front, yesterday’s Justin Faulk trade. should be set in goal and have at least temporarily improved the blueline with Tyson Barrie. Is it enough to get past the Bruins and/or Lightning? It Why they’re here: I spent the last five years or so constantly predicting had better be, because they’ve paid top dollar for those forwards and left that the Hurricanes would be good, and now that it’s finally happened I’m themselves with basically no margin for error with the rest of the lineup. I getting a little worried. At this point, I’m pretty sure everybody has the don’t think they’re the favorites, but they have a shot. Canes as a playoff team at the very least. Dom has them on top of the Metro. I’m willing to bet that at least a few experts are going to make Vegas Golden Knights them their sneaky Cup pick. And half of me is like “Finally, thanks for catching up.” The other half is thinking “Wait, isn’t this the same team Last season: 43-32-7, 93 points, third in the Pacific, learned a valuable that needed close to career years from Petr Mrazek and Curtis lesson about penalty killing in the first round McElhinney just to make the playoffs on the final weekend, still looks pretty questionable in goal, and also just lost their heart-and-soul leader for at least the start of the season?” We’re all completely sure that the Their offseason in two sentences: They traded away one guy they couldn’t keep in Colin Miller and one they never really had in Nikita Gusev. As far as reinforcements coming in, there wasn’t much. Why they’re here: The Knights may not have added over the summer, but their big 2019 acquisition came at the trade deadline. That was Mark Stone, of course, and it will be fun to see what he can do in a full year in Vegas. The forwards are scary, the blueline is solid and Marc-Andre Fleury has defied Father Time so far. I’m still not sure how they only managed 93 points last year, and maybe that should worry me more than it does. But I think the Knights go neck-and-neck with the Sharks for the Pacific crown. Colorado Avalanche Last season: 38-30-14, 90 points, Western wild card, lost in the second round Their offseason in two sentences: They traded for Nazem Kadri, giving them solid depth down the middle for the first game or two of each playoff round. But we’re still waiting on Mikko Rantanen news. Why they’re here: Sigh. Fine, you guys convinced me. When I included the Avs as one of my six teams I couldn’t figure out, you all assured me that they were legitimate contenders, even though they won three whole games more than the Oilers. So you win, I’m listing them here. No I’m not mad. It’s fine. I’m fine. St. Louis Blues Last season: 15-18-4, 34 points, dead last in the NHL. I stopped paying attention after that, but I doubt anything important happened. Their offseason in two sentences: They barely did anything until adding Justin Faulk yesterday. They barely needed to. Why they’re here: The defending champs won’t go into the season as the favorite, and nobody will make them their actual Cup pick because nobody ever picks a repeat. Still, the Blues are deep and experienced, and they’ll get their first full camp under Craig Berube. I’m not completely sold on Jordan Binnington, and we know how mediocre this team can look without great goaltending. They’ll have a long path out of the West, but they know what it takes, and they’re certainly not going to panic if they hit a bump or two in the road. The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108390 Websites In 1994-95, the league’s richest teams were the ones most in favour of ending the lockout. We can imagine how the Leafs, Sharks, Flyers, Blackhawks, Rangers and Capitals might feel this time around given that they’re on the hook for a combined total of $100-million in bonuses The Athletic / Despite increased leverage, the NHLPA would do well to before the first puck drops in 2022-23. avoid a labour dispute It isn’t just the bonuses that give those teams an incentive to play in 2022-23. Contract structure matters, too, because although players as a group are guaranteed a fixed percentage of revenue, some teams pay By Jonathan Willis Sep 24, 2019 more and others less. Consider the Blackhawks’ matching contracts to Jonathan Toews and When the collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and NHLPA Patrick Kane. For simplicity’s sake, we’ll ignore escrow and look just at ends in 2022, the players’ association will have leverage. The most the face value of the contracts, though escrow shrinks the actual money significant factor from the players’ perspective could be bonus money, as involved (as it does for all contracts around the NHL). NHL owners will make payouts totalling nearly a quarter-billion dollars Chicago owes both players a total of $84-million over eight years, for a just two months before the CBA expires. total of $10.5-million per season, assuming that there is no stoppage in Other factors will come into play, too, but ones which will cut in both 2022-23. If the season is wiped out, though, the Blackhawks owe both directions. Owners would hate to jeopardize their next American TV deal players $81.1-million over seven years, for an average of $11.6-million and the momentum of a Seattle expansion team just a single year into its per season. existence, but then players should feel the same way, since they share in That’s an average difference of $1.1-million per year over the life of the the profits. If anything, those other forces should caution both parties contract. If there’s no stoppage, these teams get to reap the financial against another abbreviated (or eliminated) season in 2022-23. savings that come with playing skaters in low-earning seasons. If there is The NHLPA decision in mid-September to keep the CBA in place through a stoppage, they sacrifice what in many cases are the cheapest years on 2022 rather than ending it next summer was widely seen as a positive their respective players’ deals. indicator for labour peace. As Pierre LeBrun wrote in the immediate (Including escrow calculations in this complicates matters, but in an aftermath, NHL owners were “ecstatic,” and a hockey fan base which has important way, as we’ll see in a moment.) seen three lockouts over commissioner Gary Bettman’s tenure had ample reason to feel relieved. At the other end of the spectrum are a series of teams which have committed no bonus money to a potentially lost season. These are LeBrun noted the one wrinkle in his column, a concern which was mostly smaller market clubs, teams with more incentive to grind the echoed by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on Thursday: with the players’ players’ association for every dollar. removal of the 2020 deadline, will negotiations continue at the same productive pace at which they have been conducted so far? Again, contract structure matters here. The seven teams with no signing bonus commitments have also been reluctant to give their players lower It’s a legitimate concern, though both sides have incentive to avoid a salaries in potential lockout years. In total, these seven teams have showdown. The difference this time around might be that the league is in salary obligations totalling 90 percent of their players’ cap hits in 2022- a worse bargaining position than it was during two previous lockouts. 23; for the rest of the league the number is an astonishingly low 57 After folding in the face of player solidarity in 1994-95, NHL owners rolled percent. into their next negotiations grimly determined to exact concessions from Take Nathan MacKinnon’s famously team-friendly contract. Colorado the union. It cost the league a season in 2004-05 to extract a salary cap owes him $44.1-million over seven seasons, an average of $6.3-million from a broken union and a half-season in 2012-13 to decrease the per year, assuming no stoppage in 2022-23. If 2022-23 is wiped out, the players’ share of revenue from 54 to 50 percent, but in both cases Avs will pay MacKinnon the slightly lower average figure of $6.2-million ownership remained united in pursuit of its common goal. per year, making a great deal even better. If the CBA remains unsettled in the fall of 2022, that could change, As before, that ignores escrow, but it sets up a fascinating dynamic in thanks to the way players and their agents have structured player which some teams will suffer badly in a work stoppage, losing cheap contracts. contract years and paying through the nose in bonuses, while other The average annual value of all contracts running through 2022-23 teams have no bonus obligations and will see pricier years erased from season (so far) totals just under $1-billion ($943,367,412). On paper, the their players’ contracts. players stand to lose only 62 percent of that money, since the actual This dynamic has actually served to make the escrow situation worse for salary owed is only $582,539,000 (with so many players having lockout the players in the short term. At the same time it has acted as a braking protection on their deals). mechanism, reducing the damage teams can inflict on themselves. That is a little misleading, since the players as a group receive a fixed The league, as a whole, having salaries which exceed cap hit in non- share of hockey revenue. Some individuals, mostly at the upper end of stoppage years has helped push escrow higher. The salary cap is the talent spectrum, might feel the blow less acutely, but a lost season intended to keep league spending in balance with league revenue and will hurt the NHLPA as a whole by the same amount no matter how anything that pushes real money higher than cap hit (such as spending cleverly the contracts are structured. more in non-stoppage years) drives escrow up. There is a single exception to that rule, one the owners have indulged in As escrow climbs, a pile of that extra money owners tried to give players to their peril: signing bonuses. The league’s teams have already gets clawed back, thereby saving teams from themselves. The teams committed to handing the players $231,290,000 in signing bonuses on with unbalanced contracts still pay more, but the blow is softened by their July 1, 2022. Those bonuses will be paid regardless of whether a new rebate cheques. CBA is in place or if a game is played in 2022-23. Taking an optimistic view, this situation could set up a sweet spot for both The way those bonuses are distributed throughout the league could give sides to hammer out an extension. the players a wedge issue. Traditionally the NHLPA is far more vulnerable to divide-and-conquer tactics than the league owners, but the Because so many contracts were structured to protect players in the NHL has never entered a lockout in which some teams have paid their event of a 2020-21 stoppage (had the league or players opted out of the players no money and others have already expended tens of millions. CBA early), escrow should be artificially low that season, matching the lower salaries on various contracts. In Bettman’s position, this is could be No team has been more indifferent to the potential negative impact of the ideal time to push for a deal: artificially low escrow and a bunch of signing bonuses than the Maple Leafs. This is particularly evident when new jobs with the Seattle expansion team should have player looking at the team’s three largest contracts: Auston Matthews, John contentment at an all-time high. Tavares and Mitch Marner will be paid a combined $21.5-million in signing bonuses right before a potential 2022-23 stoppage. Those three Better still, having all those benefits fall in the aftermath of a newly players will forfeit a grand total of $2.4-million if the entire season is concluded CBA extension would reinforce the idea that labour peace written off. brings prosperity to all concerned. Adding all of Toronto’s existing 2022-23 contracts together, the Leafs will If that window is missed, the prospects for a happy resolution look much save just $6.4-million if the season were to be cancelled, representing bleaker. Peace recently has been synonymous with “crushing defeat for just 14 percent of the average annual value of those deals. the NHLPA” and that won’t be so easy for the owners to achieve this time around. The league still has its traditional advantages. The list includes the way the union’s size lends itself to disunity, the brevity of players’ careers, the way different classes of players have different incentives and the significant institutional memory and relative sophistication of the owners’ side. Those advantages are offset in new ways. This isn’t the same splintered NHLPA that stumbled into the 2012-13 lockout on its sixth executive director since the start of the previous CBA. It would go into negotiations in the fall of 2022 with many of its players getting massive cheques from their teams and facing the prospect of losing a relatively low-paying year. It would face off against owners who, having just transferred hundreds of millions of dollars to the players, face the prospect of missing out on a huge pile of American TV revenue and crippling momentum in their newest market. It is vital for everyone concerned that another stoppage doesn’t occur. The stage is set for one of two outcomes: an early agreement leading to no stoppage and shared profit or a knockdown fight with the potential to erase another season, cripple one or both sides, drive away fans and interest and set the stage for another heated dispute at the end of the next CBA. The objective for the league and the players should be a settlement which legitimately works for both sides. A lopsided victory for either party is neither desirable nor necessary. True partnership is the only solution which serves the long-term interests of everyone involved and which might move the NHL out of its ugly lockout era, now a quarter-century old. An optimist might point to the NHLPA’s improved position as a positive sign, swinging the balance of power in negotiations back to the players just enough so that a mutually beneficial deal can be reached. A pessimist might note that the league usually does not respond well to player pressure and might feel compelled to push for systemic changes which reduce the ability of the union to make demands. On the most recent news, the optimist probably has the better argument. Yet it’s a long road to 2022 and the history of past negotiations is not encouraging. The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108391 Websites niche – an above average player who can help you in a lot of different areas. Even teams such as St. Louis, coming off a championship season, sometimes need something to stir up the mix. Landing Faulk, committing to him all those years contractually and above all making him feel wanted The Athletic / Roundtable reaction: Breaking down the trade that sends – where he clearly wasn’t in Carolina anymore – it sure looks like it could Justin Faulk to the Blues be a home run for the relatively modest acquisition cost. DOM LUSZCZYSZYN: The trade itself is fine. The Blues bolstered their already strong blue line with a mobile defender who would be an upgrade By Craig Custance Sep 24, 2019 over Robert Bortuzzo on the right side, giving them a very deep right side. The NHL trade rumor mill has to find someone else to constantly talk The signing though? That’s much tougher to comprehend. Faulk appears about. Justin Faulk was finally traded and it’s to a team nearly as deep to be a capable scorer, but he’s given every opportunity to do so with on defense as the Hurricanes. The St. Louis Blues sent defenseman Joel loads of power play time, so not cracking 40 points in five of the past six Edmundson, prospect Dominik Bokk and a 2021 seventh-round pick to seasons doesn’t inspire confidence. He’s only an average play-driver and the Carolina Hurricanes in return for Faulk and a 2020 fifth-round pick. at $6.5 million per season will likely be very overpaid for his services as a The Blues immediately signed Faulk to a seven-year contract extension run-of-the-mill top-four defender. That’s fine in a vacuum maybe, but with with a $6.5 million average annual value. the much superior Pietreangelo’s contract expiring at the end of this season, it’s hard to fathom why the Blues would do this. Pietrangelo, an There’s a lot to break down here, so we invited a roundtable of local and elite defenseman, at $8 million, $9 million or even $10 million is much national NHL writers from The Athletic to weigh in: more palatable than Faulk at this price. SARA CIVIAN: It finally happened, and it’s sort of funny. COREY PRONMAN: Bokk is a highly talented player who has the hands, IQ and speed to become a great top-six NHL winger. There are no Of all the Faulk trade speculation that popped up as he approached his doubts on the talent, but he can be frustrating to watch, and even some contract year – some of it essentially one signature away from of his biggest supporters in the scouting world have come down on him a completion (Faulk to the Ducks), some of it more pipe-dreamy (Faulk for bit due to his so so effort level and inconsistency. I also have Nikolaj Ehlers, straight up, who says no) – he’s off to St. Louis for (record downgraded him from a year ago even if I’d still bet on him becoming a scratch, freeze frame) a deal that included another fringe top-four good NHL forward. defenseman. In discussions with teams since the trade, one topic that’s come up is Minutes after the trade came Faulk’s contract extension. For as much as Carolina acquiring a lot of prospects lately with a high skill level but who the Canes have loved Faulk on and off the ice in his eight-year stay, and could be described as “soft skill” in Bokk, Ryan Suzuki, Anttoni Honka having him as their resident scapegoat, there’s no way they could’ve and Patrik Puistola (although Andrei Svechnikov, Jamieson Rees and swung that. They’ve basically built their defense around the foresight of Jack Drury are counter to that). Depending on which scout you ask, they signing young, mostly NCAA alumni and giving them legitimate could say this is a no-doubt top 10 farm system in Carolina or one that opportunities in exchange for relatively low salaries. won’t produce components of a winning playoff team. I lean to the Something had to give, but evidently not at the expense of the infamous former, but I have reservations. logjam. The Hurricanes have decided they enjoy the luxury of the logjam For the Blues, they lose one of their top prospects and their farm looks enough to keep it going with Edmundson signed at $3.1 million for one thin now even with the positive summer for Klim Kostin. Flags fly forever more year. though. Faulk looked re-invigorated by the playoff run. He can eat penalty JEREMY RUTHERFORD: Neither the Blues’ acquisition of Faulk, nor minutes. Maybe in a different power play system he’ll use his wrister their willingness to move Edmundson in the deal, are shocking. instead of his slapshot and make an impact. It has finally happened, and we all know why. As Faulk’s situation in Carolina looked like it may lead to his departure, there were rumblings the Blues had some interest. And with SCOTT BURNSIDE: Weird but I was just talking to a Western-based Edmundson’s contract talks this summer requiring arbitration to get to a scout about St. Louis an hour or so before this trade, and he was talking resolution, a deal between the two sides makes a lot of sense. about how difficult he thinks St. Louis is going to be to get past in spite of the short summer and the Stanley Cup parties. This trade gives them What’s extremely interesting about this is what does it mean for the Blues arguably as good a one-through-six on the back end as any team in the and Pietrangelo? He’s entering the final year of his seven-year contract NHL. Nice work GM Doug Armstrong. And Don Waddell continues to and could be in the market for $9 million-plus. With Colton Parayko and enjoy a renaissance as a top NHL GM in Carolina, adding defensive now Faulk in the fold, what could this mean for the captain? It’s believed depth with Edmundson to a group that I consider as good as any in the the Blues do want Pietrangelo back, but at the very least, this gives them Eastern Conference and continuing to stock the shelves with positive a fallback plan. assets like Bokk, a first-round pick in 2018. The fact is that Faulk, with the addition of Jake Gardiner and an already impressive collection of The other interesting factor is the Blues’ decision to re-sign Faulk to emerging young defensive talent in Carolina, had run out of runway with seven-year extension, which doesn’t kick in until next season. That’s a the Canes, who are now better, on paper, than the team that went to the serious commitment to a player who will turn 35 by the end of the deal. Eastern Conference final last spring. Not sure about the seven-year But in addition to the cushion it gives them in the Pietrangelo situation, extension Faulk immediately signed in St. Louis, but even if you hate the they’re getting a good veteran defenseman who can help their ailing last three years or so, it won’t matter much if there’s a whole bunch more power play, and they’re able to move on from a player in Edmundson “Gloria” being sung in St. Louis next spring. who they soured on. CRAIG CUSTANCE: I saw this and immediately thought about Alex The Athletic LOADED: 09.25.2019 Pietrangelo. He’s 29 years old, entering the final year of his contract that averages $6.5 million and is due for a monster raise. We’ve seen in the past that Armstrong isn’t afraid to make tough decisions and move on from veteran players if it doesn’t make financial sense to extend them. Pietrangelo is a franchise defenseman who will command a lot of money and deservedly so. It’s also a contract that, if it’s eight years, probably isn’t going to age well, since it’ll exist in Pietrangelo’s 30s. This isn’t to say Faulk is a potential replacement for Pietrangelo, the better defenseman; but now, at the very least, the Blues have given themselves leverage and options moving forward as they consider the best path in which to deal with their captain. ERIC DUHATSCHEK: I have a bias towards Faulk that stems from his early formative days in the Carolina organization when Steve Smith, then an assistant coach with the Hurricanes, was telling me about this rising young defensive star they had in the organization – and how good he would eventually be once he reached his prime. Smith liked Faulk’s talent and the way the player carried himself. It means I’ve monitored Faulk closely, and while I get that he never did soar into the Norris Trophy level of NHL defenceman, he did seem to settle nicely into a Gary Suter-sort of 1108392 Websites • Matt Benning’s neutral zone drop pass ended up in the Oilers net for the 1-0 goal by Lawson Crouse, then Adam Larsson coughed up a puck right in front of the Oilers net on the 2-0 goal by Michael Bunting. They’re plays Tippett doesn’t mind seeing, but, “There’s a risk-reward factor,” he Sportsnet.ca / Oilers' Connor McDavid works out kinks in return from leg said. injury “There’s a time and a place where you have to simplify, and there’s a time when that simple play in the middle is actually the best play. Three of (Arizona’s) goals were critical mistakes by our D. Two were puck plays Mark Spector | September 25, 2019, 12:53 AM (by Larsson and Benning), and (Darnell) Nurse jumping in on one.” WHAT’S NEXT? EDMONTON — Connor McDavid wanted to play this pre-season game The home portion of Edmonton’s pre-season is over. They go to badly, considering he hadn’t played a game in nearly six months. He may Winnipeg Thursday, and close out with a game in Calgary on Saturday. not be quite as voracious when it comes to watching it on video, however. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 09.25.2019 McDavid had spurts, was foiled on a half-breakaway, took a stick in the face and coughed up a puck that nearly ended up in the Oilers goal. He played 20:36 — the most of any Edmonton forward — had two shots on goal, and went an impressive 10-3 in the face-off circle. “I felt a little rusty, but that’s to be expected in the first pre-season game. It was nice to be out there for sure,” said McDavid, who now leaves behind any vestiges of his injured knee. “I was able to push myself like nothing happened, so I was happy about that. Obviously a game is a lot different than a practice, so it was good to get in one.” How did head coach Dave Tippett like McDavid’s game? “He gets up and going. He needed to get into a game just to get his mind right,” said Tippett. “Worked hard. Not much happening.” All in all, this 4-2 loss to the Arizona Coyotes was exactly what it is supposed to be: a chance for some hopefuls to make a claim for NHL employment, and an opportunity for a guy like McDavid to get in his first pre-season game, work some kinks out, and make the determination if he needs another start before the Canucks show up for the season opener next Wednesday. That is something they’ll decide on Wednesday morning. We’re betting McDavid would like another game, and although the Oilers captain said it’s the coach’s decision, you know if McDavid requests another start he’ll get it. “Obviously I’d like to keep playing,” he said, “but it’s ultimately up to (Tippett) and the lineup he wants to see.” McDavid was part of a top six that was outplayed by the third and fourth lines for Edmonton. In a way that’s a good sign, in that it almost never happened last season — because the bottom six was that ineffective. “The bottom six worked hard, were good,” Tippett said post-game. “The penalty kill was really good. Our top six wasn’t so good (with) far too many turnovers. You saw the bottom six, they trapped Arizona in their own zone a number of times, just through hard work. The top six were having a hard time because they were turning over the puck too often.” It’s early days. The top six will improve, and if the bottom six follows suit, Tippett just may have something here. THE BIG TAKEAWAY The most impactful development in this pre-season contest came when defenceman Joel Persson disappeared from the Edmonton bench in the second period. And then immediately after the game, when defenceman Evan Bouchard and goalie Shane Starrett were sent to AHL Bakersfield. Persson, slated to play the right side in a pairing with Oscar Klefbom, has an upper-body injury. With Bouchard gone, and Brandon Manning and William Lagesson both lefties, that leaves Ethan Bear as the only healthy right-handed defenceman remaining. The Oilers have a lot riding on the Swedish import Persson, hoping that a 26-year-old who has never played an NHL game can handle top four minutes next to Klefbom. On a one-way, $1 million deal, an injury isn’t going to cost Persson his job in the long term. In the short term, however, the third-year pro Bear has been pushing for a job here, and this could be the break he’s earned. With the demotion of Bouchard, the door is wide open for Bear to not only stick, but start in the opening night lineup next to Klefbom, depending on the severity of Persson’s injury. QUICK HITS • Goalie Mike Smith had his first start, stopping 15-of-17 shots through 40 minutes. He looked just fine, and assuming his game goes up from here, we expect a battle for the No. 1 job between he and Mikko Koskinen. 1108393 Websites

TSN.CA / Matthews facing disorderly conduct charge in Arizona

Frank Seravalli

Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews is facing a disorderly conduct charge in relation to an alleged May incident in his hometown of Scottsdale, Ariz. The odds-on favourite to be named the next Maple Leafs’ captain and a group of friends allegedly attempted to open the vehicle door of a female security guard around 2 o’clock in the morning on May 26. Upon being confronted by the female security guard, Matthews then allegedly “pulled his pants down, bent over and grabbed his butt cheeks” as he was walking away, according to a police report. The complainant said Matthews was wearing underwear at the time. A police officer later observed building surveillance video which showed a man •– confirmed by a building manager to be Matthews – walking toward the elevator with his pants “at his ankle.” None of the allegations have been proven in court. Court documents show a hearing related to the case is scheduled for Scottsdale City Court on Wednesday morning. Matthews is not required to appear. The Maple Leafs issued a statement on Tuesday night acknowledging the pending charge. “The Toronto Maple Leafs are aware of the complaint of disturbing the peace against forward Auston Matthews,” the statement read. “Auston is cooperating fully with the relevant authorities but neither he nor the Club will comment any further out of respect for the process involved.” Matthews’ agent, Judd Moldaver of Wasserman Sports / Orr Hockey Group, did not immediately respond to a request to comment from TSN. The female security guard, identified as Fayola Dozithee according to the Scottsdale Police Department report, filed the complaint on May 28 and requested to press charges, two days after the alleged incident. Dozithee told the responding officer that she told Matthews and his friends, “I am a female, I am a military vet with sever [sic] PTSD” and that it “wasn’t funny, how could they think it would be funny to get in a female’s vehicle at 2am.” Dozithee told the officer that "no one should be put through that type of situation." Dozithee also told the officer that the “group of males appeared to be intoxicated.” According to the report, the investigating officer attempted to contact Matthews on May 30 and again on June 19, both times unsuccessfully. One count of disorderly conduct - disruptive behavior was filed by an Arizona prosecutor on July 23. Disorderly conduct is a Class 1 misdemeanor in Arizona, which carries a maximum of six month in jail and up to a $2,500 fine. Matthews, who turned 22 on Sept. 17, was born in San Ramon, Calif., but moved to the Scottsdale area at an early age and played his youth hockey hockey for the Arizona Bobcats. Matthews is entering the first season of a five-year, $58.17 million contract he signed with the Leafs in February. TSN.CA LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108394 Websites "It's amazing," he said. "We've been in split groups for the last two weeks and we haven’t really gotten everybody together and now we’re starting to practise and get the feel and, as a defenceman, trying to defend these guys you don’t really get a break in practice it’s just one guy after another TSN.CA / New Leaf Barrie eager to line up against NHL’s best coming." Leafs' Barrie eager to measure himself against top lines Mark Masters The Leafs overhauled their defence in the summer swinging a blockbuster trade with Colorado to acquire Tyson Barrie. Barrie posted 59 points last year with the Avalanche. In the salary cap era, no right- TSN Toronto reporter Mark Masters checks in daily with news and notes handed Leafs defenceman has posted more than 40 points in a season, on the Maple Leafs, who practised at the Ford Performance Centre on so Barrie brings balance to the blue line along with big-time potential. Tuesday. Mark Masters has more. After an eight-year run in Colorado, Tyson Barrie is still finding his footing --- in Toronto. With Toronto's NHL regulars all skating together this week we have "There's so much that changes," he said. "You get used to one place for gotten our first look at the two full power-play units. Here's how they lined so long and it just kind of abruptly ends." up on Tuesday (PP points last season): The biggest adjustment so far? Morgan Rielly (21) "I'm pretty loud in the room and like to kind of chirp guys and have some Mitch Marner (21) - Tavares (19) - Matthews (20) laughs and I think the first two weeks I've been a little bit more quiet than Andreas Johnsson (6) maybe I would be," Barrie said, "just trying to feel out some personalities and stuff so I'm going to have to start giving it to guys here soon." Barrie (25) Barrie has a lot to say and not just to his new teammates. The Victoria, Jason Spezza (12) - Kerfoot (16) - William Nylander (6) B.C., native is eager to send a message to the entire NHL. Kasperi Kapanen (3) "I have a lot left in me and maybe that just starts with being relied upon to play against other team's top lines and stuff like that," the 28-year-old Over the last two seasons, no defenceman has played more on the defenceman said. "It will be a fun year for me to see how good I can get." power play than Barrie (3:54 per game) as the Avalanche leaned heavily on its top unit. So, what does Barrie think about playing on the second "He's a committed guy," said Leafs coach Mike Babcock. "He's got a real unit in Toronto? good swagger about him, he's confident in his abilities, he's got good abilities." "Coming in here they've got, obviously, a great power play and a guy in Mo, who's an outstanding defenceman and can run a power play as good The Leafs overhauled their blueline in the off-season, with Barrie the as anybody so it will be a little different situation. But our goal here is to biggest addition. He and centre Alexander Kerfoot were acquired in a win and whoever gives us the best chance to do that I think we have to blockbuster deal with the Avalanche, which saw centre Nazem Kadri and go with," Barrie said. "We got a lot of skill on our unit and we'll certainly defenceman Calle Rosen heading to Denver. be snapping it around too. We'll be doing our part." Expectations are high for Barrie and early in training camp Babcock said The Leafs finished eighth in power-play efficiency last season while the blueliner was only scratching the surface of what he can accomplish Barrie's Avalanche were seventh. in the NHL. Wednesday's game against the Montreal Canadiens will be the first time "We can help him defend more so that he has the puck way more often," the power-play units play together. New assistant coach Paul McFarland Babcock explained. "Sometimes you think about defence as though, has been installing a different system with Marner and Matthews ‘It's going to take away from my offensive game.’ No, it's just going to switching to their off wings. improve his offensive game, because he won't be playing defence." "Trying to be more comfortable with the passing," said Marner. "Trying to Barrie has been paired with Jake Muzzin in training camp. They also figure out what the best lane is and also trying to work on my one timer. joined forces at the 2015 World Championship helping Canada win the You know, that’s something I’m not very used to doing so something I’m gold medal. trying to get used to and trying to get better at, but we’ll take it game by game and see how it goes." "We're getting back in the groove of things," Barrie said. "We felt a lot better last game. I feel lucky I get to play with him. He's a very veteran Both Matthews and Marner were working on one timers after practice on presence and he talks a lot and kind of makes it easy on me." Tuesday. Can Marner model his one timer after anyone? They complement each other well, with Muzzin bringing a physical edge "No," he said with a chuckle, "I can't model it after Stammer, Kuch or Ovi that was on display Saturday in Buffalo when he dumped Victor Olofsson so, I mean, I don’t know, I'm just trying to do what I do and see what into the Toronto bench. happens with it." "That was great," Barrie said with a grin. "He got him halfway and then Marner's one-timer still very much a work in progress gave him two shoves. He wanted him in there for sure … He's so solid, but he's not afraid to jump in or make a play. He makes great first passes Switching to his off-wing with Auston Matthews on the power play so it just kind of elevates my game." Tuesday in practice, Mitch Marner believes it was a nice change as he tries to not only work on different passes, but his one-timer. Muzzin takes Olofsson for a ride#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/rgnWYZr9Xr --- — Leafs ALL Day (@LeafsAllDayy) September 22, 2019 Dealing with an undisclosed issue throughout camp, veteran goalie Michal Neuvirth was released from his pro tryout on Tuesday. With the reliable Muzzin keeping opposing skilled players on their toes, Barrie can serve as a fourth forward in the attack. "To be honest with you, I wasn't involved in that and don't know much about it," said Babcock. "I just know he's not here today." "He picks when he gets up in the play pretty well," noted Auston Matthews. "As forwards you like to be out there with D that can do that The move leaves Michael Hutchinson as the last man standing in the and contribute and get up in the play with you." battle to be the backup to Frederik Andersen on opening night although there's always the potential for a waiver wire pick-up. "He can use his feet to get out of a lot of pressure," observed John Tavares, "and be able to get up the ice. So, you know when he's out "Hutch is a good kid," said Babcock. "Hutch works real hard. I thought there you got an extra man on the attack for sure that can help us Hutch played real well last night. The biggest thing is you've just got to offensively." work together and make sure we have a good, stable backup so that we are in a position where we can start him at any time and not worry about You can feel the excitement in Barrie's voice when he talks about it and know you have an opportunity to win. That is the biggest challenge working with Toronto's deep forward group. for you: You’ve got to win games. The division is going to be real tight. Teams have gotten better. We know there is a challenge there, so we need good goaltending." So, is Babcock comfortable with Hutchinson moving forward? "That’s what we’re hoping for and we are betting on that. Obviously, our goalie people have done a lot of work to try to set us up to make the right decisions there." Hutchinson stopped all 38 shots faced in Monday’s win in Montreal. If Babcock sticks with his routine of starting the backup on the second half of back-to-back sets, then Toronto’s No. 2 will make his debut this year on the first Saturday night of the season against the Canadiens. Toronto will also play in Montreal on the second half of a back-to-back set later in October. Last season, the Leafs only played on consecutive nights once in the first month of the season, but this year that will happen four times ensuring the subject of Toronto's goalie depth will be in the spotlight right away. Leafs Ice Chips: Betting on Hutchinson for back-up job The Maple Leafs released veteran goalie Michal Neuvirth from his professional tryout on Tuesday, opening the door for Micheal Hutchinson to try and seize Toronto's backup duties to start the season. Mark Masters has more. --- Lines at Tuesday's practice: Forwards Johnsson - Matthews - Nylander Kapanen - Tavares - Marner Mikheyev - Kerfoot - Moore Timashov - Spezza - Gauthier Defencemen Rielly - Ceci Muzzin - Barrie Sandin - Marincin Goaltenders Andersen Kaskisuo Six-on-five drills at Tuesday's practice: Rielly-Barrie Matthews-Tavares-Marner Johnsson Muzzin-Sandin Spezza-Tavares-Nylander Kapanen TSN.CA LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108395 Websites where the three of us expect a lot out of each other and we’re not afraid to help each other with certain things.”

While Hutchinson’s previous experience around the team may make him TSN.CA / Neuvirth release hands Hutchinson inside track on Leafs’ the safest choice to run with, it’s possible the Leafs fish for another backup job backup option on the waiver wire or potentially orchestrate a trade to bring in another netminder.

But finding another potential backup at the right price could be a Kristen Shilton challenge. Hutchinson comes in at a reasonable $700,000 cap hit for the coming season, making him a model fit financially for the cap-strapped Leafs. TORONTO – It was news to head coach Mike Babcock that the Maple For his part, Hutchinson feels prepared to step into a full-season role as Leafs were releasing Michal Neuvirth from his professional tryout on the Leafs’ second goaltender, no matter how many or how few the Tuesday morning, following the veteran goalie’s injury-plagued, 11-day opportunities to play end up being. stint in Toronto’s training camp. “When you’re younger it’s tough when you’re not playing every game to The decision effectively ends what was expected to be a heated stay fully confident in your game, and that’s one of the things I’ve realized competition between Neuvirth and Michael Hutchinson for the Leafs’ as I’ve gotten older,” he said. “If you come to the rink with that confidence backup goalie spot. Babcock’s full attention now is on Hutchinson being that you’re going to play and have success, it’s going to turn out more ready to take on the job. often than not. You’re earning the guys trust in practice and when you get “I wasn’t involved in [Neuvirth’s release]; I don’t know much about it. But I a chance to play, [they have] that confidence that you’re going to make just know he’s not here today,” Babcock said after the Leafs’ practices on the stops.” Tuesday. “We’re hoping for and we’re betting on [Hutchinson], and our TSN.CA LOADED: 09.25.2019 goalie people have done a lot of work to set us up to make a decision there.” Signed to a PTO by the Leafs in July, Neuvirth first missed time just three days into camp because of an undisclosed injury that kept him out of team practices for nearly a week. The 31-year-old recovered enough to play two periods against Buffalo last Saturday, making 20 saves on 22 shots, and didn’t betray any hint of recurrent issues during his post-game media availability. “It was good to play periods. Body felt good. I’m excited for another opportunity,” he said. The Leafs had Neuvirth pegged to share the net with Hutchinson during Monday’s preseason game in Montreal, but he was absent from morning skate. Babcock said the goalie “wasn’t feeling up to” the game. That allowed Hutchinson to play all three periods and he turned in a terrific 38-save shutout, backstopping Toronto’s primarily American Hockey League lineup to a 3-0 win over a more NHL-heavy Canadiens’ roster. The combination of his strong performance and the aftermath of Neuvirth’s release could have Hutchinson riding especially high, but the 29-year-old knows the importance of staying even-keeled. “It was a good game for me, but today is a new day and things can change really quickly in the hockey world,” Hutchinson said Tuesday. “Now it’s about moving forward and taking the momentum from that and continuing it. When [Neuvirth] was here, I was just focusing on myself and doing what I could to earn the guys’ trust, working hard in practice, and that doesn’t change.” Hutchinson had come into Leafs’ camp with an upper hand on Neuvirth by virtue of time already spent in the Leafs’ organization. Acquired in a trade with Florida last December, Hutchinson played five games with Toronto in January while starter Frederik Andersen and former backup Garret Sparks were both injured, posting a 2-3-0 record with .914 save percentage. When the Leafs were back to full health, Hutchinson was assigned to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies and thrived, finishing with a .910 save percentage and 14-7-1 record. It wasn’t until the postseason that the Leafs called on Hutchinson again, recalling him to replace Sparks behind Andersen for the second half of their first-round playoff series against Boston. Now Hutchinson has the inside track to start right where he left off, in an NHL backup post that comes loaded with expectations. “The biggest thing is [Hutchinson] and [goalie coach] Steve [Briere] just have to work together and make sure we have a good stable backup so that we’re in a position where we can start him any time and not worry about it and know you have an opportunity to win,” Babcock said. “That’s the biggest challenge for you; you’ve got to win games.” Babcock has balked at putting a number on how many starts Andersen will get this season, and whether it will be more or less than the 60-plus he’s received in each of the last three seasons. Knowing that decision is ultimately out of his control, Andersen said the more important thing is being comfortable with the partner he’s given. “It’s ideal when it’s a very trusting three-man group with me, the backup and the goalie coach,” Andersen said. “That’s how I function best and that’s a good way to do it, with a healthy competition and a relationship 1108396 Websites Overall, we can expect the number of coach’s challenges to rise. As part of the NHL’s expanded video review, coaches can challenge infractions that were previously off limits. TSN.CA / Habs’ Julien voices displeasure with new coach’s challenge For the first time, there will be no limit on the number of times a coach penalty can challenge in a game this season. Coaches can now challenge a play in the offensive zone that should have resulted in the sequence being stopped before a goal was scored. Frank Seravalli The catch is that only black-and-white calls can be reviewed. Think of the missed hand pass that delivered a Game 3 win for the Sharks in the Western Conference Final, or the puck off the netting that Canadiens coach Claude Julien didn’t exactly hold back on Monday night resulted in a Blue Jackets goal in Round 2 – not the missed Tyler Bozak in expressing his tough time “digesting” the new punitive aspect of trip in the Stanley Cup Final that resulted in a crucial late Blues goal. coach’s challenges in the NHL. Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said that missed call gave the playoffs a And that was after a preseason game. “black eye.” But that wasn’t changed. Julien experienced first-hand the new iteration of the rule, which dictates “We’re not prepared to go there in terms of the game right now,” Bettman that any unsuccessful challenge will come with a two-minute minor said in June of reviewing missed penalty calls. “That would be something penalty for delay of game. that wouldn’t be terribly productive and would be terribly disruptive.” That is what the Canadiens were assessed after a failed challenge for We’ll see if the latest changes can produce the intended result for the goaltender interference on Darren Archibald’s second-period goal for the NHL – or if they’ll continue to draw the ire of Julien, Cassidy and coaches Maple Leafs at the Bell Centre. The penalty adds injury to insult. everywhere. Last season, a penalty was only assessed for unsuccessful challenges TSN.CA LOADED: 09.25.2019 on offside calls, not goaltender interference. Julien’s beef is that there was no rule change to clear up that goaltender interference is still a “50/50” judgment call in his mind, but there is now a penalty attached to the challenge. “Well, it’s going to be tough,” Julien told reporters postgame. “That was what I said to the referees. It’s a very find line because, first of all, you want to protect your goaltenders. I think everybody wants to do that. You also want to show your goaltender that you have his back and you want to protect him… “What I’m saying is most of the time, it’s 50/50. Most of the time when you challenge it’s a 50/50 gamble. So right now, basically, the way I feel is ‘How can I challenge those in the regular season knowing that the goal’s going to count and I’m going to have a penalty on top of that?’ “I have a hard time, I guess, digesting that. But if it’s the way it was last year and you challenge it because you’re protecting your goalie and it’s a goal, it’s a goal. Let’s move on. “But to be penalized, especially when all year long last year we always talked about it being 50/50. So what’s changed this year? It’s not any clearer than it was last year. So basically, what they’re telling us is don’t challenge. Don’t challenge – that’s the message I’m getting.” That is exactly the message the NHL wanted to send. In the NHL’s mind, the referees are there to protect Julien’s goalie and the challenge shouldn’t be made on the basis that it’s a coin flip that could go either way. “We don’t want lots and lots of challenges,” commissioner Gary Bettman said in June in Vancouver when announcing the rule changes. “We don’t want to disrupt the flow of the game. We only want challenges when it’s crystal clear that an egregious mistake has been made.” So, does that mean we should expect coaches to challenge less frequently this season? That would be the suspected outcome, because coaches were only successful on 26 per cent (45 of 172) challenges for goaltender interference last season. Julien was just 1-for-7 on interference challenges last season according to ScoutingTheRefs.com, ranked 25th in percentage among teams who made more than one challenge. But Julien was 3-for-3 last season on offside challenges when faced with the pressure of a potential penalty if he was on the wrong side of the call. The interesting thing is that the overall number of offside challenges went up 50 per cent from 2017-18 (62 challenges) to 2018-19 (91 challenges) with the potential penalty. In other words, coaches weren’t scared off. The ability to potentially erase a goal from the scoreboard was worth the risk of killing a penalty. Not surprisingly, coaches hit on 67 per cent of their offside challenges last year, compared to 63 per cent in the previous year. They were surer, but they have that luxury with the offside challenge – it is black-and-white instead of “50/50” as Julien suggested with goaltender interference. 1108397 Websites

USA TODAY / Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews accused of disorderly conduct in Arizona

Mike Brehm USA TODAY Published 10:35 PM EDT Sep 24, 2019

Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews faces a hearing Wednesday morning in Scottsdale, Arizona, stemming from a citation for disorderly conduct. Matthews was not arrested in the alleged May 26 incident, though the case was forwarded to the prosecutor's office for review, said Sgt. Ben Hoster, public information supervisor for the Scottsdale police. According to the police report obtained by USA TODAY Sports, a security guard was in her locked car outside the condo building where Matthews lives, when she heard someone trying to open her door at 2 a.m. She got out of the car, recognized Matthews and confronted him and his friends. She told police that Matthews "said they wanted to see what she would do and they believed it would be funny to see how she would react." Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews was accused of disorderly conduct. The guard, who said the group appeared intoxicated, told them she was a military veteran with severe PTSD and that what they did wasn't funny and they should leave. One of Matthews' friends talked to the guard and asked her not to report the incident. During that conversation, Matthews walked away. "After he walked away some distance, Auston pulled his pants down, bent over and grabbed his butt cheeks," the report said. The woman told police that Matthews still had his boxers on. The investigating officer went to the manager's office on May 30 and saw video of a man walking near the elevator with his pants around his ankles. The manager told the officer it was Matthews. "The Toronto Maple Leafs are aware of the complaint of disturbing the peace against forward Auston Matthews," the team said a statement. "Auston is cooperating fully with the relevant authorities, but neither he nor the club will comment any further out of respect for the process involved.” Matthews, 22, was drafted No. 1 overall by the Maple Leafs in 2016 and is one of their top players with 205 points in 212 career NHL games. He signed a five-year, $58 million contract in February that pays him $15.9 million this season. USA TODAY LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108398 Websites

USA TODAY / At 37, Henrik Lundqvist plans to be part of the New York Rangers' future

Kevin Allen USA TODAY Published 10:47 AM EDT Sep 24, 2019

Counting overtime and shootout losses, the New York Rangers lost 50 games in 2018-19. Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist calls it the “toughest season of my professional career." For the second season in a row, Lundqvist (18-23-10) lost more games than he won. This is a goalie who has recorded 30 or more wins 11 times. “In November of last year, when we were winning, I enjoyed it so much,” Lundqvist, 37, told USA TODAY Sports. “I was playing at the level that I want to play at. I’m thinking ‘I could do this for many more years.’ Then, in the second half of the season, it felt a lot different. The mindset, and everything that was going on, changed the way I was feeling.” But the Rangers’ bold offseason moves, which included acquiring Jacob Trouba, signing free agent Artemi Panarin, acquiring prospect Adam Fox and drafting Kaapo Kakko, has Lundqvist animated about the Rangers’ reboot. He doesn’t know how it will work out, but he is excited to be part of it. New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist is optimistic about the new season. He told USA TODAY Sports at the NHL/NHL Players Association media tour earlier this month that he thinks it’s possible he can play beyond the last two years of his contract. Ottawa's Craig Anderson is the only starting goalie older than Lundqvist. “With a fresh mind and if your body is healthy,” Lundqvist, who is entering his 15th year, said of playing beyond 40. “I still love the game and that’s where it starts. You have to love it because you do have to sacrifice a lot in how you train and the commitment you make. “ Lundqvist knows he still loves the game because he loves being at the practice rink. “I feel like I’m the veteran and play against guys half my age and you go one-on-one with them,” Lundqvist said. “You want to prove to them. It’s a fun competition — to go up against all of the young guys who are so skilled and fast. But I enjoy all of it. The travel part. Being a Ranger is not something I take for granted. I know how well they treat us.” Lundqvist also loves New York City. Most Swedish players go home when they retire, but Lundqvist and his wife are planning to stay in New York when he does retire. But Lundqvist says he doesn’t spend much time thinking about retirement. He has thought about how he can stay in the game. Four years ago, he began to work at playing at a lighter weight. His objective is to keep his weight between 180-185. “For many years, I was at 198 to 200 pounds and now I’m at 182,” Lundqvist said. “It wasn’t all at once. I went from 198 to 187 and then in the last two years, I’ve gone below 185.” At the beginning of his career, Lundqvist played 70 or more games per season. Last season, he played 52. That’s not a concession to age. That’s a reaction to the increased speed and action in the game. “To play great, you can’t play too many games,” Lundqvist said. Lundqvist said he has felt good in each of the past two summers. He said the Rangers’ 9-4-1 run last November reinforced to him that he can still play at the level he wants to be at. Lundqvist said what he needed most this summer was seeing the Rangers’ being aggressive to turn around the team quickly. “It was important to me to see us making progress,” he said. USA TODAY LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108399 Websites

YAHOO SPORTS / Canucks' Brock Boeser placed in concussion protocol

Yahoo Sports Canada Arun Srinivasan

Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser was placed in the concussion protocol after suffering a hit from Ottawa Senators forward Chris Tierney during Monday’s 6-4 preseason win. Boeser did not practice Tuesday and his status remains uncertain ahead of the start of the regular season. “He’s going to miss a little bit of time here … hopefully he is back for next week,” Canucks head coach Travis Green said via Scott Brown of the London Free Press. “It’s unfortunate but we deal with it and we move on.” This is the play where Boeser suffered the concussion. What are you doing, Chris Tierney? pic.twitter.com/Kjb6OJAnQt — Daniel Wagner (@passittobulis) September 24, 2019 The 22-year-old was part of a vaunted restricted free agent class this summer, but Boeser and the Canucks agreed to a three-year, $17.625 million contract on September 16. Boeser is considered a major component of the Canucks’ short and long- term plans after posting 26 goals and 56 points in 69 games during the 2018-19 season. YAHOO.COM LOADED: 09.25.2019 1108400 Websites

YAHOO SPORTS / Auston Matthews facing disorderly conduct charge in Arizona

Yahoo Sports Canada Arun Srinivasan

Toronto Maple Leafs star centre Auston Matthews is facing a disorderly conduct charge in Scottsdale, Arizona, which originated from a May 26 incident. The team released the following statement via Sportsnet’s Luke Fox. “The Toronto Maple Leafs are aware of the complaint of disturbing the peace against forward Auston Matthews. Auston is cooperating fully with the relevant authorities but neither he nor the Club will comment any further out of respect for the process involved.” Matthews has a pretrial conference scheduled for Wednesday morning, but he isn’t mandated to appear in court. The Toronto Star obtained the police report, which details the incident that took place outside Matthews’ residence. Fayola Dozithee, a security guard at Matthews’ building, was sitting inside her car outside the building at 2 a.m. Dozithee was alarmed when she heard the sound of someone trying to open her door, and said it was Matthews, who was with a group of friends. Dozithee exited her vehicle and confronted Matthews, and she said that the Leafs’ star told her he thought it would be funny to see how she responded. She told Matthews and his group of friends that she is a military veteran with PTSD, and asked how they could find it funny to get into a woman’s car unprompted at that time of day. Dozithee states in the report that Matthews appeared to be intoxicated and repeated that he thought he’d find it funny. Matthews then reportedly walked away, dropped his pants and grabbed his buttocks while keeping his underwear on and left. The police report states there is video footage that shows a man heading toward the condominium elevators with his pants near his ankles. YAHOO.COM LOADED: 09.25.2019